McKay Still in Denial

Sounds good -- book me a flight to Phoenix.  On second thought, I'll just tell the mission office I want to fly directly there instead of to Salt Lake City.  They gave me my flight plans this week.  I just about shredded it and played ignorant that it was never received.  I've managed to hide it from most of the zone so far, so I can slip out quietly without too much fanfare or people being ridiculous and making "Hey elder, how far away is that plane?" jokes.  I've decided that the best way forward is to legally change my name and submit my papers again!  Wahooo!  Peru, here I come!  (Or maybe China...I've loved teaching these Chinese investigators here in Gainesville...). Benjamin, I agree with you.  A 10-14 year mission (Sons of Mosiah or Paul style) sounds pretty epic.

When is Mayu's recital?  Is that this week or can I make it?  I hope Terry had some video of his....or maybe I'll just request a private concert.  =)

Elder McKay

Scripture Challenge

Well, not too much to report this week.   We are on the search for those that are truly interested. A lot of people tell us to come back later, then when we do several times they finally tell us they are not interested.  We did meet a couple with a one year old daughter from Mexico that seem to be interested though, and we are excited to start teaching them more.

A couple of weeks ago, I challenged myself to read the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Pearl of Great Price before the end of my mission (I had just finished the Old Testament and knew that to add that on as well would be too much).  I still don't even know if it is possible, but I am giving it everything I have.  It has been an awesome experience and I am spending every moment I can reading.  Right now I am loving reading of the mission experiences of Paul.  I love how bold yet simple teaching he does.  There is so much to learn as a missionary, and I wish I could have a 10 year mission just to learn it all.  There is no end to improvement.

Not too much else to report this week.

Love you all,

Elder Ben

Baptism in Seattle

Family,

Congratulations on Casey's mission call!!!  That is exciting.  I am sure he will do well with speaking French if he was the runner up for language sterling scholar.

Gabe, I wish you well on the ACT.  Don't worry, I was thinking I might not do to much better then the monkey, but somehow I was able to pull off a little bit better then expected.

Joe, I am excited to speak Spanish with you!!!  Let's have a goal to have at least a simple conversation by the time I get home.  I  had 9 weeks in the MTC, so you should be just as good as when I left the MTC by the time I get home :)
 

This last weekend we had 2 baptisms!!!  Our investigator and her daughter were baptized.  Also a child of record (8 year old) was baptized the same time.  We had also been teaching him so that he would be more prepared for his baptism. It was nice to see all 3 of them dressed in white.  Due to the fact that we thought she was moving last weekend, we didn't announce it in sacrament meeting.  We spent the whole week getting everything planned and calling everyone in the branch.  The baptismal service was a little bit out of hand.  The programs were forgotten by the person in charge of them, the speakers mixed up what topic they were supposed to talk about, and even though we had members picking up the people being baptized, they arrived a half hour late.  After all of that, I guess that the important thing is that the ordinance was performed.  Haha, another funny thing is that the week that a baptism happens is the week I don't have my camera. Yep, it is in the car that is being worked on. :(   We should get it back today, but that didn't help me last weekend.  Luckily, Elder Carpenter was able to get a picture.  Hopefully I will be able to send you a copy.
 

Well, that is it for this week.  Pretty busy with the baptism, but very rewarding to see them and how excited they were for that day.

Well, this computer is going to kick me off, so I need to run.

 

 Love you all,

Elder Seattle

 

 

FL Update

Zone Conference this week!  Got to organize and take part in an awesome musical number, "The Lord is My Shepherd," with a few  talented elders and sisters!  Right afterwards I had to give a 20 minute training....sometimes I think I would rather sing in front of a group than speak. When I sing, I know what is going to come out.  =P

Cough still not gone, so I guess since Mom insists that I come home healthy I'll have to add another 4-6 months onto my mission just to be sure that it goes away.  I'm taking the scriptures as a lead on how to receive that extension:

 There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  -- Luke 18:2-5

Ha! I've pestered President Barry so often about receiving extra time that he's probably becoming wearied of hearing about it!

