The Healing Power of Gratitude

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¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week we took an hermana to get tested for COVID. For the third time. Let me clarify a little further hahaha: we took the same hermana to get tested for COVID...3 times. We were laughing in the car on the way to get her tested and we all agreed it would probably just be worth it for her to actually test positive. Especially after having to get tested 3 different times. She'd at least be clear for Christmas 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyways, I said I'd write a better email...

My new companion is hermana Jones. Basically she is this half polynesian goddess who makes me laugh harder than I thought possible. Our first morning together I woke up to go to the bathroom and dropped a whole roll of toilet paper into the toilet andddddd we've bonded ever since! Hahaha 

Also! We live with hermana Skinner and Albrecht and it's so fun! Hermana Skinner got dear-Janed last week so send her some love. Except it was actually an answer to my prayers because now we can live together when she finishes her mission hahahaha

One part of being a Sister Training Leader that is kinda fun (but also kinda not) is weekly calls! Weekly calls happen with the Assistants and the Zone leaders and every week we have about 3 weekly calls. This week one of the Assistants was bajando la caña a hermana Jones y yo. It was sorta awkward but basically what he was inviting us to do was remember our missionary purpose. So later that night hermana Jones and I were teaching english to a guy that's living in Argentina. Kinda dope because he lives in the Salta Mission! He was so so so kind and kept telling us he wanted to pay us or do something that would makeup for the free english classes. I knew he was coming to Utah in February so I told him he could repay us by being baptized when he comes up here. Hermana Jones dieeeeeeddd. It was cute. Free salvation is better than free english classes if you ask me. We'll see what happens in February.

Speaking of baptism, this week one of our investigators came to church! She also brought her 3 kids that we're also teaching. It was super cool because Elder Kahnlein was there!!!! He's one of our area seventies and he's from Argentina which makes him way cooler. After sacrament meeting Elder Kahnlein came up to Rubí and asked her a ton of questions like, "how are your sister missionaries doing?" "Have they given you a Book of Mormon?" and "Are they teaching you clearly?" I wanted to shrink but I was also smiling supppper big under my mask!!!! The Spirit was so powerful as we all stood in a little circle in the chapel. Rubí mentioned how she wanted to be baptized with her kids and also shared some of her concerns. It was so cool because Elder Kahnlein was able to relate to Rubí in such a personal way, he also being a convert, and he invited the Spirit into the conversation in .2 seconds. We meet with Rubí tonight and are going to try and set a baptismal date for her and her 3 kiddos. I am so excited. When the Spirit testifies, there's no denying it. Being a missionary is such a beautiful experience. You just watch the gospel work and see how Jesus Christ's Atonement truly does change people. 

On Friday the whole world had the opportunity to listen to its prophet. If you haven't listened to your prophet, do that right now. I don't actually think I am able to put into words the emotions I had while listening to President Nelson speak. I am so grateful for our prophet and I know that he is called of God.

Sorta funny story: Hermana Jones had never experienced "Facebook finding" before so we decided to do it this week. We actually really enjoy teaching english classes so Hermana Jones posted some free english class ads in random Latino FB groups. Well she decided to join a "Recetas Colombianas" group (Colombian Recipes) and now she has a ton of Colombian men in aprons popping up in her dms hahahaha. I think the whole country might be taking english classes from us this week. 

Anyways, love you as all as always. Today marks exactly 4 months until I go home so that's kinda weird to think about.

Love love loveeee,
Hermana McKinlay


1. Friends! Comps! Roomies!



2. I am grateful for the one time I rode a camel in Africa



3. Read or listen to "The Inconvenient Messiah"



4. President Russell M. Nelson



5. Remember  



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