Boa tarde guris!
Well this week was really good even though hardly anyone went to church this week. It was good. We had divisions with Elder's Soares and Parada in Cacapava, which is 2.5 hours from Cachoeira. It was sweet. The city is full of crazies. I went with Elder Parada, who has a grand total of 4 months on the mission, and we contacted a guy and the conversation went like this:
Us - Do you know where you come from?
Gaucho - Yeah, Adao e Eva. Why did God use a rib make Eva?
Us - Uhhh trying to think of an answer.
Gaucho - I know.
Us - Why?
Gaucho - Because if he used filet minon it would have been too expensive and Adao wouldn't have wanted her. Bye (walks away).
Us - COMO ASSIM!?!?!?!? and dying of laughter
So yeah, just crazies in Cacapava. But in our own area we found some sweet new investigators and some of them accepted to be baptized!!! So that is always great, and we think that one of these couples are married legally!!!!! I SURE HOPE SO!!! If so it brings me hope that not all Brazilians don't like commitment. haha.
Well this may be my last email. Next week (my last few days) will be super busy, so if I can't email ya'll know why. But I just want all of ya'll to know that I have truly enjoyed my mission and that I have had countless spiritual experiences even if I haven't told all of them to ya'll. And I have truly learned a lot from Louisiana and Brasil. And I will come home changed. I hope for the better haha. But yeah, I love the mission. Too bad it flew by so fast.
Well that's all from me. I love ya'll!!!! Stay classy!!!
Elder Mackay
And I would send pics but the computer is being stupid.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Dia Das Maes e Doenca (5-11-15)
Boa tarde tudo mundo!
So this week was rather good. We had 6 investigators at church. We didn't teach as much as usual, due to Conselho da Missao which we had to travel to Porto Alegre and we had Distrito Amigo in one of the Sister's areas. So we had like 4 days to work in our area this week, and on top of that Elder Da Silva has a urinary infection and is sick. But he is doing a bit better now. This week he should be almost back to normal.
But we saw some cool miracles. Artur, our super legit rapaz, brought a friend to church. And Artur isn't even baptized yet!!! So that was super sick. But the uncool part of it all is that his mom will not sign the baptismal record until September, at the soonest. So that is frustrating. But he is super legit.
And Pasqualina brought her daughter who is here for about a month on vacation. And Pasqualina is almost smoke free!!!! So lots of good things are happening here. Which is good cause I only got 2 weeks left. I want to leave the mission busy haha.
Well that is all I got for this week. I love ya'll and stay classy!
Elder Mackay
So this week was rather good. We had 6 investigators at church. We didn't teach as much as usual, due to Conselho da Missao which we had to travel to Porto Alegre and we had Distrito Amigo in one of the Sister's areas. So we had like 4 days to work in our area this week, and on top of that Elder Da Silva has a urinary infection and is sick. But he is doing a bit better now. This week he should be almost back to normal.
But we saw some cool miracles. Artur, our super legit rapaz, brought a friend to church. And Artur isn't even baptized yet!!! So that was super sick. But the uncool part of it all is that his mom will not sign the baptismal record until September, at the soonest. So that is frustrating. But he is super legit.
And Pasqualina brought her daughter who is here for about a month on vacation. And Pasqualina is almost smoke free!!!! So lots of good things are happening here. Which is good cause I only got 2 weeks left. I want to leave the mission busy haha.
Well that is all I got for this week. I love ya'll and stay classy!
Elder Mackay
Elder Mackay and Elder Dartora at conselho
I FOUND STROOPWAFELS!!!!
The sunset
3 Summers Later and I Am a Whimp to the Cold (5-4-15)
Boa tarde,
So this week was full of the regular ups and downs of mission life. We taught well and had a sweet division with the assistants and had interviews with Presidente Castro. For some it was their last with him, but I still got one more :). But for the sad parts Mara and Daiara have basically given up on baptism and things are complicated with Artur's parents. But everything will turn out great. But a less active family we have been working with finally came back to church!!!! So that was great.
But I have taken the sweater of missionaries that have left clothes because it is getting cold, and I am a whimp. I know it isn't that cold out but it feels so dang cold haha. And the AP that I went on divisions with is from my group so we got to catch up and all that good stuff. So this week had some great parts.
And as for a funny moment...so yesterday my comp Elder Da Silva had to go to the hospital (that wasn't funny, he has a urinary infection) but while I was in the waiting room I saw a little kid puke everywhere and a SUPER drunk old guy who had his ear almost completely cut off. So that party must have been killer. Poor guy, he probably won't remember a thing, haha.
But yeah that was my week and this week will be a good one. We are traveling to Porto Alegre for Mission Council and I will see one of my old comps there, Elder Dartora. So that will be great.
Well as always, stay classy and FELIZ DIA DAS MAES!!!!!
Elder Mackay
So this week was full of the regular ups and downs of mission life. We taught well and had a sweet division with the assistants and had interviews with Presidente Castro. For some it was their last with him, but I still got one more :). But for the sad parts Mara and Daiara have basically given up on baptism and things are complicated with Artur's parents. But everything will turn out great. But a less active family we have been working with finally came back to church!!!! So that was great.
But I have taken the sweater of missionaries that have left clothes because it is getting cold, and I am a whimp. I know it isn't that cold out but it feels so dang cold haha. And the AP that I went on divisions with is from my group so we got to catch up and all that good stuff. So this week had some great parts.
