Late Night (Mom)/Early Morning (Macey) Emails!!! (Feb 18)

Macey: What are you still doing up, isn't it like 2 am? I guess that's normal!
Me: 2:42! The Olympics are on here until 3:30 and I love to watch them! Unfortunately, they don’t start until 7pm so I can’t watch them during the day bz I don’t have cable! You are cute.
Macey: You watch the whole thing?😂 What event is going on right now?
Me: I don’t always watch it all, but I took a nap after church (since Dad is gone) so I’m just not that tired! Snowboarding, Skiing halfpipe and just finished biathlon! Lots of good stuff! USA is not doing well in the medal count! Norway is kicking everyone’s booty! Germany is second!
I’ve kind of been over my late night problem since getting the kitty bz she wakes me up every morning between 7:30 and 8:00! Gotta go to bed sooner so I won’t be tired! She’s like clockwork!
PS I’m proud of you for getting up early and working out! You are my idol!

Macey: Hah I totally like to think it’s because I left the country and I’m helping Germany out 😎

Start today and just put on workout clothes right away to tell your mind you wanna do it!

You’re cuter!

Macey: Should I get this? 😉

Macey: Now you know why I take forever in the dressing room

Macey: Ooooooh I like it!

Macey: I’m totally buying this shirt it makes me so happy😂😂😂😂

Me: You look so happy! Just maybe not wear the shirt with that skirt! Haha

Macey: HAH I’m totally going to wear them together! You always say I should wear fashion forward stuff! ;-) Its SUPER pink! Shopping is fun for an hour or two, its building my endurance!

Several hours later:

Macey: Good morning, good morning! Happy day today!!

Snapshots in Elmshorn (Feb 18)

Have the Sisters Gone Inactive?! (Feb 18 - Group Email)

We work well together because she eats the chocolate ice cream #icky

I made a waffle on a train

1. Um yes, my title pretty much explains it.. But you see, Interviews were on Valentine’s Day, which obviously meant we needed to make heart shaped waffles for the zone. I felt the need to cross it off of my imaginary bucket list, and made one on the train! It was pretty funny. #socrazy

Proof that the waffle did happen #videoevidencewasbetter

Scavenger Hunt

2. For a lesson with Jacob and Lenard, we put together a scavenger hunt through the church! It was supposed to go through all of our steps we make in following Christ. Lenard was crazy hyper and excited, before he even read the first clue, he ran down the hall, arms flailing around like a cartoon, and runs STRAIGHT into the room with the treasure! It was the funniest thing oh my goodness haha we still can't stop laughing about it!

Quarantined

3. Friday evening we got home from an awesome lesson for Pkay, unknowingly walking in the door facing the next 61.5 hours inside (yes I counted). Sister Decker got super sick and barely got out of bed the entire weekend. It was probably the first time in years I've missed church! 10 minutes into sacrament meeting time, our phone is going off like crazy! Everyone was worried where the sisters went, if we were okay, if we were inactive (I think they were kidding...) They were all super sweet and took care of Sister Decker and I so well. I love them so much, they are such good people to lean on.

"I'm here to serve!"

4. We sadly missed it, but Joseph received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday! It is such a marvelous gift from God to be able to act in His name. We asked Joseph what he thought, and he was SO excited that he could more fully serve. He really just wants to serve and do the Lord's will. When I grow up, I want to be more like Joseph. :-)

Jesus Wept

5. I remember when we were little, one of my brothers favorite scriptures was "Jesus wept." in the book of John. His reasoning was because it was short and Mom gave us treats when we memorized a new scripture (well played, Conner!), but this scripture has taken new meaning for me this week. I know that my Savior is not just simply rooting me on for the end goal. He is there with me, and I'd add you as well, helping us along the way. I stand all amazed at the love He has for us.

