In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

On June 16th I flew out to Seattle Washington to attend the wedding of my very close friend, Heather-Ann. It was an awesome trip, but not without some bumps along the road (since when are there never any bumps in the road?).

To start I arrived at 0′dark thirty to Norfolk International here in Virginia. The airport looked a bit dark, but I just figured it was early and the lights weren’t turned on. Actually…the whole airport was without power. Luckily the power at the ticket counter came on just after they wrote my ticket by hand. I was able to get my printed boarding passes to get me through Detroit. I then sat for a bit in a darkened non airconditioed terminal. When the pilots arrived and found there was no power at the gate to do their visual inspections I heard them say, “Well…we’re going to have to wait till sunrise.” Luckily we only left about 20 minutes behind schedule. I had an hour layover in Detroit so there was no problem.

Apon arriving in Seattle I got my luggage at 11:45am. This was right on schedule according to the “plan”. According to this plan I would pick up my luggage between 11:30am and 11:45am and meet Heather-Ann and the gang at the Alamo Rental place. There just happened to be an Alamo accross the room from where I picked up my luggage. I got my luggage ontime and wondered why no one was waiting by the counter. I waited for a bit and then found out there was another Alamo way down on the other end of the building. I went down there and found nobody waiting. I then found out there was another Alamo in the parking garage. Sure enough Heather-Ann, her mom, and Jeff was there. It was really good to see them again (and meet Jeff for the first time). We then realized her aunts were also looking for the Alamo so we went back into the airport to hunt them down. Funny thing is that I passed them a couple of times…but since I had never met then before…I didn’t know.

After returning from the airport we checked into the Hotel and had lunch…subway…yum. We then got ready to go to the Temple. On the way to the Temple there was a sign on the side of the road asking “Will the road you’re on take you to my place? - God”. We all were like “Yes!”. When the Temple appeared above the trees as we got closer I just stared in wonder. It was the first time I had seen a temple with my own eyes. It was beautiful. My first experiance in the Temple was both beautiful and overwhelming at the same time. There is just so much to learn and know. So much symbolism. I’m really looking forward to going again, and again, and again to understand more and more. Even the Prophet has said that he learns something new everytime he goes. Hopefully the roadtrip up to the Washington D.C. Temple will work out this Friday. I am sooo ready to go back.

After the temple we went out to a really good Mexican resturaunt. Had a good time talking with everyone and taking those wonderful candid dinner shots.

The next day we went down to downtown Seattle and visited the space needle. We didn’t actually go up because it’s a $12.50 elevator ride. I’m pretty proud of myself…I guarded my money pretty carefully the whole trip. It was nice to walk around the area though. Later we went to Pike Pl. Market. The fresh fruit was soo good (we took some back to the hotel). We also went to the fish market where they throw fish through the air. It was like a show of sorts…many people just standing around watching them. I have some pretty good shots of fish in the air.

Friday was the big wedding day. The sealing ceremony in the Temple was just awesome. The blessings pronounced were amazing. Not to mention the sealing room is probably the most beautiful room I’ve sat in (besides the Celestial room in the Temple). After the wedding I think hundreds of pictures were taken. I can’t wait to see them. Heather-Ann and Jeff seem to be a really great couple and their families mesh so well together. I wish them all the best!

Wondering where these great pictures are? I should be receiving a CD in the mail with over 200 pictures from everything we did. I can’t wait to see them myself!

On the way back I almost missed my flight out of Seattle due to the amazingly loooong security line. I arrived at the desk and the attendent say “I’m sorry…we just closed the door”. I was like “No! Open it back up!”. Another woman who was also with me pleaded with her as he father passed away and she was trying to make her way home. I don’t think anything I could have said could have convinced her to open that door back up. The words of a grieving daughter opened that door. A blessing in disguise I suppose. The rest of the trip was smooth sailing and I got back late evening on the 19th.

ANNOUNCEMENT: If anyone reading this is in the area (Virginia Beach, Norfolk,…Hampton Roads in general) please come by my open house next Sunday the 27th anytime between 6 - 8 at my church (reply for directions) for my open house for my mission. It should be fun!

Anyway…sorry this entry is so long…just thought I’d share my trip. If anyone will let me know how to do an LJ cut, I’d be happy to place a good portion of this entry behind one to save space.

God Bless!

