Week 8

March 16, 2015

Alright well this week was a pretty normal week. Weather has been really nice all week. It's only March but it already feels like the summer. Let's see. I still hear all kinds of Canadian jokes. I guess being Canadian in a very American place will do that. Some of them are pretty funny.

This week was pretty normal. Sunday we had ward conference. So the Stake Presidency came over and talked in Sacrament and taught some of the classes. They are pretty awesome and definitely taught some very interesting things. One thing that one of them said that really stuck out to me was about Family History. He explained how all our families probably had a little meeting in Heaven before we came here on earth. Then some of them agreed to make the sacrifice to come down on earth at a time when the Gospel wasn't on the earth. So that the rest of us could have the blessing of being here on earth at a time when the Gospel has been restored. So now it is our job to make the sacrifice and do the Family History to help them out. 

Another thing that stuck out was one of the Presidency said "Your Priesthood power can only be as strong as the bond you have with your wife" I've seen a lot of families and it really started making me think of how pretty soon (especially with how fast time is going) I'm going to have a family of my own. And Priesthood definitely strengthens families. I've seen families with the Priesthood in it and families without it. And there is definitely a difference. So as a father if you want to have a stronger family you will need stronger Priesthood, and to do that you need a stronger bond with your wife. So I thought that was pretty interesting. And definitely something I will want to do eventually.

I also got bit by a dog this week. That was fun. We were just talking to some people outside and it came up and was letting me pet it and stuff. Then when we were walking away it just ran up and bit my leg. I'm sure that was the first of many dog bites.

That pretty much sums up the week.

Love y'all!

- Elder Mackay

Week 7

March 9, 2015

This week was pretty good. The weather is Texas is really weird.. Changes so much. Rained a lot this week but for the most part its been nice. Got really humid a couple days though. 

We have taught a family of 4 a few times and they committed to be Baptized. So now we just got to teach them all the lessons and get them ready to be Baptized. That will be pretty awesome. Not all of them have been to Church yet though so hopefully they will start coming.

Let's see a few funny things happened this week. We saw on the Ward Roster that there was a less-active. And there was a note that said "Avoiding us" so we thought we would try to find him. So we knocked on his door then he answered and as soon as he saw us he just said "Not interested" and slammed the door. I thought it was pretty funny. Not sure why..

One of our Investigators Dan told us how the Basketball team he coaches won the Championship. Then he was giving one of his players a chest bump and ended up breaking his ribs. I guess you shouldn't celebrate too hard after winning!

We had a lot of really good lessons this week. It's amazing how the Spirit can turn a simple phrase into something so powerful. 

Love y'all

- Elder Mackay

A excerpt from his email to his mom!

Transfer meeting was good. TSAM has a 3 tier Spanish program so every transfer meeting you take a Spanish test for the Tier you are on. Then they tell you how you did and give you things to work on. So I had to do Tier 1 test which was teaching the Joseph Smith story. Then if I passed I start working on Tier 2 which is just a written test. Apparently it helps a lot cause a lot of Spanish missionaries go home then ace all the BYU Spanish tests which are apparently really hard. So maybe I'll become a pro but I don't know.

Week 6

March 2, 2015

Well first transfer is already over! Me and Elder Jackson are both staying in Kerrville. But we still have to drive up to San Antonio on Thursday to take the Spanish test. So we go to the Transfer meeting as well.

Lets see this week was pretty weird. Was pretty cold and rained most of the week. Wasn't too bad though. Only bad part about that was I stepped in some mud and got my shoes all dirty..

This week we had 5 Investigators attend church which is awesome! And after Sacrament one of them asked us how she can become a member of the church. So hopefully we will be having a Baptism soon!

Had a really strange lesson this week. Brother Rosas one of the ward missionaries told us he found someone and gave us an address and a time to meet him at. So we showed up and it was a store called "Russell's vape shop". So we went inside and taught a quick lesson to this guy in a smoking/drinking lounge in the back of the store. Was definitely the strangest place for a lesson. But it went really well. 

Cool thing I discovered this week. In D&C 4:2 it says to "Serve with all your Heart, Might, Mind and strength" But in Spanish it says " Corazon, Alma, Mente y Fuerza" Which is Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. I think that's a better way to say it. Need to serve not just with our might, but with our whole Soul. 

One thing that I have been trying to do this week is put complete trust in Jesus Christ. It is definitely a hard thing to do. Especially when there is hard things we have to go through. But I know that as we put complete trust in Him, everything will work out. It might not work out the way we want but it will work out in the end. 

Love y'all! Have a good week!

(Here's a picture of us at a members house. They caught a baby boar and sometimes just let it run around the house.. Only in Texas...)