"Why Are They All White?"

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

So we had a cita with Exequiel this week to teach him more about prophets, temples, etc. All that good stuff. I pulled out a picture of all the general authorities and Exequiel sat there for a sec before saying, "Why are they all white?" It was pretty funny not going to lie. There's a solid amount of general authorities from South America but they all look white so we tried to explain that.

This week was kind of an odd week. Everyday was super overcast and rainy and Hermana Horton and I just kinda felt weird. At least 3 times once a day we'd look at each other and say something like, "Why is today so weird?" I think we were letting the weather get to us because we actually had a VERY productive week. The Sister Training Leaders came over yesterday to verify our weekly planning and they said they've never seen a companionship work so effectively. They said they could tell we have a love for the people and each other which makes our companionship one with the Spirit.....SO YES!!!!!!! That's something I absolutely LOVE about being comps with Hermana Horton. I feel like we are led by the Spirit everywhere we go and I know that it's only because we are striving to be obedient and working 24/7 to help the people we are finding. It's the BEST! So basically during interviews with President on Wednesday we're just going to beg him (and the Spirit dangit) to keep us together....forever. But I also feel like Hermana Horton is going to become a Sister Training Leader and if she does I will be SO happy.......mostly because that means I will get to stay in Jujuy Centro and she'll get booted somewhere else ;) jkkkkkk

Last pday I went to take a picture of this SUPER dumpy looking RV parked on the side of the road. My dad really wants an RV so I thought it would be funny to shoot him a pic to get some ideas. Turns out a really old grumpy guy lives in the RV and he did NOT like me taking a picture of his house. He yelled at Hermana Horton and I for a longgggg time and we ended up just having to ride away while he continued shouting at us. Well THIS week, Horton and I were sitting with Ayelin on the curb outside of her house teaching her a lesson. Out of nowhere the old grumpy guy rounds the corner and says, "They're a bunch of little liars ya know?!?!?!" So anyways, making lots of friends out here in Barrio Chingo.

Spent our Valentine's Day in the POURING rain with a guy named Ariel who is preparing to get BAPTIZED! He's 19 and is studying engineering in Jujuy. His family isn't really supporting him studying away from home so I don't know if they know about his baptism. He told us he wants to be baptized but is really worried about disappointing God afterwards if he makes mistakes. We had a really cool lesson with him in the middle of a gas station because that's the only place we could stand dry. He's friends with Exequiel so we're hoping Exequiel will be able to baptize him!!! That would be the coolest thing. We need to start having more success with girls.

Spoke in church yesterday. I think it went well. I don't really know. It was WAY cool because we had two "interested persons" (that's what we call them now haha) come to Sacrament Meeting. My talk was on the Restoration and I slid President' Nelson's invite from this last conference into the end. Second hour we talked about The Fall and read from 2 Nefi 2. It was awesome because Roxana and Milton basically had lesson one and two in church. Roxana is SOLID and reminds me a lot of my aunt Lindsey (shoutout to Lindsey!!!) and she has a baptismal date! We put 10 baptismal dates down with people this week so hopefully they can all keep their commitments and strengthen their testimonies of the gospel these next few weeks as we finish teaching them! Jujuy is my dream hahaha.

This week Hermana Horton and I were contacting a street before we had lunch with a member and we passed this house that was playing this awesome song I didn't recognize. I decided we were going to contact the house because I really wanted to figure out what the song was. The lady opened her door and I think I surprised her a little bit. "Hi! Two questions: what song is playing right now and would you like an invite to our church?" She was sooooo cute and we have an appointment with her this week. The song is called "Tusa" by Carol G. Don't know if it's popular in the States but it plays ALL the time here. I'm a big fan of Latino music I've decided.

Carnaval is right around the corner and it's a HUGE celebration in Jujuy so we lowkey might have to sit in our apartment for a solid 5 days if it becomes too dangerous to work. I forgot to throw a pic on the last email so I put one on this email. The point of Carnaval is for people to celebrate freeing the devil. Don't ask me why anyone would want to free the devil but it's a big excuse for people to get drunk and high so it doesn't really sound like it makes sense to anyone.

There's always more to type but I have been really lousy about writing in my journal so I'm forgetting! I will be better about that this week. Hermana Horton and I are having so much fun. Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support! We are feeling them out here in good ol' Ciudad de Nieva!

Love love loveeeee,

Hermana McKinlay