Reconoce quién eres y actúa como debes

Hola Todos!

This week has been fantastic!

This morning, we received our transfer information. Hermana Gibson and I will be staying here in Lockhart for this next transfer. I am so excited. Lockhart has become one of my favorite areas. I love the people here so much, and have learned so much from them.

David is doing so great. He is still reading the Book of Mormon-- he started Mosiah the other day--and he is participating more and more in our Sunday classes. He loves the gospel, and loves everything that he has learned.

Tracy is doing well too. As of right now, she no longer has a date for the 13th of February, because she has some habits that she wants and needs to quit, but doesn't think she can do it before then. She still wants to be baptized, and wants to continue coming to church and meeting with us. She has such a sweet spirit, and loves learning. 

This last week, President Slaughter invited us to study in depth the Missionary Handbook. I have personally LOVED this study so much, and have learned even more. I have seen how much of the Missionary Handbook has to do with obedience. Really, all of it does. One of the phrases President uses all the time, which really is the underlying principle, is "Know who you are , and act accordingly." If we do this, there will be no misunderstandings about rules or standards. As we learn and know who we are, we begin to see a greater, grander perspective. We understand that we have commandments for a reason--that God loves us and wants to protect us. As we understand this, we act accordingly: We keep the commandments because we love God, not because we fear punishment or simply want the blessing attached. 

I know who I am--I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me, and I love Him. I am a servant of the Lord, called by Him and assigned to serve here, in Lockhart, TX. Because I know this, I will continually strive to act accordingly.

I love you all. Have a most wonderful week!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

​The Page family has a couple of donkeys. This is Eeyore. 

Over the course of my mission, I have kept track of the companions I have had and the areas,and zones I have been in....Now it is all filled in!

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All In!

Hola Todos!

This week was so great! For starters, David got baptized and confirmed! He is so happy, and feels so much peace about his decision. 

Saturday was a crazy day, but so great. Sister Whitman's daughter was baptized before David, and so the members of our branch were there for both baptism services. Everything worked out so well, and flowed so smoothly. David was so happy. He chose who he wanted to speak at his baptism, and they did such a wonderful job. Brother Simmons spoke of how the gate to return back to our Heavenly Father is repentance and baptism. He compared it to his brother's land. If you want to get onto his property, you have to go through the gate. If you want to go see the cows, you need to go through that gate. Same with the horses or goats. If we want to get back to our Heavenly Father, we must go through the gate he has shown. 

Ruby, one of our awesome members who has been helping us teach David since the beginning, spoke about how the Holy Ghost will help him in his life. She talked about the comfort and love she has felt through Him. She bore the sweetest testimony of how happy the gospel makes her. (She is preparing to serve a mission, and is already such a powerful missionary)

The rest of this week was so wonderful.

I have seen, so many times over my mission, the hand of the Lord guiding us as we do His work. I know I have been sent by Him to teach repentance and to baptize converts. This is why I am here! I know I have been called of God through prophecy and revelation. There is nothing I would rather be doing right now in my life. I cannot imagine what my future, the future of my family would have been like if I had not chosen to serve a mission. I don't think it would have been a horrible life. But my life has been changed so much from the things I have learned, the people I have met, and the experiences I have had. I love this gospel so much, and I am so grateful for this time I have to be completely devoted to the Lord and His work. 

I love you all! 

All in!

-- 

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

Here's David with Brother Briggs and Brother Gutierrez, who baptized him.

These are the clothes Sister Kimble made for him. 

The pants were a little long, but it worked, and he likes them. 

He says they'll keep his feet warm. He's so great!

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2 Timothy 4:6-7

Hola Todos!

My goodness. This week has been so wonderful! Sister Gibson and I have seen so many miracles here in the Lockhart branch. 

David will be getting baptized this Saturday! He is so excited. A little nervous, he says, but confident in what he has chosen to do. He has seen a change in his life from following the commandments and doing what is right. It has been amazing to see this change in him. He is more confident, he feels more of the love of the Lord, and he knows what he should do. 

Tracy committed to be baptized on the 13th of February. We are so excited for her! She is such a sweetheart. She recognizes all the blessings she has received from coming to church and learning more. 

