14 July 2014 - Bautismoooooooo!

Heyyyyyy! I hope everything is going great! This was a great week. It went by soooo fast...as always. I'm pretty sure I put my mission on fast forward, but I lost the remote control, so it just keeps speeding along and I can't seem to find the remote to slow time down! We're already halfway through July! Craziness. 

On Tuesday, we had divisions with the zone. Funny that Mom asked if we were still doing those...I haven't had divisions since I was in Rosario! Almost 4 months ago! I left the area and went to San Carlos with Hna Gr! Yay for gringas! She only has 4.5 months in the mission, but is pilas! We almost only spoke in Spanish because she wants to get better. It was way fun. I like her area...but I was very happy to be back in Diriomo. The best part of divisions is that it helps you be more positive and usually the results are really good. We should be having divisions with ther Hna leaders tomorrow and i get to go back to Managua...to the area that borders my first area! woohoo! So that'll be fun!

Today we had a zone activity...a BBQ. But i was expecting hamburgers...NOPE! It was more like a girls camp kind of cooking experience. But it was good! It was Guatemalan style food...which was funny because it was about the same as Nica food...but the Guates were happy! haha. We have a good zone.

We've almost only working in the Comarcas now...mostly a place called Pencal. That's where E and M live. We actually went running with E one morning...my comp almost fainted. Latinas aren't particularly sporty people...haha. Lots of times we have to take little motortaxis there because we're short on time. Motortaxis are so cute...they're little red 3 wheeled golf carts that go faster. Fun stuff. We have a few really positive investigators that live over there. On Sunday, we brought an hna named M E to church and the last 30 min of church...her abuela showed up! Fashionably late, i guess! It was a miracle...because Hna I told us that the abuela NEVER lets other religions visit her. But here we are...2 little innocent missionaries with the truth! Daily miracles!

Another miracle of the week...Bautismo! I baptized a greek! Well...just his name is greek, though it's spelled U. He's single and living with his family...he was actually studying with the Jehovahs witnesses but randomly stopped...(THE SPIRIT INTERVENED) and we contacted his house one day...and the next Sunday he appeared at church and hasn't missed since! He's awesome. He was the only one baptized on Saturday...so everything was a little less stressful...though this guy is SOOOO skinny...we had to go find safety pins so his pants would stay on...haha.

I tried my first Nacatamale on Sunday morning! It's a typical Nica meal....a banana leaf with rice, masa, and veggies inside. It wasn't my favorite, but it was decent...but HUGE! I can strike that one off my mission bucket list...haha. Always a good time.

Changes are coming up soon...noooo! I'm in danger of changes, but we'll see what happens! I'll go where He wants me to go. But I'd love to stay in Diriomo one more change! We've been singing the hymn ''I'll go where you want me to go'' a lot lately, and it has made me think about the words...and it really applies to me right now..and for the rest of my life.. 

It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle's front

My Lord will have need of me...

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I'll go where you want me to go...to NICARAGUA!

Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand'rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I'll say what you want me to say.

Amen and Amen. Haha. I love it. And it's the truth. the Lord has plans for us...we just need to be willing and He'll tell us what to do! I loveyou all.. have a great week!

Hermana MacKay

7 July 2014 - Nicaragua is a beautiful place.

Hellooooooooo! We're starting week 2 of July! Craziness! Before we know it everyone will be back in school and back to normal...it's strange how fast summer passes when you just watch it pass from the sidelines...actually I'm not even watching it...just hearing about it. 

This week was pretty good! Now that our most positive investigators are baptized, the work seems a little slower than usual, but we're getting there! We turned into Dora the Explorer this week and branched out into little townships...they call them comarcas here...that are kind of far away, but are fun! The people there are so humble. We were talking to a man that has his little house and he was explaining his lifestyle...he said that the city people call him a hillbilly, but they're the ones that have to pay for everything. If he needs firewood, he can go find some in his yard. If he's hungry, he goes to pick some mangos from his mango tree. He had a good point. It kind of reminded me of the difference between VA and UT neighborhood life...buy not quite as drastic of a difference..haha. But afterwards he gave us a huge bag of avocados and mangos to prove his point. The best part was that we were totally out of food and it was Sunday. Hallelujah! I seriously love my area. It is BEAUTIFUL! Nicaragua truly is a beautiful place.

