A few more pics

April 20, 2015

I have never been so in love with an area. I love Pines!!! This ward is giving us so much love and support. The sacrament talks yesterday were all on moral relativism (actually based off of an article published in the NY Times, super interesting) and Bishop Rampton is inspired. One of our investigators aid that he has been a "spiritual tourist" for so long, but he is ready to commit to this church because he knows without a doubt that it is the right decision for him.

I like what I read in Mosiah 2:

 23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

 24 And secondly, he doth require‍ that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless‍ you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

This makes me realize that we really should just serve full-time missions forever. But God doesn't even ask for that! So really, there is no excuse for not rendering service and doing missionary work for the rest of our lives. God is so merciful to us.

Tender moment.....on Saturday night we went to visit a family in the ward to receive referrals and they were all running around like crazy children do and it reminded me of our house growing up….happy and crazy because we were too busy enjoying our time together....anyway they rounded up and did the cutest family scripture study with us. Each child had a "day" like we did growing up, except they had the person begin reading and pray. Anyway, Brother Stringham asked Sister Trebotich the best thing she has learned on her mission. He then asked me why I decided to serve. Such a spiritual moment when I reflected on the moment I think I realized I needed to serve: Kate Saylin's farewell, she said she heard someone say that they could not imagine standing before our Father in Heaven and our Savior on judgment day and not being able to say that she did everything she could to further their work here on the earth. That is why I am here, and I am loving each day here.

HAPPY ONE YEAR AND 1.5 YEARS TO US! We celebrated with sushi and it was wonderful. The place even gave us a thai donut thing. So fun.

We had a full day exchange with Lauderhill (woot woot old stomping grounds...always fun to work my old areas) and we blitzed it in a new Tampa style. We actually both went to their area and helped them work it because they are having trouble finding. Anyway it was way fun because our stake did a 'mini missionary weekend" so there were 2 mini missionaries, the 4 sisters, plus us. We had an awesome sleepover....all 8 of us slept in the living room. Felt like college.

We got 3 AMAZING referrals from the RS president's family yesterday.... two of which had already been taught. And one of them actually had a baptismal program scheduled but the parent pulled out last minute and told the teenager to wait until she is 18. We are excited to see if the Lord has further prepared them.

  

I LOVE THIS WARD TOO MUCH! Would love to stay here for a long, long time.

Happy finals Al and training to Tim. Oops, did both of those already pass? Can't remember.

I love you more than my heart can fit!!!!!

Hermana McCormick

Some more pics around Pembroke Pines

April 13

HOLA FAMILIA…..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMIE!!!

Things are going well in Pines. We are getting to know the members of the ward; they actually ask us if they can come out with us now. One of our members is preparing for baptism on the 25th. He has a very strong testimony of the church and we are excited to watch him prepare for this experience.

I found a profound scripture in the Book of Enos this week. It reads:

 3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

I realized that one of the starting points of Enos' conversion was due to the joy of the saints. Not only should we have joy in this work day to day, but everyone that we come in contact with needs to see this joy on our faces. We have the gospel, we know of our divine potential. If our words cannot penetrate their heart, at least their memories of happy missionaries will stick with them. I know that our happiness is a powerful tool that we must use in this work. This is the Lord's work. If we are not having fun, we are doing something wrong.

One of our investigators called us on Saturday night and told us family members don’t want him attending church. So we were bummed, but then very happy to see him when he showed up at church the next day!

Our next appointment was a baptism, so we stopped to use our bathroom and get water and wash up and Sister T checked the mail, and sure enough... a letter from mom. I do not read mail until the end of the night, but after a disappointing experience from earlier in the day, it was the most tender mercy of my mission finding a letter from mom. We are so far away from each other, but funny how moms always help at just the right time.

We are teaching the returning member/part member family. The family who OYM'd us...they came to church and they loved it. They are looking for peace and standards and have been so humbled. Cue the missionaries......God works in amazing ways. One of our investigators is fascinated with eternal families, so we are taking them on a temple tour this Tuesday! Each temple tour I have gone on has resulted in the person becoming so converted they end up getting baptized, so basically this is the perfect tool! They feel the spirit the strongest at the temple. I love it.

We exchanged lots this week. It is fun having two of my old areas in my sisterhood because I love working them because it feels like I am traveling back in time. Haha... but really. It is fun to reflect on how much time has passed, how my testimony has grown, and how since that time, God has blessed me even more than I deserved/imagined.

Coming up on a year is a trip. As much as I love my family and friends, I love the Lord more. I love His work. I love what I am doing. Coming home from my mission is a part of life, but I love working my guts out each day because when I think of the plane ride home, I need to know that I left it all out here. The spiritual growth happens so rapidly here, I must utilize each day. Elder Wagstaff gave me the best advice when I got my mission call: 

"change every day"

I hope and pray each morning that I can come to know my Savior more personally, and use His atonement. I have discovered that having one specific prayer each day (one at least) to repent is a wonderful way to reflect and repent. It has helped me to feel the spirit more in my life, and see where I am falling short. Trying again is a wonderful thing!

