Drew mail 12-28-2020: "Back at it Again!"

 

Hi everyone! I am so grateful for all your prayers and love! I'm very grateful for everything I've been learning and experiencing! I can't believe it's been more than a week already of being back in Uruguay! 

It has been an incredible experience for me as I've worked to study, pray, write in my journal and make the most of this time. I've been pondering and thinking a lot about the experiences I've had and how I've gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of my Savior Jesus Christ. It has been such a special experience as I've focused on being able to give my efforts and time to doing that and I have felt so much love and peace as I've done so! I have recorded the ways I've learned the Book of Mormon is true and thought it would be cool to share a few with you! Almost every single time I read from this book I feel such an incredible peace, love or joy! I've had my mind opened and been able to learn more about and get closer to my Savior from this book and I know it is true! I've had so many experiences testifying about its importance and value and truth for us, when I've felt the Holy Ghost comforting or burning within me, and I've heard many testimonies from others which had lifted me up as well! All these things and more have helped me, but the most important or greatest thing to me is the relationship it has helped me to develop with my Savior. I love Him so much and testify that we can come closer to Him by reading this book than by any other! You can have these same experiences too and come to know for yourself that it's true and as we get closer to the end of the year I invite you to think about what you've learned and why you're grateful for certain people, things or experiences that have happened and express it to them or enjoyed it so you don't forget! 

I'm grateful for what's ahead too! I know good things are ahead as we put our trust in God, have hope and give our all to the Savior. On Wednesday I should be heading to an area called Tacuarembó and will meet my new companions over there! It's an area I haven't been to before, but I'm excited! Thank you again for your prayers and faith. I love all of you so much and wish you a wonderful end of the year and am incredible year like none before, ahead of you! Never forget that God loves you so much and will help you and that you are AMAZING! 

 ~Elder McDonald

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Hi everyone! Merry Christmas! I am so, so thankful for the great blessings that we get from our Heavenly Father, including the most important and valuable ever... Jesus Christ! I love the Savior so much and am so thankful for everything He does for me. I am learning so much more every day that Heavenly Father loves us perfectly and wants us to be happy, whole, clean and full of grace and His strength. The only way we can do that is through developing a relationship with and relying completely on the Living Savior, Jesus Christ. I know He is the King of Kings, the Messiah, The Only Begotten, perfect, loving, redeeming, healing, righteous, good, kind, powerful, miraculous, Great Son of God. We can get closer to Him and follow Him each and every day and I promise you that as you strive to do so each day to really get to know Him and love Him with all you have and are you will be blessed beyond your imagination. You will be filled with hope, love, grace, strength, healing, guidance, direction, and all the Heavenly help you will need to return to your Heavenly Father, clean and changed to love and rejoice forever with your family. This is the message of Christmas. This is the message of Christ, the King and Lord Jehovah! Trust in Him and love Him with all you have and everything will be made right in His time and way! I love you all and wish you a wonderful Christmas and that you always know He can make more of us than we ever can on our own. Merry Christmas!

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 12-21-20: "CHRISTMAS IS HERE!!! And... Covid??

 

Hi everyone! I am officially back in Uruguay!! I still can't believe I'm here, but it's great to be back. There are 24 Americans now who came back and it's been really neat to see a few missionaries I knew before. 15 of the missionaries are in my mission and 9 are in the other one. While we were traveling, I got to talk with quite a few people and have some great experiences in the airport.  One of the people was a lady from Uruguay coming back here too! So another miracle, we barely made it into the country before it had been closed down again to tourists. Literally the last plane! 

We got in to Uruguay on Saturday and we had to get tested for Corona again because Uruguay apparently doesn't accept the saliva test that all of us took so we got to do the good-old nose test! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it wasn't very fun. I was surprised again by how humid it is! In the airport it honestly felt like we were in the same room as a sauna 😂. We got to see President and Sister Dunford and they loaded all of us up on a big bus and took us over to the place we're staying in. We got assigned into companionships among us and given little districts and my companions were Elder Reeves and Elder Staheli (sounds like Staley - he’s from Saint George area 😉).  I had known Elder Reeves a little bit before - when I was here previously and I talked with him quite a bit in the airport.  I hadn’t known Elder Staheli before now. So we all got together with all those who came back into our mission and we talked with President and Sister Dunford about what's been going on.  We reviewed their goals and discussed how things have changed a bit. We also had some good old Uruguayan meals 👍.  Then got things unpacked and didn't have a whole lot to do from there so we talked, studied and got ready for bed. 

