Best baptism ever, 1200 year old pyramid, and great photos

OKAY WELL THIS WEEK WAS FANTASTIC.

Anywho. We had a baptism this week and it was just so great to see how that can unite a ward! Before the baptism we had a ward BBQ type thing. And LOTS AND LOTS of people came. We were all shocked. Everyone was just so happy being with one another. I was just loving the people so much, that there is no way they can’t love me. Haha - that’s my plan, to make everyone love one another by loving me. We will see how that works out. 

About 10 investigators came to the BBQ, and 5 of them were brought by members. Aka we didn’t know them before the party! So it was great. After the ward party we forced everyone to stay for the baptism. #BRILLIANTIDEA because the baptism was full! Like 45 people were there! It was such a happy moment for G. She is such a nice lady and I just love her. FINALLY she got baptized. It was her time. She even brought her two grandchildren. It was obvious that they didn’t want to be there but she brought them!! That’s good, right? yes. 

The talks were marvelous and you could definitely feel the spirit. Then I was supposed to sing a special musical number. But I don’t think the ward got the hint.... Hahahaha. Or they just don’t know what a special musical number is. So when I started singing, some people starting singing with me in the congregation... LOLOL. It was like a choir of angels in the background. Super dramatic movie material. Everyone was loving it though so I just let it flow... The spirit was super strong. 

And then... came the ordinance. And let me tell you... We took FOREVER trying to baptize this woman. I am just so grateful I didn’t baptize her because I would have laughed. My poor comp got to do it... and it was his first baptism. And she was obviously afraid of the water because every time they attempted to do the baptism she would get her head half way in the water and FLIP OUT. She turned into a fish out of water gasping for air and trying to reach for the wall. hahahahhahahahahahhaha. So I was up the stairs of the font in the doorway that leads into the bathroom. Good thing too so I could laugh to myself without anyone seeing. They literally did that one 10 times. Then they tried to have her squat but she wouldn’t get her head all the way. Then they had her kneel and go front first. GHahaha. we actually took 10 minutes practicing before adding the prayer so she could learn. And it was just a riot. The good woman has a great sense of humor too, so it makes the whole situation better. Oh dear. Why are baptisms thought to be a perfect moment of peaceful bliss, but in reality it becomes a near death experience? Oh Mexico. 

But the best thing is that she is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Lovin it.

On Sunday we gave talks about Missionary Work. The Bishop is now happy and loves us and told me to thank you guys for me. Haha. And the MEMBERS FILLED IN FOOD SLOTS FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH OF JUNE. Progress people. They love us now. All that was missing was love. I have just tried so hard to love these people and help them feel good about themselves, and just agree with them, even if they are crazy, because they just need to be loved. I think everything is going to be great here in ACULCO. 

Other investigators are doing well. A miracle happened. A newlywed couple just moved down the street. The husband is an RM and his wife is an investigator and wants to be baptized. The funny thing is, they just came to us. We are working super hard here to find the chosen by contacting and teaching and being rejected, and the chosen come to US. Haha. Being a missionary is just funny. 

Our landlady lives below us. She has cancer and is going to chemotherapy right now. We taught her and her daughter. They are so perfect. I love that we were guided to this house to live here and find these people. Soon they will be members. I just know it. 

And today we went to a pyramid!!! IT WAS SOO COOOL. Hahahha super funny cause Elder J. ran up and walked down singing the song from the TESTAMENTS and it was super apostate but hilarious at the same time. Took lots of pictures. The funny thing is, it is super close to our house. This area seriously is the best because we have EVERYTHING. From Krispy Kremes, to pyramids, you name it we have it. 

Well we are super happy, working hard, loving the work, being fed, helping the members, and the members helping us. Oh PS, an hermana is sewing my pants so they’ll fit better, (she is taking them in) and she really is doing a great job. I think I’ll pay her. And she loves my pants, or the material and wants to know what website you bought it from dad. Speak up. Thanks! 

