Week #22 In New York....23 weeks in... but who's counting? :D

It has been another wonderful week, though chilly! On Thursday night we were coming home from a lesson with Chris Jim.  As we were about to exit the subway, we saw a huge group of people crowded around the stairs.  We realized it must be raining, and these pansies didn't bring their umbrellas.  Ha, so we walked on by thinking we were all that and a bag of chips for bringing my umbrella.  We were 1/2 way up the stairs when we realized there was practically a hurricane going on outside... but, we had to get home.  So, WE RAN!!!!  Two sister missionaries booking it home in Chinatown torrential downpour in skirts.  Pretty picture, isn't it?  Haha!  We were giggling the whole way home!  Our bodies were SOAKED within 5 seconds of being out in the rain, UNDER an umbrella!  The road we needed to cross was a RIVER!  We had to jump through the SHALLOW parts of the street to get onto the sidewalk... my ankles were covered in 5" of SHALLOW rainwater!  Hahaha!  We stopped midway home under the Manhattan Bridge to take some memorable pictures!  WE LOVED IT! Haha!

Our recent convert was given the priesthood last Sunday!  We are so excited for him to be able to progress and go to the temple soon!  He is AMAZING!  So solid in the gospel!  He considers the ward members his brothers and sisters!  He told us he wants to share this gospel with EVERYONE.  So, we gave him some temple pass along cards with the questions on the back regarding the purposes of life.  When he saw them, he eagerly grabbed for them like they were a precious gift.  We were in the elevator with him and a person who lives in his apartment complex.  We started talking with the man, and Jobie gave him a pass along card and told him to read it and let him know if he had any questions!  We were blown away!  He is SO brave! 

We have had a wonderful week also with two of our investigators, KJ and Aimee.  They are friends and learning the gospel together at the same time!  They are WONDERFUL!  Both of them, separately, decided to live the word of wisdom a bit more without being taught about it yet.  They individually picked up that we don't smoke, drink coffee or beer, etc, so they have decided to start to wean away from it.  What a WONDERFUL thing to hear when we had our lesson on the Word of Wisdom last night!  They are so ready!  Both have a lot of friends and family raising concerns right and left, but they are pretty solid!  How amazing! 

We got to attend two other baptisms this week with our investigators!  Rob Iraheta is very interested in the church, but has a smoking and coffee addiction.  At the baptism we committed him to try one full day smoking free.  So, he did.  And he did day #2 as well!  He slipped up, so as of today he is on his day #2 again!  How cool!  The other baptism we went to was a baptism for a deaf person in the ASL branch!  SOOO cool!  I was wondering how they would baptize and confirm when they have to sign the prayer.  So, the man baptizing lifts his arm to the square, then brings his hand down to sign the prayer, lifts his right arm again after he ends the prayer, then baptizes the person.  When it came time for the confirmation, I got to see all of my ASL friends (Elders Malm, Sims, Davenport, Fotheringham, Cowley, and Decrecenzo) stand in the circle with their hands on Byron's head to confirm him.  Elder Marshall signed the prayer.  So, again, they started by having their hands on Byron's head, then Elder Marshall took his hands off his head, signed the prayer as he closed his eyes, and when he was done with the prayer, laid his hands back on his head to close the prayer.  It was so crazy to see all the men in the circle looking at Elder Marshall during the prayer... and to be able to open my eyes during the prayer myself to see him give the confirmation blessing/prayer!  Way cool experience!  P.S.  I'm learning a LITTLE bit of ASL from them.  The deaf community is awesome! 

