Christmas Pictures

Week #36, ..."soon it will be Christmas Day"

Hope all is going well for you this beautiful Christmas season! All is going well here! Things are looking up in our area! We got a new investigator who was once a former investigator. She is eager for fellowship. One of our other investigators got treatment this past week after 7 years of going undiagnosed. She is so extremely grateful for this timely miracle in her life! It was amazing to see her eagerness to learn while we testified to her of Christ's goodness and love towards her! We were able to sit in on a new member lesson this Sunday with our recent convert Travis, as he was being taught the new member lessons by one of our ward missionaries. The lesson was on temples and family history. The spirit was so strong in the lesson! We have had an  outpouring of the spirit in our lives this past week, and it has been magical to see God working on these peoples hearts, as well as our own.

This week Sister Jensen and I were able to reach an all-time teaching high of 23 lessons! I was sooooo excited! I have never been able to get above 19! What an amazing feeling to look back through my past  planners and see that I started off my first transfer cycle with 63 lessons. Bit by bit each transfer we have taught just a few more here and there. It is amazing to me how much we have grown and progressed
with a total of 88 lessons this past cycle! We have so much more to do... So many more people to teach and hearts to touch. There are just too many of them! But we are trying. We are trying our best to be totally obedient and consecrated. We love The Lord. We love His gospel. Simply put, we love :) My dreams of a mission experience are being realized and I am noticing more and more how in the details God is in my life! I love you and wish you a very merry CHRISTmas!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Sent from my iPad

Week #35, I'm in Love!

It has been a great week!  Slow, but great!  We have seen so many blessings and answers to our prayers for more people to be led into our lives!  We decided to try our online event/lesson this week and put our faith forward to do it, knowing that our mission president promised blessings to come our way if we do.  It was exciting to see the success it brought (up until our internet connection cut out) and how many people joined in the conversation.  Later that day we had 2-3 encounters where the people openly accepted a gospel conversation and some even gave us their contact info.  It was a wonderful day!  The blessings our president promised us came IMMEDIATELY!  We were so happy as we walked home that night, knowing that God was blessing us so much!

Our area has been slow lately because of the holidays, and we have found that there is a lack of people to teach.  So, we decided to call some former investigators in our area.  We got a phone call back from one of them saying it was funny we called, because she recently got in contact with another ward this week and hopes to go to church there this Sunday!  There are no coincidences.  God is in the details of it all!

All is well here in South Manhattan!  I'm excited to be here for another 7 weeks!  This time around I was scared for transfer calls.  I did not feel ready to leave.  This is home.  I have too many more things to do.  Too many more I's to dot and T's to cross.  I have more I need to do.  More people to reach out to.  More lives to impact.  More to teach my trainee.  More, more, more.  I did not feel like I could leave yet.  So I worried that after being here for 8 months already that I would be moved.  We both prayed fervently for more time together in this area if it was the Lords will.  What relief I felt when we got the news (at 11:05 pm) that we were together again for another cycle!  WHEW!  How great was my joy!  I needed another cycle at least!  And I am so grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to stay here again!  He truly answers my prayers!

It has been such a wonderful opportunity for me to serve down here in South Manhattan.  I have learned so much down here.  My testimony has grown.  I have been able to learn so much from those who we teach and serve with.  What a wonderful bunch of saints I get to associate with!  I could not have asked for a better area to be "stuck" in!  This place and these people have wedged themselves deep within my heart, and I will never be the same.  And for that I am thankful! I am in love with my beautiful South Manhattan!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- Chinatown in Christmastime decor!  This is my home!

#2- My South Manhattan zone!  LOVE them!

#3- Me, Sister Jensen, Hermana Laititi, and Hermana Dunn were playing "Minute to Win It" games for our P-day Eve :D  It was SOOO fun! 

Week #34, "This is Real Life"

"This is Real Life" is our new "term" as a companionship.  Whenever something unbelievably amazing happens, we say this to each other!  And since we have quite a few unbelievably amazing things happen to us, this is said hourly!  lol!

This week we had a "free day" as missionaries as we were able to travel from Grand Central to upstate New York in Ossining!  It was GORGEOUS up there!  No tall buildings, taxis, or people.  There were hardly any houses!  Haha... it was great!  I felt like it was home.  I miss seeing grass.  I miss clusters of trees (Central Park trees DO count, but it is so much better when they are planted by mother nature, not by man).  I miss quiet, small towns.  So, this was a wonderful treat for me.  I began to get scared though, knowing I have been saying for the past few months that I would like to go upstate to the boonies so I could have a taste of "home" life back.  When we traveled up there, I was in awe.  How do they do missionary work up here, I thought in a panic?!  They cannot just walk out their door and have a BAZILLION people to talk to.  They have to travel forever to find someone, and they have to tract.  WHAT?!  This was real life too!  Haha!  

It was a WONDERFUL Christmas devotional though, complete with fabulous music from our missionary choir, and a Christmas dinner.  I loved seeing all of my friends throughout the mission.  We only come together once a year, and this was it!  So we made the most of it!  My trainer, Sister Martin, is heading home to the Philippines now.  She said her family will be sealed in the temple just a few days after returning home!  What a wonderful Christmas gift for the all!  

There are several baptisms that are happening throughout our zone it seems!  We had Larry and Travis get baptized last week, and Rie Denning was baptized this week in Elder Wang and Smiths area.  Katherine will be baptized this weekend too from Sister Khong and Awerkamps area!  Simply wonderful to be apart of!

All of us missionaries here on Manhattan island were able to sing in a HUGE Christmas Concert at the temple building this week.  What a wonderful experience that was!  It has been such a fantastic week with all of our friends (missionaries, members, investigators, etc).  These people have become like family to me and I love them all so much!  Sister Jensen is such a blessing to me as a companion!  We have fun in all we do.  We teach well together.  We get along.  We laugh.  We share.  We serve.  We love.  We reach out to others.  We encourage each other.  We are missionaries, and we love it!  

