Tuesday, November 25, 2014
B-day Cake in the Face
Must be some sort of tradition to do this on your birthday?? Or maybe they just got a gullible gringa??
Monday, November 24, 2014
¡Milagroso! (miraculous)
HOLA!
So. first off, ___ and ___ :) We got to go and see them with a member this week.. they told us that they had read! woop woop! __ read the beginning stuff up to Joseph Smiths testimony. and ___ had read 1 Nefi 1-13 haha! we were really impressed, but she didnt actually undestand a lot of what she read soooo we were able to explain and use the pictures that are so "handily" put in the front of the BOM about what the setting is at the beginning of the BOM. They understood a lot better and they are going to read again.. Then they started talking again about all the huge changes they have seen in their lives since we have been visiting with them.. and it made me think of a chapter we had read together in companion study this past week- Mosiah 5. I LOVE this chapter.
So we read some of those verses:
And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of theirsurety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that wehave no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of thatwhich is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this greatknowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things thathe shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has beenspoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the wordsthat I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; forbehold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, yeare born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
and then we talked about baptism again.. It was amazing because the day before we had a meeting for all the new missionaries and their trainers and we went (obviously) and the assistant when he taught reminded me of a phrase i really like.. "YOU GET WHAT YOU GO FOR" and so we had planned to go in and get a baptismal date with them because they have progressed SO much and they are ready. So after discussing a lot of different things based off those scriptures we invited them to be baptized onDecember 16th and they are now praying about it :)) we invited them to come to church this week but ___ said she was going to definitely have to work :( we were sad but we have still been praying and we sent out a voicemail to the whole zone about praying for them. and guess what happened :)
___ CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we seriously werent expecting it AT ALL and then sacrament meeting was starting and I looked over at the door and saw her walk in! I had a mini freak out haha and we went and sat by her :) it was amazing. so so good.. and the best part of all was that all the members we have brought with us to see her were amazingly helpful the entire time during church.. we were scurrying all over to do different things and we didn't even have to worry about her because the members were being so helpful. It was the best thing ever :)
then we went on exchanges! the sister I got to exchange with came here and she is from Gilbert too!! She went to Highland haha so we knew some mutual people it was pretty funny.. she is so cute :) Sister Oliver is her name. we had fun!
Then, the next day we were able to go and visit with ___ and __.. we finally got to read 1 Nefi 8 with them! We have thought for a long time that would be a good chapter they would like.. and then when we were talking about it and reading it with them Will suddenly came to another realization.. that really he wanted to get married and that it was ridiculous not to get married and follow the commandments as well as the law over a RING. but ___ wasn't having it. so it was slightly awkward because they were arguing and I was trying keeping it centered on keeping the law of Chastity haha.. but they said they were going to come to church this week so that was really great.
But then we got a call during sacrament meeting.. and we called them back and they said that in the middle of the night the apartment below them had a fire and their apartment caught on fire too.. they are now staying in a hotel for a couple of days because red cross luckily put them in one. (that was a neat and unique experience a lot of people don't get lol we got to go and visit them in their hotel!! haha) but they literally have nothing now :/ they ran out of the house because it was like full of smoke and they just grabbed random clothes and left. its horrible... we went and bought __ an outfit for school for tomorrow though at the thrift shop. It was really cute though!!! haha :) she loved it. $6. haha.
We saw __ and __ again.. They are just amazing. I cant even believe the 180 change that __ is making in her life.. So great. She even cleaned up her instagram and facebook so that she isn't following anything that would be a temptation and instead is now following the church and temple pages and things like that.. ___ was trying to sing I am a Child of God when we went over.. Seriously. It is just amazing. :)
They came with us to one of the elders in our wards baptism so that ___ could see what it was like! and they loved it :) it was neat too because we got to help the girl who was getting baptized get all ready and stuff.. Gah! i love baptisms! Unfortunately ___ is now going to have to wait until the NEXT week to get baptized because her mom has to work on next Saturday.. but it is actually better this way because we were trying to plan for her for next week and we have A LOT to teach before she can be interviewed. So it will be good.
SO much fun! this week we also got to go to a kick boxing class that one of the less active members teaches with some of the other women of the church.. and a couple of them have mentioned to us that they have friends that go to that that they want to share the gospel with! SOOO that meant, obviously, we went and got to meet them! haha it was hilarious because i think they were all SO confused when they saw two white girls come in.. but by the end they realized we were normal and in fact we DID speak Spanish haha.
Lastly.. (sorry there was A LOT of good things that happened this week!) Saturday and yesterday we went and contacted a couple referrals that members gave to us.. and they are amazing!! haha Truly, the best people we find are through the members. We are SO glad!! things are just coming together and our faith has been really tested but here come the rewards :)
I love this work so much!!! It has been so much fun, and I truly have learned so much over this past year... Wow. I am excited to push it out and work hard this last 6 months :) #BAPTISM!
to celebrate my birthday/my 1 year mark we went to one of my favorite families houses and did a hispanic culture tradition.. where they shoved my face in a cake...... hahahaha it was funny. i wish i could send the video!!
alright well have a fantastic week. I know that the Lord hears our prayers and He may not answer our prayers right away.. but if we dont lose our hope and faith in Him, He comes through :)) always.