I love the conference talks. I love the one about the four minutes. It is so true. We have been trained mentally, physically, and spiritually to be here. Now we are here. So we need to perform to our best ability to win the Gold. We can do it. These four minutes fly by, and we never know when they will end. So perform like you have never performed before!!

Love you all so much! 

Con Amor!

Elder Macdonald

we got a couch! sofa party.

old train track that is now a bike track and runs all the way to Topilejo! super tempting.

ward party! (

me helping the Bishop!

good member brought a non member friend!!! yayay!

me and my short comp!

N. and her fam took us to BURGER KING. yay

rainy days

this is KIKA. she is our pet. at first she hated me. but now she loves me.

RUNNING TO THE PYRAMID

play sets are fun for missionaries too.

an igloo?

little Elder J.

found an abandoned cabin. 

hiking.

we found the ancient pyramid. Apparently it was made 1,200 years before the birth of Christ. Thank you JAREDITES. 

jummmping

no one can jump like me.

Wonderful people to teach, the rainy season is here, and using his "puppy dog eyes".

Hey guys! I am supér short on time. hmmm. Love when my comp washes everyTHING he owns for half the day. It’s a true joy. 

Haha the mission is just such a funny thing. Companions are just such a funny thing. But I have learned that that is just the way it is. I have lived and learned. 

So this week was crazy. We moved houses on Tuesday and I DIED. You would think that missionaries wouldn’t have to move a lot of stuff since they are missionaries... but it was super a lot and heavy especially because our house is on a slight hill. GRR. But the good part is the view. IT IS FANTASTIC. I have been blessed with the best views of the mission. Tender mercies. The house is a lot better.

Our investigators decided to disappear or go on vacations or something like that so I felt like NO ONE was home. It was harsh. But it’s okay because some of them magically appeared at church, which was a SHOCK. But super good.

Well our investigator G. passed her baptismal interview!!! After planning the baptismal date like 50 times we are finally going to have the baptism this Saturday at one o'clock. It should be good! She is such an adorable little Grammy. She has a good heart. It was really difficult for her to stop praying to the virgin, but she DID IT. Seriously. Props to da grams. She is super happy and excited for her baptism. Last Friday she was like ..... "CAN I JUST DO IT NOWWW?!?!?" and I was like “yaaaaaaaa”, but we had to wait until her interview. poo. So that is the good news for now.

D., my Toro brother is awesome. HAha he always says I remind him of the good ol’ high school days. I took it as a compliment. He came to church again this week. Little by little we are activating him into an AWESOME MEMBER. 

R. M. is the most perfect investigator except for the fact that she is never home. Her children were just baptized in another state and she has seen the church bless them so much. Whenever she goes to visit them she goes to church with them and so she is basically a member. We just have to find her and teach her. She came to church though! That was gooooood. She is excited and really nice. 

We found a part member family! Well they technically aren’t a family cause they aren’t even married yet. But, they are golden and we just have to work with them a lot. 

J. is the coolest recent convert ever. He passed the sacrament for the first time this Sunday and had the BIGGEST smile on his face. It was soooo fantastic. And he always wants to hang out with us. He wants to start coming on visits with us. He suffered with depression before he knew the missionaries and has had many suicidal thoughts. But his depression is curing through the gospel and hanging out with us! weeee! 

What else happened? Oh, I am becoming better friends with the members. Some less actives are mad at me because I told them that they should attend their ward instead of going to the neighboring ward.... Haha.... eeek. I should be more neutral. 

Elder’s quorum was a straight out yell fest and I cringed and left with a huge migraine. Anger management issues are real stuff. Where’s the love ya’ll? Haha and the Black-eyed Pea’s start singing in Elder’s quorum. 

The ward is a work in progress. 

I did interchanges with Elder J. He is a good missionary. Went to BYU. We didn’t know each other... Haha. I thought I knew everyone. awkkk.

But everything is super good. I love the gospel. I finally got the General Conference issue. FINALLY. Ughh. Waited YEARS FOR IT - And I am loving it. Started reading it today. Ballard’s talk is fantastic about discipleship. We as missionaries get the best and worst parts of discipleship. And I also read someone else’s talk. Oh yeah.. Bednar’s. It was really awesome! 

