New Town; New Companion!!!

A note from DAD

After reading Alex's last email I couldn't stop thinking about his interaction with the young man who'd been thrown out of his home.  I thought about a young man in need who approached a couple of guys about his age that were dressed in white shirts and ties.  It is interesting that the Lord prompted Alex to give this young man his socks.  I can picture the scene of Alex removing his shoes and giving the young man his socks.  It is truly humbling this time of year as we seek to give gifts to each other.  What a great opportunity for Alex!  Hopefully a small act of kindness can give this young man hope.  I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are to have the many blessings that we have.  I hope we live with gratitude in our hears for our many blessings.  It is a good Christmas story..................Aloha!

December 15

Dec 15

yo papito lindo! 

i am doing pretty good! a lot better than last week that is for sure.  that picture that looks like a bunch of condos is where were were living before but it was really really far from the church so we moved but it was just like living in a condos with parks and grass and families.  it was a great place... the only bad thing is, is that we cannot knock doors so we moved to be closer to the church and as we did, this Monday that passed we found another family that accepted to be baptized for the 25 of January! i am pretty stoked about it... the spirit was strong when i invited them and i knew that they couldn't deny it.  they couldn't come to church this week because they wife had to work and she is the one that wears the pants in the relationship, but they said si or si that they were going to church with us this next Sunday. they are reading the book of mormon and everything... i am pretty happy and i am going to do everything to help the get baptized and make it to the temple.  the midget girl is a girl that the hermanas were teaching and my companion baptized her... that water in the baptismal font was so little... my companion even had to bend down on his knees to baptize her... cool experience... and yes that is the family that i was teaching and went back to be part of the baptism... alot of members went to the baptism and were really happy and sad to only see me for a few hours... that group of missionaries that were there in Pachacute, we really had a huge impact on them... that is just a description for those pictures.  wow, enjoy two weeks of vacation! that will be a great time! i wish i could go snowboarding... how is the snow right now? oh 

skype info...

my name is alex.macdonald1994 and i will be getting on at 5 oclock peru time which is two hours ahead of you guys. is that alright? we only get 30 minutes now to talk on skype so it wont be for very long.  

wow you and mom went off to new york? hahahaha... makes me laugh that mom couldn't shut her mouth about sting... sorry you had to struggle through that one... hahaha... i am sure its even worse with laird hamiliton... hahahaha... but i am glad that you guys had a good time in nueva york.  

this week was decent... we had alot of lessons... we are working with a less active family quisper vargas who are awesome... they are reading the book of mormon again and they have come to church... the father has alot of desires to come back to church along with his wife, his wife really wants to get sealed in the temple so at least she already has her goals set! HAHA... we are also teaching a mother and her son is preparing for the mission... he was inactive as well but now he is active and we are working with his mom who told us that she would like to be baptized as well.  this week we invited 7 people to be baptized.  pocos came to church because of freaking satanas.. but we are going to keep working hard... this week something pretty cool happened....  a kid came up to us as we were walking in the dirt hills and he came up to us and started talking... he was a 21 year old boy who was thrown out of his house and left to be on his own and who knows when was the last time he had taken a bath or brushed his teeth... he lives in a little shake all by himself that is no bigger the 5 ft by 5ft... he came down and we started talking to him... i felt the impression to give him my socks because for some reason i knew that he didn't... and sure enough he didn't...so i gave him my socks and i felt a warmth that came from helping this poor soul.  i wanted to give him everything but i couldn't... i really felt that the lord loved this kid a pesar of his difficulties of life and i sure felt that.  i learned many lessons that day,  one of them, is that you never ever give up on your children like that this mother had done with her son.  it made me sick to know that many people in this world could care less.  he mother doesn't even visit him or nothing... he has to go down and visit her and half the time she doesn't even want to see him... i learned that even if one of my children stray from the path, i will never leave them out to dry...this Sunday we were walking and a man saw us and he stopped.... as we started talking to him he told us that he was a member less active and that his wife and daughter are not members... and he wants us to teach them and the father wants to come back to church... it was a gran miracle that he happened to walk by at that time to see us... i know that god was watching after him and guided us right to him.  moments like these always seem to happen and i love them.  anyways... things are getting better.  i am loving the work and being district leader... with great power comes great responsibility... being a district leader happens to be the second most important role in the mission... trainers are first then district leaders... its a great feeling to know the confidence the lord has in me and the things satan trys to do to attack leaders and bring them down... anyways, i gotta wrap this up but i love you guys with all my heart... i know that the church is true! dont ever be afraid to scream that to the world and how joseph smith is a prophet of god! 

your son,

elder macdonald 

On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 9:46 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Yo Elder Mac;

How's it going brodda?  How awesome was it to get all of those pictures last week.  I didn't understand all of them.  The pictures of the condo's or town homes?  is that where you live?  The midget girl?  the family that you baptized?  I'm assuming that it was the family from your old area that they allowed you to go back to.   Sounds like it was a great day.  Sounds like this is a good area that you are in.  A lot of people who are less active.  I'm sure you can do a lot of good things there.

This is the last week I am working this year and then I have the next couple of weeks off.  Our plan is to go snowboarding in Utah before xmas....then have xmas at home...talk to you.....then go to the beach.  talking to you will be #1 priority and then everything else follows.  I got Jake a new snowboard, bindings, and boots for Christmas.   So, that will be fun.

We got together at Granny Macdonald's house on Wednesday.  Uncle Alan was in town and Granny invited Uncle Dave & Aunt Karen and Uncle Larry & Aunt Joe as well...so it was fun to see them.  We had a nice dinner.

Mom and I just got back from New York City this evening.  We had a good time.  We went for a couple of runs in central Park and did some fun shopping, ate at some good restaurants, etc....   We saw Sting's show on Broadway called "the Last ship"..  it was really good except I had to listen to mom moan and groan about how hot sting is....oh well...  WE also saw Kevin Nealon at a comedy place on Saturday night.  It was really funny and mostly pretty clean which was surprising.  He used to be on Saturday Night Live.  New York is a fun place to spend a weekend....but I could never live there.  I hope all is well son.  I hope you feel the Spirit of Christmas in Peru.  I know that you do because it is nothing less than the Spirit of Christ.  There are some good movies coming out this holiday.  you can always see them later...Take care son.  Love your guts.

