The Final Chapter

The final chapter has come to an end. My last transfer has officially ended and I'm closing the book. Ask me if it feels real. Because it doesn't. In moments here and there, it has hit me, but I don't think it will feel real until I'm getting off the plane.

In true missionary fashion, I'm going to end my last email in the mission with my testimony.

I was reflecting a lot recently about my time as a missionary. Eighteen months have flown by, but I'm extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to serve as a representative of Jesus Christ. In that time, I've noticed a huge change in myself. That change is something that has only happened because of my time as a missionary.

I know the power that missions have and am truly grateful for everything I've passed through: both the good and bad. I will never regret serving my mission and will be eternally grateful for the life lessons I've learned.

"You'll never regret serving a mission, but you might regret not serving one."

I testify of the validity of that statement.

I love you all!

And, for the last time,

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

Ending with a BANG!

It's not every missionary that turns 21 a week before they end their mission. 

How lucky am I?!

With that privilege being all mine, I had the opportunity to spend my birthday was some very special people! Being in Bertioga for my birthday was an answer to prayers. I got to celebrate with some incredible members, including one family who I can't thank enough for making my day so special! A surprise party was exactly what this sister missionary needed and was not at all expecting. 

Seeing as how I never have a whole lot of time, I just wanted to send pictures from my fabulous birthday celebration and tell everyone that I'm older, hopefully wiser, but without a doubt more grateful than ever before. I love being a missionary and am more grateful every day for the opportunity that I have had to serve as a full-time resprentative of Jesus Christ and gain all the resources I need to continually become more like Him.

Have a great week!

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

Birthday buddy! Feliz Aniversário Yasmim!

Companheira! Te Amo!

PAR-TAY! Woot woot!

Pictures!

No time. Enjoy the pictures from the last 2 weeks!

Because I Have No Time...Again!

From the keeper of this blog -
We went on vacation and missed posting for July 25 and we didn't get anything this last week other than our family email. Hope all is well where you are! Here's July 25's post. It's all pictures.

Reunited...for a day haha!

Pizza on the bus!

São João...a month later! But, I learned how to dance forró!

Face to Face with Kayla

The sisters in my apartment have started what they call "Face to Face with Kayla" as a way to reflect on my mission. This week had some interesting questions. The most interesting was this: How do you feel now that you're so close to going home? Here's my response.

It's bittersweet. I never had a huge desire to serve, but knew that I needed to because it was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. As I've served, I've come to truly love this work. I love being a missionary. Is it hard? Of course! Is it tiring? Without a doubt! Is it worth it? Absolutely. I've changed because of my mission and can truly say that I have all the resources I need to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I miss my family and friends a lot and I'm excited to see everyone and relax a little bit, but I'm going to miss my mission. 

You'll never regret serving a mission, but you might regret not serving one. I know I would regret things if I hadn't chosen to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and serve.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister McEldowney

Riveria!!!

I'm going home!

Because I Was Too Lazy to Send Pictures Last Week

Parabéns Eduardo!

Welcome to Bertioga...at night!

I Was Called...And Now I'm Going Home!

My Branch Mission Leader is Elder Holland's twin!

I'm armed and dangerous...careful! 

My lovely conference group! Sister Felix and Sister Justino!

So, that happened! I was on top of the boat!

Our Sunday Feast...with coconut!

We went to an abandoned tomb/church this morning with a friend of ours. It was legit!

A Week of Changes

Everything is changing here in Missão Brasil Santos! For a girl who's never liked change all that much, I'm doing alright!

First off, we're going to meet our new mission president tomorrow! How I already got to this point in my mission that I'm sending off my president and getting a new one beats me, but it's happening!

Also, my friends are all getting transferred and leaving me in Bertioga, but it's ok, because I adore my companion and am secretly praying that she's my last companion. We'll see if that works out!

Lastly, I'm starting to see the difference that missions make. Without a doubt, I will always be that crazy Kayla that a majority of you have come to know (and either put up with or love), but I'm a different person now than I was 16 months ago. At least, I feel different. 

Well, I'm tired and probably not making sense now.

But, sending lots of love to wherever you are!

Love,

Sister McEldowney

Single Digits!

I'm officially down to 9 weeks until I go home! Woohoo! 

It's bittersweet, but I'm living it up here in my final weeks as a full-time missionary!

I just want everyone to know that I absolutely adore what I'm doing. Missions are hard, but so worth it! I love putting on my nametag everyday and knowing that I am a respresentative of Jesus Christ. His church is on the earth again and that that same authority that He had, that Priesthood, is on the earth today. The Preisthood is a blessing,one that I want everyone to take part of.

I love being a missionary and I love serving here in Brazil!

With Lots of Love,

Sister McEldowney

A favor...

From the keeper of this blog -

At the bottom of our family email this week Kayla requested,

"I have no time left. Could you write on my blog that I'll write next week??"

Done!

Also from the keeper of this blog -

I don't think Kayla would mind if I included something from her family email here. It's so representative of her, the strength of her testimony, and the love she has for her brother.