Saturday we had a great lesson with Keith and he was loving the Book of Mormon and committed solidly for church.  Sunday morning, just to be sure, we decided to call and then text a reminder to him that his ride would be coming by at 8:30.  A few minutes later, we get a text back saying that he doesn't feel like coming after all and would rather just sleep.  Say WHAT?  No, way, Mr. Devil!  You ain't winnin' on this one!  I text back, "Keith, I can promise you that you will get much more 'rest' by keeping the sabbath day holy than you would by sleeping in. Will you  come?"   After 20 minutes of silence, we figured he had gone back to bed, but then he sent us another message, "Ok, I'm ready.  Come and get me."  Wahooo!  His baptism date can still hold solid!

Minor miracles still happening around us.  No one could possibly convince me that this work is not favored...far too many coincidences of meeting people and being there at "just the right time."

Bye for now!

Elder M

Cruising in a 12 Passenger Van

Well, glad to hear that all is well in Logan and that the weather at least permits you to see.  I do remember that during the winter months sometimes it can get a bit nasty up there.  I do remember the store Hastings.  It was just right down the street from the old apartment.  I can't believe that Jensen Book's is still in business.  Right before I left for my mission they started to go down hill.  I guess there will always be people reading books though.

This week was the worst, but best week ever!  We struggled all of the way up to Sunday.  We weren't finding anyone to teach and on Thursday (by phone) found out that our awesome investigator that was going to be baptized this weekend was going to move back to Panama! :(  We had just had a lesson with her 2 days before and nothing was mentioned.  She said that she was moving back to Panama on Sunday, and we didn't have a chance to see her after that because she was busy packing and everything. Totally bummed but got her address in Panama to send the referral to the missionaries there.  Then on Sunday one of the guys in the part member family she is living with says in priesthood meeting that she didn't move!!!  What?!?!  Totally confused at that point, but then she shows up at sacrament!!  I was busy at the organ (now my unofficial calling in the branch to play during sacrament) and so didn't get to talk with her until after. She told us after that both the part member family and even her daughter had convinced her to stay and continue looking for work here. Her daughter is 10 and doesn't speak any English, but is in school and must be enjoying it because she totally wanted to stay. They will still move back to Panama if at the end of March she doesn't have a job here because she has one guaranteed there. Crazy miracle to see her in church though.  Not sure as of right now if she will be getting baptized this weekend because of that break of teaching her that we had but we will see what happens.

WHAT!!! OK SOMETHING JUST SUPER WEIRD HAPPENED!!!  Ok, so I am sitting in the library typing this email to you right now when some other missionaries from the zone walk up to us.  One I have known since he started his mission 4 transfers ago in Renton and he is now training someone.  I thought that the person he was training looked really familiar.....then I realized HE WENT TO MANTI HIGH!!!  Crazy small world.  Alecia would know him...Elder Thompson.  Oh, he asked how you were doing Alecia.  Haha, I told him you were up in Logan now.  A little trippy to see someone that you know (or at least recognized) from pre-mission life.

So anyways, back to Sunday.  We were in church when a member family said that they had a friend that would be interested in meeting with us, and they had already set up a lesson for after church.  This member family is awesome and is all about missionary work.  We go to the lesson and meet the lady that they were talking about.  The lesson went amazing.  This lady has been through A LOT in her life, but knows God is there.  Super amazing, and before we could even ask, she told us that if she came to know that this church was true she would be joining it!  The next detail is even better.  The member family only met this lady 2 days before, and that was when they were working selling stuff.  Talk about asking everyone if they want to learn about the gospel.

Also on Sunday some recent converts from an English ward in the stake invited their grounds keeper to learn about the gospel.  Since they don't know any Spanish, the lady had to type out an invitation on her Ipad and translate it to Spanish so she could invite this man to dinner.  Ipads can be useful.  The English elders, who just happen to be in our district this transfer, quickly arranged for an exchange so that I could go to the dinner appointment.  There I met this super nice man from Oaxaca, Mexico.  He even knows our Elders quorum president already because they used to live right next to each other in an apartment complex before the elders quorum president moved.  Super awesome.

So Sunday was the redeeming quality of this last week.

 

We also found out this week that our mission is going to be splitting on July 1st. The Seattle mission is already one of the smallest in the world but will be split into the Seattle and Federal Way missions.  Well, I won't have to worry about that, I guess.  It is kind of sad that his mission as we know it is coming to an end though.

