Merry Christmas!

Shame on me for not posting this Monday when we received it, but better late than never I suppose.  Enjoy a belated Christmas greeting from Sister Wygant!

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Hi Mama!!

Merry almost Christmas!! I am so excited for Christmas, and grateful for this Christmas season. "Christmas reminds us that Christ has given us a purpose for living." --President Monson. So true!!! 

Our week was BUSY. Transfers came and went. Sister Nelson, Bell, and Gee all headed off and are now safely home. My heart ached a bit to say goodbye at transfer meeting--but I know that we will see each other again, and I am so grateful for the loving and inspiring examples of each of those sisters. My new companion is Sister Johnson. She is from Laguna Beach, CA, and came from serving in the Hiram ward. She is wonderful!! She is a powerful teacher and loves to meet new people--which is good for me in the shy moments that I sometimes still have. :) We've already found a lot of things that we have in common that are going to help us to work well together, as well as some differences that will allow us to stretch and grow as we work to compromise, merge, and become united. It will be a good stretch for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to humble myself and start again with building myself, a companionship, and moving the work forward.

The work in our area is slow, but steady. Our investigator Bob is doing well, and progressing towards his January 25th baptismal date. The Stacey's are wonderful fellowship for him, and I am so grateful for their help! We also had a miracle happen this week in finding a new investigator named Colleen. We met her back in October and knew that she was prepared for the gospel. It's been hard to make our schedules meet, but we were finally able to have a lesson with her! The Spirit was so strong, and I know that she felt it.

We also saw a HUGE miracle at the Visitor's Center yesterday. I've been calling a young man named Robert, and yesterday he told me that he wants to be baptized! It's incredible to me to see the change that the Book of Mormon has brought to his life. He has gone from not knowing about God or Jesus Christ to having a testimony that he is a child of God, praying in the name of Christ, knowing the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and wanting to be baptized. What an amazing miracle!!!!! I don't even know how to adequately express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for allowing me to play a small part in this huge change in Robert's life. It has really strengthened my testimony that God prepares His children for the gospel!

This week, I'm also so grateful for the sacrament. I'm so grateful for the reminder each Sundaythat I need to do better at remembering and following Christ. Try as I might, I always forget somewhere along the way, and I need a weekly reminder. Good thing Heavenly Father is patient with me. :) Something that struck me yesterday was the idea of 1 Ne 3:7--that the Lord prepares a way for us to keep the commandments He gives, no matter what. It struck me that as a missionary, I have been specifically commanded to share the gospel and invite others to come unto Christ. Not to force them or drag them, but to do everything I can to help others accept and follow Christ. And if that's what the Lord has commanded, "the Lord will provide"! I know that He can and does provide opportunities for all of us to share the gospel every day. That's a great comfort to me. And all I have to do is be prepared for those situations and opportunities. Like Elder Rasband said at the Christmas devotional, "opportunities are endless, but also perishable." I always have to be on the lookout for opportunities to lift, strengthen, grow, stretch, help, and bless--or I will miss them. 

I'm also so grateful for the wonderful Shaker Heights ward. We had a great Christmas program yesterday, that we were blessed to be a part of. There are so many wonderful members of this ward that are such great examples to me of love, dedication, and service--I want to be just like them when I grow up. :) I'm especially grateful that members of the ward have invited us over on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I love them all so much, and I'm so grateful for invitations to spend time with their families, especially at this wonderful time of year when we are apart from ours. :)  We'll be having dinner with the Kuroiwas on Christmas, and we're doing to Bishop Harmer's on Christmas Eve--and also Sandy and Sister Pickett. So excited. :) 

I'm grateful for the Nativity exhibit as well. I absolutely LOVE Nativities!! The exhibit is incredibly beautiful, the music is inspiring, and the Spirit is so strong. I love it. I am so grateful to serve in such a sacred, beautiful place. And Happy birthday, Joseph Smith!!!!! I'm sure he spent at least one birthday here in Kirtland. :)

My heart is full today, and I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so excited to see/Skype with you on Wednesday!! I'm grateful for the Savior, and for you, my wonderful family. See you then! I love you!!! 

Love,

Sister Wygant

Kirtland Christmas blessings

Hi Mama!

