Sour Blasted Cherries & Big Gulps

HEYYYYYYYY FAMILY!!! HOWS A GOING?!?!?

Everything has been going great here in Port Alberni!! I got to go to Nanaimo this past week! Such an awesome place! So much fun! I got paired up with one of my zone leaders! Such an awesome example! Well so much has happened this week! As I said I spent a couple days in Nanaimo! Nanaimo is awesome! SOOOOO much bigger than Port Alberni!!! In Port Alberni we spend most of our day going door to door. In Nanaimo though, you can actually go street contacting! So awesome! Kind of scared for the first time though. The first time we did it, we went to a bus stop next to a mall, so it was pretty busy. Sooo, for the past couple weeks I have been with my companion for nearly every conversation I have had. I think the lord realized I was getting too comfortable with that, and decided to give Elder Camp the revelation to go to the bus stop. Well, as people we only grow when we are out of our comfort zone. So, oh so wise Elder Camp said "you go over here, and I will go over there to talk to people." kind of FREAKY RIGHT?!? To talk to someone about the gospel by myself was kind of freaky at first. I’m pretty sure he thought I was the weirdest person ever but that’s ok lol. I got used to it though! I really learned what works better for me and that the lord really does speak through you! So awesome! AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! I have grown so much just from that experience!!! We then went and got pizza, big gulps and the most delicious candy ever!! SOUR BLASTED CHERRIES!!! sooooo gooooood.... but yeah. We then planned for the following week because we couldn’t be out on Halloween.  Before we went to the bus stop though we were out going door to door. We then decided to go into a mobile home area.  Mobile home areas are AWESOME to go tracting in because they are so close together!  We were going door to door, and this old hobo looking guy opens the door. As missionaries we do our usual shpeel and he cuts us off in the middle of it. He says "I’m a Buddhist!  Get out of here! YOU ARENT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!" he also added a variety of colorful words in there if I might add. As missionaries, we have to be nice with people of course the only thing I could muster was a smile. Thank goodness Elder Camp has some more charity and experience than me and said "have a wonderful day!" next thing we know, as we are knocking on another door, a truck pulls up next to us and told us to get out of the area. Turns out, it was the person in charge of taking care of all the mobile homes. Now I can say that I have been kicked out of a mobile home area! So much fun with Elder Camp! Sunday was awesome too!  We got to go pick up this elderly man at the hospital who can’t walk because of an injury and can’t speak because of a recent stroke. It was awesome to see him there at church! So many miracles have happened this past week! I have learned so much!  Another thing that I learned from Elder Camp this past week was how to help your weaknesses become strong. He told me that he would go to the Christ like attribute section of preach my gospel, pick a subject and study and apply it for a week. I’ve learned so much from that!

Monday was awesome too! We spent the day in Victoria and got to go to zone conference! We got to watch MEET THE MORMONS!!! SOOOOO AWESOME!!! I learned so much from my mission president!  He is so inspired! He and his wife are so loving and awesome! MY favorite part about the movie was the candy bomber. SO AWESOME!!! I ALSO GOT YOUR PACKAGE!!! I AM SOOOOOOO GREEN!!!! AND THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!! everyone was super jelly!!

SO I have been to Hole in the Wall! and it was awesome! We went to cathedral grove this morning. That was where they filmed part of the Star Wars movie. Dad, I can’t imagine what it would be like for you if you were here right now. You would be running on 5 hour energy drinks for a week straight and I can promise you that you would not be able to capture a fraction of beauty that this place holds. it is so out of this world!

Walmart is where we usually shop and DQ sometimes!  We do laundry at a couples house, they own a bed and breakfast. Members are awesome!  We also got to play volleyball this morning too! Bet ya’ll can’t imagine how happy I was!! So much fun with about 7 other elders there!!
Well hope everything is going great at home! I can’t believe that I have been out a month already! Time flies by soooo fast!! God be with you till we meet again!!

