Week #45, 11 Months

As of March 3rd, I will have been on my mission 11 whole months! Goodness, that is a long time!  I have noticed several times this week how thoughts of home have surfaced to my mind. Perhaps the birth of my new nephew spurred on this reoccurring thought (super stoked p.s.!!!

Congrats Ece and Nick! They always turn out gorgeous!). But I have found these tender thoughts of home bringing a smile to my face. I realized that as much as I love my mission, I will be very excited to come home. I am eager to be welcomed home by my three new nieces and nephews (as well as all the others), to see my cousin "on the outside" again, to see my grandpa and wrap my arms around him, to see all my friends and family again, and to simply restart my life. Sure, when that time comes I will probably be bawling and want to stay here because the thought of returning home to dating and a career will terrify me, but for right now the thought is safely 7 months away.

Of course as these thoughts came, I tried to push them aside as I realized there is still a long road ahead that needs my complete focus. Yet, I welcomed the warming thoughts when they appeared. I know there is a long road ahead here in my mission, and I am excited for what paths it will lead me down. I am excited for the people I will meet and the lives that I will touch and be touched by. I am excited for the challenges and learning that will surely come. I am excited to see the baptisms of more truth seekers. Let's just say I am excited! But I am also excited to take all these things that I have learned here in this "foreign land" back home with me. I am eager to see how I will apply these things that I have learned here into "the real world"
(despite the fact that the life of a missionary is as real as it gets). I am excited to see how my time here with these people, my companions, and this state will affect me and my future family forever. I am excited to see Gods hand in my life and recognize more fully the blessings he has given me. I am excited to see how I have
grown. I am excited to look back on my mission with wistful thoughts and tender smiles. I am eager for the opportunities that await me in my future.

But for now, I am eager to remain in my present until the future comes. This work is awesome! This is the work of God! Each day I find myself surprised by the energy and motivation I have when my alarm clock goes off. I am surprised by the butterflies that fill my stomach as I prepare for the day. I wonder why I am so excited and I try to think as to why I feel like I am going to Disneyland each morning. I still have not figured it out, but my guess is that I am starting to see a change in myself. I am starting to see a bigger, more glorious
picture. Connections are being made and my heart is beginning to understand. I am starting to feel the spirits powerful force in the lessons that are taught and in the faces of those we teach. I love seeing their countenances change, their questions extinguished, and their faces becoming thoughtful. I love seeing my heartfelt prayers and deepest desires being answered as the spirit teaches these people, not me. It is incredible to see that as I stand aside, after doing all I can do to testify of our Savior Jesus Christ, that the spirit isliterally our third companion. He comes in and takes over all of our hearts. I stand all amazed. Absolutely amazed!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #44, This week in Newburgh

The highlight of my week this week was the opportunity to serve others. We did a LOT of shoveling this week. We got 2 feet of snow over a period of 1.5 days. Peoples cars were blocked in (like ours) and one woman we ran into was blocked out. Her driveway had too much snow in it and she could not park her car. So we got our shovel out of the car and got to work. We taught her about the gospel and she
expressed her deep love for Jesus Christ. Talking to her was so natural...so easy. We were working with her in the snowfall and loving every minute of it! It was so amazing! We shoveled one of our members cars out. We bought a light bulb for our investigator who is 85 and went to her apt to surprise her with it (her complex's hall light bulb is out and now her doorway is super dark). We loved the many opportunities this week to share the gospel! I loved it! These people here are phenomenal!

So apparently the city of Newburgh is one of the most crime infested places in the USA. I am serving in Newburgh area, but are restricted from going into the city. The outskirts is where we serve. But I would NEVER have guessed that this place was "so bad" by the area I serve in. An hour away in Scarsdale, they have one of the safest areas in the USA, and desire higher taxes to keep the "riff-raff" out. Crazy! New York is unique, that is for sure!