Oh, yeah I found a frozen lake and I was like I’M MINNESOTAN I GOTTA GO WALK ON IT

but I can’t find the picture where I was in the middle of the lake

Love you all!  Sister Macey Ingalls

I Love You a Million Heart Shaped Waffles! -- (Feb 18)

MOM!!!
Yes, I did get the letters you sent me this week, and even better, I got them on Valentine's Day! How perfect! I loved them so much, when we were trapped inside forever (will explain later) I wrote you one back! I hope you like it and that you get it before Saturday! I didn't put a priority sticker on it so we'll see.

Ahhhhhhhhh that is so cool that you got to go to the State Dance Team Tournament and that Blaine got to go as well! That was heartbreaking that they didn't make it last year... Our streak was just blown... But it comes and goes, they'll win state one year. That sounds so fun that you got to spend the entire day with Dad, and at a dance competition! You must have been in heaven! I hope to get to a competition next year but I don't know how that will work out with school! We'll see.

Hee hee I bought that crazy pink floral shirt at H&M today! I've just had yet another hard week and it just made me so happy! I was laughing in the dressing room taking pictures and laughing some more. I probably spent 20 minutes in there just trying on 3 shirts, but hey, what's new! :)

You didn't tell me about your Valentine's Day at all! You'll have to catch me up on that next week. Not too many details though please!!!! ö Mine was funny, good, stressful, rough, super rough, embarrassing and then super good and dandy all over again. Haha.

I was just super excited for Valentine's Day and that we got to spend it at Interviews and with other fellow missionaries and the Mission President!! So we have a heart shaped waffle maker and I decided to bring that and the ingredients and make heart shaped waffles for everyone! It was yummy! I made a couple for us before we left, and we still had some batter while we were traveling so I thought it'd be super funny to make a waffle on the train! I did and it went fine for like 21 minute, everyone was laughing it was funny, then it started steaming like CRAZY! I mean, that's totally normal, but I didn't want anyone to think we were starting the train on fire or that we were messing around (which I guess I kinda was...) and so we were all fanning it like crazy and, oh, I laughed so hard it was funny. While I was there, I had a lot to do to prepare for my interview and keep busy. When I finally started cracking down on stuff, I realized how much I had to do and was like, woah, okay let's do this. There was literally nowhere I could go because my comp was making waffles in the kitchen but there wasn't room in there to put together my project thing, so I sat on the ground. Literally 2 seconds later, President walks out and frantically motions for me to get up. Haha it was super embarrassing and he comes over to me and he's like,"'I dont want you to get sick, the kitchen floor isn't clean enough"! It was totally with love I was just embarrassed and felt silly because duh I know better, we should be professional too. That was just kind of the tip on the iceberg of stresses that day. It wasn't even about that, I was just so overwhelmed with just trying to be perfect. Like 30 minutes later, I just kinda lost it and went around the corner to just pray and be alone. Again in that very moment hah, it was my turn for my intierview. PERFECKT TIMING. Yeah, President thought that he had made me cry and I was like nooo and it was super funny and really embarrassing because like literally everyone was there.

He gave me a minute to like, contain myself then I walked into his interview room. I close the door and he smiles and says, I think its really cold in here, what do you say I put our chairs by the heater by the window? He had a full suit on, I doubt he was even the least bit cold, but it was so sweet. I will never forget this interview with him. We sat down across from each other with a beautiful view out the window of Kiel. I said a prayer (through crying lol) and then we just had the sweetest talk. It's pretty easy to get me to talk most of the time, I'm a pretty open book and wear my emotions on my sleeve! I opened up and told him all of my faults and all of the hard things and I don't feel perfect at anything. I didn't understand why I felt this way either, because I was promised if I focused on other people, my companions, members and everyone I talk to, and loved them, I would in turn grow and love myself more. He just gave me the most beautiful advice, and truly listened to me, and I felt that what he was saying was coming from the heart, not some handbook. What stuck with me is that we are to love others, even as ourselves. Emphasis on ourselves. It's really hard to give love when you don't feel it yourself. I realized how badly I was struggling with feeling bad about myself and being really hard on myself. We talked about other things as well, and he said he is really proud of me! I do have to say that I feel my German has improved a ton. He gave me a beautiful blessing, and I made sure to write them all down but unfortunately they are at home in my journal, but I felt peace as deep at was my pain at the time. *cue Alma 34*

Yeah Mom, I'm going to be honest and I do struggle. I don't feel that it is a hopeless struggle, I don't feel that it's a dead end, but some days require a bit more "enduring" when enduring to the end. But I do good things! I do not feel like I've reached my full potential at all as a missionary, but I've done a lot of good!

