Happy Halloween! (and first snow)

Hi Mama!

Wow, what a busy week! We've seen beautiful fall colors here, and we even had SNOW on Wednesday. Snow!! That was definitely a surprise to wake up to. Winter is here, and COLD. 

It's been such a good week. Our investigator (John) came to church last week, then to Chuck and Conee's baptism (investigators that the other sisters in our ward have been teaching), and then to church again yesterday! Yay!!! He is so great, and the ward members have been so good about reaching out and fellowshipping him. I love this ward! 

Chuck and Conee's baptism was amazing. They are such sweet people, and the Spirit was so strong throughout the whole program. AND. Sister Palmer (Jenna) came!! She served in that area and taught them before she left, and she came back for the weekend! It was SO wonderful to see her and spend a bit of time with her. I love her so much, and I am always so grateful for her example of honesty, love, hard work, and sincerity. She even taught us yoga this morning at exercises--just like old times. :)

Also, have you seen us on lds.org or the Church News?! Kirtland is famous! There's an article about Elder Ballard's visit, with some wonderful pictures of Kirtland. That's my home! I am such a lucky bug. :) If you haven't seen it already, you should definitely read it!

The Shaker Heights Ward's Halloween party was on Friday, and we got to go! It was so fun. Our friend Terry came, and I think he really enjoyed it. There was a chili cook off, and I discovered a new favorite--quinoa chili!! Have you ever had quinoa before? This was basically quinoa salad with beans added and heated up. So good, and pretty healthy too. :) 

We have met so, so many prepared people this week. It was a week of miracles! On Tuesday, we met a woman named (Jane) who has the most awful life story I've ever heard. Horrible awful!! So many things have gone wrong in her life, and she told us at first that she was angry at God because of it. But the miracle is that as we talked with her and testified to her of God's love for her, we saw her heart soften. By the end, she accepted a Book of Mormon, told us that she felt better, and said that we could come back any time. Wow! Even if nothing else happens with teaching her, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in her life. 

We had an unexpected day in our area on Saturday (we thought we need to fill in at sites, but ended up not being needed), so we had a lot of time to find--and it was SUCH an amazing day. After the baptism, we went tracting and found three prepared people in a row!! Miracle after miracle. Then we were driving down the road and saw a recent convert that Sister Nelson worked with parked at her mother's house (they were in this ward, but just moved). We've heard that they have been struggling in their new ward, and have been worried, so we immediately went back and stopped to visit. We got to talk with them and encourage them. What a tender mercy! And it doesn't stop there. Then, we stopped by our investigator (Peggy). We haven' been able to see her in a few weeks, and have wondered if she was still interested. Not only was she home when we stopped by, but we had a wonderful lesson with her! She is very, very busy, but told us that she wants to be close to God, and she knows she needs to make some changes. She expressed some concerns over what we had taught her in the past, and we were able to resolve them. She wants to come to Kirtland this week, and church on Sunday! Yes!!! Something I just studied this morning is how to know when investigators (or any of us) are experiencing conversion, what it feels like (PMG 92), and this is one of the evidences I studied! They (we) have a greater desire to do good, and to accept invitations. I really, really hope that (Peggy) s able to do those things. She really wants it--life is just getting in the way. Please pray for her!

We also had a great lesson with (Sally). She is still recovering from surgery, and has been in and out of the hospital several times. :( If you could pray for her too, we would sure appreciate it!!

We all had interviews with President Vellinga this week, and that's where my big news comes from! My 18 month mark falls right between 2 transfers due to several 5-week transfers we've had, so President Vellinga let me choose whether to go home in February, before my 18 months, or March, right after. I chose March!!!! My official release date is now March 20th, 2014. CRAZY.

All in all, it was an incredible week. I've learned so much about repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual growth lately. I am so, so grateful for the Atonement! Each week of this transfer seems to have been the toughest week yet, but also when the most miracles have come. I am learning to rely on the Lord like never before, and I'm grateful for every opportunity to stretch and grow--even when it is uncomfortable or overwhelming. I'm especially grateful for tender mercies and answers to prayers that are tucked in the corners of each day (just like the little picture on our lower bathroom counter says :) ). One answer in particular was so apparent that I almost cried. Yesterday, I was feeling really down and overwhelmed, and at one point said a quick prayer, begging for relief. Not two minutes later, the song from The Ark called "Lift Me Up" started playing in my head. Its familiar words and music brought such comfort to my heart. And I know it was Heavenly Father's doing and not mine, because a few weeks ago I was trying to remember the lyrics to that exact song and couldn't. What a sweet and tender mercy.

