Dearest Family and Friends!!!
How are you? How was Al's race in LA? Is she going to NCAA and
did she PR?!!! I am dying to know.
This email is not meant to be a downer, I AM OKAY, but yeah
missionary work is really hard. I am learning to be grateful for trials and to
learn from them. I know that one of my trials right now is not baptizing. My
whole mission, I have been blessed to baptize consistently and see the fruits
of my labors. I know that right now the Lord is helping me to understand my
trials and learn from them. I am working my hardest not to become discouraged,
for I know that that is the worst possible way that I could react to this
hardship. I received a wonderful blessing from Elder Low yesterday after
church. I was both humbled and comforted as I heard the words the Lord wants me
to hear: "Everything you are doing is correct. (I need to) be patient in
this trial and understand it." I know that I am being pushed beyond my
limit to endure this, as I introspect frequently, but I know that my capacity
is being expanded. Sister Morrow shared a wonderful scripture this morning from
the D&C. She shared "these afflictions shall be but a moment" and
the following verse to "endure them well" and that we will be exalted
on high. All of these things make sense to my mind. I am having trouble
truly internalizing them...and I have a feeling that we will baptize as soon as
I do internalize them and incorporate them into my character. Sister Morrow and
I are both working on measuring our success as stated in Preach My Gospel.
I know that what happens in our area is our personal
responsibility. No excuses. I am feeling responsible for not completely and
effectively carrying out the work of salvation in our area. Not even that
"we" are responsible. Sister Morrow is a new missionary and I want to
give her the best start to her mission. My heart is heavy... I feel that the
Lord's desires are mine. I feel that His will is mine. I want to give my all here
and now. "I must go til I drop. Preach til all know." However, I know
that as we follow the commandments, we are blessed. These blessings do not
always come in the form of a baptism. I am prayerfully thinking of the things
that I am learning, because those could be the blessings. I think they
are.
The challenges are the blessings.
Our area is progressing well. We are working closely with two
families right now. Oddly enough, with both of these families, the teenagers
are the most elect. The trouble is getting a parent to church to allow their
child to be baptized.
+We know that members work magic so I guess we need to keep
inviting more members over to teach the families with us. We took one of our
investigators on a temple tour this past week with our first counselor and his
family. She LOVED the temple. By the end of the night, she couldn't stop
talking about how she cannot wait to go in one day. All week, all we have heard
about is how peaceful she felt there and how she will be married there. I love
the power of the temple.
+We took another member to teach two investigators. It was a
spiritual and powerful lesson. Sister Morrow's Spanish (which she’s speaking so
well) plus our amazing member plus the spirit... man. It was so cool to sit and
watch their countenances change right before our eyes as we reminded them of
the truths they knew and fought for in the council in heaven.
Our awesome member, Lorny (16 from Honduras, RC) brought 2
friends from school to church yesterday!!! We have a return appointment to
teach them tomorrow. They are about 15 and 17. Both total sweethearts who are
very open. I guess it is time to build the youth in this church...? Haha we
have 5 potentials to be baptized and add to the YM/YW.
I had an epiphany while reading in 1 Nephi this week. Our member
moments have not been going as well as we hoped. We are reevaluating and will
improve how we use this new finding tool. However, I learned something about
conversion in 1 Nephi 8:12:
12 And as I partook
of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I
began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that
it was desirable above all other fruit.
The tree of life represents God's love, or the gospel. We are
not converted enough if we are not constantly desiring to share this good news
with all. It does not have to be scary. All we need to say to our friends is:
"I value our relationship and I love you. I ask that you come to
understand me better by reading this book. I know that it will bless you. You
don't have to get baptized, but I just want you to see what it is all about.
This book has changed my life and makes up a good deal of who I am and I want
to share the blessings that I have received." That is all! Our members
make it so hard. Not to their fault, it is our job as the missionaries to help
them see how easy this can be. I realized however, the members who are looking
to give us referrals and teach with us and find more of their friends for us to
teach are the truly converted ones. If we do not desire that our friends
"should partake of it also", we must strengthen our own testimonies
until we are at that point of fearlessly sharing with all.
Tuesday: temple tour was totally amazing. Sister Morrow and I
snuck in to use the bathroom. We each got to sit in the waiting area, say a
little prayer, and maybe shed a tear or two because the spirit is so strong
there. Definitely excited to go back someday. Even more exciting, coming back
here and going through with several people who have recently joined the church.
Sorry M and D I will come home from serving only to commute weekly to Florida
lolzzz.
Wednesday: biking day and it was wonderful. Had an amazing MPL
with the Fernandez twins. They were so enthralled as we taught about the Plan
of Salvation and happiness that God has for us. Those kids have my heart.
Thursday: Sister Morrow was happy to be back in the car haha.
She takes back thinking biking areas are all that and a bag of chips. I am
happy to bike whenever, dependent upon her soreness only haha.
Friday: The Castanos came out teaching with us. They helped us
teach a couple of investigator families. They have amazing testimonies and know
just how to work with the missionaries in harmony. Hermana Castanos cracks me
up because she just tells me how she texts mom and sounds like you two are BFFs
and I just die it is so cute. Her son is getting married in SD in August... you
have got to invite them to stay with you m and d!! She INSISTED that we stop at
Wendy's on the way home haha. It was hilarious... we took it home and I gave my
salad and lemonade to my cute comp. She was stoked... she got a nice chicken
sandwich and fries and was on cloud 9.
Saturday: we checked out the Green market! Way too fun. It is a
cute farmers market type place. We walked there on our lunch break and Sister
Morrow got marshmallow peanut butter. "Amish made" so like homemade.
She has already eaten half of the jar and I am not passing judgment. I think
that’s why we are a happy married couple. I just am happy when she is happy.
We also stopped by Jairo's autoshop and that place is crawling
with less actives. We invited them to come to church, got a referral and a new investigator,
shared a scripture with them during their lunch, and got to change the oil on a
car!! Dad, you would have been so proud. I even knew what the dipstick was
thanks to you.
Sunday: We got an awesome list of LA and PM families to visit. I
love when the ward does that!! And a new RS Presidency and they are on fire so
excited to help us. Life is good.
Also on Wednesday Sister Gardner was in the area and dropped off
a package on their way back to their area from the only and only Martha
Stewart, I mean Sister Betsy Livingston. That made my day. Awesome Valentine’s
Day package!! And I got to see "my dang comp" and we were geeking out
and were like we have to take a photo with our babies haha it was a hoot.
Check out D&C Section 45 on my goodness I LOVE reading about
the second coming. I know that it is close. Those who will be prepared to meet
the Lord are the ones who are looking for the signs. So that is awesome
doctrine.
Family: I am sorry, I have to be that missionary. i want to
commit you all to have FHE each week. It is so important, and so overlooked. It
is a huge blessing that we have to use that time to get to know one another
better, learn correct principle together, etc. You might like the "Family
Council" article in last month's Ensign. Really cool about how we should
not just have them when we have problems. Then everyone will dread them. OKAY
SO WILL YOU DO THAT? Why not turn off the TV and phones and play Wacky 6 and
read the scriptures or an article together and eat fun food and love each
other, right?
I love being here. I know that these trials are sacred and
tender moments between me and the Lord. I am grateful for them.
LOVE,
Hermana McCormick