Missionary sighting!

We got this great text today from a tourist in London.  What a great surprise! 

Dear Brother and Sister Gwilliams,

My husband and I are in London for a couple of days and we ran into Sister Gwilliams and her companion today. She looked very happy and excited to be here! Her companion seemed wonderful!  It was such a joy getting to meet them. They were the most beautiful site that we have seen so far :)

We recently had two daughters serving missions at the same time so we love sister missionaries very much! Hope you enjoy the picture!

Love,

Sister Paula Jones

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Week 3

FAMILY!

I  love you all so much! And so grateful to finally get to write to you! I feel like its been forever with not really having a Pday on Wednesday so I am so grateful to hear from you!!! Oh i just love you all. 

First off my trainers name is Sister Barnes. She is from Wyoming and has been out 15 months so after our 3 months of training together she will go home. BUT I LOVE HER! I can't even begin to thank my Heavenly Father enough for letting us work together. We just get along really well already! She is so funny and just so optimistic! She also works SO hard! I didn't really understand the idea of talking to everyone until I was with her! She will stop people ALL around her and make sure they listen! There are even times when they will start walking away and so she just follows! :) Oh it is so funny but such a good example. I am so grateful for her and her love and patience and example that this is hard work but it is meant to be fun as well! Our first area is Peckham... AKA LONDON! Oh its craziness. Everyone came up to me after we had been assigned and told me how amazing it is but the advice of it all was "work hard and don't get stabbed" :) Haha! I realized really quickly after getting here that what I had pictured London to be like was COMPLETELY different. A lot of times we'll joke that we thought we were called to London.. not Africa or South America or China! (Monkey's anyone ;) ) It is so diverse! And two white girls from America who don't stop smiling and talk to everyone STICK OUT. Its funny to see the looks we get. But another exciting thing is we are pink washing the area (white washing but with sister missionaries.) It is amazing the trust that we have been given but it has also been pretty crazy! Just with me not having ANY idea of what I am doing - Sister Barnes doesn't really either! So we're learning together. The past couple of days we have just spent trying to understand how all the buses work and where the members live/who they are as well as get a teaching pool going. We realized pretty quick that we didn't really have any progressing investigators so we've spent a lot of time just contacting and talking to as many people as we can. Its a little overwhelming for sure. BUT I've decided that overwhelming is okay because it has just made me realize even more that I can't do it on my own! I NEED Heavenly Fathers help. So I'm definitely just trying to adjust to everything. The missionary life as well as the culture of this place. Its made me really appreciate Utah! I love Utah. LOVE IT. But I know I will learn to love these people and the culture they have as well! :) 

A funny story - After meeting my trainer and getting to Peckham the Elders took us to our flat and we had to run out to get to our teaching appointment that was in just a couple minutes. Sister Barnes and I ran out of the flat to the doors that would let us out. They were the doors you have to push a button so it would unlock and open. So we stood there forever just pushing this button over and over but the door wasn't open! We panicked and ran back into the flat seeing if there was another way we could get out but couldn't find one and then ran to neighbors and asked if they knew how to get out. They kept telling us to just push the button. So we went back and both of us just kept pushing it and pushing it until a man walked up from behind us, gave us a confused look, and opened the door. Apparently the button just unlocks it but doesn't automatically open. Ha we just laughed and laughed as we had just spent 10 minutes trying to get out of the flat. Ha that story pretty much sums up the past 3 days. We're definitely trying to figure things out - including how to get out of our flat! :) 

With steps too - Sister Barnes and I are averaging around 12,000 a day. I wish it was less because that would mean we were sitting down and teaching lessons! But we're averaging those in the POURING RAIN. On Friday is DUMPED. We were both Soaking wet. A sweet member let us in and gave us hot chocolate which was so nice but it was so nice to get back and be in dry clothes. Mom - SO GLAD we got that rain jacket before. I've worn it almost everyday! 

And Dad! Not only is England great because I don't use the sleep meds... BUT guess what? Apparently it is really offensive to pop your fingers in public. They HATE it and its a sign of disrespect! SO no popping fingers for me anymore too. When I found that out I just laughed, You would love it here! ;) 

But I have the new address to my flat! It is

 #9 Steedman Street Unit G09 

London, LND SE17 3AF

PLEASE continue to send letters! I LOVE THEM! Dad sent one this last week and i am so grateful! helped so much when I needed some comfort after all the craziness! So Dad to answer your question, I would love letters as well as e-mails please!:) With the letters though send them to the address above for the next 3 months! The other address works as well but I will only get the things sent there on transfer days - I'm pretty sure. But if theyre sent to that address I can get them as soon as they get here! :)

I love you all so much though! I am SO GRATEFUL to know that families are forever and that I have all of your love and support! I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have! There are MILLIONS of people that pass me everyday that don't know the truths that bring so much PEACE AND HAPPINESS. This gospel changes lives and I am grateful for this chance to share it everyday! It truly is such a blessing and I am honored to have this call!

