Ham and Potatoes

Happy Easter  to all y'all beautiful people!!

This week has been full of crazy miracles! I'll start off with my favorite....But cool story...So on Wednesday we went to visit a lady who was a member (Renee) who decided to remove her records. When we went over to her home and she expressed to us that she would like a priesthood blessing because she was going into back surgery the next day.  We arranged
everything and were able to get a hold of a member who was willing to
assist. He let us know that he would find a second priesthood holder to bring with him. When the two brethren arrived we invited them in and started to introduce them to Renee. Renee started screaming out for joy! At first we were confused… And then we found out that the second Priesthood holder that tagged along happen to be Renée's missionary, and baptized her many years ago! He had served in this area, moved away, then married someone from Ohio
and moved back here. It was so cool to see! The spirit was so strong when she received her blessing! That experience definitely open the door to us teaching her. She now is starting to entertain the thought of Getting Re-baptized:) so cool! 

This week I have been studying my Savior, Jesus Christ and his resurrection. By His Atonement and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome all aspects of the Fall. Physical death will be temporary, and even spiritual death has an end, in that all come back into the presence of God, at least temporarily, to be judged. We can have ultimate trust and confidence in His power to overcome all else and grant us everlasting life. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” - John 10:18

As a missionary I love Easter because Easter, along with Christmas, may be the only time in the whole year that some members find their way to church. I love meeting all the less actives in the ward. It's a great opportunity to help those who have maybe lost their way, find their way back by helping them feel welcome, missed, and loved. 

Remembering Jesus Christ and his resurrection can help us feel that much closer to the Godhead. As we continue to pray and follow God we can know what direction and path to take our lives. "When we decide to do “whatsoever [God] saith unto” us, we earnestly commit to align our everyday behavior with God’s will." - Elder Clayton. We must commit to God's will, even if we do not understand the "why." But Don't ask God to direct thy paths if you are not willing to move your feet. You must walk. That is something I have learned while being a missionary. I must walk. There is a point in everyone's life where you have to have God, because you have nothing else. Our job as missionaries is to make sure that when that point comes in the lives of others, that they know that God is right there. There is no one who fully knows what I go through but God. it's not easy, life is not easy. But if you have God it's possible. And It's not just possible.... it's fulfilling:) 

I promise if you continue to follow God to do the things that he asks life will always be fulfilling… Not always easy but always worth it.

Baked Beans

Hello beautiful people.

My new companion is Sister Holbrook! She is 20, 5'2", from AZ and
super cute! I love her lots! I'm still in Reynoldsburg and loving it
here! This area has really grown on me:)

I have been studying the importance of Joy this week. What is joy? Joy
is being happiness without cause or environment. President Hinckley
was a great example for having true joy.
How we can cultivate an attitude of happiness and a spirit of optimism.

President Hinckley's mother said, “a happy attitude and smiling
countenance could boost one over almost any misfortune and that every
individual was responsible for his own happiness.” I love this. Owning
up to our own joy. She also said," Cynics do not contribute, skeptics
do not create, doubters do not achieve." Having a positive attitude
and being joyful can bring us great opportunities in our lives. I have
guilty of struggling with being frustrated and sad depending on my
circumstances over the last few days. But it affects the work. It
affects the area,a don people around me. I realize that things tend to
go better when we have a joyful attitude and are optimistic. We choose
to be optimistic. Every day ought to be a good day in the mission
field.

People who are happy do not waste time pondering the past or fretting
about the future. And they persevere in spite of adversity.  Elder
Holland said, "Things will work out’ may well be President Hinckley’s
most repeated assurance to family, friends, and associates. ‘Keep
trying,’ he will say. ‘Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get discouraged.
Things will work out.’”

I know that even though things may not go the way we want they will
work out. We have every reason to be optimistic in this world. I have
too many blessings given to me and around me… That it would be
disrespectful to God if I wasn't happy. Stop seeking out the storms
and enjoy the sunlight I have been told.

And what a great and happy time to be celebrating the resurrection of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! Easter is coming up, and I am
beyond excited!!! I can't wait for Easter Sunday. Take this week to
count your many blessings and to find the joys in life. It may be hard
at times, but it will be worth it:) I promise.

Fish and Chips (Last Week)

I hope everyone enjoyed Conference! I love hearing from the Apostles
and the Prophet! Such an amazing and humbling experience!

One of My favorite talks was by L. Whitney Clayton. He talked about
committing even if we don't understand. He talked about Jesus Christ
and Mary, and how she had complete faith in Jesus even if she didn't
understand everything. That is how we need to be...we need to have
complete faith in the Savior, and God and his plans for us...no matter
the circumstance. Simple acts of faith. We don't know Gods time table
so we must have faith that he knows what he is doing.

