Last week :/....

First off: my homecoming talk will NOT be on October 27th anymore. It'll be NOVEMBER 10TH AT 10AM. 3775 S Greenfield Rd, Gilbert 

Orrr if you're in my old GR ward, I'll be speaking to y'all on October 27th. Long story, but we have a family funeral and my cousin is giving his farewell talk that day so thanks for understanding (-:

Okay so this week flew by. 

My favorite person in this area is Brandon. He is a miracle returning member we've been working with the last 4 transfers and he is so pure (s/o to keats). He has completely turned his life around and has become one of the most involved members in our branch. He doesn't know much about the church since he converted at 10 years old and hasn't been back since, but he is embracing everything and has even quit multiple bad habits. & he is one of the funniest people I've met here. 

I ate plastic. 

I was trying to not get my hands sticky by keeping the plastic on my fruit roll up but I just ended up taking a big bite of plastic and realized that when I saw a huge bite mark later. 

We got to teach the Restoration at a baptism

A wonderful woman named Pam got baptized this weekend! She has been taking the lessons since the 80's. She got baptized (it took a few times because of her clothing coming up, and after the 4th time the elder baptizing her just kind shoved her under the water lol) and during the waiting period, Sister Conley and I got to teach the Restoration! The last time I did that was in training when I was just 4ish weeks in the mission! The spirit was so strong and we had a person we are now teaching (Cassandra) and Brandon come. It was the first time they have both heard the Restoration lesson! 

I am understanding charity!

Yesterday after church, we went home to eat dinner and I was just feeling so much love for the YSA members of the branch. I felt like my heart was overflowing and about to burst bc of my love for them. And the spirit taught me that this is what our Savior feels like about all of us. The spirit also taught me that that's why it is so hard for Him and our Heavenly Father when we don't use our agency for good. His heart breaks for us, as mine often has on my mission for some individuals. It made ms never want to hurt the Savior again. 

The Lord answers prayers in his own way.

Lately I've been seeking to know if the Lord is pleased with me and my efforts as a missionary. I expressed how I wasn't getting an answer to this prayer a few weeks ago in my departing interview. My mission president simply promised me that I would know by the time i went home. 

I also expressed this to mah boy Elder McGonagill and he told me to be aware of the small ways the Lord will let me know. 

The past few weeks that prayer has been answered by the members. I haven't had one dinner appointment with a member where they haven't told me of their love for me and the difference I've made in the branch as a missionary.  

It was answered as the branch president told me through tears how proud he was of me and grateful for my hard work with the YSA, especially the less-active members. 

It was answered by an inactive member who usually just gives us a hard time and is way sarcastic. But he was serious as he told my companion and I the great work we are doing and the difference we're making. 

It was answered by another returning member (who is also never serious) who has miraculously come back. He told us how much he loved us and was grateful for our persistence with him the last 7 months. 

It was answered by a recent convert (who is going through the temple this week!) as he told us we were his favorite sisters since the ones who taught him the lessons. He said he has seen the most progress in the branch and more people being taught and close to baptism in the last 7 months than ever before. 

I was expecting a prayer and a feeling of peace in my heart as confirmation as I knelt, but the Lord in his infinite wisdom answered my prayer in a way that was so meaningful to me. 

I love this work. I love these people. I love being able to say "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they night have everlasting life" (3 Nephi 5:13). And most of all, I love my best friend, Jesus Christ. 

...and I love y'all too. 

Sister MacLay

Me and a dead squirrel 14 months ago

Us and Brandon 

Me and one of the people we're teaching, Lauren! 

Me and a dead squirrel now. #transformationtuesday. He still dead. 

18 Months!

Nelda!

 First off: my homecoming talk will be at 10am on Oct. 27th at 3775 S Greenfield Rd, Gilbert 85297. And all y'all are invited!  

I hit 18 months as a missionary this last week! So crazy! The salvation of souls has not been easy work, but it's been more than worth it.

We saw some crazy awesome miracles this week. 

There has been a member we have been working with for the last 6 months that has had a change of heart and wants to come back to full activity. He's fed us just about every week and is a return missionary and everything. The dinner appointment we had with him last week, we had a super inspired spiritual thought and invitation on the plan of salvation. He later texted us and asked if he could meet because he had "a heart to heart with the Lord and realized he needed to change some things." So we met with him and ah man I have been waiting for this the entire time I have been in this area. He even watched conference with us and came to institute!

We gave some old ladies at the memory care home makeovers! Nelda is my favorite. She is so sassy and lively and she's 95. See pic below. 

Buuuut one of the BEST highlights from this week was definitely general conference amirightladies? The themes that I noticed were joy and countering satan's strategies. 

