In the Mission Field!

President and Sister Hiers

I love you all so much!! Holy smokes! I am in the mission field! Can you even believe that?!

I LOVE my new companion so much! Her name is Hermana Murillo and she is from California and she is awesome at Spanish. She is my trainer and guess what!? SHE LOVES TO GO RUNNING----AND SHE EVEN WAKES UP AT 6:00 a.m. TO EXERCISE! It makes me so happy! She is such a sweet person, and I can't wait to get to know her. We actually did P90X "Ab Ripper" today in our living room. We are doing the "biggest loser" competition....and I am determined to WIN!!! She is going to be an awesome trainer, and I can't wait to learn all about Spanish and the gospel and missionary work from her.

I live in Brigham City like a couple blocks away from where the new temple is! That temple is absolutely gorgeous! My area is GIGANTIC, because it is a lot of farm land up here.  It is quote and quote "the hardest area in the entire mission" because of its 95 percent population of Mormons, many who are inactive. So I will be doing a TON of re-activation into the church. I can't wait. It is a driving mission because the houses are so spread out and me and my companion are focused just on the Latinos in the area. Can I just say, I LOVE the field!!!! It's like 10000000 million times better than being trapped up in the MTC all day.  I live in the basement of a member's home and we have a little kitchen and room. It is a REALLY "humble" home, but I am liking it a lot.

Oh yeah! I sang in church at the MTC on sunday! A lot of people where touched by the song. Me, Hermana Gamboa and a kid in our district sang "We will bring the world his truth medley." The branch president at the MTC said he wanted us to stay another week so that we could have more music! hahaha, I love sharing the gospel through music. They said that music is going to be a HUGE part of mission, and I can't wait.

Anyways! Today has been an awesome day! We had the opportunity to go to the Logan temple! It is absolutely GORGEOUS! My dream came true after all mom and dad.....remember how I was always like, "Man, I really want to go to the Logan temple" ? Well we just got done with a session and I loved it a lot. I love being in the temple, it brings such peace and happiness. I have really needed that these past couple of days, especially when trying to adjust to this new type of missionary life. We will probably go to the Brigham City Temple in the next couple of weeks, we just have to schedule WAY ahead of time because it is super busy.

Yesterday I had to wake up at 3:50 a.m. to catch the Frontrunner up here to Ogden and then we had 2 appointments, zone and district training and we had a mini-lesson with our progressing investigator. It was amazing! We speak in both Spanish and English. Usually English for the kids in the house and Spanish for the parents. The spirit was so strong and so incredible! I had to teach to the members that we ate dinner with, and it was super scary, but actually I just loved it a lot! I got to talk about my favorite scripture---> Proverbs 3:5-6.

It is really cold here. But it is AMAZING how serving and teaching the people in this area warms you up. (not to mention the awesome car that we get to have!) Here is a little miracle that just happened last night. Side note...the Lord is in the DETAILS of our lives....here is an example of how. Yesterday we found out that the place we live doesn't have heat. And I only have one coat and one blanket, and the mission home didn't provide us with anything but a pillow. So, I was like! Oops! I have no blankets. But anyways, I prayed and we talked to some people and all the sudden members brought like 5 blankets over and someone purchased a quilt for me! I feel like the luckiest Sister missionary in the world. It is so important that we trust in the Lord, because He really will provide a way for us to be happy, even if it seems unlikely.

The area I am in is a tracking area, so I will be knocking doors all day for the next 6-8 weeks. I am really nervous about that, but I am sure I will learn a lot. Everyone keeps telling me that "Oh, the Brigham City area? Oh, that is where the Lord teaches patience." So we will see what happens. I am actually like way excited to find the people that need the gospel, or just need a reminder of why the gospel is so crucial in our lives. Even though it is P-day today we have 3 appointments tonight, and I am so excited---but also really nervous.

I am also extremely grateful that I don't have to eat MTC food....EVER AGAIN. We have a blender at our house and so you know what that means.....Brookie is going to buy stuff to make some smoothies today!!! WA HOO! My p-days are now TUESDAYS and I have a LOT more time to email, which is nice.