I don't always know what God has in store for me, and I don't always
understand why things happen the way they do, but I have complete
trust and faith in him. And in turn, I am blessed. And I can see the
blessings. They don't always come when or how I want...but they do
come. Time is such a beautiful and interesting thing to think about.
Since we can't tell the future, we just gotta trust.

I also loved how much the Plan of Salvation was mentioned in this
general conference. So much to learn from knowing Gods plan for each
of us. I want to extend the invitation that I accepted from
conference. To study the Living Christ. In doing so, you will better
understand your Devine potential and purpose in this life. Study the
life of the savior.

This week has been really great...we have some great new
Investigators, and last night we had a fantastic and spirit filled
lesson with the Walters family! 4 out of the 6 are to be baptized on
May 6th!!! So awesome! I am so fortunate and blessed to have the
opportunity to teach those who are ready to come closer to Christ. I
am so fortunate to be Gods servant and instrument for good. I am
happiest when I am serving others. I have learned so much of myself
from my mission and there is on,y up from here ;)

Thank you everyone for the emails, letters, and packages:) they always
lift my spirits:) xoxoxo

Octupus, Clams, Shrimp and Crawfish!

This week went by so fast! So many good things happens this week. We
had exchanges on Thursday in a neighboring city called Pickerington.
My Grandma has been dying for me to serve there since my last name
used to be Pickering. Haha. I got to be companions with Sister Nelson.
I love her lots!! I served with her for about a week when I was in
Fairborn. She is so funny and really sweet. And it was her very last
exchange before she goes home! She leaves beginning of April!

We went to the baptism of an investigator named Keith on Saturday.
Sister Manns had been teaching him for a while in her last area, and
he asked her to speak at his baptism. It was a wonderful experience! I
love being present at Baptisms. The spirit is so strong and it's such
a joyful experience.

We went out to dinner with the Lysles. Sister Lysle is literally my
favorite person. She is so funny and has so much attitude:) she is so
hipster and cool. I want to be just like her when I grow up;) I'll
attach a pic. Anyway, they took us to a restaurant that had many
different varieties of seafood. I have never had octopus or muscles or
clams before, so I thought I'd try them all. Bad idea. I have never
felt so sick. Hahaha. Lesson learned. But at least I tried something
new!

The love of the Savior is so strong. Every person I meet I have so
much love for! And I don't even know them. I invite you all to open
your eyes this week, and everyone you meet, talk to, or simply just
look at...think to yourself that they are a daughter or son of God.
And I guarantee your Christlike love will increase and your love for
your fellow man will increase drastically:) ❤️

Put your hands in the air if you're excited for General Conference!!!!

Love,

Sister McCormick 💖

Alma 29:9

Hope all is well! Xoxo

Corned Beef and Cabbage

This week has been good! 

We were able to take a picture with Elder
Stevenson as a whole mission! Picture is attached:)

Something I learned this week is developing the face to find. Knowing
God has put people in my path to teach… People are ready and willing
to change. I must have the faith that I will continue to find these
people who are ready to hear God's message. 

Been devoted and diligent in the work. 

We met this girl named Britney Saturday morning. 

She is so ready for the gospel it is amazing! She had just gotten in a car
accident the week before and prayed for the first time since she was
little and a few hours later, we knocked on her door! Such a powerful
and spiritual experience! I am excited to teach her.

Easter is coming up... what a great time to be a missionary and
remember the savior! You just can't use our burdens through
repentance. But when we submit, we need to submit cheerfully and with
patients and not give up. This is what we teach others, we teach them
to repent but do so lovingly. Help from the Lord always follows
eternal law.

Scripture of the week…"they that preach the gospel... should live the
gospel." 1 Cor. 9:14

I love this! We must be our message. And help others to do so as well!

Hope everyone had a great st Patrick's Day! Xoxo

PHO

This week was Super INSPIRING!

Elder Stevenson of the Twelve and Elder Bennett of the Seventy came to
speak to us on Thursday!! They talked about how we can hasten the work
even more. They talked about how we can better promise blessings and
extend invitations, as well as some special direction and help when we
need it. 

I was so grateful to be able to shake an apostles hand! The
moment he walked in the room you could feel the Spirit so strong. It's
crazy how inspired and in-tune these men are with the Spirit. Shaking
his hand only confirmed that he is a man of God. What an example.

I learned a lot and something really stood out to me... Elder
Bennett's talk was on relying on our leaders. Specifically our Mission
President. Our Mission President has Certain Priesthood keys to help
him reside over the Ohio, Columbus Mission. We must rely on him and
trust his advice, direction and decisions. This stuck out to me
because I have received advice from my Mission President that I didn't
quite "like." I have had a few Minor medical issues, and he and his
wife's advice was not something I wanted to take. As a missionary you
are constantly out working, you don't want to stop for anything. I
have had to take a couple breaks advised from a higher authority and I
don't like it haha. But I need to rely on them and trust them. Great
humbling experience.

