February 15, 2015

MOM, 

First I want to thank the ward and all family who have exercised their faith to fast for me. There was a point that I thought I was going home and I felt awful which brought me pretty low, but i feel so much better and I am going back to my area!! It has been a miracle to see how the prayers of the faithful can bring about miracles. Miracles still happen according to our fatih and I am a living miracle. thank you, thank you, thank you! 

 SO mom you can be calmed now to know that I am healthy now, not throwing up, and am finishing my mission strong :) 

 So I want to share with you some things I have done here at the MRC this last week. So first the MRC is a place where sick missionaries come to heal, recover, and do their best to get better to come back to their missions. IN the past this place has been very boring but luckily they have some fun projects and activities to do here. 

 One day we went to this place called Mabuhay house which was started by an old mission president who wanted to start a place to fix kids that are born with cleft lips, clubbed feet, and other things like that. Every week the MRC missionaries go to sing songs, do activities, and just have fun with the moms and the kids. People come from all over the Philippines to get these free surgeries. Sometimes they can be there for months before they get surgeries for their kids.These really help the kids for the rest of their lives so that they are able to get jobs and be accepted socially. We went to sing songs, and even decorated valentines cookies with them which was so much fun for all of us involved. The kids are just so cute and really look forward to having the missionaries come every week. It was a very tender thing to be a part of and make their day a little brighter. 

 Next i got to do two sessions in the Manila temple, one of the HIGHLIGHTS of my mission. I really really felt so good in their. The second time I went as I entered the celestial room i was just overcome with so much love that i began to tear up. You cant deny the spirit that is in the temple and you can't deny the presence of the lord there either. And the best part was that I spent valentine's day in the temple. It is a really small temple but it is such a blessing to have a temple here and even bigger blessing that I was able to do two sessions. 

 Sunday evening we made kitchen aprons and had all the missionaries sign them which was really fun. I have been the only girl with a bunch of other elders. Actually one of the elders here is my batch. We were in the same zone in the MTC and we are really good friends. That has been a nice tender mercy to see him again. 

 So my email hasn't been too exciting, sorry for that. I just feel so ready and excited to go back to work and work hard the last stride of the mission. Again thank you for all your prayers and love. I couldn't do anything with out your support mom. Tell everyone I love them and thanks for their faithfulness. 

I LOVE YOU MOM, more than you know. 

Meg.

February 8, 2015

Mom, 

 You always send the best emails. They make my day. 

I can't believe that Brooke leaves soon...i'm sad that I will not see her when I come home. But at least I will be able to skype her more than only twice a year. Brooke, good luck and remember to just breathe :) It will help a lot. 

 I can't believe that spencer is home, that went by so fast!!! How is he? It is weird to think that that will be me soon. Only 12 weeks left in this beautiful country...got to eat up every minute of it. 

 This week was ok. We weren't able to work much because i physically cant, but we have tried to do as much as we can.  It means more than anyone can imagine that the ward is going to do that. Thank you all so much for your prayers and your love. 

 This last week we attended the funeral of a member who past away this last week. She was really young, only like 47 years old. Of course it was sad but there was also an initial feeling of peace and comfort. I don't know if it is because i am a missionary or what, but it wasn't a sad thing. If anything it just adds to my testimony that heavenly father has such  better plans for us that what we have for ourselves. There is so much more out there and we only see the little picture. I know that this is not the end and it has been cool to see the ward come together for this family and see the hope that has risen in the area. 

 One miracle that i want to share with you. Since we haven't been able to work as we would like to, we have been worrying a lot about our investigators: if they are progressing, reading, praying, and if they really want to come closer to Christ. Especially Louie Belle. She is so interested and just loves learning and we were starting to think that things were going down because we haven't had the best contact with her. But The lord really does his own work. She was at church yesterday...it meant so much to me to see that the lord has been watching out for her and continuing to strengthen her. She means a lot to me and it has been hard to not see her frequently, but I know that she is in the lord's hands. We all are. When we feel as if we are lost, falling, or drifting farther and farther way, he actually is closer than we thinking building us up. 

