Firm Foundations

Loved Ones,

Holy Cats. I don't even know where to begin. I have so much running through my mind right now. My fingers are threatening to break the sound barrier as I type this feverishly. I'm not sure why I am being spastic, but I feel bad now because I just built this up like I'm going to share some ground-breaking news or something. Alas, I do not have any ground-breaking news, or really anything too exciting to report. But, I am so glad that everyone had a wonderful week and that the McDonald family ship is sailing smoothly. 

So, I'm probably going to just lay out everything that's on my mind right now. First of all, congratulations to Grandma and Grandpa for selling the house. It seems that house-selling always turns into a fiasco, but it sounds like the fiasco bullet was dodged. Nice! I was slightly confused, and I wasn't clear about whether you guys were buying or building a house. Now, I am in possession of the facts. Another McDonald family project, huh? Now you can call it a homestead because you're building it. A homestead is way cooler than a house. I'm not sure if my reasoning is enough to accurately qualify the new house as a homestead, but I do declare that I am of the firm opinion that it should be called a homestead. Hurray for laying firm foundations! You guys can make up countless gospel analogies as you watch the house steadily rise from dirt to dwelling place. The family home evening lesson will basically write itself for the next few weeks (or months, depending on how long you want to milk it for). Mom, I'm so happy that you are getting your school work started soon! Two senior couples actually spoke extensively about the Pathways program at church on Sunday. It sounds pretty great! How cool will it be to graduate college together? Most people might not think that graduating with their mom is cool, but when you have as cool a mom as I do, it's a no-brainer! (Pun intended. I tried, perhaps too hard.). I spoke with Elder McKell, one of the senior couple missionaries in the ward, for quite some time about working as a professor at BYU. He was a professor there, and he just loved it. I asked him for some advice, and he gave me some very useful tips. We'll see what happens... What else? The picture of Jacob and Jase at the doctor's office made me laugh out loud in the library. That is a priceless gem. I think that to even out the child-embarassment scales, you ought to frame that and put it in a prominent place in the house. That naked baby picture (which I hope has been destroyed) has caused me to suffer alone for far too long. Also, I absolutely cannot believe that Wyatt comes home from his mission in a week. That is just shocking. How did the time pass so quickly? We were just taking a road trip to attend his farewell like a month ago, it seems! From my vantage point, it seems like things are pretty exciting for all of you. I know that my vantage point may turn dull mole hills into exciting mountains, but I'm sure that we can agree that it seems like everything is working out very well. I'm grateful that you are all enjoying so many of the Lord's blessings. He truly loves us and wants us to be happy. He is always there for us, and it is so beautiful to see how He blesses us with little tender mercies that are perfectly catered to each of us.

 I told you that I had a lot on my mind! I suppose I should tell you all a bit about myself. My new companion is Elder Monestine. He was born in the Bahamas, but he left from Miami, Florida. He is technically a Creole-speaking missionary, I think. He's a cool guy! We are going to make some things happen this transfer! I know that I need to do more and be more so that I can find the success that I know I can. The work has been difficult for me, but that just means that I am learning and growing. It seems like great things are already starting to happen. Elder Monestine and I met with Jimmy, and he is doing well. He's such a great kid. Also, Elder Monestine asked a guy if he could use his skateboard when we were waiting for Jimmy at the park, and while Elder Monestine threw out some tricks in a suit, I found out that the friend of the guy who's skateboard was being used is a friend of Jimmy. That was confusing, but hopefully it makes sense. Anyway, Jimmy has told this friend about how he is learning from the missionaries, so Jimmy is already sharing the gospel! Pretty cool, right? We also taught a great guy named Charles, and we are actively looking for some more people to teach. I really love teaching, especially the gospel, so that is incentive to find some people who will listen! On another note, I have made a cheap-eating breakthrough! It turns out that there are seemingly endless uses for saltine crackers. I have been experimenting recently, and I have been very happy with the results. So, life is good! 