I would love to have you watch this wonderful Mormon Message about the true reason for the season https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-11-018-the-reason-behind-christmas?lang=eng.  I love you all and thank you for your love, letters, prayers, and support!  You are wonderful!  I hope you have a very merry Christmas!  Remember why you are the way you are and who has helped you to get there.  Remember the Lord in all things that you do.  He will guide your path as you show him your willingness to follow it.  I promise!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- My first district ever was reunited at our mission's Christmas Devotional this week!  Elder Smith, Elder Holzer and my trainer Sister Martin are going home this coming Monday!  They will be missed!  #wonderful missionaries

#2- So... we bought ourselves a Christmas tree :D  We just had to!  Christmas just isn't the same without it!  We found some decorations from last year in the clerks office at church, and he gave us permission to have them!  SCORE! This made for two VERY happy sister missionaries

#3- Lorraine is AWESOME!  She decorates her hallways each Christmas in wrapping papers, lights, ornaments, and "snow".  She even had a nutcracker out!  I DIED with happiness as I walked through her little winter wonderland!

Week #33, Christmastime in the City!

Thanksgiving was great this year!  We got to spend it with one of our members, Sister Woolf and her friend (Stacy), as well as her cousins (Dana and Marlin).  We had a wonderful time together, and I got to have one of my bucket list items crossed off my list!  For years I have thought it would be fun to go around the table and share what each person was thankful for.  I requested we do that this year, and they were all eager to oblige!  It was wonderful to see what everyone was truly thankful for.  So wonderful to hear and participate in with these wonderful people!

We had a WONDERFUL week filled with two baptisms!  One of them was Larry Knox.  He was so excited to surprise his family over Thanksgiving with the news of his permission to be re-baptized!  His father was able to baptize him again for the second time!  So, so cool!  

Our exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders was wonderful as always!  We were able to join in with the rest of the zone at our APF (area proselyting focus) at the Winters Eve festival in Lincoln Center.  We set up a table just outside of the Manhattan temple with pamphlets, pass along cards, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD's.  Those who wanted to get their free hot chocolate stood in a line that passed the materials table.  It was a hit handing out free hot chocolate and sharing the gospel with those as they waited in line!  There were a dozen or so missionaries out on the street talking to people and inviting them to a wonderful Christmas concert we are having this Saturday in the Lincoln Center chapel (inside the same structure as the temple, but a different entrance).  One of my favorite parts of the night was seeing David, one of our temporary ASL Elders (he was a convert of our current ASL Elders and is now on a 1 month mini mission as their companion) handing out these Christmas concert flyers to EVERYONE who passed.  He is deaf, so when someone would ask questions, he would just bring them to us.  At one point I looked over and saw him dancing to the band's music (even though he can't hear it) as he passed them our to people!  It was so funny!  David is AWESOME! We got several peoples information and hopefully they will let us come and teach them more about the restored gospel!  :D  

So you know this Christmas concert that I was explaining about?  Well, we were just informed a few days ago that we would be singing "Joy to the World" at it.  And someone (I have no idea who yet) ratted me out that I could sing, and I was volunteered to do it.  I love to sing, but my voice does crazy things when I am nervous, and I was not sure it could stand being in front of 1,000-1,500 people.  So, when someone spontaneously volunteered to do it instead, I let them take the solo!  WHEW!  It would have been fun to do, but I am not sure it would have turned out quite like we practiced it.  I am really excited for the concert though! The song sounds amazing with all 70ish of us missionaries!

Our recent convert, Jobie, is preparing to die.  He is 69, and has several serious medical problems he is battling right now and he does not anticipate to live more than a month or so.  We hope to be able to go to the temple with him to do baptisms for the dead for his deceased family members.  He is excited to do the work and we are excited to be able to join with him!  He has such a powerful testimony of the gospel!  He is ready to return to live with his Father again!  :D  We will miss him, but we know where he is headed!  We told him yesterday he is being taken so he can be a missionary in the spirit world!  I believe that!

I love this area.  I love these people!  I love my companion.  I love New York!  I love this mission! I love the Lord! It is all so wonderful!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- The view of Downtown Manhattan from Sister Woolf's place on Thanksgiving

#2- Me, Stacy, Sister Jensen, Sister Woolf, Dana, and Marlin at Thanksgiving

#3- This is our church building!  It was an old convent, but in the past 10 or so years has become an LDS church!  I love this building!

Week #32, Tender Mercies

It has been another wonderful week filled with tender mercies and growth.  One of our investigators, Travis Lee, is being baptized this Sunday.  He is excited for it!  He converted to Christianity in 1998 and loves the gospel!  Also, one of our other investigators just found out he can finally be rebaptized!  He is THRILLED, and is surprising his family with the news as he travels home for Thanksgiving.  He hopes to come back a baptized member of the church!  How wonderful!

We have had a wonderful last few days especially.  We had several referrals to look up, which is always exciting.  We said a prayer right before we left to do so, asking for us to run into those who we are going to see, or any others we are meant to talk to along the way.  We had two wonderful conversations with people in just a few minutes time.  One was a doorman named George.  He said he is from Queens and always sees well dressed men in suits with tags walking around.  He has wondered who they were.  He saw a group of them singing a few days ago and was touched.  He had a lot of questions and thought it a wonderful "run in" with us.  We got his information and made sure to pass it on to those missionaries in the South mission.  

Then, just yesterday, we had NOTHING planned.  I have not had a day in MONTHS with absolutely nothing planned.  I was so surprised.  So, we decided to go and do some less active lookups.  As we were doing so, we again ran into several doormen that had a lot of questions.  One doorman (named Hugh Jackman-lol) stopped us and said he remembered us from several months ago. He said he read the pamphlet we had left him and that we were angels.  How kind.  We gave him a family history card and explained it to him.  His face lit up as he expressed a deep desire to learn more about his family ancestry!  What a tender mercy!  

As we went to find another less active, we came across a familiar street.  I suggested we go and leave a "love note" for one of our members who is becoming more active as of late.  We left her a note and were about to leave when I told the doorman I had a pass along card I would like to give him.  He smiled and said this was an interesting coincidence.  Just the day before, missionaries had stopped by his home in Middletown (Elder Hall) and had a good chat about the gospel.  He said he was not a Christian, but his family was.  He liked the things the Elders had taught and they said they would come by again.  I was so excited to hear this!  We grabbed some of his information too, just in case.  We testified of miracles and said this was not simply a coincidence.  He agreed and is excited to meet with those Elders again.