As for my new companion, I am struggling. She is not obedient to the rules and hates help or correction. So for the first week I let her do what she wanted without any criticism. But then I saw the work suffering because of it. She would rarely study for the lessons, and refused to share anything she learned or studied with me. When I would ask her what was wrong, she would hole up and refuse to speak. After prodding for her to speak with no response, I would angrily get up and walk away. Last night after our sisters conference, I approached the subject and hoped for her to open up, since we were challenged at the conference to talk about our weaknesses and how we can improve. She tried to avoid it, but when I persisted, she went into her shell again. She got quietly angry  and said she knows her weaknesses and does not need my help to change. I told her that many of the things she was choosing not to do were personal things, but she needed to
commit to at least study for those we were teaching. I told her she could not make these peoples progress suffer because of her unwillingness to be obedient. She agreed to do that...but the night ended on a sour note, and she refused to pray at the end of it all (it was her turn). I was upset and angrily got up and got ready for bed. She was angry too. So we want to bed at a loss for what to do.

This morning, she got up and went into the other room. I worked out. 5 minutes before 7:00, she came out of the room and laid down next to me as I stretched on the floor. We laughed and the mood was lightened.
Later she opened up to me. She said she needs to change, but it will be slow. She doesn't want help, but just a good example. I told her as long as she is trying to do better, I will be ok. I don't need her to be perfect, but just to know she is striving to be better. She said she had been praying his morning in the room to make things better. Funny, cause I had prayed for the same thing last night and this morning. God is working miracles and healing hearts. I love Sister Steele, but we have a long road ahead of us full of silence, frustration, forgiveness, patience, understanding, charity, and selfless service. We will learn a lot from each other, but it will be hard.

My District Leader, Elder Griffiths has been so good the last few days to message me prayerful, encouraging thoughts to lift me up and help me during this hard time. He had to do that with Sister Steele's last companion too. His support and constant checking up on us is really making a difference! He is a great District Leader!

Keep me in your prayers this week! I have a feeling we will need it. I need to be more humble and patient. I know it. I have my strengths, but I sure do have my weaknesses too. I am grateful for The Lord is trusting me with challenges and trials. It will be hard, but he will sustain me. I have already seen his power work in my life here the past few days. He has given me strength to endure, to bite my tongue, and to remain positive. He has even shown me miracles that have brought tears to my eyes.

I got a message from my brother earlier this week with a picture attached of his wife and two sister missionaries. I read the message and began to cry. The new sister missionary was a girl I had met 1.5
years ago at EFY. Her friend had an unnatural hair color in her hair, and according to EFY rules, it needed to be dyed. So, I took this girl and her friend to the store, grabbed some box color, then went to their dorm that night to play beautician. We bonded and had fun. A few months later on my birthday, this sister had written her testimony on my Facebook page and told me a what an impact I had made on her that week at EFY. I was so touched. So when I saw that she was the new sister missionary visiting my brother and sister in law, I cried. The Lord is watching out for me and my family. His tender mercies are over all of his children. What a beautiful reminder this was to me, and such a testimony builder. My faith was renewed. My resolve was strengthened.

Then this happened...Three weeks ago as I was about to move from Manhattan, my camera was dropped and broken. The other day I had the prompting to turn it on again (something I had already done time and
time again). I actually had the faith that it would work! I had seen how Gods hand was in my life from the experience with my EFY friend. So, I turned it on, and it worked! I was elated! God answered my prayer and gave me the reassurance that he is there, that he hears me, and that he loves me.

What a wonderful week it has been! I am so grateful for EVERYTHING in my life right now! Missions are fantastic! Remember that God is always there and that he cares for you! Don't ever doubt it, cause miracles happen! I promise!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #43, Newburgh

So, I am in upstate NY now, and I LOVE it up here! It is beautiful! It reminds me of home....except it is a lot more spread out in parts. Weather is cold, but it is bearable...and seems to be about the same as the city!  I love the City, but I definitely love it up here and the people are amazing! My companion is Sister Steele. She was raised in Russia as an orphan, and was adopted with her 2 blood siblings into a family of 12. Crazy! She is great though and we have fun. We are still in the get to know you stages. The people are great! The ward is great! The area is great! I am surprised I am not even slightly sad about leaving my last area. This place feels like home and I love it! The Lord has truly answered mine and your prayers! Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers! You are the best!

