Kimber mail 7-25-2016: "Food Poisoning. Heat Exhaustion. Fulfilled goals- oh my! :O "

   Story of my lifeeeeee! Well as you can probably guess it was a crazy week but we survived and looking back it was pretty good! Don't worry we are totally back up-to-par now and we finished the week strong! Get ready for some laughs. Here are some memories from the week:

   Tuesday: we tried to heart-attack (where you put hearts all over the door) this family in our ward before our dinner with the Greenways.  But here's the thing, the mom and her kids were looking out the window and walked outside right as we were about to sneak up. #Fail ha, ha. Well then we decide to go the other way around the house. Then we decide to run.  Like full sprint past the window and just put the hearts on the garage and then jumping over the dividing hill in between the houses.  Ha, ha, ha, I'm pretty sure anyone that saw had a good laugh!  On the plus side I didn't biff it :P  We were so out of breath when we got to dinner. But a highlight was Elder Nelson, our Zone Leader (I served with him back in State College) was on exchanges and was with Elder Loreto and it was fun to catch up and have some good laughs with everyone!

   Wednesday: You know you've been comps 3 transfers and your unity is on point when: before we head to district meeting, Sister Taun. says 'Just a heads up I'm fasting so you can help me avoid the food after District Meeting' and I'm like 'legit?? I'm fasting too' ha, ha, ha, ha😂 comp unity!

   Thursday: we got food poisoning from our lunch.  :/  No Bueno! to say the least. So Sister Taunima and I had more unity as we took turns in the closest bathroom wherever we were. It wasn't until the 100th time I head "Sister McDonald, where's your comp?" That I got tired of responding "the bathroom..." That we decided to go home and try to plan. Ha, ha, quite the day!

   Friday: We finally got to see the Glunts! (Referral couple from Elder Gibbons & P.J.) Woot woot🎉😎  We had the Clouds come out to their lesson with us and it was really powerful. They have been having some family health struggles and teaching them the Plan of Salvation was really good! We tried to extend them a baptismal date and they said they aren't quite ready for that and need to think and pray about it.  Which is awesome!  Wish more people were like that. So keep the Glunt family in your prayers! J  Then we did some service and got heat-stroke.  But after resting a bit taught some lessons that night!

   Saturday: went to Sis Badali's funeral.  It was sweet and it just made me so grateful once again to know the restored truth of the Gospel and know that death has no sting!  We can and will be with those we love again.  J  Then we did service, service and more service!

   Sunday we were deciding what to do because, surprise, plans fell through! I really wanted to reach the goal we set to visit and teach at least 7 less active members this week. We were one short. Then we get this text from my dear Sister Roberts and the Washington Sisters. They told us that they were going to meet with a less active member but she's actually in our area and would be expecting us at 3:30!  Do prayers get answered or what??  So we went and met with Sister Peck who's from Africa!  It was a powerful lesson about charity and helped me see that even though physically we struggled this week, we did our best to turn outward in charity and the Lord greatly blessed us.

   I just want you all to know that I am so grateful for the lessons the Lord has taught me here in Pennsylvania. I know that even the littlest of faith can be enough to pull us through whatever comes our way. With Christ anything and everything is possible! I know that Jesus Christ lives and that we too will live again! His love never changes for us and whenever we need him He is just a prayer away.  I am so grateful for loving heavenly and earthly parents who keep me going and constantly lift me up with their love. I am grateful for you, yes you, the one reading this. Because believe it or not you have changed my life in some way and helped me more than you realize.

   Know that I love you and am eternally grateful for your love and support! Have a fabulous week! Stay tuned for transfer news!

