Photos 04/29/13

 The Hulse family: Russ (dad), Dustin (1 years old), Chanelle (mom), Brenda (14 years old), Courtney (5 years old), and Harley (15 years old)

  Sister Christensen and I after service project at Shoshone Falls Park

Shoshone Falls

Letter #5 04/29/13

Hello hello!

    It's been another wonderful and growing week here on my mission! Sister Christensen and I have a couple more new families that we are teaching and things just seem to be pretty positive. It's amazing what a difference it makes when people are actually ready and willing to hear our message. There's a few that have been taught by the missionaries before (like a few years ago), but then lost contact and now they're almost coming to US saying "hey when can you come teach me and my children!". We don't try to convert people, that's the Holy Ghost's job, we are only trying to add to others' faith that they already have. Through that they will have the desire to follow Christ's example, which includes being baptized and joining His church.

     So one of the "growing" experiences that I had this week was my first companion exchanges. What this entails is two companionships switch companions for 24 hours to see different areas and learn from each other through our teaching and contacting skills. So Wednesday morning I drove out to Rupert (which is about 45 min east from Twin Falls) and worked with Sister Nettles. She is from San Diego and has been out on her mission for about 7 months. She is super sweet, has a great sense of humor, and a total nerd - in a good way (Tina, you would love her! Totally into the whole comicon/animation thing!)! While we were out there, a lot of our appointments fell through, so we spent most of the day going out contacting referrals and just trying to find people to teach. The thing with Rupert is that it is WAY more "boonies" and is a lot more spread out so it's harder to cover as many people within a certain period of time. We had a lot of fun though, and it was very humbling for me. I have felt very spoiled with serving in Twin Falls and with my wonderful companion, Sister Christensen, and I have to remember that I won't always be in the same place or with the same people. As long as we serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength, and just learn to love everyone we come in contact with though, it doesn't matter where we are or who we're with. The work is all the same and it is just as wonderful!

    The next day, when we returned to our assigned companions and areas, Sister Christensen and I had to go on our first "splits". This happens occasionally when we have a lot of people to contact/visit with, but only so many hours of the day. So we pair up with church members and separate as a companionship to try to visit with more people. This has been a great experience because as it comes closer to transfers, I am realizing I am not going to have Sister Christensen with me always and so to be able to go out with someone else and not be so reliant on her is something I've been needing to work on.

    We've been learning a lot more about using Family History work this week and how we can use it but also how we can teach it to those who we come into contact. Family History search is a great tool to find out about your ancestors and really understand where each of us comes from and learn about their stories. It's also a way for us to feel closer to our families and prepare ourselves and others to be able together as a family forever. If you have not already started doing any genealogy work, I highly recommend it! It's super exciting when you discover ancestors and put history back together. If you want to check it out or get started, go check out familysearch.org. There are Family History Centers everywhere and have free access and free help to get you started or help you continue!

    Saturday morning, we participated in another service project helping clean up the trails at Shoshone Falls Park. There are trails that have had been covered by overgrown shrubs and trees for over the past 60 years that we were able to uncover. It was amazing seeing all the many helping hands cut and prune and dig to help clear up the trails and allow for so many people to see the Falls from different parts of the park. Being an avid hiker, I truly appreciate being able to help to have more options for trails and to discover more beautiful sites.

    Sunday, Sister Christensen and I were able to use our musical talents once again. There is a young woman, Josey, in one of our wards, who is a senior in high school but training to also become an opera singer. She really wanted to sing with my companion before she left so, with a few days to prepare, I accompanied them in a song "How Can I Keep from Singing" in sacrament meeting. The musical number turned out beautiful! I'm so grateful for my parents who never allowed me to quit piano lessons (even when I called my teacher to say I quit and my parents called right back saying that I was not), so that I can accompany and perform wherever needed. There are only 3 sister missionaries in the whole Boise mission who can play the piano so they have been taking advantage of me playing. It's been great practice though, and the Bateman's (who we live with) love hearing me practice on their piano at night.

