Tired but Smiling

Hey everyone!

This last week and a half was nuts! Like for reals. Over the last week and a half, we had 4 separate 7-hourish Zone Conferences and then an additional 6-hour Leadership meeting yesterday. For each of these meetings my companion and I had to get up extra early, set everything up, participate, give trainings, and take down. I am not complaining, I’m just saying that it was an exhausting week! I’m still happy though! All is well. I'm alive. Wahoo!

Something cool happened this week!!  So ever since we moved into our new area a particular man’s name has stuck out to me in my area book. We have called him but have never been able to talk to him. We stopped by last week and HE WAS HOME, so we set up an appointment to come visit him the next day.  The following day, we met with him and taught him the “restoration” lesson and the spirit was strong. My companion invited him to be baptized and he said “yes” and then he thanked my companion for asking him! How cool! When we showed him the Book of Mormon he told us that he already had one and pulled one out of the closet - it had been printed in 1993! This man has been prepared and waiting for the missionaries for many years. I love being a missionary.

I have been thinking a lot about peace lately. We ALL desire peace. Well, today I was reading in the book “True to the Faith” and it said something interesting. It said;  "Many people think of peace as the absence of war. But we can feel peace even in times of war, and we can lack peace even when no war is raging. The mere absence of conflict is not enough to bring peace to our hearts. Peace comes through the gospel--through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the ministration of the Holy Ghost, and our own righteousness, sincere repentance, and diligent service. Even when the world is in turmoil all around you, you can receive the blessing of inner peace. This blessing will continue with you as you stay true to your testimony of the gospel and as you remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and watch over you."  I love this! Peace is what we all desire and that is what I genuinely want to bring to people's life's out here. Peace is so important and it truly comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Live it!

Love you all so much! This week will be a short one until my next pday which will be back on the Wednesday schedule.

Elder Mackintosh

Giving a training at the Ossining Chapel

   "Unity ties" with William Smith (President Smiths Son) he is the best little brother ever.

 This is what a tired and happy Elder Mackintosh looks like!

Life is FUN!

Hey! Life is fun.

So this week was crazy.  With my new assignment, I am having to learn a lot and learn it quick. Lots of praying and lots of growing! Unfortunately I have been sick for the past 3 days, but there is just too much to do so we can't really chill and recuperate, but all is well.  Medicine does wonders. jaja. (the mission president’s wife treats me like her son and is taking good care of me to help me get better quickly)

With all that has been going on during this last couple of weeks, I was able to find comfort and peace in a scripture that I swear someone just added to the scriptures because I had never seen it before. It is Alma 36:27 "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."

I love it!  God supports us and we just need to continue trusting in Him and he will continue to support us. Whether we have recognized it or not, we have all been supported. We can't do this alone. I love it! The impossible becomes possible with Christ.

I just want to testify that prayers are heard and answered. It is true. If we ask with faith, we can receive answers. This is something that I have seen throughout my time here in New York, but especially during this last week. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored again on the earth and that Christ himself runs his church by guiding a living prophet. This is all real and the spirit testifies of it.

Love you all!

Elder Mackintosh

Thanks mom for the tie clips

My old companion Elder Brasileiro and I with an amazing Brazilian drink

A Mind Blowing Week

Hey!

Well this week has been super crazy...

1st: Last Friday, Antonio Rodriguez was baptized and I was privileged to baptize him. It was such a good and spiritual service and and I was so happy!!! I will send pictures. Another special thing was that we had 3 progressing investigators there and they all said that they felt the spirit and they were visibly just super happy! It was amazing.

2nd: Church was amazing. Antonio was confirmed, Fernando passed the sacrament, and Marcos received the Melchezidek priesthood.  Super special Sunday! We also had two investigators unexpectedly come to church with some awesome families in the ward. The coolest part though was at the end of Sunday school because Marcos was teaching and he started to end with his testimony he talked about how his mother passed away a couple of months ago but how he knows that he will see her again and he wants to be better and stronger in the church so that he can live
with her forever. It was touching and the best part was that one of our investigators that was there had also recently lost his mother and the testimony that Marcos shared was just absolutely perfect. This is the Lords work. Also, I'm really going to miss this ward... We said our goodbyes and of course lots of tears were shed.. I love these people!

3rd: I had to say goodbye to Poughkeepsie because I have been called me to be an assistant to the president. Nuts! So cool! Also to make it even cooler, I am companions again with my trainer Elder McBride. (jaja) So crazy. I have been working in the office, picked up 27 new missionaries, doing
transfers, and have been in meetings non stop since Monday morning and I am
tiiirrreeedddd but doing okay. (jaja)  The lord is carrying us and your prayers are very much appreciated! I'm loving the challenge! Who I was before the mission definitely couldn't have done this. jaja.

I couldn't believe the trust that the Lord was giving me by calling me to be an Assistant to the President but as I prayed that night, I felt peace and I felt confirmation. This is the Lords work. 
 I love you all!

If you didn't think I had time before, you should see me now. (jaja)  It's actually great.

Well I love you all and once again, your prayers are greatly appreciated and especially right now. Have a great week.

Con amor,

Elder Mackintosh


                                                 Baptism of Antonio

I would post pictures of the last couple of days in the office but I haven't taken any on my iPad. Check out President Smith's mission blog and I'm sure I am in tons of them! Also I took like almost all of them because I'm also the camera guy now!

    

Help Others Make Changes

Things are going great here in Poughkeepsie!  

We are privileged to teach some pretty amazing people. Antonio will be getting baptized this Friday and then next week Eduardo will be baptized.  I'm so happy for them and their families!  Going to their homes to teach those two really brightens my day.  They are repenting and doing awesome!  I'm grateful for the things that I learned last month with the visit from Elder Bennett.  Applying those teachings has really transformed this area and helped people to come into Christ.  

I hope that everyone has a great week.  I just wanted to testify that prayers are answered.  I say that a lot of things are my favorite, but this one might be true.  My favorite thing is being able to come home from a hard and long day and ten just being able to tell my Heavenly Father all about it.  Comfort comes every single time and the next day is a new one.  The atonement of Jesus Christ is real and Christ can truly change us.  These things I KNOW.  If it has been a while since you have talked to your Heavenly Father, I'd invite you to do so.  And I don't mean just if it has been a long time since you have prayed, but if it has been a long time since you have talked with your Heavenly Father.  He really is our father and he really does want to talk with us. 

This is real! 

Missions are so cool!  

Love you all,

Elder Skye Mackintosh  

Me and Elder Williams on the 4th of July

My roommates and I at the Manhattan temple a couple of weeks ago

(I always forget to take pictures (jaja) my bad.)