To be honest, I really struggled with leaving Lincoln. I had my heart set on finishing there. But Heavenly Father had different plans and what do you do? Sit in the flat and tell president you are not moving? I can't act like a 5 year old - that would not be "wise and mature" (white handbook page 53). So you humbly say, yeah, I'll go. The song from my farewell pops into mind "I'll go where you want me to go," and then you really know that you can't say no.
I had been struggling with members for a bit, but as I got to say goodbye, I was able to learn that I had made some good friendships and that my time wasn't as ineffective as I had thought in the moment - especially hearing the success Sister Dignos is having this week.
So Monday we had an awesome pday with the elders. They, along with Sister Dignos, were all so sad to see me go. It felt nice to be loved. So with waiting for reimbursements to come in and only having a bit of money, we got a McDonald's cheese burger and then went for a bike ride. We went to a place a member told us about called "the view."
We had dinner that night with a single, older member. She brought our plates out as I began eating, I look down noticing the design on the plate and it's the same plates you have, Mom!! She lived in the states for a while and brought them over with her. That made me a bit trunky, haha.
I packed and packed and sorted through things so it will be easier in a few weeks when I come home.
I had been struggling with members for a bit, but as I got to say goodbye, I was able to learn that I had made some good friendships and that my time wasn't as ineffective as I had thought in the moment - especially hearing the success Sister Dignos is having this week.
So Monday we had an awesome pday with the elders. They, along with Sister Dignos, were all so sad to see me go. It felt nice to be loved. So with waiting for reimbursements to come in and only having a bit of money, we got a McDonald's cheese burger and then went for a bike ride. We went to a place a member told us about called "the view."
We had dinner that night with a single, older member. She brought our plates out as I began eating, I look down noticing the design on the plate and it's the same plates you have, Mom!! She lived in the states for a while and brought them over with her. That made me a bit trunky, haha.
I packed and packed and sorted through things so it will be easier in a few weeks when I come home.
The start of our dissent! Oh dear, I didn't know so many accidents could happen to elders, yet none really got hurt thankfully. I couldn't stop laughing that day. We have so many pictures. We ended up going to the West Common, something that has been preserved for hundreds of years where people can farm for free and leave their animals, so we went to explore. Not much to see but horses, but it's beautiful!! And totally my favourite pday ever!!
Tuesday we got a lift from Sister Randall to the station and the elders all showed up. It was fun to chat with them and say goodbye. It really was hard - I am terrible at goodbyes. I felt sad on the train, but we still texted back and forth with them until I was gone, so it was all good fun. They are so sweet and all the missionaries in our ward signed a card and put together a goodbye package full of my favourite things. It was so sweet I almost cried when I opened it. Honestly those are friends for life.
I got Sister Anderson and we got on the train to Loughborough but ended up in Nottingham again.... Wrong train, so we quickly got on the right one and got picked up by a sweet member.
Tuesday we had coordination. We have a good ward mission team.
Wednesday we had district meeting. I have to say it's always hard to transition from district to district, and flat to flat. There were like no veggies in this flat and mostly bread and quick food. So today we spent £35 on food - mostly veg and basics. I lost my voice with a cold. Our flat is freezing. I went to fill up my hot water bottle to sleep warm and there was no electric kettle. I bought one and will get it reimbursed asap. Yeah, I was back into fevers this weekend. I needed a lot of sleep. I think eating healthy makes a huge difference. So grateful for what you have taught me mom!!
We found a new family. They are from Nigeria, so it can be hard to pin down a time when they really will be home, but they were so sweet! We will keep trying. With losing my voice, it's been hard to find people. The area is kinda struggling at the moment. We need to work better with members and finding to build it up. Hopefully we can do that before I go. It should be a good week where we will get to know the area better. Sister Anderson has only been here for one transfer and so it's almost like white washing. We have our work cut out for us! It's been fun to serve with someone from Vegas and who is going home right after me. Lots of things to talk about, but we mainly talk about Lincoln. Both of us have served there and loved it!!
