This week was full of a lot of walking and tracting and chasing down hipsters on the street. I don't want to give the impression that I'm looking down on hipsters at all. A lot of the people I meet are really, really cool. What's funny is this: you know how you'll be walking down the street in an average city and you'll see someone that is very forward thinking and independently-minded fashion-wise, and you're like "That's interesting."? Well, that's what every single person in some of the areas I'm in looks like. They are certainly very preoccupied with being at the forefront of all the world has to offer. It's kind of like that Jack Johnson song "Rodeo Clowns" when he talks about the girl who wants to get a belly button ring "and other kinds of things symbolic of change but the thing that is strange is the changes occurred, and now she's just a part of the herd." That's totally true here. Which brings me to something that I realized the other day: The world can never bring you true happiness. I'm sure all those who are wiser than me have realized this long ago, and I've found it to be true throughout my life, but it's really been brought home for me recently. All these people are trying to find happiness in all the wrong places, and you can tell when you talk to them that they just aren't truly happy. A lot of people have the appearance of happiness, but it is often evidently shallow. It's so tempting to think that the world has happiness to offer and to feel like it's lame that we are asked to follow rules in order to live the Gospel, but I can assure you that the world will never bring you joy. It really is sad to see how lost people can become in their quest to be something by the world's standards. I really feel strongly that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to true happiness. There honestly is no other way. I was thinking about all this the other night as people were running around going to bars and living it up all around me. I just realized that they are desperately trying to fill voids in their lives, but they're looking in all the wrong places. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being in the world and doing cool things. But being of the world is not something that I ever want to be. When I talk to someone who is really cool and a really great person, but is just missing some pieces in their life because they don't have the Gospel, I really long for them to accept the message we are trying to share with them. It's interesting because a lot of the forward thinking young people in the areas I'm in aren't religious at all, but many of them believe in a force or an energy in the universe. They've become disenchanted with organized religion, so they've written it off, but I think that deep down they recognize that there is more to life than having a good time. All the people who have turned away from religion, but keep a belief in something bigger than them are, I believe, holding on to a piece of something that they know in their hearts can bring them the happiness they're looking for. This is a lesson that was really helpful for me to learn. Several people have said that on your mission, your first convert will be yourself. I totally have a testimony of that. I've become so much more converted to the Gospel over this short amount of time. I have a very long way to go, but I'm so grateful for how much the Lord has blessed me as I've served. Someone said something else during a zone meeting that was really cool. They said that a mission isn't the best two years of your life, it's the best two years for your life. That was a really powerful message for me to hear. The first two weeks in the field have been difficult, and I find myself wondering when I will reach the stage where I just love every single day and am completely stoked about talking to everyone about the Gospel. That quote made me realize that I don't think I will reach a point where every single day is bliss, but I do know that even the short amount of time I've been out has been incredibly beneficial. And beyond that, even though the work is hard, it is fun too. There are blessings each day that help me to keep going.
Speaking of blessings, Jose, the investigator my companion and I have been working with has been to church twice, and the plan is to have him baptized this Sunday! I'm so excited. It's been very interesting teaching him. I don't know if I mentioned this already, but he says that he's died three times and come back to life. He says that he was told that his work wasn't finished, and he believes that one of the things he needed to do was be baptized. At first, I was a little unsure about whether or not he was a little bit crazy, but now, I really think that he is telling the truth. When we were teaching him about the plan of salvation, he started talking about some of the things he's seen in dreams, and he was basically dispensing doctrine that we hadn't even mentioned. He talked some fairly deep doctrine that is unique to the Church, and I just kept nodding my head as he talked because he was almost teaching himself. He's 77 years old, and he's had some health challenges, so I feel that it will be really great for him to be baptized before his time comes to move on from this life. I don't mean for that to sound insensitive or anything like that. We taught him the Word of Wisdom, and told him he couldn't drink coffee or tea, and he was just like "No problem. I'll drink something else." It was awesome! He has a lot of faith. He's a really good guy, and I know he'll be blessed because of the Gospel.