Love

Elder McCown

Knocking Doors

Hi Hi Mommy…

Haha yeah!! I had to get something for the luggage but we get that reimbursed in about a week!!  Things are going great here in Port Alberni! Almost everything is going perfectly, except for me and my companion sadly. It’s kind of hard to work with someone that has lived a completely different lifestyle and has a completely different view on things and I am starting to only get used to the missionary life. ISNT THAT CRAZY!!! I can’t believe I ran into Bro. Riggs, even though I had no idea who he was.  Such a small world.  The mission field has been great though. A little degrading to be knocking on doors all day though and not get any interests, but that’s okay!!  Gotta keep an upbeat attitude right?!?! Sure seems like ya’ll are having a lot of fun!!  I sure miss all of you!!   The best part about this week is that we have someone who has a baptismal date!!!  Her name is M and she is just excited about everything!!  We just have to get her off of tea and get her to two more sacrament meetings and she is golden!!  This has been awesome being able to meet all of these people. Port Alberni is mainly older and retired people. The ward is so small, about 60-70 people.  They are all so nice though. The ward mission leaders work really well with us and help us out whenever they can at lessons.  The days here seem really long, but the weeks are short.  Time goes by so differently on a mission. There is also another lady that we tracted into this past week, and she is awesome!  Her name is M, she is divorced and has three kids, and literally said that she was seeking for some more guidance in her life and that she was looking for other churches! We were so excited.  When we met her and we went and visited her the next day. I have come so much closer to my savior this past week. The trials of patience and weariness have been taxing but with the lord I have managed to be able to get through all of it. P-days are honestly the best days though. It’s so nice to be able to sit down and relax every once and a while and prepare for the rest of the week. I really wish we could go trick or treating this week. Apparently Halloween is a big thing here in Canada. I would probably dress up as a missionary lol. So how has everyone been doing?? I heard Megan made the soccer team which is awesome!!!
Sure miss and love ya’ll a bunches

Love

Elder McCown

Rain...Green...Mexican...

Hi MOM!!!

Elder Webb & Elder Olson & Elder McCown

I am on Vancouver Island!!! I'm in Port Alberni!!! Sooooo pretty!! And SOOOOOO GREEEN!!! I have enjoyed nearly every minute here on the island and the work is great. It just rains every... single.... day..... But I'm good on the coat. One of the previous elders had left a coat behind and I’m just going to hold onto it so I think I will be fine.  My new companion is Elder Webb. He's kind of goofy but really nice.  I have enjoyed learning so much. I' m hungry all the time though!!! It sucks being poor . jkjk.  We are actually doing just fine.  The members apparently will feed us a lot which is good because everything is expensive here on the island. And yeah... dad should be very jealous.... it's sooooo beautiful and green.  There is a place here where they filmed part of the star wars movies.  We haven't been there yet but we plan on going next pday.  So how is everyone been at home?!!? ya'll miss me yet?!? I sure miss you guys.  I have learned a lot about how to not function with any sleep these past couple days.  When you go to sleep... it feels like when you wake up you only took a 20 minutes nap. Thank goodness the Lord is there to get me through the day.  We went to a Mexican restaurant place today.... it shouldn't be considered a Mexican restaurant from my point of view. soooo bland.  Everything is going great!!! My companion is very stressed though, but I think that's why we have been called to be companions.  I kind of balance him out in a way I think.  Well I sure miss ya’ll and hope to hear from you soon!!

Love

Elder McCown

Last MTC Night....The District & Brixton Gardner (#1 Teacher)

This is the last night for Elder McCown in the Provo MTC.  He is so pumped and excited for his new adventure.  He has grown to love his district and is ready for the next step.