Love, Sister McDonald

Ponderize: "I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable… that Christ... may seal you his" ~ Mosiah 5:15

Commitment: "Heed the Savior's call to go to the rescue!"~ Elder Arnold

Kimber mail 7-18-2016: "And the Sisters Have it! 🌺"

   This week was a POWERHOUSE award goes to the sisters!! Sister Taunima and I were just patiently waiting for this.  On Friday, we were talking in weekly planning about what we did well and reflecting on the awesomeness of the week; Sister T. reminded me that last Monday I told her I felt like this week was going to be the best, and it totally was! I know a huge part of that was thanks to my mom! So shout-out to Mom for your inspiring email last week.  She shared how Brother and Sister Ralphs (in my 10-mile ward fam back home) gave talks in church last Sunday and a part she shared was just what I needed to hear: "We should replace “endure” with “perform.”  If we are performing and doing each day those things that will bring us closer to Christ, that is enduring."  SOOOO inspired.  So thanks Ralphs for being inspired and thanks Mom for sharing!  So I tried to do just that. We worked harder than ever and turned outward trying to even more fully do those things that brought us closer to Christ and helped us be that pure example of Him. Here's a snippet of just a few things we did each day this last week.

   Tuesday:  President and Sister Johnson came and we had interviews with P.J. while Sister Johnson taught us. Ahh man, I just love them both so much!  Sister Johnson's training was about how the refiner’s fire is to test and prove ourselves (fitting for the week and transfer he, he) and then in my interview with President, it was just what I needed.  I am convinced the Lord called him to be my Mission President for a reason.  He gave inspired comfort and guidance and man, I just love him and Sister J. so much!  I feel bad not every mission gets to have them. We are lucky ducks! 😜   After interviews we had an awesome lesson with Asia and Edie (Asia's sister.)  The Spirit was strong and at the end they remarked at the spirit they felt. Something I try to tell people when they are not interested in learning more is to listen to the missionaries they will come in contact with in the future, because the message will be the same but they will be in a different place in life.  Something the missionaries say then will help speak specifically to their situation. To my surprise that was exactly what Asia told us!  She said "girls, I've had the Elders over many years ago and your simple message of Christ is the same but it's different... I can relate more now." Bam! So cool!!  Then we had a powerful lesson with our investigator Char.  I've been here a long while and it's been cool to see as she is in her scriptures daily she is able to have the ultimate teacher, the Spirit,  teach her. This lesson was great and we were able to set her on date for baptism! It's a long journey for her but its times like these that I'm so grateful to be a missionary and be on this journey with these people.  Lastly, we were able to OYM (open our mouths) to this lady named Janet as we listened we were prompted to teach her about the Plan of Salvation and it was another powerful lesson!

   Wednesday: We had a great lesson with Mary Lou & Grant and talked about Joseph Smith and the truth of the restored gospel.  It's been so amazing to see how much their testimonies have grown since I first taught them.  Then we went to help a less-active member, Pat, clean and move her many boxes. The member we brought with us was prompted to leave her with a special spiritual thought and it just reminded me that members bring so much power as well. We were able to get 6 members out with us this week and I know this work isn't possible without members!  So I invite you all to go out as a team up with the missionaries because you never know whose life you could touch.  And guess what?!?  I got to exchange with my twinner Sister Roberts!!!  It was so good to be with her one last time before she "dies" (she's going home in 2 weeks 😭.)  We visited some members who really needed uplifting.  One in particular: Sister Badali.  The other sisters showed up too so all 5 of us stood around her bedside as she was on the fringe of life and sang children's songs to her. It was something I'll never forget.  Sister Badali passed away Saturday night.

   Thursday: Sister Roberts and I went and helped the Gingeriches weed their lawn in the heat and humidity having some good laughs! And once again the members left us inspired probably more than we did for them.  Brother Gingeriches gave us advice to "love each area we are in and make it home."  So inspired!!  I love the Pitt 3rd ward. They really are like family out here J

   Friday: We were able to serve and uplift some members that we felt prompted to help. We also taught a less-active member, Kristin and her daughter Emily.  We have really been able to serve them and get to know them better and she fed us dinner!  It's been cool to see them make the decision to come back to the fold and do what they need to do to endure!

   Saturday: All of our plans fell through but we realized that that meant that the Lord needed us to do something else.  We ended up going to Mamma Z's to help her paint. She was super stressed and had a ton to do and Sister Taunima and I strongly felt that she needed to feel some love and that we needed to just help her to the best of our ability. I love being able to remind people that they are loved.  As a missionary, I've gotten this super sweet gift to see people how the Lord sees them. And it is so amazing! Today there was an extra touch of that.

