A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, December 17, 2012

Subject: I love this time of year!

Oh my goodness!! I love this time of year! Everything about it is absolutely amazing! We have some pretty awesome people around us here in Vancouver that are helping us feel the Christmas spirit more and more each and every day. We had an awesome week this week! Sister Brox as been sick with this really super bad and nasty cold and we just pray that she starts to feel better so we can get some more things done. Last we was awesome but this week is going to be even better. We have some really great goals in sight and we are on our way to reaching them. Last week was transfers week and the news is ...I get to.... Stay here in VANCOUVER! Yahoo! I get 6 more awesome weeks with Sister Brox! She can impart all her wisdom on me so that I will know what to do once she leaves me.

This week we had so many wonderful things happen. We had an awesome lesson on Tuesday with an awesome lady that we have been teaching since I got here a month and half ago.. CRAZY! Angie is so awesome. She was raised catholic and has been investigating the church for a long time now. She is really diligent in learning all that she can. We had a great lesson on Tuesday about modern revelation and how we can read the words of the Prophet today as we listen to conference and read and reread those talks. Angie has a real thurst for knowledge and the Gospel. On Wednesday we had a lesson with S&S. It went for a good 3 hours! They have so many questions! It is so wonderful! Toward the end of our lesson Mama S started asking some more questions on baptism. We answered her questions and then ask her if this is something that she would want to do. She said for a minute and said that she would love to be baptized and she has been thinking about it for sometime. Sister Brox and I just got so excited for her! She is so absolutley amazing!! I love her to death! Daughter S is working things out and is taking it so seriously and for that I am truly grateful. I have learned a little something from her in that fact that this gospel really isn't something to think lightly of. It brings us light and direction but it is something that will change our course forever once we accept it.

Saturday night we had the opportunity to go out of our area to a Christmas concert that one of the members in the Lacamas Creek ward got us! He sings in the choir, got us tickets as well as a potential investigator that lives across the street from him and his family. We rode with his wife and daughter the conference and the whole time we were kind of freaking out that the investigator wouldn't show up. The only way that we were able to go to this concert was because we would have an investigator. We sit down in our seats and we were right on the front row, dead center. Awesome seats! The opening song starts and no investigator... We are getting worried. We were trying to figure out what to do and there really wasn't much that we could do. As soon as we thought that, lo and behold, our investigator and her son walk down the isle and wave at us. The Lord had us in mind and was watching out for. He knew of our struggle and was so quick to help us. Our desire to be there for the right reason made it possible for him to inspire Katie and her son to come to the concert. I firmly believe and know that he answers our prayers and is always willing to answer them and long as we have faith in his will.

Well family of mine, I love you much! I will be skyping home next Tuesday!! I'll be calling 1pm my time, so 2pm your time. Sister Combs will be emailing you with the skype name so we can find each other on there!! Love you and can't wait to see your smiling faces in Tuesday!!!

Love Sister Mecham

Just because so many of you have asked, here's Whit's address again:

Washington Kennewick Mission

8202 West Quinault Ave

Suite D

Kennewick, WA

99336-1017

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, December 10, 2012

Subject: Sweetness to my soul!!

The highlight of my week this week was when Lucas was baptized. Nothing can compare to that feeling! Seeing someone that you have grown to know and love enter the waters of baptism. It is so ABSOLUTLEY amazing! There are no words to describe it! The baptism went great! We had some little bumps in the road but as to be expected when someone is about to make a covenant with God, the dirty devil likes to creep his way in. But we didn't let him get too far. :) Can I just say that there are some stinkin awesome people over here in Vancouver?? We have one of the best wards ever! They are all so supportive and willing to help. People are so missionary minded and they really help us in our efforts to find. Harmony ward is Lucas' ward and they are amazing. The young mens Leaders and ward missionaries have made a big difference. I never understood it before the mission how vital the Ward is to missionary work. I am so very grateful to them!