This morning was Stake Conference. The general session was very uplifting and it seemed that all were in good spirits. It would have been difficult for anyone to leave that meeting without a smile either on their face or at least in the inside. The Stake Presidency’s proposal that I be ordained an Elder in the holy Melchizedek Priesthood was sustained. After Stake Conference I went with Ben Farrell, another missionary in preparation, and his mother to the Young Single Adults Branch in Chesapeake where he was asked to speak on “the keys of the priesthood”. I know that Ben will grow so much from serving a mission, as I hope I do as well. After leaving the meeting in Chesapeake I came home and partook of some left-over fried chicken that we dined on the prior evening. Following the chicken I enjoyed some home-made peach cobbler and chocolate cake. I don’t usually eat so much, but for some reason I did today. I left a bit later to venture to the Stake Center for my ordination. After a few words about the Priesthood, I was ordained. Unfortunately the Bishop was not able to be present, likewise his counselors weren’t either. Regrettably I can not remember the name of the brother who ordained me. I have difficulties remembering names. I must have spoken with him at various times in the past. His name will be on my ordination certificate, thus I will have to record it in my journal at a later time. In attendance was Vickie Farrell, John Farrell, Eddie Farrell and another young man who I also can’t remember his name. I will certainly have to work on remembering names while on my mission. Ben Farrell was also present and assisted in the ordination. I can’t say that I felt a transfer of energy or the obvious presence of the Spirit when I was ordained. Perhaps I should have fasted to magnify the Spirit. As I meditated on my ordination and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving I did notice a change. As I cleared my mind and placed my thoughts on the Lord I felt an energy within me stir. The feeling is similar to being excited and anxious, but different. I definitely feel renewed and ready for what lies ahead. Next week I fly to Seattle, Washington, to attend the Temple with Chad, Ann, and Heather-Ann Jenkins and Heather-Ann’s fiancé Jeff Johnson. Two days later I have the honor and privilege of witnessing Heather-Ann and Jeff be sealed as wife and husband for time and all eternity. It should be a very spiritual trip and a wonderful reunion. Brother Chad Jenkins will be my escort through the Temple. He also confirmed me a member of the Church on Okinawa, Japan. I look forward to the many wonderful things that next week will bring.

I hope I can describe this…

I am called to serve in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission (CCSM). Through Mission.net I hooked up with a recent Returned Missionary (RM) from the CCSM named Josh. He now lives in Tracy, California. In my wards sister ward (the other ward in our building) a guy named Mike, whom I’ve only met a few times before, has been called to serve in Brazil. Get this…Mike knows Josh (the RM from CCSM) and was directed by him to my website! He signed my guestbook. What are the odds that a guy from another ward in my stake would know the same RM from CCSM that I hooked up with earlier this week? Small world? Coincidence? Divine Intervention? Or perhaps just sheer craziness.

Last night was fun. Had a “crash party” at my house. Well, it was only me and Ben, who is leaving at the end of the month to the MTC. He’s been called to serve in the California Sacramento Mission. We watched “Paycheck” which was a little confusing at first, but overall was a really good movie. We spent most of the night playing a downhill biking game on PS II. I hadn’t played a PS II in so long. It rocked. We advanced through about half of the races, which took many hours. It rocked. I was like, “Hey…we could count this as mission prep…I mean…they are on bikes!” Good times, good times.

Anyway, I gotta jet. Getting a hair cut and then heading out to the camp/resort to do some swimming.

Laterz!

Unfortunantly my mind has yet to process everything I need to do before embarking on my mission. I’m still not 100% ready for my trip to Seattle in 14 days.

::sigh:: My grandmother keeps saying that I can’t go on my mission because there would be nobody to keep her sane. It sort of makes me feel bad, but I have to go. Even if I was not serving a mission, I would be moving out (or wouldhave already moved out). Distance not being relative to this thought process of course. I’ll just need to take extra measures to write her a good deal.

I created an account on the mission.net website for my mission. Got hooked up with a recently RM who’s been sharing information, advice, tips, etc. about the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission.

Perhaps I should write down and have a plan for everything I must do. That might be smart. LOL.

Hey! My dad just IM’d me saying that he and the tribe down in Florida are coming up for a visit, moved their trip up to see me. They’ll be here the day before I leave. Spiffiness.

I hope all is wonderful for everyone out in LJ Land! Take Care & God Bless.

Hello There!

I’m overjoyed to announce that I received my Mission Call to serve as a full time missionary for the Lord today!

I am going to be serving for two years in the Colorado Springs, Colorado Mission! When I first read where I was going, it just felt right…like I was supposed to be there.

I report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on July 14th.

I want to thank those who have supported me and encouraged me to serve the Lord. There is nothing else that I would rather do for the next two years.

Take Care & God Bles!

- Elder McDonald