We're about out of time, but could I ask a favor? Could you find addresses/email addresses for Kelly Lau and Leah Robinson for me? I'd love to write to them. Thanks in advance!! I love you so much, and I'm so grateful for you. President Vellinga asked me to express his gratitude to you as well, for letting me come here. :) He is wonderful, and so are you! Thank you for letting me leave you to serve a mission, and for being the best encouragement and support I could ask for. I'm so grateful for your support and the Savior's. I need it every day!

Good luck with your shows!! I'm sure they will both be great. Say hi to everyone for me!! I love you!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

It's finally Fall

Dear Mama,

Happy Fall! It's definitely Fall here (finally). It was so chilly this weekend that I pulled out my peacoats! Brrr! It was a great week though. I feel like I'm working harder than I've ever worked in my life, perhaps because we have so much to do, and I love it. I just hope that my mind and body can continue to keep up! Sometimes I feel really old and stiff when I get up in the morning. But that's okay. It's been a great reminder that I need to ask Heavenly Father for help and strength daily. And He always gives it to me! 

We saw so many miracles this week. Time permits me to share just a few.

1. We met a lady on the street that only spoke Chinese...and we just happened to have a Chinese Book of Mormon in the car! We couldn't really tell her anything about it, but we gave it to her, and saw her reading it as she walked away. Coincidence? Definitely not.

2. I saw JUDI this week!!!!!! Remember Judi, from Chardon? My miracle find at the library? Oh golly. I don't think a week has gone by since I left Chardon that I haven't prayed for Judi. Seeing her again was such an answer to prayers, even though it was a tragedy that brought it about. Her ex-husband passed away last week, and the whole family is really struggling. She called the Visitor's Center on Wednesday, and I just happened to be assigned there that day, and just happened to be starting a tour downstairs--so I was able to take the call and talk with her! I am so, so grateful for that miracle. She came to the Visitor's Center later and I was able to talk with her briefly. I'm so grateful that I have been able to stay connected with her over letters, and that she still felt connected enough with me to reach out to me when she desperately needed comfort. I am truly grateful to have been the Lord's hands in comforting and blessing this woman that I adore so much. Miracle.

3. We found two new investigators this week! First was Carmelita. Our lesson with her started with her asking a lot of questions, and being against the Book of Mormon. But that lesson was truly led by the Spirit, and it was amazing to watch her heart soften. By the end, she accepted the invitation to pray about reading the Book of Mormon. Baby steps. :) Our other new investigator is Ismaila (Iz-my-luh), who we found tracting. Sister Ellsworth and Nelson actually met him over the summer and gave him a Book of Mormon--and then we tracted into him! Awesome. We had a great lesson with him, and he came to church yesterday! I really hope that he continues to progress.

4. One more favorite from the week. We had an investigator fireside at the Visitor's Center last night, and it was wonderful. The theme was Joseph Smith, but we always have one or two recent converts share their conversion stories at the beginning of the fireside. Chris and Marissa, the two who shared their testimonies last night, were both raised Catholic, and shared beautiful stories of finding the gospel and choosing to join the Church. There weren't very many people there, but we learned afterward that there were two Catholic investigators in the audience! Heavenly Father's timing is so perfect. :) 

We weren't able to see Steve, Susan, or Sabrina this week...bummer!! Please pray that we can get in contact with them this week. I love them each so much, and I'm so excited to share the gospel with them--Satan just needs to get out of the way!!

I went to the Shaker Heights ward for the first time yesterday--strange since it's been three weeks since transfers!! I absolutely love this ward. They are wonderful! There are a lot of young married couples going to various universities here--even some music students from CIM!! (Most are in the YSA Branch though). I read this wonderful quote in Relief Society: "We don't do visiting teaching. We are visiting teachers." Thinking of my current calling, I changed it to this: "We don't do missionary work. Weare missionaries!" What a true and great perspective to have. Sharing and living the gospel is not something to be checked off a to-do list. It's something we are, something we live and breathe every day. 

I'm out of time, but I love you so much! Over and over again this week, I have been reminded of how blessed my entire life has been, and how grateful I am that Heavenly Father knows me so perfectly, and for the wonderful family He has blessed me with. Thank you for your love, support, and encouragement! I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve as a representative of Jesus Christ. I love the Savior, and I love His work. Mobs may rage, and calumny may defame, but although the opposition may be loud, there will always be more fighting for us than for them if we stay on the Lord's side. :) Have a wonderful week! I love you!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

An AMAZING week

Dear Mama,

Good morning! This week has been an AMAZING week full of MIRACLES!! Oh my. Where to start.  I absolutely love Shaker Heights East--we stay so busy, but we see so many miracles!! I've been so grateful for Heavenly Father's help in all things, and especially the energy to keep going and do all of the many things we have to do. Have you seen the new Mormon Message series about Daily Bread? It's by Elder Christofferson, and it is amazing. That's what I feel like every day. I've really seen that even though our plans always change and there are always a million things that come up, He always helps everything fall into place as long as we're doing exactly what He needs us to do. 

