Mary and Martha

Luke 10

38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

I thought of these verses the other day as I was preparing for conference. And I had to ask myself, "Am I being like Mary, or am I being like Martha?"

Martha was busy, she knew what she wanted to see get done and she worked her hardest to get it done. Mary was a different kind of busy, she recognized that she didn't know quite what needed to be done and chose instead to listen to the Lord and learn what He wanted done.

As I pondered this question I thought about myself and how I am trying to serve the Lord. Am I truly doing it in His way? Am I truly doing it as the Savior would have me do? Or is it time for me to sit at Jesus' feet and learn what He wants before I continue on?

I thought for a long time and realized that I am a Martha, I tend to worry too much about thigns that don't really matter, and I tend to act before I listen.

What I realized is that a lot of me has been going on autopilot. Being in an area for as long as I have gets monotonous. Every day seems about the same and instead of planning in an inspired way, it seems to become a routine.

So I chose this weekend to be a Mary. I chose to figuratively sit at the feet of my precious Savior and listen to the counsel of his servants. I chose to listen before I acted and to patiently wait on the Lord to guide my footsteps, for as Marion G Romney once said, "While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet."

One of my favorite quotes that was shared comes from C.S. Lewis, “Christ says, "Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You." Christ wants us, all of us, every part of our being that we can possibly give Him. We must give our all, there is nothing that we have that could possibly be worth keeping for ourselves. As Elder Sabin said we must "be all in." If we give ourselves up and let the Savior mold us and shape us, we will truly become something beautiful.

The Savior Lives, He is the Living Christ. He will save us from our sorrows and lift the burdens that weigh us down. But He can not save us in our sins, only from them. I testify of the reality of Jesus Christ. He is there, He loves you, and as you choose to be teachable, He will change you into something incredible. It is my honor to wear His name every day of my mission.

All my love,

Sister Megan Monson

The Greatest Sacrifices

     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

Ready and willing to do the Lords work

blast from the past

its official Megan Lane!

finding the joy

spring please!

goofing off! cute sister Rust

Sisters and Elders with Grandma Vivian
She makes crepes for the missionaries on transfer morning

Playing In The Mud

This week has been nothing short of an adventure. It all started with Tuesday, we were out knocking doors and decided to move to a different street part way through. We pulled over to a grassy area and parked... Whoops. We thought we were in the clear because it hadn't rained in a couple hours, but we were unfortunately very, very mistaken. We tried to get out, switching between drive and reverse, wheels spinning sinking us deeper and deeper into the mud. Finally we took the keys out of the ignition and did what we should have done very first. We prayed, pleading for help harder than ever. We had no idea what to do, and we begged Heavenly Father for a way to get out, however that may be. The first impression was to call the vehicle coordinator, Elder Colvin. We told him about our situation and he suggested calling members of our ward who had trucks and asking them to come pull us out. Just after he suggested that the call died and we were out of cell service.

Just imagine me, in my rain boots, wandering around this neighborhood in the woods with my arm up in the air trying desperately to find some amount of cell service to make a call to get out of the mud. It was just as ridiculous as it sounds.

Soon enough though, an old lady pulled up and asked if we needed help, we told her we were stuck in the mud and has no way of getting out. She thought for a second and told us that she would send someone shortly. So we waited... still trying desperately to make calls. Within 10 minutes a man pulled up in a truck and hooked our car to his truck. He gave me simple instructions to put the car in neutral and attempt to guide the car as he pulled it out.

What a RIDE! He pulled and pulled and dragged me out of the ditch. I was flying around like a rag doll but finally our car splattered and wheels coated with mud, we were free!

I have no idea who those people were, but I am forever in their debt, I couldn't even call a tow truck! God answers prayers, I know that. He will never leave us hanging for too long. I know He loves us.

As for news of this week, I got two phone calls from President Blatter this week: The first one came on transfer call day. Which is always scary, you never know what will happen when he calls! He told us that we will be staying together in Shelton for another transfer. So I'll be in Shelton for 6 months and by the time I leave everyone will know me REALLY well. 

The second call came as we were knocking doors on Sunday night, which worried me even more, had he changed our call? But not so! President was calling to let me know something that happened in my family yesterday. Apparently my daddy was called as Stake President, so that was exciting! You literally never know what will change at home, but at least we know it will all work out in the end!

