Anyways, other than
the weirdness of the weather, it's been a great week of many many good things!
We started this week
off my going to the temple! Aurora was baptized only a couple weeks ago, and on
Tuesday we got to go with her and a couple ward members for her very first
visit to the temple! The cool thing about it was that when Sister Christenson,
Sister Child and I went over to the member's house, Aurora was already there,
doing her family history!
This past week we
also had a baptism in the Forest Grove 2nd ward! Her name is Sara and she is so
so cool! I've been able to go to a few lessons with her and she is so prepared!
She was baptized only 3 weeks after first meeting with the sisters and finished
the Book of Mormon the day of her baptism! She is amazing and I love her a lot!
Another cool thing:
Ashley received her patriarchal blessing this last week and we were able to go
with her! She doesn't have a lot of family, so she asked us to be there to
support her and I felt so lucky to be able to go! It's cool because only 4
months ago, she didn't know anything about the church. She has come so far, and
even though I know I played hardly a part in her conversion, I'm grateful that
I could be there for many of her steps in the gospel. She has grown so so much
since I first met her and I'm so excited to see how much she will continue to
grow!
With all the good
things that have happened, this past week seemed to fly by! This Saturday, we
get our call for next transfers and who will be staying or going. At this
point, I have NO idea what is going to happen! It's also weird because we're
also in a trio, so we're pretty sure something has to happen!
Oh, and I also went
Spanish for a day! We went on exchanges with the hermanas in McMinnville, and
so for a day, I was basically following around Hermana Larson as she talked to
people in spanish... and I just stood there. It was the wierdest thing, but I
had no idea what to do! I could actually pick out words and phrases that people
would say, but no one we talked to or taught spoke English, so I wasn't very
much help to Hermana Larson and I felt so bad! Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun
with her and she has so much energy for the work and diligence. She was a great
example to me!
Spiritual note of
the week:
Yesterday during
Relief Society, we went over a talk from the most recent general conference,
"Abound with Blessings" by Elder Renlund. We talked about how we may
not recognize the blessings we receive and how Heavenly Father wants to shower
us with blessings, but He is waiting for us to ask and act.
My favorite part,
though, was at the end where we sang hymns that demonstrated the blessings we
have in our lives. There were the common ones of, "Count your
Blessings", etc. but then there were others that were all about Christ.
The Spirit was overflowing the room and I had goosebumps on my arms as we sang
the songs.
The hymn that came to my mind was verse 3 of Hymn #136- "I Know
that my Redeemer Lives":
He lives to grant me
rich supply.
He lives to guide me
with his eye.
He lives to comfort
me when faint.
He lives to hear my
soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence
all my fears.
He lives to wipe
away my tears.
He lives to calm my
troubled heart.
He lives all
blessings to impart.
The greatest
blessing I have received in my life is the confirmation of the Atonement of
Jesus Christ and the love that God has for each of His children, including me.
Because of His
sacrifice, I never have to feel alone. I decide how long or how severe my
afflictions and trials affect me. I can choose to put them at His feet and turn
my will over to Him. I can decide to leave the past in the past and face the
future with optimism, hope and charity.
All these decisions
are easier said than done, believe me- but I know that also because of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can give us the strength to make these hopes a
reality. He knows what we are going through, because He went through them
Himself! I came to know these things through prayer and study of the Book of
Mormon, and I know life would be so much harder without this testimony that I
have and want to continue to develope all throughout my life.
I love the gospel
and I love being a missionary. I love helping others to learn more about His
gospel, and be able to experience the eternal, priceless blessings as we are
obedient.
God is so good!
Thank you all for
your love and support! Have an amazing week!
Sister McCown
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