Week #23, Miracles Happen... ALWAYS!

 

This week has been an amazing one!  On Sunday we calculated how many lessons we had taught this past week.  We were SHOCKED to see we had 19 lessons and 3 new investigators!  That is unheard of!  I've NEVER had numbers over 17, which was a fantastic week of working soooo hard!  These numbers are pretty high, especially since Sister King is still in her training weeks and has 1 hour of language study on top of that (taking 2 hours out of our proselyting day). We almost had 20 lessons, but we let the Chinatown sisters (Woo and Toronto) teach a lesson at dinner since they rarely get the chance to.  We were so blessed this week!  It was amazing to see the growth and commitment from those we met with (non-members, investigators, members, less actives, and our newest convert alike).  It has been a beautiful thing to experience and witness! 

We have seen miracles this week!  We had a woman (Tae Outlaw) stop us while contacting in Times Square.  We had passed out every pass along card we had, and were trying to give away the remainder of the pamphlets we had (which was over 150-200 cards/pamphlets) when she approached me. She asked if I was a Jehovah Witnesses.  When I replied that we were Mormons, she was shocked... especially since I was wearing make-up and real clothes! Funny!  She was VERY interested in learning more! 

And just this morning we were buying our groceries when our cashier immediately asked "Do you work for your church?  Is their missionary work in your church?  I was a missionary for my church, but I've been searching for a new one.  Is there any way I can join your church?  Do you have a card?... Here is my information!"  WOW!!! I was blown away!  That was an amazing experience to have!  We are excited to see what happens with her (Danilsa Vargas)! 

Elder Neil L. Andersen said this in his last General Conference talk "It's a Miracle" and it has been a motivating thought for me while out serving my mission: "Brothers and sisters, 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." 

This stood out to me again this morning as I met this wonderful daughter of God!  Amazing to see people are still seeking Him in the purity of their honest hearts!

On Sunday, everything drastically changed.  Sister King blew up at me.  I was shocked.  I had no idea what to say.  That agitated her even more.  I didn't see this coming.  My heart raced and my thoughts did too.  What had I done?  Did I regret anything I had done?  I was not use to being talked to like this... ever!  I had nothing to fight the fire she wanted to feed.  I had no regrets... and I had no words to say.  So I didn't say anything.  I wasn't mad at her or offended or hurt.  I was confused though.  What happened to my sweet, miracle companion?  I had no idea.  She had been very quiet and short with her answers the past week, but she refused to open up when I approached her.  Then this happened.  The next 24 hours was hard... and quiet.  I didn't know how to include her when she had criticized me for the kind of trainer I was.  So I pushed on, letting her follow, knowing she had to work things out on a personal level before I could help her. 

The next day was Zone Conference--it was such a blessing!  We were all asked to prepare a 2 minute talk. I'm glad I prepared my talk, since I was one of two missionaries in the mission called upon last minute to give it.  I had a feeling I would be presenting it!  The spirit was strong and I learned a lot about how I want to become better by opening my mouth and sharing the gospel with EVERYONE!  I still have my fears that I brought with me into the conference, but I will work towards pushing past them to be the best missionary possible.  The spirit touched both of our hearts during the conference, and things seemed to go back to normal as we left.  I was SHOCKED!  I thought we would be needed a personal counseling session with our mission president to get past our road block.  I realized he wouldn't have time to do so, so I figured we would later contact our Sister Training Leaders for help.  That night though, Sister King asked if she could talk to me.  She apologized for her words and anger.  She said she had never done that before and didn't know where it came from.  She said I am a great trainer, but she feels inadequate and frustrated that she doesn't know anything in the mission like she did before she came out.  She said she just had a lot of pride.  This was the EXACT same problem I was having when I was in training, and the words she said to me were the same words I said to Sister Martin.  I laughed that we were so similar.  I know just how she feels.  I was so grateful to her opening up and trusting me!  She is a great friend!

Last night as we were walking home, I saw a lady fall off of a bus's park bench.  I approached her warily, since it was dark and I did not know what to expect.  I asked her if she was alright and if she needed help up.  She nodded and with both of our help we were able to lift her back up onto the bench.  She told us she is from Albany and her boyfriend took all of her money and possessions and left her there. ....we had no idea what to do.  Then, suddenly, a young woman appeared and said to this lady, "Honey, did you fall again?  You need to get to a hospital and they can get you a shelter.  Are you high right now?  Why do you keep falling?  Well, my brother went to go get the car and we are taking you to the hospital.  Let's go."  The young woman was bold and rough in her approach, but loving at the same time.  She didn't know this woman a minute longer than I had.  But she helped her into the car and took care of her.  We thanked her and went on our way home, marveling at the goodness of this woman and her brother to do this for a stranger!  I thought of the good Samaritan at that moment.  This woman is the good New Yorker :D  It was amazing to see people being Christlike when no one was watching.  So cool! 

