hola! que tal papito lindo! 

in fact dad this was a very positive and good week for me. i really got out and working with my son and we did some damage... this week we have a baptism... hermana sonia... it will be my companions first baptism in his mission... i am really excited for him.  but it is true... it really is a challenge going threw ups and downs... i have learned that having hope  and being optimistic is the best way to combat the ups and downs... i cant tell you how many times that happens to me here in the mission... i feel like i am a million bucks and then sometimes i feel like i am worst than the dust beneath my shoes.  but i always seems to find comfort in having hope for a better future and a better world how it talks about in ether 12... its really sad for me to see so many families here that are inactive... there are so many... and every time i ask them if they pray or read the book or the are doing their family home evenings, or their family history, the answer is always no and they wonder why their family is less active and not progressing in the gospel... these are the best ways to guide the family and have your house always facing towards the temple as king Benjamin explains to us... i have learned a very very good lesson from my president and that is to always always always follow the prophet and his apostles in everything that they say and you will be saved.  seguir los hermanos mayores is his phrase and one that is ingrained in my mind.  i don't know why but i had the thought that it would be awesome if you invited the woodburns to do a family home evening in the house... but anyways, don't lose the faith... keep the head high... your are the best father a son could ask for. you were for me and you continuing being my role model.

my companion is good... he is trying to get used to the mission still... less sleep, alot of walking, alot of sol. alot of teaching, and alot of studying.  its a new lifestyle for him but he is doing really good. we are getting alot good... its alot different to have someone who doesnt really know whats going on and others who have had time in the mission and they think that they know everything and then pride gets in the way... what i like is that there is no pride with in us... he depends on me alot and that is okay.  i depend alot on the lord so it works out.  we have found quite a few families last night we taught a man who has 5 kids and his wife... he loves cars and so do i and we had a good talk about cars and the gospel and he really understood the need for a restoration of the gospel and he loved the book of Mormon and told us that he is going to read it and we are going to see him next Sunday to invite him to follow Christ and get baptized this family of seven.  i don't know why but i have a good feeling right now, its like one of those moments where you feel the spirit is making you happy and encouraging you to keep working hard and continue what i am doing. kind of how i feel right now.  my district is doing really good. there was alot of changes so we are just trying to find alot of people to teach and bring to church and all that jazz... its good to hear about the foot ball status... how are the cards? are they out? send me a few videos if you can of josh playing football! is Jake playing ball now? working going good? i would love to get into some mountain biking... i really need to get some good exercise going for my legs when i get home... ;) hows the snow looking? anyways papito... i just wanted to let you know that you are the man! estoy tan agradecido que eres mi papa... gracias por toda las cosas que has hecho por mi... eres un gran ejemplo para mi y para la familia! tu padre celestial y su papa son complacidos ;) les amo mucho! 

  this sábado we have a baptism... her name is hermana sonia. all she needs to have is her interview and teach her lesson 6. we have quite a few others that are progressing... hermana chiligano came to church for sacrament meeting and found out that alot of her friends are mormons and you could see how happy she was to see them there with her. we are working with her husband who is recovering from a stroke but now is the house and we are helping him out... he understands everything he just cant talk very well still because he is paralysed on one side of his body... we have taught alot of families this week... one being the family alejo garcia and hermano michael and his family of 7 and have had some positives with a few others... this week are going to go back and really get them ready to prepare to be baptized and come to church...

On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 12:29 AM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear Alex;

It is late Sunday night and I wanted to write and say hello.  I hope you had a positive week.  It is amazing how life can throw you ups and downs all the time.  One minute you can be flying high and the next you are skimming the ground.  It is truly amazing at how effective Satan is at what he does.  I pray alot for the strength to lead and guide my family in the way that i should.  It seems that my family gets attacked from all sides.  I appreciate your prayers and can feel their strength.

How is life with your companion?  Do you guys get along well?  How is your district doing?  Mom and I went to see the English Beat play last night.  They are a band that was popular back when I was in high school. It was a fun show and we had a good time.  Josh had his first flag football game and they played a team that has played together for 3 years.  They smoked us.  Josh had a good catch but he wasn't happy about the loss.  There were some good NFL playoff games this weekend.  Seattle beat Carolina.  Green Bay beat Dallas. New England Beat ???  Baltimore beat Denver.  ..The college national championships is on MOnday night...it is Oregon vs Ohio St.  I think Oregon will win.  Ron & Brenda are staying with us for a couple of nights so it is fun to have them here.  It is raining tonight....it's always nice when it rains in the desert.  I bought a couple of nice Specialized Mountain Bikes ....I think I will get back into mountain biking again....Love
 you bud.  I pray for you always......

Love,  DAD