Kimber Mail 12-14-2015: "Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat! Ha,ha"

   This week there were lots of miracles and lots of smiles!! Way too many to just pick one. So I'll  summarize a highlight from each day:) 

   Tuesday (8th): institute with Brother Done was AMAZING! He asked us to ponder what the Savior means to us and write it down. To me the savior means happiness, light and life. He helps pick me up, dust me off and keep me going. He puts a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart knowing I am truly never alone. He is the best of friends and the greatest older brother ever!! He is a new start and a helping hand each and every day. Jesus is a dear, dear friend of mine. :)  I encourage you all to take the time to write down what Jesus Christ means to YOU! 

   Wednesday (9th): We had exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders (STLs) and I was with Sister Durfee (Bro. Done's niece! Ha,ha) she was so fun and we did a ton! We taught an awesome lesson with Merve about feeling the spirit and tied in Elder Bednar's patterns of the spirit (look them up - they are wonderful.) We spent several hours tracting apartment complexes as well as OYMing (open your mouth) on the street (basically just trying to talk to anyone and everyone one you see and share about Jesus, ha,ha). People..., that OYMing was hard!! BUT we did it and were able to have some awesome conversations with people of all sorts of religious backgrounds. It makes me so happy to share the message of Jesus Christ - all day every day!! 

   Thurs (10th): We had Christmas Zone Conference!! I loved it!! They showed us the mission Christmas video which was so fun to see people that I actually know. There was even a little video of me getting my picture taken when I first got here ha,ha,ha, sooo great.  ;)  Also some great messages were shared, here a few points I loved:

- Say "I love you" more and mean it! (President Price - Stake President)

- Make every day worth it, be joyful and "realize the calling isn't about me but is about Heavenly Father's children" ~ Elder Renlund (President Johnson) 

- Every time we follow in the steps of the Savior we replace doubt with truth and every time we take someone else figuratively by the hand and introduce them to Jesus Christ...we will feel his love for us! (Sister Johnson) 

   Friday (11th): After a rough day of 2 lessons cancelling we had the coolest dinner with the Banya family. They are from West Africa and have 2 little kids! Guys you know what that means....Sister McDonald was in Heaven!! :D Ha,ha,ha,! We tried legit African food and it was pretty good....Sister Banya started telling us what was inside and I was like no, no it's fine we can just be surprised...no spoiler alerts please! They had a friend that's not a member come over with her little boy and we got to all go around and share our favorite scriptures and the spirit was so strong! I love that the gospel is for EVERYONE, no matter where you're from or what kind of life you have, it is for you and me and all of us! 

   Saturday (12th): Happy 4 month click day to me! We taught a lesson, got to go see our branch mission leader's new baby, and had our dinner paid for by a sweet convert that's in our branch who gave his manager his card to pay for us when he saw us walk in! Plus I got ice cream so umm yeah it was a great day!

   Sunday (13th): So those of you that know me well know that I'm not a fan of singing. But being a missionary the Lord gives you LOTS of opportunities to do things you are not a "fan" of. We had our branch Christmas program. It was probably the coolest Christmas program I've ever seen and the spirit was SO strong!! A member of the bishopric did a reading of different talks and scriptures and in between each spot we had a musical number.  Since people were sick, the missionaries got to fill in and sing with the choir.  Wow it was a great experience and one I will never forget!! 

I love you all, have a wonderful week!  :) 

Love,

~Sister McDonald 

Ponderize:"they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matt 1:23 

Quote: "We are to reach out to our fellowman in love to invite, persuade, serve, and rescue" ~ Elder Rasband (Sun morning session) 

Month #4 complete... #missionnotes

Month #4 complete!  Congrats Sis. McDonald on to month #5!

Kimber Mail 12-07-15: "Cue the Christmas Spirit!"

   Great big hello to everyone!! Hope your weeks have been dandy and that the start of the Christmas season has brought peace and happiness to your hearts and homes. I know for me as things have started picking up speed and the hustle and bustle have arrived, one thing is for certain: the Spirit of Christmas (especially Christ) can be felt everywhere I go. I think even more so than normal because so many hearts are being softened, by even the toughest of toughies!! :P

   Sunday was probably my favorite day this week just because of all the miracles I was able to witness. So I'll mention a few..

   - First, the lady we are teaching, Merve, was excited to come to church and fast for an answer to her prayers. She came wearing her nice skirt and the first words out of her mouth were "Sisters! I'm going to try to sing the hymns today!" And as I heard her sing and get gradually louder with each verse my heart couldn't help but overflow with gratitude. To see people on their journey of progression is the coolest thing and I have come to gain so much love for these people!! 

