Miracles and frustrations

Hi all,

Our week was pretty great--Ravyn was baptized and confirmed!! Everything miraculously came together for her baptism, thanks to many many prayers. :) It was perfect, and her whole family even came! Her dad baptized her and also confirmed her on Sunday, and it was a very sweet experience to be a part of that. 

Fxxxx is doing well. She went to visit her mom over the weekend, which I'm glad for because she has been really worried about her. We were able to see her yesterday, and we're going to have lunch with her tomorrow. We try to share a message with her every time we're over--sometimes she's more open than others. :) But she prayed with us yesterday, and every time she prays, I see that as a big achievement. :) I wish there was more we could do for her mom--if she lived in the area we'd visit her too! But I know that prayer works, so we'll keep praying for both of them.

We haven't been able to see Jacob or Ben and Barb for several weeks...I think they're all avoiding us. Sigh. We'll keep trying though. :) 

I'm SO glad that you were able to see the Edmans!!!! And how funny that they are so close to Grandpa's. Small world. :) I love them so so much. Thank you for going, and for passing on their thoughts and their love!! I'm glad they sang the mission song while you were there. I've come to love it so much. :)

We've been working hard to find more people to teach. Sometimes we tract in snow storms--we mean business! Smiley face. I am learning to be patient with myself and with those I serve with and around as we strive to share the gospel with others--it can be really frustrating when no one is interested, but I know that as we develop greater faith and trust in the Lord's timing, He will lead us to do the work that He needs us to. I know that this truly is His work, because I have seen His hand in all of the details every day. I was thinking about it the other day, and I am so grateful and glad that I decided to come on a mission. I'm learning to love it more and more the longer I'm here. I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to share the gospel with everyone, because I know that it is true, and that it is the only way for us to come unto Christ and be truly happy. I love you and hope you have a great week! Tschuss!!

Love,
Sister Wygant

Valentine's day blessings

Good morning!!

Happy almost Valentine's Day! Tomorrow will be the best Valentine's Day ever for us--because Ravyn's baptism is tomorrow! She is the cutest little 9 year old, and she specifically requested to be baptized on Valentine's Day. Cute. :) I've really seen the hand of the Lord and the power of prayer in our work with her--it's been challenging to schedule appointments and teach all the lessons in time so that she could make her baptismal date--but when we remember to pray constantly, it has always worked out. I'm really grateful that I'm not the only one in this work--that we have Heavenly Father's help. We definitely couldn't do it by ourselves. :)

We are definitely excited to have so many new missionaries coming. I don't know where we'll put them all..haha. But I'm very excited to see how much the work accelerates! I know that there are people in this mission who have been prepared by God to receive the gospel--we just have to find them! I think that's the hardest part sometimes. Yesterday we spent almost the whole day finding, and no one seemed very interested, except for one girl. But one is more than zero! And I know that we will be blessed in our finding efforts as we continue to work hard and pray. Maybe I just need to learn how to be more patient. :) It's a slow process, and sometimes I get impatient. Elder Bednar gave a talk at the MTC where he called that the "cookie monster syndrome". I think I've mentioned that before--the "I want investigator now!" mindset. I'm trying to learn to trust the Lord's timing and not worry so much about what I can't control--but to just do everything that I can.

We've also used Elder Bednar's talk about conversion (from last Conference) several times this past week. I love being able to draw parallels between the gospel and music because it makes it easier for me to understand and relate to. The parallel I found with Elder Bednar's talk relates to practice. In his talk, he says, "Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We must know that the gospel is true and be true to the gospel." That reminds me a whole lot of practicing. In order to be converted, we can't just bear our testimonies on Sundays--we must practice being converted each and every day. When I was studying the flute, I had to practice every day--it's not enough to practice 8 hours on Saturday and not touch my horn for the rest of the week. Consistent, daily practice is what brings true progress and improvement. And it's the same with spiritual conversion. As we practice being Christlike and practice feeling/listening to the Spirit, we become better and better at it--but only if we're consistent. Brad Wilcox's talk "His Grace Is Sufficient" has a lot of great things to say about the Atonement and practicing. I reread it this week and really loved it. Give it a read if you have time. I learn something new each time I read it. :)

xxx is doing well enough. She goes up and down a lot, and sometimes I don't know how to help her...but I do love her dearly and I know I was sent here for her. I don't know exactly what she needs, but we will keep doing our best to help her. We are trying to meet and work with all of the less active members in our area (there are a lot), but it's proven to be challenging. It makes me so sad when people don't want to come to church! Especially when I don't know how to help them. But we will keep trying. :)

A favorite quote from the week: 

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." --Albert Schweitzer, quoted by President Monson in the August 2008 Ensign. You're a wonderful example of that to me. :) Love you!!!

Love,
Sister Lyndsay Wygant

New companion!

Hi Mama!

Oh man. It has been a great week! My new companion is Sister Palmer, from, drumroll...Provo! Small world. :) She went to Timpview, but we have discovered that we both love climbing and have probably passed each other at the Quarry before. There are no coincidences. :) I love her already! She is amazing. She served in Ravenna for 7.5 months before coming to Chardon, and I think it was hard for her to leave (understandably)--but she has done such an amazing job of jumping right in and helping the work to progress in Chardon. The members love her already, of course, and so do the people we've been teaching. She is a wonderful example to me, and I am excited to see what we learn and accomplish together over the course of this short transfer! I say short because we just learned at transfer meeting that this transfer will only be 5 weeks long. I think it is to accommodate the flood of new missionaries--we're getting 29 next transfer! 