I have so much to learn. And the mission has been HARD. But the best kind of hard. The kind that you hate so much you love it. The kind that pushes you in ways that you never thought you could be pushed. There have been so many times when I have just wanted to call up my family and be like---COME GET ME NOW! But, I am alone. It is just me and the Lord. And I turn to Him with all my doubts and fears and by some miraculous way I am able to get through the day and I am able to find the blessings in which he has given to me. I am striving SO hard to develop Christlike attributes, and SO hard to find people and be prepared to teach. But sometimes it gets hard. And that is when I literally have to get on my knees and tell Heavenly Father, "I don't want to do this, and I can't do it alone. But I know you can help me to do this." and you know what? Every single time He does. And I am so grateful. I am NOTHING without Him. I also remember and try to implement President Hinckley's quote "Forget yourself, and go to work." And that is what I am striving to do. Forget about me and my worries and how I feel and GO TO WORK.

Tell Aunt Susan thanks a TRILLION for her package that she sent me in the MTC! It was perfect! 

STAND STRONG! I love you. You are all my HEROES!!

Your biggest fan,

Hermana Weenig

 Argentina!!!  Well, sometime in the future. :)

 My MTC District and Teachers

  With my friend, Hermana Taylor Thomas, who will serve in
Sacramento California.  I was fortunate to see her everyday
at the MTC.  We were on the same floor. Love her!

Huge bonus.  The Logan, Utah Temple
is in the Utah Ogden Mission.

I'm Going to Ogden?!

Family!! Mis amores!! My favorites!! My heroes!!

So story time, this one time I thought I was going to Argentina on my mission, and then I was like "Oh yeah, I am probably going to be reassigned, because Argentina just got a new consulate and they aren't letting anyone into the country." And then I was like okay, sweet. I am going to Florida, or Dallas, or Nevada, or California. And then.......after killer anticipation.....I was called to OGDEN, UT!!! WOW!!!! Can you tell I am just jumping up and down for excitement?!!?!? Haha okay, so maybe excitement wasn't the exact word that went through my mind. But, no matter where I am going, I am going to go with all my heart. It's going to be a little bit bizarre waiting for my VISA to come and being so close to home. PS I was THE HAPPIEST GIRL on earth when I got to call you last night. You guys, I love you so much. I was crying tears of joy. I have never had a harder week in my life, but also it has been one of the best. And talking to you guys made it that much better. I love you all so much. And guess what? I will probably be in Ogden ranging anywhere between 2 weeks and 5 months. I have heard that the Ogden is one of the highest baptizing missions in the entire world! So it is a HUGE blessing to go there, it will be my training on how to get the job done right. I am so excited to go out into the field on Monday. I leave Monday at 5:00 a.m. and my mission home address in Ogden is 4380 S. Orchard Ave. South Ogden, UT 84403. When life throws ya lemons......WELL, you make lemonade! The Lord is pushing me to limits I have never been pushed to before, but crazy to say it---I love it. It kills me, but I love it. I am growing and changing more and more everyday. It's weird though, because my life is now all about OTHER people, yet I feel like I am growing so much!

So the MTC. Besides doing exactly the same thing everyday and the food that looks like it was made from plastic.....I LOVE THIS PLACE:). I have been learning so quickly and so much in such a little amount of time. I am so grateful that I am learning spanish and that I am the only white girl in my district. In the picture I sent you guys of my district, they all look white, but they are actually Mexican. :) I love them all, they have become like family in such a short amount of time. Actually. I lied. Sometimes I can't stand the elders because they drive me nuts when I am trying to study and they are talking about what their girlfriend said in their last letter. *note to the boys in our family: don't have a girlfriend when you come on your mission, so that sister missionaries can focus. :) Anyways I loved it a lot, and have been learning and drawing closer to God.

