Here is Mackenzie's email from this week. Mackenzie and I chat about things pertaining to the email she sends. I've been lucky to catch her on the computer so that gives me the opportunity to ask the millions of questions I always have. I try to put her answers in her email so that you can get the full picture. This is why they are so long. It's literally an hour of communication between us. She does very, very good with her first email she sends. They are always full of information and we love it! I just get more detail as we "chat" with each other. I've tried to fit our conversation in where I feel it will make the most sense. If you see discrepancies in the email that's why. She's having some great experiences! I'm so grateful.
Hey mom! So, please don't worry at all about the whole donation thing it was very thoughtful of you to do that. They were not mad in any way they were very grateful and you are allowed to do that. President B said he would contact you but i'm not sure if he has yet.
Anyway, my week was good but a lot of trials occurred. We couldn't see many investigators and members this week because our truck actually broke down. It started to shake uncontrollably like Brittany's horrible jeep did. It reminded me of the time when me and Chandler went on that road trip and her jeep kept breaking down! But actually the truck broke down because we were on Trade Off's and I went to Kingston for one day.When the sisters were driving the truck back from picking me up we needed some gas. So we went to the nearest gas station and there we asked for Diesel because the truck can only take Diesel. He proceeded to fill up our truck and we went on our way. As we were driving it all of a sudden began to shake and then broke down on the road.. while we were going up the mountain by the way. The roads are very tiny but thankfully we met these 2 wonderful young boys and they started to direct traffic for us. We gave them 500 each because they helped us out for 2 hours before the elders came to the rescue. We tried everything. Oil, tried to start the battery, put water in to cool it off. Nothing worked. We all of a sudden remembered about the gas and come to find out the man who put the gas in put in unleaded GAS not diesel so it messed everything up in the truck. So we didn't have a truck for a day. My companion started to cry because we have the largest area in the mission to cover and we no longer had a truck.. we were told that we might not have a truck. So we started to pray and as we prayed I just felt calm. I was never worried because I knew whatever happened it was for a reason...either for us to walk in our area to find new investigators or some thing else to put in our path. So I was calm and before we knew it we got a call and they said that the truck was fixed. We got our truck back and everything is good now!
Trade offs were fine. I went to Kingston, Boulevard and I was with Sister H. She is another Jamaican sister missionary. It was a very interesting week... we have been having a lot of those lately. It feels like Satan is trying to bring us down every single week.. we have trials all of the time but you know what? It is good for us to learn. We have that unshaken faith in our Heavenly Father and we know He is there protecting us all of the time. It has been so wonderful to serve him. As I have been here I have recognized the spirit. It is becoming easier for me to recognize since I have been out.. so once some thing comes into my mind I say it.. and its such a wonderful experience. Sometimes I don't even know how it pops into my mind but in the very hour.. just like that one scripture says..he will let us know what to say. I am very grateful for the Holy Ghost in my life. I think that's why I am with Sister B..to learn to teach more softly but at the same time when I need to be bold I will be. She said she feels I am with her because of my teachings according to the Spirit. She once said that because of my teachings she sees me working miracles in others lives according to the promptings of the spirit that I feel to say. We have the same thoughts and we know of who to see according to the spirit. For example she would ask me "who do you feel like we should go see today?" we both would think and we both would have the same name pop up in our minds and we would end up going to see them. By us doing that we have helped so many people in need. The Holy Ghost is just such a blessing and we are blessed to have him as a constant companion. We need to keep ourselves worthy so we can know what Heavenly Father needs us to know and to learn. M even said that she was praying for some help because she needed money to provide for her family. Well me and Sister B all of a sudden thought it would be awesome to come to her shop to look and to buy! She mentioned in the lesson last night that the Lord had answered her prayer by bringing us to her shop as well as many others. I just love her. I have seen many miracles since we have followed the spirit :) I love it here. I don't want to leave this area at all. When we come back I will want to take you to see M. She is the BEEESSSSSSTTT! I will be taking a picture with her and her fam so you can see them. One cool experience this week was when we went to go see S and we talked about the restoration. As we gave her the pamphlet she said "I have one just like this" and we were like really? and she said "yeah the exact same one, my grandfather gave it to me a long time ago, its been sitting in my room". Me and my companion looked at each other and we both knew that Heavenly Father led us to her and that's why we felt to go talk to her that day. Because we followed that prompting she received blessings and so did we. She is ready to hear the gospel Heavenly Father has been preparing her for. So it was really cool to see. As for my other investigators we see this great old man. His name is Mr. G and we are actually preparing him to be baptized next Sunday :) He is getting there and he is so excited to be baptized. So he will be my first baptism! yay! He is so cute I just love him. Mr. G is dating a member of the Church. Her name is P and she has been a member for the longest time. She is so amazing. He got interested and started taking lessons. So we taught him! and he loves the church and knows its true. P is happy and they hope one day to be married in the temple together. They taught Mr. G for like a week before I got here so not very long.
