photos 12/30/13

after opening all my gifts Christmas morning

With Brad after his temple session

Sister Maness and I singing "Silent Night"

Letter #40 12/30/13

Well, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I really enjoyed talking with my family. So good to hear their voices :)

Christmas Eve we got to spend with some members. We went with the Atwoods over to the Wambolt's (a part-member family) and had a feast of a dinner! It was so fun to be around all these families and join in their family traditions. At the end, Sister Maness and I harmonized in Silent Night a Capella. There was a wonderful spirit in the room. Christmas, we went to about 5 families homes throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner. My favorite though was at the Moomey's. They had invited a mother and son who are refugees from the Congo. They are so sweet and it was very touching to listen to the mom share all that she's been through. She had never heard of our church and shared that she had gone to the Jehovah Witness church back in the Congo. The Moomey's are actually from the Bay Area and had a picture of the Oakland temple so I shared that with her and talked to her about temples. She asked if there was any in Africa and I told her how they had actually just announced one being built in the Congo! She seemed excited. We had a wonderful dinner and got to share with them American traditions. The next day, we got a call from Brother Moomey saying she wanted to have the missionaries come by. Although they are not in our area, I was so happy to hear that wanted to learn more! You never know the impact of what you say can have on others! Don't be afraid to open your mouth. 

The day after Christmas a special day for me as well. We got to go with Kelley Bartholomew's husband, Brad, to the Boise temple as he received his endowments. Normally we can only go to those that we taught and were baptized, but our mission president knew how much we had worked with him too to help him  get back into church. It reminded me a lot of when I first went to the temple and was truly a miracle day. His sister even shared that she never thought she'd see her brother in the temple. You just never know. We can't give up on those we love. Sister Archuleta got to come up too and so it was a fun little reunion. I am looking forward to going to Brad and Kelly's sealing in the Salt Lake temple next October! This is what the work is about. Bringing families to the temple!

I am so grateful for the gospel and I am grateful for the things I learn. As I prepare for the new year, I have been thinking about goals and what this life is all about. In Alma 34:32-33, we read about how this is our "time to prepare to meet God" and that we should "not procrastinate the day of our repentance". This truly is our time to prepare. Something that Sister Maness and I are working on, is setting a new years goal to better prepare ourselves spiritually. Whether it's having more personal prayers, studying your scriptures more diligently, attending the temple more often, or simply giving religion a shot and attending church more or for the first time. It is so important that we learn about our Heavenly Father and our Brother Jesus Christ and strengthen our relationship with them now. There is a quote that "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is now"! Don't feel like it's too late to start or do better. The better time is now. A man shared about how he's been training to run a marathon for about 4 years and still has yet to even sign up for one. Although he knows he has failed on his goal of doing the marathon, he knows he has not failed completely because he still trains and so he has gotten faster every year and is still more prepared than the year before. Stay positive and know that even if you don't "succeed" this year, you are still better off than not having trying at all! Isn't that true in life every day?? I love that. We are not perfect and yet we can try every day to achieve that perfection. Think about what you'd like to improve or start on this year. 

I love you all and hope you have an amazing and safe New Years!

Love,

Sister Wightman

photos 12/23/13

Sister Maness, Bethany and I playing out in the snow

At Miary's baptism with Sister Maness and Miary's son-in-law

Letter #39 12/23/13

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful time with the festivities of the season and actually enjoying it :)

This week has been fun. Monday night, we went with a family (the Atwood's) caroling to some non-members and less-actives. Sister Atwood had made some treats and it was so fun to see these families faces light up as we sang Christmas music. It was pretty fun having little kids around with us too. Adds to the spirit ;)

We had a wonderful lesson with Mary Jo on Tuesday. The last couple of visits, we've had were definitely inspired. Both times, Sister Maness and I went in with a lesson plan on what we thought we could teach her, but as we sat down with Mary Jo and just listened to her and questions or comments she's had, we were guided by the Spirit to go in a different direction. One week we just simply read from the Book of Mormon with her and helped her how to relate the scriptures to her instead of just "reading". The next time, she said that really helped and has progressed her reading and understanding immensely. We felt prompted then to teach about prayer instead of doing more reading with her. It was definitely inspired as she shared how it was a struggle for her. Growing up Episcopalian, she already had prayer in her life, but feeling comfortable to do it out loud and with us is not in her comfort zone. She asked us to give her some goals and challenges (commitments) and so it was perfect that we could help her understand prayer and prepare herself to pray at the end of our next lesson. She came to church on Sunday, as she normally does, but even stayed for Gospel Principles and loved it! I think she is feeling more and more prepared and comfortable in her understanding of the gospel. 

Thursday, we had our Mission Christmas Devotional at the mission office. It was so much fun! We started off by watching "Ephraim's Rescue" which was a real treat since the only movies we're allowed to watch on the mission are ones the "church stamp" on it and that one doesn't (though it should haha). It was so good! Definitely teared up a lot. We then had a little talent show. I accompanied 2 sisters in some musical numbers (my companion and another sister). They sang an arrangement of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" (efy version) and Sister Maness sang "Mary Did You Know". I set her up to that, but she has such a good voice, I told her she HAD to do it! Haha. I think she's looking for ways to get back at me. The other day she suggested to a girl that I could interpretive dance for her. Don't know where that one came from hahaha. I also accompanied our whole zone in "O Holy Night". It wasn't too bad. Haha. We then were spoiled with a feast of a roast and potatoes (of course), yummy salads and lots of desserts. It was a lot of fun. We ended with some words by our mission president and some gifts. One of them being a copy of the Book of Mormon and some marking pencils in which by May 2014 we are to finish and having different colored markings for the topics of "faith", "repentance", "baptism", "holy ghost" and "enduring to the end". I think that will be a neat study, just focusing on those principles and ordinances. I also took home lots of packages and letters, so thank you everyone for your Christmas love :)

Friday, it snowed. And I mean SNOWED. Around 3:30pm we were visiting wiht Kelley Bartholomew and she was telling us how it's supposed to snow between 5-11pm. Kid you not, 20 minutes later, we look outside and it is just a downpour of snow! We're all from California, so we ran out and took pictures. I'm sure people thought we looked silly. But hey, this is still kinda new/fun for us. We still went caroling with a couple that night and I think the snow helped because more people were home ;)

Saturday was Miary's baptism! It was beautiful. I was a little stressed as things were running a bit late (not in my control). One thing I am learning is how to be more patient and that I would be AWFUL as an event planner. When things don't go as planned, I get a little frenzied haha. BUT I continued to remind myself that it always works out, and it did. We had a great turnout, the entire Relief Society room was filled, and the Spirit was strong. The talks and the baptism were all done in Malagasy (as it was for Miary). Miary's daughter, Eva, and her granddaughter did a duet of "I Am A Child of God" and it was so sweet. At the end, Miary bore her testimony (as Eva translated) of how she has gotten to this point and the tender mercies that helped her even just days before to reassure that this is the right way. We have been starting to teach her English and helped her learn the last part of her testimony in English. However, she started to do it in Malagasy. We were like "nooooo" and her daughter said "english, Mom!". Haha. And she did. It was so awesome! Miary truly is a choice daughter of our Heavenly Father and I'm so excited for her to be sealed to her family in a year. She had her confirmation at church yesterday, which was also done in Malagasy, and I know no one minded that they couldn't understand because of the spirit. She has been so welcomed by the ward and it's incredible. As I pondered on this special woman, I thought of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16 which says "15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one ^asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the ^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csouls unto me! ". I know that on this mission, for me I am that "one soul" and those that I have taught and seen baptized are the "many souls". I am so grateful for my mission!

We had a great turnout at church yesterday. We joke that it's out "Superbowl" Sunday as lots of people like to come for the Christmas program. The music and messages were great and we had so many less-actives and non-members come. Even ones we didn't even think would come! 

I am looking forward to talking to my family on Wednesday. I will be spending Christmas day with about 5 families! But it will be fun. Sister Maness and I were talking about how even though we're away from our families for the holidays, it isn't hard because we are so welcomed by so many other families. What a blessing. 

As I've shared lots of Christmas messages these last few weeks, I've been able to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. I have learned that not only is it about Christ's birth, but about His atonement and His second coming. There would be no significance to Bethlehem without Gethsemane. He came here not just to be born the Son of God, but to fulfill His purpose and provide a way for us to return Home again. I am so grateful for my Savior and His great sacrifice. I am grateful for this time on Earth that I have to learn about Him and what His life means for me personally. He is  the Son of God, "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace".

May you all have a Merry Christmas and feel the Savior's love as you spend time with your family. I love you all!

Love,

Sister Wightman

12/16/13 Photo

12/16/13 Letter #38

Hey Fam and friends!

Well, another eventful week. It all started Tuesday night. Tuesday I was at a leadership council and so Sister Maness went on exchanges with some other sisters as Sister Edstrom (my MTC comp) and I carpooled to the meeting. On our way back, we got a call from our companions that one of the sisters had fainted and that they were taking her to the hospital so we should meet them there. We luckily were just passing what we thought was the hospital that the ambulance was taking her to and so we waited, but turned out they took her to another one in Boise. We met up with our mission president there and ended up having to wait for about 4 hours until they released her. She has diabetes so we thought that was the cause, but not quite sure what really sparked it. Luckily the sister is okay, but definitely not how I anticipated spending the rest of the evening. It was a great time though to spend with our mission president and get to know him better. I keep telling Sister Maness..."welcome to the mission!" haha. She's had a great introduction: snow and hospitals. 

Thursday night, our investigator, Miary, had her baptismal interview by our mission president. It was such a spiritual experience. After he went through the interview, he brought Sister Maness and I into the room and we were all able to bear out testimonies to each other and many tears were shed. At the end of the visit, President challenged Miary to learn English because it would benefit and bless her as she became more involved with the ward and evening preparing for the temple in a year. Sister Maness decided to take advantage of this opportunity and so we're going to start meeting with her almost daily to teach her English. I'm so excited and so grateful for this woman's preparations and testimony that have gotten her to this point. She asked if weren't going to come by any more and we promised her that we would still come often and now we have even more reason t do so. Her baptism is this Saturdayand I am so excited for this unique experience as it will be in Malagasy and translated for us. 

With this Christmas season, we've had a lot of success getting to visit with less-active members and inviting people to activities. One of the events was a live Nativity at the Star Community Friendship barn. This was the second time the LDS and Friendship Church have done this together and it's a great opportunity for different religions and the community to come together in unity as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Three of the elders were volunteered to be the "wisemen" and another was the angel, while the rest of us joined in the choir. It was a great turnout as we had about five 10 minutes performances. The only downfall was that our toes were frozen by the end of the night. But there was hot chocolate and it was worth it ;) I love the Christmas season! We've been listening to a lot of Josh Groban and David Archuleta Christmas music!

Our schedules are getting filled with more teaching opportunities. We are continuing to teach Mary Jo and she has accepted the challenge to attend all three hours of church instead of just Sacrament meeting. Her biggest struggle has been doubting that she knows enough (even though she attends church regularly and has LDS family so knows more than most of our investigators!) and so we know that by also attending Gospel Principles and Relief Society will help her to learn more and feel more confident. We also had a less-active member and his non-member family invite us over for Christmas dinner so we're REALLY excited about that!

We had Zone meeting this week and were encouraged on a few commitments. One is that our mission goal until January 7th is to find 500 new investigators (about 2 new investigators per week per companionship). We are praying more than ever for these opportunities and know that blessings will come. We are encouraged to have one companion prayer a day that is just on gratitude. I know that by simply expressing gratitude, it helps us to focus on what we have already been blessed with instead of constantly asking for more. 

At this time of year, as we reflect more on Christ, let us be grateful for what we have been given and for how He has blessed our lives. Reach out to your neighbors and loved ones more by letting them know you love them and doing an act of service for them. Whether it's delivering cookies or helping out in their yard. We all need to feel loved and wanted. Thank you for all your love that you have shown to me. I feel the prayers and thoughts every day. I know the miracles I see are not just chance, but a result of prayers and work. Let's lift each other's spirits as we reflect on the spirit of CHRISTmas. 

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Wightman

12/08/13 Photos

 Sister Maness and I walking out Saturday morning to fresh snow

the Star District posing with our Gingerbread temple 

 Sister Maness and I at the ward's Christmas breakfast with our Gingerbread temple

Brittany and her family with all the sister that taught her (Sister Houseman, Sister Chen, Sister Roundy, and Me)