DAD

I'll send some pix of New york.............

A "White December"

12/8/2014

 Dec 8, 2014 at 11:35 AM,

Alex Macdonald

hola padre? Como estas? wow enserio? Estuviste con darin y fueron surfing?! estoy muy celoso.  did a sweet swell come in for the weekend? awesomeness.  i am telling you those chest to head high waves are the best! especially when the got a little tube at the beginning.  cant wait to get in the water... i already know that kurtis and i will be doing alot of road trips to cali from utah! hahaha... wow cant wait to see it... what did she do ? did you ever finish that platform up top of the condo? 

my area is good! IT IS HUGE DAD... it is really big and i have alot of members and like 500 less actives... it is crazy... at times i don't know where to work or where to start... the area was basically dead when i got here... they had done all the work and when the elder got changed from here he went up to a new area to die... he only had once change left so he wasn't really working hard because he knew that he was going to get changed.  so, the lord put me here to really lift this area up again and make it prosperous like it was before.  there are alot of families to teach and i am trying so hard to get in there and teach them...my companion is a great kid... he wants to learn and become better but he lacks in patience and wants the changes to come quickly. he wants to be able to teach better and he gets really upset when we can't... he thinks way to hard on  himself and gets upset when he makes mistakes and so he is always thinking about not making mistakes and the more he does it the more prone he is to cause a mistake... we have had a lot of talks but he does have one defect... his pride gets in the way sometimes.  and he has told me many times so at least he recognizes that he has a problem with it and we are working hard to change it... the one thing that is killer is that we do not teach the same and its hard to have the unity that i would like in the lessons like i have had before... even when i was in the trio we worked it our really fast but i don't know why its taking so long with my comp right now... but on a good note... we got 16 less active people to church yesterday!!!!!! so we know that we are having a lot of success with them so we are going to keep working hard with less actives and try to find families to teach in the process.  and yes i am trying to have a good impact on him in his conversion so that he has a solid testimony when he gets home to be able to face all sorts of trails. i know i should feel bad for my numbers but i do at times... i expect a lot and i desire a lot to baptize... its like i have a thirst for it now... now that i only have 8 months left.... it was always really strong but now its stronger than ever because i feel like i know how to do it just at times its hard when you have someone that lacks confidence and has fears of things.  but i know things will get better with patience... one of the many virtues that God has.  but we have as of now two families that we are reactivating in the church that are less active and one man who got baptized and his wife no so we are going to work hard with her.  we also have 2 pfs that are getting baptized 11 of jan so things are getting better.  

oh and the family that i was teaching got baptized this Friday! i got permission to go and be able to be part of the baptism! it was an awesome experience!!! loved it.  

how is everything going back at home? any news about Kyle and BYU? how are the sports going in the mac family? everyone loved the Christmas card in my district... i might print it out and pass it around in the ward ;) hahahahahaahaha... anyways conpadre y mom, i love you guys like crazy! next week i will have all the info for skype that we are doing on the 25! don't forget about it! we need to talk about all the details about the trip and stuff! be safe, remember to always read the book of mormon... a good quote from president... you can not receive revelation from a dry well... means that we must always read the book of mormon so that the well is never dry.  

love your son, 

elder macdonald 

On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 12:43 AM, Keith & Lori Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hey Alex;

I enjoyed getting your last letter. I was able to spend the weekend with Darin Iverson in Carlsbad doing some surfing. The waves were pretty good on Friday consistent chest high.  Saturday the waves were really small but I consider myself a small waves specialist and have a good time riding them.   It's always good to spend time with Iverson as he is such a great friend.  Mom had to your condo all painted a different color and it looks really good. You will like it.

How is the new area? How is your new companion? It sounds like she is very fun and teachable and you can have a good time with him.   He sounds like a relatively new member of the church as well which means that you can continue to help convert him.  I would not feel bad if your numbers are down. That usually happens when you go into a new area. As long as you have a goal to work hard and do your best, that is all you can do.  Maybe you could express to your District that you sometimes feel that your numbers should be better. And you feel a lot of pressure. That way you can sympathize with them and they with you.  Numbers are just numbers.   Being engaged in a good cause is what's important.  I hope all's well buddy.   I hope your health is good.  Be safe.    Cardinals win today.

Love dad



Sent from my iPhone

12/01/14

hola! que tal? 

bueno, how was thanksgiving???? glad to hear that you guys had a fun time! that happens to be the last thanksgiving that i will miss.  such a great time of the year and my favorite.  but i am glad to hear that you guys had a good time and enjoyed it up there in Palo Alto.  i bet it was real different for Kyle to not have me or Scotty there. and awesome i will be praying so that Kyle will hopefully get accepted to Provo... he could really use it like i needed it.  if he goes, he will change alot.  and the other day i was watching a family decorate a Christmas tree and it made me a little sad but i will just have to find a family of investigators and decorate a tree with them for now haha... what kind of snowboard did you get? and wow por fin, laura and jordan will have a baby.  there will soon to be 4 generation in the family.  i bet grandma and gramps are stoked! 

well i am back in Puente Piedra again... i swear i have gone in like a little box my entire mission haha... i guess the lord really wants me here in  Puente for alot of reasons.  i am in the area Lomos de Carabayllo... its a really nice area to be honest.. its got some really rich houses and living areas which was the complete opposite in Pachacutec where i was before...nothing but sand and ply wood houses... i like it alot more than where i am now is for sure.  people were so much more humble of heart like it talks about in Alma 32... my companion is a pretty cool kid... he loves to skate and do all kinds of crazy sports... he is a convert of 2 years... his family is less active... he is a great kid trying to help the people as much as he can... he doesn't know the lessons as well as i thought he would... his other comps never really took the time to sit and read the lessons with him and analyze them which we are doing now so that we can have good lessons.  but i love his willingness to get things done and he is really supportive.. .something that is really different for me here in the mission because i am used to just doing everything.  but now i have someone to help with the load even though he has other weaknesses i am going to help him to strengthen them.  district leader is alright... i have come to realize that it is alot better to just be a regular missionary but i love the calling the lord has extended me and i must magnify it... it must be for some that he wants me to learn some things for my future.  the only problem is, is that i get discouraged when i am not giving an example with my numbers and in baptisms and others are doing better than me... its true that when i got here there was nothing... once again... so i am building up the area again and trying to do what i can. its a new thing for me but i am getting better at it each day... i love the ward where i am... its strong... about over 200 members and the most of them live in my area so i will be using them alot.  i bet i will be here for at least 6 months... still haven't left outside of Lima haha... anyways we have found a few families to teach... we are going to contact them this week so it should be interesting... going to have another family to baptize real quick here... but anyways, this is about all... 

