Oh SO BLESSED.

I have been DYING to email you updates from this last week. SO much happened and we have been SO BLESSED! Honestly the best week of my mission so far I would say. Oh my goodness... things are going so well. Im just honestly overwhelmed with how wonderful things are, how our friends are doing, the ward, being in London, Sister Steed, OUR FAMILY, just everything. Ive just been really overwhelmed with how blessed I am this week. Heavenly Father is just so kind. 

BUT OH MY! Before I get into all of it as well I just CANT BELIEVE how amazing ky is. He honestly loves his mission. Mom you were saying it in your email but I just read his emails and am amazed. I was so so worried. Honestly fasted and prayed that he would be okay - I just REALLY struggled when I first came out and that was after living away from home for a year. Just knowing ky I was so worried as well but FLIPPIN HECK he is the best! He loves it. It has been the BIGGEST blessing to me. I just read his emails and am just even more motivated to go out and work hard and have a great attitude like he does. Its incredible. HUGE tender mercy.  And he is looking THIN! Its crazy. Its so funny. ANy email I have, all he talks about is when we come home he wants to eat, or for his birthday all he is doing is eating a huge cake, or how hungry he is. Poor kid. He looks great though and is so happy! It is just the biggest blessing! 

But turning 21 in London was the BEST! Last preparation day sister steed and I went down to the water and just had a blast. It is so fun to be here in London. Honestly the biggest blessing to be somewhere so cool. We went down to the Tate Modern Art museum -  it was so funny. We just laughed. I dont understand modern art. Then we went over to Shakespears Globe and walked around there. Super cool. You will love it when we come! and then we headed over to Zizi's - it was yummy!:) And just fun to get to splurg a little bit. I really love sister steed. So grateful that she loves doing fun things but is super focused as well. Its been the biggest blessing to get to be her companion. BUT i have pictures of our fun day. I will send them over! I tried to reenact some of the pictures from when I turned 20 last year HERE IN PECKHAM as well. It is CRAZY! I didn't feel like i had changed very much but I feel like I looked like a baby last year now... You'll have to see them! But it was pretty funny - you will have to let me know what you think! But then on my actual Birthday it was the BEST SUPRISE EVER to get the basket of fruit! OH I LOVED IT!! Made me so so happy! Sister Steed laughed when she saw it. She said that you all knew me so well. Poor sister steed LOVES chocolate. Loves it. And poor thing is always stuck with me who loves fruit. BUT OH it was the best ever! We can't afford a lot of the fancy fruit (fancy fruit being anything other than apples and bananas!:) ) so it has been the best ever eating all of the fun things in the basket. Its hasn't even been a week and it is almost all gone. It has been the best! But cute suman threw me a little suprise party as well. We went to go teach him and then he showed up with cake and a present (a portable speaker for the ipad - So helpful!) and then we had a little party at sister rays! It was so great. We were on exchange as well so we had a blast getting to have alittle party that night with the spanish sisters. Overall it was the best day! I just thought over and over how lucky I was to be here! And how old it is to officially be 21... isn't that weird. I just think its super old. But thank you again for the gift and the emails and just all of it! 

BUT along with those blessings this last week was probably the BEST week of my entire mission. It was SO GOOD. So good because Heavenly Father has been so kind. Zasha and Ricardo and Isha are ALL on date and are so solid. I have never taught someone who just understands it so much and just loves it. And i know it is ONLY through the holy ghost. So much of the time I just walk out of lessons so thankful that I am not the one teaching but that He is - they are just so great. THey came to church again and loved it, we see them everyday, they just love it. Im so sad we did't get a picture this week. WE WILL DO IT so I can show you them. OH i just love them so much. So much that its so wonderful but I am also so terrified everyday - being with them has motivated me to step up my game even more. I NEED to be dilligent all the time and obedient so I am worthy of the spirit so I can be worthy to have him in the lessons so he can keep helping them. Oh they are just so good. Its so so fun getting to have them as a huge miracle everday. BUT ready for this - one of, if not the best moment of my mission so far - On sunday Zasha and her kids, AND SAM (a LA) and her son Harry (12 year old we are teaching and preparing for baptism) AND our other friend Norman were all at church. It was Psychotic. we were running around like crazy trying to make sure everyone was taken care of and happy and yeah. it was crazy. This last week at church during sunday school and relief society the stake decided to braodcast the womans conference so all of the woman stayed together in the chapel to watch it. We had zasha there who didn't really understand what was going on so we quickly explained the idea of general conference and this meeting. She sat there and just loved it. I was listening to Elder Utchdorfs and just LOVED it. One of those "I love my mission" hit me moments where I just realise how wonderful and how much of a privilege it is to be here. The braodcast ended a little early so they just opened it up for testimonies. I was just sitting and thinking to myself when zasha said that her heart was pounding and she wanted to go up - but she wanted us to go with her - we told her we would love that! She got up the nerves and walked to the front and had us just stand by her. She then started telling the whole experience with us. She said how all growing up she had gone to churches but never really felt at peace and then one day she was walking home with her kids and sister steed and I came up. She said normally when people come up to her about church she just pushes them away saying she already believes in God and has a church but something was different when we talked to her - she felt something - and even though she was busy she decided to give us her address so we could come back. She said that when we came back and told her about the church she has just been so happy. She said it has helped her to find peace and she knows that it is true. Apparently there are a lot of hard things going in her life right now and the week before she was struggling and not knowing what to do - She was talking to ricardo about it (the 12 year old) and apparently ricardo said "Mom, dont you remember the story the sisters told us. Joseph smith didn't know what to do either but he went and prayed about it and god answered his prayer. You should do that too." She said that as soon as she said that she just got this overwhelming sense of peace and happiness. SHe said how it was so weird becuase she was so sad before and overwhelmed and then instantly she was so happy. She went on to say how she just knew that this church was right and that the book of mormon was true. And while she is saying this sister steed and I are standing right there with her. I honestly was one of those fight back the tears, jaw wide open not believeing what she is saying, and just oh the spirit was so strong. I just could have cried. Heavenly Father is just SO KIND. I just have been so humbled. NONE of this is me or sister steed. It is all becuase of him. I feel so unworthly honestly of these blessings - he blessed me so much more than i deserve but OH i am just so grateful. So yeah. They just get it. She udnerstands authority, ricardo loves it, isha is the cutest little almost 8 year old, and then her 2 little kids love us as well! I just can't believe it. I can't wait for you to meet them! Ricardo LOVES basketball too! I have showed him all of the pictures of kys games that you sent over. He loves it. I told him ky will have to come play him when we come back! :) 

