Alex mail 06-09-2025: "Bell Lap 🔔 "

Happy Mondayyyy hope everyone is doing great! It's been another awesome week and we saw so many miracles!! It was the last full week of the transfer which is wild to me I literally feel like I just got to Rioverde. 😭 So, for all my "track people" out there you know that means we just hit "bell lap." I've got 6 more weeks to give my absolute all as a full time missionary and I'm going to do everything in my power to consecrate my all to the work of the Lord and to be an effective instrument in His hands! We'll get transfer news tonight, but hopefully I'll be staying here in Rioverde for my last transfer!

The mission is gonna be full of so much change over the next few weeks haha. A bunch of goats go home this week including my old comps Elder Hunter and Elder Dominguez. We also get a new mission president in like 2 weeks which is sad but exciting! It was awesome though, on Tuesday this last week, I got to run one more exchange with my dawg Elder Dominguez. It was so much fun to be with him for one last time in the field and see just how much we've grown since our time together in Industrias, at the beginning of my mission. We were in his area - in downtown San Luis and we definitely faced a lot more rejection in the "big city" hahaha, but we grinded through it and found some awesome people! Elder Dominguez has taught me a ton about hard work and fighting through adversity and has been such an amazing example to me during my mission! Super grateful I got to run it back with him one last time!

The rest of our week here in Rioverde was so awesome! We saw so much help from the Lord, for the first time in my mission we put different people on date for baptism every single day this past week! We've just been guided over and over again to those who are ready for the gospel message! Obviously it hasn't been easy and we still face lots of opposition, but it's been awesome to see the Lord continue to deliver on His promises!  Two of the people we have on date are Abi and Leticia. Leticia has some pretty big struggles with depression and other health challenges, but has made the effort to come to church 2 weeks in a row now! The light that enters into her eyes when she's at church is so special! Abi also came to church a couple weeks ago and while she has a tonnnn of questions it's so cool to see the Spirit perfectly guiding us in our lessons with her and she's super excited to get baptized! I think a lesson the Lord has tried to teach me over and over again on the mission is that as we really just try our best to do His will, keep the commandments, and be diligent, obedient, and act in faith, we can confidently trust He will constantly work miracles in our lives! Trust in that promise this week and I promise, you'll see the Lord deliver! Love y'all and have a great week!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Miel (syrup) had a spicy syrup today with waffles, lowkey was not bad at all haha

Invitation of the Month: GATHER ISRAEL!! I love that president Nelson has repeatedly talked about how we truly have been reserved to come to the earth during these last days to gather Israel! What can you do this week to fulfill with that responsibility and privilege?

**My Dawg Jose Juan**

**Just your normal Shepard**

**Taquitos/ Waffle Pollo/ Been too long 👀**

#missionnotes #23 "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ"

 

"Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ"

Alex mail 06-02-2025: "Redemption is Real"

 

Heyo, happy Monday! Hope everyone is having a great start to June and loving summer vacation! It's funny haha, just as it starts getting hot back home this last week here was actually a little bit cooler and we had some rain and clouds almost every day which was nice! Definitely made the work a little easier not sweating as bad this week haha! We were in the area all week and so we just grinded and saw a lot of success! We put like 4 more people on date for baptism, found a ton of awesome new people we're teaching, and have been growing our work with the members now that we've got a good feel around the area and know a good amount of the branch!

Today I want to focus on 3 people we worked with this week who were a big testament to me that redemption truly is real and possible through our Savior Jesus Christ!

First, my boy José Juan! If y’all remember he showed up to church out of nowhere, completely by himself 3 weeks ago. Ever since then he hasn't missed a Sunday and yesterday he made his first covenant with God by entering the waters of baptism! It was so cool to see how much faith he has shown throughout the last couple weeks in helping him prepare for baptism and the desires he has to truly change his life! He was so willing to act on every invitation we gave him and trusted that every commandment the Lord has given us truly is for our benefit! He was so happy and excited at his baptism.  In his testimony after, he shared how he just felt like so much light, hope, and joy has entered into his life because of Jesus Christ and the blessing of being able to make covenants with our Heavenly Father! God truly is a God of miracles!

Secondly, our new friend Damian. On Tuesday we were sitting at a table in a park teaching José Juan via video call, and right as we were about to leave, this guy came up to us and said "hermanos, I need help." We sat with him and he started to share with us all of the trials that he's faced in the last year.  He shared that he had made a lot of bad decisions which led to him losing his work, his home, his family, which in turn led him to turn to alcohol. While he was sharing all of the trials and difficulties he's faced, I was filled with so much love for him. I didn't see him as a dunk guy who's thrown his life away by his dumb mistakes, but I truly was blessed to see him as a son of God who is so loved by his Heavenly Father.

