Letter #52 03/31/14

Hello everyone! Today is Sister Roberson's 21st birthday and so we decided to make a few surprises for her (birthdays are always different on a mission). Last night, I decorated the bathroom with streamers and wrote on the mirror. And this morning, we had two other sisters come over at 6:28 so we could all wake her up singing happy birthday. She was so happily surprised. And then it was great to see her reaction as she came into the bathroom. I love Sister Roberson because she is so animated and reacts so well to things. While she opened some gifts, we all made Belgium waffles. De-lish! Later we're going to take her out to lunch with some other sisters and then will meet up with our zone to go play dart wars (not really sure what that is). Our district leader is making her a cake too. She's been loving it! This last week has been another great week. I continued my responsibility of going on exchanges with the sisters I have stewardship over. One of them was Sister Tauiliili (yeah, keep practicing that one!) who is from Samoa. She is awesome. She reminded my so much of my second companion, Sister Hamilton. It kind of freaked me out a couple times how similar they were haha. I love her so much and she and I had a great time serving with each other. We had a really cool miracle happen while together. She had received a referral from a member for us to go contact their next door neighbor. We went and a guy answered the door. I explained that we were just coming by to introduce ourselves and asked if he would be interested in hearing our message. To my surprise (seriously), he said yes!!! This like never happens haha. So we came in and talked to him and just got to know him. It was awesome, he just kept asking us questions (not bashing at all). We talked about the Book of Mormon and asked if he wanted a copy which he said he would. We explained what it was about and shared our testimonies. The Spirit was so strong. He asked about where it talks about when Christ came to visit and teach the people in the ancient Americas and we showed him, so I think he's actually going to read it. It was just so awesome because I'm so used to people saying no and not taking us seriously, and to have someone who genuinely seemed to care was just so refreshing and testimony-building that Heavenly Father is preparing people to here our message. On Thursday, we had a Sisters Spring Training with all the sister missionaries in our mission. It was so awesome to see everyone (there are so many now that I don't even know who they all are anymore - 62 sisters). We had training from our mission president's wife, all of us Sister Training Leaders gave a little training (I spoke on not comparing ourselves to others and enjoying the mission). We walked around the Boise temple since it's right next to the mission office and took a group picture. Ironically although it was spring themed, and we all wore bright springy colors, it was over cast and sprinkling. But we were all still in good spirits :) We also had a counselor from the LDS Family Services talk to us about stress and how to handle it and we ended with hearing from President Winder. I love that man. It was so sweet to see him tear up and not even be able to sing with us as we sang "As Sister In Zion". I think he truly feels like we are all his daughters. It was fun as we did a clothes-swap after and just got to mingle with each other. Saturday, we were able to attend the Women's Broadcast for all sisters throughout the world. What a special meeting. It was truly historic having sisters in a wider age range (8+). I was choking back the tears as I heard them sing Teach Me to Walk in the Light. We are all God's daughters, no matter our age. I know I say this a lot, but seriously every day I am continuing to love this work. I have grown such an appreciation for this gospel and the importance it has for ALL of us. I have also gained a great appreciation and understanding of the scriptures. Lately, in my Book of Mormon study, I have been reading the end of Alma which has a lot of war chapters. I've also just breezed through those not really understanding their importance. I've come to understand though that it is teaching us to always be prepared for the "wars" that come along our way in life. Some are brought on by ourselves and some by others, but if we are prepared we shall not fear. There was a great scripture in Alma 58:40 that shows that throughout life we face trials and tribulations and therefore receive wounds, bruises and scrapes along the way. We are not immune to that. But we must keep pushing forward and always remembering our God who is ALWAYS there for us, if we let Him. These experiences are truly for our good. They don't always seem that way, but it's up to us to choose how we're going to handle them and who we're willing to ask for help. I love you all so much and am so grateful for all the help you've given me throughout my life as I've encountered my own trials and wars. Love, Sister Wightman