So many tender mercies, blessings, and wonderful experiences!  I am so happy- so, so happy!  Sister King is amazing, as always!  We have a great time together and we learn a lot from each other.  She is going to be a rock star missionary... because she already is fabulous!  This week she SHOCKED me!  We were on the subway talking to a less active member when she turned to me abruptl y and said, "Is that girl over there the girl who was standing by us in the last subway car?"  Yep, it was.  "Should I go over there and give her a pass along card?"  Umm... YES!  So, with nervousness in her steps, she walked down the train car and approached this girl.  She briefly talked with her, gave her the card, and proudly came back.  To my dismay, the girl she had given the card to approached us just a few seconds later and started asking us about the gospel!  WHAT?!  That is amazing!  There is no immediate happily ever after end to the story here, but a seed was planted!  How cool is Sister King for following that prompting!  She is GREAT!  Her Portuguese is coming along too!  She can read her Book of Mormon to me in Portuguese, and translate it for me into English while I read in English to make sure she is doing it correctly.  She is hitting it almost spot on every time!  It is amazing!  I can't speak enough good about my dear Sister King!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- Twin Tower remembrance lights on Wednesday, September 11th... amazing! 

#2- "Rain, rain come our way..." WE LOVED the downpour!  We ran so fast in that rain! Lol! (September 12th)

#3- Sometimes we match... like this week we wore the same outfit colors 3 times without realizing it.  Don't worry, we were only mistaken for Jews once! (Jews seem to wear a lot of white and black like we were wearing.  I'm sure our Hebrew rings didn't help that either.)

Week #21, No Unhallowed Hand...

This week has been EXTREMELY rewarding!  We were able to witness the baptism of Jobie Overton! :)  He is INCREDIBLE!  Each time we meet with him, he ASTONISHES us!  He has such a firm testimony and a believing heart.  I wish to be more like him in that way!  He is excited to receive the Priesthood this next Sunday, and to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead!  It has been a miracle in EVERY sense of the word in regards to how we found Jobie, how we began teaching Jobie, and how he ended up being baptized!  My faith has grown so much as I have seen his transformation and eagerness to live with God again.  He just wants to shout this knowledge to the whole world!  Amazing.  Simply amazing!

We have been so incredibly blessed!  I can't even believe it!  I am so excited to see the baptisms flow in across New York this month and in the coming months and years to come!  The work is progressing!  It is amazing!  Simply amazing!  There are so many other things I could talk on and on about, one being the new iPads, iPhones and Facebook access we will be having in just a month or so.  Each missionary will have their own iPad, and then each companionship will have an iPhone.  We will have an individual Facebook page and blog.  We will also be able to teach those in our area lessons via Skype. I DIED with happiness when I found out we will have the opportunity to share the gospel with our FRIENDS on our OLD Facebook page!!!!!  What a BRILLIANT idea!  A few months ago I asked my sister to send me several of my less active or non member family and friends info so I could write them and send the missionaries their way.  But as we all know, having a friend introduce or teach their friend the gospel gives it more of a personal touch.  I am so excited to be able to share the gospel with my friends and family in that way!  Of course there will be several regulations and requirements that will come with this incredible opportunity, but we are anxious to see the work progress!  Woohoo!  The Lord knows what he is doing, and I am so excited!  SO excited!  Haha!

"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." --Joseph Smith

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S.  Miracles TOTALLY happen!  Today, look for someone you can share the gospel with yourself?  What if you live in Utah and everyone is already Mormon?  Haha... inspire and encourage a less active member or post something spiritual on your Facebook page. Speak up and speak out!  Just do it!  I love you!

#1- So I'm totally NOT supporting the idea of drinking coffee with this, but if you have seen the movie "Elf", this sign should bring a smile to your face... a BIG smile!  "Congratulations!  You did it!!!"  Hehehe!

#2- Another geeky moment... have you seen "Wizards of Waverly Place" on Disney Channel?  Yep... that's in my area too :) 

#3- Icing on the cake... Jobie Overton at his baptism with Sister Martin, Me, Sister King, Jobie, and Tye Andersen (the Elders Quorum president).  Ignore Sister Kings diverted eye syndrome :) 

Week #20, Ready, Set, DUNK!