We were able to testify to him of the power of Christ's atoning sacrifice to bring us hope, joy, and redemption no matter how far we've gone off the path. We were also to share with him the blessing it is to have the Book of Mormon, and the power found within that book. We read the story of Alma the younger with him and as tears filled his eyes he expressed how he felt exactly like him. He was able to come to church on Sunday and the joy on his face is the reason I love being a missionary so much. I testify that no matter how far we've fallen off the path or however many times we've messed up, Christ is waiting with loving, open arms to joyfully receive and redeem us!

The last person I want to talk about is our friend Salvador. We met Salvador almost a month ago when we first got here to Rioverde but ever since then we haven't been able to really meet with him and teach him. For some reason we felt like we needed to keep trying and on Saturday we were finally able to meet with him. After a bit he started opening up and sharing with us his life story and man, has he been through it. He's a cop, which here in Mexico is a pretty brutal job, and about a month ago his wife was killed in a car accident. The worst part is he was the one who was called to go to the scene of the crash.

While enduring some of the most difficult pain I think anyone could experience, he turned to God and pleaded for help.  4 days after his wife's death, we knocked on his door.  It was incredible to see it all connect and why the Lord needed us to keep going back there and we were able to testify of the joy and hope available through The Plan of Redemption and salvation through Christ!  Salvador accepted a date to be baptized on June 28^th.  Please keep him in your prayers, so that he can keep progressing towards that eternal joy that is awaiting him! I testify that Jesus Christ lives, that He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that the fullness of joy and hope He brings us is the greatest gift we could ever receive!

Love you all and have a fantastic week!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Garrafon (Water Jugs) we had to like fill half the font for the baptism with Jugs of water ‘cuz the building ran out of water💀😭 we survived though haha.

Invitation of the Month: GATHER ISRAEL!! With it being summer that means there's more time to share the gospel! This month I want to invite you all to make a bigger effort to gather Israel, whether through temple work, service, or sharing the gospel through small and simple ways!

**Jose Juan's Baptism!**

**Garrafon time / Elder Dougal**

**Maxitortas/ Mi Goodrich**

**Zona San Luis / Distritoooo**

**Temple ya casi 👀/ Rioverde sky**

Alex mail 05-26-2025: "Hasta Vernos Con El Rey"

Que ondaaa how was the week? Crazy it's already the end of May I can't believe I've only got 2 months left but I think I'm working harder than I ever have before in the mission! You already know we're leaving it all on the track and sprinting through that finish line haha! We had a ton happen this week it's crazy to think all of it went down in the last 7 days haha but it's been great being so busy and having so much work!

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference down in San Luis and it was soooo good! It was full of some lasts haha, last Conference with President and Hermana Webb, last interview with them, and last time seeing my boy Elder Hunter (while in the mission haha.) But the Spirit was so strong as I was able to reflect on how amazing the last 2 years with these amazing people has been. I could write an essay about all that I've learned from President and Hermana Webb, but I think what has always stood out to me the most is just their pure, Christlike love for everyone they meet. They truly have become like my second parents haha, and since the moment I've arrived until now in the mission, they've just showed me and every single missionary so much love and support! Both of their messages were focused on how we continue to be disciples of Christ our entire lives and how we can constantly expect miracles throughout our lives as we strive to follow the Savior! Then, in my final interview it was so special to be able to get their advice on the next big life decisions and just feel so much joy in reflecting on all I've learned and experienced as a missionary. To finish it off, we surprised them by singing "God Be With You, ‘Till We Meet Again" and I don't think there was a dry-eye in the room haha.  Definitely a Conference I'll never forget!

Also, in Zone Conference, the APs talked a lot about the importance of consecrating our entire lives to the Lord and His work during our short time as missionaries. It’s wild to think it passed that quick, but we finished up our 40 day fast in the mission is week, and so with those two things in mind, Elder Goodrich set out to make this week the most consecrated week of our missions and it brought so many miracles! We met some awesomeeee people and families, had 5 people show up to church on Sunday, and we were able to put a good amount of people on date for baptism! But even more miraculous than the outward results is the change that's taken place in me as a person and as a disciple of Christ! I've seen my nature truly change so much during these past 2 years and while I'm not perfect, I've truly come to find the joy of forgetting myself and serving God's children! I promise as you give your all to Him, He will make you something greater than you could ever imagine! Have an amazing week!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Cascadas de Tamasopo (Tamasopo Waterfalls) we went to visit this place today for P-day and it was soooo sick! Check out the pics below

Invitation of the Month: NOT MY WILL BUT THINE!! How have you consecrated yourself to the lord this past month? Take some time to reflect on how the Lord is changing your nature and recommit to keep consecrating yourself the rest of your lives!