love you deeply

your son elder macdonald 

On Sun, Nov 30, 2014 at 11:56 PM, Keith & Lori Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Alex;

We just got home from Palo Alto and unpacked and got everything ready for bed. I was just laying down to enjoy a nice sleep when I realized I had not written you yet.  We had a great time in Palo Alto enjoying all kinds of sports and a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Grandma and grandpa Wade and Cindy were there and we had a great time. We also went to the city and I sent you some pictures.   Kyle finished his BYU application and we sent it off tonight. I am crossing my fingers. He wrote three essays and I thought all three were really good. Mom is getting the house all decorated for Christmas which is always fun. I just ordered myself a new snowboard and bindings. Merry Christmas to me.  Jordan and Laura Wade announced today that she is 15 weeks pregnant. We are very excited for them.

How is the new area? How is the new companion? How is being a district leader?  I was made to district leader when I was six months out. How hard it is really depends on the quality of missionaries you have in your district. I would make sure and pray to heavenly father and ask him what you can do to inspire your missionaries. Of course it is best to lead by example and lead with love.  I was never made a zone leader but that was okay w me.   I enjoyed teaching more than being a leader.   The mission needs good leaders so do your best.   Send some pix of where u live, etc.   what is the name of the town?    Love you bud.   Be safe.

Love Dad.

Sent from my iPhone

11/24/2014

hey padre! como estas? 

bueno... i am no longer in ventanilla where i would like be right now.  i got transferred and i haven't heard anything about the baptism that i left for my companion.  the lord needed me in another part of the mission... i am back in puente piedra called lomos de caraballyo as the district leader.... i didn't see that one coming at all... haha... not to mention that i am the district leader of the the zone leaders and of the sisters leaders in the mission... no idea why the lord whats me there but i am trying to figure it out each day... i still feel upset about not being able to baptize the family that i was teaching.  i really wanted to see  the end product and i was quite down about it this week.  but i gotta be happy and lead my district to success and being unhappy will not get the job done.  my companion is Argentina... his name is elder Verdugo and he has 10 in the mission... he is a good helping hand for me... he likes to skateboard and do the same stuff that i like to do so we should get along very well.  however being a district leader is a different story and i am always worried about if i am giving a good example or no... do you have any advice for me dad when it comes this stuff? anything that helped you out that i could possible apply to my district... its fun, a new experience, and i know i will learn alot so i am excited about the calling the lord gave me.  

kyle gave a talk? man i wish i could of heard it.  i am really happy to hear that he is making changes in his life and that i had a good impact on him... i know i didn't at first but i knew by serving a mission it would be a good thing for him to see.  just by telling his friends that he has a brother on a mission is like sharing a testimony just a tad haha... i would love to see him up in Utah... i would keep good care of him and he would be surrounded by some good people... get him up to bBYU summer term... its funny this Sunday i gave a talk as well... got a lot of people to come up to me and tell me that they loved my talk.  maybe i have a talent for giving good talks.  got to get it the same way in the lessons.  

mom sent me a cool picture of him playing basketball... he is got a great shot... i hope he continues in basketball... and of coarse josh is scoring all the goals! hahaha such a stud.  and awesome! Jake is a maestro! good for him... he is such a stud... he is even a great example to me.  

things are going good... trying to like the changes that have happened... i wasn't to fond of it but i have been given no other choice and i know i will learn and grow alot from this... really hard to say goodbye to my converts and the people i helped in ventanilla... i really loved that place.  i hope you guys have fun at thanksgiving! this is last one that i will have tp miss! the next one, i will be able to enjoy it with you guys. give everyone a hug... going to give it a huge effort this week! love you dad. thanks for your encouragement! 

love your son,

elder macdonald 

On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 10:28 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hey Alex;

So I am wondering if you were transferred or not.  Are you still in Ventanilla?  Did you get a new companion?  Did your baptisms happen?  I'm sure you will let me know.

Kyle had to speak in church today and he spoke about the influence you have been on him while serving your mission.  It was a good talk and you have done some good in that arena.  Your example is very much appreciated by your mom and I.  Your brothers really look up to you and appreciate your example.

We are also working on Kyle's applications for college.  He is applying to BYU provo and Hawaii.  He is also applying to UVU, U of U, Utah State, ASU, and U of A.  I have talked with him about going to Summer school in Provo and then going to UVU if BYU doesn't happen.  He also has some interest in playing football at the university level.  We have had some interest from scouts about him so we'll have to see what happens there.  He really wants to go to school in Utah.  It would be good for him to live away from home.  He is making some good changes in his life and I'm proud of him.   As usual he has done it  on his own.

Jake's basketball team had a four game tournament this weekend and they won all their games and won the tournament.  They have a pretty good club team right now.  He's playing well but could be a little more offensively minded.  the defense is awesome.

Josh had his last soccer game that they won 1 - 0.  Josh kicked a corner kick and it bounced off his friend Axel's back and went into the goal.  that was the only score.  I sent some pictures and a video.

Jake was ordained to the office of a teacher in the aaronic priesthood today and he is stoked about it.  He is a good kid.  He has always magnified his priesthood.   He is a good example to me.

I hope all is going well for you son.  We are flying to Palo Alto for Thanksgiving.  We will spend it with the Peery's and grandma & grandpa wade will be there also.  We will miss you.  Your time is moving quickly so take advantage of everything you have to offer.  WE love you and look forward to hearing from you tomorrow.  We have the Christmas decorations up.........you know how much your mom loves that.  Take care.  Love you!!!

DAD

PS.  ASU won this week against WSU
PSS  Cardinals lost to Seattle in Seattle.........crap!

Surfing Seals and Dogs on couches!!!