Please keep me updated on everything! And wake up soon and e-mail me back! I have 2 hours of e-mail time so I'll be here for at least another hour! I LOVE YOU!!! Keeping you all in my prayers and working my hardest everyday so that you are blessed at home! 

Love you!

Sister Gwilliam

SAFE ARRIVAL

Dear Brother & Sister Gwilliam,

Sister Megan Gwilliam has safely arrived in the England London South Mission.  We are happy to receive her into our large missionary family.  Her talents, testimony, and service will help the work move forward in this part of the Lord's vineyard.

The enclosed pictures were taken at the Staines Chapel when she arrived.  We will love our missionaries as if they were our own and promise to work them until they smile.  Sister Gwilliam will be blessed as she learns to fulfill the mission purpose: "to invite others to come unto Christ."

Sister Gwilliam has been assigned to the Wandsworth Zone, Peckham 2 area with Sister Barnes as her trainer.  This decision was made after earnest prayer and approval of the Spirit of the Lord.  The work will be hard, but will be rewarding as they learn faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, and diligence. 

You can help Sister Gwilliam by writing regularly.  Express your love, faith, and confidence in her to build, uplift, and strengthen.  Pray for your missionary.  They will feel the power in those prayers.

Sister Gubler and I love your daughter and will do all in our power to protect and help her be successful.  We love the Gospel and delight in the work of bringing souls unto Christ by proclaiming his doctrine to the world.

Sincerely,

President Ronald K. Gubler

England London South Mission

Leaving the MTC

Hey Cute Family!!

They're letting us write e-mails now because tomorrow at 4:45 I get up to go to the mission field! AHH! Its so crazy! I honestly can't believe it. I have LOVED the MTC and grown to love the Elders and Sisters here even more. They have become very best friends and its the hardest to be leaving most of them tomorrow as we go to our different missions.

BUT I am SO excited! So so nervous for tomorrow but so excited! I can't wait to meet my mission president and my new companion (I hope she's nice and REALLY patient :) ) and the ward I'll be serving in, and the investigators, its just so exciting! I definitely don't know everything but I know with my Savior's help and the spirit with me it doesn't matter what I know - theyll help me every step of the way!

I love you all so much!!! Talk to you on Monday! 

Sister Gwilliam 

Did you know?

Did you know that you can easily send letters to Sister Gwilliam?  The postoffice has international stamps that are $1.20 each.  You attach one to your regular envelope, put it in your mailbox and it will get to her in about a week.  The postmaster said that each letter can contain up to 4 pieces of paper (1oz) with this stamp.  My parents said that the missionaries they worked with loved getting letters in the mail and it was a treat to be able read as it came rather than all at once on p-day.

WEEK 1

My cute family!

I LOVE YOU!

I can't believe I've been here for a week! Part of me feels like I just got here but then it also feels like I've been here forever. Its crazyand so busy but AMAZING. I have learned SO MUCH. I love it here and am so grateful and honored to be a missionary.

The flight here was crazy. Having the flight get delayed and being stuck in New Jersey for a whole day was definitely an adventure. Our delayed flight got to Jersey around 8 so the airport booked us a hotel but seperated our group. I traveled with 5 sisters and 2 Elders - THEY WERE SUCH A BLESSING! I would have been a mess if they weren't with me! THey were all great. But me and two other sisters got a room. Around 11 at night we all seperated and took a bus from the airport, got all the way to the hotel, to realize it was the wrong hotel, so we had to go back to the airport and take another bus to the real hotel that was about 40 minutes away. They didn't give us back our luggage so we didn't have any makeup on anything to really shower with. We got back to the airport the next day around 1 and then our fllight didn't leave until that night until 7. Nothing like spending a the whole day at the airport. The flight went well. I kinda slept... haha tried to sleep as much as possible at least. We arrived in England around 7 a.m. and then took us strait to the MTC, got a little orientation, send you an e-mail, and then they put us right into classes. Longest day of my life. It was craziness! I hadn't really slept for 2 days or had a shower or anything good like that so I was a little bit of a mess the first day! BUT Slept soo well that night! DAD - i haven't even opened any meds! Are you so proud?? I thought you would be!:) Falling asleep is NOT hard at all! I'm so tired by the end of the day. But I;ve had sleep and life is SO GOOD! The MTC is amazing. I truly love is so much!

My companions name is Sister England and she's from England! How fun is that? She is the sweetest, funniest, greatest Sister and I love her! We work really well together and have so much fun! Its so fun she's from England as well, she's teaching me all their ways! :) She really is HILARIOUS too! She claims that the English people in general are all just really sacrastic but Its just the best! Its nice to have some humor to keep us sane throughout the day! I love my district as well! We have 5 Elders and 4 Sisters. I know i keep saying it... but I honestly LOVE them! I know my heavenly father loves me because he blessed with with such great people around me. We all just work really well together! We are able to stay on task and have incredible experiences BUT they all are so funny! Two of the elders are from germany and their accents are excellent, then two are from England so theyre hilarious. It really is just the best!