I have met so many fabulous people here with big hearts and a desire to follow The Lord. I have been so touched by those who are seeking truth from the correct sources. It is touching and I am so excited to be working with these people. I am excited for the future and upcoming miracles! Keep me in your prayers! I love you all!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #42,Transfers: NYC to Newburgh

So guess what?! I am finally being transferred out of my first area after almost 10 months of being here. It is crazy! I will be leaving NYC and going to upstate New York! My new area is Newburgh, NY. My new companion will be Sister Steele. She came in 3 months ago with my current companion, Sister Jensen. They were in the MTC in the same district together.

It snowed this morning and these people are pansies about snow. Lol. So transfers today was postponed to be later today. Just minutes after I got all my stuff to the temple building here in Manhattan, we were informed that transfers is now tomorrow. Oops. Lol. It is always an adventure here! Lol. So EVERYTHING is packed away, and I am NOT taking it out! Anyway...

Yesterday we went tracting with my district in my area. I have not tracted more than 2-3 times in the past 6 months. I do not like tracting, but we figured it would be a good way to actually find people to teach who live in our area. We only tracted 1.5 floors of a project building, and we ended up getting 4-5 numbers and a return appointment! Almost everyone who opened their door wanted us to come back! Wow! I was so excited! Maybe tracting isn't too bad ;) lol. I think I will be tracking A LOT upstate.

It was a great week! It was sad saying goodbye to all of my friends here in the City. I cried a few times of course, but it has been such a wonderful journey! I will miss everyone here! But I am excited for what lies ahead. I am excited for a change...to meet more people and to be out of my element again. Pray for me! It will be a challenge, but I am excited for it!

I love you all! Thanks for your love and support! Hope all is well with you! Have a wonderful week!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

P.S. Like my new haircut? :)

Week #41, Glitz and Glamour in NYC

This has been a fantastic week filled with friends, love, and the Spirit of The Lord! I adore these people and this area! We had such a fabulous week! Earlier this week we met with a new member named Kristi. She invited her roommate and friend Greg to join us. We shared a spiritual thought that got Greg thinking. It was amazing to see his demeanor go from questioning and doubtful to thoughtful and peaceful. He was touched. Later this week Kristi called us and told us Greg had taught his little girls how to pray by showing them. This was his first prayer in 10-20 years! Wow! What a wonderful "payday" moment!

We had a few lavish NYC moments this week. We went to go visit our Elders Quorum President and his wife (Kaeli and Tye Andersen). Their place on Wall Street has the most amazing Mezzanine room! The 30 foot ceiling room was covered in rich purples, blues, and cream curtains and couches! I felt like I was looking at the castle in Beauty and the Beast! GORGEOUS! As we were leaving their place, I saw an ancient US Mail drop receiver in their building that I just had to get a picture of! Sadly, my camera was dropped in the handoff between me and my companion, and it is broken. :( So don't be expecting any pictures for a loooooong time! (Family-if you have an extra camera lying around, please send it my way!)

On Sunday we went to one of our members apartments for the first time. It was a penthouse! Their place was 7 times bigger than most places here! 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 entry ways, and more modern furniture than I have ever seen! It was beautiful! They even had a private balcony that was 50 feet long. This may not sound lavish according to any other persons standards, but for NYC, this family is living large! Their next door neighbor is some hot shot producer out here! Cool stuff.  The highlight of this experience though was sharing a unique message with them. That morning I had prayed specifically to know what we could share with this family to help them progress. Immediately I had the thought to share a Mormon message with them called "Having Children in Faith." Immediately I tried to push that thought out of my mind. This couple had only been married a few months. But the impression kept coming back. So, with some awkwardness, we told them we had a prompting to share it. Later Sister Jensen said she had looked at the wife's face while we shared the video. She said her face showed that she was touched and that the spirit was so strong! I am
glad we shared it and followed the prompting! :)

Today for Pday we went to Times Square to go to lunch at Sister Jensen's favorite place, Roxy's. Sadly, it moved! She was devastated! Poor girl! We wandered a bit and ended up in the M & M store. The Super Bowl is on Sunday, so all of Times Square is covered in Super Bowl ad's, pop up buildings, news announcers, and a field goal area with turf and a net! In the store, some player was being interviewed for a radio show. It was...annoying. Lol. Some woman came up to us and introduced herself and her children. They are LDS and from Kansas. I guess her little boy, Titus is a YouTube sensation and has Jimmy Kimmel and all these other people interviewing him for his videos "Titus Trick Shots." Awesome to hear all these peoples stories out here in NYC! Right now I am about to chop off my hair! Some member works for some SUPER fancy place here in a high rise on 57th and Lexington at Pierre Michel. Too much glamour here... Haha. It is fun, but people are too caught up in it.

