Kimber Mail 9-28-15: "Smiles and laughter make the world go 'round!"

What's up all?! Hope you are all doing well, enjoying life to the fullest and smiling through the good and bad days!! This week I have seen so many blessings and the miracles from the hand of God each and every day and encourage you each to keep recognizing those and thank God for the blessings he has given you. It makes a difference! Ready for the synopsis of the week? Here we go:

Tuesday (22): I woke up and decided to climb out of the self pity hole of sadness I dug for myself and decided to trust God with ALL my being. I prayed that even though I am not perfect or know exactly what to do that I will just rely on the spirit and trust God will lead me to those ready to hear. And guess what?! A willing heart and smile to do what the spirit directs goes a long way. We were able to go tracting and meet SO many prepared souls and it was so awesome to just bear testimony and meet so many great people. A lot of them were super nice blackies and I just love them all so much!!! Ahhh!! Also Elder Scott who I've come to learn a lot about through my BYU-I class and loved deeply, passed away. I'm so happy he gets to be reunited with His wife. His funeral is today (the 28th) and we will be watching

that:)

Wednesday (23): more knocking doors in faith and more success. We met this awesome guy- Ricky from Jamaica and had almost an hour long discussion about the gospel with Him and help him see how much God loves him and how our church is different and it was SWEET!!!

Thursday (24): we had zone conference and Sis. Johnson (mission president's wife) talked about the story of Peter walking on water and how we are like that. We have to continually have our eyes fixed on Christ even when we start to freak out. It was when Peter took His eyes off Christ and noticed the bad that he started to sink. Also we were encouraged to invite our wards as well as ourselves to have a specific date to find someone by for the missionaries to teach. I'm excited to try this out I just know great things will happen!!

Friday(25): we were able to teach a black girl named Chantelle and we had a good discussion about the priesthood and prophets. It was awesome to testify boldly of the true gospel restored and that we do have a prophet today! :) also we went to a baptism for the other sisters (teng he's chinese- pronounced tongue) and sis Hansen and I were in charge of picking out the fake flowers for decoration. Sister Hansen goes "these are great they look Chinese don't ya think?!"

Hahaah! I love that sister!! She's so fantastic!

Saturday (26): we went to the Penn State football game! It was SO FUN!

Sister Busath also got transferred and now we have sis. Duncan who has like 4 months left but she's super sweet and from New Mexico!

Sun (27): we had a great sacrament meeting and after Bro Wilson (branch mission leader) comes running up to us and says I need you Sisters now! So we follow him not knowing what to expect and he introduces us to this awesome guy who just showed up to church and wants to meet with us to learn more

I'm so excited for conference and encourage you all to tune into the Saturday and Sunday sessions and think of questions before hand you need answers to I know you'll find the answers you need. Have a great week guys:)

~Sister McDonald 

Kimber Mail 9-21-15: "Bugs and Broken Hearts and Blessings, Oh My!"

Well not gonna lie, this week was TOUGH. It was ALL over the place! So much craziness happened I don't even know where to begin...I guess to start off - earlier this week Sister Hansen found a bunch of bites all over her legs one morning and kept finding more throughout the day. We kind of started freaking out that it was bed bugs so as you can imagine we didn't get a whole lot of sleep...bed bugs are a real deal out here folks!! NO JOKE. Takes "nighty night don't let the bed bugs bite" to a whole 'nother level!! But praying we don't have them turned out to be SO helpful so as of now we are golden and bed bug free. Lesson learned: The bugs here are just crazy... And prayer always works!! 

This week in our lessons, Kristy decided she doesn't want to meet with us anymore but she's prayed about the Book of Mormon and knows it's true. It broke my heart to see her get so close but give up when fear came. In 1st Nephi 11:17 Nephi is talking to an angel about what he sees and says "...I do not know the meaning of all things" and we need to know that's okay. We don't always have to know the meaning of all things but we have to keep walking forward in faith, the Lord NEVER leaves us alone. Another investigator, Emma, showed me an example of that great faith by praying at the end of our lesson to have patience in learning new things and having an open mind and heart to understand what God wants her to. Like who does that?! Whatta gem..:) I need to be better at accepting God's will and being patient in trying times. 

On Friday we had a big mission conference in Harrisburg. Elder Stanfill of the 70 came to talk to us and it was awesome! When I shook his hand he said "wow! You have such a beautiful happy countenance on your face! Keep smiling sister it makes me so happy to see your optimism!" So that lifted my spirits and made so happy, he's so sweet!! He talked about how we measure "success" on who we are becoming. He also talked about in 3 Nephi Chapter 11 (when Christ comes to the people) how we need to be like that. We need to testify and then invite to come and see for themselves and gain that relationship with Christ. The benefits of the Atonement can be extended to EVERYONE. If you think that you don't qualify, guess what?? You DO and it's already there for us we just have to reach out and accept those blessings. 

