Drew mail 1-28-2020: "A New Chapter"

 Hola todos!! ¿Como están? I cannot believe how quickly the time is going!  I have been so, so blessed to be able to have had the experiences I have had and learned so much in my 6 and a half months on my mission! I have been able to have so many special experiences and learned so much. I have met so many incredible people and made memories I will never forget. Throughout my time here in Uruguay I have been able to serve in the area San Fernando Bis, in Ciudad del Plata, San Jose. I truly love this area and have come to know the members and ins-and-outs very well. But now the time has come to change from my first area to a new one. I am going to go to an area called Chico Dos in RIVERA, up in the North of Uruguay.  I am going to be with an Elder who has only 3 more transfer periods, so he will probably end his mission with me. His name is Elder Harris and I will get to know him tomorrow. I will be traveling all day to get to my new area with my new companion. We're going to be sharing the house with another companionship. I am super excited and I don't know a whole lot more about it other than it is super hot, everything is cheap, there supposedly are lots of hills, and it's right by the border of Brazil so the people speak "Portuñol," which is Portugese mixed with Spanish.  That should be fun! I am excited for the change that is about to come and just wanted to write today about how grateful I am for the time I have spent here in San Fernando, as well as for some of the people I have been blessed to meet and work with.

First of all, I have been able to meet just about every type of person imaginable in my time here. The people for the most part in San Fernando are very kind and comfortable with their lifestyles. I have taught some youth to elderly people, and specifically have worked with three couples that I am sad to leave but believe they will keep progressing. The first is Melinda and Marcelo. Elder Loperena and I found them a few months ago, and at first it was a little difficult to help them overcome their doubts and understand the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But now they are all in and have strong desires to be baptized. The only step they need to take is to be married and they are in the process of preparing to do so. The second couple we met was German and Ana. Elder Letelier and I were able to find them at the start of my mission, and I learned a lot from these dear people. They have lots of faith and despite their difficulties, continue to move forward. I have learned with them the importance and immediate blessings of acting with obedience. The last couple I was able to work with is one that was really special to me. Elder Loperena and I had been looking in the area book to find people the missionaries had taught in the past and found the names Paula and Joaqin. I remember that in the very first lesson we had with them, we started to explain the history of the Book of Mormon, and as I spoke I felt the purest most incredible happiness I have ever felt in my life. I could not stop grinning as I explained why this book was so important. As I saw light come into their eyes and faces I felt even happier than I thought was possible. They are also preparing to be baptized and I don't have doubts that soon they will accomplish their goals and will start to receive great blessings from their decisions to follow Christ. 

I have seen people decide to change their lives, as well as others who decide to turn away and not open their hearts. I can testify that when we only have the smallest desire to try, the Lord can work His miracles. I saw the power of the Book of Mormon, prayer, and action with a lady named Biviana. She had always believed in God, but never acted on her beliefs. As we began teaching her, she would open the Book of Mormon and literally read something that would be exactly for her that day. She has worked to change her life and to put God at the center, and through it all we have seen an incredible change in her. We have even seen miracles. As she has been working on changing, the light and joy that she is gaining has spread to her family as well. We met her daughter Pamela, who is about 28 about a month ago. At the beginning, she didn't want anything to do with us, but then she began to see the change in her mother and one day sat in a lesson with us. Still she told us she didn't want to read the Book of Mormon or change her beliefs, but little by little the Holy Ghost worked on her, and today she is reading and working on changing her life around as well. It is truly incredible to see what the Gospel of Jesus Christ does for everyone who is willing to open their hearts just a little and act. 

I want to share my testimony that I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us. He loves you perfectly, and knows exactly where you are at in life, and what you are needing. He will answer you, in His timing and in His way. I testify that Jesus Christ has the power to heal, love, forgive, guide, strengthen, and save. He will never leave you alone, but you must turn to Him to receive help. Everything starts with your desire to act. I am amazed by the experiences I have had so far in my mission. I have learned and grown more than I thought possible. I know that Heavenly Father wants this same thing for each one of His children. Please, turn to Him and ask Him what He would have you do. I promise that He will answer. He loves you and will be with you every step of the way, but we have to be the ones to move our feet. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church on the Earth today. I testify that the teachings of Jesus Christ, when acted upon, can and will change hearts, minds, and lives. This is the way we can be happy in this life, and come to the point where we can live with our Father in Heaven and families forever. I promise each one of you can have these blessings. All you have to do is ask, then go and do. I leave my blessing and testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 ~Elder McDonald

 Scripture of the Week: Alma 32:27

La Vida Misional #2

Drew Mail 1-20-2020: "Won't you be my neighbor?"

