Kimber Mail 5-09-2016: "Missionaries = Superheroes in disguise"

   Listening to the spirit. Swooping in, just in time. Greatest job in the world! Must've guessed it- being a missionary! 💁   I sure felt like being a superhero this week. Not tooting my own horn, trust me...  I'm far from "super."  But this week especially I've seen just how important listening to the Spirit is, to reach out and be the Lord's hands here in Pitt 3rd.  Better get ready for some "Super" daily highlights:
   Tuesday: After exchanges with the "beaver sisters" (I was with Sis. Bartlett who is like superwoman, seriously she's amazing and a pro teacher, navigator and just basically...#TheBomb) We may or may not have pranked the Zone Leaders to get them back for pranking us #TakeThatElders.  But cool experience guys- the outside door to the complex was locked and we prayed we would get in.  Next thing we know this drunk lady gets off the bus and lets us in HALLELUJAH the lord answers prayers  ;) 
   Wednesday: I got to team up with my very first super hero of a companion, Sister Campbell, from the "Greenie" MTC days!!  It was so fun to go on exchanges with her and see how much we have grown since day-one.  We still are pro teachers together and had so many great laughs.  We swooped in to this ally to tract and found this awesome gem, Woodrow who we were able to teach about the Plan of Salvation right on the spot.  BAM salvation to all! 💥
   Thursday: your favorite Pitt 3rd heroes were on suicide watch. Okay really. All joking aside I never thought I would have to deal with this, but as a missionary you deal with a lot of sketchy things and gotta swoop in and help like the Lord would.  So this lady we having been working with texted us cancelling our lesson for the night saying how she didn't want to meet, that she wasn't worth our time or anyone's and frankly said she didn't know how much time she would even have left. We rushed over to her house just in time. We sat and listened to her release all the anger and hurt and tried to get her to calm down and think about what she was doing. It was tough but it was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my mission so far.  Sister Taunima and I were very loving but very bold with her and testified and listened.  As I've been at this whole missionary thing for a decent amount of time I've learned that when the Spirit speaks you listen immediately.  As things started to escalate again the Spirit told me to open my mouth... So I did and asked her (we will change her name to Rose) "Rose, have you read your scriptures and done the challenge for today?" To which she responded "No. God doesn't love me.  It won't work." (Okay so to catch you all up a few lessons ago we had challenged "Rose" to do this 30 day challenge along with us - where for each day for 30 days you pray asking a specific question and open the scriptures randomly and keep reading until you find your answer.)  So back to the story- she said she hadn't done it because she didn't think it would work.  So the next thing I hear is "Rose I promise you it works. It will work. God loves you and has an answer for you right now. Let's kneel and pray and you ask God what question is in your heart right now and let's read.  I promise you will find it!"  I look at Sister Taun and she's smiling and nodding.  Woah- those words just came from my mouth.  Thats a big promise!  Definitely from the Spirit.  Nine months ago I would've hesitated to promise such a thing or be so bold but I know without any doubts the scriptures are God's words and he WILL answer. So we knelt in prayer each saying a silent prayer for a solid almost 5 minutes. She huffs and picks up the scriptures and reads out loud. I may never know what exactly struck her from the chapter or what her question was but I do know that she closed the book after the chapter ended and with gentle tears in her eyes said "I got my answer. It works. He sent you to me, and I got my answer."  AHHH! Isn't the Lord so great?!?!  I want you all to know He is there ready to answer.  Test it out for yourself.  He loves you and will always answer... in his time but it will come.  :)
   Friday: we went all the way out to no-mans-land, the furthest spot we cover and visited a less-active member, Sister Riggle.  We shared a mothers day message with her and it really touched her heart to see that her efforts weren't in vain.  She showed up to church on Sunday and was telling everyone we were "her girls" ha, ha, ha!
   Saturday: We did some good yard work and let me tell you the humidity in the summer is going to kill me.  Talk about sweaty gross.  Blehh! But service is always a partayyy! We also go to go to a catholic testimony meeting to hear our investigator Mario give his testimony.  That was a first. They had great food and were nice people it just kills me how close people are but how stinking stubborn and set in our ways we can be.  I came away feeling so much love for all those around me and encourage us all to be a little kinder and more open to those around us.
   Sunday: bet you all know what today's highlight was: MOTHERS DAY SKYPING!!! Ahh man I miss my family so much. It was so great to hear from them and see them. It seriously is the little things that we take for granted. Also shout-out to my fam for letting me ramble...#sorry but basically I love my family and am so grateful that if we keep working hard and progressing in the gospel together we can be together forever! How great is that?!?!
   Love love LOVE you all! Have a fabulous week!

