Today at 12:42 PM
So I am trying really hard not to cry as I write this. As excited as I
am to see everyone, it's quite bittersweet to be writing my last
blogpost/letter. But no worries, there were too many remarkable things
that happened this week for me to spend much more time being mushy
gushy.
Surprise suprise, I caught another bug. Might of been the flu, idk.
But I was in bed all day Wednesday. If anything it was kind of nice
being "normal sick" and expected seeing how I get sick EVERYTIME i am
about to be transferred, and well tomorrow is the biggest transfer of
my life!! I felt a sore throat coming on Monday night, and my
companion and district leader were both just recovered from a horrible
cold. I knew where it was going and so I prayed really hard that it
would just hold off until after my temple trip and departing
interview, and it did :)....and then I came home and went to bed and
didn't get out of it till 24 hours later.
So the temple trip was incredible. We all got to ride the subway in
from queens, and I got to do my favorite thing, talk to people on the
subway. Met people from all over the world, Russia, Bangladesh,
Columbia, Gianna, and the Bronx. Met a lot of neat people, and got to
share my testimony. Doesn't get much better than that! Had to work on
not crying while I was talking to one man because I realized it was
probably my last train fearless with a name tag on. What can I say?
I'm of the sentimental sort.
As missionaries we only get to go to the temple and participate Ina
session a few times a year. The temple is different from a church
building. Everyone who enters in has to prepare themselves mentally,
spiritually and in the way they live in their lives. This is because
it is the Lord's house, and we go to commune with him and make sacred
covenants and perform sacred ordinances that are necessary to return
back to him. One reason that I try so hard to be obedient and follow
the commandments is so I can always be found worthy and prepared to
enter into the temple. It really is a window to heaven, and who
wouldn't want to go there? Thankfully there is something called mercy
that allows me to be imperfect and still go and draw strength from it.
Before we went, my mission president encouraged each of us to take
time while in the temple and ask god for his acceptance of your
mission. As part of our accountability to him and an opportunity for
us to feel what our missions meant to him. I was a little nervous as I
always am, but I also knew I had been looking forward to this moment
for a really long time. As I sat down, I began to ponder and think
back over my mission (the good, the bad and the ugy). The night
before, I myself had accepted my mission and came to the temple with
the attitude "it is what it is" and "I am who I am" I started to
think about my life as I made the decision to go, about how I felt as
I left, and what I expected. I thought of the MTC, first meeting my
amazing trainer Sister Simplicio, my first fearless, learning Spanish.
It was almost like I was reporting my mission to him. I didnt get very
far at all, in fact only till about hurricane sandy when all of the
sudden I was interrupted by the sweetest and most incredible and
powerful feeling that filled my whole soul. The feeling continued and
My mind was then guided through the rest of my mission, through all my
companions, through training, double training, being sister training
leader. I thought of all the members and investigators and people I
had worked with. I took a moment to open my eyes only to realize I
couldn't see through my tears, and my sleeves and lap was wet. I knew
at that moment what my mission president had said was true, that there
really is no better feeling in this world than "Well done my good and
faithful servant." It truly was worth every effort and hard experience
to enjoy that moment in the temple, and there is a peace that has
stayed with me ever since.
Almost every force of opposition tried to keep us from having a
baptism this week. It seemed every night there was something going
wrong. As we said our companionship prayer the night before, we kind
of joked as we prayed that we just expected the next morning to be
stressful and just prayed he would help us navigate through it and
that it would still happen. Our suspicions were true and almost
everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but we made it through.
And though the baptism was stripped of what traditionally makes for a
successful baptism, it was one of the most powerful ones I have
attended, and by the end, the rest didn't seem that important. She
entered into that sacred covenant, and her 16 year old grandson was
the one who baptized her. 4 generations of that family ware now
represented in the church and though not very many people were able to
make it, it was apparent that angels were filling in the empty chairs
and rejoicing in Graciela and her desire to follow Jesus Christ. The
spirit was so strong, and it was absolutely perfect. Also we had the
font clean, full, and warm for them :)
Maybe I will write another post after I come come, maybe not, but if
not I want to close with my testimony that I believe and know that God
lives. And he answers prayers. 3 weeks ago I prayed that I would be
able to finish my mission, get off of all my nasty medications, and
baptize before I went home. At the time it all seemed impossible, but
I can now testify and stand witness that all three have come to pass.
It is nothing short of a miracle. I know Joseph smith was a prophet of God
and that the Book of Mormon is true. Everyone is invited to come, see,
read and pray to know if these bold declarations are true. I know God
loves us and that he sent me on a mission because he loves me and saw
in me what I couldn't see. I am forever changed by the atonement of
Jesus Christ and my experiences I have had on my mission. I also am
forever changing. The work must go forth, this indeed is The
Hastening, and I may be able to take my name tag off and be realeased
from my calling as a missionary, but that doesn't mean I am leaving
the work. I know my work on this earth is just beginning and I am
excited for the opportunities ahead and future chapters.
I also love this city and the people here with all my heart. I really
will miss them, I feel I already do and know a big chunk of my heart
will be left here because of it. I love my Savior and it has been
nothing but an absolute privilege to not only serve Him but serve
right beside him in His glorious work of bringing forth the immorality
and eternal life of men. How great has been my calling, how
heart-breaking it is to leave it.
Me regret my mission and what has happened here? FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!
Love you all, thank you for your support.
See ya soon!
