OH, LAS BENDICIONES DEL SEÑOR

BUEEEEEN DÍA. How is every one? I'm doing really, really well. I'm excited. I'm finally leaving Paso del Rey! I've been here a good while, and it has been an incredible blessing and opportunity for growth being here. But it's time to move on, and I'm moving on to Luján! I am so stoked! I've been here in the same part of Buenos Aires for a good while now (a gooood while) and I could not be more excited to serve in a place like Luján... and as zone leader... haha. Man. I'm nervous for such a responsibility, but the Lord calls whom He calls, and I am glad and excited to go and do what the Lord has asked me to do. 

Today, I feel overwhelmed because of the many blessings I've seen this week, but especially this day. What a testimony I have of the Lord's protection and knowledge of all we need and desire. He has truly provided this week in Paso del Rey, with a wonderful family I'll leave progressing towards baptism. He has truly provided in my family, with the scare of dear Grandma breaking her hip. Every thing is before His sight, and Heavenly Father fixes every thing as it should be, and blesses His faithful children. I've seen numerous blessings on my mission for my obedience, and I know Heavenly Father is blessing my family for their obedience as well. May we all ponder on the many, many blessings of our Celestial Father in our lives. May we remember that His Son, Jesus the Christ, provided us a way to receive of the greatest blessing our Father can give us: eternal life and eternal families. I know that Christ sacrificed His life for us. I know that His Church is established here on earth. It was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. A prophet, Thomas S. Monson, guides it today. And through Christ's restored Church, I know that all of God's blessings can be received in fulness by those who search for them and do what He has required to receive them. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is holy scripture, and it supports the Bible as a companion and also His word. If any one wants to know what I know, please ask the Lord. No one else, not even the internet, can make the truth known unto you. Search and knock!

I loooooove my dear family and am happy all are well. I'm excited to let every one know how Luján is! 

UN ABRAZOTE,

Elder McDonald

UNA SEMANA MAS FRÍA...

BUEEEEN DÍA A TODOS. I hope every one is doing well and enjoying the coming summer up North.  This week's been pretty cold, but I dig it! Wind chill's got nothing on me.

So, we had two great investigators come to church with us this Sunday named Brenda and Betty. I don't remember if I talked about them last week, but they're pretty great. Brenda, Betty's daughter, is like the family's religious leader; she always has led her mom and siblings to other churches in her search to follow the Saviour. Thus it is as they come to know Christ's Church. I have never taught any one with so many questions, but it's great that she has so many - it's a sign of a sincere heart for me. Brenda said she was impressed by how calm every thing was at church, which I loved. Wherever she's gone to church it had always been accompanied by loud music and speakers, which makes it difficult for the still small voice of the Spirit to bear witness of our Saviour. 

This week were speaking to an elderly member outside of her house when a few of her young neighbours walked by. She looked at them, then looked at us and said, "They're gonna get baptised too!" The oldest girl said, "But I already got baptised.." and Sister Amelia cut in and asked "But are you baptised in the Church of Jesus Christ?" She didn't even let the poor girl give an explanation. I thought it was brave of Sister Amelia, and to be frank, she was very loving in every word she said to her neighbour, even if she didn't mince any words. It reminded me of the council we received last conference to preach what we practice! Let us never be ashamed to be open about the wonderful blessings we have received  as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, made so by the authority of the Holy Priesthood. Our message is unique, and different, and even though widely oppressed, it is a message of hope and warning! I know it's from God, and I know that it is only through the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ that we can achieve true joy in this life and in that which follows. It may be difficult to live the Gospel, but its precepts are simple, and all may know its truth by trying it! I know that Heavenly Father will always let us know if we are on the right path or the wrong path, whether through the Light of Christ or the Holy Ghost. I love every moment the Lord gives me here. I love my family! What an example I have had. Do some thing awesome this week, and preach what you practice! 

ABRAZOS,

Elder McDonald

UNA SEMANA FRÍA

BUEEEN DÍA. Man it's been cold! My fingers are maybe going to fall off with the combination of extreme cold and keyboard contact. We'll see. 

I thought it would be good to share a cool experience we had this last week. We're teaching a family called Perez-Haiat, and they're really great. The wife is active in an evangelical church, and her husband doesn't like her church, so he doesn't ever go. Both are really great, and always receive us warmly. We were talking about the grand importance of gaining a personal testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel and the Book of Mormon. It's been some thing difficult for both of them to receive, but the Spirit was really strong as we explained the meaning of such a knowledge and testified of its truth. At the end, we decided to all kneel in prayer to finish, and I know that as we prayed, the Spirit testified that what we had explained and what we represent is the truth. All of us remained kneeling for about a minute, and pondered, and the Spirit remained with us as we did so. It was a powerful moment for all of us, and I pray that all of us present can remember what we felt. 

I'm so grateful for the wonderful opportunities I have been given in the Lord's service. I know that there are innumerable blessings in store for those that make the decision to serve our Heavenly Father with faith and love for Him and all whom we serve. I'm grateful for the wonderful examples I've had in my family that have kept me on this path. I hope to be able to continue working hard to bless as I have been blessed. Love you all dearly!

Elder Orr!

Me with a sword.. picture taken with our crappy phone.

I found your place!

A little plant began to grow in our BBQ pit.. I thought it was artistic.

TRES SEMANAS MAS

BUEN DÍA. Well, we got transfer news again. I'm staying here in Paso del Rey, which will make it the area where I've been the most time. This next transfer is only three weeks long, though, so we'll see what the Lord has in store in a few weeks!

