Tuesday, May 23, 2017

May 23, 2017...Final Email


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Hola familia!! 

What a GREAT week we had!! We ended the week with Adan, Cristina, and Mara getting baptized! We haven't had a baptism in our area in over a year!! Then on top of that the hermanas that share the ward with us had two baptisms the same day! So en fin we had  reunion baptismal with 5 people getting baptized!! We had so many people at the service that there were not enough seats!! We had people standing up!! It was amazing! I cannot begin to express how it feels as a missionary to see these people that you have come to love enter into this holy promise with their heavenly father! 
This week we also had a conference with elder packer and it was awesome!! He is truly a servant of the Lord! Something that he shared is that your loved ones who have already passed away are praying for us. It was obviously something I knew but it didn't hit me that hard until he shared it. Think of it, so many people praying for us here and on the other side of the veil! We are truly never alone and we have sooo much support! It really comforted me! 

Another fun thing that happened this week is I went and took out my Uruguayan ID so I am officially an Uruguayan, just like I wanted haha! It was an interesting experience to see how the government works here, but way fun! 

I must admit, this week has also been the hardest week of my mission! Don't get me wrong I am so excited to see all of you but Uruguay truly holds a piece of my heart. I am so grateful for my mission and the things that I have learned here! The mission is like no other and it is the best decision that I have made in my life. Of course, I have had hard things that have happened on my mission but I have never gone to bed a single night thinking that today was a bad day. There is so much joy to be found in the gospel and in missionary work. There is a scripture in Alma 29:9 that says, I know what the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory in myself but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory that I may be an instrument in the Hands of God to bring some soul unto repentance and this is my joy. This is how I feel about my mission. There is no greater joy that we can feel than being instruments in the hands of God. I have not only been able to help others on their road to repentance, but also myself. The mission has changed me, becoming truly converted unto the gospel has changed me. I have no doubt in my mind that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.  I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ live. They live, they love us, and they want the best for us. I know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet and restored the true church, I know that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. The book of Mormon is true and has all the power we need to be able to overcome the temptations that surround us. I know that Thomas S. Monson is Heavenly Father's prophet here on the earth to guide us. I don't have a a single doubt in my mind of these things. And these are all things that we all can come to know. That is what is so amazing about the gospel is that we don't have to trust in what other people tell us. We can ask Heavenly Father in prayer and he will answer us! I have seen so many miracles here and learned so much that all these things are things that I cannot deny. I love my mission, I love the gospel, I love my Savior and I love my Heavenly Father.  

Love, 

Hermana Mackenzie Rich 




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Thank you Romina for taking care of our missionary and making her favorite apple pie!  We love you!

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What a great way to end the mission.....multiple batisms!

May 15, 2017

Hello Fam!

We had another great week! San Jose de Carrasco is really starting to pick up! We had five investigators at church yesterday! We were really excited! The members are really helping us out a lot now too!!  

If everything goes well we should have three baptisms this week!! Adan y Cristina have just been making so much progress and Mara just loves the church! We have been working really hard to help them reach their goal for the 20th!! They all have been reading the Book of Mormon and just share the most amazing experiencias con nosotras!!  

This week we also went and made tortas fritas with our investigators Raquel and Alicia..Lets just say we haven't got that one down completely yet..but we promised mara we would make her some for the baptism so we will be practicing a lot this week!! 

For our P-day today we did asado for my last supper hahaha! We did it with two districts from our zone! Hermana Chadwick and I were able to help cook the meat and it was really fun!! It actually turned out really good too!!  

This next week is going to flyyy by! We have a conference with Elder Packer from the presidencia de area! Then I have to go pick up my Uruguayan ID!! Lots of great things happening here! I hope you all know that I love you all and I am so grateful for my savior and the gospel in my life! I hope you have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Rich
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Monday, May 8, 2017

May 8, 2017

Hola familia!! 

Things are gong great here in San Jose de Carrasco!! We are continuing to find new people every day and see miracles in the little everyday things! We have three baptisms lined up for the 20th! We are super excited!!!  

A fun thing that happened this week is that we received a call telling us that we can wear pants for two more weeks because the mosquitoes were sooooo bad!! So happily we are working in pants todavia!!  

Another fun thing that happened this week is I was able to go on intercambios with Hermana Mesa on my cuplemes!! She made me a dessert and we had A TON of fun together! It was really cool to see how much she has grown! I am going to miss her! It was definitely sad saying goodbye! But luckily we have a conference with Elder Packer next week so we should be seeing each other one more time!! 

It has been raining and really cold today after being super hot all week!! But that is how it goes in Uruguay! I am loving every minute of it though! I love my area, my companion, the hermanas that I live with, all of it!! I am so grateful for the decision Heavenly Father told me to take to come on a mission!! I love you all and I hope you have a great week! 

Love, 

Hermana Rich

Hermana Mesa & Rich together again



Hermana Chadwick & Rich....Love them!


Monday, May 1, 2017

May 1, 2017

Hey family!! 

We had another great week here in San jose de Carrasco!! I just really love my area!! We are continuing to find new investigators, all of which are progressing really well! It is looking like we are going to be having una noche blanca with the other hermans that share our area. That is when we have a bunch of baptisms the same night. We both have three investigators that are getting ready to be baptized on the 20th! Then that same day we have a ward baptism as well!! We are working super hard that we can make it happen and I know that the Lord is helping us in every step!  

This week we did a little party hopping because it was Hermana Sandoval's birthday! We did a noche de hogar with some recent converts who threw her a little surprise party and then we stopped by a member's house who had done the same thing! She absolutely loved it! It was nice to see how much the members really care about us! I mean they truly went out of their way to celebrate Hermana Sandoval's birthday!  

Today es el dia del trabajador so absolutely everything is closed! All of the super markets and buses are shut down! So Hermana Sandoval and I did a picnic in the back of our house with banana bread (that we made) and pasta! It was really nice to just relax outside! 

On a sad note..we officially have to be in skirts as of today!! Just when the mosquitos came out raging..we don't really know why but hey we just go with it!!  

But I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!! 

Love, 

Hermana Rich

All the Hermanas!

Picinc with pasta and homemade banana bread



Kim here...just in case anyone was wondering...It's May!  THIS IS THE MONTH SHE COMES HOME!  I know she is going to miss her mission like crazy, probably more than we know, but we are all so grateful for the experiences she has had and the people she has met and grown to love!  Love you to the moon and back baby girl!