It's raining cotton!!! I know that sounds weird, but there are some cotton trees near our neighborhood and with the wind blowing, we have had cotton just floating everywhere. It's really weird, but thank goodness I'm not allergic :)
Other than that, it's been a great week! So many things have happened this past week. Monday night, Sister Worden and I were in charge of the Family Home Evening at the retired apartment complex (55 and older residence). We decided to do a game of Jeopardy on prophets from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Latter-days. It was pretty fun! We even had a couple gentlemen attend who haven't come to church in a while and they seemed to enjoy it too. One thing I love about the "more mature folk" is their sense of humor. They crack me up every week. I'm glad we have this community in our area to visit.
We were able to see Billie a few times this week. We have just been reading the Book of Mormon with her to help her understand and so we read with her on Tuesday and Friday. She's really enjoying it and I love her comments on the impressions and understandings she gets from it and how she's able to apply it to her own life. It's amazing how we're always learning, no matter how many times we've heard something! Billie seems to be progressing more and more every time we see her and I know that she is really coming to understand Christ more in her life. She shared with us this week how through the lessons, she has come to really understand what the Atonement of Christ means for her and how she doesn't have to carry that burden of guilt or pain because He's already paid the price for her and she just has to hand it over to Him. It's so true! His love and sacrifice were not just for our sins, but for our pains and weaknesses and trials too. What a wonderful gift, if we just USE it!
Wednesday, we had Zone Conference. Sister Worden and I were asked to do a training on the Doctrine of Christ and we talked about how faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end all relate to the Atonement and how understand these principles help us to access the Atonement and come unto Christ. It came out really well and we were able to teach well together. I was asked to accompany an elder as he sang the 2014 youth's theme song "Come Unto Christ". It is a beautiful piece and I'm glad I was able to help him. We were also trained by our mission president on the importance of the family as this is something that the world is attacking/being attacked on. The Family is such a key part of our doctrine as it is what gives us purpose and understanding and hope. We are a part of our Heavenly Father's family and He wants all of His children to continue to be with Him and that's why He's established families here on earth to continue that relationship and have that support and strength. The family IS ordained of God and the roles within the family are essential to carry out God's plan for all of His children to gain a physical body and experience and to return to His presence again one day. There is definitely no coincidence that the Prophet and other church leaders have talked a lot lately about standing up for what we believe and, although being courteous, still staying strong and not conforming to please man. If there's something you believe in, stick with it! Don't worry about what others may think, that's YOUR belief and you are entitled to that! Zone Conference was also a little bittersweet because I didn't realize this coming into it, but it was my last one. Although I still have a few month left in my mission, the time is quickly drawing to an end. I had to give my final testimony and I pretty much cried through it all, but I was really able to reflect on this last year or so and see how much I have grown and what I have really come to know. At the end of the day, I have really learned to trust God, in His way and His time. That's what's gotten me to the point I'm at now and I know it will continue to carry me through the many more adventures I will have in this life. How grateful I am for Him!
After Zone Conference, Sister Worden and I decided to plan a little surprise for a couple in the ward. They have grown very dear to us and have been struggling with a lot of things lately (emotionally, physically and financially) and they mentioned that they probably wouldn't have enough means to celebrate their wedding anniversary that day. We called up their visiting teachers who offered to prepare a nice meal and we worked with the husband to let us sneak into the house and decorate their home so they could have a nice anniversary dinner together and not have to worry about anything. I love doing these kinds of things! It looked great by the time we left and the report from the husband was that his wife's reaction was priceless. We told him "mums the word" on who put it together, but I'm glad we were able to do something special for this couple and to remind them that they are always thought of and we can find joy even in the hard times.
Thursday, we went over to Minda's (the lady from the Philippines) and she taught us how to make Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls). It was so much fun, and not too hard. She gave us a ton to take home and enjoy. We did :) As we talked with her more, she continued to share with us her relationship with the Savior and it is just amazing to hear the great faith she has. We asked her if she would be willing to hear the lessons and she agreed! We will be teaching her the first lesson tomorrow and we are all excited about it. This woman has been prepared and is willing and ready to come unto Christ.
Saturday was a nice day and we decided to do some tracting in our area. Although we didn't have too much success, we were able to talk to quite a few people and get to know our neighbors a little better. Later, the ward put on a Dutch Oven Cook-off to teach different ways of non-electric cooking. We got to borrow a dutch oven from our ward mission leader and with the help of Billie, we cooked a strawberry cobbler. It was a great turnout from the ward (adults only) and a great opportunity for Billie to get to know more people in the ward. I think very successful. At the end we ate potluck style and enjoyed 10-hour smoked pulled pork, potato/veggie medleys, chicken, cornbread and yummy cobblers and cakes all done by dutch ovens, solar ovens, smokers, portable stoves, and a few more that were creative but I can't remember their names haha. It's good to know that in an emergency, other forms of cooking are just as yummy :)
Overall, it was a wonderful week with lots of lessons learned and progression made and miracles seen. I have such a testimony of diligence and perseverance. We usually don't see the fruits of our labors immediately in life, but we have to keep trying or we'll never know. We CAN make an impact with those around us. I have seen it so much these last 14 months and I am grateful I've finally gotten it. I hope you all have a fabulous week and continue to see the little miracles in your lives every day :)
Love,
Sister Wightman
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