Glenn pointing to his mission in Merida, Mexico.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
November 19,2010
November 19, 2010
So this week has been just a roller coaster! Monday was kind of a rough day. My roommates that I’ve had for nine weeks left that morning. They are headed to Paraguay. Then a new district came in and I had to say goodbye to one of my teachers. The next day I had to say goodbye to my other teacher. They have to go in order of when we were supposed to leave so our teachers were up next. We moved just next door, but it was still hard. Then Tuesday was devotional. It was good, but kind of presented in a funny way. He was super intense about not trying to do, but just do. For some of the new district, that was hard for them to hear. They didn't realize that they are doing all they can.
So then the really crazy stuff happens. We went to a temple session on Wednesday morning. When we came out some of us went to go pick up our backpacks from the residence and some already had their stuff in the class room. While we were in the residence, the elders that just went to class had said that our district had been called to the travel office. As soon as we could, we booked it to the travel office to see what the news was. When we got there, only the elders in our district that were going to Tuxtla Gutierrez were going to the consulate. It was depressing. Then about two hours later, the other half of us got called up! We were going to be leaving for the consulate at about one fifteen. We went there and did papers and everything. Another surprise is that we got roommates when we were told that we weren't going to. They are good kids and all, but it just made me miss my old ones all the more. So yesterday my companion is on a table outside, enjoying a little bit of warmer weather while we are doing companion study when he taps on my shoulder and runs inside. I was reading my Spanish ‘Preach my Gospel’ so it was super hard to focus on anything else. I jumped up and followed him. Over the loud speaker in the room they said, "Is this Elder Calvert? Can we get you to come down the travel office and also bring with you Elder Fuller, Mackay,... our whole district! This time we didn't even wait for everyone we just told them what was going on as we ran past them. We went there and got TRAVEL PLANS! I’m leaving on Tuesday. so I don't know if I’ll get the package that you talked about and I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to get the camera. I talked to one of the guys in my district and whenever I would use my camera to take a picture with someone, he'll lend me his, and email them to me later. It’s going to be crazy! Three days ago I had no idea what was going on and I'm leaving in four! Another cool thing is that I got a phone pass for five minutes to use at the MTC. I want to call to Montana on Sunday at 9:00 pm if that’s alright with everyone. Also a little tidbit of news I'm going to be in the airport for a while and I get to call to who ever and where ever I want! I don't know a whole lot of phone numbers, but we'll see what we can do. I'm going to be in the airport from about ten to twelve, then in the Houston airport from four to seven.
The day is finally here! I'm going to go to Mexico and see real people and be totally confused because I can't understand them, but it’s going to be great! I'm going to see ginormous bugs! I'm going to get fried! I'm going to eat some really hot Mexican food! I'm going to get a different companion (not that I'm having any problems with the one I have now)! I'M GOING TO MEXICO! Just in case you didn't catch that. Hopefully all is well back home. I'm just a little bit crazed. Everyone who reads this, if you send a dear elder right away I’ll get it on Monday before I leave. Hope to hear from you all.
Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos
Elder Mackay
So this week has been just a roller coaster! Monday was kind of a rough day. My roommates that I’ve had for nine weeks left that morning. They are headed to Paraguay. Then a new district came in and I had to say goodbye to one of my teachers. The next day I had to say goodbye to my other teacher. They have to go in order of when we were supposed to leave so our teachers were up next. We moved just next door, but it was still hard. Then Tuesday was devotional. It was good, but kind of presented in a funny way. He was super intense about not trying to do, but just do. For some of the new district, that was hard for them to hear. They didn't realize that they are doing all they can.
