UNA FAMILIA DE ORO

BUUUEEENAAASSSS. Hopefully every one is doing incredibly well! This week was fiiiilllled with walking. Well, more so than my weeks usually are. But walking's great, so there's no problem there. All of that walking was rewarded by a great gift this Sunday, though. The great family of Bolivians, Familia Chumacero, finally came to church with us! It was great to see them there, and that was a big step for them in their progression; Sundays were always difficult for them because they always have family come and visit and want to have lunch and things like that. It is beautiful to see progression in people you put so much prayer and energy in to. What a blessing it has been for me to watch their faith in the Saviour grow. It makes me think of the great blessing it must be to raise a child. Frustrating (I know from looking back on my former self that it's real frustrating), but rewarding to see such great growth. As Elder Hales told us a year ago, our children are just as our investigators - it's our responsibility to help them become converted unto the Lord.

And that's about all I know about raising children. But if teaching and seeing people I'm not even related to grow spiritually, and if raising a child unto the Lord as a parent is so satisfying and rewarding, think of how rewarding it is for our Father in Heaven to watch us in life's journey as we grow and try to come closer to Him! And if we put so much effort in to helping said people grow in this life, think of the huge effort that our Heavenly Father puts in to help us grow, be happy and return to him. It's got to be a pretty intense effort, and I know it was as well for our beloved older Brother Jesus Christ, who suffered all things so that we can progress in this life and so that we can return to a Father who has done so much to let us back in to His presence. I love my Saviour dearly, and I love my Father in Heaven dearly. I know He loves me. I know He loves each and every one of you, His children. And I know He has put in His full effort, and that He continues to do so, so that we may have every possibility to return to live with Him. His work and His glory is us and our eternal life. I know that to be true, thanks to the Restored Gospel on the earth today.

I love you all dearly dearly and thank you for all that you do to keep me up and running out here! I'm up and running!

Un beso,

Elder McDonald

Meeting President Nelson!

Un encuentro con un Apóstol del Señor

BUEEENAS TARDES. I'm here real late today because we spent the whole morning in Belgrano with President Nelson, who came to visit Buenos Aires. It is a special opportunity to be a missionary serving in the Lord's kingdom, and one of the great things to make it special are visits from General Authorities. The Spirit was strong all morning, and it is special to be in the presence of one of Christ's special witnesses.

Some thing that really touched me overall from President Nelson's message was the knowledge he has gained from the Spirit. And what I love is that it is not only spiritual knowledge, but knowledge in every sense of the term. For much of my life, I've received witnesses of the truthfulnes of the Apostles' callings by the Spirit, by their powerful testimonies of the Restored Gospel, but this opportunity was special because I received a Spiritual witness, but then a second witness as well of the great knowledge and power that a life dedicated to the Lord and an Apostolic calling brings. It was a different witness, and still from the Spirit, but a testimony of the two witness teaching that we find in the Bible, which declares that the Lord will establish his word by two or three witnesses. Such it is with the Bible and the Book of Mormon, such it is in ordinances of the Lord, such it is with my companion and I as missionaries, and such it was with the witness that I received this morning.

 He spoke to us a lot about Abraham, and how it's important to know who we are. We're adopted in to Abraham's lineage when we are baptised by the proper authority, and as such, we're entitled to the Lord's promises to Abraham which President Nelson explained were made specifically for these Latter Days. He connected the importance of knowing who we are with the greatness and joy of our calling as missionaries. We are agents in bringing to pass promises the Lord made over four thousand years ago! What joy I feel to be immersed in this work, which I testify is the Lord's. I know that as we study and search prayerfully for knowledge both temporal and spiritual, the Lord will provide it, and our testimonies of Him and His work and restored Gospel will be strengthened and perfected. How mine has grown here in Argentina! I loooooove my family on both sides of the hemisphere, and love my Saviour Jesus Christ. I know He lives. He was resurrected on the third day and He guides His church on the earth today. I know it! I heard one of His servants today. 

¡Hasta la proxima!

Elder McDonald

Service Project

Broken Shoes

 

Lucky Pesos!

More service project with Stake President

Mirror selfie...

