February 23, 2015

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

February in Lauderhill

Sweet Baker Family!

Biggest best Valentine ever!

Only shopping at Whole Foods anymore

February 17, 2015

Hi Everyone!

Although both Sister Morrow and I were sick this week, we were blessed as we continued to teach our investigators and rely on the Lord. Sister Morrow recovered after about 5 days. On Friday when she felt ready to go out and work is when I caught the flu. Bad timing, but we were able to learn a lot this past week. We thought about the great chance that the Lord takes on each companionship as He entrusts us with these investigators, members, less actives, etc. We realized that the best way to continue faithfully (although unable to teach our investigators daily) was to hand our area right back over to the Lord. We did this by prayerfully reconsidering our investigators' needs and making plans for them. We were able to be inspired to think of ways to help our investigators this coming week. 

We were also blessed to have the Coral Springs West Sisters exchange while we were both sick. During the first half of the week I was able to go out and work while on exchanges and vice versa when Sister Morrow got better.

Sister Morrow and I could not be better. We are absolutely loving life together...we get along perfectly. She is an incredible sister, and never ceases to teach me more about the gospel and life in general. Basically we are happier than a married couple and sometimes we cross the line and we have to reign it back in. Only loved one friend more than this girl: Meg. Yeah she is that amazing. She is an example to me of trusting in the Lord. She is not a greenie... she came pre trained and especially now, does not need me as a trainer. It makes the work even more enjoyable as we completely share all responsibilities and give 100%. She takes initiative and is always looking to plan ahead and serve everyone. She is a fireball missionary and is always striving to be a consecrated servant of the Lord.

This week, we talked about all that our missions are teaching us. We share the same fear of going home and "going back to fishing." We talk about ways to avoid that. In essence, our fear can be summed up in 1 Nephi 3:

 29 And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.

 30 And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.

 31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?

Okay so in :29 an angel is rebuking Laman and Lemuel... and in :31 they are doubting the power of the Lord. This is outrageous when you think about it. They have a divine messenger rebuke and direct them, and they are such slow learners, in verse 31 they are believing in the power of man more than the power of God.

To me, this is a special lesson. I cannot be like Laman and Lemuel when I return home in the distant future. I know that as I continually trust in the Lord and grow my faith, I will be able to be like Nephi. I aspire to be like him, always doing the Lord's will, inner peace and strength to overcome temptation... living like Nephi is the only way to live. Additionally, relating this to the mission field now, the Lord really is all powerful. I have been studying Old Testament stories this week as Sister Morrow was sick. I was impressed as I read the story of Moses crossing the Red Sea coupled with Elder Holland's talk, "Cast not away therefore thy confidence" as Elder Holland explains that no one had ever crossed the Red Sea that way, but with the Lord's help... why not? I know that I need to remember to be like Nephi. I need to trust continually in the Lord, remembering that He very well may prepare a new, miraculous way for us to accomplish the things that He has commanded of us as missionaries.

Our area is going strong. We are baptizing a couple youth this month, their mother the beginning of next month, and another youth March 7 as well. We have been so blessed to have been led to the elect and we are thrilled to watch this ward grow and welcome these new members. 

HIGHLIGHT OF VALENTINES DAY: getting a massive card in the mail from the Baker clan. What made it even more amazing was that it was delivered to the door step and Denise wrote: "Kindly deliver to: Hermana Shannon McCormick." UPS really did. Way to go UPS. I actually felt like Momma Baker would be around the corner, that's how kindly they delivered it. This is how much mail means to us missionaries because I picture dad reading this and being like what the heck. Is this even making sense or am I too weird to handle?

EPIPHANY OF LIFE why have we never eaten spaghetti squash ever m and d? That’s my only complaint of being raised....you never fed us spaghetti squash. IT IS PHENOMENAL and when you bake it and then scoop it out.... it actually looks and tastes like spaghetti!!! I got it at the flea market. I scored and got tons of fruits and veggies for just 20 bucks!!! You bet we are going back today. I love a good farmer's market. 

So I was definitely humbled this week as Sister Morrow got sick and then I was all, "yeah 10 months on a mission and not even a sore throat." Then boom, fever, aches, chills, sore throat, felt like I was hit by a bus so fatigued. However, mine only lasted like 3 days instead of 7 like everyone else in the mission. I am oddly grateful for the flu though because I have a whole new appreciation for the ability to simply wake up on time and carry on a conversation with a person while knocking doors... those small things were serious struggles this week as I was prideful and tried to go out before I was better. Man, I loooooooove good health!

I love you all lots. PS d, you said you sent a package like a week ago. Not being ungrateful and withholding thanks. It hasn't come yet. I know, the suspense is killing me, too.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO HANDWRITE ME AND STILL READ TIL THE END OF MY EMAILS WOOOOOHOOO blessings for you and you and you.

