Moooovin' On.

Yes, that's right! I think it's about time I end this mission blog.. I've been home for about 3 months now and I'm moving back over to my other blog. Find me at:

MEG-A-BIT

http://www.meg-a-bit.blogspot.com

I'll keep writing! Promise! Just check back there:)

My mission has been the greatest thing for me! It has completely changed my outlook on life, my personality, my goals, and my testimony for the better. Thank you so much for all your support and for following along:) I love you!!

Weekly update.

Holy Moly this week has been FANTASTIC and CRAZY BUSY!!!!!!

Spent most of it in California! So close to a couple of you!!! I soooo wish I could have seen you... But alas, missions have a purpose behind that;)

We spent 15 hours straight at disneyland!!!! I'm pretty sure my friends' feet were covered in blisters... One thing I learned from my mission, always bring the right shoes.

Disneyland was incredible. The whole trip was!!!!!!!!! I haven't laughed that hard in a while. :):):):) made a complete fool of myself, but didn't have a care in the world!! Coming home however was a different story.. All these obligations and responsibility. But they just help us grow. It just feels great to get away from them for a short while.

Came back and went straight into General conference!!! Friday night we had a NOM mission reunion and holy cows it was fun:):) got to see so many of my NOM-ies again and all of their boyfriends&girlfriends. Weird. But exciting nonetheless! I brought my single self along with my dearest Ashley Curfew and guess who showed up to meet me?!??!!?

Jake Taylor from my Kearney YSA, and Ian Winkelmann!!! My concert from Kearney YSA!!!! So I got to talk to both of them for quite a long while. It was the BEST thing ever!!! And then Ian spent the weekend with me attending 3/5 sessions of general conference LIVE. It was the best thing to take one of my converts to general conference. He never ceases to amaze me with just how much knowledge he has of the gospel already. Serious, this guy is on fire!!
My YSA here got to go and sing on temple square during the priesthood session, and that was a neat experience, and then Ian got to spend Easter with my family yesterday (happy Easter by the way!!) we also attended the afternoon session of Sunday. And as soon as president Monson walked in the room, everyone stood and I just stared crying. I received another witness right hhere and then, that he IS our living prophet and so much of what that man has told the world, has completely changed my life!!!! The blessings of my mission have never, and will NEVER cease!!!

Another one of the best things ever!!! So on Saturday, I attended the Saturday morning session with Ian, and guess who sat right behind us?? THE FERUSONS!!!!! The members I lived with in Lincoln and the ones who have become like literal parents to me!!!!! I saw them!! And my family took them to dinner that night. So my Ferguson parents finally got to meet my actual parents and I just sat there in amazement at all the joy my mission has not only brought to my life, but to the lives around me. I love my Father and God SO MUCH that I could never express it right!!!!!

Along with alllllll these blessings though, I'd be lying if I said that there weren't trials right along side them. All these amazing things keep happening, but inside, trust me, I'm still having struggles. There are lots of things that I'm continually trying to receive answers to and diligently do the Lord's will that are hard! So don't think that anyone's life is handy dandy. You never know what people are facing behind the scenes! No one is exempt from trial. I just know that with time- in the Lord's timing, these trials will subside and I know that all these joyous things that keep happening are proof to me that the Lord is aware of me and literally is strengthening me more than I realize.

We all have the battle inside us between good&evil. Between happy&sad. Between confidence&timidness, but I know, and I have felt, that as I've just kept enduring, that I have GROWN so much even from the time that I only got home from my mission. I have learned so much and I'm so excited that the rest of my life will be like this growth as well if I just keep doing the little things the best I can. It's a slow change, but that only means it's becoming permanent.

I'm so grateful for general conference!!!! And for all the guidance I've personally been given through it. It's A LOT to take in, but just keep studying these words every day until the next conference, and make these words a part of you and the more we do that, the more the spirit will bring to your remembrance the things that he instructed you personally on, as you very first received it.

Keep going! All of the efforts we out in here, are an investment into our eternal happiness with our FAMILY around us. Remember that family is the center of it all. I don't know what I would do without mine, and I work every day to prepare myself to be a better wife&another for my own future family. Whenever that day comes.

Congratulations to my dearest best friend Kaitlin Cook who got engaged yesterday... Holy moly. It's so exciting:):):):) I still cannot believe it's happening! Life whips you in the face when your bestest friends start getting married. I'm so happy for here&kyle:):)

Keep on keepin on!!!! I love you all!!!!! Time goes by SO FAST!!!!!!!! So keep pushing and don't give up:):):)

Fun in the sun:)

Hello everyone!

Sorry I'm late sending this.. I'm on vacation right now in CALIFORNIA and things have been kinda crazy! I hope all of your weeks were well! I promise I'll get around to writing individual letters to y'all soon! I know this mass email thing is kinda lame.

Anyway, having a great time in Cali! We're staying in Carlsbad. My dear friend Trisha Arnita is with me as well as my dear mission friend Megan McCauley. So some of y'all might know either of them. They say hello anyway :)

It's been a great week! Life is going so well:) living up every moment and being myself. It's so great:) post mission life really is so fun, once you kinda get the hang of it. Although I Still think of my mission ever day.

We drove for a couple days, which was tiring, but good! We stopped in Vegas and got to the top of the stratosphere and rode the spinny ride that goes over the edge of the stratosphere:)
We made it to Cali and had the BEST sabbath day yesterday. Spent the morning at the beach and then found the local YSA ward. It was the coolest ward! Met an NFL player and a bunch of marines. And 2 nonmembers were there and the bishop totally committed them to baptism and reading the Book of Mormon. And like 4 of the ward members are leaving in missions in a week. Seriously, it was so great:) then we stayed for the block and went to the linger longer.
We were going to go walk around the peer yesterday evening, but when we got there, music was blasting and everyone was partying, and none of us had any desire to be a part of it on the sabbath. I'm so grateful for the change my mission has brought in me. So we went back to the hotel and just chilled and talked all night. It was so fun:)

Today is Old Town! :):):) then tomorrow is Disneyland:):) whoo!!

