January pics of the crew

Picnic in the park

Wait...another package?

Some shots of Shan and her companion Sis. Morrow

A home-made blanket!!

January 12, 2015

Hello Familia!

We have been so incredibly blessed this week. I know that I say that often. But I mean it this week! We have had quite the trial of our faith this week. We were working the hardest yet, and being the most diligent and the most focused... and for the majority of the week, our numbers absolutely did not reflect that. However, our faith did not shrink, and last night we were blessed to find TWO families. This gave us 5 new investigators. In just one harvest... we are on cloud 9. 

Times like these always try my faith and help me to stretch myself and grow closer to my Father in Heaven. We are always being blessed for our obedience and diligence. Sometimes... often times... these blessings will not be immediately manifested by numbers of baptisms. However, we are always blessed. I know that. I know that this week, I was pushed even further as far as my faith to endure could take me. 

I know that our blessings this week came as we found even more joy in the success we had. I am grateful that I am at the point in my mission where I love meeting a cool family and immediately planning which members will fellowship them first, when we can go back, what we will teach, and seeing them in white. It took me some time to get to this point, but I know that I genuinely feel joy traveling from one appointment to the next and focusing on my task at hand.

We thoroughly enjoyed Elder Zwick's training and did not hesitate in applying it. We are getting more members to accompany us in order to teach our prospective elders the importance of the priesthood.  I love how we learned that the Lord can expand our capacity beyond what we think is possible... and He WILL. That is amazing to me. Especially now in this mission; the expectations are being heightened. We are going to continue to baptize continually, as well as reactivate and help more of our prospective elders receive the priesthood. What an amazing promise that we have from a General Authority that our capacities will expand. I am excited to pack even more service into the coming months. This is an amazing time to be a missionary... the work really is hastening. Things are moving fast, as are the efforts to bring about good. The social media is "sweeping the earth as if a flood" and I am so thrilled to be a full-time missionary and preach truth each day.

Two families we met last night:

First one, totally stopped all that they were doing and chatted with us, prayed with us, and listened to us for like 15 minutes. We are going back tomorrow with a member and we are so excited! They are definitely going to progress towards baptism. They said yes and they even understand the need for this baptism. Amazing.

Second one, probably the most polite family I have met in a while. From El Salvador and super open and thanking us nonstop for our time. We were thinking, ‘no thank YOU for your time!’ Love them already.

Cool things from Elder Zwick's special conference:

-He and his wife are so amazing I literally felt like we were at our own personal General Conference, minus the teleprompter. Man they spoke SO WELL.

-I want to be like Sister Zwick someday. So spiritual and classy.

-They are the parents of Darren Zwick from our homeward (they moved to Utah a few years back, but remember Courtney and their cute family?)

-D&C 127:4 is my new fave scripture

-We are to focus more on the ward, less actives, and basically everyone AND baptizing. Good thing he promised that the Lord will expand our capacity... because I know He will and this is exciting because now I can squeeze every drop out of my mission. Same amount of time, but way more work. Not sure how... but again, the Lord will expand our capacity.

Random things:

-Dad's Crab Cooker card made my day. What made my day even more is that Sister Morrow is as obsessed with Newport as I am. It is her family’s FAVORITE vacation spot and she has been to the Crab Cooker. Nothing like a good note from dad after a looonnng day

-We both love running so much we are taking run #2 of the day after this. Woot woot.

-I got some really amazing veggies at the store and am stoked to prep them all after our run. I cut everything up and put it in tupperware and the sisters make fun of me but I know they are secretly jealous of my over the top organization.

-I spoke in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. all. in. Spanish. I was terrified but the gift of tongues is so real because it was an easy 20 minutes and I threw down about how member food is awesome, but the real support we need is in LESSONS and referrals. And what do you know, we already have members signed up to come out EACH DAY this week. Hoorah for the members’ support of our work!

Life is good. I love you all so much. Read that D&C scripture please you will love it. Also, I have been studying the New Testament more and I love how much my testimony is growing of Christ's divine ministry. I have so much love for my Savior. I love how in this gospel, we are never stagnant. We are always learning and growing closer to our Savior. I love my mission oh myyyyy!

I love you all more than oatmeal and running.

xo

Hermana McCormick

Happy New Year pics

Shan and new comp. Sis. Morrow

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January 5, 2015

Hi Family!

We have had another productive week in Lauderhill. The highlight of this week had to be taking our RC (of 1 week) out teaching with us. He bore a testimony I did not even know he had. We went and taught a part member family and RC Robert was incredibly attentive and helpful. That was the best part of the week, and probably the best moment of my mission. Robert and his kids have my heart. We labored with the Lord to help them come unto our Savior and seeing Robert bear his testimony to Carlos brought me incredible joy. I couldn't help but think, "This is how it is supposed to be." We are supposed to teach, strengthen, baptize, and then enlist our recent converts in the work. I feel blessed to be able to see the drastic change and improvement in Robert's life thanks to the gospel.

