Hope

Hi Mum!

Sounds like you've had a pretty busy/crazy week! You're amazing. I don't know how you do it… :) Please tell everyone that I love them and thank you for their support. I sure do miss everyone, but I know that it will all be there when I get back, and that this work is so important. It's not easy, but salvation wasn't easy either (Elder Holland is so quotable!). 

I've been studying a lot about hope this week--and after hearing about Friday's events, I know a little more of why. Elder Maxwell gave a terrific talk entitled "A Perfect Brightness of Hope" (I think) in the November 94 Ensign--you should all read it because it is so powerful. Then in Relief Society yesterday, part of the lesson was on hope. Such perfect timing. :) Sister Senter shared with us a list of some of her favorite scriptures on hope. She passed around a number of them for us to read to the group, and I had to smile at the one I was given: 1 Timothy 1:7. This has been one of my favorite scriptures for a few months now, and has brought me comfort in multiple ways. And just the fact that that scripture got passed to me really showed me how mindful our Heavenly Father is of us. There are no coincidences. :)

I sincerely hope that we get the chance to share that message of hope and love with people that we meet this week. We just had a zone training meeting last week, where we were instructed to teach more simply--which is hard when you have so much to share, but more effective. If we can really listen to the spirit and discern the needs of those we teach, a short powerful statement about hope or the love of God and gift of His Son will lift them more than a 20-minute speech about the Restoration. Brevity has never really been my strong point, but I'm working on that. :)

Okay, hold on. Nathaniel is getting married? To Rachael?!?!   that's the best thing I've heard in ages. Okay, one of the best things. I am SO excited for them! So perfect. :) And congrats to David and Courtney! And yay for Sharlie! She will be such a great missionary. And I think Knoxville is right next to Browards' mission. Is that right? Awesome. How is he, by the way? And how is TWIG? I can't believe he's home already. Please tell all my choir boys hi for me, and that I love them lots and lots. :) It's crazy to think that they're all coming home now because it seems like they just left!

… I got to play [the flute] again last night! I had the wonderful opportunity to play a duet with Sister Arnesen (on cello) in the Kirtland Temple (!!!) for their community Christmas program. We did the arrangement of the First Noel/Pachelbel's cannon from the Osmond/Todd book/CD--SO grateful to have that book!! :)

Well, I'm about out of time, but I love you all so much. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ, especially during this Christmas season. I know that He truly is the light that shines in the darkness (Christmas Cantata, anyone? thanks Coach :) ) and that He is the rock of our salvation. He truly is my rock, and I am so grateful for every chance that I have to be able to help others find and develop that sure foundation. The gospel really does bring such peace and direction to our lives. I don't know how I would live without it. I've seen our message work miracles and help people improve their lives here, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I love you oodles and oodles--Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sister Lyndsay Wygant

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Hi Family!

Before you do anything else, go watch this video: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video?v=2008190983001

SO GOOD. They just put this up on lds.org and it is amazing. What a beautiful song. And so cool for the Piano Guys! Love them. Also, speaking of the internet. Go to Facebook and look for the new Historic Kirtland Visitor's Center page! Yup, we're on Facebook now. There are photos and info blurbs about the nativity exhibit and other events at the VC. Check it out and spread the word! :) Could you maybe post the link to my Facebook page? I'd love for everyone to get to see it. :)

Anyway. It's been a GREAT week. Did you all get to watch the First Presidency's Christmas devotional last week? I'm so grateful that we did because I LOVED it. In light of President Uchtdorf's message, we've been trying this week to be better givers and receivers. 2 Corinthians 15:9 comes to mind--"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." Short and simple, but so true. Is everything we do showing thanks to God for the gift of His Son? I think that makes our choices a little simpler if we stop to think about that one question. 

Speaking of Christmas programs, I got to play my flute at the Kirtland Stake Christmas Program last night. Here they do a stake-wide Christmas program, and by happy coincidence I met the lady in charge of it when we were at the Thanksgiving Devotional at the Kirtland temple--I was directing the choir (of missionaries and stake members) and she was singing in it. I just happened to start talking with her, and it led to her inviting me to play a solo and play with the choir at this Christmas program. Blessings from keeping my goal to talk to everyone? Double yes. :) It was such a wonderful program, and I'm so grateful I got to play. PLUS I met Annalisa and Cameron Wilde's brother Jeremy--he's in the Kirtland Stake! Small world. :) He told me that Cameron goes to the MTC very soon--crazy! He's going to Jacksonville Florida I think. Awesome. Atta boy. :)

We're still working with Judi to help her quit smoking, and with Fiona to help her feel comfortable coming back to church. Both seem impossible goals at some times--but I've decided that I just need to be a bit more stubborn about not giving up on people. And patient too. We can't expect people to change overnight--but we can love them and teach them and be the example for them that shines a bright enough light into their lives to dispel the darkness of doubt, fear, and even addictions. That's all we can do sometimes--just love them and continue to encourage them and teach them by example. Smiley face. We have indeed offered a priesthood blessing to Judi--several times--but she hasn't accepted the offer yet. Which is a little discouraging, but I think she just doesn't quite understand what it means. We'll have to focus on that in a lesson soon, perhaps. But keep praying for her, if you would. All your prayers help and are so appreciated!

We still don't have any snow--we have rain though! Ha. And how fun that you got to see Kirt and Julie! Please tell them hi for me, and that I love them. They are so sweet. :) And thanks for forwarding Jenith's comment too! What a great story. 

Well, I'd better get going. We're off to make Christmas cards! (Really excited!!!) Thanks for the MMHS address--that's perfect! Love you all! 

PS a favorite quote from church yesterday: "Man will never fall to the top of the mountain." --we have to climb. :)
Also, some favorite scriptures from this week: D&C 98:1-3, D&C 6:34-36, and Romans 8:38-39 (the whole chapter, really.) Read them! I love the scriptures. :)

Love,
Sister Wygant

Happy December!

Hi Mama!

