30 Sept 2013 - I'm officially a normal chela!

Buenas! Happy last day of September! Pretty crazy. Especially because the weather doesn't really change here, so I lose track of the seasons. Here, there's winter and summer. Winter starts in June...and I think summer starts in January. The only difference is that it rains more in the winter, though it's still way hot. Gotta love this Nicaraguan heat! I can't believe I'm still about as pale as I was when I got here...weird. but this week, it rained a ton. We started having umbrella fights on multiple occasions...and it's possible that I was the one who started it almost every time...haha.  

This week was great! It went by so quickly though! We had divisions with the capacitadoras (the sisters who are like the assistants to the president but work with the hermanas) on Tues/Wed. And once again, I stayed in Miraflores to direct my area. At least I had Hermana V with me this time. I think it's a sign. I'm about 90% sure that I'm staying in Miraflores, since the house payment money was in my mission account...so we'll see what happens. But anyway, divisions were good, though Hna G kind of intimidates me. but she's really nice. She gave us good tips. The difficult part was that almost all of our citas didn't go very well. I don't know what got into our investigators that we visited, but they were all really difficult. One of them, who had been pretty positive, said he could never believe in the Book of Mormon. That was the first time I've been dropped by an investigator. That was pretty sad. It didn't affect me attitude towards missionary work, but I just felt bad that he doesn't realize what he's missing out on. But on the plus side, we also had a ton of great experiences this week. We invited a lot of our investigators to be baptized, and if all goes well, Oct. 26th is going to be a REALLY good day!  

I don't know if you remember J, but he was baptized my first week here in Miraflores. Well, his wife isn't a member and was one of those people who believe that Mormons have 7 wives and do all sorts of crazy things. But we've been teaching her (A) and she has been coming to church with J and their kids. On Saturday, we visited them, and felt the Spirit very strongly telling us to invite A to be baptized. We invited her, and she said that she would, assuming she received an answer to her prayers! If all goes well, she'll be baptized on the 26th! It was such a special moment, because we've grown really close to their family, and it makes me SO happy to think that they're on their way to becoming an eternal family!  

We were able to watch the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday in the stake center...in Spanish! Yay! It was awesome! I loved how they focused on baptismal covenants! I felt the spirit so strongly. Though it was pretty funny, because there was a Catholic celebration outside, so there were some interfering noises. Then halfway through, a crazy storm hit and cut the satellite connection, so we had to crowd around the family history center computers. but it was great! I loved seeing the Sister missionary choir from the MTC, too. I saw 2 of my friends in it! That was awesome!  

I love working with Hermana R and Hermana V. It's weird that I'm not the inexperienced one anymore. I actually help with Hermana V's training. We have cambios this Wednesday, so they'll call us tomorrow to let us know who's leaving. The ideal situation would be that no one leaves and that we 'kill off' Hermana R, since this is her last cambio. But I have my suspicions that I'll stay here and continue Hna V's training program. There has been a little too much speculation here this week. Finally we'll know tomorrow! We celebrated what may be our last Pday together by eating Pupusas-- El Salvador is famous for its pupusas. They're SO good! Also, there's a drink called Cacao that is amazing.  

fun fact...Hermana R just said ''Tengo una chela divertida'' Which means she has a fun gringa. Haha. She's always saying that I'm normal and that all the other chelas are weird and have a ton of quirks that don't blend in with Nica culture. I'm trying my best to be Nica, because it makes life easier...and more fun. One of the Bishop's daughters said I'm true pinolera, which is another way to say Nicaraguan. Score! Although I'm pretty sure she was part joking...haha. Mom asked about the water situation. Well, the bishop's family uses purified water to cook with, but they buy ice from little stores...I try not to think about what kind of water they use. But I haven't gotten sick from it!  

Well, I hope all is well at home! I hope you enjoy General Conference! I can't wait to hear what the prophet has to say! We're planning on bringing investigators and less actives to it, so hopefully that works out. I know that Thomas S Monson is a prophet called by God and that he has the authority to recieve revelation to guide this church. It's hard to believe that almost a year ago, he made the announcement that changed my life...which is why I am now in Nicaragua!  

I love you all! 

Love, Hermana MacKay

 

(Posted by her Mom)

 

23 September 2013 - Now A Trio!

Buenas Tardes! 

Well, this week was AWESOME! As always, but this week was especially great.  

