5/15/2017

5/15/2017

My oh my what an unbelievable week here in the great state of

Tennessee!!! But forget all that.

Lori Marie Wade Macdonald. What a rockstar of a mother I have. There

is no greater love  than that of a mother for her child, and a child

for his mother. Just a little background on my momma she is blonde

haired, blue eyed with a personality that is indescribable by human

words. She is an adventurer and a dare devil. She sets goals and

achieves them. She is determined by all her nature to love and nurture

her family and friends. She is the best woman I know. She has played a

role in shaping me in whom I have become today. She has never left my

side, even after not living at home for two years. She loves life, and

life loves her. Happy Mother´s Day Momma and also HAPPY 49th Birthday

this week on the 18th!!! Spoil her familia!!!!

Lunes. We went on a gorgeous hike in the Cedars of Lebanon State Park

as a District. Tennessee is such a beautiful place to be in my

goodness. Green trees, green fields, and all the South you can ask

for!

Martes. We taught Perla Chavarria today with one of members and we set

her o a baptismal date of June 10! What had been happening with her is

every time we went in it was hard to have a focused lesson because she

was half talking care of her kids as well, but we established our

purpose with boldness but not overbearing, and she accepted to begin

preparing!

Miércoles. My companion and I traveled to Knoxville today and we had a

lot of crazy experiences. The main thing throughout the day was we

stopped at the Mission Home and I had the opportunity to say goodby

for quite some time to one of my favorite companions Elder Reyes!! He

served his time and is heading back to

Phoenix! Ate a the mission home with all of them and got to talk to

my main man Presidente Griffin. He leaves at the beginning of July.

Jueves. There's this area of town which we also end of traveling to a

few times throughout the week, but there was this one street that we

never hit. We felt impressed to go talk to everyone of that street ad

we met Ortensia Martinez, a 13 year old who wanted to learn more about

Christ. And she knew very very little. So we sat Down with her and

taught about faith, repentance, and baptism and committed her to be

baptized on June 4! Just need family support and permission!

Viernes. Today we had another rainy day here in the South so we spent

the majority of it planning and putting in work for the area. Gorgeous

day to be outside. I'd say the best part of today was definitely

heading back to that same area as the day before. We taught the

neighbor of Ortensia named Daisy from San Diego so we definitely hit

it off about that! We had an awesomely spiritual lesson teaching about

how there is a living prophet today! Ill update on that.

Sabado. Ohhhhh man happened to just run into my best friend and his

family here in Lebanon hahaha the Woodburns came in and my boy Keenan

and Morgan were there as well. We all had an awesome lunch at Cracker

Barrel (fine dining here in the South) and just had a fantastic time.

Love yall!!!

Domingo. Do I even need to say the highlight of my week!! Facetimed

the family and got to see my brother Jake, Josh, and Alex for the

first time in months!! Momma and Pops always there supporting me. Saw

my new baby cousin SPENCER!! So cool. Shout out to my cousin Cade for

getting his mission call to ARGENTINA!!! My man. I had the firmest

testimony that family is the most important thing in this life. I love

my family with all my heart and I know for a fact that families like

this do not happen by accident. When we centralize ourselves in the

fundamentals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will have successful

(happy) families. Love yall. Stay golden familia!!!!!

Life is Good. Shaka

 

 

 

5/18/2017

Transfers came this week and Elder Hatch and I are staying in Lebanon

for another 6 weeks together!! Putting in work for this city though!

This is Elder Hatch's 4th transfer here so he knows the streets here

like the back on his hand. Shout out to my boy Elder Reyes who is

going home this Thursday back to the valley of the Sun!!! Ciao Pescao

baby!

Lunes: Happy Mayo! Last PDAY we went to a members house out in

Gordonsville which was some of the most beautiful back country I've

ever seen in Tennessee! Vacas, trocas, y campo! We also went to a

massive dam they had as well. The area is in danger of flooding due to

a leak in it. They had a goat farm in their house and they fed us the

best chicken Parmesan in the league.

Martes: Servicio alllllll day! We were helping some of our members get

a house ready for real estate agents to come and take pictures of to

put up for sale. We did all the outdoor landscaping which including

unloading 10 Tons of soil and mud hahaha my back is done. Elder Porter

and I went on a mini split today too! We met a lady who used to be a

member who had a drastic concern about temple work and didn't belief

in it. After some following of spiritual prompting she opened up to us

and said she'd like for the Elders to come back and start teaching

her.

Wednesday: there's this guy. Hermano Salazar. He's a legend. He used

to be our Branch President but now he's in the English Ward! He

finally came out on a split with us tonight and gave us some of the

most golden advice on how we can get the members more involved in our

missionary work. Basically he got me so hyped up it brought me back to

my football days haha

Thursday: D-Meeting this week went super well. We always go a bit

overtime because we all have a super fun time. I try to create a

relaxed, fun atmosphere while also bringing the Spirit into our

trainings. Our District only has two baptismal dates for the month of

June. Since I got here those numbers have fluctuated but this place

has taken a complete turn around. The missionaries here are excited to

work and are obedient. The success will be given on God's time not

ours:). My training this week was about the first thing people really

notice about a person, or the first thing people notice about us when

we knock their doors or stop them in the streets. I emphasized that

people radiate off what they see in your eyes (windows of the soul).