Right when this ended, unfortunately Sister Decker got sick. Friday is when it started and she pushed through a lesson with Pkay (which went awesome by the way!) but Saturday and Sunday she had a fever and basically spent the entire time in bed. That was HARD. Hard on both of us. It's hard to feel like a good success, happy, hardworking missionary when you are stuck at home. I did eveything I could to stay busy, I called a bunch of people, I studied, studied, and studied some more, I even painted and baked brownies and wrote notes for members in our ward! Ahhh yeah that was still not fun. I felt like a blob at the end of that and it was really strange not going to church on Sunday! I don't even remember the last time I missed church, it had to be years ago! I sang songs and read conference talks though, so I had my own, but I missed the sacrament.

The ward was SO nice and compassionate with us, it was so sweet and they took care of us! They dropped off medicine and soup and pineapple (yum!) and our phone was going off like CRAZY during sacrament meeting cause everyone was worried where the sisters were! It's going around though, and a lot of people were sick! I think of all the things they did for us, and I appreciate all of them, was one member talking to me for over 30 minutes. We just talked about her mission kid and her family and stuff and I was just SO grateful to have someone else to talk to! Not that Sister Decker is no fun, its just 50+ hours stuck in the same walls with someone just dying of fever and a cold are not too pleasant :)

I didn't mean for this email to be negative at all... I hope it isn't. We had some really good moments this week! We taught Jacob and Lenard through a scavenger hunt that was awesome! Lenard is the funniest little kid. He was going all wild and hyper and ran around the church without even reading the first clue, flailing his arms in the air and ran STRAIGHT into the room with the treasure! We were all buckled over with laughter, it was the funniest thing hands down. We had a good time, and totally felt the spirit (after the scavenger hunt for sure!) and they both commented on that they want to go on missions! We were just like, then what do you need to do now to prepare for that?! One of their many reasons was to get baptized! So they are on a good track, I think they need a bit more prep until they will be there though.

We went to a members house with the Elders to prepare her for the musical night! She has a GORGEOUS voice! While Elder watts was accompanying her on the piano, Decker, Elder Myers and I played with the most adorable little kid! It was so funny and he was just the little entertainer once he found out we weren't scary bad guys. Little kids just seem to make my day happier :)

I had some really beautiful spiritual experiences as well this week, even if they were just small! I love that you shared yours with me, thank you! That lady really needed you, and I think you were an angel put in her way to help! I just love those little, natural ways that we can share the gospel and the Savior's love! I love when I get to bear my testimony on somebody's doorstep about Jesus Christ. I love when people smile when we testify of God's unending love for us. It is beautiful, and the gospel really seeps into every aspect of our lives if we allow it!

I love you a million heart shaped waffles with raspberry jelly! I also love you a million hot pink floral shirts that just make me light up and smile! :) The world is beautiful, God does not make mistakes, and I love Him! Love, Sister Macey Ingalls

I've Started Learning Arabic This Week! -- Feb.11

Mama!!
I'd totally try to call you mom in Arabic but a. I have no idea how to do that and b. I need the arabic keyboard!! I'm so excited to take on this language but boy, it's going to be hard. Yesterday I had my first official class with it and it was a bit of a shock! I got the okay from president last week, and immediately got my books and started trying to learn the alphabet! I didn't make much progress because I was just looking at squiggly lines trying to make them register in my brain as sounds! But that class...