   Sunday: After dinner we were walking down the members stairs and Taun rolled an ankle. So we kind of had to change plans and decided to try a newly received record - for a Brother McNair that Bishop Snow told us about in ward council this morning.  Well Bro. McNair came out and talked with us for a good hour and told us that (long story short) after growing up in the Church and much questioning, he is now an agnostic.  The whole time Sister Taunima and I just had the firm impression to just listen to him.  At the end, he expressed how grateful he was that we respected what he had to say and listened because people don't normally do that. He told us that we are the first Sisters he's seen out here- he said that it's just different with us, he wouldn't have talked to the Elders that much.  It was a super powerful experience!

   I know that the Lord blessed us with so many different experiences to help us push ourselves to be better. I really learned this week that performing always pays off. The credit all goes to the Lord and I'm grateful for another week to be on his errand!

Love always, Sister McDonald

Ponderize: Jarom 1: 3 "much should be done among this people"

Commitment: "Help those around us remember their potential and worth to the Lord" ~ Elder Anderson

Kimber mail 7-11-16: "But first....💁🏼"

   Hey Hey Hey!  Life is just dandy here in P3, it's always an adventure! Ha, ha.  J   Well this week was all over the board - crazinesssss!  But it was cool because we had some awesome "first experiences."  I'll give you a little run down of the week so you can see what I mean:

   Monday (4th): After P-day we had a dinner with the Elders in our Garage (so they would be allowed to eat with us 😜) in the pouring rain on our broken ironing board as a table.  We heard some fireworks but sadly didn't get to see any.  I was super bummed but hey there's always next year!!

   Tuesday (5th): We had 2 "light bulb" lessons (as I like to call them).  We visited Jen and Kompheak, who are both members but are going through some tough things right now.  I've come to learn that every day is our own personal conversion battle and we have to decide if we are going to let the Lord help us overcome our weaknesses or if we are going to keep going in circles.  As I said, both of these lessons happened to be like the light bulb finally turned on for them!  And what a cool first experience that was. I was reminded with this experience, that sometimes we are quick to just say what we think would be best but I know that when we listen and say what the spirit tells us to that the end result is far better than trying to do it on our own!

   Wednesday (6th): Well today was my first funeral of my mission.  Brother Wittkopp in our ward recently passed away.  We didn't get the chance to personally know him before he passed but we have become pretty close with his daughter Sherry, and wanted to do all we could to support and uplift her in a time like this!  So we showed up to the funeral home last night trying to figure out what we will do right?  So Sherry asks us if we could sing a song.....ugh no no no the struggles.   So we tell her we will.   Okay well flash back to today and so we sing  "Abide With Me."  Sweet sister wheeler played the piano for us and told us that we would do great and if anything just focus on letting our testimonies of what we would sing shine through.  Ha, ha I was like okay whatever that means...so we sang and bam I realized what she meant! It was super powerful because we just were able to try our best and sing what we know in our hearts J  #OneAndOnlyTime

   Thursday (7th): We had a party at Zone Training in Oakland all day #PartyingItUpInPitt. The Zone Leaders gave a training on the "How To Begin Teaching" section in chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel.  I love this section! It's full of awesome powerful points for us to use when we first come in contact with people so that they understand our purpose.  When Sister Hansen was training me we memorized all the points and I did the same thing with Sister Thorson when I was training her.  This really helped to have them fresh in my mind and the training was awesome because it reminded me to be better at looking over them!  At the end all of the Zone sang happy birthday to me and pulled out cupcakes...  that was a first! It was really sweet!!

