“Hooraw for Israel!”

“Hooraw for Israel!”

Thoughts from the week from Hermana Megan Workman: 

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

Today my brother gets set apart as a missionary! Wow. We had a great lesson with M. I just really hope she stays strong in the gospel. I do not want her to fall away. As we left the lesson, we saw an incredible sun set. The silhouettes were breathtaking. Palm trees, mountains, volcanoes, etc. I am so lucky. 

The very last thing we did was stop in la pulpería to grab a snack. The first thing the pulpero said to us was, “I read about Joseph Smith.” (Forgot to mention, he´s my favorite Pulpero here.) Automatically we asked him what he thought. He´d read the pamphlet of the restoration. And he was really quiet for a long time. I knew he wasn’t going to argue, but I didn’t know what he was going to do. And then I saw something that would bring any missionary great joy: a part of the lights turned on.  “God, please forgive me for what I´m about to say...” he said. And started to talk in circles about all the corruption in the world. “But could it be true that the Catholics changed the Bible?” Heavenly chorus insert here. “Yes.” I explained. There were a lot of things changed and taken away. Authority. Revelations, etc. That´s why there was a need to restore the Church of Jesus Christ. I told him to pray about it and he admitted that he didn’t know how to pray. He also said that sometimes people come into his pulpería and he feels something...different. “Like when you two enter,” he explained. “You´re like angels.” The whole thing made me excited to help him remember heaven and receive the blessings that come from obedience. 

Friday 1.17.2014  Today was the coldest day I´ve experienced in Costa Rica. I was, and still am, freezing all day. I couldn´t fathom leaving the house for how cold it was. We left in sweaters and leggings. I don´t know how to measure cold anymore. Especially after reading A´s emails from Russia. But I´d say like......50?? (I now have a flemmy cough.)  Yes I looked ridiculous, but God still loves me regardless. And know what, nobody said anything about it. These people don´t care how you look or what splots are on your past. They just love ya regardless. Imagine if we could all be that accepting and loving. Eternal Perspective. It´s an incredible concept. I´m grateful I can give my burdens to the Lord and I know He´ll carry them for me so I don´t have to. I love my Savior. Did I mention it was raining all day in every direction? It´s unavoidable getting soaking wet. It was the 1st day in my mission that I didn´t sweat. 

Sunday 1-19-2014

Hello there. **Mary got baptized!!! (the .100 colones lady… miracle at the end of email, again.) The most amazing part of her experience was watching her truly progress closer to her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I saw as she experienced true repentance. She, like most of us, had a past. She had a heavy load to carry and frankly didn´t know where to turn for relief. She had a desire to change-desire is where it all starts. I am so happy for her. 

At her baptismal service as we were running around like chickens without heads, She came up to us and said, ¨I want to go first. I can´t wait anymore!¨  It was beautiful to see how much she truly wanted to be clean. I testify that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the authority from God, His Priesthood, to perform sacred and saving ordinances. 

As she came up out of the water, she was full of tears of redemption. It was beautiful to see. 

In gospel principles class, we talked about Jesus Christ and someone commented that Jesus loves the drunks in the streets, the robbers, etc. He loves them so much. I really liked remembering that about my older Brother. I need to emulate Him and love others as He does. 

I am looking forward to the temple on Friday and possible companionship changes and or transfers?? I haven´t been able to do a temple session since April. (Tear drop)  I´m doing good physically. I´ve been thinking about Bren all week. All alone in a big empty MTC. Haha I´m sure he´s loving the food. Wish I could see him there. I didn´t cry when I went to the MTC either, right? Keep up the BOOK OF MORMON STUDY! HOOO RAW! 

I love you!

Meg

P.S. My gringos here always tell me they have to rush home to go watch the Broncos. They´re from Colorado, so yeah. They keep me updated. I sure love them!

**Mary’s Miracle: "We had met with *Mary the previous Saturday and invited her to do whatever possible to go to church. Sunday she showed up. The following Tuesday she had told us how difficult it had been for her to go because she literally didn´t have .100 colones, or about.....30 cents to take the bus. But she told God she wanted to change and be better and go at whatever cost. She asked the bus driver if she could pay him later, miraculously he agreed. She was able to pay him back and thought to herself, before next week, I´ll somehow get back my .100 colones. On the walk to the house, Mary smiled as she told us what she found in the dirty and rocky pathway on the way to our meeting for the next lesson: “.100 colones!” Just laying there for her. It is my testimony that God is indeed involved in every strand of our lives. HE will always provide for us."   