So, we went to Jobie's last night and found out that him and Annia are now married! She told him she needed a haircut, so they hopped on the M20 bus with her sons. They passed her salon and he told her they had gone too far. She waved it aside. They got off at the City Hall on the lasts stop and went inside. She pulled out some papers, and he signed them without questioning. When the lady asked if they had any
witnesses, Jobie said "What!? I didn't do anything!" Lol. That is when he found out he had signed the marriage papers! Lol! So funny! They had been planning to get married in February, but she couldn't wait I guess! Lol. So they are now married! Awesome!

 I told Jobie and Annia that I will most likely be transferred out of the city next week and this may be our last meeting. Jobie asked that I say the closing prayer because I may be leaving. I got choked up and started to cry. Immediately I felt my companion, Sister Jensen, and Jobie put their arms around me as I attempted to finish my heartbroken prayer. I will miss them all so much! They have touched my heart in unspoken ways. Because of Jobie's cancer and increasing hospital visits, I am not sure I will ever see him alive again. The reality of it all hit me and I succumbed to tears. Even now I am getting emotional writing this!

These people, this place-they have touched me in ways at I can't even voice. My heart is forever changed, and I will be forever grateful for this experience. I am scared for the change that is coming. It will come as a slap in the face, and I fear a slight depression after this place and these people becoming home to me. THIS has become my mission, and anywhere else will simply not bet he same. BUT I know it will be where I am suppose to be. And that knowledge will give me the strength that I need as I rely on The Lord to see me through.

I am drinking in every smell, every traffic light, every character of a person that I run into. I am trying to etch this place into my very being. I cannot forget who I have become through my experiences here in this amazing city. The Lord knows exactly who I am an exactly what I need. He put me here and kept me here because he knew if would change me...mold me...make me. I am so grateful for it all! And this journey is only half way over! what a blessing! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I will need it!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #40, SNOW

Things are going well here in The City! When is it not? We are freezing cold with all the snow, ice and wind, but is is beautiful! I love the city! It is home for me here! Each day we walk down three sets of stairs to get down to the Chinatown streets. We walk 7 minutes to our subway stop at East Broadway. We hop on the uptown F train, travel 5 stops until we reach 14th street, get out, cross the street and walk 5 minutes to the church. We do this almost every day. We travel to and from every place with ease. We know the city so well, but still have barely scratched the surface. It is an amazing place. I love it here! And I love my companion, Sister Jensen! She is amazing and such a wonderful friend! She makes me want to be better! We can confide in each other, laugh and cry with each other. It is great!

We have been so blessed this week! God has answered our prayers quietly and unseemingly, but answered nonetheless. We have a new investigator named Yiyi! She is so hip umbel and interested in learning more! We invited Mary Walsh to a Relief Society activity last night. We contacted her a few hours before it started and asked if she was still coming, since she walks everywhere and it was a blizzard outside. She said "Of course!" So, Mary walked 4-6 miles from 20th and 1st Ave to Wall Street in the crazy blizzard snow and icey streets for a RS activity! She is my idol! What a cool gal!

We also met two other wonderful people who are anxious to hear more about the gospel! Sotrik just showed up at church and said he loved it. He came back the next week too (which was this last week. Pres.
Morgan came and spoke. He was a powerhouse! Love him!). Sherin was a referral from a visiting member who had hopped in Sherin's cab. He is anxious to learn more about the church!

 We are so excited to see their progression, too bad they live outside of our areas! One lives in Brooklyn, and the other lives in New Jersey. And the missionaries there have taken their sweet time in contacting them....so frustrating. These people are GOLDEN! And we are trying to keep the rules by handing them off, but they are not taking the opportunity given them. Lame. Don't they know there are precious souls to save? I will continue to try to give them the benefit of the doubt....but not for much longer ;)

Anyway....the work is progressing! It is hastening! People are coming out of the woodwork! People who are ready and prepared. God is hastening his work. How did you follow through with last weeks challenge to help God with this wonderful work? I love you! Pray for those missionary opportunities! They will be given to you! Promise!