Happy December! We don't have snow here either...and it rained yesterday. In December? mmm. :) It's nice to not freeze every time we go outside though. We'll have to get some good tracting time in before the weather changes again. :) 

Mission conference really was amazing. I forget if I shared this last week or not, but one of my favorite stories was shared by President Stacey--one of President Vellinga's counselors. He told us of an experience driving through Cleveland and getting lost trying to avoid a traffic jam. His son had served in Cleveland at one time, and as he was driving through one neighborhood, he had this impression come to his mind: "This is the place that was made sacred by your son's sweat and tears." How beautiful and special. At the time that he shared that experience, I thought of the Kirtland temple, and how it is the place that the Kirtland saints made sacred through their sweat and tears--but also of my own area, and how I want the same to be said of me someday. That means I have to keep working hard and being diligent--and that's what I'm here for :) We've been challenged to find someone during this Christmas season who needs Christ in their heart--and to help them put Him there. I can't imagine a better Christmas gift to give to someone! One of the new resources we've been using is a new addition to mormon.org:mormon.org/Christmas. It's all about Christmas, as you might have guessed. :) You should all check it out and share it with friends--there's music and Christmas videos and more. It's great. 

Thanks for the Atonement/Peter Pan analogy. I love it. :) And it's so true. I think sometimes I forget that I just need to slow down, simplify, and have faith. Sometimes I feel like I'm at "the age of not believing" (name THAT one!! :) ) and that I don't have faith that anything we try will work--and the thing is, it won't unless we have faith. "Whatever you think you can or cannot do, you are right." I studied a talk from Conference this morning--by Marcus B. Nash. It's so good--read it! :) He talks about faith leading us to hope. When we nurture even the smallest particle of faith, we make room in our hearts for Christ to fill us with hope. We also have this quote on our fridge: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I like that a lot.

I'm so glad that the concert went well and that you got to see all those people-and I can't believe Spencer gets home so soon! Crazy. Seems like he just left! And Stephanie Osborn definitely just left--where did the time go? For me as well--last week I passed 3 months in the mission field. What? When did that happen? As I looked back over the past 3 months, I hope that I've been productive enough and learned everything that I could. I definitely want to make the next three months even better though. Onward and upward! :) I'm also sooo grateful for that time with Coach. We did our Messiah benefit concert yesterday and Saturday, and I was reminded of just how blessed I was to have those experiences. I love music and singing anytime--but those years with Coach were especially incredible and amazing.

Judi is doing well. Keep praying for her! She is seeing the blessings and changes the gospel has already brought to her life, and that is so neat to see. She knows that she needs to make other changes in her life and is working towards that. Keep praying that she will be able to quit smoking, if you would. This week we will be praying and working with her to pick a date that she will quit by. I've never quit smoking before, so I don't know exactly what to suggest/do for her--but I know that the Lord knows exactly what she needs, and that as we approach Him in prayer with faith, we will be able to know how to help.

I hope you feel better soon. :( Hopefully Purrcy will assist you and sleep with you. :) Give him some extra snuggles for me! Know that I love you and am praying for you frequently. Thanks for the wonderful updates! Love you all!

Love,

Sister Wygant

Thanksgiving and the Kirtland Temple

Hi Mama!

Happy (almost) December!! I got the photos from Thanksgiving—thanks for sharing!  Oh, I just love you all so much. It's so good to hear that everyone is doing well--family and also MC/etc. Tell everyone hello for me!

Thanksgiving here was grand. I got to take a nap (!!) before our lunch appointment, which was much needed :) then we had a meal with Sister Davis, a member of the branch, her sister Betty, and Betty's son and grandson. Sister Davis is an incredibly lady, and I look up to her so much. She is so sweet and faithful and always feeds us great food :) We went straight from that  appointment to dinner with the Dicksons—a less active family. What's great about that appointment is Sister Dickson called and invited us herself! We stopped by awhile back and
didn't think anything came of it--until she invited us to dinner for Thanksgiving. Her family is great, and we had a LOT of great food that day. :)

Zone Conference on Monday was amaaaaazing. Our first meeting was in the Kirtland Temple (!!). Pretty amazing in and of itself. We are so blessed to have that unique opportunity. :) President and Sister Vellinga spoke to us, as well as the Edmans (VC directors--speaking of which, we're getting new ones in January--there was an announcement about it in the Church News a few weeks ago--did you see it??) and the stake presidents of the Kirtland and Akron stakes. They are all such wonderful, loving people and leaders. They gave us some very inspired counsel, and I just loved it all. It was a sweet experience for me to sit there and listen, but also to ponder and think about everything that's happened since I first visited the Kirtland Temple on my first day here. It was amazing to me to be able to feel the Spirit so strongly on Monday, because it made me realize that I've come a long way since my first day here. On that day when we went to the temple, I was still so terrified of being a missionary and being away from home that there wasn't much room in my heart to feel the Spirit. But sitting there on Monday I was able to see that as I've worked and taught and studied over the past 2 months, the Lord has truly calmed my troubled heart just as He did the stormy sea for the apostles in Galilee. I came here with a lot of fear in my heart--and I know that He is the only way it could have been calmed. This is why I love the gospel so much. It's not just a bunch of rules and fairy tales. As we come to accept and act upon the principles taught in the scriptures and by prophets today, we can see the changes and blessings brought to our lives. That is the proof that this is real, and that it is from God.

Our other meetings for zone conference were at the stake center and sites (the VC). They were all so good but were dampened a little bit by the fact that Sister Vellinga had to be taken to the hospital from the temple. They still don't know what's wrong but are doing some tests and hope to know soon. Please pray for her. :)

ALSO. I got to play my flute in the Kirtland Temple yesterday! Preface: mission conference was split into two zone conferences of 3 zones each so that the meetings would be more manageable. So everything that we did on Monday was repeated yesterday with the other 3 zones in the mission. And for that morning meeting in the temple, I was asked to be part of the musical number. We played an arrangement of "What Child is This" for flute, violin, and piano. So. amazing. I'll try to send a recording next week :)

Judi is doing well. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom last week and she committed to stop smoking--but she's having a hard time with it. We're not discouraged though--we know she can do it. And having it be hard will be an opportunity for all of us to lean on Christ more and rely on His help to make this happen. We sure would appreciate your prayers though. She is so wonderful and she truly wants to make this change--but it is going to be challenging.

In response to your question about info for Tanner, I'm in the Chardon Branch. And our Branch President is President Draper. Also, Dad told me that Pat's grand daughter is coming HERE in the spring!!!! Woohooooo!! How very very exciting. Please tell Pat that I would LOVE to answer any questions that Sara has. She's welcome to write me at any time. I remember wishing that I could have someone to tell me what to bring/what not to bring/answer other  questions/concerns/etc before I came--and I'd love to be able to do that for her!

