Soo.....y'all will never guess what happened this past week...drum roll please......Elder Holland came.....and spoke to not only the Sisters of Georgia, but the Georgia Atlanta and Georgia Atlanta North Missions.....and I shook his hand......it was AWESOME!! This past weekend was just a spiritual high! We had Elder Holland twice and then Stake Conference.....so much goodness! Also, Dad, I have to say that I love how you sent me that quote from Elder Holland because he totally said that at the fireside for women! Talk about following the Spirit! One of my favorite things that Elder Holland said at the Mission wide devotional was, "Your mission is the MTC for life." - soooo true!!! He talked about being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, speaking with power and authority that comes from the Spirit, and about how the greatest convert you can have from your mission is yourself. Though I have to say that one of the most memorable experiences was at the women's fireside when Elder Holland gave every women within the sound of his voice a blessing as if he were laying his hands upon our heads. The Spirit was ridiculously strong and I will never forget that moment.
Besides an epic spiritual high this past weekend we did a lot of service! At one point we were shoveling wood chips and spreading them around a less-active family's yard. It was great being able to work hard in the yard and I'm not gonna lie it totally reminded me of working outside back at home. It was a great feeling being able to work hard! (Besides working hard as a missionary of course haha) Another highlight of the week was putting V on a specific date to be baptized! It will be on either January 30th or sometime in February!! We're super excited!! Then she made us this special dessert/sweet bread from A which was super good! Oh! I forgot to mention that I saw a ton of members from my previous Ward at Stake Conference and it was so nice to see them again! One of the members said that we (yes, that means all of y'all ;) haha) have to come back to their home and spend some time with them in their cabin! Haha
I've heard quite often on my mission how Elder Holland's mission has meant more to him than anyone. ever. and this past weekend I finally understood what Elder Holland meant by this. He explained that every good thing that has happened in his life since his mission has been shaped by his mission. It reminded me of something very similar my Stake President told me right before I left for my mission and I know by the Spirit that it will be the same for me and everyone who chooses to serve a mission. So my message this week is simple; It will all work out. I love y'all soooooo much-ooooooooo!!!!!! Remember that y'all are always in my prayers.
Lots of Love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),
Sister Megan Rice
Bread from A!
Dearest family:
I love all of the miracles that y'all sent! Speaking of miracles we had a ton this week! So do y'all remember V? She is the investigator we taught in Webb Bridge and then she moved to John's Creek and then I came to John's Creek...well this past week we invited her to be baptized again and she said yes! Now she's praying about a day to be baptized!! Woot woot!! Please keep her in your prayers! When Saturday rolled around it became a crazy day! In the morning we had the Ward Breakfast and to our surprise one of the less-active part-member families we work with came and they brought a friend! After they left the breakfast we taught an investigator at the Church and it was an awesome lesson!
As we finished and were about to go to our next appointment we noticed that we had three calls from Bishop. A little surprised we listened to the voicemail only to find that a different investigator had brought his friend to the Ward Breakfast!! So we literally ran back to the Church from our car and then took them both on a quick Church tour and by the end our investigator's friend expressed a great desire to come to Church! It was awesome! After the quick Church tour we rushed to our next appointment. It was an awesome lesson that really set the tone of our visits. After that awesome lesson we rushed home changed in service clothes and then off we went to Felice's to help her along with a member.
As our time with F was coming to an end we had a really touching moment together and a ward member was able to give her a blessing. It was such a blessing to have the member there, for so many reasons! After F we rushed to our dinner appointment and because we were so rushed we didn't get the chance to change into our regular proselytingclothes so it was kind of funny when we showed up to dinner in our service clothes haha. Dinner turned out to be really good and by the end we were rushing to the home of the same less-active part member family that came to the Christmas Breakfast that morning. When we got there it turned out to be an awesome awesome awesome lesson! The returning less-active member got out his old scriptures and was so excited to read them again! Haha it was like watching a kid at Christmas! And that was our Saturday! A day chalk-full of miracles and tender-mercies!
On Sunday we learned of a child of record that just recently showed up in our Ward Directory and were given specific direction to visit with him as soon as possible. What was interesting is that since Sister H and I have been together we have been led to a particular street multiple times. We found out that this particular child of record will be living on the same street! It will be interesting to see how things play out in the next two months.
I just want to mention one more miracle before I finish. During the middle of the week we, last minute, felt that we should visit a less-active part-member family that had just gotten back from vacation. When we knocked on their door we surprised to find that the less-active sister let us right in. In a matter of moments we found out that her mother had just passed away. It was heart-breaking. We shared Because of Him and testified of the healing power of the Savior, His miraculous conquer over death, and of Heavenly Father's wonderful plan of happiness. Our message was quick and the Spirit was strong. By the end she gave us both a big hug. As we left that night I felt so blessed to be given the opportunity to be guided by the Spirit to those who needed the Savior's love and light.