And as for a funny moment...so yesterday my comp Elder Da Silva had to go to the hospital (that wasn't funny, he has a urinary infection) but while I was in the waiting room I saw a little kid puke everywhere and a SUPER drunk old guy who had his ear almost completely cut off. So that party must have been killer. Poor guy, he probably won't remember a thing, haha.
But yeah that was my week and this week will be a good one. We are traveling to Porto Alegre for Mission Council and I will see one of my old comps there, Elder Dartora. So that will be great.
Well as always, stay classy and FELIZ DIA DAS MAES!!!!!
Elder Mackay
At a member's house for surprise birthday cake
Elder Mackay and his companion with the Assistants
My obsession for LOTR has gone to a whole new level, Portuguese
Vai Altras De Mim Satanas (4-27-15)
Boa tarde gurizada!!!
So this week was full of ups and downs. It was transfers Tuesday which went fine. And I had a division with one of the other Elders because they had a baptism interview. Usually the District leader does them but when it is the DL that had a baptism, the Zone Leaders do it. And she was really sweet and knew her stuff. And the Elder I did the division with is Elder Purificacao, or Elder Purification. He has a legit name, and he played the crap out of Skyrim. We got along well.
But our two baptisms fell through, Mara Regina and Daiara. But they were remarked for the 9th. So they will still be baptized. Just that Satan was working overtime this week, and we have been running around so much that my shins are killing me. My body is getting ready for all this to be over, but my mind sure isn't!!!
But for happiness Artur is doing great!!! He came to church yesterday and he stopped drinking, and smoking pot!!! SO that is great. I was surprised that he smoked weed, he is only 15 haha, but he stopped!!!
And that is about all for this week. We will have interviews this week and it will be my last one before I sit in Pres. Castro's office where I have 99% certainty that he will just talk about marriage haha. But it will be great!!!
As always, I love ya'll!!! Stay classy and don't let Satan win in anything!
Elder Mackay
These are the pics from last week.
So this week was full of ups and downs. It was transfers Tuesday which went fine. And I had a division with one of the other Elders because they had a baptism interview. Usually the District leader does them but when it is the DL that had a baptism, the Zone Leaders do it. And she was really sweet and knew her stuff. And the Elder I did the division with is Elder Purificacao, or Elder Purification. He has a legit name, and he played the crap out of Skyrim. We got along well.
But our two baptisms fell through, Mara Regina and Daiara. But they were remarked for the 9th. So they will still be baptized. Just that Satan was working overtime this week, and we have been running around so much that my shins are killing me. My body is getting ready for all this to be over, but my mind sure isn't!!!
But for happiness Artur is doing great!!! He came to church yesterday and he stopped drinking, and smoking pot!!! SO that is great. I was surprised that he smoked weed, he is only 15 haha, but he stopped!!!
And that is about all for this week. We will have interviews this week and it will be my last one before I sit in Pres. Castro's office where I have 99% certainty that he will just talk about marriage haha. But it will be great!!!
As always, I love ya'll!!! Stay classy and don't let Satan win in anything!
Elder Mackay
These are the pics from last week.
Zone Brunch
The distance we walked one average day...the big number are steps.
FINAL ROUND.......BEGIN!!! (4-20-15)
OI!!!!
So today is transfer calls and nothing changed for us. So I will have my final breaths as a missionary here in Cachoeira do Sul with Elder Da Silva which is pretty great. I didn't want a change. And I think that I will be the only American in the zone, but I won't know till Wednesday. One of the Sister's is training so we don't know who she is yet haha. But I'm the only American.
This week was great. Mara Regina and Daira are super excited for their baptisms, which are Friday, and maybe Marcelo will be baptized too. And we learned that Daira's boyfriend is a less active, who is 19. SO WE ARE GETTING THIS KIDS BUTT TO THE MISSION FIELD!!! And another investigator, Artur, came to church and loved it and said that he will do what it takes to be baptized on the 2nd of Maio. And he is dating another less active as well. THE MORMON WORLD IS TINY!!!! haha
Other than that we just worked a ton and had lots of success. Some investigators that have never been to church came, and loved church and Pasqualina (another investigator) is making steady progress to stop smoking, which is great. I LOVE CACHOEIRA!!!
Well that's all I got, and I don't have pictures because we are in that little LAN house again and there is a line. I LOVE YA'LL!!!!
Elder Mackay
So today is transfer calls and nothing changed for us. So I will have my final breaths as a missionary here in Cachoeira do Sul with Elder Da Silva which is pretty great. I didn't want a change. And I think that I will be the only American in the zone, but I won't know till Wednesday. One of the Sister's is training so we don't know who she is yet haha. But I'm the only American.
This week was great. Mara Regina and Daira are super excited for their baptisms, which are Friday, and maybe Marcelo will be baptized too. And we learned that Daira's boyfriend is a less active, who is 19. SO WE ARE GETTING THIS KIDS BUTT TO THE MISSION FIELD!!! And another investigator, Artur, came to church and loved it and said that he will do what it takes to be baptized on the 2nd of Maio. And he is dating another less active as well. THE MORMON WORLD IS TINY!!!! haha
Other than that we just worked a ton and had lots of success. Some investigators that have never been to church came, and loved church and Pasqualina (another investigator) is making steady progress to stop smoking, which is great. I LOVE CACHOEIRA!!!