So then the really crazy stuff happens. We went to a temple session on Wednesday morning. When we came out some of us went to go pick up our backpacks from the residence and some already had their stuff in the class room. While we were in the residence, the elders that just went to class had said that our district had been called to the travel office. As soon as we could, we booked it to the travel office to see what the news was. When we got there, only the elders in our district that were going to Tuxtla Gutierrez were going to the consulate. It was depressing. Then about two hours later, the other half of us got called up! We were going to be leaving for the consulate at about one fifteen. We went there and did papers and everything. Another surprise is that we got roommates when we were told that we weren't going to. They are good kids and all, but it just made me miss my old ones all the more. So yesterday my companion is on a table outside, enjoying a little bit of warmer weather while we are doing companion study when he taps on my shoulder and runs inside. I was reading my Spanish ‘Preach my Gospel’ so it was super hard to focus on anything else. I jumped up and followed him. Over the loud speaker in the room they said, "Is this Elder Calvert? Can we get you to come down the travel office and also bring with you Elder Fuller, Mackay,... our whole district! This time we didn't even wait for everyone we just told them what was going on as we ran past them. We went there and got TRAVEL PLANS! I’m leaving on Tuesday. so I don't know if I’ll get the package that you talked about and I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to get the camera. I talked to one of the guys in my district and whenever I would use my camera to take a picture with someone, he'll lend me his, and email them to me later. It’s going to be crazy! Three days ago I had no idea what was going on and I'm leaving in four! Another cool thing is that I got a phone pass for five minutes to use at the MTC. I want to call to Montana on Sunday at 9:00 pm if that’s alright with everyone. Also a little tidbit of news I'm going to be in the airport for a while and I get to call to who ever and where ever I want! I don't know a whole lot of phone numbers, but we'll see what we can do. I'm going to be in the airport from about ten to twelve, then in the Houston airport from four to seven.
The day is finally here! I'm going to go to Mexico and see real people and be totally confused because I can't understand them, but it’s going to be great! I'm going to see ginormous bugs! I'm going to get fried! I'm going to eat some really hot Mexican food! I'm going to get a different companion (not that I'm having any problems with the one I have now)! I'M GOING TO MEXICO! Just in case you didn't catch that. Hopefully all is well back home. I'm just a little bit crazed. Everyone who reads this, if you send a dear elder right away I’ll get it on Monday before I leave. Hope to hear from you all.
Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos
Elder Mackay
Sunday, November 14, 2010
November 12, 2010
So still no visas or any news about them. It gets kind of discouraging, especially when our roommates are leaving on Monday and we got here before they did. One experience might explain why I was here for a little bit extra. We're still not entirely sure what happened but I’ll try to explain as best as I can. Me and my companion had just taught another lesson to a teacher who just barely got home from his mission. It was a way good lesson and we did well at teaching with the spirit. Our teacher was being taught by some other elders in the other room. We were studying some scriptures and such when a lady came around the corner with a pass along card about the Book of Mormon. She said (in Spanish) that she was looking for some elders who were suppose to teach her and she said something about being and investigator. My companion asked her if she was looking for the TRC (which is where volunteers come in to be investigators for missionaries). She got really confused and said no. She then talked about the pass along card she had and really wanted to learn more about it. I got up real quick and grabbed my Spanish single Book of Mormon and figured we could use it for the lesson. We all figured that she just saw some elders and wanted to help out. We taught her the first lesson, but I think it was different. Her answers weren't like what you'd usually get from the TRC. Her dad was a pastor and she was really confused about how the Book of Mormon fit into it all. We bore testimony and did all the stuff we were suppose to in a lesson. When we asked her to pray she said she didn't like to pray because it felt awkward. We marked a chapter in the Book of Mormon (Alma 32) and she seemed genuinely excited to read the Book of Mormon. After that we all just expected her to stop role playing and tell us what we could do better, but she didn't. She just said thanks and said again that she'd read the Book of Mormon, and then left - with my Book of Mormon. So we're still not sure what all happened, but a nice lady named Suzzana walked off with my Book of Mormon. I'm counting it as my first Book or Mormon placement. I was so psyched for the field at that point, but at the same time, wanted to talk more with Suzzana.
Another teacher a few days later came in and told us about his story getting his mission call. Due to some really random events that had nothing to do with him or his desire to serve; his papers were delayed six months after he wanted to have them turned in. He had done everything right but he still had to wait. He bore testimony though that that happened for a reason. Had he not been delayed for those six months, he would have not met and touched the lives of the people he did in his mission. After his mission he tried applying for a school at either BYU or BYU-I. He didn't get in and he had to wait a year at home after his mission before he could go to school. However, in his first year of school when he finally got to go, he met his wife, and got married -all in the Lords timing.
I’m trying to think of other cool things this week. It’s hard to remember what happened in individual days. On Tuesday we had Elder Bednar come talk to us. Pretty crazy for two reasons. One is that it’s our fourth apostle in a row and second that had I gone to Mexico, I would have missed a great talk. I feel like I’m on borrowed time (I just wish that it wasn't cutting into my field time). My teachers are going to get a new district this week which means we get kicked out. The only problem is that we might get "transferred" to a new zone. Maybe even move to a different residence hall. It'll be way interesting to know how these next two or three weeks play out. Getting to go to the temple three times a week is always nice though. I got the "end part" pretty well memorized now. Spanish is coming along well. Mom you asked if all I do is speak Spanish now. I try, but a lot of the times it’s hard because either I’m reading something in English or someone else is talking to me in English. If someone talks in Spanish, its way easier to speak back in Spanish. It’ coming along nicely though. If anyone asks any questions, email me or send me a letter (dear elder). I'll probably be here all week!