BUT YES! So things are going so well! We had 5 friends at church. we have 4 friends who are progressing towards baptism (zasha and her kids and our other friend freddie) and the highest member presents Ive ever had - the ward is just so willing to help us - MIRACLES ARE JUST EVERYWHERE! Its just a party over here in Peckham. Im so grateful to be here. Time seems to be going quick too - its just all crazy crazy but so wonderful. 

And that is so fun about the Englands, right! I will see Sister England next tuesday for MLC again and tell her how excited we are! I CAN"T WAIT! I think it will be the best! And yeah, if you can find tickets thats amazing! i have actually heard they save some for people coming from out of the country so it might be easier for them to get them... But you should look and if you can find them WE should go! I dont think I have ever been to the conference center and seen one of the main 4 sessions. I would LOVE that! And OH MY GOODNESS! LIke ky I am literally GIDDY about conference this weekend! OH i CAN NOT WAIT! Last conference on the mission and I am just going to SOAK IT ALL UP!! Can't wait to hear your insights on things!!! OH i just love general conference. AND sorry i will go all missionary on you! BUT i have noticed on my mission how much I have gotten out of conference. Part of it is that I am a missionary so I think just having that makes me a little more sensitive to the spirit BUT ALSO i go to a chapel where I have to be in church clothes and sitting up and taking notes... and it has been AMAZING experiences every time. SO cutest family that I love so much! I JUST WANT YOU to have that as well! So I would really encourage you all to take all you can out of conference. Sitting down and watching all of the sessions - not just listening if you can - being prepared with questions (like how on earth will I cope another 3 months with meg gone?;) ) - and then taking notes to listen. I also think being dressed in church clothes on the sunday just helps us to be focused and less likely to fall asleep.... :) SO avoid those blankets and laying down and just LOVE listening to a LIVING PROPHET today! its amazing. God will be speaking to us! I just can't wait to hear what he has to say and then act on it. So yes, be prepared iwth questions, take notes, and be dressed as if the lord was there himself. I know if we do that we will gain SO MUCH from it and you will be able to get even more revelation and help with things in the future! 

Love the sciprutre of the week as well. And i love Jack and Kathy. I feel like they are both great examples of faith- they just know it will be okay. So grateful for such great examples in our friends and neighbours. OH goodness... I know I keep saying it but we really are just so blessed! 

I JUST LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! MOstly with all of these blessings I am just SO BLESSED to have the worlds greatest parents and the worlds best family. I just love you all so much. SO MUCH! THank you for being so wonderful and my best friends. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough and saviour for making it possible to be with you all eternally! 

I LOVE YOU! 

Talk to you soon!:) 

Love,

Sister Gwilliam 

20 vs 21: Pictures in Peckham on my 20th birthday and again on my 21st birthday (tried to take some in the same poses)

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Birthday adventures

Modern art?

The globe!

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more pics

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pics

YUMMY!!!!



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My flat!:)

Our study table and stickies of all the miracles we see!

And sorry I don't have one of the room... It's a mess with exchange craziness. I'll send it over another week!

LOVE YOU!
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I thought since Ky has shown us his I would show you what I live
in.... A little different than what Ky and dad have had!:)

Note the tan line on my feet!:) are you proud of me?

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Where the chapel is! 2 manor place
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At President's!:)

Their home' so wonderful

Sister couper!!! I love her so much.


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21 in London!

HELLO!!!

 

I hope you had the most wonderful week! Hopefully the pictures I sent went through... our chapel is getting deep cleaned so we aren't allowed in it today - so i am here at an internet cafe but we ran over to get some pictures for you before! It was a GREAT week and I wanted you to see the pictures of it all!

 

But first off, this week has been incredible! So many fun things! BIGGEST MIRACLES is Zasha and her family - I think i told you about them last week. It was the mom we stopped on the street for like 5 seconds and got her address and then we have now started teaching her and her 12 year old boy. well THEY CAME TO CHURCH on sunday and LOVED it. Oh I could have cried how well it went. They just fit in so well - they LOOK like they should be apart of the ward. All of the kids had friends and zasha was fellowshipped so well. We asked if they all liked it in the teach after and she said they LOVED it! It was so wonderful! we taught the gospel principles on the restoration - and after she came up to us and said how she didn't know what it was but she just feels so good when she hears the story of jospeh smith and when she is at church. OH my. i literally hugged her after she said it. Its just the best. we have been able to taech them everyday since too! we teach zasha while her kids are at school and then every other night we come and teach the kids. her kids are the cutest ( we will get a picture and send it over ) but they are CRAZY! So much energy. One reminds me SO much of thatcher - just that amount of energy. So its hectic when we teach them so we have started doing everyother where we can just focus on her and then have crazy games and attempt to teach ricardo when we are with the kids. BUT want to hear what is an even bigger miracle - the kids came to games night at the chapel with us last night and on the way over sister Steed asked Isha (the 7 year old little girl) when she turns 8. and guess when? OCTOBER 11th! What a good day, right mom?:) BUT miracle is that they were preparing to be baptised on the 8th of october BUT now that isha can be baptised with them we are planning on getting it moved to the 15th tonight and then the FAMILY will be baptised!! Isnt that AMAZING? A FAMILY! I am making sure to stay humble though and remember how much we needs gods help still to get this family there... but oh my goodness it is SO exciting! Sister steed and I were almost dancing last night when we found out! Its just so fun to really feel like we are building the ward. Everyone we bring in is wonderful ofcousrse, but a family that can support each other and support and add so much to the ward is just so cool. Oh its just the best.