Love,
Hermana Weller
So. first off, ___ and ___ :) We got to go and see them with a member this week.. they told us that they had read! woop woop! __ read the beginning stuff up to Joseph Smiths testimony. and ___ had read 1 Nefi 1-13 haha! we were really impressed, but she didnt actually undestand a lot of what she read soooo we were able to explain and use the pictures that are so "handily" put in the front of the BOM about what the setting is at the beginning of the BOM. They understood a lot better and they are going to read again.. Then they started talking again about all the huge changes they have seen in their lives since we have been visiting with them.. and it made me think of a chapter we had read together in companion study this past week- Mosiah 5. I LOVE this chapter.
So we read some of those verses:
And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of theirsurety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that wehave no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of thatwhich is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this greatknowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things thathe shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has beenspoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the wordsthat I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; forbehold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, yeare born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
and then we talked about baptism again.. It was amazing because the day before we had a meeting for all the new missionaries and their trainers and we went (obviously) and the assistant when he taught reminded me of a phrase i really like.. "YOU GET WHAT YOU GO FOR" and so we had planned to go in and get a baptismal date with them because they have progressed SO much and they are ready. So after discussing a lot of different things based off those scriptures we invited them to be baptized onDecember 16th and they are now praying about it :)) we invited them to come to church this week but ___ said she was going to definitely have to work :( we were sad but we have still been praying and we sent out a voicemail to the whole zone about praying for them. and guess what happened :)
___ CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we seriously werent expecting it AT ALL and then sacrament meeting was starting and I looked over at the door and saw her walk in! I had a mini freak out haha and we went and sat by her :) it was amazing. so so good.. and the best part of all was that all the members we have brought with us to see her were amazingly helpful the entire time during church.. we were scurrying all over to do different things and we didn't even have to worry about her because the members were being so helpful. It was the best thing ever :)
then we went on exchanges! the sister I got to exchange with came here and she is from Gilbert too!! She went to Highland haha so we knew some mutual people it was pretty funny.. she is so cute :) Sister Oliver is her name. we had fun!
Then, the next day we were able to go and visit with ___ and __.. we finally got to read 1 Nefi 8 with them! We have thought for a long time that would be a good chapter they would like.. and then when we were talking about it and reading it with them Will suddenly came to another realization.. that really he wanted to get married and that it was ridiculous not to get married and follow the commandments as well as the law over a RING. but ___ wasn't having it. so it was slightly awkward because they were arguing and I was trying keeping it centered on keeping the law of Chastity haha.. but they said they were going to come to church this week so that was really great.
But then we got a call during sacrament meeting.. and we called them back and they said that in the middle of the night the apartment below them had a fire and their apartment caught on fire too.. they are now staying in a hotel for a couple of days because red cross luckily put them in one. (that was a neat and unique experience a lot of people don't get lol we got to go and visit them in their hotel!! haha) but they literally have nothing now :/ they ran out of the house because it was like full of smoke and they just grabbed random clothes and left. its horrible... we went and bought __ an outfit for school for tomorrow though at the thrift shop. It was really cute though!!! haha :) she loved it. $6. haha.
We saw __ and __ again.. They are just amazing. I cant even believe the 180 change that __ is making in her life.. So great. She even cleaned up her instagram and facebook so that she isn't following anything that would be a temptation and instead is now following the church and temple pages and things like that.. ___ was trying to sing I am a Child of God when we went over.. Seriously. It is just amazing. :)
They came with us to one of the elders in our wards baptism so that ___ could see what it was like! and they loved it :) it was neat too because we got to help the girl who was getting baptized get all ready and stuff.. Gah! i love baptisms! Unfortunately ___ is now going to have to wait until the NEXT week to get baptized because her mom has to work on next Saturday.. but it is actually better this way because we were trying to plan for her for next week and we have A LOT to teach before she can be interviewed. So it will be good.
SO much fun! this week we also got to go to a kick boxing class that one of the less active members teaches with some of the other women of the church.. and a couple of them have mentioned to us that they have friends that go to that that they want to share the gospel with! SOOO that meant, obviously, we went and got to meet them! haha it was hilarious because i think they were all SO confused when they saw two white girls come in.. but by the end they realized we were normal and in fact we DID speak Spanish haha.
Lastly.. (sorry there was A LOT of good things that happened this week!) Saturday and yesterday we went and contacted a couple referrals that members gave to us.. and they are amazing!! haha Truly, the best people we find are through the members. We are SO glad!! things are just coming together and our faith has been really tested but here come the rewards :)
I love this work so much!!! It has been so much fun, and I truly have learned so much over this past year... Wow. I am excited to push it out and work hard this last 6 months :) #BAPTISM!
to celebrate my birthday/my 1 year mark we went to one of my favorite families houses and did a hispanic culture tradition.. where they shoved my face in a cake...... hahahaha it was funny. i wish i could send the video!!
alright well have a fantastic week. I know that the Lord hears our prayers and He may not answer our prayers right away.. but if we dont lose our hope and faith in Him, He comes through :)) always.
Love,
Hermana Weller
Monday, November 17, 2014
B-day Goodnessssss!
Raini was taken care of with lots of love on her big 2-0 b-day! I'm so happy for that!
Here's her letter this week and some pics.
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Wow. This has been SUCH A GOOD WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Okay. Lets start from the beginning or else I am going to be all over the place lol. :)
SO. We set up an appointment with ___ and ___ for Tuesday but we called and asked them if we could do it at the church because we really wanted to do a church tour so that they could feel the spirit there and want to come to church even more... and to see the baptismal font and everything.. But ___ said that only she would be able to go, not ___. But we decided that was okay. So we went to the church and got everything set up and prepared ourselves and prayed... and the spirit was UNREAL in the church when we were just there by ourselves. But when they got there-- because __ did end up coming with her kids!!! They walked into the church and you could just tell they felt the Spirit, too!! :) We talked and walked around.. showed them the different rooms and talked about some of the different paintings in the halls. The baptismal font was really powerful.