So I heard another good quote: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Isn't that great? The Gospel really is the main thing, and if we keep it the main thing, then everything else will fall into place. I think this goes back to what I was talking about earlier about the importance of family. I think it was President Benson who said something like "The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home." I just love that, and I know it to be true. I have to thank you, Mom and Dad, for doing good work in the home and for raising me with the Gospel. I think that the world has really lost sight of the importance of family and the home, and I'm so grateful that I've been so richly blessed. Can you tell I miss you all?
I will now answer some of the questions. First off, I am eating, but I really do miss my mom's cooking. Mom, you are the best, and your food is amazing. I really appreciate that so much now. But I'm trying to find ways to eat healthy on a budget, and so far it's working out ok. Unfortunately, my companion is definitely not vegetarian. He is far from it, actually. I guess not everyone in India lives that lifestyle. But luckily, meat is pretty expensive so my roommates don't really eat it a whole lot. Rice and oatmeal have become great staples. Second, I have had some really great NY pizza. It's good stuff. I've only had it twice, and one time it was a lot better than the other, but I plan on finding out where the best places are. That brings me to shawarma. Dad, you will be pleased to know that I did indeed find some shawarma. And, just so I could be able to relay information to you, I did try some. In short, it did not offer me a compelling reason to go back to eating meat. I definitely like falafel better. But it wasn't bad at all. You should try it sometime. Shawarma reminds me of The Avengers, and I forgot to mention last time that you will all be happy to hear that they've really done a great job of cleaning up Manhattan after the mayhem that ensued with the alien invasion and what not. It's impressing how fast everything was straightened up. Going back to pizza, I'm glad that you all have hopefully learned to turn away from Little Caesars. It just isn't very good. Jacob! You're such a stud man. I'm so glad to hear that you stuck it out and fought through the crazy practices. Know that I am suffering with you in the heat everyday. I think that as you stick with it, you'll really start to have a good time and dominate. I'm proud of you for being tough, though. I realized the other day that it has been four years since I was doing the same thing right after moving from Mesa! That just blows my mind. Time really flies, so make sure that you are getting yourself ready for your mission early. Start reading Preach My Gospel now if you can - it's good stuff. But definitely have a ton of fun too. The next four years will be a really good time to make a plethora of happy memories.
I tried to think of a way to offer a recap of my week, but it's hard to sum things up. I busked on a street corner again, so that was fun. Hopefully people will start wanting to learn more. It's tons of fun to play hymns on a NYC street corner, though. One other offbeat thing we've been doing is chalking subway stations. I don't think I told you about this last week, did I? Anyway, we write little messages in chalk at a subway station and then we put mormon.org at the end so people will be directed there to learn more. It's kind of funny to be tagging as a missionary, but it's just chalk so we're not doing anything illegal. I have a picture of one of the tags that I'll send. Any questions that you have, just fire them off. I love answering questions. It's hard to recap things, but I'll try to be better. I got a lump in my throat when I heard about Mia asking for me. Tell her I love her a ton, and I'll send her a picture as soon as I can! And she is a puzzle mastermind! That's awesome! Alright, I have to wrap things up so I can send some pictures. I'll try to establish a time so we can chat next week. That would be fun. I can write a big email for everyone who wants to read it, and we can just chat it up! I'll send a little email first so you know I'm online. I love you all so much, and I hope that you're doing well. I keep you in my prayers.
Love,
Elder McDonald
P.S. Oh! Man, I almost forgot to tell you about the guy who let me use his phone in the airport. I asked him if I could call you guys really quick and he said that I could, and that his brother is a Mormon bishop, so he was doing the good deed for him. Nothing miraculous happened, but when my phone card wasn't working, he caught my eye, and I felt like it would be a good idea to ask him to use his phone. So I don't know if anything good will come of it, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. He was really cool, and when I told him I was going to New York he said that he might have to pray for me. It told him I would appreciate that. Maybe he'll be inspired to ask his brother more about the Church or something.
P.P.S. You're all so nice to write me actual letters. Getting mail is the coolest thing ever out here. I understand the mail scenes in The Best Two Years now. That's really what it's like. I can't wait to get them!
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