Well that's all I got, and I don't have pictures because we are in that little LAN house again and there is a line. I LOVE YA'LL!!!!
Elder Mackay
Trabalhando ate o po (4-13-15)
Oi guris!
This week was super busy. With traveling to Porto Alegre for my first Mission Leadership Council (which was great) and having to make up for a whole day in Porto Alegre we were super busy. But we marked tons of baptisms. We have 15 in total, and all of them are before I go home haha. So that is good haha. I want to see these people get in the water haha.
But we had a really cool miracle this week. So my comp and the Elder that was here before me found a lady that never wanted to be baptized, super religious, knows the Bible inside and out, a smidge crazy, but never wanted to be baptized. Well she called us and said, Elder we need to talk. So we go over and she says "I have gotten an answer. I will be baptized and if your baptism is complicated I will search for a baptist" haha. So we marked her baptismal date and for her daughter for the 25 of Abril. MILAGRES SAO REAIS!!!!
So that was the most noteworth story of the week. Sorry for the shortness but the LAN house we usually use had no internet so we are in a LAN house with only three computers so we have to be quick. But I LOVE YA'LL!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
PAZ
Elder Mackay
These are the pics I tried to send last week:
This week was super busy. With traveling to Porto Alegre for my first Mission Leadership Council (which was great) and having to make up for a whole day in Porto Alegre we were super busy. But we marked tons of baptisms. We have 15 in total, and all of them are before I go home haha. So that is good haha. I want to see these people get in the water haha.
But we had a really cool miracle this week. So my comp and the Elder that was here before me found a lady that never wanted to be baptized, super religious, knows the Bible inside and out, a smidge crazy, but never wanted to be baptized. Well she called us and said, Elder we need to talk. So we go over and she says "I have gotten an answer. I will be baptized and if your baptism is complicated I will search for a baptist" haha. So we marked her baptismal date and for her daughter for the 25 of Abril. MILAGRES SAO REAIS!!!!
So that was the most noteworth story of the week. Sorry for the shortness but the LAN house we usually use had no internet so we are in a LAN house with only three computers so we have to be quick. But I LOVE YA'LL!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
PAZ
Elder Mackay
These are the pics I tried to send last week:
Elder Mackay at Rio Jacui
Elder Mackay and the amazing Elder Pedro
The zone in the van coming home from zone conference
Semana de Conferencias (4-6-15)
Boa tarde!!!
So this week was really great. It was full of revelation because we had zone conference and general conference. So it was a lot of sitting and taking notes. But it was super awesome. I love Presidente Castro. But it was also really sad because it was my last zone conference, so it was the last time to see some of my friends that I have made. But even sadder...I had to give my farewell testimony. I hoped that day would never come. haha But I didn't cry. Sou homen entao nao choro. haha And general conference was great. It only talked about marriage! So that was a smidge trunky, so I guess God doesn't want me to take forever to get married haha. And we didn't get to see the last hour of the Sunday afternoon session, right when Elder Anderson was finishing up the power went out. Here in Brasil if it rains kinda hard the power goes out. Every time so that was unfortunate.
But other parts of the week were great. We found some sick families that have great potential and we are preparing Marcello to be baptized the 18th of Abril. So I'm excited for that!!!
Well my friends, that is all for this episode of my life, the end of this entry of the captain's log. But I wish ya'll a great week. AMO VOCES!!!
Elder Mackay
Sorry, not pics because this computer is terrible.
So this week was really great. It was full of revelation because we had zone conference and general conference. So it was a lot of sitting and taking notes. But it was super awesome. I love Presidente Castro. But it was also really sad because it was my last zone conference, so it was the last time to see some of my friends that I have made. But even sadder...I had to give my farewell testimony. I hoped that day would never come. haha But I didn't cry. Sou homen entao nao choro. haha And general conference was great. It only talked about marriage! So that was a smidge trunky, so I guess God doesn't want me to take forever to get married haha. And we didn't get to see the last hour of the Sunday afternoon session, right when Elder Anderson was finishing up the power went out. Here in Brasil if it rains kinda hard the power goes out. Every time so that was unfortunate.
But other parts of the week were great. We found some sick families that have great potential and we are preparing Marcello to be baptized the 18th of Abril. So I'm excited for that!!!
Well my friends, that is all for this episode of my life, the end of this entry of the captain's log. But I wish ya'll a great week. AMO VOCES!!!
Elder Mackay
Sorry, not pics because this computer is terrible.
MILAGRES SAO REAIS!!! (3-30-15)
So I have no time but I just want to say that this week was a great one. It had one true miracle. One of our investigators, Zulma, was baptized and last week she was still uncertain if she wanted to. But she went to church last Sunday and felt like she needed too. So I had the opportunity to baptize her. She had no preference haha.
But other than that we knocked on super rich people's doors and the only ones who answered were their German Shepherds haha. And we had a sweet FHE where I made brownies and they loved them. haha I love making brownies for Brazilians. And I love that family. Their names are Heloisa and Claudia and Gabriel. But sadly I don't have any pictures of them yet, but I will have some soon!
But that is all I got for this week! This next week will have zone conferences, which will be my last one probably, and general conference. So it will be a lot of revelation haha.
