New Mission President

Dear Mama,

This past week has gone very well.

I am growing more into home in Allentown, I am really enjoying the District. We have very fun loving guys.

We have found some sweet new investigators this week. We have been teaching and seeing them progress and you can see the light flood into their lives.

That is one thing I really love about the Gospel in our Church, it seems there is almost nothing left unanswered. I have been learning some new things lately that I have really enjoyed. I certainly have broken the goofy side of me out again. I really look to the life of Joseph Smith, how he would play with the children, wrestle in the garden and others felt that it was unfit for someone of his position. But Joseph Smith knew it was part of being a loving person. And who he was. 

In Wellington 1 Branch, we had change in our Branch Presidency, we have young more active presidency now. So I feel it is going to really help in the missionary work. It is certainly fun and stressful being in places where the church organization is not to strong yet. But we are trying to help Freetown East district become a stake. But as for now it is best under the mission president. Speaking of which President Roggia will be going home this week and we will be getting our new mission president, President Ostler.

I am looking forward to it. It will be an exciting event.

I hope all is well at home. I can see it is not perfect, but small small. I am sure it is so peaceful and quiet without Jared around. 

I am glad you are having fun with your friends mama, but always remember to never do anything I wouldn't approve of! Otherwise I will have to set a curfew for you. Or maybe have you put your nose against the wall.

How is your art going? When I come home I want to take some art classes.

I hope you continue to learn many things to share with me to help me to become a better missionary here in Sierra Leone. Sometimes I really do not like being in any sort of leadership position on mission because I wish I could truly devote all efforts to helping my investigators. And so I could relax more in the evening and discuss with Elders instead of worrying about preparing instructions. But I guess I still socialize every night anyways. But then I wont need to worry about falling behind on things.

But I hope you are doing wonderfully, and I am glad you are growing out your hair, and even try letting it go gray. Cause it wont be gray color, more of a "Silver Moonlight across the snow" color. It will look lovely.

But love you mama,

Love your son,
Elder McDonald

One Year And Counting

Dear Mama,

This has been another fast week in the depths of Easter Freetown, through out this week we have had many wonderful lessons.

But our area certainly needs more work and miracles. But we are finding a bit more people. My companion and I are doing very well.

Something I was pondering this week, was about who I am and how I act. I know in the past I may have been guilty of levity when it comes to many things. But being with a very quiet companion atleast while we are  still new together, I have been pretty quiet. But I can truly see the need for levity in my life! Holy smokes. Things are so boring sometimes when I do not feel like being a bit goofy.

So right now I am trying to release my goofiness once again. When I first came to mission I felt like I should be more serious, and I do not think that took me anywhere.

I actually really enjoy the moments you spoke of in this weeks letter. About the experiences. Something I had not thought of in a long time. It is certainly actually a very nice experience to look back on. Always looking at the things I learned and how it effects me to this day. I could feel the love very much, from Heavenly Father, his Son, and you. And how much of an impact it has made. I have looked back on the trials you have faced since I have been gone and seen the advice I have given you, on how in everything learn to laugh and be  goofy. And I believe it really helps.

But Wellington 1 is awesome. I am coming closer to the branch. We have a very funny and old Branch President, he is so tired but he is also 86 years old according to his own words. So we will be getting a new one soon.

Unfortunately my time is done today. But I will see you next week.
Love your son,

Scotty

Coming on the One Year Mark!

I can't believe that Scotty has been out for an entire year coming June 15th.  Wow, I thought the time would barely crawl, but it is going by really fast.  It helps so much to be getting his weekly letters....and when he gets home, he will have a great record of his mission.  I am so thankful that Scotty is able to serve in Sierra Leone.  He has really grown to love the people there, and I know it will be difficult for him when it's time to leave.  Keep him in your prayers and write him when you get a chance.  Be patient if he doesn't write back right away....he has to go to an internet cafe and has limited time.  It may be different now that he is back in Freetown.  

Scotty has been transferred to Allentown, but is assigned to work in Wellington. 

Dear Mama,

I am happy things are doing so well.

Most of all not due to just circumstances. Really circumstances could be going crazy and chaotic or boring and still. But I am so happy that you have peace.

I am now in my new District in Allentown. It is relatively close to where I was before. But my proselyting area and branch are in Wellington. A bit closer to downtown Freetown. It is a sweet area. Freetown certainly is much different from Bo. This area is much more city then Rokel was. Rokel was pretty far our of Freetown and was much more rural.

I am doing very well with my companion Elder Baffoe-Appiah, he is from Ghana. But he is very quiet. Sometimes I really like the quiet but you know me. So I talk boku in the apartment at night with the other Elders. We have a wonderful District. My companion and I are the Wellington 1 Elders, we have the Wellington 2 Elder; Elder Nickle from AZ and Elder Animba from Nigeria. 

They are great guys. The Allentown Elders; Elder Okello from Uganda and he is receiving a new missionary to train tomorrow who is still yet unkown to us. Then we also have the Wellington 1 & 2 Sisters in the district. Of course a different apartment. Sister Awuoche and Sister Ndolo from Kenya. And Sister Owusu from Ghana, and Sister Kioko from Kenya again.

They are all sweet. But its no easy sometimes with Sisters out here. But I know this is a huge opportunity for me to grow. And I have really been finding more peace within myself. A while back in Njaie Town I started doing some of my old Tai Chi stuff. Which I really enjoy.