I'm so glad you found a tree--I can't wait to see pictures! We found some Christmas decorations in our basement (score!) and it's fun to have them up. Not the same though, of course. :) We also got to help decorate some of the trees at sites last week--you would have been so proud of my layering skills :)

As far as Christmas goes, I honestly can't think of much right now that i want or need, but sending anything at all is always so appreciated--getting packages or letters honestly makes our day every time. It doesn't even matter what's in it--it's just nice to be remembered :)

Another random thought: This morning I studied Elder Robert C. Gay's talk from conference entitled "What Shall A Man Give in Exchange For His Soul?" I loved it in Conference but I love it even more now. I really love this quote: "The question before us is not whether we are doing things which need correcting, because we always are. Rather, the question is, will we “shrink” or “finish” the call upon our soul to do the will of the Father?" So good.

Well, I'd better get going...but I love you all. How's Andrew doing, by the way? Tell him  I love him and miss him.

We're going to make Hungry Jack for dinner with Jerry tonight (recent convert)...wish me luck! :) Thanks for the pictures and the love and the quotes. You're the best. I love you all so much, and I pray for you daily. Let me know how all the many concerts/programs/etc go! I wish I could be there to see them...but I know they'll be great.

Never give up, never surrender! Smiley face.

Love love love,

Sister Wygant

PS: we're not in a triple up anymore...which is sad, but it's okay. Sister Christian has a new companion--Sister Mitchell from Temple Square!! She's here on her outbound til February, and she is great. We love her already :)

Tschuss!!

Merry Thanksgiving!!

Hi Mama!

Good morning! How is snowy Provo? Still lots of snow? We actually don't have any here yet--still! Apparently that's odd for Ohio. But I know it will come soon.

I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving this past week. I will really miss not being with you all at Grandpa's, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here serving these people. I really cannot
imagine not knowing any of these people. They are all so wonderful and I love them so much. I have really seen this week that as I've given my whole heart and all my energy to serving the Lord, holding nothing back, I have been so blessed. We have seen miracles in so many ways--we've found more people and had great lessons and I've just had more energy and motivation to keep working hard. Elder Holland said something in a talk we watched in the MTC (I think) about setting our feet to the plow and never stopping, never looking back, until the work is finished. That's what I'm trying to do, and I know that we all have been blessed for working so hard. It's exhausting but it's also so rewarding to come in at the end of the day and know that you have worked your hardest and given your all that day.

Judi is doing so well. She came to church yesterday with her 2 kids and they all loved it so much. We are going to teach her about the word of Wisdom this week (hopefully today!) and challenge her to quit
smoking--please pray for her! I know that she can do it, but I also know that she will need a lot of support and encouragement.

…
 

We met a guy named Jared while contacting the other day-we just randomly stopped and talked to him while walking down the street. We made fast friends and shared what we do as missionaries. and then he
came to the fireside we did at kirtland last night! He really liked it and is going to come back for a tour. Super exciting. Every year they do a huge nativity/lights exhibit at sites. it opens on Friday with a lighting ceremony and I'm SO excited. There are at least 700 nativities all around sites and lights everywhere outside.  The nativities are from all over the world and in all shapes and sizes. Best ever?  I think yes. It runs til the end of December and is apparently a huge draw for people all over the community. It is a wonderful resource/something to invite everyone to that is not threatening or anything--just a way to celebrate the birth of Christ together. I'm so stoked. I wish you could all be here to see it! I'll send pictures, don't worry :)

I heard a saying this week that I've been pondering a lot. Something like "the more you give up for something, the more it means to you." The thought i had when hearing that is that I've given up pretty much my whole world for this--which shows how important this work is and how much it means to both Heavenly Father and to me. For Him to ask young people all over the world to put their whole lives on hold for 18 months/2 years truly shows that He loves all of His children everywhere--that this work is so vital and so important. And since I've given up so much to be here, I ought to act like it means the world to me. It really does though. I know that this is where the Lord needs me to be, and I've come to love these people so much. I have given up a lot to be here, but i don't regret it. I know that "those who wait upon the Lord shall not be ashamed" (1 Ne 21:23) --He will always bless us for following Him, and will prepare a way for us to accomplish those things He asks of us. I've truly seen that this week. Trust Him. Believe Him. I rediscovered Stephen Robinson's talk "Believing Christ" recently--the talk that the parable of the bicycle comes from. It is so wonderful, and you all should read it :) He talks about not just believing in Christ--believing that He lived and died for us--but also believing Him. Believing His promises to us. It's hard sometimes but He never lies. He invites us to try Him, and try it for ourselves--because He knows that it will all work out, and that His promises will be fulfilled. And if He asks us to do something, and we try it, and it "bears good fruit" or brings more light and happiness to our lives, it must needs be of God (Moroni 7:13--a new favorite). That's our evidence. That's our answer. :)

Okay, gotta go. Love you oodles and bunches!! Merry Thanksgiving!!

Love,
Sister Wygant

First baptism set!

Hi Mama!

Great news - J..'s getting BAPTIZED!! She is golden. Seriously. Plus she has two cats--so you know she's great, right? :) But she really is so prepared. She always has so many great questions and whenever we teach her something she immediately sees connections and it makes sense to her. She told us that she feels like a sponge, and she wants to soak up as much as she can. Well, we can help with that :) … we have a lot to teach her still but we are SO excited. I keep feeling so much love as we teach her AND learn from her. I feel selfish sometimes because I feel like I'm learning by the Spirit every time we teach her--but I suppose that's how it ought to work. Seriously though...sometimes I feel like I don't know enough to teach her or anyone much of anything. You're a saint for raising me so well--there are so many times that I feel so inadequate and not up to the responsibility of making sure that our investigators learn everything they need to know. How did you ever do it? I'm so impressed and awed of every parent out there.

The rest of this past week was pretty good too--but that was definitely the highlight. Some of my new favorite scriptures are Rev. 21:4, 1 Ne 22:30-31, Moses 7:44, Alma 31:31, and 1 Ne 21:14. So so good. Also, I made a startling connection yesterday when listening to "Be Still My Soul"--I thought of D&C 101:16 which tells us to "be still and know that I am God." And it occurred to me that Be Still My Soul shares the same message--but that we should be still not just in the sense of not being frantic or running faster than we have strength--which is very important--but also that our hearts and souls need to be still. That's a deeper calm and peacefulness than we can find just by not rushing through life--when we allow the Lord to calm our troubled souls, we can become as peaceful and still as the waves when Christ commanded them "peace; be still". I hope that made a little sense--it was really cool in my head. 

