Transfers came, my companion completed her mission and went home, and now I am in Hollywood, FL.!

 

OKAY so my companions are Sisters Weiland and Gardner. Sister W is a visa waiter, going to Brasil tomorrow! And Sister G is from Utah. She reminds me of Amanda Stephenson, so needless to say it is a good time. Love her.

 

I am in an English ward... boooo... but I am needed here and I am loving it. I LOVE it when I see a bienvenidos welcome mat. You bet I knock til they answer so I can use my Spanish. Exciting thing, my Spanish is better than I thought. I taught two Cubans the other day and understood it all. I am amazed and humbled that I have been able to communicate when I really need to. 

 

So I live with Sisters Jackson and Coates. Love those girls to death. SISTER JACKSON IS ALLY and has gotten me way homesick. She is a blonde babe from CA who swam and played polo in high school!! She walks just like Al and is super tan and cute and goofy. I love her. I am incredibly, incredibly grateful for my time with the Sister Trainer Leaders (my roommates in Miami). They taught me to be bold, exactly obedient, and happy. 

 

I MISS MY TREADMILL, but Sisters G and Jackson take turns running with me and I run like m would run with her comps. Out and back and out and back. I think for Christmas I will ask for a watch that can track my mileage and my times because these runs are only like 2.5 miles.

 

I saw Elder Swensen at transfer meeting and it was awesome! He is doing so well. You can tell that he is a great missionary.

 

DAD your letter was so nice. I got it on transfer day and it was just what I needed. Definitely helped me combat homesickness. To answer your question, I love anything from TJ, but I love steel cut oats, their gluten free oatmeal is good, too, (big blue bag) and also their dried mango and coconut cashews are good. Basically any healthy snacks because they save me. I love Think Thin bars. I love Lara bars too but they have a lot of sugar. I like bars with around 10g sugar since 30g/day is max. OH and quinoa is the best! Healthier than rice and I make some and steam veggies for lunch and an egg and it is the best.

 

This weekend we found so many amazing people! I love the people here. They are so humble and receptive. We have tons of return appointments today. We also have a Haitian family getting baptized next week. N. has 6 kids and is so spiritual and sweet. Her kids are hilarious and crazy. Teaching them is always a good time.

 

I love teaching. I love feeling my testimony. I love feeling the spirit when I speak of eternal truths. I love my calling as a missionary and being an instrument in the Lord's hands. I love growing each day and pushing myself to be better. This time on my mission really is so short and special. I am in awe that my Heavenly Father would give me this gift.

 

I hope that school and work is all going well. I cannot believe that Al is on her way back to BYU... time is flying.

 

P.S. I love photos! They really motivate me.

 

I LOVE YOU FAMILY

I LOVE THE GOSPEL

You are too good to me.

xoxo

Hermana McCormick

Wonderful People in Miami

Shan and Elder Swensen!!

Into August

This week has been so awesome and stressful and I PRd on the treadmill 6:58 mile and 3 in 22 min. But today was 3.5 in 27 but that is beside the point. I am just stoked because I am defying the mission norms and LOSING weight in the field. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 5 weeks but if it does not look like it in my pictures that's awkward don't tell me.

I got my photos off of my camera and onto the USB so I finally can take more photos yay!

M your letter was much needed and I love you so much. Crazy how a letter changes my day.

OKAY family and friends you have to try ThinkThin bars... they are the best and so low in sugar and fat it is amazing. Also PB2 it is 45 cal/13 cal fat and like no saturated fat per serving and I might just eat that straight for the rest of my life.

So the haps in Miami:

I am starting the Book of Mormon over again, and I am aiming to finish it by the middle of next transfer. I love all that I pick up and mark each time I read it. I was reading in First Nephi how our Heavenly Father loves us so much, that when we keep his commandments and endure, he promises to protect us. I love 1 Nephi 10:18-19. It talks about how God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I love reading it each day along with the Bible.

Sister Espinoza and I are having lots of success with visiting families and inviting less-actives back to church with us. We had the best Sunday yesterday as D. got baptized. The spirit was so strong at his service. I miss working at the beach and lifeguarding...a lot... but as I sat there, I realized the importance of this type of work, and here is where I am needed at this time in my life. I have felt such a connection with those that I have met. I had been told that so many times before I got out here, but this week it clicked and I believe it. Holla holla time is passing and I have felt like I have been running in place for 3.5 months, then boom, progress and I am feeling the need to use my time and efforts more diligently here.