Oo and I am rooming with two other sisters, Sister Swann from australia and Sister McFarland from Utah! I LOVE THEM! Haha I know, I just love everybody. But Sister Swann is so so funny and sweet and Sister McFarland is probably the kindess, funniest, and most genuine person. We go running and work out durring excercise too! I even jumped rope! Proud? :)

The MTC here is so tiny! We have around 42 missionaries here. Around 13 of them are language missioaries going to germany or greece so theyve been here for 3 weeks now but the rest of us will just be here for 2 weeks! Let brendan know that he will love it. Its crazy small but that just makes all of us so close! It so fun. President Preston is incredible as well! He is so kind and loving and So happy! He just walks up and down the halls smiling. Its fun that it is smaller as well becuase I feel like I actually know him. He and his sweet wife check up on us all the time! I can tell that they really care about us and it is such a blessing to have them!

Mom, worst story! On Sunday we are able to go walk around the temple at night so we all took lots of pictures! Which I took, but then I plugged it in after to charge it and now it wont turn on. I'm afriad I ruined it! I don't know if the converted didn't work and it fried it?? I don't know. BUT problem is I don't have a camera that works now! Tender Mercy that I took the pictures on Sunday night! So I still have those but I don't have anything now! I'll try and send some that i took but... What should I do? Should i buy one here or could you send me a new one? I definitely would love to be able to take pictures so let me know what you think I should do! :) AND with that I'm super scared to charge my Fitbit. I haven't had to yet so I've just been avoiding it so hopefully its okay! Praying it works!

Another crazy thing is that tomorrow WE ARE GOING CONTACTING! AHHHH!!! In the MTC we've been teaching a lot of "investigators." I think S England and I have taught 5 or 6 lessons and role played a million times. Which is so helpful! But tomorrow we are talking to people - REAL PEOPLE. They take all of us newbies and drop us off in some park in manchester and we are supposed to talk to people! I'm super excited and definitely very nervous! BUT good learning experience either way! :)

Oo mom! We went to the post office today too so I'll put the thank you letters in the mail! Thanks for doing that!

And Dad! I got your sweet letter! It was the GREATEST SUPRISE!! One of the elders who had been here for a while was all suprised saying how he had been here for 3 weeks and I was getting one after not being here for a week. I just told him it was becuase I HAVE THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Becuase I really do. I love you so much dad! Thank you for the sweet letter as well as the suprise in my suitcase. I'm just so grateful for you. THANK YOU!

I hope you know how much I love you all!!! I love being here! Its so hard being away from all of you but I know I'm in the right place and really am so happy! The spirit is so strong here and it is so fun to be here and become best friends with kids who are all working towards being the best missionaries they can be!

Getting my badge was probably the highligh to of the week! I am so humbled everymorning to put my Saviors name over my heart! I know he lives. I know he loves us and I LOVE HIM!

Talk to you all SO SOON!!

Love you!

Sister Gwilliam

Next wednesday we're traveling to our missions - WHAT!?? So crazy. So hopefully I'll be able to send an e-mail before!

England MTC

Our neighbor called and had been looking on the England MTC Facebook page and saw this.  What a treat to see her smiling face!

I MADE IT!

Hello Cute Family!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! They're letting us send a quick e-mail to tell you that we finally made it to the MTC. It was a CRAZY adventure getting here. Our flight to New Jersey ended up getting delayed for a couple hours so we missed the flight from Jersey to Manchester and then had to spend the night in New Jersey and take a flight the next night at 7! It was an adventure for sure! But I was with a group of 7 awesome missionaries the whole time so we had a lot of fun getting to know each other and spending lots of time in the airport!

I hope you all are doing well and know how much I love you! As crazy as the last couple of days have been I feel so much peace and am SO HAPPY! Even with all of the craziness the Lord has blessed us so much. He really does watch out for his missionaries. And England is BEAUTIFUL! We all have to come back together some day soon. Its so green and the cars and toilets are super great and the accent is BRILLIANT! (Our MTC president just talked to us about using english words. We're supposed to avoid american language... Just had the interview and let "awesome" slip! Whoops! :) )

P day is on Wednesday so I will be able to e-mail then!! Can't wait to hear from all of you!

LOVE YOU ALL!!! Sorry this is short! Talk to you soon though!

Love,

Sister Gwilliam

And she is off...

Megan wanted the airport to be short and sweet...no drawn out goodbyes or tears.  We got there, got her checked in, walked around for a minute and then she said, "Time to rip of the bandaid."  (Have to admit there were some wet eyes and a nice hair tug from Tyson).  Then she was off.  Walked through security and never looked back.