Ok, so I know all you back in California are complaining about the cold weather, but let me tell ya...out here it is REALLY cold. Yesterday we got into the car, it was -2 degrees and our back doors were frozen shut. Probably, not common to see your breath in the car. It's been chilly these last couple of weeks, but Friday night we had a good snow fall and woke up to about 4 1/2 inches of beautiful white powder. Sister Manes (my new companion) and I were loving it, even though it is a lot more work in the mornings. Ok, sorry I was just so excited about the snow, I'll get back to what's been happening this week.
So awesome week! Tuesday I picked up my new companion, Sister Maness. She is from SOUTHERN California - Riverside county (Everyone keeps joking..."another Californian?
We began our week with another lesson with Miary. She is doing wonderful! We taught her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and she continued to soak everything in. At the end she asked us if she could bear her testimony to us. I love it! She has had so many thing prepare for this and it's incredible to see her strength. We moved her baptism to the following week because there are a lot of things happening with the holidays in the ward this weekend, so we wanted to make sure the day wasn't too stressful. This helps in a lot of ways actually. I have never had a baptism for someone who doesn't speak English so we just want to make sure we're getting everything done correctly.
Every day this week, we have had some awesome visits and getting in a lot of doors that aren't always consistent! Heavenly Father is really blessing us with opportunities and I'm glad that Sister Maness is getting to exerience so much success. If she came 6 weeks ago, I don't know if I could have promised her the same, but Sister Archuleta and I were able to work hard and really build this area so that we can have so many opportunitites to teach and testify.
Thursday night, the Atwood's took us out to dinner for my birthday celebration. We went to a restaurant called GoodWood and I had an awesome prime rib! I think the cow was still mooing, but gotta have it medium rare ;) It was really nice of them though to take me out and help me feel special. Later we tried to do some contacting, but no one seemed to be home (guess there were some school choir performances going on). We stopped by the Slade's who are an older couple in one of our wards. The lights weren't on so we were thinking we were out of luck there too, but we decided to still knock, and they were home. Sister Slade has had some back troubles and was recovering, but she was SO grateful that we stopped by. She said she had been feeling lonely and that no one would visit her. I was so grateful we listened to the spirit and were able to spend some time and share some spiritual messages with her. Our purpose as missionaries is to invite ALL to come unto Christ, whether they are members or the church or not, active or not. We then stopped by Lonny Cooper's who we hadn't seen in a little while. We shared a mormon message called "Heavenly Father, Earthly Father" and talked about the important role he plays, even as a single parent. He expressed to us how he has had quite a few missionaries come and try to reactivate him, but how we sisters have made a difference with him and he thanked us for that. I feel that every day, I am realizing why I am here and how the Lord prepares people for us and we for them.
Friday was another incredible day. We started it off teaching Miary again, this time about the commandments. After District Meeting, we made a few more visits (this is when the light snow fall started). That evening we went to see a couple less actives. One of them was Brenda Kiser, whom we had seen occasionally before. She is a rough-tough kinda gal that is a hard worker and sounds like Reba McIntire. She's awesome. She is divorced and her 13-year old son lives with her, Kent. He is a funny kid. He is REALLY into history, especially German history and loves his German action figures. He is not a member and with his father's influence, won't have permission until he's 18. He likes to talk and challenge you a lot. This was actually the first time I had met him, but had heard these things from his mom a lot before. It was kind of fun talking to him as he questioned the things we believe (asking for "proof" about the Book of Mormon and where these people descend from). It was a great opportunity for Sister Maness and I to seek guidance from the spirit and bear our testimonies. For the most part we explained that we didn't need the proof, but that it was something we had prayed about and as we studied the doctrine, had it confirmed that these things are true. I asked him if he believed in God. He said yes, and then I asked how did he know he is real. He said, "I don't know, I just do. I can sense His presence". I said it's the same for everything else we believe. We may not have physical proof to hold, but the faith that we have and the feelings confirmed to us can help us know of the truth. Even Brenda shared that she knew these things were true too. At the end after we shared a message and a prayer, he turned to us and said he actually agreed with everything we shared, but just wanted to make sure we believed what we said. We told him we wouldn't be out here if we didn't! He liked it and said we were welcomed back any time. Glad we got his approval ;) It was a great visit and night though!
Saturday was the snow day. We went to one of our ward's Christmas breakfasts. The night before we made a gingerbread house for the competition. We decided to be creative and made it into a temple (not anyone in particular), all frosted white with a Captain Moroni made of banana and grape runts spray-painted gold :) We showed up a little late so we didn't get judged, but everyone loved it. After, we went back and helped Brother Rowe shovel the snow in our driveway. Later, we got to go to my old area to see a baptism for Brittany, who Sister Chen and I had started teaching 6 months ago. She and her family have now moved to Nampa, but she wanted to be baptized where she had been taught and had first attended. The baptism was beautiful and it was so good to see her. I couldn't help fight back the tears. Even though her progression wasn't as quick as others, to see her make this step and covenant was so beautiful. She asked me to share a few words and I testified about the hymn "I Believe in Christ". I am grateful for the variety of opportunities I am given. I know I will probably never see Brittany or her family again (now that they live out of the mission boundaries), but I am grateful to have been a part of their life.
I am so grateful for this experience I have to serve the Lord. My faith and my testimony in this gospel and in my Savior have grown immensely. I am just hitting my half way mark and it has been wonderful to see the growth that I have experienced thus far. As I ponder on the next half of my mission, I look forward with excitement to see what more can happen. Since I have been out, the mission has split into 3 missions, the new mission has grown by 70% and I have had many training and leadership responsibilities. But most importantly, I have come closer to Christ and I have helped many others do the same. This gospel is true. I wouldn't be here doing this if it wasn't. Our Savior lives and He is with us every step of the way. We just have to reach out to Him. The Book of Mormon is true. It is keystone of our religion and holds the evidence that Jesus is the Christ and that God speaks to us today as He has revealed and restored the fullness of Christ's gospel through a prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that we continue to receive revelation from a modern prophet, Thomas S. Monson and that he leads and guides as a Church. I know that our Heavenly Father hears us and answers our prayers and that we too continue to receive personal revelation from Him.
I love you all. Stay warm and stay grateful.
Love,
Sister Wightman
