Week #73, Wonder Week

Last p-day we traveled down to Chinatown and secured some T-shirts for
me to use on a quilt I want to make when I get home. Hoping it turns
out how I envision it! I spent a lot more money down there than I had
planned, but I got some GOOD deals! :)

That night we met up for the first time with one of our new members.
He took us to the fanciest restaurant I have been to here in the city.
I felt underdressed. The prices were sky high. But man was it good! He
was so eager to help us find new investigators. It seemed strange that
he was so excited about it. But hey, we didn't mind! We also mentioned
we were reading the Book of Mormon as a mission in 120 days.
Immediately he volunteered to join us and said he would read to where
we are in 2 Nephi that night. Wow! Harvard taught him dedication and
Wall streets taught him to be competitive and driven. We were
surprised, but grateful for his enthusiasm for the work.

On September 11th we woke up to a strange orange tint from the sky
filling our rooms. We knew it was 9/11 and the unusual color puzzled
us. But it was just an extra vibrant sunrise. We traveled down to the
base of the island to do some work near the 9/11 memorial. There were
helicopters circling about and handfuls of cops ready if anything
happened! It was interesting to note that no one mentioned that it was
9/11. Nothing was different about that day or how people acted. I too
found that it did not stand out to me like it has in years past. I
wanted to start singing the song "Have you forgotten?" regarding 9/11.
I can now understand how the Lamanites and Nephites seemed to so
quickly forget the miracles they had seen. At least we have the media
to remind us. They didn't. I wondered how they could so quickly return
back to their wicked ways. But it was because they forgot. We must
never allow ourselves to forget our Savior and what he has done for
us. It will prove our destruction just as it did theirs!

We were able to meet with our new investigator, Maron, that day! He is
from Israel. He came into our lesson with some skepticism. He chuckled
a bit as we told him about prayer and prophets. When he saw our
seriousness, he quickly listened. We bore testimony of the prophet and
apostles and how God WILL answer his heartfelt prayers. It was amazing
to see his demeanor change as he really listened with fascination at
the conviction behind our words. What an awesome experience to see him
filled with hope instead of skepticism!

We got to meet with one of my favorite people this week- Heather
Andrews! She is wonderful! She has a lot of doubts and questions in
life, especially when it comes to the church. I can completely relate,
because my personality is naturally a doubting one. Many of her doubts
are ones that I had myself growing up! It was amazing to have her open
up to us...to be honest about how she feels. It is so refreshing when
people do not put on a show to please others. I loved being able to
tell her I knew how it felt, and to testify of Gods ability to change
our hearts and enlighten our understanding as we consistently choose
to follow him. She listened. Not sure if it made an actual difference,
but she listened intently, wanting to believe but only slightly.

She made me feel like my true self again. I loved that feeling! I feel
like I am being myself as a missionary, but them I realize there is a
part of me missing...a part of me that I can't seem to show to those
out here since it would be deemed "unconsecrated". It would include
telling others about my life back home, my friends, my relationships,
and the events that have molded me into the person that I have become.
At times I feel it's ok to share those things with others, but at
other times I realize it may not be wise as a missionary to share
those things. So when I was able to be completely myself with Heather
and have her understand me, I felt like the true me again. It was
feeing to day the least!

Sunday was our miracle day! God showered us...drenched us really, with
blessings! We had 3 less actives come to church, 2 people come check
out the branch for the first time upon our invitation, and Golan was
finally able to make it to church after months of trying! He loved it!
We were soooooo excited! I was grinning ear to ear much of the
meeting! Miracles, miracles! Oh, so Rob, one of the men I contacted on
the street last year who was baptized a few months ago has tried
several times to reach out to me. Last year he informed me he liked
me, so I have avoided a lot of contact with him since. I had posted on
Facebook what time we meet for church and invited all to come and join
us. He took that invitation to heart and came. Blah. During our gospel
principle class I was reading a scripture passage when I realized he
was taking pictures of me! His flash kept going off and I was shocked!
I am so creeped out (Shudder)... Captain obvious- take the flash off
before you snap creepy stalker pics of people in church!

After Relief Society, Lauri Bishop approached me and told me how
grateful she was for our "I love you text" to her this week. She said
we were great missionaries and said how she usually does not like
sister missionaries, despite her having been one. She said we have
helped her to change her perspective regarding missionaries and have
renewed her hope in them. Wow! That was awesome to hear! Heather had
told us that too, as well as another member of ours named Ros! I am so
grateful that we are making a positive impact in the lives of the
members here ;) I sure do love them!

After church we traveled up to our dinner appt, just to find the
trains were not running their full length, and the busses only took us
part way. We ended up fast walking much of the way. We were 25 minutes
late. Oops! We had scheduled he appt later so we could give him time
to prepare the meal after church. But when we arrived, dinner was
still in the making. And we realized the downtown trains to get back
home were not working. I started to get anxious, wondering how we were
ever going to get home on time. Luckily a friend of our members was
there and she offered to give us a ride home! Whew! What a tender
mercy! Plus, it was awesome to be in a car again in NYC..it's a rare
treat!

Monday was a good day! As we headed to district meeting with our
roommates, I spotted a little Chinese woman who had stopped in the
middle of the sidewalk to place down her heavy bags. I asked her if
she needed help in carrying them. It was clear she did not speak
English. So I motioned to her hat we could carry them. Her eyes lit
up! We each grabbed one of her heavy bags and followed her a few
blocks to her place! She was so grateful for our help! Despite her not
being able to speak to us, we could see her immense gratitude! That
felt good :)

While at our meeting, our branch president called us and asked if we
could come over that night to teach his son the gospel. We were so
excited! He had mentioned this to us last week and just the day before
we had set an appt with him the following Monday to teach his son. He
said he did not want such a wonderful opportunity to pass by, so he
asked us to come by both nights! Wow! We were so honored! We met up
with them and answered Willie's questions. He is a bright young man
who knows the gospel, but is searching for a testimony of it. He asked
some hard questions, but it was an incredible experience to try to
answer them! I just kept thinking how grateful I was that President
Comstock trusted us enough to teach his non-member son! Incredible!

Since time was running short, Pres. Comstock said he would catch us a
taxi so we could get home on time! I was giddy! I have wanted to ride
in a taxi my entire mission and even had it on a written bucket list
to do before I left! We made sure to document our time as we traveled
through the NYC streets! :) #tendermercy

Yesterday we met with Alex, an awkward Jewish man who is no longer
religious. We had passed him on the streets a time or two and he
agreed to meet up with us. He showed up early to meet with us. We were
still chowing down our pizza dinner. That made for a casual meeting.
We answered his questions and taught according to them. As he left he
praised us for not being pushy, but for simply sharing. That touched
me! I am grateful that others recognize that we are here to teach and
invite, not forcefully insert our beliefs.

The Union Square 1st ward sisters (my first area) called us and asked
if we could come to a handoff lesson with them in an hour or two. Yes!
We met with them and Dwight, their investigator! Dwight is golden and
we are tickled pink to have him as our new investigator. He is sincere
about learning the gospel. We are simply being spoiled with wonderful
people to teach! I am so grateful to have all these gems in my life! I
left our meeting with him feeling refreshed and fulfilled as a
missionary. And how did he find the church? Friends! Acquaintances
actually! That is how most of our super solid investigators are found.
Members, share the gospel with your friends! They need it, perhaps
more than you do right now! Pray for inspiration on who you could
invite to learn more about the church and then DO IT!

I love this gospel! I love The Lord! And I love this work!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

PS. My companion tells me all the time that I am not trunky :) I'm sad
to leave...so I'm working hard to the end! Don't worry about me!