My 30 Cents (.100 Colones) Worth

January 17, 2014

HI EVERYONE! 

I feel like I have so much to say!!! First off… for Brayden, GOOD LUCK on Wednesday! I thought I´d send some good cheer and comfort. (Written scoops of Ben and Jerry’s if you will.)  It´s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. You’ll get there and realize that nothing could’ve ever really prepared you for this. You´ll probably even rethink ever wanting to go. You’ll ache to just hear your brothers arguing in the next room. There will be holes in your heart. Your pillowcase may be soggy with soppy tears. You will clench your fists and maybe even curse them at heaven. You will miss daddy and ache for mommy.  Then one day out of the blue, you’ll find that companion that just gets you and loves to work. You’ll somehow realize that you’re finally living and that you’re someone’s hero. Top dog. Loved. You´ll grow this new appreciation for the Savior that you never expected. After all, we’d grown up reading about Him. But somehow you come to really know Him. You’ll learn how to pray. You’ll hurt when they don’t show up to church. (Suddenly church becomes important. Along with every other little thing we’ve learned since primary.) Sleeping in a bus has never felt so good. The world becomes so much more beautiful. One-day you’ll see someone that really has been waiting for you to invite them to be baptized their whole life. You’ll see the light come back to their face. You’ll finally understand true joy when they share their testimony. And then, I think, that this will all just end. And we somehow just have to continue on. And start life’s next adventure. And suddenly the thought of marriage and children and jobs and the real world scare you, maybe even induce nausea. But we’ll do it because we know about God’s plan and His love for us. We know that He never leaves us to wander hopelessly. He´ll take care of us because He is our Shepard who knows each of us perfectly. 

Transfers should be the day Bren enters the MTC....but I’m not sure because they just called to let us know that WERE GOING TO THE TEMPLE THAT DAY!!!!!!!!! Finally. Finally. Finally! We had interviews with president this week. I had a dose of trunky. Elder C  told us about his flight plans and his last interview with President. It made me think-this was my last interview, well until my very last one. On one hand I really don´t want to leave. My friends are here. They like me here.  I find myself in a very calm place. I´m happy to be alive. I´m grateful for everyday I´m given. I love being a missionary. I want to give my all. But on the other hand, yeah. Super excited for life’s next adventure! President Wilkinson is going to let me stay here to die, but probably with a new companion. I’m okay with that. And it’s weird to think I’m dying - especially as Brayden is just being born. (In the mish that is) Brayden’s talk was the best talk I’ve ever heard. It had me in tears naturally. He is an amazing missionary.  I find that I´ve become a much bolder missionary (person? English word has left me?) And I´d like to thank Heavenly Father for sending me to a place where I can’t “beat around the bush” as they say. Luckily my language skills limit me to more directness. But aside from Spanish, I don´t feel that awkward gulp in my throat when I know I need to tell these people not to drink coffee, and to go to church. I want you to know that being a missionary is a title that I really enjoy. Everyday is different, there´s not really a mundane routine like in the real world. I enjoy learning from these Ticos. I really do love San Carlos. It’s been my area with the least amount of success-the fewest amount of lessons taught and so far not 1 baptism. (By the way guess what I learned yesterday about the prophet Joseph Feilding Smith. Guess how many he baptized in his mission. Not 1. It made me feel better.) I know God knows me. That He comprendes me (understands?). I know He knows what makes me happy. I also know He knows what I need sometimes even before I do. I know I am His daughter and that He cares about me. I´m grateful for this knowledge.

This week we met with **Mary. She´s progressing so well, but is also receiving a lot of negativity for her desire to be baptized. It gives me ¨colera¨ but I know if she is faithful, the Lord will deliver her out from whatever bondage. I wanted to share something she taught me. We had met with her the previous Saturday and invited her to do whatever possible to go to church. Sunday she showed up. The following Tuesday she had told us how difficult it had been for her to go because she literally didn´t have .100 colones, (about 30 cents) to take the bus. But she told God she wanted to change and be better and go at whatever cost. She asked the bus driver if she could pay him later, miraculously he agreed. She was able to pay him back and thought to herself, before next week, I´ll somehow get back my .100 colones. She smiled as she told us what she found as she walked to the house where we would meet for our next lesson. There, lying in the dirty and rocky pathway was .100 colones. Just laying there for her. It is my testimony that God is indeed involved in every strand of our lives. HE will always provide for us. Alma 58:11 “Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.”