11/10/2014

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 11:09 AM,

 Alex Macdonald <alex.macdonald@myldsmail.net> wrote:

hola padre! como estas?? its a great week for me if i dont have the runs that week! hahahahaa... wow off to cali again! jealous,,, very jealous! good to hear that you are staying busying in the job! means that things are going good there.  bummer for doobs that this football team couldn't pull it out.  i really believe that they had the team but once again, crappy coaching, which leads to discouragement which leads to losses.  same way in the mission.  thank goodness we have a mission president who is just ready.  he has taught us so much doctrine it is crazy.  cant wait to talk about doctrine and about all the things you know dad.  but wow, what a cool experience about how Kyle didn't get injured after the blessing... yesterday my convert carlos recieved the sacerdocio mayor! i gave it to him... it was alot to say in Spanish and i had a little struggle saying the sentence but i did it. i didn't even know that he wanted me to do it until right there on the spot so imagine it, i wasn't really prepared and it was the first time in my life giving the sacerdocio mayor to someone else.  still remember when you gave me the priesthood like it was yesterday. i am curious where does the line of the priesthood go in our family... to grandpa macdonald, to who next? and how was the conversion of our family? and GOOOOOO ASU AND CARDS! sounds like we are kicking butt in football... how are we doing in basketball? 

the trio is alright... its quite hard and i don't know why but i have a comp that has 10 months in the mish and is more trunky that mish that are finishing their missions.  i mean he is a great kid but i just don't think that he has really found his purpose here in the mission or what i am still confused.  my other companion who has 17 months is as well a follower... as you know i am the leader and i have really learned why.  its been a great experience for me to gain alot of confidence in my self and my abilities along with the spirit.  at times and still is hard to hear the still small voice but its been something that i have been really trying to work on... being quick to observe and to see what the lord is telling me.  it was an attribute that Mormon had as a kid... and i am sure all the prophets of old had... in that they were kick to observe and obey.  that is what i have been working and praying for.  i know that if i master this ability, i will be able to make alot of connections with people and help them come unto Christ here and after the mission and most important, with my future kids.  transfers are next Monday...i will know next Monday... if i go, i will not see the baptism of the family of 4 that i am teaching ;( and of the young man of 29 years old.. their dates for baptism is the 22 of Nov.  that following Saturday... if they change me, i going to ask for permission to see if i can go but that is if they change me and i hope they give me one more change here and that one of my companions go.  the family that we are teaching are awesome! they are loving the gospel and coming to church... came for the 2 week in a row! super excited... we have a family home evening with a recent convert family to help the family that we are teaching to help push them for baptism and make them feel ready.  this week we went to the beach again and we checked out the caverns of Ventanilla... as we were walking down the beach several crazy things happen... one, there was like 10 dead sea lions... one of them i stood on and pretended to surf it.  picture included.  the other one was, as we were walking we heard like a quad or motocyle coming up from behind us.  elder crouch was the last man behind so he turned first, he started yelling and that is when we are turned back and a helicopter flew like 10 feet over our heads... it was crazy! we were like deer in the headlights as this army helicopter flew over us.  it was like a movie! hahaha... after that we had fun exploring threw caves and having a good time! cool moment of the week was stake conference... we had elder Costa from the 70 de Argentina come and preside over the meeting.  he gave a great talk about se puede... which means you can do it.  we also had the president of the lima temple there as well. a great talk and i learned that i need to memorize and study the scriptures more because this man didn't look at his scriptures once but was just throwing out scriptures like it was no bid deal.  and at the end, my convert got the priesthood and is preparing with his wife to get their family to the temple... happy of the influence we have made in their lives.  and thanks dad! i have really tried to grow up and get my mind more in line with the lord and his will and do what he asks.  its interesting, the lord will always ask for what we love most.  but yeah, i know i have changed i hope to continue changing to become more of the man that god wants me to be and the type of father he needs me to be to this spirit children that he has created for me.  anyways, glad to hear that it was a better week for the Keithster.. it was a good one for me as well.! love you with all my heart dad! thanks for everything that you do for me! 

love your son

elder macdonald 

On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 10:01 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Alex;

How's it going Elder Mac?  I felt really bad for you that you have the runs all the time.  What a bummer!  I guess I can survive having them for a week.  Well, Mom, Jake, and Josh are all in Carlsbad.  Mom took them over because there is no school on Tuesday.  It is veterans day on Tuesday.  I have a very busy day on both Monday and Tuesday so I stayed here to work.  I sure miss going to the beach.  I'm sure you know how I feel.  Kyle and I have been keeping busy.  Kyle had his playoff game on Friday night against Chandler (#2 in state).  We are ranked 15th and we got our butts kicked .  Kyle had a pretty good game but the score was 54-14.  So, his high school football career is over.  I gave him a blessing at the beginning of the season that he would not sustain any major injuries.  I tried to remain confident in that blessing and have faith in the power of the priesthood throughout the season.  I am so grateful to the Lord for granting this blessing.  Kyle did not suffer any major injuries and had a good experience.  I think he is glad the season is over.  He has been moving in a much more positive direction lately and it seems like he's getting his crap together. 

We went to the ASU game against Notre Dame.  ASU is ranked #9 and Notre Dame was ranked #10.  it was a great game but we beat them.  We had a great time.  The cardinals are the top team in the NFL right now and the top of their division.  They played against the ST. Louis Rams today and came back in the 4th qtr to beat them.  Great game.  So.....a lot of football lately. 

How has the tripanionship been working out?  When are transfers?  Sounds like you might be moving from Ventanilla.  Let us know what's going on.  I was glad to hear your comments on Michele.  I can tell that you have really grown up and I like how your thinking.  The Lord will bless you for your service and I know that he blesses you now.  I hope all is well with you and that you know how much I love you.  Keep working hard and trusting in the Lord and he will continue to bless you. 

