Week #13, I want to be more like them...

Another fantastic week!  Nothing extremely memorable, but I am learning a lot about the missionary I want to become after I am a "missionary".  The members here, especially the visiting members or new members to the area, are phenomenal!  I have learned so much from the example of other members this week!  Two visiting members came up to me on Sunday and asked for church teaching pamphlets they could give away to their friends.  Keep in mind, these were both separate encounters.  One man was disappointed when we only had 4 of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ones to give him.  Wow!  They were so excited to share the gospel to their friends they have met while visiting out here.  What an example to me!

Another man, President Woodhouse, told us how whenever he visits Utah he likes to ask people if they are a Mormon.  He loves to hear their response.  If they are a Mormon, he bears his testimony to them.  If they are a Mormon by baptism but nothing else, he "calls them to repentance."  If they are not a Mormon, he invites them to meet with the missionaries!  HOW BOLD!  President Woodhouse has a home in Miami, Florida.  All his 80+ neighbors know he is a Mormon.  One time we told his neighbor they should have lunch.  When his neighbor asked why, he boldly said so he could tell him more about the church.  Another time he invited them over for dinner to watch a video with President Uchtdorf talking about how to find truth.  What an amazing example of how to be a member missionary!  

I have been so impressed by the example of our Bishop's wife, Kimber Crandall.  She has been praying and waiting for the right timing to introduce her friend to the gospel.  This woman's name is Courtney, and her husband is a less active member.  After 2 months of trying to meet her and set up a time to talk with her, we have been able to teach her 3 times!  And she is ready!  She believes in SO much the church teaches, but is stuck on a few concerns here and there.  

These members we are working with are SO bold, SO courageous, and SO strong!  It is amazing to see how valiant they are.  They are the kind of member missionaries I want to become like.  They have no shame as they share their testimony.  They want to share their love for the Lord and for his teachings with everyone they meet!  What an example these members are to me!  I want to become more like them!  They inspire me :)  

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- My EFY girl, Kate Hales, from 2 years ago (Sandy Stay-At-Home) attended my ward for 3 weeks while she was here at NYU doing an orchestra camp!  Cool or cool?

#2- This is my genius creation for Elder Goldings 20th birthday (our District Leader). The bottom layer is brownies. The circular top part is vanilla cake.  Then we made it into a NYC street map, included with some sights, streets, and love notes from all of us in the zone :) It was great!  

#3- House sitting earlier this morning.  Our lovely Spanish sisters replaced the Chinatown sisters that were below us.  Haha... their lock on the door broke yesterday.  So, we did their laundry this morning, and they did our grocery shopping while we house sat :)  It was fun!

Week #12, God is with us!

Remember how I said God is in the details of our lives?  Ya, this week TOTALLY confirmed that!

So, we had been trying to meet up with a part member family (the Goforths) for about 2 or 3 months.  We finally met up with Courtney Goforth and her good friend Kimber Crandall (the Bishops wife) and taught her her first lesson with the missionaries.  It went well.  Nothing great, nothing bad, but she invited us back.  She has concerns and questions, but she has recognized that several events in her life have led her back to the church and learning about it.  So, she is open to it. 

The highlight of my week?  Pihana Kea.  My best friend, Teddy Wright, is on a mission in Hawaii.  Pihana is her investigator who moved to my area.  Teddy contacted me through email and told me to continue teaching her.  Pihana was AMAZING!  We met with her yesterday!  Sister Martin, my companion, was not feeling well, so we had an emergency exchange with our Sister Training Leaders.  Sister Beer from Chinatown was my temporary companion.  I was so amazed by her teaching style!  It was perfect to have her there in teaching.  We taught Pihana the Plan of Salvation since she told us family means a ton to her.  She then asked how she can know these things for herself.  We explained the spirit and how it speaks to us differently.  Sister Beer asked her if she has felt anything while we taught her.  Immediately she perked up and said "Yes!  It feels like a warm blanket!  I was confused why I was feeling it, but now I know it is the spirit."  WOWWWWWW!!!! How amazing!  Dear Sister Wright, you passed off a GOLDEN young woman!  Thank you!!!!

