November 18, 2013
I asked Megan a
couple of questions that are finally answered here. First, I wanted to know if
she is dreaming in Spanish. I’ve asked her this question for months. I told her
about Brayden needing a bike for his mission. Also, I asked if she really ate the pig tail.
Then, asked what the worst thing she ate was… Her reply was right. I really
don’t want to know that!
“I
find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what
direction we are moving (to reach the port of heaven) we must sail sometimes
with the wind and against it-but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at
anchor.” -Oliver Wendall Holmes Sr.
Hola!
Strangely the highlight of my week happened on Wednesday: It truly was one
of those no good dirty rotten, awful days. Some days you trudge through and try
not to drown. This was truly one of those days where I felt like I was
swallowing buckets of water, coughing, bobbing up and down, waving my hands
frantically above me seeking for any type of relief, and just ready to give in
to the storm.
We did all the things we
should. Good personal study. We had a good companionship study,
verified-confirmed as many appointments as we could. We headed out and got to
work. Oh man. What a smoldering hot sun. It was just beaming right down on us.
I felt like the ant being abused by the kid with a magnifying glass.
First
appointment: Not home.
Second
appointment: Not home.
Third
appointment: Not home.
Okay,
let´s look for a less active...look....ask...look...Not home.
Okay
let´s see if we can find one of our old investigators...found the house! But
wouldn´t you know it, she wasn´t home. Okay let´s try and find another old
investigator...I prayed and prayed-help us find it! We walked up and down in
blazing heat and as we were about to give up, I thought, let´s just try one
more street. So we did and when we found it, I was so happy, I wanted to cry.
But, again she wasn´t home either. We walked away from that house about 3:30 p.m.
feeling completely empty. All my energy had left. I wanted to just plop down in
the street. It was awful. We made our way to the park and just sat down.
I
had ganas to cry but also laugh at the insanity of the day. How could this be?!
What was wrong?! And out of the blue, a man showed up. He had about 3 teeth,
messy hair, etc. I had to try hard not to laugh because he sat down right in
front of us and started preaching the good word to us! Naturally.
We couldn´t find anyone to listen to our message, so a preacher would come to
us. He told us about his ongoing battle with drugs, etc. I was trying to figure
out what he wanted-but nothing really. He told us how wonderful we are for
doing what we´re doing, even though we didn´t even say we were missionaries. He
said that although we’re young and could easily choose to go to pizza hut, we
choose to help people. That what we, the Lord really, offers is gold. He told
us not to loose the faith-to just keep going on and then he shook our hands and
left. Know what? I needed to hear that. I think it was my encounter with the
fourth Nephite.... I´m not sure. But my
5 min encounter with E made my day brighter.
I
wish I could tell you that grand miracles happened after that. I wish I had an
experience like the Sons of Mosiah or Alma. But the truth is, it was just one
of those bitter suffer days so that maybe tomorrow we can appreciate the sweet.
(Remind me never to pray for patience.)
I
think the greatest miracle of today is that we ended the day laughter and feeling
happy.
I´m
grateful for my Savior, who figuratively speaking, went through 1,000 houses
where nobody was home so I´d only have to suffer 5 or 6. I´m grateful for the
hope this gospel gives. I know that trials do not last forever. I know that my
Heavenly Father is mindful of my needs and loves me.
On
Friday, our investigator said she didn´t want to meet with us anymore. And naturally it hurts.
But I kept trying to tell myself that I wasn´t sad. But really I was super sad.
My companion looked at me and said, “Are you okay? What´s in your heart?” I
just couldn’t hold in my tears in any longer. I said that I know my Heavenly
Father loves me. He´s happy with the work I´m doing. And she reminded me that
sometimes the outside voices are so loud that we can´t hear our own heart. She confirmed
to me that more investigators will come. First we must have the tribulation and
then the blessings.
This
brings me to the little youth we met yesterday. A. He´s 15 and we just got
to know him. We told him we were missionaries and you know what he said? He
said that one day he wanted to be a missionary. I told him we could teach him a
few things and show him how to be a real missionary and he gladly accepted the
invitation. It made me feel really good inside. Hope. I really hope we can
help him meet his goal.
The
point in talking about A is that the blessings always come usually in
unexpected ways. By doing what we´re supposed to be doing.
I´m
so grateful for my mission. I´m being allowed to feel just a tiny portion of
how our Heavenly Father feels about his children. Sometimes we make really dumb
decisions-completely off route. Some of those take us far away from Heavenly
Father. I´m sure He´s sad but, always loving and ready to take us into His arms.
And then my companion reminded me of a
meeting we had a long time ago.
Not
in Guanacaste. Not even on this planet. In the pre-mortal council. God presented
His plan and one of His sons left Him. How painful and bitter that experience
must have been. And then to watch 1/3 more of His children leave Him too.
Agonizing. When I feel sad when an investigator decides to leave us, it´s only
natural because we love them. And as God´s heirs, we´ve inherited a desire for
their souls too. But ultimately I know that I need not feel sad forever. Jesus
Christ took upon Himself all our sorrows. Ultimately, I´m grateful for this
opportunity to learn and grow.
So
there´s a slice of what´s going on down here. It´s been a rough week. But
that´s good because this next one can only get better! Thank you for all of
your love and support. I love you all so much!
Take
Care!
Hermana
Megan Workman
Wow.
Brayden. Lucky boy. I watched a video of missionaries on their bikes and I
thought about how beautiful that would be....sigh.
The
other day we walked in our house and it had been cleaned and we had a new
“table” (it’s more like an end table) for our burner/stove thing? Our "grandma" cleaned
our house while we were out. I love her. We went up to her house to thank her
and visit and I told her I felt like I was at home. And then she made us
dinner. Pig tail, fried bananas, tortillas. Not that bad. We ate at a real
table! Not the floor!! And I told her once again, I feel like I´m at
home! And then her husband walked in the kitchen and passed gas…. I laughed and
said, I think my family is here. haha I love them. And I love you.
Worst
thing I’ve eaten? chicharon. (the fatty part right under the pig skin… usually
cooked with the pig skin attached) And
yes. I ate pigtail. And other pig parts....it´s best not to ask
questions.....haha. Worst thing I’ve eaten...... brown soup with one hard
boiled egg in it. For the four of us. haha we fought over the egg. NOT.
haha. or pig brain. or......anything with tuna. Nasty! Strait up
nasty.
Yes
I do dream in Espanol and in my dreams, I´m usually teaching the gospel. The
other day, I dreamed we got to go home for Christmas and I actually wanted to
be back in Costa Rica. In my dream, Bray made me laugh again. Out loud. I love
him. It was nice to see my brothers.
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