Photos from Lauderhill, FL.

December 1st, 2014

Hello Family! & Friends!! 

Today, Sister Bradley and I are on cloud 9. We were able to hit the standards of excellence this week, and it feels amazing. Knowing that we did all that was required for our area brings pure joy. We know that we truly gave the Lord our all this week. We served with our might, mind, heart, strength, diligence, obedience, everything... we did our best this week. It was absolutely draining in the best way. So we go over Saturday morning, taught a couple with the elders, and M. & G. were beaming and telling us that they want to be baptized this weekend. As in the next day. Sister Bradley and I were speechless. Truly speechless.... this was a miracle I always tear up at baptisms. I am always overcome by the spirit... those are the moments that remind me why I am here and why I love this work so much. It is a precious thing to act and have the spirit confirm to you the truthfulness of what you are doing. What an amazing experience. Watching them come right out of the waters of baptism, change, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, as truly repentant and clean vessels. This week just could not have been any better. 

On a funny note, the elders taught us this game called "what are the odds?". So for example, you say, "Sister Bradley, what are the odds we turn around and you get 2 Krispy Kreme donuts?" She would say 5, because she likes donuts. I would say 15 (a number between 1-15) because I def don't want to do that. Then when she says 5, we count down... 1... 2... 3.... and we both say a number in between 1 and 5 (since she said 5) and we both say 3 and then freak out because that means that she has to do it. Bear in mind, this is after she eats a giant roll/loaf of bread in one day. We scream and laugh and you bet we turn around and buy 2 donuts. Haha love it. The elders played it with the APs on their way to lunch, and the elders ended up having to buy themselves a Christmas tree. Best game ever!

I loved what I read in Jacob this morning. In Jacob 5:61-63, 71-72, I realized how applicable it is to missionaries. We are laboring WITH the Lord in His vineyard. I just love that. It talks about how we obey His commandments, give our all, and are blessed with joy. I love this time in my life that I have to walk with Christ, his prophets and apostles, to do what they are doing. I love feeling close to them. I am grateful for my love for them. I know that it is a gift from God. I do not take it lightly, for I know that it is another testament to me of the truthfulness of this church. 

Also, this week I was studying a talk in our mission binder that our DL committed us to read and out falls "Not Withstanding My Weakness" by Elder Maxwell with a cute sticky and a card from my favorite STL Sister Smith (who is at BYU now, Al find her and hug her!!!!). Yes the amazing Sister Smith that I lived with when I was born in Miami. That made my day! If you know me and you know how much I love this sentimental stuff, you know I was fighting back tears. A cute little note and talk from like 4 months ago!

On a strange note... the member food here is wrecking me. Literally wrecking me. So close to telling the ward that I can't handle food and that we should just serve them instead of them feeding us. I had a very hard time on my run this morning with what was in my system. The joys of being a missionary with no agency when it comes to food. Ugh.

This morning I woke up the most exhausted I have ever been on my mission, but the happiest too. I know that we gave the Lord our absolute all. I am so full of joy. So hard sometimes with the Spanish, but I pray and pray and pray and somehow understand, but it is stressful! I love our gators. I just really love learning Spanish from the Colombians with the clear Spanish and from the El Salvadorans (not as easy to understand). Definitely pushing me with my Spanish! I love it.

I love you all much and I hope that you enjoyed Thanksgiving. OH THANKSGIVING... classic. I had a true Latin Thanksgiving. Turkey and gravy were the only normal parts. Then we had a strange mixed greens salad, cheesy crusted baked potato slices, sweet potato slices/fries but baked, rice with pasta pieces and raisins (yeah those paste pieces wrecked me. gluten is not my friend anymore. sad life.) and for dessert, STRAIGHT UP melted ice cream... lemon I think... legit melted puddle, with mini marshmallows and canned fruit pieces. Sister B and I got home and just laughed. We enjoyed it, awesome people who fed us, but what a random T-giving dinner. No rolls, stuffing, pie. haha love it!

I love you all so much! Enjoy this season and look up the new "He is the Gift" video and share it with all!!!!! And share the 5 pass along cards that you get in the Ensign this month. #sharethegift put that all over insta and FB. Be member missionaries!

xoxo

Hermana McCormick

November 24, 2014

Good morning! Okay first of all, a snippet from a letter Sister Gardner sent me about one of my favorite families: 4 of them got confirmed yesterday!! It was absolutely AMAZING!!! The mom was the last to be confirmed. After her confirmation, she was crying and just broke down and walked out of the chapel. We of course followed her out, along with a few other relief society sisters, and she was just so overwhelmed by what she felt that she was pretty much reduced to a puddle on the floor. She had investigated the church but had waiting so many years before taking the step to baptism. She is so happy she did. Yeah I died. I just love that family and this work so much.

