Finishing Strong

Loved Ones,

The pocket knife of the universe has been steadily whittling away bits
of time. Thankfully, the resultant wood carving is, to me, quite
beautiful. My hands are anything but empty after nearly two years have
been shaved away. I've been left with something more wonderful than
that which I started with. Equally worthy of thanks is the fact that,
so far, the last days of my mission have been especially rich and
rewarding. I have been blessed with an extra measure of faith, desire,
and hope that is putting wind in my sails and a fire in my heart. This
week can and should be the best week of my life.

Have you all been singing "New York, New York" to each other? Jacob,
are you excited to see the City for the first time from the
Queensborough Bridge? Jase, are you prepared to face the T-Rex in the
Museum of Natural History when we find a way to stay after closing to
witness a "night at the museum"? Mia, are you ready to ride the big,
shiny, underground train? It's going to be a vacation for the history
books.

I don't have much time because Elder Hooper and I are putting on a
zone activity today (we're playing kickball!), but I'd like to tell
you what Elder Hooper and I are going to do to make this week awesome.
The mission has a standard of excellence of finding 20 new
investigators as a companionship every transfer. So far, Elder Hooper
and I are at 14, and we are committed to make up our 6 investigator
deficit this week. We've had a lot of fun as we've thrust in our
sickles and searched for the pure in heart. They're out there! We've
been finding lots of awesome people! We have enough potential
investigators so that it is very realistic that we can find 6 more
investigators in a week. That has become my new "end of mission goal".
It is by and large this endeavor which has me feeling especially
pumped. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with
the faith and energy I need to finish strong. Enduring to the end is a
very important part of the gospel! I just have to keep asking each day
for my daily bread. One thing that Elder Hooper and I have been doing
to find people is going door to door with violin and guitar in hand to
play music for people. We have found good success with this practice,
and it's tons of fun!

Well, dear loved ones, I have to wrap it up. I love you all so much!
Thank you for being a constant light! I'm thinking of that cool light
thing that the elf queen gave to Frodo (I have to jump in on the
family "Lord of the Rings" discussion!). Have an awesome week!

Love,
Elder McDonald