But it's been great to be around these two return missionaries for this week, I'm so grateful for our standards and the spirit that we can recognize.

I also love the new Easter video.

Usually it takes losing something to understand how important it was to us.
For me, my testimony of Jesus Christ came, when I decided to not be as faithful as I was taught to be growing up. When I decided to ignore the things I had been taught, and intentionally "lose Him" that is when I felt the most lost&confused in life. It was after that, that I realized that I needed the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide me and that it made me happier. That all happened after I graduated High School. Once I realized how much the complete gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints truly meant to me, and when I realized what it did for my life, I decided to serve my full-time mission to Nebraska&Iowa to help others realize what He can do for them.
On my mission, I experienced so many miracles and felt more love than I ever had before for everyone I met. It changed my life and I KNOW our Savior is there for us in EVERY aspect of our lives. I have experienced that and I have seen the support&love&strength He gives out to so many people that I have met. HE LIVES and will never leave us. It's OUR choice to put distance between us&Him. And #BecauseHeLives we can come to know the mysteries of God, and see the eternal perspective which will help us accomplish the greatest happiness of this life&the next.
Happy Easter:) may we all come to strengthen our understanding of his resurrection and what that means to us. :)

Thank you for your example. I seriously love&pray for all of you!!!!!!!

ACT don't wait to be acted upon.

Hello!!:)

Happy P-day!! I hope you made pancakes, are wearing purple, or polka dots, and have played some patty-cake today! ;) or studied some parables.. That's probably a better idea!

I for one am going to PLAY today after work. Justin Fergdog from Nebraska is getting into town today and we're going to go PARTY. Show him some sights of Utah. I'll be sure to tell him you say hi, Muasau, Weber, and Goldsberry:) the best part is, next week I get to see his parents and a TON of other people that will be here for General Conference!! Stoked for the next two weeks:):)

This week has been insane!! I've seen so many mission friends:)

The Schwindimann's from Elkhorn were in SLC, so I went down to go see them last week, then I ran into Miranda Sommers at Institute.
The Terry's from Kearney were in Logan this weekend, so I got to go with Dylan Johnson (Elder Johnson) to see them perform at an improv show. SO FUN.
I spent the weekend in Logan wth Ashley Curfew and got to go to the Coleman's homecoming and see the Ellsworth's and the Cleverly's ❤️❤️
SO MUCH FUN!!

Heavenly Father answers prayers. While I was in Logan this weekend, I was pondering and praying about how I can magnify my new calling in Relief Society more and asking for confirmation that I'm doing what I can.

After the homecoming with Curfew, I decided I was gonna head home a little early. So I left Logan, and on the way home I got a text from my RS pres saying that out RS teaching wasn't at church yet and class started in about an hour. I texted the teaching and she apologized but said she couldn't be there. I looked at the clock and figured that I would show up at my YSA wears RIGHT on time for Relief Society. So I told my Pres that I could teach, and I listened to the lesson on the drive. I pulled into the parking lot with 5 minutes to spare, and I got to go in and team-teach Relief Society with my RS pres when I wasn't even planning on making it to my ward at all. It was crazy- and team teaching is SO fun!! I feel like a missionary again:)

Funny story- we went to do RS visits this past week, so we wore skirts and such, and before we went to go see our people, we decided we were going to go buy treats first. So we walk into the store and it doesn't even phase me that I'm carrying a Book of Mormon in my hands. Hahaha #RMhabits. We laughed so hard and took a pic, then asked the irk at the register if she'd ever heard of the Book of Mormon before.

Well.. We're in Utah.. So she said, somewhat annoyed "yes...." But we found it kinda funny:)

Institute is the best thing ever!! I go up to the one at weber state every Tuesday, and it's the best:):)

I attempted and enjoyed long-boarding this week. We were up at Utah state and were practicing in the church parking lots. Yes, plural. There is a block at USU that has 5, yes 5 church buildings. IN ONE BLOCK. Sometimes it still blows my mind.

Anyway, life is crazy and I'm SO grateful for the habits I've gained as a missionary. I thank God for the experience every day of my life.
I love being able to apply the things I want to incorporate into my future family, into my life NOW. Whether it's FHE with my friends, or calling a friend to share our studies, there are ways to develop those habits now.

Also I've learned the importance of doing what makes you happy!! I'm discovering more and more of who I am and what I can do, and confidence in myself is building. And THAT is when you know that the people around you love you for YOU. When you're being yourself. Don't care what others think and don't try to be something you're not just to please others. Be who you are and if it's meant to be, they'll stay. :) take care of yourself!! Treat yourself like you would a precious investigator. Be patient with yourself, and you will eventually see the change that gradually takes place.

Love you all!! The Book of Mormon is still true:):) and I love my Father and Savior and am grateful for all they do for me:)
-Megs


(5 churches)

Find Joy in the Journey

Hey all! I haven't heard from some of you in a little while, so make sure my email for you is correct, meg.checketts@gmail.com :)

Happy Monday!! I love fresh starts to the week:) I hope yours feels as good as mine!

First off, this week I'm welcoming my cousin Elder Jessie Zuniga, and my favorite senior couple, the Johnstun's to the mission field!! So exciting:):)

How grateful I am for the sabbath day, that we can be wiped clean of the week before us and completely start out new. It's the best feeling!