To all those struggling with whatever you may be, remember that God has a plan for you that even though it may be hard right now better times are coming. It's the hard times that shape us into who we are and I'm so grateful for those challenging times. No matter what - good times or bad - we should always be counting our blessings and staying close to the Lord through prayer. I know that Jesus Christ is there with loving outstretched arms, patiently waiting for us to come to him and help us bear our heavy loads. He wants us to build ourselves up, not tear us down. This week notice your good qualities, the good you are doing and as President Hinkley said, may we "try a little harder to be a little better" 

Love and prayers your way, 

~Sister McDonald 

Kimber Mail 9-14-15: "Blessings for dayzzz"

   Well this week has had it's ups and downs but i want to focus mostly on the positives and blessings this week. There have been so many times that I've been able to see the Lords hand in every single day it is the coolest!! So this email will be quick but powerful so hold on to your seats all and get ready for the blessings roller-coaster of a lifetime!

3...2....1....HERE WE GO!

   Tuesday (8th): my superhero of a mom got her tonsils out. I prayed long and hard and fasted for her all day. She is healing well and hopefully will be better in no time:) i also learned the importance of patience and love today. While talking to people on campus I had this "lovely" winner of a man  come up to me and pretend to be deaf and rude to me and even though part of me wanted to rip his headphones out and slap his face I just kept smiling and thought of Jesus standing before the people as they were shouting to crucify Him. Jesus was quiet and so was I. I told him to have a good day and that God loves him. And I know he really does.

   Wed (9th): “Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man” (D&C 84:85). Sis Hansen and I went tracting (knocking on doors). We came to this one apartment and the guy said he was too busy. So we walked home (which took 20 min in the humidity and sprinkling rain) and as soon as we got home he texted us and said "wait come back my roommate has questions for you!" We felt like we should go back. So we did and we prayed as we walked. We were nervous and didn't know what to expect but felt to just listen and let the spirit do it's thing. So we get there and he kinda starts to bash with us. But the cool thing was both sister Hansen and I didn't miss a beat! We had an answer or analogy or scripture to back what we said up. The spirit just kept putting words in our mouths and we stood firm and courageous but also made it into a friendship. By the end (an hr of talking to them) they were asking US for Books of Mormon and we had ran out so we said we would come back. Bearing testimony by the spirit was AWESOME!!

   Thursday (10th): we did service at St. Andrews for their community cafe for dinner and it was So fun!! There are so many great people around us we just have to meet them:) also we went back and gave Justin and Adam (guys we talked to night before) their Books of Mormon.

Friday (11th): so grateful for all those who sacrifice to keep our freedoms and rights. Yeah for 'Merica! We were able to teach Kristy (girl i met at forums) for the second time. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and I think it really touched her. I shared a personal story and it made us all tear up. It was so cool to see her follow through with her commitments and come to Christ little by little. Its the greatest!!

   Saturday (12th): my one month click day!!! Yippeee!! Sister Hansen and I went tracting a lot and called potential investigators. It was raining and game day so we didn't get a hold of a bunch of people but on the plus side we got to go to McDonald's and celebrate with McFlurries and fries! The other sisters also made me brownies! Mmm;)

Sunday(13th): we had dinner at this elderly couple (the William's') home. Their inactive daughter had a cool blue and gold macaw it was cool!! And they were so funny!! We saw lots of bunnies and deer in their yard as we were eating dinner. And the CES devo was great as expected! I love how Elder and Sister Clayton spoke about increasing our self worth and living up  to our eternal potential. I love the question Elder Clayton left us with: "what are we doing to beautify the gardens of our souls?"

   I want to encourage you all to ponder that question. How are you helping yourself be better each and every day? How are we increasing our self image? I know for me coming closer to Christ in my prayers and actions helps raise that self perspective and give me more happiness than anything else. I want to encourage you to watch this Because of Him video and if you have the opportunity to share it with someone who needs it to do just that!

HeLives.mormon.org

Love, 

~Sister McDonald

1st Month Complete! 9/12/15 #missionnotes

Fist Month Complete!  Congrats!

Kimber Mail 9-7-15: "Warning: Singing in the Rain May Cause Suffocation"

     Well everyone I hope you are all surviving and enjoying life!  It's so fun to get your emails and letters and keep up to date with many of you. I think and pray for you often! :) Also big thank you to my sweet family for my package of yummy snacks! LOVE YOU GUYS :D

      Don't worry I survived the Pennsylvania rain. Lesson learned: if you don't want to feel and look like you're going swimming, as soon as you see rain GET OUT OF IT. hahaha! Boy does that stuff come down. No time to sing in the rain! You can barely breathe in that monsoon. Geez Louise!! And I jinxed myself with the humidity. Oh how I love it soo much *said sarcastically*. But here in the east they have this place Rita's which has THE BEST shaved ice. Nothing compares. So yummy!