So, I must admit, I feel ubber popular.  I received 4 letters this week from some amazing friends of mine.  They basically told me they stalk me and read every little thing I write.  Am I complaining?  No.  Who doesn't love a fond, non-creepy stalker?  ME!

Thank you SOOOO much for your sweet and thoughtful letters (or lines if that is all you could write to me).  Thank you for the pictures.  THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS!  Thank you, thank you!  I adore you all!  And to those precious few who are getting married or having babies, THANK you for your announcements! They are so exciting to me!  Congrats!  

Well, Jobie Overton did it again- he AMAZES me!  He went from 1-2 packs a day, to 3 cigarettes a day, to 1 cigarette 3 times a day!  CRAZY!  This fast Sunday he realized he could get up and bear his testimony!  He JUMPED up right when the Bishop sat down and bore a powerful testimony of how he wants to live with God in the highest of the 3 kingdoms!  He said me and my companion were literal angels sent from God!  How touching!  Sister Victoria Philactos also got up and bore her testimony too!  My heart was so full to see these amazing people who I have helped to teach the gospel to reward me through testifying of their love for God! Beautiful! 

So, Jobie's baptism is scheduled for this Saturday!  We are hoping to fit in a few more lessons with him before then, but things continually come up that cancel our appt's.  Sounds like he's not solid, but don't you worry, he is SUPER solid in the gospel... just flakey sometimes with appointments!  KJ (Karen Jean) Kilby is one of our new investigators who has agreed to be baptized!  WOOHOO!!!  It is a miracle!  I am amazed at how the Lord is blessing me so much!  I have an amazing companion, investigators, ward members, etc.  I really couldn't ask for more.  I am so happy!  

Yesterday we were contacting in Times Square right outside of the wax museum, Madame Tussado's?  A young boy, about 10 years old, came up to me and took one of my pass along cards.  I thought once he saw the picture of Jesus Christ with the children on it (the articles of faith card) that he would not be quite as excited as he was when he came up.  He looked at it, and was indeed surprised, thinking it was a collectors card.  But he looked up, smiled, and showed it to his 3 other friends, who also wanted one!  They eagerly put them safely into their backpacks!  That was SO cool for me to see!  What a blessing!  Hope they read it and feel the spirit of the truths that card contains!

It has been an amazing week.  Amazing!  We attempted to go tracting yesterday, but no one answered their doors.  Lol- I think that was a relief for Sister King!  This was her first time tracting... and tracting a project no less!  She handled it well.  Lol-- we'll wean her into it!

OH!  So funny side note.  Sister King and I (Haha.... yes, "The King and I"), have determined that being companions for a few weeks is simply not enough.  We have a feeling we will only be companions for another 4 weeks or so, sadly.  So, we concluded that I will marry her brother when I get back, so we can be "Sisters" forever!  This morning I broke into giggles as I realized my name would be Celesital King!  Hahahaha!  Good stuff!  Anyways, silly us!  :D 

So, sorry for the SUPER jumbled email.  It is all over the place.  Oops.  BUT, the Church is TRUE!  This is God's work and miracles are taking place!  If you have not been keeping any of the little "challenges" I have been giving you, now is your time to REPENT, and do it.  Simple as that.  Go forth and do something more than dream of your mansions above :)  Love ya bunches!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

#1- I informed Sister King that a straw was mandatory to have any beverage with here in NYC.  You see it everywhere.  RIGHT as I said this, she opened up a package from her sister with this gem... straw glasses.  Truly NYC style!  Hahaha!

#2- Us sneaking in a photo-op at Tanasha's project building!  

#3- Madison and Market = Home sweet home!  This smoke stack?  A new addition to prevent the boiling water from scalding us as we walk over the steaming man holes.  Are they trying to cook the sewer rats to death?  Cause it's working!  