Love.................DAD

11/3/2014

ola padre! como estas? 

i as well was waiting for your email and it never came and i had a feeling it didn't get sent or there was a problem when it got sent but yeah its okay now! i got that sweet video of that game winning field goal! that was awesome and how the whole team stormed the field.  i bet they were pumped! and are you serious that red mountain lost to skyline? wow.  at least Kyle was playing good. and are you kidding me? two mid field goals from josh? such a stud! and if he starts snowboarding this year send me some videos and photos! he is going to tear it up real quickly! haha...

here in the Peru they call diarrhea la bicleta which means the bicycle! it is just about a weekly thing for me now.  i at least have diarrhea once a week.  but wow it go so bad that you had to go to the hospital? what do you think was the food that got you guys all sick? that is crazy! are you better now at least? its crazy in each area that i have been, i always get really sick and i have what is called the double dragon where i am coming out both ends... haha... its not fun.  wow it got that bad that you lost half your muscles? well now you know how i feel! haha... time to start over when i get home! haha.. but i am doing better dad thats for sure... this week we worked harder than our other weeks.  i really tried to pick up my two companions on my back and help lift their hopes and everything.  do you remember that family i talked to you about last week? well, we fasted that they would be able to come to church, and i don't know how but when we went to pick up the family for church, they were all able to go.  we had fears that the father would be working and not be able to but they all went to church.  it was great to see the fruits of our hard work getting them to church.  they loved it as well.  many of the members took the time to get to know them and one lady gave them a liahona and they started reading it in the church.  brother araujo which is the fathers name opened it up to the page where it says why its so important to read the book of mormon and his wife was like yeah we need to do a better job! haha... i am really excited about this family.  their daughters also participated in the practice for the choir because this next week we have the stake conference and they are going to sing in it i think and they aren't even members yet! hahaha... we are going to work really hard on this family... they made me really excited again and will be baptized the 22 of November.  we also have a muchacho who is 29 years old that we are trying to help change his life for the better and its been a trial... i can see my old self in him.  how he wants to change but needs someone to help him.  hopefully i can get to his heart and have a member there as well with us along the way to help him change.  my companion who is named elder huarsaya is a pretty cool cat.  he is laid back like me but willing to go out and work and baptize.  elder gomez is like that song called time bomb because if you cut the red chord he like freaks out.  he has like created his own little island and i try to reach out.  he doesn't really and so i don't know.  im trying to work with him.  they are both from Peru.  it was quite cool. in our mission if we see a family, we have to stop what we are doing and go talk to them.  we were walking in the street Saturday and i was talking to huarsaya because we had done divisions and at the last minute i looked up and saw this family.  i could have startled them but we started talking.  at the end we walked with them all the way to their house and in the end they invited us in to share the message.  it was awesome because they were a married family. a lot of padres are just living together and never marry... which means they cant get baptized unless they get married if they have a couple.  but they were married and we taught them an awesome lesson 1.  they said that they would read and pray to find out if its true or not.  the best thing is that they understood it very well.  on Friday we will find out more. its crazy...i feel really blessed because at least once a week we find a family that is married while the rest struggle.  i must got the sense and eye for where the married people live. hahahaha... but everything is improving with the companions... i feel like in a couple of weeks i am out of Ventanilla because i will complete 6 months here really soon.  

how was Halloween?? the next Halloween i will be back in the states! how crazy is that? we carved pumpkins and ate a bunch of candy! i carved the letters Peru in it... i will send some photos! what did you dress up as? and the rest of the family and the neighbors? 

as was i, i was quite shocked to hear it as well.  i got a letter from her telling me that she had thought and prayed about what she wanted to do with her life and she felt like she needed to move to Utah and out of Arizona and get a change of scenery and be away and grow spiritual and physically.  i never told her to do it, it was her own personal decisions... she knows very well the situation. i told her that i would love to see her when i get home  and that is it.  i know mom worries. i also feel that she still hasn't forgiven her as well.  she really is a different person. I'm not saying I'm going to spend my life with her because i dont know and right now that is not what interests me.  right now the people of Peru do.  I'm just putting the things in the hands of the lord because in the end, the lord will help me find the one i am supposed to be with and who knows, it could be her or it couldn't be.  i have learned in the mission to follow answers and revelation and if i don't, the lord loses his trust in me, just as a father loses trust in his son if he doesn't obey.  but this is how i feel about it. and that is what i have told her and other people and that is how its going to be... i just want mom to not see her how she was but now who she has become.  that has a great deal to do with the atonement and how we should learn to forgive and forget.  and i will tell mom that i can go surfing here another time and get released when i get home.  its better you are right.  surfing can wait.  how was the dinner at robs house? i miss american food... especially some good Cessys in the morning! yum! anyways fatha! sorry for the bad week... makes me sad i couldn't help out.  but i love you dearly! thanks for always being my best friend and someone that i can trust so deeply in now. miss you mom and dad! 

LOVE YOUR SON,

elder macdonald 

Hey elder mac;

Hey Alex, how are you doing? I waited to get an email from you last week but it never arrived. I went back and looked at the email that I sent you and realize that it never went through. I sent you a detailed email about everything going on which would be two weeks ago.  I was pretty bummed that email never went through.  That email talked about red Mountain winning over Mountain View which was a really crazy game.we beat them in the last seconds of the game with a really crazy field goal. They were so bummed. We were so excited!can't stand Mountain View.  Red Mountain played the skyline high school this weekend and we lost in overtime by one point. It was truly a heart breaker. And both games Kyle played really well and had a bunch of tackles.  Josh is killing it in soccer and by far and away the best player on the field. He scored four goals this week two of them were kicked from midfield. Awesome!  Josh wants to snowboard this year so I think I will start him on a snowboard.

Last Monday I was feeling down because I didn't get an email from you and you didn't get any email from me. But things got much worse from there. I started feeling kind of yucky on Monday and by Monday night I came home and went to bed. I could not stop the diarrhea. By Wednesday I was so dehydrated mom had to take me to the hospital and they had to give me several liquid transfusions and morphine.  It turns out that I had severe food poisoning from an event that we had thrown at our office the previous Thursday.   The event was our October fiesta where we invited many of the local offices and staff that we work with. There was probably over 150 people that attended. It turns out that probably somewhere between 20 and 30 people got sick. Of course we were embarrassed and felt bad that people got sick even though it was not our fault.    So I missed several days of work and was curled up in bed feeling very weak. It seems like I lost half my muscles as well. Time to start over again.  How are you doing? How are the two companions? Are you still having a good experience in your area?

