Seriously, who do I need to talk to in order to make time pass slower, I mean- come on! Haha, no just kidding, all is well. I just still can't believe yet another transfer has come and gone.
Anyways, here are some cool miracles from this week:
We had zone conference this past week, and a lot of it was focused on hope and charity. President and Sister Wilde are so inspired and some of my favorite people in the whole wide world!
We each lunch during the zone conference, and when I sat down next to Sister Wilde, only a couple minutes later, President Wilde sat on the other side of me! Haha, right in between them! It was funny though, and it was a good opportunity to talk to the both of them for a little bit.
I just have so much love and respect for all of them- they're just so amazing!
It was pretty hot this week, reaching into the 90's. Yeah, I should be fine with that being an Arizonian...but the HUMID hot is a whole different story! Lots of sweating, lots of water breaks in the shade, but also lots of fun!
Sister Christenson
and I this past week focused a lot on praying for really busy days. We've been
spending most of this transfer finding, so we wanted to see how busy we could get,
even if it wasn't busy due to lessons. And guess what....Heavenly Father
answers prayers!
It was amazing and I felt so effective! We were always going from one thing to the next, and we were even blessed with a couple lessons with nonmembers. Two of them were with people that we had not taught before, and it was kinda funny how nervous both Sister Christenson and I both were for this "first lesson" despite how long we've been out on our missions. See- the butterflies never seem to go away!!
We had a super powerful lesson with a member this past week that really impacted both Sister Christenson and I. We go to the lesson with a certain plan of what we wanted to teach, but during the first part of it when she opened her heart more than she had ever done before, telling us about some of her deepest concerns of self-worth and such, we threw our lesson plan out the window.
As we let her talk, both Sister Christenson and I received the impression to ask her if she had been reading in the Book of Mormon every single day.
She told us that she didn't; that she would read it every other day and would read her Bible every day though. It was a really good opportunity for us to testify of the power of the Book of Mormon when we read it...every. single. day.
We read some scriptures with her and she felt better when we left.
I know that the Book of Mormon helps us, even with problems that we think don't even relate to "spiritual things". I know that is because Heavenly Father cares about us and even our smallest concerns and trials. He wants us to succeed. He wants us to feel the love He has for us. He wants to help us!
An Apostle once said, "If you want to talk to Heavenly Father, pray. If you want Heavenly Father to talk to you, read the Book of Mormon."
And boy- have I felt that. Man, can I testify that that is true!!
It is amazing to
feel the power of the Book of Mormon as we diligently read it. It has changed
my life. It is my rock, my shield and my sword. I am so thankful that I never
have to live my life without its precious words of comfort, love and guidance
from my Heavenly Father.
Another fun thing about this week:
One morning, as Sister Christenson and I were walking in the morning (crazy how spiritual we were at 6:45 in the morning...), we were talking about how cloudy it was outside. I noticed how the trees always seem so bright and so much greener when it's cloudy and I personally like it.
When I told Sister Christenson that, she said, "Yeah, it's kinda like life. Even if you're going through a really hard time, it also makes the good, small moments seem even brighter!"
I loved that analogy
and thought about it all throughout the day.
Later that day, the sisters we live with hit a bump in the road, so I had the idea to list the "3 Bright Trees" of our day, or the 3 good things we saw in the day even though we face trials. It was once again a good reminder to me that we can always see the positives no matter what phase of life we may be in!!
Okayyyyyyy...here are transfer calls!
Saturday night we got the call...and I am getting transferred! How could they do that to me- I have only been here 6 months!!! :)
I will be going down to Albany to be in the Oak Creek Ward, and I will be with the legendary Sister Teters!
I am going to miss
this area so so much, and all yesterday we spent saying goodbyes (we stopped by
8 families!) in between meals and studies. We hit the couch at 9pm just so
exhausted!!
As we were saying goodbyes yesterday, it just made me so much more grateful for the time that I have spent in this area, and for all that I have been blessed with here. I have made so many friends here and I am going to miss this place so so much!
The hardest was probably saying goodbye to Ashley. We both got teary-eyed and it was amazing that 6 months ago, she didn't even know what the Book of Mormon was...and now she is a member of the Church with friends, a calling and so many blessings!
I am also going to miss these wonderful sisters so much! I've lived with Sister Child for the past 6 months, it has been a blessing to get to know Sister Johnson and I have just loved being with Sister Christenson these past 3 months!
I have just been so spoiled with all I have been blessed with!
Sister Christenson has really taught me how to put my own struggles and concerns in the "God Box":
It could be a
literal or metaphorical God Box, but basically it means putting it into His
hands. I am really good at worrying about things- holding onto the things that
happen and thinking about it over and over again, which can be bad! I always
worry about things and I take on things that I shouldn't (other people's
problems, etc.). But Sister Christenson is such a good example to me of putting
our personal troubles into God's hands and trusting that He will take care of
it.
I know this gospel is true and can bless our lives more than anything else. I am so thankful for this area, for my companions and for everything He has put in my life that has helped me to improve and be the person I am today, and make me more into the person He needs me to be...step by step, each and every day!
Have a great week
everyone! I love you all!
All my love
Sister McCown
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