I AM IN HONDURAS!!!

McKenzie and the other missionaries that flew from the Mexico MTC with her to her mission with their Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Dexter.



I seriously can`t believe I am here...and still alive! Holy cow, these first few days have been rough. But it will get better! Honduras is seriously great...it is super green, super hot, and the people here are awesome. The first night here, me and the other two American hermanas got to stay at the mission home...they live in an apartment and it is seriously so nice. It would be nice in America. And guess what...I have a gringa companion! I really thought I would have a latina, but nope! Her name is Hna. Marley, and she is great :) In the mission we have a trainer for 12 weeks, and she actually just finished her training so she is still pretty new. But I love her! And thank goodness that she can speak Spanish because I sure can`t! I can`t even understand most of the time. Hondurans like to not pronounce their s`s, so it is hard to understand them. It is pretty rough. But I have gotten pretty good at saying prayers in Spanish since I can`t do much else! Its okay....I will learn! And I am SO exhausted because we walk everywhere and it is so hot outside. But you will all be pleased to know that I am actually in a pretty secure part of Honduras. My area is called Fesitranh 2 and we live in a little kind of gated community called Santa Monica. There are lots of guards and the people here have money, so their houses are nice. So I definitely got lucky to be here for the beginning of my time in Honduras, because I am positive that all of the areas aren`t this nice. But it is great!

As far as the food goes, it is pretty much what I expected: lots of beans, rice, chicken and tortillas. And fried plantains. But it is pretty good! I haven`t had anything I haven`t liked, but I think my stomach is still adjusting to the change because it didn`t feel so good yesterday. They also have something here called baleadas, which is like the signature food of Honduras. It is this really good, thick tortilla with beans, some kind of cheese, and montequilla inside. Its pretty good! And also, my cousin`s husband went to El Salvador for his mission and he said they had banana soda down here that was really good...yep, I had it my first day. And they really need to have it in the US because it is great. 

Well let me just tell you guys, being a missionary is rough. I am so tired, and it is so hard not being able to understand or communicate with anyone, and also to not know who anyone is here. I have been struggling. But I know that I am here for a reason and that things will get better. In the Book of Mormon, even Ammon and his brothers had a time when they wanted to go home. But through patience and faith, the Lord helped them work miracles. And I know the Lord will help me too! Someday I will learn Spanish and get more comfortable with the people here, and then I won`t want to go home :) So I`m just going to keep praying and working and I know the Lord will help me! I hope you are all doing well and that you have a great week!

Hna. Whittle

McKenzie and her companion, Hermana Marley, along with 2 other sisters in her mission.

After asking McKenzie a few questions, this is what she responded:

We have taught people, or rather my companion teaches them :) I bear my testimony sometimes and I have given out a few pamphlets and explained them and I pray all the time but that is about it. Its just hard because I don`t know what to say because I can`t understand what they say...usually I only understand from what my companion says. I can understand her just fine. She is from Idaho and she is 21. She is great :) We actually don`t have that many investigators, but we found a really great lady a few days ago! She has definitely been prepared by the Lord :) And it doesn`t rain everyday, but a lot of times it rains at night and then we get to walk in gross streets the next day.