How was everyone's Halloween? It was crazy here because a lot of neighborhoods postponed their trick-or-treating nights due to the storm...so there ended up being trick or treating happening on at least 3 different days. And we're not allowed to be out tracting when things like that are going on...so it definitely made things interesting. It reminded me of fun times last year though. Tell Rachel Hastings that I miss making pumpkin fudge with her! :)

This experience is definitely a roller coaster. Sometimes I feel like we're doing so well, and things are going great...and the next minute I feel like I don't know anything. Ha. We pray so much to know what we can do better and where we need to be/who we need to talk to in order to be instruments in the Lord's hands. Sometimes I feel like I get answers or I learn things, but sometimes I am still lost. I guess that's a good thing though...if I knew everything already I'd have nothing do to for the next 16 months! Sometimes I feel like I get confusing or conflicting promptings. I'm trying to be obedient anyways even when I don't understand completely.  I think that's when it's the toughest. But in chapter 6 of PMG it teaches that same principle in regards to obedience--and we are promised that as we are obedient and follow God's commands even when we don't fully understand why, we will be given more light and understanding. Like in John 7:17. If you want to know His will, live His doctrine.

I will hopefully get to play my flute again on Sunday! I'm scheduled to play in sacrament meeting and I'm so excited. Hopefully a lot of investigators will be able to come--and hopefully I can play well enough to help them feel the spirit. I feel like it's cheating a little bit...but it's also an incredible tool that I've been given, and i'm so grateful to be able to use my talents in a way that can bless others (hopefully :) )

Please say hello/thank you/congrats to everyone you've mentioned! Especially Chelsey--I knew about Erica but I'm so excited for both of them now! How wonderful.

...we found a little plastic Christmas tree in our basement yesterday...and we definitely have already set it up. :)  Aren't you proud? :)

We've been absolutely loving our triple up. Sister Ellsworth, Christian, and I have so much fun aaaaall the time. I love it. I'm learning so much from both of them every day. They are both so incredibly charitable. They always always put others' needs first and never complain when anything inconveniences them. I'm working on that. :)

Okay, I have more to say but I'm going to try to send some pictures first. If i don't get back to writing, talk to you next week! Love you!!!!

Love,
Sister Wygant

***********************************

Sisters Ellsworth and Wygant

Our house!

Period costume at the Visitors' Center

Triples!

November 5

Hi Mama!

… The storm was certainly an adventure! But also had a lot of crazy, wonderful, exciting things happen this week besides the storm. First: we were at the library the other day, and a lady came up to us and told us that she had been praying for a sign from God, and that she'd seen the name of Jesus Christ on our name tags, and that we were an answer to her prayers. What? Awesome. Her name is Judi and she is so sweet. We were able to teach her part of a lesson right there in the library, and at the end she said "Well, looks like I'd better come to church on Sunday." We didn't even have to invite her--she wanted to all on her own! So exciting. She came to church yesterday, AND she brought her 14 year-old daughter and 12 year-old son. They are all so sweet and so nice, and I really think that they enjoyed their time at church. I was so proud of our branch members for friendshipping all 3 of them and making them all feel welcome. Some of the YW came right up to Stacey after sacrament meeting and talked to her until her mom pulled her away. It was great. :) We have been praying to find a family to teach, and this one practically dropped into our laps! Miracles do happen :)  We have another appointment with Judi on Thursday--pray that it goes well!

ALSO, Fiona came to church yesterday! That is a huge step for her. She even bore her testimony! We are so proud of her and so happy that she came. :)

ALSO. BIG transfer news! I'm getting another companion! We assumed that we were safe from transfers since all new missionaries stay with their trainers for 2 transfers...but the District Leaders called us
last night to tell us that our area (Chardon) and the other area in our branch (West Chardon) are being combined, and that for this transfer we're going to be in a triple up with Sister Christian (one of the sisters currently serving in W. Chardon--also the Sister from the Isle of Man who knows Luke Rowley! Small world :) )!!! So exciting! So we're not changing companions, really, but we do have to move houses because only 4 sisters can fit into the Davis Home (where we live now). So tomorrow we get to pack up and move next door to the Boynton Home. Yay moving? Haha.

I've really seen blessings and miracles come this week from making sacrifices. Sacrifice truly does bring forth the blessings of Heaven. I've started to love fasting because it brings me so much closer to my
Heavenly Father--that constant reminder that I'm hungry is a constant reminder of the blessing I'm seeking and fasting for. We had the opportunity to fast on Thursday for a potential we'd been working
with, and although the lesson with that person didn't happen that night, we met Judi that day! That was truly a miracle. I've also seen myself change and grow in ways that would have been nigh unto
impossible before my mission--and it's thanks to the help of the Spirit. Many times I'll pray to be able to have more patience, or more faith, or etc--and it's funny because often I'll have an experience
the next day or hour that really tries my patience or tests my faith. Funny how that works, but I know that the only way to grow and become stronger is through trials. Sometimes I find myself wondering, "does
He have to grip so tightly?" :) But I'm grateful for the knowledge that I am in His hands, and that we are never alone. :) Sometimes I don't understand why I've been prompted to say a certain thing or why
I've been asked to do certain things--and it's incredibly hard to move forward not being able to see how those things will make a difference or help contribute to another's progress (or my own), but if nothing
else, I'll get really good at trusting God and being patient.

Did anyone get to watch the CES devotional last night? We did, and I'm so grateful for that chance. I loved what Bishop Causse said about trusting God's promises. I know that while I may not be able to see
all the fruits of my labor, and I may not see everything go the way I'd like it to, I will be blessed for doing the Lord's will.

