Holy goodness, has
another month seriously passed so quickly?! It only seems to be passing faster
and faster, I should be used to it by now, but it continues to baffle me!
It's been another
busy week here in Forest Grove for Sister Leifson and I.
We had zone
conference this past week and it was all focused on integrating family history
more into our work, as well as the importance of involving members more from
even the earliest stages of meeting people interested in the gospel.
During zone
conference, I was thinking a lot about the principle of progression. This whole
life- the entire gospel- is about continual edification. Not only in this life,
but even before and after mortality. It's amazing to think especially about how
a mission refines you. I have learned so many things that I know will help me
from now and for the rest of my life. It goes from the smallest things of
getting along with a companion or learning how to cook, to the biggest things
of learning how to forget yourself and live the gospel so diligently that you
could never imagine living your life without it! I am forever grateful for the
things I have learned on my mission thus far and all that I have yet to learn!
I know that Heavenly
Father will continue to edify us as we open our hearts and allow Him to. He
will make much more out of us than we ever could on our own! He knows that
we're going to make mistakes (even as misisonaries, I've definitely made and
will continue to make my fair share of them!), and He knew it would take time
for us to learn and grow.
One step closer each
and every day- that's what matters!
This past week,
Sister Leifson also got sick, which hasn't been fun for me to watch at all. For
the time that we've been companions, I've been sick twice, and unfortunately I
think she got it from me this past week. But all is well! She's doing a lot
better now and it was a nice change to be the nurse instead of the patient.
This past week I
also went on exchanges with Sister Child! She came to Council Creek with me and
we did a lot of walking due to lessons cancelling. I already knew her decently
well because our companionships live in the same apartment together and we're
in a car share, but it was fun to be able to get to know her better! She is a super
good missionary and is super good at asking inspired questions! It was a great
experience and she was such a good example to me of caring for others and truly
listening to the people we talk to.
Over the course of
this past week, we've had a lot of lessons cancelling. It can be pretty
disheartening when that happens, because unfortunately it is a part of
missionary work. It may happen for various reasons, but a day that may start
out with 4 lessons may only have 1 actually happen by the end of the night
(Saturday...)
No matter how
discouraging it may be, I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. When the
lessons fell through, we had more time to contact other people and other
members, and also much more time to be outside talking to people! We had some
pretty cool experiences because of it!
We talk to a ton of
people each week (doing the math, we found out we talk to at minimum of 75
people we have never before met each week!), and they are all along the
spectrum of kindness and receptiveness. We've met some pretty rude people, and
some incredibly nice people. Even though a majority do not want to learn more,
Sister Leifson and I always say, "One step closer!" (Or in other
words, one step closer to receiving the restored gospel in the future!).
One of these
experiences was when I was with Sister Child. We were visiting someone who
showed interest in the gospel in the past, and on the way there, we met Roe. He
immediately said he wasn't interested, but Sister Child boldly asked why he
wasn't interested. He thought for a second and, taking steps closer, said he
wanted to talk to us for a little bit. I got excited because we weren't getting
shut down so quickly, and we had a 5 minute conversation of the importance of
church attendance and the difference it can make in our week. He went to a
different church in the past but got out of the habit a while ago. He
ultimately wasn't interested in coming to our church, but he thanked us for
talking to him and said we had rekindled his desire to go to church. It was
super sad that he didn't want to learn more about the restored gospel, but it
was cool to see how his heart changed as we talked and I know he felt the
Spirit as we talked to him. One step closer!
I'm so thankful for
this gospel, for all it promises as we are obedient and faithful.
Seriously...the amount of blessings we receive are...INFINITE and PRICELESS!
You could never regret living the gospel, and you could never feel empty. I
know this to be true because I've seen it in my life: going to church weekly,
reading the Book of Mormon daily and praying constantly...it gives me every
ounce of strength, guidance and peace. Without it...I don't know where I would
be, and I'm so thankful that I don't have to wonder what it would be like
without it.
I'm so thankful for
the opportunity I have every day to share these truths with others- to learn
more so I can teach more effectively and to ponder more so I can testify more
profoundly. It is the biggest blessing!
I love you all and
I'm thankful for your impact in my life. Have a wonderful week!
All my love,
Sister McCown
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