Con amor, Elder Mackay
Another teacher a few days later came in and told us about his story getting his mission call. Due to some really random events that had nothing to do with him or his desire to serve; his papers were delayed six months after he wanted to have them turned in. He had done everything right but he still had to wait. He bore testimony though that that happened for a reason. Had he not been delayed for those six months, he would have not met and touched the lives of the people he did in his mission. After his mission he tried applying for a school at either BYU or BYU-I. He didn't get in and he had to wait a year at home after his mission before he could go to school. However, in his first year of school when he finally got to go, he met his wife, and got married -all in the Lords timing.
I’m trying to think of other cool things this week. It’s hard to remember what happened in individual days. On Tuesday we had Elder Bednar come talk to us. Pretty crazy for two reasons. One is that it’s our fourth apostle in a row and second that had I gone to Mexico, I would have missed a great talk. I feel like I’m on borrowed time (I just wish that it wasn't cutting into my field time). My teachers are going to get a new district this week which means we get kicked out. The only problem is that we might get "transferred" to a new zone. Maybe even move to a different residence hall. It'll be way interesting to know how these next two or three weeks play out. Getting to go to the temple three times a week is always nice though. I got the "end part" pretty well memorized now. Spanish is coming along well. Mom you asked if all I do is speak Spanish now. I try, but a lot of the times it’s hard because either I’m reading something in English or someone else is talking to me in English. If someone talks in Spanish, its way easier to speak back in Spanish. It’ coming along nicely though. If anyone asks any questions, email me or send me a letter (dear elder). I'll probably be here all week!
Con amor, Elder Mackay
Friday, November 5, 2010
November 5, 2010
November 5, 2010
So this week has gone by really fast and slow at the same time. Time is a weird concept. I can't believe its Friday already but then again it seems like this week has taken forever. Because we were supposed to be gone already we get some "added bonuses". One of those is that we don't have to go to so many meetings (which make everyone in the district happy) and we get to go to the temple like three times a week! It’s so cool to teach a lesson literally only about an hour after going to the temple. With all our time there its also helping us grows even closer as a district.
Another cool thing that we get to do is study lesson three in the MTC. The lesson is titled "the gospel of Jesus Christ". Our teachers have shared some way cool stories about this lesson. Usually in the MTC we only study the first two. Our teachers are being "progressive investigators" for us to practice on. It’s about as close as we’re going to get here. Josue is the one we've been working on lot with. He knows that a good thing or feeling will come from God. We went a little further with that and taught him about the Holy Ghost helping him. He had a drinking problem and we committed him to follow the word of wisdom. (all of this is happening over a few lessons). He said that since he doesn't have any drinking buddies any more that he's kind of feeling alone. We told him about how if he is baptized and keeps the commandments that he can always have a companion. He had the desire and then we committed him to be baptized. The only thing he says that is holding him back is that he doesn't know if the Book of Mormon is true yet. More praying and reading. I think we have another lesson with him later tonight.
Another cool thing this week is we had M Russell Ballard for Devotional on Tuesday. It was such a good talk! He talked about being a master communicator and that is really the secret to teaching in a mission. This is our third apostle in a row and its just so crazy how much they know. After wards everyone comes out with glazed eyes and can't walk in a strait line. The hardest thing this week is just getting through a day and not wondering what it could be like. A lot of times I get teaching a lesson then afterwards I would wonder how much good it would have been for a real investigator. Also it’s really hard to ask a person who's pretending to be an investigator how they feel. If it was a real investigator it would be a real answer, but since this is made up its hard to take those things for granted. Hopefully pretty soon we'll be getting our visas. Every time we're in a lunch room and we hear a beep, our whole district stops and hopes for our district leaders name (Tyson Fuller) to be said. When it finally does its going to be crazy. It'll happen though. The weather here's been pretty nice too all the sudden. Last week we had one night where we got maybe a half an inch or so in great big flakes. If it would have been colder it would have stuck more. This week we haven't gotten any rain or any snow. Just nice warm days.