So many other tender mercies have happened this week!  Lots of success.  Lots of people listening and even approaching us!  It has been great!  The happier your demeanor, the more approachable you are.  And since I've been very happy this week, the more we have been approached.  Amazing.  God is with us.  There is no doubt of this!  Miracles happen!  

Go forth and serve someone today... call them, text them, smile at someone on the street, wave, pick up a piece of trash, do someone elses chores, etc.  Serve though.  And report back to me :)  

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

P.S.  Transfers just happened.  Still in Downtown Manhattan with Sister Martin!!!  Just like I thought I would be :)  

Pictures:  Sister Westlund and Sister Oluwalana with me on our last District Meeting

Me and Victoria Philactos at the Christopher street pier where we taught her a lesson about the importance of temples

Me and Sister Martin on our 4th of July night... no fireworks, but an awesome view of the Financial District (World Trade Center) from our rooftop.

Week #11, Another Beautiful Week in NYC

 What a wonderful, blessed week!  God is truly answering our prayers and leading our feet to where they need to be!  This week we found Victoria Philactos, a wonderful Iranian woman who was baptized 4 years ago.  She went less active a few months ago because she fell ill and was in the hospital.  Sadly, nobody noticed.  We found her while doing less active lookups.  She was so touched.  We are now best friends!  We have gone to teach her a few times, and she insists she teaches us some piano.  That has always been one of my dreams, so we don't argue too much :)  She came to church on Sunday and was so glad to be back and fellowshipped!  Wonderful!

We were also able to commit 2 out of 3 of our current investigators to a baptismal date!  YES!  Of course, they are hesitant, but willing to put their faith to the test and move forward!  Larry Jones and Chris Jim have a date for about a month away!  All we can do is teach, and pray, pray, pray!  Karen Slappy, our investigator who moved to Harlem, was FINALLY baptized on Saturday!  It was FANTASTIC!  So amazing to see someone I taught get baptized!  I also sang a solo at her baptism "Nearer My God to Thee."  So fun!  :)  

Also, we ran into a wonderful less active couple who live in Times Square- The Durans!  They were so inviting, loving, and friendly!  We loved hearing their conversion stories!  What a wonderful couple!

The Lord has truly blessed us this week to find those who need us.  Who are ready to let us in and hear our message!  It has been a fantastic, blessed, and humid week ;)  Haha!  

It is amazing to see how I am slowly progressing.  I am becoming much better at contacting people on our way from point A to point B.  I am learning to talk more and forget myself.  I'm becoming more patient.  I'm working better with my companion.  I'm happier.  I'm ok with that :)  

This work is amazing!  Yes, it's hard.  It can be discouraging.  But you learn SO much!  It's rewarding.  So rewarding.

I know that my Redeemer lives!  This work is HIS work.  I'm just his mouthpiece.... his tool.  And I'm learning how to be useful in his hands.  It can be hard to know how, but once you make the connections, it all works out!  I hope you have a wonderful week!  Invite someone to your house this week for dinner who is a less active!  DO IT!!  And report back to me next week on how it went!  I MEAN IT!!!  

Love Always, 

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- Karen Slappy's baptism (her best friend, Allyn Ford baptized her.  He was baptized 4 months ago)

#2- Ran into my lovely Chinatown ladies on the subway!  I squealed with delight when I saw them!

#3- Got caught in the rain... had to run home!

Week #10, Amazing

Time is SOOO short!  But this week has been GREAT!

Our investigators are progressing!  They are asking heartfelt questions, keeping commitments, and even 2 of them came to church this past week!  We had the opportunity to have the Chinatown sisters below our apt join us for a FHE dinner with a member family, and it was FANTASTIC!  They never get fed in Chinatown, and FHE is non existent there.  They said that dinner and lesson was one of the highlights of their mission!  How fun!

Just got an email from my best friend, Teddy Wright, serving in Honolulu.  She said one of HER investigators just moved into our area, and wants to continue the lessons with us!  HOW GREAT!  I hope we can do so!  How cool is that! 

God is good!  Each day I see little tender mercies and blessings!  This is an incredible work!  Go forth this week and open your mouth with the intent to share the gospel message!  Someone needs you to be their friend... to fellowship... to love!