Week #19, On Cloud 9

This week has been a wonderful week!  Training is THE best!  I LOVEEEEEEE Sister King!  She is so amazing!  It is the easiest thing to train her.  She picks things up so quickly.  From day 1 she was teaching lessons in a similar way and familiarity that I was 1-2 months in!  I was blown away!  We are the best of friends and have a blast together!  And we are having SO much success!  Just yesterday we gained 2 new investigators and have had some AMAZING lessons!  We have Jobie, Javier, and Larry who have a baptismal date, and maybe 3+ on the way!  WHAT!?!  This is AMAZING!  I can't believe it! 

When I found out I would be training, I prayed I would be blessed with a trainee who could be my friend.  And that is exactly what I got.  She is so humble.  So kind.  So loving.  So diligent.  So perfect! 

God has been answering my individual prayers and our prayers as a companionship!  We are seeing miracles happen and our investigators changing!  It is true what was said in this past General Conference in "It's a Miracle" that just as surely as the Lord has inspired more people to serve, more peoples hearts are being softened and opened to accept the gospel.  Our investigators the past month have come ready to receive baptism!  We have come in contact with Rob Iraheta, Daniel Ramirez, Jobie Overton, Annia, Javier Lugo, Larry Knox, Beverly Benlulu and her kids, Aimee Bloch, and another one or two who are so ready to receive the gospel!  Amazing, amazing! 

I was able to attend the temple today.  The spirit filled my soul and I learned SO many new things!  I can't believe how much the Lord is blessing us as we turn to him more fully and seek to be more consecrated!  This work is true!  I know it, but even more than that, I FEEL it!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S.  Do something this week that has been on your mind to do... to call up that friend who has been on your mind, to help someone out in some way or another.  Just do it!  :D  Most likely you WON'T regret it ;)

#1. Victoria Philactos, a less active we found 2 months ago, went to the temple for the first time to do baptisms!!!!  We were ecstatic to be there with her!

#2. Sister King and I having fun during her language study-- Portugese

Week #18, I'M TRAINING!!!!!

Oh. My. Goodness- Do I have stories for you!

SOOOO-- I AM TRAINING!!!!!  And you'll never believe it... I have met my companion, Sister King before!  On mothers day this year, a family came to the ward and we chatted with them.  I spent a long time talking specifically to the daughter in the family who recently received a mission call to Brazil. We talked about New York and missions, the MTC, etc. We even got a picture with her mother for some reason.  Well... at transfers today the new missionaries walked in.  Immediately I had a feeling one girl in paticular would be my companion... I just had a feeling.  After we sat down, she said "Hey, I think I know you!  I met you a few months ago when my family was visiting here in Manhattan!  You talked with me about missions!  I'm a visa waiter to go to Brazil, but they reassigned me here!"  WHAT!?!  NO WAY!!! I TOTALLY remembered her!!!!!! THAT IS CRAZYYYYYYYY!!!!!  Woah!  My mind is STILL blown!

We just met about 6 hours ago, but I have a feeling we are gonna be BEST friends!  We hit it off right away and have several similarities.  We both have Hebrew inscribed rings given to us by family members and both of us have similar "mission decision" stories!  We get along... really well!  What a blessing!  I'm so excited to get to know her better and to be her trainer!  Woohoo!

So many miracles have happened this week!  Tender mercies right and left!  Our investigators are progressing. 2 or 3 baptism dates are on.  Our less actives are beginning to come to church.  We have a few people who have contacted us wanting to be baptized/rebaptized!!!  That does NOT happen!  It has been amazing to see how the Lord is blessing our mission as we strive to become more consecrated missionaries!  Remember our September goal to have 1 baptism per companionship?  Well, we heard today from President Morgan at transfers that 80 baptisms are scheduled for September!!!! Our monthly average is 14!  Amazing!  Simply amazing to see how the Lord is using us to be the tools he needs! 

We are excited. Oh so excited! 

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Pictures:

#1- "Generational Picture"-- Sister Brodrick (going home today) trained Sister Martin, who trained me, and I am now training Sister King.  Aint that special :) 

#2- Sister Skinner and Sister Barker are the Spanish sisters who live in the apt below us in Chinatown... this was our morning workout!

