Drew mail 10-26-2020: "The House of the Lord"

 

Hi everyone! Have you had a good week? Seen any neat blessings or answers to prayer? I have! I can definitely testify that Heavenly Father loves each one of His children, hears, and answers our prayers and gives us exactly what we need to progress and become more like Him!

I want to focus though on temples today. We had the opportunity to drive to Cedar City on P-day and got to go visit the outside of the temple there! It was such a neat experience and I'm so thankful for temples! I have missed being able to be inside the temple so much, as it's been a little over a year since I've been able to serve there! Even though I didn't step into the temple, today was such a sweet reminder, that it is the house of the Lord. I felt the purity of the temple and know without a doubt that  things that happen inside the temple, the promises we make there about how we will live, and the blessings that God promises to give us are so, so special.  Words can't describe how I feel about this sacred place. I know without a doubt that the central driving force of all this is love! 

The love that God has for each one of us is perfect and is overpowering of everything else we could ever experience. I testify that everything, covenants, ordinances, commandments, the plan God has for us, the Savior, repentance and forgiveness, everything is centered on that LOVE! God is so desirous to bless us and purify us and help us get back to Him and I testify that He has prepared the steps to do so. They are to have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by His authority in His name, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and keep moving forward repenting and making more covenants until the end of our time on this Earth. 

I honestly cannot express with words the love and spirit I feel as I think about temples and the things God does for us to help us return to Him. I know that even though right now we may not be able to consistently serve in the temple, we can receive the blessings from the temple and keep becoming more pure and learning about these things while we wait for the day to return there. I have faith that all the promises we receive from God will be fulfilled in His time and way as we do the best we can to follow Him and trust in His word. 

One last thought I have is to invite you to look at the talk by Elder Ronald A. Rasband from this most recent General world conference "Recommend to the Lord.”  I love the Lord and love His house and the covenants we make there. I testify of their importance in our salvation and promise that as you seek to be more worthy and follow Him with everything you have, you will feel the Spirit testifying to you of His love and plan for you! You are amazing! Keep trying and take one step at a time. God loves you so much and will help you each step of the way as you trust in Him! Have a fantastic week, I love you all!!

~Elder McDonald 

Drew mail 10-19-2020: "God's Love!!"

 

Hi everyone! This week again seemed to fly by! I can't believe it's been 5 months since I was home, it's been such an incredible experience to be serving and I'm so thankful for the experiences I'm having! Even though it may be hard at times, it's definitely the best thing I've ever done and I'm seeing that Heavenly Father really does have a plan for me and is aware of my needs and of everything that's going on! 

So this week we met a few times with a man we met a while ago. He's really awesome and is very nice and we've been able to talk about some different points of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Him, and he has incredible faith! One of the visits we had though we were being in the defensive side and we could feel that both us and him weren't feeling understood or loved. We felt the Holy Ghost in a few points of the visit, but we definitely weren't creating an environment where the spirit could testify continuously and help him feel God's love. After the visit we sent him a message apologizing for that and expressed that we need to always help others feel that love as missionaries. After this he responded and told us he was grateful for our efforts and wants to keep visiting with us. I felt so much better and felt like the wall which was keeping that love and spirit from being felt was taken away instantly. 

So a few things I've learned from this are

1) we need to ALWAYS respect others and love them as Christ would. He has commanded us to love others and to always help them get closer to Him through feeling that love. It isn't an easy thing to do though! We can get angry or choose to be offended and believe we're in the right while someone else is doing something wrong, but it is so essential that we choose to let those negative feelings and judgments go and that we just choose to love and see others as Christ does. 

2) we need to ask for forgiveness and let hearts be healed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. No matter what has happened, we need to love and extend our hands to others. Whether we've been hurt or we've hurt others, we're all brothers and sisters and we're all trying to do better. We're all in this journey together and we all need to be more united and loving. 

As I've been thinking about these things I've had a thought stick out to me that I heard from General Conference. I don't remember who it was from, but they said something along the lines of there will come a time when all Christians will need to be united and rely on each other. I really feel it is important to be one with all those around us. It's not an easy task, but I know it's what God asks. And since He asks it, that means it's possible with His help. So I encourage each of you this week to think about how you can be a little more loving and united this week with all those who are around you. I promise you that you will feel greater joy and will be able to have less fear and anger in your lives as you learn to see and feel for others what Heavenly Father does for you. 

