Adventures of a Californian Sister!: Week 3!

Wow i love hearing from my family! Momma thank you so much for your email. It made me so happy to hear everything that is going on at home. I'm glad to hear that everyone is keeping busy and having fun! I miss you all so much!!

Oh man I love my district we have so much fun together! Sometimes, okay all the time, Hermana Michalsky and I have to remind the Elders that we are supposed to be studying, they are getting better though! I think the closer that it gets to us leaving the more real it becomes to them and they realize that they need to focus more. I am proud of them and they are really progressing.

As for my Spanish... It is coming... Haha. I do a pretty good job at understanding it.. as for speaking it, I´ve got a long way to go. I have the most incredible support on my side though, Jesus Christ. He is with me every step of the way and I know it is because of Him that all things are possible. I definitely should use the song method mom! Good idea :)

Mom guess what! The Coopers were in Hermana Michalsky's ward until she was 12! What a loco pequeno mundo. And yes, I think that a memory card would be great! Although I am really hoping that we have computers in Redlands that will read my card.. I will let you know!

My favorite part of the CCM is the teachers and the spirit that is here! It is so incredible. I love how we all have one purpose here and we all work together and support one another in that purpose, to bring others unto Christ. It is a beautiful site to see all of us together and singing hymns, even though the are in Spanish, the spirit knows all languages, so it is always present. Meal times are the best times. We love them because it means that we aren't studying haha. The food took a little bit of getting used to, but now I love it. I always eat so much. It is no buneo haha. And plus they have nutella!!! I have some at least once a day haha. Hermana Michalsky and I woke up early today to make sure we got in a run because we both have been eating so much of that fatty goodness.

The hardest part of the CCM for me so far has been adjusting to the language. It's frustrating when you want to say something in Spanish and I know how to say it in English, obviously.. But I can't. I got upset with myself one time during a lesson and I froze and couldn't say anything because I was upset and it threw me completely off. I left the lesson feeling a huge doubt that I could ever learn the language and be the type of missionary that I need to be. And then I remember the fact that I was called to a Spanish speaking mission by the prophet Thomas S. Monson. I realized that I needed to humble myself and come to the knowledge that it is not what I say or teach that is important, it is was the investigator, or whomever I am teaching, hears and feels. The spirit that is felt is the most important thing in the lesson, the communication between the spirit and the investigator is what testifies of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These past few weeks have been so humbling and I have my testimony has grown immensely. I have learned to rely on the Lord in more ways than I ever have before. This work is not possible without Him because it is His work. I feel so grateful that He has entrusted me to be His servant and help others come unto Christ.

I had a really amazing Spiritual experience, I got to be an investigator in one of our classes, we came up with different situations that we could see different investigators being in. I was a girl named Carmen and she knew that the church was true and everything but she wouldn't get baptized because her parents said that the church was of the devil and they would disown her. I thought that there was no way that this 18 year old girl would join... And I was her! But as my teacher testified of families and how the only one who could reach them and help them and then asked if would be baptized there was no way that I could say no. The spirit is so incredible. It is what testifies of the truth of all things. it was incredible to feel her accepting the gospel and knowing that it was true. Without the spirit there is no conversion. I hope one day to be the type of missionary that my teachers are, to be like Alma and Paul and Jesus Christ. To even come close to being the type of missionary that my Savior was would be incredible.

This work is hard but it is worth it.

Doctrine and Covenants 18: 14-16

14 Wherefore, you are called to ^acry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one ^asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csouls unto me!

We get to watch conference this weekend!! I am so excited. I can't wait to hear revelation given to our prophet and apostles from God. It is the best part of the year, and I love that it happens twice a year! The sisters will be watching relief society while the Elders are watching Priesthood. I can't wait til we can watch conference together again momma :)

I am so grateful to have such loving and supportive parents. I have truly been born of goodly parents. Thank you daddy and mom for teaching me the gospel and being the most incredible examples to me. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and for the blessings that I have seen and received. The church is truly the Lord's kingdom on this earth. I love all of you and pray for you everyday. I miss you all!

xoxo

Hermana McCartt

Pictures to come!!

Our Texan, Hermana Lister!