Well I love ya'll and ya'll stay classy!!! TCHAU TCHAU!
Elder Mackay
But other than that we knocked on super rich people's doors and the only ones who answered were their German Shepherds haha. And we had a sweet FHE where I made brownies and they loved them. haha I love making brownies for Brazilians. And I love that family. Their names are Heloisa and Claudia and Gabriel. But sadly I don't have any pictures of them yet, but I will have some soon!
But that is all I got for this week! This next week will have zone conferences, which will be my last one probably, and general conference. So it will be a lot of revelation haha.
Well I love ya'll and ya'll stay classy!!! TCHAU TCHAU!
Elder Mackay
Irma Zulma
Travalho ate o po (3-23-15)
Oi gente,
This week was nuts. I have never taught so much in my life. My feet are just dead from how fast we walk in between appointments. It is nuts. But it is awesome. We have met some really sweet families from knocking doors and the less active list. So, that has been really great. I love how open the people are to letting us in here in Cachoeira. It is really nice. But it is super religious here. There are two GINORMOUS Catholic churches and a HUGE Lutheran church, which is the first that I have seen in Brasil. Thankfully there are a few Assembleia de Deus and Adventistas do Setimo Dia. Those guys just like to Bible bash. But yeah, I love Cachoeira. And we have a solid baptism coming up. His name is Marcelo. He goes to college here and is from Fortaleza. WAY THE HECK UP NORTH!!! But he is sweet. He is studying mechanical engineering and has a date for April 3rd, but we will talk to him and see if we can put it for the Friday. He travels to Santa Maria a lot for college so we don't know if he will be in town, BUT HE IS LEGIT!!! I can speak nerd with him haha. And we have lots of others with dates for baptism but they all got to go to church!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH JUST COME TO CHURCH!!! But we will get them there. The branch is super awesome with rides.
So yeah, that's me loving life in Cachoeira trying not to think that I only have 9 p-days left. But I'm still working hard!!! LOVE YA'LL!!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
This week was nuts. I have never taught so much in my life. My feet are just dead from how fast we walk in between appointments. It is nuts. But it is awesome. We have met some really sweet families from knocking doors and the less active list. So, that has been really great. I love how open the people are to letting us in here in Cachoeira. It is really nice. But it is super religious here. There are two GINORMOUS Catholic churches and a HUGE Lutheran church, which is the first that I have seen in Brasil. Thankfully there are a few Assembleia de Deus and Adventistas do Setimo Dia. Those guys just like to Bible bash. But yeah, I love Cachoeira. And we have a solid baptism coming up. His name is Marcelo. He goes to college here and is from Fortaleza. WAY THE HECK UP NORTH!!! But he is sweet. He is studying mechanical engineering and has a date for April 3rd, but we will talk to him and see if we can put it for the Friday. He travels to Santa Maria a lot for college so we don't know if he will be in town, BUT HE IS LEGIT!!! I can speak nerd with him haha. And we have lots of others with dates for baptism but they all got to go to church!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH JUST COME TO CHURCH!!! But we will get them there. The branch is super awesome with rides.
So yeah, that's me loving life in Cachoeira trying not to think that I only have 9 p-days left. But I'm still working hard!!! LOVE YA'LL!!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
Sunday, March 22, 2015
So Alegria (3-16-15)
Well this week was great. I got to the area and we already had a baptism. The other elders had a baptism for the week and his name is Vilson. Super sweet, super smart, and awesome. And the zone is super sweet. This transfer will be great. I am really looking forward to it. And Elder Da Silva is sweet. I am really liking him. He is from Manaus, Brasil, or better put the middle of the Amazon. But we work really well together and we work a ton. I have never taught so much in my life haha. But it was the most successful week of my mission so far. So I am super happy to have this branch be my last area of my mission and Elder Da Silva as my probably final comp. But yeah everything is great here in Cachoeira. Sorry for the shortness. SO MANY EMAILS!!!
I LOVE YA'LL!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
Well I wanted to send pictures but this computer is SUPER SLOW and I got no time. NEXT WEEK!!!
I LOVE YA'LL!!! STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
Well I wanted to send pictures but this computer is SUPER SLOW and I got no time. NEXT WEEK!!!
One Transfer Was Not Enough (3-9-15)
Oi Guris!!!
Well it is yet another transfer, my second to last, and I am being taken away from Sao Tome after just one transfer. It is pretty said, I love this area. But I am needed elsewhere. My new area is a city called Cachoeira (Waterfall) and I will be serving as zone leader. So this WILL be my last area. And my comp is Brazilian, Elder Da Silva.
But this week was great. Even though every lesson we planned with members fell through, the investigators called and cancelled last minute every time, but we taught other really good lessons, tried to help people get married, and found out that one of our investigator families is ALREADY MARRIED LEGALLY!!!! I was shocked and speechless. They are the second family that I have seen that were married legally. But yeah, we were on fire all this week. It was great. And now I am sad because Elde Van Oene and I were a well oiled machine and now the band is getting broken up!!! And now I got to start it all over again!!! But tis mission life!!!
So yeah, we don't have very much time today because we have to cut this short to pack and run downtown to run errands. SO YA'LL STAY CLASSY YA HEAR!!!!!!