I don't have my study journal with me (usually I bring it to the library to do emails but it's been a crazy day...) Sidenote! I got to play my flute at ZTM this morning! That's Zone Training Meeting. The Solon District put together a musical number that was a wonderful arrangement of Be Still My Soul, and I got to play the flute part. So, so fun. :) But anyway, back to what I was saying...some of my favorite scriptures from my study this week that I do remember:

Col. 2:5
D&C 25:10
Alma 31:31
Alma 32:28

Last weekend when I was on exchanges with Sister Esser, we found two cousins from Romania named Radu and Julia. They're here on an internship program and they are so fun. They let us right in and we talked with them for over an hour. We weren't sure how interested they were in our message itself, but they at least wanted to hear it and listen to what we had to say. Did I talk about them last week? I can't remember. Anyway, they both had a lot of questions, and we were able to answer a lot of them and just make some good friends. Well, Sister Ellsworth and I stopped by on Saturday and were able to teach them part of the Restoration lesson...aaaand they came and took a tour yesterday! I'm still not sure if they're interested in anything but the historical part of our message, but I do know that they felt the Spirit during the tour--even if they didn't recognize it. Anyway, Radu kept wanting answers to his questions that made sense logically. I finally realized that I can't prove that God exists--but I believe He does because I want to. I'm here on a mission because I want to be. I do things like keeping the commandments because I want the blessings that are promised us for doing so. That's something that my teacher in my Psychology of Performance class talked about a lot--we really only do things because we want to, if you get down to the bottom of it. Take note of the things you're each doing everyday and why you do them--our desires tell us a lot about ourselves. And the wonderful thing about the gospel is that by studying and living the principles it teaches, we can change even the deepest-rooted habits and desires. The study of the gospel can change behavior quicker than a study of behavior can. That may seem hard to believe to some people--and I can see why. But it's not blind faith. It's having enough faith to act, and then receiving promised blessings and the companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide us, teach us, and protect us. I hope some of that made sense. It did in my head. Haha.

Well, I've got to get going, but I love you all! Thanks to everyone for all of the letters, encouraging ideas/quotes, and prayers. I can definitely feel your love, and I'm grateful for it.

Love,
Sister Lyndsay Wygant

Two months. What?

FYI - We received a message from Lyndsay's mission president this morning letting us know that, even though they had experienced heavy rain, wind and some power outages in the area due to Sandy, all of the missionaries there were safe and accounted for.  Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for Lyndsay's well being.

***************************************

Okay! Hi! 

Two months. What? How did that happen? Crazy. We are doing our best to stay safe and dry and warm here...as a matter of fact, I'm wearing my wellies right now :)

You had snow!? Man. How exciting. We're supposed to get some soon I think. We don't get to watch the weather or anything...we just know what people hear and pass on to us. haha. we have heard about Hurricane Sandy though...this will be an adventure! We're in the midst of preparations, so don't worry. They'll take good care of us :)

Okay. Questions/answers. The johnson farm is a separate assignment since it's about 45 minutes away--so if i ever get called there, i'll move to the apartment down in hiram and work there for the whole transfer. but right now, i live in a house on the grounds of the VC--so it's about 2 minutes to sites. we live with one other companionship, so there are 4 of us in the house. and it is so fun. Sister Gamble and Sister Goodman are the others who live with us, and they are so fun. we have companion study together every morning for the first part of the hour, and we always find something to laugh about. they are the best. :) Sister Gamble's favorite color is purple, and she has purple everything...purple, purple! haha :) Also, it's the perfect group for me, because they all like to sing/listen to Christmas music. That's definitely already been happening at our house. We even got a head start before Halloween! Aren't you proud? :) 

When we're at sites, we exercise til 7, shower and get ready, study from 8-10, and then go to sites for the day. At sites, we either give tours, make calls in the call center, or take a shift being on mormon.org for chat. When I first got here, i hated the idea of making calls to people i'd never met. But it's actually kind of fun. we get to talk to some really great people. As for tours, the full tour takes about 2 hours. we start at the Whitney store, take them through all the rooms there, then take them through the Whitney home, the Johnson Inn, and the Sawmill and Ashery. I wish I had time to go through everything we teach during tour--because it's all great! someday i'll write it down and send it to you. :) 

We're in our area about every other day and sites the rest. We're in the Chardon Branch, and we have President Draper--what's Tanner's uncle's name? I'll ask around and figure out which ward he's in. We do have dinner appointments a lot of the time. And the members always give us a lot of food to take home. Free food is the best, right? They are so generous to take care of us like that. And free is my favorite number! Smiley face. 

I did get to play my flute a few weeks ago...and hopefully i'll have time again today to play for a bit! I love it. AND we get to participate in an inter-faith choir that's doing a Christmas benefit concert in December. God is so good :) Our conductor kind of reminds me of the guy from our PHS NYC tour--what was his name? But still nothing like Coach--i'm so spoiled :) I love being able to sing again though! I am so grateful for the opportunity. Pray that we will have lots of missionary opportunities there!

There are 8 missionaries in my district, and...a lot more in my zone. I don't know how many exactly. Our district is the Perry District, and we have the Perry Elders, the Painsville Sisters, the West chardon Sisters, and the Chardon sisters (us). Elder Hansen is our district leader right now, and he is great. He is always so inspired and comes up with the perfect things to help us.

The jam is purrrrfect. :) I'm so glad to have it! And I ate up the last of the muffins the other day--they were so good! I'll have to find that recipe and make some more :) 

OH here's some exciting news. Turns out that I know about half of Fiona's family. Haha. I went to high school with her cousins Nate and Caitlyn Perkins--Caitlyn was in Jazz Band with me and played bass. remember? I think just my soph year. She was fabulous though. And of course I know Henry--Fiona is excited/sad for him to go the MTC tomorrow. Funny ol' world, isn't it. So many people, yet so small. but the exciting news is that we visited with Fiona yesterday, and she finally decided to try coming back to church with us on Sunday! SO excited. This is a big, big step for her. I love her so much and hope that by the time Sunday comes around, she still feels like going. Prayers please? Thanks much :)

President Dahneke is a counselor to our stake president, I believe. He's a cool guy. And he looks so much like Scott!

Ohh man. I wish I could have been there to hear the Gruppmans play!! [Igor and Vesna Gruppman, violinists] Tell them thank you so much for their kind words. I love them so much! I am so grateful for the chance I had to see them on tour and then to play with them and get to know them better at the Lyceum camp. I am so impressed and humbled by their own humility and faith--they are such incredibly gifted musicians who have put their whole lives into perfecting their music--and yet they always seek to use their talents to glorify and give thanks to and praise our Heavenly Father. I love them!

Some favorite quotes from the week:

"The secret to having it all is believing that you do."

"We are each of angels with only one wing and can only fly embracing each other." --Luciano de Crescenzo

I went on exchanges with my great grandma on Saturday (my trainer's trainer's trainer)--Sister Esser. She served in chardon last year, and we went back and visited a bunch of her former investigators. It was great, and we have a bunch of appointments from it. yay! One of those appointments is for thursday with a 13 year-old girl named Tierra and her younger siblings. We're trying to think of good object lessons to help us teach them the lessons from pmg--namely, the restoration and the plan of salvation. Any ideas? I'd love to hear any and all of them. 