     This week was kind of a toughie. Trying to bring happiness back to the "happy valley" is no easy task but Jesus loves all the people here so just gotta keep doing my best to spread that. This week in institute we read in Revelations 12:11 about our fight against Satan in the pre-mortal life it says "and they [all of us here on earth] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the lamb, and BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONIES..." So we each individually fought to come to earth and stood against Satan with our testimonies. Each one of us has a love of Christ we once thought was strong enough to fight for. Do we still have that strength of testimony in Him? Do we show it? How can we better show it??

     Well this Saturday will be my "click day" or a month since I've been out in the mission field. On one hand it's felt like MUCH longer but at the same time it seems like days are flying by. Reflecting on my own testimony and sharing my love for Christ in the last month it's been hard...but I've never been happier and that is because I've never been closer to my savior than now!  I've seen many hearts already be softened and open to coming to Christ. It is amazing to stand as a witness of The Lord and open your mouth and watch as the words to say just seem to fall out. This week at forums (proselyting on campus) I met a sweet girl named Kristy. She and I talked for a bit and I invited her to read the Book of Mormon and she agreed to. We called her later in the week and she agreed to meet with us on Friday. We had a great lesson with her and it was great to see her learn of Christ for the first time and learn that He knows her and loves her. Sunday we fasted for her to come to church and for her desire to learn more grow and she showed up to church and said it was great!!! She seemed so happy and I know she felt the spirit.

  This week I've also seen so many turn away from Christ and have such hard hearts. I wish I could just help them let Him in but I can't.

Everyone has to personally let Christ in. In one of my favorite pictures by Greg Olsen, Christ is there at the door knocking but He can't just let himself in WE have to open the door to our hearts.

Having a sad heart I turned to the scriptures. I read in Luke 22 when Christ was suffering in the garden. In verse 44 it says "and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly". I prayed right after I read that and have never felt so much love and peace overcome me for so many people that I don't even know!! I knew then that many wont accept the message but many will who are ready. I just need to do my best and leave the rest to the Lord. We must be patient like Christ was (in the rest of the chapter) and know that this is all part of plan. We can be happy and do our best and when those bad days come we can lift up our heads and rejoice in the good.

     I just want to end with my testimony added to President Uchtdorf's in a talk he gave entitled "Fear Not God is With You" (strongly suggest to read it its amazing!): "I will face ridicule, hatred, humiliation and even more threats but I will NEVER deny my testimony of the living God!" I know that Jesus Christ is waiting there for us to let us in and he always will be. I know that he loves everyone, including you reading this, whether you feel worthy of that overwhelming love or not deal with it because we get it! What a blessing it is to know that He knows us personally and he is just a prayer away! May hope this week is that we will have more meaningful prayers and more meaningful relationships with Him.

Love always, 

~Sister McDonald

 

 

Kimber Mail 8-31-15: "I've got the greenie fire in me!!!"

Well everyone I made it to Pennsylvania!!! WAHOO!! This week has been crazy busy but super awesome! I love it over here!!! There are SO MANY TREES. Boise really has been beat on the city of trees thing. Also fireflies are the bomb!! Okay and to all my Ten Mile ward family - you think the ward is small? No.  Don't even complain!! My area now is a branch and are lucky to get 70 people there on a good day! So count your blessings all hahaha. But its great! I'm serving in the College Ward (Y.S.A.) here at Penn State. Um so so so many people! Its kind of overwhelming but it's awesome!! :)   Okay, now I will try to summarize this week by day because way to many things happened to pick just one thing.  So if you make it to the end of this email you are a trooper and get brownie points if not well then i guess "e" for effort! Haha but here we go:)

Sunday (23rd): for my last Sunday in the M.T.C. I played the piano for all the hymns in sacrament. "Why is this important Sis. McDonald," you may ask??  Well if you know me, you know that playing in front of or for people to sing along with is not my thing, but, gotta share those talents and it was GREAT!!

Mon (24th): after longggggg plane rides and sleep I made it to PA and got to talk to my family! Starting off the week great:)   I met my mission pres. Pres Johnson and his wife.  They are the SWEETEST and made me feel right at home.  I got to have an interview with Pres.

Johnson and he told me I am going to make a great missionary because of my constant smile and strong testimony of Christ. *hair flip* hahaha but just kidding.  Really though it was just what I needed to hear.