One thing that I've been learning recently is that there is always a silver lining. Often, that silver lining comes in the form of blessings from our Heavenly Father. Sometimes life is hard. Like, really hard. I know that the challenges I go through are nothing compared to some of the harrowing adversity that others face, but they are still challenging. These challenges have taught me two main things - attitude is everything, and blessings are constant. First, attitude is so important. I need to work harder to develop unshakeable optimism because when everything else seems to be shaking, it is great to have something that remains constant. Faith, hope, and love never sink during the storms of life, and optimism is a natural side-effect of those attributes. The grass is green where you water it. Serving the Lord and those around you with love is a great way to "water the grass". Second, I have found that if we take the time to look, we will always find blessings in our lives, no matter how gloomy things may seem at a glance. I tried to apply President Eyring's advice from the this month's First Presidency Message in the Ensign, and I found it very rewarding, especially as I recorded blessings in my journal. When I took a little bit of time to reflect, I discovered that there were many blessings that I would have failed to recognize if I focused on the negatives. So, the two things that I learned really go hand in hand. If we will look for the good, we will find it, because it's always there. Blessings are constant. 

I love each of you so much. Thank you for all that you do and all that you are. Each of you is so precious to me. You have made good impressions on my life that will never fade away. I know that God lives. He loves us. He really does. The work which I am engaged in is true. Though I often fall short because of my weakness, the gospel never does. It always delivers. Our faithfulness is the only variable. I pray that God will bless each of you. I know He will.

Love,
Elder McDonald

Here are some pics of a primary children's party at Prospect Park in Brooklyn

This one's Jarom's fave! The pic was taken just as he punched a water balloon!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Loved Ones,

Salutations! How is everybody? Thank you for your letters and emails. It's always so good to hear from each of you. Each letter of support is like a piece of light that I can add into my "light pouch" and call upon in moments of distress or difficulty. I have been greatly benefited by having a full light pouch, thanks to each of you. Without all of the love I feel, I would be truly lost. The most important and lifting love I feel is the love of my Father in Heaven that I can experience by virtue of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I encourage each of you to seek this love, for it is "most sweet" and it "[fills] my soul with exceedingly great joy." I know that each of us can feel that love if we will but be willing and obedient.

It looks like there was some good celebrating going on last week. Congratulations Dad! In the hopes that I can dull some of the pain that is induced by the relentless encroachment of old age, I want you to know that I've been telling everyone you're 42. That's what I legitimately thought. Everyone who sees my family pictures always comments on how young my parents look. So don't listen to what your birth certificate says! You're young. You're so young. Speaking of parents, I want my mom and dad to know how grateful I am for their tireless efforts in raising me. While fulfilling some of the duties of a zone leader, I've had occasion to experience a taste of what you two must have felt from time to time as you worked to raise me in the ways of truth and righteousness. I now partially understand some of the difficulties that must have come, and the challenges I must have brought upon you at times. I want you both to know that I am very grateful that you kept trying, no matter what. I have been richly blessed because of your efforts. So, thank you. I am learning so much and receiving so many blessings each day. Mom, I'm trying to think of what I could say to give you a summary of what goes on out here. Elder Cutshall and I are teaching this really cool guy named Jimmy. He is awesome. He is eating up the Book of Mormon, and I think he really wants to change his life. He's been searching for the truth for a long time, and it is great to see how he has responded upon encountering the endless and eternal truths found in the Book of Mormon. We are really trying to unite our efforts with the members here. Missionary work does not work without the members of the Church. It's so important to reach out in love and share what you know. There are many simple, friendly ways to do this, and I know that the Lord will help us as we strive to do our part. If we can develop charity, the pure love of Christ, everything will change. Love is so powerful. I feel like I just go on all day about love, but I can't help it. I'm convinced that there is nothing that love cannot overcome. I want to share a quote from President Calderwood that really puts charity into perspective for me. He said, "Charity is a sacred virtue because it is the character and nature of Jesus Christ." Isn't that cool? If we develop charity, then all of the other Christlike attributes become a part of us - they are included in the "charity package". I suppose I should include in my update the news about next transfer. Elder Cutshall is being transferred, so I will have a new companion. We've had a great time together and become good friends. He's taught me a lot, and I'm grateful that the Lord has once again placed me in the situation I needed. So, I will tell you all about my new companion next week! In summation, I am happy and healthy, and I'm loving life. Life really is wonderful, isn't it?