 

Our week this last week felt like it was all sorts of crazy goodness! We had some greats times tracting in the rain and people getting mad and slamming the door in our faces :) Oh gosh... is it bad that that is one of my favorites things? haha I find it to be oddly wonderful. They say it takes 7 different contacts from the church before some people will let you in the door and accept your message. I like to think that when they open the door and we are there just smiling away that we planted one of the 7 seeds for them to accept the Gospel. It makes it all worth in the end :) We had a Doctine of Christ training on Wednesday with President and Sister Greer. They are so stinkin amazing! We "unpacked" 2 Nephi 31 and they helped me see that chapter in a different light. It is the Doctrine of Christ chapter and it's right before Nephi dies. He says right in verse 2 that he is to say one more thing and that he MUST speak of the Doctrine of Christ. He MUST. He is about to die and this is what he wants to talk about?! Got to be pretty important. And it is! He is the way we get back to our Father in Heaven! The Doctrine of Christ is, faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. "There is no other way where man can be saved..." Beauty! Read it! It is beautiful.

 

Well my dear family, I love you! I miss you terribly but I'm so happy to be here!

 

Love Sister Mecham

A Friday treat courtesy of Katrina Roberts...

I've been really lucky to make friends with one of the ward missionaries from Whit's area on Facebook and she sent me this gem today! It's Whit's profile from their ward news letter. Enjoy!

Meet Our New Missionary Sister Mecham

Sister Mecham is from Pleasant Grove, Utah.  She has only been on her mission for 2 months, including her time in the MTC.  We in the Harmony Ward have the unique opportunity to set the bar high as her FAVORITE area.  Sister Mecham is supported and missed dearly by her family members that all live in Utah.  All except for her father's brother who lives in Spokane, WA and apparently looks exactly like her own father.  

Before coming on a mission, Sister Mecham's favorite thing to do was spend time with her family. They are her best friends. She also loves working with children and used to work with children that have disabilities. If you haven't guessed already from her amazing fashion sense, Sister Mecham loves to shop. She also can play the guitar a "little" bit...as she puts it. When she grows up she wants to be a Speech Therapist. Her favorite scripture is Omni 1:26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should a come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

Sister Mecham's favorite part of being a missionary is being given the opportunity to testify of her love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are lucky in the Harmony Ward to be able to welcome Sister Mecham into the mission field. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to her and Sister Brox. We have been blessed with outstanding Sister Missionaries. 

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, December 03, 2012

Subject: Oh Joyous December!!

Hello Family!

Okay so this week has been great! We have had so many opportunities to share the Gospel with people! I love this time of year for the reason that it softens peoples hearts. The Lord is hastening his work and you can tell. So we have these awesome ladies that we are teaching. They are mother and daughter and goly gee they are so awesome! I just love them! We saw them the first full day I was here in Vancouver but we couldn't get an appointment set up with them for the longest time. So many different things kept coming up but we went and saw them on Thursday and that was so awesome! I'll call them S&S :) Momma S had some great questions on baptism and daughter S had some great questions about the temple and about why we don't share some of the things that happen in the temple. They are both moving along great and even decided to not participate in their bible study class because some of the member in that class were not accepting their choice in learning more about "the mormons". We went with them to the Festival of Nativities which is an awesome festival the Stake puts on for a whole weekend. Their are some many different nativities from all around the world and they put them on display for everyone to see. They have beautiful musical numbers and everything. Sister Brox and I loved it and so did S&S. Their was a gentlemen there that was truly inspired to come and talk to them while we were looking at all the nativities. He was able to bare simple testimony of finding out for yourself if the church is true. I love when the Lord prompts other to help the missionaries! 