 

Another miracle is freddie came to church! we have been working with him for about a month and he has struggled acting - finally came to church! And then after we went over to a members for lunch and he came with us! It was PERFECT! The ward here is so great in inviting us over with our friends! I was thinking mom and dad - with our neighbourhood activities you should get the missionaries involved. Like the pie party coming up - tell the missionaries and tell them if they have any friends they should come and bring them. It would be HUGE for friends to get fellowship! But yes. it was awesome! so he is doing So well too. We have a couple other SUPER great friends that are doing great - kwame is still awesome, we are teaching a friend alex who we took a member on a teach with us and they bonded like nothing else - it was great, and we are working with a LA who wants her son to be baptised. Really just miracles coming out. It is such a great time to be a missionary here. I LOVE IT!

 

But also amazing things of this last week was GOING TO PRESIDENTS HOME! Oh my goodness. I almost cried it was so wonderful. it reminded me SO MUCH of grandma and grampa gwilliams. SO MUCH! Almost too much that it made me a little homesick. The weather was rainy that day (like Layfayette at christmas time) and england is so green - a lot like their neighbourhood. and then the cute homes here are a lot like grandma and grandpas as well. PLUS sister gubler made the greatest homemade food! HOMEMADE ROLLS so the house even smelt like delicious food - again grandma and grandpas. It was so fun to get to be with them theough. we got a tour of it all and saw presidents office with all of our faces. It was jsut so fun. DREAM COME TRUE! Plus we got SO MUCH direction and help with all of the work. I was sitting there just thinking how blessed I was to be there at Presidents home recieving direction strait from him all day long. It was so great. It just opened my eyes to being a better missionary and how we can help our friends and our areas and we have seen miracles from it as well. sister steed and I are applying it and it has made a huge difference! so it all is just super exciting. Im so grateful for the opporutunity! and then getting to be on the panel was so fun! I just love president and sister gubler so much. I can not wait until you get to meet them. On sunday night presdient was saying how almost 80% of missionaries are assigned to that mission becuase of who the mission president is - not actually the land they are going to. And I can say an AMEN to that. They have helped me so much - still not near as wonderful as you both - but i am so so grateful to have them and it was the best ever to get to be with them so much this week!

 

So that was the most exciting of the week! i went on exchange yesterday... oh exchanges sometimes just drain me. I know I am supposed to be the missionary who has everything together but honestly i feel like since I have been in peckham whenever we are on exchange just everything falls through. Like all of our plans change and people come up and it just gets me frazzled so that whole time we are just running around and then I dont feel like they actually learn ANYTHING so its just great. Haha. This last sunday becuase of the fireside we were at we didn't get home on time so we missed planning and then the next morning tried to get the 2 days planed (one for me and one for sister steed) but it was just all over the place becuase we were having to rush and so the plans weren't really set super well and so everything went through and OH my. ha I just got to the end of the day and just realised how i just felt like I had FAILED completely. BUT something that I have LOVED is that the longer I have been on my mission i have changed from letting that get me down - letting satan get me down for crazy things - and realising all god wants is my best and sometimes my best is failing miserably! so the best is just to laugh about it and accept it and then move on. SO thats what I did! Did a good laugh about how crazy the day had been, prayed the sweet sister gained something from running around peckham with me, and then just decided to make sure I am more prepared next time. so grateful to understand the gospel and life in general is just about failing miserably and then just picking ourselves back up!

 

BUT thank you again mom for sending over the BYU stuff. It helped SO much! It looks like my eccelsiastical endorsement went through so I am good to go once it is the right date. I went on and changed the emails so instead of being sent to my email - megangwilliam@gmail - I changed them to be sent to yours. have you noticed them coming through? I took a good chunk of time to look up classes... here are some of my thoughts....

 

Psych 111 - Ross ( I have to take this for dietetics) 3 credits

Religion - 2 credits ( i would take more if they would let me.... )

Physical Science - 3 credits (it is a GE i have to do eventually... have heard it isn't too bad)

 

then there are MMBIO 221 - this class is 4 credits... it kind of scares me but I have to take it to be able to apply for the program. the other required classes aren't avaible during winter semester. So I could push myself and try to do it... but i kind of dont want to? how do you feel about that. i might just take some electives or try and get some other GE classes out ofthe way. I just want to be able to enjoy and ease my way back into things. I just stress al ittle bit in the fact I dont feel like you ease your way back into things with byu. All of the classes are a little tricky. i am also trying to get classes onthe same days so Its a work in progress but any thoughts on those? there is also sociology 113 which I have heard is hard but it is something I have to take eventually too... so still putting it all together. I will try and get it solidified next week ( since we cant be in the chapel I dont have a computer to work on without paying and we want tot go out andparty today vs. stay inside:) ) But do you rememebr when I have to register? Or what day it opens? CRAZY it is coming up. How does time go so quickly?

