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| From manaus mission |
The Result of a Cancelled Lunch Appointment
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| From manaus mission |
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Boo! (10/29/08)
Well, well, well...Halloween has made its way. Rumor has it that Halloween isn't too big of a deal in Brazil. Much like the Spanish, they celebrate a little thing called Day of the Dead (Dia Dos Mortos), which sounds like a big mess to me...people crying with candles and spooky music. It kind of reminds me of my next-door neighbors. I got up at 2 a.m. one night to get some water and I heard drums beating. At first, I thought nothing of it and then I thought a little harder and realized this just isn't right. It was much too early to be playing drums. Being the curious person that I am, I peered down out the window to see a circle of candles lighting the backyard and shadows swaying against the wall. Reminded of the movie Skeleton Key, I decided to just get my water and go back to bed and let them continue on with whatever it was they were doing.
So, the teaching is going really well. We keep meeting new people every day that somehow have a connection to the Church, which makes it much easier to get things started. The best way for us to meet people isn't knocking (clapping) doors like one might think. Don't get me wrong, we spend many hours doing this every week, but the best thing for us to do is ask for references. When we teach someone that is progressing, all we do is ask, "Who do you know that can be blessed by this message?"...and we receive names. Also, the streets here are pretty unorganized, so we get people walking by while we're in the middle of a lesson and they just sit down and listen. This usually results in them asking us to teach them. Why do we often times teach outside? Well, a lot of the houses are so small that we can't all fit inside to carry on a lesson. Another reason is they sometimes don't have lights, so it's pitch black inside after dark.
This week was a magical week of members not preparing lunch for us (since last Saturday there hasn't been one). We walk to their house, which usually takes 20 minutes or more, and then knock on the door to find out they didn't know we were coming or didn't have anything for us. It would make much more sense for us to call to confirm our appointment ahead of time, but we can't since they don't have phones. In my rage of hunger, I bought a chocolate cake mix and baked it. To my surprise, this dollar equivalent mix produced a delicious cake that I also ate this morning.
They had a re-count for elections here (sound familiar?), which turned into a re-vote and the craziness from elections just ended last Sunday. Back to baptisms...Elder Rocha and I have four this Saturday. Here are their names for those of you who are curious: Fabiana da Sousa, Marielley de Oliveira Holanda, Sandra (Elizandra) Kiod Gonzaga, and Luana Oliveira de Matos. This week is somewhat of a landmark in the pursuance of hitting the goal given to the missionaries of Missâo Brasil Manaus. The best part is we keep having progressing investigators, and through prayer, we continue to be guided in the right direction which leads to additional baptisms. We already have two scheduled for next Saturday and will most likely have more. It's really awesome to see all the teaching and work come together with the baptisms, but it's even more rewarding to see the smiles on these people's faces when they realize they have finally found that ONE thing they have been blindly searching for all their life. In closing, Happy Birthday, Grandma. Try not to do anything too crazy...remember, cats are the ones born with 9 lives!
Um abraço,
Elder Mackay
So, the teaching is going really well. We keep meeting new people every day that somehow have a connection to the Church, which makes it much easier to get things started. The best way for us to meet people isn't knocking (clapping) doors like one might think. Don't get me wrong, we spend many hours doing this every week, but the best thing for us to do is ask for references. When we teach someone that is progressing, all we do is ask, "Who do you know that can be blessed by this message?"...and we receive names. Also, the streets here are pretty unorganized, so we get people walking by while we're in the middle of a lesson and they just sit down and listen. This usually results in them asking us to teach them. Why do we often times teach outside? Well, a lot of the houses are so small that we can't all fit inside to carry on a lesson. Another reason is they sometimes don't have lights, so it's pitch black inside after dark.
This week was a magical week of members not preparing lunch for us (since last Saturday there hasn't been one). We walk to their house, which usually takes 20 minutes or more, and then knock on the door to find out they didn't know we were coming or didn't have anything for us. It would make much more sense for us to call to confirm our appointment ahead of time, but we can't since they don't have phones. In my rage of hunger, I bought a chocolate cake mix and baked it. To my surprise, this dollar equivalent mix produced a delicious cake that I also ate this morning.
