Week #51, Missionary Work in the Works

This week has been a great week! The weather has finally gotten warmer! This whole week I did not have to wear a jacket at all! We turned on our AC even! Anytime we could be outside, we were! We even did our weekly planning outside in a park and on our balcony! It was heavenly!

This week one of our members, Sister Rita Magdalany, was an example to me of missionary work! This member has NO fear! She invited a lady she had met at the store to come to a church activity she was planning.  And the lady (Pinky) came! She enjoyed herself and asked if we could visit her! YES! We were thrilled that she jumped to the question before we could.

We went to go visit her on Monday, and we asked Sister Magdalany to join us. Sadly, Pinky "juked" us (was not there/did not answer). So,we went to another potential investigators home just a stone throw away (Rose). She also did not answer. We began driving again when Sister Magdalany suggested we go get a treat at a place called Rita's. So, we pulled up and found a cute little outdoor patio area and an ordering window (like Timp Freeze in Midway). I was stunned when after she finished ordering, she said to our cashier "Do you know who these ladies are? They are missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have a message they would like to share with you." Hahaha....I was so taken aback, but pleasantly shocked at her boldness. It was awesome! We gave the girl a card and briefly explained who we were and what we do. She did not seem interested, but thanked us.

We sat down to eat our treat, when a man tapped my shoulder and pointed towards Sister Magdalany's purse, where her money was hating out and about to be carried away with the wind. I alerted her, and she
turned to him and said "thank you young man! That was very nice of you! Do you know who these ladies are? They are missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have a message they would like to share with you." Again, I was blown away. I started to talk to this man and his teenage son. The father showed no interest, so the son took the card I handed to them with our information on it.

After that encounter Sister Magdalany turned to the lady right in line behind them (the ordering line crossed in front of our table) and said "Excuse me Miss, do you know who these ladies are? They are missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have a message they would like to share with you."  I was floored again! Sister Magdalany had no inhibitions! She opened up the door for us three times in 5 minutes! She talked with everyone...something I should do, but rarely do. When we praised her for her openness, she said "What's the worst they can say? "No"?

I was so impressed! I felt I should have been the example to her, yet here she was, a woman in her 70's, teaching me how to do missionary work! I loved the kind chastisement I received from the spirit! I can
do much better than I am doing now.

The teenage son (Solomon Johnson) who took our card came up to our table a few minutes after our initial introduction to ask us about the card and our information. We got his Facebook information and talked with him about his faith in God. He said he is not sure where he wants to go to college and that he is asking God for help to make that decision. Wise boy! I got to testify of how I had done the same thing, and was so glad I followed the Spirits prompting to go where I did. We wrapped up our conversation with him, went to his parents table to shake their hands, then left with a new perspective on missionary work :) Oh how I love our sweet Sister Magdalany!

We also had a wonderful experience this week with the Bambfo family. They are African, but not sure where they are from. The Spanish elders had tracted into them and handed them over to us. We dropped by and set up an appointment the father (Charles) to come back to teach his son (Justin). We were unsure if there was a female in the house, so we took the elders in our ward to do a handoff lesson with them. Justin was busy when we went back, so all four of us talked with Charles and another man named Leo about the gospel message outside in the yard. After about 20 minutes, we realized us sisters were not really in the conversation much. Charles's beautiful little four year old girl (Imani) wanted to play with us. So for the next hour we played hide and seek(while still having to stay in sight so we kept the mission rules), hand games, and other simple things to keep her occupied while the elders talked with her father.

After we left, we talked with the elders about the visit. They said Charles was trying to point out doctrine issues and rile them up to a debate just to prove they were like every other religion out there. When the elders ended their discussion with a testimony and a simple "we are not here to convince you, but to teach you what has brought us joy and allow you to ask God if these things are true yourself,"  Charles's whole demeanor changed. The elders said he took the Book of Mormon and our pamphlets! They also said they think Gods hand was in us all being there, because Charles saw the heart of the gospel as he saw us playing with his little girl. They said he would often look over at us all playing and smile. What a beautiful experience we had with them. We are going back this week! :)

What a wonderful week it has been, filled with the Spirit and progression! I am loving it....all of it! Gods hand is in the little tiny details of our lives! We just have to look for it. He is watching over us and guiding us every step of way. Everything we do is a small thing, and by small things are great things brought to pass. I know this is true!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S. How can you have a Sister Magdalany missionary moment this week? Be a member missionary and shock others with your boldness! This is my challenge to you!