Alex mail 08-26-2024: "Back in Boulevard!"

Howdy howdy how we doinggggg?? Hope everything is going well! It's been another crazy week especially with transfers and coming back to my old district! It's still crazy to believe I'm right next-door, area wise, to where I had just been 6 weeks ago haha, but I'm loving it! It's been awesome to see some of the members in popular again and some of our recent converts from there! And it's definitely been a little bit of an easier adjustment with transfers coming back to an area where I was already a little familiar! My new comp, Elder Hunter is such a dawg - he's awesome! For all my Jazz Basketball fans out there, Elder Hunter played high school basketball with Cody Williams the guy they just drafted 👀 so yeah, watch out - Hunter is gonna get me good this transfer 😏 😂. I'm super hyped to be with him though, I've already learned a ton from him and I know we're gonna have a ton of fun and work crazy hard!

While it definitely was a little sad leaving Matehuala after only being there for 6 weeks, I still learned a ton in my time there and am so grateful for the amazing people I met! I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was to never take a single moment for granted! Even in just those 6 weeks I was able to meet some people that have changed my life forever! All the Lord needs is a split-second to change our lives or the life of someone else. Don't miss that opportunity! Choose to be all-in, every single moment and I promise, the Lord will work miracles in every situation you're in!

We have already seen so many miracles here in my first week in Boulevard! We have 3 amazing families that we are teaching, which has been so fun! With each, we focused on the blessings and importance of the Plan of Salvation and baptism as our way to receive those eternal blessings! It went super, super well and I'm just so grateful for the knowledge we've been blessed with, and the gameplan Heavenly Father has given us! If you want to be happy and live as a family forever, truly live the gospel and truly live your covenants, it's that simple! I know that our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can ever imagine and in the words of Elder Patrick Kearon (of the 12 Apostles,) "God is in relentless pursuit of you!!” I testify He wants to bring you home! Love ya’ll tons and hope it's another fantastic week! Hasta la próxima!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Cazador (Hunter) You already know we introduce ourselves to everyone in the street as Elder “MacDonals” and Elder “Cazador”😎 😂  Boulevard ain't ready for what's coming hahaha!

Invitation of the Month: LOVE INSTEAD OF JUDGE!! Last week of this month’s challenge! I love the scripture in the book of Moroni that says to pray for charity with all the energy of your soul, let's give it our all this week! I promise it will.

 

**Angel's Baptism 🥹 / Rubencito the return missionary goat!**

**We got the nicest house in the mission!**

**Cazador y las Hamburguesas 🤣 / Hunter Zonked / BIG Costco Day 👀**

Alex mail 08-19-2024: " 1 and Done!"

 Happy Monday everybody! Hope everyone is doing well and those who are starting school again are having a blast! I cannot believe how quick the summer has gone by time just keeps going faster and faster! But hey just another reason to be all-in wherever you are and love every single minute! We had another week full of miracles out here in Matehuala! It's been amazing to see how the Lord has prepared so many of His children to receive the message of the restored gospel! And if you're wondering about this week's title, we found out transfer news today! Definitely came as a big surprise but I'm actually already going to another area! I'll be going back to my old district actually, haha but this time in the area called “Boulevard” with my dawg Elder Hunter! Definitely a little sad to be leaving Matehuala after only 1 transfer but I know this next area is where the Lord needs me! I'm super excited though it'll be awesome to stay in the same Zone and go work with a lot of people, missionaries, and areas I'm already familiar with! And in like 4 weeks I'll get to come back up to Matehuala for exchanges anyways haha! But yeah, definitely some big change once again but I know the Lord's got my back!

We met some absolutely amazing families this week! I think teaching families on the mission is just my favorite thing ever haha, it's just so true that the family is central in everything in the gospel of Jesus Christ! It's so cool to see the changes people go from, from lots of difficulties and problems within the family to seeing them find how to be united in Christ! One family we met this week was a family of 8!! They were just the sweetest people ever and just so ready to hear the good news of the gospel! I love being able to help people find that light they've been searching so long for! I can testify that the gospel doesn't take away our problems, but it does help us overcome any problem we face! Your family or life might not always be easy in the gospel, but I can testify that through the gospel we can overcome any trial and find true and lasting unity, peace, and joy!