Lucas is doing great! He is getting excited for his baptism this Saturday and we couldn't more excited for him. We had an awesome lesson this last Friday on the commandments. He was so good! He kinda just looked at us like...okay cool.. No problem. hahah He is living the commandments and is ready! The rest of the family is doing great as well. Michael still has awesome questions about the priesthood and about the apostacy. Good thing I've got Sister Brox cause I would be sitting there with my mouth wide open. Haha his questions are some that I have never really had to explain or think about so it's good for me to be there. I'm learning right along with him :)

Well dear family. I love you all and I am so very grateful for all that you do for me while I'm here and before I came out. You have all been amazing influences in my life and I'm so grateful for it. Merry Christmas to all of you! The church is true. Our Savior lives! Let your light so shine! 

Love, Sister Mecham  

We got a letter from the mission office today asking that any and all packages being sent to missionaries in the Kennewick mission be sent to them by December 15th if they are to be received by Christmas. Also, they asked that you send them priority mail through the postal service as it makes it easier to get them sent on to the missionaries. This is especially important because transfers will happen December 11th and we don't know where Whit will be. 

Love you all!

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, November 26, 2012

Subject: Through small and simple means...

Hello Mi Familia! 

Oh goodness what to say! This week has been a great week. Lots of things have happened over here in the great state of Washington! I growing and learning right along with our investigators and it is a great thing. The Lord really does prepare a way for his children to do the things that he has commanded of them. I have felt that this week in the lessons that we have taught and in my own personal missionary life.

 

This week we had a lot of people cancel on us and that is to be expected because of the Holiday but at the same time it was hard. But! Like I said the Lord prepares a way for his children to do his work. So even though we didn't get as many lessons taught as we would have liked, we saw a lot of people this week that needed to hear the message of Jesus Christ and all that he has given us. As we set up appointments we decided to share with people the Mormon Message Thanksgiving daily. It was so powerful! As Elder Oaks shares his testimony in that short clip, it helps you understand that true meaning of giving thanks to our Savior even in the hard times. That has been a testimony to me this week as we have met with different people and heard what is happening in their lives. How they can over come them and face them with strength and faith in our Savior for all the many blessings he has given us.

 

This week we also watch Legacy with Michael ( Erika's husband) and Erika. It was awesome! We were able to talk a lot about the priesthood and how women in the church still hold a special place even though we are not priesthood holders. It was amazing and so wonderful to talk with Michael about the priesthood and how it has shaped my life and how grateful I am for the worthy priesthood holders that I know. His understand was that women in the church were just meant to be stay at home moms and live as though she was less than her husband. Sister Brox and I quickly corrected him. haha Michael I know has the desire to know more. He is someone whether he wants to admit it or not that is search for something more than what he already has. LOVE IT!

 

Another awesome thing that happend this week was that Lucas ( Erika and Michael's) son said he wants to be baptized and we set a date for Dec. 8th! Lucas is awesome! It's just getting him to say more than 3 words at a time. hahah But we are so excited for him and the opportunity it is for him to set an awesome example for Sabrina and Michael. Pray for Lucas that he will continue with his plan and make and keep this sacred convenant.

 

Well I love you all!! I'm so very grateful for you and everything you do for me while I'm here! Love you much!! The church is true!!

 

Love Sister Mecham

Just a reminder!! 

Sister Mecham's address is:

Washington Kennewick Mission
8202 West Quinault Ave
Suite D
Kennewick, WA
99336-1017

I'm sure that she would LOVE to hear from all of you doing the holiday season. What better time to write a missionary?

Love, 

Sister Mecham's sister

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, November 19, 2012

Subject: Come What May and Love It!

Hello my dear family and friends!! So this week as been a busy, humbling and exciting week. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to meet Elder Piper from the Seventy! He came and shared so much with us! He has so much knowledge and it was so wonderful to be able to kind of pick his brain and see what it is about missionary work that I'm not quite getting. He did a question and answer and super honest with us which I loved. He talked a lot about how we need to help our investigators come to the answer themselves. They ask us a question and we need to GUIDE them to the answer not flat out tell them the answer. That way in this process of conversion they can truly know for themselves if the gospel is true. I loved this! I thought it was absolutly perfect! Especially at this time in work that Sister Brox and I are doing. People have questions. The one way that they will be able to really truly say "I know this church is true" is exactly how Joseph Smith came to know which church was true. He studied diligently and prayed with a sincere heart and real intent. That's what our investigators need to be doing. What better way than to GUIDE them to the answer.

 

The bad news for this week is this... Our Skaugstad family dropped us. Sister Brox and I went over on Thursday for our lesson and we sit down and Sister Skaugstad said that they had been thinking out all of this and that it is not the right time for them. Gosh darn that adversary! He knows how to get people. But at the same time I truly think that although they were seeking truth, they weren't quite ready for this. They are such wonderful people and I love them so very much but I know that the Lord has a plan for them. One day they will be baptized. They are looking at other religions but they said themselves that there is not another church that will have the same values and beliefs that we do that they have come to know and love. As for now, Sister Brox and I just simply pray.

 

On a happier note! We have a part member family that is so stinkin awesome! Erika ( the mom) is a member and has been for just about a year now. She has two kids, Sabrina and Lucas who have been taking the lessons for sometimes now and truly are on their way to the waters of baptism. Micheal ( the dad) is not a member and well... Lets just say... He will be. hahah He is so stinkin solid! He doesn't believe in God.. yet. After all that has happened, with Erika being baptized and his kids taking the lessons Micheal finally said he wanted to learn more "just so he knows what it is his kids are getting themselves into" So we taught him last night and pray with all our hearts that his heart with change.

 

One other cool thing about this week and about Wednesday and meeting Elder Piper is that I got to meet with him personally. At the end of the meeting President Greer got up and said that Elder Piper had chosen some missionaries that he wanted to meet with and could only meet with 10.... Pres. Greer said my name and I think I might have almost wet myself. I was so nervous and excited and everything! But it was so wonderful! He truly is a man of God! He told me to put in my letter home to thank my parents from him, for raising me and for supporting me here on my mission. So thank you Mom and Dad. I am so very grateful for the love and support that you and everyone else has shown me as I have been out here on my mission. I feel it and I am eternally grateful. Words can't describe how it feels when I'm having a bad day and I remember the loving family and friends that are supporting me back home. Love you all! Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite time of year. We have so much to be grateful for! I am grateful for my Savior. The love He has shown and giving to me. For loving me so much that He took upon him my sins and afflictions. For giving me the opportunity to be able to live with my Father in Heaven again. I love this gospel. I know it's true and I'm grateful to have this chance and opportunity to be a representative and disciple of him.

 

Love you all!!

Sister Mecham

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, November 12, 2012

Subject: 4 people my dear friends

Oh my goodness.... This week. Hahah. Lets just say that it was an awesome week! Sister Brox and I had a rough start to the week. All of our appointments and our back-ups fell through and we serious almost broke down and started to cry. But what good would that have done? So Monday and Tuesday were like that. But then the golden day of Wednesday came around. We had an appointment with our investigator family, the Skaugstads and it was on obedience, follow the Prophet, and the Word of Wisdom. Word of wisdom was something they have been wondering about and had some issues with but nothing the Lord couldn't handle! So after we got them to kind of understand and commit to try their very hardest to live the commandment Sister Brox says the magic line..." Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?".... My heart stopped. The Spirit was SOO strong you could have touched it. What do you think they said?......

 

YESSSSSS! Oh my! I started to cry! haha Sister Brox and I had prayed together and individually about a date for them to be baptized and both came up with Dec. 1st. The Lord answers prayers my dear friends because when Sister Brox asked if they would prepare themselves to be baptized on that day Brother and Sister Skaugstad started to cry and answered YES. Their daughter Hannah is so excited to be baptized with them on Dec. 1st. Man, this was an absolutley powerful lesson. We go back tonight to teach them about continuing in prayer and scripture study.

 

Monday and Tuesday were trials of our Faith and Wednesday was a blessing and answer to prayers. Sister Brox tells me that it doesn't always happen like this haha. We met with this guy named Perry. He lives with his grandma who is a member and has taken the lessons before but suddenly up and left but is now back and wants to be baptized. We put him on date for Dec. 1st aswell.. Keep him in your prayers. Pray that he will have the true desire to make and keep this sacred convenant and that he understand what it means.

 

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers. Sister Brox and I feel them! I know this church is true, It bring such happiness and comfort to my life as I live it. And as I watch others strive to live it aswell. Love you!

 

Sister Mecham

A Letter from Vancouver: Monday, November 05, 2012

Subject: Oh hey there, Vancouver!

Family! 

Alright so here I am. I'm in Vancouver and it was my wish to be sent here! I was so happy to know that this was my first area. It rains almost all day and is cloudy all the time. Never thought that I would say that I missed the Utah sunshine but sometimes I do. I looked out the window the other morning and I could have cried when I saw just a little bit of a blue sky! But really truly and honestly it is not bad at all. I love it here :)

Well my compainon is Sister Brox and she is from Oklahoma. She is the youngest of 4 kids. Her favorite color is purple and she is a power house! She has been such an awesome trainer in helping me get to know the area and the Investigators and helping me feel confident in my teaching. She is the best!

We have so many people that we are seeing right now! We cover two wards and we have got some awesome people that help us carry out the work of the Lord. We have a couple of investigators that are getting close to baptism. Darn that agency! Satan works so hard on them! We have Sabrina and Lucas. Sabrina and Lucas are brother and sister. ( Sabrina: 14 and Lucas: 17) Their mom Erika was baptized about a year ago and is such an awesome influence and such a power house when it comes to the Gospel. With Sabrina and Lucas, we just have to push through somethings but man are they ready to take upon them the name of our Savior.

The Skaugstads are a darling family. Brother Skaugstad was searching for a religion and happened about the Church and just showed up to church one Sunday. They are so solid in the Gospel! They have a daughter named Hannah who is 10 and so we are also working with her to get her baptized. They have an amazing testimony of Tithing and everything. We just got get them to enter the waters of baptism! They will. I just know it :)

We were tracting last Thursday and tracted into a wonderful lady named Laura. She was raised catholic and doesn't really attend the catholic church anymore. She has got two absolutley beautiful children and they are just so darling! Her daughter Gillian was the one that set up the appointment for us to come back! hahah So cute. When we came back yesterday for our appointment, we heard Tray ( her son) running to the door screaming "They're here! They're here!" So darling. I could just eat him up. The lesson went so great! The BIG news..... I invited her to be baptized!!!! WHAT?! I know! I did!! I wasn't too sure about it but then Sister Brox kicked me under the table and told me to do it. haha So I did. Laura wasn't too sure about it but we got to the roote as to what is holding her back and with the help of the Lord, I think we can push through it.

Well dear family, I love this Gospel. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ and the opportunity I have to be helping his children enter into a convenant with him. This Gospel is true. I know it. With all my heart. Love you all!!

Sister Mecham

Pictures from Kennewick: Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Proof that our girl made it to Kennewick safe and sound!

She's going to kill me for posting this one, but I just love how short she is compared to everyone else!



Sadly, we didn't get to spend much time on the phone with her while she was at the airport, but Mom said she was good and happy and ready to get out there and teach!

As always, Sister Mecham loves to get mail! Send letters to the mission office for now. As soon as I have any other info I'll have it posted. :) If you'd like me to tell her anything when I email, send it to mal.mecham@gmail.com and I'll make sure she gets it!

A Letter from the MTC: Saturday October 27, 2012

Oh my dear family! 

Holy cow! This week has been one of the craziest weeks. So much has happened and it just warms my heart. If there is one thing that I have learned this week is that the Spirit is so essential to everything that we do as missionaries! At the MTC they drill it in our heads that we have to teach by the spirit but when it comes down to it we have to apply it to our lessons ourselves. This week I learned that it matters the most. 

