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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Samba and Soccer Stadiums
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Mission Home and Office
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Local Church in Alvorada
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunrise, Orange Trees, and Flowers
It is another great week in Alvorada, which is "sunrise" in Portuguese. It seems like time flies by a lot faster here. For those of you who are interested, I thought I would share some information about my new area. It is called Flores (flowers) and is the heart of all the big events and parties here in Manaus. Due to its location, it is safe to say that I can expect to hear a few nights' worth of live concerts blasting through our windows. Most recently, we had the pleasure of hearing Iron Maiden. It appears to be a lot safer here than in any other place I have served, given that many people think Cidade de Deus and Compensa are some of the most dangerous areas in Manaus. I would have never known otherwise since nothing ever happened to me, but I did hear about some missionaries in those areas getting robbed by the same guy twice, which is a little ironic. The church is about 20 stairs away from where we are living, so it is very convenient. Another good thing about this area is there are always returned missionaries (namely Boby and Kennedy) who are willing to help if we want to do divisions to teach more people.
Our district is called Laranjeiras (orange trees), just like the county back home, and currently consists of 7 people including myself: Elders Gonçalves, Noorda, Willian, Guerrette, Sombreiro, and Ahern. Contrary to the way things had previously been going in Flores, we made a pretty effective plan of action to boost the missionary work in the area and it seems to be working quite well. I'll give you an idea of what we have for baptisms coming up in the near future: the 4th of May- Carolina and possibly Thamiris, the 10th of May- Graça, Evoni, Josivane, Claudia, Artemeze, and Ozorio, and the 17th of May- Adriana (so far). As you can see, the work is going really well and we even have several others who are progressing with the lessons. The only hard part about it all is we only have 5 hours each day to do our teaching and walking, which in the past was done in 10 hours. Fortunately, we have been seriously blessed with everything working out so well. I've decided to take a different approach to this area and not come in shy or timid like I had done in the past. I must say it really helps gain the amizade (friendship) of the members and investigators a lot faster and it makes it more enjoyable doing the work.
This past Sunday was really weird. We walked into church a little late because we had been helping people find their way and something just felt different about the new ward. After sitting down for a few minutes, I realized that I was one of the darker-skinned people in the room, which is completely opposite from my last two areas. Everyone here is of direct Italian or Portuguese descent, so they have surprisingly fair skin. I think the wealth of the area has a little to do with the differences in appearance from the average Amazonian.
I just completed reading the manual for my new position. It starts off like this, "Congratulations on your new calling as Financial Secretary of the Brazil Manaus Mission. The next SIX to EIGHT months you are the guardian of the sacred funds of the Church..." It's a good thing I like it here since I will be in this area a while. Being in an area for this length of time allows a lot to be accomplished in addition to building great relationships with members of the ward.
As for new occurrences, we decided to get on a good fitness program where we run a few miles every day around an old go-cart track right behind the house. It's a lot better than running circles around the parking lot. Another cool thing is that this Saturday Bosco and Maria, from my last area, are getting married and on Sunday baptized. That is pretty awesome! They really want me there, but being that it is on the other side of Manaus and with mission rules, it's looking like it's not going to happen. Nonetheless, I'm excited for them. In closing, thanks for the continued support. Our Flores squad has adopted the phrase, "Know what you are doing - Love what you are doing - Believe in what you are doing."
Até mais,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Our district is called Laranjeiras (orange trees), just like the county back home, and currently consists of 7 people including myself: Elders Gonçalves, Noorda, Willian, Guerrette, Sombreiro, and Ahern. Contrary to the way things had previously been going in Flores, we made a pretty effective plan of action to boost the missionary work in the area and it seems to be working quite well. I'll give you an idea of what we have for baptisms coming up in the near future: the 4th of May- Carolina and possibly Thamiris, the 10th of May- Graça, Evoni, Josivane, Claudia, Artemeze, and Ozorio, and the 17th of May- Adriana (so far). As you can see, the work is going really well and we even have several others who are progressing with the lessons. The only hard part about it all is we only have 5 hours each day to do our teaching and walking, which in the past was done in 10 hours. Fortunately, we have been seriously blessed with everything working out so well. I've decided to take a different approach to this area and not come in shy or timid like I had done in the past. I must say it really helps gain the amizade (friendship) of the members and investigators a lot faster and it makes it more enjoyable doing the work.