Speaking of transfer meeting, we were able to put together a large group (flute, violin, cello, piano, and vocal quartet) to do an amazing musical number there! I've included the recording--I haven't listened to it so I don't know what the quality is like, but I hope it works and that you enjoy it. I've also included some recordings I made last week and this morning. :) 

Anyway! Ravyn is almost ready to be baptized!!! I have really seen the power of prayer this week--it has been a little tricky to schedule lessons with Ravyn and we've had to reschedule several times--but the Lord has been merciful and has provided a way each time for us to teach the lessons needed. She just has one lesson left, plus an interview, and she'll be all ready! Her baptism is scheduled for next Thursday, the 14th--she chose it herself because she wanted to get baptized on Valentine's Day. Cute :) We are so excited for her!

Nancy and Jacob didn't come to church on Sunday...and neither did Ben and Barb. Bummer! Please continue to pray for Jacob, that we will be able to meet with them and reschedule his baptism date, and also for Nancy that we will be able to comfort her and assure her that everything is going to work out. 

We are meeting with Fiona tonight--when we met with her last it seemed like she was doing much, much better than when I first met her. Yay!! I love her so much and am grateful for any and every baby step that we can make with her. :) Please pray for her, and also for her mom--who may have cancer. :(

This week, I am really grateful to have seen the Lord's hand in everything. I think sometimes I am too hard on myself, and it is always such a blessing to realize that I have made progress in some area or another, or with one investigator or another. I was sitting in district meeting yesterday and, after sharing some thoughts on a particular subject, realized that I had just accomplished a goal I had set awhile ago. I also realized that I truly have changed and improved since arriving here. I remember how terrified I was to come, and how hesitant I was to step out of my comfort zone. It broke my heart a bit to leave home and everyone that I love--but I think that's something that actually needed to happen. The Lord requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit--or we cannot serve Him. And I realized yesterday that the Lord truly is giving me a new heart, like Elder Bowen spoke of in October's General Conference. My mission is teaching me how to love everyone, and to truly lose myself in serving others. That was a sweet experience for me, and something that I'm very grateful for. 

Some favorite talks from this week: "Candle of the Lord" by President Packer (Ensign 1/83) and "Light" by Ted E. Brewerton (Ensign 10/91). Our new transfer theme is Matt. 5:14-16--all about light!! I am SO excited about this theme--you know how much I love to study light. :) I hope to always live up to my nickname of Sunshine and be able to reflect the light of Christ that has so richly blessed my life into the lives of everyone that we meet. :)

I'm going to send this and then another with the other audio files. I sure do love you!! Thank you again for being amazing. I am so grateful to have the loving support of my family and so many friends at home--I know that's something that not every missionary has, and I'm very grateful for that blessing. :) 

Also, I can't believe Katy will hit her halfway point so soon! It really seems like she just left. Could you pass on a message from me to her (through her mom's email, I think?)? Just that I love her, that I pray for her, and to never give up. Alma 26:22 and "Candle of the Lord" by President Packer in the January 1983 Ensign. I know she will love those. :)

Love you!

Love,
Sister Wygant

Five months!

Hi Mama!

I kind of can't believe that I'm 5 months old (as we like to say) today. When did that happen? The great thing is that I'll never officially have a 6-month mark because there is no Feb 29th this year. Haha. :) Transfer news is: I'm staying in Chardon, but Sister Ellsworth is being transferred! So I don't have to move houses (for the first time. haha :) ), but I will be getting a new companion. The only thing constant is change. ;) We'll find out where Sister Ellsworth is going tomorrow at transfer meeting, as well as who my new companion will be. Exciting!

Ben and Barb are doing well. They didn't come to church last Sunday because Ben was sick, but they came this past Sunday and loved it. They are so sweet and such good people. Sometimes I struggle to know how to share the gospel with them in a way that will apply to their lives and help them to be excited about living it. But I know that will come as I pray and study. Hopefully. :)

Jacob...well, we haven't been able to get a hold of Nancy since that Sunday. :( We're hoping and praying that we will be able to see them soon. 

This email might be slightly scattered...some favorite talks and quotes from the week: "But For A Small Moment" by Elder Maxwell (speeches.byu.edu). This one is FANTASTIC. Every time I find a new talk I think it's the best one yet, but this one is really, really good. I also re-read Elder Holland's "Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence" which is always so incredible. "Charity Never Faileth" by President Monson was another favorite. Some quotes and things I learned:

"I felt that the cause of truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, outweighed every other consideration." --Heber C. Kimball, quoted in the Institute manual "Church History in the Fulness of Times" (the one I used in Sister Black's class--available onlds.org)

"If you feel that you are not loved by Heavenly Father, you are being manipulated by Satan." --Elder Scott

"...Jesus Christ can heal us, even if sometimes we have to go to heaven and be healed there." --from the article about Brigham Reneer in the Feb 2002 Friend :)

Matt. 10:8--we receive callings and blessings for free. Being baptized into the Church did not require a membership fee. We ought to use what we have been blessed with through the gospel to bless others! We can give of our time/talents/etc freely to share those blessings. "As freely, son, as God gave her me." (name it! :) )

1 Ne 3:7 and D&C 1:24--Heavenly Father gives us commandments that are hard on purpose, so that we can learn to rely on Him as He helps us keep them. It's not that we have to keep the commandments and be perfect and then He'll bless us--it's that He helps us every step of the way. Christ is the difference, as Brad Wilcox says. He will help us to keep the commandments He has given us by preparing a way for us to accomplish those things, and giving us the strength and power we need--but only after we ask for it. Ask and ye shall receive. :)

I'd better go for now. I'll write more in a minute if I have time. Love you!!

Love,

Sister Wygant