Reminded me of a quote from the one and only Gordon B. hinckley...."
Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good
things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it.
Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. … You
are a child of God, of infinite capacity.​​​​"  as I rely on God, I
will have the strength to accomplish any task at hand:) I know this to
be true!

I hope everyone is having a great week!!!! Stay Prayed up!!

Hope the video provides some uplift lol

https://youtu.be/UWQV2B0FNDk?list=RDUWQV2B0FNDk

Spinach Dip!

This week was amazing! Myanna was Baptized!! She is such a sweet
little girl, and Sister Manns and I love her a lot. Her Baptism went
really well. It was funny because Myannas only request was that the
water be warm. And the water was FREEZING! haha... but she was a good
sport and got baptized anyway. Lesson learned...When you want a Job
done right you got to do it yourself
haha.

This week we were teaching our investigator Kim Smith. She came to
church last Sunday and enjoyed it. We had a lesson on the Plan of
Salvation. When we started talking about our life here on earth I
shared the scripture, Alma 34:32. This is the time to prepare to meet
God. She had so many questions and one of her main ones being, "Why do
bad things happen to good people." This reminded me of a talk that I
had read that morning by Elder Evan A. Schmutz. I shared it with her.
It read...

" As part of our Heavenly Father’s plan, He allowed sorrow
to be woven into our mortal experience. While it seems that painful
trials fall unevenly on us, we can be assured that to one degree or
another, we all suffer and struggle. It is my prayer that the Holy
Spirit will guide us to a greater understanding why this must be so.
When we view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of
faith in Christ, we are able to see that there can be godly purpose in
our suffering. The faithful can experience the truth of Peter’s
seemingly contradictory counsel. He wrote, “If ye suffer for
righteousness’ sake, happy are ye.” As we apply our “hearts to
understanding,” we can increase in our ability to both endure our
trials well and learn from--and be refined by--them. Such
understanding provides an answer to the ageless question “Why do bad
things happen to good people?”"

It was perfect for her! The spirit was
so strong. We also shared a few other scriptures like Alma 31:30-31
that talk about praying for strength to endure your trials. It was
such a powerful lesson. I love being a missionary!

Sister Manns and I are best friends! (Don't worry Mariah, you ain't
replaced;)) I love her so much! We have similar personalities and we
get a long really well.... I couldn't have asked for a better
companion.

Missions are SO HARD, but well worth it!

Keep on keeping on.

1. ✂️
2.Dunked
3.Sister Manns be cute. Fly.
4.Tryna be artsy
5. Zone

Oatmeal Cream Pie

Sup in the 614!

This week I have a new companion!! Her name is Sister Manns!! She is
also half black! We get a long really well and have similar style:) I
got lucky:) I'll attach a pic:)

We have a baptism coming up this week! On March 4, 2017 Myanna is
getting baptized!!! We are excited for her… We have been only teaching
her for about two weeks before elders taught her. I think I explained
more in my last email. She is eight years old and a ball of fun. It's
so amazing to see little kids make the decision to be baptized at such
a young age. They understand the covenant they are making and the promise
they are making between them and God. It warms my heart.

This week sister Hopkins went home :/ but I am happy that she is home
with her family. I am sure she misses being a missionary but is happy
to be home. I am now the designated driver and I've been in the area
the longest. I am just so excited that I get to drive!!! Finally:)

I have been reading in the Book of Mormon about Captain Moroni and the
Title of Liberty.  I find captain Moroni so intriguing.  He is a boss.
Captain Moroni followed the directions of God and was prepared for
battle against the Lamanites. This makes me think of putting on the
"Armor or God." If we follow the commandments of God, we will be
prepared and the and the adversary will not be able to "sneak up" on
us. Alma 49:7&8

I love y'all! I love the Gospel and don't know where I would be without it!

Banana Pancakes

Yo yo yo.

This week has gone by pretty fast. Sister Hopkins leaves tomorrow! So
I will for sure be getting a new companion. I will find out later
today who that will be :-)

This week I have been focusing on being courageous and submissive.
Trying to please others before pleasing God is for the weak of faith,
a major stumbling block. Don't be afraid to offend when doing
what is right. I have learned to have courage to stand up for what I
believe in. The Savior always faced hisFfather. He loved and served his
fellow man. But he died not wanting honor from them. "Not my own will
but the will of the father which has sent me." John 5:30.  Christ's
amazing and inspiring example helps me to stand up for the Father and
gives me the power to never cower from the intimidation of any man.