We met a man named Steve last week who is incredibly prepared and in need of the gospel. It was such a blessing to see a bit of hope come into his eyes as we began teaching him and shared the Restoration with him. It was definitely a miracle.

Another miracle we saw was with our investigator Susan. Susan just had back surgery, so the sisters weren't able to meet with her much last month...but she's finally home, and let us come over! We brought her dinner once, and then came back on Saturday and taught a lesson. It was one of the best lessons I've ever been a part of. I love teaching with Sister Nelson!! It was completely led by the Spirit, and it was an amazing experience. Susan said that she would be baptized!! She is so smart and loves learning, so she wants to know more before she makes a commitment, but I know that she will receive that witness soon. One of her concerns is that her husband won't accept her decision--he's not interested in religion at all. Please pray for another miracle--that his heart will be softened!! 

The members of the Shaker Heights ward are another miracle. So many of them have volunteered to bring meals to Susan--some who don't even know her! All the members I've met so far are amazing. Most of them are young married couples, and they are such wonderful examples to me! We had dinner with the Winders last week, and they asked for help with doing missionary work! That is one of the best things a missionary can hear. :) Sister Winder is so sweet, and came to Susan's lesson with us. It was a perfect fit, and I'm so grateful for her willingness. 

Stake Conference with Elder Ballard was incredible. He arrived on Friday, and we got to attend a special reception at the Visitor's Center--each of us got to meet him and shake his hand!! Then there was a special commemoration program for the 10th anniversary of the Historic Kirtland sites. Brother Anderson (Karl Anderson) spoke about the history of Kirtland, special awards were presented from the state and county, and Elder Ballard spoke about the significance of Kirtland. Saturday was the adult session of Stake Conference. I truly love the Kirtland Stake! It was such a treat to get to see many members of the Chardon Branch that I haven't seen in months. I love them so much!! :) Elder Ballard, Elder Scott Gay (of the 70), and Elder Seldon (area 70) all spoke at this session. It was wonderful. They each also spoke at the general session on Sunday morning, and each bore powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the importance of Kirtland. We are so blessed to walk where the Prophet Joseph Smith walked--and more importantly, where the Savior walked! The same risen Lord who appeared to the Nephites appeared here! How incredible. We're almost out of time, but remind me next week and I will tell you more about it. :) 

I'm going to end here so that I have time to attach some pictures!! Love you!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

Hurrah -- Conference and Kirtland!

Hi Mama!!

Hello from Kirtland!!! I've been transferred to the Shaker Heights East area, and my new companion is Sister Nelson, from Logan Utah. She is amazing, and I love her! Sister Ellsworth was actually her companion here for the last 3 transfers--I get to serve in the same ward that she did! Yay! I'm back living in the same house that she and I lived in for a transfer last year, in the same room and everything. Blast from the past!! That was a wonderful, happy time, and I'm so grateful to be back. Sister Ellsworth left big shoes to fill, but I am so grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve here. Sister Nelson and I are Sister Training Leaders, and also the Training Sisters for the Visitor's Center--we get to help Elder and Sister Sorenson plan and train for everything at sites! I am SO excited about this opportunity. :) :) 

Our area is great. It's a bigger city than any I've served in previously--it reminds me a bit of Provo/Orem! We've already had some great success in our area in the few days since transfers. We had a great lesson with our investigator Sabrina. She is from El Salvador, and she is so fun. We read the Book of Mormon with her, and she follows along in Spanish--it's easier for her to understand that way. Different, but so cool! She is hopefully coming to the Visitor's Center tonight for a lesson--we are going to invite her to be baptized, and I am so excited!!

We also had a miracle happen while tracting, on my very first day in the area. We met a woman named Elizabeth sitting outside, and we were able to share the message of the Restoration with her. She is SO prepared! She loved it, and accepted the invitation to be baptized right away! She said that what we shared with her felt like light, and she knew it was true. So amazing! We also invited her to watch General Conference with us, which she was very interested in. It turns out that she lives in Cleveland, and works in the area where we met her--so we were able to give her information to the Elders in her area, and they are going to teach her. Yay!! I love miracles like that. :)

General Conference was AMAZING.  I wanted to sit there forever and just drink in the wonderful Spirit brought. What an amazing blessing it was to hear from the Prophet and others, and to feel of the Spirit of gathering, even across distances. I am so, so, so grateful for the inspiration and Spiritual boost. I don't think I could choose a favorite talk either...but I really loved Elder Bednar's talk about tithing. I really enjoy and get a lot from is teaching style. He has such a great way of inspiring and encouraging me to want to act/live the gospel without directly ordering or demanding. It's something that I want to study further when the talks are published so that I can follow his example. 

