I can't believe my family went to Disneyland without me 😭😭 I'd rather be right where I am though!

So transfers are next week, we will know on Friday/Saturday what's
happening. I'm super scared. I love both my areas and I have no idea
what the plan is for me. And then only 5 more transfers and I'm coming home.
Tell the world that I'm coming home. It's insane. Just keep counting
the days ha ha! 

I am excited for the visitors centre to be open, I miss it. It's been fun but I want it back now ha ha! We have truly seen miracles once again this week.

Zone meeting was also incredible - oh my word. I had an amazing
experience. I LOVE THE HOLY GHOST. We were talking about recognizing
the spirit. And so we were asked to share, just the first vision. And
so we had to go with a senior couple. They start to share it and it
was just nice and sweet. They were so cute teaching. Then they shared
their testimony. I just filled with the spirit, it was so strong. And
then they asked me to share how I felt. And that made it worse
obviously - I just cried. It was so powerful. This Church is TRUE!!!
Why wouldn't more people want to partake of something so wonderful?

Friday and Sunday Sister Garatti was sick so I went and did some work
with a split. A lovely sister took me out for lunch. She's a cutie.
Her daughter is so cute haha! We have fun.Today we went on a hike and that's why my email is so so late. It wasnot planned hahaa. 

I'm sorry I haven't done a run down of my week this week, all you need
to know is I'm safe. I'm happy. I'm well fed. I'm bathing daily. I'm
making sure I have a laugh.

I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH! 

Sent with love from St George ❤️

So this week, we have a baptism tonight for a young boy and I'm speaking on baptism. I also have a talk on Sunday at one of the wards, 15 mins and I'm final speaker....eeeeeek! My topic is how family history work can help in missionary
efforts. 

So Tuesday last week, we went to go and see some of our recent converts. They just had a baby 4 days before! So beautiful. We shared a video about motherhood and how important a role it is.  On Wednesday we were in the visitors center in the evening so we worked in ourarea in the morning. Thursday we had our Zone meeting out in Hurricane, it's about 20 miles away from St George.  It was a good meeting, it was all about the restoration and importance of it. I really enjoyed it, I shared a couple comments and we studied Joseph
Smith history as a zone, it was powerful stuff.

It was our full area day so following the zone meeting we went into our area and shared a lesson with a family who are less active. We shared the restoration message and the Spirit was so strong, we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon, prophets, priesthood. We then taught a young man who hasn't been to church before and his mum. We've been going through the discussions and helping them in anyway we can. After we taught one of our investigators about the restoration and we are excited for her baptism in October. 

On Sunday we had stake conference, it was a video broadcast for southern Utah. Elder Ballard spoke and basically said you're all so great and you're doing a great job but also....you all need to do better! Read the Book of Mormon and be better examples. It was so good.  Elder Hallstrom also spoke and he shared very specifically about missionary work and the increase of sister missionaries. There are now 26% of us all around the world serving. How great is that? 

On Monday two 16 year old girls came into the visitors center, both converts and both having a hard time. They got pretty emotional and we were able to discuss the gospel with them and help them recognize the importance of all those simple things we need to do everyday. They thanked us and told us how much of an impact we'd made on them and how we'd helped them with what they needed. It was lovely to be able to talk with them.

Yesterday, it was pouring with rain and we were in our area in the evening, with no car! We walked to our area, so my parka got to come out. We worked so hard and taught 4 lessons!! The most we've taught on an evening in a long time and we didn't have a car, miracles of working in the rain!

Also yesterday we were given $50 from someone and that paid for all our groceries. It was such a miracle. I had prayed specifically last night for money to help us pay for our things tomorrow because we don't have much to last us and then that happens. It fills me with joy just as I speak about it now. 

I'm so glad I can be here on my mission. I think I truly have become converted in my purpose here over the last couple weeks. It's a shame it's taken me a little longer than it should have done but I feel blessed to have recognised the mistakes I was making and have tried to rid myself of any distractions and focus on the work to do right now. 

8 September 2015

Hello hello! This week has been wonderful. On Wednesday we met a girl and she's
awesome. She's 17 and asked us if she could be baptised. We're so excited - she's so sweet. Thursday we had 3 lessons, one with a recent convert and his wife: they just had a baby. They're so lovely! One with a family who have been less active and have an unbaptized son. We are so happy they have been coming out to Church again and their son is getting baptised next week. We also met with a man who has been less active for a long time. We just randomly texted him and said, hey can we see you? And he said yes. He'd never met with missionaries before and he said the text came just when he needed it. We invited him to church and he's been 3 weeks in a row now!!!! He has bought himself his own set of scriptures and is really great 

Friday we did some tracting, it was good to be out working. On Saturday we did weekly planning and service for our senior couple as we painted their swing set. I definitely have more of a tan line now! Sunday we taught 2 lessons! We met a few people and referred them all to the YSA elders. We have been out tracting a lot and we have talked to some great people. So all in all, we've had a busy week. It's been good, we would like it busier but ah well :) 

You can tell there is starting to be a change in the season, it's getting colder. It's crazy how 90 degrees can feel colder but it does! I'm wearing cardigans now! 

