Mission Intermission

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers on Andrew's behalf.  Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Andrew, like many missionaries across the world, was quickly returned home.  We are so grateful for the amazing men and women, especially President and Sister Dunford who have cared for him, kept him safe, happy and well.  Sunday morning, our Elder Drew returned safely home to us, and while his mission service takes an intermission while our world heals, we'll gratefully enjoy our time to be together again!  
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!  

Drew mail 3-23-20: "Testimony Triumphs Doubt"

 Hola a todos! Cómo están? I hope that you are all doing well and that you are able to find peace and guidance in these times. Throughout the week this week, we have been put into a quarantine and have not been able to do normal missionary work. It definitely hasn't been easy, but I have been able to learn a lot from it! We also recently received news that we will be returning to our homes sometime within the next 3 weeks to be reassigned to a new mission within the United States. This news has honestly been hard for me to take. I have come to love Uruguay so much, along with the people here, and have come to feel that this is like my home. As I have worked to understand everything that is going on, I cannot deny that Heavenly Father is in control of everything. He has a plan, and even though I don't know what will happen, I must trust in Him. While all kinds of doubts and worries have come, I have found that testimony has helped me feel great peace and hope for the future.

I have been able to rely on those things that I know will give me guidance and peace in moments of struggle. Two of the biggest being prayer, and the words of the prophets in Scripture and modern day. I know that as we hold on to the pure and simple truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make our foundation upon Him, everything else will fade away and we will be able to continue forward with hope and happiness. Heavenly Father wants each one of us to be happy. He wants each one of us to be saved, and He will do all He can to help us return to Him. Our job is to trust in Him, act in faith, and keep building our testimony. I know that as we do this everything will turn out well in the end. I testify that He has a plan. He will answer us as we seek Him. He will guide us through personal revelation and through the words of our modern day prophet, President Russel M. Nelson. We are preparing for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I testify that He is the source of all peace, hope, light, and life. 

 ~ Elder McDonald

Christ’s Image, by Heinrich Hofmann

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Drew mail 3-17-20: "The Work of God"

 Hola todos! I hope you are all doing well and are able to feel of Heavenly Father's peace and love with all the things that are going on in the world. As we read the scriptures we find that the world is going to be full of chaos, fear, and darkness as we get closer and closer to the second coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I testify that we are in the last days. We are preparing for His return. Even though it may seem at times that there isn't a way to have peace or to have security when so many voices are clamoring, and when we don't know everything, there is. Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to die for us, to show us the way we need to live to return to our Heavenly Father with our families forever. This is the work of God. This is His plan. He is in control of all things and will fulfill His promises. His work will not be frustrated or ended until it is completed.

Throughout the past week, there have been quite a few changes to the way we as missionaries have to work, but I have had some neat experiences of feeling Heavenly Father's peace and knowing that He is in control. The first change come on Thursday evening when we received word that there would be no more meetings on Sundays or of any kind for a time. This really changes what we do as missionaries, and at first I was confused and nervous at what would happen. But then I was able to go and take a moment to pray and focus on my feelings. As I did, I felt an incredible peace and comfort. 

Again, as I watched a video the prophet, president Russel M.Nelson, published to give peace and hope to all of us in these times, I felt that same peace. As we received information from our mission president telling us we need to purchase materials in the event of a 3 week quarantine, and as he shared scriptures with us that describe these later days, I felt peace. I testify that even when everything we know or do seems to change, when there seems to be overwhelming darkness or confusion, there is always light. There is always peace. This light, joy, and comfort can come only as we choose to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and follow in the path He has established. I testify that Heavenly Father is in control. This is His plan, and His work. If you are in need of help I invite you to pray. Go to your Father in Heaven and seek His love and guidance. You will find it. I promise! This is an exciting time to be here in the Earth as we prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I testify of Him, and of His desire to have all come to Him. He can and will help you in your individual needs. Dejo mi testimonio con ustedes de estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, amén. 