The Lord has blessed me so much this week and I am so grateful for all of the experiences I had!  It was an amazing thing to see His hand work in our lives, MIRACULOUSLY!  This week, be the miracle in someone else's life.  I'm sure they won't get too upset with you for being an answer to their prayers (whether they be conscious prayers or not).  God lives!  He loves us!  I KNOW it!  It truly is a miracle! 

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S. Miracle #123 this week was finding my favorite necklace this morning, after it being misplaced for MONTHS!  I have been worried sick for months about not being able to find this necklace my father had given me a few years ago!  I love it so much and it has a lot of sentimental value.  Just this morning I was thinking about it, and I found it in my camera case pocket, where I must've put it away for safe keeping!  I had it on me every day and didn't know it!  It was always with me... what a blessing!  What a miracle to me!

Pictures:

#1- So... last P-day I turned into an impulsive buyer.  So sue me!  Some day I would die to own an office supply store...just so you know :) 

#2- This is my P-day lunch today.  Quick and easy and super unhealthy :)  Haha-- but that is why I saved it for P-day :)

#3- Me and my favorite necklace reunited again.  Picture was taken like 1.5 minutes ago!  Not that that is important, but you know, details!

Week #22 In New York....23 weeks in... but who's counting? :D

It has been another wonderful week, though chilly! On Thursday night we were coming home from a lesson with Chris Jim.  As we were about to exit the subway, we saw a huge group of people crowded around the stairs.  We realized it must be raining, and these pansies didn't bring their umbrellas.  Ha, so we walked on by thinking we were all that and a bag of chips for bringing my umbrella.  We were 1/2 way up the stairs when we realized there was practically a hurricane going on outside... but, we had to get home.  So, WE RAN!!!!  Two sister missionaries booking it home in Chinatown torrential downpour in skirts.  Pretty picture, isn't it?  Haha!  We were giggling the whole way home!  Our bodies were SOAKED within 5 seconds of being out in the rain, UNDER an umbrella!  The road we needed to cross was a RIVER!  We had to jump through the SHALLOW parts of the street to get onto the sidewalk... my ankles were covered in 5" of SHALLOW rainwater!  Hahaha!  We stopped midway home under the Manhattan Bridge to take some memorable pictures!  WE LOVED IT! Haha!

Our recent convert was given the priesthood last Sunday!  We are so excited for him to be able to progress and go to the temple soon!  He is AMAZING!  So solid in the gospel!  He considers the ward members his brothers and sisters!  He told us he wants to share this gospel with EVERYONE.  So, we gave him some temple pass along cards with the questions on the back regarding the purposes of life.  When he saw them, he eagerly grabbed for them like they were a precious gift.  We were in the elevator with him and a person who lives in his apartment complex.  We started talking with the man, and Jobie gave him a pass along card and told him to read it and let him know if he had any questions!  We were blown away!  He is SO brave! 

We have had a wonderful week also with two of our investigators, KJ and Aimee.  They are friends and learning the gospel together at the same time!  They are WONDERFUL!  Both of them, separately, decided to live the word of wisdom a bit more without being taught about it yet.  They individually picked up that we don't smoke, drink coffee or beer, etc, so they have decided to start to wean away from it.  What a WONDERFUL thing to hear when we had our lesson on the Word of Wisdom last night!  They are so ready!  Both have a lot of friends and family raising concerns right and left, but they are pretty solid!  How amazing! 