 

 I have loved ky's emails as well. he seems to be doing SO well and it just makes me so happy! Its so fun to hear how possitive he is and how much he is loving it. It has been the biggest help to me too! I always hoped that I would be a big help for him as he went out and I could share experiences but didn't realise at all how much of a strength it woudl be for me. ON hard days and long days I have been able to think of him with all of the dogs or not understanding the memebrs or living in the crazy little shack thing he lives in, just all of it and just thinking about how much he loves it and the good attitude he has and it has helped SO MUCH! So im just so graetful. It is so special to be out at the same time. Crazy how fast it has gone though. Can you believe that tomorrow is 3 months for him. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I feel like we were just at the point where he had 3 months until he was leaving. crazy crazy.  

 

BUT another fun thing! I talked to sister england today and her family is wanting to come over to america for aprils general conference AND so I told her that she and her parents BETTER be staying with us! She laughed and said that they actually are planning on it if it is still okay - her mom has been looking at flights and apparently they need an address of where to stay when they are here to book them and they have just been using ours! I told her you both would LOVE it and oh can you imagine how fun that would be? They are SO ENGLISH and it would be so fun to just catch up on mission stories and have you meet her parents - her younger brother is out on his mission right now too! So its just great! so look forward to that! Plan on the Englands here for conference! AH i can't wait!

 

And so glad that you friended Joy and Rob! Has it been fun talking to them? Thank you so much for doing that - especially rob. He is the BEST! sends pages of his life and I have felt so bad I can't be better at messaging back! so thank you! Keep talking with him! I am hoping he will come over and stay with us someday too! Or you both will get to meet him when we come back! :)

 

At MLC last week we talked a lot about the history of england and I realised just how honored I am to be here! To be here in LONDON! Oh its so great. we have all of the BYU study abroads in our ward and I realised too that the time I have left is only a study abroad time - They are here just a over 3 months. and that is where I am at. Only a study abroad away. I have really realised this week just how blessed I am to be here and just want to make the most of everything. it is going by quickly and I just want to work hard and just LOVE IT! But isn't that crazy?

 

Okay. sorry this is super long. I just love updating you on everything! BUT last thing! At MLC we were talking on all of the things we have sacrificed to be on our missions - initially I thought about all of those things I felt like i was giving up - mostly my family, friends, school, work, time, sports, relaxing :), just lots of things were going through my mind. But as we were talking about it an Elder made the comment on how he actually doesn't view any of these thigns as sacrifices becuase it is only becuase of the gospel that he has all of things these. It hit me really hard as I realised how true it was. as missionaries we constantly think about what we are giving up to be here but in reality everything I have is becuase of why i am here - it is becuase of my saviour and my heavenly father that I have all of you - my most incredible eternal family who i love sO MUCH - it is only becuase of him I have been blessed with such incredible friends, with a great school to get an education, with work opportunities, with each day! JUST EVERYTHING! It helped me really change my focus to realising the privledge this is - not in anyway a sacrifice. i am so grateful to be a missionary here in england. I love it so much. I am happy and feel fulfilled and the joy that I get from getting to share the gospel is more than I can explain. It is the hardest being away from you but I am grateful for the privledge of taking this time to help others come to the blessings I have found.

 

Doing my best to give it my all these last few months.

 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! TO celebrate I think you all shoudl go get fish and chips on friday! ;) haha just kidding! I will bring you some goodies and make the BEST english food in january and we can celebrate!

 

I LOVE YOU!!!

 

Sister Gwilliam

 

Oh and with my neck... its feeling fine now. i dont know what happend! haah but youre right dad. i will keep watching it and if it is a problem ill go get it checked out! :) Im hoping it was just aggitated from getting them flushed. But yes! LOVE YOU!!!!!

The hill we were at yesterday..definitely need to go in person though. It was beautiful!

---

From: Megan Gwilliam <megan.gwilliam@myldsmail.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 5:18 AM
To: denisegwilliam@outlook.com; brucegwilliam@yahoo.com; kyle.gwilliam@myldsmail.net; lindseygwilliam@outlook.com
Subject:

 

The hill we were at yesterday... Definitely need to go in person
thoug. It was beautiful!!

Missionary work in 2016!

Sister Aidoo and her daughter Josephine. Can not wait for you to meet her- you will love her. She is the best!!!

My district banner contacting!

LOVE IT SO MUCH! Ignore the fact I look tired... I feel like I just always look tired now!:)

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BEST WEEK!