Love,

Hermana McCormick

P.S. For those who care (dad) still got in workouts while Sis M. was sick. It was glorious, I got extra. I would get up early and work out with Sister Albrecht, then Sister Jones. Aka, long run, then another run plus toning. Loved every minute of it. And while I was sick, only missed my Monday work out. Tender mercies.

Til next week :)

Pics from week of February 9, 2015

Beautiful hermanas

Elder Swensen & comp.

B-day card

In the hood....

Friend from BYU days

Sis. Matherian....mission buds!

First time at Pei Wei for Sis. Morrow

Reunion time

February 9, 2015

HELLO WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!

I learned a lot about standards of excellence this week. This week was probably one of the most difficult weeks of my mission....however, it was also one of the most joyful. Sister Morrow and I go for standards each week. It is just what we do. We do all that we possibly can, and we leave the rest up to the Lord, knowing that he will compensate. We know that we are always blessed for our labors, whether it be in the form of a new investigator or more patience on our behalf, we know that we are blessed daily in this work. This week, we hit standards without focusing on numbers. We resolved to not get discouraged, give our all, and baptize four in this month, and standards just happened. It was totally different from the last time that I hit standards, and I learned a great lesson. I always thought that to be a true servant of the Lord meant to be a missionary always giving your all, nearly running yourself into the ground. However, we took care of ourselves this week, we worked just as hard, but we understand others' agency... and standards just happened. I am realizing that articulating myself and conveying what I learned is much harder than I thought. Anyway, my testimony just grew that we do not need to be overachieving fanatics in this work. This is a big pill to swallow, but I know that the Lord blessed us with this accomplishment so that I could see that the effort that we put into this work mentally is just as important as the work we put in physically.

As I was studying the Book of Mormon this week, Ether 12:6 stuck out to me each day. It seemed that nothing was going right this week. Sister Morrow got sick, we were out for 2 days, our most elect investigator dropped us... so many things were going wrong. However, I took comfort in this scripture:

 6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

I remember being so upset during my third transfer in the field when we only had 3 investigators come to church, not 5. Elder Brimley shared this scripture with me and my testimony of faith grew a lot. 

If every time we obeyed the commandments we were blessed immediately, we would not learn to obey them for the right reason. If each time we prayed or paid our tithing and received exactly what we needed, I do not believe that we would humbly follow the Lord. We would act like He was in our debt, owing us blessings. This week, as opposed to that week in Hollywood, my mentality was completely different. Sister Morrow and I joyfully pressed on with the work. Not sugar coating the day, but reminding ourselves that others have their agency, but we must choose to press forward and keep working just as hard as we would if everything was going our way.

We are so thrilled to see how the ward will grow this month especially. We are working with so many amazing people:

+ A family who was a member referral from Utah – mom and her two teenage children. They love coming to church and the kids will be baptized Feb. 21^st. Mom is the best and works so hard.

+ A mom of a 2 year old. She is happier and happier each time we see her and is working to be baptized on the 28^th.

+ We have been working with a part-member family and their 8 year old son will likely be baptized next week.

+ MIRACLE family from Colombia. They are brother and sister. Found them knocking doors. 29 year old, sister opened. All we had to say was, "We are representatives of Jesus Christ", she invited us in and did not let us get 2 sentences in before she said, "Where is your church? I am going there." She introduced us to her 16 year old brother. We will start teaching them, but they have already asked to be baptized. Blew our minds. We need to stop being so surprised with the miracles the Lord blesses us with.

We are so excited to get to work this week. We have INCREDIBLE people to teach, and lots of members signed up to come out with us this week.

It is always a great day to be a missionary, but it is an even greater day when you wake up excited to get going. Sometimes Sister Morrow and I joke about working all of P day.... haha don't worry we wouldn't but the thought has crossed our mind. That's just an indicator of how amazing our investigators are.

PS HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY TO MY BIG SISTER KK LOVE YOU TOO MUCH!! Enjoy the big 2-3.

Also, crazy week. I got to go to transfer meeting on exchanges because Sister Clement had the flu so Sister Albrecht and I went and got her new comp and Sister C.'s new comp and it was AMAZING because I got to see all of my friends who were getting ready to go home. I saw Elders Brimley, Passey, and Mendenall... it was tender I just love those elders they are amazing. And of course I got to see my lovelies Sister Jackson, Gardner, Bradley and all of the other wonderful sisters. It was so much fun!

And Elder Swensen is training!! That stud. His baby seems awesome. Everyone in the mission loves the chill Californian Elder Swensen! He is so humble and easy going... everyone wants to be his comp!

I love being a missionary!!!! This life is the best. Go out with the missionaries, or call them and have them teach a friend in your home, or have FHE... do all the things!!!

Also: new favorite section in the D&C 110. Go read it! So fascinating. Onto section 111 tomorrow.

All my love,

Hermana McCormick

Off to the flea market then WHOLE FOODS then run #2 of the day because it's a great day to be aliiiiiive