 The general Young Mens President, President Beck came to our mission on Saturday. All the missionaries gathered and it was a sweet experience. You could just feel the power once he came into the room. He talked a lot about remembering who we are and acting upon that. We can't forget who we are. Of course we are mortal and we are going to make mistakes. So as we plug the holes we have in our boats or as we fix our imperfections we also have to put up our sails. We have to remember who we are, live it, and see the good in all we do. there is so much good around us, we just have to take a moment and look around. 

 In Sacrament meeting yesterday one of the members gave a talk about trails and other things that come up unexpectedly in life. I felt as if he was talking directly to me. He said one thing that really stuck to me, he said "we should be careful to not turn bread into stones". Meaning that we should not complain or be choosy with what the lord gives us and what he doesnt give us. We should always life in gratitude to him. Even in the darkest of places can God bring forth light. So true. This last week i started to feel sorry for myself, feel guilty for not being able to work, ad just felt down. But i realized that that was be going farther into darkness. But as we turn to the lord in Prayer and through the scriptures that is when the light starts to come through. I dont really know what is going to happen with my sickness, there are still more tests to do later this week, but I know that whatever happens, I am in his hands. Those feelings have brought so much comfort and peace and I know that I am in his hands. There is never any need to fear because we have the help of the most powerful being on our side. 

 mom, love you so much and I am so grateful for the example you have set before me. It has helped me to stay strong because I have seen you be strong through everything. Love you more than you know. 

FYI: Megan's ward is having a fast for her on Sunday, February 15th. She needs to feel our prayers and the great power of the priesthood. Please participate with us if you are able.                           -- --Nicole (Megan's Mom)

February 1, 2015

Mom, 

First, i am so so grateful to call you mom...i have missed you so much this week...it was rough...but at the same time i learned so much. 

 first thing, we went for my follow up checkup and i am to be on medication for 1 more month. I still am throwing up sometimes and my stomach hurts too. i just have to be careful with what i eat is all. I am not looking forward to this month and being on the medication because it makes me really really tired to the point that I have no energy. We worked only a little this last week because of that. It just makes me sad that for one of the last months of my mission I will be not doing a lot because I physically can not do a lot....it makes me really sad...to the point that sometimes i want to just come home. But i know I am supposed to be here and I know that it is a trial that will make me stronger and i can because who heavenly father needs me to become. Every missionary has to spend at least a couple moments in Gethsemane. but dont worry about me mom, you wont be seeing me until may :) i will finish strong, there is no other right way to end a mission. 

 We went on exchanges this last week with the sister's we live with. I went with sister Ghouri, she is from Pakistan and is just the cutest little thing ever. She has such great faith and really wants to work hard. Even if she is still struggling with english and tagalog, her faith is shining so much brighter that they things she lacks in. We actually got lost for about 2 hours which was fun. We are both new to the area so we had no idea where we were. It was fun. We just talked to a lot of people and tried to do our best with the little we could. it was just fun to hang out with her for the day. I have come to love and admire this sister a whole lot. 

 For some reason I have been abscessed with studying about the atonement and I have learned that that is the best thing that heavenly father has given his children, the opportunity to repent and become better. i was reading in the bible dictionary one day and it said that Our salvation depends on our repentance, it is not an option, we must repent for our salvation. We really can not bend gods rules, we have to do as he has planned. it may be hard but the other way, not gods way, is actually the harder way. I just love repentance and it feels to good to repent. I have made it a goal to repent everyday. Of course i still mess up, but i feel that there is more improvement that grief that i feel. 

 we have one really progressing investigator despite my lack of health. She is so good, Louie belle. We have extended to her to be baptized, because we really feel that she is ready and she knows that the book of mormon is true. She told us she wants to but wants it with her family, her mom and dad and other siblings. she will be that example for her family. this gospel really is for families and it makes me so happy to see the desire she has for not just her but her whole family to understand and enjoy the blessings that come from the gospel. She was a little hesitant with baptism but her faith is growing and so will her desire. 

 Well mom, i really love you. Thank you for your prayers and support. I really feel it, especially right now. Dont worry i got all 3 packages, thank you for the ipod :) you are the best/ 

MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA! 

Meg.