We Got Wet (12-22-14)

FELIZ NATAL TCHE!!!

Merry Christmas!!!  Well this week was an action filled one.  I got a new comp, Elder Dartora from Santa Caterina Brasil, and he is sweet.  We get along great and we work really good together.  So I feel like that we are going to do great things this transfer.  And we both got our Christmas packages!!!!  SO MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US!!!

This week we hit the doors looking for people and we found some cool and super positive potentials.  So that was super great.  And we also had a zone meeting Saturday.  It was supposed to be interviews with President Castro, but one of his counselors, President Alves, died super suddenly.  Which is super sad because he was a stud!  I loved his trainings in zone conference.  So we just had a regular zone meeting, except for the sisters of Dom Pedrito.  But on the way home a storm hit.  A BIG ONE!!!  And we had no rain gear.  So what do we do?  RUN FOREST RUN!!!  And run we did, but it didn't help.  We got soaked to the bone.  I have never been this wet before.  THERE WERE LAKES IN MY SHOES!!!!  LAKES!!!!  There was no part of me that was dry, and even some of our stuff in our bags got wet.  So Saturday was really fun.

But the most special part of the week was that we did caroling for the various wards.  And it was super special.  We weren't teaching so our numbers may have been a little down, but it made so many people happy, especially for the nursing home we went to.  So I'm glad to have had the opportunity to do that!

Well that's all I got for this week!!!  FELIZ NATAL!!!  And I love ya'll!!!!

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay and his zone (except for Dom Pedrito)

 The Elder's Christmas boxes!!!!!

The Elders completely drenched!!!

Another Transfer Gone. AND 9 MONTHS STRONG!!! (12-15-14)

Oi gente!

Well another transfer has past and I only have 3 left after this one.  And I am staying in Bage!!!  Laranjeiras e ceu!!!  And Elder Berssa is leaving for Pelotas tomorrow.  He needed to leave, he was dying here haha.  Sometimes you just got to change the scenery and knock new doors.  But my new comp is Elder Dartora, and I am still DL.  Elder Dartora is pretty cool, from what I know of him. I have only talked with him a bit at zone conferences.  But this next transfer will be legit!!!  Super excited!!!  And Dom Pedrito almost stayed the same.  It is the only area with a trio, so that will be interesting.

But this week was one of the most stressful of my life.  Our baptism for the ward and the brother of Pres. Tiago started almost 2 hours late.  I wanted to bang my head against the wall, lots and lots of times.  But it turned out good, and I met a sweet less active named Vinicius, and his nonmember wife Juliane.  They are sweet.  He wants to come back to church and they want to marry and she wants to be baptized!!!  I really think they will be married this transfer!!!  So that would be sweet.  Other than that this week was long,...lots of people not being home, or not accepting.  But I had a trip to Dom Pedrito that was really great, but this week will be better.  I can feel it.  And this transfer will be great!!!!  FILLED WITH MIRACLES!!!

Well that's about all I got for ya'll.  I love ya'll, and the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!!!  GOTTA LOVE BUDDY THE ELF!!!

Tchau Tchau,

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay (far right) with other Elder's in Candiota

 A rat that Earle's cat killed

Elder Mackay & Elder Berssa with a member family (Dalilo e Rose)

Eu Me Sinto Como Frosty O Boneco De Neve (12-8-14)

Ola queridos!!!

Well this week was a great one.  SUPER FREAKING HOT, but super good.  We had some difficulty finding early in the week, but the zone leaders gave some great training in zone meeting about teaching short lessons that are powerful.  And it worked like a charm!!!  It helped so much!!!!  And the whole zone has seen miracles from it!!!  So this month of Dezembro will be a miracle filled one!!!  Earle and Fatima are also studs.  Fatima is telling her prima about the gospel and gave her a Book of Mormon and everything!!!  I freaking love recent converts!!!  And Earle helps us by visiting people when he isn't taking a class to get his drivers license.  So he is a stud.  Transfers are next week and we are pretty sure that Elder Berssa is leaving, and that I will train.  I WANT TO TRAIN SO BAD!!!!  I want a son hahaha!  But we shall see here in a week.  Man this transfer just flew by!!!  Well I love ya'll and stay classy.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD AND MY SISTER ERIN!!!

