Hola - July 16th

Hey family,
Well to start out with, yes I received the email from bishop Austin and I thought I mentioned it, but I am sure I just forgot. It was a nice email and really actually helped me out at the time. Tell him thanks for me.
I never got Jonathan’s email so thanks for the backups. The music will work out great! I am excited now! The talent show is going to be awesome I think. All the members and friends are geared up to share their stuff. I don’t know why, but for some reason everyone loves to act around here and I think we will all have a good laugh this Friday.
Don’t worry about the ornery comment; I am doing a lot better now. Sure things don’t really work out all the time still, but I feel content about it all at this time. I am getting worried about transfers a bit in advance because I have grown to love the area so much, especially the members. It is going to be hard to leave. Who knows, it isn’t unheard of to stay in an area for 7 ½ months either. Good and bad.
We had divisions the other day and it was great to stay in my own area and have free reign of what I wanted to do. We taught several great lessons and found some new investigators. One of the highlights was the lesson with Franco Morel. We talked about the Atonement and my focus was to help him understand it and how it works in our lives. I remembered an example me and Elder Fletcher used in the MTC when we taught priesthood together about Justice and Mercy. God has his laws and must abide by these laws. We, being imperfect, are subject to the punishment for not complying with the law. It is like a bunch of bricks being thrown at our face. God does not want to punish us, but must abide by the law so what did he do? He provided for us his only begotten son to make an eternal sacrifice. Christ’s atonement is like a shield against the bricks being thrown at us, it comes between us and the punishment. To have application in our lives we must do as He asks-have faith unto repentance and be baptized for the remission of sins. (Alma 42: 22-25)
We talked with Franco about what he would need to do to apply the atonement in his life. I was rather direct, but expressed our sincerest desires to see him succeed. He knows that he has things he needs to change, a lot of things. I asked him how he would avoid smoking and drinking and helped him realize that friends that encourage such behavior aren’t really that great of friends. He agreed whole heartedly. So I asked him to not go out at night with his friends any more. He agreed. I helped him think of what he could do instead a bit such as read the scriptures and pray and help around the house. He says there are lots of things that he can do, but we are going to be thinking on this one a bit to see if we can help him too. Luckily he loves to read and read the first book of Nephi in its entirety and told us all about it. I was surprised. He also knows the hymns and sings with us which surprised me. We can thank the family for that one. I love this kid and the family. I don’t know if I have ever wanted someone to succeed so much in my entire mission. I just wish I could always be around to see that he keeps at it. In the end of the lesson we both wanted to cry, but managed to keep ourselves together. Last night Franco came home at 10:00 which is really unusual for him. I think he is making the changes in his life that he needs to. All right!
Oh yeah and before I forget, we have set a date for Franco and his father for the 9th of August. They are still pretty unsure (more the hno.) but hopefully they make it.
Make sure mom that you keep acting on the promptings that you receive! It is when we act that the Lord gives us further knowledge and promptings. If we aren’t going to do anything, why give us promptings? I know that you will have the power to bless your entire family for what it is that you are doing.
I haven’t gotten my package yet, but I think when we have interviews this next Wednesday I should receive it. The office said they had one for me in waiting.
Dad, I will be waiting for the letter from grandma, and grandma and grandpa. I hope you have the chance to go to the homecoming of pres. and sis. Shakespeare. They are great!
I have still been thinking about BYU. It wouldn’t be this starting semester obviously, but after I have my associates degree. To answer your other questions:

1. Have you met Pres and Sister del Castillo yet? If yes, tell us a little.
No, next week at interviews. Don’t even know what they sound like, but we have a training lesson to give to our zone in front of the hna. del Castillo, her daughters, the assistants, and our zone. Fun.

2. How is the Nunez family doing?
Doing great. They have been sick but it looks like the end of all that. We are going to start re-teaching everything to them. They all came to church this last week and are preparing something for the talent show this Friday. The hno. is working again too, even if just a little.

3. Did I mention that you have some money in your account again? Well, you do.
Yes, I pulled some out today and realized that I can pull out of savings as well. Don’t know why I didn’t check that one before. Whoops.

4. Do you need anything else that we would need to send in the next (and probably last) package?
No don’t think so.

5. We mailed you a package on May 31. Do you have it yet? Was it intact?
Next week probably.
Thanks for all the prayers in my behalf, I am always mindful that you all are praying for me and I am extremely grateful. I pray for you all too. I really think the Lord is pouring his blessings out on our family.
Love you all lots,
Elder Aaron McDonald
PS REMEMBER!!
PPS HURRAH FOR ISRAEL! SHALL WE NOT GO FORTH IN SO GREAT A CAUSE! ON TO VICTORY!!