We got to attend two other baptisms this week with our investigators!  Rob Iraheta is very interested in the church, but has a smoking and coffee addiction.  At the baptism we committed him to try one full day smoking free.  So, he did.  And he did day #2 as well!  He slipped up, so as of today he is on his day #2 again!  How cool!  The other baptism we went to was a baptism for a deaf person in the ASL branch!  SOOO cool!  I was wondering how they would baptize and confirm when they have to sign the prayer.  So, the man baptizing lifts his arm to the square, then brings his hand down to sign the prayer, lifts his right arm again after he ends the prayer, then baptizes the person.  When it came time for the confirmation, I got to see all of my ASL friends (Elders Malm, Sims, Davenport, Fotheringham, Cowley, and Decrecenzo) stand in the circle with their hands on Byron's head to confirm him.  Elder Marshall signed the prayer.  So, again, they started by having their hands on Byron's head, then Elder Marshall took his hands off his head, signed the prayer as he closed his eyes, and when he was done with the prayer, laid his hands back on his head to close the prayer.  It was so crazy to see all the men in the circle looking at Elder Marshall during the prayer... and to be able to open my eyes during the prayer myself to see him give the confirmation blessing/prayer!  Way cool experience!  P.S.  I'm learning a LITTLE bit of ASL from them.  The deaf community is awesome! 

So many tender mercies, blessings, and wonderful experiences!  I am so happy- so, so happy!  Sister King is amazing, as always!  We have a great time together and we learn a lot from each other.  She is going to be a rock star missionary... because she already is fabulous!  This week she SHOCKED me!  We were on the subway talking to a less active member when she turned to me abruptl y and said, "Is that girl over there the girl who was standing by us in the last subway car?"  Yep, it was.  "Should I go over there and give her a pass along card?"  Umm... YES!  So, with nervousness in her steps, she walked down the train car and approached this girl.  She briefly talked with her, gave her the card, and proudly came back.  To my dismay, the girl she had given the card to approached us just a few seconds later and started asking us about the gospel!  WHAT?!  That is amazing!  There is no immediate happily ever after end to the story here, but a seed was planted!  How cool is Sister King for following that prompting!  She is GREAT!  Her Portuguese is coming along too!  She can read her Book of Mormon to me in Portuguese, and translate it for me into English while I read in English to make sure she is doing it correctly.  She is hitting it almost spot on every time!  It is amazing!  I can't speak enough good about my dear Sister King!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- Twin Tower remembrance lights on Wednesday, September 11th... amazing! 

#2- "Rain, rain come our way..." WE LOVED the downpour!  We ran so fast in that rain! Lol! (September 12th)

#3- Sometimes we match... like this week we wore the same outfit colors 3 times without realizing it.  Don't worry, we were only mistaken for Jews once! (Jews seem to wear a lot of white and black like we were wearing.  I'm sure our Hebrew rings didn't help that either.)

Week #21, No Unhallowed Hand...

This week has been EXTREMELY rewarding!  We were able to witness the baptism of Jobie Overton! :)  He is INCREDIBLE!  Each time we meet with him, he ASTONISHES us!  He has such a firm testimony and a believing heart.  I wish to be more like him in that way!  He is excited to receive the Priesthood this next Sunday, and to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead!  It has been a miracle in EVERY sense of the word in regards to how we found Jobie, how we began teaching Jobie, and how he ended up being baptized!  My faith has grown so much as I have seen his transformation and eagerness to live with God again.  He just wants to shout this knowledge to the whole world!  Amazing.  Simply amazing!

We have been so incredibly blessed!  I can't even believe it!  I am so excited to see the baptisms flow in across New York this month and in the coming months and years to come!  The work is progressing!  It is amazing!  Simply amazing!  There are so many other things I could talk on and on about, one being the new iPads, iPhones and Facebook access we will be having in just a month or so.  Each missionary will have their own iPad, and then each companionship will have an iPhone.  We will have an individual Facebook page and blog.  We will also be able to teach those in our area lessons via Skype. I DIED with happiness when I found out we will have the opportunity to share the gospel with our FRIENDS on our OLD Facebook page!!!!!  What a BRILLIANT idea!  A few months ago I asked my sister to send me several of my less active or non member family and friends info so I could write them and send the missionaries their way.  But as we all know, having a friend introduce or teach their friend the gospel gives it more of a personal touch.  I am so excited to be able to share the gospel with my friends and family in that way!  Of course there will be several regulations and requirements that will come with this incredible opportunity, but we are anxious to see the work progress!  Woohoo!  The Lord knows what he is doing, and I am so excited!  SO excited!  Haha!

"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." --Joseph Smith

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S.  Miracles TOTALLY happen!  Today, look for someone you can share the gospel with yourself?  What if you live in Utah and everyone is already Mormon?  Haha... inspire and encourage a less active member or post something spiritual on your Facebook page. Speak up and speak out!  Just do it!  I love you!

