In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Good Afternoon!

The other morning I set out to cut my hair. Yes, you heard me right. I now cut my own hair. It’s been a bit of a learning curve, but up until this last incident things were going good. I had just finished cutting my companion’s hair, his sides and back, with a #3. A #3 is a pretty short guard. I usually cut my top with a #8, which is an inch. This time I wanted it a little shorter, so I found the #7. I got sidetracked somewhere along the way and forgot to replace the #3 with the #7. You can imagine my surprise when I made the first pass through my hair. I wish I had a picture to show you, but unfortunantly I do not. Let’s just say I now look like some kind of cross between Yoda and a Mormon Buddah. Well…something like that. Oh well, it will grow back.

Transfers are coming up this week. In fact I found out tomorrow if I am going to spend another six weeks in Dodge or not. I’m a little nervous. I would love to serve longer in Dodge, especially since we should have a baptism coming up, but I fear my time here has probably come to an end. I’ve spent the last week mentally preparing for it. It is going to be hard to leave Dodge City. So much has happened here for me. I’ll let you know as soon as I can about my destiny.

I hope you are doing well!

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

Hey There!

Yes, I’m alive and well. I haven’t been dragged off my cows nor anything of the sort (did I ever mention that I was chased by a couple of cows once?).

Things are going well here in Dodge. Transfers are coming up soon (um…next week) on the 2nd. I’m not sure what is going to happen to me. I’ve served six months in Dodge. If you’ll remember, six months is the longest time I’ve served anywhere. I really would like to stay one more transfer and try to tie some loose ends before I leave. I don’t feel ready to go, but I fear time may have run out.

We were tracting the other day and we me a gentleman who, after proper introductions, said, “Well, I’ve leaving right now and, frankly, I question the Christianity of the Latter-day Saints“. Without even a second thought (which is usually a bad thing) I responded, “Well, I’d keep questioning”. With that we said our good-byes. I remember there being an occasion when my group of friends on Okinawa were talking about the church and the question was posed to me, by Heather-Ann who is a member, of whether or not the LDS Church was a Christian church. Having read a good portion of The Book of Mormon and seeing how the church had affected my friends, I made the thoughtful decision that is was a Christian church. This was before I was a member, but since that time I remain totally sure that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian Church. The late Apostle and theologian Bruce R. McConkie wrote “Christianity if a synonym for Mormonism“. The scriptural answer to this question is found in Mormon 9: 6-9. It reads:

“O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day. And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues; Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them. For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?”

Can anyone who denies these things be truly called “Christian” themselves? I do not deny them. They are real. Very real.

I hope you have a wonderful week. I pray that God’s blessings are upon you and that you will see His will for your life. Remember that humility is the ability to listen to and follow God. Pride is the stumbling block to knowing anything about God or gaining His blessings.

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

It’s been in the upper sixties here for two weeks, including yesterday. It is snowing today. That is just strange.

This past week has been one of shifting focuses. Elder Adams and I have tried to find new English speaking people to teach via tracting (door knocking) with no success. The Spanish missionaries here in Dodge are having amazing success with tracting, and as much as I desire to have the same type of success, the general consensus is that we don’t get much bang for our buck in tracting for English. So, we are now going to focus on English members of the church who haven’t been to church in a while. We have a 64% Less-Active rate here in Dodge City, so the field is ripe reactivate here.

Yesterday afternoon, we had a sister call us to say she was inactive and that she really wanted to be visited by us. We immediately went over and shared a message with her that was put together by our Mission President. She said that she was watching a Christian TV program and really felt like she needed to call us. She has committed to coming to church next week, we are going to visit with a member of the ward this week, and she introduced us to her neighbor who will be joining us when we visit. The Lord truly has his hand in this work.

I love the following passage out of the Doctrine & Covenants. We share this scripture with the Less-Active people we meet as it has great significance:

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him” (Doctrine & Covenants 18:10-11)

There is not one person living, who has ever lived, or ever will live, who is worthless to God. Not only does he truly care about us, but the worth of our souls “is great in the sight of God”. Think about it! The all powerful, all knowing, creator of all things considers the worth of every one of us to be great! Not only that, but in addition, Jesus Christ suffered the pain of all men, even death, so that we, as imperfect sinners, can repent and come unto him!

“For God so loved the world [because the "worth of souls in great in the sight of God"], that he gave his only begotten Son [who "suffered death in the flesh" and "the pain of all men"], what whosoever believeth in him [which belief should cause that "all men might repent"] should not perish, but have everlasting life [to truly "come unto him"]. (John 3:16)

I am amazed at the Love of God. This past week I have truly witnessed minor miracles which at times have been caused by my steps of faith. I am grateful that our Father in Heaven does answer our prayers. The hymn “I Stand All Amazed” truly sums up my feelings…

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me a sinner he suffered, he bled and died.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful,
Wonderful to me!

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

I know I said that last week would be the last update sent out on a Wednesday, but in reality this week is the last Wednesday update. The Library was not open on Monday. I don’t know about everyone else, but it seemed like the New Years celebration was drawn way out.

The annual zone New Years party was fun. I don’t know how many movies we watched…a lot of them (of course) I hadn’t seen before.

I don’t really have too much to say for this past week. A lot of little ups and downs and trying to figure out how best to continue the work here in Dodge.

I suppose in a lot of ways I don’t want to be let down. We find wonderful people to teach, but then more often than not, they don’t really seek the truth. More or less they just shrug it off. I don’t understand how someone can just shrug off a man seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ. I mean (!?!?!?!?!?)! But many do. It was said not too long ago that the elect of God are simply those who will hear the message of the restoration. I’m not so sure that is true. It’s almost like the “man will enter, few will win” statement in contests. It seems like on a mission it’s “few will listen, even fewer will seek”. It is so easy for me to try to distance myself so that when the time comes that those we do teach decide not to actually seek and change, I won’t be hurt. I shouldn’t be that way though.

Anyway, enough with my babbling. I hope you are doing well. If you didn’t already know, postage is going up two cents on the 8th of January. I can’t wait till we are all telepathic.

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