This past Sunday was really weird. We walked into church a little late because we had been helping people find their way and something just felt different about the new ward. After sitting down for a few minutes, I realized that I was one of the darker-skinned people in the room, which is completely opposite from my last two areas. Everyone here is of direct Italian or Portuguese descent, so they have surprisingly fair skin. I think the wealth of the area has a little to do with the differences in appearance from the average Amazonian.
I just completed reading the manual for my new position. It starts off like this, "Congratulations on your new calling as Financial Secretary of the Brazil Manaus Mission. The next SIX to EIGHT months you are the guardian of the sacred funds of the Church..." It's a good thing I like it here since I will be in this area a while. Being in an area for this length of time allows a lot to be accomplished in addition to building great relationships with members of the ward.
As for new occurrences, we decided to get on a good fitness program where we run a few miles every day around an old go-cart track right behind the house. It's a lot better than running circles around the parking lot. Another cool thing is that this Saturday Bosco and Maria, from my last area, are getting married and on Sunday baptized. That is pretty awesome! They really want me there, but being that it is on the other side of Manaus and with mission rules, it's looking like it's not going to happen. Nonetheless, I'm excited for them. In closing, thanks for the continued support. Our Flores squad has adopted the phrase, "Know what you are doing - Love what you are doing - Believe in what you are doing."
Até mais,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Baptism of Ruan, Kesiane, Lucas, Raian, and Luana in Jardim Botânico
The Little Village of Fazendinha Where Ruan, Kesiane, and Lucas Live
Elder Olsen, Elder Cain, and Elder Mackay Together for the Last Time
The New Financial Secretary Hard at Work
Truce After an Umbrella Battle with Friends
Elder Mackay with Ruan, Kesiane, Lucas, and the Rest of the Gang Down in the Pit Where They Live
Cidade de Deus - The Beautiful Area Elder Mackay Has Grown to Love
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen as Companions One Last Day
Elder Mackay and Laura, the Parrot, with Marta and Gabriel
The Family of Elizeu in Bragamendes on the Banks of a Little River
Outside the Home of a Golden Family
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Little Village of Fazendinha Where Ruan, Kesiane, and Lucas Live
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Olsen, Elder Cain, and Elder Mackay Together for the Last Time
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The New Financial Secretary Hard at Work
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Truce After an Umbrella Battle with Friends
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay with Ruan, Kesiane, Lucas, and the Rest of the Gang Down in the Pit Where They Live
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Cidade de Deus - The Beautiful Area Elder Mackay Has Grown to Love
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen as Companions One Last Day
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay and Laura, the Parrot, with Marta and Gabriel
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Family of Elizeu in Bragamendes on the Banks of a Little River
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Outside the Home of a Golden Family
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dow Jones Just Went Up
Well...this was a big week. For starters, all of the baptisms we had scheduled went as planned and Ruan, Kesiane, Lucas, Raian, and Luana were all baptized. Everything is also going perfectly for the upcoming wedding of Bosco and Maria. Unfortunately, though, I won't be present for the great event, which will take place on the 2nd of May, because I have been called as Financial Secretary of Missão Manaus! This new assignment took me completely by surprise. I got the call on Saturday informing me that I would be getting transferred. I was initially bummed by the news since things were going so well in the Jardim Botânico Ward and the work had really been progressing. The members of the ward were very good to me...they were with me through the good and bad and were able to see the blessings the ward received once I came out on top. They were sad to see me go and the feeling was mutual.
As we sat in the transfer meeting, all the changes had been announced for the other zones and then they finally reached the last zone–Zona Oeste. They called my name and informed me that I would be reporting to the Mission Office. I guess in six weeks I'll be the guy who people call and yell at if the money hasn't fallen into their account on time (haha). I know the position I now have will not be as effective in baptizing, but it will have a great amount of responsibility to keep the mission up and running.