So remember my triathlete soul sister? She is awesome and gave me snacks from Whole Foods and we talked about clean eating for like 20 minutes at church yesterday and I love her so much and she is so cool and opened up and told me about how she went to the Biggest Loser Ranch last year and was 302 and lost 120 and is shooting to get to 150 and she is such an inspiration! I am so grateful for the people that I am meeting. I sit in RS and just think how much I love my ward here. Seriously, they are so awesome and I am glad that I have a feeling that I will be in this area for a while because I love them all.

I love you all so much and am feeling the love from the 38 emails in my inbox ahhhhhh!

I hope that you all enjoy the rest of the summer because we will blink and it will be next summer, and then dad will have his 30 mile crazy race and then I will be home.

I will never get tired of saying it I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

xoxo

Hermana McCormick  

Some recent summer pics

July so far

HI FAMILY!

How was this week of summer? I hope that you are enjoying the beach for me. 

Basically Sister Johnson leaving made me realize how much I rely on her and love her. Jeeeeeeez it's like I was saying goodbye to family all over again. She really got me through. This week, I am learning to rely even more on the Lord and it is hard but I am trying to grow.

First things first, when the new missionaries came from the CCM, they brought 2 pieces of mail. One from FFLM, and the other from Denise Baker!!! She had written it weeks ago, but when I got it was perfect timing. Oh boy did I need those words of encouragement. Also, grandma Bev sent me stationary and stamps and that was so kind of her. And mom, the package... my goodness. I felt like Shannon there for a few minutes. I got my TB flats and skirt and could not be happier. Little things like those REALLY help. Thank you a ton. Also the TJ's whey powder made my life. I mix it with a banana and ice and almond milk and am almost as happy as I am after a beach run. The prunes and trail mix were divine. I love that you included baggies so I could make snacks on the go. Those snacks will be perfect for in between meals. 

Two things... Katie, would you be able to print out that photo of us at your wedding? The one of us smiling at each other. I do not have it and I want it because I miss ya! And mom/Al... if you happen to find my short sleeved black Caslon shirt (round neck, not V), would you be able to roll it up and send it in a padded envelop? I am so sorry I keep asking for things. please do not feel inclined to keep sending packages. I know those are expensive! You are the best family. 

So yesterday, Anayh got baptized! Her mom has been coming back to church and she is 9 and decided to get baptized after we taught her these past 7 weeks. She is adorable and I love her so much. The mom, Daisy, is my favorite. She cooks Peruvian food and I love it.

Our friend Judy passed away this week. So, so sad. It was great that we had the opportunity to visit with her four times before she passed. Very sad for both her daughter (who is visiting from out of town to be with her mom) and her son.

We met a mother and daughter from Cuba. The daughter was speaking spanglish for me, and then when I spoke Spanish to her, her eyes got all wide and she looked at my name tag, then back to my face, then my name tag... She cracked me up. She will come to church next Sunday and I know that she will feel that she has found what she has been looking for.

I am so glad that the World Cup is over. Try knocking on Argentinians' doors yesterday... yeah right.

I know that I am here for a reason. I had Sister Johnson last transfer for a reason, but apparently now I can do this alone, so that is what I am going to do. It has been a lonely week... to be totally honest... but I am working to appreciate this time that I have to just focus on spiritual things ONLY. No worldly things at all. It is such a blessing, and I sure need it.

I love you and your letters so much. Mom, that part about missions being hard was perfect. I got it on my hardest day and had a good cry. Then I cried some more in the shower and went to bed, determined to make the next day better. I love that we have so many tomorrows to be better and be happier and nicer. I am working on it. I love you and miss you all more than you know.

xoxoxo

Hermana McCormick

Hi, how are you....I have missed you all so much but my gosh I have felt the love this week!!!

Who gets TWO packages from home in one week? And letters from so many of you!! So Sister Smith said that she has never seen such a generous family to their missionary in her whole mission. That's what's up. I was showered with love in the form of amazing packages right when I needed them... you outdo yourselves EACH WEEK. 

So our stake got a new president and we had a general authority from Atlanta and another from SLC Elder Soarez and his wife and they are from Brazil, so they spoke in Portuguese and I thought of Meg the whole time and teared up and also could understand their talks without translation so that was so cool! It was funny though because it was Portuguese being translated to English being translated to Spanish... this place is so diverse and I love it!

