March is almost over - time goes so fast.

(I missed a call from Florida on my phone.   Mark was out of cell range.   It was Saturday and the mission office was closed.  I was worried and called my Stake President who kindly called Meagan's Mission President.  Yes, I gave in to the Mother Bear instinct and over reacted ... all is well.)

I did get a call about your "over-reaction" on Sunday. It was actually pretty funny. President called and said that he told President Hill "I don't think Sister Williams called, the Sister Williams I know is doing fantastic!" He called to just double check.

The Women's broadcast was absolutely fantastic! I loved how they mentioned keeping our covenants so often. I think that there are many people who keep their "large" temple covenants, but they forget their baptismal covenants. They forget the  covenants that are "easy" to keep and by doing so Satan has a chance to get to them. I also loved that they talked about how we the "older" generation are HUGE examples to those of the younger generation, and that it is our responsibility to give them the foundation to build their faith upon. Thanks for giving me that foundation. Without the gospel foundation that you gave me I would definitely not be on a mission, I would probably be very lost right now if I didn't have that foundation.

Also KIM GOT BAPTIZED THIS LAST FRIDAY!!!!!! I wasn't able to go, but she was baptized. Sister Davidson told me that she was going to write my name on a piece of paper and hold it in every picture! I am so excited for her! Her family can be together forever! It was such a privilege to be able to teach them and help them to come to know our Savior a little bit better.

Tonight we get to take a new sister out for her first night in the mission. We are going to knock some doors and try to contact some of the less active members of our ward. It should be really fun!

Also sorry that I haven't written back until now. This week is transfers, so we have P-day today, and we have been gone most of the day with our Bishop's wife to see a cool fort and plantation. I felt like I was in the movie Lincoln! It was amazing! Also the plantation was beautiful and intense. We saw the slave quarters and it was interesting to see how hard their life really was. We also stopped by a early 1900's club house by the plantation that was just as beautiful.

 I hope you are all enjoying the snow! It is 85 and SUNNY down here! I will try to send some sunshine your way! I love you all! Keep the faith!

Birthday Week

This week things were good. We had a few amazing miracles! This last Thursday we received three media referrals from Church Headquarters and we went to contact them. We got to the first house and it looked like no one was home. I had just read about media referrals earlier that day in personal study and had remembered that it had said to always knock around. It also mentioned that the Lord has led you to that area for a reason, so we are to ask the entire household/street if they are interested. We knocked on the door and a very small woman answered the door. We asked for the name of the referral, but they were not home. The woman who answered starts crying and she then explains to us that she had been praying to see if God knew who she was and if He was there for her, and when she had ended we knocked on the door! It was amazing! You always hear about these kinds of stories, but I never thought that I would experience a miracle like this. Also get this, we were supposed to have received the media referral two weeks ago, but we got it that day. It is amazing how present the Lord is in our lives. It astounds me that He knows us so well and that He cares enough about us to send us little miracles. Hopefully everything will work out!

Later that day we went to see another media referral. She wasn't home, but as we were walking to our car we say a car full of young college aged guys and one of them got out and yelled "sisters!" We stopped and talked to him, it turns out that he is from Oregon and his two best friends are Mormon.  He is going to school here to play baseball, but he knows a lot of missionaries. He actually gets weekly reading assignments in the Book of Mormon from one of his friend's dad. It was crazy! We asked him why he wasn't a member already and he said that he was "having some fun" right now. We told him when/where church was and we hope that one day he can understand the importance of the gospel.

So we went to PF Chang's for lunch and it was delicious! I also found some great stuff for not so much money at Ross! It was great! Thank you so much for the money that you put into my account! So funny story, Grandma Christensen sent me a money order check for $20 and it was from Wells Fargo, so we had to go there to cash it. It took seriously 30 minutes to get a stupid check cashed. They made me come into the bank and provide two forms of ID and put my finger print on the check and then I had to wait in the branch manager's office where he asked me who I banked with, and why I wasn't banking with Wells, and why they were a good option, blah, blah, blah..... It was so complicated! I can't believe that they get customers, because they were so pushy and ridiculous, it almost wasn't worth it to cash the darn check. I am so glad that I don't have to deal with them anymore.

