Using the correct tools

Hey everyone!

This week was great! We had Zone training and talked about how we need to use the correct tools to accomplish our goals. For example, it is very hard to eat cereal using a fork or knife. (they had us eat cereal doing that) The same goes for teaching.

If we don't study our scriptures we are going to have a harder time teaching. Doctrine & Covenents 11:21

 21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then 

shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and 

my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

This is very true as a missionary and I have seen it work in my own teaching. If I study during the morning I am blessed with the Spirit and as I teach thoughts have come to me for me to share. When I do the members I have taught have felt the Spirit more. 

This week we taught 13 active member lessons! And this upcoming week we are practically booked!

 We have lessons just about every night from 6-8 So I am excited! 

I also believe I will be getting transferred to a different area at the end of this week (nothing official yet) but if you are going to be sending mail during this week please send it to the Mission office (address on top right of blog) 

We also went on a walk with our investigator Susan this week! We brought along Sister. Walker ( the Sister who's house we stay at) and they got along right off the bat! Susan though let us know that she wants us to know that she will not be converting and that is not her purpose for having us over. She likes our company and learning about our religion. but she has no intention of converting.

That is alright though. Knowing that we are planting seeds and letting her know that we are there for her is one of the reasons we go. 

Expect lots of photos next week because I will be taking photos with some of the members in this area! 

I love you all!

-Elder Mackin

Texas Pete Sauce and Oregon Ducks

January 11th

So this week was fun!

I found my favorite Hot sauce!!! Texas Pete!

We had exchanges this week and I was with Elder Mogle! He is a total goofball and he is a great missionary!

We also moved a family into our area on Thursday! They are not members but they have a friend who is and he requested our help! One of the family members was very cool! He was very friendly and talked to us about religion and his believes and how he respects us for serving God and bringing others to Christ.

Friday was very crazy! We were supposed to have Zone Training but we got "Parked"! (no driving due to snow) So we had to move that to this Friday. Instead we went out and shoveled snow!

 oh so fun... Shoveling snow is quite the work out and I am still sore from it!

AND I HAVE HIT 4 months being out on my mission!!!

On Saturday we joined the Priests over at the church and we played some sports! It was cool to do because one of the guys that came- just got back from playing for the Oregon Ducks!

 His last name is also Hunter! (Like my current companion) He will be leaving soon to serve a mission in Brazil!

Oh, and on Sunday we went to Young Womens!!! (the youth organization for the girls 12-17 yrs old at church)The Laurel teacher had us come and teach about the God head. So we went to opening exercise and its true! All the rumors and talk from the Young Mens group growing up---- the girls do get treats and gifts and their birthdays! We didn't get any though :/ (It wasn't our birthday) But it was very fun going in and seeing what Young Womens is like! (think YMs needs to adopt some of their practices)

Here is a picture of Elder Hunter and I after dinner at a members home.

I love you all!

-Elder Mackin

Happy 2016!

January 4th

Happy 2016! This week on January 2nd we moved back to the Walkers home (the normal place we live- because their daughter went back to school) Over the Holiday we had been living with the fellows family. The funny thing is, we got home sick :p they are an awesome family! But we are also glad to be back at the Walkers home!

This week we were going to have District meeting, but we got a call from a non member who's stuff arrived from Ohio! So we helped them move their stuff instead! :D

Sorry about no photos again this week I really stink at remembering to take photos! 

I love you all!

-Elder Mackin

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dec 28th

This week was great! We moved to a temporary new house this week! The Walker's(where we normally stay) daughter is living at their house for Christmas so we can't live there for this week. So we are living at the Fellows home! They are GREAT!!!

We had very few appointments this week because of the Christmas holiday.

But I did get to Skype with my family on Christmas day and that was wonderful. My parent's where at my Mackin Grandparents in California so I got to see my Grandparents, Uncle Steve, Aunt Kim, Cousin Easton, my parents and brothers.

Yesterday (December 27th) I caught the flu :( Luckily the fellows had saltines and ginger-ale for me :)

Plus I slept on a California King bed. So I was treated well! :)

Dec 31st - New Years Eve!!!