I love you guys sooo much. The rainy season has started and it is going to be a tough one. Haha. Be safe and enjoy SUMMMMER!!!

PS,,, the food with the members is better. I just go up to the hermanas and beg with puppy dog eyes and they are like “OF COURSE ELDER”. Haha. If you got it, use it. I think the only thing that was happening was bad planning with the RS because the hermanas are super nice to give us food. No worries folks. 

Con Amor,

Elder Macdonald

tomate un SELFIE. It's a Spanish word too...

The night city view from the new house!

The new house

sweet balcony...

so pretty

Shaking a dogs hand.

He wants to be my friend.

hills.

da big city bois

The volcano. I can see it everywhere

city

Golden Pork, painting is a learned skill, and teach, love, and serve.

Haha SCOUT (our dog) is a baby. Tell him to shape up. Send him to the Mexican streets and he will man up a bit.

Well this week was super duper better. I suppose. Just in - Tomorrow we are moving houses to a better house. That’s good. But that means that today we spent 2 hours packing and cleaning. Super fun. 

So this week I learned more things about the area. I am starting to build better relationships with the members. It is all progressing slowly but surely.

We had a Zone Conference on Tuesday and I had to give the teaching time and it turned out well. I talked about Prophets and why we need them. I used the story in Exodus 32. It is when Moses came down from the mountain later than normal and all of the Israelites freaked out not knowing what to do, so they started worshiping a golden pork (translation error – it’s still a calf).... LOL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?1 We learned lots of good things about the Sabbath day and also the importance of talking to ERRRRYONE. Elder R. (my buddy from Chinampas) is my Zone Leader. I have missed him ALOT. So good to be back together. 

On Wednesday we had interviews with the President and he told me that this ward might be a little tricky and just told me to teach, love, and serve. lol. Okay! I’LL DO IT PRES. 

What have you heard about the movie "Perfect Obedience".... it looks super interesting. Haha. I have actually only seen a poster. I assumed it is about the Catholic Church. Fill me in folks.

I did interchanges with Elder T. I remember when he first got here... and now he has 8 months! I was like HOWW?! I feel like this mission thing defies the laws of time. It was fun. Their area reminds me of the Forbidden Forest from Harry Potter. I was super tempted to run away and find the spider. It was POURING rain that day and we went from house to house and NO ONE LET US IN. I was like “RUDE please learn that when it is raining, you let the missionaries in. Especially if you had an appointment?!?!” But it was fun. They’re opening that area, so it is tough right now. The rest of my district is doing great. We are going to have like 4 or 5 baptisms this week! Yay!

We went to eat with an investigator this week. Her name is I... and she is hilarious. She is basically a long lost member of the familia C. She will get baptized soon. She doesn’t really know if she wants to yet. BUT she came to church!!! I was suuuuper stoked. But she only stayed for Sacrament meeting and the talks were very dead.... and so I am worried that she didn’t like it. She was like.... I HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS FOR YOUU!!!  - and ran away. eeep.. She made us yummy food though, and then we painted her house!!! Just a room. They made fun of me for not knowing how to paint.... I didn’t know you had to know... I thought you just did it. lol.

The Mountain View alumni brought his girlfriend to church! AWESOME YAAA. So there is lots of potential with that. ALSO an inactive member of 13 years came to church yesterday. MIRACLE. She finally came. It was good. She liked it a lot. 

Hoping that Sunday we have a baptism. Tomorrow we are moving. And it is starting to rain a lot. 

Love you guys so much. Sorry for not knowing what to say. Keeping working hard - oh ya... you’re in summer break. I don’t even remember what that is. Hahaha. BAIII

Con Amor,

Elder Macdonald

We painted with I. She's basically part of the C. family. hahaha and she came to church this week.

Super pretty. rainy season has come back from the dust.

Pizza on muh tongue

The church!

Selfie for the fam. I saw a poster in a Mexican bus that said "tomete un SELFIE".... and I was like WUUUUT. So I obeyed and did it.