Then, last night as we were coming home, we saw a lady with a HUGE cart waiting to tackle the subway stairs.  I offered to help and she gladly accepted.  With help from another two people, we got the cart up the stairs.  She thanked us profusely.  She had heard about the storm coming in and went out to prepare for it and Thanksgiving.  She saw our name tags and said "Oh!  You are Sisters!  God bless you!  I do not have the Book of Mormon, but I want one!"  WHAT?!  I quickly pulled out my extra copy and gave it to her!  She was so excited to have it!  She said she would start reading it that night.  As we walked together, she talked of trials and good things to come.  I immediately thought of the Mormon Message "Good things to come."  I realized this was a perfect way for me to introduce the gospel to her.  She readily gave me her info, and asked me to call her and see where she was at in her Book of Mormon reading.  Are you kidding me?!  Of course I will!  

We have had such a wonderful week!  The Lord has answered our prayers and has given us multiple opportunities to open our mouths and share the gospel with others.  I am so grateful for the chance to share what I love and hold dear with others!  This gospel is true, oh so true! I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving and remember what you are truly thankful for!  

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures of me and Sister Jensen :) 

Week #31, Bliss... Chilly bliss :)

What a wonderful week here in chilly NYC!  Things are going well here in our area and with Sister Jensen.  She is completely pre-trained.  We work together so well as a companionship.  We teach well and connect well with those we are interacting with.  She has jumped in and immediately picked up where Sister King left off.  There was no hiccup or speed bump!  What a relief!  She has taught me so much about being a genuine friend and teacher, and to testify from the heart.  This was actually something I realized was missing from my teaching when I was placed with the Spanish sisters for a few days.

I realized there was need for a change, and immediately the Lord blessed me with a companion like Sister Jensen who naturally has the very gift I was searching for!  She also has approached several people with a pass along card as if it doesn't even scare her. I've been amazed how the Lord knows me and my needs, as well as the needs of our investigators.  We have seen miracles take place already this week!  What a wonderful blessing this companionship has already been for me!

Our investigators are progressing and new ones are coming out of the woodwork week by week.  They are fantastic.  They are prepared by the Lord to listen to the message of the restored gospel. They are the answers to our heartfelt prayers and constant silent prayers.  I love our investigators.  They teach me so much about the person I want to be.  Our ward is incredible too!  I am so grateful I have the chance to be with them for at least another 6 weeks!  We love each other so much!

The Lord has richly blessed me here.  I am so blessed and so happy!  This is truly God's work established here on the earth again today.  I love it. I love it.  I LOVE IT!  :D  I hope you do too!

Alma 5:26- "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"  If not, figure out what you need to do to change that.  I love you!  Thanks for your love and support!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #30, Training- Round 2

Things are going great here in South Manhattan! Yes, I have been out on my mission for 7 months now (CRAZY!!!! I still feel new-ish), and YES, I am STILL here in South Manhattan (my first and only area so far). Sister King left for Brazil on Monday, and I was put in a 3-some companionship with the Spanish sisters (Hermana Barker and Dunn) until today (transfers day).  I got my new companion straight from the MTC! So yes, I am training again. I'm excited!  Sister Jensen is from Layton.  She is a doll and very sweet!  She is almost 20 I think and was a dancer in high school.  She was also a CNA and pre-school teacher.  Very sweet girl who is excited to share the gospel!  Just on the subway ride home we had 2 people ask us questions about the church!  Breaking her in already!  :) 

So last year on my birthday I got my mission call.  What better way to spend your birthday then getting a letter from the prophet?  Ya, I don't think you can top that!  But this year will be pretty close to being the best birthday present ever!  Tomorrow (my 24th birthday) I will be getting an iPad to use as a proselyting tool!  YESSSS!!! Our Area Book, planners, pamphlets, etc will all be on the iPad.  We will be able to use Mormon Messages, Facebook, Skype and blogging to share the gospel with others.  Exciting, right?  Haha... happy birthday to me :)  I guess the iPad could be considered a present from the prophet too, right?  :)  Lol

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week and keep reading the Book of Mormon every day! It will bring miracles into your life.  Did you hear me?  MIRACLES!!!  So, if you are totally fine and don't need any miracles, I suggest you DON'T read the Book of Mormon... cause it will only bring blessings into your life!  :D It's funny to me to see how a mission is just like every day life... but you serve all day long.  You study and grow and learn and play and serve and serve and serve.  But you are still you.  You still have the same quirks, interests, likes, and dislikes.... but you just have a different perspective and love for people around you than you did before.  You have a confidence, a presence almost that radiates and shows others around you that you are different...uniquely different.  Why are we different?  We have the spirit with us.  We have a calling given to us by a prophet of God to serve these people and bring them to the knowledge of the gospel.  It is so easy to share the gospel.  We simply have to open our mouths and do it.  

I love this church.  I love the Lord.  I love the miracles and tender mercies that I constantly see in my life.  This church is true.  Despite the attacks on our church by those who don't understand it or chose not to understand it, it still remains strong and unwavering.  Why?  Because this is God's church, not mans.  It is Him who runs it through a prophet.  Plain and simple truths... they're powerful.  I'm so grateful to know the things that I do.  It is natural and innate.  It is a gift I have been given to share and I am so grateful for the opportunity to do so.  No, I NEVER thought I would be on a mission.  Just yesterday I thought back to the "pre-mission me" and wondering what I thought a mission was like.  I laughed, knowing that what I had thought it was like is nothing close to how it really is.  How grateful I am to be where I am in a place perfect for me.  I'm so grateful for my Savior who knows me better than I will ever know myself.  I'm grateful I have allowed the Spirit to guided me down the path I am now on. It is a better path then I would have ever chosen by myself.  

I love you!  Remember that.  I often think about you!  But until that time, go forth and serve! Share the gospel message verbally or online.  Whatever resources you have, use them!  We should be proud to share this gospel with everyone we meet.  

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- My wonderful South Manhattan district!  They are wonderful!  (Back row left to right- Sister King, Hermana Barker, Elder Potter, Me, Hermana Dunn, and Elder Golding.  Front row- Elder Witbeck and Elder Wang).

#2- Our South Manhattan Zone!  I serve with the most wonderful people!  

#3- Me and Sister Jensen minutes after meeting!  She is fabulous!

