Phoenix!

This week I've had lots of opportunities to serve!  We started out the week on Monday but helping a member build a patio for his house. He asked if two sister would willing to cook breakfast for everyone, so of course I volunteered! Sis Evans (who's from Virgina) and I cooked a huge breakfast for 12 people. It was pretty fun and I didn't even have to get dirty. The on Tuesday and I was on exchanges in the English YSA ward and helped a teacher move out of her classroom. It was really fun and she she took us to in and out after. Wed we helped the nicest lady in the whole world! She's blind but at first I didn't even notice because shes so independent. When I walked in I was wondering why she hadn't asked about me since I'm new, but the I realized she couldn't see me and I'm pretty quiet because it's hard to speak Spanish. She got bed bugs so we cleaning the entire house super well, but we had to throw out so much of her furniture. She's so positive and wonderful and I was really glad I could help her.

I would challenge everyone to go and try to find someone you can serve! Even little things make a big difference. As christians, we try to be like Christ. Christ spent his whole life serving the people so we should try and do the same.

We lots of work to do here. Lots of people to visit and teach. Lots of Spanish and opportunities to practice. It's really good to stay busy because then I don't get so distracted by thinking of home. Thanks for all the love and support I get from everyone back home!

Hermana Sarah MacKillop

I survived Mexico!

I love being in Arizona finally! It's great here. there is sooo much missionary work to do. My flight here was pretty terrible though. We needed to leave at 2:30 in morning on monday. I ended up not going to sleep because I was too excited and I had to pack. Then we had to an hour and half to even check in our luggage. Mexico is always crazy. Then we waited around awhile and talked a very nice cleaning lady in the bathroom. I slept a little on the flight, but that was it. Monday was really long, do to the lack of sleep. We did a lot of training things and I got to staying the mission home overnight. The mission president wife's is an amazing cook and very sweet lady. I like her cooking a lot. American food is a beautiful thing. I love Mexican food, but i also love american food. I don't think I've ever slept so good in my life. Then had the greatest beds. The beds in Mexico

weren't very comfortable.

Leaving my friends at the training center was really hard. I love being here in Arizona and helping people. We talk to everyone. Monday I did my first street contacting, which is where we go and talk to random people about the church. I meet a guy from Guatemala and even ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and invited him to church. His Spanish was really fast, but he spoke English too. I sent to Phoenix. It's a little Ghetto here, but I love it. Our Spanish branch is really good and we're trying to make it into a ward. I definitely got thrown into the pool. No one speaks a lot of English, here. Lots to do and lots of people to teach. I don't have a ton of time to talk but Monday I will be able to write again. 

With love,

Hermana MacKillop

Arizona Scottsdale Mission – Latest Arrivals 5.12.2014 (Including Ukraine Arrivals)

(I copied this from Sarah's Mission Blog)

May 12, 2014

This past Thursday I received an unusual call from Salt Lake City. Our Missionary Department contact, Bro. DeLaMare, indicated that the missionary department was sending 3 missionaries on Friday to our mission. The Ukraine Donetsk Mission was closing due to the ongoing conflict in the region and we were on the receiving end of 2 Sisters and 1 Elder who were being transferred to the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. We hastily devised a plan to put these missionaries infield with a companion through transfers and picked them up on Friday evening – the end of a 22 hour day for them. Elder Bumgarten, Sister Schrecengost and Sister Hopkin (all from the USA) arrived safe and sound and ready for a good night’s rest after a snack of roast beef sandwiches prepared philly style. Between that and the breakfast of Swedish pancakes the next morning, there missionaries were basking in the return to American cooking from their typical meals of borscht (root vegetable and cabbage soup).


Arriving Monday, May 12th from the MTCs in Mexico City and Provo were 5 Sister missionaries: Sister Havea (from Tonga), Sister MacKillop and Sister Knouse (Spanish speaking), Sister Taylor and Sister Hess. The Mission is now about 40% Sisters and we’re loving their “touch” throughout the mission! After a tour of the Mesa Temple Visitors Center where we also did the individual and group pictures, they headed back to the mission office for lunch, orientation and a nap (it’s 2:30 in the morning when the Mexico City MTC awakens the departing missionaries for their trip to Arizona). They each had a great first contacting session where several referrals and Books of Mormon were placed followed by dinner and an early bed time.


Tuesday was the mission-wide transfer meeting where Sister Sweeney and President Sweeney shared thoughts on Faith, followed by the showing of the Church’s recent videos on Mothers and Easter. Soon enough, each new missionary was paired up with their new companions and were off to their new assignments. We love these newly arrived missionaries already!

5 more days!

It feel like I've been here forever. My time in the CCM is so long and so short. I'm so excited to go to Arizona and serve the people there. My Spanish is improving with everyday. I can speak with natives understand most everything and carry on conversations. It super cool. I would of never thought I could learn a language in 6 weeks. This week has been full of studying. We study so much I feel like I can't possibly put more Spanish in my head. My teacher speaks only Spanish in class. We also can't speak any more English in class. It's challenging but it is helping a lot. 

I'm getting a little sad about leaving my friends here. Its been such a great opportunity to meet so many amazing people. this week we got another district or group of missionaries in our zone. We are in charge of helping them get settled. I love them. They are three more girls. One is from Hawaii, another girl  is Los Vegas, and the last girl came all the way from Australia! They're are very fun to be with. We been talking are final pictures and even started packing which is crazy.

Being in the MTC kinda feels the pre mortal life. We learn all of these awesome things. We get really excited. We get to make friends. They keep telling us the mission will be really hard but it'll be worth it. The we go to field and work really hard for 17 more months, separated from our friends and family. Then after we finish our work we get to home and see everyone! I'm grateful for my opportunity to serve. I feel very blessed. Even though it is hard to follow all the rules and be a good missionary, it is worth it! I'm happily serving the Lord and helping people come closer to God. My companion and I leave Monday at 3 in the morning. I'm so grateful for all of the love and support everyone has given me. Thanks for everything you do! Keep being awesome. The pictures of my companion and I good friends who left yesterday. Wish them luck in Maryland!

Sarah

If anyone wants to send me anything my address is:

Hermana Sarah MacKillop

Arizona Scottsdale Mission

6265 N 82nd St.

Scottsdale AZ 85250