We are a group of 8, that's a TON! There are 4 sisters, including myself, that are basically the first group to actually start learning it! It's me, Sisters Wood, Dempsey and Christensen. I'll probably be companions with one of them in the future. That'd be pretty cool! But yeah, I was the last person to sign up, so I didn't realize it but when I got to class, almost everyone was ahead of me. I was so confused! Our teacher, Elder Jackson, is super awesome! He's been studying it since he was 9 months out and he goes home at the end of this transfer! He's really good! But he's completely honest, which was surprisingly super helpful. He started off the class by spending 10-15 minutes asking all of us why we wanted to learn it, then explaining that this would be 10x harder than we think it's going to be. It'll push us to the limits and frustrate us, and it's probably going to be the hardest thing we do on our mission (I've done some hard things, so I was like, oh boy!) I was waiting for the part of him saying there was hope but hahahah, no, that didn't come. He just said that it would be extremely rewarding and that we would have wonderful, sincere conversations with so many of these people that are searching for the gospel, or the knowledge of Christ, and do not know where to find it. I want to give these Arabic-speaking, muslim background women a chance to hear the gospel, that is what us sisters are here for!

Okay, I could go on too much about Arabic, but I really love the challenge! It's fun to think that I'm like a baby right now. Just trying to make sounds and exercise the weirdest muscles in my throat! I laughed sooo hard yesterday when we were all practicing a hard sound, and I just heard over the video chat 8 different "ahhcaymmm" sounds hahahah I'm still laughing! If I didn't laugh I'd totally cry because it's hard, but might as well enjoy the newbie-experience!! :)

Those were awesome analogies relating to the Olympics!! Shows what I know, I had no idea that they were even going on right now! I feel like I know nothing that's going on in the world but ehh, I'm pretty okay with that! I especially loved the one about the guy that fell in the first lap, but got up and won the whole thing! I can just imagine that he was thinking the whole time "I did NOT train for years just to fall and drop out of the race!" Had that not happened, who knows, he may have not won or may not have given absolutely all and more than he thought he had! Goes to show that trials, and falling down in life, really make us stronger, make our will to fight even stronger and we can win the race! Awesome!

Awhhhhh that is SO adorable that you and Grandma went out for her birthday! I did see the one picture on facebook, but I'm happy you sent those to me! I have the best family! I'm totally serious and totally not bias... like at all! Melting Pot is yummy, and I bet you made Gma feel so loved by doing that!

Okay, I will see what I can do to make your birthday just a little more special! How old are you turning? 34? Oh sorry sorry, 33. Woah, that's a good number!

We did a ton of work to put together the musical night happening on March 3rd! (random question, can you get Libby Bennett's address somehow? I want to send her a letter for her birthday!) It's going to be so good! We even had choir practice yesterday. It's just so exciting and rewarding to see an idea come together and actually become something! I'm thinking that I'm going to stream the event from my facebook live, so you could even watch it if you want even though it will be in German! Music has no language though, and I think you'd love it :)

I feel like this email was really boring and random... I'm sorry... I love writing you long emails, but it's really boring to just report back my week, week after week! I'd rather have a conversation, you know? Where do you think you were at spiritually when you were 19 years old? What's the biggest lesson you've learned from being a mom? I feel like I just haven't gotten Mom advice in awhile and even if it isn't relevant right now, I just need some!?

You are totally becoming a cat lady ;-) Next thing we all know you're going to have Spliff trained to go for walks on a harness haha!

Love you bunches Mom! I really apologize for the lack of text and pictures this week.. Hopefully this one, Dads and the weekly email combine together for a decent email..? This week was tiring but I was proud I still got up 10 minutes early and worked out every day. Doesn't mean I didn't take a 2 hour nap at 8:01 today :D (that's when pday starts)

Loveeeee you more than a million, I promise for a better letter next week!

Sister Macey Ingalls

"I Think I'm Beginning to Understand!" (Feb. 11 - Group Email)

Marhaba!

This week was absolutely... insane? rewarding? humbling? amazing!! (I have no idea if I mentioned this last week, but Sister Decker and I are staying together for a 3rd transfer! It's super unusual in our mission but we are super excited to keep accomplishing the work together!!)

1. I officially had my first Arabic class yesterday! Oh, that was an experience, and it's fun to be a newbie all over again! Arabic. is. so. hard! I love it though, and it's so fascinating that squiggles and lines make sounds! I'm grateful that I can further use language to share my message of Jesus Christ here! P.S. our teacher told us if making the sounds of the alphabet start to hurt our voices, we're doing it right :-) :-)

2. IT'S OFFICIAL! Joseph was confirmed yesterday, and he's now a member! It was such a sweet experience to see everyone raise their right hands as high as they could to show that they fully supported him. I don't think that huge smile left his face all day! He practically pranced back to where we were sitting and he's like, "Woah I felt all cold and good when they gave me the gift of the Spirit!" He's so excited to share the gospel with his family and friends :-)

3. We planned to share 2 Nephi 9 with Pkay during our lesson on Friday, and when we asked him how far he was in reading the Book of Mormon, he had just finished reading that chapter! We had an amazing discussion about the Plan of Salvation and the purpose of our life here. He says he's on the search for truth, and texted us later that evening and said "Sisters, I think I'm beginning to understand!" Pkay is such an example of searching with real intent, and I know that God will help Him find the answers he needs!

4. We've had a musical evening in the process for quite awhile, and finally we were able to make significant progress this week! I'm so grateful for the ward and members here who hear the crazy ideas of a few missionaries and help us put them into works. I'm SO excited for March 3rd, and I'll most likely stream it live on Facebook!

5. I've had some really awesome scripture studies this week, and like Pkay, I've had moments of exclaiming, "I think I'm beginning to understand!" My knowledge will not be perfect in this life, but I'm so grateful for the knowledge I do have. I understand God's plan for me, and what I need to do with this precious time on Earth! How wonderful and happy and glorious is this time on Earth, when founded on a life focused on our Savior!

Love love love love love,

Sister Macey Ingalls

(sorry, pictures aren't working this week!)

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Jan 4)

Teaching the chickens, crazy times with the district and Joseph's baptism!

I Love You a Million "Sun-shiney" Days! -- Jan 4

Oh Mama, how I love you!!

This week has been wonderful, crazy, stressful and most important, happy and spiritual!!

Thanks for reminding me of my 8 month-mission mark! Crazy how fast time has gone! Do you think it’s any different than how it's felt with the boys before? I remember at first it was weird and slow that they were gone, but then suddenly 2 years flew by and they were home! I'm so lucky I get just a bit more time to know that I have more in front of me than behind me! I like to think a lot about who I want to become in this time, but not so much about ending it! Ahhh that would be so weird!

Oh, btw crazy thing, transfer calls were on Saturday! Sister Decker and I are staying together for a 3rd transfer!! We are both pretty excited, but that is super unusual, and we were surprised! 1-2 transfers together are normal! Apparently, our zone leaders called the AP's multiple times to request to keep us together! We were like, why?! We are crazy weird together!! Haha, but we found a ton of success this transfer. Definitely the most success in the zone, so that was kind of their reasoning. It really was just because this place is so prepared and ready to do the gospel, we were just kind of there for support along the way..?! AHHHH we are so excited though! We've become like best friends (yes, I know, I call everyone my best friend, but they are totally all the best!) So, I will for sure be here until March 15th which is the next transfer, but probably longer until past my birthday! Woo hoo this place is awesome! I'm happy to serve wherever I'm called though, it's not a matter of where I serve but how I serve.

Okay okay okay thank you for being concerned about the whole food thing, but I have to apologize for probably making it sound like a bigger deal than it is. Don't worry, I eat, I like food, I'm happy and definitely not losing any weight! I've been talking to Sister Decker about this that I've just been messing with my mind a bit with the whole eating appt thing. Like oh, we are having lunch with so and so at 1 pm, I know they are going to feed us a ton so I shouldn't eat before, then I'm hungry and then end up eating too close to the appt. and then get sick haha.. I just need to not worry about it :)

I also took some good down time today. This weekend has been absolutely exhausting, and I just needed it today! We had to get up and go to the church at like 6:30 to send a report, but other than that we cleaned and I took some me time! I read an entire Liahona magazine, then just spent some very good quality time praying and spending some time with my Heavenly Father. Just like you and dad, I need to spend some time with Him, just being grateful and praying for others. I received the biggest amount of peace today through that! That is probably the biggest blessing I could ask for! :)

Okay, I know you really want to hear about the baptism and the good stuff! The whole process was really sweet! I laugh now because I actually didn't even see Joseph get baptized, there were so many people there! They both invited so many friends and family to come see, and I think it was just important that they were able to see as well! We received some really good contacts from his family because of it, and I hope that the Frankfurt missionaries will be able to start teaching them soon!