Our new mission president is amazing and knows M.E. Clayton Clark so that was a fun connection to make! He and his wife will be amazing here.

So how was Hayden's birthday?! Tell me all about it. Before I forget, next Wednesday are transfers aka Sis. Johnson dies (goes home) and I will bawl. Long story short, P day will be next TUESDAY the 8th. 

I ate ox tail this week and it is not half bad. Til I found out what it was and I was like hmmm I will stick with chicken.

We are baptizing a family next Sunday! Nester and Zofia are committed and I am so thrilled for him and I love his family so much.

I am so incredibly grateful for you, familia and close friends. This week, I realized that I had the most amazing life before my mission. I have been so incredibly blessed. It is crazy...my home, my job, CdM and BYU, my siblings and friends. I am about as blessed as it gets. I love you and your letters more than you know.

Have the best week and remember to do the little things... read your scriptures and pray. Prayer changes things.

LOVE YOU
xo Hermana McCormick

HI FAMILY!!! This week has been so busy I have so much to write about.

How was Father's Day?! A family had us over for a BBQ last night and I wondered if that is what you were doing too. I hope you spoiled dad rotten!

You are literally the best family. Each time Sisters Johnson and Smith check the mail I basically get the most mail and that is a GOOD feeling because this is so hard and I miss home so much but I am trying to work hard to lose myself in the work. 

I NEED pictures of Jordan's wedding. Please go and send me lots of photos because I cannot believe I am missing J legs wedding. The same goes for Hayden's promotion and birthday and Jamie's graduation.

So two weeks ago we met an investigator named Nester. He held back laughter as I said a prayer in Spanish. Apparently he is an interpreter and translator, so he thought my Spanish was pretty hilarious. We have been teaching him and his two daughters and they came to church yesterday! He and his oldest daughter Zofia (10) are getting baptized. Anais is 7 and will likely get baptized next February. They are hilarious and so receptive and I am so grateful to have met them.

I have not seen Elder Swensen yet, sadly. And will not til our new pres gets here I assume but MOM I met Julia M. at a party at the Isles at BYU one of my last nights there. How random! I love that girl and would die happy to be her companion.

KK do you know Alyssa Smith from BYU nursing? I live with her and I love her and her cousin is Ryan Knect. Small world! He was your friend, right?

Meg: Sister Smith uses your perfume Tommy Boy and I teared up and died a little and decided I need to buy it next month because it made me so happy smelling your perfume.

So I was reading in my MTC devo journal that I should not let my mission pass me by. I need to taste the bitter and the sweet and that is what I am working on. It is so hard, but I am learning so much and recognizing so many blessings. I love this and the members. The ward mission leader, Brother Amyradakis is like my dad away from home. He is so thoughtful and takes such good care of us. And the Nipper family... Sist N reminds me of Lucero Smith and I die. I love our home ward.

I cannot remember if I told you that this ward is a zebra ward, so it is in Spanish and English. 50/50 and I love it. It helps my Spanish, which I NEED because like 80% of the people we meet here speak Spanish. I have met people from 15 different countries now. It is so cool!! I love the diversity. And I love Peruvian and Cuban food.

So let's talk about June 13. I pulled an Ally the night before and explained to the sisters that my half birthday was the next day and it's not like I was expecting a cake or anything, but I was. So I did not get cake, and my comp and I were planning for the next day, and in walk the two other sisters singing happy half birthday with A PACKAGE FROM THE BAKER FAMILY. I teared up because I knew it was going to be a good one and ohhhhhhh it was amazing. Party in a box. We all played with the treats and ate and goofed off for like 30 minutes and I felt like Shannon for a little and was so thrilled I could not sleep til like 11. The Bakers outdid themselves with a greenie package and I was proud to be a greenie there for that night. It is so humbling... the girls comment on how blessed and loved I must be. So thank you for all of the mail and the packages. My companion is a riot. I am learning lots about being low maintenance and it is exactly what I need.

I am so privileged to be serving and to have the support of so many wonderful people back home. Family... your letters are perfect and always exactly what I need. I am so happy to have forever with you all because I miss you tons and you are all so special. I miss being around people who know me so well and appreciate me. Soon enough I will be home!! But it is time for me to learn and grow and become the person the Lord wants me to be.

CON MUCHO AMOR!!!!

Hermana McCormick