Our most positive investigator is a man named U. He's great! We contacted his house one day and invited him to church...and he showed up that Sunday! And ever since, we have been teaching him. He went to E and M's baptism and ever since, he has been way excited to be baptized this Saturday! Hopefully everything goes well! It's interesting because he was ABOUT to be baptized by the Jehovah's Witnesses when he had to move to Diriomo and lost contact, so it has been interesting explaining the Plan of Salvation to him. 

This week, Hna T and I decided that we are sick of the usual food that we eat for breakfast...so we've been making tortillas for breakfast! Well, I try to make the tortillas, and then Hna Tadeo corrects them...or just laughs at how oddly shaped mine turn out. But the taste is the same! But I'm good at making guacamole! I remember hating corn tortillas at home...but now I love them! So good!

The branch is...coming along...there are some struggles with the new leadership, but that was to be expected. The church is growing, and no matter what, God will bring more people into His church. It really is the truth! 

It sounds like 4th of July was fun! I was thinking about the US that day...and wore red white and blue to district meeting...Go USA! haha. Oh, speaking of district meeting...I had to teach. Yaaaaay. But it was weird because we had district meeting in Masaya with all the zones, because we had a mini meeting after normal district meeting. But the nerve wracking part was the the APs sat in on my lesson. No pressure there. But it was fine. I talked about helping investigators resolve their doubts...I used an idea that Mark gave me and it worked out! 

Hna T's training is coming to an end...it seems as though her training went WAY faster than mine did when I first started. We've been having a lot of fun together. Hopefully we'll get to stay together for another change, but who knows what'll happen. Changes are on the 23rd...dun dun dun! 

Well, I am doing well...living the good life! I know that this church is the Church of Jesus Christ and while all churches teach off Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the ONLY one that has the authority act in His name. 

I love where I am and what I'm doing. Thanks for all your support! Love you!

Hermana MacKay

30 June 2014 - June is sliding out the door...

Hi! I hope everything is going well at home! Im doing well...better than well, actually! I can't believe that July is...well, tomorrow! How did that happen? Hard to believe! 

Have you ever had one of those moments when you're just walking around and it hits you that you're perfectly happy? Well, that has been happening to me quite often...especially this week! I'll just be walking the streets of Diriomo when it hits me that I really love what I'm doing...and where I am. This is such an awesome time to be alive! This week was actually pretty rainy, because this time the rainy season is here for real! So even the rain couldn't get me down. It was pretty great.

But that being said, this week was a bit roller coasterish...but it all ended well! We tried soo hard to reach the district goal of 30, but we couldn't force people to be baptized...hopefully they'll get there soon! But we did see lots of miracles! And even though our district didn't reach our goal, our entire mission did! Pres. Russell set the high goal for this month as 200 baptisms...and WE DID IT! Exactly 200  Nicaraguans were baptized in the month of June! Woooo! So awesome! And 3 of those Nicaraguans were ones that I taught! Spoiler alert...we had baptisms this week! yay! 

So in the beginning of the week, E didn't want to be baptized on the 28th, which was her goal. She knew that the church was true, but wanted more time...she also wanted her mom's permission...although her mom lives in Costa Rica. One day, we'd visit her and she'd be really positive, then the next day, she'd say no...so that was a little stressful...haha. Then on Wed., I had a feeling that we should call her...and she said she had decided...and she wanted to be baptized...then the next day we visited her and she told us that she had called her mom to tell her...but her mom said no. She was really disappointed...and we felt bad for her too. She said that she had been prayed for help and had expected her mom to call 2 seconds later to tell her to change her mind. But that didn't happen. BUT in the end, she had the faith to act on her answer anyway and be baptized on Saturday! (Her grandma is her legal guardian, so she signed the paper). When E gave us her final decision, she told her abuela that ''I think I just made the best decision in my life''. So sweet! AND miracle number 2 is that her 13 yr old cousin, M, who lives with her told us on Thursday that he wanted to be baptized too! He had already gone to church before, so...we invited him to be baptized on the 28th! And he said yes! E and M are grandkids of Hna I, who has a daughter on a mission, but other than her, is the only member in her family. She was SOOOOO happy! Now there are 4 members in her family! The baptism was so special! Everything worked out so well! i love this work so much!