Com amor,

Elder Mackay

Conferencia Das Zonas Com O Poderoso Elder Torgan (12-1-14)

Oi Gente!!!

This week was really great.  I don't like how the weeks fly by.  I am starting to run out of weeks haha.  Seven months and that's it, but it was a really good week.  WE spent a lot of time finding because we baptized all of our investigators.  But we talked with a ton of people and we found some cool families that have some sweet potential.  One of those families stopped us and were all like, VISIT TOMORROW!!!  So that was sweet.  That doesn't happen much and the lesson was super sweet.

But the best part of the week was going to Pelotas yet again for zone conference where an area seventy was doing a mission tour.  Elder Moroni Torgan, he is sweet.  And it was great to see the height difference between him and President Castro.  Pres. Castro is a short guy but he didn't even come to the chest of Elder Torgan.  HE IS HUGE!!!  And also former leader of the Brazilian FBI and mission Pres. in Portugal.  He kind of threw down on missionaries making excuses to not work and disobedience.  But he was a powerful speaker.  I was really touched by his words and it really changed the way that I look at this ward that has no bishop and only four active Melchizedek priesthood holders.  So this week we are going to change the way we look at this ward and we will see more miracles here!!!

Also Earle and David got the priesthood yesterday.  That was sweet.

Well that was about all that happened this week.  I love ya'll and ya'll stay classy!!!

Elder Mackay

 E natal tche!!!

 Elder Mackay & Elder Berssa in downtown Bage

Triple baptism. BAPTISM SPREE!!! (11-24-14)

Oi Guris,

Well this week was pretty great.  I got to go to Dom Pedrito again and have a district meeting which went pretty well.  It was great to see those people again, and better yet, they said I got skinnier!!!  So that is progress.  And best of all we had 3 baptisms this week...David, Earle and Fatima.  You may notice that neither I or Elder Berssa did the baptisms, but that's cool.  One of the Elders that found Earle e Fatima, (Elder Martinez) came up from Pelotas to do the baptism and David asked his girlfriend's dad to do it.  But it was still awesome!!!  And yesterday at the confirmations it was super sweet.  The Spirit was strong and there were quite a few less actives there so hopefully they felt it and will keep coming.  But I did the confirmation for Earle and Elder Berssa did the others.  But it was a moment that I will never forget in my life.  And this week will be a lot of hitting the streets and finding more people to teach because now we got no one haha.  But it will be great.  And we got zone conference with an area seventy Saturday so that will be great.  It will be all the missionaries that aren't in Porto Alegre, so half the mission.  So that will be sweet!!!

Well I loves ya'll and stay classy!!!

Elder Mackay

 Nos E Earle e Fatima

 Nos e David

Tudo Mundo

We Gots the Baptisms (11-17-14)

Como Vai Guris?

This week was pretty good.  I gave my very first district meeting training this week.  It went well, at least that's what they told me.  It helped some of the sisters SO THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!!!  And EARLE E FATIMA GOT MARRIED FRIDAY!!!!!  WHOOOOOO and we had churrasco with them!!!!!  So that was pretty great.  And they are getting baptized this Saturday, along with David.  He is pretty sweet too.  So this Saturday is going to be busy, na verdade, this whole week is going to be busy.  District meeting in DP, divisions with the LZ's, baptisms.  IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT!!!  And this week Elder Berssa and I are going to really try to improve our finding and working with members.  It is not super bad but not great haha.  But this past week was sweet.  And since it is getting hot our house is getting invaded by spiders!  THERE ARE A TON OF THEM!!!  But don't worry...me and my broom will kill them all.  I have learned that Brazilians don't like to kill bugs, but I'm from 'Murica so I kill ALL THE BUGS!!! haha.

Well that's about all I got.  I love ya'll.  Ya'll stay classy.  And it doesn't feel like Christmas...there is no snow! :(  LOVE YA'LL!!!

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay's district.

Dom Pedrito ou seja a terra de abundancia!!!

A snake they found alive on their way to almoco one day.

Come Great Power Comes Great Responsibility (11-10-14)

Ola!!!