Week #29, Pay Offs

This week was wonderful!  It was filled with so many tender mercies!  On Sunday I had a HUGE "payoff" day.  Our investigator, Travis Lee, text us telling us he wanted to fast for fast Sunday and pay his tithing!  Another one of our investigators came to church because a member invited her to come to the lesson she was teaching.  An anti less active dropped in on church randomly.  I found out on Facebook that one of my EFY boys who had gone inactive shortly after EFY has recently been reactivated and is planning on serving a mission.  My brother told me he and his wife were in town and would like to meet up for lunch.  I told them they would have to be prepared for a spiritual thought, and they agreed!  Sunday was a perfect pay off day!  I loved it so much!  

Our recent convert, Jobie Overton, was in the hospital this week.  He has cancer and a few other conditions that combined are no bueno.  We haven't been able to get in touch with him for about 6 weeks, but he allowed us to come see him in the hospital.  We bawled our eyes out as he held both of our hands and prayed with us.  He said he felt he had been preserved all these years (he's 69 and been sick for 30 years) to be able to find the church and be baptized.  In his prayer he said he had done what he was sent to do, and was ready to come home.  It was amazing to hear his testimony and excitement to go home to God and to live in the Celestial Kingdom!  He is such a strength to me!  We love our dear Jobie!

This week has been fabulous!  We've recognized answers to prayers and have had a few people come out of the wood work.  I am given promptings to talk to people more often and I find it very natural to talk to them now.  It has been such a tender, beautiful experience!  I can't even express it!  I've LOVED this week!  It was wonderful!

It was also such a neat experience to be able to see my brother and sister-in-law here in Manhattan!  I was surprised how natural it was, seeing as I'm a missionary and I grew up thinking you are not suppose to see your family while on your mission.  Our mission president has given us permission to see our family though for an hour when they are in town.  What a wonderful experience to be with them and to share my mission experience with them!  I loved being able to see them this week, and with my aunts and uncle last week!

I love this work!  Things are coming together in a way I have never seen before and it is VERY exciting!  God is DEFINITELY extremely invested in this work!  I have no doubt about it!  NONE!  He lives!  He loves us SO much!  He is aware of what we need and when we need it.  He is loving.  He is merciful.  He forgives and helps us to move on.  God is good.  God is so good!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- Us with one of my favorite family's, the Sepulveda/Pichardo family.  Lorraine, Obrin, and Resee are members who treat us like family!  I LOVE THEM!

#2- Kaleb, Krista, Me, and Sister King at our Shake Shack lunch visit!  So fun to see them again!  

#3- So... we wanted to let the Spanish sisters know how much we loved them.  So, we decorated their window two days ago.  Yesterday we realized they hadn't said anything yet about it.  We opened our window in efforts to dangle my jump rope down and tap their window with it to get their attention.  We then realized that we decorated the wrong window!  Oops!  At least our Chinese neighbors know we love them :)  Hahaha!

Week #28, Social Media Missionary

This week has been fabulous!  As of Thursday, we were given accesses to social media to share the gospel message.  Sure, there are conditions and regulations, but we are now able to share this gospel message to all the world!  I am still in the process of cleaning up my Facebook page and making it mirror the sacred nature of my calling as a missionary before I use it actively.  After zone conference, Sister Awerkamp and I went on exchanges!  It was SO fun to be with her in Morningside Heights and in the Harlem area.  We were walking through Columbia University's campus to get to a few of our appointments! 

There were so many amazing experiences we had, just in one night!  We met with the Crystal and her beautiful family of 5 children!  They taught me so much!  They were so kind, so loving, and so inviting.  As of last year, they are new converts to the church.  Crystal is covered in tattoos and lives in the projects.  She has a part time job on top of her full time job as a single parent!  What an amazing woman! Her and her beautiful family stole my heart instantly!  I want to adopt them all! 

Later that night, we went to visit Breena.  She is an investigator and lives in the home of a member (Maritza).  Maritza's testimony was SO solid.  She is a less active member, but was bearing the most powerful testimony to Breena (in a very casual, natural, and affirmative way) that Jesus is the Christ and will be her lawyer at the judgement day.  She said she can't wait until Satan is bound for 1000 years during the millennium.  She kept testifying to her as we read through the Book of Mormon with Breena.  Maritza's faith and Breena's honest seeking further inspired me as a missionary.  I want to go out and find as many people as I can to share the gospel message with!   

We then went to our dinner appointment, who just happened to bring a non-member friend along for the ride. Josephina is from the Philippines, and has many questions regarding the church, doctrine, and beliefs of the people, as well as the culture.  It was wonderful to connect with her and to invite her to meet with the missionaries in her area.  She is considering it!  How amazing!  What a wonderful experience!

We've also seen some progression in our wonderful investigators!  They are so diligent in their searches, but almost all of them feel they need to know everything and get lightning bolt answers (haha... or so I think).  Chris and Travis have made baby steps this week that are like giant steps in my eyes! We are excited to see their progress!  And KJ and Aimee came to our ward this week to hear us speak! They are AMAZING!  We are so lucky to have all of them in our lives!  What amazing, golden people they are! So genuine...so real... so perfect!  God is good! 

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S. These are the bullet points I used for my talk this past Sunday as we introduced the new Social Media push to our ward members.  It was a hit!  Look out world, here come the Mormons!

• “The missionaries are now authorized to use the Internet in their proselyting efforts. During less-productive times of the day...missionaries will use computers ...to contact investigators and members, work with local priesthood leaders and mission leaders, receive and contact referrals, follow up on commitments, confirm appointments, and teach principles from Preach My Gospel using mormon.org, Facebook, blogs, email, and text messages.Of course, safety is paramount in this new frontier of missionary work. Mission presidents will monitor missionaries’ online work to help them remain safe in all they do.” -Elder Perry
• As of this past Thursday, we've been given access to use Skype, Facebook, blogging, and emailing as proselyting tools.

Convenience

• Update area book and records on the go
• Have planner, phone, area book, maps, pamphlets, scriptures, etc all on one device
• Allows us to teach more lessons without travel time

• Allows yourself and the world to watch comfortably from a distance and really see what we as missionaries do. Perspectives will change and hearts will be softened as they SEE.
• Allows us to teach people on their lunch break, during nap time, while traveling, etc.
• Allows us to teach those we contact in efforts to encourage them to meet with local missionaries in their area. Allows us to establish a relationship and provide a good handoff to local missionaries.
• Can connect with so many more people without being intrusive.