>
> OH MY GOODNESS!! This week has been crazy - so good and busy but this upcoming week is like the greatest ever. SO first off, update with Suman - he is doing SO much better! I was freaking out a little bit last week and just questioning what had happened and really second guessing myself if we had pushed him too fast BUT after preparation day we stopped by the chapel for a minute and got wifi and saw we had message through facebook from Suman! All while we were teaching him he had said he always had a "big sin" that he just wanted relief from. Well apparently he had fallen back into it and becuase of that he didn't feel worthy to come to church and felt like he had let us down and becuase of that wanted his 2 month break... OH I WAS SO RELIEVED!! Sweet suman had just made a little mistake but he was fine- he still had a testimony but was just going through some of the problems that RC face! Oh we were so happy to finally understand what the heck had happened. SO this week has been a lot better - his fellowshippers in the ward are AWESOME and have been with him and helping him - he came to church on sunday - and even gave us some indian pudding. Ha so suman is back and we are so happy!
>
> BUT also great things - so yesterday we had MLC. I love MLC so much. BUT it was even better in that morning president said they had a fun suprise for us... and we all jumped in cars and they took us to Box Hill. We all went up to the top of this hill that had the most BEAUTIFUL view over one of the cute little towns. We were up there for most of the morning - president talked about england, the history of the place and the people and stories of the early missionaries that have served here. (President Gubler reminds me of Elder Holland when he speaks - he is just so intense and so passionate you just cant HELP but just want to be better) but it was so great. I just sat there listening to all of the stories and felt so privileged to be here. SO blessed to be a missionary in England with all of its history and the legacy of people that have served here before me. It really sunk in what you both said as well - I only have 4 months left. ONLY 4 to get to serve in this incredible place. It was really neat for me to have this moment of just realizing how precious and short time is and just wanting to give it my very best. It was incredible though- when we all come back I will take you there! I was thinking while we were sitting up there how much you both would love it. I will send pictures but we will definitely have to go in person someday - so much better!
>
> So yesterday was incredible, today we have preparation day, tomorrow is normal but then on friday... drum roll please... WE GET TO GO TO PRESIDENTS HOUSE!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!! Dad, i Know you asked about this a couple months ago. I have NEVER been to presidents house and have always DREAMED of going there. Our silly zone leaders would always call after they went just telling us how wonderful it was and how great sister gublers cooking was and all this silliness to just wind us up. I have always just wanted to go!!! And we got an email last weekend that along with MLC this week we are also having Zone Leadership training with president and sister gubler at their home! I nearly cried. So on friday we get to travel to their cute little home and be with a few other missionaries and from 9-4 I just get to soak up EVERYTHING they say! We are talking about member work, how to extend commitments, better plan, how to be better leaders - just GOLDEN stuff that is going to help the sisters I work with but mostly me to be a better example. I am just giddy at the thought of it. SO that is just the most exciting. I always joked I wouldn't leave until I had made it there but was getting worried with time getting shorter SO im so grateful that it is happening! DREAM COME TRUE! So yes, can't wait to tell you about it next week! :)
>
> Then on sunday as well the stake is having a fireside about missionary work where president and sister gubler are going to be to answer questions as well as a couple RMs and then they have asked that Sister Steed and I be on the panel to answer questions from a current missionary point of view. HOW FUN IS THAT? So not only presidents house on friday but then getting to hang out with them again sunday night. OH its just the best! So super fun and exciting week over here in England. Plus the weather is still incredible - it was the highest temperature they have had in 50 years yesterday - crazy hot. BUT its is beautiful! All i need is all of you over here with me and then things would be perfect! :)
>
> Things are going really well with the work as well! We are working with great people. OH i LOVE the Africans - just people here in Peckham. They are truly so wonderful and loving and open and yeah. its the best. I hope i get to finish my mission here. BUT a couple weeks ago we met this woman for maybe 5 seconds on the street - we saw she had a family so we just ran over and told her we had something that could bless her family and asked if we could come back on wednesday to share it with her family (president is encouraging us to keep contacts short and on their level and then setting a return to teach the family in their home) So she gave us her address and we went back - her name is Zasha and she has the cutest 4 little kids. We have started teaching her and it is INCREDIBLE! She is reading and praying and feels peace about the book of mormon. We committed her to baptism on the 8th of october and she told us the last lesson that she was telling her 12 year old son how we were coming over and she was going to get baptised again and he said that he wanted to be baptised as well with her - BINGO! So we are going back tonight to meet with all of her kids and start working on getting them both ready for the 8th! Its so great. We are also working with a self referral named Kwame from ghana. He is the best. It just makes sense to him and he wants it for his family. Things in the work are just going really well. Its so fun to be a missionary!
>
> Funny story about Zasha though... we have been teaching her while her 3 oldest kids have been at school but she has a little 1 year old boy that is still there. THis crazy energetic little boy. So we are teaching her trying to stay focused and durring the first lesson we were talking about joseph smith and that authority and she had concerns about already being baptised before - so we start talking about that authority and the need to be baptised and while I am trying to explain her little boy walks behind me on the couch and starts playing with my hair - which then turns into TUGGING on my hair. Im doing my best to stay focused and help her understand while this little crazy boy is just having a blast pulling all my hair out. SO not only has tyse prepared me when I was here last year with the naked man BUT also with this little boy. Thanks to tyse I have a head of steel and was able to focus enough to resolve the concern and get her on date! ;) Haha joking aside it was great. And I recognise that it was not me at all - so grateful that the spirit was there and able to touch her heart into knowing that it was somehting that was true.
>
