Elder Mackey's E-mail dated 8/8/11

Elder Truman and Elder Mackey

Elder. Mackey

Hawk

"The only cute chick I am allowed to Kiss"

Shoppin' at Walmart

Dear Family,

Thank you all for your letters and packages!! I appreciate them so
much! So out here in Farmington is just like the name...there are a
ton of farms. It reminds me of Grandma and Grandpas' house. :) Its a
car area because everything is so spread out. We have some pretty cool
investigators and some very interesting ones. The work out in a rural
area is very slow because there is no city area where people walk
around. Here is a picture of my old companion. Oh they made me
district leader but now I was demoted because I guess something went
wrong down south so they had to combine my district with another and
they made him the district leader. So there are some pictures I
attached. There is a bald eagle out here in my area. I havent seen it
yet but I am hoping too. I found another hawk and it was watching over
its babies from a distance. In new Brighton we had a fiesta for the
Spanish in my ward and it was so fun. One of the spanish sisters makes
Pinatas for fun and she made some pretty cool ones. The kids had a
blast. So did I. :p One is of me trying to kiss the only chick I can
on my mission. ;P but it looks kinda funny but its still cool. A part
member family have a farm and its way cool to go and play.

Oh and Valerie's Mike, have you started your falcon training? Tell me
about that. There is a kid who wants to be a falconer and wants to
know all that stuff and so do I in case I catch a hawk out here. :p

My new companion like I said before is Elder Waller. He is from
Gilbert, Arizona and is the 2nd of 2 in his family. He loves to write
and he can just make up lyrics. He is really good so we are thinking
about making a show or something to invite people to. He has been out
a year and he is probably one of the most spiritual companion I have
ever had. He is very good. More pictures will come because this area
is very cool. I love you all and have a great week!

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's August 1, 2011 E-mail

Dear Family,

Right now there has been some huge thunderings. Big deep rumbles,
shakes everything. Ok, So I have to start off with this first. So
Elder D. Todd Christofferson came to visit our ward yesterday!! He
came in with his son yesterday to help him move into our ward. Then on
Sunday he was just randomly there! I shook his hand twice and I asked
him, "why dont you have a tag like us?" and he said that he isn't as
special as we are!! I had a tiny little conversation with
him.....crazy!!! haha He went to Sunday school with us and priesthood.
He is so cool. He also spoke in Sacrament meeting. Good talk about
taking the name of Jesus upon us and what it means. Oh, also the other
Elders in my ward had two baptisms on Saturday and he stood in the
circle for both of the confirmations. It was pretty cool. :D

So Transfer Calls were today and I will be leaving New Brighton and
going to Farmington. I will stay as District Leader. My new Companion
is Elder Waller. He was in my district when I first got to New
Brighton so I know him a little. Elder Truman will be staying and he
will be training a new missionary. I am ready for a change of scenery
so I felt that I was going to change. I was kinda ready to leave this
area. I really like it but ya I dont know. Anywho, I will pray for you
Mandy to get that job. ;D Ya my ankle hurts still and is still sore
and swollen. It didnt get bruised up like last time but it looks like
the knuckle has moved or something. I will be getting an X-ray
sometime in the next week. Here in New Brighton we dont have a problem
getting new investigators but we the problem is keeping them and
having them progress. :/ We have some solid investigators and I hope
they stay interested. One investigator said that if I get transfered
she wont meet with the missionaries. I told her that one of us will
stay and she needs to stay meeting with them. I will see her tomorrow
and play the piano for her.

