Week #48, Newsies

Hello hello everyone! Well, I guess you could say I have reached that "point" in my mission...that point means no more emails or letters from family and friends. Lol. Oh well, I'm over it...I think I reached that point a few months ago anyway. Since coming upstate, I have only received one postcard...thanks Donna!

Other than that, things are going great! I am loving the work here in the area! I feel that the members are progressing. I know that sounds strange, since it seems the work is usually focused on investigators, but we have seen a lot of progress with those members who we visit with. They are active, but have their doubts, concerns, and needs that I have been happy to help  them with. The past three weeks we have been able to teach young women's once, and primary twice! I have loved the aspect of being more involved in the ward. My last ward in South Manhattan did not have much youth at all. I love fully developed family wards :) The children are so much fun to interact with! I love that I can have an impact on them. I try to focus on them a lot, because I know how much I looked up to those who were older than me when I was that age. This week we made 15 or so "missionary" name tags for the youth and other members with their names on it and everything!  They turned out really well actually! All loved them!

Just yesterday we were driving down the street when I saw a house and had the prompting to go knock on the door. I have never had that feeling before on my mission! I have always wanted it, since I had heard countless stories from RM's about those kinds of experiences. So, I turned the car around and my heart started to beat fast. I was so excited/nervous for this first time experience! A man answered and was kind. He said he had food on the stove and was not able to let me in. We said we had an impression to come and knock on their door. He took the card we gave him and said his granddaughter could use our help! Awesome! We will see what comes of that! I was so grateful for that prompting and the courage to follow it! :)

Things are great between me and my companion! We are great friends and have too much fun together. She still does not keep the morning schedule and some rules of obedience, but she is certainly progressing. I figure she knows the rules and will keep them if she chooses to. When's she does, I overly compliment her. She always seems pleased when I do that. But I am trying to be patient with her and make sure my love for her is not conditional on her obedience. We are happy!

I am sad to see half of my district changing this cycle. Today are transfers. Elder Fox, my zone leader, and Elder Griffiths, my district leader, are being transferred down to the Bronx. They will be greatly missed! They have been fabulous examples and leaders! I will also miss Elder Davenport, one of the elders serving in my ward with me. He is going home tomorrow after 2 years here in NY. We have served 10 months of my mission together and are good friends. But I am excited for the changes that are taking place too! One of my favorite ASL missionaries is coming up from my last area to serve in our ward with us. It is going to be wonderful!

Well, we are seeing the work progressing in small ways, and we are working together in unity more now than ever! I have loved seeing the progress in myself, in the area, and especially in my companion!  Things are swell in Zion! :)

I love you! Keep keeping! Xoxo!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt