For those of you whom may have noticed, we didn't get an email from Meg on Monday. Instead, we received an email from a member saying that Hermana Workman doesn't get a day off this week. She will be going to the temple on Saturday and may be able to write home then.
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| San Jose, Costa Rica Temple - June 15, 2013 |
June 15, 2013
Hello Family and Friends!!
Okay so what happened to your sweet daughter-sister-neighbor-acquantaince-neice-granddaughter-random stranger who’s blog I accidently stumbled across in these past two weeks? Mainly this: I´ve been humbled. Oh boy yes I have. As you may remember, the last email I sent, I was in a bad spot. I was just super upset about how things were NOT going my way.
Last Sunday night we got a call saying that there would be no P-day the following day. For about 50 seconds my natural woman was not happy. But I closed my eyes and went to bed. Then I woke up and the first thing I say was a photo of the temple. And I thought, Huh. If I need to sacrifice one P-day to go to the temple, so be it. I love the temple. Today we did sealing’s. Afterwards, they let us just sit in the celestial room and THE SPIRIT ROCKS! *Photo today at the temple. I really have taken it for granted up until the mish. I’m making resolutions-goals now to change that when I get back.
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| San Jose, Costa Rica Temple. June 15, 2013 |
Can I get real with you for a bit? Remember about six weeks ago when I was begging my Father in Heaven to let me stay in this city? I told him in personal prayer, “please let me stay. I promise to work harder and use every minute to help your children here. Please let me stay.” Well know what happened? I stayed and I got a trial. We got dumped. And I was really sad about it. And my work slowed down. My attitude was grey and gloomy. But, I kept on pushing that handcart. And you know what happened? We got dumped. Again. It was even worse this time. All seemed to be lost. This city is awful, nobody wants to hear this message, why am I even here? And you know what I realized in all this? That afflictions are so, so good for the soul. Wait, Hermana Workman, I think you´re on crack or just made a typo. What do you mean afflictions are good for the soul? Turn with me please, to my new favorite scripture, 2 Corin. 4:17
For our light aaffliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and beternal cweight of glory;
This scripture is coming from a guy named Paul. Do you remember him? This man was imprisoned, beaten, starved, stoned, mocked, laughed at, and eventually murdered. Did you notice his key word here? Light Affliction. When was the last time one of us had a light affliction? Anyway, I realized something. Heavenly Father said, okay. I´ll let you stay. But let´s prove ya. Let´s see if you´re really going to hold up to your end. So he threw me a trial. And how did I handle it? Poorly. Oops. Let´s give her another one. How did I handle it? Not so well. There´s this moment when you´re crying on the floor in a Costa Rica bathroom, and I promise that I do not cry nearly as much as I used to, when you think. “Well, this truly sucks.” I’d like to relate it to some of you. Life truly sucks sometimes. You didn´t need this blog to tell you that. It´s a fact. But it´s what we learn from these little afflictions that bring us eternal glory. Our Light Afflictions are Eternal Glory. These trials, as we´re told in the scriptures are worth more than gold. Imagine that. More than gold for this tear. More than gold for this missed promotion. For that bad grade. Etc.
This week I realized that my Heavenly Father, in His Mercy, was letting my testimony grow. Proving me to know if I truly love Him or not. So I was being humbled. My prayers got more intense, my studies more meaningful, my desire stronger. What was happening? Turn with me to the Book of Mormon. Here is a group of sad people. Nobody wants them because they´re poor and dirty and in the opinion of some, have nothing to offer the world. How does this make Alma feel? What does he say? Alma 32:6
And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that theiraafflictions had truly bhumbled them, and that they were in a cpreparation to hear the word.
So he hears they’re in a bad spot, and he feels joy. Perverted? No! Awesome! I imagine this is how Heavenly Father must feels when we finally are like, Jesus, Savior: Pilot me. (Listen to this hymn!) Help me please my father. I am a little broken. Sad. Poor. Lowly in heart. I need Thee. I love the image of Alma, turning their face about, looking them square on. Eye to eye. Because I like to imagine that this is what our Father in Heaven does to us. With our cheeks in His palms, He turns us (away from Sodom, or whatever it may be that’s distracting us) and looks at us, His creations, square on, and is happy. Why do we have these afflictions? So we can finally listen to what He´s trying to say (the word).
This weekend, I had the opportunity to listen to my Mission President and a Multi-zone conference. Today I was in the Temple. I had been being prepared to listen to the Spirit more strongly telling me what changes I need to make right now to be the Megan I was created to be. I have learned so much!
I read this week in the Ensign, the General Conference edition, from Neil L. Andersen about the Trial of our Faith. So good. Go and read it. Even if you´re not a Mormon (yet) it´s a good read. There is a story shared about a 9 year old boy with cancer who is about to start treatment. He asks his doctor, “will I be the same when this is over?” “No”. Says the Doctor. “You´ll be so much better.”