We need to make sure when we talk to these people that we see them

with the same amount of potential and love that our Heavenly Father

does which can be demonstrated by having hope (optimism, enthusiasm,

confidence, and patient perseverance)! We had a super fun Pamphlet

role play as well. Also had exchanges with Elder Urry. We had the time

of our lives. Every time I go on an exchange it rains. They had the

perfect day set up too and everything fell through. Still a really fun

day haha:)

Friday: ¡Cinco de Mayo! You already know our branch had a rage hard

party haha. Best night ever. Hispanics are crazy when the music comes

on hahaha. Previously though, we were driving and I had the prompting

to go see and old Referral the Sisters gave us as we were driving by

and we ended up meeting Efrain Luna whom we talked to for like an hour

or so. Take away for the chat with him is that is that we should

always act on those first promptings we receive.

Saturday: first time playing basketball in weeks. I sucked haha sorry

Jake. We helped some English members for most of our day doing some

service for them. By the way Dad I've learned to love yard work out

here!! It was this dude named Chad's Bday. He lives the life I want to

live. He showed us a video called "The Wanderlust King". Shows him

traveling all over the world. That'll be the day. We had a BBQ at

their place. Their fire pit is a giant dug-up tree foundation. So

dope! Esther and Raul were up late so we hung out with them and shared

a brief message and ate pupusas. Viva la Vida.

Sunday: we got flaked on and no one came to church, but all good. We

took part in a record for me of 5 priesthood blessings! They are a lot

of women in the ward who haven't been feeling great and also my

companion and I were insisted to sit down and receive blessings so

that we could perform miracles. Hermano Alduenda who is probably the

funniest guy I know, took part in all this as well and gave us the

blessings to be able to perform our priesthood duties haha. Guapos!

Another transfer down and another one to make some improvements. Elder

Hatch and I have figured out our game plan and we ready to shoot for

the stars ✨!! I'm enjoying my time here in Lebanon. It's a chill place

with good people and good food. What more can I ask for. This week

I've learned a lot about humility and how in order to be able to apply

the "enabling power" of The Atonement of Jesus Christ we need to

humble ourselves and recognize that who God wants us to be in someone

different that who we want to be sometimes.

Scripture of the Week: Ether 12:27 (God is the author of our

weaknesses, not Lucifer)

Elder Macdonald

 

 

 

5/01/2017

Hola Familia this week was a straight roller coaster for sure!! Big

news from this week is that we as a mission are finally going to be

able to attend a temple!!!! The closest ones are the Nashville,

Atlanta, and Columbia Temples!:)

Monday: PDAY we had a BBQ at the sisters apartment and played some

doubles in tennis! We got to extend our PDAY for an hour because we

had a morning appointment so that was definitely spent taking a nap

haha

Tuesday: Elder Hatch's birthday was today. To be honest we stayed up

last night watching some movies just to celebrate a bit haha.

Throughout the day we did a ton of service and went to a Mexican Ice

Cream shop for a little fiesta! The Sisters decorated our door again

and gave us a bunch of treats which was chill. Just another day on the

grind.

Wednesday: we got a little taste of heat today! So hot outside and in

the morning it felt good enough for long sleeves but as the day went

on it was roasting. Today was pretty sweet because we met a few really

solid people to teach, one named Carrie Ruiz who really wants to learn

more about Jesus Christ! She said this year she had finally figured

out why we celebrate Easter so that really has sparked her curiosity.

Thursday: we made a schedule switch today to where we wake up and do a

few of our studies and then we will leave the apartment around 10 and

come back for lunch and studies later. Staying in the apartment can

feel like a jail cell so that switch was needed haha. Spiritual

experiences today were slim but we did help this family build a

trampoline so that made my day haha. It's hilarious the things you can

do just by keeping your eyes open

Friday: Zone Conference day!!! We traveled to Cookeville in the Mali.

The trainings were all fantastic and extremely inspiring. I got called

up in front of the entire zone to do a "role play" to demonstrate how

we can use pamphlet to teach people. Intense though. President then

to,d us that Temples are now available to this mission. For those of

you who want to know, President Griffin is always on the prowl to rake

in new opportunities and resources for the missionaries! My jaw

dropped when the announcement came in!

Saturday: Back to back days in Cookeville! Stake service activity in

which we were all being dispersed to help out particular families in

the stake! I remember Elder Hatch and I rode in the bed of a pickup

heading out to this very remote trailer in the forest to help this guy

named Sam. The Drive was comparable to Hawaii, it is so beautiful here

in Tennessee right now!!!

Sunday: our main family we are working with, the Fines Family (Esther

y Raul) came to church today!:) they have told us that they eventually

want to be baptized! However they feel like they need to start making

habits of doing the little things first such as reading, praying, and

coming to church! Are Branch President invited them over for dinner

and we just had an enjoyable night together:) also gave a talk:)

Invitation from me today: when it comes to living the gospel of Jesus

Christ, don't just "endure to the end", but enjoy to the end. Life is

meant to be enjoyed and if we aren't enjoying it we can make the

changes in our life to do so through Christ! Love y'all:)

Elder Macdonald

Tennessee Knoxville Mission