> Something else that I have really noticed serving here is how god is preparing people for the gospel! I remember always reading in PMG and DandC where it says that people are kept from the truth only becuase they dont know where to find it. I have seen how true that is serving here. Almost everyone we have talked to lately understands the apostacy - majority of the africans that we talk to that dont go to church dont go becuase they recognise that what they are being taught is not what christ taught - that it had been changed. Or that the church is all about the aspect of getting money or gain - not about the doctrine. It has been so cool that as we have talked to these people and taught about the apostacy after christ they completly agree - its what they believed already - and then how neat it is to be able to talk about the restoration. THat god again has called a prophet so that we dont have to have this confusion and that correct church is back today. It makes sense to them. It is what they have been looking for but just didn't have it until now. I really have seen how true that promise is. I know that God is preparing people but we just have to find them and give them the truth! Its so fun!
>
> BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF THIS INCREDIBLE WEEK THOUGH is..... yesterday at MLC we got mail which means I GOT THE CUTEST PICTURE BOOK!!!!!! AHHH MOM!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Oh i LOVE it! I have looked through it so many times and just smile the whole way through it. oh thank you so much! I truly love it so much. One of the best gift I have ever been given. it is the cutest thing. Oh thank you! So so grateful for our family. OH and just how you put it all together with it leading up to our missions and then ending with the PIllows! AH the CUTEST! So so grateful! Thank you!! Even with all of the exciting things going on this week that definitely tops them all. I love it so much!!!!
>
> Another fun thing with MLC is I get all of the post from ROB! Remember Rob? He was the one baptised in Aldershot. Well Rob is just the BEST still. So active and loves the gospel and the temple and everything and he is the best to keep in touch with me. Its so fun. I always get pictures and long letter updating me on his life. OH he is the best! But i have the biggest favor of you - and hopefully you will like it as well! BUT will you go onto Face Book and add him! Rob is so great and I always get letters and even now that we are on Facebook he will message me but with the rules I am not supposed to message him back - only letters. And letters are supposed to be infrequent and sent through the temple. So they dont get to him very often and - I love her so much - but sweet sister S has just been emailing him and messaging him back on facebook which we just aren't supposed to do. I am not here to judge her but I just really dont want rob thinking that I care for him any less becuase I dont repsond back. I just need to be obedient. SO I had this brilliant idea that you should add him and message him for me! :) Haha! He is SO great and he would be so happy if he were to get to hear from you. He knows all about you all! It would mean a lot to him and it might be fun for you to get to talk to him too! Hes the best and loves me and sister stephenson... so hopefully he would have good things to say! :) who can blame him though, right? ;) If you would for joy as well too I would really appreciate it as well... sweet joy emails me too but now that I am not in that area Im not supposed to respond BUT another missionary does still so same problem. if you would just message her I say hi that would be the best. She helped so so much at one of the hardest times of my mission so I dont want her to think I love her any less for not being able to respond. So THANK YOU! Even grandma warner can add rob! He would LOVE getting to chat with her!
>
> And before I forget here is my address. - you should google map it and see what it is like! :)
> Flat 6 33 Westmoreland Rd
London, E SUSX
SE17 2BT
>
> I loved that the missionaries are asking for freinds. Tell them Im sorry I dont have anyone coming off the top of my head BUT i will think about it for sure and get back to them!
>
> I also LOVED your question on Faith over fear mom. This is something that has been HUGE for me on my mission. I really struggled for a long time about worrying about things (which is funny becuase I dont feel like I was a worrier before at all!) But i came out here and did - worried about the numbers, the people, ALL OF YOU BACK HOME - a lot, just loads of things. I talked to president about it a lot too. BUT i feel like It finally clicked when you sent over the quote that said something along the lines of "worrying about tomorrow doesn't change anything but take away todays peace." I realised as well as I read through the book of mormon that god works ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH. You read it Over and over and over. That when people believed in good things to come or trusted it would work out - it did according to that faith. I saw in my life how I was worried so much becuase I just wasn't trusting him. I was focusing on the negative and the "what ifs" - letting fear creep in. INstead of just choosing to believe that it would all be okay. I saw when I switched that mindset everything changed for me. When fear would creep in I would stop and force myself to choose faith - I would replace the thought with just saying that it is in the lords hands. As i did that the fear really was replaced with faith and I was SO much happier and just able to move on stronger. I know that god works with that faith and that we see miracles becuase of it - one of those being that we dont have to have fear and that we can have peace no matter what is going on. HOpefully that has helped a little bit! Send back both of your thoughts too! i love them!
>
> This email is just the BEST ISNT IT! Oh it so long. I just love you both! I take about an hour to email you and then loads of time for ky and then linds as well! Its the best! BUT one last thing - super weird but my neck behind my ears is hurting super bad. Like when you get a check up and the doctor feels your throat area and asks if it hurts anywhere - hopefully that makes sense - but its hurting me really bad. Like taking my meds to help! :) I dont know ifyou know what that is? Or if grandpa gwilliam would being the dentist. But its just annoying. I feel like there is a really hard ball on the one side too - like a hard lump behind my left ear thats really painful. I dont know. I dont want to be weird and having to go to the doctor again... so if you know of any ideas to help that owuld be GREAT!!! Hoepfully it will just pass. BUT KEG on the other hand. FLIPPIN HECK! Tell karri to call the mission home and get him help! He is so wonderful and focused but he needs to be healthy. Im sure his mission presidents wife would have a fit if she realised that was going on and she didn't know. The lord needs his missionaries but he needs them to be healthy - not running faster than they have strength. PRaying for him though! And ky seems to be doing so well! i will send over his email again!
>
> BUT OH i just love you!! SO SO MUCH!! HOpe you have the GREATEST week and I can't wait to update you on everything next week! iT is a highlight for sure! jsut so grateful for your love and support adn for heavenly father keeping you all safe!
>
> I LOVE YOU!!!!!
>
> Sister GWilliam