I just want to mention a few thoughts that have really helped me lately. I have begun to understand how much power there is in simplicity, and how we can achieve that simplicity that I believe we yearn for, even though we may not always realize it. I think of the quintessential "old-timer" who laments the demise of the "good-old days" when life was simpler. Well, we can make today a "good-old day" by simply being obedient to the Lord's simple commandments! Simple, right? President Monson said, "Obey the laws of God. They are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. When obeyed, our lives will be more fulfilling, less complicated." So, not only will obedience make our lives simpler, it will make them more fulfilling. The idea of simplicity bringing more fulfillment almost seems counter-intuitive, but I believe this is an eternal truth. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," in the words of Leonardo da Vinci. I've also learned that simplicity also brings ultimate sophistication. In Doctrine and Covenants 98:28, we read, "He that keepeth [God's] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." So simple obedience will ultimately result in a fulness truth and light. Everything becomes so much easier when we choose to obey. We avoid so many "what-ifs" and so much heartache if we just make the decision now to be obedient. Obedience is easy if disobedience is not an option. In a paradoxical way, exact obedience makes us free. I know that if we will obey, our lives will be simple, beautiful, and free. I need to be much better at this, and I know that if I will be more obedient, I will find lasting peace and happiness and eternal success.

I love you all so very much. Thank you for all that you do, all that you say, and all that you are. I am very privileged to spend my life in the company of such wonderful people. Have a great week!

Love,
Elder McDonald

Generations of Happiness!

Loved Ones,

Hello, hello! I'm sorry that my salutations are always the same. I hope it's not getting too redundant. I would ask how everyone is doing, but from your reports, it is clear to see that there has been laughter and rejoicing in the land. I am so glad! You all just keep enjoying every minute of every day. Life is beautiful, and it is a shame to let even a moment of it pass by unappreciated and un-lived. I'm so very grateful that I am privileged to spend my life with such beautiful people. Have I mentioned that you all are the best? Well, you are. Unfortunately, I have a very limited amount of time to write this. The computers are being very slow today, so I have used up a good amount of my time waiting for everything to load. But, we shall make the best of it!

I was so glad to hear about all the adventures you all had! I love family St. George trips! It looks like this last one was a success. You all just keep finding cool things to do with your lives. Keep it up. Isn't it so great to renew those family relationships by reuniting with loved ones who are scattered across the globe (or just the western United States)? I can only imagine how sweet it will be when we can have a giant family reunion upon leaving this frail, yet oh, so delightful existence. Won't it be amazing to connect with all those whose hearts are knit to ours, with no consideration to space or time? Normally family reunions are just a gathering of those who are separated in a geographical sense, but we can each have the great privilege of sharing the joy of living with those who have been separated from us by generations. How great will be our joy at that supernal moment! I can imagine nothing more pure and beautiful than living as an eternal family with all of our family. Perhaps that is at least partially the meaning of the Prophet Joseph Smith's teaching that we cannot be made perfect without our dead. I want you to know that my love and prayers are with you even though we are separated for a time. I feel that a few thousand miles is a feeble obstacle for love. 

It was my pleasure to again finish reading the Book of Mormon this week. I have had my testimony of that book's divinity renewed. I love the Book of Mormon with all of my heart, and I am so grateful for the truths that it contains. I have been blessed because of the knowledge I've received from the Book of Mormon. But it is not only knowledge that the Book of Mormon offers. Beyond that, I receive a peace that surpasses understanding when I take my worries and cares to a study of the Book of Mormon. Like the dispelling of the fog by the mid-day sun, all of the gunk that can build up from long-term exposure to "the world" is washed away by the power of that book that we have been promised will draw us nearer to God than any other book. We see past the haze of the world when we look to the Book of Mormon. I just want to offer my witness of the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. This is a knowledge that has been impressed upon my soul by the power of the Holy Ghost, and I will stand by that knowledge no matter what. I know that anyone who reads the Book of Mormon will better themselves and therefore the world around them. As a servant of the Lord, I promise each of you that if you will prayerfully study the Book of Mormon each day, you will be filled with joy and peace, and you will be strengthened to resist temptation. You will find solutions to your problems and answers to your questions.

I love each of you so much. Thank you for your support, your love, and your prayers. I am loving every day out here in New York. I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve the Lord with all my time, talents, and attention. Stay happy!

Love,
Elder McDonald

Savoring Every Moment

Loved Ones,

Good day, lovely people. I hope everyone is well. I'm glad to hear that Oceanside has reclaimed you all at last. In the past, when people have asked where I am from, I have been unsure of how to answer them. This will be a problem no longer. I will happily claim Oceanside as the dwelling place of my dear kinsfolk. As the heat here in New York breaks records (I think), I hope that you all are breaking happiness records each day. Go and swim in the ocean for me and just have a wonderful summer. I look forward to a wonderful summer in the Lord's service.