Yes mom I did get the package with my camera and stuff it in. The brownies aren't gone yet I’ve been pacing myself. I've gain six pounds at the MTC! I don't know where it all went though. The MTC really is great though. I just want to be in Mexico with the culture, people, food (even the spicy stuff) and doing the things that every young man that is a member dreams about. I want to see the light spark, and then beam in the eyes of an investigator. A teacher came and substituted one time. He's a Mexico native! He said and made it very clear that we need to challenge most of the investigators in our area to be baptized on the first or second lesson. They people there are from such humble circumstances that they are really teachable. Also a lot of them can't read so it'll be interesting to see how that hurdle goes over. Can't wait to Go!
Know that whoever reads this email, I love you, and hope that you have the success that God intends you to have.Be happy, Keep the Commandments and Endure,
Elder Mackay
So this week has gone by really fast and slow at the same time. Time is a weird concept. I can't believe its Friday already but then again it seems like this week has taken forever. Because we were supposed to be gone already we get some "added bonuses". One of those is that we don't have to go to so many meetings (which make everyone in the district happy) and we get to go to the temple like three times a week! It’s so cool to teach a lesson literally only about an hour after going to the temple. With all our time there its also helping us grows even closer as a district.
Another cool thing that we get to do is study lesson three in the MTC. The lesson is titled "the gospel of Jesus Christ". Our teachers have shared some way cool stories about this lesson. Usually in the MTC we only study the first two. Our teachers are being "progressive investigators" for us to practice on. It’s about as close as we’re going to get here. Josue is the one we've been working on lot with. He knows that a good thing or feeling will come from God. We went a little further with that and taught him about the Holy Ghost helping him. He had a drinking problem and we committed him to follow the word of wisdom. (all of this is happening over a few lessons). He said that since he doesn't have any drinking buddies any more that he's kind of feeling alone. We told him about how if he is baptized and keeps the commandments that he can always have a companion. He had the desire and then we committed him to be baptized. The only thing he says that is holding him back is that he doesn't know if the Book of Mormon is true yet. More praying and reading. I think we have another lesson with him later tonight.
Another cool thing this week is we had M Russell Ballard for Devotional on Tuesday. It was such a good talk! He talked about being a master communicator and that is really the secret to teaching in a mission. This is our third apostle in a row and its just so crazy how much they know. After wards everyone comes out with glazed eyes and can't walk in a strait line. The hardest thing this week is just getting through a day and not wondering what it could be like. A lot of times I get teaching a lesson then afterwards I would wonder how much good it would have been for a real investigator. Also it’s really hard to ask a person who's pretending to be an investigator how they feel. If it was a real investigator it would be a real answer, but since this is made up its hard to take those things for granted. Hopefully pretty soon we'll be getting our visas. Every time we're in a lunch room and we hear a beep, our whole district stops and hopes for our district leaders name (Tyson Fuller) to be said. When it finally does its going to be crazy. It'll happen though. The weather here's been pretty nice too all the sudden. Last week we had one night where we got maybe a half an inch or so in great big flakes. If it would have been colder it would have stuck more. This week we haven't gotten any rain or any snow. Just nice warm days.
Yes mom I did get the package with my camera and stuff it in. The brownies aren't gone yet I’ve been pacing myself. I've gain six pounds at the MTC! I don't know where it all went though. The MTC really is great though. I just want to be in Mexico with the culture, people, food (even the spicy stuff) and doing the things that every young man that is a member dreams about. I want to see the light spark, and then beam in the eyes of an investigator. A teacher came and substituted one time. He's a Mexico native! He said and made it very clear that we need to challenge most of the investigators in our area to be baptized on the first or second lesson. They people there are from such humble circumstances that they are really teachable. Also a lot of them can't read so it'll be interesting to see how that hurdle goes over. Can't wait to Go!
Know that whoever reads this email, I love you, and hope that you have the success that God intends you to have.Be happy, Keep the Commandments and Endure,
Elder Mackay
October 29,2010
Hola todos persons quien esta leyendo esta carta,
So here is the skinny on the Visa issue. I do have my permisa. That’s good because they won't send you out on a re assignment if you got that. The bad news is that we don't have our real visas. We didn't know this till this week and we'll probably be here two or three more weeks. Kind of stinks cuz I want to go teach real investigators ahorita, but I should be happy with this opportunity that I have. Other things have been good. We're the oldest district now, (that seems really weird to say). This week we've taught a lot of lessons to other companionships in our zone and I barely feel adequate. It’s been two maybe two and a half weeks here. The concept of time is sketchy in the MTC. I think that there's only like three days. There’s a class day, a pday and Sunday. That’s really what it feels like. Like I’ve learned so much here and changed a lot. My testimony has grown so much and I can teach in Spanish now. If someone told me my Spanish was going to be at this point right now, I would have said your crazy! One of the things that is nice about having extra time here is to make more Spanish mistakes around people who won't look at you funny, rather than in the field. Its way cool to start teaching with only scriptures and understand what my fellow brothers here need to hear.