Focusing on the spiritual life is a funny thing ya know. My goals have switched from getting a 4.0 to making sure that I smile all day and that I serve my companion as much as possible. Is is okay to say that it is 20Xs harder to do these goals than it was at school? Man. I love the mission. But MAN IT IS HARD. Especially with so many changes and with so many unknowns. I just can't thank all of you enough for the support that you give to me. You truly are my strength. Seriously. I have had a lot of stress, pressure and hard times, but YOU GUYS are where I go to when I need encouragement. Even though you aren't here with me, I feel your strength and run to you as my happy place. Thanks for being there for me.

I love my companion so much. But the Lord is teaching me patience. Remember how I love to work out? Well, guess what? I am learning patience, because my companion HATES working out. That is okay though. Sometimes I run laps in the hallway of our dorm. (nerdy, but true). I have officially been established as the "Mom" of our district because I always tell the elders when they are talking, "Guys!!! This isn't our time, it is the Lord. I am trying to study, thanks." Okay, so maybe I need to develop the gift of tactfulness as well, and maybe feel like a jerk. I just don't want to take a single moment for granted.

So since I am going to Ogden, I may need some warmer clothes? I am not exactly sure. The tights and my wool coat kept me way warm when it was snowing this morning, but I may need some backup. I probably will have a car, because most of the work we do up there comes referrals. I am seriously excited. Really, truly, but I am nervous as all get out! We taught our first couple of "real" investigators this week at the TRC. We taught Hely, she is a hispanic Catholic from Guatemala. Our first lesson was utter disaster, but then me and my companion decided to teach on the Book of Mormon for the second lesson and I have NEVER felt the spirit so strong. I never understood the phrase, "prepare all that you can, and then in the moment that you need words, the spirit will give it to you." That actually happened! Even though I am learning so much of the language, i am still not up to par with the people in my district. They are pushing me REALLLLLLLY hard to be better. But in that second lesson, I started to testify and talk about the Book of Mormon like I never have...but it was in Spanish! I was so excited!!! The Lord is watching over me, and even though I am so weak, and have a long way to go, he is helping me make up for the rest. Hely committed to read the Book of Mormon and I challenged her to baptism....AND she said she would work towards it!!!!! I AM SOOOOOOOOO STOKED!!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you guys for the wonderful packages, valentines, dear elders and everything! They are literally what I look forward to!! They give me motivation and make me happy when I am down. It means the world to me! And I love hearing all about your lives! I just sent a letter in the mail addressing each of you briefly!! I hope that you are all healthy and being safe, but more so that you are LIVING LIFE that you are HAPPY and SERVING and GROWING. I miss all of you more than anything, and what I wouldn't give to see you. But I am getting so much stronger, and I hope you are too. The Lord works in mysterious ways. And miracles happen. The 30 minutes that I have to write you go by way too fast. But know that you guys are my strength, my light and my heart. And you are in my prayers everyday and night. I love you all so much and I'm proud to be a Weenig!!

I can't wait to write you again! I went to the temple today and it was beautiful. Taylor Thomas says thanks for the package and letter mommy!  I love you all so much! I am so proud of all of you!!! Please understand you are children of God!! I hear you might be eating with Jorden!?!?!? Let me know how it goes! Tell him hi and that I think the world of him!! I have a letter coming to him ASAP.

Please write me to let me know all about your lives!! I love you so much!! The gospel is so true, and I can't wait to be apart of this incredible work!!!!!!

STAND STRONG!!!

Love you to pieces,

Hermana Weenig :)

My MTC companion, Hermana Erickson (from Idaho)

The official "plaquita"

Roomies :)

My District...as you can tell, I'm the only non-native speaker

 

I Love the MTC!!!!

Family Bonita!!! Como Estan!!!

