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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

FUIMOS AL TEMPLO POR FIN

HEY. Is every one well? I hope so. I'm doing really well. We saw a lot of miracles this week.

Miracle number one: We finally got to go to the temple! What a joyful experience. I can't think of a more peaceful, happy place to be. I am grateful that we have a loving, unchanging Father in Heaven who commanded us to build temples! Where would we be with out the House of the Lord here on earth? I love the great chance I always get to meditate as I feel the great peace and quiet that exists in the Lord's house. I thought a lot, and always try and go to the temple with a question. As I thought and prayed for an answer, I had a sweet feeling of peace and that the answer was in me focusing more on my leadership responsibilities in my district. 

 

I am so grateful for the influence of the Holy Ghost in my life - what a blessing that Christ promised a Comforter to His disciples and all those who chose to follow His example in to the waters of baptism. Having the gift of the Holy Ghost means we have a literal gift from our Father in Heaven; we have comfort in times of distress, we have joy in times of sadness, we have remembrance in times of need and we have personal revelation in times of confusion or doubt! What a blessing! And what a work incentive! All of those huge blessings and joys can be ours in every moment of need if we work to keep our selves clean and ask in faith! 

 

This week in our little training we had from President Robertson, we talked a lot about the great need of faith. I also finished the Book of Mormon this week for the second time in Spanish, and fell in love (again) with chapter seven of Moroni, which talks quite a bit about faith. We're told that "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you." But it warns us as well that if we pray with out real intent to do as we are told by the Spirit, it is of no worth to us. Faith is suuuch an important principle, and being so important, how we should all desire to increase our own! I've been thinking a lot about that, but I know that through our faith and through our real intent we can know the truth of all things. We can know who Christ is, we can know the character of our Father in Heaven. We can know the truth of Christ's church here on earth. I know that I represent that same church, and I know it is true. I know that God loves us so that he has given us His Spirit, to be received by the laying on of hands by those who have His Holy Priesthood. I know this because that same Spirit has told me of its truth. How I hope to grow more in my faith and my knowledge! There's always work to do, but man am I happy to work for this. I'm so happy to be here among such wonderful people. I'm happy where I am, and happy I'll be wherever the Lord sends me. 

Cuidense,

Elder McDonald

SE VIENE EL FRIO EH

¿ESTÁN BIEN? Nice. This week was pretty great. I'll start with a story! The best part of every week is having a story. This one's pretty short, but it's okay.

So, here we are, walking through the dirt streets of Paso del Rey, looking for a referral that a sweet elderly member gave us. We thought we had found the house, and were heading towards it when the car pulls up and every one jumps out really fast and starts heading inside. We go over and say, "Hey, does so-and-so live here?" The woman we asked says she is so-and-so but she really can't talk right now because she wants to go inside and be safe because around the corner there was a chorro (thief) with a gun who was trying to get in to a house but that the neighbours tackled him and took his gun and were waiting for the police. We say okay that's fine we'll come by another day and she says that would be great. All right. Let's be honest. I'm Elder Jacob McDonald. I hear that there's a scene like that, and does any one really expect me to turn around and walk the other way? Maybe my mom would. So we walk over and peek around the corner... what a great sight. Halfway down the street, there are three men stacked on top of another man who can't move and can only emit muffled yells of "Hey! Stop! STOP IT." So we rounded the corner a bit and gave the three men the classic thumbs up to see if they needed any help, and the man in front gave us the classic thumbs up back, meaning no, every thing's under control. We got this guy. So we headed off still listening to the chorro's muffled yells to get off of him.

There's our weekly event! Great, right? Two thumbs up for the great neighbours who attacked our gun-wielding antagonist.

I'm glad to be in Argentina. I really am. Every week that passes I just get more and more grateful for the wonderful journey that this is. And I'm even more glad that I'm here as a missionary of Christ's living church. Can any one think of a greater blessing? I'm in the Americas! And I'm a missionary! I know with out any sort of doubt that what we share is the absolute truth. Our loving Saviour Jesus Christ lives, and so does His Church! He restored it through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and it lives today and is guided by a prophet called of God, Thomas S. Monson. Our Heavenly Father's Priesthood authority is on the earth today, and through that authority my family and I have been blessed beyond understanding. Through that authority I am working to give those blessings to the beautiful families here, who need them! The world's a tough place! We need Jesus Christ here. 

I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

Elder McDonald

Yay! Someone made him a cake!!

New companion, Elder Millett! 

THEY TOOK MY AUSSIE AWAY FROM ME

BUEN DÍA. Well, I've got some rough news. Elder McKay, by beloved Australian mate, had to head back to his homeland for some lung problems that acted up. It was a pretty hard blow, but if there's one thing I know, it's that the Lord always knows what He's doing. Elder McKay had a purpose in coming here, and I'm sure that he'll see the blessings of these two weeks in some way during his mission in Australia and the rest of his life. It was a joy being his companion. Now, I've got a sweet texan for a companion! His name's Elder Millett. He just came back to the mission after going home with a broken collar bone, so he had his rest and now he's ready to get to work! I'm really excited to work with him.

This week was pretty rewarding. We found a beautiful family of seven from Bolivia, and they received us really warmly in to their home. After coming back to teach them a second time, Ariel-Armando and Silvia, the parents, told us that they read the Book of Mormon together as a family and prayed about it together afterwards. They said it was the first time they had ever prayed together as a family, and that they all felt really good doing so. I felt the blessings they had received for keeping commitments from the Lord, and I felt the Spirit testify that what they had done was right. I'm excited to keep every one updated on their progress. 

How great are the Lord's blessings for us! Heavenly Father really likes blessing us. He wants us to be happy. And those blessings and happiness come through our obedience to His commandments. It's that simple! Maybe not easy, but simple! I love counting the blessings that I've received for my own obedience, because I can't actually count them. And I know that my obedience here is a great preparation for obedience in the future with maybe more important things. But I have a testimony that obedience always makes us happy. Even if things on the outside don't look super great, we will always be able to smile and feel sunshine in our souls if we're obedient. LOVE YA ALL.

Elder McDonald

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.