Brixton Gardner (awesome teacher) & Elder McCown

The District

Sad to leave Brixton

Heading to the airport

Piano Battle

Hey Mom

Haha! yeah! Dads right! Thats what the MTC is all about! Ive been studying like never before! and guess what.... I CAN CALL WHEN I GET TO THE AIRPORT!!! Ill probably call between 8am and 10 am just to let you know! my schedule in the mtc consists of me getting up, praying, studying, breakfast, praying, studying, lunch, praying, studying, dinner, and guess what!! more praying and studying until 930!! I then have quiet time, study a little more, write in my journal and have zone conference with all the Elders.  That is the best part of the day.  I would have to say that it has become more like story time though because I breakout dads stories and all of the elders love them! Seeing the Elders head out this past week was pretty hard to do because i grew to love them so much! But i have grown to love a new set of Elders and it has kept me focused on the work!! My companion is from sandy, utah and we get a long great.  I have to admit that i end up on dominating most of the conversations in role plays, but he gets in there somehow.  The MTC has been very humbling though.  I have gotten so much closer to my savior and I have learned to love like him. My teaching seems to be getting a lot better.  My knowledge of the gospel has increased exponentially and I cant wait to gain a better testimony. So, funny experience this past week.  I was learning a new hymn for sacrament yesterday, (which i totally screwed up on lol) and as I was practicing, I heard someone in the next room playing the same song as me.  He started playing another song and stopped... And then... all of the sudden... WE BROKE OUT IN A FULL ON PIANO BATTLE!!! It was so much fun and we were playing songs like no other!!! He came in after a couple minutes and we just started talking about songs that we had learned.  So funny lol. I cant wait to get out in the mission field though.  spending all this time studying has made me go a little crazy... like maybe sedona crazy... One of the other sisters is just like you mom!! When we start laughing we just start laughing off of each other! She is so funny!  I sure miss you guys and I love hearing how you are all doing.  Keep me updated and tell everyone that I love them!

Love

Elder McCown

Hey dad!

The life of a missionary has been awesome and exhausting all at the same time! The missionary numbers have grown a lot since you went out.  There are about 88,000 missionaries in the field right now and it is estimated that that there is a statistic for those that are just in the MTC, will baptize will at least baptize 2 people. That adds up to about 10,000 people! SO CRAZY!!!! I cant believe I leave this though!!! I have had moments where getting out and loving is all I can think about!!! I get homesick a little every once and a while though, but I have lost myself in the love for my zone and district, and they are all like a whole new family to me.  I wanted to share an experience with you and the family, but it will be better to tell you when I call you guys from the airport THIS COMING WEDNESDAY!!!! They give us time to make phone calls from the airport before we leave!!! SO EXCITING!! Ill probably call sometime after 8 am and before 10 am just to let you know.  And thank you so much for the stories.  The elders that left this past Monday came up to me after i shared the stories and told me that I have taught them so much because of the stories.  Thank you so much again and because of you, I have been able to touch the lives of many missionaries in my district!! Love you guys and see you in 1 year 11 months and 2 weeks!!!

Love

Elder McCown

Yipeee...1st Letter

Hola Familia!!!!

I sure miss you guys a lot!!! Yeah!!! The talks were great in general conference.  I have never felt the spirit so strongly, I have never been so hungry, I have never been so impatient to get out into the mission field, I have never grown to love a group of men so quickly, and I have NEVER EVER EVER been soooo tired.  The MTC is honestly the most spiritually, physically and mentally draining place on earth!!! BUT IT’S AWESOME!!!! So weird huh?!?!?

So this past Sunday, I felt the spirit like no other.  There was of course general conference and that is already spiritually enlightening, but then we had a devotional by vai sekahema. This guy was a pro football player and served in South Dakota.  His testimony was so enlightening and he reduced our stress immensely because of how funny he was.  It was after that talk that my companion (elder Tillman) and I, listened to a talk by David Bednar.  That talk... Was a slap in the face.... But yet it was so amazing at the same time!!! So weird lol, but anyway, he told us very boldly saying “This mission is not about you. It’s not about your success. It is not about what you want.  Get over yourself and turn outward." Elder Tillman and I just looked at each other in awe after that was said.  He also told us that we need not only have a testimony, but we need to be truly converted to the gospel, and have continual conversion because if we don’t, we will surely fall."  So  powerful...

Soon after (forgot to mention that my companion and I are now zone leaders) we had a devotional as a zone.  And this is when all the men get together and we have a deep spiritual moment.  So what do we do when we have been cooped up in classes all day?! We hug each other... (Hope you understand that joke), but seriously we do hug each other.  One night we were wrestling, the other night we were doing arm wrestles. But not this night.  It was my turn to share a spiritual thought.  And of course being my father’s son, I shared a story.  Man did I bawl like a baby!! I had shared The Bridge, The birdcage and I’ll find you my friend.  There were very few dry eyes last night.  I cannot believe how much I love them. This zone means so much to me and I cannot bear the fact that all of them besides me and my roommates will be leaving tomorrow morning.  Such a sad thought.   But I know that all of them are going to do awesome and that they will serve diligently. I have come so much closer to my savior and I feel that I am truly becoming converted to the gospel.  I have learned to love more than ever. I love you guys and I can’t wait to see you in two years!!!

Love you!!!


Elder McCown