WOW this week is going to be fantastic. This
past week was great. I am also getting super stoked to be a missionary this
CHRISTMAS! Why? Because the church is awesome and way smart....
It is a new initiative that the church is
coming out with. They are even going to rent out YOUTUBE on December 7th to
fill up all of their advertisements with this new video that came out about
Christ being the true Gift of Christmas. I ammmmm stoooooked. Haha as
missionaries we are going to focus on this being a way to get the attention of
people to find out WHO God has prepared for this time to be taught, baptized,
and nurtured as a member of His church for the rest of their lives. I was
thinking about how amazing Christmas is. We tend to focus on the tree, the
gifts, the hot chocolate, the peppermint shakes from Chik-fi-la, etc, when we
truly should be focused on the divine gift that a loving Heavenly Father has
given to all of his children - Christ. Prophets of old anxiously awaited his
birth, and they taught the people that a Savior would be born. His life gives
us THE example, and his sacrifice brings purpose to all that we do. As members
of His church, our attitude towards Christmas should change. We should
internalize the true meaning of Christmas and think about WHAT gift WE would
like to give to Him. I feel so blessed to be one of His missionaries at this
time to see history happen and be a part of it in some small way. The church is
even going to show this video at Time Square in NYC. It is a small, short, and
simple video that reminds us that HE is Christmas, not the bows, or gifts, or
lights. We need to share it with everyone to spark an interest in hearts and
minds of all to teach them the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. AH. I’m stoked.
DOOO ITTT PLEASE.
Anyway. It hasn’t even been Thanksgiving yet
and I’m already jumping the gun and singing Christmas music. Hahah.
This week was spectacular and difficult. The
trials from last week passed. And I felt soooo relieved. But then other trials
were made present. But hey, that’s the name of the game.
WE had one baptism this week because G. didn’t
pass her interview with the President. She was crying. It was sad and a little
disappointing. But I LOVED what she told me.... She said "I am sad. But I
now know that I can’t go about things how I would like to, rather how the
Father would have it." And she left. That night a couple members from the
church ran into her not knowing that she didn’t pass the interview, and they
told her that they were super excited for her baptism this week. And she
explained that she had to wait some more time. And the members were a HUGE help
to her. They hugged her and testified that sometimes it DOES take more time. I
am so grateful for the example that she has given me. After a hard couple of
days, she is stronger than ever, joyfully awaiting the day until the President
tells us that she can. I have no idea what happened. I just am praying that
everything can be resolved FAST. But if it doesn’t, I trust that God knows why.
I don’t have to understand completely. I know that this is the process of repentance
that she needs. So she was like so stoked about the new hope she found and
starting reading the scriptures until 5 in the MORNING. What? I know that she is
truly repentant. That’s why I just keep praying so that it can be sooner than
later. I would’ve liked to have been here to baptize her. But it’s okay. Her
daughter had a wonderful baptism and everyone loved it. It was glorious.
The children in the primary had their program.
It was adorable. 260 people went to church. WOWOWOOW THAT IS A LOT FOR HERE. So
we were stoked.
E. is doing fantastic. She already stopped
smoking and I am shocked but very pleased at the same time.
M. didn’t go to church so we are waiting for
him.
O. and M. had a cita with us in which we called
the Bishop to accompany us. When we finished I asked her to talk to him in private
to resolve her problems. And guess what?. EVERYTHING IS RESOLVED. SHE IS NOT
GOING TO LIVE with her boyfriend/ father of her children man anymore. YAyaya.
And she received a calling. TALK ABOUT COOL.
L.’s are finally not sick anymore. And they are
going to celebrate my birthday next week. Yay!
C. didn’t go to church but she is super stoked
to get baptized. She just has had lots of work.
C. went to church this week with 4 days without
smoking. I sure hope she keeps that record going. We are finally seeing some
progress with her.
We found 2 new families this week that are
promising. An 83 year old man was waiting for us to go to church but we got
there a few minutes late so he started walking on his own. The good thing is
that he walks slow so we caught up to him super fast. HAHAH. He loved church so
much and was gung-ho to go next week.
Everything is going wonderful here. We are
finding, teaching, baptizing, and retaining. I love this work and I can’t
believe that I get to be a missionary right now in this time. I am super
blessed. LOVE IT. I know that this church is true. I know that we need to share
this knowledge with everyone we know...
OH FUN NEWS. The family C. is preparing
themselves to enter the temple!! AHHH. HAHAHH I am so happy. That makes me so
happy.
Okay, well, I am outta time. I still got 8
weeks family. Don’t get too excited just yet.
Con Amor,
Elder Macdonald
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| The Zone |
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| I make good rice |
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| The baptism |
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