Hey fam bam

Hey fam bam.

Well it's been a real tough week. We didn't have a lot of success. Something I've learned here on my mission is how to deal with stress and disappointment. I know they help us grow and when we trust in God, all things work out for our good.

I love in Helaman 5 when he councils his sons to "remember". He says it like a million times! I searched in other scripture stories when servants of the Lord, in difficult times,  remembered the mercies of the Lord and His hand in our lives. (for example: 2 nephi 4 or basically the whole life of Joseph Smith).

It also part of the sacrament prayer, "that they might always remember Him... that they may have His spirit to be with them". I wish I could explain better what I study and the spirit and comfort I felt as i read and study these things. 

The Lord loves us. He wants us to remember that. And the spirit will help us do that.

We also saw some prayers answered this week! Thank you for praying for us and our investigadores. D finally has cleared his doubts and KNOWS the book of Mormon is the literal word of God. After a YEAR of investigating they're ready to move forward and get married. They said they're just waiting to find their own home so they can get married and start a new life together as a family. So please pray that we'll find them a home!

 Love ya'll more than you can imagine

Hermana Meacham

Healthy, safe and happy!

Calm it down, calm it down! (Glozel anyone?) We weren't affected at all by the earthquake. Mom? Dad? AT ALL. in fact, we didn't even know it had happened until several hours later. We contacted this guy who (after rejecting us big time) told us "don't waste your time with me, go away, call your worried familes and tell them your safe". "HUH?"

suprisingly it didn't set off any volcanos. from what i know the earthquake didn't do too much damage and they were able to evacuate everyone before the sunami hit. Two people died.

As for the work, it's been a little slow this week. Like i said last week, we went to valdivia to get a shot for hna c and we ended up having to stay the night there. And this weekend was independence day in Chile and we couldn't work much for two whole days because lots of people drink. Unless you count eating empanadas as work. 

But in the three days we could work we found this guys named J! (although he'd started the festivities early with a something to drink too). He lives alone and has had a problem with drinking since his wife left him. He started crying right there with us in the street as we testified of the redeeming power of our Savior. We haven't had some miracle with him or anything, I'm not even sure if he'll progress. But it made me realize what I hope to do as a missionary and for all my life: help others find the light and love of Christ and our Father in Heaven. Think about it, there are people that walk passed us everyday that don't know that! They don't know they can overcome addictions, that they can be forgiven, that they aren't alone. 

I know everyone can change. And it's Christ who does that when we humbly come to Him.

sorry i don't have more time. this computer keeps freezing.

love you all!!! SOO MUCH

hna meacham

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Feliz month of cats

FELIZ MONTH OF CATS! (at least here in chile. and ironically I've seen two dead cats in the past week)

well it's been a lovely week. In the mission we're constantly setting goals. Every morning, every nights and for two hours every thursday with a revision every sunday. And it can be hard when you've felt like you've worked you tail off but your numbers come out less than half for what you hoped for. This week was one of those weeks. But you know what? I feel great. 

-Reason number one: Hermana C has grown so much! aww mi hijita. She is so good and pushing herself and me to reach our goals. We both were able to develop new teaching skills and we're starting to teach really well together. 

-Number two: although church attendance was low, more than half of them were our less actives! Hna E came with her three girls and hna P came with her sons and her (ex)boyfriend and J P came! J P is from a new family we found a couple weeks ago. His parents got baptized about 20 years ago but he got baptized 3 years ago. He's 18 years old and wanted to serve a mission but they've been through A LOT! you guys, i can't even express to you the love i feel for this family. They are a miracle and have the most sincere desires to come back to church. But hermano A (the dad) had an accident at work and broke 2 ribs. so they couldn't come. buut next week!

reason number three: we taught a couple that are SO PREPARED. hna C first week i was talking on the phone with a convert and hna C was scared to do contacts but this couple passed and she handed them a card. They told us we could pass by another day. well time passed and we couldnt make contact with them until one day we saw F and he invited us to the baby shower of his girlfriend. we thought "how weird. they don't even know us... pero bueno!" and we set an appointment to visit them. When we came they fed us SOO much food, and afterwards we fed their spirits. They had so many questions and they were so straight forward. P took notes the whole time. They are sooo excited to have their own copy of the book of mormon! We invited them to baptism and P told us she was looking for a church to join because so wants to be baptized for her own desicion and not that of her parents (she was baptized catholic as a baby). They're happy to read and pray to know the truth.

I wish I could tell you guys everything in detail that happens. It's BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE THE MISSION. 

well today we're in valdivia to get shots and they told us they dont have time until tomorrow so we're stuck here with NOTHING. and it's 3.5 hours from our house.

 

p.s. every wondered what horse meat's like? black, tough and taste like the smell of canned dog food. but you can hardly taste it when you put it in a soup.

MUCH LOVE

HNA MEACHAM

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Buenas!

buenas!

things are good here in Pucón! 

E wasn't able to come to church because she got really sick. ): annnd she'll be out of town for almost 2 weeks for work. She leaves tuesday so we'll see her today to leave her with a bunch of reading homework to keep her spirituly busing (; I pray that she's be able to feel the spirit and power of the Book of Mormon and contintue to progress even though we wont be able to see her.

We've decided to give J and D some time and space. We hadn't seen them for a week and had just asked some members to call them, inviting them to church and what not, hoping that they'd feel a lack of spirit that would draw them to act. and they came to church! after sacrament J said, "we miss your visits! when are you gonna come?" i guess it's working! we'll see where we go from here.

We've been able to find a few new families that are interested and we've invited a couple to baptism. Although they didn't accept the invitation they understand what we hope to help them achieve and accepted to continue to learn and allow baptism to be a possibility. 

The other week another missionary told me something someone had told her and well, it's spot on. People often say, "the mission changed my life" or "thanks to my mission..." etc. But it's not the mission. As missionaries we have a strict dedication and obligation to live the gospel principles at a higher and profound level. We study, teach, breath and live the gospel. Day in, day out. THAT is what changes a missionary. Christ has the ability to change the hearts of men and His gospel is what teaches us how to make it happen. You don't need to be a full time missionary to be changed by Christ. 

As we committ ourselves to Christ and to live His principles at a higher level we recieve light, we come to be more like Him. I've had the opportunity to live the gospel to the fullest for a year. And it has been a priceless year. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for my mission. But I don't want it to end the day I come home. 

In the conversion of King Lamoni, he declared in prayer, "I will give away all my sins to know thee" (alma 22:18).

As we leave behind what we were yesterday and promise to live the gospel at a higher level today than we did the day before we will come to know our Savior. And that's what changes us. I'm so grateful I have a life time to try to become better each day.

I love you guys. I know Christ love you all perfectly.

xoxo

Hermana Meacham