The Happiest I've Been!

The excitement I still have in my heart is making it hard for me to write fast enough.  I want to write EVERYTHING about what happened this past weekend, but let me just start off by saying, I love this gospel!!!

We had the goal to reach the standard of the mission.  So, we decided to start to work early Pday so we weren't stressed the end of the week.  We knew it would b e hard because we had an activity in the ward and also interviews with president..so we worked SUPER hard.  And with our faith, desire, and the hep of the Lord we achieved it!!

It was the most wonderful, stressful weeks of my life.  Let's just say, I have never put 6 baptismal dates with people in one week.  Now, that's just crazy!

This week we had the Baptism of "C".  As we were walking to her interview she was just gleaming!  She said, "I had a dream last night that I was a missionary with my missionary plaque".  WOW!  I almost died.  I almost jumped, and screamed, and did a little dance in the street, but then I thought:  1. I am a representative of Jesus Christ.  2. I don't remember how to dance.  3. If I dance, I'm sure nobody will want to listen to our message, and "C" will turn around and not be baptized.  ha!  Nahh kidding.  But I really was the happiest missionary in the whole world.  To think that my service has lead to help another future missionary.  :)

We had Noche Blanca with 4 people getting baptized.  "J" is just a doll.  She was so nervous.  She looked so cute!  "C" who is just the most prepared person I have ever met.  "O" who was from the other hermanas and "M"who was from the elders.  We were so blessed to have President and his wife there too!  The spirit was so strong.

After "C" was baptized, she left the font gleaming.  Truly!  I have never seen somebody with such a big smile on their face.  She is truly going to bless so many lives.

She was confirmed the next day in church and we were able to walk with her and her little sister.  Her little sister wants to be baptized.  She told us that she feels so comfortable in the church.  She stayed with the young women and loved it.  She wants to start going to seminary, too.  I don't think I've ever been so happy in my whole life.  Never.  I love this feeling!

There are so many more details I wish I could share in this short moment, but I just want to say that I know the Lord listens and answers our prayers.  We only had 1 investigator in the church.. and we needed 2 to meet the standard.  We prayed and even went outside trying to invite people in.  We finally sat down and accepted that maybe it wouldn't happen..but never lost the faith.  And then suddenly not one, but TWO investigators came walking in!  We had 3 in the sacrament meeting.  WOW!  I love the power of prayer and the faith that I have learned.

I know that the Lord is preparing His children here in Argentina, and in all of the World.  This is His work.  He is hoping that we can do our part to find all His lost children and bring them back into the fold.

We also have been seeing a great change in the church with less actives.  I love less active work. :)  "M" came to church and "G" and "L" and "V", and wow, just so many people.  We had 87 people!!  It's just the happiest to know that the church is growing each and every week.  I love to be a part of this grand work!

I love the gospel.  I have a testimony that God hears and answers our prayers after we do all that we can.  He knows what we need and all of the desires of our heart.  He will always listen.  He will always do His part is we do our first.

Hope you all have the best week ever!  Let's hope these 6 people with dates now can too be baptized :)

The happiest missionary in all the world..
Hermanan McChesney

Shoutouts
Shout out to my little brother for getting a full scholarship offer to BYU!  I knew you would!  So proud!
Shout out to Rachel Smith and the engagement!  Woot!

                                                        We met our goal!  Yeah!

                                                                    A turtle...eek!

                                                                  A dear friend!

                             I can't wait until I can hold children again!  This breaks my heart!

                                                         The best day ever!!!

He is my Guide

Hello world, how you've been? ;)  Throwing out some Lady A.  haha!

Wow, I feel like the time here in the cyber flies so fast.  And I get stressed, and then everyone looks at me and my face is 2 inches from the computer and I'm almost dying of stress because the time keeps ticking.  But hey...I love my family!