I had to speak TWICE yesterday, and boy was I exhausted.. Hah my main focus in one of the two talks was about finding joy in the journey. It is so important for us not to worry and stress about the things we cannot control, or the things that have already happened. We simply need to be ourself, and enjoy every moment. Trusting that there is a reason that things worked out the way they did.

I think yesterday was the first whole day that I can say I'm feeling like I know how to do this real life stuff. I feel like I'm following promptings and that I am where I need to be. I finally feel like I have the hang of things:) YAY. It o lay took 2 months.. Hah

I am so grateful for my calling- and I know the Lord calls us exactly where we need to be. I think that is what has helped me the most. I have been crazy busy doing relief society stuff and I am soooooo looking forward to the amazing things we have planned in the upcoming months! :):) so excited.

I am so excited for you and all the things you encounter everyday! Keep that smile on your face!!

This last week my family and I went to go see the new Cinderella. SO good. Add that to your post-mission list. "Have courage and be kind"

I also got to hang out with some mission buddies!! Dylan Johnson and Megan McCauley. We miss y'all so much:) that was the funnest day ever!! Haha we went out to antelope island and did absolutely nothing all day except laugh our guts out. So. Much. Fun.

Also said goodbye to some of my greatest role models yesterday. They've been in the MTC for 5 days and this morning they headed off to serve the Lord in the Rostov Russia mission as the greatest senior couple ever! The Johnstuns.

The temple is the most amazing place!! And the gospel is the most important thing:) ohhhhh how I love it!

So that's my week! I'm excited to hear about yours!!
-Megan Checketts

Goldsberry-- how many days until conference? ;) keep pushing, girl!!:):):)

Trust.

Hello all,
Sometimes I wonder why I even write y'all.. Hah, and I'm sorry if you get annoyed with my letters. I honestly think they just help me more than they help you.
This week has been one full of revelation.
Personal revelation that I haven't wanted to accept. I've tried to push it off for so long, because I knew how HARD it would be or I didn't want to accept it. I felt my way made more sense, and just today I'm realizing that I must accept this revelation and trust the Lord and His plan.
We all have choices laid before us. Ones of bad, good, better, and best. I know y'all have heard this before and I'm sure you've experienced it, but this week, I have felt it more than ever.
In front of me I've been placed with a really good choice. Really really good in fact! In my head everything would work out perfect.
But during the time this choice has been in front of me, there has always been a tiny little annoying tug at my feet, telling me not to move forward. I would always ignore this tug. Why would Heavenly Father be tugging at me like this when it seems like such a perfect choice??
It's nagged at me enough this week. I can't ignore the tug anymore. I know I have to face the fact that this isn't the direction He wants me to go.
This is one of the hardest choices ever. And I know it's going to hurt and be bitter for a long while. But I HAVE to take this leap of faith and trust that there is something so much better ahead.
Good better best. <---- toughest thing ever.
We are given these situations in life though, because I know Heavenly Father wants us to understand just how important and special we are to him. He can give us all the good in the world, but when we come to understand that we deserve the BEST, that is when we realize how much His capacity to love us is.
His plan is so much greater than anything any of is could ever come up with!!

So I want you to evaluate the choices in your life. Do you have good, better, best choices in your life. As hard as it may be, I'm asking you to give up the good and better, and don't SETTLE for anything less than the BEST.
You are heirs. You are royalty. And you are SO MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU REALIZE!!!!!!!!!! Spiritually, physically, emotionally. You have potential beyond your wildest dreams.
Strengthen your confidence in Christ and His Atonement and you will automatically strengthen your own self-esteem and self-confidence.
I pray for you all the time. I'd give anything to continue to have the care-free life that y'all truly do have right now. Take advantage of the time that you only have to worry about others. It is seriously the greatest time of your life!! Once you get home and have to worry about yourself, all these crazy things start to come in and occupy your precious mind. Stay focused, and forget yourself!!!!!!!

Got to see Vocal Point in concert this week! Sweet. And send my dear sweet cousin off to Nashville Tennessee on his mission:) totally jealous:)

Thanks for all your letters! I love love reading about your experiences!!
Megan Elise Checketts

Your Call to Serve

Hello my dear, sweet missionaries!

I hope and pray that your week has been so great!
Mine has! It's crazy how much we change on a mission, and how "easy" it is the feel comfortable being the person we used to be. People at home expect you to be who you were, and it's tricky to be who you've formed into while trying to fit into the mold we left behind. It takes time, and patience to help those around you adjust to the new you. Advice to those going home in the near future (can't believe I've been home a whole transfer :P) don't give up in the habits you've gained as a missionary. It's easy to say you'll read your scriptures and pray and keep the morning schedule now, but believe me, it gets hard, and Satan knows your Achilles Heal. But always have the mindset of "what can I do to grow in the gospel and be more like my Savior" instead of "what do I need to do to not go less-active".

And I just want to testify to you this week about CALLINGS. Whatever calling you are in at the time, is the most important calling in the world. And y'all have a most extremely important calling at this time. You are becoming your own convert. You are growing and understanding the most personal relationship between you and your Father in Heaven every day. He's always there with you. I promise that NEVER changes.
He gives us what we NEED exactly when we need it. And every time we get nervous about something He's asked us to do, because He ALWAYS gets us out of our comfort zone, just means that we are growing.
I received a calling this week. I'm the new RS first councilor! Our whole RS in my singles ward was switched out, and I know it's going to be a lot to take on, but I can tell your right now, this is EXACTLY what I am needing right now to help with some of the things I've struggled with since I've been home.
He knows what we need when we need it.

This week has been good for me! My brother and sister-in-law from Georgia have been in town, so I've gotten to spend some much needed time with them:) family is forever. And I am SO proud of my family. They are the biggest proof to me, that as we turn to the Lord and always strive to put Him first, and fulfill all of our callings to the best of our ability, then He will take care of us and prosper us.

Again, let me know if there is anything I can do! I'm so grateful for the call to serve.

Heavenly Father is always there with His hand stretched out.

Love,
Megan Elise Checketts

(Niece time!!)

The Multitude of His Tender Mercies

Hello all!! :)

Oh how I love you:) I have heard great things about those in Nebraska over the last couple of weeks. I know y'all are doing incredible things!!

These last 2 weeks have been INSANE.

We've picked up another friend from the airport! Yup, Brad is home!

And I've been through the temple to see 2 of my cousins receive their endowment. That was the greatest day! My cousin got called to Nashville Tennessee :)

Had a super hilarious Valentine's Day experience! I was babysitting my niece and nephew the night before Valentine's Day. We decided to order a small papa johns pizza to share. The whole week of valentines, I had been handing out just the cute valentine cards that you get at Walmart to friends and strangers that I met, so I decided to give one to the pizza delivery person when then came. He acted really surprised and it made him smile a little brighter, so that was cool! We went on with our night, when my brother and sister-in-law got home, they said they had found flowers on the porch for me. FROM THE PIZZA GUY! Hahaha it was so funny. So needless to say I have a new friend! We went to nickelcade last night- wow has that place gone down-hill...
Anyway, my testimony got warmer that night of the tender mercies of the Lord when we try to reach out to others.

Had more tender mercies this week!! I cannot express how much I KNOW the Lord is aware of us and our situations.
I went to a 7am institute class on a day this last week. It was a good class, and then I headed to work after. I got to work pretty early, so I decided to wait a little longer in the parking lot and read some scriptures while I was there. I read for about 20 minutes then went into work. I went to go get the mail, when a familiar car parked RIGHT in front of my path! It was a friend I knew that I hadn't talked to since I got home. So we were able to catch up. And WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT??? at 8:30 on a Friday morning in the middle of Layton. And we're both from way out west. And they happened to be going to a random store RIGHT next to my brothers office. There are no coincidences. If I hadn't have taken the time right then to read scriptures, we never would have ran into each other.

Heavenly Father knows. Follow the spirit. Sometimes you follow the spirit without even realizing it. I promise that if you stick to the mission rules, and doing those things that will strengthen your faith, you won't need to worry about following the spirit, because it will come naturally. It will be a part of who you are.

I heard some news this week about some investigators and less-actives that I worked with. One of them dearly passed away this last week. How grateful I am for the plan of salvation and that we have the opportunity to share it with others. We can be there for others to help and comfort them. Following the plan of our Father in Heaven is ALWAYS a win win situation. We are blessed for helping others, and they receive help from us and we both receive feelings of peace and joy. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to know Nancy.

I'm so grateful for the positive influences that I have around me. And for your examples and all that you continue to do each day. Be positive!! BE HAPPY!!!- Sister Tourtillott and I's theme, I feel! I can't express how much it is YOUR decision to change, and yours alone. Let your mission change you. And use this time to face every fear you've ever had. You're stronger than you realize.
As president told me before I left. "Always remember that Satan has been given power to tempt you. God gave Him that power. But our Father in Heaven has GREATER power."
You can, WITH HIM, overcome anything. Don't sell yourself short. You are a child of GOD. An heir to the throne of Heaven. And so are your less-actives and investigators.

Keep going! And don't ever give yourself the option to give up. You gain the most muscle and strength, from UPHILL climbs.

-Megan

There is sunshine in my soul today:)

Hello my dear sweet missionaries!:)

I hope your week has been fantastic! God is GOOD and He loves you and is SOOO proud of you and all the sacrifices you have and are continuing to make each and every day! 

Life is good in the 801! Adjusting is getting more and more as the days go on. It was good to take some time to catch up with everyone, and I feel like this week is the start of getting everything REALLY back on track. It's still weird though.. I'm going to start meeting with this RM council thing next week. It's a group of RM's that get out and go visit people and go help teach mission prep classes and whatnot. I'm excited:)

Work is going well! I'm really casual and super fun! I'm the office manager for my brothers company and I do all sorts of random jobs.

The YSA is great! I met the Elders this last week at FHE. One of them, Elder Simpson is from North Platte, NE so that was sweet!! And I'm now friends with their investigator named JJ. JJ is sweet!!! He has a little boy and he started meeting with the missionaries because his son was really sick. His girlfriend is a less-active member, and some men from the church came over to visit her and offered to give their baby a blessing. So JJ witnessed the blessing and he said he just totally knew it was right, and that these people were completely dedicated to what they believed and he wanted that. His whole family is catholic, so he says it's REALLY hard because he has no support. But we've all become great friends with him and he's getting baptized in March. Yay!!!!! I love being a member missionary:):)

This last weekend was WAY fun!!! I took a couple of days and went up to Logan to be with (Sister) Ashley Curfew, mission friend! And it was so fun to be with her again. We basically re-lived the mission days, and it was SO great! We went to go see the Coleman's and I even backed her out of the driveway. Haha #dork:) we ended up going on a night hike. We were supposed to have a bonfire, but we couldn't find the campground. So the group of our car said a prayer that we would find it, and after a few more minutes we did! :) yay!! Heavenly Father answers prayers. 

We went to the temple too and it was the best!! Then later, I ended up running into one of my past roommates who was a big reason that I wanted to go on a mission because she is baptist and it was a total answer to prayer! #miracles!! 

It was my nephews baby blessing on Sunday, so it was so great to see the whole fam again:)

And church was wonderful!! I learned a lot. 

