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