This week has been one of opposition for sure. We are convinced that a miracle must be right around the corner. I am also learning that the gospel is truly all about balance in all things. In my favorite talk, "Create Success", it says that it is up to us. No blaming our companion, the ward, the area, etc., we can do it. However, it is hard to do it alone. I know that for us to hit standards and baptize, we must both be converted. I can tell that this transfer will not be hard because of my companion's and my differences, as we get along really well. But I believe that the things that I learned in Hollywood must be carried over into this area, this house, this district, and this zone. I loved the Mission Conference about love, charity, and unity this week. We need to be more unified and charitable not just to the housemates that we like or the ward members that we like; we must love all as Christ did.

So MISSION CONFERENCE... we got to watch Meet the Mormons. Never thought that would happen. It was amazing. I loved watching the part about the Candy Bomber... ugh it tugged on my heart strings and made me think of Gpa. He has got to see it! 

The scripture that I was talking about last week was in verses 24-27. I am toward the end of 2 Nephi and I am so excited to be reading about the millennium and the second coming. I know that the Second Coming of the Savior is the reason for our work. We are doing what Christ would do if he were here, because so many need to learn and change in order to be prepared to meet God. I love the talk, "His Grace is Sufficient" for the way that it gives a mental picture of judgment day. We are all going to be brought back to our Heavenly Father and Savior's presence. I always thought that we would be begging to stay. But now I see that we are going to feel so unworthy, we will want to hide. I know that our loving Father in Heaven is reaching out to help us no matter what. He is always there to help us be better. That is why he gave us a Savior. I am grateful to have a Christmas away from all of the gifts, etc. and to truly focus on the reason for the season. 

Two cool things from this week: District Insanity Friday morning at 6:30 was totally awesome and has been made a weekly thing. I am now "Sister Michaels" as in Jillian Michaels and I am totally okay with that. We are doing a district Turkey Trot, too. I am loving all of the fitness!

Also, Saturday night, our ward had their missionary effort night: La cena internacional. It was amazing. Food from 12 different countries and it was so fun. There were dancing and singing performances after dinner and I just love Latino culture. Sorry if I move to central american post mission. I just LOVE that culture.

Well family, I know that this is a hard day. I am grateful that we are able to chat today. You are all in my prayers. I know that the comfort that the atonement and gospel knowledge brings is so real. I know that today, next Monday, and the holidays will be hard but we can do this. I don't think it gets easier each year, but we really just get stronger. I know that our whole family will be reunited in the next life and it will be the sweetest reunion.

Enjoy Thanksgiving. And cross your fingers that the elders don't get us into more than one dinner. Surely I will die.

I am truly blessed to be serving. I appreciate each day.

I love you!

Hermana McCormick

Moving from Hollywood to Lauderhill

November 17, 2014

HELLO FAMILIA

First things first: tender mercy packages from Brandi Murray and fam and DAD. Oh my goodness. Can I just say that the timing of packages never ceases to amaze me. So with Brandi's, I got it on transfer day when I had like no food (when you leave an area you try to just stretch to the next P day since you come in on a Tuesday. Sometimes you can go to the store when you have time during lunch, but I didn't) AND IT WAS ALL HEALTHY SNACKS like dried fruit and bars and yummy perfume and earrings-you know me too well- and a drawing from Leighton (best part). Oh my goodness it was exactly what I needed. Especially when my new friends here are offering me canned Spaghetti-Os. Yeah right. Then DAD and m your letter came that day too so it felt like a big hug from my parentals via mail. Oh dad you came through. The best oats with dried blueberries and new TT bars. That's always a great day. The cards are always the best part. Weird, m, how your card answered questions that were on my mind that day. Yeah, you're inspired. I died. Mother's intuition. Enough about the mail. Just know that I got those on the 2 hardest days of the week and may or may not have shed a tear when I got dad's. It was a rough day. I just did not feel like I did enough, although our numbers were still decent. And I was so exhausted... it just brought me so much comfort and joy.