So, this week was a great week.  We did exchanges twice so we were busy with that.  I was able to do exchanges with hermana Guerra.  It was the happiest day ever!  She is here in Zapala and so that was fun for us to work together again.  We put a baptismal date for a girl in her area, so that was a success.  Then I was able to work with Hermana Chullunquia in our area.  We were a FULL with lessons and referrals and everything.  I loved working with her.  We had the biggest miracle..let me explain. :)

We had a member with us and she needed to run by her house quick before we went to look for our plan B (because our plan A wasn't home).  As we stopped by the house she waved to a neighbor.  Then we entered her house, but 5 seconds later we here the neighbor screaming her name.  Next thing we know our member is outside and running to the neighbors house.  We sat there stunned in the house...Then she came back, called 911, and asked for an ambulance.  We then went over to the neighbors house with her.  As we got there, the neighbor had a daughter who had a seizure.  We then were able to comfort her.  She kept on thanking us.  The ambulance never showed up....never!  But, her daughter calmed down and everything was okay.  We were able to teach the neighbor a lesson and she began to cry.  She loved our message and said that she knew we came to help for a reason.

This experience has made me think a lot.  The Lord truly guides us so we can be where He needs us.  It wasn't a coincidence that our investigator wasn't home and we had to go find someone else to teach.  It wasn't a coincidence that the member had to run by her home.  And it wasn't coincidence that we called this member to help us that day, and that she had a great relationship with her neighbor.  Everything truly happens for a reason, and the Lord will always provide a way for His children to hear the message that we have.

This gospel is so true.  "C" and "J" will be baptized this weekend.  We are having a Noche Blanca.  So all the wards from Zapala will be here and will have a big day of baptisms!!  I think there will be 5.  We are so excited.  "C" told us yesterday, "I just can't wait to be an official member".  WOW!! :)  She is progressing so quickly!!  I am so lucky to have been able to see this change in her life and to see how the gospel changes hearts and how there really are people prepared for this gospel.

I was reading the other day in Ether.  I found a verse that I loved..Ether 2:25 that says, "..I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea and the winds have gone forth and the floods which shall come.."  I know that the Lord is preparing us and helping us cross the great waves in the sea.  For we cannot do it alone.  Our Heavenly Father will never leave us alone.  He will always prepare the way for us so we don't have to travel and cross the great waves by ourselves.  I know He is my guide.  He knows I cannot do it alone.  And for that, I am grateful for my Savior and Redeemer.

I love this gospel.  I love the changes it has brought to me in my life!

Love you all :)

Hermana McChesney

Funnies
I even pray in my sleep:  Just the other night in exchanges, I had a dream that I was at lunch and the member asked me to say the prayer.  So I did, in my sleep.  And I woke up saying, "Please bless the Hermanita..." hahahah!!  It was all in Spanish which was even funnier.. and the best part was that Hermana Guerra heard it and thought I was praying to start the morning...haha!!  What an experience.  I was so embarrassed!

                                                      Cleaning my pension

                                                             Having my nails done

                                       Here I am at a wedding for a member in my ward.

I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!

Hello family!!

First I want to say THANK YOU so much for all the emails and pictures you are sending me.  They are so cute and it makes me remember ...wow, I really do love my family ;) ha!  No kidding!  Always thinking and praying for you guys.  Love you all so much!

This week was an interesting one.  Starting out with Monday, we woke up at 4:00 am to go and pick up an hermana in the terminal.  I think from that early waking I still haven't recuperated.   Then there must have been something in the water, the noodles, the hotdogs, the meat, the fruit, or the cake that the members gave us to eat that made me super sick...

Headed to the hospital and hey, on the bright side, I didn't have an appendicitis.  WOOO!!  It was horrible!  Long story short, I'm alive :)  I'm feeling a lot better today, but imagine this:

Having to confirm lunch
ring ring..."Sorry, I can't eat
anything..only rice and noodles.."
Walk into a house for lunch
They make the best looking food in
the whole entire world.
"Oh, here you go hermana McChesney
(plop a plate of plain noodles..or
polenta on my plate)!"
It's so hard to see everyone eat
chicken and salad
so, I cry inside, and eat my slave
food.
hahaha!

Okay, it's not that bad.  I'm super grateful that the members are so willing to help me out.  My companion is like my mom because she is making sure I follow this diet plan for 5 days.  Horrible!  But I'm doing better, so I'm grateful!!  I'm ALIVE!