I couldn't help but notice the other day that Michelle Hartman was accepted to UVU for school.   I have to tell you that mom is quite concerned that you are making future plans with her.   I hope your not.   These are of course your choices to make but make sure that you are careful about what expectations you excite in a person.   I hope you can alleviate her concern.   It's not that I don't like Michele but you need some years of freedom post mission.
Mom is also concerned about trying to get you released in Peru so you can surf.   I hope you can help her again by mentioning you can surf when u get home.  No big deal.   The church's protocol is that your released by your stake president when you get home.   I don't think we can break that protocol.   We'll see.  Had dinner at Rob and Erika's house tonight.   Everyone says hi.   Love you and take care.   Dad

Sent from my iPhone

Halloween in Peru 10/31/14

EL POLLO LOCO 10/20/14

A chicken coop made by the Elders

Chicken Heads in the Streets of Peru!

OCTOBER 20, 2014

hola padre! como estas? 

yes, i never thought that i would be in a trio, but i guess that is what the lord wanted.  i am really not a big fan of it either because it is just so hard to teach with 3.  sometimes its hard with just having one companion.  but now that they all know the area, we will be doing divisions and stuff so that we will really hasten the work more in our area and have more people to teach.  these two guys don't have much self confidence and i realized with elder Gonzalez that i really gained alot of self confidence in myself and if i help people recognize the spirit in the lessons that i will be very successful.  however, they don't have much confidence and i think this is one of the many things that the lord wants me to teach them.  how to use the spirit and have confidence.  and i hope that it is only for this change.  and i know i saw the pics of the peerys trio.  i am pretty sure that he is not in it still.  i am reading jesus is the christ so i will continue to read it.  awesome the cards are doing work and ASU!!! WHOOO!  ouch another lose for doobs.  he expressed to me that he wanted to play football in college! haha... would be cool to see that after the mish for sure.  ouch even worse if his secret lover was watching ;) hahahahha... wow what color is the condo? white? and really? you sold the razor... ;( dang it... we are working with a family that is less active and who the wife isn't member and his son as well but the father is less active.  its such a shame to see how money has enveloped in their lives and has become their priority instead of the spiritual things in life.  that is a really strong lesson that i have learned here in Peru.  money is not the source of happiness.  but i love how i can share personal experience with people that were in my old pair of shoes and help them realize what is most important in life like with a young man of 29 years old named Danny.  he came to church which is awesome.  the majority of all my converts are progressing greatly.  the reactivation of Patrick is just missing his dentist appointment to put in his papers to serve a mission and his parents are on their way to preparing for the temple.  oh before i forget, my day of release from the mission is the 28 of july, the independence of Peru! hahaha... so i don't know when you guys plan on coming but that is the date.  and thanks dad for sharing that story.  i really do need to be a little bit more grateful for the things that have been give me but i sure have been given much and now its my turn to give.  i really do think along with Maxwell that gratitude is the key to happiness and i need to embrace all problems and challenges in gratitude and i will learn much more out of the situations.  i just get upset because they just like follow me around like dogs expecting me to tell them every little detail and i am not just going to administer to them but minister. how is the fam and work doing? any plans coming up for the holidays? its like right around the corner.  today we have a family home evening and we are going to make lasgana with a family! pretty stoked about that and we are going down to the beach today to play football and frisbee.  its going to make me miss Carlsbad alot but i need to get down there. haha... anything new that i must know about and that you want to know?  this next week should be better.  just really want to baptize.  anyways padre i miss you como un loco.... thanks for being the best dad out there! 

n Sun, Oct 19, 2014 at 11:39 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Buenos Dias Alex;

I enjoyed your last letter ....sounds like it was difficult to send Elder Gonzales home and now you have two new guys.  I was never in a Trio or tripanionship.  No thanx.  They are more common now just because of the sheer number of missionaries.  I'm sure it is just temporary until you get a new missionary.  Your right.  Elder Peery (Scotti) has been in a trio as well.  It don't know much about them....other than you should try and get a lot of splits with members so that you can get more work done.  I'm sure it is a difficult juggling act to keep the peace especially when you like one more than the other.  But I have confidence in you as the senior companion to make it work.  Leadership will be important for you now.  Remember to be kind as you do your best to move the work along in your area.

 I would strongly encourage you to read Jesus the Christ!  Don't just read it lightly.....read it all the way through.  absorb it.  It is a great book.  I tried to send you some pictures this week.... so I hope you get them.  The Cardinals beat Oakland today so they're 5-1 and have the best record in their division.  ASU beat Stanford which was awesome.  On a down note....Red Mountain lost to Desert ridge like 49-24 or so....it was a tough game.  Kyle did not have a good game and was even more bummed when he heard the Jacobsons came and watched the game including Eden.  They were a good team and we just couldn't keep up.  We play Mountain View on Friday...and then the following Friday we play Skyline.

The condo in Cbad just got all repainted so it will look different when you see it next. We painted it a much lighter color to help it look lighter inside.  Should be very cool.  I sold the razor today to Lars Christiensen.....just didn't use it alot.  Too expensive of a toy to sit around.

Their was a quote on our program at church today that I thought was cool.  It was by Neil A. Maxwell.  It says:  "How can you and I expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken.  Keep me from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art!  then let me come and dwell with thee and fully share Thy joy!' "  It is difficult to go through hard things.  But hard things help make us the kind of people we need to become.  There must be an opposition in all things....if not.....you and I would be destroyed...we would fail to experience and progress.  It is so easy to forget the purpose of this life.  It is so easy to forget that you and I embraced the plan of Salvation and all of the possibilities both good and bad that awaited us when we came to this earth.  Learn to become the kind of person that is grateful for
 life.  Learn to be filled with gratitude to your Heavenly Father for the chance to come to this earth and gain a body of flesh and blood that is mortal and corruptible so that we have the chance to be like our father in Heaven.  I am convinced Gratitude is the key to a happy life.

One of the things that I am most grateful for is that I have known from a young age that Heavenly Father loves me.  When I was seven years old my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.   She was young and had 5 young kids including me.  My father was very distressed and took to fasting so that he could give her a blessing.  There was a tremendous amount of concern from the grown-ups around me and it caused me great concern as a little boy.  I did not know what to do.  I remembered that I could pray and ask Heavenly Father for help.  I had learned that from my parents and from church.  I went to my bedroom and knelt down.  I poured my heart out to God on behalf of my mother....and asked him to be mindful of her so that we could be a normal family.  As I prayed I felt a very warm feeling come over me and I felt as if my room got very light.  I knew that Heavenly Father loved me and that he heard my prayer.  It was undeniable.  It was powerful.  I
 also knew that my mother would be alright from that time on.