UN BAUTISMO Y ME QUEDO

¡BUEN DÍA! Man, I hope every one is doing well. I'm doing really well. Camila got baptised, and both her parents who are separated and haven't been to church in a good while came to support her! It was a sweet service, and the whole thing was a big miracle. I know that baptism brings a remission of sins - and then we get the gift of the Holy Ghost, which leads us in the right. There is always great joy in seeing a brother or sister take such an important step in their lives, and to see their joy after doing so. I know that Christ's arms are always open, and all are welcome to follow His example and command in to the waters of baptism. How great are the blessings, and how powerful is the Spirit promised us!

Turns out I'm still staying here in Paso del Rey! But in a trio again. Honestly, these last transfers have just been full of endless surprises.. Some thing always happens when there's a trio. But I'm excited to continue working here in Paso! There is much to do and much growth to see! The Lord always knows exactly what He's doing, and I know that President Robertson does too! 

Last week I went on divisions with Elder Ruiz, and we had lunch with a wonderfully happy family who have been members of the Church for around two and a half years. They were perfectly content, laughing and conversing with us. About halfway through the lunch, I found out that their ten year-old son had passed away just a month earlier, and it blew my mind, and made me appreciate so much more the incredible healing power of Christ's atonement, and the power of the Lord's promise to them that their family, sealed in the Lord's Temple would be together again in the next life. They were such a huge example to me! It made me ponder on how a family with out the comforting knowledge of God's Plan of Happiness would act in a similar situation. The mother just told me, "It was hard at the beginning, but I'm happy at this point. In fact, it just gives me the strength to work hard in this life and to be obedient, because he's up there waiting for us, and if we blow it, he won't be too happy!" I know they'll see their son again, I know that I can be with my family for time and all eternity, and I know that the Lord's promises are firm. It starts with Camila's decision. It starts with baptism, and the doors are opened to the path of eternal life. And as the classic Mormon phrase goes, Heaven wouldn't be Heaven with out my family. I know that. Our Heavenly Father knows that, and He's given us the way! 

Every one better be happy this week! I'm feeling good. Love you all.

Becitooos,

Elder McDonald

 

Camila's Baptism!

 

 

 

LA CONFERENCIA ME HA BENDECIDO

HOOOLA. What an incredible week filled with miracles! Man! First of all, we had the huge blessing this week of finding a young woman named Camila, whose mother and brother were baptised years ago with out her. She's sixteen, and has been to church loads of times, and basically knows every thing, but just never felt the importance or need for baptism. She let us right in, and some thing was different this time, I guess. The Spirit was strong, and she accepted the grand invitation to follow Christ's example in to the waters of baptism. She's going to be baptised this weekend, and she's on fire! She went to seminary like, every day this week and watched every session of General Conference. It has been a great blessing to witness the beginnings of her conversion. The Lord does so much work! I remember some one telling me one time that we as missionaries are pretty much just the handle on the great machine of the work of the Lord. He does every thing! As the Fleet Foxes say, I'd rather be a functioning cog in some great machinery, serving some thing beyond me (shouts out to Jarom). 

We were also blessed to have the Familia Chumacero come to one of the general conference sessions. I think they enjoyed it, and they're progressing along. The Lord has a time for every one! 

How I loved General Conference. I had questions answered, and my testimony strengthened. I feel like there was a big push on our personal conversion and faith in the Saviour and His Gospel. I loved President Monson's short words on the grand importance of the Book of Mormon in our conversion and lives - it was fortifying to my testimony of President Robertson's calling as president of this mission. We've had a recent focus on the Book of Mormon in the conversion process, as my family has seen with the sixty day challenge we're working on. And how I feel my faith grow as I focus on that sacred book of scripture. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I know that every one of His children will grow closer to Him by reading it and living by its teachings. Far from replacing the Holy Bible, I have a firm testimony that they testify of each other. I know that through them we can come closer to Christ. I know that with my heart! What comfort is given to know that our loving Father in Heaven has blessed us with another testament of his beloved Son, with more of His word, more of His teachings, and a knowledge of His love for both Jew and Gentile. 

I hope with all of my heart that all are happy and all are able to recognise God's tender hand in all of our lives. Look for the joy that is to be found every where. I feel it now, just thinking of all of the blessings my Father has poured upon my head. If you're looking for more joy, more direction, more understanding, find a way to get your hands on a Book of Mormon! Read, ponder and pray! The Lord will answer. Every single time.

Con todo mi amor,

Elder Jacob McDonald

 

 

There was a band of Gauchos that walked by the window of our pench, so I nailed some pics!