We then went and worked in a little hood called Barrio Meco. I think we finally figured out what meco is: smoke. I truly am grateful for these experiences here in Costa Rica. I sat in a house that did not have the following yesterday: a floor, it was pure dirt, a fridge, a stove, (they burn their food from a fire inside with smoke everywhere) beds, closets, tables, etc. electricity, Nothing. There are people who just truly have no earthly possessions yet give SO much. The sweetest old lady wouldn´t let us leave without taking tomatoes and yuca. Like potatoes but better. This old lady, **Lucy, is very small. About 90 years old and comes up just underneath my bust line. But she gives the very best hugs and is always so happy. What we can learn from her is that our goal should not be to focus on what we do not have, but find someway to make someone else´s day better. Through words of cheer, sharing a tortilla, a squeezy hug that makes you really feel just how much they love you, etc. 

My favorite part of the day was sitting around with some old ladies. They made us an early dinner. Soup. We ate out on her patio and I just loved the moment. The trees were rustling in the wind. Sun shimmering through, talking with some old broads-it was awesome. At the end of the lesson, Olga told us we were her angels. That God sent us here just to help her during this tough time. We read Josue 1:5 (There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.) with her and she just started bawling. She told us God was speaking to her in these words. I thought of the scripture, if you shall bring just one soul unto me...¨ I feel like we´re helping her soul remember that during the tough times we are allowed to grow. 

I want to express how grateful I am for the flood of letters I received today from Bishop Burton, the Yeager Family, Activity Day girls, My family and the Petersen family! I felt so good reading the words of love and encouragement. I feel bamboozled (Dr. Suess word or legit?) that people actually read, and like, what I write. More importantly what brings me the most joy is that some people even draw strength from my words. I loved what one sister shared in her letter. She expressed that she feels at times like she is literally holding on by the fingernails. (Alma 58:7 - some trials can truly last months.) When looking back she realized that God didn´t save her as she expected, but perhaps He just strengthened her fingernails. I think during our trials all we want is immediate relief. But if we look at our heroes in the scriptures, we find that they too had to wait. Some examples I thought of:

-Joseph. Did the right thing and avoided temptation. Yet was still thrown in to prison. Waiting for relief. 

-Alma the younger. Put in a coma for about 3 days. Not only was Alma the Younger waiting for relief, but his dad too. 

-King Lamoni, his wife, Abish. How long had Abish waited for spiritual relief? She was less active for years but perhaps couldn´t tell anyone. Maybe she didn´t know what to do. 

-Joseph Smith had to wait to get the plates. 

-Noah had to wait about....140 years before the rain actually came. 

The point is the waiting process is rarely the highlight of any story. But it´s in that process that we become SO MUCH BETTER. (For more on this subject, see “Claim the Blessings of Your Covenants.” By Sister Reeves.) Even the Savior had to go through Gethsemane and wait for relief to come. For those of you who read my words, hang in there. Don´t you quit. You keep going. Relief will always come. The Savior himself promised that He will not forsake us. I know we can count on Him and His promises. 

I´ve learned that miracles don´t produce faith. But strong faith produces miracles. I read about the scripture that says we can move mountains with our faith. My companion always shares that and adds: so we shouldn´t be surprised if God hands us a shovel to start plowing our way through.

Being far away from my Earthly Father has allowed me to learn that these blessings (promised in a priesthood blessing) don´t come from the men giving them, but truly from Heavenly Father. It’s been a great opportunity for me to truly witness how much Heavenly Father truly loves each of us. His love simply is always there. 

I love you ALL SOOOOOOOOO MUCH. Brayden, I´m really going to miss you. But all will work out. 

Love,

Megan

Mommy, thanks! I love you, ya know? I bet you´re just holding on with your fingernails right now. Virtual hug! I love you SO much. Good luck this week. It will all be okay. Just breathe and do normal things. Like prayer and scripture study. Watch a movie. Distract yourself. IT will all be okay.