One of my favorite talks was by Elder Holland. I love his powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and the first vision and when he said, "Surely the most thrilling sight and sound in life is that of Jesus not only passing by, but His coming to us, stopping beside us, and making His abode with us." 

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MODERN PROPHETS AND APOSTLES. I know that they are called of God and they continue to receive revelation for Christ's church. I know the Restoration is ongoing. 

And I too am a special witness of Jesus Christ and testify that He lives and loves is so very much! 

And I love you too! 

<3 Sister MacLay

Me n the branch president and his wife! 

Us and a member gettin sushi on my 18 month mark! 

The Simmons! They used to be in YSA but got married! They're my favorite couple. 

SHOUTOUT TO MY BIG SIS...IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY!!

Hi!

This week was great! I had my departing interview with my mission president! After I said the closing prayer, he said "I usually reserve hugs for the airport but..." and then gave me a big ol hug. I love that man. 

I also got to give a talk at my last zone conference! It was on how I have improved my personal study....which, they picked the right man for the job bc my personal studies have improved exponentially since the start of my mission. I started from ground 0, so I had a ton of room to grow lol. 

I also got to give my departing testimony! It was bittersweet. But I love any chance that I have to testify as a missionary. I know I'm not going to have that power and authority for much longer so I'm taking advantage of it haha. 

I shared a scripture in my departing testimony, Isaiah 64:8: 

"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." 

I've been learning more and more how when we turn our lives over to the Potter, he can make us little lumps of clay into masterpieces. 

I invite y'all to find a way this week to more fully give your will over to the hands of the Potter. 

I love y'all! 

Sister MacLay 

p.s. the subject title is bc...pots. 

And I got asked to lead the hurrah for Israel we do after every zone conference! Here's a vid: 

oh also we prayed with Lauren yesterday about a date to be baptized and she feels good about October 19th! 

Please keep her in your prayers!

<3 

Oh oh annnnddd (last thing I promise)

SHOUTOUT TO MY BIG SIS...IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY!! 

Since I cant do an Instagram post this will have to do (;

Jalin is an amazing mother, wife, and best friend. She is one of my greatest role models and one of the most Christlike people I have ever met. Anyone who knows her is blessed. 

Love u <3

"Christ prays for each of us".

So for the last few months, we have really been trying to focus on teaching members the lessons, specifically the restoration. And then our mission president recently has encouraged us to do that as well! There was a name in our records that was sticking out to me when we were in Odessa, so we went and saw her! Turns out it was a new member of our branch who doesn't go by her given name. But we decided to teach her the Restoration and after, we asked her who she knew that needed to hear this message, and she told us about her friend, Mullika! She said Mullika had been talking about wanting to find a church to go to, and this member didn't have the courage to invite her until we cane and taught her the message of the Restoration! So anyways, she brought Mullkia to church yesterday, and that was a huge miracle! 

Other favorite things from this week: 

-we were teaching 2 YSA the Restoration and their family was there. In the middle of me reciting the 1st vision, the Grandpa interrupted to tell us about how a civil war was coming in this country and how there'll be a draft soon and we are all going to shed a lot of blood. His name is Carl and he's my new favorite. 

-at the memory care facility we volunteer at, there's a guy named Tom who I have never heard anything very coherent come out of his mouth. But I was saying hi to him and he started telling me how happy he was to see me and how my "countenance lights up a room and that is one of my spiritual gifts." It was wild bc I try to talk to him all the time but this was the most clear thing he has ever said to me. 

I also have a theory that the Jonas brothers are the 3 Nephites. We know that 2 of Christ's disciples in the Americas are named Jonas (3 nephi 19:4)...sooo...it only makes sense. And there's 3 of them. Case cracked. Mystery solved. (jokes) 

BUT something cool that I studied this week is 3 Nephi 17:17: 

"and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard [Christ] pray for us unto the Father."

This reminded me of when Jesus says to Peter, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." 

Just think of it! Christ prays for each of us...He really is our Mediator with the Father because of his great atoning sacrifice. I love my Savior! 

And He loves you and so do I!

Sister MacLay

I don't have any pictures from this week! 

Sorry! So instead I'll just attach a favorite of Christ and pictures of me and Elder MacLay my parents sent me this week bc we are iconic. 

Finishing my mission in Midland!

I'm staying in Midland with Sister Conley for my last transfer! I'm so stoked. I have loved getting to serve with the YSA here for the last 6 months; these 6 weeks are going to be the best yet. 