We work in the office every day until 4 p.m. and then we go out to teach in an area called Flores. Our P-days are a little weird and cut short, but it's all good. I am now companions with Elder Guerrette, from Maine, who is training me for the position, and Elder Noorda, from Salt Lake City, who serves as Supplements Secretary. They are both really cool and easy to get along with. The room where I work is right next to President Jayme's office, which will be a great learning experience. In case you want to see exactly where I'm living, we are in a nice building next to the capela (church) in Alvorada on the street Loris Cordovil (right by a track and soccer stadium). It was sad to leave the jungle, but it is a welcomed change. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve others and to learn more in a way that will bless the lives of many and open up more opportunities in the future.
By the way, this was the last transfer for Elder Cain. Right now he's probably sitting on the couch watching TV or in St. George wakeboarding. As for the photos, I have included an explanation for each one.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
As we sat in the transfer meeting, all the changes had been announced for the other zones and then they finally reached the last zone–Zona Oeste. They called my name and informed me that I would be reporting to the Mission Office. I guess in six weeks I'll be the guy who people call and yell at if the money hasn't fallen into their account on time (haha). I know the position I now have will not be as effective in baptizing, but it will have a great amount of responsibility to keep the mission up and running.
We work in the office every day until 4 p.m. and then we go out to teach in an area called Flores. Our P-days are a little weird and cut short, but it's all good. I am now companions with Elder Guerrette, from Maine, who is training me for the position, and Elder Noorda, from Salt Lake City, who serves as Supplements Secretary. They are both really cool and easy to get along with. The room where I work is right next to President Jayme's office, which will be a great learning experience. In case you want to see exactly where I'm living, we are in a nice building next to the capela (church) in Alvorada on the street Loris Cordovil (right by a track and soccer stadium). It was sad to leave the jungle, but it is a welcomed change. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve others and to learn more in a way that will bless the lives of many and open up more opportunities in the future.
By the way, this was the last transfer for Elder Cain. Right now he's probably sitting on the couch watching TV or in St. George wakeboarding. As for the photos, I have included an explanation for each one.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Baptism of Daniela and Matias with Elder Mackay, Elder Olsen, and Friends
The Pinto Family
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
The Pinto Family
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Total Recall
Well, well, well...this transfer continues to go well. We had two more baptisms last Saturday (Daniela and Matias), which was cool since we have been working to complete the entire Pinto family. They were really excited, but it was a battle since their aunt was a little contra (against) the igreja (church). Nonetheless, they had their parent's full support, which ended up turning into a marriage and baptismal service scheduled for May. What a cool surprise! We made an awesome cake for the baptism with chocolate Cadbury eggs on the top. Our recent converts remain really active and are learning a lot.
I have a quick story to share that is pretty entertaining. So, the ward made the tri-annual caravan trip to the Caracas Temple, which went really well until it came time to return home. Right before the border, the group decided to make a bit of a pit stop to get food and use the restroom. Since nothing in the vicinity appealed to the Bishop, he wandered off in search of something to satisfy his appetite. Meanwhile, everyone else had made their purchases and returned to the bus, with the exception of the Bishop. Time passed and the bus driver lost his patience and decided to resume the trip back to the Amazon (without the Bishop). Needless to say, come Sunday Bispo Prado was a no-show. I got a kick out of it! I think he may have had to catch a bus home, but I'm not certain. All I know is that he didn't walk.
We had a ton of divisions this week. I spent one of the days with Elder Paredes from Matto Grosso do Sul. He arrived with me from the CTM (I go home one transfer before him, though, since he was only there three weeks). We worked in an area called Canaranas. It's a step up in financial standings compared to the area I'm serving in even though it's just a 20 minute walk or so down the street. Some people thought I was from Saõ Paulo because I spoke Portuguese well and am fair-skinned.
On another day, the ZLs did a division with the assistants, so Elder Garcia, from Palmdale, came to my area just in time for a machete-hacking service project. This wasn't your typical tornado cleanup but instead was Schwarzenegger-style Total Recall, blade-swinging action. A guy named Correa invited us over to help him with a project. He had a hill on the side of his house that was infested with spiders and stuff and he needed help clearing the vegetation, so he could put up a cement wall. Jokingly, I walked over to a tree and told Elder Morris that I could take it down with one swift swing after having watched him struggle with another tree. Using my samurai skills, I envisioned my 9th grade geometry teacher's head on the other side of the tree and swung with force. To my surprise, the next thing I heard was the crack of the 30 foot tree, which promptly fell back toward the house. The impact completely shattered the fiberglass roof and cheap brick wall. Rather than sticking around, I ran off back through the jungle to our house and showered. When it came time to visit him later in the day, I asked, "What happened to your house? It looks completely trashed." I'm sure he'll come up with the money to rebuild it within the next few months.