💕Sister McD

Ponderize: " I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" 1 Ne 11:17

Quote: "Acting on that hope, reach out to Heavenly Father. God will extend His love toward you, and His work of rescue and transformation will begin." ~ Pres. Uchtdorf (April 2016)

Kimber Mail 05-02-2016: "It's a Good Life!"

   Hey everyone!! Hope you are all well and super pumped for MOTHERS DAY!

I know I am: Just a tad trunky to see my family....😆💕 Sunday needs to come faster.

Okay as I reflect on this week two major things stick out:

   1) I got to go on exchanges with Sister Kwasney, she's serving in the Pitt 4th area. Fun fact- she is my "daughter," Sister Thorson's MTC comp and is just as sassy and funny.  But Sister Thorson still gets the Gold medal there.  Fun fact #2- Pitt 4th is a walk area. Man it kicked me back to the State College days and boy do I miss it.  We had so much fun talking to everyone on the street, handing out Books of Mormon like birthday cake and testifying like it was nobody's business.  It was such a great exchange and really reminded me how AWESOME it is to be a missionary and testify boldly at every opportunity.

   2) Well near the end of the week I got some weird bug and was feeling pretty cruddy.  Sister Taun took good care of me and I was able to be reminded of the great power behind prayer and priesthood blessings.  Guys it WORKS! It really, really works. With lots of prayers, bathroom stops and an inspired blessing from my awesome ward mission leader I was able to carry out the work without missing a beat.  I truly know and testify that the Lord helps his servants when we are willing to work hard and diligently.  As I am coming up on my half way point it is INSANE to look back and see how far I've come and how blessed I have been. I thought I would be giving back to the Lord these 18 months ha, ha, ha... but have honestly learned that's not possible.  He just keeps giving and giving and loving and helping us to become even more awesome.  No complaints though! But really I am so grateful for all the love and support. I want you all to know, that I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ love us more than we could ever imagine. They love us regardless of how many times we mess up, make silly choices, or make good choices. That great love is always there! As a missionary it is the greatest to be able to feel just a portion of that love- and man is it amazing! I want to encourage you all to take the time to pray and ask to feel God's love for you this week as well as to feel it for those around you. I promise it'll make all the difference. I love you all! Talk to you Sunday fam.  :)

💕Sister McDonald

Ponderize: Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

Quote: "Remember that He is always welcoming us home." - Elder Gong (April 2016 conference)

Kimber Mail 4-25-2016: "One Heart at a Time"

   If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine... and seek that which is gone astray?"  This scripture in Matt 18:12 has really hit home once again this week as I've seen the blessings that come from going after the "one".  I broke my highlights into 3 categories so enjoy  :)

EXCHANGES

   Being an STL is super exhausting- I don't think I've ever had bags this big under my eyes before-YIKES!  Ha, ha, ha but I love getting to work with so many sisters :)  -Sister Thompson is serving in Washington, PA  but came here to Pitt 3rd where we had some great laughs and great opportunities to reach out to "the one." Recently we've felt inspired to reach out to an older active member of our ward and see her more often. When sister Thompson and I showed up to her house for lunch, we realized there's more going on behind the scenes which this sweet lady is dealing with and she really needed some uplifting and love. We were able to mop her floors which was a real feat considering she doesn't ever let anyone do service for her.  I loved being able to reach out and lighten her load.

   Sister Roberts is now serving in Wheeling, West Virginia.  And get this, her new companion is Sister Johnson, my mission "sister" (Sis. Hansen just trained her.)  But they both came here and the powerhouse was back together working miracles in Pitt 3rd! We had an awesome lesson with our recent convert, Mary Lou.  We watched a conference talk with her and after a few moments of silence she exclaimed with a smile "They really are called of God!" I love, love, LOVE seeing peoples' testimonies grow.  We also were able to go visit a less active member that we had gotten pretty close to but she hasn't let us come back since sister Roberts left.  We were able to testify to her about the peace that comes from living the gospel and remind her that she is so very loved. It seemed to be just what she needed to hear and now she is going to let sister Taunima and I back this week to see her.

