PODE

 RIP Elder Young- my comp is going to Toncanchins which is super hot.

So we're probably getting to the point where only my mom and my grandparents are reading these group e-mails- but for those blessed people out there who haven't forgotten about me, here's my week in a nutshell.

Me and Elder Young put in some WORK this week. We taught a bunch of new people and I walked more than I ever have in my life. Right now we have 3 people with dates for baptism and several others that I think will be baptized in the next few weeks! We've been super lucky and been directed to people that are ready to hear the gospel!

I don't know why, but a bunch of people asked me if I was from Mexico this week. This has never happened before, but it happened like 7 times this week. By the third time I just started telling people that I am, indeed, from Mexico.

We have transfers this week and I'll be getting a new companion! Don't know much about him, but he's a brazilian so that'll be super good for my portugese! Also, I'll be staying in the same area, Pedregal. We are starting a branch here in two weeks and it's gonna be super exciting. Pedregal is a special place!

My words of wisdom for the week: Truly living the Gospel is not JUST about avoiding the "negatives," it's about embracing the "positives." Avoiding the negatives will help us avoid turmoil (addiction, relationship problems, etc), while embracing the positives will give us a heart full of love for others, gratitude, peace, gratification, and true/lasting happiness. Only trying to avoid sin is not enough; we need to be anxiously engaged in doing good for other people and exercising our faith!

Well it was a really busy week but I don't have a lot of stories or anything.

I'll finish this up with a quote from Russell M. Ballard:

"The best thing about living a Christ-centered life, is how it makes you feel. It's hard to have a negative atitude about things if and when your life is focused on the Prince of Peace"

<3 Elder MacLay

Dont know what to say about this one.

 District squad pic.

Some homies from church.

Our favorite human being Ruy shaved his beard and no longer looks like a terrorist. He kind of reminds me of Handsome Squidward.

"broke into a bank (not clickbait)"

Random icy pic

Hey people it's Elder MacLay, or as the Brazilians say "Elder Malkl-hi" (it's hard to capture the weird sounds they make when they attempt to say my name but you get the picture)

This week was a really good week! I had a lot of fun and grew a lot as a missionary. We have a baptismal date this Saturday with a girl named Jane. She is SUPER prepared and I'm really excited and happy for her!

I did splits (where you switch companions for a day) THREE times this week. That's gotta be some sort of record. I learned a ton. The first day I did splits with our zone leader Elder Avelino (Brazilian) who's an absolute stud. Then the next day I was with my district leader Elder Bryner (American). The next day I was with Elder Vega (Ecuadorian) who is a self proclaimed "pure lamanite", so needless to say I was able to be with a bunch of all-stars.

My companion lost the keys to our apartment so we were homeless for a night- haha not really we slept at the house of another set of missionaries.

One night we needed to get some money, so we swung by the bank. It was about 8:30 and the bank said it closed at 8:00, but the lights were on and the doors were unlocked so we went inside. We were almost to the ATMs when the alarms started going off. We haven't gotten arrested yet so TUDO BEM.

I had McDonalds TWICE this week. We don't have any American fast food close to us but some members picked it up for us one night, and today our zone met at McDonalds. I wouldn't have said this before the mission, but I'm convinced that McDonalds is the most delicous thing ever. 

I had the wonderful opportunity and priveledge to give a talk in sacrament meeting this week. It went surprisingly well considering where my portugese is at, but I had some help from my homie the Holy Ghost.

Well those were the highlights of my eventful week! Stay sweet America.

<3 Elder MacLay

 PEDREGAL

Our favorite pday spot

My first mcdonalds in brazil :)))

 New family that we are teaching. The guy in the brown jacket is HILARIOUS

"Big Baller"

A pic from last weeks p-day adventure 

It's Elder MacLay here!

This week was pretty tough but I learned a lot and we worked hard!

The other day Ruy gave us a ride to the mission office to pick some stuff up (super nice of him considering it's like an hour ride). His only condition was that I give him a short-sleeved white shirt so he could look like a missionary. Also he demanded to be called "Elder Ruy" for the day. I'll certainly be sending a picture of that.

Drunk people come up to us a lot here. They LOVE us. Each drunk person tells us the exact same thing: that they love the work we are doing here and that they got our back if we need anything. One guy kissed my hand this week. I didn't see it coming haha

COOL STORY TIME: we were going to a lunch appointment with another companionship. It was a bit of a walk and Elder Vega (from Ecuador) was not feeling good. While we were walking he passed out and fell down on the sidewalk. We gave him some water/food and took a break then kept going (he insisted that he could keep going because he is a "pure Laminate"). We were walking and he passed out and fell down AGAIN. So me and Elder Ocampo (from Honduras) gave him a blessing. We did it in a chair in the entrance of a bar. We made it to lunch safely and he felt good enough the rest of the day to keep working! The priesthood is so awesome! It's such a blessing that God trusts us with his power and that we can use this power to heal, serve, and bless others.

I've been reading about Joseph Smith and that guy was a BIG BALLER. Everyone that truly knew him said that he was EXTREMELY kind, humble, diligent, and that he cared SO much for the people around him. He had the most amazing relationship with God through prayer and was always in-tune with the Spirit. He truly was a prophet and is one of the best examples we can look to besides Christ.

Well it was a pretty slow week when it comes to the work, but when I learn Portuguese, Brazil better WATCH OUT

<3Elder MacLay

payton.maclay@missionary.org

 A significant downgrade from the CV weight room lol

 Elder Ruy

Some criancas

"muito GATA" Week of July 29

Bem vindo ao Pedregal

HOLA PESSOAS it's Elder MacLay. Life is good as always! Today is my two month mark! 

This week was a blur. Not much happened but it was a lot of fun!  We had zone conference so I got to be reunited with some of my friends from the MTC! Good times.

My companion bought a guitar, ukulele, and a keyboard here. It's been SOOOO fun. Members and investigators love to hear us jam out. We did a musical number for a baptism the other day and it was SO fun. Music is such a blessing!  The musical number we did was the song "Where Can I Turn For Peace." That song is a BANGER. It's become one of my favs on the mish. It has some pretty beautiful lyrics about how Christ is the best place to turn for peace and love. Christ has infinite love for us. We should turn to him when we have our hardest times! Also we need to remember to turn to Christ during our good times because focusing our lives on Christ will only make us happier! Being away from home for this long for any other reason would be the WORST but since I'm learning to focus more on Christ and helping other to do the same, I still am happy! I testify that Christ brings peace and happiness. It's is completely up to us to accept that peace and love. Christ is always gonna be there! Do yourself a favor and GO LISTEN TO THAT SONG.

Brazil is O MELHOR.

<3 Elder MacLay

Reunited with THE BOYZ

The beautiful dirt roads of Pedregal plus me and my companion. 

Birthday party for this cute little girl in our ward!