And then we went into the chapel. We told them they could just sit and ponder and try and feel God giving them their answer if this is where they need to be.. so they sat down, but ___'s baby kept crying and being kinda distracting. We were just sitting there, and I just kept being prompted to go and play the piano.. I really didn't want to haha...only because I am really rusty... but I did it. and wow.. it completely changed the feel of the room. The baby fell asleep and it made the room fill with the Spirit of the Lord.. (even though I wasn't playing super good). We went back into the hallway after like 10 mins in the chapel, then ___ said that she really enjoyed that.. she started crying and said that she really felt the Spirit when I started playing the piano.. (Thank you mom for making me do piano for those 5 years.. now is when I regret quitting). But after that lesson with them, we knew we needed to have another lesson this week if at all possible because we needed to know what they have been thinking.. we have literally had THE BEST lessons I have ever had with those two women.
The spirit is so tangible every time.. how are they not committed to baptism still? So we were able to see them again Friday (my birthday). We just talked for the first while.. and they shared about how they have all the sudden kinda realized that they have changed a lot since we started meeting with them, and they know that only good things come from God, and everything we have taught them has been good..
We brought up the Book of Mormon and they said they get it.. at first they had felt like they couldn't accept more scripture than the Bible, but now they see how really they just work together!!!!! :) They are going to read and pray about the BOM this week and next week I can feel it.. they are going to have a baptismal date :) please pray for them and put their names on the temple rolls if you can! They are so close, they just need help being able to get to church because of complications with work. :)
Okay. next BEST NEWS EVER. We went and taught ___ (__'s daughter, the lady who we found that was away from the church for so long) for the first time on Tuesday. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and literally best moment ever.. we explained baptism and how it makes us perfectly clean of our sins and the daughter said "AWH, I WANNA DO THAT!!!!" So we left her that night with the homework to pray and decide about what day she wants/God wants her to be baptized. WE had set the goal earlier that week of November 29th, but we didn't want her to feel rushed if she wasn't ready. We want her to have a good testimony before being baptized. So we went back last night and had a lesson with her. She said "I did my homework!" we said okay yay! She said "the 29th!" and we about jumped up for joy hahahaha. :D that is true inspiration right there. We hadn't even said a date to her!!!! She is super prepared.. she is honestly just such a smart little girl and so ready to learn everything! WOOOHOOOO! we are so excited for her :))
It's especially exciting because yesterday was also the young women's program (its like the sacrament primary program where they sing and then some of them gave talks about personal progress and stuff.. it was neat!) and ___ (the mom) had a moment where she really realized why it is so great and so important for her daughter to get to now grow up in primary and young women's :)) literally.. they have an amazing future ahead of them. Such a miracle that we were able to find them. The Lord is so good. He really does answer prayers! And he really loves his children who are lost, wondering in the wilderness. We are so blessed to be able to help them back home.
Okay, so my birthday was just so much fun! We went to serve at the food bank! And then ____ (the new convert teenage girl we love) gave me my present :) She is so sweet!! Then we ate a ton of deliciousness at the ___'s.. (flan, cake, chicken, Dominican rice, fried yuca root, quiche) and then __ and ___'s house...they remembered it was my birthday, too some how!! :) They got me a cake! :)) and then went to dinner.. ate enchiladas haha and then went to ___'s and she made me banana pudding. So needless to say I was absolutely STUFFED haha! so great though. I felt so loved! :)
Well.. I am loving every day out here. Honestly.. It is truly the best year of my life up to this point. I am SO happy I came on a mission. So SO SO happy :) I have changed so much.
love you all so so so so much. have a great day :)
-Hermana Weller
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Happy, bright, beautiful servants of the Lord
Raini is looking so happy!! This was one of her most recent pics!
Me, at my favorite place, the Holy Temple of the Lord
FELIZ CUMPLEANOS to Hermana Weller!
Help Raini celebrate her 20th birthday in the mission field! Send a package, a birthday card, or just an email! She would LOVE it, I'm sure!
natalie.weller@myldsmail.net
Here's her latest email:
Hola everyone! :)
Such a great week.. honestly after last week being a bit harder with not having many lessons and not seeing a ton of people, it was so great to see miracles this week!!!
Okay so you know last week how i told you that we found that lady, ___- the one who just moved into the ward and has a 9 year old daughter? well, she is absolutely amazing... just wow. She wants to just completely change her life around, and she knows exactly how she is going to do it. She really doesn't need any strengthening with the gospel principles because she knows it all. She just needed help getting to the church, and they came yesterday! It was so cute because they came like 10 mins early.. She was so excited to come back. and her daughter had so many questions about things that Aida told us exactly what we have been thinking. she wants us to teach her! and get her to the point of baptism!! WHOOO! And for her first time in primary she LOVED it. they are just the best.. seriously. gah! I love them so much and we have only known them a week. They are just so great, the Lord has something great in store for them.. He has been working so hard for her for the past year or so. He wants her back on His side SO much. yay!