Anyway, we also had a crazy day at church yesterday. Our entire bishopric was out of town and it was a disaster. We had two five minute talks and then one 30 minute talk. It was probably the worst sacrament meeting I have ever seen. And now I know why we have bishoprics. I also was asked last minute to teach Relief Society and that was intimidating. We hardly had anyone in our ward because of spring break, but it ended up going well.

Thanks for all that you have done for me! I really appreciate it! I love you all! Also I should be sending a few more pictures today. Oh and also I haven't been posting a lot on Facebook because I am trying to start a blog about Jesus and so I haven't had enough time to post on Facebook. 

We have had a lot of experiences this week that were led by the Spirit. It is funny to me that the Spirit speaks so subtly to us, that sometimes we don't realize that it was him until after the fact. That has happened to me a lot this week. It is very reassuring to know that I am being led and guided by the Spirit, I only wish that I could recognize it at the moment it is happening, but I think everyone has (no matter how old) is constantly working on that.

This week we also did a service project on Saturday at the Ft. Caroline national monument. It is this very small French fort, but it was beautiful. While we were picking up trash we saw DOLPHINS in the river!!!! It was awesome! I didn't even know that dolphins could go in rivers. We also had a great time trying to track down the elders who had crossed through a flooded trail to go pick up trash. We went "swimming" in the swamp to go get them, it was gross!

So a few weeks ago I forgot to mention this lesson that we had, had that really humbled me. We went to this house in a trailer park (which is a gated trailer park, gated, really?). The trailer was a disaster. There was cockroaches crawling everywhere and nothing was clean. There was a little black boy who couldn't have been more than two or three who was there with his grandmother. It was so sad to see that this family was living in such terrible circumstances. It made me think of how much we take for granted. People don't realize that there are others out there with nothing. They live in pitiful circumstances and the most heart-wrenching fact is that they don't know any other way of living. All they know is filth and it is so sad. I am so very grateful for the way that I was raised and the fact that my home was clean. I even take that for granted. So thank you mom and dad for giving a a good, healthy, and clean home to live in.

Another Crazy week

 It was so cold here and it was only 47 degrees. I am going to freeze when I get home. 

So this week was again crazy (I need to come up with a better word to describe the madness of the mission). We had president interviews, zone meeting, found a few new investigators (we call them gators), and set a few baptismal dates! It has been a very successful week! We have been working with a family and the Mom and son are looking forward to being baptized on, get this, the 6th of April right after general conference! It will be a great way to start off April! General Conference and a baptism all in one weekend. It has been amazing to see the members of this ward help fellowship them. They have all literally brought them into the ward. They are definitely not joining for the missionaries, but they are joining because of the ward and that is how it should be. It is son nice to finally have a ward who understands the importance of fellow-shipping our investigators.

We also had president interviews this week. It was so nice to go in and have President tell me that I am doing good and that he was very grateful for the work that I had been doing. I really needed to hear that. I sometimes second guess if I am doing all that I can, or that I am making a difference. It is so nice to have a reassurance that I am doing what I am supposed to.  He told me that he and The Lord recognizes that I am doing well and he told me to give myself a pat on the back. It really helped me feel that I am doing what The Lord has asked.

We also had zone meeting this week and the zone leaders told us that President Craig has asked that each of us come up with 16 stones (like the Brother of Jared) to place before The Lord. These stones represent things that we will or will not do that will help is to be more focused and involved in the work. It has been interesting to ponder upon the things that I feel like I need to work on to put before The Lord so that I can be a better instrument in His hands. There have been A TON of miracles already from doing this and I am sure that there are more to come.