Happy December! We finally got LOTS of snow--everything is white! It has been bitter cold for a few days, and not so bad on others--but thanks to lots and lots of layers, I'm staying warm. I conquered my fear of cold a bit more this week, and feel blessed to be able to maintain hope that I won't be cold forever, even when we're outside. :) 

We've had so many amazing opportunities this past week, and we've seen many miracles. The Christmas program at the Kirtland Temple went really, really well. I was honored that Ron Romig asked me to play a flute solo, and really happy with the way it turned out. I got to play my flute in the very place where the Savior appeared!!!! How amazing and humbling. I am so grateful to serve here. :) I dont have any recordings, which I'm really sorry for--we've been so incredibly busy that I haven't had the time for anything beyond the very top of our list. And normally, I would be really stressed and anxious about that--but I'm learning a lot about patience, prioritizing, and letting things go in this calling. :)

We've seen a lot of miracles this week. Sister Nelson is such a hard worker, even in her last week. She is such an inspiration to me! We did our very best to work our hardest and use every moment wisely so that we could be instruments in the Lord's hands. And He has blessed us! We had an amazing lesson with Sister Frazier about the Book of Mormon--she is really coming to love it. We also had a great lesson with Sister Pickett, and she came to church on Sunday!! Yay!! Bob also came to church on Sunday--YES!! Everyone thought he was already a member because he fit in so well and participated in all the classes. He is so great. :) Will you continue to pray for him? He is so excited to get baptized, and we don't want anything to get in the way. :)

I'm learning so much here--in this calling, from Sister Nelson, and from this transfer in general. One theme of this transfer for me has been humility. I've really seen that as I try to be patient and submissive and willing to do the Lord's will, He helps and blesses me with all the things I need. Another theme has been from the scriptures: "Remember". It's in there over and over and over again. Remember the Lord. Remember the blessings He has promised and given. Remember to ask for help and acknowledge it with gratitude. I've learned many things and been given many reminders of just how much help we receive from the Lord in this work. In everything that happens, God is in it--for which I am so grateful. 

We have a lot still to do today to get Sister Nelson ready to leave tomorrow, so I'd best end here. Thanks to you and everyone for the love, support, prayers, and well wishes!! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as a representative of Jesus Christ, especially at this Christmas season when the world pauses to remember His birth. I know that His birth was reason for joy and celebration because of the importance of His life. Because He lived and died for us, we can live also--we can live forever, with our families, in the presence of God! The Atonement of Jesus Christ allows us to overcome sin and death as we follow Him in the path He has prepared for us. If anything, please pray that we will have many opportunities to share these important truths with others this week. I would so appreciate it. :) I love you all!! Thank you for being wonderful examples to me. Merry almost Christmas!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

Seeing miracles everyday!

Hi Mama!!

It sounds like great things are happening at home, and great things are happening here as well! We saw SO many amazing miracles this week. Here's just a few:

*Christmas Mission Conference IN the Kirtland Temple

*Being in exactly the right place at the right time to meet John, a less-active member, right on the street, and get his contact info.

*Praying in Spanish! And visiting with Sister Rosales, who only speaks Spanish, with the help of a Spanish-speaking member

*Not freezing while tracting :)

*Having our car battery die...but meeting some amazingly kind and helpful people who helped us jump it, and then having the opportunity to invite them to Nativities :)

*Playing my flute at the Kirtland Stake Christmas program!

*Meeting a member who sang a beautiful solo, who is originally from The Netherlands and Germany, and getting to talk with her about the beautiful places we both love in those countries. :)

*Getting to go to a special baptism yesterday, and a complete miracle happened--I had my flute with me for a rehearsal much later (definite inspiration), and the person scheduled to play interlude music was sick, so I was asked to step in!! Amazing, amazing opportunity, that I was so grateful for.

*Watching the Christmas Devotional, and being so uplifted and inspired. I am so grateful for beautiful music, and for wise and loving leaders!

*MUSIC. I pulled my flute out to practice with Sister Walker this week in preparation for our musical number yesterday, and playing my flute, just for that short time, was a spiritual feast, and filled gaps in my soul that I didn't even realize were there. Just like the gospel does for people who don't realize they are searching for the truth. :)

*exchanges with Sister Rigby, who is an amazingly loving and dedicated missionary. I absolutely love her

*an amazing lesson with Sandy, a recent convert, about the Plan of Salvation, and making a great connection in Jacob 5 with her (the spot where she's reading in the BoM)

*An amazing lesson with our investigator Jason. We left a Book of Mormon with him last time, read 1.5 chapters and asked him to finish chapter 2--and he read all the way to chapter 11!! MIRACLE.

*Looking back over the week and realizing that we had been led, protected, and strengthened by the Spirit far more than we even realized in the moment. Being an instrument in God's hands is one of my very favorite things, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve Him full time as a missionary. I love this work, and I love my Savior. I know I can't do it alone, but I see more and more clearly/obviously these days His hand in my life and in our work. I know that He works with us!

Our investigator Bob was sick all last week and couldn't come to church :( He is so amazing though, and is already working with us to set up a lesson time for this week. Would you pray for him to feel well enough to meet and come to church? Thank you so much!