SERVICE

   We were able to do TONS of service this week.  I really have gained a testimony that when we serve with a smile and reach out to those around us the Lord is able to work miracles!

   We were able to go help out a family in the ward, the Myers, with their spring cleaning.  One thing PA has taught me is to be a good listener #RamblesForDays  ;)  But really, it was awesome to hear Brother and Sister Myers' conversion stories.  I love that a majority of the members out here are converts and have great testimonies! It was a great reminder that every day we are either progressing or regressing on the conversion path.

   Sister Taun and I visited this awesome lady that hasn't been to church in ages.  Sister T had to use the bathroom so while she did so I was talking to this sweet old lady.  Come to find out she used to be in the Mormon tabernacle choir! And that she lost a daughter that was pretty tragic years back.  I felt like I should share the Hallelujah video with her and share how losing my cousin Chris was hard too but also testified that I know that Gods eternal plan of happiness is real and we WILL see them again.  She took a Book of Mormon for the first time in many, many years and I just felt the pure happiness from those above cheering her on. Leaving her house we felt prompted to knock on her next door neighbors door. Her neighbor Mario answered and we had a good hour long lesson with him!  He said right off that bat that he recognized us as disciples of Christ because we first asked if there was anything we could do to serve him just like Christ would have.  Miracles I'm tellin ya!

   On Saturday we had double service. We got to help out at a Conservatory parking cars, hiking and looking pretty! ;)   By the end we had so many people coming up wanting to talk about why we were sacrificing so much of our time we even had a great discussion with the head CEO.  So you never know what can come of service with a smile!

   Afterwards we went to see a less active and she let us do service for her too which once again no one has ever done for her. I LOVE IT!

INTERVIEWS

   Getting to see President and Sister Johnson is always my favorite. I am CONVINCED without a doubt they are the BEST Mission parents in the whole world.  I love them so  much!  They gave a great training about how we are all called to the specific mission we are, for a reason. I have really come to see this being out here the last almost 9 months. When I first got my call I was excited for a big change but was like alright Pittsburgh here I come... I guess!  Ha, ha, ha, but being out here I have met so many people that have left a mark and changed me. The Lord knew I needed to come here to serve with certain people, teach and relate to long lost friends and to be forever humbled and changed, as well as to be increasingly "thug-ified" and sassy!  ;)  I am so grateful I was called to serve here!

   I love being able to have time to talk one-on-one with President Johnson.  I look up to him so much and am so grateful to have such a Christ-like example, full of charity and humor to lead this mission.  It means a lot that he takes the time to know how I am personally doing.  Did I tell you that I love he and Sis. Johnson?!?!  They are the bomb!

   I'm grateful for the time I have to serve my Father in Heaven and be the Savior's hands here in Pittsburgh! It's the very best, hard, but the best. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.  :) Love you all and encourage you to go out of your way to serve more this week!

~Sister McDonald

Ponderize: Matt 18:12

Quotes: "a Lamanite- don't be one. It's as deep as 'Jesus wept' and 'My father dwelt in a tent'" ~ bro greenway "Walking tag: it's safe!" ~Conner Wilson

Kimber Mail 04-18-2016: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Staaaah! Miracles are not dat faaaah!"

   Man oh man there were some good laughs, spiritual moments, service and lots of miracles this week! I'll break it down day by day highlights for you this week- you ready?! Get set.....HERE WE GO!

   Tues (12): Today's miracle came from service to service to more service. We started off by helping at a food pantry, then went to pack our old Bishop's family as they get ready to move and then off to the Eichenmillers to help make cookies again.  At each place we offered service we were able to see why the Lord needed us there helping.

   There was someone in each service setting that needed our listening ear and needed to be reminded that they are loved! So moral of the story serve at every opportunity and don't be afraid to tell people you love them because it may just be what they are needing to hear.

   Wed 13: Today's miracle is ba-da-da-da: PATIENCE! We had 3 awesome lessons with members that haven't been actively coming to church. As we met with them  it was awesome to be reminded that the Lord is well aware of each of our situations. The beautiful thing about the gospel no matter how long you have been in the church, if you're a newbie or more experienced it always applies!! We need to continually be learning and being daily converted to Christ and his gospel!   :)

   Thurs 14: Miracles with a twist today! We tried to find this farm where we will be doing service this next week and man was it an adventure. Lessons learned...the elders are great but sometimes not the best with directions ha, ha, ha. So after many prayers-MIRACLE-we were able to find the spot! Never give up guys the answers always come.  We also had the coolest experience teaching our investigator Char. She wanted to read the testimonies at the beginning of the Book of Mormon.