Love you all! If there's anything I can do for you let me know! 😊

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 10-12-2020: "Apple Cider"

 

Hi everyone! How was your week? I hope it's going well and you always know how much Heavenly Father loves you! I wanted to write about something fun we did this week. Last week we met a couple who are religious and the wife was a member of the church a while ago but now goes to a different church, and they are super awesome! We got to meet them and have been able to do some service for them chopping wood, then they invited us to go make apple cider with them! It was an awesome experience and we got to develop our relationship with them quite a bit! I want to relate the process we went through of making apple cider to the atonement and hopefully help you know that Heavenly Father has a plan and will help you become the person He wants you to be! 

So first of all we had to go get apples. We have a friend who has apple trees and mentioned she was wanting to get rid of the apples (tender mercy!) so we went over there and pulled the apples off the branches we could. Then there were some that we couldn't reach so we had to shake the branches and make the apples fall to the ground. We then had to go through and find which were good to use and which were eaten by birds or unusable. 

So we gathered all them and took them to where we'd be turning them into apple cider. The people we were helping had an apple press which worked something like this.. We had to wash and cut the apples then feed them through a part of the machine where they were ground up into even smaller chunks which filled the barrel where they would be pressed. We then had to spin and rotate a plate down onto the barrel which squashed the apples so tightly that they released their juice into a pan which drained to buckets we filled up with the product we wanted. And voila! Apple cider! 

It took quite a bit of time to complete the process of making what we wanted to, and it wasn't exactly they easiest thing to do, but I can tell you that this was probably the best apple juice I've ever had! It was a powerful lesson as well in relation to the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we don't want to go through the process we have to to be changed (refined) into what God knows we can be. Sometimes we're comfortable on our tree branch, not wanting to be moved, or not wanting to experience trial or pressure, but just like how diamonds are made from incredible amounts of pressure on coal, we can be made into something better than we could be on our own. I testify that Heavenly Father has a plan and sees the bigger picture perfectly. He has enough love to shake us from the tree and turn us into something more, something better, something we can only be because of His son Jesus Christ and the refining process of repentance. 

I love you all so much and know Heavenly Father will help you as you put your faith in Him and let Him refine you! 😊

~ Elder McDonald

Drew mail 10-5-20: "COME and Hear the Word of the Lord!"

 

Hi everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful week and that you know how much Heavenly Father loves you!! He is proud of your efforts and wants to bless and help you! We got to see and hear and feel that as we had General Conference this past weekend! It was such a great experience to feel of His love and receive answers to our questions and if you haven't been able to watch or listen to it yet, I encourage you to do so! Also keep studying the messages after they are posted and I know you'll learn more and feel greater help and love for you from Heavenly Father as you study them! 

Two of the things that stood out to me were from Elder Rasband where he spoke of the importance of being worthy and clean before the Lord to be recommended to Him, and President Nelson talking about the importance of "letting God prevail" in our lives. I testify that God has a plan for you and will work miracles in your life as you work to follow Him and choose to let His will be done over yours. I love the Savior and testify that we can receive divine answers and help as we trust in Him! Love you all, have a fantastic week! :) 

 ~Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes - Month #16

 

#Missionnotes - Month #16

"Behold your little ones..." 

Drew mail 9-29-20: "New Day"

 

 Hi everyone! How are things going with you this week? I'm so thankful for your love and prayers, it really makes a difference! I am also so thankful for the things I am learning and experiencing! Even though it's difficult at times, I know that when it's hard we tend to grow the most! This week we had a few neat things I wanted to mention! We've got transfers tomorrow, but I'm going to be staying here in Beaver with Elder Solano for the next month and a half! 

First of all, we did something pretty fun, which I didn't think I'd be doing as a missionary! While I've been here in Beaver, we've gotten lots of great service opportunities, but this last Saturday, we did something a little different! We had a missionary carwash and were able to spend 2 hours in the afternoon just washing people's cars at the church! At first, I was concerned we wouldn't have a lot of people come, but we worked to put it on all the pages we could on Facebook and made a few signs for us to wave on the corner! Turns out we got a LOT of people, and it was really a fun thing for us to do! 

Another neat thing that we got to do was have zone conference yesterday (Monday)! I loved as always getting to feel the Spirit strongly as we learned together about Christlike attributes, the importance of the work we are doing and the power and role of the Book of Mormon in our lives! I love that as we learn new things or even review things we've heard before, the Spirit will testify to us the truthfulness of what we hear or learn. That's how we can know for ourselves what is from God! 