This last week was so fast! It is really disconcerting to experience the time passing at such a rapid rate. If we don't take time to really savor each handful of time we're given, we'll miss out on a lot as it slips through our fingers.  I suppose the passing of time really isn't all that concerning if we've loved each moment and squeezed every last sweet drop of goodness out of the time we're given. I need to be better about that. I've begun to learn how important it is to plan our lives with purpose so that we are prepared to benefit from each opportunity that comes our way. Without planning, I often feel underwater, and, as you know, humans don't typically do too well in an aquatic environment. It's a little stressful to know that I have to start planning for the rest of my life soon, but I'm confident that it will all work out just fine with the Lord's help. The Lord really is in the details of our lives. He knows what we love and cherish, and I have found that if we will put His will first, He makes plenty of room for those things. It is so beautiful to witness how the Lord will help us to perfectly orchestrate our life so that the essentials are accomplished, service is rendered, and those righteous desires of our hearts are realized. 

Last week, I had the choice opportunity to attend the Manhattan Temple in accordance with my one-year anniversary as a missionary. If I were to summarize what I gained, I would say that I came away from this experience with a sure witness that the temple is the house of God, and we would be wise to place the temple at the forefront of our lives. What a beautiful experience it was! Honestly, I loved it so much. It is amazing to walk down a busy, noisy Manhattan street and then pass through the temple's doors into a sanctuary completely free from the influence of the world that so obtrusively asserts itself all around. I kept thinking of the concept of a fortress of solitude. Superman understood the importance of standing in holy places. He just needed someone to bring him the gospel so he could enjoy the blessings of the temple! I was so strengthened and lifted by my trip to the temple, and I testify that anyone who prepares themselves to enter the Lord's house and then does so consistently will find a peace beyond description and will find light and truth beyond compare. In the temple, we are truly endowed with power from on high. I have made a solemn commitment that I will go to the temple at least once a month upon returning from my mission. I know that I would be missing out on so much if I did not continually renew myself through temple worship. I look forward to being with my family in the temple as well. I'm grateful that, though we are separated for a time, the temple has provided us with a bond that bridges time and space and ensures that we will be united eternally if we will but prove faithful. Mom and Dad, thank you for centering our family around the temple. And let us not forget that "because [we] have been given much, [we] too must give." As I sat in the temple, I caught a glimpse of how Lehi felt when he declared, "How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth..." I need to work harder and do more so that others may come to feel the peace that I felt in the temple. I love the temple, and I'm so grateful that, because of the Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we can enjoy the blessings of the temple in our day. God lives, and He has invited us to come into His house. How can we reject such an invitation? 

I thank you all for what great examples you are to me. I realize that I need to be better as I associate with the wonderful people in my life. I love each of you dearly, and I pray for you continually. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, and most of all for your examples. I owe so much to each of you. You are special to me, and I know that each of you is so special to God. He loves us so much, and when we feel that love, we realize how important it is to do all that we can to return to His presence. 

Love,
Elder McDonald

Loving his banjo playing companion!

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!!

Loved Ones,

Hello! I'm sending a beam of love in the general direction of all of you. I hope that it reaches its intended destination. Seriously though, if I love you all any more, then that's impossible. You see? My sentences aren't even logical when I try to express myself! It was so good to hear about all your adventures! I'm glad that everyone is doing so well. Just keep being happy. I have a very limited amount of time today, so I'm going to have to be tragically brief. I'm sorry! I'll get as much in as possible.

I am especially stoked out of my mind about how awesome EFY was for Jacob. I was so happy when I read your report, my brother! Maybe we could be EFY counselors together someday. That would be pretty sweet. I hope everyone else had a fantastic week as well. I definitely did. It was also the fastest week of my life. Time is just in a sprint these days. I have to be diligent or else it gets away from me. This is an important lesson for me to learn, I think. But I am loving each day, and I am being blessed immensely, with many of those blessings coming in the form of the love that you all give to me. Thank you for being such stalwart supporters. You are making a difference.