   We asked her to read a paragraph. She struggles reading but it was so cool to see how something as little as her desire to be better at reading and helping her read made her day. We even started a scripture a day jar and she loves it!

   Fri 15: Today we had zone training about having the faith to find prepared people it was so inspired!! I'm not sure if I've been able to change anyone's lives here but I do know that many have left a mark on me and changed me! I love being a missionary. Don't get me wrong, it's TOUGH work- every day can be a struggle but I really have come to see that there is a miracle in every day if we just look for it. Big or small miracle none the less  :)

   Sat 16: Today we had the miracle of all miracles as I worked with the miracle worker herself: Sis. Beutler in Monogahela area. We had a lot of good people we were able to contact all because she was able to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. A few times we would get to the spot we were supposed to be and she would say "Sister I don't feel like we should be here" so we'd go to the next person and miracle of miracles they would just pull up or just be about to leave. But here's the major gem of gems: we were walking down a street to our car and there was this black family walking toward us.  So obviously, we just had to talk to them.  Come to find out they just moved into the "Mon-valley" and have been looking for a church their family can go to regularly.  So far they haven't liked the ones they've tried.  So we gave them the address of the church and the "down-low" about what to expect when they showed up the next day. We waved goodbye with a prayer in our hearts that they would actually come.

   Sun 17: Miracle from yesterday continued! So after church we had a stake fireside basically just a big fancy word for happiness in a nutshell. But it was just a big gathering of church people in the area that got together for a musical presentation letting the community know "why we believe". Which was so good!! President and Sister Johnson had to bail out before it started to go to the hospital come to find out President has kidney stones.  So keep them in your prayers.  But it went well and the Spirit was so strong!  :) Afterwards, a few people from the Monongahela ward came up to me and excitedly told me how the family we found came to church and will be coming again next week! Wahoo!!

   So the Lord is working miracles and there is something amazing in every day! I encourage you all to look for those miracles this week  :)!   Until next Monday...

Love always,

~Sister McDonald

Ponderize: Mosiah 8:18 "Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles"

Quote: "hold fast to the spiritual impressions we have had" ~ Elder Holland

Month #8 done & done... #missionnotes

Month #8 done!  #missionnotes

Kimber Mail 04-11-2016: "Sometimes I face plant..."

   I know you are all so anxious to hear the climax of my week as stated in my title...but you will have to wade through epic highlights first!  Gotta build up to the climax right?! Or you could take the slacker route and skip to the end. Kinda like a choose your own adventure story, featuring: yours truly!

   Once upon a time there was this sassy, sweet, super stellar sister missionary, Sister McDonald....

Ha, ha okay jokes I can't write in third person right now.. here's some bullet point highlights!!

   Who remembers sister Oliver from Wexford?! Well I got to go on exchanges with her again and she came out here to Pittsburgh this time. We spread lots of love let me tell you what. So much so that "heart attacks" (putting hearts with uplifting quotes on doors) and loving testimonies to those struggling in our ward were the highlights of service from our exchange:)

   This week we got a new investigator (someone that wants to learn more about our church)!!!! His name is Barry and he is the "barry" best! Ha, ha but really. It was such a powerful lesson and he has some solid questions that by listening to the spirit Sister Taunima and I were able to answer and testify to all his concerns and needs. I love that our Heavenly Father cares so much about us individually to send his gospel in it's fullness to the earth to be able to help us personally!! I know that we have a living prophet today that speaks what the Lord needs us all to hear and do so that we can stay anchored in this changing world. 

   Okay the weather this was wacko- rain, snow, sun, rain. Who even knows, you're random PA, but I love ya! This week as sister Taunima and I went tracting it was a cold wet day and in the dreary fog...a bear popped out of no where and attacked!!!   Ha, ha, ha, just kidding nothing too extreme tracting but quite the opposite. It's paying attention to the little thoughts and impressions the spirit gave to us is what always pays off. Every time. So listen to the spirit friends he never leads you astray, like ever!