They had a re-count for elections here (sound familiar?), which turned into a re-vote and the craziness from elections just ended last Sunday. Back to baptisms...Elder Rocha and I have four this Saturday. Here are their names for those of you who are curious: Fabiana da Sousa, Marielley de Oliveira Holanda, Sandra (Elizandra) Kiod Gonzaga, and Luana Oliveira de Matos. This week is somewhat of a landmark in the pursuance of hitting the goal given to the missionaries of Missâo Brasil Manaus. The best part is we keep having progressing investigators, and through prayer, we continue to be guided in the right direction which leads to additional baptisms. We already have two scheduled for next Saturday and will most likely have more. It's really awesome to see all the teaching and work come together with the baptisms, but it's even more rewarding to see the smiles on these people's faces when they realize they have finally found that ONE thing they have been blindly searching for all their life. In closing, Happy Birthday, Grandma. Try not to do anything too crazy...remember, cats are the ones born with 9 lives!
Um abraço,
Elder Mackay
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Lights Out (10/22/08)
You never really appreciate things until they're gone. Once again, this theory really came into focus this week. In the past, it was the trans-fat free American candy, but this week was something a little more essential...electricity. So, I was sitting in my room after our almoço appointment and then all of a sudden the perfect storm comes out of nowhere and thrashes the side of the house and all the power lines. Of course, the houses here don't have windows, just concrete holes, so the rain started coming in sideways. Fortunately, I got all my stuff out of its path of destruction, but it still got the upper hand when it decided to take out the ever-so-valuable electricity. So, this week was a little interesting to say the least.
On a high note, we had two baptisms: Roselane and James, both of which are not pronounced like they look. I've still managed to keep my record going...I haven't baptized a single man and my companion has yet to baptize a woman. Anyway, we don't have any baptisms this week but five the next week and then two after that, which is pretty good. Investigators are turning their lives around doing what they need to do in order to show they are ready to make this covenant. Also, this transfer will put me on pace for that goal that was given to us at my first conference... essentially one baptism a week.
I don't recall if I mentioned it last week, but we are teaching a lady by the name of Daniella, her sister, and her three kids. It's going really well. They are very accepting of the message and are great people. We had a really good week last week in general with forty lessons...so far that's our best. It is really motivating to share the Gospel with as many people as possible to give them that opportunity and to say you at least tried. A lot of times, though, the most effective way of teaching is to go to the investigator's house frequently during the week to give them that extra push to do their best. The greatest challenge the people here face is their love for coffee and, of course, their lack of desire to get married. Many, if not most, people don't understand the importance of marriage, so that seems to be the bigger of the roadblocks to baptism. They live together for years and years but never make it legal (that simple step that one might think would be easy just doesn't click for them).
In other news, I received word from the Mission Office that they are going to start a bonfire with my mail. In the past week, eighteen letters have made their way into my hands along with one package. Today I got to read them all, which was a daunting yet enjoyable task...thank you. They have now given me my own address for mail. It's...just kidding, but it was an awesome feeling getting to see all those waiting for me.
Last week I tried some sort of manioc patty wrapped in banana leaves from the interior of the jungle, which was actually pretty good. It was probably one of the first things I've eaten in my life that is the real deal - all natural...except for chocolate soy milk, of course. We also went to the center, where there seems to be more people than fish in the sea. It's really amazing to think about how few people live in the interior of the Amazon and then you go to the center, where the Theater and Palace are, and you'll see thousands upon thousands of people flooding the streets.
Lastly, I thought I would share some funny stories. There is a house here where some short people live and the little peep-hole they use to look out of is in the dead center of the door level with my stomach. And then the next is my personal favorite...the daughter of Marianice was complaining that corn cake (tastes like corn bread) couldn't be eaten with a fork or spoon, so I suggested the "spork." The concept boggled her mind...the look on her face was priceless. I never thought something so simple could be so foreign to someone. Hopefully, I have answered most of the questions. If not, let me know. Have a great week. Tchau.