Oh yeah, for devotional we had Richard G. Scott come. He compiled, "a life time of experiences [in following the spirit] onto a front and back piece of paper." After wards he gave us his notes on the talk. Some pretty crazy stuff. Nothing extremely new or different than what I would have said, he's just got a lot bigger vocabulary about it. It’s so crazy that its pday already. It seems like just yesterday I was writing and doing laundry. I can't think of what else to say right now. I have some time left so if I think of something else I’ll try to squeeze it in today
yo sé que JesúCristo es nuestro Salvador. He sentido su amor para me y para nosotros. Estoy muy agredecidio por la oportuidad servir una misión en Su Nombre. Sé a traves la manera de arrepentimiento podemos encontrar pas, gozo felicidad y todo de los bendiciónes del Señor. Quisas si es la voluntad del Señor, seré un mejor misionario que sé. Digo estes cosas en el nombre de JesúCristo, Amén. (Google translate works wonderful)
So here is the skinny on the Visa issue. I do have my permisa. That’s good because they won't send you out on a re assignment if you got that. The bad news is that we don't have our real visas. We didn't know this till this week and we'll probably be here two or three more weeks. Kind of stinks cuz I want to go teach real investigators ahorita, but I should be happy with this opportunity that I have. Other things have been good. We're the oldest district now, (that seems really weird to say). This week we've taught a lot of lessons to other companionships in our zone and I barely feel adequate. It’s been two maybe two and a half weeks here. The concept of time is sketchy in the MTC. I think that there's only like three days. There’s a class day, a pday and Sunday. That’s really what it feels like. Like I’ve learned so much here and changed a lot. My testimony has grown so much and I can teach in Spanish now. If someone told me my Spanish was going to be at this point right now, I would have said your crazy! One of the things that is nice about having extra time here is to make more Spanish mistakes around people who won't look at you funny, rather than in the field. Its way cool to start teaching with only scriptures and understand what my fellow brothers here need to hear.
Oh yeah, for devotional we had Richard G. Scott come. He compiled, "a life time of experiences [in following the spirit] onto a front and back piece of paper." After wards he gave us his notes on the talk. Some pretty crazy stuff. Nothing extremely new or different than what I would have said, he's just got a lot bigger vocabulary about it. It’s so crazy that its pday already. It seems like just yesterday I was writing and doing laundry. I can't think of what else to say right now. I have some time left so if I think of something else I’ll try to squeeze it in today
yo sé que JesúCristo es nuestro Salvador. He sentido su amor para me y para nosotros. Estoy muy agredecidio por la oportuidad servir una misión en Su Nombre. Sé a traves la manera de arrepentimiento podemos encontrar pas, gozo felicidad y todo de los bendiciónes del Señor. Quisas si es la voluntad del Señor, seré un mejor misionario que sé. Digo estes cosas en el nombre de JesúCristo, Amén. (Google translate works wonderful)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
October 22, 2010
October 22, 2010
Hola familia!
So... this is crazy but I only got like ten more days! (We’re not even thinking about not going on time). I feel like we've been here two weeks! not two months! One of the highlights of the week was our Tuesday devotional. It was Russell M. Nelson! The other cool thing was that me and my companion were offered (and obviously took) front row seats! it was so cool. I don't think he had a talk or anything prepared. He just came up there with his scriptures. I tried to take notes but I’m sure I missed some. One of the things that I liked was his humility. I know that kind of sounds corny but it’s true. He said he'd rather talk with each one of us, learn about our families and hear our testimony. How crazy is that! One of the quotes I can remember is, "It is better to have character than to be one."
