December 15, 2014 - Kennesaw

      First off, let me just say that I love serving here in the Big Shanty YSA, it's wonderful! My companion is a great example to me and I really respect her. It's fun being able to relate to someone who has served for the same time as I have. The people here are so nice too! Of course, that's not to say that the people in my first area weren't nice it was just a different kind of nice. This past week we've taught a lot of people, and gone contacting, and I love it! One of the best miracles of this week was probably when one of our investigators, J, called us last night. 

     When we taught J a couple days before Sunday we left him with a commitment to come to Church with a question, which he accepted. When Sunday rolled around we were excited to see that he was at Church and knew that when he called us afterwards the phone call was going to be either sad or really good. The first thing he said when we talked with him was, "I did what you said and I didn't really get an answer." Our hearts dropped. As we began to talk with him we all realized that he had received his answer, but that he didn't recognize it and by the end of our lesson with him he had made leaps and bounds. The Spirit was so strong and I am so grateful that I was able to witness another turning point for someone. It's so exciting to see the change and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for him. Please keep him in your prayers.

     I know that Heavenly Father is aware of us and on a more personal level I know He's aware of me. I feel peace when I think about that. To think that there is someone who knows and loves me perfectly and that that someone knows all, from beginning to end, and has a plan specifically for me, it's such a relief and comfort. I know that if I trust in Him, it will always work out.

     This Christmas Season is such a special time. It's a time where the Spirit of Christ is all around us, and it's the one time that everyone on this Earth can feel it. An obvious outcome of His Spirit is the abundance of kindness, generosity, love, and hope that people give to one another. Could you imagine what the world would be like if everyone kept the Spirit of Christ in their lives? This Christmas Season I want to make Christmas last beyond the season, and I don't mean that I want wrapped gifts, and other "Christmas" things to last. I mean that I want to remember Him not just for a season, but for a life-time. Please help me in making the Christmas Season last by discovering Him, embracing Him, and sharing Him with our brothers and sisters. 

     Remember I ya'll soooooo much-ooooo!!!!! I hope ya'll have a wonderful week focused on Christ!! 

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

December 8, 2014 - Last of Lilburn

 So here's some exciting news...1. Our Ward was split!! 2. Transfers is this Wednesday and 3. I'm being transfered to Marietta East Stake, Big Shanty YSA Branch!! This means that I will be on Kennesaw State University everyday!!...dun dun dunn. Who would've thought that I would be a YSA Sister Missionary! It's a little crazy, but I'm excited for this new adventure!     

     I am so grateful for the time I've had with my companion this transfer. She has meant so much to me and I know that she is going to continue to do great things as she comes to the close of her mission. I'm really excited for this new chapter in my mission life and am so grateful that the Lord knows me and that He has a plan because that is something I can always trust in. 

     This past week we've had great progress with one of our investigator's, L. When we met with her at the beginning of this week we shared Helaman 5:12 with her. When she read it she started to cry. Eventually she said, "How can people not see this Book is from God?" She has gone through so much and lost so much for the sake of what she now knows that when I think about her I'm given strength. 

     What have I had to give up for this truth, for this knowledge? I am so grateful and thankful to have been born into this Gospel; to have had this knowledge from such a young age. I will never forget what one of our investigators, who struggles with a smoking addiction, said to us. She said, "Why didn't I ever hear about Joseph Smith before? Why didn't anyone ever tell me? Why didn't I get the chance when I was young? I could've avoided some of these challenges if I had known what you've known your whole life." 

     This Gospel is a blessing. This knowledge we have is a gift. How can I not share it with my brothers and sisters? How can I keep it from them? How can I not give up a year and a half for them? Well I can't. Plain and simple. I love them too much, to keep it from them. I know I'm being bold, but that's what this Gospel is; bold. Boldness is given with love, overbearing is not.

     This Christmas season I want to remember. I want to remember the gift that this Gospel is, I want to remember the love that was our Savior's character, and I want to be like Him not just for a season but for a lifetime.

     I hope ya'll have a wonderful week!! Remember I love ya'll sooooo much-oooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

December 1, 2014 - Lilburn

 Happy be-lated Thanksgiving and Happy be-lated Birthday to Grandma Killpack!! It looks like ya'll had a great time together this past Thanksgiving! I love seeing all of ya'lls smiling faces! :) Thanksgiving this year was really neat. Two families in our ward were kind enough to feed us for both breakfast and dinner (lunch/dinner) on Thanksgiving! Want to know the awesome part?! After dinner the family we ate with had prepared TWELVE PIES!! It was a blast!

     Before dinner we were able to go tracting for two hours! (woot woot) I was kind of surprised to see that the people we talked to were very friendly and not upset that we had interrupted their holiday, in fact, they were happy to take a break and talk with us about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Although talking with a lot of people was great, probably the best part was sharing "He is the Gift" with others. Have ya'll seen "He is the Gift" yet? It's a video all about the greatest gift every given, and wow. It is special! Whether you've seen it or not I would invite ya'll to watch it (and to watch it again and again and again haha). It will bring peace into your life.

     One of the miracles my companion and I experienced this week was with one of our investigator's mother, Y. We decided to pop on over to, one of our investigators, C's house the day after she got back from a cruise with Y, and Y's boyfriend, J. Upon arriving to her home we noticed that J was washing the cars outside and that Y was waiting in the garage. As we approached them, Y greeted us both with big hugs. :) We began talking with her and out of nowhere Y said, "I'm going to come to Church this Sunday." Haha Say whaa?!! Talk about a missionary's dream come true!! My companion and I couldn't believe what we had just heard; we were super excited!! 

     As Sunday rolled around the corner we couldn't wait to see C and Y at Church, but as the time grew closer to the start of Sacrament Meeting we didn't see them. A little worried, we called them only to find out that Y thought Church started at 1 (an hour later than it starts) and by the end of our phone call we weren't sure if they would come or not so we waited and by the end of Church Y and C hadn't shown up. It was disappointing, but we decided to visit them later in the evening to see what had happened.

     After Church the day grew into the evening and before we knew it we were standing at Y and C's home. When we knocked on their door, we were surprised to see Y in a very nice dress and as we began to talk with her we discovered that Y and C had gone to Church! The reason we didn't see them is because they had attended the wrong building!! (Hah!) We were so pleasantly surprised! As we talked with Y more she said, "I liked it. It was warm. Although we were total strangers everyone welcomed us. It wasn't like the other Churches." :) In that moment my worries melted away. 

     God is aware of each of us. This is His work. This Gospel is one of joy; it is a message of peace, love, strength, and change. I am so grateful to share this message with all and to bear my witness to all that He lives and that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in it's fullness in these the latter days. 

     With Christmas fast approaching I challenge each of you today to...

DISCOVER The Gift

EMBRACE The Gift

#ShareTheGift:

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

     

     I promise that by DISCOVERING, EMBRACING, and SHARING The Gift with others you will be strengthened, protected, and experience true peace and joy. I hope ya'll have a wonderful week, full of miracles. Remember that I love ya'll soooooo much-oooo!!!! Ya'll are always in my prayers.

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

Twelve Pies!

November 23, 2014 - Lilburn

My companion and I have gone through another wonderful week together. After an exchange this week we decided to implement a technique that our Sister Training Leaders use to pick their tracting location. This is how it goes: 1) One companion picks 10 street names from a map, 2) Each companion then proceeds to pick 5 names from the list of 10 that stuck out to them 3) After picking 5 names the companions then proceed to see if any of the names match up and if they do, that's where the companionship will tract. My companion and I proceeded to do so during our nightly planning and on the first try the process worked and so the next day my companion went to the street that matched.

     When my companion and I arrived at the location we both felt really good about it; we knew that we needed to be there and as we began to tract we came across a big house with, what looked like, two basement apartments. We couldn't decide which door to knock on first so we went to the main door and decided to start there. No one answered. We walked around the house back to the basement apartments and as we were contemplating which door to knock on we noticed a woman walking out from the back of the home with some trash. She noticed us and said, "Mormon Missionaries. Ya'll represent John Smith." We, of course, began to explain that we're representatives of Jesus Christ and that He is the head of our Church and as we talked further with her she asked if we would pray for her mother. We quickly agreed and asked for her mother's name so that we could be specific when praying for her. She obliged and began to tell us a long complicated name and as we struggled with it she said, "You know what, why don't ya'll just come on in and give her a prayer right now." 

     A little surprised we accepted and began to talk with her some more. We discovered that her name was B and that she was staying with her sister for the time being while they waited for their mom to "return back home". A little confused we  asked her more questions and found out that B was being taught by Sister Missionaries in Lawrenceville and that the Sisters had been trying to get a hold of her for a while. She admitted that she hadn't responded to them because her mom was sick and slowly dying and that she wanted us to pray for her mom as she was "preparing to return back home". 

     A little saddened we entered the home. There we met her sister, C and saw their mother, on a bed, resting. We talked with them about God and our Savior Jesus Christ. We also talked about the beautiful plan that was prepared for all of us and then my wonderful companion offered a harvest blessing. It was so special and so strong. When the prayer was finished you could tell everyone had been touched, even the mother on her sick bed woke up from her rest. As we were walking out to leave, C said that we were always welcome in her home whenever we were in the neighborhood and Barbara said that she would contact the Sisters in Lawrenceville. 

     We met several other people who needed us that day and as we were walking back to the car I was filled with this overwhelming feeling that Heavenly Father is aware of each of His children and their specific needs and that he was pleased with what we had done. I couldn't help but smile and notice the warmth from the sunshine through the trees. I am so grateful for each experience of this life and I am even more grateful to be a missionary; to participate in the miracle that is His work. I hope ya'll have a wonderful week. Remember I love ya'll soooooo much-ooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Megan Rice

November 10, 2014 - Lilburn

The past couple weeks have been incredibly busy and I'm not gonna lie it's been stressful, but it's also been so rewarding! To give a glimpse, I'll tell you about our miracle day; Friday. :) Friday is the day we weekly plan, which takes about 4 hours (including lunch). While we were weekly planning someone came to fix a part of our carpet that had gotten wet (from a different problem besides the flood haha). What was incredible was that this person started talking with us and we soon learned that 1) he had a huge love for history, 2) he has native American ancestors, and 3) he was open to learning new things. Talk about a golden opportunity! Right before he left we were able to talk with them about our beliefs and were able to give him a copy of the Book of Mormon! 

After weekly planning we went to see one of our investigators. She wasn't there but her father was and we found out that he was super open to learning more about our beliefs and that he would even like to check out our Church one time. This, of course, was a huge blessing because we finally have a way for our investigator to come to Church, which is something that she's been wanting for a long time. 

Then afterwards we went to see a referral from the Bishop. It turns out that we were teaching a mother and her son. When we met them they explained how they came to know about the Church, and different things like that and we discovered that one of our other investigators had told this mother about our Church and when this mother heard about it she wanted to learn more so badly that she called up the Bishop and talked with him who then called us up! Crazy right?! Anyway this mother and her son are AMAZING! They said that we have a glow and that we brought a peace within their home and that they wanted to know how they could have that same glow and peace....talk about an incredible opportunity! They are so ready and I feel blessed to know them. Of course, with the way that lesson was going we went over time, but we both felt that even though we had a dinner appointment next we couldn't just leave them with missing pieces and questions. We had to finish the lesson. 

Unfortunately we were wayyy late to our dinner appointment, but our Father in Heaven heard our prayers and softened the member's hearts. It turned out to be an incredible evening with the members and we left smiling and laughing. The next appointment we had was with a less-active member and her non-member husband who only speaks french. He had been taught by missionaries before and felt way to rushed into things and so he stopped meeting with them. We have been meeting with this less-active member for a long time always hoping that we would be able to help her and her husband, but it seemed like her husband was never interested in meeting with us. That is, he wasn't interested in meeting with us until we could bring someone who spoke french and well we brought someone alright...the President haha.... The first time that President had come with us to meet with this less-active member it was a miracle in and of itself. (which I'll tell at another time) Anyway the lesson went so well and the Elders will be meeting with her husband three times every week to help him learn english!! This is Lord's work on the earth and I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a part of it! I love ya'll soooooooooooooo much-oooooo!!!!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Rice 

Pumpkins! 