So that was the most exciting thing that happened this week...although we did have the new missionaries training meeting this week...we went to Managua! And on the way there, I talked to the lady sitting next to me and helped her with her little granddaughter...and when I was about to get off, she gave me 4 avocados. Life is good. Haha. The meeting went well. All the missionaries that come with Hna T and their trainers were there. I may be biased, but Hna T is way ahead of the others. That's my hija! haha. It was fun to see everyone. It feels like just yesterday I was at that same meeting with Hna R. But that was almost a yr ago!

So in my personal study, I found something really interesting in Leviticus...I would like to dedicate a scripture to Dad. It's Leviticus 13 verse 41

41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.

This scripture made me laugh...and think of Dad. Well, you're forehead bald, Dad, but at least you're clean! Haha love you!

That was about it for this week...I forgot to mention a while ago that I had to eat cow tongue again...but other than that, nothing too crazy has happened! An Hna wants to make iguana soup for us...oh dear. Bring it on! Or maybe not...haha.

Well, I hope you have a great week! Happy 4th of July!!! I'll try to wear red white and blue on Friday...haha. Love you!

Hermana MacKay

23 June 2014 - La hermana gringa es alegre

Hey!!!!!

Well, this week sped right on by...as always. But it was a good week! Lots of hard work...laughter...planning...prayer...the works!! 

Our district has a really high goal for this month...to help 30 people follow Christ's example and be baptized! The norm is about 15 baptisms a month in my district.But we are doing everything possible to reach the goal! We decided to work as a team and visit all the possibilities of each area...it helped a ton because the investigators saw that there were more than just 2 people supporting them. It was a really cool experience. I think we sang ''Nearer My God to Thee'' about 20 times one day...because that's the only song that socio and the elders can sing different parts...haha. One of the elders told me that after our group visit, one of his investigators told him that ''la hermana gringa es alegre''...meaning that the gringa sister is really happy....''' haha. It's a pretty nice complement here. That's probably why almost every investigator that i met in the other areas asked me to say the closing prayer...haha.

Soooooooooo...I'm thinking we should change the words to the primary song that talks about saturday...it should be more like ''saturday is a special day, it¡s the day we help people be baptized...'' haha. Because really, Saturdays in the mission have potential to be amazing! And this Saturday was pretty great! Rather stressful getting everything arranged, but in the end, it all worked out, because Hermano D was baptized!! We'd been working with him ever since Hna T got here. He is a single 54 yr old who the Lord has been preparing for the past 8 months...ever since he stopped drinking alcohol and starting looking for the truth! And we helped him find it! The funny thing is that he burned his hand pretty bad a few days before his baptism..and almost used it as an excuse, but we solved the problem by covering his hand with a plastic bag, since the doc said he couldn't get his hand wet. He just hid his hand in the pictures...haha. In total,there were 4 baptisms from my district...our branch is growing little by little! 

Actually, the branch had a few changes this week. Sunday was branch conference and they announced the release of the branch president, who didn't live in Diriomo in the first place, and called the first branch president who actually lives in Diriomo! It's a pretty big deal! Next step...a real church building! Hopefully sooner rather than later! Oh and the choir debut went pretty welll...it turns out i didn't have to direct...but it was rather...special...i wouldn't say Utah ward choir worthy, but you know...we produced...noise. I just had to sing really loud.

