Memorial Day

Loved Ones,

Hi folks! How are ya? I want to thank you all for keeping me in the
loop and being so great about writing me and such. It is so sweet (not
in the slang way) to have correspondence with the dear ones in my
life. My heart swells to know that whatever roads I walk, I walk them
in such stellar company. Truly stellar is the right adjective, for you
are all of a heavenly nature in every way. Thank you! I'm going to
warn you that, upon seeing you all, I may follow the example of Ammon
and pass out because my joy exceeds my natural frame. Just be standing
by in the event of such a thing occurring. It is not unlikely.

Last week was great! Getting my birthday package a bit late worked out
just fine because I was able to stretch that celebration out as long
as possible. Brother Burgess, a member here in Bay Shore (he's
awesome), believes in a birthday week, and I must second his opinion.
The package arrived on time, I think, it was just in a different place
than the last one, so I didn't see it until I, on a whim, checked a
compartment and found a delightful surprise inside. It was great to
Spider-Man-out for a bit and bathe in the warmth that comes from
knowing someone loves me. Let me just say that you decorated
everything perfectly. I am such a big Spider-Man fan. Not only is he
awesome, but he's a New Yorker! That's what I like most about him.
Also, he demonstrates the principle of selfless service that we are
remembering and paying tribute to this Memorial Day. Let me just
publicly thank those who have served this country and those who call
it home. We are so blessed to have liberty. Liberty is a companion to
and a component of eternal life. It is important! I'm grateful that
there are those who believed in liberty enough to lay down their
lives. May God bless America.

Last week was excellent. Truly excellent. This past Friday, we had the
opportunity to help out St. Mark's, a local Episcopalian church, with
a project they were working on. This was a great chance to associate
fellow Christians and appreciate what brings us together.
Additionally, we received a gracious tour of the church with its
striking architecture and stunning glasswork. It was gorgeous! There
were beautiful scenes depicted with Tiffany glass. (I think that's how
it's spelled. That's how it sounds.) That was a treat. In other news,
we lived off the fat of the land because people kept providing pizza
for us. Thus we were well fed and didn't even have to use much of our
own food. That happens sometimes. The Lord provides. I was watching a
sparrow drink from a pool of rainwater on the street the other day,
and I just thought of the scripture in Matthew:

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye
not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26).

As I think back to the companion situations mentioned, namely pizza
being provided for us and rainwater being provided for the sparrow, I
am grateful that the Lord saw fit to bless us with pizza and not just
rainwater :) To loosely quote Po, the Kung Fu Panda, "I'm gonna need a
lot more than dew and universe juice!" However, joking aside, I
believe strongly in the principle taught in that scripture. I know
that as we selflessly serve, the Lord provides. Would not He support
us as we seek to lift the human family? I testify that He does and He
will!

I spoke with a returned missionary the other day who told me the last
month of his mission was miraculous. He said he just expected awesome
things to happen and they did. I loved that, and I'd like to make that
a reality for the last month of my mission. I've learned that there is
nothing wrong with having great expectations, even though you will
sometimes be disappointed. Occasional disappointment may be something
of a toll that must be paid when crossing the bridge to the wondrous
isle of fulfilled hopes and dreams, but it is well worth it. Faith,
hope, and expectations are connected, and I am seeking to raise my
expectations and increase my faith and hope so that when
disappointments come, I am able to take them with optimism and
confidence, knowing that things will work out when we place faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Loved ones, I love you. I really do! You are in my prayers and always
in my heart. Let's go and do something nice for someone this week!
Maybe it is a smile you'll give or just a "hello". You could do the
dishes for Mom or bake someone a batch of cookies. Whatever it is, it
will make the world a brighter place and make you a brighter person!

Love,
Elder McDonald

Awkward Companion Photos...

Birthday Boy!