In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Happy Day Before Valentines Day To All!

Hello!

I love being back in the Springs. I love the mountains, I love having access to anything. It’s just different from the last 9 months.

Elder Cohen and I are getting along well. He pushes me when I need it. It’s good.

We had an amazing (in the fullest sense of the word) lesson with with a wonderful lady. I don’t think I have ever taught anyone more in tune with the Spirit than she is. We had a lesson on the commandments. The lesson was so spiritual. She expressed what she had felt as she prayed, the joy of the Spirit and the struggle of trying to make the right choice. She related an experience that hit close to home for me when she described herself singing during a prayer, a song that she had never heard. I too had this experience when I was praying to know the truth. The scriptures speak of the Lord placing a new song in our hearts, a beautiful song. When I related my experience, shared the scripture, and testified, the Spirit was so strong. I extended a commitment for baptism. She was so overwhelmed, but still could not make the decision. I thought that the lesson had probably hit a climax and we should end, but I also felt like we should teach about the Word of Wisdom (which is a revealed health code which includes not partaking of alchohol, tabacco, tea, and coffee). I began teaching on the premise that if she followed this commandment, she would be able to be guided by the Spirit better. When I extended the commitment to live the word of wisdom, she told us that she usually had a cup of coffee every day at breakfast. That morning, she prayed before breakfast and then took a drink of her coffee. She described the feeling of the coffee hitting her stomach like a bomb. She then said a little prayer and thought “Maybe Heavenly Father is trying to tell me something.” She decided to stop drinking coffee that morning before we came and taught her about the Word of Wisdom! Definitely one of those “WOW” experiences.

I’m sorry, I don’t have any pictures to share. I did take pictures, but I forgot my jump drive.

I hope you are well. Feel free to write back!

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