My mom received these pictures of me at celebrating New Years evening at the Meibos home. Elder Hunter and I were joining in on playing Great Dalmuti. Great Dalmuti wears the crown. The Great Peon wears the jester hat. At first Elder Hunter was the Great Dalmuti but he was overthrown by Elder Mackin! We swapped roles in ONE HAND! 

Notice my cheese tie I got for Christmas. 

I asked for it since my nick  names ince the MTC, is Elder MacN cheese :)  

The members here are great! They love and support us and make us feel like family. 

I hope you all have a great week!

-Elder Mackin

**But Elder Hunter can call me Elder Great Dalmuti!

The Star Wars Language

12/21/15

Merry Christmas everyone!!!  I have a new companion, Elder Hunter! And guess what!!!

I forgot to take photos!!!! So next week you will see what he looks like!! If I remember to take photos! 

This week Star Wars came out and this is my face whenever anyone talks about it -

So, to compensate I have learned Aurebesh the Star Wars language!

 In the Castle Pines Ward (that I am currently serving in) we have had 2 return missionaries recently get home! Elder Jones and Sister Lindemen! We taught both of their family's this week and they helped teaching with great power of the spirit! Some of the best lessons we have had! 

I love you all!

-Elder Mackin

YAY!!! DONE WITH TRAINING!!!

YAY!!! DONE WITH TRAINING!!! Training is 12 weeks (2 transfers) and I am done!

On Saturday we got a call letting us know that Elder Price will be leaving on Tuesday. We go to the Mission Office on Tuesday and have transfer meetings and I will recive my new companion that day. Then that new companion and I will head back to Castle Rock (the place I have been the last 12 weeks) and work there for at least the next 6 weeks.

Christmas time!!! It's been hard and awesome during Christmas while on a mission!! The hard part is not being able to watch Christmas movies. But we have recived many presents from the ward members which is amazing!!! The Young Women in teh ward got Elder Price and I, each a pair of socks, a mug, and some flavored hot coco packets!!! The activity day girls made us a Christmas sign that we have hung (forgot to take a picture sorry) and the Clarks got us some really good cookies!!! 

Its funny how other religions don't believe that we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior... We knocked on a door this week and when he opened it he said we are Lutheran and we worship Jesus Christ you should come worship with us on Sunday! (and he gave us the address) we then said we do to! It's here on our name tags! 

He then said well we believe he is the Savior. and we quickly replied yes, we do to! We are actually out today sharing a message that a Savior is born! (showed him the card for the Christmas video) and we then invited him to church and he said good bye.

We also were tracting and had a funny experience! It was my turn to knock the door! I knocked and the door opened! and before I could even say hello. HE INVITED US IN!!! We went in and he said "I love talking religion!" and Elder Price and I thought "oh crap he is going to bible bash us!!!" he then said, " I have a ton of friends that are LDS and I know how hard it is for you guys getting doors slammed in your face all day would you like something to drink?" 

HE WAS AWSOME!!! We shared a message with him and got to know him a bit! He might not take the lessons but he is someone we can visit and talk to!

Merry Christmas everyone and remember the reason for the season. 

Elder Cade Mackin

The Work is Blossoming and a Challenge to all

This week we had zone conference! My Mission President-, President Rehm, the APs(Assistants to the President), and the mission office missionary came and taught us. It was awesome! Below is a Pic of some Elders in our Zone with us.

 

I told you all this already but, the Stake President in the Castle Rock Stake promised us that if we teach 3 lessons a night (Member, Less Active member or Investigator) That investigators will come.

We have been following his council and we have received 3 possible investigators and 1 online referral!  The other 2 PIs(possible investivagors) we have been trying to contact, but they have not been home while we have tracted.

The work is blossoming here and I am getting more and more excited (and tired). 

The Church has put out a new Christmas video! christmas.mormon.org

I would like to challenge everyone reading this to share that video if they already haven't! Share it on Facebook, Email, twitter, or to a friend on your phone!

There are two videos!

One with children reciting scriptures and the other being about what the world would be like if we had no savior!

I know that if you share these videos people (maybe not direct people you know) will come into the fold of our Savior Jesus Christ!

I love you all!-Elder Mackin

Here is a picture of a Christmas Tree an Awesome friend sent to me! Thanks Faith!

 It helps to make our room feel more like Christmas.