September is here!

How could it be September already? I was sure Sister Schmoekel was joking when she flipped our calendar to September- how could that be?! It's so weird to think that one year ago, I was up at BYU, almost starting my first year of college...and NOW I am here in Lebanon on my mission. I have officially been here for 8 weeks in Lebanon!

We've seen some big miracles this week! For one, Sister Schmoekel and I currently have 4 people on date to be baptized! We have a baptism for Lance this coming Saturday on the 8th!! It has been such a cool experience to see how much he has progressed since we have started teaching him. We didn't even do anything- he was a referral! As a new missionary, I've pretty much been going with the flow of how do organize baptisms and all the little things we need to do to prepare him to be baptized, but it has been a life-changing experience. It's helped me so much to ponder upon the promises I've made with God when I was baptized 11 years ago, and how much I have taken it for granted. Just the promise that we can have the Spirit to be with us at all times as we keep Gods commandments is so priceless! There aren't enough words to describe it.

Sister Schmoekel has told me that it seems like every time she has gotten close to seeing someone be baptized, Satan works hard not only on the person being baptized, but also the missionaries. And this past week, we have seen that! We talk to so many people each day, and it's so easy to talk to everyone because we're on bikes, but NO ONE wanted to talk to us. Rejection met us at almost every turn all over the spectrum. People talking to us just to be nice, and then people who swear at us to go away. It's so hard to see people reject something you know to be true- something that has brought you so much joy and know that can bring them a lot of joy in their lives. But I know that not everyone is ready to hear the message quite yet. That's why we have to talk to EVERYONE- because God will always lead us to the prepared.

I came up with a cool analogy for sharing the gospel: It's like a cupcake. For me, it would be a triple chocolate cupcake with fudgy icing on the top (can you tell I'm a chocoholic?). I love this cupcake so much, that I want others to experience the joy that has come into my life from eating the cupcake. But I can't give others the cupcake because who knows when I'll see someone who will accept it? So, I prepare little cards with the recipe of the cupcake that I can hand out. And I can offer to come to their house to teach them how to make it. That's so much better than just giving them a cupcake, because after they've eaten it, it's done. But if I teach them how to make it, they can use it and eat it for the rest of their lives.

That's like sharing the gospel. I can tell people what I know to be true, and others can feel the Spirit, but our job as missionaries is to teach them how they can feel the Spirit in their lives by living the gospel of Jesus Christ: by reading the Book of Mormon, praying, going to church, being baptized!

My knowledge of the Book of Mormon has grown exponentially. I still have yet SO much to learn, but I can see how much it's improved, and how my gratitude and love for the Book of Mormon has increased with it.

This past week I have pondered on the question: What is the Book of Mormon to you? Specifically to YOU, what is it?

I wrote this question at the beginning of my copy of the Book of Mormon and have begun answering the question:

- evidence that God loves all of His children

- the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

- a testament that we can receive personal revelation!

- a witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore His Church

- evidence that God has called prophets and continues to call them today

- a shield.

My list is continuing to grow. So how would you answer the question? What is the Book of Mormon to you?

I am so thankful for all of your love and support. I love this work and the opportunity I have every day to be apart of it! Have a great week! <3

Sister McCown