Sorry to be late with the emailing this week. The library was closed on New Year's Eve, so we had to adjust the schedule a bit. Well, it's 2013. We didn't all die on December 21st, so that's definitely a plus. I am having trouble believing that it's already the new year. It honestly feels like last New Year's was just a few months ago. I've decided that I am in a time warp. I'm ok with that though. At any rate, we all have a whole year ahead of us, and it's wide open! We can make it anything we choose to, and I think that's kind of exciting.
It looks like the San Francisco trip was awesome. That was to be expected. McDonald family vacations are never a disappointment. I think that it was a really good idea to make a trip into a Christmas present. Many of the gifts I've received have slowly faded away from my memory, but I find that the times I spent with my wonderful family, especially on vacations, created memories that remain strong and are among my happiest. Jase, I'm proud of you for braving the wax museum. There is no doubt that wax figures are terrifying. I find that it helps to remember that at any time, you can melt them with a well-placed blast from your flame-thrower. You could also make them into a candle, and candles are definitely not scary. Good job buddy. Jacob, you ate those squid tentacles like a champ. I think you would have fun trying all the interesting food that people feed me out here. Last night, a member had the missionaries over for New Year's, and she fed us oxtail. Yes, that is exactly what it sounds like it is. It actually wasn't bad if you just didn't think about what you were eating. I'm really glad that you all had such a fun time. San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite places. It did look cold, though. Here, it was a balmy 27 degrees the other day, so the cold isn't really a factor :)
It has been a pretty busy few weeks with all the holiday hubbub, but it's been a lot of fun, too. This last month has absolutely flown by. I'll have been out for 6 months in just a few days. Crazy. Seeing as how time has been rapidly moving along, I have realized that there is a great need to be actively engaged in making resolutions every day to be better so that I can make the most of the time I have. I really like all the New Year's resolutions you guys made. I especially like the one about making sure that there is nothing in the home that would prevent the Spirit from being there. I feel really strongly that the home is a sacred place. It is so true that only the home compares with the temple in sacredness. That has been emphasized to me as my roommates and I have tried to keep our apartment clean and clear of worldly things so that it can be a special place that is set aside from all the craziness that goes on outside. I just feel like it's really important to have a Fortress of Solitude to turn to after being out in the fray every day.
I believe that an update is in order. Things are going well here. The holidays make it hard to get in contact with people, so Elder Hooper and I have been doing a lot of hard work and a lot of praying. Qua and Nicolett have been really hard to get into contact with, which is understandable. It makes me really sad to see them miss out on so much, though. I wish that they could just have a glimpse of how their lives could change if they embraced the gospel. I feel like that would be the catalyst needed. We're not giving up on them, though. We have been finding a few more people to teach, so I'll keep you updated on what happens in that regard. We will hopefully meet with a few of these people this week. Sara has been out of town for the holidays, so we haven't taught her in a little while, but we are also hoping to be able to meet with her soon. Things are hard, but they are coming along. If things are too easy, then you never learn, right? I do have to give an accounting of the best Christmas present I received - a chance to go to the temple with Floretta. Elder Hooper and I went with her, the Frandsens, and another member, and it was awesome. I was so happy for Floretta. It's just incredible to think that only a few short months ago, she knew nearly nothing about the Church. The gospel changes lives. I testify of that with all of my heart. It was also very nice to go to the Manhattan Temple. It's amazing how peaceful it is in there despite all that is occurring right outside. It is definitely a safe haven. The whole experience was really special, and I will never forget it.
Have you all read the conference addresses in the Ensign? I highly recommend all of them. This is the first time that I've made an effort to read the addresses in full, and I'm very glad I did. I learned so much more the second time. This conference was so good. One of my favorites this time around was Elder Bednar's talk on conversion. He makes so many good points. It is one thing to know that the gospel is true. It is quite another thing to let the gospel change you. I read that talk right after listening to "His Grace Is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox, and the two went hand-in-hand perfectly. Brad Wilcox talks about being asked if he has been saved by grace and responding that he indeed has been saved completely by grace. He then poses this question: "Have you been changed by grace?" I suppose you could substitute the word "conversion" for "change" in this instance. We will be what the Lord intends for us to be if we can "[put] off the natural man and [become saints] through the atonement of Christ the Lord" (Mosiah 3:19). I would say that my biggest resolution this year is to be changed by grace and to take steps towards complete conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that if we apply the principles taught in Elder Bednar's talk, we will be happier and we will likely fulfill all of our other resolutions at the same time. There are so many examples for us to look to in the world that it can be easy to forget the greatest example, our Savior Jesus Christ. The primary song "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" has far more significance than we tend to give it. That phrase is almost cliche these days, but if we really stop to think about what it means, then I feel like our lives and the lives of those we come in contact with will be positively impacted in incredible ways. I have a long way to go before I can say that I have been changed, but it is my heart's fondest desire that I can achieve that goal. I very highly recommend Elder Bednar's talk and Brad Wilcox's talk. I think that the talk by Brad Wilcox is one of my favorite that I've ever heard. Check it out!
There is so much more that I'd like to tell you, but I have to wrap up. I love you all so much. Thank you for all that you do for me and all that you do for each other. You are in my prayers, and I so appreciate the prayers that you offer in my behalf. They mean more to me than I could possibly express. I hope that this week is joy-filled for all.
Love,
Elder McDonald
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