I love working in a trio. Hermanas V., R., and I make a great companionship. Hermana V has only been with us for a week, but I feel like we're best friends already. All three of us are always joking around. But we make a pretty good teaching team as well. Although it's true...it's way harder to squeeze into the little rooms that our investigators live in. It makes it more entertaining that way...haha. We decided that we're like Charlie's Angels.   

 

But Hermana V is awesome! She only has a month in the mission, but is doing really well! There is definitely a huge difference between the progression of a Norte who has to learn the language and a latina. Our training schedules are pretty funny. I'm on my last week now, so there won't be many issues, but every week of training, there are specific goals we have to complete...and this past week, I had to direct all the lessons and planning sessions that we had...but Hna V's goal was to begin taking turns in daily planning and also to initiate teaching the Plan of Salvation. But it all worked out! Haha Hermana V said she was scared to return to Miraflores after her first day with us...mostly because we seriously flew from apt to apt because we were running really late. And she said Hna R scared her...which is understandable. She can be pretty intense when she's stressed out. At least Hna V wasn't scared of me...I smile too much for people to be scared of me...haha.  

Well, as a ''Welcome to Miraflores'' gift for Hna V on Tuesday...we woke up to...no running water!! Oh man, it was rough. We decided to study first and see if the water would come back later on in the morning...but it didn't. We had a little bit of water in the pila where we wash our clothes...so each person had to shower with only a gallon of water. Not even exaggerating...it was quite the experience. Then the water came back on once we were all dressed...of course. Haha but it was pretty funny.

 

Then, later that day, Hna V received another encouraging gift when we visited a less active hermana. She always gives us a fresco and picos (bread) after our lessons...so when she offered a drink, we accepted. But this drink was a little different. Here, they love to drink chicha, which I have no idea to describe. Usually, it's chicha de maiz, which is pink. But this time, it was brown and looked more like tamarindo...which I just realized that you've probably never heard of that either. Anyway, when I drank it, I really had to try hard not to spit it all out. It was horrible. It was like drinking vinegar. I tried to drink it super fast so that I wouldn't have to suffer more, and when the Hna noticed, she said ''Oh! Hna MacKay really likes it because she's drinking it faster than the rest!'' Luckily she didn't offer me more. She told us that it was Chicha de pelo de maiz y cana agria...corn hair and bitter sugar cane. It was terrible. But I struggled not to laugh because Hna V seriously looked like she was about to throw up. Apparently that type of chicha is really good for the kidneys. So at least I have healthy kidneys now...that's a relief. 

It rained a ton this week. I think it's finally winter here in Managua. Before I left home, someone told me I'd be eternally wet here in Nica, and now I understand. I'm either wet from the rain, or I'm drenched in sweat. There isn't an in-between. It's a good thing I love it here. In our zone pday last week, we had a ''most likely to...'' activity. Guess who won ''Most likely to be the mother of 15 kids'' without contest? Yup. You should be very proud of me...haha. Cambios are next week and I'm getting a little anxious, since it's really likely that it'll affect my area. Who knows what'll happen. I thought I wanted to leave MF after I finished being trained, but when Hna V came and we realized we're probably only a temporary companionship, I thought about the possibility of leaving my area and the people here and it made me sad. It'll be interesting to see what happens next week, that's for sure!  

We had divisions with Zona Universitaria otra vez this week. And once again, the Lord entrusted Miraflores in my hands. Hermana R and V went to the other zone to work with those hermanas. And I worked with Hna S. (the mission nurse) and Hna Va. (from the CCM). It was an...interesting day...full of tracting, conflicting ideas, and aggressive teaching (not on my part). Since Hna Va. is from Managua, Nica, but the Northern part, she had the idea that I had no idea where I was going and tried to lead us everywhere we went...She didn't trust my ability to dirigir our area. But one thing I learned is that I need the balance between being aggressive and passive when I'm teaching. Because one of my comps almost prompted a few arguments during lessons, and the other just sat there and didn't talk. There was some bible bashing involved. It was bad. When my normal trio was reunited the next day, we were very happy to be with eachothers otra vez. I realized how blessed I am to have Hna R and V. They're great.  

Well, Miraflores is beginning to improve. The area was pretty much dead when I arrived in July because Hna Rivera's comp was sick and they couldn't leave very much. But our agendas were seriously packed this week. If we met someone on Wed, we couldn't set an apt until Thurs of the next week. It's pretty crazy! Our family stalking is beginning to pay off. We had a powerful lesson last night with a new family that we're teaching. They're friends with a menos activo who joined the church last december. They weren't interested in the church at that point and avoided the hnas when they came to teach Danilo. But not, they're super positive. It's true, the Lord prepares people in his own time. They keep calling us angels. They're so awesome! I've definitely learned the importance of smiling and always being happy in lessons. Smiling is natural for me, so when I'm not smiling, people notice. We're in the process of teaching Hermana V how to smile constantly. Haha. But really, we have so many reasons to be smiling every day. I feel so blessed to be here serving the people of Managua. I feel the Spirit daily and meet so many great people every day. Every person is a child of God. I love having a chance to meet as many as possible and introduce the Gospel to them. It's so awesome! 