Forever and Always,
am to see everyone, it's quite bittersweet to be writing my last
blogpost/letter. But no worries, there were too many remarkable things
that happened this week for me to spend much more time being mushy
gushy.
Surprise suprise, I caught another bug. Might of been the flu, idk.
But I was in bed all day Wednesday. If anything it was kind of nice
being "normal sick" and expected seeing how I get sick EVERYTIME i am
about to be transferred, and well tomorrow is the biggest transfer of
my life!! I felt a sore throat coming on Monday night, and my
companion and district leader were both just recovered from a horrible
cold. I knew where it was going and so I prayed really hard that it
would just hold off until after my temple trip and departing
interview, and it did :)....and then I came home and went to bed and
didn't get out of it till 24 hours later.
So the temple trip was incredible. We all got to ride the subway in
from queens, and I got to do my favorite thing, talk to people on the
subway. Met people from all over the world, Russia, Bangladesh,
Columbia, Gianna, and the Bronx. Met a lot of neat people, and got to
share my testimony. Doesn't get much better than that! Had to work on
not crying while I was talking to one man because I realized it was
probably my last train fearless with a name tag on. What can I say?
I'm of the sentimental sort.
As missionaries we only get to go to the temple and participate Ina
session a few times a year. The temple is different from a church
building. Everyone who enters in has to prepare themselves mentally,
spiritually and in the way they live in their lives. This is because
it is the Lord's house, and we go to commune with him and make sacred
covenants and perform sacred ordinances that are necessary to return
back to him. One reason that I try so hard to be obedient and follow
the commandments is so I can always be found worthy and prepared to
enter into the temple. It really is a window to heaven, and who
wouldn't want to go there? Thankfully there is something called mercy
that allows me to be imperfect and still go and draw strength from it.
Before we went, my mission president encouraged each of us to take
time while in the temple and ask god for his acceptance of your
mission. As part of our accountability to him and an opportunity for
us to feel what our missions meant to him. I was a little nervous as I
always am, but I also knew I had been looking forward to this moment
for a really long time. As I sat down, I began to ponder and think
back over my mission (the good, the bad and the ugy). The night
before, I myself had accepted my mission and came to the temple with
the attitude "it is what it is" and "I am who I am" I started to
think about my life as I made the decision to go, about how I felt as
I left, and what I expected. I thought of the MTC, first meeting my
amazing trainer Sister Simplicio, my first fearless, learning Spanish.
It was almost like I was reporting my mission to him. I didnt get very
far at all, in fact only till about hurricane sandy when all of the
sudden I was interrupted by the sweetest and most incredible and
powerful feeling that filled my whole soul. The feeling continued and
My mind was then guided through the rest of my mission, through all my
companions, through training, double training, being sister training
leader. I thought of all the members and investigators and people I
had worked with. I took a moment to open my eyes only to realize I
couldn't see through my tears, and my sleeves and lap was wet. I knew
at that moment what my mission president had said was true, that there
really is no better feeling in this world than "Well done my good and
faithful servant." It truly was worth every effort and hard experience
to enjoy that moment in the temple, and there is a peace that has
stayed with me ever since.
Almost every force of opposition tried to keep us from having a
baptism this week. It seemed every night there was something going
wrong. As we said our companionship prayer the night before, we kind
of joked as we prayed that we just expected the next morning to be
stressful and just prayed he would help us navigate through it and
that it would still happen. Our suspicions were true and almost
everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but we made it through.
And though the baptism was stripped of what traditionally makes for a
successful baptism, it was one of the most powerful ones I have
attended, and by the end, the rest didn't seem that important. She
entered into that sacred covenant, and her 16 year old grandson was
the one who baptized her. 4 generations of that family ware now
represented in the church and though not very many people were able to
make it, it was apparent that angels were filling in the empty chairs
and rejoicing in Graciela and her desire to follow Jesus Christ. The
spirit was so strong, and it was absolutely perfect. Also we had the
font clean, full, and warm for them :)
Maybe I will write another post after I come come, maybe not, but if
not I want to close with my testimony that I believe and know that God
lives. And he answers prayers. 3 weeks ago I prayed that I would be
able to finish my mission, get off of all my nasty medications, and
baptize before I went home. At the time it all seemed impossible, but
I can now testify and stand witness that all three have come to pass.
It is nothing short of a miracle. I know Joseph smith was a prophet of God
and that the Book of Mormon is true. Everyone is invited to come, see,
read and pray to know if these bold declarations are true. I know God
loves us and that he sent me on a mission because he loves me and saw
in me what I couldn't see. I am forever changed by the atonement of
Jesus Christ and my experiences I have had on my mission. I also am
forever changing. The work must go forth, this indeed is The
Hastening, and I may be able to take my name tag off and be realeased
from my calling as a missionary, but that doesn't mean I am leaving
the work. I know my work on this earth is just beginning and I am
excited for the opportunities ahead and future chapters.
I also love this city and the people here with all my heart. I really
will miss them, I feel I already do and know a big chunk of my heart
will be left here because of it. I love my Savior and it has been
nothing but an absolute privilege to not only serve Him but serve
right beside him in His glorious work of bringing forth the immorality
and eternal life of men. How great has been my calling, how
heart-breaking it is to leave it.
Me regret my mission and what has happened here? FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!
Love you all, thank you for your support.
See ya soon!
Forever and Always,
Hermana Megan Chipman
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
 |
 |
| Last NY hotdog |
 |
| Temple trip with President & Sister Calderwood |