Our area is progressing well. Our investigators came to church, which was awesome. Throughout my mission, I have developed a love for "creating success." I am a firm believer that what we put our mind to can be achieved through hard work. The Lord gives me the opportunity to refine my character and obtain Christlike attributes. I love how in the GC talk, "Approaching the Throne of God With Confidence" it illustrates that when a trial comes, we must square our shoulders, look to God and say, "I know what this is, a time to prove myself?" And then labor with the Savior to come out stronger. The Lord wants us to come even closer to Him. I am learning that this process is a blessing because it has no end.

This week was amazing. It never ceases to amaze me to see the timing of when I get awesome mail. The hardest day this week I came home to a package from M and D, a package from the Murrays, and a letter from Meg. Those two things brought tears to my eyes. Meg is loving the work and it just fills me with so much joy to see her change and become an even better person. And additionally, M HIT THE JACKPOT and sent me two of the cutest skirts and the cutest J. Crew top to ever exist. I cannot explain how grateful I am. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to have smaller clothes that actually stay up on my hips I LOVE YOU, M! And D, coming in clutch with the oatmeal and dried fruit as usual. The sisters I live with may think I am off my rocker for tearing up over TJ's goodies. It is what it is. I just love that food and feeling that love and support from so far away.... nothing like it. Brandi sent me the most adorable Christmas card, a blanket and some money. Ohhhhh my I feel so blessed. I cannot explain how humbling it is to receive not only mail, but packages. And not just packages, but AMAZING packages. And people said it would stop at 6 months... no way my family and friends are the best.

I hope that you all had an amazing Fast Sunday yesterday. I love taking the sacrament. It has never felt so special in my entire life. I love how my testimony and love for my Savior grows each day. I am grateful for the world that we live in. It is beautiful and perfect just for us. I am grateful to have a healthy body that can run fast and walk and stand and walk some more to preach the gospel. I am grateful for my family and for the security and joy they bring me. The harder I work and the longer I serve, the closer I feel to them.

I love you all... thank you for your support. And if you still read to the bottom of my long, boring emails... thanks for your dedication (for real because I know the longer I am out, the less funny and the more spiritual they become. Sorry not sorry).

Love, Hermana McCormick

Pics from Christmas conference, birthday, Christmas joy

Christmas Morning

Pure birthday fun....thanks to Mama Baker!!

Cantando en la Nochebuena

How's this for pink cake batter?? Love you, Baker fam!

BYU Bowl game

My new sweet companion, Sis. Morrow

Christmas joy!

Christmas Day Skyping!!

December 22, 2014

Ok ok ok best/hardest week ever. Best because I get to see your faces via skype in 3 days and also the big football game here that BYU is playing the Dolphins or someone in Miami... YEAH WE GET TO GO! So long as we go with gators, so we are going with Robert and his kids. Oh my, I get to see my Cougs!!!! And I have a friend who is a Cougarette so I hope she is there that would be fun to see her from afar. I am obsessed with BYU and basically my heart has been hurting missing their football season so I am convinced that this is Heavenly Father's tender mercy for me.

We are making amazing progress with a beautiful family we have been teaching. We went and taught the father and his sons twice this week. The first visit, I had a pit in my stomach. I had a feeling that our lesson would either result in a drop or a baptism. It truly could have gone either way. We taught the Plan of Salvation and explained that this baptism is necessary to be sealed to his family. Involving his children was so awesome because we explained how pure children are and how we can learn from them, and he did exactly that. He finally admitted that us teaching and visiting him was only blessing him and making his family happier and closer, so he is ready to be baptized. His children were sad that they could not be baptized with their dad yesterday, but he has committed to a date next week so that they can all be baptized together. He is owning his date! We got him to stay for the baptism that the elders had yesterday (maybe we had to pack some snacks because they always leave right after because they're starving... and it worked!) and they loved it. This dad was telling all of his member friends that it is his family's turn next. He was smiling so big and was so proud to tell them that they are entering into that covenant next week. I know that the Lord worked a miracle here. My heart is so full. I have so much joy looking forward to next Sunday.

