Loved Ones,
Good day! What a fine day it is in Midwood! The air is crisp, the trees are colorful, and my heart is warm. I believe that the phrase that I could use to most accurately sum up my feelings is this: I am loving life. Honestly, I am just very happy. Thank you for sending pictures of your Halloween adventures! I loved them. I'm glad to see that the tradition of holiday festivity is still going strong in the McDonald household. You know, as I've spoken with other missionaries about family traditions and such, I've come to realize that we have always had a very strong sense of tradition in our family. We always found fun ways to celebrate even the most obscure holidays. Mom and Dad, I want to thank you for establishing a good, strong family culture. It blessed my childhood and continues to bless my life. From time to time, I have ideas about family traditions that I can establish once the time comes, and I've been writing those things down. Of course, I plan on continuing many of the awesome traditions already in place in our family as well. I believe that it is because of our strong family culture that I have such a deep love and appreciation for culture today. That has helped me as a missionary in New York, and I know it will continue to bring me joy throughout my life. So, thank you for the legacy. I feel a great responsibility to continue it. I also offer a big thank you for the lovely fall package that you sent. You guys are the best. I loved it. Thank you so much.
Well, the time has come for an update. Elder Monestine was transferred, so I now have a new companion named Elder Durkin. Words fail to measure up to the description that Elder Durkin deserves. He is one of a kind. This last week has probably been the most fun I've had my whole mission. It has just been great. Almost counter-intuitively, this past week has also been the most focused I've been in a while, and I've also felt a great desire to lose myself in the work of the Lord. Heavenly Father knows our needs. He loves us and He gives us so many wonderful gifts. This last week was just what I needed. I am so pumped right now!
Fun story of the week: Elder Durkin and I were walking down the road, and Elder Durkin was talking about how he'd like to learn how to introduce the Book of Mormon in Arabic. We passed a Middle-Eastern man as we walked and made it about 10 paces before I felt that I should turn around and ask this man how to initiate a conversation in Arabic. He actually spoke Urdu, but he taught us an introductory phrase that is used in Urdu and Arabic. We came to find out this man's name is Waka Kahn. He's from Pakistan, and he's been in New York for 5-6 months. As we spoke, Waka told us that he hasn't been able to make any friends during his time in New York, and that has been hard for him. He then said that he was happy that we were now his friends. He invited us to come to his house. So, we followed him into an obscure basement apartment where we met Waka's father. Both Waka and his father were just completely stoked that we were there. Waka's father doesn't speak English, but Waka told us that he was asking him how he got these Americans to be his friend. It made me so happy to see how happy they both were to have someone to be friends with. Throughout our visit, Waka's catchphrase was "You are my friends!" and, "When you are happy, I am happy!" We were given a fruit smoothie, a Pakistani lamb dish, and a bowl of fruit. It was royal treatment. We had a wonderful conversation with Waka and his father, and gained an interesting insight into the perspective of an immigrant. Waka talked about how the Pakistani people feel isolated because the Americans don't reach out to them. The Pakistani people are afraid to reach out because they feel like Americans have a negative view of them, especially because they are Muslim. In the mean time, Americans often don't reach out to immigrants because we don't know their language or we simply feel that they are just doing their own thing. At least, that's how I sometimes feel. So, both sides give each other the cold shoulder because we just misunderstand what the other side is thinking. This was a profound lesson for me. I have noticed that if I offer a friendly "hello" to my Pakistani brethren, they often respond back in a very friendly, gracious manner. Waka reminded me that we are all children of God, and we ought to extend a hand of fellowship to everyone we meet. How many people to we pass on the street without even saying "hi"? I feel the world would be a brighter place if we just loved a bit more and tried a little harder to reach out to those we don't understand.
I want you all to know that I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is so true. It is a pattern for our lives. I have been blessed immeasurably by the gospel, and those blessings continue to come every day. I know that God lives. He loves us. I know that we each can receive eternal life by following the principles and ordinances of the gospel. I love you all. I'm so grateful for your presence in my life. Stay the course!
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