Tithing Money Twix Bars

so I don't know exactly how, when, or from where but every week I get 120 pesos in put into my MTC bank account. I can use this money to buy stuff at la tienda which is the store here that sells missionary needs like flashcards, pens, garments etc...super great. really the only thing I buy at the store are tidepods so I can do my laundry on pdays. well last week, I found out la tienda carries Twix Bars. It also just so happened last week included some kind of rough moments for me. No need to worry, all is well. Anyways, to sum it up the mexican man who works at la tienda recognizes me every time I walk in because I prefer to stock up on my Twix bars. Functionality. I know tithing money goes to a lot of places, one of which is missionary work, so if I´m thinking through this right...shoutout to whoever in the world paid for my Twix bars this week. you. da. realest. 

this week I've been writing down on a piece of paper things I wanted to make sure to include on this email and the page is completely full.

¿Listos? ( WOOHOOO I think I've mastered this keyboard blesssss UP)

My daily grind, and I mean DAILY, begins at 6:30am. For those of you that know me, you know that that time does not exist on any clock I own. Frankly, it shouldn't exist on any clock period, but here I am. I really haven't had any issues waking up at 6:30am which at first came as a total shock. I legit roll out of bed with 16 hours of energy. Every stinking day I kid you not. I have so much energy falling asleep is a struggle. Yes, you're reading this right. My name is Katie McKinlay and I have a hard time falling asleep. The hour night, it took me an hour! I really came out here thinking Heavenly Father would make my weaknesses strengths, not the other way around. Despite my new weird sleeping habits, the only (joke, not the only) thing getting me out of bed in the morning is the peanut-butter-nutella-banana toast Hermana Steed and I make. Spiritual experience. Sometimes I'm healthy and switch the nutella out for honey. I almost vowed to stop making myself my toast when I accidentally slid my piece of bread into the toaster a little too quickly. I didn't notice it at first but then I realized it must've jammed once I saw the smoke spewing out the machine. I panicked, turned off the toast, and ran away. Not my most mature moment....I should probably repent. So ya, Hermana McKinlay really did almost set the CCM on fire. So far all you've learned about me from this email is that I've gained weight, but no, Hermana Steeds workouts are still kicking my butt.

This week was mas and mas espanol. Memorized Moroni 10:3-5 which was a long process. Some days we have workshops with other districts so our group of 12 becomes a group of 30 or 40. Earlier this week we had one on using technology in the field. Katie kinda mentally checked out during that one ONLY because it was targeted at elders and hermanas who have smartphones or iPads in their missions. So lol not me, or the majority of the group actually. I think there were like 4/36 people who had devices. ANYWAYS, I wasn't the only one checked out because I noticed a group of elders in the back who were seeing just how far away they had to hold an umbrella, so if when they pressed the release button on the handle, it would barely grace the tip of their nose. remember when I said the elders were cooler than the hermanas? scratch that big time haha. Can't tell you how hard I had to try not to laugh when I watched over 6+ elders not quite gauge the distance right and almost break their nose.

A couple days ago we had to pick a hymn to sing before we began class and an elder (a very difficult elder. will explain) suggested "Love at Home". Hermana Bigelow (also will explain) and about 4 other people all groaned. "We hate that song! My parents used to make my siblings and I sing that whenever we'd fight!" I laughed pretty hard thinking about my dad doing just that, huge grin on his face, dessert as a bribery. Classic, but also minor PTSD. Long story short we didn't sing that hymn.

Church is in complete spanish. Each week everyone has to have a 5 minute talk written on a specific topic...in spanish. You don't know you're speaking until your bishop announces you are 30 seconds prior. Never imagined I'd feel this way but 9am church is glorious. Might have done my personal study in bed until 8am that morning. ;)

Overall life is good. The Lord is really providing. I'm still having lots of moments where I sit in shock with the fact I'm actually out on a mission. But I'm also feeling so incredibly blessed knowing I've got support and prayers coming from Cali, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, Chile, Germany, France and Tanzania haha. I really am thankful for all of you. Oh here's something kinda fun. So there's this website called MexicoMTCCarePackage (I only know this because all the hermanas in my district get letters from their "elders" through this site. Every now and then it's a letter from their mom haha). Anyways, you can go and type a letter to a missionary in the Mexico City MTC for free. The post office here at the MTC prints up the letters and delivers them to the misisonaries the day of. Every time an Hermana in my district gets one, our maestro asked if it's a "querido juan" which translates to "dear john" that kills me. I won't be able to receive packages or physical mail once I'm in Argentina #sad so shoot me some letters these next 3 weeks!!! I guarantee you I'll read them throughout my mission. Love love love that kind of stuff. 

Ok. Here's some stuff I've really been thinking about this week:

I love the New Testament. I love reading all the stories about Christ from different perspectives. In Luke 9:57-62 (I'll type it out for all you lazies) it says: 

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said until him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

It reminded me of Genesis 19:26, when Lot and his wife are leaving Sodom and Gomorrah. I don't really know the Old Testament stories super well. But in verse 26 it says: "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

First off woah. Second off, I couldn't help but think of these stories and compare them to the experience of a missionary. Before I get into this, understand I WANT to be here. I chose to come on this mission because I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and know what it can do for families and individuals. I want to change lives. But an important part of being a missionary, is being able to push through the hard times and not look back. Part of the blessing the I was given when being set apart blessed me with the ability to look forward, and not back. This is super important and something I try and live by everyday. 

Love you all! Three more weeks then I'm OUTTA here. Hahaha what a terrifying yet exciting thought. You better BELIEVE I'm about to download some Coldplay onto my flashdrive right now. Vos Amo!

Hermaña McKin