Letter #51 03/24/14

This week has been pretty great. We are continuing to see lots of miracles happen and more success every day. We have continued to see Lisa and help her with unpacking and organizing her house. She is so sweet and is SO grateful that we have been able to help her. She expressed that it would have taken her literally years because of her MS. We've been able to share more scriptures with her lately and even sang some hymns to her last night that brought her to tears. It just feels so good that we can be in the right place at the right time and making a difference with people! This is what it's all about :) Wednesday night we got to have dinner with the Tanner's in our ward, which was really fun because Brother Tanner is the son of the Tanner's that I lived with when I was serving in Meridian North! We got to take some silly pictures and send them to his parents who are now serving a mission in London. Later, we went to some sisters' apartment that are in our ward and have some mental disabilities. We have been reading the Book of Mormon to them since it is hard for them to read. We had a little miracle there as their care taker, Kayla, was there and started asking us questions. Turns out she is not of our faith but is really curious and is willing to learn more! You just never know where you'll find people who are ready to receive the gospel :) It felt so good to have someone genuinely ask questions and really want to know more. She is pregnant with her first child and I think is looking for direction to raise her child with faith. This week was kind of tied up with exchanges and doctors appointments (for one of my companions). I have loved going on exchanges though and getting to know these sisters so much better. They are all so wonderful. I have been able to help and council in so many ways lately, and I am grateful I can be there to help. Saturday was a pretty special experience for me. Thursday night I received a call from the Assistants to the mission president, inviting me to a special council with a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. There were just a few of us STL's, Zone Leaders and District Leaders. The brother was Elder Godoy from Brazil. He is over the western states, including Idaho. It was quite an honor to be in his presence. He was very comical and shared a lot of great insight. He wanted to know what made our mission unique from other missions, what the strengths and struggles were and how we could improve. I am grateful for these leadership role that allows me to share my experiences and help in so many ways. It was very edifying and I hope that we will see even more blessings come in our mission. That evening, we went to visit Lisa again really quick and then went to see a guy named Jon (in his early 30's) who is a less-active member that we've been working with. He asked us to come over and we watched the Finding Faith in Christ DVD with him. Afterwards, we had a wonderful discussion and helped him to see how he was already exercising his faith in Christ. We challenged him to come to church yesterday, which he hadn't been to in a long time. I felt prompted to share with him that I didn't know what was going to be said at church, but that there was something that was going to be spoken or felt there that he needed to be there for. It was incredible as we sat in church yesterday, with Jon and another less-active guy, Jack, and the words that were spoken were truly just for these guys! I knew that what I had promised him was inspired and that the talks that were shared were inspired as well. Although Jon was nervous coming to church after so long, he felt peace there and was grateful for the fellowship and messages that spoke right to him. I know that this Gospel is true. I know that Heavenly Father does communicate to us through the Holy Ghost and that those answers come in different forms. I have learned lately of the importance of acting on impressions. I seem to always kick myself when I get a prompting, as minor as it may seem, and don't act on it. So more than ever, I just act on it, even if I don't see why. We are never alone and we can always be guided to the things that will bless us the most if we just listen to that still, small voice and then ACT. If it leads us to do good, it is good. I love you all. I hope you have a great rest of your week! Love, Sister Wightman

Wrong Roads

Photos 03/17/14

Sister Emmett and I had been craving these mint shakes from Arby's since we got here and we finally got them. SOOO worth the wait!

The winds are a little crazy today...

Letter #50 03/17/14

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I was so grateful I had some green in one of my scarves, otherwise I would have been very bruised today from all the pinching ;) Just wanted to wish my Uncle Pat and Uncle Kurt a very happy birthday as well!

I hit my year mark on Thursday, and although it was just another day on the mission, it was incredible to be reminded that I have been out that long and all that has happened this last year. Honestly, as I reflect on a year ago, it seems like a lifetime ago! My time in Twin Falls seems like a whole other mission (maybe because it is now haha). I am so grateful for the experiences that I have, though, and am so blessed with all the people that I have met along the way. In this past year, I have seen 8 individuals baptized that I was able to teach and how special that has been. These people will forever have a special place in my heart and have become dear friends. I have had 7 companions, including the ones I have now, and have learned SO much from them! I know that people are placed into our lives for a reason and I know that all these sisters and I were meant to serve at this particular time and to be able to serve with each other as well. I have just grown so much, yet I am still me. Just a better version. I have a better understanding of who I am and who I can become. 

This week, I was on a couple of exchanges, so I didn't really feel like I did much in my own area, but it was great to work with other sisters in their areas. This time around as a Sister Training Leader, I am over 7 other companionships and so I am having to go on about 2 exchanges a week to cover each companionship. I love it though because I feel like I really get to know the other sisters better this way than just talking to them on the phone. They are all so amazing and teach me so much. We were able to see lots of miracles happen and have many teaching opportunities. One tuesday, I went with another sister (Sister Molbek from Denmark) to her area and there was a lady that we went to see from the ward. She is active but has struggled with drinking coffee for the past 20 years. Her husband recently died and they were never able to be sealed in the temple and that is something she desires now more than ever, since he has passed away. However, the only thing holding her back is that coffee. She has tried before but hasn't been able to just throw away the coffee maker and gets headaches when she skips out. The sisters had been really encouraging her and even got her a picture of the temple to put near the coffee maker as her motivator. I saw her on Sunday as our wards meet at the same building and she shared with me her amazing experience. The day after we saw her, every time she walked by her coffee maker, she got this impression to throw it away. After about 4 promptings, she finally decided to take it out back to the trash can. As she went to put it in, another prompting came into her mind that she needed to throw it in so that it would break, otherwise she could just pick it out later if she changed her mind. She did this and it broke into about 5 pieces. She said she felt so good after, and although she is still bearing through the withdrawal headaches, she is happy and and staying strong! It was just incredible to hear the faith of this woman and what she was willing or not willing to allow to get in her way of greater blessings than just a coffee fix. 

