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!