 On preparation day we went to bourough market... We are definitely
going when we all come back! So fun!

--
Posted By Megan to Sister Megan Gwilliam at 9/07/2016 09:48:00 AM

Hello!

 

HELLO!!! 

Oh i know i say this every week but I just LOVE getting to update you on everything. Its been a great and crazy week! 

First off, at the beginning of this week i was EXHAUSTED! I don't know what was going on but I was just so tired all the time. it was the worst. Especially since you don't have time to nap. I think i will become a napper like you when I get home mom. OH they sound so nice. It was rough though - I have never struggled staying awake in studies but I had to go and get some gum so that I would be chewing something and not fall asleep. NOT GOOD! So that was crazy. But things are getting better which is so good! I always heard of missionaries just being so tired by the end of their missions. So we will see. Then lots of naps when I get home! :) 

It was also one of those humbling weeks... I think it has been a good reminder for me and good learning experience for Sister Steed. We were SO blessed to meet Suman the first week here and then how we were lucky enough that he wasn't working nights so we would meet everyday and he progressed and didn't have really any problems all the way to baptism... (after baptism is now another story though that I'll get to... :( ) but it was just great. We had a great teaching pool and people progressing and then this week has been the opposite! We have really struggled with friends cancelling, people aren't wanting to come to church and keep their commitments, we haven't been able to really find like we have been in the past. Its just one of those GREAT weeks because you really how you need to be humble and trust in the Lord. I have actually been really grateful as it has made me really recognize gods hand in all the things but especially the little ones. Just recognizing the fact I had a great conversation with someone or we have a friend that hasn't cancelled or members that love us and are willing to come teach - little things that are really HUGE things. Huge blessings. So it has helped me be more humble and back to remembering him more which is always a blessing. But yeah. THey taught us a new finding technique that we are supposed to do of keeping street contact SUPER short - not even teaching just trying to get into their homes to teach where their families are. So we basically have the shortest conversations and get their addresses and a time - but its been a struggle because it has lead to a lot of return appointments with people that aren't super solid so they just fall through.. so lots of floggs and then having to go finding. Which is great but teaches you patience as well! We obviously just have to work on the contacting - sure there is a better way to do it but thats been this week! 

AND saddest story ever. We got a text from Suman yesterday saying that he needed a 2 month break. A 2 MONTH BREAK? WHAT THE HECK? We were so confused. We called him after we got the text and he went on about how he just cant explain it but he is worried he can't live up to the expectations and this whole time he feels the church has changed him but he just needs a break and blah blah. We were so confused and just so sad. The worst was too is that he just kept saying how he felt so bad because he was letting US down. That made sirens go off in my head because none of this time should he have felt any pressure to do things just because of us. What if he just got baptized because he didn't want to let us down?? It is what he implied yesterday and its just so hard. That is the LAST thing and its made me question a little bit if we pushed it to quickly or should have slowed down with all of it or made sure his testimony was absolute. I don't know... he probably is just having a moment or something has happened but I just hope he is okay and really has a testimony. So that was a sad thing that happened yesterday. So yeah, see! Its been a humbling week! :) 

But I have learned also some other fun fact this week about myself. The first is that Dad - Flip i have all of your pet peeves. Honestly I apologize now mom because me coming home you will have dad and me going off about the silliest things... :) But oh my goodness. I have just been laughing lately as all of the things that just drive me a little crazy are all of the things you have told us to stop. Like with the sleeping during studies problem I have been getting gum... which has meant sister steed has been getting gum and OH IT TAKES EVERYTHING IN ME TO NOT FREAK OUT when she is chewing it. OH it drives me crazy. Right now as we are emailing she is chewing on bran flakes and its just like the loud chewing too. AND when lights are left on it drives me crazy and I have to go turn them off because why would you waste that? Im constantly walking around the flat and turning the lights off. She has started to pick up though and apologizes. Im trying not to be that crazy companion but OH WELL! So yes... OH dad, its a problem. But i love it at the same time because I just think of you and how it would drive mom crazy and then i just laugh so its great! But yeah. We are the same. Working on patience! :) BUT i have also learned that I LOVE eating healthly! 

So sorry... im going to vent for a minute. Hopefully all these random thoughts and things are okay... i feel like you would like to know them too! :) And its just more real. The work is so great and I love it but I have other random things that i need to vent about too! ) ANYWAYS, story time. With eating healthy I feel like i have always been good about it but especially on my mission - after like Decemeber of this last year I really have tried to be really good.  I started eating really well and just LOVE fruits and veggies. It actually came Im pretty sure because Heavenly Father was tired of hearing me complain that I didn't feel healthy so he just made me love the healthy foods! :) BUT yeah. Ive ate really well. Im even known by my companions as the sister that eats really healthy... They are probably all really annoyed at me.  BUT when I came back to Peckham so many people were just saying how I had lost so much weight. I weighed myself and if the scale is right I have actually lost about 10 pounds since I left home last year - BINGO! BUT the problem is that I am back in Peckham where all i get is fufu and rice and fried plantains... AKA NOT HEALTHY! Its been kinda funny for me to see how much I do love eating well - yesterday we had a DA and ate out for lunch and by the end of the day i just felt nasty and gross and didn't have energy or just feel right. So this is the longest story to say that I just have realized how much I do love eating right, and cooking really unhealthy things :), but eating well! And so with that I think I might go with trying nurition when I go back. I have just been struggling on knowing what to study and wanting a good career just incase I would need to support my family - which is a little hard with nutrition i feel... so still not sure - but I was thinking about your comments on Elder Holland's talk mom about wrong roads and right now that is the only thing that is really sticking out to me - and if anything it is just somewhere to start! I can go for that but I know that is if it isn't right that the lord will direct me somewhere else! So there ya go, sorry for that essay about it all but I just really enjoy it and love learning about it so I think i'll try and take some of those classes going back and see if it is what is right! Jess - my good friend from freshman year, the one from North Carolina if you remember her... is going into it as well! So i will email her today and see what classes she took and what/who she would recommend. We are planning on taking some time today for me to look up classes and try to make a little bit of a plan. When can I register again? So hopefully I can get it all put together to where you would just have to push add on the day I can register! But mom if you would look up some of the recreation classes I would love that! I have to take some for credits and would love to try and stay in shape while I am there... so there are classes like Zumba or volleyball or something like that... if you get the chance see if there are any fun classes available! And I'm not sure what I have to do to apply to the program... so yeah. I know you are so busy but if you have any time that you would just like to look up the program/options I would love it! Ah i love you mom! Thanks so much for you help!  

