Best.Christmas.Ever.

Merry Christmas!

This week has been so amazing. Christmas Day was really special for me this year for a few reasons... 

I got transferred yesterday to Manhattan so that made Sunday (Christmas) even more special because I was able to take the sacrament one more time in the New Rochelle ward and able to say goodbye to all of the members and investigators. Serving in the New Rochelle Ward as changed my life in a lot of ways and for that I am grateful.  I'm also grateful for the 6 months that I was able to spend as an assistant to President Smith. That assignment really taught me how to serve with everything I have. I'm grateful that I had that opportunity. I will really miss that assignment, the area, and all the people, but I will serve wherever the Lord wants me to serve and I’m certain I will love my new assignment as a Zone leader in South Manhattan just as much.  

AND I also was able to Skype home with my family Christmas day and that was so special and really awesome! Being able to share spiritual experiences with my family means the world to me. I love my family.

Over the past couple of days I have been able to have a couple of really spiritual experiences that have made me grateful to be a full time servant of the Lord. It is such a privilege and it is something that I will never get again.., the time is zooming by, I realize this time is precious. I am grateful for every day in the mission field here in New York City!

HOW COOL IS THAT?!

I know that God exists. I know that he has a plan for us. I know that peace and joy are attainable in this life and can be ours for eternity. The Gospel is so awesome...  and last I want to testify that repentance is cool! Repentance is amazing - it brings so much peace. Repent daily.

Love you all! Merry Christmas and happy New Years!

Elder Mackintosh

I will miss William! I will still see him but not as often ):

William, me, and in the back seat my new companion Elder Tabor  :)

Buenos Días!

Buenos días,

I can't believe it is basically Christmas and that it is almost 2017... SERIOUSLY THAT BLOWS MY MIND. I remember last Christmas so vividly… I’m going to have to do a lot to top last year! But his year is a Sunday and I get to take the sacrament so I guess this one already wins.  AND I get to skype with my family.  That's a win win!! 

My Companion Elder McBride has been sick but he is a trooper and has worked the whole week. Such a solid missionary. Did you know that in total I have been companions with him for like 10 months?! Jajaja yep, crazy huh!. In case you've forgotten, he was my trainer and now we serve together again as assistants...  jaja it's awesome!  

2 cool things from this last week, but first, the baptism scheduled on Christmas won’t be happening, but it's okay, he is still in contact with us and still loves the church... it'll happen just not on Christmas.  The big news is that Jermaine is getting baptized on January 8th! And this is alike a super solid date because he is the one that chose it!  Man, it makes me so happy to think about it because he has really changed so much.. The Atonement of Jesus Christ changes people! We can always change and improve. If there is anything I have learned out here serving a mission, is that people can change and we can change because of Jesus Christ.

The second cool thing happened while partaking of the sacrament this week. The deacon was nervous and walked away from me before I could put my cup back into the tray. Sitting there holding that cup made me go into deep thought and have a spiritual experience. The Spirit testified to me of the reality of the suffering of the Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross. I felt the individual love that the Savior has for me. It was one of those special experiences that I will never forget. The sacrament is amazing..

Love you all! I hope that everyone, myself included, can remember why we have Christmas and turn outward as Jesus Christ did. Participate in the 25 days of

service on Mormon.org it is so fun!

Elder Mackintosh

William Smith and Elder McBride after getting lunch

 We went on splits in south Manhattan and saw this!  The missionaries this up in 

 front of the Manhattan Temple to show the Christmas 

"Light the World" video

I didn't get a good picture of it but our wards Christmas party 

was spectacular!

William is the best

(William is President Smith's son) 

Soaking Wet and Smiling!

Hey!

Thanksgiving was great! We raked leaves with members, fed the homeless, and told people we love them!  Oh and the food was good, we ate at a member's house. 'Twas a good holiday!

Today we spent the bulk of the day at the Manhattan Temple. I love how every time I go to the temple, prayers get answered and a new hope is received.  We walked to the temple and it was actually fun walking the 30 minutes from Grand Central Station to the temple and then walking the 30 minutes back in a steady downpour.  And yes, I said fun! It really was great to walk in the rain, soaking wet while wearing a suit, and still being able to smile because you know life is eternal and this is just another fun day! jaja. 

Perspective really is everything. We were surrounded by people sheltered by umbrellas and raincoats looking absolutely miserable, and then there was us, six drenched missionaries totally enjoying life.  How? Perspective, that's what the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.  Love it.

This week was really good! We have been meeting with a man named Todd and he is the coolest ever. After 30 years of unhealthy habits, TODAY he committed to quitting and following Christ and to be baptized soon. It is honestly amazing and humbling to be able to see the gospel change his life.  It’s pretty cool. Literally every time we see him he is happier and every time we see him his countenance is brighter. The Gospel of Jesus Christ seems to consistently have that effect on people. It is so cool!

Love you all!