We had a tender mercy in our own area just yesterday. Saturday, we fasted as we are hoping to help those we are working with take it to the next step and felt that fasting would give it that extra boost. Because the weather has been so nice, we decided to walk to church (about a 20 minute walk). On our way home, we were passing a house where there was a family that we had been trying to meet from the ward who have not been as active, but had claimed they wanted to. Unfortunately, every time we had tried to visit before, no one had been at home. This time though, we noticed that the garage door was opened and a car was inside. Sister Emmett turned to Sister Roberson and I and asked if we should try and we said, "sure, why not!". So we did, and a mid-aged lady answered the door. She quickly told us that now was not a good time, but that she was having to unpack. We said that we could help her if she wanted and she agreed to let us in. We quickly learned that the family we thought lived there had just moved out and she had just moved in yesterday. She told us her name was Lisa and then shared with us the many things she's been through: diagnosed with MS at 36 years old, having her house taken from under her and never seeing a dime of it, and other trials. We were amazed to hear all that she's been through. A neat thing though was that she shared with us how she's been praying for 2 years to be placed where she needs to be and as she came here yesterday, she got an overwhelming feeling that this was it. We helped her to find her dishware as they had just packed everything up for her and done a terrible job labeling. And just talked more about our lives and hers. She was so appreciative of our service as with the MS it's really hard for her to get around and lift heavy things and was so grateful that we offered to come back and help her unpack more. We left feeling like this was an opportunity to serve this wonderful woman and help her strengthen her relationship with God and find more peace in her life. With must prayer and fasting, miracles DO happen! Heavenly Father is aware and hears and answers our prayers in HIS time and in HIS way.

I am so so so grateful for these experiences I am having. I could not get this anywhere else. I would not have been able to meet all these amazing people and see the blessings come from serving each other. I am grateful for the guidance that Heavenly Father continues to give each of us. If we do our part, He will always do His. That is His promise. Sometimes the right way does not seem like the easy way, but it is the way that will liberate us and give us those blessings that effect us eternally. Sometimes we take the wrong path, not quite sure which way we're supposed to go, but He quickly guides us and reassures when we are on the right path. I love you all so much!

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Wightman

Photos 03/03/14

with the Simmons family and a couple of our investigators my last Sunday in Star

my new tri-panionship: with Sister Roberson (middle) and Sister Emmett (right)

Letter #49 03/02/14

Well it's been quite an eventful week in my new area. My companions have both been here for at least 6 weeks so it's a change having someone else lead me around the area. It's been great though and they have been wonderful in getting me to meet everyone and become involved. Being in a trio is definitely different. I remember talking to my second companion who had been in a trio before and she said that you either love it or you don't. I think I'm going to love it. I definitely feel like we work well together. One of the great things is that we have learned to laugh. And we laugh a LOT. It is so important to find laughter especially in those stressful moments. It's only a bad 5 minutes, not a bad day. So find something to laugh about. We can all be goofs with each other and I'm grateful we've become so comfortable so quickly. I have new stewardship over 7 companionships now as a Sister Training Leader. One of them is with Sister Archuleta, so it will be fun to work with her again. I definitely felt overwhelmed when I found out that I was on my own with so many sisters, but as I prayed and studied, I felt a peaceful feeling come over me that everything would be alright, that the Lord would help me accomplish all that I need to do. Many times we don't see the end of the tunnel and feel discouraged or helpless, but when we turn to the Lord for that assistance, knowing we can't do it by ourselves, we are humbled and able to overcome so much. I know these experiences continue to make me stronger and will prepare me for so much. The ward that I am now serving in is so great. There is so much support and the members are just willing to be involved any way that they can. We have a few people that the sisters have already been working with and so it's nice to continue to have teaching opportunities. In the meantime, we are practicing on the members as we have dinner with them. Another great thing about our tri-panionship is that we teach really well together. I have felt the Spirit so strong every time we teach and I'm so grateful for that. It's interesting as I am out longer on my mission, that because it is so small, I am continually running into people from old areas or that have connections with areas I've served in. I continue to feel such a part of my mission and the people of Idaho. I truly love it here. Lately, I've had a lot of people ask me what I miss about California, and honestly the two main things I can think of are the people and the food (I miss my Thai food from Khan Toke). But I do love it here and yet I'm grateful I still don't talk Idahoan. Haha. There is a slight difference (mostly grammar). I love you all so much. I miss my family dearly and friends, but I am so grateful to have wonderful people in my life who support me and have encouraged me. I continue to see how that is not so common and how blessed I am for that. I know that my life has been blessed so much because I have been rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although I am not perfect and have had to learn along the way, the standards and doctrine that I have grown up on has helped me overcome so many challenges that come in life. I continue to understand who I am and my worth. I continue to learn about the Atonement or sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for me so that I can keep enduring and not have to dwell on my mistakes and imperfections. I know that life can be hard, but there is something so great to look forward to, to live for. There is a wonderful gift called eternal life that we can all obtain. The decisions we make now to matter. There are consequences, both good and bad, but if we take the time to think before we act, we can allow for more blessings and freedoms to come. I hope you all have a fantastic week! Love, Sister Wightman