   This upcoming Saturday, we will be getting the call for my first transfer (6 week period of time). I will most likely be staying here in Twin Falls, but not sure if Sister Christensen and I will be staying as companions (though we are both hoping and praying that we are, as are many of the people who know us!!!). If anyone is planning on sending mail this week, please keep in mind that I could be at a new address next Monday (May 6th) so probably just mail it to the mission home address: 1111 S. Cole Rd, Boise, ID, 83709

I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support that you have been giving me. I love the work. I love being able to share a message of such joy and hope when there is so much turmoil and distress out in the world. I am grateful to be somewhat immune to the events of the world (though I have heard of some recent tragedies in the country) and to just focus on sharing about our Savior Jesus Christ and that through all of our trials and tribulations, there is hope and there is love. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that Heavenly Father has created a plan, a perfect plan, to lead us back to live with Him again one day. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, who, at 14, had a questioned, knelt in prayer, and as a result saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the flesh and was instructed to restore Christ's church back on the earth today and to translate the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ and record of those that He visited here in the America's. I know that it is another tool to help us with life and is filled with truth. I know that we can communicate to our Heavenly Father through prayer and that He listens and answers us. He is ready and waiting, we just have to reach out to Him. If we ever feel distanced from God, it is not Him pulling away from us, it is us pulling away from Him. He wants to bless us. He loves us. I have prayed and had all my questions answered that these things are true through the comfort of the Holy Ghost. I would encourage each and everyone of you, if this is not something you know for yourself to ask and listen. This gospel blesses people individually, and it blesses families! Why would you not want that??

Love you all,
Sister Lauren Wightman

04/22/13 Letter #4

I can't believe it! I have been out on my mission (in the actual field) for a month now!! Boy, how time flies. I am so grateful for all that I've learned so far and for all the love and support I've received from all of you! I feel your prayers and love and know that the blessings and miracles I've witnessed out here have been from a contribution from all of you. 

This week has been more of training and educating. On Wednesday, Sister Christensen and I drove up to Boise (2 hours) for a Missionary Training meeting with the rest of the new missionaries that I came out with, our trainers, and our mission president. We were able to evaluate our work and learn how we can do even better, have more success, and just continue to grow. It was wonderful to get to see my MTC companion, Sister Edstrom, again. It feels like FOREVER since I had last seen her. She is serving in the Meridian area and having a lot of success out there :) It's neat to see how much we're all growing already. 

The people that Sister Christensen and I have been meeting with and teaching are really progressing. As we give them big commitments (quitting addictions, invitations to be baptized) we can see the Adversary working hard on them, but giving them that assurance that we are there by their side to guide them and that making these changes will bless their lives and their families, we see them receive that hope and strength. The Hulse family is really progressing as we taught them of the Restoration of the church and about Joseph Smith. We gave them all their individual copies of the Book of Mormon and they are all so excited to begin reading together. They really are seeing this gospel bless their family. Russ (dad) kept thanking us for coming into our lives and trying to give us credit for the blessings they are seeing in their lives but we told him, it was not us, it was the Lord who's placed us in their lives. We just listened. It's amazing to already be able to see and understand why I was placed in this part of the world at this time in my life. I'm so grateful for the people I'm meeting and getting to teach as we are able to grow together. There is a scripture that has been repeated often this week that says "when ye have been converted, strengthen your brother". We are always growing and being strengthened and as we do that, we need to lift up those around us too. We're all on the same journey, we just need to help each other along the way. 

I love the Church of Jesus Christ. I know this Gospel that I teach to others is true. I've seen it bless my life, my family's life and so many others. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who sent His Son who willingly suffered and died for us to be able to be return and be together forever. I know that if we put our trust in the Lord, all things are possibly. We must have faith and then we must ACT and do our part because He is always willing to do His part. God is loving and merciful and just wants His children to be happy. I love you all and am so grateful to have such a wonderful support system in my life. If you don't know that these things are true for yourself, pray and ask. Study the scriptures. Attend church. Through these things, our faith is strengthened and our lives are made easier. He does not take away our burden, we need them to learn and grow, but He lightens them so we can endure!

Have a great week!

Photos 04/15/13

learning how to "Rope" a steed dummy from the Flameling family

Milking a goat!

Milking a goat!

Sister Christensen and I at the Twin Falls Temple after a session (yes, a bit windy)

Letter 04/15/13

Hello Everyone!!

Well I feel like I should be saying I'm serving in Chicago, because it has been WIIIIIINDYYYY! Definitely have not been wearing my flowy-er skirts, otherwise I'd be pulling the "Marlyn Monroe". I guess I still can't complain about the weather but it's definitely nothing like the bay area.

