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"

Repentance Is For Everyone

Hiiiiiii,

So this week has been quite the roller coaster with our investigators. In a nut shell we had some investigators take some really big acts of faith and steps of repentance, so that was awesome! Then on the other side of things we had some investigators that were to be baptized this weekend decide to not do so and one decided not continue to meet with us. So it has been really hard at some times but it has also been really sweet at others. But like the scriptures and my dad have always taught me, we experience the lows so that we can recognize and enjoy the highs. There must be opposition for all
things. That is how it must be.

So the reasoning for the title of my email is because it has been on my mind throughout my whole mission and especially on my mind recently. Everything that we do as missionaries is to help people repent. We help people go through the steps of the gospel of Jesus Christ which are Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. Repentance is a part of every single one of those points and it is 100% needed to be able to live where we want to live after this life. It is the most amazing thing to see people repent and see the weight come off of their shoulders and happiness to come into their lives. It is hard to see people want to carry those weights instead of giving them to Christ. There is a better way! Repentance isn't shameful! We all need it! Sin is bad, not repentance! This is something that I have become passionate about as a missionary. This is what matters. I'm so happy that I get to help people repent and that I get to repent every day of my lifesaver well. I love it!

I know that we all go through hard times and that is okay, they pass. In this life we experience highs and lows and that is how it has to be. Enjoy both! Sorry for always trying to be happy but that is honestly how my mind thinks. jaja.

If you have things weighing you down and you don't know how to go through the repentance process, I would invite you to talk to your bishop. If you are a non member I would invite you to talk with the local missionaries or to email me and we can talk about it. Repentance is real and it is so cool! Christ lives and I love the brother that he is for me.

Love you all!

Elder Mackintosh

 Us eating breakfast with one of my favorite people ever. Él se llama Harvey

We played basketball anda it felt very refreshing!

Modesty Is Important

Hey, it's really hot!

I titled my email "Modesty is Important" because it has been on my mind lately. It is really warm here right now and people are starting to wear less and less clothes. It's terrible! Modesty is important. As we understand the importance and sacredness of our bodies, we strive to treat them with respect and to help others have respectful thoughts

while looking at us. Modesty and the respect of the use of such bodies is crucial. Random thought, but it has been on my mind and I felt to share it!

Things are going really well here in Poughkeepsie! The zone is improving a ton and it is so fun! Last night we set a baptismal date unexpectedly with someone we were teaching and it was just so cool to be guided by the spirit to extend that date at that time. This calling is so special!!

Miracle moment: We have 3 investigators with a baptismal date and two weeks ago at the end of church they said that they would not come back to church. They said that it stressed them out and that they wouldn't come. The oldest one called later that day and apologized and set up an appointment for the next day. We met with them and talked about the experience and how it could be better next time. (Coming 15 minutes

early, sitting up front, etc.) By the end of the lesson they were willing to go to church one more time before they would give up on it. We told them that we would be fasting on Sunday so that they could have a good experience at church and we invited them to do this same. Well Sunday came around and us and one of our investigators were fasting for the purpose of a good experience. Well by miracle, the sacrament was blessed in Spanish this time, I gave a talk, the ward members all talked to them, and the second hour lesson was great! They loved it and it was a true miracle that those things all happened.

It was a great week! I appreciate your prayers! Love you!

Elder Mackintosh

 Elder Cruz said "take a picture, I look really good."

Elder Colson is a good friend that flew home today. He is awesome - I will miss him. 

Also my roommates and companion are in the picture as well. Life is good!

It's Hot Outside

May 25, 2016

So I will start off with something that took my heart on a roller coaster this week!  We had invited an investigator named Lilli to come to church and she said that she probably would be there. We called her a couple of hours before church and she said that she was still working and it would be hard to make it but that she would try. Well right before church started, she came walking in with her two daughters! After sacrament

meeting I asked how she enjoyed it and invited her to stay for the classes. She responded with "I didn't like it. It stressed me out. I will not come back. Don't expect me to come back. I will not come back."  We then went into the hallway where a ward member ended up talking to her and realizing the stress was more from work and lack of sleep and not the church service. She still went home though.  After church we received a call from her and we were scared that she was going to drop us.  She said "Hi, I'm calling to say sorry. Today wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault. I will see you tomorrow at the normal time."  BEST.NEWS.EVER! We met with her the next day and all is well. J  Praying for her to have a good experience this week.

But really when she told me her feelings about church, my heart was ripped out of my chest! A lot of planning, thinking, praying, fasting, and love go into working with these investigators and that makes it hurt so bad when they don't progress. This is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and literally everyone would benefit. That is what keeps me going. I have accepted the call to help my brothers and sisters here in this mission to repent and to follow Christ. It is not easy, but it is the most rewarding thing in the world.

Thank you for taking the time to read his email! I would like to invite you to think about ONE thing that you can do this week to show God that you appreciate him. As we are grateful, we are happy.

Love you!

Elder Mackintosh

We got up real early and went hiking

We went mini-golfing today and I'm still a champion! (my legs are long)

Elder Colson is going home next week. I will miss him. We have

lived with each other for about 7 months and he is a true friend.