Elder Mackay
Sorry but I didn't take new pictures yet :(
Well it is yet another transfer, my second to last, and I am being taken away from Sao Tome after just one transfer. It is pretty said, I love this area. But I am needed elsewhere. My new area is a city called Cachoeira (Waterfall) and I will be serving as zone leader. So this WILL be my last area. And my comp is Brazilian, Elder Da Silva.
But this week was great. Even though every lesson we planned with members fell through, the investigators called and cancelled last minute every time, but we taught other really good lessons, tried to help people get married, and found out that one of our investigator families is ALREADY MARRIED LEGALLY!!!! I was shocked and speechless. They are the second family that I have seen that were married legally. But yeah, we were on fire all this week. It was great. And now I am sad because Elde Van Oene and I were a well oiled machine and now the band is getting broken up!!! And now I got to start it all over again!!! But tis mission life!!!
So yeah, we don't have very much time today because we have to cut this short to pack and run downtown to run errands. SO YA'LL STAY CLASSY YA HEAR!!!!!!
Elder Mackay
Sorry but I didn't take new pictures yet :(
O TEMPLO!!!! (3-2-15)
HEYO!!!
So this week was a hard week, which didn't really make sense because we went to the temple!!!! My first time in a year!!! So that was great! I love the spirit that you feel there and the answers that you receive there. And I bought new scriptures using R$59 in just 1 real coins. I don't know if that lady was super mad or super happy haha. But either way she is NEVER running out of those coins. EVER haha.
But this week was full of stuff like this;
Elder, vamos fazer um lanche?
Pode ser.
Legal.....FILHO!!!!! COMPRA AS COISAS POR LANCHE!!!!
blah blah blah
COME MAIS ELDER!!!! NAO GOSTOU??!?
I hate this situation haha, it just kills our day but this week we are going to be all like NAO QUEREMOS!!!! to like all the people!!!!
But we had some great lessons!!! At 2 of them the Spirit was just so thick I swear that you could cut it with them big old gaucho knoves. William said flat out "estou sentindo o espirito" and then Miriam cried 3 times in our lesson yesterday about the Spirit. Miriam and her "husband" Josimar are like the best people ever and she will get baptized!!! Josimar is already a member, but they both have to divorce and then marry, so I don't know if I will be here for the baptism. But I think that after yesterday she knows that all this is true!!! AHH being a missionary is so great! You get to see first hand o Evangelho change lives. It is awesome!!!
Well that is about all I got from this end!!! I love ya'll!!! Stay classy!!! Ate mais!!!
Elder Mackay
So this week was a hard week, which didn't really make sense because we went to the temple!!!! My first time in a year!!! So that was great! I love the spirit that you feel there and the answers that you receive there. And I bought new scriptures using R$59 in just 1 real coins. I don't know if that lady was super mad or super happy haha. But either way she is NEVER running out of those coins. EVER haha.
But this week was full of stuff like this;
Elder, vamos fazer um lanche?
Pode ser.
Legal.....FILHO!!!!! COMPRA AS COISAS POR LANCHE!!!!
blah blah blah
COME MAIS ELDER!!!! NAO GOSTOU??!?
I hate this situation haha, it just kills our day but this week we are going to be all like NAO QUEREMOS!!!! to like all the people!!!!
But we had some great lessons!!! At 2 of them the Spirit was just so thick I swear that you could cut it with them big old gaucho knoves. William said flat out "estou sentindo o espirito" and then Miriam cried 3 times in our lesson yesterday about the Spirit. Miriam and her "husband" Josimar are like the best people ever and she will get baptized!!! Josimar is already a member, but they both have to divorce and then marry, so I don't know if I will be here for the baptism. But I think that after yesterday she knows that all this is true!!! AHH being a missionary is so great! You get to see first hand o Evangelho change lives. It is awesome!!!
Well that is about all I got from this end!!! I love ya'll!!! Stay classy!!! Ate mais!!!
Elder Mackay
O Templo
Elder Mackay and his boy
This is Brazil
Carnival e Divisoes (2-23-15)
Oi Guris!!!
So this week was an action packed week. So it started with Carnival, which nothing happened. It was a ghost town here like it was last year. But we went to a members house and had cake. They are legit. Then we had 2 exchanges with the zone leaders, one was unplanned. I had to give baptismal interviews super last minute and the other was a planned one just for training purposes. So I was a whole 2 days from my son, Elder Van Oene. But its all good. And we had lots of miracles this week, one being a record number (for me) of investigators at church, THERE WERE 5!!!!! And we would have had 6 if they didn't forget to move their clock behind an hour!!!! Daylight savings ended. But yeah, we had 5 which was awesome. And they are all super sweet. One is a youth who never really wanted to be baptized, but went to FSY (EFY here) and he wants to get baptized!!! So we are going to try to get that all set up for the 7th of Marco because this week is Stake Conference. But yeah, this week was a great one. And I am excited for this week because we are going to the temple Wednesday and it has been a little more than a year since I went. So I am way excited for that.
And funny fact. So a super cool RM who is the YM president served his mission in Belo Horizonte and ended almost 2 years ago. So we were talking and he said that he had one comp from Idaho, from Star, Idaho which is my city. Well it turns out he trained one of the dudes from my home ward of Star 2nd!!! SMALL MORMON WORLD!!!
And we found a member that has the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) books in Portugues, so I took a picture of the songs from the Hobbit. So legit.
