Blow by blow account of the week

Well, It's been an adventure. As a background, since the area conference I'd been fighting off a cold, then Elder Jackson got it, and at the end of last week I had it again. So we were pretty...humbled. We started these 20 minute member appointments where we ask them where we should go do finding time and then come back and report. We did that on Tuesday for the first time. We found a really nice old man who let us in and sorta listened. Then on Wednesday on our way to an appointment I started to get really tired and started to shake. The three minute walk from the Haltestelle to the church made me rather tired and I knew something was wrong, so I told Elder Jackson he'd have to do most of the talking. He gave a really cool lesson, but I just got colder and colder and started shaking like crazy. It took a lot of strength to teach, but the spirit was strong and I could really tell that the Lord was helping me. Our investigator noticed and told me to go home and lie down. Which we did as it became clear to me just how hard it was for me to walk around.

We went home and I had a fever of about 103°. So I got bundled up and got in bed. The other Elders came, gave me a blessing, and made sure everything would be fine. The next day I was still tired, but the fever broke and we went and taught this awesome, sincere lady a first lesson. She really liked it and asked questions that pertained to the plan of salvation and wants to hear it. Unfortunately she doesn't know a time in the next two weeks where we can meet.

Then on Friday I started feeling that I was getting some cold sores, but I had a wax that usually helps. Well by the end of the night my lips were covered. I woke up Saturday morning and I had large white bubbles on my lips under my nose and on the left side of my mouth. Well, we went and helped somebody move, and I called the doctor and got that taken care of.

Sunday and half of Monday we stayed home to make sure everything was fine and that I didn't get sick again. Monday night we went to an appointment that fell out on account of rain and hail. We got drenched! It was fun!

I don't usually give a blow by blow account of what happens in my life, but the way it worked was interesting. We'd have a spiritual experience, then we'd have opposition. Then we'd have another better experience followed by greater opposition. This weekend simply means to me that a miracle's around the corner, and I'll be keeping an eye out for it.

Elder McDonald
3/24/2009

Note: I wrote Russell that I was asked to give a talk updating the ward on his service as a missionary. I asked for his thoughts, and any advice he would like to share with the ward concerning his mission. This is the response I received.

As far as missionaryish talks go. Well I've been reading a lot about...everything. More specifically: sacrifice.

• The great and infinite sacrifice of Christ is important (Alma 34).
• Our sacrifice of our hearts (Alma 5)
• The sacrifice of our will (Abraham).
• It also ties in with perseverance, patience, and our trials. (DC 122)
• and ends with eternal reward. (Matt 5-6 Sermon on the Mount. The Be-attitudes.)
  
  By the by, we found this really cool children’s toy store and I wanted to know if Noah was old enough to play with toys, if he liked toys and what not. sooo...yea. love ya all,
  Elder McDonald