Good afternoon,
everyone, and happy March!
This week has been
crazy, with so many changes in everything!
For one, the weather
has just been insane. One day it was raining, the next day snowing, and
yesterday it was sunny, but super windy and cold. I don't know if Oregon just
can't make up its mind on what season it wants to be, because I also can't make
wardrobe decisions because it's always changing!
The work in Amity
and Oregon has been changing just as much as the weather, surprisingly. In the
span of 24 hours this past week, 5 people contacted us and told them to not
come over again and that they weren't interested. Man...that hurt.
It was hard to stop
teaching so many people that you've grown to love and worked so hard to
progress in the gospel.
But I also know that
when one door closes, another one opens.
Heavenly Father
knows that those people aren't quite yet prepared to receive the restored
gospel yet, and I pray that they will meet missionaries again when they reach
that point in their lives. Heavenly Father also knows who is prepared in this
area and I know that He is leading us to them as we exercise our faith. One
afternoon we tracted in a neighborhood and within a couple hours, 4 people said
we could come back!
God truly is so good
and is helping us to do His work in this area!
I also had the
wonderful opportunity to go on exchanges this past week, with once again Sister
Anderson! Man, I love her! She is such a good missionary and a huge inspiration
to me!
We had a good time
in Forest Grove and talked a lot about the struggles missionaries often
experience throughout their missions. She helped me so much in keeping an
eternal perspective and the importance of trying to see the whole picture.
Sometimes I can get
discouraged when things don't turn out how I plan them to, but I know that
exercising faith is relying on the plan Heavenly Father has for us, and
trusting in it! Above all, He knows all things and He knows what we need, even
if it's not necessarily what we want.
I often compare it
to embroidery.
From beneath the
piece of embroidery, it is insanely messy and seemingly miscombobulated.
Nothing seems to make sense from the perspective of beneath. But above the
embroidery, it looks beautiful! The embroiderer knows exactly which stitch
needs to go where to make the whole picture, even if beneath it does not seem
so.
That analogy helps
me SO much in reminding me of trusting in Heavenly Father's will. We are
literally beneath the embroidery and we may not understand some of the things
He does. But we also don't have to! Only He is all-knowing and I am so thankful
for the ability we have to trust in Someone that knows so much more than I do!
This past week I've
also been thinking a lot about how incredibly blessed I am. As a daughter. As a
Sister. As a companion. As a missionary!
I am so thankful to
be serving in Oregon as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, and specifically here in Amity. This area has grown a lot
since I've been here.
Sister Boss, Sister
Men and now Sister Johnson and I have seen a lot of trials and a lot of miracles
in this area. I love reading in my journal and looking back to November when I
first came to Amity...so much has changed! The people we're teaching, who I am
as an individual, etc.
I am so thankful for
the gospel and how much it motivates us to progress. As we learn more about
Jesus Christ and His teachings, we continue to build faith in Him and slowly
but surely edify ourselves (REPENTANCE). We make small changes in our behavior
and thinking that allow our hearts to be more centered on Jesus Christ.
This church and this
gospel truly is of Jesus Christ. I am so privileged and thankful to be apart of
this sacred work and for all that I have learned because of it. Even though I
am sacrificing 18 months of my live to be here, it really is no sacrifice because
of all that I learn and gain from the experiences I have. I'm gaining skills
that will only help me throughout the rest of my life. I'm gaining eternal
friends and learning what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I love this work and
I love you all! Have a wonderful week everyone!
I would love to get
a letter from anyone!
All my love,
Sister McCown
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