In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Hi!

Moved our Prep-day to Thursday this week to go to the Temple this evening, so that’s why this update is a day late.

Things have been going well, we have been finding a lot of oppertunities to teach, which has been good. I think this area will have a couple of baptisms next month.

It has been really hot here except for the last couple of days. Tuesday was in the 70’s and Wednesday was in the 80’s. Today it’s in the 90’s again. Hopefully we won’t have any more triple digit days!

Tuesday and Wednesday we helped a family build a fence. The first day we were using a hand auger (I think that is how it is spelled). We did about 10 posts in about 4 hours. Yesterday we rented a power auger and were able to to three times as many (at least) in less time. One of my jobs was to stand on the auger to weigh it down (Picture attached). It was fun, but Elder Greep and I both got a little sun burnt.

Well, I’m short on time, so I guess that will be all for now. I hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer season!

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

Hello!

Well, some interesting things have been happening here lately, but I think I only have time to tell you about one of them.

Last Tuesday, while doing some service at the Library, we met a man named Billy. He talked to us about all sorts of things, his beliefs and so on, and I was amazed at how many of his beliefs matched what we know as the Plan of Salavtion (which answeres questions such as: Where did I come from? What is the purpose of life? Where will I go after this life?). I thought he would be interested in hearing what we teached, but when I invited him to listen, he said, “I don’t want to learn about your church.” We parted shortly after.

About ten minutes later we met again at the Post Office. We laughed about seeing each other again so soon and I said, “Billy, it’s almost as if God’s trying to tell you something.” We laughed a bit at that and then parted ways again. That night during companionship prayer I asked that Billy be guided back to us so he can hear what we have to teach.

Two days later, last Thursday, we get a phone call in the morning from Billy! He said he had been thinking about it and would like to hear what we have to say. We hadn’t given him our phone number, so he went to the church building and happened to find someone there who talked with him a little about the Church and gave him our phone number. We met with him for a couple of hours that afternoon. What we had to share amazed him, but his real concern in life is dealing with the results of past actions which now stands between him and his adult daughters. After the lesson we parted again, but didn’t schedule another visit. I felt as though he would get in touch with us again when he wanted to meet.

Sure enough yesterday morning he called us, basically just needed someone to talk to and perhaps help him. We learned more about the issues he is struggling with. I didn’t feel as though I could help him, but I felt that the Bishop could. I offered to have him meet with the Bishop, and he accepted (he has an appointment this Friday) and I also explained about Priesthood blessings and how if he had faith in Christ it could help him. He accepted a blessing, and we were able to give him one. I hope we will be able to help him.

I also wanted to give you a glimpse into my world, so I had a few pictures taken. One is of a castle I made out of ice cubes on top of Elder Greeps mini hockey rink (Canandians and their hockey). Others are a couple pictures of our apartment, mainly my desk area and my side of the room, the front of the apartment, and (of course!) I’ve included a few pictures of our new toy…the Chevy Colorado!

Well…my time is about up, so I suppose that’s it for this week’s update. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

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

Heeeeellllooooo!!!!!!

One year ago tomorrow I left Virginia Beach, Virginia and arrived at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. How time flys. Now I get to count down the months instead of counting them up. How fun.

We did get a Chevy Colorado. It’s been fun to drive and definitely handles the dirt roads out here a bit better than the Mercury Sable did. Roads can be rough on cars out here. Unfortunantly I don’t have any pictures of the truck yet, but I have a few ideas for some neat pictures, so perhaps next week I’ll be able to entertain you a bit more.

The work is speeding up out here, and for that I am grateful. We are making some wonderful contacts and commiting people to do those things which will help them know of the truthfulness of this Gospel.

Monday was an interesting day. It was as if the Lord was pushing me along, getting me to do certain things that I would not think (or would be bold enough) to do. Sometimes we are led to do/say things and we don’t understand exactly why, or even after doing/saying them, we wonder if things are going to work out. So, this week has to be a week of faith and prayer that things will work out.

It has been hot here lately. Hot, dry, and dusty. A member loaned us a swamp cooler for our warm apartment. For those of you who don’t know what a swamp cooler is; it’s basically a fan that evaporates water and blows cooler air. We’ve been experimenting on how to use it best. For the first day we just made out apartment muggy (reminded me of home). Today we’ve successfully kept our apartment about 10 degrees cooler than outside, which had been nice. Just changed the setup before we left to do e-mail, so it might be even cooler when we get back. I’m excited.

Last P-day was a ton of fun!! As well as playing some sand volleyball, the member who’s house we were at has a 150 foot water slide down the hill in the back of their house. We had so much fun, and captured some wonderful pictures. All the pictures I have to share with you today are from last P-day. Only one picture of me though. Hard to take pictures of yourself. My companion is the one in the green shirt. The others are just for fun, and their is a group shot of both the Castle Rock and Parker zones. Some of the pictures came out a little distorted in a resize…man I wish I could install Photoshop on these computers. Enjoy the pictures…we did!

I hope you are doing well. I would love to hear from ya! Take Care!

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

Hi!

I hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July! Attached is a special 4th of July picture.

The new Mission President, President Fotheringham, seems like a good guy. We were the first Zone to meet him and I’ve spoken with him on the phone on a few occasions. I think he will do well. I’ve attached a picture with me and for former President and his wife that was taken last Zone Conference. I’ll get a picture with President Fotheringham and his wife as soon as I can. I should have got one on the 30th, but didn’t.

I’m getting a new Chevy Colorado tomorrow. We’re pretty excited. They’ve needed to get a truck out here for a while now. So we are very happy.

Going to play some sand volleyball in a little while. That should be fun.

As far as the work goes, we have a prospective baptism on the 30th of July and have picked up a few more people to teach, which is good. It’s been hard getting used to doing missionary work in a rural area. It’s different. It’s slower anyway, and that combined with summer vacations and such really slow things down.

Got our transfer calls last night. Both of us are staying. Very few changes were made this transfer. Only one missionary is leaving from our zone. I hope this is going to be a better transfer than the last.

8 Days till my year mark! Wahooo! It’s time to slide down the hill.

Well…I’ve got to go. Take Care!

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