So, let it be known that Sister Boseman rocks! I LOVE HER! I have been soooooooo extremely blessed to have her as a companion! She is so sweet, an excellent listener, kind, hard working, sincere, beautiful, and eager to be obedient. Let's just say she is the perfect missionary!
Since she came into the area last week, we have gotten 3 new investigators. Now we have a total of 4! It took us 6 weeks last cycle to get one, and we got 3 the first three days of our companionship, all from different encounters This girl is a miracle worker!
Her first official day here we had a first lesson with a member and his referral, Long He. Long is an intern from China who is interested in Chrisitianity. We taught him just outside of Madison Square Park by the Flat Iron building. He was so receptive and inquisitive! It was unique teaching someone who did not already have a Christian background, but we took it nice and slow for him. The lesson went great! Sister Boseman was extremely quiet during the lesson. I felt bad I was talking so much. After the lesson I asked her if she was ok. She apologized and told me she was still not use to the city and she was so distracted by the taxi's, scurrying crowds, pigeons, and live band playing nearby that she could not focus. Haha...NYC is full of distractions! She will come to tune it out soon enough :)
The next day we had time to go contacting in my favorite park- Union Square. As we entered the park we saw a man in the center of the street front ground holding up a Bible and preaching. So, we decided to change our route. Three young men saw us and said they had met our friends a few days ago (other sister missionaries). They said they were cool and just wanted to say hi to us. One of them did not want to talk religion since he said he had had a religious argument almost every day with someone that week right there in Union Square. Lol. Well, we don't argue anyway, but we focused on his friends instead. The one I ended up talking with was Ricardo, a young man originally from Jamaica who is a Jehovah Witness. We came to find out through a lengthy conversation how similar our beliefs are in many ways. He seems pretty stuck in his ways, but loved that we shared his beliefs in many ways and wants to meet up to learn more! Awesome!
As we were talking with him and his friend, we had our Book of Mormons out, explaining it to them individually. A Mason (like the religion) man came by and asked if he could have a copy of The Book of Mormon.We gladly fave him a copy! He came back a few minutes later and asked if we had another one that he could give to his friend. Of course! We had been prompted that day to bring 2 each instead of our usual one.Amazing that we had the opportunity to give all 4 of them out!
The next day we were walking around Harlem to do a less active look up.I saw an old, frail black woman with a cane and some grocery bags in her hands about to cross the street. I immediately asked if we could help her with her bags. She was so thankful for our help. Bryant was only 63 years old, but seemed more like she was in her mid 80's. It took her a good 5 minutes to walk one block with us. Poor woman. I hailed her a cab (first time I ever had the opportunity to do it) and sent her on her way to the Bronx where she lived.
We had 10 minutes left until our curfew, so we decided to head home for the night. Sister Boseman suggested we each hand out our last Book of Mormons on the way home and get a new investigator out of the encounter-a lofty goal. There were so many people to choose from. We kept getting closer and closer to home and we were unsure who to really talk to. I felt anxious, wanting to have the faith to meet this challenge, but still having the fear of talking to people. We stood on the corner of our apt, unsure what to do or where to go for the last 5 minutes before the night. God gave me just what I needed. Three young adults crossed the road, saw us standing there and one young man asked us playfully "What are you doing here?" "What are you doing here?" I responded back. He laughed and we got into a conversation about the gospel with these three. Roy and Marc are dating each other, and their friend Kythie was with them. Marc was eager to talk. Roy was not. He had seen things about Mormons in TV that turned him off about us. He walked away, but when his boyfriend did not follow him, he stood off to the side and listened. He liked what he heard and became moreinvolved in the discussion. At the end he was asking us if he could meet with us and learn more. He told us that the media portrays us badly, but he likes us. All three of them were so kind and grateful to talk to us. I felt so loved by their sweet comments towards us and for the good work we are doing. Kythie's words were so sweet and tears filled her eyes. I could not help but hug this complete stranger. I am not sure if I have done that before here.
My favorite part about being a missionary would have to be seeing the perspective change of these people I serve around. I love it when I, through my friendship and example can change their views about the church and the work. I am so grateful God is using me to be a tool for good in his hands!
We met up with our returning less active, Alberto this week! He is so eager to go back to the temple! It is amazing to have heard of his progress the last few months and to see his desire to follow God faithfully!
Yesterday we went to Union Square again to do our famous "#KindnessKards" APF activity. I approached a innocent looking old man who when approached let it be known through his tone of voice that I would be in for an interesting next few minutes. Turns out he is Muslim. Muslims are wonderful people. But this man had in mind to start a debate. As he taught me about Alla(?), he tried to catch me in my own words. After a few minutes of politely listening, I boldly informed him I was not interested in a debate, but simply wanted to know if he had something he wanted to write down on the KindnessKard. He assured me it was simply an intellectual conversation, but I knew better. After calling him out kindly on his defensive tone I excused myself as I thanked him and extended my hand to him to thank him for his time. I guess Muslims don't shake women's hands? Because he refused mine.
Haha. Got to love the diversity within this great city! Yes, I can be a sweet missionary and cause tears of happiness in some strangers eyes. Other times I can be that firm voice that stands up for myself and my faith when others try to push me over. Take it as you may, but I am grateful for the opportunity to have both experiences. :)
It has been a great week! I have been so happy! I have found myself wanting to be even more obedient than already am, to have the spirit more abundantly in my life, to release my fears of opening my mouth along the way and teaching the gospel with all those I come in contact with. I have strived to be better about not gossiping (I am not a huge gossiper anyway, but sometimes I just want to vent), to call missionaries by their proper name and not their nicknames, and to serve those I serve with more. I have seen so many changes within myself and my own heart this week. It has been great to come out of a time of complacency to have the desire again to raise my own bar of success to be a little higher each day. I am learning to have true charity towards those who are unkind, who are homeless, gay, annoying and hard to connect with. Sometimes it is easy to love them and other times it is hard. But I feel that is where my heart is growing more in wisdom and understanding of who Christ was and how I am to become more like him. How would he treat them? How should I treat them? Of course, some days I am better than others, but if am trying. God is real! Jesus is the Christ. If this was not true, than how could the things I am doing now bring me this beautiful desire to be better? Simply put, "It's true. It's all true!"
Love Always,
Sister Weyandt
Ps. Sister Boseman and I go running each morning throughout all of Harlem and Central Park. I think we go about 1-2 miles each day. Today we ran 40 blocks :)
P.s.s. Guess what Mom?! I like fish now! But please, keep it to white fish if you ever decide to make it-
P.s.s.s. Michael McLeans son is in our ward #MormonCelebrity!
Talapia won me over.
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