Longest Winter Ever

Hey Familia!!

We are still getting tons of snow here in Iowa:) haha I can't wait for some warmer weather! Sorry for not writing yesterday and Elder Cottam and I were down and out with some stomach flu and we are feeling better today!

Araceli and Alex's baptism went great on Saturday! Jaime performed the baptism and he did it in English which was huge for him. Also, the AP's (assistants to the president) came to our baptism and they told me that I am being transferred!!!! Im super excited and nervous. It will be sad to leave Perry cause I love the people here, but I am excited to meet a bunch of new people and work in a different town. Transfers are on Thursday in Iowa City so I will find out where I am going there and then jump in a bus from there and be off! Crazy stuff.

Also, we have a new investigator here named Alex who wants to change his life. He has always been caught up in drugs, alcohol, and smoking, but since he has been reading the Book of Mormon and talking to us and Hermano Jaime, he has stopped smoking and drinking! It has been 2 weeks so far and we are going to stick with it to make sure it is a lasting change. He came to Church on Sunday which was our fast & testimony Sunday where anyone in the congregation can go up and share their belief and conviction about Jesus Christ or any other aspect of the gospel. Well, lo and behold, Alex got up there and shared his testimony of how he has been trying to change and quit for a long time and how the only way he has been able to actually change is through his faith in Jesus Christ which is made stronger as he reads from the Bible and especially the Book of Mormon. I was a powerful experience and we are going to set a baptismal date with him today for sometime around April 20th! I echo his testimony and add that we are all about change. We change everyday! So many people are discouraged by the false notion that "its just the way I am". I promise that our natures can and do change as we change our thoughts and behavior! We are the sum total of what we say, think, hear, watch and do. As we change what we say, think, hear, watch, and do, we change who we are! It is also important to recognize that the power by which we change is the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He suffered and died for us so that through Him, we can BECOME something like He is--pure, full of love, unselfish, full of joy and peace. This is all true because I have seen it with my own eyes countless times in the short time that I have been a missionary here in Iowa. I love you all and hope that you all know that you can always change and become better, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in :)

Love, Elder Seth McGinn

ps the picture is Elder Cottam, Araceli, Nathan, Alex (had a cast on his arm so we wrapped saran wrap and a trash bag around it haha), Hermano Jaime, and me!

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Elder Seth McGinn

IowaDes Moines Mission

8515 Douglas Ave. Ste. 19

Urbandale, IA 50322