We talked a lot about one of my favorite talks: Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence. I love it so much! We need to choose to be confident and just make that decision in our heads and TRUST God. 

One of my favorite scriptures "many are called but few are chosen" WE CHOOSE to be chosen. WE CHOOSE how much we want to communicate with God and I know that the more we communicate with him, the better understanding we will have of His plan for us. 

We watched a video from Elder Bednar where he talked about personal revelation. He said it doesn't come like the flip of a light switch. It comes like a sunrise and often on a really foggy day. Sometimes only enough light comes that we can see only a few steps in front of us, but then we TAKE those steps and we can see a few more. We won't always see the path clearly, but Heavenly Father gives us enough to have the courage to move forward. The thing is, is that we have to keep moving. 

Oh boy have I felt that! It may seem like others receive their inspiration like the flip of a light switch. But probably more than not, it's like a sunrise on a foggy day. You aren't alone! 

It's interesting as I spent time around freshman at USU this weekend, that all most of them would ever talk about is school or dating. Haha and Curfew and I were taking about how grateful we were to serve missions and realize that there is SO much more to talk about and enjoy than just school, and dating..... Always keep up gospel conversations with people!! Because those are the most satisfying:) 

I had so many prayers answered this last week that I didn't even realize I was praying. I've realized some gifts I've been given and tried to use them to their fullest. I'm totally buying an RM planner because it's just so hard to keep track of life without them.. Hah, other planners just don't do justice!   

Anyway, It's been a great week and I hope y'all know that you're always in my prayers. Thank you for your emails and stories, they keep me going:) mission life is so much easier than real life, believe it or not, so enjoy it! And love every single one of your companions, because I miss mine SO MUCH!! 

Have a happy Valentines week!!!!! Buy all your investigators and LARCS some valentine cards:) 

I love my Savior and am so grateful for his forgiveness and patience with us. He knows how much we try. And he is pleased every time we try. I know he would stand before you today and just tell you "thank you" for all you do each day. Keep going:) 

Love,

Megan Checketts

Hello My Dear Missionaries!!

Hello there:)

I hope your week has been fantastic and FULL of miracles!!! They have not ceased, that's for sure! So keep on believing!!! 

This week has been really good for me! It's gone a lot more smooth than last week. Finally got caught up on sleep, and I am finally on a more-regular eating schedule.. haha adjusting just takes time:) 

It's been really great this week to get back to a schedule, arrange my study time, and catch up with everyone.

I actually started driving my dear bug again! That took some getting used to! She's fun.

I got a job this week too! Lucky me that I got one so soon, Heavenly Father truly blessed me on this one. It's the greatest job ever. I'm working for my brothers company at Bear Paw Products and I am the office manager! So I get to do EVERYTHING in the books. Working on spreadsheet, running to grab all the guys food, cleaning the office, organizing papers, pretty much everything that the guys don't have time to do. It's fun:) This last week, I BOUGHT CARPET…. haha random odd jobs :) it's fun!

This week seems like it's been FOREVER. I've gotten a lot done. I reported to the high council this morning about my mission, and so now all the calls to speak in sacrament are on their way! I'm excited:) 

Went to the Jazz game this last Monday with my dearies from Kearney who came to visit me, and this week, 2 more of my dear friends- Miquelle and Corey, from Kearney are in town, so I get to see more mission friends!! It's the best keeping in contact with people:)

Went to the temple twice this week… Ahhhhh the Ogden Temple is seriously the most beautiful thing I've seen since I've been back. It's incredible, and THE PARKING LOT TO THE TEMPLE IS ALWAYS PACKED!!! It was like a culture shock witnessing that. I got so excited:) 

Had my first date this week… #weird! All I can say is, good thing it was a double! haha:) 

Went to the YSA for the first time this last week. Not the same as my dear Kearney YSA, but it was fun:) 

Even had some missionary experiences this week! Trying to get my less-active friends to come to institute and whatnot. No such success yet, but that doesn't mean I'll give up:) Sometimes all you can do in the moment is just be their friend, and make sure they know you care, and that they are always welcome.

I have to say, emailing from this side of the "missionary line" is a lot less exciting.. hah. It seems like my life isn't as exciting as yours:) But that's okay! There is a time and season for everything. And I am so blessed to have witnessed Heavenly Father place everything right out in front of me this last week. It has all fallen into place. He truly does have a plan for us! 

I read Elder Godoy's talk from this last conference this last week, "God has a plan" and it truly helped me with a lot. 

The people that you are working with right now have decisions that they are making every day. And decisions determine our destiny. We need to be the light to them so that they can witness for themselves that there is a such thing as "good, better, and best" Many people THINK they have the best out there, but they just need to recognize what they are missing. You are that light to them, share it with your smile! Have Christ's image engraved on your countenance. 

I also read this last 2015 CES devotional this week that talked all about how we need to do everything right, for the right reasons.   Especially as a return missionary, it's easy to just keep doing studies because we know that is what we're supposed to do, but you have to make sure you're asking the "WHY'S" of life… "WHY am I really doing this??" We have to do them for the right reasons-- Then the true blessings will come.

God is good, He answers prayers, and He DOES have a plan-- for every single one of you, and for every single one of those you are teaching Pray to Him and figure out what His plan for them is, then help them to see and recognize that plan too. 

HE LOVES YOU, and the best way to live our lives, is to follow His plan. Let the spirit guide your decisions and surrender yourself to him. Give all our desires up, and let Him take over. Things WILL fall into place!

I'm so proud of you!! And all the work you are doing. NO EFFORT IS EVER WASTED!!!!!! I promise, you will get news throughout the rest of your life about those you are working with, and the LITTLE experience you may have now, will create a BIG difference in the end. It's true.

