Mission Update: November 9, 2005
Yes…it’s that time again!
Things are going really well out here in Dodge City. Yesterday it was confirmed that Elder Larson and I will be staying here at least for another six weeks, but we are receiving new companions. Now there will be two companionships here in Dodge, one English and one Spanish. Elder Larson will now be serving with Elder Rubio, from Colonial Juarez Mexico, and I will be serving with Elder Adams. Not sure which Elder Adams it will be. We will have separate apartments in the same complex. Other than that, we don’t know any other specifics. I hope this next transfer is good. We are excited to stay and to see what the new arrangement will do for the area.
Chelsea, whom we have been working with for about 7 months, told us on Sunday that she wanted to be baptized. We told her to pray about a date. We had a lesson with her on Tuesday and she told us that she didn’t know what date, but she felt it needed to be soon. We talked about the things that she had learned and I reviewed the questions used to interview people wanting to be baptized. When I asked if she believed that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that though him the Lord restored His Gospel, she paused for a moment and said with a lot of conviction, “Yes. I do believe that.” I asked her what that meant to her, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “It feels so good to know it.” I told her that the Lord did want her to be baptized soon and invited her to be baptized Sunday after church. She accepted. It was a wonderful experience to see her make the decision to follow Jesus Christ. She had her interview today and we look forward to her baptism on Sunday.
I feel there is so much potential here in Dodge. I hope and pray that Elder Adams and I will be able to do our best to help people come unto Christ. It is so important. I think I, even as a missionary, don’t always realize how important it is. All I really can say is, “Wow.” I truly do stand all amazed at the love Jesus offered me. I am confused by the grace that He so willingly offers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, that for me a sinner he suffered and he bled and died. Amazing.
God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission
One response so far
“I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, that for me a sinner he suffered and he bled and died.”
It’s curious that they move you guys around so much. Do you know why? Or maybe I should ask how? Funny that I just thought about that. I don’t think I understand how that moving and relocating process really works, I’m curious though. Anyway, what can I say? I’ve been lousy about the letter-writing. In your last post, you talked about a sign in the parking lot. Does your church focus on the Book of Revelation, like do any church group studies (seminary, I guess), in depth? It’s a hard book to read, I don’t know how much you’ve read, I’ve only read parts of it. Most of what I know about the second coming of Christ is from Sunday services. Recent events in the news, especially these past few months, seem to point to His second coming soon, preachers are always talking about it, they’ve been talking about it since I was young of course. But recent events have been pretty dramatic. I think the Bible says “there will be wars and rumors of wars” and also talks about natural disasters. I think the Bible also says “no one knows the hour or the day” (don’t know if that’s the exact wording), but we are to watch for the signs so that we will be prepared when He comes, as you already seem to know. But I felt it was important to bring it up for discussion.
I don’t know if you have been able to keep up with all the news. There’s been rioting in France. You can read about it at washingtonpost or washingtontimes dot com if you’d like. I’m not good about reading the news but there’s always something big happening in the news nowadays so you can’t help but hear about it.
So anyway, it’s always good to hear from you. I’m glad you’re doing well, you seem to have the moving thing down. It’s amazing, you guys have to move quickly, bond quickly, keep to a schedule. You’ll be getting a letter from me soon.
Thia