Week 7! :) 2 months into my mission! :)

Hey Hey!

Can you believe I have been out for 2 months already!?  It is kind of blowing my mind!  Crazy to think that the time is going so fast!

This week was pretty good :)  It was kind of a slower week but it still was really good :)  We were able to find a new investigator named Burgundy on Monday who was really open to learning more about the Church.  Her and her husband have 3 adorable children and they are Christian.  They haven't been going to church really but we were able to set up a return appointment with her for Wednesday morning.  Sister Hopkins and I taught her about the Restoration and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon.  She committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true.  We then went back on Friday and invited her to church and she said she had already read what we had left her!  It was so cool to see her willingness to read and to learn.

This week was definitely tough in regards to Seneva and Izeyla.  Both of them were supposed to be baptized on Saturday and it totally didn't happen... It was very sad but we will keep working to get them baptized in the Lord's timing.

Also we have been able to visit Elizabeth 2 times this week :)  When we met with her on Monday, she hadn't read what we had left her so we recommitted her to read 3 Nephi 11.  We went back on Friday and she still hadn't read, so we got her number to send her a text to remind her.  We text her that night to remind her and yesterday when we text her to see how she was doing and if we could meet with her tonight, she said she has read through half of the book of Alma!  And the best part was she was serious!  She is starting to become such a golden investigator because she is super excited to learn all about the gospel as well as she is now finally keeping her commitments!  There have definitely been some wonderful miracles this week in the Lake Sawyer Ward and I am can't wait to see more happen!

The work is progressing... slowly, but still progressing.  I know that it will pick up as we are faithful and exactly obedient!  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for my mission and how I will be able to bless the lives of others!

Yesterday we were able to go to the "Work of Salvation" broadcast!  It was awesome!  I took 2 pages of notes (front and back)!  It was so inspiring to be able to go and see what changes they are making to help accelerate the work of the Lord!  I love how Elder Holland said "Never again are you going to be in this big of a zone conference, so enjoy it!" and I also really enjoyed how Elder Nelson said (and I might be paraphrasing) "The work of salvation excludes NO ONE!  We all have some part to play in missionary work."  I want to challenge everyone who reads this to help in the work of the Lord by finding a family member, friend, or a complete stranger that would be interested in learning more about the gospel.  It really isn't that hard after you do it a few times! :) 

Being a senior companion and having a new companion has actually be fabulous!  Sister Hopkins makes the days so much better because we both are such big giggle guts so we laugh a ton throughout the day!  It makes me super happy and so I have really started to enjoy the work a lot more.  Sister Crockett was a great companion but it's nice to have someone who laughs just as much as I do.

We aren't teaching Heidi or David anymore because we haven't been able to meet with them at all for the last 3 weeks or so.  A little bit of a bummer but I know Heavenly Father has prepared someone for us to find and teach.

That is crazy that Ben Cox is in the MTC now.  I love being out in the mission field but I do miss being able to see my district every day... I rarely see anyone out here now. :(  Sister Hopkins and I were able to see Elder Dawson the other day :) That was definitely fun!  3 of the 9 people in our district together in one place. :) He was coming up to the baptism that we were going to be having on Saturday... It didn't end up happening.... Will explain in my paper letter.

Thanks a bunch for the GPS.  I have already had to use it quite a bit.  I know the area pretty well but there are some places that I can't remember how to get there unless I look at a map.  I will definitely take good care of it so I can use it after I get home.

I am so thankful for this opportunity to be serving a mission and bringing others unto Christ.  I have seen it change people's lives and it definitely has been a blessing for them and for me.  I am so thankful for all that I have been given and for all that I am learning.  I am so thankful for everyone's examples in my life.  I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world!

I love you guys so much!

Love,

Sister Megan Hills  

Week 6!!!! TRANSFERS!

Hey Hey!

So news on transfers.... I will be in the.... wait for it...... WASHINGTON FEDERAL WAY MISSION!!!!!! I stayed in Kent in the Lake Sawyer Ward! :)  I am so happy and excited about it! :) I will get you all the address to the mission home as soon as I know what it is :)  Until then, just send things to the address I gave you.

Sister Crockett got transferred so my new companion is Sister Nancy Hopkins!  She was in my MTC district so I am super excited!  It is going to be a great transfer!  Most of our MTC district is going to be in the Federal Way mission so that will be fun! :)  It's crazy though because I am the Senior Companion and I have only been here one transfer!  It's sort of freaking me out!  It will be exciting though!

This week was a super interesting week.  Hopefully I can get everything in my email (if not, I will send whatever I forget in my letter this week).  So first things first... After we emailed last week, we got a call from our ward mission leader.  He told us that a lady who lived down in Federal Way was moving up to our ward on Tuesday.  Her name is Seneva.  She has taken all of the discussions from the Elders down there and is basically ready to be baptized!  She has been such a miracle for Sister Crockett and I!  We are planning on having her baptized this weekend (or possibly sooner!).  We worked all week to have her baptism this past Saturday but she was sick that day so we had to cancel. :(  A little bit of a bummer, but it happens.

We found a couple Potential Investigators this week as well :)  It's still a little difficult to find people but I think we are getting better at it :)

We did exchanges this week as well! :)  I was able to be companions with Sister Morrow again!  It was so fun to see her and to learn from her.  

Besides finding Seneva this week, working all week to have her baptism happen last Saturday, and exchanges, nothing else too exciting has happened.

Mom, thanks for the cookies!!  They hit the spot and they were still soft when I got them :)

Pictures...

On Saturday, there was this crazy rainbow around the sun!  It was in a perfect circle around the sun!