And of that I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

PLEASE let me know if there is anything I can do for you-- if you need anything. If you would like a letter or package, or anything of that sort, and then consider it done! 

You mean a lot to those at your home, and throughout the world. There is NO greater work than what you are doing right now. Let me know of some of your favorite experiences, and of who I can pray for. 

We'll move this work forward together!!

Love you tons!! - Megan Checketts

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Hello everyone!

One last email as Sister Checketts.... I don't even know where to begin.

This has been the most incredible 18 months of my life. I have met SO many people that have made SO MANY imprints on my heart that will NEVER leave. I have seen the gospel IN ACTION-- every day of these 18 months. I have seen people completely change their life around because they came to the realization that GOD LOVES THEM. And that is the most important thing to know and realize. I know that is the #1 thing that our Heavenly Father wants each of us to know.

 

HE LOVES YOU.

And he SHOWS you that love EVERY DAY of our lives--- just look!

 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ more than I ever, because I feel I have walked as Jesus walked. I've experienced heartache more than I ever thought possible, and joy beyond my wildest imaginations-- all because of the LOVE I have felt that He has for everyone I've had the privilege of serving.... Love is powerful.

 

It's funny, because I don't feel like I have done a ton out here.. I have seen AMAZING things come to pass, but it wasn't me... at all. I guess I have come to understand Alma's words when he says

 

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory‍ of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." (Alma 29:9)

 

I have been an INSTRUMENT, and I feel I've been changed so much because of things I've had the opportunity to WITNESS and be a part of-- but I didn't do it, IT WAS GOD.

 

I testify that He has a plan for each of you!!!!! HE KNOWS. He knows exactly what is happening and He hasn't left you alone. You can know His plan for you too, as you align ourselves with the spirit and take time to LISTEN.

 

There are so many life lessons I've learned... I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll spend the rest of my life telling the stories I have been a part of and the lessons I have been taught.

 

I'll just leave you with two scriptures that have come to mean a lot to me this last week

 

#1 Mosiah 5:12-13:

 

"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain‍ the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

 For how knoweth‍ a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

This missionary badge is going to come off tomorrow, but only from my clothing. NEVER from my heart. I KNOW my Savior more now, because I have SERVED Him. He knows our hearts, and we need to realized what it is that we desire, so they might be as His. Remember. "Satan knows your name, but calls you by your sins. And God knows your sins, but calls you by your name."

and

Alma 7:7

 

"For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time‍ is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people."

 

I know for a fact that there are "many things to come" in the future. Elder Holland always says, "the best is yet to be!". But it is my prayer that no matter what any of us have ahead of us, that we WILL remember and have our motives always centered on the thing which is of more importance than they all.

 

Our Savior is coming, and His work is and ever will be moving forward. And I say this, in the name of my beloved Savior, friend, and Brother, Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Thank you for everything!!!!!!! I'm excited to hug many of you...even TOMOROW!!! That's insane....

 

I'll let you know,

• my plane flies in at 10:30, and...
• my homecoming will be in Clinton, Utah around 2:40 THIS SUNDAY!!!
• my email address that you need to email now is meg.checketts@gmail.com

 

Have a great week!!
Forever and always

Sister Checketts

 

 

Cherish Every Moment

Bomb digity!! This week has been sweet!

 

BIGGEST MIRACLE FIRST!!!

So we've been going through our former investigator sheets this week to see if any of them are more interested now than they were in the past. There was one of this man named JOE. So we pulled up to his house during the day this last week and the back of the record says "call before trying". Sister Toutillott wanted to come back another time after we'd try to call, and I was like "no, we're already here!" So we went to go try him and his cute wife from the Philippines answered the door, let us in and told us to sit on the couch while she went to go get him. Well, we ended up sitting down with both of them for 2 hours-- literally sitting on the floor of their BEAUTIFUL home, (it was really plain and white-- reminded me of the temple) surrounding their coffee table, and went through ALL 5 of the lessons. We had explained to them that we taught 5 lessons to people and he started with "well, what is lesson one??" Then we explained pieces of the restoration, then he was all "well, what is lesson two?" And we went all through them. He is the most prepared man I have ever met!! He seemed to be teaching US the whole time- he knows so much. And his wife was so happy and agreeing with everything. It was a MIRACLE and the biggest one I have seen in a long time! We soft-set them for baptism- as they will be going in and out of town for the next few weeks and so he wants us to come back in February. He was taking notes the whole time and writing down scriptures that he wants to look up... man, it was the best.

We left that lesson, EXHAUSTED and just thinking "holy world.. did that just happen???" BEAMING from ear to ear:):)

Sadly though.... so sadly.. I won't be here to teach him :( But we invited him to the trail center on the day of departing testimonies! So that could be way cool:)

 

This week was seriously the best... they just keep getting better.

 

We had interviews with President Weston this last week.. ahhh I was just soaking it all in. That man is my favorite.. he just makes my whole day. We talked about a lot of the people Sister Tourtillott and I are working with, and got some advice on how to keep them moving forward, and then he asked how I was doing and just told me to make as many memories as I can-- and to plan for more miracles. And IT'S WORKING! I left interviews and President Weston goes "See you too soon!".. cause I have interviews again next week.

 

One of the memories this last week, was how COLD it was.... holy cow! It got down to like -30 degrees wind chill. The schools here were even canceled that day because it was super duper cold:) And then yesterday it was in the like the 20s and you would have thought it was Summer out here. It's the best:)

 

SURPRISE!!!! This last week, I got a nice surprise. We got a call from a number we didn't know and, it was NYA-- my bestie from my last area. She was in Omaha and she stopped by to see it:) Golly, that was the best thing ever to see her:) She even shared a message with US. It was so cute:)

 

We had dinner at our bishops house this week. His family totally blows me away. His 8-year old boy, the whole time at the dinner table, was quoting scriptures like nobody's business. Pretty sure this little man has a photographic memory.

