A Great Week!

Such a great week!

This week was so fun because we have really been pushing ourselves to just do a little bit more. To serve a little harder. It has been hard and tiring, but most of all it has been rewarding. So many blessings!

This week I have been studying change, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and repentance. IT HAS BEEN SOOOOOO GOOD! So I will share some scriptures that really had me pondering this week and helped me to work hard. The scriptures are found in Alma 34: 32-35

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked."

This can be so deep to think about but also it is pretty simple to understand the principle. Don't procrastinate your repentance. TODAY is your day to change. "Tomorrow never comes" because once it is tomorrow it is actually today and you will put it off until "tomorrow" again. Hence, "Tomorrow never comes." We have to improve today. I chose to write about his today because as I have studied this during the last week and have tried to do things today instead of tomorrow and I have been blessed. Lasting changes are real through Christ.

This last week has been humbling and full of growth and happiness. Love you all! I invite you to not "procrastinate the day of your repentance" and change today. It doesn't have to be a huge repentance. Maybe you haven't been reading you scriptures and your repentance is starting today. So whether it is a big change or a little one, I invite you to do something today. You will be blessed. I promise you that.

Elder Mackintosh

A picture with Christina before leaving for Mexico for a month.

La familia de la Cruz. They moved  this last week ):

(I look really tall next to Hispanics jajaja)

Blessings and Blisters

By the title you know that it has been a great week here in Poughkeepsie! I don't have much time so I will just briefly tell a story that has happened over the past 2 weeks but I will put it into one paragraph.

We had been meeting with an investigator named Celin and she was progressing really well towards her baptism date.  She then unfortunately and randomly told us that she “didn't want to do this anymore… " We told her that we care for her and her family and wanted to come by and meet with and them one more time, she said that was fine. Well we went by and met her husband and we had a great lesson about how this gospel blesses families and how they are children of a loving Heavenly Father. The spirit was strong and we invited them to church. They said no because they had to many projects to do around the house. After asking, "What can we do to help?" a few times they finally agreed to allowing us to come over! We went over and helped for a couple of hours before church and then left with them saying that they would see us at church. Well church started and they weren't there..  She then texted us and said "We are leaving now but we will be late."  We said "perfect, still come!"  Then 30 minutes later while I was translating a talk at the pulpit, they all walked in! It distracted me and I didn't hear what the person said but I was still expected to translate the line. I opened my mouth and said what I think I might of heard and the spirit really helped me. It was a great meeting and the church members were all over them with love and greetings. Bonus, they stayed for classes! Miracles with this family!

Lots of other things are going really well, but I thought I would share that particular story because a lot of work and love went into it, and it just really makes me happy to see them progressing so as a family!

I would tell a funny story that happened last week, but this is getting long and time is getting short, so next week I’ll tell you… maybe! J

Love you all! Enjoy Lehi Round Up week.

Elder Mackintosh

Me and my companion and our investigators at "hoopla" after soccer

Zone Soccer June 22, 2016

 Flowers for our members because we love them of course

 My gross blister from soccer ( jaja)  it hurts

Decidí Cambiar‏

Hola,

Today I went to the temple, so I once again don't really have time to be writing... I love you though!

So this last week I had he opportunity to be in two training meetings led by Elder Randall C. Bennett of the quorum of the 70. BEST MEETINGS EVER! I learned so much and if I could sum up what I felt, learned, and applied, I'd say Love. Sincerity and LOVE. As I have gained an understanding of the importance of this message, my sincerity and love has increased. I love to look in the eyes of these people and bare them my testimony and tell them that we care about them AND sincerily mean every word. We have had many wonderful experiences doing this. Loving life!

Miracles in my eyes: we have a 9 year Investigator from a part member family and he is awesome! We invited his primary teacher and her son to come to the lesson with us the next day and she said "we will be there. I will cancel my stuff, my son will cancel his stuff and we will be there." Then the next day at the lesson, they were there and helped the lesson so much with their testimonies of eternal families. The children loved it and it was great for their less active mom to hear them vocally say that they desire to have an eternal family. It was such a blessing to have those particular members there and they expressed to us as well their gratitude for helping them make sacrifices and receive blessings. We set a baptismal date with the 9 year old and we committed the whole family to church attendance. So many miracles and blessings.

I'm so happy to be here. A year ago today I was in NYC on a trip and now I'm here as a missionary. I honestly love my life!

Love you all!

Elder Mackintosh

1. Split with Elder Williams

2. Went to the temple today

3. "Walking companions"