Last week when I wrote you all I forgot to tell you all about Sister Burton my companion! Oh my there just isn't enough time to tell you everything. But imagine this... The little girl from Remember the Titians as a 23 yr. old.. Yup that is Sister Burton. hahaha She is so crazy fun and loves the gospel! She is from Olympia Washington and is coming to Kennewick with me! She is really relaxed and I'm a little more uptight so we balance each other out. I love teaching with her! We have just gotten to the point where the lessons flow and there's no problem in knowing what the other person is going to say. It really is a blast! 

This week Sister Burton and I did A LOT of teaching. We had some serious awesome experiences! So one of our investigators from the TRC is Sarah. She was referred to us by her friend Polly and has no religious background. Her sister has cancer and is not doing well at all. Sarah pretty much raised her sister and is just having a really hard time with all of it. We met with her on Tuesday and oh my goodness! That lesson was so powerful! She started asking questions about the Plan of Salvation and being able to see her sister after this life. I got to bare my testimony of how I know that after this life we will be with those we love.  I shared with her our family story about Grandma and how I know that she is getting ready to leave this life and pass on and how hard it was for me to say goodbye knowing that she might not be here when I got home. It was so powerful! If there is one thing that I have learned from that particular lesson is that the Plan of Salvation is real! My testimony of it has sky rocketed and there is no way that I can deny it. Oh my I love this gospel.  :)

One of our other investigator Charly ( a.k.a. Sister Metzger our teacher) committed to BAPTISM! Holy cow it was so awesome! We were so excited that she said yes that we forgot to even set a date with her! hahah So the next time that we met with her we set a date for Nov. 24. :) Sister Burton and I couldn't help but dance down the hallways. 

This church is true. I know. I have seen the happiness that it has brought to my life and the lives of the people that I have met since I got to the MTC. I'm excited/scared to leave on Tuesday but I know that what I am about to do is all in the Lords hands. Love you all!! 

Sister Mecham 

Sister Mecham will be leaving the MTC on Tuesday morning for Kennewick!

 Her mission home address is:

Washington Kennewick Mission
8202 West Quinault Ave
Suite D
Kennewick, WA
99336-1017

A Letter from the MTC: Friday October 19, 2012

I know you've been waiting and hoping for this moment for a WHOLE week and now it has finally arrived! Here is THE Sister Mecham's first email from the MTC:

Oh my dear family! 
Hello! How are all of you?! It's going oh so wonderful over here :) Today is my official P-day :) We got to go to the temple this morning and I was in heaven. It has been one of the many things that I have looked forward to this week! My companion is Sister Burton and we get along really well. She is from Olympia Washington and will be coming with me to Kennewick! Our whole district will be going to Kennewick actually! Which is super awesome because we have all become great friends. In our district we have 6 Elders and 2 other Sisters besides Sister Burton and I. This week was our first week with our TRC investigators ( training resource center) and oh boy let me tell you... hahah it was hard. We have 3 investigators. Sara who has no religious background and is one tough cookie and has got a lot of questions but I already love her dearly. She is the sweetest lady ever! We are also teaching the Cheney's who we have only met with once and they are just the kindest people. We also have Charly and Shawn who are so awesome! We have taught Charly about the Book of Mormon and that was one awesome experience! The minute we started talking to her about it I just got so excited and happy! Sister Burton was probably really happy when I stopped talking. hahah I just was so happy to tell her about what it brings you and how you cam find out for yourself! It was so awesome! Shawn I think is coming along.. we just have to get him to let down some of his walls :) Oh my the work here is good :) I am so so so happy when I teach! I wouldn't change it for the world! The food is fine. hahah I do miss all of Mom's awesome cooking :) But we have to make some sacrifices right? :) hahah Well my dear friends I best be going. I love you all! Miss you much but I'll see you sometimes soon :) The church is TRUE. God loves and knows us and is always there. 

Love you!!! 

Sister Mecham

Just as a reminder, her address is:

Sister Whitney Mecham 
MTC Box 156
WA-KENN 1030
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793