We had another incredible lesson this past week with ___ and ___.. I cant even handle how prepared and elect they are! They are seeking the truth so so so badly.. yet they haven't been reading the BOM. so, we started with watching the Bible video of Christs baptism. and it was super powerful and then we talked about the key things about Christs baptism.. 1. immersion and 2. proper authority. It was kinda funny because ___ was like well.. I don't really know why the Catholic church changed those things if that is how Christ was baptized I don't know why they decided to change it... so then we read out of the BOM in 3 nephi 11 when He teaches about authority and immersion and then in Romans 6 the symbolism of immersion. It was really great. But to really punch in the point of the importance of the BOM as well as EVERYTHING else we have taught them.. we read a scripture that I recently found since I recently started the BOM over again. 1 Nefi 13:40-- "These last records, which thou hast seen among theGentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain andprecious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lambof God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot besaved."
so.. basically. it is saying the PLAIN and PRECIOUS truths and details of the gospel were taken out of the Bible.. because of the errors of men with out the power of the priesthood and everything during the apostasy.. BUT because we have the BOM those truths have been restored. and it is amazing. and so we were finally able I think to help them see the true reason we have the BOM and why we want them to read it so badly. Daisy, (the 16 year old who just got baptized a year ago and is absolutely AMAZING) she was with us and she was able to bare an amazing testimony and personal experience with everything we taught.. in talking about baptism/catholic church/seeking the truth.. everything and they felt it so much. We are going to see them again tomorrow, hopefully they have received their answer this time. :) please pray for them!!
After that lesson and now that it has become just such firm knowledge of the truthfulness of the BOM to me personally we have been sharing that with all of our active members too. We have been playing this really fun game where it is like "telephone" but you write a sentence and then draw a picture and then you keep repeating that cycle.. and it gets changed each time, and sometimes it is REALLY funny because i cant draw... lol. But really, at any moment in our personal lives we might have an apostasy.. there are times where we just feel further away from the spirit.. we might have doubts.. whatever it might be!! BUT just like the world, when it was in that time of darkness and confusion.. we can have individual restorations.. and through the same way that the plain and precious truths of the gospel were restored to the earth is how they can be restored to just personally.. THE BOOK OF MORMON!
I love that book so much. I know it is so so so true. I hope you all feel that as well.
Another quick story! we had a picnic ward activity on Saturday! and we had tried to see a less-active youth, ___, the other day and she wasn't there.. but we called her and invited her to come to the picnic.. we didn't really think she was going to come.. but we were pleasantly surprised when she showed up!!!! it was so great! :) she told us she really likes us.. she didn't really feel it so much with the other sisters I guess. so that's good! and then we hung out with her with some of the other girls her age the whole time there. We played some soccer and squirrel ball with the little girls since the elders were there and we cant play sports together.. and it was actually really really fun! Then after the picnic we went and had a lesson with ___ at her house and shared the talk by Elder Uchtdorf "Your Happily Ever After" and talked about the plan of salvation. she had a bajillion questions so it was good to talk to her.. she is the only member of her family so it is hard with all the other things she is told and she hears.. but then by the end we got to the root of why she doesn't come to church and probably why her family stopped progressing and didn't get baptized.. she told us she doesn't believe in the BOM.
ITS ALL ABOUT THE BOM PEOPLE! if you know it is true.. everything else just falls into place.
but anyways.. she came to church yesterday too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was a miracle. gah!!! it was so good.
well. i also really love my companion. I dont ever want to have to leave this area and her!! we just get along SO well. it is so chill and NEVER any kind of contention it is the best. we are putting together a powder puff football turkey bowl game lol because we just we want to play sports too. so its gonna happen. (shout out to dad! we are trying to use all of our talents to do our work!! haha)
But ...my comp (new trainee) told me yesterday that she has never been so grateful for someone other than her family as much as she is grateful for me... wow.. I couldn't believe that she said that! it was very humbling. I am so grateful the Lord gave me another chance to train and that I was actually prepared for it this time.. I love being a missionary. I don't ever want to not be haha..
well. that is all for this week! :) I love you all so much. Thanks for the birthday wishes... I really can't believe I am 20. SO WEIRD. I am going to gain like 20 pounds my b-day this year because everyone and their mom invited us over to "celebrate" aka: EAT really really good food. hahahaha
Thanks again for everything all you do for me. It means a ton.
love,
Hermana Weller
New Comp (trainee) Pics
this was the extent of our "disguise" for Halloween! haha!
My fresh new "baby", straight the the CCM (MTC, in Mexico)
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
November in Raleigh
November 3, 2014
This was a good week! It was hard!! But it was good. We have really been relying on the Lord EVERY single day to know where He wants us to go, and what we need to be doing.
Okay- couple of things first. Do you remember _____ ?? The investigator we had in Wallace (my second time there) She is 16.. Well.... she messaged me on facebook the other day and told me- SHES GETTING BAPTIZED THE DAY AFTER OUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she has the same birthday as me (i didnt realize that) and she is excited to get baptized on the 15th :) this was the message she sent me : "I love you too Sister Weller and I know I can always come to you if I ever need to talk to someone... Btw I'm getting baptized November 15. A day after my birthday." Man, I was overly excited.. I almost started crying!! haha. Fruits of my labors are coming forth.. It was so good to see. :) Especially yesterday, it just gave me the hope and joy i needed in that moment!
So, we had interviews again with President Bernhisel this week and it was good. I just love the Bernhisels so much. They are so great :) Sister Bernhisel shared some personal experiences she has had on her mission with me as we talked when i was waiting for my comp to be done, so that was kinda neat.