A couple of weeks ago, we met with Juliana and her husband Richard. (She is a member, he is not... not yet anyway). We read in the Book of Mormon with them, and invited them to read the next chapter. This past Friday, we got a call from Juliana, and she told us she and Richard have been reading every night together, and that he wants to learn more! They are the sweetest couple.

This Church is true, my friends! I know it with all my heart. It is Christ's church. He guides us through living Prophets and Apostles. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much, and wants all of us, His children, to return to Him. We all have to make the decision to follow His counsel. It is our choice. I have made my choice, and I shall never look back. I am here on God's side. I will fight to the end. 

A short while ago, I read a scripture that describes how I feel: 2 Timothy 4:6-7

"6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

I still have the rest of my life ahead of me, but I will stay converted. I will not be shaken.

I love you all! 

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

Miracles All Around!

Hola Todos!

This week has been so amazing! We have met so many wonderful people, and so many investigators are progressing! What a week!

First off, David is getting baptized on the 23rd!!! We are so excited for him. He is super excited too. Last night during our lesson, he told us that he had called his siblings and told them he was going to get baptized, and they said if he did, they wouldn't have anything to do with him. 

As he told us, he was tearing up, and said he didn't know what to do. He said he didn't want to disappoint us, we told him that wasn't what was important-that it is a decision between him and God. 

Hermana Ramirez was with us, and she bore a powerful testimony of the importance of baptism. David told us he knows it is all true-the Book of Mormon, the Church, that he should be baptized.. he just didn't want to lose his family. He isn't dependent on them financially or anything, but that is still a hard decision.

Hermana Ramirez talked about how it is his decision and no one else's. He recognizes all the love and fellowship the branch gives him, and knows he has lots of friends who love him. He ended up deciding to still be baptized. We are so proud of him. That would be such a hard decision to make! But he knows what is true, and wants to follow the Lord. So. He will be baptized on the 23rd! We are so excited for him. 

Next milagro:

Thursday night, we met with the CUTEST family. Barbara, Xavier, and London. Rewind to Christmas night: we went caroling with the Branch, and went to the Hennans. They live across from Barbara. Xavier came out while we were singing to the Hennans, and called his grandma, Barbara out to hear us too. We sang for them, and after, Hna Gibson and I talked with her for a bit, and gave her a card with our number on it. 

We tried going by a few days later, and no one answered. A couple days later, no one answered. Then, we went by on Thursday night, and THEY WERE HOME!!! We sat down and began talking with Barbara, and before we even started talking about the Restoration, she said she wanted to come to church with us on Sunday! Then, as we were teaching them about the Restoration of the priesthood, we invited the three of them to be baptized on the 13th of February. They said yes, but then Xavier says: "But Grandma. We've already been baptized." (we hear this a lot. ... and we were a little nervous for the response)  Barbara said, "Well, yes, I know. But we need to be baptized by this power." ... uh. Yes! That's right! It was so wonderful. She understands the need to be baptized by this power. How awesome is that? At the end of the lesson, she said she was excited for church and for the 13th. (people hardly ever remember their baptismal dates..She is just so great!!). Barbara is the cutest lady ever. Xavier is her grandson, he is in High School. London is 8 and is the sweetest little girl ever. 

They didn't end up coming to church, but we think it was because Sunday was Barbara's birthday. But, we have an appointment with them tonight. They are such a wonderful family. Barbara knows what we share is true and good. She told us she would have a list of people for us to go by and share it with. Wow. They are so amazing!

This week, we also had exchanges. Sister Espinoza came with me to Lockhart (one of her previous areas) and Hermana Gibson went to Riverside (her very first area) with Hermana Collier. --Side note, we have the best Sister Training Leaders. They are such wonderful Sisters who know how to listen to and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It truly is a blessing to have them as our leaders. 

Exchanges were amazing! I learned so much from Sister Espinoza. She is such an amazing leader, and has so much love for the Lord and His work. It was such a privilege to work with her.

This work truly is the Lord's work. He is at the helm and is guiding us to those whom He has prepared! I know this to be true with all my heart. I love being a missionary, and will forever be one!

