Don't Cry For Me Argentina: ¡ME VOY!

MY STAY AT VILLA POSSE HAS COME TO AN END. I have been called to head on over to a place called Rivadavia. I´m still in the same general area of Buenos Aires, so I don´t have to take a ten hour bus ride over to campo, but I am really super excited. I´m going to another walking area, which I´m also a big fan of. I dig walking. Also, in other very exciting news, my new companion's name is Elder Ordenez, and he is a Chileno! Woo! I am incredibly excited. I am literally so excited. Iam not going to be speaking any English! Like, the only time I will speak English is during district meetings, and when talking to all of you. And I am incredibly grateful for that. I´ve got some powerful goals for my Spanish, and I know I´m not just learning Spanish for these two years. I have my entire life ahead of me, and the Lord has called me to learn the Spanish language for a reason. I can´t imagine a better way to learn Spanish than taking away my ability to speak English, eh? Man I´m excited. Every Chileno I´ve met I´ve been a fan of, so I think I´m going to have a good time. But I am way excited to work with the revitalised spirit of a new area! I adore Villa Posse, and as my first area, it will always have a nice roomy space in my heart, but I am way excited to see the outside world and work in Rivadavia with all of my heart, might, mind and strength. WOO. I hope every one is excited about life. I am real excited about life.

This week we had a sweet Family Night with a member family and invited Angelica (just baptised) and her daughter Eleanora (who wants to get baptised!). We ate Argentine pizza and watched Conozca los Mormones! (Meet the Mormons). Which is really really good. It is beautifully made, and I mostly liked it this time because the voices of the family from Costa Rica weren´t overdubbed in English, since it was the Spanish version. Every one should go watch that movie again, or for the first time if you haven´t seen it. It´s a lot of fun, and there are a lot of really good people doing good things for the world in there. Speaking of Eleanora, she is great. SHe knows she has a testimony, and knows she wants to get baptised. As soon as she drops her little smoking habit, she is going to be incredibly ready. I could not ask for a better example than Angelica for her family. The Familia Aguado is a special family, but Angelica blows my mind. She happily accepted a calling in church as the ward librarian, and is ultimately just killing it, especially sharing the Gospel with every one around her!

The news about my transfer and getting a Latino companion was a great testimony of our Heavenly Father´s love for us. Although He ultimately cares first and foremost about what we need, as the infintely loving Father of our Spirits, He also cares about our just desires! He didn't put us on this earth to just complete our purpose as robots and then head up to Heaven; we're here to have joy! Just look around you! Take time to observe the trees, the mountains, the rain, the heavens both day and night, the innocence of a child. The Lord created this earth for us to enjoy, and He created us to have joy. Be happy with what you have, and take time to count your blessings and give thanks to our Father in Heaven. And if you want more blessings, ask Him humbly. Whether He answers with a yes or a no, He will answer, and as we follow His answers and His commandments, our Father has promised us that we will prosper. I don't have words in Castellano or in English to describe the gratitude I feel as I ponder on my life, my family, and my time as a full-time servant of my Saviour. Gratitude is so important. All that we have is because of our Father´s love for us, and if we complain about what we don't have, why would the Lord want to bless us with more? Remember also that our trials are for our learning, and ultimately always for our betterment.

I am grateful for all of you, and I am grateful for Jesus Christ. I love you all and hope that every one is content. God bless you!

Chau,

Elder McDonald