Well, folks, it finally happened. I fell head-over-heels in love with New York. The emotional breakthrough had very good timing as well. I came to realize my love on July 11, my one-year mark. It happened suddenly, but the implications of this will affect the rest of my life. It all started when my zone began a "street sweep" with the intention to make the people of New York smile. We made posters with messages like "Lookin' Good!" or "Smile - It Will Make You Happy!", and took our smiles and our love to a street corner where we commenced to exert our best efforts to induce as many smiles as possible. It was possibly the greatest missionary activity I've ever engaged in. I absolutely loved it. Countless people flaunted their smiles as they drove by, and several truck drivers honked their horns for us as well. It was such a joy to just focus on making people happy. It was amidst all of this revelry that I came to a conclusion: I am a New Yorker. I love this city, and the people here, and I decided that, in my mind, I am a local. It's difficult to describe the thought process that led me to my conclusion, but the circumstances of the moment created a perfect mixture of love and joy, causing me to fall in love with New York City. To make a long story short, I have made a decision. For the next year, New York is my home. For the time being, my home is no longer California. I am going to consider myself a New Yorker. Sure, if I ask someone on the street if they think I'm a New Yorker, their answer will probably be a firm, "No." I have heard the phrase, "You're not from New York, are you?" or something similar more times than I would like. The package my wonderful family sent is timely, because its contents will definitely help me to look the part more. Thanks for that, family. But, it's what's on the inside that counts. Home is where the heart is, and I've decided to place my heart right here in New York City. This goes along with what I came to realize about attitude. We need to love what we're experiencing right now. I know that I will be able to serve and lift others more if I give them my whole heart. I am going to follow the example of Ammon and make my field of labor my home. This definitely doesn't mean I love any of you any less. I assure you this is not the case. I am simply seeking to extend my love, and I hope that I can do so with the Lord's help. I feel that it is by grace that we can love all after we have loved all we can.

I want to share one more thing with all of you. It's no surprise that I now have more of my mission behind me than ahead of me. That's a strange feeling, and I have a lot in my mind on the subject, but I want to share a poem I wrote to express what is at the heart of my feelings. Here it is:

One year has passed, and there's a year ahead

I greet it with willing hands

How grateful I am that I made the choice

To follow God's commands

He has taught me and He has carried me
When I thought hope was lost

I'll follow Him and be a loyal friend

No matter what the cost

I am so grateful for this year that I've been blessed with. I know that I've been engaged in the Lord's work, and I have been richly blessed. I am so grateful to each of you for supporting me and strengthening my feeble knees in my hour of distress. I think that many of you don't know how much you've helped me. I want to make sure that all of you know how eternally grateful I am to each of you. I love you all so much. I cannot express it without falling hopelessly short. God is with us, and I am with each of you in heart and in spirit even while I seek to give my whole heart to this beautiful city.

Love,
Elder McDonald

Attitude is Everything!

Loved Ones,

Good morning from Brooklyn! It's so good to hear from all of you! Thank you for being so thoughtful and keeping my inbox well-stocked. It's like my email account has had a Thanksgiving feast two weeks in a row! You guys are the best! It sounds like everyone is having quite the summer. A hotel on the beach in Ventura? Lucky! That must have been wonderful. Did you run into Dane Reynolds? Do you know who Dane Reynolds is? That's not really all that important. The important thing is that you are doing awesome things together! I am so grateful for the memories I have of our family vacation adventures. There is never a dull moment when the McDonald family goes on a journey, it seems. Really, I feel that there is never a dull moment as we progress through the more long-term journey of life. We always seem to find a way to make things interesting. I'm grateful for that. Mom, I'm sorry that you had to be injured to supply the trip with the necessary dose of things-going-wrong. I hope that your ankle is feeling better! I'm so happy for all of you. You are doing great things, and it makes me glad. Keep loving life! Know that I love you all and I want only the most radical awesomeness for each of you.