This week we saw "C".  Let me just say one thing...SHE IS READING THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERYDAY!!  Oh and one more thing..SHE IS READING GOSPEL PRINCIPLES TOO!!  She knows everything.  She is marking her little scriptures and loving it, and with her example, her little sister wants to learn, too.  So her little sister is now listening and wants to be baptized! :)  We now are going to have "J" and "C" be baptized the same day and a couple other investigators of the elders for a big NOCHE BLANCA.

I know that if our investigators read the Book of Mormon they will progress and stay strong in the gospel.  I love what you said, mom, that when our scripture study is casual, our prayers will be casual, and thus our relationship with God will be casual.  We need to STUDY and SEARCH the scriptures.

Just barely I was reading and came across a verse I found so cute.  It's in Alma 53:2.  It says, "Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other's safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi".

This verse touched my heart.  It made me think of how great of friends they were.  They were with each other through it all.  Like they were family.  It's something so small but it made me think of me and my companions, and then also me and my family.  Truly we need to be united in all we do and love each other.  For if we love each other, others will love us, too :)  How cute.  Best friends Lehi and Moroni :)

Now imagine this:

Getting called to lead the hymns..again like normal.
But, also being asked to give a talk, improv, in church.
Okayyyy talk about nerves.
I was already white as a ghost from being sick..
I don't know why I was so nervous..
But, I was the first speaker so I didn't get to prepare anything fast because I was busy leading the songs..ha!

It went really well though.  I talked about the missionary work and shared an experience.  Everyone liked it a lot..I got some people to cry too (bonus points) ha!  Kidding!  But, it was a great experience for me.  I really felt privileged!

Well, love you all!  I know that truly this is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That he is the head of the church.  I know that He lives and He loves each and every one of us.  There is nobody who has more love for us than he and our Father have.

Happy Monday!

XOXO
Hermana McChesney

      This is the picture we took when we found out we got to stay together this transfer!  yay!

                                         The only food I can eat until I am healthy again. :(

                                                               Service in Zapala!

                                                           I love working with families!

            I made some brownies but they don't look like the brownies I usually make at home.

Here to STAY...forever!

HEYYY!!  WOW!  Another week flew by again.  I feel like my emails are very repetitive, but it's true.  HOW FAST DOES THE TIME FLY??

Hey, good news.  I'm staying here in Zapala.   Which means we are going to see bautismos a FULL.  Super excited!  Both Hermana Rojas and I are staying together.  We are doing great things!  We are super excited to see what happens here in the area.

We headed to Neuquen this week.  We learned a lot how we can be better leaders.  It really made me think!  What am I doing in my position to be a better leader?  It has been so great to be in this position and learn.  Not only am I able to help others, but learn from them and see how I too can better.  Each of the hermanas in my group are so awesome!  I love them all!  It's sad to see some of them leave.

This week we finally had an interview with "J".  She is ready to be baptized.  She is just the cutest girl ever!  I sometimes just want to pack all the members in my suitcase and bring them home with me :)  haha!  I love Argentina and I love the people here!  They are the best!

We had so many miracles again this week.  We were able to find so many new investigators and 2 of them are BEYOND prepared for this gospel.

Our investigator "C" didn't think she would be able to come to church on Sunday.  Then on Saturday night she sent us a message saying her class got cancelled and so she was going to be there.  She's now been to church 4 times.  WAHH!   She is changing so quickly!  She was talking to me and said that she already told her dance company that she won't be practicing Sundays.  It's a miracle!  She is a miracle!  She is working for that Celestial Glory.  Just like us all!  I can't wait to be there and see each and every one of us there and jump and scream and cry and say, "We did it!"  Oh...how great would our joy be?! :)

So, what else.  I'm still the choir director.  YAY!  I wish I knew how to play the piano better....hahaha..sorry mom.

We are finally seeing the members work with us and help us out.  I know that the Lord truly is hastening this work.  He is preparing Argentina.  I know Argentina will be one of the strongest countries (maybe I'm a little...what's that word...where you have to say that because I have a lot of love for this country...what's the word..ahhhh...I don't remember.  Prejudice?  no..ummm..I don't remember).  But I know that Argentina is going to be so strong.  These people are prepared!