~ Elder McDonald

Drew mail 3-10-20: "What Would Christ Do?"

 Hola a todos! Cómo están? Espero que están disfrutando cada día como una oportunidad de hacer lo que Jesucristo haría. I hope that as we work to be a little more like Christ each day we can feel more abundantly of His love and guidance in our efforts. I know that He wants each one of us to improve and come closer to Him, and we can do this little by little each day. I have found that as I have been working throughout the day I have asked myself what would Christ say or do to help these people? I hope that as we ask ourselves this question we can learn better how to act like Him. 

Throughout this week we have had lots of opportunities to serve. We have helped people move mountains of dirt, branches, old dry corn stalks and delivered food. Recently a man's wife passed away and we had the opportunity to go and visit him and offer an ear and comfort. I know that Christ always would be looking to help in the smallest of ways which really make the biggest difference in the lives of individuals. I invite each one of you to look for ways you can better treat others as Christ would, and that you pay attention to how you feel as you do so. I promise you will learn more of Jesus Christ and will find that as you turn outward you will actually learn more of who you are. 

Les quiero mucho!

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 3-2-2020: "Santiago's Baptism-Starting on the Path Home"

 Hi everyone! How are you doing? I hope that you are all doing well and that this week you were able to feel a little more of Heavenly Father's love. I know that He wants to bless us and help us, and He wants each one of us to come home to Him and He has established the way to do it. We know that the first step we need to take is to have faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and to act in accordance with that faith. The next step He asks us to take is to repent. This means that we can change. We can become better. Because of the Savior's sacrifice we can become clean from all our sins and leave behind the pain, guilt, and weight. We can move forward and take more important steps in our lives. Including being baptized by God's authority and in His way.

On Saturday we had the opportunity to see Santiago be baptized and choose to take the next steps in following Jesus Christ. Santiago has met with the missionaries for about 4 months and it has been incredible to see his faith grow each time he reads from the scriptures and prays. He truly has gained a desire to follow Jesus Christ and live the way that He asks us to. We had had a few lessons with Santiago and a recent convert named Francisco, who was baptized 2 months ago. Francisco has had an incredible change in his life as well because of his decisions to follow Jesus Christ, and we invited him to be the one to baptize Santiago. It was a special experience to see Francisco help another person start down the path that leads to Heavenly Father and as Santiago was baptized they both were extremely happy and excited. I am grateful for the opportunity that we had to see Santiago take the decision to promise Heavenly Father that he will keep the commandments and follow Jesus Christ forever, and truly his life has been changed.

The next step that we are to take is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is when we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide, comfort, warn, and direct us. On Sunday Santiago was able to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. As we have spoken to him after taking these two important steps he has told us that he feels great peace and happiness and is excited to keep moving forward. 

After we have taken these steps it is vital that we keep moving forward. We cannot decide to let everything go and live in our own way. Heavenly Father gives us directions and guidance and blessings as we keep looking to Him and give Him our all. I have felt in my life the change that comes from doing these things and I know that every single person who chooses to do the same will be able to experience the same marvelous blessings. He wants each one of us to turn to Him and do what He asks so we can be blessed and live with Him and with our families forever. I know that this is the way that we can have a fullness of joy and knowledge. There is no other way to return to our Heavenly home, and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can do these things, repent, become more pure, happy and eventually receive eternal life. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that I have to be here in Uruguay and see the changes and blessings firsthand that people receive as they choose to follow in this path. I know that each one of you can see and feel these things for yourselves as well. You can pray to Heavenly Father and ask "what is the next step for me to take?" I promise He will answer. He wants you to come home to Him, and He will speak to you to direct you in the path that leads home. I invite you along with our prophet, to Hear Him. 

Scripture of the week: Moroni 10:4-5

~Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes Month #9

#Mission Notes - Oh how lovely was the morning.. 

Bring on Month #9!