Well transfers are in and the changes have been made.  And there were actually not that many changes to the zona Bage.  I am staying here in Laranjeiras and Elder Berssa, but I am now DISTRICT LEADER!!!  And my district is Laranjeiras and..........Dom Pedrito!!!  That's right.  I get to visit the greatest place ever!!!  Not that my current area is bad, because it isn't, but it is DOM PEDRITO!!!  So yeah, pray for me.  I have no idea how to be LD haha.

But this week was great!  We didn't do a lot of work in Laranjeiras.  This past weekend there was an open house for the only usable chapel in Bage (the stake center is being remodeled) and we spent Thurs and Fri passing our invitations to EVERYBODY!!!  Friday we talked to 73 people!!!  It was nuts.  But Earle and Fatima are doing nicely and they are going today to mark a date to get married!!!  Hopefully it is for this week so that they can get baptized Friday!!!  But if not they are getting baptized next Saturday, the 22nd.  They are so ready to get baptized.  THEY EVEN WANT TO HELP CLEAN THE CHURCH!!!  THEY ARE GOLDEN!!  HAHA

Other than that I found a spider with a bright green butt and a giant slug that I killed with salt.  That was fun.

Well that's all I got for this week!  Ya'll are studs, stay classy!  Eu os amo!!!

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay's old district

The spider of death

FELIZ ANIVERSARIO PRA MIM!!! (11-3-14)

Ola!!!

So it was my birthday!! And it was great.  A lot of contacts not home but a sweet dinner with members, so that was sick.  And this week was also great...Earle and Fatima STOPPED DRINKING CAFE!!!!!  And they are getting married this week so they are still on track for baptism the 15th!!!  So that is sweet.  They are legit.  And I also went on a division with my lider de distrito and that was sweet.  I was able to do some great work over there in Castelo (his area) even though it was just a ton of contacts haha.  Elder Campbell is cool haha.  We are also finding and teaching some cool people but they just aren't coming to church!  So we are trying to open their eyes to the necessity of church.

But other than that Elder Berssa and I just took some sweet fotos in the park today!!!  Right before it rained so that was good.

Well that's all I can think of.  Sometimes our life is just a lot of walking around and knocking doors haha.  Mas eu amo voces!!!

Elder Mackay

 Birthday dinner

 Elder Mackay on a metal horse

Elder Mackay & Elder Berssa on a ship

Umidade Realmente Faz Uma Diferencia! NOSSA!!! (10-27-14)

Oi Gente!!!

Well as you see from the title, it is hot, but it is only like 80 or so, but it feels so much hotter than that.  And to make things worse, this is my 3rd summer on my mission.  HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE !?!?!?  haha.  Visa waiter problems.

But this semana was really great.  We had conferencia das zonas em Pelotas.  That was really great.  I love zone conference!!  I always learn so much.  And I got to see good ol' Elder Richardson again.  That was a ball.  And we taught some good lessons but no one came to church, :( but its alright...we got this week!!  And Earle e Fatima had to remarcar their baptismal date.  They didn't stop drinking cafe Saturday, so their new date is the 15th of Novembro.  I just hope that I'm still here.  Transfers are that week.  But other than that not much happened.  But this week is NEU ANIVERSARIO!!!!  21!!!! And I will be having a churrasco with PRESIDENT TIAGO!!!  Our Stake President...he is DA BOMB!!!

But yeah...stay classy ya'll, love ya'll, and ate mais!!!

Elder Mackay

 The van to Pelotas

 Elder Mackay & Elder Richardson and their tribute to E. 'iongi

 Their freezer before they cleaned it

SAI DAI CHUVA MALDITA!!!! (10-20-14)

Well Howdy.

This week was yet another of rain and rain.  And this was worse than last week...sheets of rain!  But there was some good things that came from the rain.  So the week before last we were looking for menou ativos.  And as usual they have moved.  But the people that live there accepted our message and we made a return visit, Ta, so we get there and it was that family and that of her sister who lives next door.  AND THEY ARE ALL ELECT!!!  I FEEL LIKE MIDAS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL GOLD!!!!!  They ALL accepted to be baptized the 22nd of November which is 5 that are of age.  So legit.  I haven't felt that way in a first lesson since Alex.  But unfortunately they didn't come to church yesterday.  Mas tudo bem.  And Earle e Fatima are still good.  But they have stopped reading the Book of Mormon, so we talked about personal revelation and they agreed and will try harder to get back in the habit of reading again.  They are sweet!  And alem disso I don't have much.  And unfortunately I don't have any new fotos, but this week is zone conference so I will have more this next week.