Well that's all I got for ya'll. STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
So this week was an action packed week. So it started with Carnival, which nothing happened. It was a ghost town here like it was last year. But we went to a members house and had cake. They are legit. Then we had 2 exchanges with the zone leaders, one was unplanned. I had to give baptismal interviews super last minute and the other was a planned one just for training purposes. So I was a whole 2 days from my son, Elder Van Oene. But its all good. And we had lots of miracles this week, one being a record number (for me) of investigators at church, THERE WERE 5!!!!! And we would have had 6 if they didn't forget to move their clock behind an hour!!!! Daylight savings ended. But yeah, we had 5 which was awesome. And they are all super sweet. One is a youth who never really wanted to be baptized, but went to FSY (EFY here) and he wants to get baptized!!! So we are going to try to get that all set up for the 7th of Marco because this week is Stake Conference. But yeah, this week was a great one. And I am excited for this week because we are going to the temple Wednesday and it has been a little more than a year since I went. So I am way excited for that.
And funny fact. So a super cool RM who is the YM president served his mission in Belo Horizonte and ended almost 2 years ago. So we were talking and he said that he had one comp from Idaho, from Star, Idaho which is my city. Well it turns out he trained one of the dudes from my home ward of Star 2nd!!! SMALL MORMON WORLD!!!
And we found a member that has the LOTR (Lord of the Rings) books in Portugues, so I took a picture of the songs from the Hobbit. So legit.
Well that's all I got for ya'll. STAY CLASSY!!!
Elder Mackay
Elder Mackay & Elder Van Oene going to do service
Their Carnival party
Maldita Seja Carnival (2-16-15)
Hey Guris!!!
So this week was basically the pre party for the pre party of Carnival, or Marti Gras, its the same thing. So EVERYONE has left. They have all flocked to the beaches to practice their iniquity. But as long as I don't have to see it, fine by me haha.
So yeah, this week was long with no one in house. And I got just a smidge trunky because the office elders called saying that they were going to buy my plane tickets to the US last week. So yeah. The end is coming. And with Valentines day my comp and I got a little trunky....SO AUE NAO!!! But we met some cool families that I think are legally married. IF SO THAT IS SUCH A MIRACLE!!! I sure hope they are because they are so cool and I just want to find someone that doesn't have to get married. BECAUSE THESE MARRIAGES TAKE FOREVER!!! But other than that we just did our missionary thing, visit people, try to find people, and such. And it was super great that it was trying to rain, but never did, but since it was cloudy it was a whole lot cooler. So that was a tender mercy.
So I hope that with Carnival tomorrow that people will finally be home. But they will be. And it will be sick!!! And next week we are going to the temple!!!! First time in more than a year!!!! SO STOKED!!!
But other than that I got nothing else. I love ya'll, and ya'll stay classy. And always remember during this Carnival season, "what would Jesus do?"
Valeu!!!
Elder Mackay
So this week was basically the pre party for the pre party of Carnival, or Marti Gras, its the same thing. So EVERYONE has left. They have all flocked to the beaches to practice their iniquity. But as long as I don't have to see it, fine by me haha.
So yeah, this week was long with no one in house. And I got just a smidge trunky because the office elders called saying that they were going to buy my plane tickets to the US last week. So yeah. The end is coming. And with Valentines day my comp and I got a little trunky....SO AUE NAO!!! But we met some cool families that I think are legally married. IF SO THAT IS SUCH A MIRACLE!!! I sure hope they are because they are so cool and I just want to find someone that doesn't have to get married. BECAUSE THESE MARRIAGES TAKE FOREVER!!! But other than that we just did our missionary thing, visit people, try to find people, and such. And it was super great that it was trying to rain, but never did, but since it was cloudy it was a whole lot cooler. So that was a tender mercy.
So I hope that with Carnival tomorrow that people will finally be home. But they will be. And it will be sick!!! And next week we are going to the temple!!!! First time in more than a year!!!! SO STOKED!!!
But other than that I got nothing else. I love ya'll, and ya'll stay classy. And always remember during this Carnival season, "what would Jesus do?"
Valeu!!!
Elder Mackay
What knocking doors felt like all week
Elder Mackay & Elder Van Oene for Valentines Day
(zoom into the paper for a super funny hashtag that you can't really read haha)
Hello Viamao!!!! (2-2-15)
Tudo Bom!!!
Well this week was great! Viamao is super legit. This ward of Sao Tome is one of the biggest wards I have seen yet, and they don't even have a chapel, we meet in a house. It has like 100 active members and there are a ton of cool people. And my new adopted son or my new comp is Elder Van Oene from Kaysville, Utah. He only has 1.5 months in the field so Portugues is still a struggle but I KNOW THE STRUGGLE!!! So it will be great. I think I can help him a lot. Well we also have some super sick investigators, like Paulo. He came to church yesterday for the first time and in one week he went from smoking 40 cigarros per day to 10!!!! This man is getting baptised!!! So that will be sweet. And my district is just the other dupla in the ward. So super small. It is almost a district meeting every day at almoco haha. But yeah, I am super excited for this next week and this transfer. Miracles are going to happen this transfer I can feel it!!! And hopefully I can stay here until my final days as a missionary. But yeah. This week will be sweet!!! And as for ya'll. I hope ya'll have a great week and stay classy!!!!