Marcia asked us to help her make a ton of food on Friday and Saturday night, and it was an experience! We made Chapati again, along with a bunch of other things that I definitely can't pronounce! Sis Decker got a funny little video of the whole scene on Saturday night as I was on the floor using all my strength to mix that Chapati dough! Heehee, you probably want to prepare yourself, I think when I have access to Amazon and I cook at home, I will be wearing an African apron and a headscarf, it's so much more comfortable to walk around in!

Sunday was a bit stressful! There is so much preparation that goes into a baptism, especially for those in charge and the missionaries wow! It was slightly embarrassing that I forgot I was saying the opening prayer, so I had about 2 minutes during the song to think about what would be good and right to say, and how to say it correctly in German. Man, I lost my mind up there, and I completely choked on my German! A sweet, loving member came up to me afterward and was like, "Sister Ingalls! When you bore your testimony in sacrament meeting today, you spoke perfect German without accent!! But your prayer wasn't as good.." Haha, they are so funny and bold! Gotta love 'em!

It's starting to show hints of spring! Oh boy, I can hardly wait! Your birthday is coming up really quickly!!! :) :) :) :) Do you have any requests from Germany or how I can make your birthday a teeny bit more special? :) I'm so excited you are turning 31 this year, woo hoo!!

I love you a million sun-shiney days! I love you even just a few conversations a day with my Heavenly Father- those are really a blessing!

Nakupenda! (I love you!)

Sister Macey Ingalls

NAAAAAKUPENDAAAA (Feb 4 - Group Email))

Yet another amazing week!!
1. I hit 8 months on my mission this week, and also I opened my mission call a year ago this week! Over a year ago, I took a complete leap of faith, hoping to do some good in the world, only to find so much more. I'm grateful for this dedicated experience to focus my everyday life on my Savior, Jesus Christ, and help others learn and apply His mortal ministry and Atonement in their lives! That totally just makes me jump for joy!!

2. We visited a member's friend out in the boonies that we taught a couple weeks back. He wanted a Book of Mormon, but apparently he got one in Russian..? Along the way we met some really cool farmers and their roaming animals! The language barrier with the chickens was a bit rough, so we didn't get the return appt. #missionaryhumor #imsorrymyjokesaregettinglamer #actuallytheyalwayswere

Teaching all of God's creations

3. This was THEE most cultured week of my life, and I'm convinced I should have been born in Kenya! ;-) In preparation for Joseph's baptism, Marcia wanted our help to make a TON of food. I will never forget kneeling in a crowded kitchen wearing a Kenyan apron and a headscarf kneading chapati dough.

 Pro tip: Make chapati on the floor

 Pro-er tip: Use your apron to hold warm chapati for eating chapati as you make more chapati

Ohhhh I love these women

4. Oh yeah, JOSEPH WAS BAPTIZED! Oh it was so sweet. He was just a ray of sunshine the entire day. He exclaimed, "I am clean! This is the happiest day of my life!" We are so happy for him, he was completely ready!

Tiny culture flare: We found out like 2 days before we were singing a special musical piece IN SWAHILI! It was awesome!!! Also the family surprised us with dresses that they had made for us in Kenya, they are so sweet!

5. I learned this week that when I speak with someone overwhelmed or someone seeking peace, the Spirit will prompt me to send them to Him. Heavenly Father has blessed us with prayer as a source of 2-way communication. What a wonderful thing!

Nakupenda!

Sister Macey Ingalls

P.S. Say "Nakupenda" like you're singing the beginning of the Lion King. #yourewelcome #mysterysolved