Kimber Mail 6-27-2016: "Working hard and holdin' turtles 🐢

Hiiiiiii!!

   This week was just peachy! We had some awesome lessons, some gems show up to church and some fun adventures along the way. This week had its ups and downs (‘tis missionary life) but I learned an important lesson. It's important to work hard and do your best but it's also just as important to take in the little things and really realize the tender mercies in every day.  This past transfer our exchange theme for our sisters was all about tender mercies and I guess it's just really caught up to me and had an impact.  It truly is the little things in life that make the world go 'round J I want to share just a few tender mercies I saw this week:
   Monday: family night at the Z's complete with bonding, not-brownies, dominion, scriptures and laughs to spare.  I was reminded to enjoy the time I have with the gems around me!
   Tuesday: After cleaning a hoarder’s house we didn't plan time in our schedule to go back home for lunch but thankfully a lady in our ward that was with us took us out to lunch!  #inspired!
   Wednesday: our "golden" less-active member that we are trying to reactivate brought us flowers because "missionaries don't get enough appreciation!" - Sister Stutsman all!!
   Thursday: We went out to the horse ranch: 1) Sister Foster came so we could save miles on our car and 2) we got to feed horses and walk with them! (‘cuz we can't ride ‘em L)  but hey it was the coolest service!!
   Friday: having charity for hard hearted people it's amazing to see how the Lord sees everyone J
   Saturday: the Reyes family!!! Okay this family was like the VIPs of the week.  They fed us twice because our ward is being poopers right now for some reason and isn't feeding us a ton. But don't worry mom, the Reyes made sure to give us lots of food! Ha, ha, ha I just love food.  😆
   Sunday: our plans fell-through so we were just out tracting in the heat and 1) we found a turtle by a little pond and we held him for a bit and 2) the Relief Society President, Sister Greenway, asked if we could go visit some members who are in the hospital with her.  We were about to go home for dinner but felt like we needed to go for some reason. So we went and saw a couple members.  The last member we went to see was the lady who took us out to lunch earlier in the week  (see Tuesday's tender mercy.)   Anyway, this sister was in a really bad car accident and they had to tear her car apart and she has a fractured pelvis and ribs. It was a tender moment as I was able to talk to her and tell her that I knew pretty well how she was feeling (ribs-wise) and what she was going through - as I went through a pretty bad accident myself, a year ago next week. She isn't one to go out of her way to tell people she's hurting.  But I know when she realized that I also understood, it helped her to open up and let the healing happen on the inside too. The spirit was so strong as she smiled and nodded with tears in her eyes and asked us to sing for her.   As we sang count your many blessings the spirit washed over me, reminding me that even though this week was tough beans, I have many blessings to be thankful for.
   I love you all and invite you to count your blessings and see the hand of the Lord every day!

~Sister McDonald

 

Ponderize: "Blessings are upon the head of the just" ~ Prov. 10:6

Committment: "establish qualities of 1)selflessness 2)humility 3)service" ~ Elder Snow

 

 

Kimber Mail 6-20-2016: "DonTon + Spirit to the rescue!"

   Hey howdy hey all! Hope your week was just peachy! Ours was pretty good, just living the dream and having powerful moments along the way.

Here's some pretty powerful moments in the mission life this week.

There were so many but here's just the top 4:

   POWER IN SONG: This week we met with a less active that had something pretty bad happen to her and we were able to just listen and remind her that she is loved and Heavenly Father is always there. Sister Taunima and I were prompted to sing hymns with her to help her calm down and feel our Heavenly Father's love. Okay...so I'm not the biggest fan of singing and am not best of singers. Even though that was something I didn't want to do, I sang anyways.  Something I've learned being on the Lord's time is to stop being selfish, go out of my comfort zone and do what he would do to bring comfort. And hey if the spirit is telling me to sing then we will sing. Anyways, we sang a few songs and honestly it was one of the more powerful lessons. Music does bring the spirit in full force and it was something I will never forget.

   POWER IN PRAYER: Something that I absolutely love about serving in P3 is that I've gained so much "family" here. We are well taken care of and have gained some lasting friendships. Earlier on in the week we had a powerful family bonding experience with one of our families and were able to share things heart to heart and listen and vent and kneel in prayer together. Ahh I love kneeling prayers they bring so much power and strength which was much needed. Coolest experience!

