Dear Family &
Friends,
I began my week on
Monday night after the work was finished for the day with a phone call from
President Craig saying that we will be going on an open-ended trade off with a
companionship in Orange Park. So there we
went, packing my bags like the speed of lightening and off we were. It was a nice 30 minute drive into the Orange
Park area.
I was able to serve with
Sister Linton who was just finishing up her training. I enjoyed that opportunity to serve with her and
train her the final week. I was with her
all the way up until Saturday morning. One of my favorite miracles that we had was on
Friday. We walked out of a member's home
and noticed a woman watering her plants. We found her name was Ida and we asked her if
she has ever had an opportunity to learn about the Book of Mormon. She said that she had but the interesting part
is that she just moved from New York where she was given a Book of Mormon. When she made the move, she couldn't find her
Book of Mormon and has been searching for one ever since. We had the member, Alice, standing there
across the way share her testimony of the Book of Mormon with her neighbor
friend Ida and Ida was very excited to ask questions to Alice as well as learn
the restored gospel from us. After this
beautiful teaching moment, we talked with Alice and she mentioned that she
couldn't believe that someone right across from her has been looking for a Book
of Mormon for that long and she hadn't talked with her. That was an eye opener
for me as well. I wonder how many people
that I lived by in Arizona were searching for the Book of Mormon and I just
didn't talk with them. I am looking
forward to meeting them :)
I have gained a greater
appreciation for technology this week as Sister Sandberg and I had to prepare a
Mission Leadership Council training over the phone because we were on this long
trade off.
Sister Sandberg and I
were jumping for joy when we finally were able to be together again on the 4th
of July. What a happy day! We spent the day teaching, doing service,
finding people, and knocking doors. There really are a lot of wonderful people
out here in the world that have their own story, and great beliefs and values
of the gospel.
We had a ward activity
that was suppose to be at the lake, but we were rained out so we enjoyed a BBQ
inside the Church and afterwards when the rain calmed, we were able to enjoy fireworks.
I had a great insight in
the Book of Mormon on Sunday reading in 1 Nephi 10 with the focus on helping
others to repent. As I read a verse
towards the end, it talks about how "no unclean thing
can dwell with God" who is our Father in Heaven. I pondered and I thought about my
relationship with my dad. Both my
parents are my inspirations and I love them. I thought about what it would be like to not
live with my dad again; it was a very sad feeling. Now in context with the scripture, if we
aren't repenting daily-choosing to change and become, then we cannot live with
our Heavenly Father who created us. That
thought, too made me sad, but how grateful I am for a Savior who understands
and will help us to change when we fall short. It's one of Heavenly Father's expressions of
love towards us His children.
Well, as you know
tomorrow is transfers and I am sad to say that Sister Sandberg is leaving me to
go be a trainer in the St. Johns Rivers area in Southern Jax. We had so much fun together these past six
weeks. I learned a lot from her. She relies on the Spirit for creativity, she
establishes her purpose and invites EVERYONE to be baptized, she knows how to
love others like the Savior, and she always, always puts others in front of
herself.
I do know who my new
companion is because I've been on two tradeoffs with her! It is Sister Clay!! :) She will be my 10th and
final companion in the mission field.
What a great 6 weeks to
look forward to!
Love, Sister McCook
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