One lesson that really stood out to me this week was with our friend Joana! She's so amazing and loves everything about the church, she's just still a little nervous about committing to baptism. So, we went into the lesson and for the first hour we just answered a ton of her questions and doubts! At the end of that she said how she couldn't understand how we were able to respond to all her questions so perfectly, giving Elder Smullin and I the opportunity to testify that it wasn't us answering her, it was her loving Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost! At the end of the lesson, we invited her to pray and listen right there to what Heavenly Father needed her to do, and the Spirit in the room was palpable! It felt like we were sitting in the Celestial Room of the temple and I was just filled with gratitude that Elder Smullin and I were able to be instruments in God's hands! Nothing that happened was because of us, it was all God! But I can testify that when we just strive to do our best, God will work wonders through us! And if you could please keep Joana in your prayers that she'll be able to get baptized super soon! I think that's pretty much it for the week, on to the next chapter and hope you guys have a great week! Les amoooooooo!!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Guayaba (Guava)  we ate with the shrimp lady again this week lol luckily the food was fine but the agua was the same guava flavored as last time with the shrimp and it just brought back so much PTSD 😭😭  we survived though hahaha

Invitation of the Month: LOVE INSTEAD OF JUDGE!! I think something that can help all of us love more is focusing on "the why" of the decisions we make! Helping others understand why we choose to live the gospel and seeking to understand others perspective will help us eliminate contention and show more love! Give it a try this week!

*$8 USD capn crunch... worth it 😍/ La Coca/ Pancake nightttt*

*Just your average Mexican alley / Rama Sports Night/ Quinceanera parade/ Elder Scott got the Dayley Fade 💀*

*Matehuala centro / Yo y Elder Smullin / Las Mariachis*

*Distrito Idaho 🥹* 

Alex mail 08-12-2024: ""THE GOAT Elder Hooley🥹"

 

What is gooddddd everybody?? Hope everything is going well, and you are all enjoying the last few weeks of the summer!! Shoutout to everyone who's gotta start school again this week... that's tough hahaha. The heat has come back this week in Matehuala but it's all good it won't slow us down one bit! We had a crazy packed week and just seemed to be running from lesson-to-lesson haha, it's those kind of days that make the slow ones worth it! Let's jump into the highlights!

Now to explain this week's title, this past week I had to say goodbye to THE GOAT, my lifelong Zone Leader Elder Hooley 😭.  He's been my zone leader my entire time in Mexico, so basically the past 8 months! In the past year as a missionary, he has been one of the missionaries who has taught me the most about being a true disciple of Christ, how to truly love the work and love the people, and how to give our all every single day like it was our last! I got to do my last exchange with him on Tuesday and the day went by just way too quick haha! I learned a ton from him as always, especially about the importance of being loving and direct and helping people understand the ‘why’ behind everything we ask and invite others to do! We had a ton of fun and saw so many miracles teaching and trying to share our message with everyone possible! Even though he's going home this week he'll be someone I look up to for the rest of my mission and I hope I can be the same example he was to me for the other missionaries around me this next year!

After our exchanges this week, Elder Smullin and I decided we were going to put it into practice, focusing daily on testifying of the importance of the Sacrament, Baptism, and the Atonement, helping them see why they personally need these things, and being direct and loving in all we do! As a result, we saw a ton of miracles from it, including setting 3 more baptism goals for some of our friends for this month! One big lesson I've learned this past year is that the gospel is too important and this work too necessary to beat around the bush! We should never be afraid to open our mouths and be direct in testifying of pure truth! As we do so the Spirit will testify with us and we'll be able to work miracles as instruments in God's hands! 