One of my favorite things about being a missionary are the moments when you literally feel like an angel on the Lord's errand. It's one of the best feelings in the world. I have learned that there are angels both in Heaven and around us. Each one of us can be an angel when we are in the service of our Heavenly Father, to lift the hands that hang down and to mend the broken hearted. I'm so grateful to live in these times because I know that among such great darkness there is great light and we have been given the opportunity to share it; His light. President Monson said,
" My brothers and sisters, our opportunities to shine surround us each day, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others....To each of you, I say that you are a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. You have come from His presence to live on this earth for a season, to reflect the Savior’s love and teachings, and to bravely let your light shine for all to see. When that season on earth has ended, if you have done your part, yours will be the glorious blessing of returning to live with Him forever. How reassuring are the Savior’s words: 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.' Of Him I testify. He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father. He is our Exemplar and our strength. He is 'the light which shineth in darkness.' That each of us within the sound of my voice may pledge to follow Him, thus becoming a shining light to the world, is my prayer in His holy name, even Jesus Christ the Lord, amen." (October 2015 General Conference, "Be an Example and a Light").
Remember that y'all are always in my prayers. I love y'all soooooo much-ooooooo!!!!!
Lots of Love (From Your Favorite Sister Missionary), Sister Megan Rice
P.S. I love y'all oobledee gobbs!!! :) (P's newly created word)
Painting!
Happy Belated-Thanksgiving Y'all!!! I'm so excited for W and her mission!! The pictures of Grandma's birthday that y'all sent were great!! It was so good to see everyone's smiling faces! :)
Thanksgiving was great and oh so filling! First we went to the K's, a less-active part member family's, home for dinner and all of the food looked and smelled so good that we ate more than we should've, forgetting that we would be going to another member's home for second dinner! Hah! After the K's we had dinner with the R's, which was great because Brother R is in the YSA Bishopric and Sister R is the Stake Relief Society President which means we never get to see them in our Ward. Both dinners were soooo good!! For third dessert we went to another member's home, the C and that's where you received a picture of me. :) It was so fun to be at the C's home because so much of their family was there and you could just feel the love that they had for one another. It reminded me of how nice it is to be with family, especially during the holidays and it also reminded me of how wonderful it will be in the eternities when all of us can be together as one big family. :)
The day after Thanksgiving we had interviews with President and then attended a Temple session....and let me just say....it was soooooooo wonderful!!! This was probably one of my favorite interviews with President because I felt so much love from him and I could tell as we were discussing plans for the future that he had my best interest at heart and that everything was going to work out. Being in the Temple again was sooo amazing!! I felt like my spiritual armor was recharged and ready for defense against the attacks of the Adversary. I literally felt like the adversary couldn't get to me because of the strength from the Temple - such a cool feeling! One of the neat tender mercies is that while we were in the Temple we were able to see Brother M for a brief moment and it was the best!! Brother M used to be in charge of the Institutes and Seminaries in northern Georgia and in the High Council while I was serving in Big Shanty. His office was in our church building and he taught our Institute class, so we often turned to him with questions, advice, and support. I have only received three blessings of comfort on my mission and two were given to me by Brother M. To kind of give y'all a glimpse of how awesome he, is many people say that he is one of the three Nephites haha and after reading President Boyd K. Packer's eulogy it reminded me of Brother M hands down. Now he's working in the Temple as the Recorder, so it was a huge tender mercy to be able to see him again and to top it all off to see him in the Temple.
This week as were were leaving a member's home, the Re's, after delivering a Thanksgiving message Brother Re said with a smile, "Remember, when people are mean to you it only means satan is getting frustrated." I wish that someone had told me that when I first came out on my mission because after hearing that, this past week I feel like everything was put so clearly into perspective.
To the future missionaries: a mission isn't easy, but it is so worth it. Once your name tag is placed on you in the MTC you begin training for your place on the front lines of battle in the War against good and evil. Remember that you are on the Lord's side and that you have been endowed with gifts, power, and protection from on high. Together with our brothers and sisters you stand side by side with the Savior of the World and because He never gave up, you too cannot give up. He will be your support and strength. Trust Him. This is not about you or me. It is about Heavenly Father, His work, and the love He has for His children. What it all comes down to is charity, the pure love of Christ. My prayer has been that our faith and hope may be renewed every day. If you and I can be filled with faith, hope, and His love then I promise that when the Savior comes again in His glory, "we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:48).
I love y'all soooooo much-ooooooooo!!!!!!!! Remember that y'all are always in my prayers!!
Lots of Love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),
Sister Megan Rice
P.S. We had dinner with President Ernst (Stake President) and his family yesterday and we were finally able to talk about Esperanza and our home town Yorba Linda! It was awesome!! Also a new Christmas video came out yesterday! Y'all should check it out! Here's the link: Christmas.mormon.org and the name of the video is A Savior is Born :) love y’all!!
Christmas Tree!
Temple day!
Tee hee :)
