Hello hello,
everyone! Here is yet another weekly from just another missionary here in the
Oregon Salem Mission...and how wonderful the work is here! Albany truly is a
field and ready to harvest and I am loving it!
This week I actually
didn't spend as much time in Albany as previous weeks, because we had 2
exchanges and I left for both of them! Nonetheless, we saw many miracles and I
am thankful to be back and ready to kill it every day!
For the first
exchange I was with the legendary Sister Tischner in Salem! I have never been
to Salem before...and I love it! It is a cool area with a lot of super nice
people and it was seriously such an amazing opportunity to be with Sister
Tischner! She is one transfer older than me and is actually preparing to go
home, but her fire for the gospel and sharing it with all those that she meets
has never died...and I could assume that it never will! She goes through so
much in her personal life, but she does not allow it to even waver her focus!
It is truly amazing, but she is also so unconditionally loving to all those
around her. Man, I try every day to be more like her!
Something that she
often said while we were talking to people in the streets and in lessons was
when she was talking about the gospel, she would say, "It has changed my
life".
I could hear it in
the tone of her voice that she knew that what she was saying was true, and I
couldn't agree with her more! Jesus Christ and His gospel...has changed my
life. I am a better person because of it and every day my relationship with Him
grows stronger.
My second exchange
was with Sister Hawkes and I spent the day with her in Brownsville! It is a
cute little town in the woods on the way south end of the mission. It reminds
me a lot of Amity, especially at night walking in the dark on the unlit roads
and uneven pavement. Felt like I was at home!
I love Sister Hawkes
though! She is a younger missionary, but despite that is so powerful and knows
what she is doing! I really loved her ability to talk to people easily and the
confidence she has in herself and the Lord. Man, I was not that confident when
I was that young of a missionary!
A cool little
miracle on that exchange: We went to visit a less-active family, the
Zollingers, and we had to walk up their long, muddy driveway to their house.
When we got inside though, we were quickly welcomed in, and I got to hold 3 of
their cute little kittens! Then they showed us their big fish tank full of baby
sharks! And then they told us about their 36,000 gallon swimming pool full of
goldfish...I love this family! After reading a talk in the Friend magazine
about prayer, they flipped to another page with a simplified version of
"Search, Ponder and Pray". Sister Zollinger turned to Sister Hawkes and
I and said, "Do either of you play the piano??" When I said that I
did, they rushed over to their 100-year-old piano that hasn't been tuned since
it was first made and as I played the song, they sang along to it! It was the
most fun I've ever had during a member lesson!
One last message
before I close for the week:
This past week I've
had a few inner concerns that I didn't know I had until I read about the answer
in my personal study one morning. Since I've been in this area (9 weeks), I
haven't seen very much growth of individuals, at least in the aspect of working
towards baptism. The list of people that we are teaching has changed A TON, but
none of the people we've worked with specifically in this area hasn't made any
steps towards baptism. It made me sad, and even though it brought me peace to
know that I am working the very hardest I can, it helped me to pray and ask for
the ability to see even the little growth in those we work with.
One morning while I
was reading in Helaman 16, the story is told of a prophet Samuel who stood upon
a wall to proclaim the coming of Christ and the necessity to repent! Many
people didn't listen to him and actually attempted to kill him, but those that
did listen went to find another prophet Nephi to learn more and be baptized.
Because of Samuel's faithfulness, he was protected by the threats of those who
tried to kill him and he was able to escape safely to another country. As I
read that chapter, I realized that Samuel was never able to see the
"fruits of his labors"! Those that listened to Samuel and believed
him didn't go to HIM to be baptized, they went to Nephi! But Samuel knew that
he had tried his hardest and he had so much faith in God that His children
would all be given the opportunity to accept the gospel and make the steps
toward baptism. Samuel knew he had done his part!
It made me see my
work as a missionary differently. Ultimately I can't obsess over the success or
hardships of the mission- all I can do is try my very hardest to help others to
have the opportunity! I can only extend the invitation and do my best to help
others feel the Spirit! That is what success is!
And what a miracle
we saw this weekend: Our friend, Barb, accepted the invitation to be baptized
in February! I am so excited for her and love her with all my heart. She has so
much faith and I know she will go so far in the gospel!
I love you all so
much! Have a wonderful week! Just to forewarn you, because of Thanksgiving next
week, I won't be emailing until then (so don't expect a weekly next Monday!). I
would love to hear from you all!
Here is a video I
want you all to watch. Take this season as an even greater opportunity to serve
others and help them to feel of your love and His love!:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2017-11-0020-think-to-thank?lang=eng&_r=1
Love
Sister McCown
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