   POWER IN FOLLOWING PROMPTINGS: Saturday we were helping the Zebroski's take stuff to goodwill and pack for their move to Utah. Sister T, momma Z and I were all in the car about ready to leave their house when this cute little black lady walks up and momma Z jumps out to talk to her. I get the thought to share a Book of Mormon with the lady and I kind of brush the thought off because my bag was in the house and I didn't have any on me (prepared I know). But as soon as I push the thought aside my eye catches on a book of mormon on the side pocket of the passenger door (by sister Taun). BAM! BOOK OF MORMON! So I tell sister Taunima to open her door and ask the lady if she likes to read. She does and the lady replies enthusiastically that she does!

So we jump out of the car and had a lesson right there with her. It was really powerful thanks to following a little prompting. Good ol'

Velma accepted the Book of Mormon and waved goodbye excited to hear from us this next week.

   POWER IN MY CALLING: There's a lot of things I guess I didn't realize would be tough about a mission... For example, transfers and constantly leaving good friends! But tis life! So we got transfer boards saturday night and....I'm staying at least one more transfer here in Pitt 3rd with Sister Taunima! (So keep sending mail this

way😜) But I am just reminded that the Lord knows what he's doing and there's a reason I'm still supposed to be here. People need me and I need them! This morning I was reading a talk from an ensign (church

magazine) from 1988. A part from it really stuck out to me that I want to share: "The best missionaries are not the ones who have had the greatest number of baptisms, or who have given the most discussions, or who know the most doctrine; the best missionaries are those who, when they have finished their missions, feel as though the Lord could put his hand on their shoulders and say, ‘My daughter, you have done all that I have commanded you to do. I am pleased with your labors.’”

   I still have a while left of my mission but this just really reminded me. I have a purpose right where I am and as I do my best and rely on the Lord, that is enough. The same goes for you wherever you may be in your life!

   I love you all and want to remind you that your Heavenly Father loves you more than you know! If you need a reminder of that Keep trying.

Keep smiling. Keep on keeping on! Also remember that you are amazing!

 

Till next week! 💕Sister McDonald

 

Ponderize: "Behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth" ~ Alma 56:46

Commitment: See others how the Lord sees them/ pray for charity ~ Elder Duncan

Kimber Mail 6-13-2016: "You Want A Chocolate Bar?🍫"

Hey Yinz! Hope you all had a good week!

   Things over here in PA are warming up....yayy...have I told you how much I love humidity? We aren't the best of friends...but working on it. Ha Ha! It was kinda an average week but a good one, don't get me wrong! It's always a good week when you're serving the Lord!  :)

   This week I was reminded of the awesomeness of the invitation we as missionaries extend to people daily. The introduction to the Book of Mormon says it best: "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost."

   Throughout my mission thus far I've extended the invitation to read the Book of Mormon many multiple times to all sorts of different people.  Some choose to not open it and read and pray, while some do and deny the witness they receive and then some do and act on the truth they find.  Even just this week we met with someone that wouldn't even think about praying about it because they were already set to believe it wasn't true. We also met with a less-active member that actually texted us first saying that she knew she needed to fix her priorities and go back to the beginning to work on her testimony. She asked for a Book of Mormon and for us to come teach her. That was legit because that's the first time I've ever had a 'golden' less-active member like that!   Ha, ha, ha!

   Looking back over the times that I personally have taken on this challenge both before and during my mission; to read, ponder and pray and then to act, I've come to gain a powerful witness that God answers us when we are seeking truth every time. We just have to remember it's in His time. ;)  He loves us and doesn't want us to be lost or miss out on the greatest blessings of all eternity!! It's like asking someone who's sitting on the couch if they want a chocolate bar... of course the answer is yes! Then you tell them that it's waiting for them in the fridge and all they have to do is make the effort to get it.  Each path to that chocolate bar or "truth" may be different.  Some may have to climb down or up stairs, walk a long way or maybe some just have to walk a short distance but the point is no matter what there is a way to find and receive the truth.  It's as simple as reading and praying!

   When you put in that effort, if your heart is in the right place, you will always be rewarded and God will direct you. The beautiful thing about the gospel is that we keep on learning. Even if we have gained a witness of truth it doesn't hurt to pray again and strengthen that knowledge!