We have another investigator who is progressing well. After only two lessons, he told us that he knows without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. That was amazing!! Prayer changes things. His testimony is strong and he accepts everything. He is golden. For me, fasting is especially hard. When we fast, Heavenly Father knows that we mean business. And he never lets us down. Never ever. As missionaries, I feel like we are spoiled and we have our prayers answered very frequently. Also, we took a member to teach him and it was so interesting how much they look and act alike. It was like looking at a mirror. They could be distant relatives! And they love each other. I have SUCH a testimony of working with the members. They make the lessons and learning so much more meaningful for our investigators.

I started the Book of Alma this week and I just love the story of Alma and Amulek. As a missionary, I have so much to learn from them. They are amazing examples of persistence, unity, charity, diligence, and following the spirit. They put their whole trust in the Lord and I am working to have a companionship like theirs.

Sister Morrow is an incredible missionary! I’ve loved getting to know her as my new companion. She is a new missionary, has a little homesickness and exhaustion, but she pushes through!! She read the 4th Missionary this week and is not only learning from that talk, but is anxiously engaged in applying it. She is an inspiration and all that I could ask for in a companion. Oddly enough, we are like the same person. I tell people that and then I wonder if it is totally vain to tell them how much I love her. But really, we are the same person and she is already so aware of balancing the work and being exactly obedient. I really feel so blessed to keep getting the best companions. 

I am convinced that this ward is the best to exist, second only to Eastbluff because the seminary kids threw us a surprise Christmas dinner to make us less homesick. So kind of them. Weird because you all know how homesick I usually get, but I am actually doing just fine. I miss you all, but I am thoroughly enjoying purely focusing on the Savior this Christmas. Sorry if that was a dagger to the heart m & d. What I mean is that it is nice to not have to worry about the stressful traditions and getting gifts and spending money and cleaning the house for Christmas day or whatevs. I do miss you all, but this is my time to focus on the Lord. Because He is the reason that we can live together forever. It is a blessing to be able to give my time and my will, although I will never be able to pay Him back... this is a start: to live each day as He would and to truly glorify Him.

Before I forget, Skype will be around 3:30-5:30 or 6 my time. We don't know for sure because 4 missionaries are going and we don't know if we will all Skype at once on their 4 different comps or what. Also they have a son serving in Brasil so he will skype too so it's up in the air. Don't stress. Worst case scenario, you aren't on and the Navarrette family will call you. And mom will get to show them her espanol yay.

So back to training... it is so hard because my sweet Sister Morrow is a SISTER. Yeah. So 2 hermanas came in, and it was me and one other hermana who were in staright spanish areas. So we knew that we each would get one. So I didn't pay as much attention to the Sisters. But then they assigned me to be with Sister Morrow... which I was stoked because she is adorable, from Utah, super fun and hard working, but she came from 2 weeks in the Provo MTC. So I am teaching her spanish and turning her into an hermana. Stressful, right? Stressful on both of us because she feels like she is in a foreign country and I just pray that I am teaching her well. Whenever she gets stressed, I just remind her that people go to the Philippines and are just fine. But like mother, like daughter... she is a stress case so I am working on controlling my stress for both of us. Funny how Heavenly Father works to refine us. But anyway, she is awesome and can introduce herself and say a prayer and some doctrine so she is getting the hang of it quickly.

Also, KK I don't know if I told you how grateful I was for the money you sent me. Money is literally a gold mine for missionaries.... and that allowed me to get some fun stuff like a food scale and a steamer thing to steam veggies, and I will go shopping too for a couple of tops. YOU AND JAKE ARE THE BEST.

Well, family.... I will see your faces and hear your voices THURSDAY at 12:30-2:30ish your time. Enjoy Christmas together and send everyone my love. And if gpa can come to Skype too, that would melt my heart.

I love you all more than you know!

xoxo

Hermana McCormick

My good friend Elder Levy went home!

I low key got the 2 best packages of life this week. That quicksilver shirt and oats and other fun things that I desperately needed and a FLAMINGO PARTY! Stayed tuned next week for photos of the crazy party we are having tomorrow. 

Shannon's Christmas love - 10 packages!

Beautiful Fort Lauderdale Temple

December 16, 2014

HELLO FAMILY!

So I got the news that I was going to be changing companions again….that was great because it helped me stress only on Friday and now I am calm and excited. So nervous, yeah, but it will all be good. 

This week has been the best of my mission, and even the best of my life. It topped Katie's wedding. That good. Yeah okay I am kidding but really this week has left me in awe. So let's talk about the Christmas Conference. Way too much fun. We had skits and got to hear the testimonies of the departing missionaries and we had a white elephant gift exchange. Just too much fun for one day. I was actually socially exhausted. Like I almost fell asleep at home when we ate dinner before working. So my favorite thing is listening to the testimonies of the departing missionaries. So much wisdom!!!! I just love how they motivate me. I always leave with a favorite quote/thought. This one is: there are power and miracles in the extra mile. This is so very true! I look back at my favorite moments of growth and clarity, and they are always when I am beaten down, absolutely exhausted, pushing on, praying fervently for strength-for the atonement to carry me. I am going to do my best to go the extra mile always.