Com amor,
Elder Taylor Mackay
On a high note, we had two baptisms: Roselane and James, both of which are not pronounced like they look. I've still managed to keep my record going...I haven't baptized a single man and my companion has yet to baptize a woman. Anyway, we don't have any baptisms this week but five the next week and then two after that, which is pretty good. Investigators are turning their lives around doing what they need to do in order to show they are ready to make this covenant. Also, this transfer will put me on pace for that goal that was given to us at my first conference... essentially one baptism a week.
I don't recall if I mentioned it last week, but we are teaching a lady by the name of Daniella, her sister, and her three kids. It's going really well. They are very accepting of the message and are great people. We had a really good week last week in general with forty lessons...so far that's our best. It is really motivating to share the Gospel with as many people as possible to give them that opportunity and to say you at least tried. A lot of times, though, the most effective way of teaching is to go to the investigator's house frequently during the week to give them that extra push to do their best. The greatest challenge the people here face is their love for coffee and, of course, their lack of desire to get married. Many, if not most, people don't understand the importance of marriage, so that seems to be the bigger of the roadblocks to baptism. They live together for years and years but never make it legal (that simple step that one might think would be easy just doesn't click for them).
In other news, I received word from the Mission Office that they are going to start a bonfire with my mail. In the past week, eighteen letters have made their way into my hands along with one package. Today I got to read them all, which was a daunting yet enjoyable task...thank you. They have now given me my own address for mail. It's...just kidding, but it was an awesome feeling getting to see all those waiting for me.
Last week I tried some sort of manioc patty wrapped in banana leaves from the interior of the jungle, which was actually pretty good. It was probably one of the first things I've eaten in my life that is the real deal - all natural...except for chocolate soy milk, of course. We also went to the center, where there seems to be more people than fish in the sea. It's really amazing to think about how few people live in the interior of the Amazon and then you go to the center, where the Theater and Palace are, and you'll see thousands upon thousands of people flooding the streets.
Lastly, I thought I would share some funny stories. There is a house here where some short people live and the little peep-hole they use to look out of is in the dead center of the door level with my stomach. And then the next is my personal favorite...the daughter of Marianice was complaining that corn cake (tastes like corn bread) couldn't be eaten with a fork or spoon, so I suggested the "spork." The concept boggled her mind...the look on her face was priceless. I never thought something so simple could be so foreign to someone. Hopefully, I have answered most of the questions. If not, let me know. Have a great week. Tchau.
Com amor,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Friday, October 17, 2008
Join the Club (10/15/08)
Well...it appears this week wasn't quite as interesting as the last, but I'll have you know I have a little fan club down here. I say little because they are all less than four feet tall and this club's membership is less than a baker's dozen. We started teaching a woman by the name of Daniella this week along with several others, but she is different from all the rest. She is grasping everything we present to her and is progressing very quickly. As we were teaching her, sitting on the tiny brick wall in her front yard, a small gathering of children began to appear. We soon had eight people listening to our lesson who all appeared very interested. Then they asked where we were from. I jokingly told them I was from Mexico and my companion was from Spain. The rest of the day they followed us around until Family Home Evening like a little entourage. They continually asked us how to say things in Spanish or English and I in return asked how to say things in Portuguese. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...guess who is in charge of FHE here? You guessed it...the missionaries. It appears my calling last year at school was good preparation. Unfortunately, though, it's a little hard for me to work the humor into my lessons like I'm used to doing.
I have been writing so many letters lately that I think I may have neglected to tell you about one of our conferences we had the first week I was in Manaus. We had a member of the Area Presidency, Elder Ellis, come speak to us and yours truly was asked to be on the program. I had the privilege of speaking right before him. So...next time you worry about having to give a talk in Sacrament - try that on. It was my first week in a new area, I only had two months of language training, and I was asked to speak in front of a General Authority, the Mission President, and all the missionaries. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. Once you get behind the microphone, all your fears go away because you realize that after two years you'll likely never see any of these people again.