Well, I hope you all have a great week! I'm sure Karen will have a great time at homecoming! and Good luck to Rachel working in the Primary. Mom- Congrats on the family history success! So awesome! I showed Hna R my pedigree chart that I brought with me...she was really impressed. So fun to hear about the wedding plans for December! It's coming up fast...ish! If I'm still here in Managua, Hna R told me that I'll skype from the family history center. Pretty crazy that by then, I'll have been in the mission for 7 months! It seriously goes so quickly. I turn 4 on Sunday! And I turn 20 in real life so soon! Weird that I'll say goodbye to my teenage years once and for all. 

Love you all!  

Love,

Hna MacKay

(Posted by her Mom)

16 Sept 2013 - Buenas tardes!!

Buenas tardes!! 

Well, this week we had a pday activity as a zone, which was actually just sports and pizza hut. But it's way too hot outside to play sports, but the pizza was so good! I love Nica food, but sometimes I crave American junk food, not gonna lie. Speaking of which, I got a package from Natalie this week...full of chocolate. She's pretty much awesome. Anyway...now for the more interesting parts of the week... 

The craziest thing that happened occured on Saturday night/this morning. On Saturday night, we were leaving our dinner apt and the ZL called. Hna R answered and her reaction scared me a little bit, because they were similar to the times when she told me news that gave me more responsability (like divisions where I lead my area). But luckily this time, it was a little different. Hna R is training again!! While training me! haha it's pretty crazy. A hermana had to go home for knee surgery, but she was training...Hermana V! I don't know if you remember, but she was the newbie that worked with us her first day in the field. So now, we're working as a trio! Mama, hija, and nieta/hijastra (stepdaughter) (the hna that went home was hna R's first hija). Hna V arrived this morning. Our house is pretty cramped yet. Hopefully we'll get a second fridge, because ours is tiny. But Hna V is awesome. It'll be interesting to see how it works to be in a trio. There are only 2 more weeks until cambios, so one of us will probably go somewhere else. There are a few scenarios we've thought of, including me finishing Hna V's training, or possibly going to a different area. It'll be interesting to see what happens.  

This week was crazy. There were days when we were in desperate need of divisions with members because we had too many citas, but other days when all our citas fell through. We've been focusing on contacting, because we're in desperate need of new investigators. We have 7 or so people that we're teaching, but none are progressing. We're obviously going to keep working with them, but we also need to find people who are more positive. But we're working hard! We are still stalking families and are in the process of finding their houses to teach them. So far, no crazy success stories, but that's all right. At least we're planting seeds. We go tracting when our citas fall through. I'm getting better at contacting, but sometimes, I still get stuck. Luckily, I have a very experienced companion to help me out. But I am starting to take more responsability in lessons. Progress! But I still feel like I'm a complete newbie. We'll see. 

The ward is doing well...well at least it's progressing. We had ward counsel yesterday and went pretty well. We still don't have a ward mission leader...but the bishop is very supportive and is working on it. I have yet to speak in church...I think the bishop has his eye on me though. There is an RM who is teaching Gospel Principles now, so that's nice! 

We had divisions on Thurs. with the DL and his comp. They worked with 2 hermanos from the ward and we worked with 2 hermanas from the ward. I was with a returned missionary (one of the bishop's daughters). The 2 companionships of hnas went to all our citas and the elders contacted for 4 hours. I hope we'll be able to see results from that. A. and I contacted a house that was way nicer than the average Nica house. Usually the people in that type of house aren't very nice, but the people answered the door and rushed us in. We were pretty confused until they ushered us into a room where a 100 yr old woman was laying on a bed. She was dying...and her family wanted us to pray for her. So we shared a message about the Atonement and prayed. It was a pretty strange situation. I felt like the woman was going to pass away any minute.The next day, we taught a family with a 11 day old baby. I felt so close heaven in both cases. First, with a woman whose Spirit was about to go to heaven, and next, a new Spirit who had lived with God 11 days earlier. So cool! 