I love you all!  I hope you have a fantastic week!  Keep praying for missionary opportunities!  Oh, and go to the temple :) Love ya!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:  P-day with some missionaries in my zone... and ultimate frisbee this morning with the Chinatown zone :)

Week #9, How Great is our God!

Dear lovelies:

GUESS WHAT!?!  Sooo.... I was just online right now to do my P-day emails.  I asked my Mom if my sister Kristen had given birth yet to Summer Rose.  She said not yet.  Two minutes later I got another email from her saying that Summer Rose had made her grand entrance into the world!  A picture and her stats came soon after!  HOW AMAZING!  I'm a proud Aunt of 7 now!  Yay!  I will meet her in 15 months :)  YES!!!!

This week was MUCH better... much, much better.  One of our investigators, Elizabeth Davey, dropped us... AGAIN!  lol-- she has so many concerns that come and go as quickly as the New York rain.  I wouldn't be surprised if she calls us back up again in a few weeks... we'll see.  

Oh... and I guess we tracted into a celebrity.  Lol--When we were talking with him, he introduced himself as "Rip Torn, the actor.  I'm married to Amy."  Haha... who introduces themselves that way?  I immediately decided he was a "nobody" in the acting world.  Lol.  But later on this week we had dinner with Molly Ryan, one of our amazing less active members in the same building as this man.  Lol-- we found out that he really IS a famous celebrity-- he was the head boss in MIB!  Haha... totally doesn't look like he did in the movie in real life. Anyway...

We have been blessed with better lessons with more feeling in them.  The investigators are responding better.  The members are getting more excited about the work.  We have found a new investigator to teach (Emilio Flores).  Things are looking up!  

One tender mercy that I forgot to mention last week that was significant for me during a hard week took place in the subway station.  The  day was hard, and as we came down the stairs into the subway, I heard one of my favorite Christian songs being sung by a humble man.  The song is called "How Great is our God."  I needed to see that others love God and are spreading his word in whatever way they can too!  Our God IS great!  

This work is true, and it is progressing.  Slowly, but still progressing.  I love you all!  I promise one of these days I'll actually write in depth about the actual work here!  I feel like I just share my thoughts and cool things that go on here instead of spiritual stuff.  But, I'll surely try to send those things your way soon!  Love you all!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

 Photos:  #1. Despicable Me 2-- I long to watch you... in 15 months :)  Haha... Subway ads are my favorite.  #2.  Wall Street does not allow cars on it... and these signs clearly show that :)  #3.  Did you know happiness is spelled C.O.O.K.I.E. D.O.U.G.H?  Yep... it is :) Thanks for sending the recipe Mom (even though I found it on the Crisco package later on).  lol

Week #8, God is in the Details

So last week was hard... and this week was even worse.  Haha... BUT, Miracles happened!  One day was particularly rough.  We went back to that same building we were yelled out of before for a return appt... and were "juked" (stood up).  So we decided to tract the rest of the building.  The second door yelled us out again, and even slightly pushed my companion to leave the apt.  I cried...  so maybe I'm not as heartless as I appear.  This was the event to break the camels back.  I was so discouraged.  But the Lord THREW blessings our way after we fervently prayed for help.  I was so "lowly in heart"... so humbled.  I practically sobbed my way through the prayer.  But when I say God threw blessings our way, I mean THREW! 

Immediately after we said our prayer, we walked outside to see this cute little boy balancing on the curb.  I said "Good job, Dude!"  Instantly he ran to my side and walked with me.  Haha... I asked him what his name was.  "Marvin" he replied.  I found out he was 3 years old, and his birthday is on "Brooklyn 17th"... aka April 17th ;)  Haha!  That little man lifted my spirits.  We had so many other miracles thrown in too... like a less active named Molly Ryan was home and very kind to us.  She told us to call her when we ever got discouraged.  We ran into the Elders (Fronk and Furhiman) as we tracted the bottom floor of our less actives building.  They were coming to see her as well, thinking she was still single and in their ward boundaries (haha... the singles ward Elders had no record that Molly had been married for 8 years).  But it was great to see friendly faces.  Right outside our less actives house, is Washington Square Park, where an Indian Festival was happening.  We decided to walk through to see what it was all about.  We ran into an LDS family there who is visiting from Georgia!  Miracles... downright miracles.  The list continues, but it just goes to show that God is in the details of our lives. He cares.  And when we come to him with humble hearts, he will pour out the blessings upon us. As we put our faith in him, he will bless us immensely!  I am so grateful for this incredible gospel and how it helps me every day to turn to the Lord and grow! 