Elder Mackintosh

We met Carmen Thanksgiving Day.  She's a super sweet woman from Harlem. We

waited in line and got food together.

Revelation is Real

Hi,

So first off, this will blow some minds. Transfers happened and my companion and I are staying! This is the 4th transfer with this assignment (assistant to the president) and 7^th transfer with Elder McBride. By the end of this cycle, Elder McBride and I will have spent 10 months together as companions! Jajaja that is pretty nuts and also cool. He is a solid missionary, so I love it!  We will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together again!

Woot woot!

This week was great! Coby is solid and set for baptism this Sunday! I'm so excited.  Shy'sheeana and Ty'reeana baptisms are postponed for a little bit, but all is well, they are still great!

These last couple of days of transfers were long and crazy busy but we saw so many miracles and blessings. It was pouring rain while we did transfers yesterday, so that threw things off for a little bit but we got back on track (soaking wet) and everything worked out!

I want to share my testimony real quick about the Book of Mormon. I have been able to continue to read the Book of Mormon over the past couple of CRAZY busy days, but not as much as normal. I have honestly felt something missing. Today I was able to find 25 minutes to just sit down, focus, and read. The good feelings came back and filled me again. I honestly know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Heavenly Father can speak to you through it. I have felt this in my life. I have felt this today. If you feel something missing, please read the Book of Mormon. If you don't feel something is missing, read it and you will realize that something was missing.

Love you all!

Elder Mackintosh

I love brother Somerset!  

Eating at "El Miski" with the homies. 

Prayers of Faith brings Miracles

November 9, 2016

Howdy y'all,

This week was so good! Remember that miracle that happened last week that led to us finding that family? Well they are golden! They have committed to coming to church this week and they are excited to get baptized. Tonight we are setting a date with them and possibly with two other people! Lots of exciting things happening.

Last night we had a cool miracle that gave me the title of this email. We had 2 pretty solid set appointments that fell through at the last second and our back up plans weren't bringing much about. We decided to pull over and say a prayer. We prayed together and then pondered for a little bit while looking over some of our records. A decision was made to look someone up. That person wasn't home but we found a man on the street that has met with missionaries before and asked us to stop by this Saturday. We then noticed on our map that a member, we had tried to talk to our first week, lived nearby. This member didn't open the door the first time we came by, but we decided to try again hoping that things had changed in his life to soften his heart. He opened the door and was excited to see us! His daughter recently turned 8 and he wants her to get baptized! We are going over Friday to meet with both of them. It was so cool to see how things worked out and how the revelation wasn't totally clear but as we followed our best judgement, we were eventually guided to this man and his daughter. I know that this is the Lords work and that God answers our prayers! I know it... sometimes we might feel like he isn't answering because it just isn't so clear, but often times the answer is "I trust you and I will guide you along the way." It is interesting to me but so cool!

With what I just said about prayers being answered, here is a quote in preach my gospel by Elder Dallin H. Oaks: 

“[A person may have] a strong desire to be led by the Spirit of the Lord but … unwisely extends that desire to the point of wanting to be led in all things. A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it. For example, this is likely to occur in those numerous circumstances in which the choices are trivial or either choice is acceptable.

        “We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive an answer through the medium of false revelation”

Love you all! Have the best week ever.

Elder Mackintosh

Here is a not so good pic of us with all the

mail to deliver to the missionaries. Oh! Also, the woman that took the picture for us is Hungarian and YES we gave her a Hungarian Book of Mormon.  Oh yeah! :) 

The city. Taxi had an inappropriate add, so we edited it (jaja)

Video of the fall in NY.  I'm the passenger filming.  

Halloween, Pizza and the Book of Mormon.

Suuuuuup,

Weekly miracle to start it off:

¡Esta semana fue muy buena y exitosa! Vimos un milagro anoche. De hecho, este milagro empezó hace dos días y todavía está vivo. Lo que pasó es que decidimos llamar a algunas personas que habían pedido que les trajéramos una Biblia. Una persona nos contestó y nos dijo que pasáramos. La visitamos y trajimos la Biblia y un libro de Mormón. Fijamos otra cita y nos fuimos. (I will finish in English (jaja) I have just been in an English ward for a few months now and I need to practice my Spanish!!!!) soooo, like I said, we left the building and I saw a guy standing about 30 feet away leaning against the fence. He kinda appeared to be a gangster and we just walked by him. I then had a thought come into my head "Go all in. Everyone needs the gospel."  So I turned around and started walking towards him and said "Hey! Can I give you this book?" And we started talking.  He ended up not being interested so we asked for a referral and he gave us his friend. We had to head home so we didn't have time to look him up right the, but the next day (last night) we went to look up the referral he had given us and unfortunately he wasn't there, but my companion felt to knock a couple neighbors. 2 doors in we got let in and ended up finding a great family that was interested! Its so cool how many things happened for us to be guided to this family!! Being guided by the Spirit is so cool and it was a great reminder to not let our own expectations of the situation get in the way. This is the Lords work and there are no coincidences.