Changing World

• People are less likely to let strangers into their home. They're closing doors, but God is opening their hearts and eyes.
• Missionaries must adapt to the changing world. Members must change their perspectives of missionary work. It is still the same work.

Far Reaching Impact

• Young adults know how to use social media, and they know how to do it well. So, God is using those talents
• Not to simply share our belief, but to create conversation
• Hundreds and thousands will see it online, not just our Mom's. Our APF video got 25,000 views in just 5 days. Within 1 week we had 40,000 views.
• “Gets the message where people who want to see it will find it and a place where it will stay.”
• Can teach our LA or non-member family members through Facebook or Skype if they ask.

God is Hastening His Work

• “The work is hastening. Tell the people to pick up the pace.” - Brother Doxford
• “The internet was created to share the gospel.” -Elder Eyring
• “As surely as the Lord has inspired more missionaries to serve, He is also awakening the minds and opening the hearts of more good and honest people to receive His missionaries. You already know them or will know them. They are in your family and live in your neighborhood. They walk past you on the street, sit by you in school, and connect with you online. You too are an important part of this unfolding miracle. ” -Elder Andersen
• “There are many ...who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” -D and C 123
• “This is a responsibility that we sometimes avoid because we fear that an invitation to meet with the missionaries or attend church may offend a neighbor or a friend—or even a member of our own family. However, an invitation that is born of our love for others and for the Lord Jesus Christ and our desire for the happiness of these friends and family members will never be seen as offensive or judgmental.” -Elder Holland
• Let each member realize their potential in bringing others to Christ
• “Perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to “open [your] mouths” might today include “use your hands” to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! But please remember, all at the right time and at the right place.” -Elder Uchtdorf
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Lily baptized through Kat's blog

Conditions

• “If misused, it will be taken “swiftly and permanently”
• iPads and iPhones will have many lock downs
• Facebook to be cleaned up and used only as a proselyting tool
• “Has power to change the world or to condemn your soul” -President Morgan

Commitments

• Add us on Facebook
• Share the gospel by Christmas time

**********************************************************************Pictures:

#1- My aunts and uncle came to visit me before they went on a cruise leaving from NYC!  So fun to see them again!  And yes, we had permission :) 

#2- We went singing in Times Square as a zone!  It. Was. SWEET! #EverydayNYCMissionaries

#3- So, I'm now an online Facebook proselyting missionary!!! This was my first view of real life again! 

Week #27, Shaking things up a bit

So, this week has been an adventure!  The mission life is hard right now, but it is going well.  So, I am limited on my time today, but I want to share a letter I wrote today to one of the teachers back in my home ward.  The teachers quorum was given an assignment to write me a letter and ask me about my mission life.  I got 6 of these letters from boys I have never met before in my life (ok, so I knew one of the six because I babysat him years ago).  It was so sweet to see them preparing now for their missions.  So, here is my letter to one of them:

Dear Future Elder Stead,

That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Haha. Thank you SO much for your letter to me! That really made my day! I got a letter from you and several other teachers in the ward. I was so excited to get all of them at the same time. I'm glad you followed through with your assignment to write to me asking about myself and my mission here in New York City! You've got some awesome leaders! Give them my thanks, will you?

So yes, my name is Sister Celeste Weyandt. I'm sure you know Kyle Weyandt in the ward. He's my little brother. Anyway, I am 23 (almost 24 years old) and am serving my mission in New York City in downtown Manhattan. I am living in Chinatown in Manhattan, and I live about a mile away from where the World Trade Center site is (9/11). I went on my mission a little later than most girls, but I know that was what the Lord wanted for me. I had prayed for 3 years to get my answer as to whether I should go or not. It was a LONG process, but when I finally got my answer, I ran with it! I got a lot of advice and many answers to prayers in those 3 years and all of them added up to help me make my decision to go. One persons advice was given in their homecoming talk. They said that if we ever have the opportunity to serve a mission, to NOT pass it up. That really had an impact on me.

The people here are so unique! Some are so friendly. Others are very brisk. But ALL are children of God! We have some amazing investigators that we are teaching! They are so ready for the gospel in their lives and soak up everything we teach them. The Lord is working on their hearts and I feel that it is just a matter of time before they are baptized!

You asked several questions about my mission that I would LOVE to answer, so I'm going to make a bullet point list. I hope that's ok with you. So, here it goes:

• What helped me to prepare for my mission? SEMINARY (and Institute)! Going to these classes and really trying to learn from them made all the difference in my preparation for not only my mission, but life in general! It gives you so much insight and perspective that having it in your life is invaluable! So, if you are not enrolled in seminary now, DO IT TOMORROW!
• What could I have done better to prepare myself for my mission? Reading through Preach My Gospel regularly. I thought it was boring when I first got it. I opened it a few times and then put it to the side. But it is ESSENTIAL to a mission and teaching. My advice, take turns with your friends teaching a lesson to each other (they have 3-5 minute mini lessons in the back of the lessons of Chapter 3 I think. Check it out). This will help you learn the simple, basic doctrines thoroughly. If you do this, you are set!
• The weather here is similar to Utah's weather actually. Very similar. Humidity (a wetness in the air) causes the hot to be hotter and the cold to be colder, but I am use to it now. It is getting cold as of this week... not fun!
• We do have a specific routine for the first ½ of our day. We wake up at 6:24 to be ready by 6:30 to exercise for 30 minutes. Then we have until 8:00 to eat and get ready for the day. At 8:00 we do our personal study and prepare to teach our investigators that day. At 9:00 we come together and share what we learned in personal study and combine what we studied for our investigators to meet their needs. For new missionaries we do training at 10:00 and my companions both were learning a new language, so we would do language study for an hour, then lunch. Then we go out for the day. We will go to peoples houses or meet them at the church to teach them a lesson. When we don't have lessons to teach, we go out and try to find the less active members and pay them a visit at their home or we go out “contacting.” Contacting is where we talk to people on the streets and hand out pass along cards. My companion and I like to do this in Times Square or other parks. Then we usually have dinner at a members house each night. After that we usually head home by the subway or bus to be home by 9:00 pm and plan for the next day. We are then in bed by 10:30. Then it starts all over again! P.S. We do not tract much here. Many people here live in HUGE apartment complexes and they have a guard (doorman) who will not let you in the building.
• My favorite P-day activity is emailing family back home and seeing pictures from them.
• Our investigators are Aimee, KJ, Travis, Chris, Beverly, Yael, and Larry.
• I've had 2 baptisms in 6 months :D
• I have never been transferred and have had 2 companions- 1 from the Phillipines and another who is headed to Brazil on her mission once she gets her visa.
• My favorite place is the Hudson River- it overlooks the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey.
• I've been able to visit the World Trade Center site, the Natural History Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum. We went to a Yankees game, and I see the Empire state building everyday.
• This week I ate chicken feet at a Chinese restaurant. Not too bad!
• My mission is being paid through personal saving as well as help from my parents.
• Me and my current companion are BEST friends one day, and not so good friends another day. But we are learning a lot from each other :)