I keep looking forward - and not too far because I can't without it getting blurry, literally. But just to keep my eyes focused on the grain I'm trying to pick at that moment in time. I have been reading in Alma these last few days. I read about Christlike attributes, qualifications for heaven and things like that. I felt so chastised, I was like...I have so much to workon. These have been the answers to my prayers: learning what can I do differently. I need to work on being a better person right now. Being more of a disciple of Jesus Christ. I love to read the scriptures, they remind me of who I need to be. 

I love having the opportunity to serve as a missionary.  I love meeting and teaching people.  I'm also learning about who I am and trying to be a kinder, nicer person. 

Hola,  I got a new companion today - Sister Mujica, she is from Mexico. I have been on exchanges with her before when I was down in Kanab. We have moved back to the temple apartments. My back is feeling better, like not amazing but better. I've seen a chiropractor - he twisted me like a pretzel haha. Washington Fields is a great area and I love it. The members there are great and really look after us.

It's getting so warm though, me and Sister Parton went out contacting and finding for 3 hours in over 40' heat. It was literally one of the worst things EVER ha ha! 

I had an incredible experience in the VC this week, a miracle.A girl came in from St Louis, Missiouri, where Sister Martin is from. She said she was here in Utah to find herself and she came to see the most spiritually grounded person she knew, her auntie. I taught her the restoration and how the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and how he came to visit the people in the Americas. She said, well that just makes sense doesn't it? It all just clicked. I took her to the Prophet room and told her about the Prophets and the Priesthood authority. It was incredible, the spirit was so strong. It all just made sense to her. I bore my testimony to her about how true it is and then showed her a picture of Christ. I told her how much He loved and cared for her. She then asked me for a Book of Mormon and asked if she could get involved in church whilst she is here. I said of course and got a referral card filled in. This was Friday, she has been committed to baptism, met with the Elders twice and went to church all day yesterday. She is so excited and I can truly feel love for her. I might not be seeing miracles in my area but I am seeing many in the visitors center, which is my area too. This week is going to be a good one."

Continue to search ponder and pray. That is how we continue to endure to the end. It's the best thing. I love this gospel with everything - I know this is the true church restored onto the earth today. I continue to bear testimony even to those people that reject it, I don't care. I need to share it. It's selfish not to share something we love.

Sent with love from St George ❤️

ALOHA!  It's been a good week.  We had Zone conference on Tuesday - it was SO POWERFUL.   I also got to sing a solo at Zone conference. I sang Guardians of Virtue.

 The McKenna's came in to the Visitors Centre this week. What a surprise, it was so funny and so lovely to see them.  What a small world! 

I have now been with my new companion for 10 days but sadly, due to health reasons, she is going home. I will be joining another set of Sisters and become a trio, President said that it would only be temporary though so we will see what the next step is. The Visitors Centre apartments I have moved to are beautiful; you can literally can see the Temple across the road from the window. I love seeing it all lit up at night time. 

I am learning how I need to love everyone, even if they are very different from me. People have different eating habits, different ways of doing things etc.  Patience, humility and a forgiving heart are all things I'm trying to develop in myself. I can see myself growing - but because I am needing to be stretched and changed. Some people can have things easier than others but it's all about our attitude, how we choose to look at everything. I'm grateful for the people around me. I am grateful I am becoming who I need to be and not just developing who I already am. I'm so glad that the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us. I love the Lord with all of me. 

I love my family and friends. I am grateful for all your love and support. Have an amazing week. xxx 

Memorial Day weekend was very busy. We had 2000 people pass through the Visitors Centre on the Saturday. We don't close or anything for holidays, not even Christmas: 9am - 9pm year round.

It will be my P-day on Monday because Sister Martin leaves on the Wednesday so p-day gets moved a little. I find out who my new trainer is on Friday or Saturday, I'm excited to hear! This Sunday marks 2 months. How crazy? It's going by so fast. Wahhh. But it's good, shows we're keeping ourselves busy! 

Alan's baptism on Saturday was incredible, the spirit was so strong. It was such a wonderful day and he was confirmed on Sunday.  We sang "how will they know?" From the Primary song book at the fireside and "The Lord is my shepherd" at Alan's baptism. We've just been asked to sing at another fireside on Sunday and the fireside for those leaving on Tuesday. 

I finished Mosiah so now I am starting from the very beginning. I loved Mosiah...I felt like it just covered so much, the pages are covered in notes now!  My new badges for the visitors center arrived a couple days back, I got my UK flag and a clip badge to put on my scriptures.  

It was sad to hear about Elder Perry. We have a film in the Visitors Centre and it shows the Apostles sharing their testimonies so we had a lot of people come in and watch him. 

