In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Hello!

Hope you are doing well and that you enjoyed a wonderful easter. We almost had a white Easter this year. We had three inches of snow on Friday before Easter, but it had completely melted off Easter morning. I think Colorado is slowly but surely becoming a little greener, which isn’t anywhere as green as Virginia, and doesn’t in the least compare to Okinawa, but still a little green is a nice change from the browns (and whites) we have had throughout the winter.

Not too much exciting to report for this week, we are still teaching some wonderful people and we have truly been blessed as we have been out working trying to find people to teach. It is interesting what happening when you put yourself in the Lord’s hands…he actually picks you up and uses you.

We had interviews with our Mission President last Friday. It was perhaps the best interview I have had as of yet. President asked what he could do for me, and I asked that he consider keeping Elder Redden and I together one more transfer, and he said he had no intentions of moving us…but no promises (i.e. if he is inspired to make a change he will). So, most likely I will be here another 8 weeks, which would mean I will have served in this area for six months. It is so hard to believe that I’ve been out almost nine months already. Time moves way to fast. I’ve heard it said that, “you can waste your mission by not working and being disobedient and time will fly by, or you can work hard and strive to be your best, and time will fly by.” This is truly the case. It is just a matter of who you want to be after the time is gone.

As always I have a few pictures to share. A couple are of me making a snow angel one morning after going around shoveling drive ways. It was the first snow angel I have ever made (that I can remember anyway). There is one of me after riding my bike through a snow storm. One of Elder Redden and I sporting some spiffy sun glasses. One of a snow missionary we built one morning, and a picture of us while touring the inside of our new chapel under construction. So yeah, a few glimpses into my life as a missionary.

I’m a bit limited in time today. I hope you have a wonderful day. Take Care!

God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission

Greetings,

I hope everyone is doing well, this has been a busy last week for Elder Redden and I. We’ve been biking a lot so my legs are a bit sore. Not to happy about that, but as the old saying goes, “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do”. Woke up not feeling to well this morning, stomach not agreeing with me, and the discomfort comes and goes…which is not fun. The Bratwurst I had for lunch is sure not to help.

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for my grandmother and all your messages of support. She is now in rehab and is doing much better. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

We are working with about nine people right now, which is great. Two are very close to baptism and could happen this weekend…I think Easter Sunday would be a wonderful day to be baptized. But I also know that sometimes it takes a while for someone to make that commitment…I should know…it took me two and a half years.

The weather is hopefully straightening out now. We were biking in the snow last week, which isn’t too fun. Bought some sun glasses as Walmart to keep the snow out of my eyes for next time.

My companion, Elder Redden, and I are getting along very well, which helps the work tremendously. We have been blessed as we have been able to get out and do the work of the Lord.

Last week I was in charge of the Zone Activity for Preparation Day (P-Day). We decided a fun thing to do, with Easter coming soon, would be to have a Zone Easter Egg Hunt. There was a little bit of a missionary twist to it, which made things a little interesting, but it was a lot of fun. The winners were appropriately “crowned” and given a special prize because they are “cracker jack” missionaries. [Picture Attached].

We have been teaching a little boy who was baptize not too long ago. We had a great lesson with him last night were we taught The Plan of Salvation where we drew a big picture of the plan while we were teaching. It was pretty fun [Picture Attached].

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. I have truly found an amazing peace while being immersed in the Lord’s work and have been amazed constantly at the strength beyond my own which presses this work forward. Take Care!

[Note] If you are reading this on my Live Journal, you can click on the pictures to view the actual size.

God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission

Greetings!

I’ve survived the Ides of March successfully, which is a good thing.

Don’t have much time this morning to write as I’ve used most of my time setting up my live journal so I can post to it without taking any more time on the computer, which means it is alright to do so. Now posts can be sent directly via e-mail, pictures included, and people can know what is going on with me without my breaking mission rules. Technology is great.

I found out this morning that my grandmother (McDonald) had a heart attack and is in the hospital. I ask all who receive this e-mail or read this message on my livejournal to please keep her in your prayers.

This was a great weekend for baptizing. Kelsey M. in my last area was baptized (picture included) and so was Chris R. in our area. We have been blessed to teach and prepare people for baptism and we anticipate that at least one more baptism will occur in our area, which is wonderfull.

Elder Redden and I are still pushing along. We are preparing a new ward mission plan for one of our wards that we think is really going to boost missionary work.

I’ve got to go, thanks for reading. Please keep my grandmother in your prayers. Take Care.

God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission