September 14, 2014 - Web Bridge

I wish I could express just how much yalls emails and letters mean to me. They are rays of sunshine that add to the light in every week. :)  I love the quote that were shared from Grandpa and especially your notes from the regional stake conference...wow....THAT WAS AWESOME!! I wish I could've heard what they had to say! 

I'm getting so excited and ready for General Conference. haha :) Also I love the picture of the crochet dress that Aunt B made. It is remarkable and so beautiful! You can really tell that she puts love and effort into her creations of art. She really has a talent! Thank you also for sending pictures of J and I, they are so beautiful! It warms my heart to see them. :) I can't believe how big they are!!

This week we saw many miracles, one such miracle occurred last Thursday. The night before, during planning, my companion and I made an appointment with the Lord to be in specific areas at specific times. As we knelt down in prayer we told Him where we would be and when, we then asked Him to lead us to the people who were ready and vice versa. Well as Thursday afternoon rolled around we got a phone call from one of the members. She said that she couldn't remember if she had signed up for dinner that night and although it was last minute said that we were more than welcome to come. Because we didn't have a dinner that night we happily accepted. As soon as we hung up my companion and I realized that the time we were supposed to go to dinner was the time that we had set an appointment with the Lord. After pondering we both felt that we needed to stay in that area. So we called back the member and asked for a rain check. As we went to the area we were supposed to, at the time that we were supposed to, we ended up teaching someone new and now have a return appointment with not only the person that we taught, but with her whole family (which altogether totals to 6-7 people). Following the Spirit is so incredibly important, even when that means that it might offend someone. In the end everything worked out and that member brought us over some leftover soup this morning. :)

I also wanted to share some thoughts on the importance of the sacrament. This past Sunday I was reminded, yet again, that the sacrament is the only ordinance that is performed for the same individual over and over again. I've learned that when we take the sacrament it not only renews the covenants made at baptism, but also all covenants made with the Lord including the ones made in the House of the Lord. Every week we have the opportunity to have the cleansing effect of baptism and confirmation through Christ's Atonement. As the world is growing darker and darker I am so grateful that Father in Heaven planned and prepared a way for His covenant children to gain renewed strength, protection, and power every week. The sacrament is a holy time. It is a time that requires reflection and preparation throughout the week and I am so grateful for loving parents who showed me the importance of the sacrament. I know that the sacrament is a gift from God.

Remember that I love yall sooooooooooooooooo much-oooooooooooooooo!!!! Yall are always in my prayers.

Your favorite Sister Missionary, Megan Rice

September 8, 2014 - Web Bridge

I can't believe that they've changed the Ward boundaries, our Ward back home must be growing! I remember the last Sunday in my first area on my mission. My last Sunday was the day that they showed the new boundaries for the Ward. It was kind of a crazy feeling to leave the Ward right before such big changes!! Now skipping forward to this area the Wards here, in Alpharetta, are bursting at the seams and will be split as soon as a new building is built. Change can be so crazy, but I'm grateful for change because it shows growth and an opportunity to become better. :) 

Also, I LOVE the quotes you send me every week!! Each week I look forward to the new quotes that you'll choose. It's nice being able to have the quotes on hand so that the Spirit can draw from my "spiritual well" of knowledge when we teach. :)

It's funny but I actually used the phrase, "Improvise, adapt, and overcome." this week. (Another one I like is "Accept, let go, move on. There is peace in moving forward.") It sounds like the Stake has a fun activity planned ahead! You'll have to take pictures for me so I can see all of the talent in our Stake. :) 

This week things have gotten a lot better. A little while back one of my close friends shared some wisdom from her mission. She said that everything that happens on a mission is designed for the individual missionary. Whether it's a difficult companionship, a rough area, overcoming the fear of failure, or whatever it might be every experience is designed to shape us into the individual that Father in Heaven knows we can become. As I have been learning and growing the past few weeks I've been reminded that this idea is true not just for missionary work but for our own individual lives. I have felt that this lesson is something that will help the people in this area. 

I know that God hears our prayers and if we will listen we will come to see that Heavenly Father is eagerly communicating back to us. He loves us. He is in the details of our lives. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He and our Father in Heaven want us all back home again someday. Remember that I love y'all soooooooooo much-oooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Y'all are always in my prayers; every day and every night. :)

PS: I just wanted to express a special thank you for all of the emails that y'all have been sending me almost every day this past week. Your words got me through and motivated me to keep trying. I am so grateful for the support that comes from family. Heavenly Father is so incredible to have created such a beautiful way for His children to feel love and support in such a unique way; the family. I thank Heavenly Father every day that I was sent to you, my most-loved Mom and Dad. Thanks again! I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) 

August 17, 2015 - Web Bridge

I love the pictures yall sent me! A looks so beautiful and J is growing up so fast! I can't wait to see our beautiful Isabel! Haha I can't believe that the tomato plant has grown so quickly and in such a short amount of time! Sister Ch and I got a little dollar home grow garden kit (I got the sunflower one of course!) and they have grown so quickly! I never knew how quickly plants could grow and flourish. It just goes to show that if a seed is planted in the right kind of soil and given proper nourishment it thrives. Kind of like the gospel ;) *wink wink*. 

Anyway... I'm so sorry to hear about Bishop O, that's so sad. I am so grateful for the restored truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that ease the pain of loss. Thank goodness for the beautiful truths such as the Plan of Happiness! I'll be praying for the O family as well. I also love those quotes that you sent me! In fact I've had one of them on my wall the majority of my mission! Thank you for sharing them!! I hope that mom gets to feeling better soon, let her know how much I love her!!

The end of this week has been incredible! The majority of this week was going by really slow. My companion and I were working really hard and not seeing much success. When Saturday rolled around, we didn't see much improvement that is until the mid-afternoon/evening fell. It first began with R. About a month ago we were tracting in this trailer park. We met a lot of people who spoke Spanish and so it was very difficult to communicate with the little Spanish that we know. Towards the end of our time there we met a woman who spoke only the tiniest bit of English. She was cleaning out her car and when we walked up she expressed no interest in learning about the gospel so we offered our help instead. As we got to communicating a little bit with her she started to break down in tears and then she wrote something down on my planner because she couldn't speak it. On my planner it said a girls name, her age and that she had cancer. We found out that this woman was cleaning out her car to bring home her very sick daughter for what might be the last time. My heart sunk. By the end of our time with her we prayed together and hugged and then we parted not knowing if we would ever see her again because we were going to refer her to the Spanish sisters. 

Skip to about a month later, we found out that some of the referrals we sent didn't go through so we decided to stop by their house again while we were in the area, even though we couldn't speak Spanish. When we knocked on the door again R answered. R is the father and speaks perfect English. We were able to talk to R and found out that he had never been in to religion much until his sister passed away from cancer and his daughter was now suffering from it. He said that he had never really spent time with his family until now and that although it has been really hard he is grateful for these times because they've taught him to cherish family. He said he was also grateful because N, the mother, has always been against religion, but now she prays and even though they don't know how to pray they help each other learn. We testified of the peace that comes from the gospel and the joy that comes from knowing that we can be with our families for ever. The Spirit was so strong! This Sunday we will be going over with one of the brothers in our Ward and his wife to give their daughter a blessing. His wife will be translating the blessing in Spanish to N, the mother. 

Right afterwards my companion and I both got the prompting to follow up with another potential investigator that we had tried to send over to the Spanish Sisters. When we walked up to the house we immediately met R. Previously we had met R's cousin who said that R needed church in his life, at the time R didn't say much and we assumed it was because he didn't speak English, well it turns out that he does! The only downside is we can hardly understand a word he's saying hah! Anyway so when we saw R he immediately opened up to us. He expressed that he has been searching for truth and wants to change. We testified of the  healing and enabling power of Jesus Christ and His gospel. While we were talking he handed my companion his phone and said to talk to his friend, because she needed more help than he did and wanted to share this message with her. While my companion was on the phone I was teaching R. By the end R kept saying that God had sent him angels that day.

When we were walking back to our car my companion told me that R's friend on the phone was a once a member of our church! She said that she had an amazing lesson with her and that my companion got her address! We will be sending a talk to her as well as a referral to some missionaries in North Carolina, where she lives. We found out later on that R had no idea that his friend had been a member! 

Once we got in the car the Spanish Sisters called us and as we were talking they told us that the only referral that sent through from us was getting baptized this Saturday! When we heard his it was just the icing on the cake! I know that Heavenly Father is aware of us. He knows when are working hard, he knows when we are serving him with all that we have and he blesses us. After all, "God honors those who honor him". This is His work and I'm so grateful to be apart of it.

 I can't believe that they're closing down the family history center in Orem! Will there be a new one? I hope Grandpa's new calling will be just as special to him. :) I'm glad that mom got my letter I made sure that I wrote two letters a couple P.Days ago and then sent them on different days so that she would get them and be surprised. I'm glad my plan worked! :)

 Anywhoo...so transfers are this Wednesday. Sister Ch, my companion (above), will be leaving... :( which makes me really sad, but she will be training so I'm really excited for her! My new companion's name is Sister S. She will just be finished with training when I get her so I'll be "greenie-breaking", which should be fun. :) Fun fact: my new companion's trainer was one of my previous companions (Sister S). 

This week we had several miracles. We brought one of our investigators, R, to the baptism of the referrals that I was telling y'all about last week. It turns out that there were three baptisms that night! Two of the people that were baptized were referred from us. We were able to witness the first baptism, but didn't get to witness our referral's baptisms. It turns out there was a miscommunication so the referrals came later. Their baptisms started at around 9pm so we couldn't stay, but at least we got to see them and I wish y'all could've seen the big smiles on their faces when they saw us. It was so nice to see their bright shining  smiling faces! :) 

So the baptism that we attended was completely in Spanish, but the Spirit there was soooo strong! It was wonderful! On Sunday we went to the hospital with one of the members of our Ward and his son (who just returned from his mission) and his daughter to give R’s daughter a blessing. Again it was completely in Spanish, but the Spirit there was so beautiful and powerful. :) In the blessing Ya was given a blessing of total recovery! As well as several other wonderful blessings. Afterwards her mother asked us if we would go to her friend and give her son a blessing. We did and it was a great experience. Y’s blessing and experience was a testament to me in so many ways. What it shows first off is that when we experience something that helps us so much, our natural reaction is to share what has helped us with those we love. Elder Bednar was talking about this also in his talk "Come and See" from General Conference a little while back. Y'all should check it out. :) 

Anywhoo I don't have a lot of time today so I wanted to let y'all know that I love y'all soooooooo much-oooooooooo!!!!!! Remember that y'all are always in my prayers! 

I love y'all sooooo much-oooooopoo!!!!!!!! Remember that y'all are always in my prayers!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

Ausgust 3, 2015 - Web Bridge

Ins't time just crazy?! It flies by so quickly! I love the thoughts that you had, Dad, when you hit your year mark. 

Dad: "During my mission I made up my mind that I would not set back and get trunky the few months before leaving, but instead would work my hardest right up to the end. I know you will do the same."

That's exactly how I've been feeling! Haha I love how even back when you were serving, missionaries used the word "trunky" haha mission lingo is the best haha :) I'm so glad that y'all got the pictures of Sister Jacobs. I love her sooo much!! She was my Sister Training Leader when I first got out and my very first exchange! It was kind of special to be able to see each other almost exactly a year later from when we first met (in fact I would call that moment a tender mercy/miracle). Her friendship has meant so much to me throughout my mission. Out of all the missionaries I've met she is the only one who has kept in contact with me my entire mission. She means a lot to me. :) She's the one in the middle. My companion Sister C is on the left.

Wasn't the soldier day parade soo cute?!! It was so much fun being able to pass out cards, pamphlets, flags, and candy throughout the parade! I hope that when I show y'all around someday that we can come in time for the soldiers day parade! :) 

I love the tomato plant you have - it's growing so well!! i can't wait to start my own little garden someday! I also loved the thought that you shared about blessings. It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures Ether 12:4 as well as a few others. :) Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. :)

This week has felt like almost everything was "go go go". We had a lot of first appointments and although some of them fell through we had really great lessons. Besides that we've been able to get in with a lot of less-actives, which has felt like a huge success because it's been hard to get in with them the past few months. One of the tender mercies Heavenly Father showed us was when we went over to one of the less-active's home. She opened up to us a lot about the struggles they've had and we were able to have a really good discussion afterwards she invited us to come back for dinner a couple days later. While at dinner her husband suggested that we should hold them accountable for reading the Book of Mormon daily and coming to church weekly! My companion and I were both happy to oblige! Afterwards they invited us to come back over in a couple of weeks and this past Sunday they came to church! It was awesome!! As our focus lately has been on less-active work I've been reminded of how important the sacrament is and I've learned the importance of sharing it with others who have forgotten it's importance. I know that the sacrament prepares us individually and renews promised blessings. It makes us better people and provides protection. Those blessings are ones I don't want to live without.

     I love y'all soooooo much-oooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember y'all are always in my prayers. So long for now ~ Have a blessed week!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

July 20, 2015 - Web Bridge

Wow! It sounds like a lot has happened! Thanks for the updates. As for my health, I'm doing great! *knock on wood* haha We haven't been on bike in this area, which is nice with the heat, but I must say I definitely loved being able to work off all of the weight gained from all of the food haha, but that's ok! Sometimes we do intense biking in the morning. Which reminds me! There are these absolutely beautiful forest-like paved paths for bikers, runners, and walkers called the "Greenways". Y'all should look them up, because they are beautiful!! Anywhoo.....

      I don't have a lot of time to email since we have been busy deeeeeeep cleaning for apartment and car checks coming up this week. This past week has been an incredible week of tender-mercies. One such tender-mercy was while we were tracting (0h! that reminds me... it has been in the 90's and I'm not sure how much humidity but boyyy it has been hot!!!). After about a half an hour we came to a house on the end of this small street and right as we were walking up to the house this beautiful college aged young women walks out with her dog. As we talked with her she was super friendly and pretty interested. She said that we could come back and teach more and that her boyfriend would be very interested in learning more as well. She also said that her boyfriend might have been involved in the church when he was younger and that his parents might be members. After we had finished talking with her and began to talk among each other my companion realized that her boyfriend was the son of a less-active member who had just moved out of our area. These members were also trying to come back to church and it turns out that missionaries have been trying to meet her son for a while now....It was crazy!! Besides that tender mercy/ miracle we were also able to get in contact with a lot of less-actives that in the past have been hard to get in touch with and we're teaching former investigators!! It's really exciting!! Well it looks like I've gotta be off...So long for now~

     I love y'all sooo much-ooo!!! Remember, y'all are always in my prayers!!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary,

Sister Megan Rice

A letter to the missionaries from Pres. Bennion

Dear Elders and Sisters, 

As promised, here is an update on our dear Sister Beckstrom:  She remains in a coma following the car accident that occurred seven weeks ago.  Her condition has been upgraded to fair; she has been removed from life support systems, and she opens her eyes, but she remains unresponsive to her external environment.  She has been moved from intensive care to a “skilled nursing” facility.  The doctors are no longer optimistic that she will regain full consciousness, and they feel that her present condition may continue into the indefinite future.  Prayers for her and her family remain important and appreciated. 

With our daughter Christine, it took about 9 months for us to understand the extent of her disabilities, and about 3 to 5 years to fully accept the situation.  In our 40 years with Christine, we have learned many valuable lessons for the eternities.  We’d like to highlight a few: 

1. --  Live your life one day at a time, doing your best each day, with no regrets. 

2. -- Timing is in the Lord’s hands.  We know that everything will be fine in the eternities; the uncertainty is between “now” and “eternity.”  But the final outcome is assured through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

3. -- “All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” (Preach My Gospel, page 52) 

4. -- We focus on what we can do, and leave the rest to the Lord and trust in Him. 

We love all of you and pray for you each day. 

With love and admiration, 

  President ∧ Sister Bennion

July 12, 2015 - Web Bridge

 I love y'alls email so much every Monday when I read them it brightens up my week!!! Thank y'all for the wise words and encouragement it brings me so much joy and comfort. Really thank you. I can't believe the tomato plants have already started producing tomatoes that are ready to eat...that was so quick!! I can't wait for my own personal planter box to garden with! Also, I love the example that was related to the tomato plants. I'm going to have to use that! I can't believe that M is married!! That's crazy! Also I love the items on the memory table, that is sooo special!! My first thought was, "awwwwww". It warms my heart to know what they represent and what they mean to y'all! :) 

     This week has been interesting haha. All of the investigators we found my first transfer in this area have either moved or gone on vacation....so now we are back to the finding stage again haha, but that's ok! This week we were also able to serve A LOT and that has been awesome!! The feeling that comes from serving is amazing. :) Besides that I guess my thought for this week is this that found in Alma 34:9-10 which reads, 

"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice." 

Recently one of our recent converts has wanted to know more about the Atonement and so the majority of my studies have been reflected on that sacred topic and what I have been reminded of during those moments of reflection is that no matter where we are in life, no matter who we are, or what we have chosen to do there is one who knows, understands, and loves us. No one is too far away from the reach of the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement, if used daily, will enable us and provide the opportunity to learn and grow.

     I love y'all sooooo much-ooooooooooo!!!!!!!! Remember that y'all are always in my prayers!!!  

Lots of Love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

June 21, 2015 - Web Bridge

 I'm so glad that y'alls week has been so eventful and busy! It really is amazing to see the mantle of a missionary and I must say I can most definitely feel it and don't want it to every leave, but I trust in my Father in Heaven and I know He has a plan! I'm soooo sooooo happy that the Provo City Temple will have an open house when I'll be there!!! I'll be looking forward to it!! 

     This week we've seen many blessings/tender mercies/miracles, one of which was with a new investigator named J. One day when we were out following up on a less-active member of the ward we saw a father and his dad out in their driveway working on their car. We decided to go and talk to them and were surprised to see that they greeted us very warmly. The father said that his wife had met with missionaries before and that they couldn't speak at the moment because they were working, but he said that he would go get his wife and we could teach her. He went inside, but instead of bringing his wife out with him he brought his daughter, J and we began teaching her. In the short time that we met with her she really opened up and is seriously the sweetest thing ever! We met her again this week and she accepted the invitation to be baptized! We are really excited for her! 

     P, a recent convert, is being a super awesome missionary this week! One of his friends from back home came to visit him and he wanted us to start teaching her. She also accepted the invitation to be baptized and it was really cool seeing Pedro testify and teach. 

     So this next miracle is probably one of my favorites. We decided to go to S's again to make ourselves known to his parents. Even though I was a little hesitant at first, after prayer we knew we needed to go visit him. So we knocked on the door and Sam opened the door a little surprised to see us. We learned that his parents weren't home again and that the next day he would be leaving for a month long backpacking trip in Washington, Oregon, and then Alaska! When we were finished talking we taught him a little bit and the spirit was very strong, yet again. When we were finished we got in the car and the exact moment S closed the door to his house and we turned on the car was the moment his parents drove right past us into their driveway, not knowing that we had just visited their son. It was crazy!! In that moment, my companion and I, were both very aware that we were on the Lord's errand, which is a very fulfilling feeling. Along with the miracles I shared we also had the opportunity to go to the Temple (Georgia, Atlanta)! It was wonderful and exactly what I needed!! Oh! And I gave another talk at church on Sunday and after church we helped serve pies to the fathers. When all of the fathers had two slices of pie there was enough extra for members to have a slice and guess which pie I chose, in remembrance of you Dad....marion berry (aka marry and berry). Overall, this week has been a good one and I can't wait to see what this new week will bring. 

     I love y'all soooooo much-ooooooo!! Remember y'all are always in my prayers!!

Lots of Love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice 

My companion Sister C