Also weird story of the week.  So the vehicle coordinator called us to say we got clearance to get our car fixed after the January 31 accident.  It turns out the car will take several days to get fixed, so we were told to drive to the mission office to pick up a van.  We get there and find out we will be driving a huge 12 passenger van until our car is fixed!  Hahah.  They usually use this van to haul beds, desks and such around the mission.  We have been driving it for 4 days now.  I am sure it is a bit humorous to see only 2 missionaries get out of a huge van, but that is what we are rolling with now.

 

Well that sums up the week,

Elder Seattle

Short Update From FL

Gabe and Joe are definitely too young to be doing anything for Valentine's day!  ....I don't even remember looking at a girl until I was 18. Yikes.  Stay safe, brothers!  =D

Not sure on the extension...it's probably safe to plan on the 21st unless otherwise notified.  Still working on it though....

Lung infection = stubborn.  Antibiotics didn't do anything.  Doctor will be checking it out again on Thursday.

New companion....but an old companion. I've been companions with Elder Bennion before waaaaay back in Fort Caroline in summer 2011 when we were both fresh.  Found out in his first ward council here that he's related to the elders quorum president...5th cousins once removed....I think that's what they determined.

Sister Howell came into the mission for her 3 outbound transfers from the Temple Square mission. That was fun - I've never met another Howell before and now there's one serving in my district!  She says family headquarters is in Michigan.  Do we have any relatives out thataway?

 Also met the Knudsen family's former babysitter.  That was an odd moment.  Lol, the church makes the world a very small place.

Loves,

~Me

Ben to Stay in Renton (again:)

Well, transfers were today (drum roll)..... I am going to be staying in Renton and Elder Carpenter will still be my companion!, Haha., I thought for sure that my time in Renton had come to an end and even told some of the members and investigators that I thought I was leaving.  Renton just can't seem to get rid of me. :)  Another elder form Manti, Elder Walk, has now (in a couple weeks) been in Renton for a year straight.  I have been here just over that with my two times being here, so we are the "old men" in the zone.  I think that it is a little bit uncommon to stay with your trainee for 3 transfers because the training program is only for two and most of them get a different companion right after.  We were both surprised, but glad, when we heard the news.

McKay, you got in a car accident as well!  What are the odds of that?  Hopefully, I don't get any infections now soon.

Well, we had one really good lesson with the man from Puerto Rico this past week.  McDonalds is keeping him busy, but I will mention the LDS employment center to him.  I think we have one here in Renton.  He loves the church and wants to continue to come. The only thing holding him back from baptism right now is he needs to get married.  He wants to get married but his girlfriend doesn't want to at this moment.  Not much we can do about that.  We are only here to teach and invite.  When I told him I may be leaving he said, "I was hoping you would be here when I got baptized."  Uuummm, I hope I am too. We will see what happens.
 

The women and her daughter from Panama are also progressing really well. Satan has been doing a pretty good job making it hard to get a member from the relief society with us in the lessons, but lucky for us she lives at a part member family's home, and so we still have member support.  We have set up multiple lessons and had members coming with us, and then they call last minute and say they can no longer come with us.  One of them will go through though.  She has been to church now 4 times in a row and went to a stake wide Valentine's activity (don't worry, we as missionaries didn't go to a Valentine's activity) this past week.  She also loves the church and is looking forward to being baptized, hopefully on March 2nd.

I have continued to drive around the mission like a crazy man doing baptismal interviews.  Good thing for us that the zone leaders gave us more miles to use this month or we would end up walking.  It looks like this week may be a little more calm as nobody in the Spanish program that I know of yet has a baptism set for this week.  I have absolutely loved it though! 

The meeting with Elder Bowen was awesome!  I don't even think words could explain it.  He is a spiritual giant (as all general authorities are) and we as a mission learned a lot.  I love how after someone like that comes the mission work seems to see a large increase, and this time was no different. Throughout the mission the work seemed to pick up.  Everyone is trying to be the best they can and improve where they need to.  It is amazing to see.  A reference to Robert Bannister came up in his talk, and an elder on a senior couples mission and I were the only ones who knew who he was.  Weird.

 

Everything is great here! Love it!

Elder Seattle