All my love,

Sister Megan Monson

The Lord is My Light

A little bit of sunshine

Yesterday an incredible thing happened! For five months I have been knocking on doors in the dark, from 5-7. Knocking doors isn't so bad in the light, but when the sun starts setting, the people start going to bed, even if it is only 5 PM.

All through my knocking sessions I would change the words to "Lead Kindly Light" to fit my situation.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
It's always dark, and I'm so far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my boots; I do not ask to see (but maybe a little!)
The distant streets--one door enough for me.

Five months of having to wear a reflector belt and carry a flashlight to see past the end of my nose, I have been waiting for the sun to stop setting before seven for so long!

And yesterday was daylight savings, a day that I typically dread, but this year it was a day I was counting down to. The day that Light stayed all of 5-7s! And what a glorious thing it is to be able to see without the aid of flashlights for the entirety of our knocking!

I love the song, "The Lord is my Light"

1. The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.
(Chorus)
The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night he leads,
He leads me along.
2. The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,
Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain?
3. The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I'll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow'r,
And, walking by faith, I am blest ev'ry hour.
4. The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I'll sing.

Why did I choose to knock on doors in the pitch black every day of my life? Why did I choose to go visit strangers even when I knew that they would yell at me?

Because I LOVE my Savior, and I know that those people who did not want me on their doorstep need Him. There are not words to describe the love I have for the people behind those doors.

I am so grateful that we will finally be knocking on people's doors at a time when people don't mind as much!

All my love, 

Sister Megan Monson

red velvet cupcake

absolutely delicious

rain and wet but still smiles

gloomy morning

art

clear sky and moon

RAIN

signs of spring

MORE RAIN

Molly the Mormon

This week a miracle happened. Six weeks ago, I met Molly. Molly didn't know for sure if God was real, she had questions but didn't really expect her answers to come from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I remember at our first meeting she told me that she didn't understand why we have to obey a lot of the "rules." She told me, "I don't understand why it is wrong, but maybe... If I understood it... I'd want to live it."

As we taught her the lessons Molly genuinely changed. By the end of our third lesson with her she was extending commitments to herself. We sat down to teach a commandment and she told us that after she had read The Book of Mormon she couldn't go back to the things she had been doing. So we basically handed her a pamphlet and said "teach yourself!" :)

As missionaries we are taught to "say nothing but repentance unto this generation." (D&C 6:9) And in teaching Molly, we focused on repentance, and it worked!

Molly was baptized this past Saturday, and what an incredible experience it was to see someone who I have come to love so dearly enter in to the covenant of baptism to truly be cleansed of all her past mistakes.

The Atonement is so real. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us that we can repent and truly be cleansed of our sins. I read in 1 Nephi 21:16 today "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Christ truly took our sins, every single one of them and paid the price we will never be able to pay. The atoning sacrifice of our precious Savior is what can truly keep us going. I know that He Lives. He is my older brother and my best friend. Jesus Christ suffered for all the transgressions we have made. I know it.

I know that the only way to Christ is by making and keeping our covenants! I am so eternally grateful that the Lord put Molly in my path and me in hers. I love this work and I love the gospel!

All my Love,

Sister Megan Monson

new rain boots!

Sister Ireland, Molly, Sister Monson, Sister Rust

They had to describe their companion like a car... Sis Rust is like a red mini of course Sister Monson is a yellow bug :)

cute missionaries

ya think??

The Return of Mr. Jingles

Three weeks ago as Sister Ireland was packing up to leave I saw, out of the corner of my eye, something run across the carpet. I thought I was just seeing things until Sister Ireland saw it too. A mouse. A disgusting little rodent. He came in from the cold and decided to take up residence somewhere in our house. He got into our food and our trash, he left his trace everywhere and we could not tell where in the world he was.

Our Ward Mission Leader named our new roommate "Mr. Jingles" and set out traps in hopes to catch it red handed.

And then we waited...

Fast forward three weeks and there has been no trace of Mr Jingles... Until the cantaloupe...

Mice like cantaloupe. Fun fact. A member gave us a couple of them and neither of us really wanted them... not to be ungrateful but they were on the mushy side anyways. So they sat on our kitchen floor waiting for us to throw away. Of course Mr. Jingles decided that would be a really great snack. We came home to cantaloupe juice everywhere, and traces of Mr. Jingles.

We thought we were in the clear, but no such.

Somehow this applies to the gospel. Like, don't think you're in the clear until you've actually caught the mouse. Or get a cat to protect your home from the powers of Satan's mice... I don't know.

I love you all, Have a great week!

Sister Megan Monson