I love you all! My heart grows even more full of gratitude for you all each day! I love you. Thank you for your examples. ALSO this week was awesome m and d I got 2 packages from you!!! With the best letters. I see Hayden added to his original 2 liner. I can imagine what happened: "Hayden write more for your sister she does not want to just read two sentences." And so he so delicately crosses out his sign off and continues writing. Classic.

Also best of luck on finals, Al. And Tim: go kill it at training!

ALL MY LOVE

Hermana McCormick

Pics from March-April

April 6

Email crashed the week of March 30....

So I got that adorable package in the mail on Saturday and it made my day. It was way fun to share the package with Sis. Trebotich. PS the mail here in Florida is bad because dad: that package you sent weeks ago, just got delivered to my old apartment, aka the office forwarded it like a month ago (because they hold mail the last week of each transfer) so obviously FL needs to get it together. But we are exchanging with Coral Springs Saturday so I will get it then YAY. Thank you for being the best dad ever. Mom: that Easter activity was way fun and I want to reread those again and again. Thank you for taking the time to do that :)

We have had another amazing week in Pines. We are teaching a family, and also a young woman. They are all progressing towards baptism this month! We are finding many investigators each week here... we are being ridiculously blessed and I am not complaining.

I read in Jacob 5 this morning and I just love verses 61 and 62 and how they relate to missionary work:

 61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

 62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.

This is the only time in my life that I will be able to labor with the Lord in HIS vineyard before He comes again. The days go by too quickly to not give our absolute all in each hour of the day. "All gas no brakes" is my favorite motto... we really can sleep when we are dead. Now is the time to press forward diligently. 

General Conference was amazing! I have never been so uplifted by it. It's better than Christmas....I am really sad that it is over. I learned that Easter is "the most sacred day of the year" so how amazing was that to spend it with the prophets and apostles.

So if you know me, you know I was obsessed with Elder Teixeira's talk about using technology. Oh my gosh it is horrible how we just sit on our phones when we are surrounded by our loved ones. Nothing bothers me more than when I see a couple or a father and son at a restaurant BOTH on their phones. It is such a shame. Be where you are, people. When I get home, can we have evenings be technology free?? Please? There is so much to talk about and learn from one another and so much love to give in person, why do we give priority to other relationships so easily? Yikes I am not even excited to get a phone when I get home. Sorry, rant is over.

Elder Ringwood's talk really hit home for an unusual reason. He explained how Sunday school/seminary teachers should be involved in their students lives by going to their recreational activities, sports, having them over to eat and all I could think was....wow Sister Jarvie was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I actually got emotional reflecting back at how good she was to me and all of the other students growing up. Sister Jarvie got me on this path... staying active in high school and then BYU and now, somewhat indirectly but also directly, serving a mission. I was always grateful for her, but my gratitude for her grows the longer I serve. 

Also, how powerful was Elder Holland's talk? I should just stop now because I am so fickle and maybe every single talk was my favorite. P.S. Elder Nelson's about keeping the Sabbath day holy... thinking of Christlike service that never ends... all I could think of was Betsy Livingston. She is incredible. With mom's perfect selfless example and these RS women in the ward, I have the most exemplary women to look up to. Not to mention Gwen, Janine, M.E., Brandi......the list goes on and on. I am so blessed I love the Eastbluff ward!!!

So my new morning routine: I listen to conference talks on our DVD player because in the Pines Apt I found GC April 2011 talks on like 8 CDs. So the whole weekend of talks, score! Looks like someone bought it at Deseret and sent it here. It is my new favorite thing. First, because I am pretty sure April, 2011 was the year mom brought us up to Utah and we got to see conference and also because hearing the voices of the prophets and the apostles is the best way to begin my day. I get ready, listen to the talks and hymns and drink tea. Okay herbal tea is my new obsession. I love it. Meg was right all along. What else is new about me... dad, al and hayden: thought you all might appreciate the fact that I am not a huge softy anymore and I hardly cry go me!

KATIE YOU ARE TOO AWESOME she sent me the nicest note of two memories she thought of this week and it melted my heart.

Life is good with Sister Trebotich. She is working hard till her very last day. Our deepest desire is to see two of our investigators be baptized before she leaves.

I hope that you are all watching and sharing "Because He Lives" that video is so powerful. I feel the spirit so strong whenever I watch it. I know that as we share it, people will feel the love their Savior has for them and they will look for the truth that they do not even know they are searching for. 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT and it has almost been a year so if you made it to the bottom, gold star for you.

Love,

Hermana McCormick