Ya'll stay classy!!!

Elder Mackay

Another rainy week coming straight from Bage!!! (10-13-14)

Ola!

Well yes, it rained, and rained, but I didn't get too wet.  But this week had a special event.  EARLE AND FATIMA WENT TO THE CARTORIO AND PUT IN THEIR PAPERS TO MARRY!!!!!!!!!!  So after Nov. 2 they can marry and are right on track to get baptized 8 de Novembro.  AHHHHHH so awesome!!!!!  Other than that we had a FHE with a member that was also a bday party for her slightly slow roommate, so that was interesting, but fun.  Brazilians sure love them some birthdays.

We also had a zone meeting which was really good and we got to stay with the sisters of Dom Pedrito and have almoco at the chapel because we only have one zone leader and our almoco fell through, but that was super sweet.  Those sisters are super cool.  I am happy that they are there taking care of Dom Pedrito.  One of the noobs, is from South Jordan (UT) and she teaches her Brazilian comp things like, "go take a shower you filthy animal."  It is hilarious.  But other than that not much happened.  But I gots pictures!!!!!

And that's all I gots for ya'll.  Have a smashing week and ate mais!!!

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay, Elder Berssa & the birthday lady

Elder Mackay & Elder Berssa

VIRA A BONE MAS NAO A CABESA!!!! (10-6-14)

OI!!!!!

Well the title is a political slogan.  It is election time here that ended yesterday!!!!!  No more of those annoying songs!!!!  But yeah, voting is mandatory here, and it looked like the apocalypse.  Like there were cards all over the roads and everyone gathering at schools and such.  It was weird.

But this week was pretty good.  We taught some lessons, went to the LZ (Zone Leaders) area and helped them find people and had general conference!!!!!  Just to start, I LOVE THIS NEW THING WHERE THEY TALK IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES!!!!!  That is sweet I think.  But I loved the talks of Richard G. Scott and Jorg Kliegbat and the Brazilian whose name escapes me.  I loved how the Brazilian based his talk on this "sera que as promessas em sua bencao patriarcal acontecerao a maneira voce esta vivendo sua vida?"  BAH MEU!!!  Deep stuff!  LOVED IT!!!

Well that is all I got for this week.  I am really liking it here in Bage.  I love my district and the people in this area!!!  And we will have the first part of a wedding this week!!!  Earle e Fatima will go to the cartorio and submit their papers this week!!!!  IT WILL BE SWEET!!!!

I'm sorry but I gots no new pics, but I loves ya'll!!!

Elder Mackay

This Place Ain't Got No Gauchos (9-29-14)

HALLO!!!!!!!!!!

Well this week has been really good and super sad.  I have never had a harder transfer in my life.  I cried on the bus leaving DP (Dom Pedrito), it was that bad.  But Laranjeiras is basically just like DP, just with more paved roads and more people haha.  But I'm liking it.  And my comp Elder Berssa is a boss at making contacts on the road.  And that is really good because I am terrible. haha

But the members here are super sweet, even though there is no Bishop for this ward and the frequencia e 35.  ONLY 35!!! And that is good!!! haha.  But I am going to change that!!!

We have a family that is sweet that we are teaching, Earle and Fatima.  They are a couple with 2 daughters, 6 and 3 I think, and they are sweet.  They just have to marry!!!  And they are sooooooo close!!  They literally have the papers in their hand.  They just have to go to the place to turn them in and wait 25 days!!!!!  THEY ARE SO GETTING DUNKED THIS TRANSFER!!!!!  And we have met some super sweet people just this week that have sweet potential.

But other than that there hasn't been much going on, only life with my comp.  So there will not be as many funny in the house stories, haha.  But yeah.  Enjoy the pics and until next week!!!

Elder Mackay

 Elder Mackay and Sergio

 Elder Mackay and others at bus station

Graffiti Elder Mackay saw in LAN