Families! - February 24, 2009

Hello everyone,

It has been a very successful week. On Sunday we had combined 11 baptisms in both 1st and 2nd branch in Rajahmundry. The goal is to get the minimum of 35 every month in the mission and we were looking like we were going to come up short but I think this week made up for that. Elder Chagoya baptized Adams and Jayalatha's family (yes his name is Adams with an 's' and don't ask me why). Jayalatha's cousin is the Relief Society President but we also recently found out that Adams is Venkat Polapolli's cousin, a return missionary who is my former zone leader (funny thing about this mission is that it is very common to be in the same branch with elders you served with). So apparently everyone is just family around here. But after hours of paperwork, interviews, lessons and hard work on the part of all parties involved, the family is finally a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...At least they will be officially after their confirmation.

Speaking of families, it is very strange how big of a town Rajahmundry is population wise and yet everyone is related. Families aren't even that large because of the birth control laws in India so most families only have about two children. But for example the other day we met an old auntie who had a son, Samuel John, who was married. We met him and his wife, Nikita, and they told us to come to the Nikita's parents' house. So we met the Nikita's parents and found that the father is an uncle to one of our recent converts. It gets a little fun to find out all of the connections, especially when you start to find out things that happen between the family members; it's like playing a game of clue. "Raju is uncle to Sushma and they got in a fight in the Dining Room two years ago".

One cool thing that happened is that one of our investigators, an old retired man named Murthi, had his son Ravi Kiran come to town. When we went to go visit we taught Ravi Kiran about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and shared the Restoration DVD. Ravi Kiran and Murthi were both impressed (Murthi because the DVD was in Telegu) and it seemed we peaked Ravi Kiran's interest. Sadly Ravi is going to Minneapolis for two years but he said that he wants to go the church over there. We're hoping to get him in contact with the Elders over there and he speaks really good English so I don't think that the Elders will have any problem speaking with him, but I have been developing an ear for the Indian accent so maybe my judgment isn't so good. Yesterday we went back to visit and we brought one of recent converts Peter Chinna Rao Mulaparthi. Peter is amazing and his testimony makes up for his lack of English skills. He is a former pastor and when the Elders first met him he didn't want anything to do with them but his sons were really interested and they convinced their father to read the Book of Mormon. Well he did and miraculously the spirit touched his heart. He left his church and was baptized with his whole family. Well that's the short story because I don't know all the details because I've never been able to understand his first hand account. But you can appreciate the effect his story has on the people, especially since pastors are so praised in Christian India. Well Murthi and Ravi seemed very impressed. Even Samithra, the wife, was impressed even though she doesn't know any English and so has probably very little idea of what is going on. Peter was very happy to share his testimony too, he is one of the most faithful members I know.

Yesterday we were also mobbed. We were riding in one of the poorer areas and Elder Chagoya's chain falls off. A little bit of side information, one of the worst places to stand in one place is near poorer houses where no one speaks English because as soon as they see two white Americans outside their door they flip out and go crazy. Usually the adults are fine but it's the children that are the worst. Within two minutes of fixing the chain we hear a child's voice yell out "Anglais" and a swarm of 30 or 40 kids start to roll into the road. I don't know where they all came from but they were crazy. All of them wanted to know our names and all of their hands were stretched out for handshakes. If you recall any zombie movie then you can imagine what this looks like, just make it a midget zombie movie. Well we got the chain fixed and we booked it out of there and those little kids can run fast let me tell you.

Anyways I hope that your week was as fun as mine. I hope you are all doing well and know that you're always in my prayers.

Love you a million zombie-midgets,

Elder Mackay

PS
Just got on. I'm so sad to hear that our beloved Vanhin Gandola has to go back to the MTC and I feel his pain a little bit (as I had to do the same thing when I was held back in the MTC). Let his parents know that I keep him in my prayers daily. Also that he will have some amazing experiences working in the call center. When Elder Nixon and I were there we talked with a girl from New Jersey who by the end we were sure would be baptized. Can't wait to hear from you! (sorry that my pictures aren't as good as Elder Gandola's. The Indian picture taking skills aren't good enough for me to let them handle my camera.

Love ya,

Elder Curtis Mackay