On Tuesday Sister
Leifson and I had a good number of lessons all around our area, and with it
being the weekly car fast day, we pulled out the bikes! We were racing all over
the place with the limited amount of time in between each lesson, up until
racing home in time for curfew.
At one point, we
were coming up to a light that turned yellow and then red almost instantly. I
made it through the light in time, but my poor companion sadly didn't. We were
separated until the light turned green again, and I was laughing my head off!!
I mean, it was super weird and I felt super alone even though she was only a
few yards away from me, but still! It was crazy, needless to say.
On Wednesday, Sister
Christenson and I went to MLC with the other leaders of the mission. It was
President and Sister Tateoka's last ever MLC (they go home at the end of THIS
month), so there were some tears. It was super good though because we didn't
learn a ton of super new things, but did a lot of review. It was kinda like
sealing the legacy that President and Sister Tateoka are leaving on the
mission. Their big focus for the missionaries is all about obedience. The
principle of exact obedience has been drilled into my brain ever since I came
out on my mission, which has been the biggest blessing ever. I wouldn't have it
any other way!
So this week we also
received transfer calls: I'll be staying in Forest Grove and Sister Leifson
will be getting transferred closer to Salem. My new companion will actually be
my current STL companion, Sister Christenson.
It hurts my heart to
see Sister Leifson go. She was the companion I needed when I really needed it
and she has helped me more than she'll ever know. She's my best friend. I don't
want to be selfish, though, and I know she'll do great things in her new area
with her new companion.
I'm going to miss
the unity we had as companions that was evident to practically everyone. Just a
couple days ago we contacted someone we had never met, and after talking to him
for a little bit, he asked us how long we had known each other. When we only
said 3 months, he was surprised and said it seemed like we had known each other
for a long time. It's true though- I feel like I've known her for years.
All is well though,
and everything will work out. I know that hard things make us stronger and more
like the people God needs us to be. We can't coast through life and expect to
still grow. We can't be comfortable! In order to really progress, we have to
face trials. It makes sense why diamonds can only be made with constant,
incredibly hard pressure.
To not end on a sad
note, I'll end on a spiritual one:
While I was at MLC,
we have dinner with all the missionaries and usually Sister Tateoka likes to
eat with us sisters. She sat next to me and we began to chat a little bit, and
man do I love her! She is so spunky, but so so kind.
She asked all the
sisters a question that I've been thinking about for a while: "What
souvenirs do you want to bring home from your mission?"
The first things that
came to my mind was the copy of the Book of Mormon that I received when I first
came on my mission (a book that used to be so perfect and untouched but now so
worn you can't even read the title!) and all my journals.
It's crazy to think
how much I have changed since I've been on my mission. My testimony has grown
so much- yet still so much more to grow, of course- and I've had so many hard
and good experiences. I'm not the same person that said goodbye to my family at
the MTC almost a year ago, and I'm glad I'm not! And I think the copy of the
Book of Mormon and my journals is a perfect representation of how I've changed
so far on my mission.
Have a great week
everyone!
All my love,
Sister McCown
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