Week 90: Uau

Yep, that's how you spell wow in Portuguese. Word of the week right there.

Salutations everyone. Honestly, this week has been very much of the same kind of stuff I do every week. Here are some of the highlights. Wait. Before I share the highlights, I want you to know that I have contemplated not writing a weekly email anymore. The time on my preparation day gets shorter and shorter and my desire to write an email about my week decreases bit by bit. However, I am on number 90. I feel like I need to stick it out to the end. I know what you're saying: "but Elder McKinley, sunk costs are irrelevant!" well, I never really liked economics anyways so I shall carry on. 

Highlights:
- I had exchange with Elder Bleyl. He also happens to be from Virginia, the other side of Richmond to be precis. He is pretty cool. We did this thing called Good Gym which involves going on a run, doing a service project, and then running back to where you started. It was terrible in the moment, but really rewarding after the fact. It was a helpful reminder that while I enjoy being active, running and working out is not the way I plan on continuing my fitness habits after my mission. 
- We taught three lessons in portuguese this week. I have a testimony that God qualifies whom He calls. We had heaven's help as we tried to communicate and eventually taguth what we came to teach. 
- I called my mom for Mother's Day! I can call her weekly now, but still, she deserves a shout out regardless (as do all the other mothers out there)
- I ate salad #healthy

Companion Comic: for the last week, we have been piling up the recycling in our flat in this bag, and the rule has been that if you knock it over or the item you place on the pile falls, you have to take out the recycling. Finally, after a week of eco-friendly jenga, I caved last night and neatly packed it all up to go out to bins. We went to put it all in recycling this morning and OUR BUILDING DOES NOT EVEN RECYCLE :-( #ripplanetearth it was still fun though

Scripture of the Week: Joseph Smith History 1:10-20

Food of the Week: Wasabi - it's an a la carte sushi place. We eat there every monday because it is a five minute walk from the chapel. It reminds me of my time in Oxford @elderman @elderburton

The more I continue in my missionary service, the more I recognise how God has prepared me for each coming day. I see myself growing and learning so much. I see growth in myself when I look back at the last 2 years of my life, and my whole life in general, and compare myself then to myself now. I am so grateful for the friends I have made, the people I have met, the skills I have acquired, the faith I have strengthened, the testimony I have solidified, the Saviour who has carried me, and the future in front of me. Have an amazing week my friends. Remember the Lord is with you.

Elder McKinley





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 75: Të Keqen

Image
Sup all you evil people. That's what you'll think I'm calling you if you literally translate this from Albanian. The actual translation is basically "I take the evil from you". Basically imagine an old lady (nona) seeing a little lid trying to tie his shoes. She would say "o Të keqen". So yeah it's my new favourite phrase.  This week has been a bit crazy but it's been crazy good as well. Monday was a bit difficult. I was in denial that I was leaving the Isle of Wight. It was a really great day though. We went around visiting all of the people I had come to love. And packing. Way too much packing. But yeah. It was rough. I maybe cried like 3 times. But no more than 3 times.  Then the fateful day came and Elder Brown and I had to part ways. Tears. But, that kid is tearing it up down in the Isle of Wight and he is so ready for anything. Love that kid.  So here's a bit about my new companion: Name - Elder Allkja  POB - Albania...
Read more

Week 41: The Bolshevik of Bideford

Image
Hello! This week has been fairly interesting but it also feels like I wrote you all yesterday so bear with me as I attempt to figure out what happened this past week and put it all into words put together for your viewing pleasure. You are welcome to read them as well as look at them, but, rest assured, the words will be beautiful nonetheless. So at the end of last preparation day we went as a district to this museum called pitt rivers. Basically its a museum of all kinds of things from all over the world. There is everything from shrunken heads to ancient weapons to a massive totem pole that is three stories tall. There are so many cool things to look at that I have still not seen everything and that was my third visit there. I had the chance to go on exchange with Elder Dos Santos. He is from Brazil and he is a pretty cool guy. We had a pretty good time. Okay, I am going to be honest with you here. I really can't think of a whol...
Read more

Week 96: Two's a Company...

Image
Well, believe it or not, we are here once again. After the events of the last few months here in London, I didn't really think that things could get much weirder. I was already working in the office and speaking portuguese. Then Friday happened.  Long story short, we're now in a trio.  Haha our new companion is Elder Grimaldi from Brasil. He arrived Saturday at Heathrow. Elder Coelho and I went there to pick him up.  *disclaimer* being at Heathrow with only 7 weeks left on your mission is a sublime experience. It may or may not make you think about the impending events WAY more than normal. But hey, we were there with a purpose, so it was all good. But wow, what a blast.  Other than our new companion (he's only companion's with us for the week and then he will get assigned his official missionary trainer next week during the transfer), this week has been pretty typical. We have had a lot of lessons, dinners, and crazy portuguese conversations. I love ...
Read more