   Major highlight of the week was a baptism!! The elders baptized the sweetest 12 year old, Jordan- that Elders Redd and Christensen had been teaching for a while. And what made it even more special was that "Jordan Sr." (Elder Redd) got to Skype in!! I love the spirit that accompanies baptisms and the pure joy from heaven that fills the room as one of God's children makes these life changing promises.

   Okay the moment you all have been waiting for- the event that ended this week in a bang (quite literally)! So Sister Taunima and I were talking to the Zone Leaders Saturday night about the upcoming zone activity this week. I dropped the Chapstick that I was attempting to put on my chapped lips and it rolled under my bed. Here's the deal, sisters apartments especially the carpet are not the cleanest. So depressed about my gross Chapstick I quickly jump up and BOLTED (yes I ran faster than I have in a long time and if you know me well, that's a BIG DEAL) to the bathroom- to clean it off. Well I almost make it out of the room but that's where my companion comes into play here.  She's laying on the ground and I try to hop over her but she' decides to roll at the same time and I trip!  But much more than that...because running plus trip = a sliding face plant for the win.

No bueno folks. I'm normally a klutz but not this bad...ever...so gold medal for me!!  So now my knees love me and have great goose eggs on each knee and when I sat up my lips and chin were so swollen I couldn't  feel them. Currently my jaw is still a little sore but the lesson learned from all of this is running truly is the nemesis here.  Definitely a no go! Aka- to keep the world safe, don't run!  ;)

   Ha, ha, ha, but really guys the ultimate lesson learned this week: no matter what kind of day you have, if you fall on your face physically or emotionally, remember that Jesus is a friend of yours and if you let him he will help make any day brighter. I love you all!  Have a fabulous, face-plant free week!

Love,

~Sister McDonald

Ponderize: "will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" 3 Nephi 9:13

Quote: "Challenges show the Lord's trust in you"~ D Todd Christofferson

Kimber Mail 04-04-2016: "Just Like Christmas!"

   This week i got my new companion, Sister Taunima! She's been out almost 11 months (she came out with sister Hansen!!) and is from AZ. She's really funny and has a super awesome drive to work hard and pick this area up- which I'm super grateful for. Change is hard and it'll take some time to find our groove but hey, it's cool. So this week we just got Sister Taunima to know the area, ward and investigators. I just want to share a few legit highlights:  

   The longer I "missionary", I feel like I learn to be even more bold and even more loving with people.  It reminds me of something a good homie, Austin Ralphs, told me while on his mission: "never never never be afraid to invite people to come to Christ!" As I've come to understand just how important that invitation is, I know that we shouldn't be afraid we need to JUST LISTEN and the Spirit will tell us what to say and when to say it. This week we had 2 people we taught that understood the importance of our visits and the baptismal invite and agreed that if they came to know the truth of what we teach that they would be baptized. 

   I realized that I would be serving the Lord for 18 months coming out here but I didn't understand that that would mean doing exactly what pushes me out of my comfort zone (training, leading, taking over areas) and as President Johnson says "staying on the steep end of the learning curve!!" This week I felt once again the great reminder that if we are patient and trust the Lord things will always work out! Take a deep breath and keep moving forward!  :)

   Conference was amazing! It's pretty much the equivalent to Christmas for us missionaries. I always walk away with much more for myself than I would've expected! I half expected Christ to just appear and be the last speaker! Ha,ha,ha!! I just can't wait for Christ to come :)  Anyways in the meantime we got work to do! Here's a few of my favorite quotes:

   "The more we act like Christ, the more direction and revelation we get"~Sis Marriott (women's session)

   " The Lord is in the details, he won't leave us helpless....He will make much more out of our lives than we could do by ourselves" ~Elder Stevenson (Sat Morning)

   "No one goes his way alone, reach out and lift one another as leaders"~ Elder Rasband (Sat Afternoon) 

   "Choose the 'harder' right, rather than the 'easier' wrong"~ President Monson (Sun Morning)

   "There is a cure! Nothing is beyond God's power"~ Elder Johnson (Sun Afternoon) (President Johnson's Bro!)

   "You're doing your best...keep going...don't give up! Remember we have tomorrow!" ~ Elder Holland (Sun Afternoon) 

~Sister McDonald <3 

Ponderize: "And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon" ~Alma 13:25