Week #44, This week in Newburgh

The highlight of my week this week was the opportunity to serve others. We did a LOT of shoveling this week. We got 2 feet of snow over a period of 1.5 days. Peoples cars were blocked in (like ours) and one woman we ran into was blocked out. Her driveway had too much snow in it and she could not park her car. So we got our shovel out of the car and got to work. We taught her about the gospel and she
expressed her deep love for Jesus Christ. Talking to her was so natural...so easy. We were working with her in the snowfall and loving every minute of it! It was so amazing! We shoveled one of our members cars out. We bought a light bulb for our investigator who is 85 and went to her apt to surprise her with it (her complex's hall light bulb is out and now her doorway is super dark). We loved the many opportunities this week to share the gospel! I loved it! These people here are phenomenal!

So apparently the city of Newburgh is one of the most crime infested places in the USA. I am serving in Newburgh area, but are restricted from going into the city. The outskirts is where we serve. But I would NEVER have guessed that this place was "so bad" by the area I serve in. An hour away in Scarsdale, they have one of the safest areas in the USA, and desire higher taxes to keep the "riff-raff" out. Crazy! New York is unique, that is for sure!

As for my new companion, I am struggling. She is not obedient to the rules and hates help or correction. So for the first week I let her do what she wanted without any criticism. But then I saw the work suffering because of it. She would rarely study for the lessons, and refused to share anything she learned or studied with me. When I would ask her what was wrong, she would hole up and refuse to speak. After prodding for her to speak with no response, I would angrily get up and walk away. Last night after our sisters conference, I approached the subject and hoped for her to open up, since we were challenged at the conference to talk about our weaknesses and how we can improve. She tried to avoid it, but when I persisted, she went into her shell again. She got quietly angry  and said she knows her weaknesses and does not need my help to change. I told her that many of the things she was choosing not to do were personal things, but she needed to
commit to at least study for those we were teaching. I told her she could not make these peoples progress suffer because of her unwillingness to be obedient. She agreed to do that...but the night ended on a sour note, and she refused to pray at the end of it all (it was her turn). I was upset and angrily got up and got ready for bed. She was angry too. So we want to bed at a loss for what to do.

This morning, she got up and went into the other room. I worked out. 5 minutes before 7:00, she came out of the room and laid down next to me as I stretched on the floor. We laughed and the mood was lightened.
Later she opened up to me. She said she needs to change, but it will be slow. She doesn't want help, but just a good example. I told her as long as she is trying to do better, I will be ok. I don't need her to be perfect, but just to know she is striving to be better. She said she had been praying his morning in the room to make things better. Funny, cause I had prayed for the same thing last night and this morning. God is working miracles and healing hearts. I love Sister Steele, but we have a long road ahead of us full of silence, frustration, forgiveness, patience, understanding, charity, and selfless service. We will learn a lot from each other, but it will be hard.

My District Leader, Elder Griffiths has been so good the last few days to message me prayerful, encouraging thoughts to lift me up and help me during this hard time. He had to do that with Sister Steele's last companion too. His support and constant checking up on us is really making a difference! He is a great District Leader!

Keep me in your prayers this week! I have a feeling we will need it. I need to be more humble and patient. I know it. I have my strengths, but I sure do have my weaknesses too. I am grateful for The Lord is trusting me with challenges and trials. It will be hard, but he will sustain me. I have already seen his power work in my life here the past few days. He has given me strength to endure, to bite my tongue, and to remain positive. He has even shown me miracles that have brought tears to my eyes.

I got a message from my brother earlier this week with a picture attached of his wife and two sister missionaries. I read the message and began to cry. The new sister missionary was a girl I had met 1.5
years ago at EFY. Her friend had an unnatural hair color in her hair, and according to EFY rules, it needed to be dyed. So, I took this girl and her friend to the store, grabbed some box color, then went to their dorm that night to play beautician. We bonded and had fun. A few months later on my birthday, this sister had written her testimony on my Facebook page and told me a what an impact I had made on her that week at EFY. I was so touched. So when I saw that she was the new sister missionary visiting my brother and sister in law, I cried. The Lord is watching out for me and my family. His tender mercies are over all of his children. What a beautiful reminder this was to me, and such a testimony builder. My faith was renewed. My resolve was strengthened.

Then this happened...Three weeks ago as I was about to move from Manhattan, my camera was dropped and broken. The other day I had the prompting to turn it on again (something I had already done time and
time again). I actually had the faith that it would work! I had seen how Gods hand was in my life from the experience with my EFY friend. So, I turned it on, and it worked! I was elated! God answered my prayer and gave me the reassurance that he is there, that he hears me, and that he loves me.

What a wonderful week it has been! I am so grateful for EVERYTHING in my life right now! Missions are fantastic! Remember that God is always there and that he cares for you! Don't ever doubt it, cause miracles happen! I promise!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt