Salta -> Salt Lake City ("Shut the front door!")

 Hola familia y amigos!!!

I want to say something like “not too much has happened since being home” and leave it at that but that’s a lie and I figure my mom will put all of my emails into a cute little book when I actually finish this mission thing and I don’t want two blank months right in the middle so HEY!

Ok so this has been the wildest few weeks of my life. Beats anything else I’ve ever experienced. It’s sort of funny because life only gets crazier and just when I think I've got a grasp, I learn I don't. Like seriously. I don’t know what’s happened to my life this last WEEK even. It’s ok though, I figure the Lord is shaping me into who I need to be so that’s an exciting thought. Kind of a bummer I was so far from her to begin with hahahaha. Call to humility. 

Coming home was a crazy experience. Summed up it was a 28 hour bus ride through Argentina with two lovely flights afterwards. I think I already wrote about that. 

Next.

I was really unsure about what I was going to do when I arrived home. I was actually really leaning towards not going back out into the mission field. I decided to send in my mission papers once again after lots of prayer anddddddddd like a week later I received my second mission call. I’m coming for you Salt Lake City West!!! Never in my LIFE did I think I’d be one of the missionaries to serve in Salt Lake City, let alone, like 2 miles away from my whole family....but I. Am. So. Excited (and so nervous. But a good nervous. It's weird). A lot ran through my head when my dad read my mission call (for the second time haha) but I am so ready. I am SO beyond ready to finish what I started. Not exactly how I planned, or where, or necessarily when, but finishing (knock on wood) nonetheless. 

I've been thinking a lot about my call recently, asking a lot of "how's" and "why's" and "what's" and it's made me reflect on the short time I spent in Argentina. It's made me understand how Heavenly Father really does have a plan for every single one of us. The other day, I was talking to someone I served with back in Argentina. He basically saw me struggle through my training and then later bumped into me in the office as I prepared to train cute Hermana Parker. He told me he noticed a distinct change in Hermana McKinlay that day in the office compared to back when we were in Santiago del Estero. At first, it made me laugh because I genuinely felt like I was all over the place while serving, but the truth is, I really learned to put my trust in the Lord. Looking back on it, it's something I didn't even realize was happening. I know that's a pretty basic thing for a missionary to say, but it's something we all need to learn to do. It's during the rough times we realize whether or not we have put our full trust in Him, He who knows all things. I know my experiences in Argentina helped me learn to put my trust in the Lord so I could come home and tackle this. I never would have thought I was being prepared for something like this while I served for those 6 months, but here I am! Ready for round 2...

Also really really praying there isn't a round 3 hahaha

I report to the SLC West mission on June 9, exactly a year after I submitted my mission papers for the first time. From what I've been told by my mission president, my mission is one of the highest baptizing missions in Utah (yeeeeee!!!!), 28 Spanish wards, 8 Tongan wards, and lots of Asian languages I don’t recognize haha. If I’m guessing right, I’ll teach a lot of immigrants and refugees which makes me so excited. I think I'll serve my last 9 months there but if you want to make Heavenly Father laugh, tell Him your plans! So we'll see!

These past two months home have flown by. I wouldn't ever wish a mini vacay in the middle of a mission on a missionary, but I think mine went pretty well given the circumstances. Visited some of my favorite places, saw some of my favorite people, made a fair amount of TikTok dance videos, allowed my Facebook to be flooded by Argentinos (WOW they like to post!), got sunburned, and said goodbye to a solid chunk of my bank account gracias @onlineshopping and @newmissioncall.

So ya! There's a lil update for you! Anyways, love you all. Thank you for the support and emails and check ins and FaceTimes and Spotify playlists hahaha. What would I do without you? ;) Life is good.

Soon to be again,

Hermanaaaaaaaa McKinlay