We visited a member last week, Sister Eging, who has 8 kids at home at the moment. 4 are adopted and 4 are foster kids--and she's fostered something like 25 kids total in her life. What a wonder woman! I was so awed by her patience and love and cheerful outlook on life. she is so busy and has so much going on--and yet she's able to keep a smile on her face and laugh as the house is torn apart by all the little kids. She told us that it's no good to get worked up over the things you can't control--so she just laughs about it. i've heard that a million times before but this was the principle in action. She's incredible! We each want to be her when we grow up. :)

I'm going to end for now so I can try to send some pictures! Love you!!

Love,

Sister Lyndsay Wygant 

**************

Sister Wygant and her companion Sister Ellsworth

Things are good here

Hi mama,

Things are good here. …. I saw an announcement on mormon newsroom the other day that ALFIE BOE is doing the MoTab Christmas concert this year!!!!!! You have NO idea how jealous I am! (Alfie Boe is the one who sang the part of Jean Valjean in the 25th anniversary Les Mis concert). That is so so so so exciting. Maybe it's a good thing that i won't be around for it...else I would be sorely tempted to go and start camping out right now for tickets! If you get a chance, please go for me! I have no doubt that it will be a SPECTACULAR concert. Hopefully it will be posted to lds.org so that I can catch a bit of it eventually. And if a cd ever comes out, you know that I want the first one :) Also, I'm slightly-super-really jealous of all my friends playing in OTS this season. Best perk ever? I think definitely (that's you, Joshie! You lucky duck!)

Whaaaat. Yaaaaaaay Luke is finally engaged!!! Oh I am just so excited for him. I'd better get an announcement!! Tell him and all the Rowleys congrats for me :)

Oh man. I'm so bummed that fiona didn't come to church :( thank you for going to meet her and talk with her though! I'm sure you see just how wonderful she is and also how much her trials have affected her. It is so hard for her...but we will keep trying. Thank you for talking with her and for sharing those ideas. We will definitely keep visiting her.

Thanks for giving that letter to Andrew. I have his other address somewhere, but i didn't have it on me at the time and figured that sending it home would work too :) Thanks also for the recipes! Our p-days are always so busy but hopefully i will get to try some of them soon.

We are still doing a lot of finding in Chardon--no new investigators yet. it is a little frustrating that no one wants to listen to us, but as Brother Dopp told us in the MTC, "More people will tell you no than yes. If that's not the case, you aren't asking enough people." Ha. so we'll just keeping asking a lot of people and hopefully someone will be interested eventually :)

Our days at the VC are always fun but so busy. we give tours whenever someone comes in--which could be in the middle of lunch or study time or anything else. always on our toes, we are. :) If we're not on tour, we make calls or go on chat at assigned times. I can't wait for you guys to come and take a tour here. It is the best. I learn something new every time. :)

Also, I met Scott Dahneke's uncle yesterday (Scott and I went to phs together, he and Amy dated for a bit, and he is Sister Bell's relative--grandson? I think.) Small world.

Random request: on my old blog at some point I posted a poem that talks about "if thou couldst empty thyself of self". Could you look for it and send it to me? I'd like to use it. Thanks!

Favorite quotes/ideas from the week:

*From Malena's letter a bit ago: "Lucifer is our brother. who knows us better than our siblings? he knows how to get under our skin and push our buttons. he doesn't have the veil to make him forget us. when he uses the one thing that can make you falter, get on your knees and tattle on him! Just like growing up, tattle tale to daddy. He will protect you from the adversary." Isn't that great? and related to that, Elder Prince pointed out to me this week that the bible dictionary definition for "Abba" is "a familial and intimate name for our Father in Heaven"--like calling Him daddy. I love that so much. And I'll use it again in a minute.

*"These days, many young eyes are prematurely old from countless comprimises with conscience." --Paul Harvey, quoted in "The Light in Their Eyes" by James E. Faust GC 1995. Don't let this happen! make sure that there is always light shining from your eyes. Light is one of my favorite topics to study. I know that as we keep the commandments and honor our covenants, we will be able to radiate light because we will be filled with godly love and light. That which is of God is light. Anything that invites us to do good or become more like God is of Him. So do it. Related is Elder Bednar's talk on testimony and conversion. Testimony is great. Belief is great. But what are you going to do about it? it is only as we act on our beliefs that conversion comes. it is also only as we act on the light we are given that more light comes.

*"The difference between a christian and a worldly man is not that the worldly man has only likings and the Christian has only charity. the worldly man treats certain people kindly because he likes them. the christian, trying to treat everyone kindly, finds himself liking more and more people as he includes people he could not have imagined himself liking at the beginning." Amen. :)

*President Dahneke spoke at our fireside last night, and he shared the parable of the bicycle--a story written by Steven Robinson (leah's dad :) ). If you haven't heard it, it goes like this. A young girl comes to her dad and begs for a bicycle. She has a plan to do extra chores and save all her money and pay for it herself. Her father agrees to let her try that plan, and a few weeks later she comes to him, beaming, with a small jar of change. The father knows that it is not enough for a bicycle, but takes her to the bike shop to look for a bike anyway. Once there, she finds the perfect bicycle, and is so overjoyed with it until she looks at the price tag. "Oh Daddy," she sobs, "I'll never have enough for this bicycle. Never.'' She collapses into his arms and weeps at the though. Her father comforts her and then presents a new plan. "You give me your 61 cents, and a hug and a kiss, and the bicycle is yours," he says. "I'll make up the rest."

This story is adorable. What a good dad. I love it. But I also love the lesson behind the parable. As it was with the girl and her father, so it is with us and our Heavenly Father. We set our eyes on a prize--the kingdom of Heaven and eternal life. But as we work towards it, we encounter pitfalls and storms along the way. At times of great despair, we cry out, "Oh Abba. I'll never have enough patience (or charity, or faith, etc). I'll never be able to obtain the Kingdom." We fall down weeping at His feet. But then, in His infinite love and compassion, our elder brother steps in, scoops us up in His arms, and says "Alright. You give me everything you have, and seal it with a covenant of love, and I'll make up the rest."

