The Food Pod

Loved Ones,

Hello! I'm so happy right now! What a wonderful treat to see your
smiling faces! You are all such awesome people. From Mia's superhuman
hula hooping right up to Lulu's good looks, each of you are great.
Plus, you're living such cool lives! I am honored to be a member of
the family. Thanks for letting me hang out with ya'll :)

This is going to be a good week. I can feel it. Not for any particular
reason, but just because. I've found that it is not the events that
determine the quality of our lives, but the tiny patterns of thought
and attitude we choose to follow in each moment of every day. Those
little things make a very big difference. So, in following good
patterns of thought and attitude, I hope to not only have a good week,
but a successful one as well. I hope everyone else is feeling great at
the start of the week. Let's wage war against the Monday blues! Being
able to email my family every Monday has certainly changed my
perspective on Mondays.

Elder Hardisty and I spent some good quality time searching for those
who want to know the truth last week. We were able to increase our
efficiency ten-fold by creating what I have termed "the food pod". It
is a large Tupperware which we fill with various food stuffs that
serves as our dinner for the day. That way, we can eat out on the
road. It's great! Besides that, we're having tons of fun as we serve
together in this most choice part of the vineyard.

I'm going to get right onto something I neglected last week. I asked
you all if you were lovers of the cause of Christ. When someone asked
W.W. Phelps how Joseph Smith was able to endure so much, he answered
in Joseph Smith's own words, saying something like, "I am a lover of
the cause of Christ." When I learned this, it really impacted me, and
I had to ask myself, "Am I a lover of the cause of Christ?"
Furthermore, I wondered just exactly what it means to love the cause
of Christ. I'm not sure I fully know yet, but I do have a strong
desire to truly love the cause of Christ and let that love lead me to
selfless service and unflinching devotion to my Savior Jesus Christ. I
have a long way to go, but I know that line upon line, precept upon
precept, I can inch towards that goal. It will come largely by
following patterns that I mentioned earlier. I believe that God is so
much more concerned about patterns we follow than singular actions or
events in our lives. Of course, a single action or event can alter the
courses and patterns of our lives for good or for ill, but I feel that
the measure of our character will ultimately be made manifest in the
patterns we have chosen to make a part of us. Some of the most
important patterns are prayer and scripture study. I know those make
the biggest difference. So, let's all work together to love the cause
of Christ and establish patterns of righteousness in our lives. Those
are two very related pursuits.

I love you all heaps and bunches! You guys really are the best. I mean
it. Thank you so much for all you are doing. Don't let anyone tell any
of you you aren't awesome.

Love,
Elder McDonald