Love

Hello! How I love you all! As Christ said in Third Nephi, "My joy is full." This week has been super gnarly, but in the absolute best of ways. So much has happened. First off, right after I emailed every one last week, I got to go to the Temple, which is a weekly P-day thing. I love that place! The Spirit and calm that exists with in the Lord's house is unmatched. I am stoked to go back today!

Spanish is going pretty well! I can say a simple prayer and bear simple testimony in Spanish by this point, which I think is pretty cool. The Lord knows what I'm trying to say, so it's important that I just put out the effort, eh? We've had lessons with our main mock church investigator Julio all week. Our first lesson was understandably pretty awful, and brought on an encouragement from Hermana Estrada (our morning Spanish teacher) to read Alma 26:27. What a verse that is! It was perfect. Hermana Estrada is awesome. However, as our knowledge of the language grew and our knowledge of Julio's needs grew, so did the quality of our lessons. Those mock lessons are a huge thing here. It brings such an opportunity to learn the doctrine in Spanish, but more so to understand that even when you're certifiably awful at speaking the language and attempting to say what you feel, the Spirit still resides in that classroom. Where truth is, so the Spirit is also. And I can testify that the testimonies we bear of Jesus Christ and His everlasting Gospel are true. I know with all of my heart that Christ is my Saviour and that The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of His Gospel. I promise that as we read that book, we will surely grow closer to our Heavenly Father and better understand the extent of His love for us. Just read it!

Sunday though! Potentially the highlight of this entire week. Church was obviously wonderful, but all new missionaries are instructed to watch Elder Bednar's talk entitled "The Character of Christ" on our first Sabbath at the MTC. That talk is literally the greatest. Like it is so incredible. I don't care who you are, please look it up and watch it! Elder Bednar spoke about how whenever the natural man would turn inward and think about him self (ie some thing bad happens to you and you turn inwards and mope/ask others for help and love) Christ would turn outward and worry about his brothers and sisters. One example for understanding (because I'm trusting all of you to watch it so you can see the other incredible things Elder Bednar said), as Christ was in the midst of more pain than any of us could bear during His crucifixion, he was not only asking the Father to forgive his killers, but he was ministering to the thieves dying beside him. Trying to bring them unto his Gospel as well. I'm gonna say it again: watch that talk if you haven't already. I hope every one can find it. If it doesn't increase your love for the Saviour and inspire you to better follow His example, I don't know what will. 

Oh, hey! I went to choir practice, which was way cool. The director is incredible. He is super smart and has a clever sense of humour as well. Also, We prepared a mind blowing arrangement of Joseph Smith's First Prayer. I may or may not have stolen a copy to use in the future. Got many chills from that performance. 

Honestly this is such a cool place. I can hardly comprehend how much I'm learning at this place. It's crazy! There's just a wonderful amount of Spiritual and language learning packed in to each week. And it's legitimately been one week. If we keep learning at this rate, by five weeks I don't think Spanish is going to be much to worry about (until I head over to Argentina and don't understand any thing.)

One more video to watch! Mountains to Climb. That's a Mormon Message I hadn't seen in a while and I forgot how killer it is. We all have had trials. Physical, mental, spiritual, it doesn't matter. Jesus Christ suffered every single one of them, and every single one we are ever going to experience. He loved us enough to kneel in Gethsemane and bleed from every pore as he atoned for our sins and our trials. I cannot say enough how much I love my Saviour. I promise that as we come unto Him with our trials, He will be there. Jesus is the Christ, and He is the Example. If we but try to love as He did, our Heavenly Father will bless us for it. I testify of these things in His name, even my eternal Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

Much love to all of you! I hope all is well! It sure is here.

Warmest Wishes,

Elder McDonald

Temple Visit with my Companion

Super tall kid in my building. He's like 7'2"