Today we are going to downtown Jacksonville! It will be cool, I don't really know what to expect, but there should be some great picture taking opportunities. I am so excited and that I can do fun things on P-day it really helps the week go on a whole lot faster and better!  . Spring is definitely in the air! I love it, everything is finally a pretty green again!

Sister Williams' First Transfer

This week has been pretty good. Sister Houtz is amazing!  We have an absolutely AMAZING ward who just love to help out whenever possible. They are so supportive of our investigators and are really focused on missionary work. 

So right now I am living in Jacksonville. We are about 20ish minutes from actual downtown and also 20ish minutes from Atlantic Beach and Jax Beach. It is amazing! We are also great friends with the YSA sisters and because they have a lot more miles than we do we get to go a lot of places on P-day. It is so crazy to be where I am. I am right next to sister Davidson's old area and I have gone to a lot of places that she has gone to before. I feel like I am living her first few transfers. 

Anyway, the work is good here. We are teaching a family that is very solid, who have a baptismal date in April. They are so wonderful! There are a few other people who we are trying to work with, but it is hard for me to know what they really need right now because I have only been working with them for a few days. Once I get to know them more it will be easier to determine what exactly what needs to happen for them. 

Transfers are hard, but they are good. I feel really good about my new area. It is hard because Sister Davidson was/is my best friend and we have been through a lot together. Sister Craig told me at transfers that she knew that this was going to be a hard transition, but that I was needed in my new area and that everything was going to be okay. I know that it will be okay, but I do miss Sister Davidson quite a lot. But Sister Houtz is really similar to me and sister Davidson, she is kind of a happy medium. We are already good friends and we are working really hard here. I don't think I have ever knocked so many doors in my life. 

It is crazy because we are in a urban/suburban area. I went from ghetto/country/super-nice-rich-area to urban and actual population. I never thought that I would actually be serving in Jacksonville. 

These are pictures of St. Augustine.

A Little More from Meagan

This week has been CRAZY! We have had so many new experiences and miracles.

First off the iPads are amazing! It is amazing how fast The Lord has allowed us to have success with these tools. On Facebook this week I was able to start teaching a girl all the way in INDIA! We have also had lessons with some of our investigators, and almost every lesson we have actually used the iPad. These are incredible tools, that it never thought could be used for missionary work.

We also have a baptism coming up on Saturday for Graccie! It is so exciting to see all of the work that is happening here! The Elders actually have a baptism that day as well, and so that means we will have two confirmations in sacrament on Sunday. We also had a miracle with Gracie's dad Jason. He came to church this past week and he hasn't been to any church in over thirty years. It was crazy to see him there.

This week I had my first "country" dinner with some members. It consisted of fried cat fish nuggets, fried corn bread, fried chicken, and coleslaw (all of this was homemade) it was definitely interesting.  The best part was that the member's son's nonmember girlfriend was there and she had a lot of questions. We taught he the plan of salvation and she seems really interested.

Transfers are a week from Wednesday. We are freaking out because we are pretty sure that one of us is getting transferred. It will probably be Sister Davidson. That will be a new adjustment for sure, but I know The Lord will help me through it.

 I am so grateful that you received the moisture that you have been needing! Also I can't believe that Hannah passed her test !  (Driving Test)  That is crazy! I love you all!

Shortly after Meagan sent this...

Hey we just got word that I am being transferred out and that Sister Davidson is training! Holy cow, this is crazy.  I have no idea where, but president just called and told us that Sister Davidson will be training and that I will be transferred out, I will find out next Monday where I will be going.

It will be fun to see where she will end up.

This week has been fun and amazing!

This week has been fun and amazing! We received our iPads this
Wednesday and it seems like we have used them in almost every lesson that we have given this week. That are such amazing tools that The Lord has trusted us with. It is amazing to see how he is hastening his work. He definitely knows what he is doing! It has also been cool to be on Facebook. I have actually started to teach a girl all the way in India. It is crazy that the gospel can reach those people in places that sometimes missionaries can't.