As far as visa stuff goes we don't know much. We might get travel plans today but even if we do get them, they might get canceled. We went down to the travel office to talk to him and asked about it. He said that if we're lucky we'd get our visas the Friday before we leave. Kind of cutting it a little close I’d say. So if we get travel papers and no visa, the church will just cancel our flight plans. they do that so that they make sure that we get a seat on the plane. Me and my companion "KNOW" we are going but some of the other guys in our district aren't to sure. This morning (because it was p-day) we got to go to the temple. We did initiatory and had some extra time. We went down into the basement and helped out with laundry. It was super fun! I just love the guys here. It’s almost not fair that I have to leave so soon. That’s another reason why if I get delayed I’m not going to be super angry, I just want to stay here and not get re assigned. It’s super great here. One of the things that I love the most is bearing testimony especially about the atonement. here's a brief over view of it
"porque de el Caída, tenemos la habilidad pecar. aveses vida esta muy dificil, pero otro tiempos esta bien. Acemos decisiones bueno y setimos bien en estes tiempos. Otro tiempos no mucho. pecaramos. DyC 1 versiculo 31. 2 Nefi 9 versiculo 7 por medio 9. tengo mucho errors en mi vida. Estoy no cerca perfecto, no casi perfecto. 2 Nefi 4 versiculo 17, tambian Alma capitulo 36 versiculo 12. Escucha la palabras de nuestro Harmano. DyC 45 versiculo 3 por medio 6. tengo muchos gracias por Él. Sin the expacion, no podems hacer cualquier cosa. ¨O Dulche el gozo este oración da, Yo sé que mi Salvador vive!"
Not that I’m complaining but I didn't get a whole lot of mail these past two weeks. I wanna hear how everyone is doing. It's my last real week here so after this I won't get Dear elders. Make sure that you use it! I want to get one last letter from ALL of you, please?
hasta nos vemos
Elder Mackay
para siempre Dios este con vose
Hola familia!
So... this is crazy but I only got like ten more days! (We’re not even thinking about not going on time). I feel like we've been here two weeks! not two months! One of the highlights of the week was our Tuesday devotional. It was Russell M. Nelson! The other cool thing was that me and my companion were offered (and obviously took) front row seats! it was so cool. I don't think he had a talk or anything prepared. He just came up there with his scriptures. I tried to take notes but I’m sure I missed some. One of the things that I liked was his humility. I know that kind of sounds corny but it’s true. He said he'd rather talk with each one of us, learn about our families and hear our testimony. How crazy is that! One of the quotes I can remember is, "It is better to have character than to be one."
As far as visa stuff goes we don't know much. We might get travel plans today but even if we do get them, they might get canceled. We went down to the travel office to talk to him and asked about it. He said that if we're lucky we'd get our visas the Friday before we leave. Kind of cutting it a little close I’d say. So if we get travel papers and no visa, the church will just cancel our flight plans. they do that so that they make sure that we get a seat on the plane. Me and my companion "KNOW" we are going but some of the other guys in our district aren't to sure. This morning (because it was p-day) we got to go to the temple. We did initiatory and had some extra time. We went down into the basement and helped out with laundry. It was super fun! I just love the guys here. It’s almost not fair that I have to leave so soon. That’s another reason why if I get delayed I’m not going to be super angry, I just want to stay here and not get re assigned. It’s super great here. One of the things that I love the most is bearing testimony especially about the atonement. here's a brief over view of it
"porque de el Caída, tenemos la habilidad pecar. aveses vida esta muy dificil, pero otro tiempos esta bien. Acemos decisiones bueno y setimos bien en estes tiempos. Otro tiempos no mucho. pecaramos. DyC 1 versiculo 31. 2 Nefi 9 versiculo 7 por medio 9. tengo mucho errors en mi vida. Estoy no cerca perfecto, no casi perfecto. 2 Nefi 4 versiculo 17, tambian Alma capitulo 36 versiculo 12. Escucha la palabras de nuestro Harmano. DyC 45 versiculo 3 por medio 6. tengo muchos gracias por Él. Sin the expacion, no podems hacer cualquier cosa. ¨O Dulche el gozo este oración da, Yo sé que mi Salvador vive!"
Not that I’m complaining but I didn't get a whole lot of mail these past two weeks. I wanna hear how everyone is doing. It's my last real week here so after this I won't get Dear elders. Make sure that you use it! I want to get one last letter from ALL of you, please?
hasta nos vemos
Elder Mackay
para siempre Dios este con vose
Sunday, October 17, 2010
October 15, 2010
October 15, 2010
Hola familia!