A mission is awesome! Sure, there are hard times. Life is full of hard times. But it is so worth it. You grow so much! And you know, a mission is a lot different that I thought it would be. I thought I would feel different, act different, and be different. But I am still me, and I still act like me and talk like me. I simply have a badge on my shirt and the blessing and protection from the Lord to do His work. If you want to start preparing for your mission now, DO MISSIONARY WORK NOW! Open your mouth and share the gospel with your friends (whether members, less actives, or non-members). If missionaries are in the area, go out teaching with them when you can. If you have Facebook, post Mormon Messages, scriptures, inspirational thoughts, etc. Do all you can to lift others up and bring them to Christ. Missionary work is THE MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITY. The missionaries are just there to teach those the members find. So, be a member missionary, NOW!

I'm so impressed that you are preparing for your own mission by studying Preach My Gospel and by bearing your testimony! That is GREAT! What a perfect way to start preparing! As you do all these things, pray to know if the things you are learning are true. Gain a testimony for yourself so you can share that knowledge with others in a powerful, personal way. And you have even saved up twice as much as you planned to this summer for your mission! Wonderful! The Lord is hastening his work and it is so exciting the changes that are coming now that will be available to you when you come out on a mission! God wants us all to return to live with him. He wants it more than ANYTHING else. And the ONLY way we can return to live with him is to be baptized and keep the commandments throughout our life. That is all he asks. So, it is our job to go out and share the gospel with others so that they too can live with God again as well as their families.  God's plan for our salvation is flawless. He is brilliant! And he will do everything in his power to help us all return back to live with him.

Let him continue to touch your life and to build your testimony. Follow EVERY prompting you receive. Pray for missionary opportunities, then seek them out. Act on every good thought. If you see someone who looks down, smile and say hi. If you see a piece of trash on the ground, pick it up. If someone is gossiping (or you are yourself), stop participating or bite your tongue. Pray, pray, pray. The Lord will help you. I promise you! Thank you again for your wonderful letter! I hope I answered all of your questions! Please write me back with any more that you have! Oh, and please do me a favor... you know my brother, Kyle, right? I know he can be hard to deal with sometimes, but could you help him feel loved and included? I think he just needs a good friend who cares about him. Anything you can do to help him would be greatly appreciated by me, my parents, and by God :D Thank you again for your letter! Thank you for praying for me and my companion! We need all the prayers and blessings we can get in this great work of the Lord. Have a WONDERFUL week, and God be with you until next time!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

P.S. If you want to SEE what we have been up to recently, check out this blog: reachmygospel.blogspot.com and watch the video about the Plan of Salvation in Union Square. This video was even posted on the front page of KSL.com this past week and was viewed by 10,000 overnight! Rumor has it that the prophet may have seen it already! How fun! P.S. I am the girl wearing the yellow shirt with the blue cardigan over it. This was a fun activity and a cool way to share the gospel with others! Enjoy!

****************************************************************************************************************

Kind of a fun letter for me to write!  So part of my adventurous week was this whole KSL.com news article/video coverage we got.  My zone was featured on KSL.com, and will be on the Deseret News soon, or so I hear.  Last Friday we went to Union Square and did a chalk drawing of the Plan of Salvation.  Check it out at Youtube: Union Square Plan of Salvation, and at the zone leaders blog:reachmygospel.blogspot.com.  And you can find it on KSL too if you type in similar wordings :)  Rumor has it that the prophet has already seen it!  So cool!  As of right now, the video alone has 23,000 views.  Insane!  This is something simple that is making an impact.  So go out today and do something simple to make an impact on someone else's life!  I love you! 

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- We got to wear regular clothes when we did the chalk drawing!  I hadn't worn jeans in 4 months!  Wonderful feeling :)  Hehe

#2- So, I ate chicken feet.  Not too bad, strangely.  I'm branching out!  This restaurant, Jing Fong, was awesome!  We were eating Dim Sum with hundreds of other people!  So cool!

#3- Sister Carly Porter and her husband Josh are moving.  So sad.  We will miss her!

KSL Video

KSL LINK
NEW YORK, N.Y. — "You see a lot of graffiti in New York, but not quite like this!" a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrote about an art project aimed at helping share the LDS faith.

A group of missionaries serving in New York drew the giant chalk mural illustrating the Plan of Salvation at New York's Union Square last Friday, Oct. 18.
A video of the event is posted on YouTube and on the blog Reachmygospel.
"Usually, when you are teaching the Plan of Salvation, it's good to have a diagram of what it looks like," Elder Brad Witbeck wrote on the blog.
"Many people came with questions. We came with answers," it says.
"Here in New York, many people feel as if they are alone. But, we are all brothers and sisters, and we want everyone to know it," the blog states.
It called the drawing's message uplifting and said it "hits home for all of us." 

Dessert News #1 LINK #2 LINK

Week #26, Life's what you make it...

Ok, so sorry that Hannah Montana's song is popping up into my mind for the subject of this email.  I'm apostate. It's ok.  But really, life IS what you make it!  Last week was a trying week.  This past week has been wonderful!  Of course we had a mix of up's and down's, but things are continually looking up. 