I think that was everything that happened this week. It was a pretty mellow week. It rained a ton! We had a little flooding problem in our house...the windows let in water. Great. I wore my crocs pretty much all week. Good investment. Um...what else...well, the Gospel is TRUE! 

I know that our prayers can be answered if we ask with faith. Muchas veces, the answers don't come right away, but we have a promise that they'll come. We've been teaching the Plan of Salvation a lot recently. I'm so grateful for the blessing that we have to know where we came from and why we're here and where we go after death. I'm so grateful for the blessing to have an eternal promise. I get to be a MacKay forever! Such an awesome blessing...even if I will have a different last name as well. haha. 

I love you all and hope you have an awesome week!  

Love, Hermana MacKay

 

(Posted by her Mom)

9 September 2013 - Hola!

Saludos a todos! 

How's it going in the US? This week has been awesome. We had the Multi-Zona on Tues with 2 other zones. It was so fun! But it was way longer than anticipated. We got there at 9 and got back to our area around 5:30. there are a ton of Hermanas in the other zones. There's a district where there's the DL and his comp, and apart from them, there are only hermanas. President Russell machetero-ed (was really harsh...idk exactly what the translation is...or if there is one) us about church assistance and progress in our areas, but overall, it was good. Our video was definitely the best. Lots of funny clips...one of which Hna R and I are shouting/singing into the camera dramatically. Twas grand.  

In other news...A. was baptized on Saturday! And he and R. (yeah...he's a little late) were confirmed on Sunday. So awesome! Everything went pretty smoothly on Saturday...except the Hno who referred A. to us and was going to baptize A. almost pulled a Princess Diaries on us. He said he'd meet A. at the church, but never showed up. We had to go to his house and bring him. He was super nervous and didn't want to baptize A. . But we built up his confidence and all went well! And A. is going to be a POWERFUL member in our ward. He bore his testimony after he was baptized and almost made me cry. He talked about how the missionaries (aka us) were guided by the Lord and always showed up when he was feeling low and vulnerable to his addiction. And he has a super strong testimony. I love this gospel! It's so true and I love helping others realize that.  

So that was the most exciting part of the week. Our other investigators aren't progressing very much. We're trying to contact more people to fill in the holes now that we're not visiting A. quite as often. Our new tactic is pretty much stalking. Our mission is putting a lot of stress on finding and teaching families, which is difficult in our area. But we have found the solution. We just have to wait outside the grocery store at night and when a family walks out, we wait for a minute and the perseguir them. While singing the mission impossible theme song...haha. We like to pretend we're spies. It's pretty fun. haha.  

So I realized my taste buds haven't changed too much. Hna R. is always commenting on how I drink a ton of milk. And we discovered something quite wonderful. Batidos de banano con leche. Basically, it's an ice shake with bananas, like I made all the time at home. The only problem is that I always am craving them now. So I was thinking...what is typical for american food? Other than hamburgers? I couldn't think of anything. 

I learned a new phrase this past week. It's 'Oh, mis azules!' Which translates to 'Oh my blues!' and is referring to their eyes when there's sun shining really brightly into your eyes. Because lighter coloered eyes are more sensitive. Except it isn't as funny when I say it, since I actually have blue eyes...haha. But I still say it for fun. someone on the street called out to me 'hola pelo de maiz!' He called me hair of corn. At first I thought, 'No! I'm not a blonde!' But then I realized he meant the little hairs on the top of the corn...strange comparison...haha.  

So I sent off a stack of letters that have been culminating over the past 2 months...it's so cheap here! 10 cordobas for a letter to the US...which is about 50 cents. Granted, who knows if it'll actually get there. We'll see. We went shoe shopping today...Hna R. for necesity, me just for fun. It is now a fact. I am a giant here. All the workers in the shoe stores gave me really weird looks when I asked if they had shoes larger than a size 9...haha.  

I only have 3 more weeks of training, then I'm a normal missionary and am expected to know the majority of missionary related things...so crazy! Potentially I could have a new comp on Oct. 2, but I doubt it because Hna R. only has one more transfer after october. So crazy! Time flies here in the mission. It's pretty crazy. So far (from missionary friends) I've only heard from sister Ernenwein. She's doing really well. She's a trainer! So far Melissa and Erica are trainers. So awesome! I love this work! I honestly haven't had a bad day so far. And I don't plan on having one. I've learned that it all depends on perspective. Obviously I'm going to have a ton of hard experiences in the next 15 months, but I plan on making the most of them. We're on this earth to learn from our mistakes and progress. It's a very important part of the Plan of Salvacion. I love it! 

I hope everything is going well at home! How exciting about Bro. Drake! And Wedding plans...woohoo! haha. And the house looks awesome! So weird to see it different! I'm going to come home and all sorts of things will be different. But I'll be different too, so it's all good. I love you all! Hurrah for Israel! 

Love,

Hna MacKay

 

(Posted by her Mom)

2 September 2013 - Saludos de Managua!

Dear familia,  

Hola! How is everything at home? Weird to think that everyone's back at college now. I left when summer started. Now it's over. Time flies! I'm now a 3 yr old! Progress! 

Well, when I was thinking about what happened this week, only one thing came to my mind, and it wasn't particularly spiritual. Here it is... 

I ate COW TONGUE yesterday. As in...tongue...from a cow. Yup. On Saturday night, Hna J called me over to see what she was making for Sunday...there was a full-fledged cow tongue boiling in a pot. And I ate part of it the next day. It actually wasn't that bad. The only gross part was the texture. I kept thinking about our Virginia cows and what they did with their tongues. But hey, it probably won't be my last cow tongue in the next 15 months. I'm becoming more and more Nica every day. Eating meat off the bone, or with my hands.... I realized that gallo pinto in fact is not overrated. It's so good! Especially with tajadas (deep fried plaintain chips). Gotta love Nica food. 

In other news...the work is progressing as always! Lots of sharing the Restored Gospel in all its truthfullness and glory. We've been teaching a lot of lessons, but the results haven't been particularly encouraging. But we always have hope that something will change and the people will be ready to receive our message! We have a handful of people that we're helping progress to baptism, but so far, they need a little more help. But the best news of the week... A. is going to be baptized this week! Assuming all goes well and he keeps his compromisos. But he is so ready! Yesterday, I was thinking about the fast and testimony meeting from the month before, when A. showed up drunk. Yesterday, he was attentive and had his scriptures with him. He has come a long way. He has a really strong testimony and understands the gospel more than a lot of the members in our ward. I'm so excited for him to progress and make sacred covenants with Heavenly Father.  

This week, we were really popular. We went to 3 different birthday parties! Latino birthdays are about the same...cake, piñatas, the works. Haha. It was awesome, though we were obligated to buy gifts for the 2 kids whose birthday parties we went to...that was difficult. For the little girl, we bought a bouncy ball with Sleeping Beauty on it...in honor of Karen. haha. We had plans to go to the parties and contact the people who weren't members, but it didn't work out very well. But this week, we're going to have a ton of Family Home Evenings with members and are inviting them to invite nonmember friends, so hopefully something will work out there. FHEs are really fun with the members. We've made a lot of good friendships with members that way. 

Honestly, not much happened this week. The only other exciting thing that happened was that our district is making a video for a multizone conference tomorrow. It's to the song of You Raise Me Up, but we're all doing crazy or at least funny things. We had Zone Conference on Friday, which was really fun. We have a new ZL who is very animated. Oh! I went to the distribution center today and ran into Hna Merrill, who is from Alpine! Though I never met her...I know that a few people have told me to look out for her. I also met an Elder whose mom I met in the Provo temple last semester. That was pretty random. Haha 

to answer some questions... 

The Spanish is coming along really well. I study almost completely in Spanish and consult my English scriptures when I don't understand a verse. I love personal study. I wish it were more than an hour. There's so much to learn! I also need to learn to play hymns better, because it's still a little clumsy. Sometimes, when the bishop chooses songs that are too difficult, I just lead the music a cappella...haha. Hermana R and I are buddies now that we can communicate. We're always joking around. Someone called us cafe con leche because I'm white and she's latina...so that's a nice little joke now. She only has 2 months left! So crazy!  

Oh! And I found a map of my area and have some more info...it's a little rough though. I'm near Iglesia Señor Lezcano, a little west of it. But that's the closest landmark. Calle 4 de Noviembre goes through my area (the western part). Acuahaulinca is NW, as well as the US embassy. And I'm NE from  Laguna de Asososca. It's like Where's Waldo! 

But that's about it for now! I'm doing really well here in Managua and can't believe it's already been 3 months since I left home! The gospel is so true and I love sharing it! Prayer is real. Heavenly Father hears each and every prayer and will give us the knowledge we need if we ask for it! 

 I hope all is well with you all! I expect engagement pics pronto! I hope Karen is enjoying school...at least tolerating it. Thanks for the update! I love hearing about everyone, even if I don't have time to respond to it!  

Love, 

Hermana MacKay

 

(Posted by her Mom)