 

We met with one of our less-active this week-- the one that made a goal to read the Book of Mormon, before we had even met her-- and she's been reading all the ensigns she owns too! She is soooo ready to come back, and fingers crossed and prayers said that she'll make it to church this Sunday. The less-active members we are working with-- SO MANY of them are SO CLOSE to coming back!! It's just tiny little things that get in the way

 

One of our other less-active members called us up this last week, AS we were driving to her house because we had time and we felt like stopping by *spirit* and she had just gotten into this phlebotomy class and that day was the first day. So she called us up to ask if we could pray for her and we just happened to be in front of her house. Apparently the class was SUPER intense and hard and she didn't know if she could do it. We were there to remind her of the enabling power of the atonement and the strength that comes as we do what is right.

 

We also so much progress in our investigators that have a daughter on a mission-- we did a lot of service for them this last week, and they are actually reading the Book of Mormon and conference talks.. which is HUGE for them!!! And we are seeing how the reading of the Book of Mormon is bringing them together.

 

One of our somewhat recent converts had her nonmember husband attend sacrament yesterday. That was incredible!! The whole ward was BEAMING about it!!! SHE had just had shoulder surgery this last week, and her husband, this whole time, has NEVER been a fan of the church. But yesterday, he came alone with his two kids while she is still at home recovering. I just wanted to cry, because it was SO amazing to see how much he's changed even since I first met him.

 

I had my last zone training to attend this last week. GAWL that is sad to say. It was incredible. We learned way more about REPENTENCE and how we can use the Atonement with repentance more in our lives. Me and the 3 other Elders in our zone that are leaving this transfer were all asked to bear our testimonies. It was pretty neat.

 

Yesterday, at church it was ward conference-- probably one of the most spiritual ward conferences I've ever been to. It was SO amazing. Our bishop and stake president are SO knowledgeable!! Our bishop is a scientist-- he's sweet and has the BEST conversion story!!!! I'll have to tell it to y'all someday.

 

Each day as a missionary is a super special blessing. I am so grateful for the experiences I've had and that I've made the decision to be so dedicated in writing in my journal each and every day of my mission-- because I never want to forget these days. My mission is the greatest experience of my life to date and how blessed I am to have another FULL week of clipping on that name-tag. Wearing His name, and serving as He would.

 

This next week, we are SUPER busy-- each and every day is pretty much planned to it's max already... it's going to go by so fast...... We get to see Meet the Mormons again this week with one of our potential investigators-- it's playing at the trail center! YAY.

 

Can't believe I get to see so many of you in just over a week! PLEASE turn to our Father in Heaven today, and every day. Nothing will bring you more happiness than what HE wants for you-- and the service you render to your fellow brothers and sisters.

 

I love you all! and I'm excited to hug you all!! I received my flight plans this last week and I'll just let you know that I'll be entering the SLC airport around 10am!

 

This gospel changes lives. I've seen it in others, and I've seen it in myself:) Let it change you!!

Love you so much!!!!!!!!!! I really am excited to see and talk to y'all again:) Have a splendid week, and Keep on Keepin on!!

 

Love, Sister Checketts

 

 

Pic-- Me and Grandma Carol! Our lovely investigator!!:):):)

 

SNOW!!!

Be Happy Now!

Helllooooooo there!!

It seriously seems like just yesterday I was writing y'all... these weeks are flying by. It's scaring me big time! hah:)

So this week was crazy good!! Super busy and we have more people to see/teach than ever! It's always SO GOOD to see that the area has progressed since when you first arrived. Means we're doing something right!:)

It's been FREEZING though!! Like 0 degrees--- not even counting the wind chill. YIKES. We went ice skating with the Fremont sisters last week and then after, we found a skate park covered in snow and tried to do some sweet tricks on the ramps... hah it only lasted about 5 minutes before we were frozen.

We shoveled one of our investigators drive-ways this week, and it was dangerous! hah, so they forced us inside to get some hot chocolate! YAY:) #winteradventures

 

So Monday night was so FUN!!! We had Amber- from the YW come out with us and she brought her friend Mckenzie because Mckenzie had never been out with sisters-- her ward doesn't have any. So there were 4 of us Monday night going to our appointments- I was a tad afraid we'd overwhelm some of our people, but it was a huge miracle. I love having the YW come out with us! We get to show them how fun it is to knock doors and what a party we have. We giggled SO much! We went to go try one of our Potential Investigators-- Stephanie, with them. Stephanie is a sweetie! We've never met her husband, he stays in his work room, but she has 2 boys that attend scouts. We all sat down with her and invited her to take the lessons, without hesitating she said YEAH. And then we offered our services to her because they are re-doing their whole kitchen and their main floor is all torn apart. They had drawn their Christmas tree on the wall with colored pencils- it was cute! She started crying when we offered to help because I guess her and her husband have just been so overwhelmed with all these things going on and she was feeling like they'd never get it done! She stood up and gave us all hugs! And then we gave her a Book of Mormon, and the YW were the CUTEST! They're going to be such great missionaries.

 

I'd talked to the Checketts'-- my 2nd cousins this last week, and they'd given us a few referrals for some of their friends that they used to live next to, so we had the opportunity to go meet them this week. It was PERFECT! Whenever I stop and introduce myself, the friends get so excited because they LOVE the Checketts'! One of the families let us in and we talked to them for a good 2 hours about the Plan of Salvation and a little bit of the Restoration. They had had their 19 year old daughter pass away a few years back because of a car accident, and they really appreciated our visit and asked some great questions, so we're warming up our relationship with them to see if we can teach them about the gospel that we know will answer their hardest questions.

