This past week we had about 8 baptisms in our zone which is about a tenth of the whole mission’s baptismal goals! SO AWESOME!! The work is truly hastening!! The work is tough though. But it is so worth it when you meet those special people who seem very prepared to hear the gospel! One of these people was this guy named Gary. Super awesome native social worker guy. We tracted into him this past Saturday. We walked with him for a couple miles actually. But it was a super awesome way to teach someone! We basically taught him half of the plan of salvation, let him know that god loves us so much that he wants the best for us, and we got a return appointment! It was so awesome!!
We also had district meeting in Courtenay this past week which was awesome! We shared something that was assigned to us and I was assigned Helaman 5 and was asked to talk about Nephi and Lehi. I can’t believe how powerful that chapter is! Within the first 15 verses it states the word remember about 14 times I think. And recently, someone in our ward gave a talk on remembrance and how we can replace the word "remember" with "to be mindful of", so basically Helaman was throwing down on his sons to be really mindful of his teachings. So awesome! We then went to Bamboo Garden, a Chinese smorgasbord place. It wasn’t too bad.
Soon after Bamboo garden, the district leader and his companion came back with us to Port Alberni and did exchanges. Elder Johnston and I went to go see this lady named Florence Michael. She is this wonderful small and sweet native lady. So soft-spoken but so humble. We were heading to the lesson, trying to figure out what to teach her and I had absolutely no idea what to teach her since I just briefly met her at church. It’s always awesome how the Lord works because we figured out about 10 minutes of being there that she was preparing to go to the temple! Poor Elder Johnston had no idea that I was going to change the lesson right then and there, but I just went with it. And it was the best lesson ever! We had "The Birdies" story with us and a sweet sweet spirit filled the room. Such a good lesson. Exchanges are definitely the best.
This past Friday probably had the best lesson though. We met with this recent convert named Elaine. We decided to talk about temple work again and kept it along the same outline as Florence’s lesson. What a beautiful lesson. I shared "The Birdies" story again once more, and I felt the spirit so strongly as I read it, and she did too. My eyes started to tear up and she was crying a little as well. It’s so amazing how talking about the temple can bring such great emotion. It’s always a spiritual recharge to see these people prepare for the temple and I am ever so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of their conversion.
The rest of the week failed in comparison to the spirit that I felt at that lesson. It was still a good week however. I am really starting to get my Canadian accent though. I say "eh" a lot... I’m starting to say bag like beg... pasta is past-a now...
Other than that things are going pretty good. We have transfer calls tonight. I wonder what is going to happen tonight... Imagining my companion leaving is kind of hard because we have learned to love each other, and I can’t imagine thinking that Port Alberni is going to become more of my responsibility if he does get transferred. But I KNOW that the Lord is there for me constantly no matter how many mistakes I make, and I take great comfort in that. I am coming ever more closer to my Savior each day and I am loving it!
I hope thanksgiving is going to go well! This past week, we got these cheap rolls from the grocery store and had jam in the fridge.... it truly failed in comparison to the homemade lion house dinner rolls and homemade strawberry jam...
Pday was pretty good though... nice and relaxing... we went to this place called Boomerang Cafe.... and guess what.... I HAD A KANGAROO BURGER AND EMU BURGER!!! I think I failed to mention that I like burgers now, partly because Canadian beef is so much better, but I have to say, the Emu burger was a lot better than the kangaroo. Kangaroo was a little gamey. But other than that, we really just relaxed.
I sure hope everything is going great at home and I love you all so much!
Love,
Elder McCown