One picture is of me and Elizabeth (the 17-year-old that we are teaching).  She is such a sweetheart!

One is of Brother Sanchez, his son Isaiah, and I.

And one is of Brother and Sister Graney and I (the ward mission leader and his wife).

Thank you guys for everything!  Love you!

Love,

Sister Megan Hills

Week 5 :) One more week until transfers!

Hey Hey everyone!

Can you believe that I have only 1 week left before I might be moving again!?  I can't believe it!  Wherever I get transferred to (if I get transferred) on Tuesday will determine which mission I am going to be in for the next 16 months.  Kind of scary!  I am so excited though to see where I am going to be.

This last week was quite good actually! :)  We were able to participate in Sister Elaine Weaver's baptism! :)  I was so happy for them!  It was such a great experience!  The Spirit was there really strong and it strengthened my testimony of the ordinance of Baptism.  I was able to do the special musical number along with a lady that is in our ward and it was fantastic!  I normally am so nervous to perform in front of people but Saturday I was really calm and collected while I sang.  Both Elaine and her 8-year-old son, Garin, were both so excited and they were so happy after the baptismal service was done! :)  When Sister Weaver invited her mother-in-law to the baptism, she didn't tell her that she was getting baptized, only that Garin was.  So her mother-in-law walked in, picked up a program, and sat down.  She talked with everyone and then started to look at the program.  All of the sudden, she asked "Is Elaine getting baptized too!?"  Bruce, Sister Weaver's husband, said, "No. Her name is just on there because she is Garin's mom."  The whole time, Sister Weaver and Garin were standing behind the door that leads to the font so Sister Weaver's mother-in-law couldn't see them.  Sister Crockett and I opened up the door into the font, and when the mother-in-law saw both Elaine and Garin standing there, she burst into tears!  It was such a cool experience because she was so happy for both of them!  I will include some pictures :)

This week we were also able to go visit Elizabeth a couple times!  That's a huge deal because she's always sick or not home so it's difficult to meet with her.  We were able to teach her about the Restoration as well as a little bit about the priesthood.  We then asked her about if she wanted a priesthood blessing and she said she really would like one, so that's scheduled for sometime this week.  She had said that she was going to come to Sister Weaver's baptism and to church, but she called Saturday morning and didn't sound good.  She was sick again! :(  Hopefully we can get in touch with her this week and be able to teach her again.  She has really been taking in those things that we are teaching her though so I think she will continue to progress. :)

The only thing that has been a little difficult this week is just trying to find new investigators.  Most of the time, we find people who aren't interested so that's a bit difficult but we are continuing to press forward and work hard.  Even though finding new investigators has been rough, it still has been a fabulous week! :)

Thank you guys so much for everything that you do for me!  I feel of your prayers and your love.  If you could keep Brother Sanchez in your prayers for me that would be great.  We are working so hard to help him realize he needs to be baptized and that it will help him in the difficult situation that he's in right now but he's being a little bit stubborn.  Thanks a bunch! :)

I love you guys!

Love,

Sister Megan Hills

P.S. Mom, I won't be emailing until Tuesday next week since it is transfers.  Talk to you then!

Week 4!

Wow!  1 month is gone already!  I can't believe it!  It's going so fast!  Hope this email finds everyone happy and well!

This last week was kind of rough.  It was so hard to find new investigators because no one wanted to talk to us.  But I kept pulling through and now it's super good because the sun has been shining EVERYDAY since Saturday!  I love it! Yesterday we were able to have interviews with President Larkin and it was fantastic!  I told him about how hard it was for me that no one wanted to talk to us and he said just what I needed to hear!  

Today we got to go to the temple!  It was fantastic!  Inside, it looks a lot like the Provo Temple! :) I can't wait to go again (if I get to)!  2 weeks until I know where I will be for the remainder of my mission!  Scary and crazy all at the same time!

Saturday can't come fast enough!  We have a BAPTISM! :) Sister Weaver (I think I've mentioned her in past emails) is who's getting baptized!  She is SO prepared!  Before we even taught the Word of Wisdom, she had stopped drinking coffee because she knew she would have to quit sooner or later! :)  It's been great to teach her and realize how prepared she is! :) I will include pictures of the baptism next week :)

Mom, thanks for the letter and the pictures!  I had so much fun looking at them! :)  The backyard looks so different with those new trees!  I bet Rescue loves them! :) Last week, we went down to a church building in Auburn that had a Family History Center in it to email :) That was fun to do! :) Two other things...

1) Whenever you send another package, do you think you could include my copy of "Daughters In My Kingdom"?  The one about the relief society?  It should be on my desk :)

2) Be on the look out for warm winter clothes that are on sale :)  Apparently, because of the humidity, it feels a lot colder than it actually is and Sister Crockett said it would be good to have some warmer tights and stuff for then.  No hurry though :)

Pictures... My click day picture, a picture of my Zone at the temple from today, and a re-enactment of Alli's picture with the statue :)

I am so thankful for this gospel!  I know that it is true with every fiber of my being.  I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each and every one of us unconditionally.  I know that we can come closer to Them as we read the scriptures and pray.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we can receive revelation for ourselves as we read it. I know that families can be together forever as long as we are obedient and are sealed in the temple.  I know that Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove and that the only way you can know if he really did is by reading the Book of Mormon.  I know that we are blessed as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments.  I am so thankful for Christ's Atonement and His glorious Resurrection.  I know that the Plan of Salvation is also the Plan of Happiness!

I love you guys!

Love,

Sister Megan Hills