So, this week we met up with our second counselor in the branch presidency now the the is back from his trip to the Middle East. Dark clouds and approaching thunder warned us to leave. Haha...but we got caught in the downpour without umbrellas. Lol. And when it rains here, it pours! We bid Ned goodbye and ran on the outskirts of Central Park too catch a train. Haha...we were dripping as if we had just come out of a pool! Lol!
We also realized that this same area in Columbus Circle is a terrible place to go contacting.
1) Everyone is tourists
2) And they have all been attacked by at least 5 people selling stuff before we reached them, so they ignore us completely. Mental note made to not go back...
The rain was not our friend this week. It rained out everyone's 4th of July plans. We realized everyone was inside, no one wanted to be bothered, and our plans were no longer ago until the rain settled down. Luckily that night the rain stopped and we were still able to go down to my Chinatown roots by the base of the island to set up a free face painting stand + photo booth. We had tons of success in getting to face paint faces and then take their pictures in front of an American flag. We put the hash tag #facepaintthefourth on a Mormon.org card and told them to put it in on Facebook to locate their pictures. It was an awesome way to talk to those who we normally would not get a chance to talk to.
While there, my zone leader got my attention and pointed to the street. I squealed when I saw my convert, Jobie Overton, and his wife Annia. I ran to them and threw my arms around them! I was so ecstatic to see them again! When I left the area, I did not expect to see Jobie alive again with all of his medical health problems and looming death scares. It was such a beautiful moment to see him again! He had gone less active, but before he moved to the Bronx had become active again! My heart melted with happiness!
Today I got to go to the temple with my roommate, Sister Holdaway while our companions go see their Broadway plays (Les Miz and Wicked). We got to do initiatories, dealings, and endowments! I got to do work for Jobie's first wife, mother, grandma, and several of my own ancestors. I was crying through some of it. So amazing to do saving ordinances for hose you have come to love. :) The church is true!
My companion and I got to meet up with one of my good friends, the Buckmillers. They were visitors to the Union Square ward last year, and they came back again this Summer! So wonderful to meet up with them again and feel like I have someone to mommy me while I am here in the city again. They brought their non member friend along too! It was an awesome experience! I love sharing the gospel here! We went contacting for just a few minutes in Union square the other day. I went to hand out a card, and the person ignored my approach. A black Muslim man named Muhammad who was on the other side of this person stopped, turned around and asked what I was giving out. We got into a great conversation about the Restoration. It was amazing to see how my mouth was opened and I was able to clearly explain things to him in a way that has been foreign to me since I left the city. He said everything I said made sense to him! We sure hope he calls us back!
Oh, and funny story about a funny convert we had dinner with this past week. We insisted we did not have time (or space in our stomach) for a dessert. He insisted to buy us a treat along the way to the subway. As we were walking, I saw a Dean and Deluca, a SUPER expensive place. I started to tell my companion a story about this place when our member insisted we go in. I tried to persuade him otherwise, but he would not listen. He again insisted we pick out a treat. So, knowing we were already short on time and he would not let us turn him down, we picked up whatever looked good. To my dismay, he bought 3 of each of the treats we picked out! Why would we need 3 of each!? The bill for 6 items of chocolate was $50-60, twice what all 3 of our dinners cost combined! Goodness! Only in New York!
Anyway, it has been a fantastic week filled with the spirit! I have loved how I have noticed the need to change, repent, and become better. A need to work on strengthening my testimony. A need to open my mouth more and becoming a better missionary. I have noticed how I can improve and I am so grateful for the opportunity God gives me each day to do so. He is such a wonderful father to me. :)
Love Always,
Sister Weyandt
No comments:
Post a Comment