Other interesting things of the week...let's see...that was about it. The World Cup is pretty big over here. Gotta love futbol! It is starting to be rainier. It has actually gotten a little cooler here...yaaaaaaaay! That's a happy thing! I just have to wear my Crocs and I am good to go..although my umbrella has gotten way rusty on the inside. It just has to hold up 5 more months! 

Hna T is doing great. She could totally train after she finishes her training in 4 weeks. Changes meeting is exactly a month from today. Pretty crazy. Hna Tadeo's english is starting to progress...I am proud to say that the first sentence that she learned was ''I like cheese.'' Yep. But the second one was more profound...''I want to baptize and retain''. Asi es! haha

Funny story...we went to Masaya today and there happens to be a larger version of the grocery store that we go to in that area...so we went not just to Pali...but MAXI'Pali...which is like a mini version of Walmart. I felt so overwhelmed...and lost. We may have problems when I get home! haha

Well it sounds like everything is going great at home! I can't believe that we're already finishing up June! the 4th of July is already coming up! Weird! Time flies when you're having fun! Because I truly am having fun! I love what I'm doing. It's awesome! I read a quote in PMG that says that ''missionary work is love in action''. And it's that truth! I am sharing this love that I have for my Savior with everyone...and it is so fulfilling!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Hermana MacKay

16 June 2014 - RIP Zona Los Pueblos

Hey! Well this was a pretty solid week! Lots of walking involved...it's like that primary song about pioneers...missionariessss sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked. Haha But it was a great week, although nothing crazy exciting happened.

Cambios were this past week. Our district is almost the same, but one of the elders got his Visa for his mission in Mexico, so he left and a new elder came...he has about 5 months in the mission. He's way cool. I seriously love my district. We're a little ragamuffin team that has fun while getting results...haah. BUT the crazy part was that they closed 2 zones...I have no idea why. Zona Sandino is now part of Zona Managua...and Zona Los Pueblos (where I am) is now part of Zona Masaya! So I didn't have changes, but I'm now in a different zone. I was kind of sad when they told me, because Los Pueblos was a little zone that baptized a lot, but now we're part of a zone with 28 people, so we're expected to have more results. Oh well. The perk is that a lot of my friends are in Masaya..and there are WAY more sisters! there were only 4 elders in masaya before. Now it's more balanced out. It'll be good. One of our ZLs is the same and the other seems pretty cool.

So remember how I mentioned the branch choir? yeah...guess who became the director of said choir. Yep. You guessed right...ME! Haha. The branch pres. was in charge of it before, but on Fri, when everyone went to practice, he had to do an interview so he asked me to help...then afterwards he said he wouldn't be able to direct the choir and asked me to. Oh dear. Haha The things i get myself into. But we're singing 2 songs. I am a Child of God and one called A Ti, Señor...I've heard it in English before but I have no idea what it's called. But the second one is SO high! It's gonna be interesting. Branch conference is this weekend, so we'll see how it all goes.

We've been working hard with the people we found last week. They live in a place called the Pencal, which isn't insanely far, but it's still a decent walk. It's a more agricultural part, which means all the people give us free fruit. YAY! I love me some fruit! haha There are some really positive people...some have even gone to church before but lost contact with the missionaries when they sent hermanas here about a year ago. It's gonna be good. I have big plans for my area. Someone told me that my area didn't baptize very much, but that is a LIE because with a little hard work, everything is possible.

We've been working with a 15 yr old named E. Her grandma and aunt are members, but no one else in her family. She has some struggles with praying and looking for an answer...but I know that she will receive an answer and we are trying to help her. It was pretty hard to gain her trust, but then  my comp started joking about how I would end up marrying a Nicaraguan (that crazy girl) and everyone ended up dying of laughter...and now we're good friends...haha. She could be baptized whenever she wants...so hopefully sooner than later!

I have been able to feel the Spirit working with us this week. It's really cool to see how He guides and protects us. We just have to pay close attention and we will receive the answers and help that we need! A lot of times I honestly have no idea what to say to people, but the Spirit is always there to step in when I need help. I just have to open my mouth and the words come.

