Drew mail 2-24-20: "I Stand all Amazed"

 Hi everyone! This week has been a really quick one! Even though it has gone by quicker than I thought possible, I have seen that Heavenly Father will work his miracles immediately as we put faith in Him and do what He asks us. He has the power and love to bless and change hearts and lives. He will do so in His time and in His way as we keep following in the footsteps of Christ. I know I have said before how amazed I am at seeing the changes in people as they decide to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but the truth is this is one of my favorite things about being a full time missionary. So it's worth it to mention it again :).

We recently met a lady named Lorena who lives in our area. When she was a young woman she went to the Church of Jesus Christ with her friends, but then her friends were in an accident and several died. She decided to not continue going to church for some time. When we found her she was very kind and even wanted to start reading the Book of Mormon again. We were able to give her a copy on Saturday and had a good lesson with her about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the lesson she was sharing her testimony with us and she was in tears as she expressed her love for her Father in Heaven and her desires to be with her family forever. It was a special experience to see that she has worked in her life to come to know Heavenly Father and wants to keep developing a relationship with Him.

We have been able to meet a man named Santiago. He is from Cuba and came here to find a better way to take care of his family, and has great desires to follow Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. He has told us several times that he will do everything he can to follow Him, and it is remarkable to see his dedication and love for his Savior. He has accepted the invitation to be baptized this next Saturday, the 29th and it is very special for me to see his faith and happiness grow each time he has chosen to take steps towards Christ.

I know that Heavenly Father has His timing and His plan for each one of His children and will help them along their individual path to return to Him. I know that as we choose to open our hearts to Him and put our love and faith in Him, our lives will change. Each one of us can be a little better tomorrow than we are today, and that is thanks to Jesus Christ. He wants us to keep progressing and improving and just asks that we keep doing the best we can. It doesn't matter how many mistakes we make or how big our mistakes may seem, He is always there to help us change and return to our heavenly home. 

I would appreciate your prayers for Santiago as he prepares to be baptized this Saturday that everything can go well and He can have a special, personal experience as he takes this important step in his life. I invite each one of you to pray and ask how you can more fully experience the changing, healing power of Jesus Christ in your lives. I promise that He will help you and will bless you each step of the way. 

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 2-17-20: "A Helping Hand"

 Hi everyone! This week seemed to fly by really quickly! I am doing well here in Rivera and having lots of experiences that I will never forget! I know that Heavenly Father has a reason for everything that happens and will guide us as we seek his help.

This week we have worked to find and talk with as many people as we could, and it hasn't been easy but it has been worth it! We have been able to talk with quite a few people, and I have been able to learn lots from talking with so many people about their beliefs. It has been hard for me at times when people are so closed off that they don't want to listen to anything we say and only want to beat us down, but something remarkable as well, is the love that I feel for them. It has not been easy, but something that I am so thankful for is that the things we have needed to say or ask have come to mind when we need them. Even after we have talked and given everything we could to these people it is hard when they reject what we have to share with them. But the truth is that every time after an experience like this, the peace and comfort that we can feel is incredible. At times it doesn't come for a moment, but it always comes. I know that this feeling comes from Heavenly Father as we can know that we have done everything that we could do, and that He is in control. It is such a sweet feeling to know that He loves each one of his children perfectly and knows where they are at in their lives. He knows exactly what each one of us needs and will help us in the perfect way.

In this life we have many difficulties and it can be difficult when things don't go the way we hoped or planned, but I promise that Heavenly Father is always there to help, comfort, answer, and guide when we turn to Him and give our all. I testify that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He knows each one of us perfectly. He knows exactly how to succor us, and I promise He will.

~Love Elder McDonald

Drew mail 2-10-20: "What Church is This?"

 Hi everyone! I hope that you are all doing well and are enjoying your week! I am doing well here in Rivera! It sure is hot at times, but I am having lots of incredible experiences which I won't forget! I have had some pretty special experiences this week and have learned lots, and I want to share some of those things with you.

First of all, this week I have had lots of experiences which have strengthened my testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When we look in the world, we can see that there are so many different churches, so many different ideas and beliefs and at times it can be hard to understand where we should go. But what can be even more difficult at times is to understand why we need the church in our lives. To understand what it does for us. We had the opportunity as missionaries this week to have a special conference with one of the Twelve Apostles that live and testify of Christ in the world today. On Saturday we were able to meet with Elder Uchtdorf and hear some guidance and direction from him. This was a really neat experience for me, as it was the first Apostle that I have ever met in person, and as he spoke to us it was clear that He is a representative of the Lord and has been called specifically to bear testimony of Him and help direct His church today. One of the things that stuck out to me was when he spoke to us about what the big question of religion is in today's world. He talked about how in the time of Joseph Smith the question was "Which church is true" and in some instances that is still the case with many people, but now the focus has changed. Now the big question is "Why church?" What does it do for me? Why is it important for me to go to church? I have heard many people here in Uruguay ask this question and tell me that they believe in God in their own way, that they do not need a church, and it is hard to understand the reason why we need the church if we don't understand what it does for us.

You can come to know why the church is important for you by experiencing it. You can pray and ask Heavenly Father what it is He wants you to do, and I promise that as you act in faith and search for why it is important to go you will find your answer. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His church in the Earth today. It is vital for each one of us to be there so we can draw closer to Him and prepare ourselves for His second coming. I invite each one of you to think about what role His church has in your life, and to examine how you can make it more important to you personally. There are so many blessings and wonderful things about the church, and I promise that you will find what you are needing. I promise that by going to the Church of Jesus Christ you will be able to feel of Heavenly Father's love for you, and will receive guidance and answers to your personal questions. I have felt a difference in my life because of His church, and I know you can as well. Come and See! 

~Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes Month #8

 

#Missionnotes - On to Month #8 

Keep sharing the good words of Christ!

La Vida Missional #3

Drew mail 2-3-20: "We've got to work on our Brazilian" - [Elder Harris]

 Hi everyone! I am here in Rivera and I am really thankful for this new opportunity to learn and work.  We are just outside the city center so it is pretty different than my last area, and its pretty hot, but we found lots of new people already and are working hard with our ward to help strengthen the members. We have found some people who have talked completely in Portuguese which has been fun! They understand Spanish so we talk to them in Spanish and they respond in Portuguese which is a little difficult to understand but I am working on it! I am amazed by being able to see that Heavenly Father puts people in our path that we need to find, and has been directing us each day. I am also amazed by the love I feel for these people and this area that I don't know very well. I know that it is a blessing from Heavenly Father, and I am so thankful to have this opportunity to see others as He does.

I testify that Jesus Christ is mindful of every single one of us. He wants to bless and help us, and will when we trust in  Him and act in faith. I testify that there is space for everyone in the family of our Heavenly Father, and that it is never too late to return to Him. If you have questions, you can go directly to Him and ask. He will answer. I testify that the atonement of Jesus Christ is powerful enough to heal, strengthen, cleanse, and change hearts. I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church on the Earth today, and that we can receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us as we follow the path laid by Jesus Christ. Sé que Dios nos ama y tiene un plan. Él va a bendecirlos a medida que pongan su confianza en él!

Much love, 

~Elder McDonald 

scripture: 1 Nephi 17:50-51