Hola todos! Espero que están bien y que disfrutan su semana! Realmente quiero compartir que yo sé que nuestro Padre Celestial le ama perfectamente y tiene un plan para su vida.   (Hello all, I hope you are well and enjoying your week!  Mostly I want to share that I know that our Heavenly Father loves you perfectly and has a plan for your life.) I have felt and seen that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives and wants each one of us to return to Him one day. At times in this life we may have times where we don't understand why we need to experience a certain trial, or when we have a question that shakes our foundation, but Heavenly Father has perfect wisdom, and everything happens for a reason. 

This week we had the opportunity to have a ward activity where the missionaries got together and cooked hamburgers and put together a party in the church so we could get members, in-active members, interested persons, and everyone we could to come to the church and see what it is we are, and begin to feel a greater amount of Heavenly Father's love in their lives. The activity went really well, and several members brought their neighbors, people we are teaching came, and it was a fun experience to help others understand that they are not alone in this journey but that they can find greater joy and purpose as we come together and focus on Christ.

As we were setting up the activity, a man came and stood in front of the Church door. As we started to talk with him, he told us that recently the missionaries (us) had stopped by his house but that he wasn't home. One of his family members had told him that we had stopped by, and he decided he needed to come to the church. He had also recently found in a dresser a pamphlet the missionaries had given him before he was baptized almost 7 years ago. He had distanced himself from the church and now was feeling the pull to return. It is amazing to me that Heavenly Father has his perfect timing and plan, and even though we can't understand everything that happens, we can put our trust and faith in Him. He will always come through for us. He is always there with His arms open, offering us the greatest of gifts. His love. It is there for everyone, it doesn't matter where you have been or what has happened, you can always come back to Him and He will give you of His love.  

Much Love,

~Elder McDonald

 

Drew Mail 1-13-2020: "Bold as a Lion"

 Hey everyone!! How are you doing? It's crazy to think that I now have 6 months as a missionary!! I am eternally grateful for the lessons that I have learned and the person that I am becoming. I know that Heavenly Father truly has a plan for each one of us, and that He will help each of us reach our divine potential to become like Him as we put our faith in Him and fear not. Often times when we go through life we can have fear of acting or doing the things we know we ought to do. It can be hard to move forward when the way isn't clear, but as we act in faith and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ we can have our path lit step by step and eventually return to our Heavenly Home safe and sound. 

As I have spent time here in Uruguay serving as a missionary I have had moments where I have felt doubt and uncertainty of how to help others learn and come closer to Christ, but as I have been able to just open my mouth and try, I have seen Heavenly help and guidance. So many times when I have been on a bus, passed someone in the street I have felt the desire to help them and said a silent prayer that Heavenly Father would help me help them if I just open my mouth. I have had many times when I have been given what to say, and have been directed what to focus on with this individual person. On the other hand I have had times when I have not actively listened to what someone is saying or what the Holy Ghost is trying to tell me, and have missed opportunities to help in the best way. But I know that as we truly try, Heavenly Father will lead us and make up the difference.  

The other thing I have been able to learn is the importance of standing for the truth. When someone says something that is not true, or when others are acting in a way that isn't right we need to stand up and not be afraid to speak up. I have struggled with this as I do not like to offend others, but I know that we have a responsibility to defend the truth and act as Christ would. We can have the confidence that he will help and support us as we put our faith in Him and boldly give our all to Him. He has a purpose for all things and as we truly do the best we can, He will bless us and we will be led safely through back home to him. 

Quiero testificar que yo sé que al ser leales a Jesucristo, podemos ver milagros. Podemos superar desafíos, aprender y progresar. Testifico que no importa lo que pasa si tenemos Jesucristo al lado. Testifico que todas personas pueden cambiar y llegar a ser más cerca de Dios. Testifico que él nos ama y que va a ayudarnos en todas las cosas a medida que pongamos nuestra confianza en él.  (I testify that I know that by being loyal to Jesus Christ, we can see miracles.  We can overcome trials, learn and progress.  I testify that it doesn't matter what happens if we have Jesus Christ by our side.   I testify that all people can change and become closer to God.  I testify that he love us and that He will help us in all things as long as we put our confidence in Him.)