 

We were going to teach one of our favorite LA's this last week, and when she answered the door, she told us to be quiet as we walked in, then we peeked in the living room and saw the Elders sitting on the couch teaching her dad! It was so great! The spirit was so strong as we walked in and we stood in the hallway until the elders had finished their lesson. One of the Elders ended up singing a song to her dad and it was neat to be able to hear them teach. I was blown away by the spirit that they brought and I had the confirming feeling that that is what WE do too!! Wow.  Missionaries are AWESOME, everyone!! It was just neat to be able to witness what we do-- in someone else and it hit me really hard. This work is real and I am so honored to be a part of it! Sometimes it's easy to forget how powerful and real the mantle that we carry is.

 

We got one of our LA's out of her house to eat with us, and a member family at Chick-fil-A!! I haven't eaten at Chick-fil-a FOREVER!!!!! Seriously, favorite place and to get our LA there was the best thing ever:):) It was perfect fellowshipping for her and exactly what she needed to get her out of her comfort zone and have her leave her house-- she said she rarely leaves ever since her divorce had been finalized. By golly, I love her so much <3

 

We had an INCREDIBLE lesson with one of our investigators and her husband whose daughter as actually a convert and is serving a mission. Every time we go to see them, He is usually avoiding us or not around us, and in the last 2 weeks he's come out and asked a ton of questions. I had printed off the talk "Look to God and Live" for him to read that would help answer questions and he promised us that he's read it. He actually came home late from work the night we were there, and told us "I like being around you girls, you make me feel good!" YAY! He's feelin the spirit! We know that miracles will happen with their family in the next coming weeks before their daughter returns home from her mission.

 

We did a lot of service making crafts for one of our members this week. She is opening a new store called "Things you WOOD love" Here in Elkhorn and she is also going in for shoulder surgery this next week, so we've been helping her a lot:) She's the best! And SUCH a trooper for the things she has gone through. Her husband is a nonmember, and just this last week, has changed SO MUCH!! This store has blessed their lives so much and has totally brought them together, AND he actually came into the church yesterday to pick up their daughter. THAT is a miracle! We love that family!

 

We had dinner with another one of our favorite families this week! After dinner, during our lesson, I had the hiccups really bad. We helped put away some of their Christmas stuff after the lesson and those hiccups got worse. Out of nowhere.. the mom just RAWR's in my face and scared me sooooo bad! Hahahah We laughed so hard-- and it totally cured my hiccups. MIRACLE.

 

We did weekly planning this week and as soon as we finished praying, we got a text message with a new referral on it! Kinda reminded me of the Best Two Years-- ya know when they all pray for the guy to call and then he does right then? Yeah, that happened. So we went to try this referral and this had to have been the BEST door slam in the face I've had my whole mission. It was a really nice home and we were smiling so big. We introduced ourselves and then BAM. door slam. Hahah we were like "woah....." And we walked away just laughing at how intense it was! We began wondering who it was that had referred her to us-- and my heart went out for that person that loves this lady so much, they never gives up on her. Don't give up on people!! Keep trying! Every little effort to serve and bless helps!:):)

 

One of our other favorite members had her baby girl this last week!! We got to go to the hospital last night and sing to them. Oh boy.. babies are the cutest!!! That was a great time:)

 

Our investigator- Amanda came to church with her 2 boys yesterday! Her LA fiancé didn't come, but we know he'll get there! We love Amanda, and we're working on re-setting her for baptism now that her fiancé is home.:) It was so great to see her there-- finally! She's just been waiting for that extra help to get the boys all ready and such. That was amazing.

 

And yesterday, we got to help out in primary!! YAY! It's been soooo long since I've been in primary!! I love those little kids... oh my word, they just melt your heart.

 

Last night, we went to go see our LA, Sharon and had the neatest experience. Sharon is in a nursing home, and she absolutely HATES it. She said she feels like she is in prison and feels like they are just leaving her to die there. Tears filled her eyes when she said "I don't want to die, I'm scared to die!" Now, Sharon has the spunkiest personality!! And she just hasn't been herself at all lately-- it breaks my heart. Sister Tourtillott was able to share so many things with her that was exactly what she needed and then I had the opportunity to testify of exactly the thing that I have been focusing hard on lately-- and that is being grateful and being yourself NO MATTER THE SURROUNDINGS. There is always going to be things to complain about in life. And there are always going to be people that you just simply can't please all of them, so I've been trying my hardest lately to stop stressing about all these little things, and just BE MYSELF. Be happy, because that's what Heavenly Father wants for us. He wants you HAPPY:):) I read in the scriptures today in one of my favorite chapters:

Mormon 9:14

"And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still."

We can't simply WAIT for some specific thing to happen and "THEN we will be happy". We need to choose to be happy now. If we don't do it now-- then nothing is going to change when that specific thing DOES happen.

We talked to Sharon about finding things to be grateful for. About praying and asking God what the reason is that he has placed her in this home, and to seek out those people that he sent HER there to touch because we are sure that there is someone else in that center that is feeling the exact same way she does, and that they can help each other.

We can all help each other. EVERY trial and hard thing we go through, is meant so that we can learn and grow and then reach out to help others. Wherever you are right now, you can help someone else.

 

Anyway... kinda a jumble of thoughts, but good stuff!

I wish you all the best week ever! Hope those new year resolutions are still going strong and didn't just stop at day 3 ;)

 

It's one of the YW's birthdays today-- so we're going to sew some skirts with her and celebrate! YAY! So got to go-- got a party to get to:) Love you!

Love, Sister Checketts