Mission Update: October 19, 2005
Wow…people actually read these updates online! I’ve received so many thoughtful messages from people asking if I was doing ok, as there had been no updates on my live journal. Sorry about the lack of updates. I’m not sure if the last update was too long or if it was something else. All I know is that it didn’t post. I’ll try to take a little time to investigate today.
Things are going pretty well right now. Two weeks ago we had General Conference, then Stake Conference, and then Zone Conference. Way too many conferences and way too much information to try to process.
For everyone who was asking. I’m doing fine. We’ve been doing a lot of service for people lately. We’re helping a family in the ward renovate their bathroom, I’ve set up a DSL connection, and I’ve been doing other computer odds and ends for people. Perhaps computer work is not traditional missionary service work, but it helps people and they are appreciative.
Elder Larson has finalized his plans to return home on December 23rd. The mission office has been calling, asking him what airport he wants to fly into and whatnot. Still 275 days for me. I hope I can make the best of them. (I don’t really keep count…but my website does!) http://www.joel-junior.com
Last weeks issue of Newsweek featured a cover story on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called, “The Mormon Odyssey”. It’s a pretty good article about the beginnings of the church and its growth. You can read it online at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9630255/site/newsweek/
When Elder Larson and I bought our copies of last weeks issue of Newsweek we were dressed in our dusty service clothes (from the bathroom renovation). I went through the line first with nothing unusual. Then Elder Larson went through. The girl at the register said, “Mormons? I’m a Mormon.” It turns out that she was in Dodge City for school and had not been to church in six years. Boy was she surprised for find out that we were the missionaries for Dodge City! We got her name, phone, and address; and we invited her out to church.
There are so many things that happen that we cab write up as happenstance, or sheer luck. The scriptures, however, tell us that we should acknowledge the Lord in all things. It doesn’t how big or small an event is in our lives. The Lord is behind it. It’s difficult to think of that sometimes. When you really get to thinking about it, the more it makes sense to truly seek out what the Lord wants for us in our lives and to follow his commandments. Faith + Obedience = The guidance that we want for our lives.
God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission
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