We can't obtain eternal life on our own. We just can't. But that's okay. Our Savior will always make up the difference if we will give Him everything we have. Brad Wilcox's talk entitled "His Grace is Sufficient" --that I talked about last week--expands on this perfectly [here is the link http://byutv.org/watch/49475abb-10d4-4f45-a757-7000b9945468]. If you haven't read it, read it! It is so wonderful. Also read Elder Holland's talk "For Times of Trouble" from BYU devotional 1980. So good.

I'm just about out of time. sorry if i missed anything--I will hopefully be at a faster computer next week and be able to type faster and without so many errors. :) I love you all so much. thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support. This work is hard. but so was the Atonement. Salvation does not come at a cheap price. And the Lord will strengthen me and provide a way, I know. Don't worry about me :)

Love love love,

Sister Lyndsay Wygant

"Look haaaarder" (thank you Rafiki)

More coming in the middle of conversations - sorry for what seems like abruptness, its just the process of editing to pick parts of her letters to share!

***********************

Well good morning :) Say hi to Purrcy for me and give him a big squeeze!

.... we're doing a lot of finding right now. It's kind of frustrating to work so hard and talk to so many people and not have anything to show for it--but my thought during my studies this morning echoed Rafiki's counsel to "look haaaarder"--but to "work haaarder" . We've been trying to discern whether we just need to keep working and keep being patient or if we're doing something wrong or need to be better/do something differently. Obviously we can always be better and we are always striving to do so...but I think that I just need to be patient and keep trying. This will be good for me :) I am thoroughly exhausted just about all of the time--which makes it harder to be patient and unselfish and have the Spirit, which in itself is frustrating. But I know that as i get used to this schedule and this work load, the Lord will make me stronger and more able to bear the load upon my back--and that I will be able to continue working and being positive/etc even when I am tired. That will be the day :)

Ooh! We met a less active woman the other day who has the most beautiful English sheepdog--straight out of the Little Mermaid. :) Loved it. She is so sweet and nice. Hopefully we will get to keep going back and invite her back to church. 

Hmm. This week has just been so packed. The weather at the moment is rainy/drizzling, but for the past few days we had blue skies and sunshine--it was wonderful! They keep telling me that it will snow by the end of October though. OH and speaking of October--it's marching band season! What? I realized the other day that I haven't seen a single score or set a single chart all season. What? Strange. How are my kids doing? How is the season going for everyone? I miss it just a bit. I hope that everyone in every band I know is doing well and having a great season. 

We've been studying charity and unity in relation to the Atonement this past week. My favorite would probably be in 1 John 4, which talks about being filled with God's love, which is perfect. It doesn't mention charity directly, but we know that charity is the pure love--or perfect love--of Christ. And according to 1 John 4, as we love others and serve them--and every time we repent and turn a little more towards God--we are filled with His love because we are becoming more like Him. Thus we become more charitable and loving because that is the nature of God. Maybe it's just me but I really love that idea.

I love you all so much. Thank you for your love and support and prayers. Sometimes I just want to sit down and give up...but then I remember that this is where the Lord wanted me, and He would not send me to fail. It is a balance to feel prepared and worthy and adequate and not prideful or content with no progress--but I am learning :)   I love you oodles. Please give my love to everyone back home. I think about you and pray for you daily. 

Love,
Lyndsay

General Conference week

Folks, 

The first part of Lyndsay's letter this week was some stuff addressed to Lisa and I, which I edited out for this blog post.  So if it seems like you're coming into the middle of a conversation ... well, you are.

************************

OH MY GOODNESS mission age change?! We were so close to jumping up and down in our seats when we heard that! Crazy exciting. I think/hope that we will get so many more missionaries, esp sisters, because of this! So great. And i loved ALL of conference. I almost didn't care what was said--I just loved the familiar and comforting presence of our prophet and apostles. I know that they are truly called of God. All week I just couldn't wait for conference so that I could drink in some light and knowledge and get a spiritual tune-up. I loved every single talk, and am so grateful that we got to watch all 4 sessions. … All of the questions i brought to it were answered in some way or another. I missed having conference casserole and having purrcy help me take notes though!  But it was wonderful to think that we were connected in some way because I knew we were doing the same thing at the same time (we watched it at 12 and 4 here so it was the same time as you). :) My favorite talks were probably Elder Holland, Pres Eyring, and Pres Uchtdorf. I just loved the way that Elder Holland made that story come alive and relate to us. I've read that story so many times and even have a special love for it from Savior of the World but i had never thought about it in that way.

One thing that stuck out to me was what he said about loyalty being the crowning characteristic of love. If we truly love the Savior, we will defend Him and be loyal to Him at all times, in all things, and in all places--and we will sacrifice whatever we need to in order to do so.  Also, the Savior knew that Peter loved Him...but Peter needed to know and realize just how much he loved Christ and how well he was following Him. I think that we can and should do a self-check on that every week as we take the sacrament. That is when we renew our covenant to follow Him and take His name upon us--but how well are we doing it?

Something that a music teacher once taught me is that if we get 1% better at something each week, in a month we will be 4% better and in a year we will be 52% better--and so on and so forth. It's gradual change but it all adds up. and that's better than practicing for 6 hours on a saturday and not touching your horn the rest of the week. I think that's perfectly applicable to anything else in life. if we can just become 1% better at being a disciple and example of Christ each day or each week, we will make so much more progress than trying to become 100% better all at once. Just like you always say, eat the elephant one bite at a time :) Will you all try to become just 1% better each day? Consistent baby steps make more progress than you think. I'm trying to become 1% better as a missionary each day. and every night when I kneel down to pray, I review my day with my Father in Heaven--what I did well, what I became 1% better at, and what i want to improve on for the next day. Thinking about being here in terms of 17 months or even 1 month is overwhelming...but I can always do just one more day :)  I also really loved what President Eyring had to say about not creating pavilions that obstruct our view of the Lord. He can always see us, and is always there to help and bless us--but if we feel that we can't see or feel Him, it is probably something on our side that we need to change. monitor and adjust, …

OH and speaking of other people. there's a sister here who's from the Isle of Man...and she knows luke Rowley! her name is Sister Cristian...Catrina Cristian I think. Small world :) She says hello to him! OH and one more person. josh hurst should be coming home this week ish. Crazy! You might not remember him but we went to europe together my 2nd uam tour and he and mary nelson and I (both from AF) were MB staff buddies that fall and had a grand time. I can't believe it's been 2 years already! I have a letter for him but now need his home address since he won't be in mexico anymore...would someone put mary in charge of that? Tell her it would the "foist time" I ever needed his home address. And I want hers too so I can write to her! :)

I'm glad that you got the pictures. The brick wall is just the wall of one of the houses we live in. but the yellow house is the Whitney Home. Where Newel K and Ann Whitney lived--right across from the Whitney store. So awesome :) I'll have to take some more some time soon so that y'all can see what it's like here. Keep reminding me :) Oh and i wish you could see all the fall colors! I just got dad's letter with pics from your fall colors...and i loved it so much. oh i just love fall! So favorite.