Matthew 6:24, 3 Nephi 13:24
"The guilty taketh the truth to be hard for it cut of them to the very
center." 1 Nephi 16:2. This is something I constantly have in the back
of my mind when we are teaching others who defend their sins and
mistakes. I am not hear to judge I am here to be a guide those who
are humble enough to change.

Understanding which way I face helps me understand my true and full
potential. Missions are hard!  We are rejected and often misunderstood.
But I wouldn't change any of it… Even if I could… Because when we have
moments of success it makes all of the hardships worthwhile. Those
rewarding moments come from the spirit. When the spirit touches a
heart/soul for eternal good. My potential is great! Untapped.

It will not be easy, but when was anything worth it easy?

"Satan is the master at making sin look appealing to the undecided."
-someone unknown haha

We are still teaching the Walters family. They weren't able to come to
church this Sunday but we had a really good lesson with them
yesterday:) I love them so much! They are set to still be baptized in
March, they just need their mom's permission. They don't live with her
but she is against the Mormon religion and doesn't approve of her kids
wanting to be baptized. She says that they are too young to know what they
really want. It's really sad to see a parent who doesn't want to
accept the desires of their children's hearts. Especially being as
pure as they are. But we continue to pray and hope that their mother's
heart will be softened.

We have been teaching a young girl named Mayana. She is seven years
old. Even though she would technically not be a convert if she was
baptized when she turns eight we are still teaching her because her
parents aren't Mormon. She turns eight on the 25th of this month. She
understands so much and as a desire to be baptized on March 4th. She
is amazing...everyone calls her my mini me. We are very similar in
many ways...including looks:)  On Sunday Sister Hopkins gave a talk, so
she was sitting up on the stand. I was sitting alone with Mayana. A
couple who I haven't met in the ward yet thought I was her mom. They
asked me..."you're such a cute mom! Where is her father?" Hahahahahaha
I was like, can't you see my tag? I'm a missionary teaching Mayana.
Not her mom hahaha. Always embracing the awkward.

We are teaching a lot of people who are needing guidance and
Christlike love in their life. It's so amazing to be surrounded by so
many humble people! I love being a missionary!!! ❤️

Hope y'all are having a good week! Xoxox

Assorted Chocolates!

Happy Valentines Day!!! (Tomorrow)

This week I got 4 Wendy's gift cards from members!!! Let's just say my
love for Wendy's is spreading around the whole mission!! Lol 😝
💕💕👏🏽

This week was great! We are rounding up all our investigators. We have
been teaching a Less Active fir a while... his name is Tony Maston.
Well we've been looking for his records for some time now. He was
baptized when he was 10 but can't remember anything about the event
and has been inactive since he was 11. We have been teaching him all
the lessons and just found out he can be re baptized!! He is set to be
baptized mid March!! However, his wife is a devoted Lutheran. Wphes
trying to get her permission to be baptized!

Alyssa and Allison are still progressing! I love them so much! They
are also getting baptized in March! So much success comes from Fast
and Prayer!! I know that to be true! I have definitely gained a
testimony of Fasting on my mission.

This week I have been focusing a lot on patience. And the Power of
patience! Often, I hear investigators ask foolishly, “How could God do
this to me?” when really they should be praying for strength to
“beareth” and “endureth all things.” The greatest scriptural examples
of patience are found in the life of Jesus Christ. He endured that
excruciating night in Gethsemane as He asked God in His atoning agony,
“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). He
truly suffered and bore and endured all things. And when He was nailed
to the cross, Christ continued in His perfect example of patience as
He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Wow.
What an amazing example Christ has set for us. I have learned that
Patience is a gateway virtue. It contributes to the growth of its
fellow virtues of forgiveness, tolerance, charity, obedience, and
faith. ETC.  When Peter asked Christ how many times he should forgive
his brother, Christ replied, “Seventy times seven,” rather than the
original seven times Peter was willing to forgive. To forgive seventy
times seven certainly takes a large measure of patience.

I know I must be patient as I wait for the miracles to come as I
continue to pray for them. We can all pray for opportunities to share
the gospel and to be a light and an example and to others. No matter
if we have a missionary name tag or not. We have so many tools such as
social media... Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, texting,
Snapchat, you get the picture. We can use these tools to help hasten
the work and send messages and pictures and videos to people to help
uplift them and bring them closer to Christ. What a blessing God has
given us to be able to reach out to anyone at any time all around the
world. We as missionaries, have been inviting all to use social media
to help bring their fellow brothers and sisters to God.

I love this time to be a missionary. I have learned so much! And I
continue to Learn, I just need to be patient and the blessings will
come as I continue in faith.

If you are like me, and struggle being patient… Pray for patience and
I can promise you the Lord will help you. Even if it means testing
your patience by giving you a hard trial. I know without a doubt you
will grow and receive the answer to your prayer. I know, because I
have. Always be willing to forgive 70x7:)