So, Sister King has been needing to practice her Portuguese in preparation for her leaving to Brazil (her assigned mission).  Our new Zone Leader just happens to speak Portuguese!  What a tender mercy!  So we met up in Union Square earlier this week so they could do their language study together while Elder Witbeck and I contacted nearby.  The Zone Leaders were confident we would be able to find a Portuguese speaker as we contacted in Union Square.  I scoffed.  O ye of little faith.  Elder Witbeck and I were handing out family history cards and asking people where they were originally from.  One man stopped and said "Brazil."  My jaw dropped and I was freaking out!  "WHAT?!  Really?!  Do you speak Portuguese?!" I quickly asked.  "Yes, I do," Frank replied.  "Oh my goodness!  Ok, I have some friends who speak Portuguese and they are actually studying it RIGHT now!  You just have to meet them!" I almost squealed!  "Oh, I don't have much time...," he began to say.  Haha... I ignored his comment and introduced him to Elder Potter and Sister King.  They talked for 20 minutes and taught him the Plan of Salvation.  God answers prayers.  My faith was strengthened.  The ZL's were right.  I repented.  :D 

Later this week, we dropped by Tanasha's place to say hello.  We met Tanasha one of my first weeks in Manhattan.  She is a sweet lady and is so friendly.  She hasn't shown interest much in the gospel, but has SUCH strong faith in God and is slowly asking us more questions about our beliefs whenever we drop by. When she answered the door we warmly greeted her.  She told us how she had had a hard night and her daughter was just getting back from the ER.  We spent the next hour talking about God and tithing and Tanasha's mother who use to study with the Mormon missionaries before she passed away.  Before we left I asked her if we could say a prayer with her. She readily agreed.  After I ended the prayer, she had tears in her eyes and she gave us the biggest hug!  She said God sent us her way to help her!  I think so too :)

On Sunday our Ward Mission Leader asked if we could meet up for a meeting after church.  We readily agreed.  We were surprised to see our first counselor in the bishopric also join us.  To our surprise, he spoke some very direct and bold words to us regarding our missionary work and casual conduct with the women of the ward.  We were informed that there were some things the members were concerned about regarding our to-be privileges on Facebook.  His words were unexpected, but understood.  Our ward is extremely youthful... almost all the members of the ward are in their late 20's or very early 30's.  They each had a different mission experience and a variety of rules to adhere to.  The use of internet, cell phones, texting, etc were drilled into their minds as being "of the devil" and rights to be sent home if (mis-)used.  And they are struggling with the idea that not only will we have access to it (Facebook, Skype, Blogging, Email, Texting, iPhones, iPads, etc), but will be encouraged to use it in our proselyting efforts and with them as members.  It made sense what our first counselor was saying, but hard to hear some of the strong feedback he gave us. It was great to know what the members thoughts were so we know how to respond when they raise concerns.

In the end, it came down to the point that we needed to educate our members on the good that can come from sharing the gospel online and by using social media.  And also by sharing the restrictions we still have in regards to these new opportunities.  I would have never thought this was a hard thing for members to accept, but if YOU are one of these members who is struggling with the idea, think about it.  Ponder it out in your mind and ask God if it be right.  A prophet has asked us to do this, and it is up to US to be the pioneers to bring it forth.  I ask for your support in not only accepting this new technology, but embracing it in a positive way to share the gospel around the globe!  If members are not working with us on this, then the work WILL be hindered.  So, again, pray about it. Miracles will happen.  I promise!

This week we got to teach Travis Lee- one of our investigators who is from Egypt.  He became a Christian several years ago and has been coming to church with us the past 1.5 months.  He is thirsty for the gospel message.  Every few days he will text us a spiritual experience he has.  It is so amazing to hear the dreams that he has, the thoughts that come to his mind, the prayers that are answered, and the experiences he has.  This man is having a rain shower of spiritual experiences poured out on him!  The Lord wants this mans heart and soul so badly!  It is beautiful to see his progress and eagerness to learn more! 

Lastly, on Tuesday (yesterday) we were able to go to Union Square to try a new idea for contacting.  We asked people standing or sitting on the many benches or steps if they would write an uplifting message on an index card.  We explained that we would give the card to someone in the city who looked like they were in need of a pick-me-up.  People loved the idea, and 1/2 the people we asked willingly did it!  After they gave us back the index card, we gave them a Mormon.org card with our Zone Leaders blog address on it (reachmygospel.blogspot.com) and told them we would be posting the results of this social experiment online and to check it out! 

#1- They did something good for someone else.
#2- They had a positive contact with Mormon missionaries.
#3- They ALL accepted a Mormon.org card.... It was a HIT! 

They all wrote WONDERFUL messages of hope, love, and GOD! It gave me renewed hope in humanity :D  I have been out on my mission for 6 months now, and I STILL have a hard time opening my mouth about the gospel!  I struggle with it every day and it is my biggest obstacle to overcome.  And if you know me, this is surprising to hear, right?  I can talk with anyone! And this is true... I can. BUT, I have a hard time just STARTING the conversation and making it feel natural.  But I had NO problem going up to people and asking them to help us help make someone elses day better.  So, it was a great "social experiment" to try out and help me simply open my mouth. 

Haha... there was this one man who saw us going down the line of people sitting on the benches and asking for their help in writing the note.  He immediately ducked his head deeply into his newspaper.  I laughed and thought, "Oh, I got this one!"  I approached him and said "Hello Sir!  How are you today?  We are doing a little social experiment and are wanting to know if you could write down something inspirational on this card...." His head did not move.  There was no sign of life in the man.  I had thought if I just continued talking, he would look up because he felt awkward ignoring me while I kept talking.  Lol- but he didn't!  Hahaha!  I paused, laughed, then apologized for bugging him as I wished him a good day and continued on down the line.  Some people make me laugh.... 

I found out that the only young man that we have in the ward (a 15 year old adopted boy from Ghana who joined the church 2 years ago) did something similar with a youth group the other night where they went out onto the NYC streets and asked people what they were most grateful for.  They could have their pictures taken with their written answer, or have the youth video record their answers.  What a WONDERFUL idea!  All of this is allowing for us to open our mouths and share the gospel, whether in word or deed!  Fantastic!

