and another week bites the dust!

HELLO!!!

can i just say how amazing missionary work is, yes it is hard, but man it is fun!

my greenie keeps reminding me of that, i prefer the planning side to going door to door, but with her its the opposite, and she is teaching me her ways!

really it is crazy white washing an area, i have more time this week so i will explain more fully. so we got moved randomly into an area, then we have to start from scratch, no appointments, we only had one really solid potential investigator (some one who is looking at the church), but its crazy how much work we have been able to get done!!

.... i dont know what to say

so i will talk about granite mountain some more!
its really cool just seeing how just a new set of missionaries can excite a ward, we have gotten SO MANY referrals!! just all... all the referrals :) which is like giving a kid a piece of his/her favorite candy i have decided.

 really the work is great and my greenie is great!! also my other companion is too i guess :)

i just... i just love being a missionary, like alot! it is just crazy to me how i can show up on someones door and just immediately love the heck out of them, then they slam the door in my face and i knock on the next one and i love that person!

i just want to testify of the realness of God today. I KNOW that he is there, i was almost in tears this morning, (just from reasons) but he comforted me, and every day as i have been fighting my depression, he gives me the courage and strength to keep moving forward, to keep hoping, and to keep trying, despite how hard my trials may be. My sister got in a car crash, and yet some how, she and her family were miraculously protected. We almost got in a wreck once when sister hederson was my companion, somebody randomly stopped, and we bumped their bumper (so that is why it is called that) but we all got out of the car, and there wasnt a dent or scratch on either vehicle. we had hit just slow enough and just as he started to roll forward,so the momentum easily transferred over.

we were talking in gospel principles on sunday about how we know Heavenly Father is there, and how we know he loves us. and for each person it is different, but for me it is all the small things, its the sun always rising and always setting, its the perfect distance we are from the sun, its a breeze right when i need it or seeing snow on the distant superstition mountains right when i am missing home or just a random person being like hey i am going to hug you when i am having a rough day. there are just to many and too big of coincidences to be coincidences! i am so grateful for my heavenly father and the example he is to me!

alma 30:37-45

 37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? 38 And he answered, Nay. 39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that  there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know  there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. 40 And now what evidence  have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that  ye have  none, save it be your word only.41 But, behold, I have all things as a  testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a  testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things  are true? 42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a  lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in  you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.43 And now Korihor said  unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. 44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs  enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets?  The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God;  yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its  motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do  witness that there is a Supreme Creator.45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet  will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

i give you my personal witness that There is a Heavenly Father, and also a Christ!

man, i have no idea what is fun for me to write, (any requests?) we were seriously considering biking 12 miles to church because we have a limited amount of miles, like if it did not cut into our proselyting time we would have done it!

apparently if the top of a cactus gets frozen it stops growing..... so yeah this happens :) 

also, if anyone wants to get up to date on the zany adventures of Sister Cordon Feel free to check out sistermcordon.blogspot.com (man that totally sounded like i was selling something #shamelesplacementisshameless? nah i just thought i would add it :)..)

POWER TRIO!

Staying in Flo!

McKayla Shelby cordon <mckayla.cordon@myldsmail.net>	Mon, Dec 26, 2016 at 11:20 AM
hey friends and family!! so i was not transferred quite yet! staying in flo! but sister Henderson is being transferred :) Christmas was amazing! i got to talk to my family (who are amazing) and it was just a blast!   1 .this is a road in my area... yup not driving on it for a while! 2  Arizona has pretty sky scenery 3. how we celebrated Christmas  so my companion is getting transferred but i am staying in magma ranch for a while!!  can i just say how amazing Christmas is? really! we get to celebrate our savior! not just because he was born, but because we know what he has done for us! so sister Henderson and i matched on Christmas on purpose... we didn't get a pic but sister Ord sent one to my parents so hopefully it goes on the blog (hint hint!) we are really just dorks, like honestly! we were trying to push each other over by leaning on each other as we walked yesterday as we were caroling as a zone! we tackle each other and its just a blast! but yeah she is going to be transferred, but i know i will love my next companion(whoever they may be) just as much! and i love all of you so very much, thank you for all the love and support you have given me during this time, many have asked me if i am happy! and yes! yes i am! i love you all! really i am not just saying that! i love each one of you so very very much!! love sister cordon (Hermana, Sestra, Mckayla whatever you please!)

never mind!

hey friends and family!!

so i was not transferred quite yet! staying in flo! but sister henderson is being transferred :)

christmas was amazing! i got to talk to my family (who are amazing) and it was just a blast!

1.arizona has pretty sky scenery

2 how we celebrated christmas

3. this is a road in my area... yup not driving on it for a while!

 so my conpanion is getting transeferred but i am staying in magma ranch for a while!! 

can i just say how amazing christmas is? really! we get to celebrate our savior! not just because he was born, but because we know what he has done for us!

so sister henderson and i matched on christmas on purpose... we didnt get a pic but sister ord sent one to my parents so hopefully it goes on the blog (hint hint!)

we are really just dorks, like honestly! we were trying to push eachother over by leaning on eachother as we walked yesterday as we were caroliing as a zone! we tackle each other and its just a blast! but yeah she is going to be transferred, but i know i will love my next companion(whoever they may be) just as much!

and i love all of you so very much, thank you for all the love and support you have given me during this time, many have asked me if i am happy! and yes! yes i am!

i love you all! really i am not just saying that! i love each one of you so very very much!!

love sister cordon

(hermana, sestra, mckayla whatever you please!)

not a bunch of time but CHRISTMAS!!!!