In the morning we were going to do a Sacrament meeting with everyone, but just after we got ready, the President's Assistants knocked on our door and had President on the phone.  He let us know that Elder Reeves tested positive in the airport for Covid and that Elder Staheli and I would need to move to another room and be quarantined in that room until we get tested next Saturday.  It's been weird to be stuck in this room but we've been doing good!  I am really grateful that I'm Elder Staheli's companion right now.  He is super fun and an incredible example!  I know Heavenly Father has blessed me to be with him right now!  We've been doing a lot of studying, listening to conference talks and have come up with some ideas for us to do /things to work on while we wait for more direction.

I'm so thankful to be here and want each one of you to know that I love you so much! I'm so thankful for your prayers and help and I want you to know that whatever I can do for you I will do it! I am praying for you and know that Heavenly Father loves you so much and will give you the help, answers, strength, healing and love you need as you trust in Him and in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  I know that you will be able to feel the Savior’s love and power come into your life as you follow Him more fully.  I love you all and want you to know that you are AMAZING!  Have a wonderful week and know you've got prayers and great blessings coming your way! 

Much love

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 12-7-20: "Give Everything to the Lord! "

 

Hi everyone! I can't believe Christmas is coming up so quickly, for me it feels that this whole year has just flown by! I'm really grateful for this time of year as we've been able to focus on gratitude and more as we are able to focus on the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I've been thinking a lot recently about the things I've been learning and what I've been able to do and trying to determine what more I can do, or what more do I want to learn and give to the Lord. It's been insane to me how quickly the time has gone by and I can't help but think about what more would the Lord have me do? As I've been pondering and trying to find how I can give more of myself, I've been thinking more about how perfect and loving the Savior is! I've really felt strongly this week that if we choose to follow Him and love Him all our days, one day everything will be made right and He can make more of us than we could be on our own. I love my Savior! I know we can be saved and healed and changed and strengthened and blessed by and because of Him! I want with everything I have to be able to serve Him all my days and keep my focus on Him and have His love, hope, and power in my life more fully. 

As we're focusing more on Christ this time of year, I've been thinking what difference would be in our lives if we kept a laser like focus on the Savior all year. We should be giving our all to Him every day, all year! It's an incredible feeling of love and peace when we dedicate ourselves wholly to Him and I know that as we give our all to our Heavenly Father, we will be blessed and filled with His love and joy! He can do more with us than we thought possible and I know He loves YOU perfectly! I encourage you to be able to give everything you have to Him, not only this Christmas but your whole lives and I promise you will be astonished and overjoyed with the love and change you feel! I know Christ is the Savior and He is here for you! You just have to choose to put your faith in Him and try each day to get a little closer to Him! I love you all and if there's anything I can do for you let me know!!

~Love Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes Month #18

 

#Missionnotes Month #18  of sharing the light of Christ - 

"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."  ~Luke 2

Drew mail 11-30-20: "Miracles and Faith"

 

Hello everyone! I hope you've had an amazing Thanksgiving and been able to take some time to think about the great blessings Heavenly Father has given you throughout your life! I know I'm very touched and grateful for the evidences of love and care He has for me! 

This past week we've been looking at the topic of faith in come follow me, and it's been related very well to some of the things that have happened for us! So from Ether 12 and lots of other places in the scriptures we learn that faith is to have a firm belief in Christ which then leads us to action. Sometimes that action can be hard, or it can be something simple too, but it is very important that we have that part in faith because if we don't act, no miracles nor change can come. 

We've been working hard to develop relationships with the leadership in our area and on Sunday we had a Bishop come up to us and give us the contact information of a lady he had just visited with who isn't a member.  We were able to reach out to her and set up a video call for Wednesday evening! She was really nice, it was a neat experience to be able to see Heavenly Father bless us with that miracle!

I testify that miracles really do occur as we put our faith in Heavenly Father.  I know that He blesses us as we act in faith! I encourage each one of you to show more of your faith in the Savior Jesus Christ, by sharing His love and light with those around you more fully as we go into this Christmas season! I testify that you will be blessed and that miracles will abound as you put your faith in God and Act!   😊

Love you all! 

