#Mission Notes - on to Month #12
Monday, June 1, 2020
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Drew Mail 5-26-20: "A New Adventure"
Hi everyone! How are you doing? It's been a little while
since I've written, and lots of things have been going on since I was last in
Uruguay. I hope that all of you are safe and well in the midst of the crazy
things going on in the world today, I know Heavenly Father is in control and
will help you as you put your trust in Him.
So I was sent home about 2 months ago because of the Corona
virus, and it has been one of the hardest things for me to leave the place and
people I have learned to love so much, but I have seen so many blessings as
I've worked to just trust in God's plan and have faith. I have been so
blessed to be able to spend this time with my family and make new memories with
them. Then I received a new mission call. I was told I'd go to serve in the St. George, Utah mission and I was excited, nervous, sad and happy all at the
same time. I knew I'd have to leave my family again which would be
incredibly difficult and I would be in a new place, unsure of how long I'd be
there or what the differences would be from my time in Uruguay to this new
experience.
The time finally came when I was ready to leave again and
what an incredible new adventure I've been given! I was able to travel to Utah
without any problems and was able to speak to a few people along the way about
what I am doing, which was an answer to prayer and really just a tender mercy.
I arrived in St. George and met my new Mission President, President
Kaluhiokalani, and his wife, received some instructions and met my new
companion. His name is Elder Vega, and he is from the Philippines. He's been here
for 5 months and really is an amazing missionary!
We've been assigned to serve in the Beaver City area, and
are in charge of the Beaver Stake which has 6 wards and a Spanish group. I have
already come to love this place and people which is such an amazing blessing
for me because I quite honestly didn't think I could love anything quite like I
did Uruguay. We're part of a Spanish/ English zone and we've been able to work
with people using both languages which has been neat.
So a little bit about what we've been able to do here so
far: We still aren't able to meet directly with people in their homes unless we have
specific permission, which we do for once person :) , and we are working lots
with social media and teaching online lessons. It has been quite a big shift for
me to work in this way from what I was doing before, but again lots of
blessings. I was concerned about working in English and in not being able to
meet directly with people, I was thinking it wouldn't feel the same in online
lessons and had doubts along those lines. However, it has been such a neat experience though
as I've seen my worries aren't the truth of how it really is. In my first online
lesson I felt such a special Spirit and joy and was amazed that it was just the
same feelings as before. This was really just a testimony builder to me of the fact that
even when things change or we have concerns, God is the same. He is still doing
His work and He will make things work the way they should to fulfill His
purposes.
I've been able to meet quite a few amazing people while I've
been here: Andrea and Jose (from Mexico, they have a baptism
date of June 6th, really amazing people! ), Kimi (baptized recently and working
to overcome some challenges in her life,) Antonia and Alfonso (working to be
baptized, have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ,) and Priscilla (interested
in learning more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and really strong faith.) I
truly am so grateful to be here and be able to work with these amazing people.
I love them so much!
Ok, I know this has been the world's longest letter, but I'm just so very grateful to be here. I know in the world the past few months
things have been hard, and turned upside down, but I've learned to look at it
in a different perspective. It's a grand new adventure, that we can make the
most of. Throughout all our lives we will have challenging moments and trials
that seem too much for us, but I KNOW that Heavenly Father ALWAYS loves us. He
has a plan for each one of us and will bless and direct us as we follow Him and
have faith. The fear can be replaced with peace and love. Even in the midst of
the hardest storm, we can find strength and know that with Him we will make it
through. He has all power and wisdom and can be our greatest friend so let's
all start this new adventure together! I promise He will guide your steps and
help you return to Him if you just trust in Him.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Sunday, March 29, 2020
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!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
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.
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).
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
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
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
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
Monday, March 2, 2020
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
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