My feelings have been going all over the place. Its weird and
confusing to me. Thats probably the biggest struggle right now. But
just like mom told me, I just keep working and getting better each
day. Like those baby steps Katie. ;) Thank you very much Grandma for
writing me a letter last week. :D I will write you one this week or
next week if I dont have time because of packing. I promise. I love
you very much and I am grateful for you letters. I will pray for
Grandpa that he will get better. I also received a letter from the
Balls, Matt is getting married. Sweet! I love you all and thank you
very very much for you prayers. :D

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's July 25, 2011 E-mail

WHOA!!!! Mandy are you engaged!? I see a ring on your left hand. haha
just teasing. ;D I dont know the quote. We played basketball this
morning and I just rolled my ankle pretty bad. It hurts a lot. :/ Once
again we had some very crazy storms and then very very hot and humid
days. The teaching has been going pretty well. As a mission we have
been talking about ideas on how we can double the baptisms this month
and consistently. We are wanting to baptize a branch in the month of
August. This week is the week where the whole mission invites 1000
people to be baptized! This week is going to be fun. :D So where is
Val and Mike go? Why are you making baby quilts? The new mission
President got a law degree and maybe he can get a job for you eh?
Whenever I talk to him I always forget to ask him. He is way
legitimate. Dad I never thought you could stay awake for that long!
haha just kidding. What was your favorite part of the trek dad? Did
you do anything else other than move toilets? What is Adam doing
during the summer? I thought he was going down to Argentina.

So we met this lady while she was walking with her 4 year old daughter
back to her place. She lost her food stamp card and she was looking
for it in the grass. We offered to say a prayer for her and she
accepted. We all then looked for it. We found it in 2 min. It was
awesome. Then we taught her a lesson later that night with a joint
teacher. I made some cups for the "cup lesson." It has pictures of the
old and new apostles and some other truths. It was so funny because we
got to the point in the lesson where after the restoration God
restored His Twelve Apostles again to the earth. She gave the funniest
response I have ever had. After I said that she took the cup and she
is looking at both the sides and then says, "Are you for real?" in her
black lady accent. haha She seemed pretty solid but now she is not
keeping her appointments. Another time we met this group of black men
with white girlfriends and the black men were talking with Elder
Truman and I was talking to this other black man with the half black
kids and Elder Truman wanted to say a prayer with the guys and they
said sure so I am just an onlooker and haha I see Elder Truman with
these other 2 guys holding hands in a circle. Elder Truman starts with
the prayer and he pauses to get his thoughts and then the guy next to
him says what he says. Then the guys next to him copies that. haha So
the whole prayer they are saying the same things that Elder Turman is
saying. It was funny because when Elder Truman would say a long
sentence the others would be like how a primary child would be when
there are a lot of words. haha oh man it was fun.

I love to hear the other missionaries in the ward. Thank you so much
Tryon Family for getting those out to me. I also love hearing how your
family is doing. I thought it was funny what you said Rachelle about
meeting the Cadaver in heaven. haha

Thank you all for you love and pray for my ankle please. :D Its
getting fat and ugly. haha But also pray for the people in New
Brighton.

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's July 19, 2011, E-Mail

Dear Family,

Thank you all for your letters!!! I really look forward for checking
the mail. Its weird because I never thought I would care for letters
but they really brighten my day! Thank you so much Sister Johnson for
everything you do for me while I serve. :) Brittany how is the letter
writing going with Elder Mosley? How was the trek? I loved the trek
when I went. Very spiritual. How was the trip up to Boise? Jeremy,
thank you for your e-mails and especially the ones with your blog
postage. Mom your letter came at just the right time! Thank you for
your encouragment. Let me know how the trip goes.  Last Thursday we
went to the temple and it was wonderful. It is a little different with
a small temple but everything is the same. :) Yesterday was a very
very very hot day especially with the humidity. Elder Truman was
really getting effected from it. We had to go in early because he was
getting sick and close to heat stroke. Things are going really awesome
here. So we met with an investigator who has been meeting with the
missionaries since 2008. He was dropped and last transfer I felt like
we should contact him. We started to teach him and he still was
hesitant abut getting baptized and he pretty much was a social
butterfly. Well the last time we met we invited him to be baptized and
he said no. We said then to pray about it and call us to let us know
what his answer is. This morning we got a call from him and he told us
he wants to be baptized!!! He said that after we left his apartment he
felt like he needed to be baptized. I was praying for him every day
and night. Oh this is so awesome!! I think I go through trials which
proceed the miracle. Now I am sick again with the cold. UGH...it is so
hard to work hard.  Just like ether 12:6. We had some Elders in the
singles ward apartment roof collapse from all the rain we had. We got
a ton of rain and there was a lot of flooding. Well I need to get
going. I love you all and give me tips about what I should write. I
know its now been 7 months and I still dont have it down but I will
get it down. haha

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's July 12, 2011 E-Mail

Elder Mackey and ... Trevor!!??!!!

