Jan 28, 2013 – Costa Rica Week 8 bidness 

How my Sunday went:  Look! The White family! Let´s go say hi! (One of them was one of the first missionaries here from the 70s.) They were so sweet! I told them to email you, expect a photo. Then I turned around and there was Manuel. He had a text from me. Huh? I read it, from the Harris lady -She couldn´t make it to church. Super confusing. But turns out, my mommy had sent me a package! What the what??? I called hotels. I called travel agencies. I called our district leader and asked for permission to go. I got a yes. Tamarindo is 2 plus hours away, by the way. It´s in my area, sort of. It´s technically in the Zone Leaders. But my companion didn´t want to go with me and didn´t want me to go with the other white sister, Hermana Patrick, so turns out I couldn´t go. MIRACLE, Elder Price, District Leader, two weeks before took us to this White family from Utah’s house. I called and asked if they could get my package. Yes. They just happened to be headed that way. Also that hotel is pretty far away, I would´ve gotten lost and been in a rough spot. I wasn´t supposed to go. Our district leaders had a bad feeling about it and I said, I understand. It´s like when your mom says, you can go but I have a bad feeling about it and your bummed cuz u want to go, but trust her. Anyway, there’s a reason for everything! I know I sound like a 7th grader and vague on the details, but that´s only because I don’t have time! Sorry! But, yes the package is here in Costa Rica, and I’ll maybe be able to actually hold it in my hands....next Thursday? It´s hard to get from Tamarindo to here. Point of the story=my mommy loves me. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! Also, yes I could see the hand of the Lord in my life!  

Bray, I want you to know that you have been on my mind every hour this week. I´ve told everyone that I see about your birthday. Happy birthday brother! Congrats on your puppy! You finally got a Xander. I want you to know that on two separate occasions, I´ve cried for how badly I miss you. I have become a bawl baby, I know. But I´ve never missed my baby brother’s birthday. It stinks not being able to see you today! But, I get to email you on my pday, aka your bday! Blessing! I just sent your letter off in the mail.

On the way to an appointment one day, Hermana Patrick (Gringa like me!) and I studied body part vocab in Spanish. Who knows why, right? We were being prepared! We went into a lesson where this one lady had all kinds of problems and asked us to pray for her specific body parts. It was so awesome! Like did we expect to need body part vocab that day? No, but we´re glad we did.

My comp and the rest of the Hermanas got called to be mission prep teachers. Hermana Patrick and I are hitting it off well! We broke down and bought expensive pancake mix and Aunt Jamimah syrup. We had peanut butter sandwiches! The Latinas look at us like we´re eating human babies. It was a good day. Insert office quote here about pretzel day from Stanley. We both feel like we´re camping. Also, we sleep on the floor. It’s been getting hotter and hotter each day. Yesterday was ninety three degrees. My comp asked me why I sweat so much. I didn´t know how to respond.... (We have to keep our deodorant in the fridge, otherwise it melts). Today I showered with a bucket. We wash our dishes in our shower. But this is the best thing I have ever done. I´ve never feel scared. I always know that my Heavenly Father is with me.  HE LOVES ME!

This is an insert from my personal study journal for my brothers who are preparing to enter the ranks and for anyone else out there preparing to go. And for anybody else who´s curious about my personal study, haha:   

“Alma 8. Alma is trying to do missionary work. He wrestles  with God in mighty prayer, which to me means he was trying to really feel the spirit and understand God´s will. He continues. The people completely reject him and even spit on him. He´s totally ready to give up when an angel of the Lord tells him to go back. Can you even imagine? Why on Earth would you go back if this message wasn´t so important. He doesn´t come right out and say it, but he´s fasting which shows me that he has a strong righteous desire to help the people. Little did he know, a stranger was being prepared for Alma, Amulek. An angel visited him too! His story of preparation is even cooler! Anyways, this shows me many things. The Lord knows everything. We need to listen and patiently wait for HIS time table. Alma 10. Amulek preaches. Today I learned that Amulek has been living a wicked life. He had been rebelling against God. But one day was visited by an angel of The Lord. This shows me how much love God has for ALL his children. To love someone who was struggling as much as he, Amulek, demonstrates His mercy. Also it shows me that God sees things in us that we can´t see in ourselves. Amulek ends up being the mission companion of a Holy Man, who is chosen of God. Amulek turns out to be one stellar (baller for the youth out there) missionary. Awesome right??"

Anyway, the church is true. This work is hard. Why? Why does it have to be hard? Because salvation is not a cheap experience. The road to salvation goes through Calvary. I am his loyal devoted soldier, and you can be too. Which means I must have some of his similar experiences, suffering, sorrow, and tears. Expect it on a mission. (Most of this paragraph is brought to you by Elder Holland) It can´t be easy. There is nothing easy about this experience. When push comes to shove, know that I’m bringing, and you can too, the significance of Christ´s suffering so that I can deliver the message, of the atonement, properly. It will cost a lot from me and you too, because it cost a lot from Him. And I think I’ve been making it harder than it needs to be. There’s no real reason for me to be sad or upset. The people here rock! Seriously golden. And I’m surrounded by beauty. I thank all of you for every single sacrifice for me. Every prayer. Everything. Thank you! More love than I can express, love hearing from all you!

Ward family, thanks for your support and letters! Hug my mom. Love my brothers. Slap me poppy on the back. I love you!

Peace and love!

Megan  (Hermana Workman)

pday photos:  Meg n Hermana Patrick playing “UNO” “Don´t you think it should be called “ONE”, in Spanish? Haha”, Meg studying… kinda and making pancakes in her “I love ewe” pajamas (Couldn’t resist. I hope she doesn’t hate me for forwarding that one)