My Family!!!
2/2/15
I can not believe how long January was! I was still in the MTC
at the beginning of January and then I came to Virginia, got a new
companion, learned how to talk to people I don't know, had run ins with
drunk people, watched a drug deal happen, and had all kinds of crazy
experiences! I can't even imagine with this next month has in store.
My companion and I did end up going back to see the guy that was
high. (His name is Mike) We knocked on the door and a friend of his
answered and was so stoned he couldn't hardly stand, and he couldn't
talk clearly so we had NO idea what he was trying to say to us.
Eventually he left and got Mike. Mike came to the door in only his
underwear and asked if we could just have the lesson inside since it was
snowing outside. We told him he had to go put on clothes because we had
to have the lesson outside (there were no women inside so we aren't
aloud to go in). He came outside and we talked for just a minute. When
we asked him why he wanted to meet with us, he told us that he wanted a
relationship with God. Then we asked why he wanted a relationship with
God and he FREAKED out! He was so offended that we "thought he was
stupid" and we would ask that question. He started cussing at us and
sent us on our way. He followed us all the way through his yard and
still cursing and cussing at us. Needless to say, we are not planning on
going back to help him.
Also, funny fact about Smithfield, they have a weird thing for
pigs. Yes.. pigs. There is a packing plant for pigs here and supposedly
it is the BEST pig meat in the world. So all throughout the town there
are pig statues and every store has little pig figurines, they sell pig
T-shirts. People will buy and keep little pig decorations in their yards
and in their houses. Super weird. But because there is a pig packing
plant here, there is also a weird smell. Mondays are when it is at it's
worst because that is the day where they burn the parts of pig that they
can't use. So it always smells like dog food really strongly every
Monday.
The weather, as I've said before, is really weird. At the
beginning of this week it was so cold and would snow sometimes. The snow
never sticks though, so that sucks.
My mission is a very strict mission! I'm not aloud to say P-day,
I have to say preparation day. We are not aloud to be sarcastic... at
all. We are also not aloud to be friends with the Elders. I really don't
understand that last rule. It makes meetings really awkward because
we're never sure how to act around each other. But I guess there is a
reason to it and I'll eventually be okay with that rule.
I went on my first Exchange this week. I got to go to Great
Bridge and spent 2 days with one of my Sister Training Leaders. She was
really quiet so it was a little awkward. She was so excited because they
have a bunch of investigators and she wanted to show me how to teach a
progressing investigator and what "real and busy" missionary work is
like. Well... all of the appointments that she had for my time with her
fell through. So I never got to teach a lesson on our exchange. She was
really upset by that. The best part about exchanges though, was that I
got a little homesick for my companion and for My mission. I hadn't
realized how comfortable I had become there until I wasn't there
anymore. :)
My companion calls me her little baby hellion, because we are
not "robot" missionaries. When ever I crack a joke or try to have a good
time, she laughs and says, "I'm so glad you're a real person and not a
robot." I guess the fact that I've held onto my personality makes me a
real person/hellion.
I GOT TO SEE A HEDGEHOG! How cool is that?!?!?! We went knocking
on doors of inactive members and this one lady let us in. She isn't a
member but her husband is an inactive. She made friends with us right
away and wanted to show us her pet hedgehog! I will send a picture of it
because is was so weird and awesome.
A lot of our less actives and non members that we have to see
are pretty rude to us. So we decided that would bake cookies and use
that to get into people's houses... IT WORKED! People are so much nicer
to us when we have goodies, along with the word of God ;) to offer them.
So we spend any free time baking cookies now.
Also, it seems like my companion and I are Always sick. The
mission nurse told us that it is so hard to heal and recover when you're
on a mission because there is so much stress. Well it's true. I don't
have the same cold I had when I got here but my asthma makes things so
difficult. The moisture in the air makes it hard to breath any way and
then add asthma to that and it makes it awful. I'm always coughing and
out of breath. I take my inhaler almost every day to every other day.
I'm not sure if that is healthy so I'm trying to use it as infrequently
as possible. My companion is ALWAYS sick, She coughs and coughs and
sometimes can't catch her breath, so I'm trying to convince her to talk
to the mission nurse, but she doesn't want to. So cross your fingers
that my companion doesn't die from not being able to breath.
Every day we check the mail... sometimes we do this several
times throughout the day. We also talk to our mailbox. Whenever it
comes up empty, we warn it that it only has more chance to redeem
itself. Then if we don't receive any mail that day we beat the mailbox.
We kick it and yell at it, anyone watching probably thinks we're
crazy... maybe we are.
Remember how I told you that the elders in our area got in a car
accident? Well One of them got a really bad concussion and his
companion also got a concussion and a broken ankle. The one driving the
car is no longer aloud to drive a car for the rest of his mission, even
though the accident wasn't his fault. So he has been transferred to a
bike riding part of the mission. His companion is having a very
difficult time recovering (the stress makes it hard to heal) So he is
staying with a senior missionary couple while he decides if he can
finish his mission or not. He has only been out 6 weeks longer then me.
The humidity here has made having long hair very obnoxious. So
my companion and I are thinking about getting our hair cut short... What
are your opinions on this? I was thinking of an A-line? cut, but doing
it shoulder length... maybe.
Remember how I told you guys, at the beginning of my time in
Virginia, that there were two elders that got shot and one got killed
about thirty minutes from where I live? Well the sisters here are trying
to get president Baker to open up that same area for sister
missionaries! They're insane! I don't want to have the chance to serve
there. The elders that do serve there have insane stories about that
place. They say that sometimes they will be in the middle of a lesson
and some one will shoot through the windows! Or they will hear gun shots
outside and every one in the house will lay down on the floor and just
finish the lesson down there. So let's hope that president does NOT
allow this place to open up for sister missionaries. (this place is
called the "Numbered Streets")
A small miracle I have experienced since coming on my mission is
that I have been able to eat any food that people give me. Some of the
people here like to serve us really weird and gross things. I have been
able to eat all of the food they give me, I'm so proud of myself! :) As
missionaries we have to eat ALL the food on our plate, so I can't pick
and choose what to eat and a lot of times I can't even choose how much
to eat because they dish it out for me. So this has been so awesome that
I have been able to do this without throwing up :).
I love you all very much and miss you very much too. I get so
excited when the end of the week comes around because I know I will get
to read your e-mails and write to you about my crazy life.
I love you!!! <3
Your favorite missionary daughter
Sister (Amanda) MacKay
P.S. You don't have to worry about sending my stamps after all, the money I get for groceries also pays for stamps.
I do have a few things I would like for you to send me in my next package...
1. Ephraim's Rescue. I think I might have already asked Kirstie
for this, but I can't remember. We aren't aloud to watch money movies
out here, and that is one of the few, but we don't own it.
2. The Living Scripture dvds, we are also aloud and encouraged to watch those.
3.My colored pens. They should be in my room in that awesome little white thingy doodad
4. Music, any music that invites the spirit I am aloud to listen
to. I especially want the one by Nashville Tribute "My Call To Serve".
So pretty much anything my Nashville Tribute that you think I might
like, and any other music that brings the spirit.
I know you can't send all of this at once, but these are things that I need and some things I want.... thank you :)
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