WOW!!!

Those pictures are crazy! (dust storm) I never knew it was as bad as the middle
east! So we met our new mission president, President Clements, and his
wife and daughter yesterday so our p-day was pushed. But we are going
to the Temple for the first time out here on Thursday so I am pretty
stoked about that. I really need a spiritual refreshing. It was really
crazy to see Trevor last Wednesday. I was not expecting that. We
walked in and we were staring at Jenny wondering who she was (cuz her
face was hidden by the plant) and why she was recording us. Then BAM!!
"hi Dave!" It was awesome to see him and Jenny. I seriously think they
should get married. Trev, even the Dewitt's say that you two should as
well. I hope I look good because I weigh 200lbs. That is a ton of
weight!

We had a baptism last Thursday! His name was Kaich Ogul. He was part
of a part member family and we just asked him to be baptized and he
wanted to the next day but we had to wait to set things up. I had my
first exchange and he taught me more than I taught him. I feel so
inadequate for this calling. My companion just biffed on his bike like
three times today. It was pretty funny. Well I really dont have
anything else. I love you all.

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's July 5, 2011 E-mail

Dear Family,

Thank you for the happy Independence day! It was just another regular
P-day for the missionaries. We didn't have to go in early. July 4 is
big here as well. There are parades every where and everyone has
fireworks. I so wanted to hold a bottle rocket or play with some fire
crackers. Gotta stick to the rules. We have been listening to Ed
Pediger (or something) "Missionaries to Match the Message" when we go
to sleep and it is just so awesome!!! Thank you so much Lauren! One
quote that really sticks out to me right now is "faith is the power,
the Spirit is the Key, Obedience is the price, and Christ is the
reason." I have really been focusing on trying to be obedient. There
was another quote a missionary said at Zone FHE last night over the
phone "obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." I
want to be apart of the miracles happening in this mission! Last month
we got 58 baptisms, which is breaking the record! This month we are
trying to reach 60! We have a baptism happening this Thursday. His
name is Kaich and I am so excited! He is so awesome. He is part of a
less active family who are trying to do what is right. The work is
going really good. Being District Leader is tough because its new but
its real fun I guess. I have my first exchanges tomorrow. I have one
question/ advice, how do I improve my study?

Julia, Thank you for the letter and the pictures of Havisupi. It looks
so much fun! I love the one with Adam jumping off the fall with
Charles Hancock with his funny face. hehe When will Adam put in his
papers? I hear that Daniel is leaving soon? I will write you a letter
next week. Yesterday was pretty crazy. I didn't get any letters out.

So for the 4th of July we played basketball from 7am to 10:30. My
companion sprained his ankle so he was gimping around. We then went
with our investigators to a place where they were playing whiffle ball
and volley ball and having a hot dogs and stuff. It was pretty fun.
Thank you for your love! I feel it everyday! Especially you Adam!!
Write me an e-mail! I want to know whats going on in your life. Sam I
will get you your 11 dollars. Ask dad for it. haha :p