I'm so glad that you liked the music at Conference so much. I thought of you also, especially when we got to stand and sing together. :) I loved watching Ryan Murphy conduct--he reminds me so much of Coach! Over and over again during Conference, especially during the songs, I was reminded of how very blessed my life has been, and how grateful I am for wonderful role models like Coach, and wonderful parents like you and Dad. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father knows me so perfectly, and has blessed me with the experiences and loving atmospheres that I have been surrounded by throughout my life. Thank you for being amazing. :)

Midway through Elder Ballard's talk, I got really excited because he is coming to Kirtland this weekend!!! He is coming to speak at Stake Conference, and also for a special event/program commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the dedication of the Kirtland Sites. How exciting!! I am so grateful that I get to be here to hear from an Apostle of the Lord!! How great is our calling. :)

I forgot my camera, but next week I'll have lots of pictures to share, from Kent and from transfer meeting. It was so odd to have my mom (Sister Ellsworth) go home--but it already feels like she's been gone forever! I am so very grateful to have had her as my trainer, and for her wonderful example. I'm also grateful for the wonderful support and examples of you and everyone at home! Please tell everyone hello and thank you for me, and give them my love!! I love you all, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to come to know and love my Savior better as I serve Him here in Ohio. Being a missionary is the best thing in the whole world, and I absolutely love it. The Church is true!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

P.S. Please tell Jenna and Joey congrats for me!!!

P.P.S. Amalia is getting married? Wow! How exciting! Congratulations!!!

Happy October!

Dear Mama,

Hello! Good morning from Kent for the last time--I'm getting transferred tomorrow! That's crazy. It seems like I just got here! I have absolutely loved serving here, and especially serving with Sister Bell. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve with her here--her amazing example of love and dedication has changed my life! I have learned so much and grown a lot here, and although I'm sad to leave, I'm excited for new opportunities to serve. I'm excited for transfers, but really sad at the same time, because Sister Ellsworth (my trainer) is going home!! I definitely cried at our testimony meeting last week. I can't believe she's leaving! Time has flown so quickly.

Before I forget, guess what I ate last week! Avocado! and I didn't die! It was actually very good. The mission is changing me in so many ways. :)

Last week, you asked for more insights from Elder Bowen's mission tour. Something that really stuck out to me was his comments on artificial limitations that we place on ourselves. He likened it to a flea circus--if you put fleas in a jar, they will jump around and learn to jump only so high so as not to keep hitting the jar. Then when you remove the jar, they don't realize that it's gone, so they keep jumping around the same space, restrained by the now artificial limitations. He helped us see that we as missionaries place a lot of artificial limitations on ourselves--so-and-so will never be baptized because of this, or such-and-such area will never be successful, or we can't achieve goal x because of y--etc. It was really an eye-opener for me. And this week as I reflected back on it, what came to mind was the chapter from the book The Hiding Place, where Corrie's sister tells her to be thankful for the fleas. She balks at first, but later it turns out to be a great blessing. My thoughts have been centered on that idea--how can I be grateful for my artificial limitations, and allow them to be blessings and benefits instead? A good question to ponder for awhile.

We saw many, many miracles this week. We found wonderful new investigators, including a cute girl who described exactly to us the feelings of the Spirit as she told us her experiences with prayer. Sister Pugh and I went on exchanges yesterday (which was awesome), and we were also blessed to find a new investigator. She is so inspired, and so full of faith! It was great to work with her. I know that the Lord put us together on that day specifically on purpose. Sister Pugh is facing challenges right now similar to things that I faced at the beginning of my mission--and I was so grateful that I was able to share my experiences with her and help her to feel more hopeful. The Lord's timing is amazing!

We also went on exchanges with the Massillon sisters this past week. I worked with Sister Chapman in Massillon, and she is incredible. She has such an amazingly positive attitude about everything, in spite of all the challenges she's faced recently. And she really, really loves the people in her area, especially the members. It was inspiring to watch her work with them and see them respond to her love.

We've had a great time inviting everyone to watch General Conference--I am so excited for it!! I love, love, love Conference. :) Please invite everyone you know to watch it!! It's such an amazing opportunity to receive personal guidance and instruction from the Lord as we listen to His chosen Prophet and Apostles. There's a great video up on lds.org that's easy to share on Facebook/etc--it introduces what General Conference is, and invites everyone to watch. You can see it here, and another shorter one here. Yay for General Conference!! :)

We got to serve at the Johnson Home for part of the morning on Saturday--yay! We had two tours that I know we were meant to be a part of. I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father's timing, and to know that I've been in the right place at the right time to be an instrument in His hands. That's one of my favorite things. :)

Our time is short, so I'll end here and (hopefully) include a few pictures. I love you so much!!! Happy October!!!!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

P.S. this computer isn't letting me send pictures... :( Oh well. I'll try again next week!