Ijole its Friday already! (No mom I didn't just type some random jibberish in the beginning of the sentence. It means on my goodness). Anyhow, it’s crazy that it’s Friday already. Not to mention that I only have 16 days left! Who said time could go by so fast? I didn't... any how. In answer to some of the questions, my companion as I said is Elder Calvert. He's from Salt Lake in a place called Holiday? I don't know where that is but whatever. Anyhow, he's a way cool Elder. He had some missionary prep classes too so we teach really well. That has really been a blessing is that from the beginning we both knew how to teach and knew Preach my Gospel. The rest of my district is pretty cool too. We use to have ten elders. Some of them left early for the Peru MTC. Those Elders were going to the Peru MTC (lucky guys). Now we have seven and it seems really small. We're all going to Mexico, just two missions though. Everyone else in my zone is Spanish speaking too. It’s way cool because we are all in the same boat with speaking Spanish. Some of us have to bail water faster than others.
Speaking of Spanish, mine is coming along nicely. A way cool experience I had started out really rough. Each week we have that’s called a TRC. It’s where we "Practice" with a "real investigator". We practice with other districts through out the week but this is someone we don't know at all. Also we have a task or something that we focus on that week that’s not related to our lesson. It’s for being able to survive normal type stuff. This week we were practicing ordering food. I practiced a lot of words so that I wouldn't embarrass myself. When we got in there, a lot of the things that were on the menu weren't in the book I had studied. It was frustrating and when you’re frustrated you can't think in Spanish or have the spirit. After that we had a lesson and it felt like I didn't have a Spanish word in my head. It was a super rough lesson and my companion did most of the talking. By the end of the night when I went back to the residence hall I was discouraged and down hearted. Why couldn't I do better? I had practiced. I was being obedient. I was doing All the things necessary to be a good missionary. I pleaded with the Lord to know what to do. The next day in the morning, started out like any other day. We had a lesson from one of our teachers on patience. I wondered if it was a coincidence or if they always gave that lesson after our first TRC in Spanish. Later on that night though, we had an awesome lesson on how we feel and the different ways we can feel the Holy Ghost. I felt comforted knowing that I wasn't abandoned. I had another practice lesson with some other Elders and the Spanish came. Some days are just hard. In those times is when we stand up, brush the dust off, put our hat back on and get back on the horse.
Each week we have a devotional on Tuesday. We had a way good speaker this week. He was the Presiding Bishop. He had been in the Bishopric for 18 years! He knew what he was talking about because he's seen a gazillion missionaries. He gave a wonderful talk about how we're odd for our age, but a good odd. We have things that others don't and that’s why we're on a mission. He then gave a few points on how to have a successful mission. After devotional, we have a "aftermath" testimony type meeting. We got on the subject of when we're not feeling to happy that we need to remember our favorite things. We have the gospel after all, why shouldn't we be happy? I kept thinking about something related but I didn't want to send us off on a tangent that nobody would understand. Eventually I raised my hand and what the spirit said through me went kind of like this.
"I was quite busy in high school with sports and other things. I sometimes feel over whelmed that I can't do it anymore. At times like this I use to remember a family that lived down the road. They seemed to have every physical sickness or trial imaginable. The lesson from here is that it can always be worse. Even in my ignorance, I sometimes think my life is worse than anyone else." At this time I started to choke on myself, "I think that I can't do any more that it’s too much. But I haven't been asked to do too much. I haven't been asked to take upon the sins of the world. I haven't been asked to bleed from every pore under that weight. I haven't been betrayed by one of my friends who I held dear to my hear. I haven't been falsely accused of crimes that are almost exactly opposite of my purpose here. I haven't been publicly mocked, and spat at by men who claim that I’m a heathen. I haven't been tied to a post and been whipped so horribly that my flesh is laid wide open. I haven't had a crown of plated thorns placed then forced into my head. I haven't been nailed to a cross, lifted up, and then suffered there. No I haven't been asked too much at all. When I remember this, my trials seem so pitifully small. I can do it. It’s not that hard."
I don't know where all that came from, but the spirit was so strong. a few others things that you asked about mom, don't worry about the pajama pants. I have seen Brenden and Joel but not Jonathan Dilworth. The dried pears were great. I shared some to one of the guys in my district and he was way jealous. The last cool experience this week was in an interview with one of my teachers. I told him about how my purposed has transformed. It started out that I wanted to baptize people. I just thought that was the coolest thing. Then I contemplated and it was better that I bring souls unto Christ. After I thought about it more, it’s more about bringing my brothers and sisters home with me to know Christ. As I told each one of them, the spirit got stronger and stronger. Well I've got about ten seconds left.
hasta luego!Elder Mackay
Hola familia!
