FEASTING ON VEGEMITE YA RANGER

BUENAS TARDES. How is every one? You better all be well. First of all, thanks to all very dearly for the sweet birth-day wishes. It always means a lot to get sweet messages from so many people I love.

I literally do not have any time for a big update on this week, so I apologise. But it's worth it because I got lots of sweet emails that took all my time. But I just wanted to let every one know that my new companion is from Australia, and his name is Elder McKay. So that's pretty much the coolest thing ever. We already ate some vegemite. I love you all, and I know that there will be miracles had in these coming weeks. PLEASE ALWAYS BE HAPPY. There's no reason to not be happy. We're actually here on this wonderful planet to be happy, so fulfill that purpose! Get on it every one! I love you all dearly. Dearly dearly. 

AMOR

Elder McDonald

New Companion! Elder McKay from Australia! We forgot to take a picture together in missionary clothes.. sorry.

Vegemite!

Apparently you can eat this stuff on everything...

Sweaty Gangsta.

¡¿UN OTRO HIJO?!

WELL. I'm training again. That was a surprise. I literally was expecting any thing to happen besides that! But I'm super stoked! I'm really excited. Training for the first time was such a rewrding experience, and I'm one hundred percent sure that this time will be just as great. I'm excited to see if I'll receive a Yankee or a Latino... it's really up in the air. I've got a feeling I'll get a Brasilero. Holy smokes. This next transfer is going to be incredible! I love working with all of the faith that new missionaries have. It is such a joy. Any ways, my time is low, but I hope every one knows that I am SUPER EXCITED to be alive and to be alive as a representative of Christ and His Church. This is the life. And I know that the Lord has incredible things planned for each of His children. Like I said, I was literally not even expecting at all to be training again. But I know it's what the Lord wants and needs! And what I need! And what my companion needs! See. The Lord's mind is so different from our minds, but if we let His will become ours, and we let things that he puts in to our lives work for our good, it won't only be for our good. It will be for the good of every one around us. Even if it seems like a bad thing, we can alwaaayyyys take that challenge and make some thing great out of it, all while learning a lot as we do it. I have to go right now but I love all of you sooooo dearly! BE HAPPY.

MAS CALOR...

BUEN DÍA. Another week gone! And it was really hot, too. Like, really hot.

I really wish I had some thing crazy to tell all of you, but honestly the craziest thing that happened this week was that a dog ran up behind me and bumped in to my calf instead of biting me. I was disappointed in its half-hearted effort of attacking me. When I looked back it just started backing up and growling so I told him to take it to him self ("tomátela" if you speak Argentine) and kept walking. Maybe one day he'll learn how to bite like a real street dog..

This last week we got to have some good meetings with a family of old investigators we found, The Torres family. They're really great, and the mother wants to get baptised with her children. We're trying our best to get to know the father, because he was raised as an orphan by Catholic priests and nuns and feels like he would be betraying his upbringing if he lets his family get baptised. They're really great. 

This last week I've been feeling prompted a lot to work on having more charity for all people. I feel like I've become so accustomed to some situations, or some people that I've lost my sense of charity and pure love some times, which is sooooo key as a missionary. I really do love a lot of people, but some times I let my past experiences keep me from treating all people with the same type of love Christ would treat all people, no matter the past experiences had. And I think as we work hard to have charity for all men, the faith we have in their potential to become better people increases. And as we exercise faith, miracles happen! It's all tied together. So that's been my goal these last few weeks, and I thought I'd share it with every one because I feel it a worthy goal for all to put. There are people we pass every day that could use a little bit of charity and love, so don't skimp out! The charity we can have for all never runs out if we don't let it. 

I know my week is going to b e really incredibly good, and I know that every one else in the world can have a really incredibly good-looking week as well if we all love more people and think good thoughts about them. May I and you all see God's children with His eyes, not ours. 

LES AMOOOO.

Elder McDonald

UNA SEMANA MOOOOJJJJAAAADA

NICE. Well, this time I really don't have any time. Sorry. Today we went to a cool Argentina Army museum and to Wendy's, so that sucked all of our time up. But worth it. It was fun. Got a sweet picture with some sweet Argentine helicopters and planes.

We had a good week! I'm happy. I'm really happy! Lots of really great feelings, and when I have more time next week I'll share more details. But I love my life, I love my family and I love my Jesus! Keep spirits high always! Enjoy all the pictures (you better put them on the blog, Mom)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINI-MISIONERO Y SOMOS TRES DE VUELTA

HEYA! ¿Cómo están todos? Well, another week has passed! Crazy, right? Well, we had a fun surprise this Thursday when we got a mini-missionary. His name's Sebastian and he's a monster already. He's gonna be a great missionary - lots of passion for sharing the Gospel. He's eighteen, still finishing school, so he's going to put his papers in once he finishes. Caaaapo. We talked to like a bajillion people this week, and it felt so good. Talking to people is the beeeeest.

This week we found a great guy named Claver (Never have I heard that name, here or up north) who came to church with us this Sunday. Luckily it was fast and testimony meeting, and he said he loved it. He said he enjoyed how every one in the congregation got to participate, but what made me the most happy was how many people talked to him after the meeting and made him feel welcome. That's always such a score for me! I love it when people are nice to new people, wherever it may be! Being new is probably the most uncomfortable social thing ever, so when people are nice to you and laugh with you it's a life changer. THAT, I testify, THAT is half the reason people want to return to church the following week. Because they felt at home and comfortable. Yes, the Spirit is there, and they feel it and can often recognise that good feeling. But that good feeling often takes a big back seat if you go to church not knowing any one except for the weird kids who always wear white shirts and ties and no one talks to you. 