So, to pass the time during planning Thursdays (when we plan for the whole next week), I like to make up songs.  So, let's just say we laughed a lot.  But, it ended up being one of the greatest planning session ever!  We are so ready for this next transfer!  So excited!  We are going to see miracles, for we already are! :)

Thanks for all the support and the photos.  I love them all!  So does my comp.  She thinks we're famous or from a movie.  hahaha!  So cute!

Love you all!

I know the gospel is true.  It is changing lives and not only my life, but so many others.  I love the Book of Mormon.  It brings me so much joy!  I can't imagine my life without reading the book of mormon.  It would be sad.  But really, that's what motivates me to share this book, because I absolutely LOVE IT!

XOXO
Hermana McChesney

Photos from zone conference are taken by Sister Lovell.  Thanks!

Hastening the work in Argentina!

Hey, happy September 1st family!  Hope it's a pretty outside there as it is here in good ole Zapala.

I just want to start off by saying....dun dun dun dunnnnn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDDYYYY!!! :)  Woahh.  Hope you have such a wonderful day and that mom makes you chicken noodle soup with mashed potatoes. HA!

Also, FELIZ UN ANO AUSTIN!!!  Look how old you are getting!  Can't believe you are already on the downhill.  It's a quick ride, let me tell you that.  Keep up the good work.  So proud to hear all that you are doing.

This week was absolutely incredible!  It was full of a lot of adventure and we were very busy.  But, with the time we had we worked super hard.  I'll try to get it all written here in the email.

"C", love this girl!  She is progressing SO QUICKLY! We had a lesson with her and she had been reading the Book of Mormon.  She has been marking her scriptures and been applying them to her life.  I was just stricken with excitement.  It shows me how the Lord is preparing His children and how many more are accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last week we only had 54 people in church...yeah, it was rough.  Usually we sit at about 65 or so, but wanna hear how many we had yesterday......EIGHTY FIVE PEOPLE!!  That is 85!  Yeah!  It was so full.  We all felt soooo good.  We are finally seeing the fruits of our efforts.  The past 2 weeks we have had 22 lessons with less actives members with a member present.  And to see many of them inside the church just made me realize that it is all worth it!  It's so worth it to see them renewing their covenants.  AW!  I wanted to stand up and sing a song...oh wait...I did...because I had to lead again in sacrament meeting.  I am officially the director. HA!

Sad news.  I got my "Trunky Papers"..or in other words, the papers that come 3 months before you go home so they can get your flights scheduled and all that good stuff.  So, that made me a little sad.  It's been a good ride here in Argentina.  Definitely an adventure, but one of the best one's I've ever been on!  It's made me reflect a lot on the things I've done, and what things I still would like to do.  I have a lot of goals and still a lot of time to reach them all :)

Good news, with all of this self reflection, I have been learning a lot about the examples in the Book of Mormon.  I love the example of Moroni.  While reading about Moroni I have learned about being prepared and fortified (Alma 49:19-20, 23, Alma 50:1).  It makes me reflect and see that because the Nephites were prepared for war, none of them were killed.  How important is it to be prepared?  And to have the full armor of God?  We should never stop preparing, and never cease to fortify ourselves.  It's one thing that seems so simple, but one that will truly save us in this life.  I hope you all can look to see how you can fortify yourselves, just as Moroni fortified his people and his country

I just want to end with my testimony.  I know this church is true.  With all my heart!  This gospel truly brings people happiness.  I also know that it is never too late to accept the Atonement and to change.  The Lord is always ready to forgive and lead us back to the path of happiness and eternal life.  How lucky am I to share this message with all those here in Argentina?

Love the Gospel
Love my Savior
Love being a missionary
and I love seeing the Atonement in action.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Celebrate a lot..
eat lots of cake :)

ABRAZOS y BESOS

Hermana Mikayla McChesney

SHOUTOUTS:
--Huge fatty shout out to Cheyenne and Chase for the engagement!!  Couldn't have screamed louder when I saw the picture of you both and the ring.  So proud of you guys :)  Eeeee!!!  Temple time!

Funnies:
Walking down the street and a man says, "Hey, can I come to church with you?"  We continue walking  (obviously without making eye contact).  Then he starts yelling his phone number out to us.  I almost died of laughter.  These guys are truly so desperate.  Who knew girls in long skirts would get so much attention ;)  hahahhaha!