Megan's Letter 1/30/17

No time today! But here are some pictures from transfers because I got my camera back. Also, we helped Lindsey with her yard. I love her so much!

Steadfast in Christ!

-Sister Merrill

Megan's Letter 1/23/17

Who do we fear more: God or Man?

When adversity hits, and peer pressure kicks in, what will we choose: Our friends or our Savior? Fun or obedience? Worldly values or Gospel truths?

Psalm 118:6 says:

"6 The Lord is‍ on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"

I have a testimony that however hard it may be, we must always choose God before man. We often times hear President Monson speak on the importance of choices. In the April 2016 General Conference he said:

"May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong."

I am grateful to have chosen the harder right because I have seen the consequences of the easier wrong. I love this gospel and the opportunity I have to learn these lessons that I can use throughout my life. I will press forward with determination to keep improving myself and invite others to do the same. (:

Here's some pictures from the week! Love y'all!(:

-Sister Merrill

 

 

Megan's Letter 1/17/17

This first week back in Florence has been pretty crazy but also good! It's so nice to see everyone here again! I lost my camera at transfers so I don't have all my pictures :/ But I'll send the ones I have!

Lindsey<3

​Regan (:

​Me and my Zone Leaders at Transfers:

Sister Tunuufi and I + Leo the lion:

​Olivia who got baptized last year when I was here <3

A scripture that really hit me this week is from Alma chapter 11! Verse 37 says:

"And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins."

I love that verse because it reminds us that although Christ suffered for our sins, he can't save us if we don't try to change! Christ saves us FROM our sins, not IN them.

I'm so grateful to be back in a place that changed my testimony. I'll give a better update next week! Love y'all (:

-Sister Merrill

Megan's Letter 1/9/17

I have the best news!! Transfer calls came and they are releasing from a STL and sending me BACK to Florence! God is so good. It's crazy to think that the day I get back to Florence (January 11th) is exactly a year from the first time we knocked on Lindsey's door. I know that the Lord played a huge hand in this, and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to go spend more time in my favorite area- with some of my favorite people!

I wasn't expecting to leave Millbrook so soon! It was sort of strange saying bye to everyone at church because I feel like I didn't get to know anyone too well here. I love Millbrook though, and I know everyone will be left in good hands. Sister Chavez is coming to take my place!(: Her and Sister Saatkamp are going to do great things here!

I have recently been rereading one of my favorite books: The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox. In one of the chapters he puts a focus on 2 Nephi 25:23.

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

He says:

"For a long time I believed the word after in this verse was time related. I believed I had to do all I possibly could and then grace would kick in-- as if it were a finishing touch to all I had to first accomplish alone. Then I thought of Paul and Alma the Younger, who did nothing first-- or even at all-- and yet received great spiritual blessings. I reflected on the many manifestations of grace in my own life that I had received long before I did 'my part."

He goes on to talk about how we could easily exchange the word after in that verse with in spite of. I know that we are saved by grace in spite of all we can do, because we can do nothing without Christ! He is there with us each and every step of the way.

Have a good week y'all! I know I will. (:

-Sister Merrill

Megan's Letter 1/3/17

Happy New Year!!

This week was pretty boring for the most part, but we did have a miracle happen! So Jimmy (15 years old) has been taught by several sets of Sisters, and we have been working with him since I've been here. The last lesson he had been taught was the Word of Wisdom! He said that he had prayed to God to show him whether or not it was real. Okay back up-- Just so you know this kid LOVES his sweet tea and his coffee. He said the next time he tasted both of them they tasted terrible. He even got a coffee pot for Christmas that he now uses for hot chocolate. (: He bore his testimony to us that he knows everything he has been taught by the missionaries is true. He has a potential baptismal date for January 28th. (:

The New Year has got me thinking about the blessing of repentance! One of my favorite stories about repentance is the story of Enos. In verses 4-8 it says:

" And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole."

I love that last line because we often read the same words as we read about the miracles of Christ, and the people He healed. I have a testimony that repentance is a daily healing process. We are never out of reach from the loving arms of our Savior. We are never too far gone for His Atonement to help us back. Start off 2017 free from the weight of sin. Give it all to the Lord this year. (:

Have a blessed week!

-Sister Merrill

Also someone sent me this picture of me and Dad. ❤