November 3, 2014 - Lilburn

I'm so glad to hear that ya'll are doing well and that you're fighting for what's right! We can never stop fighting! I love the thoughts from Alma and Helaman, what's neat is that I'm reading in Alma too! One of the Elders I knew said something along the lines of, "it's important to keep records (a journal) because if we don't we'll become like the Lamanites; quick to forget."
This past week has been another blurr! I feel like there is so much to do and not enough time to do it in, but I am grateful because it means that 1) Heavenly Father trusts us and 2) it's better to have too much to do than not enough. Though I will admit that sometimes I wish I could just take a moment to breath. It's in those moments that I am reminded of a clear thought that came to my mind while I was at the MTC. "There will be a time for rest later." The thought came so clear and vivid. It brought immediate peace to my mind and I was brought to a remembrance that I chose to consecrate all of my time, heart, might, mind, and strength to the Lord. I know that He is aware of each decision we make and that He knows the desires of our hearts. I also know that He is aware of our hearts because He has given me such an amazing companion and I love her so much! I can't wait to work more with her. I hope that ya'll have a wonderful week.
I love ya'll soooooooooooooooooooo much-oooooo!!!!!!
Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),
Sister Rice

October 27, 2014 - Lilburn

Unfortunately I forgot my journal and I don't have that much time left, so I'll try my best to remember some of the highlights that have happened this past week. Last Wednesday my companion and I went to visit a less-active member with an active member. The less-active member lives in an assisted living center and can't get to Church very often because of physical difficulties. As we pulled up to the center we noticed that the less-active Sister was waiting outside. We visited with her outside and while we were doing so her friend came up to us and decided to sit with us and enjoy the weather. We were able to read from the Book of Mormon with them and after reading we found out that the less-active member's friend is Jewish and has been wanting to learn more about Jesus Christ. We were able to get her phone number, apartment number, and will be calling her today to set up an appointment. The member that went with us was really excited and wants to come out with us whenever we go to teach the less-active member's friend. I really love seeing how our Father in Heaven works. The next day we were able to help at the Joseph's Network Seminar and it was really wonderful giving service. There was a break between the seminar for the people there to get refreshments and while they were doing so, my companion and I noticed a woman who was sitting by herself. We decided to sit with her and as we were talking with her we found out that she was the only Catholic person at the Seminar and that she was expecting more to show up. She expressed gratitude for us coming over and sitting with her and I know that, that one act of sitting with this woman planted a seed within her heart. I'm so grateful to be a missionary and to see the Lord's work everyday. Everyone always says that there are so many blessing that come with being a missionary and I have to say that seeing the Lord's work everyday is, in and of itself, one of the greatest blessings. 

And in other news:

1) It's another transfer and my training is (finally) up so I'm getting a new companion this Wednesday and her name is Sister B and everyone says that she is super nice (YAY!!!).

2) Our apartment flooded BIG TIME last Saturday.....oh man it was SO BAD!!! In the apartment above us their dishwasher hose broke so we woke up to 3 inches of water and a downpour of water from the ceiling.....Luckily! The water didn't get to our closets (thank goodness) and most of our things were pretty protected. But besides the closets, a corner of our bedroom, and a corner of our study everything else was soaked with disgusting, smelly pipe water......Our apartment smells SOOOO BAD!!!!! The people that came to clean up the water said that we got hit way worse than the apartment above us. They would clean up the water and in seconds it would be soaked with water again from the walls not to mention a strip of the ceiling fell down. They had to take all of the padding out from the carpet and placed three huge fans and a de-humidifier in our apartment. It's been crazy!! The last couple of nights we've been staying at the Mission Home and today the damage control will come to our apartment to see if everything has dried so that they can put in new carpet. When we've gone to check on our apartment and get things for the Mission Home it has just REEKED!! Everything inside smells terrible which means all though our things didn't get damaged by water e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. smells. But life goes on and at least we can say that we had an adventure. haha :)

I love ya'll soooooooooo MUCH-OOOO!! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week and remember that you've always got someone in Georgia praying for you, all of ya'll!

Lots of love (from your favorite Sister Missionary),

Sister Rice