Elder Mackay
Well this week was great! Viamao is super legit. This ward of Sao Tome is one of the biggest wards I have seen yet, and they don't even have a chapel, we meet in a house. It has like 100 active members and there are a ton of cool people. And my new adopted son or my new comp is Elder Van Oene from Kaysville, Utah. He only has 1.5 months in the field so Portugues is still a struggle but I KNOW THE STRUGGLE!!! So it will be great. I think I can help him a lot. Well we also have some super sick investigators, like Paulo. He came to church yesterday for the first time and in one week he went from smoking 40 cigarros per day to 10!!!! This man is getting baptised!!! So that will be sweet. And my district is just the other dupla in the ward. So super small. It is almost a district meeting every day at almoco haha. But yeah, I am super excited for this next week and this transfer. Miracles are going to happen this transfer I can feel it!!! And hopefully I can stay here until my final days as a missionary. But yeah. This week will be sweet!!! And as for ya'll. I hope ya'll have a great week and stay classy!!!!
Elder Mackay
Elder Mackay's final FHE with Earle and Fatima
Elder Mackay & Elder Dartora
Elder Mackay & Elder Van Oene
And Let It Be Known That 7 Was The Final Number (1-26-15)
Tudo Bem!!!
Well this week was great and the transfer calls are in. But to talk about the week. This week was a really good week. We taught a ton and we really taught with the Spirit. But unfortunately no one came to church. But you got to love that gift of agency. haha. But it really was a great week. We are teaching this family of Germans, like legit Germans. They grew up in a German colony near Pelotas. But they speak perfect Portugues. And I haven't told them that I studied German, because I don't remember anything!!! haha and they will never know!!!
Yup, that's right, I am being transferred. I am leaving the Bage stake after 7 transfers (or almost 10 months) and I am going to Viamao!!!! It is a city just east of Porto Alegre. Really close to the area I was in in Porto Alegre. And I will be in the Sao Tome ward as a district leader and trainer. I am going to finish the training of my comp. He only has one transfer in the field. And he is American!!! So this will be great!!! I will have an adopted step son!!! I am super excited.
Well that's what is up and happening in good old PAO SUL. The church is true!!! Ya'll stay classy ya hear!
Elder Mackay
Well this week was great and the transfer calls are in. But to talk about the week. This week was a really good week. We taught a ton and we really taught with the Spirit. But unfortunately no one came to church. But you got to love that gift of agency. haha. But it really was a great week. We are teaching this family of Germans, like legit Germans. They grew up in a German colony near Pelotas. But they speak perfect Portugues. And I haven't told them that I studied German, because I don't remember anything!!! haha and they will never know!!!
Yup, that's right, I am being transferred. I am leaving the Bage stake after 7 transfers (or almost 10 months) and I am going to Viamao!!!! It is a city just east of Porto Alegre. Really close to the area I was in in Porto Alegre. And I will be in the Sao Tome ward as a district leader and trainer. I am going to finish the training of my comp. He only has one transfer in the field. And he is American!!! So this will be great!!! I will have an adopted step son!!! I am super excited.
Well that's what is up and happening in good old PAO SUL. The church is true!!! Ya'll stay classy ya hear!
Elder Mackay
Doesn't this look like a famous painting?
Elder Mackay thought he was in Brasil and not Nebraska!
WE GOT A GAUCHO AT CHURCH!!!!! (1-19-15)
This week was freaking awesome!!! Way better than last week. We got 5 investigators at church!!! Cleber and then a family that has taken 8 weeks to get them to put away the dumb excuses and get to the church. And the dad (Zacarias) came to church decked out in roupas gauchas, even more than I have. It was legit. And they loved it!!!! And ever better Cleber and Sonia ("wife" of Zacarias) started reducing the amount they smoke!!!! BABY STEPS!!!! FREAK YEAH!!!
And this week we had the other 4 elders from another ward in the city live with us because of problems at their place, so they lived with us while they got a new house, which they moved there today. We helped. But it was super fun to live with them, but kinda stressful. Always dirty and 6 people to shower in the mornings, but it was kinda sad to see them leave today, especially because our 2 zone leaders are going home in a week. And they are legit.
But this next week will be a sweet week. I am pretty sure that this is my last week here. 10 months in the same zone is a long time. And there are 12 zone leaders going home this transfer so the leadership of the mission will change a lot. Lots of district leaders becoming zone leaders and such. But I am staying focused on my current area which is Laranjeiras, home of the celestial orange tree haha.
Well that is all I have for ya'll this week. I love ya'll and ya'll stay classy ya hear!!!
Elder Mackay
The double rainbow from last week
All 6 missionaries in the house
DOUBLE FREAKING RAINBOW (1-12-15)
So to start things off...I saw a double rainbow right before we got home yesterday. The first one ever!!!! and it was sick!!!
Well to talk about the week...it was a hard one. We found new people to teach, but we didn't see any of our current investigators which was super frustrating. But stuff like that happens and you got to stay happy. So we be staying happy. But we met a new lady named Carmen and we taught her and she liked it even though she is a bandista!!!!! Which is voodoo sacrifice stuff. So that was legit! And we had a sweet zone meeting for interviews with Presidente Castro. That was sweet. Presidente gave some ways that I can help the district better. Good advice. And he told me my official return date which is kind of scary haha, and cool. But yeah, I don't know how I feel about it yet haha. But I will leave Brasil on the 27 of May and arrive home the 28th!!! IT IS ONLY 4 FREAKING MONTHS AWAY!!! Yeah, I don't know how I feel about this yet. haha
Well that is all that I got for ya'll today. This next week will be better I swear. So there will be cool stories. But until then...stay classy!!!!