Okay so then the mail room. WHAT THE HECK FAMILY WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD TO ME!?!?! I literally got like 10 packages and was in shock. Most people get 1-2... maybe 3... I was walking out, arms full, just like "ha.. I am blessed... dunno why... no it's my birthday on Sunday that's why!!!" When everyone would ask. Anyway, you are all amazing.

SYLVIA sent a miracle in a package. Speaking of, they have all been answers to my prayers. As a poor missionary, KK's package and the 2 I have opened from home (make up and dresses) are EXACTLY what I have needed. PS mom had to send 2 of the dresses back to ASOS because the slit makes it go above my knee, but they should refund you. YOU ARE THE BEST. K so back to Sylvia, we had a noche de hogar with Jairo and his family last night and he is the best member missionary ever. He had the elder's investigator family AND Robert and his kids over. Sylvia sent two adorable crafts and we taught about service and it was the best FHE of my life.

These weeks are definitely trying my faith in the best way possible. I keep getting my best friends' "last missionary letter" before they return home. As much as I desire to be home with them, having completed my full-time mission, I know that I am here in this exact area, at this specific time for the Lord's purpose. I just know it. I know that each person that I meet, each door that I knock, each card I hand out is inspired. I did not know this before my mission. I did not understand how truly inspired each mission call is. However, now that I am learning this, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for this experience and this tremendous blessing my Father in Heaven has given me.

And last night, exactly that happened! We were harvesting and we decided to knock the first street. We asked the first woman we prayed with for a referral and she pointed us across the street. We decided to deviate from our plan and knock that door. No one answered, but I felt that we should go back at the end of our harvest, so we resolved to do so. We actually found 2 potentials which is AMAZING as a Spanish-speaking missionary. We got one new investigator and he actually said yes to baptism. Not just hmm if I am in town, etc. He said yes and it was great. Anyway, we finish harvesting, we are late to see our RC family, but we knock the ref again. We knock four times and nothing. We walk across the street only to hear the door open. We left her with a He is the Gift card and told her that if she wanted a special blessing for her home to call us. She showed some interest so we handed her a chapel card. To our surprise, a wave of shock came over her and she began to cry. She was speechless, as were we. We felt the spirit so strongly. Sister Bradley just said calmly, "We know that God sent us to you." Finally she explained herself (the suspense was killing me). She said, "They always find me. This is the third time." We chatted with her and she explained that she had been baptized years ago, along with her 4 children. They had fallen away and the elders had stopped by twice before (so that is a while ago if elders were trying to bring her back because it has been a sister's area for years). Then, we knocked into her. How crazy. She was so touched. She could not believe it, and neither could we. It was amazing that the Lord led us to harvest there, to find her, and even more amazingly, she is so ready to come back. She told us to come back and visit her and we are going tomorrow. I cannot wait to get to know her better. I have so much love for her and I hardly even know her. She will be an incredible addition to Relief Society and the Lauderhill ward.

Mom, you would die. This ward took greaaaaat care of me for my birthday. So they had a surprise birthday party with VERY authentic Mexican food. I treated myself to some tacos and a tamale... first time I treated myself in 6 months. It was great. I am good though... no desire to do it again for a while. Happens when you eat 5 tacos, 1 tamale, and 3 cups of juice (some sweet juice I am sure Jake had it lots in Mexico. It is from a plant and tasted like a Jolly Rancher to me). But no cake... my stomach legit can't do gluten so well. Is this what getting old is like? Anyway, it was great because they decided to celebrate Sister Bradley's birthday on the 27th too since she is leaving. It was SO MUCH FUN. I could not believe how they spoiled us. And how dang good the food was. Dad would have loved it.

We took one of our investigator families on a temple tour and they loved the peaceful setting. I love temples. So fun to teach about them on the temple grounds.

I was reading Moroni 7 yesterday and loved how much it talked about angels. Funny timing, because there is an incredible article in the Ensign about angels, and the reality of their existence. Everyone should go read the article, and then Moroni 7! I know that the Lord helps us every step of the way. I know that even if He cannot be in every place at once, His angels minister to us. 

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my Savior... for my mission... for this transfer in Lauderhill with Sister Bradley. I treasure how much I have learned from her. I know that my next companion will have much to teach me as well, and I am thrilled to meet her.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY LOVE! I love each of you so much. You all mean the world to me!

xoxo

Hermana McCormick