So I am in the land of Lauderhill South. I am close to my last zone, but now I am in the Coral Springs zone. And our ward is STRAIGHT ESPANOL. Can I get a high five? Best day. I cannot explain it, but yesterday in church I was sitting there, not understanding it all, but feeling so at home. I can't explain it, but I just love Latins to death and I love teaching in Spanish!!!!! I am happy here. And my comp, she's top notch.

This area is MASSIVE, but so amazing. I was shocked when I went from 900 miles in Hollywood to 1400 here. There is lots of work to do in this area! I feel that Heavenly Father is truly shaping and molding me. I cannot explain it, but the fire and excitement that I have for every hour of every day to do this work is not my own. Sister Bradley is an amazing companion. I adore her. We have been working so well together. She is so incredibly kind and thoughtful. She has a rock solid testimony, and such a meek and humble way about her. Needless to say, I am in heaven and mission life these past couple of months has been just too good. 

I started the Book of Mormon over and I feel like each time I read it, I learn in accordance with a different theme that the spirit teaches me with. Last time, it was the divinity and reality of the Savior's ministry. This time, it is how easily we can apply the scriptures to ourselves. In the end of 1st Nephi (wish I could remember the chapter and verse...sorry!) how Lehi is talking to Laman and Lemuel about Nephi before he dies. He explains that their brother is righteous and in tune with the spirit and doing the Lord's will and that they should not reject him. I thought we could replace Lehi with Heavenly Father and Nephi with Christ and compare it to our day. Truly, Christ is so perfect and merciful. We should not reject him. The gospel is so simple. We make it so difficult. Something that can help us use the atonement daily is the General Conference talk by Elder Klebingot (sp?). Oh my goodness that talk just resonates with me! It is my favorite talk ever. It makes it sound so simple to live every aspect of the gospel, because it is! I feel like the longer I serve, the more clearly I see the gospel. That is a tremendous blessing from serving.

We are so thrilled to be serving in Lauderhill North. We love this work. I am so grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ. That is an amazing calling, and I am humbled and blessed to be able to represent him in South Florida. ALSO MY GIRL SISTER COATES WENT STL AND IS MY STL NOW. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THIS IS REAL LIFE. Can you tell I am beyond excited? Sister Coates and Bird being my STL is basically the celestial kingdom on the earth today. Too far?

Well family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Less and less though... I have to admit. And when that happens, you are in my heart and I feel even closer to you. Crazy how that works. I focus more, and I feel closer to you. Win win.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Eat tons of turkey and send me photos! I want to see thanksgiving back home... that's this week, right?

I know that November is a hard month for our family. But for me, as I serve, it has been easier. That is a tremendous blessing, and I pray that it is easier to get through the holidays for you as well. I know that as we rely on the Savior for comfort and as we lean on our testimonies, we will receive the comfort that we need as we rejoice in knowing that families really can be together forever. We will see Nachita in the next life. She can see us now; she is with us. If our "mortal eyes were not heavy and our ears were not dull", we would see her too.

I love you all,

Hermana McCormick

Just before the transfer

November 10, 2014

This week was the best yet. The hardest of my mission....maybe of my life... but our hard work paid off.

First things first. I am getting transferred. FYI not common. This is Heavenly Father helping me deal with change and patience and an opportunity to be better with that. Also, the office called me LAST TUESDAY telling me that they had a package from Brandi Murray. They said President would bring it to Zone Training on Wednesday, because he was supposed to come. Then he didn't. And I have been waiting an extra week. This is another fun lesson I am learning. Patience. 

The family we've been teaching most recently got baptized yesterday! There has been so much opposition for them, but they know it is bringing them happiness in ways they never had. The neat thing is that the children will be baptized soon by their father as he just received the priesthood. The ward has helped in so many ways to fellowship this family. 

The work in this area could not be better. Sister Gardner and I have been striving for standards for 12 weeks. We did not hit it. But we learned this week, we did not come on our missions to hit KIs. We came to baptize. KIs are the means, not the end. And we were able to baptize two families together. If we didn't hit each number perfectly, that should not affect the joy that we have for two more eternal families in the Celestial Kingdom.

This week, I felt a true miracle because of a comp study that we had. I am nervous to go home from my mission and pick up a bad habit. I want to be the RM that goes to the temple weekly, balances academics, my calling, dating, fitness etc. I want to read GC talks and books by apostles and serve consistently. Our comp study completely calmed that fear. I am so grateful that the gospel continues to teach us. I learn more than I expect with each personal study. That is incredible to me. There is so much to be thankful for in life, but even more to be thankful for in this work. As we lose ourselves, we learn so much. Our ways become His ways. I am so blessed to have had 3 months in Hollywood. I am torn to leave; I will miss this amazing area, but I know that I will go exactly where the Lord needs me next. Those words are loaded to me.... honestly I have learned how incredibly inspired this work is. With companions, areas, wards, investigators. Everything. It is all designed so perfectly by our Heavenly Father.