**The Boulevard gang/ Noe from Boulevard/ Mi Grantham, Domingez and Nygren**

**Mi Hunter / Elder Goodrich / La capital del mundo**

**Presi and Hermana Webb// The Edgels 🥹**

**TAMASOPO**

**Fire French Toast**

**TAMASOPO**

Alex mail 05-19-2025: "19 Souls or Clamato"

 

What’s goodddd, happy Monday! Hope it's been another fantastic week for everyone! I don't think I've ever had a hotter week on the mission hahaha, but we absolutely grinding out here in the 105 degree heat! It's been a week full of miracles, Rioverde is booming!

We had intercambios with my boys Elder Dominguez and Elder Burke on Tuesday!  We did a blitz in our area - meaning all 4 of us were in our area and we grindedddd! It was so fun to run it back with my boy Elder Burke, I've been around him and Elder Dominguez for a ton of my mission, and it was so hype just to go out and grind with ‘em! Basically, where the title comes in is after our lunch with the members, Elder Burke turns to us and says "alright combined, we've gotta find 19 people who are ready for the gospel and teach ‘em before the day is over or we're all drinking Clamato." Clamato is basically tomato juice mixed with clam juice hahaha, so you already know we weren't aboutta suffer through that. The whole afternoon we worked as hard as we could, prayed a ton, and saw so many miracles! In the last hour of the day, we ended up finding like 7 super interested people and got our goal of 19! It definitely was the most amount I've ever found in one day and it was so cool to see God answer our prayers and lead us to those ready for His gospel! And, avoiding the Clamato was a nice bonus, hahaha.

We saw a ton of other miracles throughout the rest of the week! Our boy Jose Juan who showed up to church by himself last week is now on date for May 31st! He's so ready for the gospel haha, if he could he'd be down to get baptized tomorrow, he can't wait to get closer to God and make a covenant with Him! Keep him in the prayers that everything goes smoothly as he keeps preparing these next few weeks for his baptism! We also were able to meet so many people who have just been searching for truth! I don't think I've ever had an area where so many people ask US where the church is, and what time our services are, haha! Even with almost 22 months in the mission I still am so amazed at God's goodness and work He is carrying out here with his children in Mexico! Keep looking for His hand, praying for and being grateful for miracles, and keep trusting in His plan! Love you all and hope it's a fantastic week! 

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Jathsi (good morning in Maya) met a lady named this, this week haha. She was super nice and ya, her name means buenos días in maya

Invitation of the Month: NOT MY WILL BUT THINE!! It's been amazing to see my nature start to change this past month during our mission wide 40 day fast! What more can you give to the lord and a way to show your love and gratitude and trust in Him?

**Mi Goodrich / Mi Burke/ Sandia/ Pizza time**

**Mexican Roads**

**San Luis**

**Sandia/ "DON'T THROW TRASH"/ Clamato 😭*

**Sports night/ The Boyse pulled up**

Alex mail 05-12-2025: "Grind Time"

 

What's up everybody, how was the week? Hope it's been a great one! Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there! Thank you all for your amazing examples to your families, your constant support and service, and pure Christlike love! Big shoutout to the GOAT - my mom for all you've done to support me and cheer me on every step of the way in my life, especially during my time as a missionary!  I couldn't do it without her and am so grateful for her constant support and love!

This week was a great one, we absolutely grinded! Elder Goodrich is a contacting machineee haha.  Every time I'd go to turn to talk to someone he was already there, goin’ to work, he's a dawg haha. We found a ton of people that we're now teaching, which has been hype since we didn't have anything when we first got here! We're starting to get into the groove of things as we've gotten to know and work with more members, explored more parts of the area haha, and just done our best to share the good news of the gospel with everyone we meet! It's been so cool to see the Lord bless us with little and big miracles constantly.  I know He's constantly present in this work and His hand truly is guiding us every step of the way!

