January 25, 2015

My dearest momma,
First, I am sorry if the call from my mission presidents wife scared you. I have actually been throwing up since august but the stomach pain just started Jan 4th. I am on some medication for a week and then i have a follow up checkup with the doctor this week. Scary, i hate the hospitals. It was a really nice one though, it was like i was in a hospital in America so hopefully that calms your fears a little bit too. The nurses and doctors were really nice. They couldnt believe that i could speak tagalog. So they played a game on all the new nurses and doctors that came on duty. They told them that i was a foreigner and could only speak english. they then told me that when the new nurse came in i couldnt speak tagalog right away, that i needed to wait til they started to ask me questions. Oh my gosh, their reactions were so funny when tagalog came out of my mouth haha. It was fun. And we had otehr missionaries come visit us in the hospital too. They were all little tender mercies to make being in the hospital bearable.

Not going to lie this was a very trying week. I hate hospitals, and especially when i am in them. I also really really hate needles which caused a lot of stress. There was a point that i just felt helpless. I just wanted to go home and just deal with throwing up for the rest of forever. Then came the day for the endoscopy. Words can not describe the fear as i sat on the gurney waiting for my turn in the endoscopy room. I closed my eyes and just bursted into tears...fear totally overcame me. Then i had a small thought to just prayer. I gave the most sincere silent prayer that I have given in my life. I just prayed for comfort and that my fear would go away and that i could feel of his love. After my prayer i was expecting to be overcome all of a sudden, but after a couple of minutes still nothing. Then a thought came to my head to sing my favorite primary song, "Whenever i heard the song of a bird...". As soon as i started singing, then the spirit just filled the room i could not deny the presence that I felt of the spirit and i could neither deny the love and comfort that I felt, it brought me to tears. Even when i think about it I start to tear up. I learned that even in our darkest moments we still have to act to show Heavenly Father that we know he lives and that we are still willing to do all we can to follow the Savior. That is one moment I will never EVER be able to forget. I know that God lives and hears every single prayer that is lifted towards heaven, even the most panicked of prayers.

since we were in the Hospital and i was told to rest, we were unable to visit our investigators which was really sad. All we could do was pray that they were still reading and praying and that they would come to church as well on Sunday. Well, Heavenly father heard those prayers too because our really progressing investigators did come to church and have been reading the Bof M even thought we havent been able to come. Such a great answer to our prayers and to know taht it is not us doing the work but that the lord really does his work. Miracles.

Mom, i love you so much and I really cant wait to hug you when I get home. Thanks for everything and i am grateful that my package came later because i needed some of you when I came from the hospital. LOVE YOU

Meg.

January 18, 2015

This was a very abnormal week. 

First, we went to MINDORO!!!! I love going there. I love riding the boat ad just being there on the smaller islander. Even though every time we go people think that I don't speak Tagalog and that I am on vacation. Haha it is pretty funny. But the Island is so beautiful. I wish i will get assigned on a smaller island before I go home. We will see I guess. We were there from Tuesday to Friday. We helped out with their Zone training meeting and went on exchanges with the sisters there. It was fun to be with our sisters and help them in anyway that we could. Oh and on exchanges one man we taught said the closing prayer and thanked Heavenly Father that he sent two prophets to his house( meaning us). HAHA, well not quite, but at least he recognized the authority that we had, and that we had been sent from God. 

We have an investigator, Louie, and she is really progressing. We watched the Restoration DVD with her last Tuesday and she was amazed. She was so blown away and just felt the spirit so much that she couldn't put her feelings into words. She is so excited to learn more and excited for her baptism. Her closing prayer was the best when she said that she believes these things are true but that she prayers for the Holy Ghost to help her know that these things are true. SO GREAT! She will be baptized and we are so excited for her. 

The Pope came to the Philippines this past week and because of that, some shops were closed down and even cell phone coverage was down because of him. Wow they really showed his respect, do you think they would do the same thing of the LIVING Prophet came here or one of his apostles? Probably not, So that means we have a lot to do in teaching this beautiful land about the nature of God and that we really do have a  real, living prophet of God. 

I have been really sick lately and we don't know what is wrong with me. Sorry, don't mean to scare you. I have been having weird stomach pains and have been throwing up everything I eat. We are going to the hospital today to see what is wrong with me. Just pray that it is nothing too big. AND please don't worry. I am in the hands of the Lord and everything will be ok. 

