Lift Where You Stand

This week I had a great experience with a young woman named Allison. Allison wanted so desperately to serve a mission but because of medical reasons she is unable to go out and proselyte. She thought all hope was lost and that she would never be able to serve until someone told her about serving a service mission. She decided that serving a Family History and indexing mission would fit her needs more than a proselyting mission, but she was sad that she wouldn't be able to be what she considered a "real missionary." Her Home teachers, who were also there and one of them shared a story that really struck me, I found it on Lds.org from President Uchtdorf.

"Some years ago in our meetinghouse in Darmstadt, Germany, a group of brethren was asked to move a grand piano from the chapel to the adjoining cultural hall, where it was needed for a musical event. None were professional movers, and the task of getting that gravity-friendly instrument through the chapel and into the cultural hall seemed nearly impossible. Everybody knew that this task required not only physical strength but also careful coordination. There were plenty of ideas, but not one could keep the piano balanced correctly. They repositioned the brethren by strength, height, and age over and over again—nothing worked.

"As they stood around the piano, uncertain of what to do next, a good friend of mine, Brother Hanno Luschin, spoke up. He said, “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.”

"It seemed too simple. Nevertheless, each lifted where he stood, and the piano rose from the ground and moved into the cultural hall as if on its own power. That was the answer to the challenge. They merely needed to stand close together and lift where they stood."

I thought that this was profound insight, Allison's place to lift is different than mine, but that doesn't make it any less important.

This past week my place to stand changed, and it's been different than what I am used to. Bremerton is super different than Shelton, mostly in the fact that there are actually people to talk to here, and I don't have to drive half an hour between appointments, and there are always things going on. So it's a big adjustment, so much has changed in the past week and I can hardly believe I only traveled 40 miles and life is so different.

The Manette ward has had a lot of switched in their missionaries lately, they had Elders until last August, then Sisters for thee months, Elders again for four months, and now Sister Pluim and I! So they are having a hard time with the switch again, but it will be good!

We all have to learn to lift where we are standing in that moment, and when that position changed we have to adjust our hold. So that is what I am doing, adjusting my hold.

One of the greatest examples of lifting where you stand is my sweet mother, I thought I would give her a shout out because Mothers' Day is next week and she deserves it! My Mom is incredible at switching on a moment's notice. Just a few weeks ago my Daddy was put in as Stake President, and that has implications for not only him but my whole family, especially my mom. And yet she takes it in stride and adjusts accordingly. Moms are pretty great, and they deserve all the praise you can give them! So give your mom a big hug and tell her just how much you love and adore her, because she deserves all of it!

I love you, Mom!

Have a great week everyone!

Love, Sister Megan Monson

Saying goodbye in Shelton

For Good

I've heard it said,
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are led to those
Who help us most to grow if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes the sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you.
I have been changed for good.

This song is from my favorite musical of all time, Wicked. As Elphaba and Glinda part, they recognize what a sincere impact they had on each others' lives. There is definitely a reason for every place the Lord puts us in, we are where we are to influence and to bless others and that is especially true for missionaries.

This weekend Sister Rust and I learned that we will both be getting transferred. I will go to the Manette ward in Bremerton, and Sister Rust will go to the Southworth ward also in Bremerton! We are sad to be leaving, but we both agreed, it's time. We have worked hard and we have done absolutely everything that we could possibly do. Shelton 1st will be getting a set of Elders and they will work miracles the sisters can't do. There is a time and a season for all things, the Sisters have had their run and now it is time for the Elders to take their turn here.

This adventure in Shelton 1st has been a whirlwind and I have come to love this little town. I have truly been changed for good from serving here. The members of this ward have had a profound influence on my life and I will forever be grateful for them.

The people I have learned the most from in this area have definitely been my three companions. From Sister Philippi I learned to be patient and humble.

From Sister Ireland I learned to be diligent and optimistic.

And from my sweet Sister Rust I learned to share responsibility, to be strictly obedient and to have fun while doing it.

I am grateful to have spent a portion of my mission here, but I am so excited for this new adventure in Bremerton. My new companion, Sister Pluim and I will both be new to the area, so it will be one huge adventure!

All my love,

Sister Megan Monson

Saying Goodbye-

The Bennett's

The Deacon's

Sweet Molly

Beautiful river

Rainbow

Beautiful country

Beauty everywhere

Sister Smith

Sister Rust and I

Waterfall

Fun pday hike with Sister Rust and Molly

Weak Things Become Strong

Saturday evening we were out knocking doors, when suddenly an indescribable pain came over me. I clutched my abdomen while it felt as if someone was punching me repeatedly. I wound up lying on the asphalt in fetal position while Sister Rust tried desperately to call for help. No cell service. Finally, my sweet companion crouched down next to me and calmly stated that we would just have to wait until I felt well enough to walk. The entire time I was on the ground I was just praying, "please, please help me to make it, just back to the car. I promise I'll take the time to rest, I promise I'll be better about taking care of myself." It was at that moment that I had to truly admit to myself that I have a problem and I can't ignore it anymore...

I have a problem with milk. It's something that I struggled with when I was young, but I thought I had officially grown out of it. Not so. Since I came out on my mission the problem has gotten worse and worse to the point where I cannot have anything with milk in it, or I will suffer from a similar problem that I faced on Saturday.

I don't know exactly why I am facing this hurdle, because, as a missionary, it's hard to control what you eat. But I do know one thing, the Savior knows every pain I face. As I was lying on that street on the verge of tears, my Savior was holding me. He has gone with me to my darkest moments and He will continue to do so.

I imagine one of the reasons I have to deal with this is because I need to really understand His atoning sacrifice, not just understand the facts but truly understand how it applies to me. I know for certain that when I fall at my Savior's feet, He will heal me. I know there are so many others that face problems that are so much more difficult than my struggles, but I am so excited for the day when I can finally have a milkshake again.

I am reminded of a scripture in Ether 12:27

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

I have a weakness, but the strength the Lord has allowed me is my testimony of His atonement. I can now tell you that I KNOW that Christ knows what we go through, He feels my pains, He cries right along with me. And I know that all will be made right in the end, if it's not right, it's not the end.

Mosiah 14:3-5

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I know that my Savior understands each of us. I know that He knows our pains and our sorrows and He can heal us.

Don't worry about me, I've been through all this before and I can do it again!

All my love,

Sister Megan Monson