3 STARS
¡Hola Amigos y Familia!
If you know you know.
This week went by reallllllyyyyy slow not going to lie. Patience is a virtue....I lack. I'm working on it.
Last week after p-day I had "divisiones" with a Hermana Cappa! There are two Hermana Cappas and they're over the whole Santiago Centro Zone. Hermana V. and I said goodbye for 24 hours to go on splits with the Hermana Cappas. Tender mercy, I was assigned to a gringa! She's actually going home this week so that kind of stunk (#trunky) BUT she was able to answer a lot (and I had a LOT) of questions. We went and did something called a "Tormenta Blanca" which basically means a group of elders and hermanas go to an area and help out the elders or hermanas assigned to that area. We went to an area in my zone called "Frias" which was a 3 hour bus ride away. SO, we woke up at 3:30am to catch the bus and started working right after we stepped off. Hermana Hemingway and I found a LOT of people who are SO prepared for the gospel it was awesome! We talked to a lady who was a member but became inactive after she moved away from Buenos Aires. She had the CUTEST kids so while Hermana H. did her Spanish thing and talked to this lady, I played and talked with the kids. We played "I Spy" with the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon. I super hope they receive the elders in that area!
To kick off "Light the World" this year my zone sang Christmas songs in the Plaza Libertad! The director was realllllyyyy into it and made us practice for 2 hours before we went and performed in the plaza. By the time we headed over to the plaza, I was drained. So much so I wasn't paying attention and sang a verse the elders were only supposed to sing. All the Latina hermanas were laughing super hard and I didn't realize until after it was over. Light the World is SO awesome! One of my favorite things the Church has released for sure! I'll link a video down below for those of you who don't know about it. Ilumina el Mundo! Uno por Uno! An hermano in my ward actually printed out the sheet music from the video but every time I play it, I cry hahahaha. Hits me right in the heart!
My Spanish is improving. Slowly but surely. Hermana V.'s English is improving too. Improving probably isn't the right word because this week she learned two swear words and asked me what they meant. I just about DIED! It was a little comic relief to be totally honest.
I was digging through a box in my apartment and found a quote by Elder Holland that I LOVE! He said: " The Savior was the Master Teacher...We would see most of His ministry being teaching. And yet almost none of that teaching was done in a church building. His teaching was out where the people were. It was highways and byways and hillsides and seashores and in homes." The quote by Elder Holland made me think of another quote by Joseph Smith. He said: "The truth of God will go forth boldly, and nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done." Wow. I've got both of these quotes glued in my journal to remind me of what a great work this is! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to serve a mission and despite how hard it feels at times, I am always grateful. I know I am where I need to be! I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! I am eternally grateful for my Savior and His infinite Atonement. I want so badly to help the people of Argentina come unto Christ!
It's so funny to sit down to write these emails because SO much happened this week but it all feels like a blur. Everytime I walk out of the internet cafe I remember something I forgot to include. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I am SO thankful for all of you. I feel your prayers and support everyday.
Love love loveeee,
Hermana McKinlay (or Hermana McDonalds if you're like the people here and struggle to pronounce my name)
Light the World 2019: One by One
And now to catch you up on a lack of photos these past 3 weeks....
Polaroid for November! Chau November 2019!
Fork I found in our apartment hahahaha
My desk! Peep my SUPER cute llama pen Hermana V. gave me my first day in the field. Also alllllllllll the Spanish books....#sos
What my hair looked like after a wild thunderstorm in 100 degree weather and major humidity
View from my bedroom window
Grind grind grindddddd
FLOODED streets after literally every rainstorm
Elder Gonzales in his disco baptism pants hahahaha
People bring their pets to church
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