She was able to call home on Mother's Day. It's so neat chatting face to face with a missionary. During that call, she challenged Justin to share something from his daily scripture study with her in our family's weekly email. She's been much more diligent than he has, but this last week he (we) finally remembered his commitment and he shared something from the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon. This was her response:

"I love Alma!

Want to know what I read? I read in Mosiah 25 when Alma baptizes Zoram and talks about the power of the scriptures. When we read the scriptures and find ways to apply them to our lives, we are using them for what they were written for! 

How do you apply the scriptures to your life? What is one thing that you learned in the scriptures that taught you an important lesson?

I love you Justin! Keep reading, praying, and obeying! Those things will prepare you to be a missionary!"

These two have always had a close relationship. I love that about them. And I love that Kayla's such an incredible mentor and example for the little brother who loves her to pieces!

Another Normal Week

Nothing new. No time. Have a  good week!

Sister McEldowney

Behind again...

From the keeper of this blog -

I'm behind again. Here you go...


May 23, 2016 - Another Soul Saved!

Felipe was baptized! Woohoo!!! We worked a long while with him and he finally made it!

Sister McEldowney

May 30, 2016 - Bertioga Round 2!

Staying here for at least another 4 weeks! Woohoo! With Sister Ferreria!!! 

I have basically no time! I'll write more next week!

People, this is the beginning of the end! Second to last transfer! 

Wish me luck!

Love Always,

Sister McEldowney

batizar com AGUA FRIA e CONFIRMAR

Walace was baptized! In water really cold mind you. He's a trooper!!!!

That's my only news and I have no time hehe!

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

Happy Mother's Day!

Skype was perfect. This week was basically a lot of realizing that addresses on our ward list don't exist. Also, Bertioga is finally cooling down!

I'll write more next week!

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

Sister Ferreira!

Enjoy my exaggerated smile as I waited (im)patiently to Skype haha

Living and Loving That Mission Life

From the keeper of this blog -

This is from Monday, May 2. Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------

I love Bertioga! Truly! This is one of the best transfers yet! We have some super solid investigators and I'm still teaching lots of kids. Woohoo!!! My companion is incredible and we have a blast every day! Not a whole lot happened this week, but I'm still happy as could be!

Enjoy these "lovely" photos from the past few weeks!

Have a great week everyone!

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

Day Trip to Santos thanks to my visa! But, I'm legal again!

Davi was baptized!

View of Santos from Guarujá! I love love love Guarujá!

Meet Sister Ferreira and Sister Bogado!

It's Cold!

VITÓRIA!

President and Sister Cabral

BERTIOGA!

Bertioga is my happy place in the mission! I'm seriously loving this transfer so much and it's only been a week!

Just a few bullet points because I have no time!

·  My companion is Sister Ferreira and she's awesome! She's from Recife and I love her to death!

·  Bertioga is huge but I love it with all my heart! The members are incredible!

·  My district is massive, but it's the best! Love love love it!

·  We had a baptism this weekend! Guess how old he is! Nine! Continuing my trend! Parabéns Davi!

·  Mosquitos are a real problem, but I'm overcoming it with a little bit of grace haha!

I love my mission and I love my area! I'll send pictures next week!

Love you all!

Sister McEldowney

Bertioga Bound!

TRANSFERS! Holy cow! I'm so pumped for this transfer!

People, I got transferred to BERTIOGA!!!! I've been wanting to serve there since the day I got to Brasil! The smile on my face is gigantic! On top of that, one of my sup0er good friends here in the mission is in the same district as me AND my old district leader is my zone leader! Even better is that I already know some of the members! Holy cow! I'm beyond stoked!

This week I was thinking, too, about how blessed I am to be a missionary. I love being a missionary so much! I love that for the last 13 months I have been able to share the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with people and help them to feel the same joy I feel from knowing that Christ lives and that the same church that He established is on the Earth again. All of His teachings and the same authourity He had are on the Earth!

I'm so grateful for that knowledge and I'm so grateful to be able to share those things with the lovely people here in Brasil!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love you all!

Sister McEldowney

PS. Pictures to come next week!

I'm Awful Lately!

Please forgive me for being AWFUL with mass emails lately! I love you all and will try to organize my short amount of time better in the weeks to come!

Until I repent and improve, enjoy this lovely Mormon Message that I adore!

How do you show your love?

Love you all!

Sister McEldowney

Oops!

From the keeper of this blog -

This is Kayla's 3/28/16 message.

I just realized I never sent my mass email this week! And I have 5 minutes left! I thought I had too much time left over!

Anyway, since I have no time and nothing super eventful happened this week, enjoy this incredible video about Easter! Elder Holland is amazing!

Have a great week!

A Special Easter Message

This was my week. Sharing this with everyone. This video is incredible! I know that it is because of Jesus Christ that I will be able to see those people so close to me that I have lost. Easter is not just a time to think about the death of our Savior, but to think about His resurrection and what that gift does for us. I love this video and the reminder that it is for us in the Easter season. I love you all and wish you all a very Happy Easter!

Amo Sempre,

Sister McEldowney

March 14, 2016

A Year Already?

It's not possible that I've been a missionary for a little over a year now! Where in the world did the last 12 months go? Well, I asked myself that and these are the results...

There’s Still More

Remember that 12 Months is a Long Time…

 Last of Them!