The highlights of this week were that we were able to invite someone to be baptized almost every day. We applied the challenge and blessing given to us by Elder Andersen that if we pray for the opportunity to invite some to be baptized everyday, then God will give us the opportunity. These were the experiences!
1. Marcus. We knocked on his door trying to contact someone named Rahshida.
Turns out that she actually moved out awhile back so we taught Marcus! He has a
cute five year old daughter named McKenzie. We taught him twice and then invited
him to be baptized. And he is ready for February 28!
2. Alyssa. Sister Aure and I were on a tradeoff. I stayed here in Arlington
and we had to fill up the gas tank. Well, we saw a woman filling the gas tank
right next to us and so we talked with her. Taught her the Restoration. We came
back just on Tuesday night last week and read the Book of
Mormon. She loved the footnotes that she could use to connect to the Bible. She
wants to be baptized on her birthday on February 22!
3. Josiah. He actually lives in Madagascar and he found me on Facebook. He
is so excited to keep learning that he actually asked if we could bring our
church to Madagascar. So grateful for the blessing of the Church being
worldwide, that there is already one there! So he is working towards baptism as
well!
4. DeAndra. We knocked on her door and her parents don't mind us teaching
her. She is actually a junior in high school who is just searching for truth and
a church to go to. We are excited to bring the young women to come teach with us
this upcoming week and DeAndra wants to pick her own date to be baptized!
5. Manny. We were told by other missionaries to go teach him because he
wanted to meet with them in his office, but his office was in our area, so we
brought a member along and taught him our unique message of the Restoration of
the Church of Jesus Christ. He read the Book of Mormon in three weeks time and
said that if he prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon is true and our
teachings were true, then he would have no choice but to join the Church. So we
found out he actually lives in the area right next to us. The Sisters went to
teach him this past Saturday and he will be baptized on February
21!
There are miracles happening all over.
This talk/announcement was all over my mind yesterday as I was sitting in
Sacrament meeting and throughout the rest of the hours of Church: by the
prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. The first talk that he gave to welcome us
to conference in October 2012. I downloaded the video recording of it so I could
listen to it whenever I wanted to. As I was listening to it, I thought about how
wonderful it is for every missionary preparing or out in the field right now,
but in particular how special it is to my brother and I. This is what it talks
about. How we are a temple building people. At the time in 2012, we had 139
temples open with 27 under construction. President Monson announced that a
temple would be built in Tucson, AZ and in Arequipa, Peru. Where we are from,
and where currently my brother is serving the Lord. It also announced the age
change of missionary service for both young men and young women. As I was
listening to the prophet of God say this, "As we have prayerfully pondered the
age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given
consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased
to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be
recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21." I
could not help but be filled with the Spirit and burst into tears without fail
every time a played this on repeat. It is a consistent reaffirmation of my call
to serve given to me by a prophet of God, coming directly from the Lord. I love
being a missionary. And if I could persuade every young women in the entire
world to serve a mission, that would be my greatest yearning. What a privilege
it is to be a Sister Missionary right now.
Love, Sister McCook
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