I love you all!  ¡Que tengan una buena semana!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

Exchanges with Sister Espinoza 

(Don't judge our squinty-eyed smiles.. The sun was in our eyes)

Black's BBQ!! Super yummy. 

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New Purpose Statement

I can't believe I forgot to include this! 

In our mission, we have a purpose statement. Our old one went like this:

"I have been called of Jesus Christ, through inspiration, to serve in the Texas San Antonio Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I will boldly invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

I will stand for truth and return with honor.

'Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have eternal life.'

'He aquí, soy discípulo de Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios. He sido llamado por él para declarar su palabra entre los de su pueblo, a fin de que alcancen la vida eterna.'

Every Sister, every Elder, every month"

President Slaughter sent the new one in his email today. It helps us see our purpose as missionaries even more clearly.

"I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ,

called of Him through prophecy and revelation,

and assigned to serve in the Texas San Antonio Mission.

I have been sent to teach repentance and baptize converts.

This is who I am and this is why I am here!

I invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

My decision has been made. I've put my hand to the plough. I've crossed the line.

So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every Sister, every Elder, all in!"

This is who I am. I have been called and set apart to serve Him. I hope to be able to live up to this expectation and purpose, so there is no doubt in anyone's eyes that I know who I am and that I act accordingly.

I love you all!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

A Brand New Year!

Hello!

Wow. I cannot believe that it is already 2016. It feels so unreal almost. I hope you all had a safe and fun New Years. 

Our investigators are doing so well. David, Tracy, and Nikki all came to church. They are all doing so great! David is still planning to be baptized on the 23rd of this month. He is excited, and loves learning. He participates in class at church, and always has great questions.

Tracy is doing amazingly well! She loves coming to church, and feels a difference when she comes to ours, and has noticed things in her life going better. In our lesson with her last week, we talked about the Plan of Salvation, and she really liked that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is what helps us through life. She has so much faith in Jesus Christ, and wants to do what she needs to in order to follow Him. 

Nikki and John are fantastic! They are still waiting to hear back about some things, but are still working toward being ready for Nikki's baptism. She is so great, and has changed things in her life so she can follow the commandments and receive the blessings God has for her. 

I love this branch so much. The members here are all so sweet and loving, and want to do all they can to help strengthen new members and to share the gospel with all those around them.

--

This last week here in the mission, we have studied The Doctrine of Christ. President Slaughter encouraged us to study a couple conference talks as well as a few chapters in the Book of Mormon, in order to help us understand and be able to teach clearly The Doctrine of Christ. Well, what is the Doctrine of Christ? Primary age children learn and recite it when they learn the 4th Article of Faith: 

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. It is simple, it is understandable. It is what will help us return to our Father in Heaven. I know this doctrine is pure. God is our loving Father in Heaven, and through His chosen servants, He has given us the knowledge we need in order to progress toward life eternal.

I love you all! Have a most amazing week!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

It's A Christmas Miracle!

Hello everyone! I hope y'all's Christmas was FANTASTIC! I just have to say. Christmases on the mission are my favorite. There are so many wonderful miracles that we get to witness or be apart of. I love this time of year! 

This last week, we have seen so many wonderful Christmas miracles.

So last week, we had our Branch Christmas Party. Sister Fernandez had invited one of her friends, Tracy, to come. Tracy also came to church the next day, and Christmas Eve, we stopped by her house to wish her a Merry Christmas, and she invited us in. We talked about how God is always there for us, and how He leads us to the people and things we need in order to feel His love and to be on the right path back to Him. She was so thankful that Sister Fernandez invited her to church, and loved it so much. Yesterday, she came again, and said she loved it, and that she wants to keep coming. We had dinner with Sister Fernandez and she had invited Tracy to come over too. We had a lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel, and Tracy completely understood that there was an Apostasy. She said she has felt that way too--searching high and low for the truth, but not being able to find it yet. She said she feels so good every time she meets with us and comes to the church. She told us she wants to learn more before she will be baptized, because she wants to be ready. We are so excited for her. She is so prepared, and wants to be a part of the truth.