The last neat experience I want to write about is the baptism of Jose and Andrea! It was a great experience to see them baptized and be able to participate in their confirmation, where they become members of the Church of Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! It was a real testimony builder for me that because of the authority of the priesthood, we can do sacred things such as baptism and confirmation, which are steps on the way back to Heavenly Father. I know that at times we can have struggles and it can feel like we just can't do any more, but I testify that Heavenly Father gives us the tools we need to try again and start over! I love that no matter what happens, we can look to Him and His son and know that their love never changes, and that we can begin again each time we fall or make a mistake! Each day can be a fresh start and we can try to be just a little better than we were before! I know that if we give all we have, Heavenly Father blesses us and helps us do more than we thought we could. We just need to focus on taking one step at a time and not lose hope or faith. I love my Savior and am so thankful for the help He gives me each day to keep trying! I promise each one of you, that if you follow Him with all your heart and strength and mind, He will bless you. He will help you try again and see that today is a new day!  😊

~ Elder McDonald

Drew mail 9-21-20: Unity and Love!

 Hi everyone! How has your week been? This week has been a good one, I've learned a lot and I'm grateful for all your prayers and faith and love! We had the opportunity to do a zoom meeting with Elder Neil L. Anderson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Bingham who is the President of Relief Society! It was with our whole mission and it was such an incredible experience! I wanted to share some thoughts and feelings I had that stood out to me as we discussed with them a few different things. 

The first thing that stood out to me came from Sister Bingham and it had to do with unity. She talked about how we need to be united as companions, as well as with the members around us, with our leaders and last with Heaven. I want to make it a little more personal to you and tell you that you have to be united with your family, your friends and neighbors, those you may struggle getting along with, those you associate with, and with Heaven. I know that this is such an important principle that we can be united with those around us. That's really the only way we can become the best person we can be and help others do that too. I know that when we're united miracles and blessings come, doors open that weren't there before and we can really learn to see others as God does. 

The next thing I want to mention is the importance of loving others. Elder Anderson talked about how the Savior loves everyone perfectly and how we need to let that love sink into our hearts and change how we act. It can be really hard when we have different habits or beliefs or personalities, but I know that no matter what we can always love. It all needs to start with love is change is going to come and I know that this is the best way to open hearts and help others feel the perfect love that the Savior and Heavenly Father have for them. I challenge you to love, not only those you get along with, but especially those who it may be difficult to love at first. 

I loved how throughout this meeting it was an important thing to get to love the Gospel and believe it for yourself. It's a hard thing to change and act on something you don't believe in so we each need to start to form our own believes and decide what to stand for. Elder Anderson invited us to make a private list of the specific things we really believe in. For example: I believe that God exists, I believe He is my Father and that He loves me, I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Make a list for yourself and if there's something you're not sure about search more and ask God to know for yourself. It will come! Just keep trying. Right now is the time you need to build your foundation and know what is true. The time to act is now! 

I want to share my testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of God on the Earth today. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that He knows you personally and can and will help you if you turn to Him. I know that no matter what we can trust in and love Him. I testify that we have been given great resources to help guide us in this journey and some are, Prophets and Apostles, Priesthood, scriptures, ordinances and covenants, and prayer. I know that if you open your heart to Him, He will direct you and accept your offering. He loves you so much and will bless you for your efforts.   :)

~Love, Elder McDonald

Drew mail 9-14-20: "Wait for it!!!"

Hey everyone, just want to share my testimony with you today that I know that if we keep giving all we have to the Lord, He will bless us and accept our offering. I know that what matters is that we simply keep trying and never give up. The blessings and answers and change and miracles will come as we put our all in His hands. Love you so much, have a fantastic week! :) 

Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes - Month #15

#Missionnotes - Bring on month #15 - mine is a God of miracles

 

Drew mail 9-7-20: "Endure to the End"

 

Hi everyone! I apologize for a shorter letter this week, but I just wanted to share an experience we had giving service.  We were asked by an elderly lady to help move some boxes from out of her basement to a shed not too far away. Little did we know that it was a LOT of boxes, and took a lot more time than we expected. We worked hard, but towards the end our strength was just about completely spent, and I wasn't very happy. I just wanted to end it, but then we got some extra support from the other elders here, and that gave me the boost I needed to decide to finish. I know sometimes it can be hard to keep working hard, whether that's with little things or big trials we have, but I promise help will come as you just keep trying and it will be worth it! I love you all so much and know Heavenly Father is watching over you and answers prayers! I testify that miracles still happen in today's world. We just need to put our trust in Him and Act!

~Elder McDonald