Couple of experiences this week with some less-active members:

-I had a super strong impression to go see a very inactive member. He was baptized at 10 and never went since... knows nothing about our church. So we went realllly out of our way to go see him. We knocked on their mobile home several times...nothing. So I started writing him a note before we left and he came out! He was high and drinking beer, but he's also not been sober once for the last few years so that's normal. But he told us how us coming was an answer to prayer for him. He had a friend die the night before from an overdose. We read scriptures with him and answered questions he had about the plan of salvation. He kept telling us how we were shining and had light coming from us. We knew and told him that it was the light of Christ. Or maybe it was the drugs. 

-we finally got to see a member who is a return missionary but realllly struggling! 

Here's some quotes from him:

Us: Do you ever see the other branch members when you go dancing? (There are some members who go and do country dancing at bars and whatnot) 

Him: I don't like going to clubs when there are mormons because then I have to stop drinking and get coke, and coke is so expensive. 

Us: just get water! 

Him: you can't snort water sisters! 

Another good one...

Him: "snakes, or danger noodles as I call them."

-a returning member (Juan aka Brandon...he's the one I kept seeing his name and wanting to try and see him, so we did and met him and his fam; his mom and little brothers are now on date!) took us to get steak and I was just trynna get the cheap sirloin but he ordered the filet for me instead and it was bomb. With another member, I had $17 sushi ordered for me. And we got sushi later that week too with another less-active member. I'm living the high life right now and am trying to not get used to it. lol #brokeboiz 

This is getting long, but I wanted to share 2 scriptures I was reminded of this week! 

Isaiah 64:8 

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

1 Corinthians 15:10 

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

I know that each of us can be clay in the Lord's hands as we come to Him in humility. 

Love y'all. 

Sister MacLay

                                     Our district 

Our zone (4 is our baptism goal this transfer :) 

Me bein sick 

Paisley Rae is SEVEN!

Us and one of my favorite people we're teaching, Lauren

Midessa Strong

So I'm sure most of you heard of the tradegdy that happened here in our area of Midland and Odessa. It was a very surreal experience for us as we could sit in our apartment and hear all the commotion going on outside. Just hours before, we were at the place where the shooting started. It was so cool to see the members of our branch reaching out to each other, to people we're teaching, and to less-active members to make sure everyone was safe. It was chaos and nobody really knew what was going on in the moment. I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that He overcame physical death for each one of us, and that we can find peace and comfort in our hardest trials through Him. I know He descended below all things so that He could lift us up. 

Sorry I slacked on pictures this week. We've got:

-my cute and injured companion 

-my hairs done by said companion 

-old pic from the county fair 

-old pic of us, Cedric, and the families who have been fellowshipping him. 

Love y'all. 

Sister MacLay

P.S. I don't think the pictures attached....

Also adding a picture of THE PROPHET VISITING MY LITTLE BROTHER'S MISSION 

and 

Pictures of Paisley because she turns SEVEN!!  Happy birthday Paisley Rae <3

"Chickin-fil-a is the most Jesus Christ restaurant out there."

The Book of Mormon experiment.

Hi y'all! 

This week was crazy! I'm now in a trio with SISTER RADDIGAN who's companion went home. So we are covering a family ward and the YSA branch for a few weeks! I LOVE sister Raddigan. We were in the MTC together and so we are preparing to go home together too by doing something for missionaries called "My Plan!" She's the sweetest human ever and I'm so lucky to be with her and Sister Conley in my 3rd trio. Trios have more fun! (Also, subject line is a quote from someone in the family ward's area we are teaching haha). 

Midland had a fair this last weekend we got to volunteer and have a booth at! We had a giant book of mormon and were inviting people to read copied pages from it and highlight every reference to Christ. It was super fun! I'll attach a pic! We also got to feed butterflies and see a giant longhorn Watusi. 

I also got to see my cousin Ashley and her husband Zack, as well as my Uncle Marvin and Aunt Jodi! Ashley and Zack are moving to Dallas,  and they were coming through town and my mission president gave me permission for them to take us to dinner!! It was so fun and they gave us some good advice for people we are teaching. And Ashley reminds me of my sister who is my favorite person in the world soooo it was a good time. 

That's about it folks! 

Keep our little trio in your prayers! 

Mucho love, 

Sister MacLay

Lunch with a member!

Feedin some butterflies 

A rodeo event where you race a course and shoot balloons...Haha. unfortunately the only event we saw in passing. 

A blurry yet pretty sunset pic (peep the pump Jack) 

Cedric trying to help us scrape off the water spots on our car one by one. We've tried literally everything else (vinegar, windex, car washes, bathroom cleaner, oven cleaner, special glass cleaner, etc). The sprinklers here wrecked our car.