Heart stars horseshoes clover and balloons‏

Megan's birthday is Monday, August 26. (next Pday) I am hoping that the birthday package we mailed over a month ago makes it there!! (Is that a silly thing to pray for?) We have several people in her ward helping us out with birthday cake, flowers and candy. What a blessing~ Please reply to this email if you want to include birthday wishes to her and we will incorporate them into her weekly email this week.  I can testify that the blessings of a missionary are real. I am honored to be Hermana Workman's mother. She is sacrificing that many may know eternal joy. (her address is:  Hermana Megan D Workman, Costa Rica, San Jose Mission,  Apartado Postal, 249-2010, San Jose, Costa Rica) megansmissionminutes@blogspot.com

Heart stars horseshoes clover and balloons‏

The title this time has nothing to do with what I´m about to say. Mainly because you´re going to get a rambling of my inner thoughts and feelings as to what’s going on in my neck of the woods.

Tuesday Aug 13

What an absolutely beautiful day! Today all the Hermana’s, about 85 in total, had a meeting with Hermana Wilkinson. (President Wilkinson’s wife) It was like girl’s camp-super strong spirit, good food, laughter, and friends you haven´t seen in forever. I was greeted by an array of squeals and hugs. I´ll never forget Hermana Watkins hug: she ran and literally leaped into my arms and didn´t let go. (She was in the mtc with me. mom you have photos. blonde.) I cannot adequately describe how beautiful this experience was. But like all things, the scriptures say it better: Therefore Hermana Workman did rejoice exceedingly to see her sisters; and what added more to her joy, they were still her sisters in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were women of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.¨ Alma 17:2. I have a deeper understanding of this scripture. It felt so good to see all my old Hermana’s and friends. (Patrick, Lopez, Flores, Quiroz, Watkins, Ogletree, Hamblin, Lamb, etc.etc.) I realized that just like they´ve left an impact on me, I´ve left an impact on them. Hermana Patrick compared it to an alcoholic taking a drink after a year of sobriety and all we want is more. I never expected the mission to be like this. Just amazing joy at seeing someone who was in the same rocky and dark boat as you just months ago, not rocking it and leading others. My old comps and I read scriptures out loud; prayed, (in Spanish) and set an example for others-something that just months ago was almost impossible. It was a day! One of those moments in life-when you´re having so much fun that food looses its flavor-when one becomes less worried about eating an exported double chocolate muffin and more interested in how your friend´s are doing.

At the end president talked to us and I was once again reminded about why this is so hard. Salvation is not an easy experience. I really felt the spirit strongly when I heard Elder Holland’s talk to mission presidents about what they should say to a struggling missionary who was once again dumped. Without food or toilet paper. Struggling to learn Spanish. Praying for charity to love that one companion who just drives you nuts sometimes. When all the crap really happens, when life is truly difficult, we can have the assurance that we´re standing shoulder to shoulder with the world´s BEST missionary, Jesus Christ. And for that reason, we must stand a little taller.

Thursday Aug 15 (happy bday Kath)

I learned the importance of asking someone on the first visit if they want to be baptized! Yesterday was another miracle day. There truly are days (17 miracles reference) when I´m ready to sit on a rock and just eat pie. Say I´m done. But then these beautiful lessons happen and I´m all for pushing my handcart to Zion.

I feel like we ran like chickens with our heads cut off. Happy Mothers Day Costa Rica. I actually like it in August. Mop´s mom, M, invited us over for lunch- arroz con siempre (pollo, chicken and rice.) Beans, tomatoes, but I really love it. We delivered mothers day cards and baked a cake for MX(who is to be baptized this Saturday with her son, B. Her husband, A is not sure. R baptismal interview was yesterday (he passed and was baptized Saturday.) We then headed off to MX and A´s house where we saw miracles happening. MX told us she´s made her decision and will be baptized. I´m so happy for them,  who truly know that this is right. She told us that she´s been reading the Book of Mormon and knows its right. Feels like it´s good. She said the moment we invited them to be baptized, she knew that she wanted to. She said she was a little shocked, but not scared. She prayed and they have both felt the spirit.

For lack of time, I want to share my testimony of the Holy Ghost. My testimony has grown immensely. I know that if people just listen and act on their feelings, they can receive their answers. I know that one of the strongest battles we´ll fight in this life is putting aside our will for the Lord´s. sometimes that means accepting a baptismal date, even though you´re not really sure. Making an appointment with the bishop to get rid of guilt and sin. Saying I´m sorry first. Or leaving it all behind to serve the Lord for a year and a half or two years to bless other´s lives forever. Totally worth it.

