Heeeelllloooo everyone :)
Well this has been another eventful week (I feel like I'm always saying that). It started off on exchanges as I got go to the east part of Meridian and work with another sister. These exchanges are great as I can get to see different parts of the mission and experience working with other sisters. I got to be with Sister Farley who is from Arizona and has been a member of the Church for just 2 years. Her example and spirit is so refreshing! We were able to teach some lessons and got to do contacting in some apartments that is very ethnically diverse. Where I am serving right now, it is dominantly Caucasian, so it was fun to visit with what seemed to be a lot of refugees from Congo, Jordan and NEPAL! I was so happy to see some Nepali people again and try to remember the words I had learned from the families down in Twin Falls. I definitely missed the diversity.
Wednesday, while most of the missionaries in our mission were at a "new missionary training" meeting, a few of us were able to help out to the Boise Fair. This is an annual event that the missionaries have been able to help out with. We were able to push around some folks in wheelchairs from the Life Care Center in Boise. The lady I assisted is named Sally and is suffering from MS, but she is a hoot! She just wanted to see everything and has such a love for life and being positive. Every time I would say "Sally, are you ready?", she would always respond "I was BORN ready!". We had a great time. One of my favorite moments was when we went to see the animals and as we fed the goats, she just poured the seeds on her lap and let them eat right off of her. She loved it! Haha. It's nice to be around care-free people. We were able to be there with them for a few hours, so definitely got our workout and some sun for the day ;) (Hopefully I'll be able to put up pictures from it next week)
This week, Sister Chen and I focused a lot on contacting, and although we didn't have too much success, we still saw some miracles. Thursday was a weird day, both with events and the weather. It was kind of a stormy day, and although still muggy, it poured sporadically. There was a lady we had been trying to contact who just never seemed to be home (though apparently she never went anywhere) and as we went to try again, we found multiple notes on the door of concern, showing that other people were worried from not seeing her in a while too. And another sister we found drunk at her house and just seemed very depressed. Being women, Sister Chen and I just seemed to be thinking the worst in both these situations, but luckily, both worked out and are ok. It's always good to act on intuition, but also to try not to overreact over everything because sometimes it's not as bad as we think.
We have had a little more success with some of our investigators lately as well. One of them is an older gentleman who we had finished teaching all the lessons but wasn't really willing to make any commitments. Although we felt a little discouraged, we continued to check on him every now and then and have recently begun to read the Book of Mormon with him so that he can understand it. It has been wonderful as we all read through and break it down. We can see that he is understanding it better this way and is even reading quite a bit more than we ask him to read in between our lessons. He even attended church yesterday, which he has not in a while!
I was reading this morning in the Alma 21 in the Book of Mormon and the message that stood out to me was that as we remain diligent in our efforts, the Lord provides a way and blesses us with success. Sometimes we can feel discouraged and that our efforts are not effective or that we are not progressing, but just as that saying goes, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again". I have been feeling a little discouraged lately, but as I continue to just give it my all, I am seeing the blessings come. I think it's this whole concept of humbling ourselves before asking so that we can see His hand in our life and we can know the hard times to appreciate the good times. Even if the hard times seem more often than the good times, they are worth it! It works out. I can't tell you why or how it can happen, other than we have to rely on the Lord to make it happen.
I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon that continues to teach me every day. The Lord is so mindful of me and seems to tell me just what I need to hear. Sometimes I don't realize that I'm looking for it, but then I am reminded that it is an answer to a previous prayer. He hears us. We just need to listen. Heavenly Father loves me and He loves YOU! We are all His children and so we need to continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters. Be patient with those around you and be patient with yourself. The good will always conquer the bad...just decide which way you want to go! Listen to the Spirit, He'll help you find those blessings you've been searching for.
I love you all so much and am grateful for your letters and prayers!
Have a FABULOUS week and when the days get tough...COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!
Love,
Sister Wightman
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