Family, friends and especially my parents, I don´t have to tell you that I can be stubborn. What this really means is, I´ve been holding on to some pride. Fighting the change my Heavenly Father is trying so hard to give me. The things that will make me so much better. Will I be the same after this mission is over? I hope not. I hope each day to be so much better.
I don´t know exactly what trials you´re each facing, but our Heavenly Father knows. Whatever pains you´re experiencing, there is medicine. (a balm as the scriptures say) The Atonement is the balm of Gililead. The Atonement can heal all your wounds. However hurt you may feel. However sad, broken, lost, upset, frustrated, lonely, tired, scared, whatever, our Savior suffered it all first, so He may know exactly how to take care of you.
We still don´t really have investigators to teach. There still are a ton of Catholic folk here. None of that has changed. What has changed? Me. Your daughter. Granddaughter. Neighbor. Friend. Sister. Stranger? (hehe) My goal for the rest of this mission (and life) is to remember why I´m doing this. Because I love my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Megan, Do you love me? Yes. You know I do. Do you love me? I said I do, and I do! Megan, Do you love me? Yes. Then Feed My Sheep! (Conf talk, Elder Holland) There are moments when I´m caught back in that fisherboat, trying to catch fish. Like what I´ve known all my life. But I´m reminded time and time again, that this is the work of the Almighty God. I am to do what I´ve been commissioned to do. It will be hard. But I´ve been asked to leave all this and suffer. To preach. To rescue the lost and the weary.
I thank you all deeply for the care and support you send me. Through prayers, a letter, a thought, a shout out, or whatever it may be. Though I cannot see you, I can feel you. Now I’m not going “Ghost” pottery scene moment, but I can really feel the silent prayers and support. Thank you for your love and your faith.
It is my testimony that Heavenly Father knows better than I do. That He loves me. That He sent His son to die and suffer for me. I know that the Atonement was for each of us. To help us be better and stronger. I know that if we keep moving forward, enduring and enduring, we will be blessed for our faith. I know that this gospel is true because it is the only church on the earth that asks us to murder the natural man (or woman.) I know it is true because I have prayed and received direct revelation from God himself telling me that yes! The Book of Mormon is true. That Joseph Smith was a prophet who restored the Church of Jesus Christ. READ THE BOOK OF MORMON. Read it, and love it. Think about it. What does it mean for you? To me, it means the world. I love my Book of Mormon, I love my Savior.
Thank you for everything. With all my love and virtual hugs (unless you´re that stranger who for some reason is still reading this thing, in which case, you just get a handshake)
Love,
Megan
PS Connor, you´re not going to get eaten by spiders or iguana’s here. Ryley, the soccer in Costa Rica is better.
Yes! Costco canned chicken! I MADE IT TO A COSTCO!!!!!!!! Well here it’s called pricemart. But felt like a champ anyways. They even sell the pizza and shakes and stuff. So I bought this chicken.
Mom, our Princess Party was AWESOME! SUCH A BLAST! We´re still enjoying the goods and fun pink stuff. I filmed my comp and pop rocks, her first, and most likely last time. SOOOOO FUNNY!
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| Princess Party and Costco (Pricemart) canned chicken!! |
By the way, I haven´t been counting for a while now. So no more mention about how much time I have been out. None. Everyone who asks gets my generic response, A little bit more then four months. Do I feel bad when they compliment my Spanish for how little time I have? cha. Don´t judge me.
Bray, yeah. We got some rotten timing with this whole thing. But I’m trying really hard not to think about it too much. Know what I like thinking about? All the ways I’m going to spoil you when you´re on your mission!
(No packages from the Kellers yet. sorry.)
Remember in January when I told you we were going into San Jose to see D. Todd Christofferson? Well... this is it!! It's an awesome 5 minute video about the missionary work going forward in Central America! We didn't find Meg in the photos but, she is there!!
Frankly, nothing happened this week. I walked and talked with strangers.
Trying to find some people to teach. It could possibly be my last week in this
beautiful city. I honestly don´t know if I´m ready for change or not. I do know
I´m ready to find people who want to hear this gospel. Missionary work is a lot
more fun when, well, when there´s work. haha.” 
I´ve trained and I´ve
witewashed. Frankly, I prefer not training, but it kept me more obedient.
Whitewash is SOOOO FUN! Everyday is an adventure. It´s only tough for the first
like...two to three weeks. It´s awesome being totally lost all the time. My
current area has only ever had elders in it. We´re the first sisters here ever!
The miracles we’ve seen are amazing! There are many houses the Elders could
never get into. I’ve see miles of miracles. I made a list of the kind of
trainer-companion I wanted to be. The kind of things to avoid, and things to
try. It was great. 