This week was good! Elder Orr and I seem to be on a steady improvement in this area; some really great people let us in to share the good Word, and I'm excited to see how they do. Ha, but really we're doing well out here. Things are chuggin' along. 

This Sunday I had the pleasure of giving a short talk in church, and felt impressed to speak about testimony. I talked about Moroni's promise in the end of the Book of Mormon, and how the Lord doesn't tell us how the Spirit will answer our prayer, nor when He will do so. I shared my personal feelings about my testimony. Many times I have read that promise, and many times I have prayed, and I've always felt good doing so, but I've never felt a great spiritual burning in my bosom, so to speak. And I know there are many faithful members of the Church who haven't had that unique experience. But I know the Book of Mormon is God's word, and I know that this Gospel is true and also of God, because I've received many testimonies, not one. I feel strongly that my testimony of the truth of this Gospel has grown line upon line based not on one  defining moment, but upon many spiritual experiences. If we pray earnestly and with faith, but feel no immediate answer in the way we expect, we can't get discouraged! The Lord will answer us in His way. We must remember all of the blessings we've received, and all that we've felt in the past, and let that drive us to expound further our faith. Continue in obedience, and the fruits of that obedience I know will be our testimony. It is mine. 

I hope every one is happy and grateful! I'm thankful for you all.

Un abrazo,

Elder McDonald

UNA SEMANA LLENA

¡BUENAS! Is every one doing well? I hope so. This last week was craaaazy. I don't have tons of time, but as usual in my life, we had lots of changes! I got a new companion flashed in named Elder Orr. He's from Eagle Mountain, Utah, likes hunting, and played baseball in high school. Does it get more American than that?! He's great. I'm finishing up his training here, but he's already super trained. He speaks Spanish really well already. I'm excited to work his new shoes off! Heh heh.

What a blessing is was to see my beautiful family. I love knowing that every one is healthy and happy! You all looked incredibly good. Honestly, I'm impressed at how much facha every one had, down to Grandma and Grandpa. I love my family dearly, and I know that I'll always have them through thick and thin. I've already had them through thick and thin, so it makes sense that they'll stick with me. I know that the strength we've found together is due to our obedience to the Lord's restored Gospel. There's no other way to achieve true family happiness! I know that if we stay obedient, we'll stay happy. If we stay obedient, we'll stay together. There's no greater blessing than that! I love you all, and feel your prayers. I testify that there is power in prayer. I testify of the truth of Christ's eternal Gospel. I love you all sooooo much seriously!

Elder McDonald

 Jacob just sent me this little gem from his birthday! Enjoy!!!

INUNDACIONES

HEY ALL. So, this morning I woke up, groggy. I saw little, I didn't have my glasses. I walked towards the other room to retrieve my glasses and prepare my self to bathe. I take my first step in to the room and feel my foot hit water. A lot of water. It splashes up my toes, and I let out a frightened yell. Our pench was flooded. It rained really hard last night. The drain out side clogged, and all of the water seeped under the back door. We had a fun morning!

I have nooooo time, but I want every one to know that I am happy and ready for a week of success! I'm feeling really good, and this Sunday while listening to testimonies in church, I pondered a lot about how many tender mercies the Lord provides us. He gives and gives and gives, all so that we can have joy. I love counting my blessings, because they are so many! And I know for a fact that if all of us take a time when we're feeling down, or like the week didn't go how we thought it would (or the day) to count our many blessings, we'll see a difference. And we'll be happier. I know that God lives, and that He is our Father. As an Eternal Father, He loves us dearly and perfectly, and I know that He shows us that love every day just by giving us a new day to live. BE of good cheer!

Elder McDonald

UNA PLAGA DE MOSQUITOS

BUEEEENAS TARDES. Every thing well on the northern hemisphere? Here in Argentina we're experiencing some sort of horrible mosquito plague. It's awful. People are saying that because of all of the floods in the south of Argentina, all of the mosquitoes came up here for safety. They're every where. I've never used so much Off in my life... Could it be that we're in a real Moses-style plague here in Buenos Aires?

This week was great, and the cherry on top was the Chumacero family coming to church with us again. They're doing really well and progressing really well, and it's easy to see how many blessings they are receiving for progressing in the Gospel. I'm a bit low on time right now, but I wanted to share a bit form what I learned in my Book of Mormon study. I'm in Alma chapters 40-50. which are all about the wars and contentions between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And it's always been difficult for me to apply those chapters to my life! Lots of war strategy, bloodshed, things that I've never done. But I finished reading the chapters about a prophet named Helaman who sends an epistle to his friend and co-captain Moroni. And learning Helaman's two thousand stripling warriors, who fought with all their might and, more importantly, trusted in the Lord with all their might, I felt a strong testimony of God's power to protect those who are faithful well up with in my heart. I know that if we, like those two thousand young men, trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, and follow His every command with exactness, our Heavenly Father will protect us from physical and especially spiritual dangers that the adversary will send our way. 

15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;

16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.

I know that the scriptures are true, and that they testify of God's great protection over his children. Maybe most of us aren't in great physical danger, but all of us are in great spiritual danger in these latter days, and how grateful I am to have the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, to give us guidance in these turbulent times. God speaks to us today through His Holy Scriptures, and through His holy prophets. Trust in Him, and He will protect us!

Love you all, and hope you're all well. I am!

Elder McDonald

 

I tried to get a good picture with my district in it...