THEN, started like.. the BEST DAY EVER. We went to try and see some one we had set up an appointment with. They weren't home, so we decided to knock some doors right around her.. We walked up to one of the buildings and knocked a door and we thought the lady spoke English because she said "Hi" when she opened the door, and then welcomed us right in. But we then realized she spoke Spanish.. so that was really great! She told us that she was kind of sad that day and then when she saw Sister Swalberg's (my comp's) blonde hair through the window when we walked by, she knew that she needed to talk to us.. and then when we knocked on her door first.. she said she knew that God had sent us! :) She then told us she used to have a Book of Mormon, and she talked with elders in her country (Honduras) in the past before she came here to the US. So that was really neat.. We got to share Mosiah 24 with her.. the spirit was super strong.. she was crying.. and it was just really good. We even got to bring up baptism with her! We are excited to go back and see her soon. The Lord truly lead us to her in her moment of need. and answered our prayers to be guided to her. We were on cloud nine after that lesson! haha
Then, we went and had a lesson with ____ and ____. Before even starting our lesson, Rosa told us she had figured out a way to leave work early Sunday and be able to come to church!!! We were so excited. We watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with them.. and I cant even describe to you how strong the spirit was. Literally you could like feel it just FILLING the room. There were definitely angels there with us. That was THE best lesson I have ever had. After the movie we read the account in the Book of Mormon of Christ appearing to the people in 3 Nephi 11 and then discussed the feelings of the spirit and how they were feeling at that moment. Then (like you suggested dad!!) we got down and knelt together with them for them to receive their answer of whether or not they need to be baptized. After the prayer, ___ was smiling.. you could tell they felt so good! they were filled with the joy of the spirit! and then she was able to tell us really what was holding her back from knowing is just the fact that they already were baptized as kids.. So we hit really hard the connection between reading and gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and the authority to perform ordinances. So she said "We HAVE to know (again). So she committed to start from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and really to figure out if it is true. :) We are still so excited for her!! she is coming around.. she knows. :)
THEN we went to the trunk or treat activity and a member had picked up the kids of our invetigating family, ___ and ___, and brought them to the activity!! It was so great :) it was a fun activity.. we got to help ___ find some little friends. and we were just so over joyed at the help of the members and the involvement the kids were getting.
Unfortunately when we had a lesson with them again this week, it just again was very ineffective. They are not progressing and it makes me so sad! they have hit a serious road block and for whatever reason have lost that drive and desire to follow Christ. I prayed a lot about it and pondered a lot about what we need to do with them because I don't want to just give up on them but.. I got the impression that we have done what we needed to. We came into their lives, and helped them build their faith in Jesus Christ SIGNIFICANTLY.. but that is all they were prepared for at this moment.. that's all they can handle right now. so I am sad they aren't going to keep progressing, but I feel like we did do what was needed of us.
Halloween.. haha well. it was a good day :) we were tracting around a neighborhood that day and then got kinda lost.. haha but by some miracle we were able to find our way back to our car!! So after that happened we were like OKAY. what does the Lord really want us to do. We just got lost for a while and didn't really find anyone.. WHAT do we need to do?? so we prayed and then we both got the impression to go and see this lady, ___, who we had taught once a week earlier. It is really neat and a miracle how we found them, a member in the ward just moved into that apt complex and her daughter texted us the address.. but it was the wrong address.. but these people are so great. so prepared!!! so we went over there and had an amazing lesson with her!! she read the chapter we had left her the time before!! and she just understood everything we taught. we invited her to be baptized and she said yes. then her husband walked in the house.. (moment was kinda ruined to invite to a date unfortunately) but then he was like I want to know everything!!!! haha so we gave him the pamphlet and they are gonna read and pray. gah! it was so good!! :) #miracles!!!
okay haha then, Saturday all of our plans fell through... and it was like 45-50 degrees and super windy and raining.. haha it was tough. we luckily had a dinner apt that evening and we were able to have a good lesson with that family.
okay last miracle!! wow sorry this is such a long email!!!
so yesterday our bishop gave us a list of 2 people that just apparently moved into the ward and he didn't know who they were. so he asked us to go and see them this week! a couple of our plans fell through yesterday after church so we decided to go and see one of the ladies on the list! We showed up and she opened the door and was like "OH! yay! come in!" hahaha like she was expecting us to come!! it was so funny. she just moved into our ward.. really long and amazing story of how her records got sent to us, but basically she has been inactive for the last 5 years (was baptized just 6 years ago) and she has serious desires to come back. She basically wants to change completely. and she has a 9 year old daughter. :D it was amazing. SUCH a miracle.
I love this work!! even though it is really hard some days... sometimes I just want to cry because no one lets us in.. and I know it is true.. and I know that God loves us all so much...He wants His children to hear our message. He is our LOVING Heavenly Father. He knows us by name :) this is His work. and I love being able to be His instrument.
have a great week!!! i love you so much!
-Hermana Weller :)
Oct. 27, 2014 I'M A MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
1st week with my brand new missionary, fresh from the MTC:
Well this week has just FLOWN by, let me tell you! haha :) It has been so so good though.