BE NICE AND LOVE EVERY ONE. The best way to feel loved is to love other people. Whoa. If we feel like no one loves us, but then we show some one who needs it some love, they'll love us and then we won't need it any more either. It's kind of like physics with the equal and opposite force, right? Haha, maybe not. I dropped physics, so no one can blame me for that if it didn't make sense. Any ways, I love all of you sooo much and I haven't met any one here that I don't love yet, so I'm feeling really good. Let us all follow our Saviour's grand loving example this week by showing our love to every one we can. We'll get love back - I promise.

DALE AMOR,

Élder McDonald

 

 

Sebastian!

 

 

 

FRIO.. Y CALOR DE VUELTA

BUEN DÍA! Hey, so I'm really sorry but some times the time escapes me and it means I don't get to send a really big email. But know that this week was really great!

Big news that doesn't really mean any thing for those that aren't missionaries! The entire missionary schedule changed! Mostly every one is excited because we now have two an a half extra hours of P-Day. If that's not good news I don't know what is. 

Elder Gygi and I are still getting lost a lot, but it's exciting! It gives us more opportunities to speak to every one and share with every one, since we have to ask for directions so much. This area is huge, but it has some great people. We're just meeting and meeting and meeting more people, because we don't know any one. It's awesome, because I really like meeting people! 

This week we met some really great people, but what really stood out to me is how many examples of people utilising their agency that I saw. I felt impressed to talk to multiple people this week, and as I met them, I understood why. They were all looking for just more! All of them were in some sort of situation where a need of spiritual alimentation (is that a word? Or is that Spanglish?) was necessary. But I then got to see them use their agency and choose to reject inspired invitations from my companion and I. Man, it's so sad! I wasn't mad, or annoyed. It's just sad. How does our Father in Heaven feel about us when we know we have to do some thing, or we know some thing is right, and we don't do it! I know He feels that sadness. And I know it's so much greater, because His love is perfect. But our Father in His perfection has also given us a perfect Plan where we can come back from that bad choice and make a right one later that will erase all of those bad ones. Repentance is so very possible, and the Lord's mercy is extended to all. Even though agency can make us sad, it is such a blessing when we think about all of the joy that comes from choosing the right and repenting. 

I love you all quite a lot, and I love every one here in Argentina quite a lot. 

¡Cuidense!

Elder McDonald

Investigators and Friends!

Lots of delicious empanadas!

Shaking Hands with Elder Stevenson!

QUE SEMANA MAS LOCA

BUENAS TARDES. Wow. what a week. This week has been intense. A lot fo stuff happened. First of all, I came to my area, was with two other missionaries for like two days, and then Elder Barrowes got flashed out and left Elder Gygi and I alone in the strange land of Paso del Rey. We're so lost. But it's always fun to do this. Paso's great.

I know there are a lot of people waiting for the Gospel here. I love the story of Peter and Cornelius in the book of Acts, chapter ten. To put things in to context, Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this story with us this morning when we had a special meeting with him. Which was incredible. But more on that later. Any ways, there's a man named Cornelius who received a sign that he needed to talk to Peter, and Peter also received a sign that he needed to preach the Gospel to Cornelius and his family. There are lots of people that we know that are being prepared, like Cornelius, to hear the Gospel from one who has the authority to preach it. And we have a great responsibility to be ready and willing to listen and follow the Spirit's promptings so that we can respond to the Lord's call and to the needs of our Cornelius. The Lord is preparing people now, for us specifically, but if we're not worthy and ready to answer His call, it makes it much more difficult for the truth to arrive. Can you imagine Peter neglecting to visit Cornelius because he thought he was too busy with his Apostolic duties? Let us find our Corneliuses?

Bueno, so Elder Stevenson had a special leadership meeting for the missions of Buenos Aires, and I got to go this morning. We had to wake up sooo early, but it was worth it afùl. What an incredible experience it was an always is to be able to listen and learn from an Apostle and Prophet of the Lord. Many things touched me, but what most called my attencion was the emphasis Elder Stevenson put on inviting and promising blessings, then testifying that what you teach is the truth. He told us we have the authority and the blessing to be able to promise other people blessings if they keep the commandments we teach them. And the blessings are great for obedience! I know that the choice to follow the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important choice. I know that the Church that I represent is Christ's, and I absolutely know that any one and every one who wishes to know for them selves can. God giveth liberally to those who ask, as James tells us, and I promise that any one who asks our Heavenly Father for answers will receive them. This Gospel blesses every aspect of our lives, and I know that making the choice to follow the Saviour is choosing blessings. Family relationships will be more fulfilling, and we'll feel better in every aspect. 

I know that the man that spoke with us this morning is called of God to be an Apostle of Christ's church. I know we are guided today by Apostles and by a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, just as the Church was guided primitively in Christ's day. Christ lives, and so does His church, restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. It will bless all who take part, as it has blessed me. I looooooooooooove all of you and all of my family and am so content. Have a happy week.

Besos,

Elder McDonald

 

To go to the conference this morning, we went to a pench in Moreno that has roof top access and decided to take a few pictures together. Haha thought you'd like some of them.

 

 

Elders from El Salvador, Argentina, Brasil and Urugay.