I have never forgotten that experience.  It taught me that God--the master of the universe, the creator of all things....was not too busy to answer the prayer of a little boy through the power of The Holy Ghost.  It is a testimony that has stuck with me no matter what I'm doing.  There have been times when I have removed myself from Him because of poor decisions or poor judgement.  Still, I knew that he was there and loving me as much as ever.  I have known from that day that he is steadfast in his love and concern.  If there is a distance between us it is I that have moved.  It is a simple testimony and I don't know why I share it with you now.  Maybe you need to hear this.  Maybe I need to hear it.  I love you son.  I miss you more than words can communicate.  I am thrilled with what you are doing.  I am so glad that you have chosen to spend two years of your life introducing people to this wonderful God that would take the time to answer the prayer of
 a little boy that loved his sick mother.  Peace be with you Son.  Good luck with your work.

Love,  DAD

Yummy fried chicken feet!!!

Yummy Fried chicken foot

Say goodbye to Elder Gonzalez

General Conference luncheon

A rare rain in Alex's Peru

October 13, 2014

hola mis queridos padres!

como estan? how was October break? seems like it all went well and was full of activities.  i am very jealous of the waves that were captured in the camera that you had.  perfect head high with a great shoulder.  pure awesomeness.  Carlsbad for life. wow the first win! its about time... they deserved it.  how did kyle play? good hits? and hahahahah that makes me laugh that you had to change in the parking lot dad! hahaha... i'm sure it was a great sesh. i wish i could have been there.  glad to hear that they are happy.  

well there is alot of new things that have happened here.  the first thing is that i am now in a trio.  my companions names are elder Gomez and elder Haursaya... if you have questions about why we are in a trio, i have no idea.  all i know is that one elder had to go home because he was sick.  also i know that president has big plans for our area so he could be preparing the area with more people.  i am the senor comp between a missionary that has 17 months and 9.  yes i sent elder gonzalez home.  i really miss that guy.  i have realized how good of friends we were and how special it was to be his companion.  everything is now different.  i was wierd,  i was so used to the routine with him and how we taught and were with the people and now it is totallly different and i dont like it.  i am still myself but we have a companion who is a little serious.  i got to show him the ropes and help him change a bit.  and no i am not training a greengo but in 5 weeks i could be because we will recieve about 20 more americans.  it will be crazy.  next week i will have a for sure answer. i will call the offices today and ask them when is the end of the change so i can have the exact date.  i am still in the same area as well.  where you ever in a trio dad? if so, do you have any advice? it is really different. i think its funny because elder peery was also in a trio.  its hard.  i get along really well with elder huarsaya but with elder gomez we are struggling to get along and it is going to hurt the work.  i am sure we will have many good talks this week about things.  oh i am learning how to do the rubix cube in my spare time, its quite hard.  ahahaha... day in and day out i see so many families only worried about temporal and material things over spiritual things.  i have made a goal to always put spiritual things before material things... one phrase that has been stuck in my head all week, where ever your heart is, will also be your treasure. i have learned that all the riches in the world dont give a darn if we dont look for the kingdom of god.  this is something that we have to help the family bueno understand.  the husband is less active and his wife and kids are not members but they are to focused on these things.  oh while i remember, this week i ate a chickens foot and chicken liver.  it was very weird and i probably will not eat it again hahaha.. one day we were walking with a member and her friend walked by in the street.  she stopped her and we started talking.  we ended up finding out that her husband had died 4 months previous.  we asked if we could share a message that could answer where her husband went and many questions that she had. she invited us over and we taught the restoration and showed her through the book of mormon in alma 40... as she read you could see the change in her face in a book that answered her question. a book that she had never heard nor seen. we beared our testimonies afterwards she easily said yes to coming to church.  however satan got in the middle and used a co worker to get in the way and call her in to work with her son.  however it was such a cool experience because that same day during the zone meeting, we taught the same lesson and when we were out teaching we were able to put in practice.  this week we were able to watch the general conference.  saturday we watched it in english and i just love hollands, christoffersens, some german guy from the 70 and uchtdorf.  unbelievable talks.  i am going to re study them afterwards.  on sunday we had to watch it in spanish and it just wasnt the same even though i understood it.  we are very blessed to know the english language and be able to hear the words come straight from the prophets mouth.  there has been alot of new things come up and we are just getting used to it all. hopefully we will work things out in the trio.  and dad i have always been thinking about being an ortho... its something that i like and would love to do.  how do you feel about it? its something that i have always been telling people ever since i could remember as a kid. to be like you and gramps.  but everything well get better.  i love the work and i love all the things that i am learning.  its crazy. i see each day how it is preparing me for the future.  love you guys will all my heart.

your son, elder macdonald 

Dear Alex;

Hey Alex, it has been a wild week full of weddings beach and no school.  I worked on Monday and Tuesday and had very busy, productive days. I flew to Carlsbad on Tuesday night and enjoyed the beach on Wednesday Thursday and Friday. The Dahl's were there and we enjoyed them. I got into some good waves right out in front of our condo and sent you some pictures. Always fun to get some head high fast waves.  Mom drove from Carlsbad to St. George on Friday morning and I flew home to Arizona to go to Kyles football game. They played Mesa high and won 38-7.  Kyle and I then got up very early Saturday morning and flew to Las Vegas, rented a car, and drove to St. George as fast as we could. We got there just in time for Steve's wedding. I had to change in the temple parking lot. It was a little crazy. The wedding ceremony was awesome and Steve & McKenna seem very happy.  I'm sure you will receive pictures of the wedding. The reception was very nice  & it was a perfect evening for that.  Almost everyone was there and it was really fun to see everybody. We weren't able to stay very long and drove home on Sunday.

So, that is what we have been doing. What is new with you? Did you send your companion home? I assume you got a new companion? Are you training? Is it a gringo? How reliable is the date of July 28? We really need to know. If I don't hear from you soon then I will have to write your president.  Are you in a new area?I would strongly encourage you to periodically think about what you might want to do with your future. I am speaking of occupationally. There is no pressure about this but it would be wise for you to start to consider that question. Do not let it detract from your missionary work and concentrating on that which is most important right now, but it should be a consideration.  I hope everything is going well. I hope you are through with some of the distractions, and can get busy moving the work forward. Everyone misses you and are looking forward to when you get back.  Love you son!