#1- So I'm totally NOT supporting the idea of drinking coffee with this, but if you have seen the movie "Elf", this sign should bring a smile to your face... a BIG smile!  "Congratulations!  You did it!!!"  Hehehe!

#2- Another geeky moment... have you seen "Wizards of Waverly Place" on Disney Channel?  Yep... that's in my area too :) 

#3- Icing on the cake... Jobie Overton at his baptism with Sister Martin, Me, Sister King, Jobie, and Tye Andersen (the Elders Quorum president).  Ignore Sister Kings diverted eye syndrome :) 

Week #20, Ready, Set, DUNK!

So, I must admit, I feel ubber popular.  I received 4 letters this week from some amazing friends of mine.  They basically told me they stalk me and read every little thing I write.  Am I complaining?  No.  Who doesn't love a fond, non-creepy stalker?  ME!

Thank you SOOOO much for your sweet and thoughtful letters (or lines if that is all you could write to me).  Thank you for the pictures.  THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS!  Thank you, thank you!  I adore you all!  And to those precious few who are getting married or having babies, THANK you for your announcements! They are so exciting to me!  Congrats!  

Well, Jobie Overton did it again- he AMAZES me!  He went from 1-2 packs a day, to 3 cigarettes a day, to 1 cigarette 3 times a day!  CRAZY!  This fast Sunday he realized he could get up and bear his testimony!  He JUMPED up right when the Bishop sat down and bore a powerful testimony of how he wants to live with God in the highest of the 3 kingdoms!  He said me and my companion were literal angels sent from God!  How touching!  Sister Victoria Philactos also got up and bore her testimony too!  My heart was so full to see these amazing people who I have helped to teach the gospel to reward me through testifying of their love for God! Beautiful! 

So, Jobie's baptism is scheduled for this Saturday!  We are hoping to fit in a few more lessons with him before then, but things continually come up that cancel our appt's.  Sounds like he's not solid, but don't you worry, he is SUPER solid in the gospel... just flakey sometimes with appointments!  KJ (Karen Jean) Kilby is one of our new investigators who has agreed to be baptized!  WOOHOO!!!  It is a miracle!  I am amazed at how the Lord is blessing me so much!  I have an amazing companion, investigators, ward members, etc.  I really couldn't ask for more.  I am so happy!  

Yesterday we were contacting in Times Square right outside of the wax museum, Madame Tussado's?  A young boy, about 10 years old, came up to me and took one of my pass along cards.  I thought once he saw the picture of Jesus Christ with the children on it (the articles of faith card) that he would not be quite as excited as he was when he came up.  He looked at it, and was indeed surprised, thinking it was a collectors card.  But he looked up, smiled, and showed it to his 3 other friends, who also wanted one!  They eagerly put them safely into their backpacks!  That was SO cool for me to see!  What a blessing!  Hope they read it and feel the spirit of the truths that card contains!

It has been an amazing week.  Amazing!  We attempted to go tracting yesterday, but no one answered their doors.  Lol- I think that was a relief for Sister King!  This was her first time tracting... and tracting a project no less!  She handled it well.  Lol-- we'll wean her into it!

OH!  So funny side note.  Sister King and I (Haha.... yes, "The King and I"), have determined that being companions for a few weeks is simply not enough.  We have a feeling we will only be companions for another 4 weeks or so, sadly.  So, we concluded that I will marry her brother when I get back, so we can be "Sisters" forever!  This morning I broke into giggles as I realized my name would be Celesital King!  Hahahaha!  Good stuff!  Anyways, silly us!  :D 

So, sorry for the SUPER jumbled email.  It is all over the place.  Oops.  BUT, the Church is TRUE!  This is God's work and miracles are taking place!  If you have not been keeping any of the little "challenges" I have been giving you, now is your time to REPENT, and do it.  Simple as that.  Go forth and do something more than dream of your mansions above :)  Love ya bunches!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- I informed Sister King that a straw was mandatory to have any beverage with here in NYC.  You see it everywhere.  RIGHT as I said this, she opened up a package from her sister with this gem... straw glasses.  Truly NYC style!  Hahaha!

#2- Us sneaking in a photo-op at Tanasha's project building!  

#3- Madison and Market = Home sweet home!  This smoke stack?  A new addition to prevent the boiling water from scalding us as we walk over the steaming man holes.  Are they trying to cook the sewer rats to death?  Cause it's working!