With the start of a
new transfer and a new companion by my side, we have been hitting the streets
and have seen an endless amount of miracles! I think the biggest thing for me
is just seeing how the Lord guides our every step, and helps us to know where we
need to be.
Countless times
while we are out, a name would come to my mind of someone we needed to visit,
and when we go, we would often find them home and we would have the opportunity
to talk to them more about the gospel. I know it was definitely the Spirit that
prompted me to see these individuals and I am so thankful that I followed them!
Many of these
individuals are people who were formerly taught by missionaries in the past.
With me still being pretty new to the area, and my new companion, Sister
Morgan, only having been here for a few days, we don't know very many people!
It gives me a lot more courage to go visit these people that we don't
personally know and I am so excited for the coming weeks where we will be able
to teach more and more people.
Sister Morgan and I
have been talking a lot about the principle of "expecting miracles to
happen". We can feel it in our bones that this is going to be a great
transfer full of miracles and opportunities to teach many people about the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
So let me just talk
about a few of these individuals!
*Barb*
So Barb is a super
cool lady that I have so much love for...already!!
She has been taught
by missionaries on and off by missionaries for years and she has a great desire
to be baptized still! We talked to her a lot about how the gospel can give her
strength to overcome the obstacles in her life as she progresses towards
baptism.
The love I had for
Barb, even though we had only met her for the first time just the day before,
was so immediate. She seemed so hopeless that she would be able to jump over
the hurdles to baptism. She shared stories of trying so hard in the past, but
without much success. It broke my heart to see her so spiritually drained.
We testified of how
much spiritual strength she can receive as she meets with us and reads the Book
of Mormon, and it gave me the opportunity to share my Hope Scripture
John 14: 27-
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth,
give I unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid."
I know that the
peace we so very much desire can only be found through Jesus Christ. It can't
be found through the methods of the world!
I also felt prompted
to give her a picture of Jesus Christ that I carried in my copy of the Book of
Mormon for the longest time. I used it as a bookmark at one point and it is
very dear to my heart. But in that moment, I knew she needed it more than I
did, so I gave it to her. Her eyes lit up and she said it was beautiful!
I am really excited
to start working with Barb and helping her to gain that strength she needs to
overcome the mountains in her life. It is amazing to me how much strength I
receive from the Book of Mormon and constant prayer to my Father in Heaven.
That is how..through all the different trials I have faced on my mission...that
I am still able to have the strength to be out here today and thrive!
One evening we knew
we would be going to a part of our area that we call Animal Kingdom (literally
every street in this neighborhood is the name of an animal). Every time we go,
I've been meaning to visit this family that I knew were solid, but we could
never find the time to do so. So I put it at the top of our list to go and see
that evening..and they were all home! It was ahuge blessing and we
were able to set up another appointment for later this week! We were able to
spend that time just getting to know them and they are such a solid family!!
*Laura*
Laura is someone
else that has previously been taught by missionaries and she decided to stop
meeting with missionaries because she was undergoing a lot of stress as well as
a major surgery. I didn't know her and I felt prompted to go and visit her one
evening.
It was kinda awkward
at the first part of the conversation because when she first opened the door,
her dog ran out. So we first had to catch the dog, and by that point, she
wasn't too happy to talk. We asked if we could come back another time and she
said, "Maybe another time in the future". Instead of taking that
answer, Sister Morgan felt impressed to talk to her longer and then ask her if
she was really okay.
That question opened
up Laura's heart to telling us more about the mountains currently in her life.
Before that moment, she saw us coming over again as another thing in her life,
but as we testified to her of the power of the gospel, we were able to help her
see that the gospel can give her strength to overcome her trials.
I had the
opportunity to share Mosiah 24: 14 with her that really invited the Spirit into
the conversation. I got close to her, and showed her the physical verse in the
Book of Mormon I had, so she got to read along as I read it outloud. The Spirit
was so strong as we testified of God's love for her and how much it can help
her at this time in her life. Not only did that soften her heart to let us come
back again, but we were able to set up a specific time for this upcoming week!
*Elizabeth*
Elizabeth actually
isn't a person taught formerly by missionaries, but is actually a 10-year-old
recent convert in our ward! Since I've been here in the area, it has been hard
to help her come to church because she is the only member in her family and
church always isn't the funnest in her eyes.
But recently we have
been able to form a really good relationship with her! We saw her a few times
this week, one in which was a Pumpkin Painting Party! A member in our ward
organized it because they accidentally grew too many pumpkins and they needed to
use them. We were able to go and fellowship the people there, and we had a mini
competition between us and Elizabeth! It was so fun!
We also had a lesson
with her yesterday and read in the Book of Mormon with her.
Last Spiritual
Thought:
Since the Book of
Mormon videos have been coming out, my eyes are being opened to so many
different things that I have never thought about!
In 1 Nephi 16, a
story is told of how Nephi's bow breaks and his family is now no longer able to
obtain food. All of his family complains and Nephi is the only one who
exercises his faith to turn this now trial into a learning process.
I know that it was
his faithfulness that allowed him to then receive revelation to know how to
make a bow himself. The new Book of Mormon videos emphasize this principle so
well and I love how applicable it is in our lives.
I know that when we
truly take the time to put God first in our lives (Whether that be by making
sacrifices to study in the Book of Mormon, pray, etc.), He will give us
guidance not only to overcome our trials, but to help us know the things we
need to do to better our lives. He wants us to succeed and have joy, and when
we are willing to put Him first, He will help us to become much more than we
ever could on our own.
I am so eternally
grateful for this gospel and the energy it gives me to push forward. I love my
Savior and His infinite Atonement. I couldn't do it without Him.
I love you all and I
hope you have a fantastic week! Never forget how much you are loved!
All my love
Sister McCown
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