The gospel is true!  The work of Salvation is moving forward swiftly!  Come join the ranks of this great work!  You know you want to :)  Here are some WONDERFULLY motivating quote from our prophet and other leaders from this past General Conference on missionary work:

“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.”

-Thomas S. Monson

“President Thomas S. Monson, as he did once again this morning, has called each one of us to a very important work. He said, 'Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him.' Have we been listening?”

-S. Gifford Nielsen

“Many members do not even pray for opportunities to share the gospel, fearing that they might receive divine promptings to do something they think they are not capable of doing.”

“We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior.”

-M. Russell Ballard

WATCH:

*Videos on sharing the gospel at: hasteningthework.lds.org/

*“The Work of Salvation” [worldwide leadership training broadcast, June 2013]; lds.org/broadcasts

......

Open your mouth!  It's hard, but it is worth it!  Make God proud!  I know I'll continue to try to each day!  Come, join with me in this great work of the Lord!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- So on Monday we had our District Meeting (Oct 14th)... and everyone showed up in white, black and pink.  Kodak moment. :D
-Sister Awerkamp (her 21st birthday that day), Sister Khong, Elder Witbeck, Elder Potter, Sister King, Me

#2- Sister King and I with our beloved Aimee Bloch!  She is our investigator who flew out to see General Conference!  She is solid! We ADORE Aimee.  I am adopting her. 

#3- Our "inspirational message" cards from contacting in Union Square.

Week #25, Life as I know it....

Sooo....General Conference was AMAZING!  I loved it!  So many sweet nuggets of truth!  It was definitely a highlight of my mission.  I was very excited to find out that almost ALL of our investigators were able to watch a session or more.  One of our investigators (Aimee Bloch) even flew out to Utah to go see it in person!  She has such a solid testimony of the gospel and soaks it right up.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will one day get baptized.  The vices that she has are silly hold backs in the grand scheme of things.  She's solid!

We witnessed a miracle this week... one of our less active members (Lorraine Sepulveda) came to church on Sunday, after ignoring us for 3 months.  She then invited us over for dinner!  We were shocked!  Her and her teenage daughter warmed back up to us, suddenly.  I was floored.  She had ignored every text, call, note, and knock. We even saw her on the street, and she was less than excited to see us to say the least.  What a miracle to see the change!  We are excited to be welcomed back and to continue to help them come back to the gospel!

...........

Anyway, life is good and I am happy!  I am at peace with how I have responded to opposition and am so grateful to the Lord for his sustaining hand in my recent challenges.  I LOVE Sister King to DEATH and she is one of my best friends.  But simply put, we struggle.  This too shall pass and all will be well!  With God's help and the same goals in mind, we WILL conquer :D  I know it!  And that makes me happy. 

Today I want you to read Ether 2:24-25 and Ether 6:5 and relate it to your own life and challenges.  It has given me peace that God allows us to go through these challenges to return to him.  He prepares us for them and gives us strength while we are in them.  He is an amazing Father!  I will always be grateful to him for my trials.  They help me grown and learn.  They help me gain perspective.  They make me ME!  And I love what he has made of me and my life.  I wouldn't trade what I am experiencing now for anything else.  Yes, it is hard, but it will be for my benefit (D & C 121: 7-8).  He knows best and I will trust Him, ALWAYS!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1-My library and wall.... pretty ain't it?

#2- A gas station on 10th and 23rd-ish.  I have no idea why they converted it into a rolling hill prarie with fake sheep and a man roaming through it.  But apparently it is a pretty big deal.  Haha... I think this is new, cause I've never seen it before and I use to go by this place all the time.  lol

#3- Watching General Conference.... alone.  Haha!  So nice!

Week #24, 6 MONTHS

Another great week with lots of wonderful experiences!  This week we have had some struggles lately in keeping our lessons focused.  All of a sudden, 3 of our investigators took our lesson and ran in CRAZY directions with it.  They could not focus and would not answer questions directly.  We tried over and over again to refocus our lessons, but they kept wandering.  It was strange.

Sister King and I were still struggling too.  We had a lengthy chat the other night and worked things out.  We understood why each other was acting the ways that we were and determined we had the same goal... just different ways we were striving to reach it.  So we came up with a game plan to help us be more successful as a companionship... as a team!  It was a wonderful thing to be able to come to a consensus on the decision.  She is a wonderful missionary and has so many desires to do good!  Things are working out!  As we came to the conclusion of our chat, it was amazing to hear her say "Want to know something?  I had been fasting today to fix this.  I didn't realize it would happen so soon."  The Lord hears and answers our prayers!  I know it!   

We have been teaching a new investigator, originally from Egypt.  His name is Travis Lee (well, at least that is his made up English name).  He is very interested in the gospel!  We are excited to see him receive his answers as he seeks for truth!  Lately I have been keeping track of the many people we have/are teaching and what countries they come from!  Here is a list of countries of our ward members, investigators, etc....Bolivia, Ireland, Dominican Repulblic, Puerto Rica, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Columbia, Russia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, India, Brazil, Japan, Iran, Singapore, Paraguay, Belgium, Peru, etc.  It is such a unique mix of people out here!  I love it!  You can walk only 1 street and hear 3 different languages spoken!  It is incredible! 

This week I was able to go on an exchange with Sister Beer, one of my sister training leaders.  She had felt strongly to have an exchange with us, even though it was near the end of the cycle.  She helped me SO much to figure out how I can better help Sister King through her stresses and to stop enabling her.  She was fantastic in setting me straight as a trainer!  I appreciated that!  Also, a miracle happened!  We met with Mary Walsh, and Mary told Sister Beer that no one knows what she is going through with her disease.  Mary went off on how terrible this disease was, etc.  Then she told Sister Beer what the diseases name was.  Sister Beer shocked us both when she said, "Yes, I have had that since birth.  It is genetic."  Mary threw her hands up in the air and began to cry, knowing someone understood her pain.  It was a tender moment to realize that the Lord had orchestrated this meeting.  This exchange usually happens at the beginning of the cycle, but this one was at the end, and it almost didn't even happen.  Then, it just happened to be an exchange in MY area with Sister Beer on a day we were meeting with Mary who had the same disease as Sister Beer.  That is NOT a coincidence.  How amazing to see that on her last exchange as a sister training leader she was able to relate to the unrelatable.  Amazing!