We have two baptisms this week, Roselane and James, which will be a great experience. As a missionary, you realize even when you set dates for baptism things happen to people that make them doubt their decision. Often times, it is due to others who lack understanding of our message. They refer to us as "Church of the Devil" and stuff like that when in fact that's about as far from the truth as it gets. We aren't the ones with a massive rock band center stage holding preaching concerts every night. Anyway, it's been a good week. We have 7 or 8 baptism commitments set up for this transfer, which is pretty good since the transfer has only just begun. The best part is the recent converts are staying active. Each Sunday, to help out investigators, we walk several miles to round them up and get them to church.
The weather has been weird lately. It has been raining a lot but still very hot. I hate the heat during the day, but it's appreciated when it comes time to shower because our water is naturally heated. Today we're going to the center, which is where everything happens. It is where all the fishing boats and whatnot are. I should have some good pictures next week! Take care.
Tchau para todos,
Elder Taylor Mackay
I have been writing so many letters lately that I think I may have neglected to tell you about one of our conferences we had the first week I was in Manaus. We had a member of the Area Presidency, Elder Ellis, come speak to us and yours truly was asked to be on the program. I had the privilege of speaking right before him. So...next time you worry about having to give a talk in Sacrament - try that on. It was my first week in a new area, I only had two months of language training, and I was asked to speak in front of a General Authority, the Mission President, and all the missionaries. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. Once you get behind the microphone, all your fears go away because you realize that after two years you'll likely never see any of these people again.
We have two baptisms this week, Roselane and James, which will be a great experience. As a missionary, you realize even when you set dates for baptism things happen to people that make them doubt their decision. Often times, it is due to others who lack understanding of our message. They refer to us as "Church of the Devil" and stuff like that when in fact that's about as far from the truth as it gets. We aren't the ones with a massive rock band center stage holding preaching concerts every night. Anyway, it's been a good week. We have 7 or 8 baptism commitments set up for this transfer, which is pretty good since the transfer has only just begun. The best part is the recent converts are staying active. Each Sunday, to help out investigators, we walk several miles to round them up and get them to church.
The weather has been weird lately. It has been raining a lot but still very hot. I hate the heat during the day, but it's appreciated when it comes time to shower because our water is naturally heated. Today we're going to the center, which is where everything happens. It is where all the fishing boats and whatnot are. I should have some good pictures next week! Take care.
Tchau para todos,
Elder Taylor Mackay
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sunset in Manaus
Elder Mackay and Elder Rocha with Nilce Ferreira da Silva and Family at Her Baptism
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| From manaus mission |
Elder Mackay and Elder Rocha with Nilce Ferreira da Silva and Family at Her Baptism
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| From manaus mission |
Elections Already (10/8/08)
Well, it's October and my favorite holiday is coming up...I'm hoping they celebrate it here. Anyway, to get to the good stuff...we had another baptism this week. Her name is Nilce Ferreira da Silva. It was another interesting experience. We (Elder Rocha and I) realized that for some reason all the women choose me to baptize them and all the men choose him. I don't get it. Everything is going well, though. The funny thing is that after the baptism, like last time, I was left standing dripping wet as the rest of the meeting went on because Nilce decided to use the men's restroom to get dressed. I also left my sandals at the house, which you need when you walk from the bathroom to the font or you'll get some sort of parasite in your foot, so I had to borrow some from a member which were size 7-8...only about 4-5 sizes too small, but they got the job done. We have a ton more references and people we've met on the street that have really taken interest in what we have to say. So far, all those who have been baptized are remaining strong and active in the Church.
So, the bats and critters are starting to show up more and more...obviously getting ready for Halloween. Once again, the other night we were sitting in a member's house when an army of cockroaches flew in and started landing on everything. I'll admit I was a little less than comfortable but running out wasn't an option due to respect issues and the fact that it's a 15 foot drop down to the street out the front door.
The main type of service we do here is move things. The other day we did work for the Bishop and we had to move rocks...well, my companion moved rocks and I moved boulders. That's the one downfall of being the biggest person...you get stuck with harder work, but I enjoyed it. It's another chance to work out.
