Anyways, it's been another week of walking, talking, biking and teaching. Unfortunately, we haven't yet found anyone new to teach, but Sister Schmoekel and I are working hard to keep our heads up and our faith strong despite whatever challenge we may face! We had zone conference this past Friday, which really helped to lift our spirits and give us the motivation we need to persevere. President and Sister Tateoka are very inspired and taught us some things that we needed to do, little changes that will help us to be more obedient. Something that I am so blessed to have learned from Sister Schmoekel is the importance of exact obedience. It truly does bring blessings!
So to explain the purpose of the Subject:
We met this guy named Joe, who we have met on the streets on Lebanon previously. We saw him earlier in the week and talked to him about family history and he seemed genuinely interested in creating his own family tree. So we set up an appointment with him and our amazing family history consultant on Thursday to help him. We are so excited (it was our first time doing family history with a nonmember haha), but literally 25 minutes before the scheduled time, he texted and said that he was busy. No reason. No forewarning.
I guess the adrenaline from not teaching very much during the week seemed to kick in, because we were not going to let that fly! We hop on our bikes and zip over to his house (which is conveniently only a few blocks away). We knocked on a door that we hoped was his, but no answer. We then talk to his neighbor for a few minutes, and just before we're about to leave, Joe walks out of the door we knocked on! We rush over and talk to him about why he skipped out on our lesson. Within 5 minutes, we pretty much guilt-tripped him into coming to the family history center, where the consultant was still waiting. Crazy, right?! We even got a return appointment set up to teach him.
That experience taught me that I should always look for opportunities to try harder in helping people come to Christ- to be creative and go that extra mile!
On a spiritual note, this is my thought for the week:
I know that even though I am not learning a language like many missionaries throughout the world, I'm still learning a language...in a metaphorical sense.
I am learning the language of the Spirit. It's a really difficult and complex language, too! To be able to listen to the Spirit and recognize its promptings is a talent- and one that will, for me at least, always be a work in progress!
I've come to see how essential having the Spirit is in missionary work. I need the guidance the Spirit in all that I do, say and think! To be able to receive impressions for what someone needs to be taught, to know where to go and what to say to someone when we begin talking to them. It's hard! And I'm barely learning the basics!
But I've grown to learn this past week that that's where faith comes in! I need to have faith to know that the Spirit will help me and guide me to know what to say in the moment that I need it. I need to have faith that God is preparing His children to meet the missionaries, and that we can find them!
I always tell Sister Schmoekel that we're never just a companionship, but a trio, because the Spirit is always with us in the work of the Lord!
I love this work and for the happiness and guidance that it has brought into my life! I am so excited to continue to share that with others and help them to experience those same blessings in their life. It truly is an amazing time to be alive!
I love you all and I am so beyond thankful for all your support!
Sister McCown
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