How's your week? Sounds like things are crazy busy as usual. It's kind of hard to believe it's Wednesday again already--the time is flying! And next week is transfers already--which definitely doesn't seem normal because they are a week early. We will actually be having transfers on Thursday, not Wednesday, due to so many new missionaries coming in. But our P-day will still be on Tuesday next week--so watch for an email on that day! It's also hard to believe that it's practically March. Where did February go?
Speaking of throngs of new missionaries--did you hear the announcement of 58 new missions opening?? AWESOME. A few that I'm most excited about are the Ohio Cincinnati Mission (we think they're going to split the Columbus Mission, which is right below us--so there will be 3 missions in Ohio!), the California Bakersfield Mission (!!!! :) ), and the Arizona Gilbert Mission. :) Sister Ellsworth's dad is the mission president in the Mesa Mission right now--and it looks like they're going to split it 3 ways to create the Scottsdale and Gilbert missions in addition to Mesa. How exciting for them! The work is hastening! So, so quickly. :)
Also, today is the one-year anniversary of the shootings at Chardon High School. We also heard that there was a shooting near the Columbus Temple last night. How tragic. We're all wearing black and red today (Chardon HS colors), and there are several commemorations planned in the town, I believe. So, so sad. But the one happy thing is that a community is being brought together--we continue to pray for those families and others who are mourning at this time.
On a happier note, we found a sweet old man named Ted and another man named Todd yesterday. Ted has got to be 75-80, and he said we wouldn't convert him but that we could come back and visit. We'll see. :) Todd is from our dead pool (records left by previous missionaries that are anywhere from 2-10ish years old) and we decided to stop by his house yesterday. Amazingly, he still lived there (not the case with a lot of people we try to contact from our dead pool), and he even let us in! On a cold, rainy day, just having people let us in is a blessing. :) Todd even seemed interested and said we could come back. Awesome. He has a young daughter at home and other family in the area, and they might be interested as well! We'll see if anything comes from the contact we made, but even if it doesn't, I'm very grateful that we followed the prompting to stop by and that we were able to meet him. I'm grateful for every person we meet or talk to that doesn't slam the door in our face. :) We also talked to a very nice guy on the street yesterday named Connor...it was just in passing, and we only had time to give him a pass-along card with our name on it...but we hope he's as interested as he seemed, and that he calls us so that we can share more with him. :)
Finding has honestly been pretty difficult lately...we've only had a few first lessons here and there, and no one seems to be interested enough to progress. But don't worry. We're doing our best to keep pushing at that boulder and not be discouraged. We had a wonderful district meeting this morning about increasing our faith to find (PMG ch 9). I know that having the right attitude and trusting in the Lord's timing is just as important as working hard and serving with all of our heart, mind, and strength. My favorite new insight on faith is from the Bible Dictionary: faith is confidence in someone or something. We as missionaries are encouraged to have more confidence in Christ, and confidence that He is preparing people to accept us and the gospel. As I've looked over the past week, there have been many challenges and trials that seemed so impossible and hard at the time--but now, in hindsight, I know that everything will be okay if I can just keep going, and that all things really will work together for our good if I can keep a good attitude about it and trust/believe/have confidence that they will. :) I was looking through an old journal a few nights ago and found this quote about pushing through trials: "It is the path of least resistance that makes men and rivers crooked." That really changed my perspective, I think. Sure, this is hard. But if it was easy, I wouldn't learn anything, and the people we teach wouldn't benefit as much. "The road to salvation carries with it a cross and goes through Gethsemane." If Christ descended below all things, I can handle the trials and challenges that are wearing but seem so insignificant in comparison. I'm doing my best to be prepared and ready and seeking and listening. We'll see what happens next. :)
My new favorite talk for the week can be found here. It's called "Valiant in the Fight of Faith" by Elder McConkie, and it is amazing. One of my favorite quotes from it is thus: "Members of the Church who have testimonies and who live clean and upright lives, but who are not courageous and valiant, do not gain the celestial kingdom. Theirs is a terrestrial inheritance. Of them the revelation says, “These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.” (D&C 76:79.)"
When I first read this, I thought, "Hold on. What?!" That's pretty bold! But I know that it's true. And as missionaries, we are constantly striving to hold up the light of Christ so that those seeking for the truth can be drawn to it. (new favorite scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3). We have to be valiant, to be living righteously, if we are to have any light to shine for others. Elder McConkie goes on to explain how we can be valiant, but I'll let you read the talk to find it. :) I love anything by Elder McConkie, but I really love and appreciate this talk, especially at this time.
We're still working with xxx to help her have enough faith to trust God again. That's something that's really, really hard when you've been through something as traumatic as she has. The only thing I know to do/try is to love her and be there for her--so that's what we're doing. I've been thinking a lot about love over the past few weeks, especially about how I can increase my love for the people we serve with and teach here. I know that love is the great motivator in all that we do--if we love our work, we put more into it. If we love our companion/friend/spouse/
I'm so glad that you got to see Grandpa. Thank you for passing on my message. That's so touching to hear that he has my picture up. :) I'm so grateful for the love and support from so many friends and family members at home. It really does make a difference. Thank you all for your prayers and for your love! I love you all.
Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Wygant
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