Saw this and thought it was the bomb diggity....
because ITS TRUE!!!

Me with a cactus in a place in Florence called
Cactus Forest... so many cacti :)

Corona kids!!!! All but the youngest got baptized!!!

hello friends and family!!! so sorry this one is going to be short, we have a mission Christmas party today :) i really like these pictures :) also can i just say how much i love Christmas? like really Christmas is awesome! also i sent some awesome videos of us being dorks... you are welcome :)

we had a baptism!!  it was so cool watching the baptism, the dad got the okay to do it, and it was amazing, the little girl, Taylor told us afterwards that she felt clean. and then the oldest got the priesthood!! it was cool just feeling the spirit there, really, if your testimony is ever wavering, go to a baptism, talk about the confirmation that all we say as missionaries is true!! really Heavenly father loves us, and the atonement of Jesus Christ is real! he is our savior! and we can be cleansed from all of life's stains. it was amazing, watching as each one was baptized, the dad asked each one if they were ready, him being less active in the past, he knew how much the covenants(promises) we make really mean. and they each said yes! then he said the prayer, and put them under the water, each time, you could feel the spirit in the air as it washed away everything! then each one looked up at their dad and beamed at him, then they looked to us and smiled! their mom was crying, we were crying, it was just a blast! then their mom gave us and two other sisters that started to work with them before us a present, it was a necklace and a set of earrings saying that sisters make the best friends, she told us that if it wasn't for us her family would have never been walking through the church doors. it was so cool! she was like this is so you will not forget us when you get off your missions and go on in life and i was like SISTER CORONA I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU! like really! the friendships you make on a mission are so crazy!! i really am going to pick up sister Henderson, drive down here, stay with the Stoddards, Ketchers, and who knows who else i will acquire on my mission, then pick up sister Corona, and go to Disneyland in 18 months when i get home. really its going to be a Disney road trip!! (and i am going to hug a few of the brothers in this mission because i cant right now)

well that is really it for this week, have a merry merry Christmas, remember that i love all of you and that so does Heavenly Father! if you ever feel like you are not worthy of that love STOP IT!! and email me and i will type out how much Heavenly Father loves you BECAUSE HE DOES!!! isnt that cool? like literally if you pray and ask, you will have a literal member of the Godhead answer you with a resounding YES. try it! it works! (if you want it too)

love you all!
sister, hermana, sestra whatever Cordon!

Whelp

whelp

---

howdy yall!!! well another week has gone by and can i just wish my parents a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! wahoooo!!!! (even though its late.. whoops!) also, in like 3 days i will have been out on my mission for 3 months! thats crazy!! and nuts! it feels like forever! but in other ways it feels like such a short amount of time! a gentleman told me (sister abplanalps dad) that my voice is very authoritative and that when i speak, people listen, but that is also because its very sincere. i thought that that is really sweet, because i have always been self conscious about my voice, especially when it is recorded (check out evies video!!) we got in with a guy who has been legit coming to church for like 3 months and isnt even a member of the church so that was great, and the lesson was great! can i just say how real the atonement of christ is, he didnt just suffer and die for our sins but for every little tiny thing that can keep us from being happy and moving closer to him. i know that because i have seen it work in my life, like when i was getting Homesick this week, and i have seen it in the lives of my investigators. one, a thirteen year old  has been going through a really really rough time, they just broke down crying to us one day. and we had a member give this teenager a priesthood blessing. the message was so sweet and so clear that heavenly father was aware of our investigator, that they was loved, and despite what life is like now, it will get better. their father is very against them learning about the gospel or any religion, and the member who was the mouthpiece for God at that moment DID NOT KNOW THAT, he barely even knew this kid besides the fact that they occasionally play with his kids. our investigator was promised that he will find support in their family, their friends, and the church members as they continued to desire to move towards Heavenly Father. it was beautiful!!  i know that Christ Lives, i know that this is His church restored to the earth with the authority to act in gods name. i know it and i have seen how that knowledge has changed not only me, but people i have met and talked with. Jesus Christ is our light, every time we hang a strand of christmas lights he is the person that we are worshiping and celebrating. He is the light of the world, and not only is he that beacon of light at the end of the tunnel giving hope, he is the light moving with us through the tunnel as well! i know we can share that light to those who feel like they are stuck in the dark! go here to learn more #lighttheworld haha and yes i am feeling much much better! haha!  and honestly, missionary work is hard! but dang is it rewarding! getting to see people change and see a light in their eyes. the light that comes from knowing who they are why they are here, where they come from, and where they are going after they die. the light of hope and the light of christ. Yeah i get homesick some times, its heartbreaking when people reject our message. because we know that it is the truth and we know it brings so much happiness and joy. but its alright, they are allowed to choose. (even if they think we are a cult and dont celebrate birthdays) man being a missionary is great!! we get to be literal conduits for the holy ghost and Heavenly Fathers love for his children. and we get to do cool things! and people feed us! and people like us! and little kids tell us they want to be missionaries too! and we get to have food poisoning! (yeah pretty sure thats why i got to be good friends with the toilet) and see miracles every day! and help people move! and laugh! i got a package! full of treats and cookies! yum! :) (also not helping my weight problem!! going to diet missionary style next transfer!.... or not) merry christmas everyone! occasionally i take good pictures... but i forgot to fold my blanket... sad day and i am the mighty lion those are turkeys (turkies? turkeies?) and they are in a tree!  so arizona has some gggrrrrREAT (yes i am the tiger from the cereal commercials... deal with it) sunsets!! Aww Pday!