Two of the coolest miracles that we had were when we met and taught our friends Denise and Pedro! We met Denise on one of our first days here and we were finally able to go back to teach her last Friday! We went with our recent convert Victor, and he's such a dawg.  We talked a ton about the Plan of Salvation and how much of a blessing and gift it is to be able to make covenants with God while here on the earth! Victor shared something really special, he said how if someone had told him before his baptism that in a few weeks all his pain, suffering, loneliness, and sadness would all go away, he would've acted on the invitation to be baptized so much quicker. With tears in her eyes Denise then said how much she wants those blessings in her life, and we were able to put her on date to be baptized in the beginning of June!

A few days later we were able to meet with our friend Pedro! He actually was in teaching with missionaries 2 years ago but just lost contact. However, he reached out to us and told us how he's been searching for more peace and more guidance from God in his life! We were able to explain the blessings of living the gospel and then able to put him on date for the beginning of June as well! God truly is working miracles here in Rioverde, on Sunday we had 2 completely random people just come to church on their own seeking for God's help and to come closer to Him! I love being a missionary and I love that our loving Heavenly Father truly is a God of miracles! Have an amazing week!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: Tepache (fermented pineapple juice) don't worry we had the non-alcoholic kind haha, it actually wasn't half bad.

Invitation of the Month: NOT MY WILL BUT THINE!! We've been focusing a ton in the mission on what consecration to the Lord truly means and something that really stood out to me is the complete desire to give everything we have and are to the Lord and His work! That desire is completely motivated by our love for the Savior and for His Atonement and truly changes our natures! How can you be even more consecrated to Him this week?

**Zona Idahooooo!/ Rioverde**

**Train time/ Chinese Buffet**

**Dysney 💀😂/ Mango Tree**

**San Luis temple 😲/ Goated recent converts**

**Pastor torta/ Enchiladas de Rioverde/ Keep the commandments**

#missionnotes #22 - Dino-ites "I will go and do"

Dino-ites

"I will Go and Do"

 

Alex mail 05-05-2025: "WILD Week"

 

Como estamossssss happy Cinco de Mayo haha! They don't even celebrate it here in Mexico but hope y’all get some good Mexican food to celebrate for me! It's been an absolutely wild week haha, but it ended up being a great one!

So, to start off like I mentioned last week, I was originally assigned to open the new area of San Felipe last Monday. Well, on Tuesday while I was getting packed, I got another call from Pres. and he told me that since we didn't end up getting two brand new missionaries from Africa like he had planned on, we actually wouldn't be able to open up San Felipe after all, since we don't have enough missionaries in the mission😭.  But it's all good because my new area has been lit, Rioverde in San Luis!! It's crazy, at the start of my mission, I actually went to Rioverde on exchanges - back when I was in Industrias with Elder Dominguez and I loved it! Me and my comp Elder Goodrich are splitting the area, so we basically still are starting from scratch haha, but we're hyped to be here.  The members of the branch are hyped to have 4 missionaries for the first time in a long time! It's the hottest area of the mission during the hottest time of year💀😂 but we aboutta absolutely grind these next 6 weeks! I know this is exactly where the Lord needs me and my comp and that He's got so many people prepared to receive His gospel here in Rioverde!

Overall, the work has been good.  It's been a lot more different than normal since when we got there, we had absolutely no one in teaching haha, so we truly got to start from scratch which has been hype! All day we've just been going around, visiting all the members we can, praying a ton haha, and we've seen a ton of miracles! We found some really cool people within our first day here and we're excited about all the good that's on the way! We hit some trials with not having a working chip for our phone and no electricity in the church on Sunday haha, but we've just turned it all over to the Lord and it's been amazing to see His hand through it all! I think this past week has been a great lesson on humility for me and I'm grateful for these experiences that truly teach me how to rely more fully on the Lord! When trials come your way, smile, give thanks to God for the opportunity to grow, and just keep pressing forward! Hope y’all have an amazing week!

Love, Elder McDonald

Word of the Week: La Huasteca, doesn't really have a translation haha, but that's the name of the region in the south of San Luis where we're at, it's a lot more jungle and green - it's hype!

Invitation of the Month: NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE!! This month as we've been focusing on our 40-day fast in the mission, I want to invite you all to look for ways every day to completely and more fully submit your will to your Heavenly Father! I promise that through the desire to increase in humility, faith, and trust, He will bless you forever!

**Rioverde!!**

**Ciudad Fernandez / Elder Goodrich**

**Our Warehouse church/ Oxxito/ Pizza spending spree/ Fire aguas**

**Trio poderosisimo/ Mi Burke y Dominguez/ The Goats from Del Valle/ **

**Lety and Marileth/ Salvadore**