Things have been busy here. Elder Cutshall and I are also being blessed immensely. We are finding a lot of interested people, inlcuding families! We are praying to find families to teach so that we can bring them the happiness that only the gospel brings. I know that there are so many out there who are looking for light and hope. I just need to make myself an instrument in the Lord's hands so that He can work through me to bring about His work and glory. My innermost desire is to be a vessel for the Lord. I want to bring His love to people so they can be lifted. The Lord has lifted me with His love time and time again, and I would be the most selfish person around if I didn't reach out to others in love. There is so much that I need to improve in my life. I need to give so much more, and I pray that the Lord will enable me to do so. I know that He is anxious and willing to help, I just need to let Him. If we want to give to others, we must first give our all to the Lord. As we turn to Him, He magnifies our efforts and buoys us up even amidst the most fierce storms. We don't need Allstate to be in good hands. I'm just really excited for all of the good things that are happening. Elder Cutshall and I are committed to finding souls to baptize, and I know that we can find them if our faith and obedience is sufficient. I didn't mention last week that Elder Cutshall plays the banjo, so we've been working on some hymn arrangements that we're going to take to the streets! I acquired a guitar from a missionary who left it behind, so we have all we need to be a two-man band. It should be fun. I'm really grateful that I have the opportunity to share my testimony through music. This week, the boundaries of my ward were extended, so we welcomed a bunch of new members on Sunday. I was told that there were 130 people at church, which is awesome for Brooklyn. I hope that we can work with all these good members to invite others to come unto Christ. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have the help of the members as a missionary. We can't do this work without members. It's important to help the missionaries beyond just having them over for dinner. The missionaries don't care too much about getting fed. We want to help others to feast upon the words of Christ and taste the fruit of the gospel. That's what we need help with! I'm sure you are all being awesome member missionaries.

Recently, I've learned a lot about how important it is to have a good attitude and be happy with the situation we're in now. "Men are that they might have joy", and that joy isn't supposed to be limited to some future point. If we live life always looking forward to the good that will come the next day, then we miss out on all the wonder and beauty of today. Not only that, but I've learned that if we can't be happy now, then we will never be happy in the future. We seem to have a tendency to always be looking for a better situation.  The grass is always greener on the other side, as they say. I've learned that the grass is only green when you water it, and the water is our attitude. When we are optimistic and full of love, then whatever portion of the field we are in becomes an oasis as the life-giving water of a good attitude is poured forth. There is always good in every situation. And, even when you can't seem to find any, you can be the good by reaching out to others in love. You can create good by lifting others. A smile, a kind word, or a selfless act of service can bring even the most parched patch of grass new life. As always, love is the answer. When we love, then there is always light. You might remember the story in the Old Testament that tells of Jacob working for seven years so that he can marry Rachel. The scriptural account says that the seven years seemed to be but a few days to Jacob because of the love he had for Rachel. If our actions are motivated by love, then each moment can truly be a delight. If we love others, love ourselves, love God, and love life, I know that we will be happy. I'm working on improving my attitude and having a more deep love for each moment of every day. One thing I can say for sure is that I have a lot of love for each of you. I'm so grateful for the love that you give to me. Stay happy and well.

Love,
Elder McDonald

Jason sent Jarom some "Brooklyn Pajamas" and he was kind enough to model them for us!

Another Mystery Solved...

Loved Ones,

Hello! First of all, thank you all for your emails! I had a full inbox today, and my heart was glad. You are all literally the best. We have a mystery on our hands...Where am I composing this email? Where in the vast New York City metropolis have I been assigned to labor? The suspense! I can hardly stand it! Well, I can actually stand it just fine, because I know exactly where I am (thankfully). But, so the rest of you don't have to sit on the edge of your seats, popcorn spilling out of your bags because of your trembling hands, I will unveil the surprise. I'm back in Brooklyn! I am in a lovely place called Midwood to be exact. The city called me back from the oasis of Long Island. It is actually very good to be here. it's similar to Williamsburg, except it's more diverse and there are less angry hipsters. So, basically, it's awesome. There are 9 companionships in my zone, and I'm serving with Elder Cutshall. He's my zone leader companion. Zone leaders nearly always serve in pairs. Elder Cutshall is great. He is a Creole-speaking missionary, so we are technically a zebra companionship. We will teach in both Creole and English. He is from Park City, Utah, but he grew up in Vancouver. Mom, my new apartment is great. It needed some clean-up, but we're all squared away now. I have carpet for the first time in nearly a year! That's kind of nice. There is one elder that I've served with in the past. His name is Elder Wayas, and he's from Laie, Hawaii. He's great. I think he's my favorite missionary here. He just has the biggest heart ever. He supports me in my goal to attend BYU Hawaii. My schedule now really isn't all that different from the past. We still find and teach much like I always have. They have some great activities they're doing here in Midwood that are similar to what we did in Bushwick, so that's been fun to get back to. Being a zone leader just means you have a few more meetings than usual, and I suppose more importantly you have to work harder at being a good example because there are a lot of missionaries who look up to zone leaders. I am grateful that the Lord leads me and guides me along. I cannot succeed without His help. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve. I think that the greatest blessing of a leadership position is the opportunity to develop greater love and charity. With the Lord's help, you really do grow to truly love those you serve, and that brings more joy than anything I can think of. I love to love. It's the best. I am so grateful for the Lord's hand in my life. I know that He is always there for me, and I know that I can be successful and happy as I turn to him. If we keep our eyes and our hearts open, I believe that we will come to recognize each day of our lives for what it truly is - a miracle. We are so richly blessed, and it is important to recognize this and be grateful. It is a happy way to live, and I hope to more fully master this principle as I serve. So, there's the update! I'm doing well, and I feel very blessed, especially because I have such wonderful people in my life. As always, thank you.