We had a General Authority relay a message to our Mission President when he came down to talk to us last month. He wants one ward out of every missionary before their two years are up. That's right...he said more or less that he wants 100 baptisms from every missionary. It sounds pretty high, but I'm thinking it's well within reach. After watching all five sessions of conference, 10 hours worth, I feel I have all the tools I need to get a jump start on this goal. The first step toward this objective has already begun. I don't see any reason why I can't be at or above ten baptisms by the end of this next transfer, especially with a well-written plan of action which combines spiritual and mental aspects I believe we need to have in order to increase our success.
The other great thing about this week was that elections ended on Sunday night. That means no more cars blasting slogans and no more people trying to hand me fliers. On Election Day, the streets were covered in voting slips, so people would know how to vote for their favorite candidate. We had to report to the booths on Sunday, so Elder Rocha could vote. If Brazilians are over 18 and don't vote or turn in a slip, they get thrown in jail. As one could guess, they had a great turn out for their elections.
The weather last week was the hottest it's been for a while, but after yesterday and today, I am beginning to see signs that the rainy season, which officially starts in December, is on its way. The language continues to improve. I've found that rather than talking fast, like I would prefer to do, it's better to pronounce words clearly, so it sounds more like what it should...makes sense, right? The work is going well and the word "idle" can in no way describe our missionary efforts. When we aren't teaching, we're finding, and when that's not happening, we're studying. Needless to say, I learn something new every day. The people here are very kind and continue to feed us well, even though it appears the value of the reais continues to plummet. Thank you for the emails and your support. If there are any questions, just let me know. I'd be glad to answer them. Happy Birthday, Grandpa! Take care.
Tchau,
Elder Mackay
So, the bats and critters are starting to show up more and more...obviously getting ready for Halloween. Once again, the other night we were sitting in a member's house when an army of cockroaches flew in and started landing on everything. I'll admit I was a little less than comfortable but running out wasn't an option due to respect issues and the fact that it's a 15 foot drop down to the street out the front door.
The main type of service we do here is move things. The other day we did work for the Bishop and we had to move rocks...well, my companion moved rocks and I moved boulders. That's the one downfall of being the biggest person...you get stuck with harder work, but I enjoyed it. It's another chance to work out.
We had a General Authority relay a message to our Mission President when he came down to talk to us last month. He wants one ward out of every missionary before their two years are up. That's right...he said more or less that he wants 100 baptisms from every missionary. It sounds pretty high, but I'm thinking it's well within reach. After watching all five sessions of conference, 10 hours worth, I feel I have all the tools I need to get a jump start on this goal. The first step toward this objective has already begun. I don't see any reason why I can't be at or above ten baptisms by the end of this next transfer, especially with a well-written plan of action which combines spiritual and mental aspects I believe we need to have in order to increase our success.
The other great thing about this week was that elections ended on Sunday night. That means no more cars blasting slogans and no more people trying to hand me fliers. On Election Day, the streets were covered in voting slips, so people would know how to vote for their favorite candidate. We had to report to the booths on Sunday, so Elder Rocha could vote. If Brazilians are over 18 and don't vote or turn in a slip, they get thrown in jail. As one could guess, they had a great turn out for their elections.
The weather last week was the hottest it's been for a while, but after yesterday and today, I am beginning to see signs that the rainy season, which officially starts in December, is on its way. The language continues to improve. I've found that rather than talking fast, like I would prefer to do, it's better to pronounce words clearly, so it sounds more like what it should...makes sense, right? The work is going well and the word "idle" can in no way describe our missionary efforts. When we aren't teaching, we're finding, and when that's not happening, we're studying. Needless to say, I learn something new every day. The people here are very kind and continue to feed us well, even though it appears the value of the reais continues to plummet. Thank you for the emails and your support. If there are any questions, just let me know. I'd be glad to answer them. Happy Birthday, Grandpa! Take care.
Tchau,
Elder Mackay
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