Saturday Aug. 17

Happy baptism day, R. Everything actually went really well and according to plan. ...

Afterwards was a celebration in the church. There was a huge turnout. Pura vida. Eventually we went out to a beautiful evening, the weather is always lovely here, and played some games and enjoyed one another’s company. We had a lot of nonmembers show up that I hope will eventually turn into members. I tried to wear a giant smile and help everyone feel comfortable and welcome. It is very wonderful to have work. Wonderful yet at the same time stressful.

Sunday, happy bday Hallie

Happy Sunday! One of the greatest days of the week. I love going to church. I still don’t understand about 80 percent, but I love what I feel. I do look forward to the day when I can understand again. When I can participate the way I want to.

We had a lesson with A and MX afterwards. They invited us to lunch a while ago. We taught them about Joseph Smith and cleared up a lot of doubts. I was also able to explain the Book of Mormon and I realized that I’d learned so much-that my testimony of this book has grown so much. I´m truly grateful.

I´m grateful for this gospel and my Heavenly Father, who loves me when times are rocky and I need an extra dose of love.

I love you all family. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for ALL of your support. I love each of you ETERNALLY!

Miss and love you!,

Meg

“It’s the character that’s the strongest that God gives the most challenges to.  You can take that as a compliment.”  -Return to Me  Thank you for the Return to Me Quote. Did you know that I basically tell all my companions that story? There´s so much I don´t remember, but they all love the story.

I do not wash my clothes. I´m very blessed. I rarely do anything normal like that. Like cook or clean...not really. Strange, right?

Today I hung out in San José. We went shopping. All day. We went to Wendy’s. I taught mop and my comp all about frosty’s and fries. They looked at me like I was eating a newborn. They didn´t like it. I love America! I’m tired too. The city takes A LOT out of you. Reminds me of NY sometimes. 

The best part of my p-day of course, is emailing you. Always.

For my birthday dinner, please only eat tortillas, rice, and beans. Because I’ll be having the same. haha. Okay, tortillas if I’m lucky. haha.

"A fly on the wall"

Our family has been camping for a couple of weeks. We drive into town to get service and hear from our missionaries. It's a treat!!! (And of course we grab a shake too). Our emails this week, I merged together... I asked her what I would witness in her day if I was a fly on the wall... She didn't get transferred. Kept the same companion. Saturday we had a memorable mountain storm. It rained and hailed "UP"! Nothing like a thunder, rain, hail, lightening storm this close to the Almighty. (Raining up is when it rains so hard, it bounces back up) we commented that as we were getting wet, we hoped they were witnessing Jane getting "wet" too. Next Saturday they have two or three more?? I've lost track up here. Ha ha. 

Hello everyone! 

I finally saw my first baptism in Ciudad Colon! OOOHHHOOO! Jane, at age 87 entered into the waters of baptism and accepted the Holy Ghost in her life. She walked in crying and I was a little nervous. No missionary wants to see their investigator cry right before her baptism. But, I realized that she felt the spirit testify of what she was finally doing was right. I am so happy for her family. I am so grateful for the small part I was able to play in all this. I learned from her that this gospel has no age. That no matter our age, we can always do what´s right. We can always follow Christ. We can always set the example for those around us. 

I'm still really excited for Mark. He calls us his friends, and it's so nice to see him willingly give up some stuff, like coffee, even though everyone ridicules and makes fun of him, for something better. I know that no sacrifice is too grand when it comes to this gospel. 

My health is well, don't worry mom. 

Funny things that happened this week.....Mark was asking about how long women could store thier breast milk for their babies. (Everyone breast feeds here very openly. A rare day is to NOT see that)  When he found out it can be kept for like 3 months in the fridge he said women are better than cows! I laughed a healthy laugh over that.

Not too much news from my end. I love you all! Pray for you daily! Be strong forever. Kia kaha (forever strong)  Do the little things that lead to great miracles and blessings. Mission, family home evening. seminary. institute. pray. go to church. pray again. read your scriptures. 

I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and support! 

Love, 

Meg 

Day in the life: (i always start these things off but then bore myself so quit. sorry.) 

