We couldn't wear skirts because people would see up them walking up
the stairs! There's the Atlantic. How special it was...on this week
exactly one year ago, I was literally on the sand of the pacific, now
I am viewing the Atlantic :) and yes, I cut my hair....it was about
time! Getting rid of the light blonde slowly.

Say hello to my new companion! :) Sister Dixon

September 29, 2014 ~ Week 32

Hello family and friends!

This week was truly a wonderful week. A week full of happiness, tears, opportunities for growth, change, and progression. It is very common for a missionary to feel every emotion everyday. I think that I have come to know and experience every emotion in the book. 

Elder Golden from the quorum of the seventy came to my mission and held a Zone conference with all of the missionaries in the Florida Jacksonville Mission. There was a common theme that continually stood out to me. 'True discipleship'. Elder Golden repeatedly mentioned, "The Lord's requirement for true discipleship is to lose ourselves in service." With each requirement or commandment comes promised blessings from the Lord. "They who lose themselves in the service of others, will find joy, peace, and true happiness." What a magnificent calling that we all have to serve others. Not only will others feel loved, joy, peace, and happiness, but we will also be able to find this in ourselves. A change that will affect our nature forever, if we are consistently in the service of others.

I was privileged to serve in an area called Jullington Creek with my Sister Training Leader for two days. It was beautiful. It's about 45 minutes away from St. Augustine. It was basically an exact copy of Fleming Island. The members there are wonderful. We witnessed many miracles. We actually found a family to teach who lived in Fleming Island, the area I just came from so the Sisters over there will be very happy to meet them.

I also have a new companion! I just met her on Friday evening! She is so wonderful. Her name is Sister Dixon and she is from Highland, Utah. She has been out for almost 4 months. She graduated the same year as I did and is an artist. She has such an inspiring, powerful testimony of the gospel. She is so energetic and enthusiastic about missionary work! She has such a contagious, bubbly personality as well! I love serving with her!

The General Women's meeting was so amazing. I have no words for how spiritually uplifted I felt after coming out of that meeting. Every talk given was so inspired. One talk in particular though that I would like to focus on was President Uchtdorf's talk. His talk was about the divine worth of all of us as daughters of God. I wish I could quote him exactly, but this is what he said--Your worth as a daughter of God is not determined by physical worldly features, nor does it earn ever greater value in Heavenly Father's eyes. It's not a competition. He loves each and every one of you the same--and that love is too grand to even comprehend. I hope that each and every one of you Sisters that listened to it, felt how much Heavenly Father loves you so so dearly. And to all of you Sisters that did not get the chance to watch the Women's Conference, I invite you to watch it right now. Not only will you receive revelation for your life, but you will feel and know with a surety that you are so loved by Him. Here is the link. 

Don't forget General Conference as well! Come listen to the prophet of God, his twelve apostles and other leaders to see what they have to say to you. They have prepared their talks through much fasting, prayer, and inspiration, to see what God wants them to tell you. This Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5, at 9:00 and 1:00 on the BYU channel on TV. I am counting down the days! 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2014/10?lang=eng&vid=3810258135001&cid=9

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." D&C 18:10

Love, Sister McCook

September 23, 2014

A Sand Rose from the Gobi Desert... Very Rare!

Sean baptized on 9/14/14 So blessed to have been able to be a part of Little Sean's baptism yesterday. He has been a joy to teach. It was such a beautiful experience. So proud of you little buddy!

September 8, 2014 ~ Week 29

Hello family and friends! Happy Monday!

It's getting darker and darker each morning as I wake up to run. Fall is almost here! That is my favorite month out of the year. It is beginning feel breezy in the mornings and at night- cause: humidity, effect: sweater

We had many opportunities to serve this week. Service opportunities are coming out of nowhere! We have been truly blessed. I was able to do something that I have never done before. Paint a house. I didn't
realize that painting takes a lot of patience and exactness. We were painting with a member so it was a lot of fun! I would paint another house again in a heartbeat because I love to serve.