Besides that, this week was great. We had a few people come to church for their first time ever and that is always exciting. Jevon spoke in church and that was cool because he was totally inactive when we got here, but since we helped prepare him to get baptized for his father (as proxy a few months back) he has been great! I also spoke in church and is it weird that I actually enjoy speaking?.... yes. But it's true!

Halloween was great. We had to be home by 7, so we ordered pizza and gave the pizza guy a Book of Mormon (jaja) teach when you find, find when

you teach. (jaja)

Love you!!

Elder Mackintosh

Just nightly planning.  And Elder Stokes and his broken foot.

A quick selfie of the trio life

Yo Yo Yo!

October 26, 2016

Yo yo yo!

This was a good week here in New York. Since last Pday we had 4 zone conferences and set 3 baptismal dates with people. Zone Conference days consist of getting up at 4:30 am, setting up, giving trainings, taking down, proselytizing, and then going to sleep at the normal time of 10:30 pm. Yes it was tiring but it honestly wasn't bad! I learned some great things his week.

First, I learned that I can do hard things! And it's not that I can do hard things because I'm great but it is totally what it says in Alma 26:12 "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." And Philippians 4:13  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."   It's so true!!!

The other thing that I learned is that we can expect promised blessings when we do our part. That is what PresidentMonson talked about in the Priesthood Session a few weeks ago! I felt that this week as we were so busy, but saw so many blessings. We were working hard and trying our best and we saw some big blessings come through with 2 families that we teach coming to church and then one of them accepting a baptismal date and hopefully the other family accepting one tonight! This gospel blesses families and the blessings have poured in from obedience and diligence this week. It's so cool! 

I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I have felt this in my life and I desire for everyone to feel that same joy! 

Love you all! 

Elder Mackintosh

 Totally had jelof rice this week! 

Elder Stokes broke his foot. :(

Repentance & Curve Balls

First of all this is Skye's mother and I want to share a portion of my personal email that Skye shared with me, because children seem to recall everything you wish they would forget, so it's a real treat when they recall something positive, therefore I'm sharing....

"I love you mom! I shared in a training this last week about how you would wake me up by singing "Its time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up in the morning!" And then telling me that I'm going to have the best day ever because I was going to choose to make it that way. I didn't understand what you were teaching at the time but I'm grateful now! (Jajaja) The 50 missionaries that I gave the training to all loved it and President Smith wrote it down because he thought it was just awesome!" ~Elder Skye Mackintosh

Helloooooooooooo,

This week was a fun one! Lots of stuff happened and it was pretty ridiculously busy and packed with curve balls but over all I came out happy. I love it! 

This week I have just been thinking about repentance and it is just such a great and happy thing! I love repentance. It is great because guilt can be taken away through true repentance. 

My email this week is short and simple. I just want to testify of repentance and the joy that it brings into your life. I have personally felt it and that is what drives me to be out here on a mission. I want so badly for everyone be happy. Every one that isn't trying to repent every day has guilt. Whether a member of my same church or not, a Christian or not, everyone has guilt for sins that they have committed because that is just what happens. I know that guilt can be taken away and strength can be received. I know that as we strive to follow Christ and to live a clean life, we will have peace of mind and be truly happy. I also know that what we do here on earth matters. It matters eternally. Repentance is cool! 

If you need help, talk to someone, talk to your bishop. If you have guilt and you don't know how to get rid of it, talk to me and I can help you. 

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Mackintosh 

Here is a picture of my current companionship. Well trio actually. Yep, in a trio again for a little bit longer!

The Plan of Salvation

Hello! 

I accidentally played basketball for too long and don't have a ton of time to write this week... completely my fault jaja. Always next week right? 

But this week I have thought a lot about the plan of salvation and how much peace it can bring to a soul. We are reading the Book of Mormon in 100 days as a mission and I'm reading with the purpose of knowing how the atonement of Jesus Christ has affected ME. Well with that in mind I have learned a ton! But surprising to me, I have learned a lot about the resurrection and things in the next life. The resurrection of EVERYONE will happen and the judgment day will come as well. It ties in with the atonement because that is how resurrection was made possible and judgment day ties in because we can be clean on that day because of the atonement ofJesus Christ. I know that this is true!

The Spirit sure does confirm truth. The other day I was reading and a very simple verse pounded me in my heart. It is found in Mosiah 16:8 and it says "But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ." Simple right? Well the Spirit testified to me that it was true. It was amazing! I know that it was real and I know as well that we can all have moments like that and we can all know spiritual and eternal truths. We just have to choose and we have to work. If you want to know for yourself, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it. You will get an answer. 

I love the Book of Mormon and I love the Savior!  I'm so grateful for the support that I receive each week and even day. 

Love you all! It is going too fast. 

Elder Mackintosh 

Right before teaching a lesson over Oovoo on our iPads!

Went of a split with Elder Busby. He is a solid missionary and friend.