Hello, hello! Holy cow, has another week seriously
already gone by?! Crazy how time on the
mission just seems so out of whack! Anyways,
just wanted to tell all you a few experiences I've had within the past 7ish
days. So great!
So to explain the above email
title, my companion and I were given that nickname by a less active that we are
currently teaching. He and his wife are both members, and we've been meeting
with them once a week for about two weeks now. They are so cool! They told us
of experiences they've had in the past (not all good ones), and so we were a
little nervous about coming back. But it's all good! We can tell they really
like us coming over and teaching them.
We were given the
nickname of "missionary ninjas" after our lesson with him this past
week. Apparently, he was used to missionaries just giving the lessons and
leaving. But we don't do JUST that! We taught them about temple marriage and
the importance of eternal families. BUT, before we ended the lesson, we asked
him that next week during our lesson, not only would we be teaching him a
principle, but that HE was going to be teaching US a principle. He was shocked,
as expected. "I have to teach? You girls are ninjas!" It was so
funny! He wasn't used to getting commitments from missionaries, but not
anymore!
Something that
has been a pretty rough adjustment for me as a missionary is never getting
texted back. We probably send dozens of texts each day, whether it be members,
less actives, or people we just met and trying to set up a return appointment
with. And how many text us back? Easily less than 10. It is so frustrating! But...MIRACLE! We met this super cool guy
named Nick last week, who has had a lot of connections with the church because
he has had LDS friends when he was a kid, and even has had read part of the
Book of Mormon before. He was super open and willing to meet with us again. We
got his number, and a few days later texted him to set a time for our
appointment with him on Tuesday. And not even ten minutes later...HE TEXTED US
BACK!!!! Sister Schmoekel and I were literally jumping on our seats from the
excitement! It was so cool! We even texted him this morning to ask if we could
meet him at a park down the street, and not even fifteen minutes later...HE
AGAIN TEXTED US BACK!!! GOLDEN person to teach right there!😂
So that was the
#1 miracle of the week...now for the #1 spiritual experience of the week (cause
what kind of missionary wouldn't include that in their weekly email!) On Saturday night, we had dinner over at a
members house, and decided to teach the Plan of Salvation to them, with a focus
on the Savior and His role in the Plan. It was so cool to see how Christ plays
the essential role in the Plan, and how He can be seen all throughout. For example, He created the earth and
volunteered to be our Savior in the Premortal Realm. Jesus Christ Himself came
to the earth and we learn about His ministry and Atonement from the Bible and
the Book of Mormon. Without the Atonement, the Plan could not be possible!
Because of Christ, we can all be resurrected and have perfect bodies. At the
Judgement Day, Christ will be our Advocate. Because He suffered for each and
every one of us- all our pains, all our temptations, all our weaknesses- He
knows us! He fights for us and can give us grace- the enabling power of the
Atonement that can enable us to dwell in God's presence. We need that mercy! It
is essential that we work as hard as we can to live all of God's commandments
so that we can be gifted with that grace. We will never deserve grace and
mercy. But we've been promised grace, as long as we follow Christ and keep His
commandments.
The lesson at
that member's house was so powerful. The Spirit that I felt in their home was
indistinguishable. Before then, I didn't realize how different it felt to be in
a member's home when teaching a lesson, and now I do. It makes me want to work
to have that kind of home too when I have a family. A home where the Spirit can
be present at all times. I am so thankful for this gospel and for the Spirit
that I can constantly feel in my life, as long as I am worthy of the Spirit. It
has made all the difference in missionary work, and I never want to be without
the Spirit.
To feel God's
love for me is the most amazing feeling. It's something I desperately want to
help others to experience. Because I know that even if others can taste God's
love for them, they will have the desire to have it constantly and more
abundantly in their lives. Isn't that just amazing?!
I am constantly in awe of how perfect this
gospel is...and of course it is! This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, so why
wouldn't it be?
I love you all, and you
have no idea what your support means to me!
God be with you
till we meet again,
Sister McCown
No comments:
Post a Comment