   So everyone you ready for a challenge? :) This week I want you to take on my friend Moroni's challenge, to read the Book of Mormon, ponder/think about if it truly does witness of Christ, pray to know if it's true and pay attention to the answer that will come. If you don't have a Book of Mormon feel free to go on mormon.org and order yourself a free (yes it's 100% free) paperback copy or you can go to your app store and download the Book of Mormon app. You don't have to read the whole book, you could read a chapter or a verse or however much suits your fancy. But I can promise you as a witness and servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ, he WILL answer your sincere prayers. I have come to know for myself that the Book of Mormon is a witness of Jesus Christ. It has brought me more happiness, peace and direction than anything else. It has gotten me through the toughest of days to know my Savior personally. I know He Lives. I know that the Book of Mormon along with the Bible testify of Christ and show us how to live our lives in such a way so that we can make it back home and one day and hear "well done thou good and faithful servant!"  May God bless you every day friends!

Love you :)

~ Sister McDonald

Ponderize: Matt 25:21 "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Commitment: Have meaningful prayers (be humble, follow the spirit, let the Lord change my heart) ~ Elder Stevenson

Month #10 complete! #missionnotes

Month #10 Complete!  #missionnotes

Kimber Mail 6-06-2016: "Music to Missionaries Ears!"

   AHHH GUYS. I can definitely testify that running water in the font is the purest, greatest music to missionaries ears! This past Saturday our investigator, Grant Eichenmiller, took the step to follow Christ and was baptized!! YAHOOOOO! It's been a long wait and it was a day I will never forget. Almost 10 months ago I entered the MTC feeling that I would baptize all of PA. 💁 HA. Little did I realize the Lord had other plans ;) I've come to realize that it doesn't  matter how many baptism we have. What matters, is that we are on the Lord's errand doing what HE needs of us in that moment. There's a lot of behind the scenes leading up to a baptism and I was blessed enough to see Grant through at this phase of his conversion but it doesn't end here!

   Grant and his wife, Mary Lou's, journey started almost 30 years ago when their son Eric first joined the Church. They had met with missionaries on and off over the years but with no real progress. Or so it seemed. The sisters before us tried one last time to get in contact with them and come to find out that they actually had read the Book of Mormon and knew it was true. Like WHAT?! They even wanted to be baptized to boot! So Mary Lou was baptized right before I got to Pitt 3rd but it has been the coolest thing to get to know them both so well! Even though they are literally diamonds in the rough and we didn't do much except for help them continue, it has been a journey of a lifetime that I am honored to be a part of. I loved teaching them every week and seeing both Grant and Mary Lou's testimonies grow, as well as my own. It made me smile to see Grant be so excited for his baptism. I've never seen him so happy!! The day of his baptism he brought his Bible and Book of Mormon and set them on the podium to get ready to give his testimony afterward. He was there like an hour early all ready to change and get the show on the road! Ha, ha, ha, ha it was so funny! His son Eric was able to baptize him and it was such a special experience. After he came up out of the water he had the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. He giggled a bit and looked around almost as if to say "what's else, what's next?!" Ha, ha, ha it was so good! I know that Saturday family on both side of the veil were cheering Grant on as he took his big first step to eternal life! I couldn't help but think how those first missionaries that tracted into Eric might be feeling today? You never know what may come of the seeds you plant! So if you feel like you're trying and not seeing real progress, don't lose hope. NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

   Yesterday, Grant received the gift of the Holy Ghost, to be with him constantly as he chooses the right. Once again he was so happy and was walking down the halls at church saying to everyone in sight: "it's official!!" Ha, ha, ha! Mary Lou kept hugging us and telling us thank you.  She was so happy as well.

   It's moments like these that make all the hurt, heartache and hard days worth it! I know for a fact that the Lord has people around us for us to lead to him. Patience is a real deal and it's not easy, but I know that as we are diligent the blessings will always pour in. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. Along with that is the wonderful blessing of the restored true priesthood power through which baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost, and other important eternal, sacred acts can be done properly! I encourage you all to look up Tad R. Callister's talk: Blueprints of Christ's Church and read/watch it! It's kind of long but it is SO good and so true! :) I love you all and am grateful for the daily thoughts and prayers. It means more than you'll ever know!

Love Love Love 💕 Sister McD

Ponderize: D&C 18:15-16 "15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!  16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"

Commitment: Really know I am a child of God! ~ Elder Hallstrom