Love you!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Week #39, 9 Months in NYC TODAY!

This week was so eventful! Lastly hey we got to go to the top of the Rockefeller Building with one of our members, Jeff. It was so fun to see all of the island. We got to see Chinatown, the Financial District, Central Park, New Jersey, Queens, Brooklyn, and several other islands. It was cold, but it was a lot of fun!  One of my favorite parts was this room that is red in the picture. As you walk around in the room lights go off where you're standing. When you make
loud noises the whole room lights up like it shows here in the picture.

For weeks our district leader and zone leaders have been asking us what they can do to help us. Every time we ask for referrals for people we can teach that live within our area. This is one of our greatest challenges here in New York City is finding people to teach
who live within our area. Everyone seems to commute into Manhattan for work and recreation.  We were thrilled to get a hand full of referrals that are legitimate. Their names, addresses, and phone numbers where
all real. This is rare. When we called them up, they were all interested in learning more and meeting up with us. This never happens! Our prayers are being answered and we are so blessed.

The Spanish sisters within our area where looking for Spanish people to teach. We did an APF with our zone in their area just trying to help them in this endeavor. We split up with the Spanish sisters and decided to go tracting. On the second door Sister Laititi and I knocked on, they let us in! This is the second time in my mission that this has ever happened. We talked about the restored gospel. We invited does Desirea and her daughter Lisa to be baptized. Desirea accepted! So amazing!

After our APF, we went out to dinner with some of our members. We had decided as a district to fast for the sisters to be able to find some new people to teach. So, as you can imagine we were excited to enter.
After dinner we got up to leave with them. Suddenly I felt sick and I told them we had a few more things to do before we left. I told Sister Jensen I was feeling sick and thought I was about to lose my dinner. She immediately set out to finding where the bathroom was for me. She took care of me and was such a good little mommy! It was a tender moment for me to see her care for me when I was feeling so sick. After I had thrown up, she offered me her coat, since mine had gotten a bit dirty. How sweet is she? I have the best companion ever! I felt immediately better afterwards. On the way home, we taught 5 lessons: one to a boy wearing Leiderhozen?, one to a man who was drunk, and another to a man who asked us out. So funny! Haha...who would have ever thought! So, it was a tender mercy that we were postponed in our travels because of my sickness. And because of that, we were able to teach many people about the gospel! It was amazing!

We got to have our interviews with President too! He is such a wonderful man! I am adopting him so I can have him in my life forever! He told me what a wonderful missionary and trainer I am, which is always good stuff to hear! At knee point I heard his stomach growling. I exclaimed "President, are you hungry?!" He laughed and said "I thought that was you!"  We had a good laugh! turned out to be the radiator I guess!

Soooooooo....this week we had a GREAT week for teaching the gospel! Usually we teach anywhere from 14-19 lessons. Two weeks ago we taught 19 lessons for the week. That was a good week. My highest teaching week included 23 total lessons. This last week we reached an all time high of 36 total lessons! We were SO stoked! We had been given so many opportunities to open our mouths and share the gospel to those around us. We had been praying for more opportunities, and they came! The Lord answered our prayers directly as we strived our best to be exactly obedient and as consecrated as we could be!

I have seen so many miracles and answers to my prayers as I have sacrificed all for The Lord. This work is incredible! It is hastening. And The Lord needs our help...ALL of us! Share this joy and good news with others! If you don't, you are holding back this work from progressing. Do not get in the way of he Lord doing His work. Be a tool for him to use, not a hinderance. It is hard. It is scary. But it is so worth it and he will greatly bless you. If you are in need of a blessing or an answer to prayers this week, go share the gospel with someone else, and see if The Lord blesses you with the things you seek.You will never regret it! I love you all!

Love Always,
Sister Weyandt

Pictures:
#1- On Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Building) with Jeff Berglund, one of our members in a room that lights up wherever you walk!  So cool!
#2- Sister Jensen, Jeff, and Me on top of the Rock overlooking Central Park and Northern Manhattan
#3- We saw this relay mailbox outside of our apt building yesterday.  The rain caused the paint to run off.  So funny to see the watercolor-like paint lying in puddles on the ground.