7/28/15

My son Alex came home today and it was one of the best days of my lilfe.  It was so great to see him again.  We told him there would be only 4 of us there but there were really about 30 of us there.  Lori's family was there along with the Iversons.  My sister Scotti was there as well as Jack.  He was speechless when he first got off the plane but it was a priceless moment.  This is the end of his blog.  It was a fun ride!!!

7/27/15

hola padre mio,

Bueno, in about a few hours, there will be nothing that separates us from seeing each other.  Dad i have always admired your courage and your example that you have always given us.  i can only imagine how much stress and anxiety at times you may feel especially because there are no girls in the home.  you can always count on my being the nephi of the family doing what ever it is that my father lehi (you) needs.  it has been my pleasure and always will be...an example to my younger brothers.  you are not alone when you feel the weight of being a good example.  

it really has been 2 years of very memorable moments.  moments i will never forget, moments that will be there when i am stuck in a decision on what to do, moments that have changed my life forever.  if there is one thing that i would like to tell you dad, is that i can not go back to my old way of living.  i not only have to be a good example to my brothers and those around me but to those i helped come unto the lord.  there might be some things that i will not do, but that is because i have ingrained in my heart, the importance of following  living and loving prophets of god.  i will need all your help to continue spiritual growing, not just personally, but as a family as well.  

i am very excited to see you guys.  it feels like just yesterday that i was saying goodbye.  i hope that you have waxed up my surf board a bit for me! ;) as long as you guys are there in the airport that is all that really matters to me! it for sure will be hard to say goodbye...quite a few converts will be heading toward the airport to say goodbye. will be harder than stepping back on that plane.  

bueno, just for the sake of time dad, i would like to share my testimony with you.  i know from my head to my toe that this work and gospel is true.  that a young man named Joseph, saw the father and his son and they spoke with him. they even called him by his name.  and if it wasn't for the restoration of the gospel we would not understand that we are children of god.  so thankful to have come to a knowledge of how important it is to live the gospel. so grateful to have the most perfect book belong to our family, a book that has changed my life forever.  i feel nothing but gratitude to have been born in a family knowing that i will one day return and be with Him and the ones that i love most in this life.  half of my heart will for always belong to the people of peru.  people who have helped me come to know better my savior. i love the man who gave his life.  how honored are we to know all this. there is nothing that i want more in this life and i will never feel satisfied, until i make it back to his presence with all those that i love. 

see you soon dad! your son,

Elder Macdonald  

On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 11:59 AM, Keith & Lori Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Alex;

As a father of four boys I have always felt a great responsibility to set a good example for my boys.   Whether or not I've done a good job is open for debate.   But I am thankful for your help in being a good example for your brothers.   They all look up to you and your influence for good will always be appreciated.  I am so looking forward to seeing you.  There are some cousins/family coming to town mid week but won't make it to the airport.   Kyle is in the middle of school and won't be here until Thursday night.  Mom, hake , Josh, and I will be there.  It will be a small group but it will be awesome nonetheless.  We are so excited to see you.  I know it will be hard to say adios to Peru.   But, the good old USA awaits.
Love you.   Dad

Sent from my iPhone

7/20/15

hola mis padres! como estamos?? 

bueno i didnt know how many days exactly i had til i saw mom had written 8 days left!! it feels just like yesterday when i was greeted by the ones i love most in the celestial room, walking down that terminal to a country i knew nothing about, kissing the surfboard goodbye and having my eye single to the glory of god.  all this stuff seemed like yesterday and i can not believe that i am knocking on the 5 yard line on the football field.  many say that their mission was a dream. a sweet dream that seemed to never have an end.  bueno, it definitely has been a dream come true to stand side by side with the savior in his quest to bring the immortality and eternal life of man.  what a pleasure and satisfaction it has been for me to come to understand him and what he did for me.  what a blessing for me to understand that if life was never easy for our savior, how could we expect anything different? a blessing to have such wonderful and great people help me through my quest to gain a testimony, to walk in his shoes, to do his will,  and for once in my life put my own life for the sake of others.  

this week we will have the baptism of the family malliqui... their 21 year old son will be baptizing his parents this week! we are all super excited... their son is going on his misison in cusco Peru and it will be a great testimony to say that he was able to baptize his parents.  we are very excited along with the ward. most likely they will be the last ones i will help come unto Christ unto baptism in my mission but they are super awesome.  we have a family home evening with them tonight.  

i had the pleasure yesterday see some of my converts that came to church to say hi to me! next week they are going to come back because it will be my last Sunday in Peru...... for now! its crazy what small things can do... when it talks about small thigns bring about big things even the salvation of many... i have seen it. it is true.  i look forward seeing you all.  what a joy it will be for me.  but an ever bigger joy for me knowing that we will one day, all be together in his presence. this work is true, the book is blue, and i love you! 

Elder Macdonald 

On Sun, Jul 19, 2015 at 11:38 PM, Keith & Lori Macdonald <kekelolli5@yahoo.com> wrote:

Yo Amac;

How's it going Alex.  You are quickly running out of time and I'm stoked about that.   Time to come back to the good old USA.   I hope things are going well for you.   There is a hurricane out in Baja and it's been raining in Cbad for the last course days.  When you come home I will be there but I do have to fly out that night and work s couple days.  But I will be back Thursday.   We are all looking forward to your safe return.   The truck is finally fixed.  It was very expensive.   Love you bud.   See you soon.

Dad