MAGIC BUS TO ANCON

2/16/2015

hey dad! 

you guys might be wondering why i am now respond this late but the president has now changed pdays and we know have internet in the afternoon...not a huge fan of it but just got to do what we are asked too.  there has been quite a few new changes to our mission as our president is really trying to help us stayed focused especially because half of the mission is new missionaries so president is trying to keep the mission going in an upward rate.  sounds to me that work is going good and that is really good to hear! and its a bit good to hear that i am not the only one who is suffering from not surfing! haha... 

Jake won his tournament huh? awesome! i sure they do count alot out of Jake, just like Satan likes to as well.  i think it would a great lesson for him at an earlier age to really understand the Sabbath day and the importance that it has.  it brings to mind when Christ says, that people will hate you for my name and believing in me and doing what god asks of you... it could be true that all the dads get pissed because the star player wont be there, but there will be one dad that wont be upset and will be blessed accordingly. its just really interesting what Satan does to try to destroy the Nephis like Jake is. his older brothers may have been Laman and Lemuel... i don't consider myself Laman any more hahaha... but Jake really is like Nephi. and i don't want to see him lose his potential.  

what time is church at now? last week there was a really good sacrament meeting and hermano toledo who came was really touched by the talks that were given.  this week his whole family came to church! i will send a picture! such a great little family... they are getting baptized on the 7 of march! i am very excited! we have a few more coming up as well... 

however hermana sonia didnt get baptized this week...;( hopefully the 7th as well.  

i am excited for the future Jake might have in basketball... he looks like a giant compared to all of his team mates! and he can shoot the 3 which is deadly! and how many hours is Kyle getting in? how is he doing? he hasn't written me in awhile... happy for him that he is getting an eye opener for what life really is and what awaits for him.  i seriously cant wait to watch them play sports... sounds like all my little brothers are tearing it up on the court!

wow SAM is going off to new york! that is awesome! i have a few friends that got sent to new york as well. and even better speaking spanish!!! and i can imagine that it will be a huge temptation for mcb and a good test for him! this are going pretty good with my son... i am sad because its been awhile since i have baptized and i really feel that satan is really attacking me more than any other people... i feel like satan really tries to tempt the leaders of the church with alot force to try to destroy their hopes and happiness.  that's how i feel at times here being district leader, because i try to do the best i can and give the best example but many times i feel like my example is not that great because satan is always doing something to get my investigators discouraged. satan is just so good at what he does but is never better than what we can do. 

in all honestly i think it would be cool to come back to Peru in a year or so like we planned because it would be good to get Kyle pumped up for his mission and some things to expect. and i would like some beach time but what is your thinking behind it all? oh and i need to know if you want me to fly directly to san diego when i finish because i will need to tell the mission about it. anyways, love you dad and mom! thanks for all your love and support! have a good week! look for someone to share the gospel with, you never know, you could be an answer to someones prayers! 

your son, 

elder macdonald 

On Sun, Feb 15, 2015 at 11:52 PM, Keith Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hey Alex;

Happy Presidents day son.  I am working today because it is a big day for me as the kids are out of school.  I don't much like working on holidays but I have to work when there are alot of new patients that want to start.  I have not surfed since after new years so I am getting desperate.  I know that sounds pretty spoiled to you since you haven't surfed in a year and a half.

Jake had a basketball tournament this weekend that we needed to stay around for.  They played two games on Saturday and then they had two games on Sunday.  Neither Jake nor I like him to play on Sunday but it is hard when the team is counting on him.  He had a game at 12 on Sunday and another at 2.  The championship game was at 2.  We opted not to go to the first one so we could go to church.  We went to the 11:00 ward .  It was an excellent sacrament meeting....one of the best I've heard lately.  It made me want to go back and read President Packers talk from the last conference.    Jake's team won the championship game.  they played a team that was full of the brothers....we were all white and they were all black.  It was a good game but we ended up winning by 15.  Jake is a beast on the inside.  He dominated....I am going to get him a gym membership over at LA fitness because they have an indoor basketball court....I think he can be really good.  I
 sent you a picture.

Kyle is working hard at Chipotle.  He got a lot of hours last week and i think it has been eye opening for him.  Hopefully we hear about BYU in the next couple of weeks.  Josh is spoiled as ever.  He had a basketball game this weekend....it is really fun to watch him.   He plays lock-down defense.  There is some talk that the suns might deal Gorin Dragic.....I 'd be sad.

Sam McBride got his mission call to New York, New York....spanish speaking.  He reports in May.  that will be tough for Andy as he is always in New York.  I think Max leaves in march or April.  I hope everything is good son.  I'm very tired and going to bed.  I have gotten back into mountain biking full bore again.  It is so fun.  especially this time of year.  I hope the work is going well.  Do you think you'll be transferred soon?  one last question.  Would you wanna go back to Peru on vacation about 3 weeks after you come home?  that would be in Mid August or so?  is that a nice time?  Let me know.