another fun fact is that I had to go get my ears cleaned again yesterday! I had to go do it in like March and then again already! Isn't that crazy? Too soon. but it made me SO grateful that I am serving in a country where it is so easy to go get it done. I can picture myself in like Africa or South America where the doctor is years away and not know how to handle my crazy ears. So I'm really really grateful I can serve a mission and hear at the same time! :) 

Another thing I was thinking - as you probably have already been thinking of... ;) But in like less than 20 days I TURN 21!!! AHH isn't that just mad? that sounds SO OLD to me. How the heck am I that old. I don't feel it at all. Another crazy thing is that I turned 20 out on a mission - HERE IN PECKHAM too! It's so weird because that means my whole 20 year old life I haven't seen those I am closest too. Its crazy to me. LET'S NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. okay? WIlling to sacrifice it for the lord but thats it. Looking forward to lots and lots of years and birthdays where I get to celebrate with you! BUT the point of all of this is PLEASE with birthday coming up and christmas - I would love you to save the money for just when I get home. Don't feel like you have to send anything over. I LOVE love love love gifts and packages from home but I realize how expensive they are and when I get to see you so soon I would say just save the money and then we will PARTY in January! Mom, i would still love the surprise that was meant to be delivered ages ago. I have been so excited! But really please save your money and we will just celebrate beginning of January! Especially with Christmas. It's so expensive to send stuff over and I will see you like 2 weeks after. So yes! Just my thoughts on all of that! :) 

And dad! i would love to be able to work in the pharmacy when I get home! I would love to work for Louana again as well. I don't have her email address though... would you be able to get that for me and then I can email her? Or anywhere in the other stores would be great as well! i would love to be able to work as a tech though and think it would bring in great money for school! I am hoping with the schedule to to keep days open so I could work the long hours a lot of pharmacies require. So yes! If you have emails I would love to start getting on that and having something set for when I get home! 

With that too! Thank you so much for your advice on staying focused and being here but being excited about home. I want to make it very clear though I LOVE being here in England and being a missionary. it truly is the best and I am forever grateful for the experiences that have lead me to be here and the things i have learned but I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HOME WITH ALL OF YOU AGAIN!!!! Oh the thought of just getting to be at home and be with you all the time and call you and text you and watch movies and eat peaches and just BE WITH YOU and Tyse and Linds and Ky when he gets home just makes me feel giddy. I just cant wait. And that is what Has been hard. Is I love my mission but I am really excited for getting to be at home with all of you and then especially getting to apply what I have learned here at home. I just have so many ideas of how I want to be better and how I will help missionary work back home and just be a better member and daughter and friend and OH its going to be AWESOME!! But with that I can think about it and then get really excited but I still have 4 months here. Which I know isn't long but at the same time seems like forever still. OH so it is so hard but I think i need more of your help and advice on staying focused. Like i will be a mess having to leave but just because i have grown to love this - I love England. And I love the people and all of the culture and the weird food and awful weather BUT mostly I love it because on these sacred grounds is where I have come to know my Savior. I have struggled more than EVER before in my life. I have hurt and felt pain and felt confused and worried but I have come to see that NO MATTER WHAT he can fix it and he can help. I love England because I have come to know the Savior here. That his atonement and sacrifice was real and it was for me. He is MY Savior. And so I know that this place will always have the most special place in my heart and having to leave will be different and hard but I am just so excited to see you. But yes. I just want to finish strong. I feel good about my mission so far - just content. I could have done SO many things better and improved but I have worked and done my best and I just don't want any of that to change in these next four months. But it can seem long and I still do miss you and I can be tired. OH the struggles... So yes! please any advice of staying focused and working hard would be wonderful! I just want to finish strong! SO STRONG! There are miracles to be seen and so much time to do it! 

I hope everything is going well and that everyone is happy and healthy. I pray for you EVERYDAY! Im super excited to hear about Tyse's school as well! Let me know! AND OH how i miss watching football with you dad! Just all the sports. During the olympics we walked into a friends house and the volleyball was on - USA against Italy match 5. INTENSE! Took so much self restraint to not watch it. So yes! SO Excited for just all of those fun things to come... BUT SO GRATEFUL to be able to be here in England right now. I love this gospel and I love my Savior and am just really grateful for be able to give him this time as a small thanks for everything he has done for me!

I LOVE YOU!!!! 

Sister Gwilliam 

Fwd: [Sister Megan Gwilliam] Fwd:

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Megan <no-reply@blogger.com>
Date: September 7, 2016 at 10:49:21 AM MDT
To: denisegwilliam@outlook.com
Subject: [Sister Megan Gwilliam] Fwd:
Reply-To: Megan <megangwilliam@gmail.com>

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Megan Gwilliam <megan.gwilliam@myldsmail.net>
Date: September 7, 2016 at 5:22:18 AM MDT
To: denisegwilliam@outlook.com, brucegwilliam@yahoo.com,  kyle.gwilliam@myldsmail.net, lindseygwilliam@outlook.com

 On preparation day we went to bourough market... We are definitely
going when we all come back! So fun!

Sent from my iPad

--
Posted By Megan to Sister Megan Gwilliam at 9/07/2016 09:48:00 AM

Fwd:

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Megan Gwilliam <megan.gwilliam@myldsmail.net>
Date: September 7, 2016 at 5:22:18 AM MDT
To: denisegwilliam@outlook.com, brucegwilliam@yahoo.com,  kyle.gwilliam@myldsmail.net, lindseygwilliam@outlook.com

 On preparation day we went to bourough market... We are definitely
going when we all come back! So fun!

Sent from my iPad