   - Second, as missionaries we got to be in charge of making sure the nativity displays that were set up at the main chapel ran smoothly. It was a fantastic display with nativities from all around the world! It touched my heart to see people ranging from older couples to young families come and take a few minutes to remember the true reason we celebrate the season 

   - Third, we were able to watch a Christmas music thing at the church which included different people from different religions in the hand-bell choir and the middle-school choir and many others. As the whole congregation was closing the evening singing Angels We Have Heard on High I couldn't help but look around and feel an overwhelming sense of happiness that this season brings us all together regardless of faith, background or wherever we may be in the world. We are all praising the Lord and our hearts are full of love for Him!

   - Fourth, the First Presidency Christmas devotional was AMAZING!!! I always love watching it because it always puts you in the right spirit of Christmas. If you haven't had a chance to watch it you should!! The messages of spreading peace and gratitude and coming to the one true source of "light" were much needed to me personally! 

   My challenge to you all is to take time to slow down this Christmas season and show your love for our Savior by pausing to help and serve those around you just as the Savior would. I will be trying extra hard to go out of my way to do this right along side with you! :)  I received this sweet Christmas card from a dear sister in the ward back home and she said something that has really stuck with me: "Experience is greater than knowledge because it is something you feel and not necessarily know."  I know that as we "experience" the true spirit of Christmas by turning outward in service to others we will be blessed to come closer to our Lord, Savior, Brother and Friend Jesus Christ.  May we make this season the happiest one yet!!  :)

Much Love, 

~Sister McDonald.

Ponderize: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" Luke 2:14 

Quote: "The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is for all of us who will ask." (Elder Oaks, Saturday Afternoon)

Kimber Mail 11-30-15: "Whistling While we Work!!"

   Serving with smiles and whistling while we work, this week is a time I won't forget. Even though the work was slow with everyone leaving for the holiday, there were so many opportunities to serve and we met so many sweet people!! We got to spend a lot of time at St. Andrews church helping prepare the thanksgiving dinner for those who wouldn't normally have one and it was a blast! We went tracting several times rain, wind or shine and met some awesome gems. It's amazing the amount of love you can have for someone you have just barely met.  I know that is just a fraction of the kind of love the Lord feels for each one of us. We also have been so greatly blessed to have been fed by members some of which were just passing through on vacation but still took the time to take us to dinner. And I can't forget my awesome Branch president and his wife inviting us over on Thanksgiving for a yummy huge meal and great company. It was a fabulous week and I am so greatly blessed. How thankful I am to have the life I have to live!!

   Yesterday I was reading President Monson's talk from April 2009, "Be of Good Cheer", and it made me reflect on the cheer I had had this past week and gave me the great start to another wonderful week as a servant of the Lord. He said "though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love our Heavenly Father and our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.  There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us... Fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith!" No matter what kind of day or week or month we may be having; I know that as long as we keep being faithful and turn to the lord asking for the strength to overcome our weaknesses and accomplish his will, miracles will happen! Keep the faith. Chin up and know that you are loved. Have a wonderful week!! 

Love you all,

~Sister Kimber McDonald  

PS - the new Christmas video "A Savior is Born" is out!!! AHH it's so great guys! Check it out RIGHT. NOW. and share it!! Ready set GOOOOO -Christmas.Mormon.org  

Ponderize: D&C 61:36 "be of good cheer...for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you" 

Quote: "True disciples don't make excuses, they represent the Lord even when it's not 'convenient' " - Schwitzer (Sunday morning session)

 

3rd Month complete #missionnotes (re-post from 11-12-15)

Month #3 complete!  #missionnotes
(deleted in error & re-posted from 11-12-15)

Kimber Mail 11-23-15: "Cold weather but the Spirit is warming hearts!"

So winter is a knocking at our door! The winds are whooshing and yet we are still smiling doing the Lord's work! This has been a crazy week but a goodie! 