We have five baptisms scheduled for this week, which is great. Their names are Luana, Rian, Lucas, Ruan, and Kesiane. They are all indigenous descendants, so I guess you can say that we'll be baptizing a few Lamanites this week. Please pray that all goes as planned. The area is progressing well and we are using the escalator effect to always prepare people and have weekly results.
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter. Nothing out of the ordinary transpired here on Easter Sunday. It felt just like any other day with the exception of people giving each other big chocolate eggs.
A few areas in Manaus get a bad name simply because they don't always have running water or because it's really ghetto. As for Cidade de Deus, it's a good mix of everything...other than the body they found in a local stream last week.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
I almost forgot...I did chop the treeish growth down in one swing but nothing happened to the house. The project went smoothly until the rain came. Once we had completed the task, he rewarded us with hot dog puree and crackers (it tastes just like it sounds).
I have a quick story to share that is pretty entertaining. So, the ward made the tri-annual caravan trip to the Caracas Temple, which went really well until it came time to return home. Right before the border, the group decided to make a bit of a pit stop to get food and use the restroom. Since nothing in the vicinity appealed to the Bishop, he wandered off in search of something to satisfy his appetite. Meanwhile, everyone else had made their purchases and returned to the bus, with the exception of the Bishop. Time passed and the bus driver lost his patience and decided to resume the trip back to the Amazon (without the Bishop). Needless to say, come Sunday Bispo Prado was a no-show. I got a kick out of it! I think he may have had to catch a bus home, but I'm not certain. All I know is that he didn't walk.
We had a ton of divisions this week. I spent one of the days with Elder Paredes from Matto Grosso do Sul. He arrived with me from the CTM (I go home one transfer before him, though, since he was only there three weeks). We worked in an area called Canaranas. It's a step up in financial standings compared to the area I'm serving in even though it's just a 20 minute walk or so down the street. Some people thought I was from Saõ Paulo because I spoke Portuguese well and am fair-skinned.
On another day, the ZLs did a division with the assistants, so Elder Garcia, from Palmdale, came to my area just in time for a machete-hacking service project. This wasn't your typical tornado cleanup but instead was Schwarzenegger-style Total Recall, blade-swinging action. A guy named Correa invited us over to help him with a project. He had a hill on the side of his house that was infested with spiders and stuff and he needed help clearing the vegetation, so he could put up a cement wall. Jokingly, I walked over to a tree and told Elder Morris that I could take it down with one swift swing after having watched him struggle with another tree. Using my samurai skills, I envisioned my 9th grade geometry teacher's head on the other side of the tree and swung with force. To my surprise, the next thing I heard was the crack of the 30 foot tree, which promptly fell back toward the house. The impact completely shattered the fiberglass roof and cheap brick wall. Rather than sticking around, I ran off back through the jungle to our house and showered. When it came time to visit him later in the day, I asked, "What happened to your house? It looks completely trashed." I'm sure he'll come up with the money to rebuild it within the next few months.
We have five baptisms scheduled for this week, which is great. Their names are Luana, Rian, Lucas, Ruan, and Kesiane. They are all indigenous descendants, so I guess you can say that we'll be baptizing a few Lamanites this week. Please pray that all goes as planned. The area is progressing well and we are using the escalator effect to always prepare people and have weekly results.
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter. Nothing out of the ordinary transpired here on Easter Sunday. It felt just like any other day with the exception of people giving each other big chocolate eggs.
A few areas in Manaus get a bad name simply because they don't always have running water or because it's really ghetto. As for Cidade de Deus, it's a good mix of everything...other than the body they found in a local stream last week.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
I almost forgot...I did chop the treeish growth down in one swing but nothing happened to the house. The project went smoothly until the rain came. Once we had completed the task, he rewarded us with hot dog puree and crackers (it tastes just like it sounds).
