Letter #69 07/28/14

Well, it's been another incredible week. Mikalai got baptized on

Saturday! It was beautiful and even with a few hiccups along the way,

it all worked out in the end :) I was asked to speak on Baptism which

ironically was the first time I've spoken at a baptism (usually I'm

involved in the music) as it was also probably my last baptism on the

mission. It was a huge turnout with lots of friends and family. She is

so amazing and was so grateful for us. I am so grateful for the people

I have been able to meet and teach and prepare for baptism. They are

all special individuals that I know I was meant to meet.

We have had some great success with teaching Mason, a 16 year old boy

who is just so prepared, as well as Frank, a 70 year old man who is

intellectual, but very interested as well. It is so refreshing to meet

and teach people who are willing to act on our invitations and where

they feel that these things are true instead of just fighting it or

thinking it sounds good, but not willing to act. I feel like I've come

to understand finally what the term "long-suffering" means. I've been

in this area for over 5 months now and I remember for most of it, the

work was slow and I wondered if I'd bring anyone to baptism before I

came home. It took a lot of diligence, and praying, and planning and

re-planning and more praying and more diligence, but now we have had 2

baptisms in ONE month and are teaching more people who really seem

ready and prepared as well as more expressing interest. It's the darn

principle of patience, but I tell ya, it truly pays off! I appreciate

it all so much more because of the time it took and it couldn't have

come at a better time!

I attended my "departing temple trip/devotional" on Friday. This

transfer is a really different because all of us missionaries are

going home on different days and so we did our temple trip a little

early as an elder finished his mission this weekend. It was still a

bit surreal as I still have a couple weeks left, but what an

incredible experience. It was so special to be in the temple with my

mission president and his wife, the office staff and fellow

missionaries that I've been able to serve amongst while on my mission.

There was a great spirit there. We had dinner at the mission home

after (haven't been there since the first day I got out here in the

field!) and then had a little testimony meeting and some words of

wisdom from our mission president. What an inspired man. I needed to

hear the things he and so many others said. It got a little real as

the elder who was finishing first's parents walked in to be reunited

with him. Sister Edstrom and I looked at each other like, "Holy cow!

That's going to be us soon!". Again, a little grateful I still have a

couple of weeks to prepare still.

This journey just continues to be incredible. It is not easy, FOR

SURE, but boy is it worth it! I'm growing and being broken down and

then being strengthened constantly. It's a bit overwhelming at times,

but I know I'm being prepared for many things every day.

I love you all and thank you again for your support!

Love,

Sister Wightman

photos 07/21/14

"Filipino" dessert at Minda's on the 4th of July with Sister Worden

At Minda's baptism with her husband, Sister Worden and Brother Horrocks (baptized her)

Video

letter #68 07/21/14

Life continues to be miraculous out here. We started teaching two new investigators (one is a man in his 70's and the other a young 16 year old boy) this week and they both just seem so prepared, like they've been looking for this forever! We have also continued to work with Mikalai as she prepares for her baptism THIS weekend :D It's incredible as a month ago, I honestly felt like I'd never be a part of a baptism the rest of my mission and since then I've had one with one on the way and two more potentials! Continually learning the principle of PATIENCE haha. It has been almost unbelievable of how busy Sister Worden, Sister Hancock and I have been. It used to be that each night we had to plan out a whole day for the next day, and now we look at our planners and we just have a few hours still to plan each day. We are just getting booked with teaching opportunities. I love it! This is exactly how I want to be spending my time. 

We had a training this week on "recognizing the spirit" and I think it was definitely inspired. With all these teaching opportunities, it can sometimes be easy to get stuck in a rut, and so making sure we're relying on the Spirit really helps to make sure we are keeping these INDIVIDUALS in mind and helping them with their needs and concerns, not just teaching them. One thing we have changed as we've been teaching a lot more Restoration lessons is singing "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" instead of reciting his experience in his words. Although that can be powerful, there is something about music (and you all know how much I love music) that really sets in a special spirit. I'm grateful because to me, this part of our lesson is one of the most important parts that we are teaching because everything else really stems off of if this is true or not. I feel like with singing this hymn, it helps others to feel the Spirit even stronger and take TIME to soak in what happened as this young boy asked a genuine prayer in faith. My testimony has definitely grown stronger. We have also strived to help others learn to recognize the Holy Ghost more and that's been wonderful because sometimes we rush through that and then it's hard for them to know when they are receiving an answer to their questions. I'm so grateful for the Holy Ghost who is a companion and a guide if we allow it to be. It's pretty hard to do it alone and I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us with His spirit to learn and to grow and to know more. I am so so grateful for this gospel and that I have this wonderful time to share it with my brothers and sisters. It is such a blessing in my life and I would never want to withhold others from this wonderful blessing as well. It's there for ALL!

Love you all so much!!!!

Love,

Sister Wightman

Photos 07/14/14

at the Anne Frank memorial park in downtown Boise with Sister Worden and Sister Hancock

in front of a little fish aquariam (hidden surprises downtown!)

Letter #66 07/07/14

Helloooooo!

I hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July. As always, the holidays are little different on a mission. We actually stayed quite busy that day, which we weren't expecting. We helped some members paint their bedrooms in their basement (haven't done painting in a while) and then enjoyed a nice BBQ with the sister that we live and another lady in our ward. We then visited with Minda and her husband Rod (I'll share more about them later!!!) and enjoyed a Filipino dessert (basically jell-O and condensed milk) together. That evening we had a nice dinner with some more members. We had shish-ka-bobs and fruit. Very refreshing on that hot day! We had to be in by 8, so we didn't see any fireworks. But Sister Worden and I decided to use some glow sticks that we found in our room and had some root beer floats while watching the Testaments movie. So, not too shabby. The fireworks were going off like crazy though. I was impressed that these neighborhood shows sounded like stadium performances. Too bad we couldn't see any from where we were at :/ So grateful for the freedoms of this country though, and especially right now, the freedom of religion!

Ok, so I can barely hold it in, but the miracle of the week is...MINDA GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It's crazy that last week I was just mentioning how she seemed to be hinting at that. Well, Tuesday we met with her to teach about the commandments and afterwards, she asked if she could talk to us about something. She then continued by reenacting her thoughts and conversation with her husband as she shared how the Spirit kept prompting her that she was ready, but she was nervous to bring it up her her husband. Luckily, the Spirit had been working on him too and so they both agreed to let her go ahead and do it. She literally jumped off the couch exclaiming that she was ready to get baptized!! It was awesome! We asked when, and she said if Saturday was too soon. Of course, we told her not at all and so we began making plans. She had her interview Thursday night and Saturday had a beautiful baptism service! There was a great turnout of friends who have supported her along the way. Sister Worden and I sang a musical number, "I Will" (sure am getting more used to singing in front of others...hehe). It was cute, as we helped Minda get ready after she had been baptized, I asked her how she was feeling and she said "stronger". I love it! She was truly ready and I'm so glad she acted on that prompting. Yesterday, at church, she was confirmed a member of the Church and received the Holy Ghost and a beautiful priesthood blessing. Everyone felt the spirit so strong. I think the ward really needed that. Truly an answer to our prayers and fasting!!!! I'm so happy for her and where she's going :)

I am continually reminded by my Heavenly Father to be patient and trust Him and His timing. It seems like right when I'm questioning what I'm doing and if it's making a difference, He blesses me with these tender mercies. Some are great and some are small, but they are all reminders that He IS there and He DOES hear our prayers! It's incredible and yet so simple. This gospel is TRUE!

Hope you all have a great rest of your week :)

Love,

Sister Wightman

Letter #67 07/14/14

Hey All!

Well it's quite funny because I feel that after each week I send out my letter, something big happens after. Last week it was Minda getting baptized...this week Sister Worden and I got another companion!! It was funny actually because last Monday we had another sister with us while grocery shopping and such because her companion was sick and while we were walking around, I thought about how fun it had been to be in a trio before. Apparently, Sister Worden had the same thought and then a few hours later we got a call from our Mission President informing us that another sister was coming in and that she would be serving with us. We were so excited. So her name is Sister Hancock. She is 26 (yay!) and from Flagstaff, Arizona. So now I have to companions from Arizona haha. We are all getting along well and having lots great memories together already. This morning, we went with a sister in our ward to ride the Green Belt on bikes. I did it last year with the Ingersoll's and was excited to get to do it again before I head home. We tried to beat the heat, but that's hard these days. Luckily, the Green Belt is along a lot of trees so we got some good shade :)

I can't remember if I mentioned last time that our mission is doing this new commitment where we teach every member in our wards the message of the Restoration. We have seen some incredible miracles just this first week of doing it. It's been perfect, firstly, having Sister Hancock be new to have so many teaching opportunities. We have been able to teach and set up appointments with members who haven't been very active in church, but still are letting us come teach them. And we've had some incredible miracles with the commitments we leave with the families. One of them was with the Healton's. The husband is actually not a member, but he is very supportive for his wife and loves when we come visit. As we shared the message we committed him and his wife to read from the Book of Mormon every day as a couple. Although this may not seem anything big, having him accept that was huge! I'm excited what more miracles come from this commitment :)

Although this week has been wonderful, there have been some parts where I really felt my testimony tested and strengthened. I've had people question the things I have testified of as well as others try to persuade that we are just confused and one day we'll understand (coming from a Returned missionary, so sad). Although I had moments of weakness and feeling of defeat, I received a confirmation that what I know IS true and what I know is enough (great talk by Elder Neal L. Anderson "You Know Enough" is a great reference if you're ever feeling that way). Throughout life, we might have moments of weakness where we wonder if what we've believed and been taught is true, but if you remember those spiritual confirmations that you've received in the past and remember that what you DO know is enough, than you can feel strenghtened and not have to worry. I know that this gospel and the things I teach ARE true. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that He has a great Plan that is for my benefit. I know it takes work to accomplish all that our Heavenly Father has in store for us, but it is so worth it and it takes work to truly appreciate those things. I love this gospel and I'm so grateful I have it in my life :)

Love you all!!!!

Sister Wightman