#3- Jobie (our miracle September baptism) and his fiance Annia!  WE LOVE THEM!

 

Here is a picture from a few months ago with Karen Slappy (our recent convert--not a member at the time this picture was taken), Sister Martin, Me, AND my new companions mother!  Sister King came to visit us on Mothers Day this year, and I actually met my new companion at that time. She had her call to Brazil, but since her visa did not come through, they reassigned her to our mission this past Friday!  So, I met her and talked to her about missions for like 10-15 minutes!  How amazing!  Glad I took the time to chat with her now :)

She's great!  So fun to know we met before now!  And to have this picture of her mother to prove it!  God works in mysterious ways, but I'm not complaining :)

Week #17, MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!!

GUESS WHAT!?!  GOD HEARD OUR PRAYERS!!!!!!  WE HAVE A MIRACLE BAPTISM TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 31ST!!!!!!!!  God works in mysterious ways!  But we are not complaining!  So....  here's the story:

About a month ago we were walking out to the Pier to meet with a less active (Victoria Philactos) for a lesson.  As we walked by a certain man, Jobie Overton, he stopped us and asked if we were the Mormon Missionaries.  We said we were.  He said he goes up to the church in the Bronx, and that he recently moved to our area.  We eagerly grabbed his information and asked if we could meet up with him sometime.  We were surprised to see him smoking, so we figured he was less active.

After our mission goal was set for a baptism in September, we decided to text every Mormon in our phone, active or less-active, to ask for their help and prayers in finding someone to teach and receive the ordinance of baptism.  Out of 70 members we texted, only Jobie replied with a "God bless....".  A week later on August 10th, we sent out a reminder text to all the members and asked if they had anyone we could teach.  Again, only Jobie replied.  He asked for us to come visit him. 

To our astonishment, we found out Jobie was NOT a member, but has been attending the ward in the Bronx since 2006, when someone simply invited him to come inside for the service.  He's 69 years old and is preparing to die.  It was AMAZING how easily the subject of baptism was brought up.  We showed in the scriptures how even Christ had to be baptized, and then he invited us to follow him and do likewise.  I explained how we then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after we are baptized.  That resonated with him.  He said that was the thing he was missing. We invited him to be baptized on September 28th, but HE asked if we could move it up to August 31st!  WHAT!?!  Of course you can!!!!  We were thrilled!  It was an amazing experience to see how ready he was!  We are elated to teach him in preparation for his baptism!

And that is just our Monday Miracle.  This past Friday (Aug 9th) we were given a year long investigator by the ASL Elders who has a baptism date for September 29th!  Javier Lugo is his name! Sunday we had 4 people attend church with us for their first time!  FOUR!!!!!  I felt happily overwhelmed by the turnout!  They all really enjoyed the service and want to come back!  That was our Sunday miracle.  Tuesday we taught one of those men who came to church for the first time.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he said "it just makes sense."  We invited him to be baptized, and he said he would like to... he just wanted to crack the book first (The Book of Mormon).  YESSSSS!!!! MIRACLES!!!! 

I've been saying the last few weeks that obedience brings blessings, and exact obedience brings miracles.  Umm... IT IS SOOOO TRUE!  We have been trying out best to be more consecrated missionaries, and miracles are FLYING our way!  I stand in AMAZEMENT!  What a wonderful week! 

Sorry for the novel, but I hope it was worth every minute it took you to read it :)  I love you!  Thank you for your heartfelt prayers back home in our behalf.  It helped to change me and the missionary I intend to become, with the Lords help!  Continue to keep us and all the missionaries around the world in your prayers!  And pray for the hearts of the people to be softened!  We have many more who are ready to receive this gospel... we just need to help them along the way!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Picture #1- The tiniest elevator I've seen yet...

