It is quite interesting trying to bike and talk to people in the rain. No one really wants to talk to you, so many times you end up biking next to people as they walk so you can talk to them. Not awkward at all! Not to mention how insanely squeaky my bike gets every time it gets wet! But hey, at least we aren't confined to only walking in the rain!
Anyways, another week has come and gone. It wasn't by any means the easiest or most thrilling I've experienced on my mission thus far. It consisted of a lot of walking, biking, talking, being rejected and experiencing many lessons that fall through. All a part of the mission experience, I guess!
This week we spent a lot of time contacting less actives in our ward that haven't been seen in quite a while. Many of them, we came to find out, moved out of Lebanon, but it gave us more opportunities to talk to people!
No matter how hard or stressful Sundays may be, I always gain so much peace as I partake of the sacrament. I feel so spiritually filled as I take the time to think of my Savior Jesus Christ and all that He did and continues to do for me.
There is no way I could be here without God at my side. There just isn't.
We were expecting three of the people we're teaching at church yesterday, and none of them ended up on coming for various reasons, but all in all, it was pretty disheartening.
But hey, every week has it's ups and downs! Actually, writing emails gives me a great opportunity to reflect on my week, and even though it didn't end as I had hoped, it helps me to remember all the miracles and tender mercies we saw during the week!
One miracle: I have the BEST ward mission leader!
He is seriously so awesome! He is like the "dad" of the mission!
His name is Brother Miller, and he is a mechanic, which comes in super handy when you have bikes that are practically broken. Thursday night, Sister Schmoekel's bike broke yet again...but this time for good. Her brakes broke. Haha, yup, she broke her brakes! Brother Miller comes to pick up our bikes, with Sister Miller in her car to drive us home (this is about 7:30pm). He gives us the diagnosis the next morning that there was nothing he could do, and that the bike was so old there wasn't any practical solution. So Sister Schmoekel is currently borrowing Sister Miller's bike until we can find a more permanent solution.
We love and are so thankful for Brother Miller, that Sister Schmoekel and I decided to make tshirts for him, just as a little thank you. We've been working on them steadily for the past 2ish weeks, and we conveniently found out that yesterday was his birthday! So we devised a plan with his wife to sneak into his house and surprise him. It was so fun! We gave him the tshirt and had him try it on, and he actually got a little teary-eyed. It was so sweet!
I am so thankful for this gospel. It truly has been able to help me push through the challenges I face. Every moment when I don't think I can do one more second on a bike. Every time I wish I could just collapse on my bed and never wake up. Every day when I wonder if I've actually made a difference.
It's amazing to me how much the gospel is helping me, when really, I'm sharing the gospel so that it can help others. And that's no coincidence! I know that God works through the weak and simple (ME!), because he wants us to be stronger. He wants us to rely and have faith and trust in Him, so that He can bless us and build us up.
My testimony of the Plan of Salvation grows each and every day, because it gives me the eternal perspective that challenges don't last forever. That there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that God truly does assist and guide us in all things.
I apologize for how scattered this email was- my whole life at this point is a little messy! Enjoy this scripture that has helped me more than words can describe.
Alma 37: 36-37
"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and withersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."
I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!
Sister McCown
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