Last night, we had a lesson with Nikki and John and their family. They are doing so great! We reviewed the Word of Wisdom with them, and Nikki told us she hadn't drunk coffee for 3 days! She wants to be baptized, and is doing everything in her power to prepare herself for it. We are so excited. She has seen a change in her life from living the commandments, and she is excited for baptism. 

Also, yesterday, we were going by some people we hadn't been able to contact for a while, Alta and Jorge. It had been about a month or so since we had been able to see them, but we had a feeling to go by yesterday, and they were both home! How wonderful! We shared the video "A Savior is Born" with them, and they loved it. They had missed us coming by, and wanted us to come by again. They even invited us over for dinner on Friday! 

David is doing great! We had a Family Home Evening with him and the Page family. It was great fun! We talked about baptism and confirmation, the promises we make,  and the blessings that come from keeping those promises. David was excited and really understood it. He is excited to get baptized coming up here soon. He loves the church and the gospel, and loves learning more and more. He is still reading in the Book of Mormon every day and loves it. 

Christmas night, we went caroling with some members of our branch. It was really special to see those we went to have their evenings brightened by Christmas Carols. This time of year is so wonderful. But the part I love most is that it doesn't have to only be during the month of December. We can have the Spirit of Christ with us throughout the year. We can spread the joy we feel from living the Restored Gospel with those around us during any other time. I think that has been something I have really learned from being a full-time missionary. As a missionary, all your thoughts, actions, words, and sometimes even dreams are focused on helping others come unto Christ through the principles and ordinances found in His Restored Gospel. It has helped me understand that you don't have to wait until a certain time of year to share the Gospel with those around you. When I return home from my full-time mission, I still plan to talk to all those around me, to declare the "good tidings of great joy"that have blessed my life so much. 

I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I trust them and their will. I am all-in in their work.

I love you all! Have a safe and Happy New Year!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

¡Feliz Navidad!

Goodness. This week has been so wonderful! Every minute of my mission has been. This last week was transfers, and Sister McBride left Lockhart for the Border. I am still here in Lockhart, and Hermana Gibson is my new companion! I love her so much. She came into the mission just after me, and we have had many of the same companions. I have heard so much from her from so many people. 

Thursday was so wonderful! We had a lesson with Carol and Daniel, two people we met a couple weeks ago. We were a little late for the lesson, and Carol told us she thought we weren't going to come, but was so excited that we showed up. We talked with them about the Restoration, and they totally understood.  They understood that only God can give His power to people, and only through the power of God can we be baptized and receive other ordinances. Wow. It was such a powerful lesson. Hermana Gibson is such a powerful teacher, and she lives her testimony. We invited them to be baptized, and they both said yes. Daniel started tearing up, and said he felt warm and peaceful inside his heart. It was so sweet! We are so excited for them.

Other news, David is back in town! He was gone visiting some family for a while, and wasn't going to be back until January, but texted us on Saturday letting us know he was back in town. We had a lesson with him yesterday, and he told us he had been thinking. He said, "I still want to be baptized. I have some family stuff I need to deal with first, but I really do want to get baptized. I was thinking for a date, the 7th of February. It's right before my birthday. Can we do that?" ...uhh.. Yes! Yes we can! We talked about how we want to go through the lessons with him again, to help him more fully understand, which he is excited to do. He loves the Gospel so much, and wants to do what is right. It has been kind of hard for him to do both religion and deal with family problems, but we are trying to help him understand the relief and peace that comes from putting our life in line with the Savior's teachings.

I know God love us so much. I know Jesus is the Christ, and that through Him, we are saved. Without Him, we are lost, fallen, and sinful. But through Him, we can overcome our sinful nature, and become the Sons and Daughters of God that we were meant to be. I love my Savior, and will forever be grateful for the wonderful blessings I have received in my life because of His life, His death, and His resurrection.

Merry Christmas!!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

Merry Christmas!!

Hello!

This week has been so wonderful! So full of miracles. We found 10 new investigators this week... which is a first for us! They are all pretty interested people, too. Not just "...yeah sure, come back" people,  but truly interested and searching for the truth. 