--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's June 27, 2011 e-mail

Katie and Family,
So I read Mandy's e-mail and she is going to girls camp this week so
will not be home. She said she will be up at camp lamiah getting
eating by bears or eating bears. Anyways she wont be in town. So I
will send it to you. :D So this week was AWESOME!!! First day as
district leader was just like any day until Sunday. Getting in all the
numbers is tough because I cant go to their places and "kick them in
the butt" and tell them to get their numbers in. I didnt get them in
till 10:30. But oh well. Yesterday we had the last fireside with
President Howell. It was so awesome and their Downsyndrum girl bore
such a spiritual testimony. Special kids really can see the other side
of the veil. At the end all the missionaries came up and sang "This is
the Christ." The Spirit was there so strong. I got to see my "daddy,"
it was so good to get to see him his last transfer and hug him and
talk about the work in Apple Valley. There are so many miracles going
on every where in Minnesota! The retention percentage is 80%! Thats
crazy!! We have 59 baptisms in June, maybe even 60 which is our goal.
Heavenly Father blessed Elder Truman with 30 Lessons this week! Our
investigators are progressing, those whom we didnt think would get
anywhere. Our baptism fell through and now he is kinda avoiding us.
Its really disappointing but the work moves forward. We got another
baptismal date set for one of our investigators who is progressing so
much! We even got him a job which is so awesome! The Lord is preparing
him to make those covenants! Then our other investigators who we have
been meeting for a while are progressing slowly but surely. They told
me that they are so grateful that I came into their life because I
keep being persistent with them. I saw a part in my Patriarchal
Blessing come true and it was so cool! I am better understanding why I
am out here! I am starting to love Minnesota! We have some great
miracles happening on over here in New Brighton! Keep praying for my
investigators. Especially James, Doris, Matt, Patricia, and Edward. I
love you all and thank you for your support!
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder David Mackey's June 20, 2011 e-mail

Elder Mackey and Elder Ralph

Dear Family,
Well so this week was awesome!!! We had so many miracles these past
two weeks. Last week we taught 22 lessons!!! A sad thing though is our
investigator who had a date set June 25th didn't come to church
yesterday and told us that we are pushing. Satan was really working
hard on his family but I really think it was a good thing because we
need to get into his home and teach so the whole family can hear the
Gospel and feel the Spirit. We have another investigator whose name is
James and when we first met with him he was hanging out with the wrong
crowd and getting into trouble. We started meeting with him everyday
to read the Book of Mormon to help him get better at reading because
he had a brain injury as well and his difficulty was reading and
spelling so everyday we read for about an hour and actually he reads
it all and he is loving it. Its crazy from the first day he started to
now. There is so much improvement! He loves reading because he feels
happy and he loves going to church because he feels happy!!!!! Big
miracle! After we read he sometimes will want to play me chess but I
always beat him. Not to be prideful in anyway. That's why it is only
sometimes because some days he doesn't want to be beat. But I told him
I could teach him to play better. It was so funny because the first
day we met with him he was so confident that he could beat anyone (he
was a little buzzed) and I played him and beat him in four moves. Man
I love this area!!! We are meeting so many awesome people! Transfer
calls was yesterday because the mission president is leaving. My
companion Elder Ralph is being transfered to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
and I will be getting Elder Truman. I was also assigned to be the new
District Leader. Ah man it was so surprising! I am a little nervous.
haha  I dont know what to do! This will be an adventure! I love you
all and please keep me in your prayers. Thank you for praying for me
and pray for the work to move forward in this area! Thank you dad for
sending me money to fix my bike!
--
Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's June 13, 2011 E-mail

Dear Family!

So Kate I think you took over the job today to send everyone a letter.
Thank you for writing me. This past week was pretty tough. I was sick
and still am. I dont know when I will get well, plus my companion is
sick as well. He caught what I have so he is in the first stages of it
with the sore throat and changed voice. Then my bike broke like big
time and I was without a bike for a long time so our work went way
down. I would just sit on my companions rack on the back to get to
different places. haha it looked really funny. Although this past week
was actually very successful. We are working with a less active to get
her back to church and then to the temple. Then another less active
all of the sudden showed up at church yesterday and wants the lessons
again. We got a member referral a while ago and we have just been
doing her yard work for a long time and it isnt just some easy work.
We are pulling all the weeds in her yards and she has a lot. Well last
Saturday she accepted us to share a message and we find out that she
is the great great granddaughter of President Wilferd Woldruff. Her
mom went in active in the 1940's and married a Methodist. She never
really knew to much of about the Mormon faith because her mom never
talked about it. She likes the church but she also like the church she
belongs to which is the Congregational church. She feels the Spirit
but I dont think she understands what that means so we will work with
her. The members that are her fellowshippers are really awesome and we
might just have them teach. :) Then we have an investigator who has a
baptismal date for June 25 and he is doing awesome! He brought his
brother this morning to play basketball so thats real good.

