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!
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