The work has been slow this week, but our investigators are progressing.  Elizabeth Davey, a former investigator we had, called us up and asked if she could be taught again.  Barbara Green, one of our hard hearted investigators was softened... she listened to us as we testified of modern prophets, a concept she is completely against.  She even came to church and loved it.  Larry Jones is starting to "get it" and understand what we are teaching him and how it will personally bless his life.  He even asked how he can become like us and go door to door.  Wow!  So cool! 

The spirit has been so strong this week.  Through the trials and challenges, I have been greatly blessed!  I have grown SO much this past week, and it was because it was hard.  If that's the case, I hope my whole mission is hard.

I was able to go on exchanges on Monday-Tuesday with Sister Beer in Chinatown.  Yes, I live in Chinatown, but I do not procelyte there.  But since I was with Sister Beer in her area, we were teaching in Chinese.  Haha... well, she was teaching in Chinese.  She translated for me and asked me questions so I could participate in the lessons.  We even went out contacting for a few hours on the street.  So many people stopped and talked to us because they were amazing that we spoke Chinese.  In all actuality, I knew "Ne how" and my companion knew Chinese.  Guess it's rare for white girls to speak Chinese.  Haha!  "Ming fey ing one ban" means "Free English class"...  ya that'll come in handy some day ;)  I learned a lot from Sister Beer though on how to become a better missionary!  So excited to implement what I learned in my own area!

This morning we got to play Ultimate Frisbee with the Chinatown zone at 6 am!  To my utter surprise, I was pretty good... ya... like I said, I'm probably more surprised than you!  lol  Anyway...

It was such an incredible experience though to feel of the strong spirit during a lesson where I had NO idea what they were saying.  The Lord has a way of teaching us through the spirit.  It's amazing!  I am grateful for the struggles thrown my way, because they are leading me closer to the Savior.  I know that my Redeemer lives.  I know that this gospel is true.  It blesses my life SO much!  It's amazing... simply amazing!  Never give up.  Never give in!  The Lord is on our side, and we both know with him we will win :)  I love you all! 

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

*Me and Sister Martin at my first baseball game ever... the Yankees!  :) 

*Strange how I am grateful for whoever decided to tag this building... they helped me keep perspective on this really rough day.  God has a purpose for every little thing I guess :) 

Week #7, 2 Months In..

I can't believe it has already been 2 months since I entered the mission field!  It seems like an eternity at times, and a dream at others.  So crazy!  

This week has been rough, not gonna lie.  We have had some trying moments... being yelled out of a few buildings, feeling fear, and having sad moments.  We had a woman contact us wanting the lessons.  She asked if she could get baptized and we were excited to teach her.  Then, randomly and surprisingly she told us she was not interested anymore (in a rather harsh way).  Our investigators aren't seeming to progress.  Some are being downright stubborn.  It's hard.  

But, we have had some tender mercies and successes.  It has been fun to get to know Paulette Cruz, a less active here.  She has such an incredible testimony of Christ.  She serves others ALL the time!  Truly an amazing woman!  

Yes, this week has been hard.  But the church is true.  The Lord lives and this is his work.  What else matters then?  Nothing.  I love you all!  Keep us in your prayers!  And keep the pictures coming!  

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

Picture #1- Us with Karen Slappy, one of our investigators, who moved from the Shelter to her new place in Harlem.  She is now being taught by Elder Tancayo and Elder Kholi, and should be baptized on June 15th.

Picture #2- The beautiful view of Battery Park City from a members home.  Great view of the Hudson River and New Jersey!

Picture #3- My district on our last day as a full district!  There is Elder Golding, Sprunt, Smith, Holzer, and Sister Martin and I.  Great district if you ask me!