I have to admit something to the whole world. It is hard sometimes to want to stay on a mission. It really is, it's hard sometimes to want to get up every morning at 6:30 AM, knowing that the day will be hard. And these past weeks have been some of those times. I do not mean to cause alarm, I simply want to be honest. Missionary life is hard, to put it bluntly.
Saturday night as I was watching the General Women's Session of conference I heard Sister Linda K Burton speak about "Certain Women." She told the story of a woman who was going through a difficult time, and even though my struggles could never match hers I related well. The woman in the story heard the Spirit whisper to her, amidst her trials, "Do you not want the greatest glory?" She naturally answered, "Well, yes." The Spirit's response to this woman has resonated with me, "Then did you not expect to make the greatest sacrifices?"
Sacrifice is an eternal thing, in Matthew 6 we learn an incredible truth:
19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
What we are really supposed to be doing here on this earth is storing up treasures that are eternal, how do we do that? By serving others, by sharing the gospel, by learning of Christ. As we focus on the things that are eternal, the temporal things don't matter as much.
In Gospel Principles this week we talked about the Holy Ghost, and the teacher turned to our sweet, convert Molly, and asked her about her experience with the Holy Ghost. As she bore her testimony, tears came to my eyes. As I thanked my Heavenly Father that I was able to be a part of such a sacred thing, I thought about Sister Ireland, my last companion. She had only been here for one transfer before the news came that she would be transferring out. Why had she been in Shelton? As soon as the question crossed my mind the answer came from the Spirit in words I could almost hear, "Sister Ireland was here for you, because you had to be here for Molly. Now you are here for Sister Rust, because she has to bless the lives of others."
That, right there, answered my question of why on earth I have to stay in Shelton for 6 months. I need to be here to train my incredible companion because she is going to bless so many people.
I love this gospel, and I know it is true. Yes, it is hard to be a missionary, it's hard sometimes to feel over worked and under appreciated. But it is so very worth it. The gospel is worth it.
All my love,
Sister Megan Monson
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| Ready and willing to do the Lords work |
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| blast from the past |
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| its official Megan Lane! |
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| finding the joy |
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spring please!
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goofing off! cute sister Rust
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Sisters and Elders with Grandma Vivian
She makes crepes for the missionaries on transfer morning |
I have to admit something to the whole world. It is hard sometimes to want to stay on a mission. It really is, it's hard sometimes to want to get up every morning at 6:30 AM, knowing that the day will be hard. And these past weeks have been some of those times. I do not mean to cause alarm, I simply want to be honest. Missionary life is hard, to put it bluntly.