Dad

Sent from my iPhone

9/29/14 addition

forgot to mention a cool story that happened this week! there was a less active women that had been struggling lately and didn't know what to do with her life, about all the churches, her kids, just all the normal stuff that we worry about... however she gave a prayer and asked god for help.  that same day we arrived at her house as an answer to her pray.  she told us that she know that it was an answer to her pray.  i was filled with the spirit to know that we had been guided directly to her to help her out that day.  its awesome being guided by the spirit and helping out our brothers and sisters here on earth.  love being an instrument in the hands of the lord! happy birthday dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

9/20/14

hola padreeee! como estamos? how was holding down the rainy fort? i can not believe how much it is raining down there? seems like it is getting out of control down there! i'm sure it was some good moments out on the razor after the good rainfall.  i would expect por lo menos that you went out to ride! hahaha... ouch to ucla we lost too... embarrassing... hows longbow treating you? good condition? on what hole did you lose it? and are you kidding me? they lost again? i'm sure that their hopes for the playoffs are now over... how ridiculous... chaparall is a really good team and rm should of won... i hope they fire the coach staff seriously.  i feel bad for kyle.  and describe to me this monster hit? they do probably have the tough schedule in all of Arizona from the names that i am hearing each week too but still.  and really jakes team lost to poston? sounds like he put the team on his back with those 3 pointers... he must have really improved on his shoot these last few weeks... awesome.  what position is he playing right now? 3 or 4...  and good at least there was one win in the family. is he just loving soccer or like to play other sports! haha because he kicks but in soccer! what happens when he puts in the goal? haha... wow i am dying over here about josh! is there a photo now? did he put the mohawk like he wanted for such a long time! and wow i would of dyed to have that peach cobbler... htere is a member here that made us peach cobbler the other week and i was in heaven. by the way! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!! they next time it is your birthday i will be at home! crazy thought no? and yeah it has been a struggle with my companion lately... i am not the only one.  the whole district has been struggling because he has been acting like a drama queen about some things and it has caused some good problems but not they are resolving but he only has one more week left.  it was weird i cool if he stayed but when we got the call i knew it was right but that whole story happened and yeah it just went downhill.  i am just struggling because he is making me trunky and that is thing i didn't want.  but i gotta break out of it and just keep doing what we were doing before so we continue have the results.  oh you should send me some vidoes of the boys playing.  but yeah its been rough not just for me but alot of other missionaries and we knew that it was time for him to head out but yeah its over and i just gotta fight it out... but that is sure true. i have learned many lessons that is for sure.  and Seth is coming over to the mission... hope he is ready.  he will learn tons.  and for the people that we are teaching, it all seems everything went down hill when the problems started with my companion.  i have learned if you are not united with your comp and the district the lord will not help you at all.  but we have some families that are married that we have found, the hardest thing here is that they all work until super late so it is extremely hard to find the families.  the jobs over here just kill them.  but we have a father how is just the stumbling block for his family to progress and be baptized in the church so this week we are going to do everything possible to find him and help him understand that doctrine.  and jake can use my board as long as i can look at some new ones when i get home? ;) i cant get rid of this surfing itch.  sucks... everything is getting better poco y poco... hows kyle doing with his testimony and the church? doing family home evening and reading the book of mormon with him? hows the job? kyle hasn't crashed the gti yet still? anyways stoked to get a new comp and a new change... i could be training a gringo in a few weeks.  that will be really interesting.  anyways padre! te amo mucho! tell josh that its not much more time that he has to wait! miss ya alot dad! 

elder macdonald 

On Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 11:29 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hey Alex;

How's it going buddy!  Mom has been in boston all weekend on a girls weekend so I have been holding down the fort.  We had a massive rainstorm again yesterday where it rained buckets for the afternoon.  Great for the thirsty desert.  Another tough sports weekend for the Macdonald household.  ASU lost to UCLA on thursday night in a route.  ASU was in the top 20 but will definitely fall out now.   I lost to McBride on Friday in golf for the first time in a while by 2 strokes.  Kyle's football team build a 27-7 lead on Chaparall midway through the 2nd qtr but ended up losing the game 27-31.  Kyle had a great game on special teams and defensively.  The play calling for Red Mtn continues to suck and their offense kind of sucks or at least the plays they are calling for them suck.  it's hard to know.  I feel bad for Kyle and the defense because they are pretty good.  Sports writers for the AZ Republic call Red Mtn the best 0 & 5 team in the state.  OH well.
 Kyle laid a monster hit on one of the Chaparral receivers in the 4th qtr.  It was awesome.  Jake's basketball team lost in the semifinal game to Poston.  We had a lead on them at half time.  and did well through the 2nd half but lost it in the last few minutes of the game to a kid who got really hot.  Jake had 5 3-pointers and played a really good game.  He was pretty emotional when they lost.  I think he had 18 points and a lot of rebounds.  The bright spot of the weekend was little Josh scoring 3 goals at his soccer game.  He is a little player.

I was sitting next to josh at church today when i noticed a long lock of hair on his shoulder.  I asked him if it was his and he said that he was tired of having long hair so he cut it.  I then noticed that he had hacked off the back of his hair.  I'm sure Mom won't be happy about it.  oops!  We went over to Heather & Ryan's house for dinner tonight and had a wonderful dinner with steak, squash, potatoes, salad, and yummy peach cobbler.  It was for my bday. 47.................yipee!!!  so freaking old.  Anyway, I get to work for my bday.

Sorry to hear that you are struggling with your companion right now.  I'm sure it is hard for some of these guys to go home to nothing...or not much possibility for education.  I was wondering why you petitioned the president to stay with him and send him home.  I know you guys have had a good companionship and got a lot accomplished and I'm sure it is hard to let that go.  Don't beat yourself up over that.  It is not always going to happen that you understand the mind and will of the Lord.  He knows we won't be perfect there.  How is the teaching of the families coming along?  Seth Robinson gave his farewell speech today at church.  I think he goes to Mexico City for his MTC and then into your mission.  He's an interesting kid.  I'm starting to get the itch to snowboard again.  I'm considering letting Jake use your board..  Are you ok with that?  I hope all is well.  We sure miss you alot.  Josh was just asking about you again.  It is hard for him to
 understand why you have to be gone so long.  TAke care.

LOve...........DAD