Today we went on a hike - the temple quarry hike. It was so warm and surprisingly I didn't burn ha ha. It was a lot of fun. The whole zone came so we had a good time. I tell you what though...I definitely had to endure to the end...my goodness it was so steep at one point, ran out water and I am not the fittest person alive! 

I had a really cool experience a couple days ago - a girl came in and asked me why I decided to come on a mission. She then told me she felt like she should go but she was 21 and felt too old! I told her ...I'm 21 and I only just came out. Do it, Go!  I really hope she does. 

I have had such a wonderful week, can't believe transfers are next week. The heat is really getting up...104' the other day. My goodness...it's like an oven. But I am so grateful to be here on a mission, I love the work. I love my area. I love the people. Just all of it! I have started to try and stop getting distracted by worldly things. Keep my focus on the work.  

I love this gospel. I love my family and I know that the Church is true. There are no doubts in my mind. I might not be the perfect teacher but the spirit teaches and I'm so grateful to be serving as a missionary. 

Can you believe it's been almost two months?!

Can you believe I've almost been out 2 months?! Insane or what? Sister Martin leaves on June 10th so obviously pretty soon. I will miss her, she has been such a wonderful trainer.  Sister Whipple (one of my Young Women's Presidents) and her husband came in and surprised me on Sunday. They brought us chocolate muffins, YUMMY :) It was lovely to see them and have a good catch up. What a small world! 

I feel like I am always happy here and everyone is so nice.  I was reading in Mosiah chapters 24 and 25, they are great chapters. Basically through Christ we can do all things. What peace and comfort that brings. If we submit ourselves to Him, we will be so blessed. We continue to walk in His way, He will prepare a way, even if we don't understand. Just like Nephi, "I know the Lord provides a way, he wants me to obey, I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands" 🎶🎶 The Lord's work is amazing wherever we are. I honestly find it so difficult to put into words how I feel about it but it brings pure joy. Like that's the best way to put it. 

At Brigham Young's home, the senior couple do a tour for us first and then we go and do it. It's a lot of fun and you can always relate things back to doctrine. It's actually the best place to teach the restoration and then give a Book of Mormon. I gave my first one out a few weeks ago.  I taught the restoration and told them of the importance of the Book of Mormon and my testimony of it and they took it. SO COOL. So every time we teach about the restoration and we use the pamphlet (number 1 with a picture of my brother and his family) and talk about the importance of families I say...and this is my family ha ha. People love it! 

It was great to hear this week that Nick, who I have spoken to through my online teaching, is on date to be baptized now. I check up with him through his missionaries but I'm so excited for him. We also have a baptism this Saturday in the 2nd ward, Alan. He's incredible. He has such a strong testimony, I literally have so much love for him. He just accepts everything we share with him and just really humbles himself. His prayers are so heartfelt. I can't wait to see him baptized. Also, there is a musical fireside on Sunday night, I'm singing with Sister Martin and also at Alan's baptism :) a lot of fun. Still got me singing! 

We have really being struggling to find more people to teach. We continue to pray everyday for someone to come along but it's just quite slow right now. We will continue to pray and try and have opportunities with everyone we seek but people are quite quick to reject us. Ah well, I know if we continue to work hard it will all work out. 

I am so grateful to be here and to be doing the Lords work. I can feel the spirit around me all the time and it literally makes me chest hurt, but like a good hurt haha :) xx

I love being here ❤️

Hello hello! 

My week has been good and BUSY, BUSY! :)  I have been on my third exchange this week.  I was with one of the Sister training leaders and it was great, I learned a lot.  We have done a lot of finding, we go door to door knocking and off referrals. We have been out in the rain a lot in the last few weeks. We have a lot of maps made for each area so you know where people are. Its really good, the Ward Mission Leaders are very involved.

I love my Book of Mormon reading, it literally confirms my testimony every single day. It's so true. I love getting into such good habits. I'm reading in Mosiah at the moment, I love it. It's so interesting and I can't stop. I was just thinking today of the importance of family prayer and scripture reading. I realise now as I'm teaching families, read your scriptures and pray as a family, just how important this is. I am so grateful for being raised in the gospel. I'm so grateful for my testimony and the truth I have in my life. I love Mosiah, it covers the entire gospel. How King Benjamin addresses all the people and tells them to repent and come unto Christ. Like a general conference, everyone gathers together to hear his word. Basically what we do as missionaries. 

I love the church so much, it truly is a light in my life. "I Megan, being born of goodly parents" - I have had so many emotional experiences in the last few weeks: often when I talk about times that I've been helped and supported by my parents  and times that Dad has been able to use the Priesthood to bless me. These experiences have really helped my faith grow and I'm so grateful for them and for loving parents. I am so happy here and really can see that I AM set apart from the world, but in a good way. I am feeling my confidence grow, I gave a tour around Brigham Young's home and at the end the lady asked me how long have you been out, I told her to guess and she said...well you seem like you've been out over a year. NOPE haha. I love it here. I can see how it can be harder to come home then it was to go out. I love being able to share my purpose with people, everyday. It's wonderful. I'm being looked after.

Love to all xx