We have also invited more people to be baptized, and many have said yes! Nikki, one of our investigators whom with we have been meeting for a while, accepted to be baptized, as well as Lupe, and Charles--other people we met with this week. I am so excited for the work here in Lockhart! I love it. I know there are people prepared here. I know there are people searching for the truth, peace, and hope that the Restored Gospel brings.

We also had the opportunity to hear from Elder and Sister Pino. They taught us about humility and focusing on our purpose. Part of what I enjoyed most was that they talked in Spanish with English translation by some of the other missionaries. It was amazing to see them speak in their native language, their eyes bright with their testimonies of the gospel. 

I am so thankful for the gifts I have been given by my Father in Heaven--for my parents, for my family, for the experience it has been to be a missionary and to help others feel of the love He has for them. I am grateful for my weaknesses, for through them, I draw closer to the Lord, and He helps make them strengths. 

I feel so privileged to be a missionary and have all these opportunities to sit at the feet of the Lord's chosen servants. So far on my mission, I have had the opportunity to hear from the following: Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Piper, Elder Corbridge, (then Elder, now President) Russell M. Nelson, Elder Pino, and a couple others whose names I am forgetting.... But my goodness! I feel so blessed. I can feel their testimony so strongly just when they walk into the room. I KNOW they are men called of God. I KNOW they are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. I feel so privileged to have a mission president who loves the Lord and seeks to follow the will of the Lord. I KNOW he was called by God.  I know we are led by a  Prophet, a living, breathing Prophet, even Thomas S. Monson. He was called by the Lord. We can trust him; he will never lead us astray.

I love you all so much. I am grateful, most of all, for my Savior. I know without Him, I am nothing. He has provided us with an escape. Through Him, we can be reconciled with God, and will be able to return to live in His presence. I would hope we would each take a few moments this Christmas season to pause and remember Him even more. I love you! Merry Christmas!

--

Hermana Dean

megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ

The Hernandez Perez Family

Sisters Selfie with Hermanas Ali, Vorwaller, Bay, McBride, Gonzales, Boren, & Dean

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A Savior Is Born

Hello all! 

This week has been so wonderful. I truly love every moment of my mission.

This week, we have the wonderful opportunity to attend a conference with Elder Pino of the 70. I am so excited for this spiritual feast.

Lockhart is such a wonderful area. We have so many wonderful people that we are teaching.

Rhonda came to church!!! It has been the hardest thing to get ahold of her for the last couple weeks. She is struggling right now because of some family issues she has to deal with, but she came to church yesterday, and loved it. It was super cute, because there were a lot of members that thought she was a member too. She just blended right in with everyone. Rhonda is doing great. We have an appointment with her on Tuesday, which will be great. I love her so much, and am excited to help her see and receive the relief that comes when we take Christ's yoke upon us.

Every year, on the first weekend of December, Lockhart has a festival put on by the library. They call it "A Dicken's Christmas in Lockhart" or "Dicken's on the Square". It is a HUGE festival with booths, crafts, you name it. And our branch, for the last couple years has done free crafts for the kids. Most other things at the festival cost money. But the crafts we do are free, and are super cute. They made angel ornaments, Christmas tree ornaments and reindeer necklaces. It was the cutest thing! I want to come back for next year so I can see the rest of the festival.

The branch here also purchased a set of bicycles for us to keep in Gonzales. We have our own bikes we use in Lockhart, and our bike rack is not very good, so we don't take them to other cities. And when we get rides from members, they usually don't have a way to transport our bikes either. So, the branch purchased some new bikes for us to keep in Gonzales for when we work out there. And they are great! We get to talk to so many more people than we would just walking around. I love this branch so much!

We have had many opportunities to share the new church video, "A Savior Is Born" with many people. They all love it, and it really brings the spirit. I hope you have all watched it, and have some people in mind with whom you will share it. 

Like I said in the beginning, I love every minute of my mission. It is the best! I would never trade these experiences for anything. I love you all! I hope you have a safe and wonderful Christmas season. As many of the Texans we meet on a daily basis say: "Y'all be blessed!"

Hermana Dean 

Megan.dean@myldsmail.net

http://www.mormon.org/me/C0MJ