So this week has been some high highs AND some low lows. We started off being able to make contact with some referrals that we had not had luck with before. Sister Christensen and I were able to use our talents of music to our advantage quite a bit this week. Though I'm not as trained as my companion (she's been training to become an opera singer), our voices blend well together, and we were able to sing to a potential investigator and some sisters in an assisted living care center. Music truly does bring that spirit of peace and comfort into the room and is a way for us to express our testimony and feel of the love of the Savior. It's amazing how we were able to bless so many hearts that day. Every single person we sang to, said we were an answer to their prayers that day. Needing a little bit of comfort or peace. We don't know all the details of what they were struggling with that day, but it brings great comfort to me that we were able to listen to the spirit and be prompted to visit those particular people that day.

Another wonderful miracle that occured earlier last week was that we began teaching a family of 9 people! It started off with one 19 year old investigator, Gita, and now her whole family is joining with her. Gita and her family are from Nepal and only a few speak/understand English. It's amazing. Here I was hoping to serve somewhere international, and although, I'm in Twin Falls Idaho, I'm still getting that international experience. Gita and her family are amazing and so loving. It's traditional for these Nepali families to live crowded in a 2 bedroom apartment, but they are always together and always smiling and laughing. Gita is able to translate to her family as we teach her and we can see that she is understanding and knowing what we teach them is true. The gospel is so focused on family and we are so happy to be able to share that with them and they are so happy to know that if they follow God's plan, that they can be together FOREVER as a family. What joy that brings to them! (And to me :)) Another family we've been teaching is the Hulse family. The father has been inactive from the church for a long time but we can tell that he is ready to be involved again. He has set such a great example to his family of love and unity. Although the kid's ages vary and are still in their youth, they are all so mature and have such great manners! The 5 year old, Courtney, always has to escort Sister Christensen and I to our car and open our doors for us. What a doll! Brother Hulse cooked deer for us for dinner, and I have to say...not bad! Good thing I like meat and potatoes haha. We were able to give the family a church tour (showed them around the church building of all the classrooms and chapel) Saturday evening so they could feel more comfortable coming and knowing where everything is and where everyone would go for their classes. It was amazing to see the father bear his testimony to his family of what he remembers and to teach them about the Sacrament and reverence in church. I know that even if we fall away from living the gospel, we don't forget what we've learned, if we know it's true.

We did have a few struggles at the end of the week as we met with some investigators who struggle with addictions of smoking and alcohol. It's interesting to try to comprehend how these types of addictions really can have a hold on a person, but also by being obedient and turning to the Lord for strength can get us through even the hardest times. We all have our excuses for addictions or bad habits, but it's really a psycological thing that begins with being confident and positive in ourselves! Finding the root of the addiction and how to not put ourselves in those situations to be tempted to indulge in them. We felt that we were really progressing with some of these investigators, but of course, as we invited them to being quitting their addictions, the adversary began to work double time on them and made the struggle even harder. Through their frustration and grieving, Sister Christensen and I became discouraged but as we turned to the Lord for help and guidance, we received that comfort and knew that through our trials, we could remain steadfast and keep going and keep them going. Last night, I turned to a scripture in Alma 26:27 which says "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst the brethren and bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give unto you success". I know that life is not easy. We are meant to have these struggles and trials to learn and to grow and to be strengthened. But we need to remember, we are not supposed to endure them on our own. Jesus Christ atoned (suffered) for not only our sins, but our pains, trials and weaknesses so that He could know what we are going through and so that we can turn to Him for that strength and that comfort to get through it. He does not hand us anything He knows we can't endure. We just need to have that faith and trust in Him that He will help us get through it. As a missionary, I have learned that there is only so much I can do. I can teach and help guide and testify of what I know is true, but for others to accept it and receive a change in their hearts, they must do THEIR part and ACT on that desire as well. A question we like to ask others after sharing a message with them is, "Once you've come to know that what we have taught you is true, what are you going to do about it?". It's not enough to KNOW, we must also DO.

I know that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who atoned for our trials so that we could endure all things. I know that we have a modern prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who receives revelation from God to leade and guide the people on the earth today to bring us closer to Christ and to give us the peace, love, and joy in our lives to endure it all. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Through studying this book, we can receive that witness that God is our Father, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and Joseph Smith translated and restored the true gospel on the earth today so that we can receive the blessings and love from our Father in Heaven. We are not alone. We have a God who loves each of us equally and KNOWS each of us. He wants us to turn to Him, to ask for help and to believe that through Christ we can endure all things. I love this gospel and I know that it can truly bless each of us individually and our families if we are obedient and active in the work.

Thank you all again for your love and support. I can feel it every day.

Love,

Sister Wightman

Letter 04/08/13

Hello everyone!

