I hope everyone had
a wonderful week, because it's been a crazy one here! I mean, I think I say
that every week...so I understand if there are some that think I'm
dramatic...but life is just crazy as a missionary!! Going from place to place,
talking to people, teaching, praying, studying and everything in between!
To explain the
subject title:
I am currently
serving in Albany, which is about 20 minutes away from my first area in
Lebanon. It is actually in the same stake as my first area, which is super fun,
and within the past 7 days, I have seen SO many people from my first area.
Last Monday, while
we were in Walmart, I saw a member who I taught and was there for his baptism
last year. The next day while Sister Teters and I were walking, I saw someone
else that I used to teach sitting at a bus stop! And then yesterday at stake
conference, I saw a few members from the Pioneer ward!
It was so fun to see
them all, and man- did it feel good that they all recognized me! Ahaha, sometimes
you never know the impact you make on someone and after almost a year of not
being there, you kinda wonder if they will remember you! But they did, and it
was amazing!!
Seeing all these
wonderful people made me reflect a lot on my mission, and how much I have grown
since being in that area....A LOT! My testimony has grown of the gospel so
much, I have learned a lot about who I really am, and I've been able to learn
countless lessons that have helped me to prepare for the rest of my life! I
love serving a mission!
One AWESOME miracle
(now has become one of the highlights of my missions) was Thursday night. We
have been teaching someone named Robert, who is an exchange student from
Taiwan. Our mission president, President Wilde, served his mission in Taiwan
and knows Chinese super well! So...we invited him to come and he was SOO
excited!
We had the lesson at
a member's home, so it was a good sized group. The lesson was AMAZING though!
We focused it all on Jesus Christ, because Robert doesn't know hardly anything
about God and Jesus Christ overall. It made me a little nervous beforehand,
because we focused on the Atonement and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and we had
to teach it in a way that he could understand it...which is so hard I learned!
Sister Teters and I role played it before the lesson and after a prayer in the
car, we were ready to go!
It was super nice
because if Robert didn't understand something, President Wilde would jump in
and try to explain things in his native language. President and Sister Wilde
also helped teach, and so it was like I had 3 companions instead of one.
Robert really felt
the Spirit during the lesson, and it made me so much more grateful for the
knowledge I have of the gospel. The Spirit washed over me like an ocean wave when
we watched the video "Because of Him"...I would highly recommend
anyone to watch it. Regardless of how many times I have seen it before, this
time was different. The Atonement of Jesus Christ became...so real.
I know that Jesus
Christ paid for my sins...and that He love me. Something that President Wilde
said that I really liked was, "I know that Jesus Christ is MY Redeemer,
just as much as I know He is YOUR Redeemer." It softened my heart to see
how much Robert WANTS this; he knows how much it has blessed and impacted us,
and he wants it for himself. I am so excited to continue to work with him!
After the lesson, we
talked to the Wildes by their car and they told us how solid Robert is. They
said our teaching was "brilliant", so I guess you could say Sister
Teters and I felt like we were on top of the world after the lesson!!
I have a testimony
that when we put God first, we are blessed so incredibly much! Sister Teters
has been sick this past week- I have felt so bad seeing her not feel well- and
one night I just couldn't take it anymore. She was almost dead but wanted to
push through, but I told her she just needed to sleep so bad. We went in an
hour early and after sending her to bed, I now had an hour of work before
getting ready for bed. I was really tempted to just read the Book of Mormon or
do something else, but when I dedicated that time to prepping ourselves for the
next day and for things that would've taken longer the next day, I was able to
get everything done that I wanted to and more! And...I just felt so good when
it hit 9pm!
This week I also
went on exchanges with Hermana Seamons! It was so fun...despite my VERY limited
ability to speak Spanish. One person we visited suddenly turned into a
spontaneous less, and while Hermana Seamons taught her, I played with her
4-year-old son, Mateo! He had this little lava toys and would pretend to burn
things (his hand or other stuffed animals) and then I would have to pretend to
freak out and then blow it to "take out the fire". It was so cute!
I love Hermana
Seamons! She was such a good example to me of building connections with people
so quickly and helping people to feel comfortable and loved when we talk to
them about the gospel.
One last testimony I
would like to give before signing out...
Has everyone seen
the new Book of Mormon videos?!?!
For those who
haven't, just please watch it right now:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-episode-book-of-mormon-videos-series
These videos are
amazing and I have low-key been waiting for them for MONTHS! I actually got
teary-eyed just watching it because it brings the Book of Mormon to life in a
whole new way, never before seen! So many more things stood out to me that I
have never considered- about the plot, the characters, the situation, etc. etc.
I. Love. The. Book.
Of. Mormon.
I just can't say it
enough. It fills my soul when I am empty and it gives me strength when I feel
like I can't take another step. Just holding it makes me feel safer and closer
to my Father in Heaven. What a glorious gift it is to us to be able to access
His love and His comfort to us as we read its pages.
Nothing has given me
more lasting peace than what I am able to read in the Book of Mormon every day.
I am glad that I never have to live my life without it.
I love this gospel
and I love my Savior. I am so thankful for His continual guidance in every step
I take and every word I say. I love you all so much! Thank you for your
wonderful examples to me! Have a wonderful week!
All my love
Sister McCown
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