Elder Mackay
And there are no pics because this is a different LAN house than usual and it has a reputation for giving viruses to the flash drives of missionaries.
Well to talk about the week...it was a hard one. We found new people to teach, but we didn't see any of our current investigators which was super frustrating. But stuff like that happens and you got to stay happy. So we be staying happy. But we met a new lady named Carmen and we taught her and she liked it even though she is a bandista!!!!! Which is voodoo sacrifice stuff. So that was legit! And we had a sweet zone meeting for interviews with Presidente Castro. That was sweet. Presidente gave some ways that I can help the district better. Good advice. And he told me my official return date which is kind of scary haha, and cool. But yeah, I don't know how I feel about it yet haha. But I will leave Brasil on the 27 of May and arrive home the 28th!!! IT IS ONLY 4 FREAKING MONTHS AWAY!!! Yeah, I don't know how I feel about this yet. haha
Well that is all that I got for ya'll today. This next week will be better I swear. So there will be cool stories. But until then...stay classy!!!!
Elder Mackay
And there are no pics because this is a different LAN house than usual and it has a reputation for giving viruses to the flash drives of missionaries.
I AM THE MASTER FIRE BUILDER!!! (1-5-15)
FELIZ ANO NOVO!!!
This week was really good but super hard. With New Year's everyone is traveling or they don't want to let us in. But we had some good stuff. We had 2 churrascos this week!!!! AW YEAH!!!! and the one for New Years Eve I lit the coals. Those buggers were stubborn, but in the end they were no match against my Eagle Scout powers. TOMA!!! But it was super good. Then New Years Day we had a churrasco for almoco but right after that it rained for the whole day, and both our umbrellas broke....so that was terrible. CURSE YOU WIND!!! But the other parts of the week were good, but I did a lot of walking. We did get to go to Dom Pedrito because they had a BAPTISM!!!!!! And I did the interview!!!! I am so happy for them!!!! They have been working their butts off and they finally have a fruit!!! So that was great.
Other than that this week was typical. And just for the record. New Orleans was WAY crazier for New Years. It was just cherry bombs and firecrackers here. NOLA knows how to welcome the New Year!!! haha
But that is all I got for this week. And for sure this week will be way awesome!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! FELIZ NATAL TCHE!!! AMO VOCES!!!
Elder Mackay
This week was really good but super hard. With New Year's everyone is traveling or they don't want to let us in. But we had some good stuff. We had 2 churrascos this week!!!! AW YEAH!!!! and the one for New Years Eve I lit the coals. Those buggers were stubborn, but in the end they were no match against my Eagle Scout powers. TOMA!!! But it was super good. Then New Years Day we had a churrasco for almoco but right after that it rained for the whole day, and both our umbrellas broke....so that was terrible. CURSE YOU WIND!!! But the other parts of the week were good, but I did a lot of walking. We did get to go to Dom Pedrito because they had a BAPTISM!!!!!! And I did the interview!!!! I am so happy for them!!!! They have been working their butts off and they finally have a fruit!!! So that was great.
Other than that this week was typical. And just for the record. New Orleans was WAY crazier for New Years. It was just cherry bombs and firecrackers here. NOLA knows how to welcome the New Year!!! haha
But that is all I got for this week. And for sure this week will be way awesome!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! FELIZ NATAL TCHE!!! AMO VOCES!!!
Elder Mackay
Elder Mackay's creation
Elder Mackay and a big knife
Elder Mackay's district!!!
CHRISTMAS!!! (12-29-14)
Ola!!
Well this week was special. Christmas was great and I loved to be able to see my family. It was super great to talk to them. I didn't recognize my brother! haha. His voice is deeper!!! Well that's what you get for being gone for a year and a half. But Christmas was great.
Another cool part of the week was that I gave my first baptismal interviews. Me being a district leader, this is one of my jobs. Our zone leaders baptized 2 well prepared rapazes. It was super cool to hear their responses to the questions.
And this week we tried super hard to visit people and find, but a ton of people left for the holidays, because Bage doesn't have beaches or anything cool haha. So tons of people weren't home, but those that were home we had great lessons. And we tried to get people to church, but none came, but a sweet new investigator showed up who lives in Intercap, Porto Alegre. THAT'S WHERE I SERVED!!! So that was cool.
And that is about it. Not a whole lot to report. This next week should have more stuff. But I love ya'll!! And ya'll stay classy!!!
Elder Mackay
Well this week was special. Christmas was great and I loved to be able to see my family. It was super great to talk to them. I didn't recognize my brother! haha. His voice is deeper!!! Well that's what you get for being gone for a year and a half. But Christmas was great.
Another cool part of the week was that I gave my first baptismal interviews. Me being a district leader, this is one of my jobs. Our zone leaders baptized 2 well prepared rapazes. It was super cool to hear their responses to the questions.
And that is about it. Not a whole lot to report. This next week should have more stuff. But I love ya'll!! And ya'll stay classy!!!
Elder Mackay
Christmas Churrasco
Christmas Eve
Elder Dartora and his cow friend
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