Finally, we were able to meet and teach some super amazing families this week! I think teaching families is my favorite thing on the mission, because the gospel is centered in the family! There is nothing that brings me more joy and happiness than knowing I will live with my family forever and knowing that I'm helping others do the same! If you want to be happy, center your life and your family on the gospel of Jesus Christ! It's not complicated, we just have to choose to do it! I promise any sacrifice it takes will be so, so worth it in the end! Love ya’ll tons and hope you guys have a week full of miracles! Keep smiling and keep laughing, hasta luego!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Taller (Workshop) I think we taught more people in workshops and stores this week than any other point in my mission haha, but hey however we can get ‘em the gospel!!

Invitation of the Month: LOVE INSTEAD OF JUDGE!! How'd week one go? I felt like I did a little bit better at trying to catch myself and just show love in moments when I normally would've been quick to judge, and I noticed I was happier for it! I know each of you can be too!

**Elder Hooley 🐐 /Classic Elder Dayley - Dayley slumped / **

**Yolanda's  Baptism**

**Weekly Risk Nighttt / Found a lizard**

Alex mail 08-05-2024: "One Year!!"

 

Happy August everybodyyyyy!! Hope it's been a super fun week for you all! And yep, that's right I can hardly believe it haha but this Wednesday, August 7th, I will officially hit the 1-year mark as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I can't ever put into words or have enough time to express the amazing blessing this past year has been in my life or the immense lessons I've learned but I’ll try and mention some of the main ones haha! Over this past year I have learned and am continuing to learn that; The Book of Mormon truly is the word of God and has power, that God truly is mindful of every single one of his children in every part of the world, that ANYONE can change and overcome any trial, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is personal and life-changing, that the Priesthood truly is God's power to bless in His name, the power of sincere prayer, a glimpse of the pure love God has for His children, how to laugh through any situation, how to eat food I would never have considered eating before the mission, how to find joy in the little things, how to develop a personal relationship with the Savior, how to recognize daily miracles, coming to love serving others, and most importantly that Jesus Christ LIVES! That this is HIS WORK, HIS GOSPEL, and HIS CHURCH! Nothing is more important than putting our Savior first and I am forever grateful for the decision to serve a mission, this truly has been the best year of my life and I can't wait for year 2!

Now for some quick highlights from the week haha, on Thursday Elder Smullin and I got to go down to San Luis for a meeting and I got to see some old comps I haven't seen in a few months and just some amazing missionaries! Learned a ton about how we can better lead and correct with love, be constant examples of Christ, and find joy and have faith in every aspect of this work! Super spiritual and super fun time, and even ended it off with getting a picture with all the blonde people there (including Hermana Webb 😂).

We also did a family home evening activity with our branch on Friday night back here in Matehuala! Let's just say the Bishopric fashion-show, and Book of Mormon skit-in-a-bag, brought the house down 😏😂 took me back to my DC days and our weekly ‘Noche-de hogars’ haha it was super fun! Super awesome to help people see that the gospel is a gospel of joy! Make sure to keep smiling and keep laughing!

And then for P-day this week we went to ‘Real de Catorce’ out here in Matehuala! It's an old mining town that's up in the mountains and it was sick! First hike I've done in a year haha but super cool to see the old Mexican town vibes! Love you all and hope you have a great week! In the words of the famous coach Waggs, time to drop the hammer and get after it! Year 2 let's get it!!

Con mucho amor, Elder McDonald

Invitation of the Month: LOVE INSTEAD OF JUDGE!! New month, new invitation babyyy! This month we're gonna focus on just showing love in all that we do, always seeking to not judge and just give others the benefit of the doubt! We got this!

Word of the week: Pueblo Fantasma (Ghost town) Real de Catorce was the first ghost town I've been to in Mexico, 10/10 would recommend haha.

**Real de Catorce!**

**Elder Ramsayyy, Elder Dominguez, Elder Sanchez my Mexican Pops, Elder Baugh**

**Get that corn outta my face / I gotchu ma / Drip wedding car**

**District gang / Hermana Webb the goat**

**ANABEL'S BAPTISM!!**

#missionnotes #13 "The dawning of a brighter day"

 

"The dawning of a brighter day"

#missionnotes #13

**One Year Out** Experience of Focusing our lives on Christ!

**1 year completed** "Camellos y los Elderes"