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2/10/14

On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 8:47 AM, Keith Macdonald wrote: Waz up my man! Guess what I did this week....I went on sp lits with the missionaries. I went with this Elder from Tuwilla, Utah, and we went to contact a few names that he had. The Elders did a blitz in our ward and they utilized the priests and the advisors. Anyway, we went up to this house and knocked on the door. We were looking for a guy named Charlie shields. This lady answers the door and she has a couple of little girls with her and theirs an older gentleman behind her. I was letting the missionary take the lead.....so he says is Charlie Shields home....he didn't annouce who we were or anything....like were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints..., all the sudden the lady says: "Hi Dr. Macdonald"...I or course didn't recognize here.....as she worked in a dental office that we don't work with often...then another lady comes up behind us to pick up her daughter.... so it was a bit crowded....then the lady says that Charlie isn't home so the missionary says:, "ok, thanks." and turns around and walks away. I am confused and out of practice so I follow him down the driveway and back to the car. Once I get in I asked him if we even told her what we were doing there.....he acknowledged that indeed we did not. That poor lady must be very confused about that. Oh well.... So how's everything in Peru? Hows your health? How are your spirits? How are your language skills coming along? I am assuming that your language skills are doing well because I don't hear you talk about that any more. I hope you are finding some good people to teach. It was a beautiful weekend here. I had a good round of golf with McBride on Friday. We were both playing well and I beat him by 2. Jake had alot of basketball this weekend. They earned a spot in the championship game against the mountain view toro 7th grade team (coached by the ex red mountain coach --Sessions). We were up most of the game until the last couple of minutes. We went a little cold and the toros tied it up. We missed our next shot and they made theirs. we were down by 2. there was about 10 seconds left. We inbounded the ball and Jake got open in the corner at the 3 point line. He took the shot with no hesitation and swished in through. Game over baby!!! He was thrilled. It reminded me of the shot you hit to win the Fremont game. So fun! We had ward conference this week and the Bishop talked about getting back to the basics: improving personal prayer, family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. We could really improve on the basics. hopefully we can go to the Gilbert Temple tonight and go through for the open house. The Bishop read one of my favorite scriptures at the end of his talk. It is Helaman 5:12. I have always loved it because it is advice from a father to his son. It is a good one to key on throughout your life. Please pray for your brother Kyle as these are challenging days for him. High School can be tough to navigate sometimes. He just took his ACT for the 2nd time.....hopefully his score improves. Love you buddy! I hope you have a good week. The Lord loves you for doing his work. Love, DAD Alex Macdonald To Me Today at 9:17 AM whoops i accidently sent the email... hahahahaha... but wow i would never expected that you would have gone on splits with the missionaries. did you have any cool experiences?? i am very suprised that the missionaries just left with out even saying anything to the family even thought the man wasnt there but how funny that the lady knew you and you had no idea who she was... but i have been thinking alot and that you should have kyle every once in awhile go out with the missionaries so he can get a feel what a mission is like. but this are going okay in peru! this week one of our converts got married this week and so we got to go to the wedding which was alot of fun... it was very well decorated and it felt different because i am used to houses with dirt floors and pissed filled couches from dogs hahaha... but our converts have alot of money but are extremely nice and now they are preparing to go get sealed in the temple in december which i am really stoked about. there was this one guy that came up to us as we were walking in the streets and the first thing he said was that he wanted to get baptized in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. hahahahaha it took me by suprise because never i have heard someone be so upfront about it... usually we have to work hard to get people to want to get baptized but he already has the desire.... the problem is, is that we do not know if he was problems in the head or what... he is very humble and lives in humble circumstances... no light, no water, only a candle for light and bottles of water to wash himself and a matress and clothes. he works for his food as well. this sunday he walked all the way from his house to church. very cool too see, but when he arrived we thought he was going to pass out because he doesnt work on sundays so that means he doesnt receive food so we got him a car and some food and sent him back to his house afterwards. we have another investigator coney who is a single mother who is getting baptized the 22nd.. we work with alot of less actives and we are trying to strength the families that know the truth but are not assisting any more. everyday we talk to alot of people but we are still looking for the people prepared by god. my health is off and one... and when i say that i mean diaharee wise... everyday is a struggle and just when i hit solid with my craps, its back to the beginning. i have already accepted that this will probably be how it is for awhile... mentally, its a different story.... i am always upset because our mission president says that we should be baptizing people and families every week and it is extrmeely stressful when we are not doing what he asks of us... i feel like i am not a good missionary and that i am not working hard enough when i look at my numbers and the baptisms that i am not having... its always a struggle to just be happy all the time throught it all. the language is coming along.... i can speak and stuff but not in grave detail, this will only come with time and practicing every day. i am now reading the book of mormon in spanish which i hope will improve my spanish. and NO WAYY JAKE HAD A GAME WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow that is so awesome!!!!!!!!! i am so stoked for him! he is a clutch player and i guess the game winning shots run in the family ;) hahahahahaha that is awesome! ooooooo i dream to play a good game of golf. dad i encourage you to make a goal to do the basics. i have seen the blessings of doing the basics in the mission and i have seen the families that do not do the basics and they are a complete disaster. start now and you will never have problems in the future. tell him to write me and email... i dont know if i got one from him... but how are you dad... hows the new job... the snowboarding... the razor... i am loving the work i am doing and being on the mission... everyday is still a struggle with a companion who never thinks things are his fault and acts as a child still when we are doing manly things. i feel like that is why we lack in success because he wasnt put off his childish self and become the man that god wants him to be. i only have 4 more weeks with him to change him to the person that he should be. anyways, i am loving peru and all it has to offer.... i have my problems and struggles but that is just part of the mission. wish more than than anything that i could be with you guys but only a year and half... this friday i complete 6 months in the mission! MISS AND LOVE YOU GUYS ;) love your son and brother, elder macdonald