Ijole its Friday already! (No mom I didn't just type some random jibberish in the beginning of the sentence. It means on my goodness). Anyhow, it’s crazy that it’s Friday already. Not to mention that I only have 16 days left! Who said time could go by so fast? I didn't... any how. In answer to some of the questions, my companion as I said is Elder Calvert. He's from Salt Lake in a place called Holiday? I don't know where that is but whatever. Anyhow, he's a way cool Elder. He had some missionary prep classes too so we teach really well. That has really been a blessing is that from the beginning we both knew how to teach and knew Preach my Gospel. The rest of my district is pretty cool too. We use to have ten elders. Some of them left early for the Peru MTC. Those Elders were going to the Peru MTC (lucky guys). Now we have seven and it seems really small. We're all going to Mexico, just two missions though. Everyone else in my zone is Spanish speaking too. It’s way cool because we are all in the same boat with speaking Spanish. Some of us have to bail water faster than others.
Speaking of Spanish, mine is coming along nicely. A way cool experience I had started out really rough. Each week we have that’s called a TRC. It’s where we "Practice" with a "real investigator". We practice with other districts through out the week but this is someone we don't know at all. Also we have a task or something that we focus on that week that’s not related to our lesson. It’s for being able to survive normal type stuff. This week we were practicing ordering food. I practiced a lot of words so that I wouldn't embarrass myself. When we got in there, a lot of the things that were on the menu weren't in the book I had studied. It was frustrating and when you’re frustrated you can't think in Spanish or have the spirit. After that we had a lesson and it felt like I didn't have a Spanish word in my head. It was a super rough lesson and my companion did most of the talking. By the end of the night when I went back to the residence hall I was discouraged and down hearted. Why couldn't I do better? I had practiced. I was being obedient. I was doing All the things necessary to be a good missionary. I pleaded with the Lord to know what to do. The next day in the morning, started out like any other day. We had a lesson from one of our teachers on patience. I wondered if it was a coincidence or if they always gave that lesson after our first TRC in Spanish. Later on that night though, we had an awesome lesson on how we feel and the different ways we can feel the Holy Ghost. I felt comforted knowing that I wasn't abandoned. I had another practice lesson with some other Elders and the Spanish came. Some days are just hard. In those times is when we stand up, brush the dust off, put our hat back on and get back on the horse.
Each week we have a devotional on Tuesday. We had a way good speaker this week. He was the Presiding Bishop. He had been in the Bishopric for 18 years! He knew what he was talking about because he's seen a gazillion missionaries. He gave a wonderful talk about how we're odd for our age, but a good odd. We have things that others don't and that’s why we're on a mission. He then gave a few points on how to have a successful mission. After devotional, we have a "aftermath" testimony type meeting. We got on the subject of when we're not feeling to happy that we need to remember our favorite things. We have the gospel after all, why shouldn't we be happy? I kept thinking about something related but I didn't want to send us off on a tangent that nobody would understand. Eventually I raised my hand and what the spirit said through me went kind of like this.
"I was quite busy in high school with sports and other things. I sometimes feel over whelmed that I can't do it anymore. At times like this I use to remember a family that lived down the road. They seemed to have every physical sickness or trial imaginable. The lesson from here is that it can always be worse. Even in my ignorance, I sometimes think my life is worse than anyone else." At this time I started to choke on myself, "I think that I can't do any more that it’s too much. But I haven't been asked to do too much. I haven't been asked to take upon the sins of the world. I haven't been asked to bleed from every pore under that weight. I haven't been betrayed by one of my friends who I held dear to my hear. I haven't been falsely accused of crimes that are almost exactly opposite of my purpose here. I haven't been publicly mocked, and spat at by men who claim that I’m a heathen. I haven't been tied to a post and been whipped so horribly that my flesh is laid wide open. I haven't had a crown of plated thorns placed then forced into my head. I haven't been nailed to a cross, lifted up, and then suffered there. No I haven't been asked too much at all. When I remember this, my trials seem so pitifully small. I can do it. It’s not that hard."
I don't know where all that came from, but the spirit was so strong. a few others things that you asked about mom, don't worry about the pajama pants. I have seen Brenden and Joel but not Jonathan Dilworth. The dried pears were great. I shared some to one of the guys in my district and he was way jealous. The last cool experience this week was in an interview with one of my teachers. I told him about how my purposed has transformed. It started out that I wanted to baptize people. I just thought that was the coolest thing. Then I contemplated and it was better that I bring souls unto Christ. After I thought about it more, it’s more about bringing my brothers and sisters home with me to know Christ. As I told each one of them, the spirit got stronger and stronger. Well I've got about ten seconds left.
hasta luego!Elder Mackay
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