I've lived a pretty exciting life in the way of medical history. At age 11 I was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome (which I had since about age 4) and lactose intolerance.
And on March 15, 2019, I was diagnosed with Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). EoE is an allergy that affects the esophagus and is characterized by white blood cells called eosinophils that build up in my esophagus. If left untreated it could eventually build up to the point where it's hard for me to swallow or could cause choking. Generally people with EoE may have allergies to gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, eggs, and more. We believe I have a gluten and dairy allergy. What does this mean for me? A diet with no gluten and no dairy that at times feels very vegan since I can't have dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream, most chocolates, etc.). However, my dad is going to trademark the term "megan" since I can still eat meat and eggs (it was between that and "megetarian"). The doctors and nurses I've seen so far believe my cyclic vomiting may have been a manifestation of EoE. This will be a roller coaster as I learn how to manage this disease, prepare for a mission, and just continue with my life.
The beginning of a new chapter.
When I was in Primary I remember learning about the importance of missionary work. Since a very young age I knew that serving a mission was something I planned on. I also remember the day I was told that it wasn’t required for girls to serve missions. Pretty sure it was Sam A. that told me that in primary one day. I gave him a look like of course girls are supposed to go on missions. Duh! And imagine my surprise when I found out not only is it not as common for girls to go on missions, they’re only gone for 18 months! I was really disappointed to say the least.
My great grandpa that we all called “Grandpa Pop” had family that was Southern Baptist. His relatives were determined that he would grow up to be a pastor and because of the pressure to follow that path, he decided he didn’t want anything to do with religion. Pop served in the Navy during World War II. He watched many friends and compatriots die or get injured, and was therefore very decidedly atheist because he thought that if there was a God, how could God let such bad things happen to good people?
My Grandma Shauna is my mom’s mom and Grandpa Pop’s daughter; she was not raised religiously. It just wasn’t something that was ever brought up. Her first interactions with the Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints] were actually fairly negative (but I won’t go into that story). Grandma Shauna worked at the Salt Lake Board of Education and one of her coworkers was a returned missionary. This lady invited my grandma to the Visitor’s Center at Temple Square and my grandma agreed to go and had a good time.
It wasn’t until my grandma started dating my grandpa that she started taking missionary discussions because he was a returned missionary and wouldn’t marry anyone unless they were a member of the church.
Grandma loved my grandpa’s step mom, LaMona. One day they were talking and LaMona told my grandma that "Living this religion is a wonderful way to raise a family." So grandma decided “Why not?” and was baptized. As I was asking my grandma about her experiences, she told me that in the beginning she didn’t have a testimony of the church but rather a testimony of the person that my grandpa’s stepmother was.
As my grandma received a calling in the primary, she gained a testimony of the gospel and it continued to grow as she taught the children, and as she had more callings and has made her the person she is today, with one of the strongest, most unshakeable testimonies I have seen and have been privileged to learn from.
When my Great Grandma Shirley passed away in 2007, my Grandpa Pop started hoping for more than just this life because he couldn't believe that that was the end, that he would never see her again.
I want to be a missionary because I love God and I want others to create and strengthen their relationships with Him. As President Dallin H Oaks said, “we are a missionary people. We are sometimes asked why we send missionaries to so many nations, even among Christian populations. We receive the same question about why we give many millions of dollars of humanitarian aid to persons who are not members of our Church and why we do not link this aid to our missionary efforts. We do this because we esteem all mortals as children of God—our brothers and sisters—and we want to share our spiritual and temporal abundance with everyone.”
As a part of my personal missionary preparation, you could include reading and studying the Book of Mormon, something that started in the 8th grade with Book of Mormon March Madness and continued with seminary in 9th grade. Since I started seminary, I have kept a mostly consistent habit of scripture reading in the morning and this has helped me in many ways. A lot of the time I don’t really notice the difference but what I have picked up on is the mornings that I fall asleep during my readings are slightly more difficult than the days where I really pay attention and stay awake through my reading.
A few months ago I decided to go through different resources in the gospel library that were created for missionaries, including the missionary handbook and a bunch of missionary preparation articles. I made a list of some of the things included in missionary schedules and found ways to make them a part of my days now. One of the things that I have worked on as part of my preparation is writing in my journal. As Nephi said in the first chapter and first verse of the Book of Mormon, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days”
I have never been good at journal writing. I have one notebook that there are months and usually years between each entry. After reading about keeping a daily journal as a part of the missionary schedule, I decided I would really try to write something about each day but I took on a new style of writing. Instead of trying to find something interesting (since not being able to think of anything interesting is the reason I usually don’t write) I tried the “Bullet-journaling technique which is as easy as it sounds. You make a bullet-point list of the things you did regardless of whether you find it interesting or not. My first entry is 4 lines long. Since that day, my first day of college, I have written almost every day. That is seven months of daily journaling! I have missed 3 days during those months but the next morning I wrote about those days.
President Thomas S. Monson said: “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together … [and] labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work”
In the General Women’s session of this last conference, Sister Joy D Jones quoted Ammon in Alma 26:12, “Yea I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak, therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God for in his name can I do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land for which we will praise his name forever.” I really love this scripture and find it so very relatable. I know that when I rely on my Heavenly Father, He can help me through so much more than I could ever do on my own.
As missionary efforts increase, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ draws nearer. Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
President Russell M Nelson spoke on the importance of sisters in the Gathering of Israel, “Men can and often do communicate the love of Heavenly Father and the Savior to others. But women have a special gift for it—a divine endowment. You have the capacity to sense what someone needs—and when he or she needs it. You can reach out, comfort, teach, and strengthen someone in his or her very moment of need.
Women see things differently than men do, and oh, how we need your perspective! Your nature leads you to think of others first, to consider the effect that any course of action will have on others.”
I mentioned that when I first heard about women only serving 18 months not 24 I was really disappointed. The more I have thought about this difference, the more I truly realize that it just means that while serving a mission is important, there are other things I will need to do that I can use that time for. I have also really appreciated the time I have had this year to prepare both mentally, spiritually, and physically while I wait for my 19th birthday.
As I have grown up, I have seen the example of my dad, my aunts, uncles, and grandparents that have served missions and shared their experiences with me, and now I have my cousin home to ask questions about missionary service as I continue to prepare for my own mission.
Through the years I have confidently come to the conclusion that I am an "optimistic realist." I recognize when things are hard or unfair while also having a positive outlook. It's a lot easier to roll with the punches laughing than to give up over something nearly impossible to control. The hardest part is trying to hang out with people that may not know about my condition since the diagnosis is fairly recent. I try to keep it to myself because I don't feel like other people should worry about me, especially when they do, it gets a little overboard.
I know that "faith in God includes faith in His timing" and while at times I may be frustrated and disappointed that my papers were delayed for months and continue to encounter hold-ups, there's a reason. Heavenly Father knows me and knows how much I yearn to serve and to teach and to grow.
As my Grandma Shauna says, "hindsight is 20/20."
