It is a season for gratitude and my heart is full of it. I feel like I have been blessed with so much and especially lately, Heavenly Father has helped me to see those blessings.
Sister Archuleta and I have been praying a lot lately to find more people to teach and for those that we are teaching to progress more because a lot or stuck at a road block. As we have fasted and prayed, we have seen those answers and miracles come. Wednesday night, we were at a Young Women's activity in one of the wards in the stake as we talked to them about preparing for missions. On our way home, we received a phone call from one of our ward mission leaders explaining that that night at our ward building, a girl had come in asking about the church. She explained that as she drove by, she felt a prompting to go in. She said that she has seen how the world has been lately and feels a need to make changes in her life and to be more prepared spiritually. A brother was able to greet her and after she explained her experience, he gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon and shared with her Moroni's promise at the end (Moroni 10:3-5). She said she wanted to learn more and gave her contact info. We were able to get in touch with her the next day and she came to Sacrament meeting at church on Sunday. Although she may have stood out from her dress and appearance, she said she felt so welcomed as members came up and introduced themselves. She said she' looked into quite a few churches and never felt as welcomed as she had with us. We are meeting with her today and we are excited to answer her questions and help her to learn more. She said she's heard a lot of things about our church, not all great, but she wanted to find the truth from us and not from others who aren't even LDS. I appreciate that!
Sunday truly was a blessed day as we had Jamie along with a couple other investigators and less-active members come to church. That can be a hard thing for people to commit to, but it's so important. As they come to church they can be strengthened by those around them, they can feel of the Spirit and receive answers to things they've been struggling with, and they can learn more about the Atonement as they partake of the Sacrament. Sister Archuleta and I were able to perform a musical number in one of the wards. We had planned this a while back, but with General Conference, fast sundays, and my companion and I being sick, it had to be pushed back. Sister Archuleta was still a little sick but is a trooper and wanted to still sing. We had another song in mind, but Saturday decided to change to another song "He Knows Me Better". We downloaded the sheet music and went over to the church to practice. One thing I am grateful for with my companion is her continual encouragement and compliments of my piano skills. It truly was a tender mercy as I was able to so quickly pick up this song. Although I was nervous, as I always am when I perform, we were able to perform it well and the Spirit touched many peoples hearts that day. I am so grateful for the gifts and talents that Heavenly Father has given each of us.
That evening, we had the opportunity and privilege to go to a council made up of all the stake presidents in our mission boundaries, the temple president, our mission president and the area seventy, Elder Rowe. As we've had so much more of a focus on missionary work, they wanted to hear some experiences and conversions that have occured. We were able to stand in front of all these men with Kelly and Brad Bartholomew and share Kelly's conversion story and Brad's "reconversion" story. I am so grateful for the Bartholomew's and the journey they have had and we've had with them. We have become a part of their family and they are so special to me. This opportunity does not happen every day and so it truly was a pleasure to be a part of!
My Heavenly Father has blessed me with so much. A wonderful family, great friends, and many second chances. One thing I have learned this week is that He has never given up on me. Never. I had learned that that is why I am out here on my mission. I just want to tell everyone that same thing. That I won't give up on them because He won't give up on them. It takes time and we are all at different levels, but He is always there when we're ready to make that change. He wants ALL His children to return to Him and that's why He continues to give us so many opportunities. It takes humility and patience, but it is possible. I've seen it in my own life and I'm seeing it so many others. Don't give up, keep going!
I love you all and I thank you for your continual love and support. Have a blessed week full of love and gratitude for the things you've been blessed with. Someone's had it just as bad, if not worse, and they've overcome it. So can you :)
Love,
Sister Wightman
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