We had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to have a Zone Conference and Elder John B. Dickson from the seventy came and spoke to us. It was a very powerful talk. I am honestly not too sure what I got from his own words but his instruction was very spiritual and I learned a lot of new things within myself.

But things are very nice here in Freetown. Love you mama,

Love your son,

Elder McDonald

Children carrying babies...very common.

This was taken by an LDS couple who were serving a Humanitarian Mission in Freetown, Sierra Leone.  This was taken in the Wellington, Sierra Leone area.  

This was one of the streams located near the Senior Missionary Couple were living. 

Transfer to Allentown....Sierra Leone

Scotty seems to be right at home there in Africa now...It does not matter where he is sent, he is happy no matter what.  He has grown to love every companion he has been assigned and has grown to love the elders in his district.  He sounds like he is using his time wisely and taking every opportunity to grow spiritually.

Dear Mama,

I am happy things are doing so well.

Most of all not due to just circumstances. Really circumstances could be going crazy and chaotic or boring and still. But I am so happy that you have peace.

I am now in my new District in Allentown. It is relatively close to where I was before. But my proselyting area and branch are in Wellington. A bit closer to downtown Freetown. It is a sweet area. Freetown certainly is much different from Bo. This area is much more city then Rokel was. Rokel was pretty far our of Freetown and was much more rural.

I am doing very well with my companion Elder Baffoe-Appiah, he is from Ghana. But he is very quiet. Sometimes I really like the quiet but you know me. So I talk boku in the apartment at night with the other Elders. We have a wonderful District. My companion and I are the Wellington 1 Elders, we have the Wellington 2 Elder; Elder Nickle from AZ and Elder Animba from Nigeria. They are great guys. The Allentown Elders; Elder Okello from Uganda and he is receiving a new missionary to train tomorrow who is still yet unkown to us. Then we also have the Wellington 1 & 2 Sisters in the district. Of course a different apartment. Sister Awuoche and Sister Ndolo from Kenya. And Sister Owusu from Ghana, and Sister Kioko from Kenya again.

They are all sweet. But its no easy sometimes with Sisters out here. But I know this is a huge opportunity for me to grow. And I have really been finding more peace within myself. A while back in Njaie Town I started doing some of my old Tai Chi stuff. Which I really enjoy.

We had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to have a Zone Conference and Elder John B. Dickson from the seventy came and spoke to us. It was a very powerful talk. I am honestly not too sure what I got from his own words but his instruction was very spiritual and I learned a lot of new things within myself.

But things are very nice here in Freetown. Love you mama,

Love your son,

Elder McDonald

Allentown, Sierra Leone ...you can see that it is now the rainy season

Congrats to Will Pingel

Sent May 27th

Dear Mama,

I am very happy to hear from you today.

I am happy Amy and Jaron are doing well. I really enjoyed the testimony of Wilford Woodruff. I also really enjoy the talk and thoughts on prayer. It made me think about my own prayers a lot. And I actually related them to a phone call if I were to call you back home. I reflect on the time when you did find the papers as I prayed. I have seen many prayers answered here on mission. I know I shouldn't be surprised when they are answered but sometimes I am just amazed.

I want to make a goal to make every prayer very heartfelt even if that means keeping them short and simple.

That is awesome about the mission calls. Will Pingel will do awesome, and he fits Germany. Germany would be an awesome mission. That would be awesome for him to read Yearning for the Living God. I love that book so much. I want to read it again as soon as I get back.

Time is flying so fast right now. We are in the last week of the transfer and I will most likely be leaving Njaie Town.

But you never know. But I am ready for something to throw me back onto my toes. I am sometimes a bit to comfortable I feel.

Anyways I hope all is well back home, also I got my package. Thank you soo much. The bag is too cool. Everyone wants it.

But I love you mama,

Love your son,
Elder McDonald

Transfer back to Freetown and An Answer for Jake

Dear Mama,

I am so happy to hear from you today.

I am happy everything is going well back home. Things are going very well here in Bo as well.

We received our transfer news this past weekend. This week I am rollin out back to Freetown East. I am going to the Wellington area. But I will continue to be District Leader in the Allentown Distrtict. It is not too far from where I was originally. So I will see a lot of old familiar things I am very excited. My companion is going to be Elder Baffoe-Appiah. He is Ghanaian. I do not know him to much, but I have met him before. He will be going home in 3 months so I get to go kill him. I am looking forward to it. I know we will have a good time.  Elder Jones will be receiving a new missionary to train here in Njaie Town. So that will be fun for him.

This past week has been a very nice time. We had two wonderful people baptized this Saturday. In Njaie Town they finished the baptismal font. So I got to be the first missionary to baptize in it right before I leave. Elder Jones will have his Mom send the pictures, if not this week it will be next week.

The small boy who went to village. His name is Abdulai Kamara. I would very much like for you to put his name in the temple. I have really prayed for him. If he is not opportune to receive the Gospel in this life. I will teach it to him in the next.

Nannie, will you ask Scotty if he said ouch when he saw my picture?

I could not help but smile seeing the pictures of the kids. Tell Jake I did not say ouch but I said "Owieee" ....I recognize that one from when he got hit in the head by a rock at school.

But, I hope all goes well. I am looking forward to Dennys.

Love your son,
Elder McDonald