Will you take me through one of your day? What do you sleep on? I sleep on a bed. Haha. A mattress. It´s nice. The mission mattresses are typically awful. My companion asked for a new one. The other day she slept on the floor. I offered her my bed, but she can´t reach the top bunk without my help and doens't know how to get down without my help. Made me laugh the first time we tried. I have a nice mattress, don't worry. There are roosters CONSTANTLY cooing and I want to kill them. Seriously KILL the stupid roosters that go off at ALL hours of the day.  Where is your apartment? I am so excited to show you how costa ricans houses are. Remember when we were facebook stalking photos of costa rician missionaries? How one elder was standing on 2 roofs of two different houses? From the back of our house, I can touch about...7 different houses too. We live above a house in the middle of central. It´s a great location. Far from the church and where we drop off our laundry, but really close to stores and internet and all the good stuff central has to offer. We live down a hidden street thing that nobody can see. So we´re really safe too. It has one bedroom and one bathroom and a ¨kitchen¨and a ¨family room¨where we do our studies. How are the neighbors? Super sweet. They let us use their mop and in retrun, I give them coffee and alcohol. Ha. That was a half joke. (reference to the rum cake) They´re really kind. We live behind an evangelist church. I didnt´know this before but these evangelios like to sing. Loud. And then even louder. So that´s sometimes annoying. We also live with like 7 dogs. They´re good protectors. And gross. But good.  Landlord? Super nice. He changes our lightbulbs when we´re too scared of getting electricuted. (All wiring just hangs out of the walls) He hand delivers our bills and asks us what he can fix. Super nice.  When do you wake up? Read Preach my Gospel, haha. 6:30 every day. Even on our free days. I don´t mind it. I would love a nap in the middle of the day though. It's hard to exercise that early too. But I'll try to get better. Leave the house? Usually at 12 for lunch and then start work at 1. We walk and walk (like the pioneer children that sang as they walked, I like to sing. Or I like to tell my companions stories. This week was Thumbalina. I love that show. (It's so flipping cute and good!) We work until 9:30. Plan. Sleep. (Wake up at 10 then do it again. Man I love Costa Rica. HEY. I love piña. HEY! haha song insert there. I love college case you didn´t get it.) What do you sleep in- pjs? Jamas! Haha I sleep in my g´s. It's just too comfy. These past couple of days it's been a little chillier at night, so I put on my pjs with sheep. But I just love my g´s. Think I got that from me ma y pa. Still really hot? From about 12-3 everyday it's really sunny. My companion wants to die because her first and only other area was super frio, chilly. But my first and other area was Hell, so I love Ciudad Colon. Blanket? Check. I use 3. My purple one. A blue one (like the kind gma betty gave us from the 70's  and a small white one from me ma.  Pretend I was "the fly on the wall" for a day... What would I see? You´d see me planning for the following day. Walking. Sitting in houses. Trying to gulp down some questionable food sometimes. Laughing. Smiling. Struggling over some words. Talking with my comp. Trying to help people. Service. Walking some more. And yeah. Boring, no? Haha. But it´s great! 

Raining up! Sounds like you got a tiny taste of my days here. Except we dont´get hail storms raining up!  But it usually always rains up and I think of you! Love you mommy! 

Hope you enjoyed being the fly. 

LOVE YOU! 

Meg

Because I love my mom so much!

Thanks mom! 

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#to-every-mother

Hello father!

I love you so much. I just watched this, and it expresses all I can´t about how much I love you and all your hidden sacrifices that at many times were hidden from me. Thank you for being my provider. My protector. My Dad. I love you more than my fingers can ever type. More than my mouth can ever profess. Also, it´s weird to think that my Heavenly Father loves me just as much as, if not more, than you. But I belive it could be true. 

There´s a qutoe I love from an apostle that says, ¨Before I hear the words, ´well done my good and faithful servant´ from my heavenly Father, I hope to first hear them from my mortal Father.¨

I love you dad! Watch this video with a spirit of reverance. 

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#earthly-father-heavenly-father

Pray for all the good you receive. I´ve learned in the mission not to count the sheep to help me sleep, but to count my blessings. That way in the morning I wake up with a heart full of grattitude.

I love you!

Meggie Poopoo head.

Photos:

My comp´s bday. M and A his wife cooked us traditional rice and chicken (arroz con pollo, mmmm!) and pink salad. it´s main feature, i finally found out, is .....drum roll for dramatic effect....BEETS! beets I tell you. Mom, your beatdigger gene transfered! I like them. Don´t love them. But I eat them, haha. 

Sunset view. I love the sunsets here.