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