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 11-23-20: "A Call Center Professional 😂 (and Happy Thanksgiving!!) "

 

HI everyone! I hope you've had an amazing week full of gratitude! We've been calling people like no other this week.  It has definitely not been an easy thing! I've realized that this time has really changed the efforts we have to make.  It's been difficult because it's something I haven't developed strength in doing yet but it'll come, just a different aspect of the work that needs more time and work now!

As I think about what Heavenly Father has just told us through His living prophet, we need to focus on gratitude. It has really helped me out as I've thought each day on what I'm thankful for.  It's given me more joy, peace, and love, just as the prophet said we'd receive as we work on developing this Christ like attribute!

Relating that back to what I said earlier, I'm grateful for the opportunities we have to struggle and to have challenges. That's how we learn and grow and become better.  Hopefully I'll be able to become the person Heavenly Father needs me to be with the skills and the character He wants me to have to be able to further His work and be a better instrument in His hands!

I pray that each of us can yield our hearts to Him and give Him our all, while having gratitude so that He can make us into the pure, sons and daughters He wants us to be! If you haven't seen the message from President Nelson yet, watch it! I also encourage you to give your all in fulfilling his invitation! You all are amazing and I'm grateful for your love and support, Heavenly Father loves you so much and is proud of you! Have a great week and enjoy your Thanksgiving!!

~Elder McDonald

Drew mail 11-16-2020: "Sunset, Sunrise, Daybreak, Star Dust, and What Else??"

 

Hi everyone!! I hope you've been having an incredible week! I'm so thankful for your prayers, love and support! If you ever have any questions for me, or if there's anything I can do for you, reach out to me, I'd love to speak with you! I don't have a whole lot to report on this week, other than that it's been an awesome experience so far to be here in St. George! The weather is super nice and I'm really grateful to be serving here with Elder Hinckley and my district! They are amazing! We had our first district council on Friday and it was a really great experience to get to know the missionaries here. I'm excited to be working with them, they are all amazing!

We've been working hard to reach out to ward leadership and get to know them, but not a whole lot of them have returned our calls 😊. That's a lot of what we're doing these days, calling people and setting up times to share a message with them, give service, or share a spiritual thought on the spot if they would like!  

We have gotten to help one family move a HUGE playhouse that the dad made by hand for his kids.  It weighed so much! We had 6 of us Elders pushing that thing while the dad lifted it up a little bit with a hand-truck dolly. It was fun! We also are able to go knock the doors of the people who don't have phone numbers, or who aren't very good at answering phone calls, so we've tried to find a few people that way.  All the while we are working to keep those who are at risk for having complications from contracting the virus safe!  Of course we're working through Facebook too! If you have any fun ideas for us to try, let us know!  We're looking to do everything we can and just want to help everyone here!

So the title for this week's letter is based on some of the street names in our area, they all have really "scenic/pretty" names so I thought it was kind of funny 😊.  Anyway things are going well, we're going to reach out to the stakes around us as well since we are over the Spanish work for all of the stakes in the area - so it should be fun!

Thanks for all your prayers, I love you all and if there's anything I can do for you let me know! Have a fantastic week, do your best to enjoy it and take advantage of the small moments to see the good!  It'll help you out a lot to realize that Heavenly Father is influencing your life and is in the details! 

~ Much love, Elder McDonald

#Missionnotes Month #17

 

# Missionnotes "That they may always remember him"  

On to month #17

Share the light

 

 Hi everyone! How are you doing? I just wanted to share a few thoughts I've had this week as we've met with lots of different members of the church and done more service this week. I really know Heavenly Father loves each one of His children perfectly and is aware of their needs. He wants us to help and lift others and encourage them to keep working to return to Him. We all are in this life together, and may not know what specific  needs others have but we all can love and share light with those around us. All God wants us to do is give our best effort and keep trying while loving others! I know you'll be blessed as you tap into that love and encourage others to get back up and try again as you do the same. I'm going to an area this transfer called Sunset and I'm not really certain where it is, but I'm looking forward to this opportunity to share Christ's love with others! Have an amazing week and know I love you so much! 

~ Elder McDonald