Well, another week down. It seems so weird now when people ask me how long I've been out on my mission, that my response is only 2 weeks...it feels like so much longer. I'm feeling more a part of the Twin Falls area, learning the major streets (my companion is still the designated driver, so I have to really pay attention), getting to know the people and getting lost in the work. Luckily, my area is pretty small, though there are the "boony" parts still. 

So last Monday, Sister Christensen and I got to milk a goat! It wasn't that easy...a lot of work for a little amount...but still fun. I'm trying to try everything. Tonight a family is going to teach us how to "rope". I swear it's not as country as it sounds out here, but again these are the "boony" parts where they are taking place. We'll be roping from the ground though, since we can't ride horses on a mission. So Sister Shobe (the one with the goat) let us take home the milk we got. This was a first try for both of us, and although we were hesitant (expecting a sour taste), it actually was not bad! Glad I tried it, but don't think I'd drink it again (knowing where it came from...straight from the goat to the glass...still kinda weirds me out). I also got to try some farm fresh eggs, which really have a different taste then the kind from the grocery store...better in my opinion. Sister Christensen taught me the different ways to prepare eggs this morning so I'll be a pro by the time I come home ;) Tuesday, we went back to the Shobe's with the Elders in our District and helped pile some wood and plant seeds (the husband hurt his back recently so needs more help with the more labor intense chores). The weather was perfect for it! That night, we got to teach the youth of a ward about missionary work and try to inspire them to have a desire to go on missions when they're of age. It was fun to tell them from a "fresh" missionary's perspective and to reinforce to myself why I am out here serving the Lord. I was a little nervous having to talk in front of a big group, but it went really well. This week really was a whole lot of service. We also got to help out in the Bishop's storehouse. It reminded me a lot of the "gleaning" I got to do back at home. I love service! So I'm really glad I've had a lot of opportunities to do so. We'll be doing some more planting this weekend for another sister (Mom I know you're shocked that NOW I'm doing all this gardening haha), and tomorrow Sister Christensen and I are going over to a woman's house to sing for her. 

This weekend was General Conference, which is a wonderful opportunity for us to hear from our Prophet Thomas S. Monson, his apostles, and other church leaders. I think this was my favorite one so far! There was such a draw on being EXACTLY obedient, allowing faith to overcome doubt, and really knowing WHO we are and our worth and role. If you didn't get a chance to check out these messages, I would highly encourage you to do so! (LDS.org) It's amazing how even though we are all on our own journeys and have our own struggles, these messages apply to ALL of us and can really help us to be better and happier. It's wonderful to see how these men and women have such a sense of humor, yet they really care about all of us and want to help us on our individual and collective journeys. Sister Christensen and I were able to watch both afternoon sessions with investigating/less-active families and I know that they really felt the Spirit as did we! I can't wait till 6 months from now for the next Conference!

I thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I can definitely feel of your love and support. I am so grateful to be serving a mission for the Lord at this time and in this place. It is truly a miraculous time to be taking part in the Lord's work. So many people have been prepared and so much help, guidance, and happiness is needed. I am seeing things that I wasn't even aware of in my bubble of a world back at home, but I am so grateful to be exposed to understand and to help out others. 

I know we have a Father in Heaven who is aware of US and our needs. He knows us and He loves us. He loves us so much that He's created a way for us to be happy, if we are exactly obedient and keep His commandments. He sent His son, our brother, Jesus Christ to suffer for OUR sins, trials, pains, tribulations, so that we can be forgiven and endure this life to return to Him and our God again. What a wonderful promise. He has done His part, now we need to do ours. The road is not easy, but if we trust in Him and show our gratitude, we can endure valiantly!

I love you all and again am so grateful for all your love and support!

Love,

Sister Wightman

First Post, 04/02/13 MTC

This is my first post of photos from MTC. 

My MTC companion Sister Edstrom (Wyoming) and me. It's snowing!

These are my sister missionaries in my district at the MTC. We are in front of the Provo Temple. Everyone with the exception of Sister Edstrom and I are going to Riverside, California.

My MTC companion Sister Edstrom and me.

Elder Holland and me, two days before I left the MTC. 

Famous Map picture! 

My MTC district and teachers. My teachers are Brother Green and Sister Peets.

My Mission President and his wife. They are President and Sister Cannon. 

Also pictured: my first companion/trainer Sister Christensen.

Happy Easter! Notice the ears or lack thereof the chocolate bunny? Yum!

Love, 

Lauren