Well, I'm glad that Father's Day went well! Hard to believe that we're already halfway through June. Craziness! I hope you all have a great week! Love you! Cuidense!

Hermana MacKay

9 June 2014 - Breaking Records...

Hey!!!

Well, this was a pretty interesting week. I've definitely learned that the Lord tries us before he can lift us up. But don't worry, my entire week wasn't a mess...just one day. haha. We'll get there. The weeks are passing by sooooo fast...yet it seems as though so much happens in that little span of time. This week I have died laughing...but have also randomly started speaking english to my companion without realizing it...I think I'm losing it! haha

We'll start with Tuesday. We were tricked by our branch president. He told the elders that the weekly correlacion misional meeting would be an hour later than scheduled, BUT didn't tell us. Wanna know why? Because he wanted Hna T and I to participate in the branch choir for branch conference that takes place in a few weeks. Wanna hear a secret? Latinos can't sing. They try...but 9 out of 10 latinos can not sing at all. My comp is that one random latina that actually can. So we're now the stars of branch choir...it's rather hilarious. Somehow Nicaragua has turned me into a soprano...at first i thought i had finally figured out how to sing high...but actually i think it's because everyone here sings monotone really low...haha. oh well...haha. It'll be...pretty? haha.

Then...the next few days were normal...working hard...getting burnt to the crisp. I really thought that I was done getting fried...and everytime i think that...I find that my neck is another shade darker. Weird. The hard rain hasn't arrived completely yet, which means bean prices are way up...causing grand scandals here in every Nicaraguan household. Maybe gallo pinto will become...just rice...haha.

This week we worked really hard to get people to commit to go to church. We promised blessings, we promised they wouldn't receive said blessings if they didn't go...we made little reminder notes and made them sign that they commited to go...lots of little things that other missionaries have done and have had success. Well, we tried soooo hard to get people to go to church...but no one came. It was such a letdown. I felt so deceived by everyone I teach. But then...Socio to the rescue! No, he didn't bring a truckload of people to church, but next week...maybe...haha. After church, he called and said he wanted to help us, so we worked with him and 2 of the elders from my district and we went to a part of my area that I'd never gone before....and contacted THE WORLD! Literally. We contacted 165 people...and usually we only contact 20 a day. We broke Socio's old record of 157. It was insane, but so fun! We found lots of new possibilites and I feel so much better about my area now. Sometimes, we just need to change our perspective. There are always people to teach. I mean, in 1 Nefi 3 7, it says it clearly. The Lord giveth no commandment except he prepare a way...and He has commanded me to teach here in Diriomo. And He is always helping us. It was a really humbling experience.

 This week in personal study, I found an awesome scripture that I've been sharing with investigators who are struggling with temptations among other things. It's about Satan. In 2 Nefi 24´16 and 17.  16 Te mirarán ^ade cerca los que te vieren, y te contemplarán y dirán: ¿Es éste el hombre que hizo temblar la tierra, que sacudió los reinos;

  17 que hizo del mundo un desierto, y destruyó sus ciudades, y nunca abrió la cárcel a sus presos?

So basically it's saying that Satan is weak...and one day, we'll realize that and be in shock that that little thing made us fall so many times. It has been helping my investigators understand that they are in complete control if they always trust in God and His plan. I thought it was pretty cool. My comp keeps reminding me how i said it the first time...''el es CHIQUITO!!!!''. Haha. Well, it was funny.

I also learned how to make Nicaraguan food this week! Yay! Basically, it's a lot of beans, rice, plantains, and oil. nothing too complicated. But it was way fun! I also learned how to make pupusas salvadoreñas...so no worries, Mark, I'll know how to make them when I get home. We'll have a latin feast.

Well, that is pretty much my week. Changes are this week, but I think I'm safe. My district will probably change though, because we've all been together for a long time. Which is sad, because I love my district. Distrito los brujos!

That's so crazy that J is coming to my mission! So weird. Maybe he'll come to Zona Los Pueblos!