Tues (25th): we had transfers meeting with the billions of missionaries. Seriously missionaries galore!! I got put with my companion Sis. Hansen (from Utah). She is super quiet but really nice and kind.  I think we are going to get along just dandy. And she is super healthy even more than me....surprising i know huh? Haha but its golden.

Wed(26th): got to meet people from the branch. Like I said earlier its tiny!  But, its cool because the branch presidency is SO helpful with the member missionary work. It really does make a difference. I'm really seeing that.

Thurs (27th): I got the lovely pleasure of buying quarters for the bus and laundry. #itsthelittlethings. We also go to go to St. Andrew's church and help them prepare their huge community dinner they do every week. There are some sweet people there and it was a blast. I loved being in the kitchen and helping cook food. -- So cool experiences coming up alert!!!  Sisters Hansen, Smith, Busath and I were riding the bus and these Sisters are great but they are super quiet and don't talk to a lot of people. I'm like come on Sisters we gotta go out of our comfort zone! We're here to talk to people!! But I decided that while I'm here I'm going to talk to as many people as possible and smile A LOT.  So, I saw this man waiting to get on the bus and the spirit was basically like "Okay Sister McDonald this one's all you!"  And I felt trying to deny it... "Ehh...its fine someone else can talk to him." But the feeling kept coming. So finally, I said "FINE. If you let him sit across from me then I will!" And guess what....the man got on, he smiled and sat right across from me! Well no going back now.  He had headphones in but I knew I had to talk to him.  I smiled and said hello and to my astonishment he responded and took his headphones out.  I had a great conversation with him getting to know him.  I learned he was from Egypt and he was very open to talking.  I gave him a pass along card and talked about the church with him. It WAS AWESOMEEEEE.  So lesson - listen to the spirit ALWAYS.

Fri (28th):  We went to forrums. Which basically is just proselyting on campus. A very little specific spot of campus but its great. I took 4 Books of Mormon and about 70 pass along cards - the Because He Lives video link on the card. And I passed out about 60 of the cards and all of my Books of Mormon.  There are so many people ready to hear the gospel and it's awesome!  We have a lesson with a girl I met on this Friday- YAYYYY!!:)  we also got to go to Olive Garden with a sweet old couple in our stake and it was DELISHHH.

Sat (29): I got to see my first baptism in the field and it was awesome! The spirit was so strong!! Also with tracting we met some awesome people and I learned to have hope and not give up!!

Sun(30): I gave a short talk in church and met a lot of great members. I also got to teach my first investigator Sun. ("Soon"). He is so nice and his heart is ready to hear our message. He's our next baptism I know it!!

But to end with a quote from John E. Lewis "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" I want to invite each of you to look for opportunities to serve and smile and meet someone new this week. There are so many great people out there. We just have to look around and be willing to do what the spirit prompts!!!   Love you all  :)

~ Sister McDonald

 

Kimber Mail 8-23-15

Hi Everyone,

Sorry this letter will be short this week we just have a tiny bit of time to write because we leave Monday for Pittsburgh!!  So much has happened. It feels like it has been weeks but at the same time it's humbled me being here so much. The spirit being here is the coolest thing ever. One of my favorite things is being able to sing with hundreds of missionaries "Called to Serve" and feel that spirit and peace that we are all here doing what we need to be doing. I love this work so much and this gospel! This last week especially I've learned that each and every one of us can benefit from the gospel and there is a scripture with an answer for whatever you may be going through specifically right now. I want to encourage you all to spend some time thinking of a question you have to ask God, something you need help with or guidance on right now and open up those scriptures. Sit and really pay attention to what you are reading and ask "how does this apply to me?" I have found countless answers in the Bible and Book of Mormon this week and I know you can find those answers too! So pray and crack open those scriptures all! 

Also it is the coolest thing being able to get to know people especially the two investigators (Sydney and Catherine). Sydney reminds me so much of my grandmas - she is the cutest little old lady that loves history and the scriptures. I loved getting to know her and learn from her and connect with her (especially loved learning more about my McDonald clan in Scotland!) and Catherine is the sweetest girl ever. She is my age and is at B.Y.U. It was so cool to just talk to her like a long lost friend. Saying goodbye to them. It just makes me so excited to get out there and meet and connect and have those relationships with the people of Pittsburgh! What a difference a simple hello and a smile can make. 

I just want to end with my testimony that I know this Church is Christ's true church. I know that Joseph Smith obeyed all that God asked of him and that if we just obey we can be blessed beyond imagine. I know the Book of Mormon is true and contains truths that can relate to each of us no matter what we are going through. I know that no matter where we are at in our lives, God wants to hear from us and loves when we pray to him with all of our heart. I am so grateful for this gospel and all it has done to bless me. 

Love you all! Keep doing good things :) 

~Sister McDonald