Love and hugs and snuggles and smiles,

sister lyndsay wygant

First week in Ohio - Chardon

Hi everyone,

Ohhhh boy. Ohio is beautiful. There are trees EVERYWHERE. I love it. Also, we're in AMISH country. That's right. When we're in our area, Chardon, we sometimes pass horse-and-buggies driving down the other side of the street. Pretty awesome. 

How it works here is that we split our weeks between sites and our area. We're at sites 3-4 days a week and in our area 3-4 days a week. When we're at sites, we give tours when needed, make calls at the referral center, and chat on mormon.org. It's great. I gave part of the tour my first day here (thanks, MTC and Sister Black's class!) and it was so good. There is sooo much here, but it's contained in a smaller area than I'd imagined. The Whitney Store is probably my favorite. The room where the School of the Prophets was held is tiny, but you can really feel the power of the spirit there. I love it. 

We live in older homes on the same property as the VC and sites. We have a Harry Potter bathroom in a cupboard under the stairs. No joke. It's ridiculously awesome. Sorry i don't have pictures of anything yet but I haven't had time! I will try to take some before next week. My companion/trainer/mom's name is Sister Ellsworth, and she's from Idaho. Her parents are serving as mission president/wife in Mesa AZ right now, and she studied at BYU before coming here. Both awesome things. She is great. I am learning so much from her. 

I got here Tuesday evening with 7 other elders (they joined our travel group on the second flight...not sure why we got split up in the beginning. Weird.) and we went straight to the mission home. President Vellinga and his wife are so wonderful. We had dinner and interviews and they took some pictures with all of us--hopefully they sent you one. 

On Wednesday, we got to tour the Kirtland temple (!!) and the sites at Kirtland with a man named Carl Anderson (sound familiar? Yep, the famous one. He is great). He is "Mr. Kirtland" and knows pretty much everything. It was a wonderful tour. Then we went to transfer meeting and got started on the work!

My poor feet hurt pretty much all the time...but oh well. I am trying to get some other inserts that will hopefully provide some more padding for them. It's tough because we are on our feet so much either walking around or standing up for most of the day. But hopefully I'll get used to it.

I have already learned so much here. I thought the MTC was a firehose...but comparatively it was like a dripping sink faucet. Ha. I love it though. There are so many things that I'm learning or traits/habits that I'm beginning to acquire that I know will not only help further this work but will help me in my future life when I get home. It's great. 

I'm really trying to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in the work. It's tough sometimes to not be homesick, especially when i'm facing an uncomfortable or difficult task--like tracting. Talking to complete strangers still makes me squeamish inside. Ha. So it's really easy in those times to think of the comfortable things I could be doing at home--but I have to remember that salvation isn't easy and that these people need what we're sharing. I'm trying to keep myself really busy so that I don't have time to be homesick or time to hesitate. *shrug*

I still wish that we had all day to study! There is so much that I'm learning but I wish I had more time. One thing we've decided to do is pick a Christlike attribute (PMG ch 6) each week and make it one of our study themes/focuses for the week. I am really excited about this. I have a ton to study as it is, so it's never that I'm without something to study...but having a specific focus helps me to get more out of my study time. This week we're studying humility. If anyone wants to join in and send me your thoughts/insights/etc, you're more than welcome to. I need all the ideas I can get! Smiley face.

It is already pretty cold here--for me at least haha. I'm already wearing the layers and coats that I brought...so if you could send my winter box soonest that would be so wonderful. Speaking of sending things, I'll always have the following address unless i'm out full pross:

Sister Lyndsay Wygant (use both first and last name always)

7800 Kirtland Chardon Road

Kirtland, Ohio 44094

You can send both letters and packages to that address. If you've already sent things to the mission office they will forward it to me, no worries...but it just takes longer. So send everything to this new address until I go out full proselyting--which won't happen for awhile. There are only 3 full pros sister right now--the rest of us (27 i think) split our time between an area and the VC. It's pretty great.

We did get to watch the Brigham City temple dedication and the RS broadcast. Both were sooo wonderful. I loved them so much. It is so wonderful to be a member of this church and have so many inspired men and women to lead, guide, and uplift us. In just the week that I've been here I've met so many people who don't have that in their lives. They don't know that they are children of God and their family/other relationships are not the kind that we enjoy. I am so much more grateful now for the upbringing I had, for the loving environment and relationships that I had with family and others, and the opportunities that I had growing up. The stories that some of these people tell just amaze me sometimes. Why would anyone mistreat or disrespect someone who is family or a loved one? It has always baffled me. We don't own each other. We have families and friends and relationships so that we can love and support and encourage each other. I'm grateful that I know that, and that I know that those family relationships are eternal. I dunno. Sometimes part of me just wants to high tail it back to Provo where everyone is nice and knows who they are. Ha. But that's why I'm here--to teach these people what more they can have and become. 

The RS broadcast was also wonderful. It was honestly just what I needed. This adjustment has been harder than I'd anticipated and although it's great here, I was overwhelmed in the first week. I needed to see familiar faces and hear familiar words--and songs. :) The choir conductor...how do I know her? I know/think her last name is Wadsworth, and I want to say that she helped with the youth program that i did at the conference center that one time. But do i/you/we know her besides that?

Speaking of familiar faces and words, I am excited beyond belief for conference this next week. I loved it before but I can't wait for it now. So excited. Hopefully we will be able to bring some of our investigators to watch it with us. I just want to tell the whole world to come and watch because I know it will be so wonderful and uplifting. Ha. Seriously though. Don't take Conference for granted! Write down questions, take notes, and look for answers or promptings that are specifically meant for you. It is such a blessing to have a prophet and counselors to speak to us in God's behalf--there are so many people who don't even know about or have that opportunity. Drink it in :)

Well I'm almost out of time. I love you all so much. I hope everything is well at home and that you are keeping Purrcy satisfied/well staffed :) Please tell everyone hello for me and thank you for their thoughts and prayers. I certainly need them and can certainly feel them. 

Love,

Sister Wygant