I am so excited to tell you all about my new companion- (my baby haha)
Her name is Hermana Sarah Swalberg, she is from Utah (a little town called Green River), she is 21, she went to SUU for the past 3 years on scholarship for track and field (javeline), and she is the best!!!! Honestly, time and time again I just KNOW that God hears our individual prayers and helps us out so much. I had been praying for the couple of weeks before transfers that I would just LOVE my new companion with everything I possibly could, no matter what.. And when I was sitting in the trainers meeting before our trainees came into the room I was so excited. ( I had been kinda freaking out before hand haha) and then when they started filing in, she came over and I was just able to give her a BIG hug and I could feel it, Heavenly Father totally helped me just love her, and feel like she was my best friend for years. Turns out too that its really not gonna be hard for us to get along at all!! haha, she is very "chill" and go with the flow like I am, but since she is an athlete she has good work ethic. She is ready to go out and do whatever it takes to have success :) it is seriously the best. She is also great because she has the best "go and do" attitude. She doesn't question any of the mission rules we have!! she just wanted to know what they were and then do them. So needless to say.. its been a great week and I am super grateful for her :) the Lord is so good to me. She came from the Mexico MTC- but she is still very new at speaking Spanish, so its been fun to help her learn some already.. She gets better every day. and the members are so accepting its so nice :)
So we jumped right into work Tuesday after the transfer meeting. We literally went home and took in the luggage and then went over to ___ and ___'s house for a lesson! I think it was a bit overwhelming for her, but it was good :) Unfortunately __ and __ hadn't felt they still have received their answer still.. They expressed to us that they feel like their relationship with God hasn't developed enough.. they don't think they are on the level yet with God to be able to receive an answer :/ so we are helping them understand how to improve that relationship and recognize their answers more.. it is a process BUT they will get there eventually I think :) It is hard for them to think of changing everything they have ever known and what the "traditions of their fathers" are too.
___ and ___ are doing alright.. we shared with them the other day the Wise man and the Foolish man story from the Bible: ¶Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thyname done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 ¶Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upona rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was foundedupon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his houseupon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall ofit.
and it was cute because we had their kids, __ and ___ act out the story as we read it.. and at the end it was really neat because Will put it all together with very little prompting that Christ is truly that rock that we have to build our foundation on. They said they would come to church Sunday, but they didn't again. It is really hard. i just feel very confused and stuck with what to do with them because I know that ___, the husband, KNOWS it is true!! and I don't want to just give up on them.. I love them a lot. But it is frustrating and difficult to know where to go with teaching them, so I think we are going to just continue teaching them once a week, but lay off a little bit until maybe they are more ready.
Something this week that we have been sharing with basically all of our active members is a story from Preach My Gospel in chapter 9 and I want to share it with you too:
Read the following letter from a missionary to her parents: “I taught a wonderful lady on the bus. We were coming back from district meeting, and it was the only empty seat so I sat down and started to look at my mail. Of course, the first one to be read was yours, with the baby pictures of Evan. I noticed that the eyes next to me were also looking at the pictures, and I looked over to meet eyes with an older woman. She gave me a half smile and looked out the window. She then closed her eyes like she was going to sleep. I prayed, ‘Heavenly Father, I want to talk to her. Please help me.’ A minute later she opened her eyes and sat up straight, and I quickly said, ‘Don’t you think he is cute?’ I showed her the pictures of baby Evan and started talking about families with her. I asked her about her kids, and she got teary-eyed and told me a story about how her daughter hates her and wants nothing to do with her. She cried and I cried with her. I told her about the plan of salvation and how Heavenly Father knows her and knows what she is going through. I cried and told her that I know that her daughter loves her because I am a daughter of a mother that loves me, and I love her. I explained that sometimes people make bad decisions and that her daughter has agency. She told me, smiling, ‘I bet your mother really misses you, and she will not let you go when she sees you again.’ She thanked me for talking with her and gave me her address so that we can share the gospel with her. As she was getting off the bus, she said, ‘I got on the wrong bus, but I didn’t get off. No one sat by me until you came … and look what happened.’ God’s plan is perfect!”
This is something that each and everyone of you all can do too. Every morning-- pray with "REAL INTENT and FAITH in Christ" for the opportunity to serve someone.. to be able to have a short conversation with someone where you are able to bring up the church/the gospel.. something small but specific. And i KNOW it will come :) do it everyday.. every morning and then SEEK that oportunity that God puts in your path.. ask for the spiritual sensitivity to RECOGNIZE it. It will happen :) I love you all so much!!!!!!
Thank you for everything you do for me.. and all the love I feel each week when i get online and have a full inbox of emails. I have been thinking a lot lately about just how far I have come in this past almost 1 year out here on my mission.. I am so happy I decided to come. I am so grateful for the many people I have met, and the effects they have had on me :) But I am especially grateful for (you) my parents (i dont know if anyone else really reads these emails) and helping me gain my own testimony growing up, and keeping me on the right path. I love you so much, I miss you so incredibly much. I am so so so so so excited to be able to skype in about 2 months.. geesh.
as for birthday requests... i dont really need more scarves haha I have quite a few. maybe one or two more really warm ones would be good... and then i REALLY need a yellow(more golden) and red cardigan.. LONG SLEEVED THOUGH PLEASE. :) other than that.. nothing that is going to make me fatter.. I am finally feeling like I have gotten back to normal lol.
Thank you again so much for everything. Pray every day this week for that opportunity to be an instrument in the Lords hands!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Hermana Weller :)
This was a good week! It was hard!! But it was good. We have really been relying on the Lord EVERY single day to know where He wants us to go, and what we need to be doing.
Okay- couple of things first. Do you remember _____ ?? The investigator we had in Wallace (my second time there) She is 16.. Well.... she messaged me on facebook the other day and told me- SHES GETTING BAPTIZED THE DAY AFTER OUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she has the same birthday as me (i didnt realize that) and she is excited to get baptized on the 15th :) this was the message she sent me : "I love you too Sister Weller and I know I can always come to you if I ever need to talk to someone... Btw I'm getting baptized November 15. A day after my birthday." Man, I was overly excited.. I almost started crying!! haha. Fruits of my labors are coming forth.. It was so good to see. :) Especially yesterday, it just gave me the hope and joy i needed in that moment!