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Elder Mackay Up to His Old Tricks Again
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen at the Baptism of Ana Tiase Ferreira Pinto
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen at the Baptism of Ana Tiase Ferreira Pinto
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Deadliest Catch
Hello Family and Friends,
General Conference went really well on Saturday and Sunday...all 10 hours of it. Equally great was the batismo of Ana Tiase Ferreira Pinto on Sunday. A ton of people were present to show their support...it was ridiculous! It was an amazing experience for all in attendance.
Unfortunately, something transpired this week that made me feel really bad. We were over at Marta's house eating and teaching (the best combination) and she got to asking if Elder Olsen and I plan to return to Manaus after our missions. Being that I know her pretty well, I jokingly said, "Yeah, of course...to catch some Indians." Instantly, Marta's smile faded and tears began to well up in her eyes. As you might guess, the first thing to go through my head was, "Oh, crap...what have I done." She then filled us in on the reason behind her sudden change in expression with the following story. Marta's brother made a living off of fishing the river and one day he and his friend drifted into Indian territory. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but the territory belonged to an angry, cannibal tribe. The tribe captured her brother and his friend. She proceeded to tell us that the tribe shredded the body of the friend and cut off her brother's head and stuck it on the top of the leader's throne. After hearing her story, I picked my jaw up off the floor and apologized for my comment. We then continued on with the meal. I guess I got lucky with that one and will refrain from making any more jokes like that in the future.
The work continues to be progressing. We possibly have two baptisms this weekend and several potentials for future dates. Some members of the ward left on Monday to travel to Venezuela to attend the Caracas Temple. The overall trip takes about a week and they usually go through about twice during their stay. Those who attend really don't mind the travel too much since everything is dirt cheap once they arrive in Caracas.
Around the corner from us, a cop shot a thief in the back and killed him earlier in the week. Due to the law, she will be the one going to jail rather than him. In other news, we had a massive pipe bust in our sad excuse for a street and we essentially step into a raging river every time we open the front gate. It's just one more thing that gives Cidade de Deus that ghettoness we have all grown to love. Other than that, nothing else too crazy occurred this week.
As for the pictures, one is of our recent baptism and the other is a brilliant idea that came to us during an early morning companion study. And yes...I still have eyebrows. For those of you who have asked, we still speak Portuguese in the house even though everyone knows English. It is better that way because it helps us become more fluent in the language.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
General Conference went really well on Saturday and Sunday...all 10 hours of it. Equally great was the batismo of Ana Tiase Ferreira Pinto on Sunday. A ton of people were present to show their support...it was ridiculous! It was an amazing experience for all in attendance.
Unfortunately, something transpired this week that made me feel really bad. We were over at Marta's house eating and teaching (the best combination) and she got to asking if Elder Olsen and I plan to return to Manaus after our missions. Being that I know her pretty well, I jokingly said, "Yeah, of course...to catch some Indians." Instantly, Marta's smile faded and tears began to well up in her eyes. As you might guess, the first thing to go through my head was, "Oh, crap...what have I done." She then filled us in on the reason behind her sudden change in expression with the following story. Marta's brother made a living off of fishing the river and one day he and his friend drifted into Indian territory. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but the territory belonged to an angry, cannibal tribe. The tribe captured her brother and his friend. She proceeded to tell us that the tribe shredded the body of the friend and cut off her brother's head and stuck it on the top of the leader's throne. After hearing her story, I picked my jaw up off the floor and apologized for my comment. We then continued on with the meal. I guess I got lucky with that one and will refrain from making any more jokes like that in the future.
The work continues to be progressing. We possibly have two baptisms this weekend and several potentials for future dates. Some members of the ward left on Monday to travel to Venezuela to attend the Caracas Temple. The overall trip takes about a week and they usually go through about twice during their stay. Those who attend really don't mind the travel too much since everything is dirt cheap once they arrive in Caracas.
Around the corner from us, a cop shot a thief in the back and killed him earlier in the week. Due to the law, she will be the one going to jail rather than him. In other news, we had a massive pipe bust in our sad excuse for a street and we essentially step into a raging river every time we open the front gate. It's just one more thing that gives Cidade de Deus that ghettoness we have all grown to love. Other than that, nothing else too crazy occurred this week.