So what is going on with the fires in Arizona? Everyone keeps asking
me about them and I have no idea what is going on. Is Havasupai still
fun since the flood and all the changes that happened? Sam make sure
dad gives you his pack so he doesnt burn out. Christy thank you for
the picture of Kyson. He is very cute. :) So to answer Luke's
question: My mission is going good. I am learning a ton of things and
I am helping others know about the Restored Gospel. I really dont
understand how others can believe/ understand the Trinity. They cant
even explain it to me. They usually just tell me thats how it is. But
I am trying. I'll admit some days I get a little lazy which is not
good. I need to work! :/ I learned how to do a Rubik cube. Zane my
companions name is Elder Ralph. He is from Washington. We have taught
a TON of people! I have a really cool lesson about faith, repentance,
baptism, and Holy Ghost. Really it can be played around to fit any
lesson. I have done a restoration with this lesson. But anyways it
involves a tea bag (we found that Bigalow usually works) and asking
people if they think that the tea bag with float from there hand to
the ceiling. It really catches their attention and its just an awesome
lesson! I want to share it when I get home so I wont tell what
happens. We use this lesson a lot and its good for first lesson.
Minnesota is pretty cool. There are a ton of "ponds" here. They may
call them lakes but they are ponds. Some are lakes. There are a lot of
ducks everywhere with babies. The people are very friendly or at least
the areas I have been in. That is cool that you are still playing the
piano! Keep it up! So do you get pennies for playing Wille and Tille?
hehe I actually have played soccer out her and its fun! Are you going
to win? How old are you Zane? haha I dont remember. Eat a lot of
bananas. Thats what I would eat after wrestling or even out here after
we biked a lot. Oh and have your dad give you a message. Thats what he
did for me before I took first at the Deer Valley Tournament. :) hehe
Sydney you are cute! Thank you for your prayers and for not forgetting
me. :D Have you experienced any tornadoes? I have only seen a half of
one and another one was about 4 miles away from me and ended pretty
close. I know its not fun to experience but I think it would be
awesome to see one! haha The people out here love working on their
gardens! I cant wait till things are ready to eat. I want some peaches
so bad!

Thank you all for the love and support! I will talk to you next time!

--Love,
Elder David Mackey

Elder Mackey's June 6, 2011 E-mail

Dear Family,

Well I am doing alright. It is very tough being the Senior Companion.
My companion has been out for a year and a half and he is just not all
into it. :/ I try and work real hard and keep all the commandments but
he fights back or he recognizes it but doesnt change still. I am
having a rough time loving him. I love him a lot but I am starting to
get really lazy like him and I feel really bad. Its tough being in
this kind of companionship and also thinking about investigators and
finding new investigators and thinking about the less active. I talked
to my Zone Leaders and they said to just be obedient the best you can
be and if he doesnt want to change then to tell them or President. I
also feel like my studies are not going the best they could be. Or
well our companionship studies. Today we cleaned the apartment really
well and changed up a few things. It looks a lot better. I need advice
or something to get this companionship rolling like my last transfer.

So we have a new date set who is awesome! He is solid and Golden! He
loves to play basketball so we let him play basket ball in the church
when he can and there are people there. So its getting pretty hot
here. I love it! I would rather it be hot than cold. How is the
weather down there? I heard that there were some big fires in eastern
Arizona. Is there anything new going on with the family? Are there any
new pregnancies? When does Adam leave for Argentina? Are you guys
going to eat the goat? :p I am pretty sick today, I might have a cold
or something. I do not like it. Well I will talk to you all next week!
Thank you for all your prayers and try to stay cool over there. I love
you all!

Elder Mackey