Picture #2- The Filartigas (tall couple) just moved here from Paraguay.  Ivanna is a less active member and Fernando is not a member.  The Durans are our amazing new ward missionaries "visiting" for 18 months from Mexico!

Picture #3- Sister Martin and Me with our beloved Molly Ryan!  We adore her!  Haha-- some tourist members saw us teaching her in the park and asked if she was also a missionary.  Lol-- she's a less active member who loves the gospel.  But she thought it was funny they thought she was also a missionary with her clothing choice.

Week #16, September Goal- 1 Baptism

We are still super excited about the September goal (1 baptism per companionship within the month of September)!  The past 2 weeks, we have gone from 5 or 6 investigators to just 2 now (and one of them we are considering dropping).  The last one left is Courtney Goforth who is golden in our eyes, but she feels she needs to know everything before she gets baptized.  So, our prospects for the September baptism look small.  BUT, we are looking on the bright side-- since we have no investigators, we have TONS of time for finding now!  Every day now we are out contacting in Union Square, doing less active look up's, tracting, etc.  We are determined to find someone to find, teach, and baptize in the month of September!  

It has been amazing to see the change in us as we try to accomplish this goal.  We are talking to more people along the way, passing out pass along cards to anyone we chat with, and trying out new finding ideas.  Haha-- we have even asked 3 taxi drivers who have a "The Book of Mormon" play topper on their cabs if they would like to keep a Book of Mormon copy in their taxi in case someone asks them about it.   None have accepted our simply fantastic offer... but we'll keep trying ;)  (Just fyi- about 2 weeks ago The Book of Mormon play has been advertising like CRAZY on cab toppers!  Whenever we see them I like to squeal "MORMONS!" Haha).  

We've tried leaving a Book of Mormon on the bus with our testimony in it, and leaving a pass along card here or there around the city.  It has been fun to try and find new ways to share the gospel, even if we can't physically be there!  The work will progress!  We know that as we strive to reach this goal we will be blessed! 

Seriously though, the members help is what is truly needed.  We can teach and we can help, but when it comes to long term fellowshipping and being there for these amazing people, we can't offer that to them.  We will move from place to place and cannot physically be there help them along the way like the members can.  I know it is hard to reach out and to approach someone who you may have not talked to in years... or never even met before.  BUT, do it!  People just need a friend.  It doesn't matter if they are not interested in coming (back) to church at this point.... just be there for them!  Love them as Christ would.  Reach out!  Lift up the hands that hang down!  There is SOOO much we can do to help the work progress!  Pray to know how you can do that THIS week!  Then, simply do it!  Suck up the fear and go forth!

I love you!  God does too!  He loves all of his children.... EQUALLY!  I often look at the homeless people I come across with several times a day and realize they are my brother or my sister.  They may have had a hard life, or a turn of events that landed them there.  I don't know what happened.  I don't know what they are going through.  I just hope that one day I don't end up there too.  And if by some chance that I do, I hope someone would show love and kindness to me, and not ignore me.   I do know that they are loved though, and that God has sent me here to help those around me, whoever they may be, whatever they may look like!  Mosiah 4:16-24 has helped me learn this.  READ IT!!!  And APPLY it!  Since you may not have literal beggars asking of you like we do here in NYC, find out how it applies to YOU.  The Lord needs YOU!  Now, go to work!

Love Always,

Sister Weyandt

P.S.  The Lord is hastening HIS work... not by just changing the age of missionaries, but by having his children reach out to his other children, badge or no badge.  Remember who you are, and act accordingly :D

Pictures:

#1- Me, Pihana, and Sister Martin (we passed her off the the YSA missionaries.  SO sad)

#2- Man in the subway with probably the coolest musical invention ever! He certainly drew a crowd!  I can't even count how many instruments were on his concoction.  He had wires hooked to his feet and arms that he moved to make a beat and add to his song.  And he sang too.  Talented!  

#3- My Chinatown at 6 am this morning on our way to play Ultimate Frisbee with the Chinatown zone.