In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Hi!

This will be a little short as I am running low on time. Don’t have time to load a few pictures in, I’ll share a few with you next week.

Things are going well. The move to the new apartment had gone smoothly, though it has been a little difficult to get things cleaned up and keep them clean with four guys living in one house. Crazy. Living with another companionship is a little different. We don’t get to bed on time, and it’s difficult to get out on time, but things are getting better.

Tried to do a few pull-ups the other morning and pulled a muscle in my back. It hurt a good bit the first day; it’s a whole lot better now. Only hurts when I twist in a couple directions.

Unfortunately we’ve had someone we were teaching decide that she doesn’t believe in what we’ve been teaching her and the Book of Mormon. This came as a disappointment to us as we feel we were directed to find and teach her. Perhaps later the Lord will be able to touch her heart.

Well… I’ve got to go. I hope all is well with you.

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

Alright…my new address is….

Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
7920 Antelope Ridge Pt.
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Remember…I’ll write you if you write me!

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

Hello,

Well, transfer called have been made and the good news is that Elder Redden and I are staying together. The bad news is that we have to move to another apartment. There is a punchline to this though…it is the same apartment I was in for my first three transfers before moving to the one I’m in now, which means by the end of this next transfer, at my 10 1/2 month mark I will have only been in two apartments. Fun stuff.

Elder Redden and I are still praying and thinking of ways to help those whom we are teaching. It seems like we keep running into brick walls. I have proclaimed that April will be a month of miracles for our District. One has already occured…the who district is staying together. That has to be some kind of a sign.

Nothing too much exciting, besides moving apartments, to report. I want to thank everyone who has written me encouraging letters and e-mails. I might not be on the battlefield (in a military sense) but I do look forward to “letters from hom” (if you don’t know what I am quoting…find the song by John Micheal Montgomery).

I have edited/updated “My Testimony of the Restored Gospel” on my website. You can find it at http://www.joel-junior.com/testimony.htm.

I’m not the greatest letter writer (written by hand). However I will make you a promise, if you write me…I will write you. Letters sent to the Mission Office will be forwarded by the office to me no matter where I am. That address is:

Elder Joel Allen McDonald Jr.
4905 N. Union Blvd. Ste. 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80918

I’ll get you my new (or old, rather) apartment address as soon as I can. I don’t remember it.

Last Sunday we had a blizzard that rolled through and dumped a lot of snow. I can’t say exactly how much, as it is hard to mesasure horizontal snow. However there were drifts as much 6 feet tall. Church was cancelled for all of our Stake (at least…probably all of Springs and north). I have some wonderful pictures of the storm for you.

A few other snap shots: Sister Ruggles had an ice cream cake made for my three year anniversary in the Church. It was yummy. Also, Elder Redden snapped a picture of me being District Leader-ly while taking stats and talking to the Zone Leaders and the missionaries in my district. He says its like one of those President Bush pictures with him on the phone. McDonald for President in 2026?

Well…I ’spose that’s it for now. I wish everyone well. Take Care! Chose the Right!

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

Greetings,

Some thoughts on today and tomorrow, the 6th and 7th of April.

Today, April 6, 2005, marks the 175th anniversary of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a momentous and historic date. When I consider all of the factors surrounding the establishment once again of the Lord’s Church, I am continually amazed. The Prophet Joseph Smith, the founder of the Lord’s Church on earth, was only 24 years of age when the Church was organized. There were six members, the number required by law, when the Church was officially organized. Now, 175 years later there are over 12 Million members world wide. The Church is the fastest growing Christian church in the entire world. The work of the Lord moves forward via the over 51 Thousand missionaries serving in different nations, of which I am one.

Tomorrow, April 7, 2005 marks the third year anniversary of my baptism into the Church. A great deal has happened during those three years, many opportunities and many choices. It is amazing to me that one forth of these last three years has been spent serving as a missionary. I was asked by a close friend of mine shortly after my baptism, if I was truly happy with my decision to join the Church. I answered that I was completely happy with my decision, and that continues to be my answer now and I know that my Heavenly Father is happy as well. So many good things have happened over the past three years, so many changes for me, and those whom I love. It is my prayer that this next year will be even better.

I wish to thank the many who have helped me along the way. I know I was not the easiest person to help, but I am thankful you stayed with me.

God Bless.

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

Hello!

Wow this week has passed by so fast…I wish things…well time would slow down just a bit so I can catch my breath. I can’t believe transfers are next week…it seems like we just went through that a few days ago.

Had a wonderful General Conference this past weekend. It is so wonderful to hear the General Authorities, including the Prophet and Apostles. We missed the Saturday morning session though due to a service project that we were asked to help with. A member in our area had between 3-5 tons of rock delivered Saturday morning and needed help placing it in her back yard. I remember saying, “I’m a computer geek from Virginia Beach…I don’t know anything about rocks!” It didn’t take long to figure out that the project wasn’t about knowing anything, but just getting down and doing it. I think a lot of things in life are that way. Sometimes it don’t take knowledge and experience, it takes a willingness to just help.

I offer my condolences to my Catholic friends and family over the death of Pope John Paul II. He passed away shortly before the afternoon session of General Conference on Saturday. President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened the session by offering condolences to the world’s Catholics over the death of Pope John Paul II, calling him a courageous man of faith, vision and intellect. “The Pope’s voice remained firm in defense of freedom, family, and Christianity,” President Hinckley said, “On matters of principle and morality, he was uncompromising. On his compassion for the world’s poor, he has been unwavering.”

[Thought for the Week]: I was asked the other day where my testimony was, if it was in my heart or in my mind. After thinking about the question for a moment I answered that it was in my very being. Some things you just know with knowledge deeper than what you can learn out of books, even the best books. I remember a time where I only believed that Jesus Christ was my Savior. I believed this because of what I read in the Bible, and was taught at church. I remember when this belief turned into knowledge and I knew that Jesus Christ was my Savior with all of my being and I could not deny Him as such. Later as I was reading and praying to know if the LDS Church was the Lord’s Church on the earth, I began to believe as the Spirit bore witness to me. Eventually I came to a point where I knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that the LDS Church is the Lord’s Church on earth today. I cannot deny these things either. This latter knowledge strengthened my knowledge of Jesus Christ as well. The Prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon taught, “Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe” (Alma 32:16). I have not seen Christ, not did I witness Joseph Smith’s vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ. I have not seen the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. But I have a firm testimony that these things are true and happened. Yes, my testimony is built into my very being, and I know them to be true.

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