I hope you all have a wonderful week...and HAPPY FATHER's DAY DAD! I made a card for you a while ago, but it is still waiting on my desk until I am able to track down the post office. one day...haha. I hope you have a great day! It feels like just yesterday I was in the CCM feeling guilty because I didn't send a card for father's day. Time flies when you're having fun!

Love you all!

Hermana MacKay

2 June 2014 - ONE YEAR.

Hey! This week seriously sped by. I've heard that the last 6 months are the fastest...and I guess it's already starting!

Speaking of which, I mentioned it last week, but now it's official...ONE YEAR! Woooooo! So crazy. I remember when I was first starting and I met hermanas that had a year in the mission and I thought...''wow...they are so far ahead of me.'' But I was wrong, because the time goes by fast. Although I can't even mention how much I have learned and grown in that time. On Thursday, I was reflecting on my mission and looking through my mission pics...it was pretty nostalgic. I even put on the same clothes that I wore the day I left home and took a pic and compared it with my pics that we'd taken athome. There is quite a difference...haha. 

This was a good week...it ended so fast! 

I don't think I mentioned it, but last Sunday I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting...I don't know how, but I managed to go a year without having to speak in church on the mission! But then to make up for it, the first counselor called me 15 min before Sacrament meeting to ask if I could speak. Yay! Haha at least the topic was baptism, which is quite easy, since I teach about that every day. It was weird speaking in front of everyone in Spanish though! It went well. And there were a TON of investigators at church last week, so it was perfect.

Although this sunday was not quite as productive. There was a torrential rainstorm that hit on Saturday night and didnt stop until 8¨00 am on Sunday. I was praying so hard that the rain would stop so that people would go to church. Prayer works! Even for little things like that! Although not too many people went because everything was coated in mud. Oh well. I love mud...well,at leastI love my Crocs that protect me from mud. 

In Nicaragua, they celebrate Mother's Day on May 30th, which was this Friday. It was quite the scene when we were on our way back from Zone Conference in Masaya seeing everyone walking around with a tiny cake to give to their mom. I think they celebrate Mother's Day more than normal birthdays here. On Thursday, our branch had a Mother's Day party...it was so fun. I love church activities here because there is always the talent show part where the people get all dressed up in typical latino dresses and dance folklorico. It's way cool. Socio was the DJ...way funny. Then on Fri, on actual Mother's Day, Hermana T bought me a little cake too! Because I'm her mother in the mission...haha. So cute. She's so great. She is always walking around singing hymns...her dream is to learn ''Praise to the Man'' in English. I think we canmake that one work! Haha

I haven't heard too much about my old areas. Actually they sent elders to my first area in Managua! Crazy. Hna N is still in Rosario. I hear from her every once in a while. I still miss Rosario so much! T wrote me a little note and Hna N sent it to me. Tatiana is so cute. She's like my little Nicaraguan sister.

We've got some pretty positive investigators, but this week, it has been pretty hard to track people down because everyone went to other parts to visit their mothers. But the Lord really is preparing these people...we just have to help them realize that they are ready for the next step...something that is hard for them to accept. But we're getting there! It's really cool to see how investigators progress. They're all so different...each on has different needs. There really isn't a set formula on how to help them. But that's why we have the Spirit with us. We taught the granddaughter of a member and invited her to be baptized and when she said yes, the abuela started crying out of joy...she's the only member in her family. It was so sweet!

This week I realized that I usually teach people who are over twice my age. That's kind of weird to think about...since usually the person who is older is the teacher. But here I am teaching a bunch of 40 and 50 yr olds..and they don't even notice the age difference...I mean obviously it's there, but as representatives of Jesus Christ, it really doesn't matter. I have been called by a prophet to represent Jesus Christ. My words and His words. And the Spirit testifies of the truth. It truly is amazing. 

I know that this work is true. It is the Lord's work and it progresses daily, even when the area seems rough, the Lord is always preparing people. And it's my job to go find them!

I hope you have a great week! Happy Summer!

Love,

Hermana MacKay