~ Elder McDonald

Drew mail 1-6-2020: "A Perfect Plan"

 Hola a todos! How are you doing in the new year? I hope that you are all enjoying the start of 2020 and that you are working on some of the goals you've set. I can not believe that we are in 2020, and that in just a few days I will have 6 months of being a missionary! I am eternally grateful for the time I have had to spend here in Uruguay, for the experiences I have had, and the lessons I have learned. I will never forget this time that I have to be a missionary for Jesus Christ, and am in awe at the changes I have seen and felt in such a short time! I know that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for each one of us, and that everything happens the way it does for a reason!

This week I have been amazed at seeing the Lord's timing. Whether it be with feeling directed to contact a specific house, feeling the need to speak with someone, or take a certain bus, I can testify that when we follow these promptings we can see miracles. Even when we don't see why we had to do something the way we did we can have faith that Heavenly Father had a purpose and that one day we will understand everything.

In specific I was able to see the Lord's hand directing us with a youth named Alexander. For the past few weeks I had been thinking of a young man who was recently baptized but who I had not seen in church for a long time. When I first got here I saw him each week and he was always so happy to be in church, so I was concerned about not seeing him in a while. A few days after I started to think about him, we found out from some ward members that their house had been robbed, and that his grandmother has cancer and it pushed their family into being angry with God and not wanting to talk with anyone about the church. My companion and I tried to visit them but every time we stopped by, nobody answered. We had started to give up hope of helping them, but then on Friday we had a lesson with a man who gave us a cake bread. We were in the middle of the afternoon heat, and didn't want to take it back to our house so we were trying to think of who to give it to. We decided to give it to a family we were going to have a lesson with soon. Turns out that this family didn't answer and so we were left thinking of where to go. We were close by Alexander and we decided to go and see if we could give him the cake bread. This time when we clapped at the fence he came outside and the grin on his face was huge as he saw the gift we had for him. We were able to visit a little with him, and schedule another day to return. 

This and many many other experiences have strengthened my testimony that Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us. He knows exactly where we are, what we are needing, and how to help. I know that he will guide us to help others, to receive help, and to become more like Him. Even when we don't know why or how, we can continue forward trusting in Him and He will take care of us. One of my favorite quotes from the new Book of Mormon Videos is from Nephi as he says, "The Lord will provide". I testify that this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 ~ Elder McDonald

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 4:6

Quote of the week: "Often the answer to our prayers does not come while we're on our knees, but while we're on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us." - Elder Uchtdorf 

#Missionnotes Month #7

#missionnotes Month #7

Keep sharing the plan of happiness  Elder McDonald!

Drew Mail 1-1-2020: "Conversion-It's a process"

 Hola everyone!! How are you doing? I hope you know how much love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for you! Don't ever forget how important you are to them and that they have a perfect plan for you to help you learn, grow, and return to them. In this life we will have trials, and moments that make it hard for us to continue but the truth is that we are in a refining process. Everything that we can learn and become comes with time, work, patience, hope, and faith. Satan works to tell us we can't change or that we can't overcome a problem, that we aren't as good or as smart or strong or as faithful as we should be, but these things are not true. The truth is that even though we may not be capable at the present moment, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can BECOME perfected in His timing.

As we think about the past year it can be easy to get caught up in our mistakes or missed out opportunities but it is vital that instead of getting stuck on these things wishing we could have done different, that we learn from them, then change! Change comes slow and oftentimes we aren't able to see it unless we compare where we are at now with where we once were. As we are starting a new year it is the perfect time to reflect on these things and make plans for how we will become better and overcome our trials. It can be a daunting task to start, but I promise that you are not alone in your efforts. Your Heavenly Father wants you to progress, He wants you to succeed, and He wants you to come home to Him. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way we can have the permanent change needed to receive these great blessings. We know that the steps we need to take in this life are: Have faith in Jesus Christ, Repent, Be baptized, Receive the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End. These steps help us in the conversion process. As we become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will receive blessings. We will receive the strength we need to overcome all trials in our lives and we will be able to be perfected in God's timing and way. I have seen and felt the changes that come about when we embark in this process of conversion and I know that you will as well. I promise that Heavenly Father will guide and direct you as you take steps along the path to become perfected. You are never alone and do not need to fear because His love is perfect, His strength is never ending and He is at your side! I hope this year you can develop your relationship with Him and do what needs to be done to have a mighty change of heart. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~Elder McDonald