Walk With Jesus, Dude

Monday, August 10, 2015

Jalan-Jalan ke Mars (Road to Mars)

So this week was Zone conference! It was so good! For one, I got to see Sis. Crandall and Sis,. Petersen from the MTC. It was so nice to see them again! It was also really nice to be able to get to know people out here.

As for the spiritual things.... We talked a lot about our less actives, as Malaysia has a lot of less actives (our branch has about 450), and how we can help them. Something that was said really stuck out to me, and that was to "love them enough to try." That really hit me personally. Of course it's an interesting ride trying to communicate, talk to people, and just to express that love and desire you have for them to realize how eternally life changing this gospel is, and it can be super frustrating! I wave my arms in the air and make big faces, but that doesn't always convey the words I'm trying to find. Unfortunately. But the love is in the trying. If I don't try, then am I really being a disciple of Jesus Christ and showing Heavenly Father's love for them? I like to think that as a missionary that's one of our responsibilities, to show and give Heavenly Father's love to others. AND really, for us who have this knowledge as a whole. Arg! Out of time! I'll write this first next week. Janji! Promise!

I love you so much! Seriously. I'm doing fantastically. I really feel like I've taken off this week, and I know your prayers have helped me. Thank you so much for being such a supportive and loving mom, for always emailing me, and for raising such a loving, faithful, family. That's something a lot of people here don't have, it's not really in the culture. Which means that we're not only trying to chagne personal habits, but kind of the culture. This gospel is big, so big, and so perfectly, purely true. I love it, I love my Heavenly Father, and I love you! AKA, Don't worry about me, I'm being taken care of by my Heavenly Father. :D

P.S. Tell KC thanks for the letter! He's awesome, and kind of my favorite brother in law.

YOU"RE SO FRICKEN AMAZING! I brag about you ALL the time!!

[I have no idea where these photos were taken, but they sure are cool! - Mom MacKay]

This is the entrance to the fairy caves. You have to climb up 6 flights and then enter the cave.

Wind Caves

Inside the Fairy Caves, looking out

I'm betting Sister MacKay is so very happy climbing on these rocks!

Companions!

Inside the cavern/cave (Wind caves?)

Nice & dirty from being inside the cave!

photobombed!

District? And that is Elder Ye's hand, not Sister MacKay's!

Missionaries are really into photobombing!

Monday, August 3, 2015

To Mars & Back!

Mars is the name of this internet cafe, in case you were wondering.

Look! It's a bird, it's a plane! No - it's a real email!

I play piano every week, which I love, but is sometimes a liiiiiitle exciting when I'm sight reading them all. I knew I should have worked on hymns more before I left!

In other exciting news, Sister Pullicar and I accidently ordered and ate a pineaple, crab, and tuna pizza this week. Pizza Hut is a little more exciting here in Asia! Wow! It was a little too exciting. I couldn't handle it. haha, I also experimented and made pancakes out of crushed chocolate rice crispies, an egg, and a mashed banana. It was kind of the best pancake I've ever had - blew my mind! Unimportant details, I know, but I was so proud of myself for making that up that I just had to share it.

Also, Renue 28 is the best for bug bites. Because of it my bug bites heal faster than anyone else's! ha! Aaaand I have a lot of bug bites, so that's super nice.

We live with the STL's. :)

So we WERE teaching this great family of about nine people, but, sadly, the mom has been strongly "antied" by her family. We went over to their house on Saturday to see what was going on (because they'd been avoiding us, and we hadn't been able to talk to them about their weird behavior); and the mom yelled at us, tried to give us our Book of Mormons back, then quickly ran around us and left. That was one of those moments were things felt real. Don't they realize what this gospel is?? Probably not. I had been reading about Lehi's dream lately, and it made me wonder:

1-What's the difference between the people in the vision who grasp on to the rod, cling to it, finally eat the fruit, and then look around, ashamed at having eaten the fruit; and those who do those same things, but then fall down when they reach the tree, eat the fruit, and rejoice?

2- How can our investigators, or people in general, have the strength to push through the trials that will inevitably come as they pursue the gospel? After all, in the begining of the vision the mist only covered the people after they had grabbed onto the rod.

So both of those made me think about what gets me through my trails? Trails, by definition, are hard. So why not just give up? It's easier, right? At the moment, maybe, but in the long run it makes life suck. So what gets me through my trails? Having a commitment, an understanding of and desire for the blessings that I know will come from the trial, a desire to grow and become more like Jesus Christ, having an eternal perspective, and knowing that God will help me because he wants me to succeed. Oops, time to get off. Well, I can apply that to my investigators, and it's really cool.

Okay, love you! Bye!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Q & A with Sister MacKay in Malaysia! Lots of pictures, too!

Last night Sister MacKay got on early, so I (her mom) was able to ask her a bunch of questions!

Q: How are your shoes working out? Silly question, but I'm wondering! lol

A: Shoes are fantastic. I actually left my nicer shiny black ones in Singapore, and I'm glad I did. I actually only wear my read ones and my blue/grey ones, and they're great. Perfect for Malaysia!

Q: What did you do last P-Day?

A: Haha, last P-day..... we didn't do much. We got ice cream though! It was way good! There might be pictures of that too, because they make it with nitrogen or some other thing, and it smokes... and it's really cool. haha, It's so hard to think when I'm going fast!

Q: You said "good news: no lice so far from it!" about the costumes??

A: Haha, well I try and avoid putting things in my hair that are Malaysian's, but when they literally walk over and stick it in your head, you're kind of at a loss. But it made for cool pictures! Also, I don't wear makeup any more. Completely pointless.

Q: Is it just to rainy to wear makeup?

A: Way too wet. And sweaty. And just pointless. haha. No one here wears makeup.

Q: How is the bike riding?

A: Bike's great. Haha, went to the bike shop ...3? times this week to get it fixed up, and it's best now! The chain doesn't slip anymore, or fall off, and I have mud flaps so I don't get a brown streak up my back every time I ride in the rain! Which I didn't know was an option at first, so yay! haha, and it even has gears!

Q: Is biking everywhere weird or is it normal by now?

A: Biking is somehwere in between. I'm figuring it out though! My legs have been super tired this week, but it gives for great praying opportunities!

Q: Who is in the headdress pics with you?

A: That was when I was on exchanges with Sis. Dennis, one of the STLs. So she's the other one dressed up. The other people are the members who's house we were at.

Q: What about the other pics? Is that your area?

A: Yeah, some of those are in my STL's area, which is way more country than our area. Ours is all of the city of Kuching (fun fact, Kuching means cat!)

Q: City as in Vegas or city as in Cedar City?

A: Cedar. The city part is pretty small, but there are a lot of areas outside of it.

Q: You look so happy but tired! How are you feeling?

A: I'm only tired in the mornings, but that's where studies come in! I get a huge burst of energy during that time. :)

Q: How's your Malay coming?

A: As far as language goes, people say I'm really good for being so fresh. I'm understanding more and getting a little better at speaking. Thankfully, all the people are super nice and patient! Also, all the food is super good. We got in late last night (not actually, we were just supposed to be home early to report numbers to district leaders) because the woman we were teaching literally refused to let us leave. Like, she pretended not to hear us; and when we got up to leave, she brought the food and told us to sit. I think if we had resisted any more, she would have spoon fed us! People here take their food seriously. She was quoting scriptures at us about feeding people or something. We get fed a lot though! We never know when, haha, people just randomly feed us. It's great!

FINAL MTC PICS