To start off with,
it's been another crazy week of being in a trio and covering 2 areas:
practically going from appointment to appointment to meeting to studies, etc.
etc.
It has been SO good
though! I've been going through finding withdrawals because we don't have much
time each day to go outside and talk to people, but I LOVE teaching! Finding
has never been my favorite, so these past three weeks I've been on top of the
world with all the opportunities I had to go to lessons and teach people about
the restored message of Christ. It has, though, made me appreciate finding more,
which has been good for me. I'm excited to have more of it this transfer,
because unfortunately, the trio is getting split up😪
We just got transfer
calls this past weekend, and our apartment is pretty much staying the same,
except Sister Child will be getting a brand new missionary. Sister Christenson
and I will be staying in Council Creek! I'm excited for this new transfer and
I'm ready to hit the streets and talk to everyone we see!
This past week,
though, we saw a ton of cool things.
Aurora received her
patriarchal blessing this past Sunday and that was a super cool experience. We
were the only ones that were going to be there with her as support, but at the
last second, Aurora's mom came! I know it meant a lot to Aurora to have her
there, and it was cool because her mom is a nonmember! I could tell her mom
really felt the Spirit during the blessing and she thanked us all for what we
have done for Aurora. Aurora has grown so much since I've been with her and it
has been such a blessing to be with her as she has made this great leap in the
gospel! It will help her so much all throughout her life!
We also went on
exchanges this past week, and Sister Hair from Dayton joined Sister Child and I
in Forest Grove for the day. She is an amazing missionary! Holy goodness, for
only being out 5 weeks at that point, she knows so much and she just knows how
to be a missionary! I loved her bright attitude and she is so fun to be around.
She really taught me how important it is to have a good and optimistic attitude,
no matter what trials we may be going through.
This past weekend,
we also had an opportunity to go to the temple with a recent convert, Sara! She
has been soaking in the gospel, so being able to go to the temple with her was
so cool!
We did family history
earlier this week with her and she had 9 names to take with her to the temple!
We were SO shocked- that's a lot for her first time and not having much time to
get her family tree started!
When we were waiting
at the recommend desk, guess who walked in!!
President Wilde and
his family!
We were all so
shocked and I just laughed...seriously what are the odds!
They were so happy
to see all of us, especially since we were with a recent convert!
President Wilde told
us that they tried to come earlier, but it was super busy, so they decided to
come back at a later time. He said that they were meant to do that so that we
could see them! There are seriously no such thing as coincidences!
Their 16-year-old
son, Fielding, actually ended up doing the baptisms for us, and President Wilde
did the confirmations! I was so happy the entire time- who knew this would
happen....not me! It was so fun.
When we were driving
home, Sara talked about how bringing family names to the temple made the entire
experience so much more special. She said, " When I was baptized for my
grandma, I felt something different. I felt the Sprit more in that moment than
I have ever felt before. It feels good to know that I am not alone
anymore."
My heart melted when
she said that and the love I have more her just magnified in that moment! How
cool is it that the veil was so thin in that moment during the temple when she
was baptized for her grandma!
I know that Heavenly
Father qualifies those whom He calls!
This past week has
had it's own trials, one of which has been a struggle to sleep for me. I'm not
sure why, but it's hard and this week it took its toll. One day I was just so
tired and every spare moment not doing missionary work, I was crashed on the
couch! But I know that the time in which I needed to work, Heavenly Father gave
me the strength and energy I needed to do it! I know that even though I wasn't
my "100%" I did the best I could, and He magnified my efforts.
Yesterday I had the
opportunity to receive a priesthood blessing and I feel so much better! Being
able to receive that guidance and comfort from Him through one of His
priesthood holders means so much to me.
I love this gospel
and I love my Savior. I am thankful for the daily strength they give me so that
I can do my very best to do His work. I know that my efforts are not enough to
build His kingdom, so I am so thankful for His grace and His ability to make so
much more out of us that we can on our own. It is a glorious and perfect Plan
that He has created and I feel so immensely lucky to be a part of it.
I love you all!
Thank you for all your support. It means the world to me!
All my love,
Sister McCown
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