Thank you for all you do for me and who you are. I am so grateful for things that each of you have taught me. I love my mission. It is so precious to me and I am not even at 7 months yet.

PS finished the BOM. Moroni 7 is officially my favorite chapter ever.

Love you all so much! Enjoy the Thanksgiving season.

Hermana McCormick

More of Life in Hollywood

November 3, 2014

Hey Fam and Friends!

Transfer calls are this Sunday night! Usually on Monday, and then we have P day on Tuesday, but this week will be normal because for the first time ever transfers will be on a Tuesday because President has a meeting in Salt Lake (I believe) on Wednesday. Wonder where I will go. I pray to stay here... I love Hollywood!

This week was almost a week of standards. We missed it by 1 I@S, which was really sad. Okay straight up devastating to be honest. It is SO hard to hit standards. Probably 1-3 companionships do it a week (mission wide) I bet. We did almost everything we could, but obviously there is more to be done. We will find out what that is so that we can hit standards next week. We have to!

We are teaching a miracle family. Truly, we are blessed to have run right into them. They are progressing so well. This family teaching situation is going exactly how teaching is supposed to go. They were fellowshipped at Stake Conference, two days after we met them. We are able to bring members to almost every lesson. At first, they asked a lot of questions, but now they recognize that those outlandish, difficult-to-answer questions are not as important as that peace one can find through prayer and reading the scriptures. They understand that answers will come. They arrived late to Sacrament Meeting, but we explained that they could go to another sacrament meeting (Nova YSA in Plantation) at 2:00p.m. You did not have to ask twice. They were on their way! We taught them last night (the restoration) and they are preparing for their baptism. Nothing will stop them. I am so thrilled to be able to see them enter into the baptismal covenant next Sunday. 

Hollywood North is probably the best area in the mission. I do not understand how we are having so much success. This area is so special to me because we are able to see the fruits of our labor so quickly. Sister Gardner and I are so unified, we are literally always thinking the same thing. We can trust each other in lessons (switching off every 2-3 sentences) to pick up where the other left off. It never, ever fails. I feel like our time could be coming to a close because teaching with her is pure joy.

I got to read my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon today: Moroni 7. Oh my goodness I could underline and highlight this whole chapter. I love how if we are charitable, we cannot fail. Charity is success, therefore, when we are built upon charity, we cannot fail. I am learning on my mission that serving with a withholding heart is the same as not even serving at all. Serving a mission but thinking about what is going on back home and telling yourself that you will just be happy when you return home is serving in vain. Heavenly Father does not count that as service, nor can He have you to change while you are in that mindset. He will never take our agency, and that is why it is so important to hand ourselves over to him to change. Like the Fourth Missionary, we can make "a stroke, but He can make a masterpiece." And that is done through trials, prayer, humility, etc. I just love how much I am learning each week, and each day, on my mission. This time is such a blessing. I am having a hard time comprehending why I am so blessed.

We also had a RC (recent convert) lesson in President Hoopes' home. He is a member of our mission presidency. We taught the Plan of Salvation to a woman who joined the church almost a year ago. He and his family were there around the dinner table. He served in Barcelona and was comps with Jeff Matsen Jr. Small world.

The ward had an adorable Trunk-or-Treat on Tuesday and one of our investigator families was able to meet a lot of people. They loved it. 

Mom how was your birthday?! I thought of you all day. Did you have Susie Cakes or go to the beach? ALSO I GOT TWO LETTERS FROM YOU THIS WEEK. Those were the best. Loved your Spanish! I only could not understand one word. Everything else I got. That was a first! I remember when I could not understand your Spanish. 

Also, ALLYCAT oh my thank you so much for taking the time to write me. It meant so much to me. I love you.

I hope that you all enjoy this week. I know we will. The temps are dropping to the 70s and we are actually chilly! My blood is so used to hot weather. You should ask Denise Baker or Sis Livingston about a thankful tree and make one :) Sis L. has the Hollywood House covered, and Denise got us one at BYU last year. You should make one for home!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Can you believe I am nearing my 7 month mark? Nuts. Time needs to slow down.

Love,

Hermana McCormick

A Two Package Week