Spiritually I learned a bit more about the atonement and as we were talking last night, it hit me how much the atonement carried me in Lincoln. The power of the atonement is real and I was so grateful for the light bulb moment when the wires connected (haha, too many electricity metaphors). We watched the Face to Face for comp study last night and it was awesome. I loved it. I really got me thinking about hearts changing and who I want to be and what things I need to do to access the atonement and so I am excited to work this week to apply it every day, especially with it being Easter!! To go out of my way to apply it. A blessing I got back in Lincoln talked about how blessings do not have an expiration date on them. This morning as I was studying, I remembered a blessing dad gave me during my freshman year of high school, I think. I had been expecting a blessing that said I would get over this sickness soon.... etc, etc, but it said nothing like that. It talked about the atonement and how as I studied the attributes of the atonement, I would be healed. Dad even seemed to be surprised at the blessing and we talked about it. It was so cool. To be honest, as nothing seems to work, and I keep getting sick and I had to spend £15 on stuff, just because I was sick, and this flat is not stocked for a sick person, I am really going to put my faith in those two blessings. I hope to see a miracle happen as I learn more about the atonement and watch it work in my life. I will send you my new address, Mom and Craig, so then you can send me a letter before I go, haha.
But know I love you!!
Sister MacKay
Her address:
Sister Ashley MacKay
47A Ashby Road
Loughborough
Leicester
LE11 3AA
England
Tuesday we had coordination. We have a good ward mission team.
Wednesday we had district meeting. I have to say it's always hard to transition from district to district, and flat to flat. There were like no veggies in this flat and mostly bread and quick food. So today we spent £35 on food - mostly veg and basics. I lost my voice with a cold. Our flat is freezing. I went to fill up my hot water bottle to sleep warm and there was no electric kettle. I bought one and will get it reimbursed asap. Yeah, I was back into fevers this weekend. I needed a lot of sleep. I think eating healthy makes a huge difference. So grateful for what you have taught me mom!!
We found a new family. They are from Nigeria, so it can be hard to pin down a time when they really will be home, but they were so sweet! We will keep trying. With losing my voice, it's been hard to find people. The area is kinda struggling at the moment. We need to work better with members and finding to build it up. Hopefully we can do that before I go. It should be a good week where we will get to know the area better. Sister Anderson has only been here for one transfer and so it's almost like white washing. We have our work cut out for us! It's been fun to serve with someone from Vegas and who is going home right after me. Lots of things to talk about, but we mainly talk about Lincoln. Both of us have served there and loved it!!
Spiritually I learned a bit more about the atonement and as we were talking last night, it hit me how much the atonement carried me in Lincoln. The power of the atonement is real and I was so grateful for the light bulb moment when the wires connected (haha, too many electricity metaphors). We watched the Face to Face for comp study last night and it was awesome. I loved it. I really got me thinking about hearts changing and who I want to be and what things I need to do to access the atonement and so I am excited to work this week to apply it every day, especially with it being Easter!! To go out of my way to apply it. A blessing I got back in Lincoln talked about how blessings do not have an expiration date on them. This morning as I was studying, I remembered a blessing dad gave me during my freshman year of high school, I think. I had been expecting a blessing that said I would get over this sickness soon.... etc, etc, but it said nothing like that. It talked about the atonement and how as I studied the attributes of the atonement, I would be healed. Dad even seemed to be surprised at the blessing and we talked about it. It was so cool. To be honest, as nothing seems to work, and I keep getting sick and I had to spend £15 on stuff, just because I was sick, and this flat is not stocked for a sick person, I am really going to put my faith in those two blessings. I hope to see a miracle happen as I learn more about the atonement and watch it work in my life. I will send you my new address, Mom and Craig, so then you can send me a letter before I go, haha.
But know I love you!!
Sister MacKay
Her address:
Sister Ashley MacKay
47A Ashby Road
Loughborough
Leicester
LE11 3AA
England