So, we had interviews again with President Bernhisel this week and it was good. I just love the Bernhisels so much. They are so great :) Sister Bernhisel shared some personal experiences she has had on her mission with me as we talked when i was waiting for my comp to be done, so that was kinda neat.
THEN, started like.. the BEST DAY EVER. We went to try and see some one we had set up an appointment with. They weren't home, so we decided to knock some doors right around her.. We walked up to one of the buildings and knocked a door and we thought the lady spoke English because she said "Hi" when she opened the door, and then welcomed us right in. But we then realized she spoke Spanish.. so that was really great! She told us that she was kind of sad that day and then when she saw Sister Swalberg's (my comp's) blonde hair through the window when we walked by, she knew that she needed to talk to us.. and then when we knocked on her door first.. she said she knew that God had sent us! :) She then told us she used to have a Book of Mormon, and she talked with elders in her country (Honduras) in the past before she came here to the US. So that was really neat.. We got to share Mosiah 24 with her.. the spirit was super strong.. she was crying.. and it was just really good. We even got to bring up baptism with her! We are excited to go back and see her soon. The Lord truly lead us to her in her moment of need. and answered our prayers to be guided to her. We were on cloud nine after that lesson! haha
Then, we went and had a lesson with ____ and ____. Before even starting our lesson, Rosa told us she had figured out a way to leave work early Sunday and be able to come to church!!! We were so excited. We watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with them.. and I cant even describe to you how strong the spirit was. Literally you could like feel it just FILLING the room. There were definitely angels there with us. That was THE best lesson I have ever had. After the movie we read the account in the Book of Mormon of Christ appearing to the people in 3 Nephi 11 and then discussed the feelings of the spirit and how they were feeling at that moment. Then (like you suggested dad!!) we got down and knelt together with them for them to receive their answer of whether or not they need to be baptized. After the prayer, ___ was smiling.. you could tell they felt so good! they were filled with the joy of the spirit! and then she was able to tell us really what was holding her back from knowing is just the fact that they already were baptized as kids.. So we hit really hard the connection between reading and gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and the authority to perform ordinances. So she said "We HAVE to know (again). So she committed to start from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and really to figure out if it is true. :) We are still so excited for her!! she is coming around.. she knows. :)
THEN we went to the trunk or treat activity and a member had picked up the kids of our invetigating family, ___ and ___, and brought them to the activity!! It was so great :) it was a fun activity.. we got to help ___ find some little friends. and we were just so over joyed at the help of the members and the involvement the kids were getting.
Unfortunately when we had a lesson with them again this week, it just again was very ineffective. They are not progressing and it makes me so sad! they have hit a serious road block and for whatever reason have lost that drive and desire to follow Christ. I prayed a lot about it and pondered a lot about what we need to do with them because I don't want to just give up on them but.. I got the impression that we have done what we needed to. We came into their lives, and helped them build their faith in Jesus Christ SIGNIFICANTLY.. but that is all they were prepared for at this moment.. that's all they can handle right now. so I am sad they aren't going to keep progressing, but I feel like we did do what was needed of us.
Halloween.. haha well. it was a good day :) we were tracting around a neighborhood that day and then got kinda lost.. haha but by some miracle we were able to find our way back to our car!! So after that happened we were like OKAY. what does the Lord really want us to do. We just got lost for a while and didn't really find anyone.. WHAT do we need to do?? so we prayed and then we both got the impression to go and see this lady, ___, who we had taught once a week earlier. It is really neat and a miracle how we found them, a member in the ward just moved into that apt complex and her daughter texted us the address.. but it was the wrong address.. but these people are so great. so prepared!!! so we went over there and had an amazing lesson with her!! she read the chapter we had left her the time before!! and she just understood everything we taught. we invited her to be baptized and she said yes. then her husband walked in the house.. (moment was kinda ruined to invite to a date unfortunately) but then he was like I want to know everything!!!! haha so we gave him the pamphlet and they are gonna read and pray. gah! it was so good!! :) #miracles!!!
okay haha then, Saturday all of our plans fell through... and it was like 45-50 degrees and super windy and raining.. haha it was tough. we luckily had a dinner apt that evening and we were able to have a good lesson with that family.
okay last miracle!! wow sorry this is such a long email!!!
so yesterday our bishop gave us a list of 2 people that just apparently moved into the ward and he didn't know who they were. so he asked us to go and see them this week! a couple of our plans fell through yesterday after church so we decided to go and see one of the ladies on the list! We showed up and she opened the door and was like "OH! yay! come in!" hahaha like she was expecting us to come!! it was so funny. she just moved into our ward.. really long and amazing story of how her records got sent to us, but basically she has been inactive for the last 5 years (was baptized just 6 years ago) and she has serious desires to come back. She basically wants to change completely. and she has a 9 year old daughter. :D it was amazing. SUCH a miracle.
I love this work!! even though it is really hard some days... sometimes I just want to cry because no one lets us in.. and I know it is true.. and I know that God loves us all so much...He wants His children to hear our message. He is our LOVING Heavenly Father. He knows us by name :) this is His work. and I love being able to be His instrument.
have a great week!!! i love you so much!
-Hermana Weller :)
Oct. 27, 2014 I'M A MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
1st week with my brand new missionary, fresh from the MTC:
Well this week has just FLOWN by, let me tell you! haha :) It has been so so good though.