I attended a memorial service this weekend for a member of our ward. I knew him and taught him the gospel a little bit. He recently just passed away last Saturday. As I was sitting in the chapel pondering, I thought about the blessings and knowledge that we have here on Earth today to know that our families can be together forever. It doesn't just happen automatically, there is the power of God here on Earth today that binds families together forever in Holy temples. I have recently been asked this particular question a lot throughout my mission and even before I came out here to serve: "Why would you give
up 18 months of your life to serve a mission?" This verse describes it perfectly. The 'why' of missionary work. "...that perhaps [we] might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps [we] might bring them to know
of the plan of redemption." Alma 17:16. It is because I know how much this gospel has blessed my family and has blessed me individually as a daughter of God. I left my family for 18 months so that perhaps I
might be able to share with other families the blessings that Heavenly Father has waiting for them. I love this gospel with all of my heart. I have a testimony of the Plan of Happiness. I know that true joy comes from Jesus Christ.

Sean's baptism is this Sunday! It has been such a joy to teach him. He is so excited to be baptized. He asked me to give the talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am so happy! I hope that these six days fly by. I will send a picture next week!

A thought for the week:
I have been enjoying reading from the ensigns each month. I just received the September 2014 ensign and read my now most favorite quote-
"The struggle to break out of the cocoon develops the butterfly so it can fly. Without that adversity, the butterfly would never have the strength to achieve its destiny. It would never develop the strength
to become something extraordinary." 
I love this analogy. Throughout all of our personal struggles, whether it is hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly, we are actually becoming something extraordinary. Even though it may not seem like that at the moment. Heavenly Father is aware of every detail of our struggles, He is helping us to reach our full potential.

You will hear from me next Tuesday! It is already transfers next week.
I can't believe it!

Love, Sister McCook

September 1, 2014 ~ Week 28

Dear family and friends,
Happy Labor Day!

We are typing on the iPads today because the libraries are closed, so it might be a little short.

I watched the most inspiring talk this week given by Elder Bednar. It is called 'Share Goodness'. If I could attach the link, I absolutely would, but if you go on lds.org and type in the search bar 'Share Goodness', you will find his talk. It is about 45 minutes long. It is all about sharing the gospel on social media. He begins by sharing prophesies that are about the coming forth of technology and sharing the gospel on it, by Latter-Day prophets such as Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball, and Gordon B. Hinckley.  These prophesies have come to pass. Elder Bednar gives six ways that we can share the gospel on social media. I wrote down a list so that I could give them to the youth as we taught them about this just
yesterday.

1. Share Mormon messages
2. Share photos
3. Testimony/quotes
4. a. Instagram----> follow ldschurch_
    b. Twitter---> follow Elder Holland, Elder Ballard, and Elder Bednar
    c. Facebook
5. Use hashtags and trends
6. Talk about the new church produced film that is coming in theaters on October 11 called 'Meet the Mormons'.

Elder Bednar quotes scriptures from Moses 7 and talks about all of us coming together to 'sweep the earth as with a flood'. All of our efforts to share the gospel online as members of the church, each of us as we accept Elder Bednar's invitation to try a little better, represent a drop of water each time we share. Thus causing a flood that will never recede.  This talk inspired me so much, I am extremely blessed to be a Facebook missionary and to invite everyone everywhere to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but to help everyone succeed in sharing the gospel online. Please watch this talk!

I gave a talk this past Sunday about the scriptures. I love the scriptures. Everything about the scriptures is so inspiring. They are literally an instruction book for our lives. They can only act as an instruction book if we seek guidance from them. We can receive direct revelation from Heavenly Father for our lives. The scriptures were written by the power of the Holy Ghost. The prophets were guided in everything that they wrote. That's why we can feel the Spirit when we read them, 'by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.' I know that the scriptures are true.

I love all of you.
Make someone's day. #ShareGoodness

Love, Sister McCook