“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."