Love..........DAD

Pastey white with a side of tomato face!!!!

February 10, 2015

hey padre que tal? 

i am doing pretty well! how are you guys doing? wow it must of been a whole different world back then in the mission... what a blessing it is to be able to write you guys each week! it really is.  my district is doing alright right now... as of right now we have 10 baptismal dates in my district... we have this one man named hermano john toledo who is just awesome... he has come to church 3 times in a row now, however his wife we are having troubles getting her to church... john loves coming to church. before he would just listen to a few preachers every once in awhile but he said that the moment he saw us he felt the confidence and love from god and he said for that reason he invited us to his home 3 weeks ago... his wife has now accepted to be baptized with his husband on the 7 of march... they have such a darling little 3 year old girl... makes me want to have a little girl when i get older ;) but just one! hahah... hermana sonia will be getting baptized this Saturday... her son will baptize her as well... her son is preparing to go on the mission so it will be the first person he will baptize before he heads out.  we found another man who has always had the curiosity about how there was never scripture written in the Americas and he always knew that there was but he didn't know where it was and when we presented the book of mormon he knew that it was true and bueno he as well has accepted to be baptized 14 of march too.  it really is awesome to be the answer to peoples prayers and i hope that i can always be an answer to peoples prayers after the mission.  

wow i am stoked for Kyle about chipolte! that is a good job for him... just hope he doesn't get fat ;) hahaha... do you get any discounts? it would be a good time to teach him about tithing dad and the importance it has from an early age so that when we comes out on the mission he has received a testimony about paying tithing and it will be very important when he will have to testify of tithing.  and awesome!!! how does it look for byu?? any results? at least he will be close and i will be able to keep an eye on him! and let me know about jakes tourny! and pobre josh.. enfermo ;( i want to see josh playing a few downs if you can send me some videos of that it would be awesome! 

i am glad to hear that you have rededicated yourself dad to make home a little piece of heaven... this talk is a really good one by Bednar about the family... its called more diligent and concerned at home... one thing i have learned about when to have a future family is always follow the brethren and what they say when it comes to families... before i have my family and when i have it i know i will be constantly reading what the brethren have to say about the family and how to make it stronger because they can really see the future and the well being of all families that belong to this church.  read a talk each week and really study it and apply what the spirit tells you while you read it.  i often image how it must of been for Lehi to constantly be hearing murmurs and complaints even from his own wife at one point in the journey but his faith was immovable and knew what awaits... one thing i have learned is that Satan doesn't care about the drunk people or those that our doing drugs or watching porno or doing everything contrary to the commandments... Satan is extremely happy and knows that he has the children of god right where we wants them... however, Satan is really worried about those who do keep the commandments and who belong to the church of Jesus Christ... he works a billions times harder with them then he does with people who do not know about the truth... just know that you are not alone. the problems are part of your conversion still... the problems help you come closer to god and be more like him and understand who he really is. there is a quote that i love that talks about if parents will read the book of mormon each day together, there will be a huge difference in the house and with their kids.  its a great promise and one i will try to do each day. keep up the good work dad... you are the best... if it wasn't for you, i wouldn't be here and where i am today.  at many times i feel like i am Alma the younger and if i didn't have the dad i did and if Alma didn't have the dad that he did, we both would be heading towards our everlasting destruction.  maybe you don't receive the recognition that you deserve but i hope my words help! love you mucho padre! 

your son, elder macdonald 

On Mon, Feb 9, 2015 at 3:37 PM, Keith & Lori Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hey Alex;

Hey bud.... How are you doing?   I was just thinking how awesome email is. I probably got 6-8 letters from my dad my whole mission. And it's awesome to be able to write you every week.  How is your district doing? How is your companion doing? Are you enjoying your area?

Let me update you on what is going on around here. Kyle got a job at chipotle. He does not work on Sundays. I think it has been an eye opening experience for him so far.we are anxiously awaiting to see where Kyle will go to college. He did get excepted to Utah Valley University and also got the tuition waiver. That means his tuition would be in state instead of out-of-state. So that is good.  Jake is working hard in school and playing basketball. He has a tournament this weekend. Josh is sick right now but he had two games this weekend. They won their basketball game but lost their football game. Oh yeah, they had to football game so they won one and lost one. Josh had a sweet touchdown catch which she was very proud of.

Say your prayers for our family as satan is working over time on us.  I committed myself again to do everything I can to keep our home an awesome place.  Family home evening, family prayer, etc.   I love you son and am grateful for your example.  It strengthens me and encourages me to do better.

Love dad

Sent from my iPhone