The Old and the New

Loved Ones,

Well, hello friends and family. I really do hope that Easter treated
you all well. I have really grown to love Easter. I didn't appreciate
it as much before, but it's up there with my favorite holidays now.
Also, the character of Spring in New York has given me great cause to
abound in love for Spring itself. Spring is a sacred season. The songs
of birds, the new life, the cool breeze - it is wonderful. I recall
similarly raving of the beauty of the season last year when I was in
Littleneck. I can't believe it's been a year! This Spring, I would
like to pose a question: what has sprung in your lives this Spring?
Essentially, what is new? What are you going to change? Just something
to think about.

I'll give you the update for the week. It was pretty funny what
happened. Elder Hardisty is my new companion, and all he had to do was
take a big jump to get to Bay Shore. He has been one of my zone
leaders the last two transfers. I told him it feels like we're on an
extended exchange. We just stayed in Bay Shore in the same apartment
I've been in. That was nice. It's funny how much can change while
you're still in the same place. I've seen many seasons in Bay Shore. I
guess the same concept would be true for a home. Raising a family in
one home surely must be a "multi-season" experience. And the same goes
for life as a whole. We have bitter and we have sweet. We have ups and
we have downs. If we never taste the bitter, we will never understand
the sweet. And if we never are down, then we will not be able to
comprehend what it means to be up. I'm grateful for both ends if the
spectrum, though I'm learning how to be happy and grateful through
both.

Elder Hardisty and I have had an awesome week! Oh, well, I suppose I
should tell you a bit about Elder Hardisty. He's from Santa Rosa,
California, so we're representing the Golden State here on the East
Coast. He's really fun and a very hard worker. We've been moving at an
exceedingly swift pace, but it's best that way. Another thing I
mentioned to Elder Hardisty is how it is funny how I have begun to
empathize with the elderly. I just feel tired a lot! Elder Hardisty
and I are both advanced in years when it comes to out time on a
mission, but we're still going!

As I type this, I imagine that you all are in a state of magical
bliss, drinking deeply from the fountain of glee, nostalgia, and pixie
dust that is Disneyland. I'm happy to know that my family is happy.
Truly, it is that constant knowledge that my family is a happy family,
a forever family, that is one of the most powerful motivators for my
ongoing service. Why? Well, let me expound on that. First of all, I
just have to think of all of you to want to be better and work harder.
Also, the happiness in family life that I have experienced compels me
to share with others. Even more, my knowledge of the possibility of
having a forever family drives me to keep my covenants, which are very
much connected to my missionary service. Last week, the lesson in
church spoke of the relationship between Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith,
and I thought of my wonderful siblings. How grateful I am to have your
love and support! All the books in the world and all the seven seas
couldn't contain the stuff necessary to express or explain the power
of faithful, supportive siblings. So, Family, have a happy day. Thank
you for being there. Thank you for being happy. Thank you for loving
me.

I call upon all the singing birds to join with me in telling each of
you that I love you. You are special, and not just because you're
special to me. Thank you for everything!

Love,
Elder McDonald

P.S. Thanks so much for the package love! I loved it all!