Sister Nelson is amazing, and I love her so much. I have learned SO much from serving with her, especially about love, dedication, charity, and patient. She goes home next week--I can't believe it! It seems like we just started working together. I hope I can be as amazing as her someday. :)

Time is short, so I have to get going. I love you so much, and am so grateful for you. Thank you for being wonderful, and for letting me come on a mission!!

Love,

Sister Wygant

Happy December!

Hi Mama!

Hello! Happy December! We had another week full of miracles! 

I was able to teach Robert over the phone from the Visitor's Center again, and it's amazing to see his faith growing. We stopped by Susan, and saw such a miracle. We were running late, but got there right as she pulled up! Perfect timing. She let us in, and we shared with her some banana bread we had made for her--turns out that banana bread is her favorite! Another miracle. We visited with her briefly, and she told us that she was really grateful we had come, because she really needed some cheer. She had even been thinking of us that morning! Wow. :) She really wants to come to the Nativity exhibit--hopefully she and her friend Betsy will come this Wednesday! Huge miracles. I love her!!!

We have an amazing new investigator named Bob. He just showed up to church last week, asked the Stacey's some questions, accepted their invitation to meet with us at their home.  At our very first lesson on Monday, he told us that he had already received answers to his prayers about the Church, and that he wants to be baptized! ! AMAZING. He works with Brother Lavin from the Chardon Branch, and has been researching the Church for many years, after noticing that difference that it made for Brother Lavin. Way to go, Brother Lavin!! Bob is so amazing, and has such a big heart. He has such a strong testimony already, and is one of the most prepared people I've ever met! On Saturday, he chose January 25th as a baptismal date, and we are SO EXCITED. I know that [the Lord] has prepared Bob to accept the gospel at this time, and I feel so honored to be a part of Bob's journey to accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Big miracles!! Lots of gratitude. LOTS. I know that this is Heavenly Father's work, that His hand is in every detail of it, and I am so honored and blessed to be a part of it! 

Speaking of gratitude, I am so grateful for so many things during Thanksgiving week. I'm especially grateful to the Wagners for inviting us over for Thanksgiving dinner. I thought of you all several times during the day, both in gratitude and in pondering what you might be doing at home. It was tempting to feel homesick, but as we were driving out to the Wagners and passing through our area, the thought came to me of "I am home"  :) It was such a sweet and tender confirmation to me that I truly am doing the Lord's work here. Our homes are meant to be sacred and holy places, and by that indication, this truly has become home for me. As one leader put it, this is the ground that is being made sacred by my sweat and tears! That is one of my favorite lines from any meeting on my whole mission, and something that I strive to make happen every day. So, that thought/prompting on Thanksgiving was a beautiful confirmation and real tender mercy for me. 

Anyway. :) We went over in the early afternoon and helped Sister Wagner finish cooking. That was a tender mercy for me, because it helped me feel involved and reminded me a bit of home. :) We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with the Wagners and their friend Ivan, who is from Taiwan. I'm also grateful for inspiration and the guidance of the Spirit--the message that we had prepared about gratitude went perfectly, and Sister Wagner told us that it was exactly what she needed. I really saw the fulfillment of D&C 84:85--knowing exactly what to say at the moment I needed it. I recognized after that lesson that I had received revelation, and I am so grateful to have been an instrument in Heavenly Father's hands in helping someone else. :) 

After dinner at the Wagner's, we went to the Visitor's Center for some Thanksgiving activities. We learned how to tie scarves, ate some yummy pie (I tried mincemeat pie for the first time--had no idea that it was apples and raisins! Very good), and Elder Sorenson gave a presentation about receiving personal revelation. He is such a wonderful teacher, with so many amazing experiences to share--I learned so much that night, and am grateful to have been taught by him and the Spirit.

I'm also glad that you had a good Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa Park. Please give them my love again, and especially tell Grandma thank you!! That is so sweet of her to think of me. Thank you for your uplifting and encouraging thoughts as well--they are always so wonderful, and so helpful to me. I know that we are doing a great work here, and it is a blessing to both be a part of the work of salvation for others, and see myself becoming more and more converted, but I definitely know that I cannot do it by myself. I truly need Him every hour, and even every minute, and I am grateful for the companionship of the Spirit. I am striving to make that companionship stronger and more and more constant. Some days are better than others. :) There was one day this week that I was particularly struggling, and didn't even realize that I was stressed until late that night when the words of "More Holiness Give Me" came to my mind. It helped me realize that I needed to rely on the Lord more, and not my own strength. As I did, I felt such a weight lifted from me, and I know that it was His help that allowed me to breathe easier and work more effectively. I am so grateful for answered prayers. :) I'm especially grateful for you, my wonderful mother, and my wonderful family for supporting and encouraging me! You are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love you !!!!!!

Love,

Sister Wygant