   Friday (8th): What better way to celebrate your birthday than with lots of service?!  My first experience of a birthday on the mish! Ha, ha!   It was an awesome way to start off the day for sure.  I was on exchanges with a brand new sister, Sister Belnap, who is currently serving in Monogahela.  We went and helped some people in the ward move in and unpack and then went over to our Ward Mission Leader's house and pulled the majority of the jungle growing out of their drive-way for a little surprise when they got home that night from their vacay in Cali!  Then we exchanged back and had dinner with Sister Ramsell and she made DELISH roast and mashed potatoes and guys I had like half the bowl of potatoes. I really miss good mashed potatoes!  Then she brought out this huge cake and afterwards we went to the Ritzes for even more cake.  Wow, was I spoiled or what?! Ha, ha, ha!  Then when we got home I got to talk to my mission "mom" and "daughter" and Sister Roberts!!  It was the cherry on top!  Then Sister Taunima had a scavenger hunt for me to do before bed.  So epic!  It was a fabulous day- thank you to all who sent birthday wishes, cards, presents and love my way! I love you all so much😁😄

   Saturday (9th): Since our week was kind of thrown off with exchanges and Zone Training we spent most of our day weekly planning. But we had a bomb lesson with a less active member we've been working with.  It was another first (hopefully of many) "lightbulb experience" for this sister as she realized she's got to take a leap of faith to get out of the rut she's in! Boo-Ya! I love when things click for people!

   Sunday (10th): We had dinner with our bishop's family and it was superb!  The food was great, we laughed and lot and were so spiritually fed. Before we left we sang Bishop Snow our rendition of "Our Bishop" (Children’s Song Book pg. 135- adding his name in). Ha, ha it was really good if I do say so myself 💁🏼 .  Basically I am just so grateful for Bishop Snow. He is an AMAZING, top notch, one of a kind bishop that has helped the work and the ward so much. I am lucky to be in the ward and be at his aid!

   I am so grateful for all the awesome "first experiences" and lessons I was able to learn this week and for the blessings I am able to see each and every day. I know that you all can have awesome "first experiences" of planting seeds and touching hearts wherever you may be by just living up to the light within you.  Like President McKay once said "Every member is a missionary!" I love you all and know that our Heavenly Father does too! I know that if we ask for opportunities to plant seeds and work miracles he will provide  J 

~Sister McDonald

Ponderize: D&C 58:3-4

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

Commitment: "Follow Christ daily and have the faith that he will help immediately" ~Elder Rasband

Month #11 Complete! #Missionnotes

Month #11 finished - Way to go!!  #Missionnotes

Kimber Mail 7-04-2016: "HAPPY 4th!!! 🎆🎉 "

   Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you all have a fun day and eat some watermelon and hot dogs and fries and oh man basically all the good food for me. Oh and see some bomb fireworks too cuz who doesn't love some fireworks?! I hope you also take a moment to reflect on what freedoms you are thankful for J

   I am so grateful to be able to live in a country that respects religious freedom because, let’s be real if it didn't, I wouldn't be in Pittsburgh right now. This morning in my personal study time I reflected on how the Lord really knows what he is doing and his timing is absolutely perfect. I have seen that especially out here on my mission. It's never what I want but it's what I need. I know that the Lord knew that Sister Hansen would be the perfect trainer for me to instill in me that obedience brings blessings and to embrace my inner sass  ;) . I know that out of every sister that could have trained Sister Thorson, he chose me (still not completely sure why...) ha, ha but I do know that she has helped me and has helped to pull me through the good and bad and push me to be more humble and pray for challenges HA! He knew that in order to learn the ropes quickly for being the Pitt 3rd STL and learn how to lose myself in the work while making the most of every day, I would need Sister Roberts! Man do I love these three so, so much. They are such perfect examples of Christ-like love and enduring through thick and thin.  Sister Taunima too! We have had a roller coaster of a time and I'm grateful for all that she has been so patient with me and helped me grow a lot. I am so grateful that I can testify to anyone I see of the beliefs and knowledge that have blessed my life and brought me happiness and peace! And hey this year's birthday already tops last year...we just be rollin’ along enjoying life this time (pun intended) J what better way to celebrate than declaring the joy of the gospel!

   Sorry not much new other than just a thankful email - but hey gotta throw those in every now and then! Love you so, so much all - and am grateful for your love and support! Have an awesome week!

💕Sister McDonald

Ponderize: 2 Ne 2:25 "men are, that they might have joy."

Commitment: "draw closer to Christ and Heavenly Father and constantly remember the sacrament throughout the week" ~ Elder Renlund