I wish I had more time to write, but there just isn't a lot of it. I'll have to be brief, but, boy, do I have a story for all of you. Do you all remember the miracle of the seagulls. You know, when the seagulls came and ate all the crickets who were destroying the pioneers crops? Well, I was a witness of a similar event, but with a New York twist. Sparrows took the place of seagulls, and maggots took the place of crickets. Are you curious now? Well, let me start from the beginning. Elder Cutshall and I walked into the church yesterday morning, and all seemed to be normal except for a strange odor that permeated the building. In fact, it was more than strange - it was downright offensive. It just didn't smell good. We searched out the source and took out some of the trash bags, but it was all to no avail. The odor remained, as did our ignorance as to its source. Several minutes into sacrament meeting, a member pulled Elder Cutshall and I out of the chapel to enlist us in a search for the source of the smell. So, we embarked on another hunt for some terrible something that was, as yet, unknown to us. Finally, to our absolute horror, we discovered the spring from whence the foul smell sprung: a dumpster filled with rotting Deseret Industries meat. Somebody had cleared out the bishop's storehouse, and they neglected to put the meat in a garbage bag. The result was pounds upon pounds of maggot-infested meat. I am sorry for the distasteful nature of the story, but if I spared the details, it would not be nearly as intriguing. Well, we knew what needed to be done. It was up to Elder Cutshall and I to eradicate this very problematic problem. We slipped on some gloves, and began the terrible task. Eventually, we realized that we would not be able to reach down to the bottom of the dumpster, so we wheeled it out to a patch of dirt and tipped it over to provide access to its spoiled contents. Words cannot describe the awful scene that was spread before our eyes. I now have a great addition to my list of reasons to be vegetarian. After much travail and anguish, we prevailed. We bagged everything up (twice) and then cleaned out the dumpster. The project was a lovely welcome to the Midwood ward. It was not the kind of activity I could have ever anticipated doing on the sabbath day, but the ox was in the mire, as they say. Actually, in a quite literal sense, it was more like the ox died in the mire and then began to rot there. Now, the ordeal is a funny memory, but I'm afraid the image of thousands of maggots crawling around will linger in my nightmares for years to come. And that brings me to the sparrows and the maggots I mentioned earlier. After everything was cleared up, there were still a shocking number of maggots at the spot where the bulk of the clean-up was done. These ferocious and disgusting creatures were surely seeking to terrorize the people of New York and wreak havoc at every squirm of their vile bodies. But, our friendly New York sparrows came to the rescue. They flew down and began taking up mouthfuls of maggots, saving everyone from their nefarious schemes. A few hours later, not a maggot was to be found at the scene. Ok, so maybe it is not quite as impressive as the seagulls and the crickets, but I thought it was pretty awesome.

In addition to the dumpster adventure, there were many other great moments this week. I look forward to all the fantastic things that lie in store. There are moments of great difficulty, when I'm sure that nothing will ever work out, but somehow, someway, help always comes. On a more serious note, the sparrows are symbolic of solutions that come just when you need them, but often in a completely different way than you would have imagined. God is never far from us. His hands are always stretched out, and He will never leaves us comfortless. He will never leave us unaided. I know what it is like to feel like all is lost and hope is dead. I want to offer my testimony that hope is never dead. If we will have faith, we will find our way. We must hold fast to what we know and love, and be willing to step forward into the darkness. I love each of you. I thank you for so often being my light in darkness. Whether that light comes in the form of a letter, a prayer, or even a happy memory, it has so often saved me from despair and pulled me from gloom. So, from the bottom of my heart, I offer my gratitude. Each of you is so important to me. And I know that each of you is indescribably important to our Heavenly Father. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

Love,

Elder McDonald