Oh and last week I forgot to tell you it was hilarious hahaha! We went to go see Sister H and she called my companion a liar!! hahaha I laughed so hard. She doesn't come to church anymore because she thinks the young men are after her or something? She says that everyone in the church talks about how crazy she is and that every time she goes in the church the priesthood holders push her while she sits down? I tried so hard not to laugh because its not true! Sister B said "sister H we have not seen that and we have amazing young priesthood holders and we have not heard anyone talk negatively about you in the church". and she said "your a liar" HAHA!!!!!! So Sister B got so mad and we ended up leaving because she was in a bad mood that day. But I left with a big smile and told her we loved her. Haha it was hilarious. We still go and check up on her though because we don't want to give up on her. She felt the Spirit as I talked about our Savior. I have learned to be very bold with her. My companion always says its amazing how bold I am in the lessons.. but what I have noticed is that, you need to be bold or they won't listen to you. We teach some guys in their 20's and in the middle of the lesson they would be like "I like your eyes" or flirt with me! That's when I stop the lesson and am like "Do you want to learn about the gospel or are you doing this for another reason?"I want to help but they don't have the faith or they are letting us come for the wrong reasons! This guy we are teaching, O, is 27 or 24 I don't know and he called us one time asking for us to find him a job! The next time I saw him I talked to him about faith because number one, he doesn't even pray. So i'm like "okay we need to talk about faith". I told him that he needs to pray and he said "I do pray I don't get answers and he won't help me find a job" I then said "When you pray miracles don't just come! When you pray you have to pray with a SINCERE HEART and after you pray you need to get off your lazy butt and go walk and look for a job! and then Heavenly Father will help you with the rest as long as you do your part!" Sister B loves it when I am bold. I say stuff like that all of the time. I just don't have time to be messed round with, we are here to do the Lords work. We are on his time and if they aren't doing their part then we are moving on. That's one thing we pray about...if we should keep teaching or if we should drop them. My poor companion.. we have had times where we would get frustrated with each other but after a while we laugh about it. Its really a sister relationship that we have. My poor companion learned real fast that I am "Fierce" is the word she uses haha she said " I don't like getting you mad, I just don't talk when you are mad". She is very sweet..cute sister B. We learn from each other its good. I'm bold and she has the sweeter side. its perfect we balance. Sometimes she can be fierce with the investigators....some times...which is not her! but the investigators get another side out of her. Its so hilarious...she can get aggravated but when we get frustrated with each other (because we had a bad day or something) she knows to not talk to me because.. well you know how I am. She is hilarious but we show each other love all the time. I just love her so much. She really is like a sister to me. (: We talk about everything and we both have the biggest testimonies of the Atonement. I know I am with her for a reason. We learn from each other every single day. She is amazing. Oh and also my companion will be going on the temple trip tomorrow and won't be back til Saturday. Her mom is going to the temple for the first time and Sister B is going to be her escort! i thought I would share because its just so awesome. I am so excited for her to be sealed to her family! so I will be getting another companion in my area til she gets back.
Oh so you are going to be so proud.. me and Sister B are going on a "face cleanse" haha. We call it that cause we wear no makeup except mascara and some blush and our faces are clearing up! So we are happy bout that . It's impossible to wear makeup here it will just run down your face. My face is sooo clear so I am used to not wearing makeup. (: It feels so much better! It took like 2 weeks for my face to clear up. By the way...this Friday I will have been in Jamaica for a month!! woohoo! We are allowed to shop on other days if we are in need of things and trust me we are always in need. But we hardly ever shop. What you saw (on my debit card) were the gas stations so don't worry about that..I have no more money on my church card and we needed gas.. so they will pay me back for that. Its very expensive here. I am trying to learn how to budget the money. Oh mom you mentioned the new stake. Yes there will be a new stake but its not for my area. Our poor little Branch.. I wish it was though. Our little branch needs some growing. We are trying our best to hasten the work here and I feel like we are doing great. But the new stake consists of some branches not in our area. They will be combining those and making it a stake. We have the largest area in the mission yes, we are the only sister missionaries and one set of Elders and no they do not live close by. They live in the main street and we live in with the people.
The boxes were awesomee! I am eating up that food! Thanks for sending it. That reminds me I had an experience where someone made me some thing to eat last week. She made me an omelet and I was like "YES an omelet!!" but then I ate it... and inside there was a butt load of onions, peppers, sausage, tomatoes and FISH. I was so grossed out I almost barfed. I couldn't handle it. It was badddd. But thanks for the boxes. Mom could you please send me some more big bobby pins from Sallys? The ones I have are rusting away from the heat and humidity. I loved the Easter Box!! I was so happy to get all of the boxes. I love how you get carried away. We need a lot of things so it was nice to get your boxes! Tell Lauren thank you so much for helping with the box, I loved it so much! Well mom, hopefully I can answer more of your questions next time. I just don't have the time only one hour because I have to pay. I love all of you and am so glad you had an amazing Easter. It made me sad to know the Lauren cried (when Chandler left).. she is just tired of saying good bye to her siblings. I love her and hate that for her.. when I get home I will play with her every single day and never go to college! haha just kidding.. i would love to do that though.. I just hate her being sad. I'm glad that Adam is there to be with her and with all of you though. Well I love you and hope everything is going good with you guys. I love you mom and tell me if dad gets anymore job opportunities. I am always praying for him and for all of you every day. I am actually going to fast for you and dad so that he can find a job. I just know he will. It just takes time and patience and that's what Heavenly Father is trying to teach all of you. He really has a sense of humor I tell you what. Well I love you mom !!!
-Sister Mackenzie