   So to start off we had transfers on Tuesday and I was so sad to see my "momma" Hansen leave but know she's going to be doing wonders in Ohio. (Yes oddly enough it's part of the mission haha!) My trainee and "daughter" (as we like to call it in mission lingo) is Sister Thorson. She's from Riverton, Utah and is really quiet but super legit and sweet!! She's got some good sass and "greenie fire" that's going to work miracles here in State College I just know it! She's the 4th out of 5 kids and has a twin brother serving in Kentucky!! She has a great testimony and I can't wait to see her grow. It's so weird that I was in her shoes just 3 months ago... Time is picking up speed. I've got some big shoes to fill as her trainer but I know the Lord's got my back!  :) 

   With Thanksgiving coming up in a few days, things I am grateful for have been constantly on my mind more than ever! Here are just a few things I'm grateful for:

• The random lady that brought me and Sister Thorson hot cocoa at forums because it was freezing cold and hot cocoa is the BOMB
• Gloria from Nigeria! After 20 doors of consistent rejection and doors being slammed and after a prayer to know where to go where someone would listen; this gem, Gloria answers and lets us in. We are able to share the Because He Lives video and the message of the restoration with her as well as leave her a Book of Mormon. #CantStopTestifying
• Sister Thorson's patience with me as I learn how to lead...ha,ha it's a work in progress
• The Savior and the message of His restored gospel that is the one sure rock and anchor in my life. I know that whatever kind of day I am having I can turn to my older brother, best friend, and savior and know that He is right there to pat me on the back, pick me up and say "come on Sister McDonald, we got this!!!" 
• Good food and money to buy food and members that feed us good food and ice cream that Bob from service gives us every week. Man I just love food!!!!
• YOU: yes you reading this. Because believe it or not you have impacted me in some way along my journey. Whether that was helping me get out here, helping me learn out here or helping by keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. YOU ROCK! Thank you for helping me❤️

I hope you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving and notice all the miracles around you each and every day! Love always, 

~Sister McDonald 

Ponderize: D&C 6:36 "look unto me in every thought; doubt not fear not." 

Quote: "It'll all work out I'll be what you want me to be" - Sis Marriott (Sat morning session) 

Kimber Mail 11-16-15: "I Think I Can!!!"

So everyone the moment you've been waiting for...! Well several moments I should say...ha ha! First some highlights from this week: *Drum Roll Pleaseeee* 

 -I hit my 3rd Click Day on the 12th (WHOO 3 MONTHS!) 

- I finished training: 12 weeks of learning, success and rough times make for a great start to the mission 

- Sister Hansen and I found an ACTUAL outhouse #WelcomeToPA 

- This weather has been so bipolar freezing cold and pouring rain one day to bright, warm and sunny the next. 

- While tracting we got to share the awesome "Because He Lives" video and testify to (probably about a hundred) people on the doorstep that Christ loves them - Even to the man that yelled from his balcony at us ha,ha good times! 

- We got to see a special preview of the new Christmas video: "A Savior is Born" (comes out the 29th of this month) IT WAS AWESOME! #MissionaryPerks you all got to check it out when it comes out. It'll change your life! 39 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS! 

LASTLY - TRANSFER CALLS: So I kinda got the feeling that I would be staying because a few weeks ago when we had interviews with President Johnson he asked if I was ready to take over the area (aka- be the senior comp and lead) and he laughed when I expressed how nervous I was but would do what the Lord needed...So Saturday morning while we are on our way to do service at our Branch President's house we get a call. From none other than PRESIDENT JOHNSON HIMSELF.. I was so confused because Sister Hansen said that normally transfer calls come at night right before bed. But didn't dwell on it until she handed the phone to me. President asked if I knew why he was calling and I said "well it is transfer day so..." He said I was exactly right and he was calling to tell me that Sister Hansen will be leaving and he was going to tell me who my new companion is. He said I was a very special case however...OH NO. Those words are never good. HA,HA! He said that he knew my companions name but hasn't met her yet. Alright everyone take a pause in the story. SO this transfer there are 3 new missionaries coming out. 2 Elders and 1 sister. 3!!! Quite a huge difference to the almost 30 that came out with me. Well if you haven't guessed by now - I am the ONE lucky sister in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Mission that gets to TRAIN this new sister coming out. Her name is Sister Thorson and she looks cute from her picture! So we will see :) State College I will be here for another 3 months ha,ha! 

I feel so crazy overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, excited, worried, and reallyyyyy inadequate. Out of all these well trained sisters in this mission - President and the Lord want ME to train this sister?! Oh boy..I hope I don't mess her up..But I know that if the Lord is going to ask me to do this then He's gotta give me the strength and help my weaknesses become strengths. So wish me luck!! I Love you all and appreciate the thoughts and prayers sent my way. They truly make a difference and hope you feel my prayers for you in return. Have a wonderful week all!

Love, 

~Sister Kimber McDonald 

Ponderize: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

Quote: "Be good in getting better! 'Why are you worried? I know you and I will provide!'  " - Clark (Sun Afternoon session)