As for the pictures, one is of our recent baptism and the other is a brilliant idea that came to us during an early morning companion study. And yes...I still have eyebrows. For those of you who have asked, we still speak Portuguese in the house even though everyone knows English. It is better that way because it helps us become more fluent in the language.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Giant in the Jungle
Elder Mackay's Neighborhood
Iron Chefs at Work
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen at the Baptism of Kleive Silva da Souza
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay's Neighborhood
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Iron Chefs at Work
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Elder Mackay and Elder Olsen at the Baptism of Kleive Silva da Souza
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| From Taylor Mission Pics |
Desert No Longer
Well...the drought finally ended this week. After several weeks without a single baptism, we finally had one. Fortunately, though, things are picking up really fast and there appears to be a few more baptisms in the near future. This past Saturday was the baptism of Kleive Silva da Souza. It was a great family experience. It is pretty awesome since his sister and brother-in-law are already members and will be there to support him along the way. Unfortunately, there weren't many local church leaders present since they were all in another meeting.
At the last moment, it occurred to us that we should ask a member to bake a cake for the "after party" following the baptism. So, Elder Olsen and I bought a cake mix and all the ingredients and took them to the home of a ward family, but unfortunately, they weren't home...only their mother who said she didn't know how to make a cake was there. Before we knew it, my companion and I were in the kitchen mixing things together. With the help of a microwave, we ended up baking the cake in 10 minutes. It turned out okay given the entire time from start to finish was about 20 minutes.
Last Sunday was Ward Conference. Over the last week, the Bishop had been making a big deal about getting everyone out to church so Stake President Kennedy could see the size of the ward and allow it to be divided. As missionaries, we did our part and brought about 18 people to church, which required a lot of walking, faith, and help. I know the other missionaries in the ward brought quite a few, too. On an average Sunday, we have about 130 ward members in attendance. This past Sunday we had...drumroll...185! That's what I'm talking about! It's interesting how much the Church in Brazil relies on the missionaries. Of course, to ruin things a little, I became sick again with a fever and bad headache, so I laid in bed after church and didn't get up until 5 p.m. the following day. Fortunately, it wasn't anything too serious...I'm already feeling a lot better. It's amazing how often you can get sick in such a short amount of time.
Today was an eventful P-day. We had a zone meeting in another bairro this morning and afterward played soccer for about 2 hours. Upon our return home, we spent an hour capturing and killing a rat. I won't go into too much detail, but his death involved 4 missionaries, a bottle of cleaning alcohol, a can of bug spray, and a match. That's what happens, though, when you eat other people's popcorn kernels. It was sad to see him go but a relief at the same time since he has been causing trouble for months now.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
At the last moment, it occurred to us that we should ask a member to bake a cake for the "after party" following the baptism. So, Elder Olsen and I bought a cake mix and all the ingredients and took them to the home of a ward family, but unfortunately, they weren't home...only their mother who said she didn't know how to make a cake was there. Before we knew it, my companion and I were in the kitchen mixing things together. With the help of a microwave, we ended up baking the cake in 10 minutes. It turned out okay given the entire time from start to finish was about 20 minutes.
Last Sunday was Ward Conference. Over the last week, the Bishop had been making a big deal about getting everyone out to church so Stake President Kennedy could see the size of the ward and allow it to be divided. As missionaries, we did our part and brought about 18 people to church, which required a lot of walking, faith, and help. I know the other missionaries in the ward brought quite a few, too. On an average Sunday, we have about 130 ward members in attendance. This past Sunday we had...drumroll...185! That's what I'm talking about! It's interesting how much the Church in Brazil relies on the missionaries. Of course, to ruin things a little, I became sick again with a fever and bad headache, so I laid in bed after church and didn't get up until 5 p.m. the following day. Fortunately, it wasn't anything too serious...I'm already feeling a lot better. It's amazing how often you can get sick in such a short amount of time.
Today was an eventful P-day. We had a zone meeting in another bairro this morning and afterward played soccer for about 2 hours. Upon our return home, we spent an hour capturing and killing a rat. I won't go into too much detail, but his death involved 4 missionaries, a bottle of cleaning alcohol, a can of bug spray, and a match. That's what happens, though, when you eat other people's popcorn kernels. It was sad to see him go but a relief at the same time since he has been causing trouble for months now.
Tchau,
Elder Taylor Mackay
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