Brrrrrrr...

Loved Ones,

How is it that another week has gone by? I don't understand. Mom, I can totally confirm what the sister missionaries in your ward said. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. It's strange. How has everyone been? It's been unseasonably warm in Clovis, has it? I'm glad to hear that it was warm somewhere. Jack Frost has been wreaking havoc on Brooklyn this last week. There were a few days where the cold surpassed all my understanding. I believe that it was somewhere in the single digits with the wind chill factored in. Now I feel like I have survived a New York City winter. It was only a warm-up (no pun intended) before. I do have enough clothes to stay warm, so don't worry. It's snowed twice in the past week, and that was really nice. The city is beautiful in the snow.

This week was pretty darn cool (again, no pun intended). We had interviews with President Calderwood on Thursday, and I learned a ton from him. It seems that he has a wealth of wisdom concerning any topic that I could think to address, and he shares it with a passion and clarity that is most instructive. From the interview, I do get the feeling that my stay in Williamsburg is coming to a close in the near future. Whether that means this transfer or the next, I'm not sure, but I feel like I may be off to new places this transfer. I just get the feeling that it's time for the next phase. I'm a little bummed because I most likely won't be able to see the "man zone" receive its first sister missionaries, which I am now certain will occur this next transfer. I've been expecting it, but now it's pretty much a known fact, even though it's supposed to be a secret. President Calderwood hinted at it in the interview, and now Elder Hooper and I are supposed to be keeping our eyes open for available apartments in the area for sister missionaries. I'm really excited. Sister missionaries bring something to the table that I think elders alone cannot. It's going to be very cool to see the work move forward with greater power in this area.

Speaking of the work moving forward, a small miracle occurred on Sunday that I am completely stoked about. After sacrament meeting, Elder Hooper and I were talking with people, and I introduced myself to a lady who I didn't recognize and a man with her who I also didn't recognize. It turns out this lady is a member from Harlem, and she was at church because she was bringing her friend (the previously mentioned man. His name is Matthew.) to the branch. Matthew has been investigating the Church for the past few weeks, and he's been taught by the missionaries in Harlem because that's where he was introduced to the Church by his friend. However, he lives in Greenpoint, which is in the boundaries of the branch I'm in. When he realized that he should be going to the Bushwick branch, he resolved to attend there since it is so much closer than Harlem. One other thing: he had a baptismal date set for February 2nd. He was going to be baptized in Harlem, but now he wants to be baptized into the Bushwick branch! So, Elder Hooper and I are going to start teaching him, and we're planning on scheduling his baptism for next Sunday! He is a really cool guy, and he seems to be very committed to the gospel. I was able to talk with him a bit at church, and he shared his conversion story and testimony with me. It was a very cool experience. So, it looks like there will be a baptism coming up! Crazy, right? I see this as being a huge blessing after a long period of hard work with limited success. I'm looking forward to getting to know Matthew better and seeing the gospel change his life and bring him a fulness of joy. I know that is exactly what the gospel does for people should they choose to accept it.

I just wanted to offer you all my testimony of the work I am engaged in, and the work that any faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sets out to do. Though I am far from being the perfect example of what a dedicated and set apart missionary should be, I testify with all my heart that the work I am engaged in is the Lord's work. I testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They love every single person on this earth with a love that I cannot comprehend at this time. Not only do They live and love us all, They are very active in our lives. I know that the church that Jesus Christ set up when He was on the earth has been restored completely, and I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that church. But that doesn't matter much if we don't let that knowledge do something for us. I know that in the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today, the perfect and simple plan that we need to follow in order to find true happiness and return to be with our Heavenly Father and our families for all eternity is taught correctly. I know that this plan, the gospel of Jesus Christ, will bring happiness to anyone who follows it. I know that with all my heart. I know that if we heed Jesus Christ's call to every single one of us to come and follow Him, that we can all find exactly what it is we are all looking for, even if we don't know exactly what it is we are looking for yet. I would ask everyone who may read this to just take a leap of faith and try living the gospel of Jesus Christ fully and with dedication if you haven't already committed to do so. I know that such a decision will bring you joy. I just want to say that I am serving a mission in New York City because I believe fully in the cause I am promoting. I am not out here because my parents told me to be here. I am not out here because I am some blind, brain-washed follower. The reason I am out here is because I know that my Heavenly Father wants me to be here. I am out here because I know that the gospel has been the source of all that is good in my life, and I hope that others can experience that same goodness. I echo the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "To those who have not yet joined with us in this great final cause of Christ, we say, 'Please come'." I love you all. Thank you for all the support you give to me. I am glad to be here in New York City, and I'm grateful for all the help that so many of you provide that keeps me going.

Love,

Elder McDonald