Hello, hello! Anyone
remember me? Yeah, I know, I've been gone for a while! Well I hope this jogs
your memory, but this is Sister McCown, emailing from Lebanon, Oregon as a
missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! How great is my
calling? SO GREAT!
Another crazy week
has come and gone, each week seeming to fly by quicker than the next. I've
heard from so many that the farther you get into your mission, the quicker it
goes. Man...if it's going this fast already, I'll be home before I even know
it!
This week we had zone conference and
it was AMAZING! President and Sister Tateoka are truly inspired disciples of
Christ and have prayerfully trained us to be better missionaries. We focused on
using different tools (pamphlets, the Book of Mormon, various topics, inspired
questions) to use in our lessons and when talking to strangers. It was so cool!
It helped to put into perspective what I need to study more so that I can
implement it more into my teaching! I can see how much more I rely on the
Spirit when I teach as I'm getting more comfortable as a missionary. Never
before would I purposefully cross a street and block someone's path so that I
could talk to them about the Church of Jesus Christ. Hah! Crazy how life
happens like that. Anyways, my favorite
part of zone conference was probably the testimony meetings at the end. Since
it is already the end of the transfer (let that sink in for a second...the
first transfer of my mission is almost complete...what?!), many of the
missionaries in my zone that go home after this transfer bore their
testimonies. All of them bore testimony of how fast their mission flew by and
how much they changed as a person. For me, it really put into perspective how
much I need to embrace the time I have and to work as hard as I can while I
can! Never again in my life will I be able to serve the Lord for 18 months of
my life as a sister missionary. I can't waste time, I can't be lazy! I need to
WORK! That's what I signed up for when I accepted my call!
Miracle of the week:
We've currently been teaching a woman named Amanda, a single mom who works
strange hours. We've only met her once with a member, and we invited her to
church, but she said she was going to go to a different church with her sister.
But on Sunday morning, she asked what time we had church. We started freaking
out, and within a half hour before church, we did everything we could to get
her there (ex. Offering to drive with her, waiting for her outside, calling her),
but to no avail. We were so sad, but when we got to church, we went straight in
because we were meeting a less active named Kaylee that we were teaching there.
We were so excited and grateful that Kaylee had come, but still let down about
Amanda. During sacrament meeting, though, I got the district impression to turn
around. I was a little hesitant because my companion, Kaylee and I were sitting
in the front of the chapel, but my curiosity got the best of me. I looked over
my shoulder...AND I SAW AMANDA! She was sitting next to the member that she met
at our lesson earlier that week. I leaned over and told my companion and for
several seconds we were both screaming internally with joy.
So yeah...miracles
are real, and God is so good!
Testimony
of the Week:
I don't think many quite
fully comprehend this (and definitely me included), but did you know that when
you are baptized and confirmed by the proper priesthood of God, you have a
member of the Godhead with you as long as you are living righteously? Let me
emphasize- member of the Godhead! Anyone else find that fascinating, or just
me? I think it is so beyond amazing that we can feel the Holy Ghost in our
lives- to testify of truth and give us feelings of peace and comfort in our
lives. The roles of the Holy Ghost are practically endless!
When I can see my
testimony grow, it's those moments when the gospel becomes alive to me. When I
see doctrines and principles weaving throughout my life, in every moment of
every day. Things I used to do without even thinking are now seen in a new
perspective. The way I think, now changed forever. How I act and how I testify
is continually altering due to my growing knowledge and testimony of the
gospel. It is truly amazing!
I know that
this church is true, and every day my gratitude grows for it. There are so many
blessings I receive and witness every day, blessings I don't deserve! God is so
good, and He blesses us so much! We are continually promised in the Book of
Mormon that as we live Gods commandments and follow Him, we will prosper and
receive blessings. I know this is true, because I've seen it in my life.
I love
this work and for the opportunity and privilege I have every day to share it. I
am so thankful for each and every one of you, and your support means more to me
than you can imagine!
God be with you till
we meet again,
Sister McCown
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