I am so excited to tell you all about my new companion- (my baby haha)
Her name is Hermana Sarah Swalberg, she is from Utah (a little town called Green River), she is 21, she went to SUU for the past 3 years on scholarship for track and field (javeline), and she is the best!!!! Honestly, time and time again I just KNOW that God hears our individual prayers and helps us out so much. I had been praying for the couple of weeks before transfers that I would just LOVE my new companion with everything I possibly could, no matter what.. And when I was sitting in the trainers meeting before our trainees came into the room I was so excited. ( I had been kinda freaking out before hand haha) and then when they started filing in, she came over and I was just able to give her a BIG hug and I could feel it, Heavenly Father totally helped me just love her, and feel like she was my best friend for years. Turns out too that its really not gonna be hard for us to get along at all!! haha, she is very "chill" and go with the flow like I am, but since she is an athlete she has good work ethic. She is ready to go out and do whatever it takes to have success :) it is seriously the best. She is also great because she has the best "go and do" attitude. She doesn't question any of the mission rules we have!! she just wanted to know what they were and then do them. So needless to say.. its been a great week and I am super grateful for her :) the Lord is so good to me. She came from the Mexico MTC- but she is still very new at speaking Spanish, so its been fun to help her learn some already.. She gets better every day. and the members are so accepting its so nice :)
So we jumped right into work Tuesday after the transfer meeting. We literally went home and took in the luggage and then went over to ___ and ___'s house for a lesson! I think it was a bit overwhelming for her, but it was good :) Unfortunately __ and __ hadn't felt they still have received their answer still.. They expressed to us that they feel like their relationship with God hasn't developed enough.. they don't think they are on the level yet with God to be able to receive an answer :/ so we are helping them understand how to improve that relationship and recognize their answers more.. it is a process BUT they will get there eventually I think :) It is hard for them to think of changing everything they have ever known and what the "traditions of their fathers" are too.
___ and ___ are doing alright.. we shared with them the other day the Wise man and the Foolish man story from the Bible: ¶Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thyname done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 ¶Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upona rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was foundedupon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his houseupon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall ofit.
and it was cute because we had their kids, __ and ___ act out the story as we read it.. and at the end it was really neat because Will put it all together with very little prompting that Christ is truly that rock that we have to build our foundation on. They said they would come to church Sunday, but they didn't again. It is really hard. i just feel very confused and stuck with what to do with them because I know that ___, the husband, KNOWS it is true!! and I don't want to just give up on them.. I love them a lot. But it is frustrating and difficult to know where to go with teaching them, so I think we are going to just continue teaching them once a week, but lay off a little bit until maybe they are more ready.
Something this week that we have been sharing with basically all of our active members is a story from Preach My Gospel in chapter 9 and I want to share it with you too:
Read the following letter from a missionary to her parents: “I taught a wonderful lady on the bus. We were coming back from district meeting, and it was the only empty seat so I sat down and started to look at my mail. Of course, the first one to be read was yours, with the baby pictures of Evan. I noticed that the eyes next to me were also looking at the pictures, and I looked over to meet eyes with an older woman. She gave me a half smile and looked out the window. She then closed her eyes like she was going to sleep. I prayed, ‘Heavenly Father, I want to talk to her. Please help me.’ A minute later she opened her eyes and sat up straight, and I quickly said, ‘Don’t you think he is cute?’ I showed her the pictures of baby Evan and started talking about families with her. I asked her about her kids, and she got teary-eyed and told me a story about how her daughter hates her and wants nothing to do with her. She cried and I cried with her. I told her about the plan of salvation and how Heavenly Father knows her and knows what she is going through. I cried and told her that I know that her daughter loves her because I am a daughter of a mother that loves me, and I love her. I explained that sometimes people make bad decisions and that her daughter has agency. She told me, smiling, ‘I bet your mother really misses you, and she will not let you go when she sees you again.’ She thanked me for talking with her and gave me her address so that we can share the gospel with her. As she was getting off the bus, she said, ‘I got on the wrong bus, but I didn’t get off. No one sat by me until you came … and look what happened.’ God’s plan is perfect!”
This is something that each and everyone of you all can do too. Every morning-- pray with "REAL INTENT and FAITH in Christ" for the opportunity to serve someone.. to be able to have a short conversation with someone where you are able to bring up the church/the gospel.. something small but specific. And i KNOW it will come :) do it everyday.. every morning and then SEEK that oportunity that God puts in your path.. ask for the spiritual sensitivity to RECOGNIZE it. It will happen :) I love you all so much!!!!!!
Thank you for everything you do for me.. and all the love I feel each week when i get online and have a full inbox of emails. I have been thinking a lot lately about just how far I have come in this past almost 1 year out here on my mission.. I am so happy I decided to come. I am so grateful for the many people I have met, and the effects they have had on me :) But I am especially grateful for (you) my parents (i dont know if anyone else really reads these emails) and helping me gain my own testimony growing up, and keeping me on the right path. I love you so much, I miss you so incredibly much. I am so so so so so excited to be able to skype in about 2 months.. geesh.
as for birthday requests... i dont really need more scarves haha I have quite a few. maybe one or two more really warm ones would be good... and then i REALLY need a yellow(more golden) and red cardigan.. LONG SLEEVED THOUGH PLEASE. :) other than that.. nothing that is going to make me fatter.. I am finally feeling like I have gotten back to normal lol.
Thank you again so much for everything. Pray every day this week for that opportunity to be an instrument in the Lords hands!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Hermana Weller :)
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