Hey dad! que tal? 

bueno, i am sorry to hear about the email that got lost into cyberspace! i bet it was good! you will have to write me another one soon then.  and CONGRATS on 25 years of marriage! my companion says congrats as well! and you sure did score! i hope that i get married to a girl as fantastic as mom! one of the things that kind of worries me is making that decision, but i know that the lord will help me out. 

this week we had a baptism! her name is aholiva campos.. she is a girl who hasnt had much support from her family and she was working with a member making pants and she presented us and we started teaching her and she ended up loving the gospel and what it does to people... it was awesome to help her come unto Christ and be part of her conversion... now the real conversion starts for her.  but she is a great person and grateful for all that the lord did for us there.  we have a dad who is not a member and we have been teaching him and he has come to church 3 times already and we are working with him to get baptized on the 25th... his daughter is in the mission as well which is really helping out.  its quite sad to see the division of members when their husband or wife is not a member and how sad it is... the attitude is like this... you go and do your things and i will go and do my things... that really is not the way the family should be... definitely have learned a good lesson about that... as of right now it really hasn't hit me the time that i have... i feel like i just had turned the one year mark and i feel like i am missing alot of time but in fact it is the opposite... it makes me sad that i wont be able to have the power and authority to invite people to come to baptism... i will have to settle with sharing, being a good example, and having the missionaries do what i wish i could do for all my life.  i think the saddest part about leaving and not being a missionary how close you get to the savior and how he works through you towards his children.  it will be hard to say goodbye to this life, but i hope to find myself one day back in his full time service.  i look forward to some good surf and i think it would be cool and if you could dad... reserve a session in the San Diego temple with you, gramps and whoever wants to go. something i would like to do when i get back and do it quickly.  when does Michael head off? this week?? i didn't get to write him or anything.  and how is Kyle's experience going? is he going to be in cali when i get home? anyways, got some awesome photos to send! haha... i hope all is well! i love you too dad! 

Your son, Elder Macdonald 

On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear Alex;

I am so bummed because I drafted up this cool email to send to you last night and then today at work I noticed it didn't go through for some reason.  So, I ran home at lunch to send you so mething.

Mom and I were in CBAD for the weekend for our 25th wedding anniversary.  What a lucky guy I am to be married to such a beautiful, and fun person.  I remember back to walking down Hukulau beach and Heavenly Father letting me know that this was the girl for me.  I will never forget that...I will always be grateful to him for this confirmation..  And He was right.

How is your new companion.  Finally a gringo...  How is the new area?  I am so proud of what you have done with the time that the Lord has given you.  You have been an excellent missionary.  But, missions come to an end and you need to be ready to accept that.  Heavenly Father Will accept your sacrifice and your work on his behalf and then He will want you to move on.  He has plenty of things in store for you.  You will be free to pursue your education;  Free to date:  Free to surf and Shred; Free to travel where you want.  I hear guys come from their missions and say that it was the best two years of their life.....that is a shame.  It is a great two years....but life has some much to offer.  There are so many great things ahead of you.  A mission is a great foundation to build the rest of your life on.....centered in Jesus Christ.....but be ready to move forward with your life.

Jake & Josh are in Palo alto hanging with their cousins.   Kyle drove down with cousins this weekend to st. George to listen to Michael Wade's farewell.  I hear he did a great job.  He is such a solid kid.  Kyle is loving BYU.  Sounds like he has made some awesome friends.  I am happy for him.

I love you son.  I have a hard time thinking about your return because I get excited.  I hope you will enjoy some decompression time in CBAD where you can paddle out on your board and think about all the blessings that have come into your life from this experience.  BE safe....

Love;  DAD