We are so excited for week because Gracie is getting baptized.
We never thought that we would be able to both be here and see her get baptized. We thought that we would be long gone before she would ever get baptized. It has been amazing to see her journey. This is what missionary work is all about! There is no greater joy than seeing a person come to the knowledge of this gospel and also to see their opportunity to be a family forever. It is great to be able to bring one person in, but it is so much greater to bring a family!

This week has also been stressful, because we are pretty sure that one of us is getting transferred in a week and a half. It is hard to
swallow that we will be split up, but we know that whatever happens will what needs to happen. The Lord knows what he is doing.

I love temples! I miss being able to go all the time. It is crazy to hear all the talk here about the Ft. Lauderdale temple. It is so close, but so far away.

Meagan is being Transferred next week and Sis. Davidson will be staying in Green Cove Springs.  She will get to see Gracie baptized on Saturday.  This is Meagan's first transfer.  She and Sister Davidson have been companions for 6 months.  She has been a great companion for Meagan, they are very similar and I am sure they will always be friends.  We will not know where she will be until Tuesday, Feb. 18th.

Anyway this week has been interesting...

I am over the moon that the Seahawks dominated the Super Bowl! They deserve it, also I heard that Turbin did amazing!

It sounds like you are off on an adventure this week for Nate's wedding. I hope that all goes well.  Tell everyone Hi for me.

I love what you said, "If you will ask Him, God will help you." That is completely true. This week has been another rough week and I have been on my knees constantly it seems. I have felt really overwhelmed and and apprehensive for no particular reason this week and I have only been able to turn to God. I have asked Him very specifically some things that I needed, or things that I have been worried about and he comforted me. He didn't necessarily answer the questions I was asking, but He consoled me and comforted me. Quick funny story, because I had been struggling this week I was just asking for anything that would make me feel the least bit better. When we went over to our ward mission leader's house this Tuesday, I had a little cry session in the car before going in and I prayed real quickly for something to help me get through the rest of the day. Well wouldn't you have it that towards the end of our meeting, his wife came home from the store and brought us donuts. Yep donuts and it lifted my spirits enough where I could deal with everything. It just goes to show you that Heavenly Father cares so much about His children that he will even send you donuts to cheer them up. Something as simple as that brought great comfort to me, it wasn't that they tasted so good, but that they were a little care package sent from my Father in Heaven just when I needed it the most.

Anyway this week has been interesting. We have been planning Gracie's baptism for the 15th and that has taken a lot of time. We have also configured a ward mission plan for our members. I don't really know why, but your family mission plan has been really on my mind lately and I wondered about how we could get something going like that here. Well I approached Sister Davidson about it and she loved the idea. We have been working really hard to get a good layout with some goals for our ward and our Stake President's vision for our stake and we pulled something really great together. Our ward mission leader added what he wanted and he is so excited about it. It has been great to see him get re-energized with missionary work through this. He now has sent it to the Stake President and we will see what he thinks of it. It has been cool to see, and it all happened because of a prompting from the Spirit.

We also have trade-offs with the Sister Training Leaders tonight thru tomorrow night. It should be great. It was funny because last night when we were on the phone with them with sitting in the car outside of our apartment we heard gunshots ring out across the street. That was interesting, let me tell you. We got pretty freaked out and we ran inside and locked all of the doors and prayed. It was an adventure, but we didn't hear any sirens so maybe it was a firework gone bad, but we do live in the ghetto.

Side Note...
If there is anything that I can get more angry about is when parents don't grow up when they have kids, and they become all about themselves, rather than their children. There is a lot of that here and it makes me so mad, because people care about their kids, but they don't care enough to change and give them a better life.

 Sister Williams

Sister Williams and Sister Davidson

Atlantic Ocean