Another Busy Week - February 3, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Another transfer is over and I'm still in Rajahmundry. That enough is good news but even better news is that Rajahmundry became it's own zone. We used to be part of the Vishakapatnum zone but we've been having so much success in Rajahmundry, Visak and Kakinada that they decided to split us up. So now we have our own zone leaders and a lot of expectations so that means more work. We still have to go to Visak for zone conference but I don't mind, there's nothing wrong with a monthly visit to a city with pizza (In your face Dano!)

Speaking of food I'm starting to get a little sick of the Indian food. Not for the taste because my mouth still waters for chicken curry, but it's the unavoidable two-fire-breathing-dragons-in-your-belly feeling that just makes me want to quit the food altogether. Last night we visited Chaitenya and Indu who were just confirmed last Sunday, who I don't think I mentioned this but they seem to have this irresistable urge to pound food in our face. We've eaten just about everything over at their house: chicken, prawns (pronounced 'frawns'. P's are hard to say in a Rajahmundry accent), dosa, idly, and eggs. Last night they fed us another egg dish, egg pulkha, with roti, one of the many indian flat breads. I'll just say that India to salt is like a bear to honey. There was more sodium in that one dish than there is marchen ramen noodles factory. And Chaitenya is a fighter, he will not let you go without saying "one more brother" at least 10 times. Well the salt mixed with eggs mixed with chilies didn't sit so well last night (thank you for the pepto tablets though Mom, I don't i would have been able to sleep without them). But I woke up this morning completely drained of energy. Luckily it's P-day so I can have plenty of rest. Regardless of their vice to kill us via food bursting out of guts, Chaitenya and Indu are still a really sweet family.

I heard that there are some flower fields around here from a member. He said he would take us next week so we can take pictures. He said they were really beautiful so be expecting some nice photos probably in the next two weeks. If i'm able to send them home the same day then I will.

We had a really successful Sunday. 12 of our investigators came to church, seven of which are being baptized this month. I can still remember how excited I was to get one person to church in Hyderabad and here I feel like a goat herder as I push the people with a wip to their next classrooms. Elder Chagoya are whipped after Sundays. I've always heard that they are your busiest days on the missions but I didn't think they would ever be this busy. I guess one reason why we are able to go to church is because no one has a good excuse to miss. Before when church started at 9:30am everyone else had church at that time also. But now that church starts and 2:00pm, we just tell people "no problem, you can go to your church, eat lunch and still come early to church". But it does make it really hard for missionary work because a good chunk of our day is missing and we have an awkward gap in the morning where no one is busy. We try to save our Hindu investigators at that time because they are usually the easiest to meet with Sunday mornings.

Well I actually have a question and if anyone has any advice please tell me. We have an investigator who is really good and has a lot of deep questions but he has a four year old daughter who is the noisiest and rowdiest little kid ever. He doesn't want to bring her to church because she'll make too much noise and I don't blame him, both lessons she has been slamming doors and jumping on chairs and all sorts of crazy things. Anyways we're trying to decide how we can settle her down because both the father and the mother don't really know how to deal with her and they pretty much leave her alone. Anyways if you have any suggestions or similar experiences let me know.

Okay I better get off so that I can read your email.

Love you a million pepto-bismal tablets,

Elder Mackay