December 28, 2014

We ate a lot of SPAGHETTI for the holidays. That is the big fancy, popular meal that everyone makes here when it is a holiday or special occasion. 

We had a fun Christmas Zone Conference with our mission president and his wife. We love them so much and it was so fun. We had lots of fun and games. President Mangum talked to us about being patient with ourselves are we become through the Atonement. That sometimes we have faith in his atonement to endure through the trials that come but sometimes things turn out differently than what we wanted them to. We have to remember that things happen according to the will of the Lord. We can even be doing the right thing are things turn out not in our favor. That is when we pray more earnestly just as our Savior did in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was a good reminder that as I am going through my Gethsemane moments to be patient with myself, with the Lord, and continue more earnestly. 

 I challenged one of the members the other night to place a Book of Mormon as they were waiting for some other members to go give service. They were very scared and thought we were joking at first. We left to go follow up on an investigator and then met back up with the ward to give service. They said that it was very face but they were able to give the Book of Mormon to a family and the look on her face as I told the story was priceless. There is so much joy as we share the gospel not just for missionaries, but for all members of the Church. She was so full of joy and I know that same joy can come to you as you show Heavenly Father you love him by sharing the gospel with others. 

 I AM TRANSFERRED!! I got transferred to Batangas and we are re-opening. I also will be getting a new companion tomorrow. Her name is Sister Price and she is a Filipino. I am excited to meet her. 

Well, sorry not a whole lot and not a whole lot of time. but I hope you enjoyed the pictures and your new years celebrations to come, oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!!!!!!

I love you all. 

Meg. 

January 11, 2015

There is a lot so hopefully my hands can type fast enough in the time I have remaining. We had a great MLC this last week with the missionary leaders in the mission. One of the things our mission president talked about was the desires of our hearts. He said a desire helps us to act towards those things we really want to accomplish in our lives. Most of the new years resolutions are just wishes because more often than not, there is no action that leads towards that ultimate goal, whatever it may be. he said that you can tell what someones desires are from the way they act. That totally made me look at myself differently and how i need to start to change my desires. Our desires control everything we do. When we are driven to follow the lord and be come through him we can accomplish all the desires of our hearts. Alma 22:15-18, Enos 1:12. You should study those. they helped me a whole lot. Also read "Rise to your Call" By elder Eyring. It is so good and will inspire you mom. 

I also learned the real meanings of the word Straight vs Strait. Straight is used when talking about directions, something that continues in one way for ever and ever and has no change. In 2 nephi 31 we read about a strait and narrow way. The word strait means a path that is not easy but a path that is sure. That is exactly the gospel. We are not promised that life will be easy, nor are we promised that we will be happy 100% 24/7. But we are promised that it is a safe passage. Even though it may take forever to travel down and maybe scared along the way, we are promised Safety. That is the Gospel, that is the promise the heavenly father has given each of us, that as we travel through thick and thin, we will be safe. 

real quick. also something to study is Jonah 2 and think of how you will face adversity when it comes. 

Ok, one last story. We have found such a prepared investigator who is so ready to come to christ. She is a referral from a member in the ward. Her name is Louie Belle. Wow, my testimony grew even more about prepared member referrals after meeting this young woman. she is 20 years old and came to church at first with the family she is working for. The first time we taught her she told us that she cried at church because she just felt to good. At the end of the first lesson we extended baptism to her but she was a little hesitant. So we just committed her to read the pamphlets we left and then to ask god through to help her understand. WE came back a week later and she was so excited to tell us what happened. She said the fist couple of times that she read them she didn't understand and was really confused. But then one time she decided to pray first for understanding before she read and she was so amazed that she was able to understand it and she felt so good in her heart, she even got goosebumps. The spirit is the real teacher. Sister Price and I had nothing really to do with that but the spirit was able to tell her the truth. Now she is committed to prepare for baptism and loves coming to church. It has been a real miracle to see as we reopen here in Batangas. 

our SUPER YOUNG BISHOP and his family. His son turned one years old.

 Before MLC we got up way early to ride around San Pablo Lake in San Pablo City. 

Riding home from an area Philippines Broadcast with sister Ghouri!! 

January 4, 2015

 this is like an overpass but for people. There are so many people in Batangas city. i really am in the city now. 

The other sisters that live with us. One is from Kiribati and the other from Pakistan. 

 I went to Utah the other day, haha Utah street that is.