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



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