Hey family! We were given like a 3 hour p-day because we are new and exhausted....but I only have 30 minutes on the email so here it goes..... Holy smokes this is my first time emailing, and it is weird....it is my only connection to the outside word!! I just bearly wrote you all a letter, because I didn't think the internet would be up and running before our laundry was done. but the Lord sends us tender mercies and I get to email today! I just wrote this ridiculously long letter to all of you, so I am sad it won't get there probably till Tuesday because of the holiday. So I will sum up these past few days! WOAH. I am learning so much. I am learning, learning, learning and learning and till my brain wants to explode. I am loving the MTC soooo much! It is one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do, but I love it because it is making me stronger and my Spanish skills are improving immesely. I am in a district of 10, and I am the only white girl. My companion is from Boise, Idaho and is Spaniard in blood. She is really nice and we get along really well. Yesterday we taught our first lesson to our investigator...IN SPANISH! Can you believe that?! I have also already had to write a full talk in the Spanish language, which was fun but hard to do.

The MTC has my whole life planned out for the rest of my stay here.....which is 9 more days! Can you believe that?!?!! Apparently Argentina is being difficult, and we have to meet with the consulate of Argentina before we can even go into the country. They expect us to leave for Argentina on the Feb. 27, but from what we have been hearing, I might be reassigned state-side for up to five months! It just all depends on when the consulate comes back. The problem is, is that the consulate for Argentina was just here last week, so chances are slim that I will be going there anytime soon. Nonetheless, the MTC has full confidence that I should be in Mexico (what I call my "advanced" district). So what I do everyday is pretty much study, pray, study, pray, go to the gym and serve other people. I absolutely love it. It seriously is like a dream---the only thing that would make it better is if I had my family here by my side. But I am getting so much stronger everyday and I am learning more and more every day so I have just loved it. I am learning spanish so ridiculously fast, and that is all thanks to the spirit. Living in the MTC is so peaceful, even though it is the most intense and hardest thing I have ever done. I'm learning so much about the gospel and about learning to love like Christ would love. I know that through Christ all things are possible. But how are you guys? Are you safe? are you healthy? What have you been doing? Why have I seen no kittens ;) ? hahaha I am just kidding. I hardly have time to think of anything else but the gospel and the people that we are teaching because the MTC packs our schedules so chuck-full of stuff I can hardly see straight. I am so happy to be a missionary....it is everything that I thought it would be and much more. The gym isn't quite like Gold's gym, but I am trying to stay in shape. Other than that learning to live with someone isn't as bad as I thought it would be...I actually love it! She is helping me learn to much, and she is so nice.

MOM!!! Thanks a MILLION for the package of AMAZING goodies and for the card and the letter on Dear Elder! I loved it all! And P.S. those red relvet cookies are WAYYYYY better than I could have ever made them! You are already a professional! I am so proud of you guys and all that you are doing! Thanks so much for all your support and love! DAD--Thanks for the email! If I didn't answer all those questions yet, I know that I did in my letter.

Valentines day was so weird! I loved Valentines day, but my companion was the only valentine I really actually had! I have seen so many people I know here! It is like a high school reunion and BYU reunion! I live on the same floor as the beautiful Taylor Thomas and she also has gym time with me....SO AWESOME!!! I love that girl, she is truly a disciple of Christ. And this is for Shaylie...I say Olivia Christensen and we talked for a little bit at lunch! She looks amazing and she says that she is so excited to head to her mission. I told her that Solveigh says Hi. It is really amazing here, which is kinda strange because it is also really hard. Grammar rules and vocabulary that I would study for hours while I was in Mexico, seem to be coming to me within minutes of studying. The Lord truly is incredible, and I have learned more in the  past couple of days than I ever have in any spanish class.

I just want you guys to know that I know that this gospel is so true and that I am here on my mission, away from my family, so that I can help others be with their families forever. I heard this really cool quote today. "A missionary leaves their family for 18 months, so that others can be with theirs for eternity." Which is so true. It is so hard, but I am so so so so SO loving it and learning so much. I can't wait to learn more and am totally 100% dedicated to mastering the language, but more importantly, mastering the ability to teach with the spirit. I have found that it is the most important thing to be able to teach with the spirit...because the spirit can testify in ANY language.

I hope you are all so safe and so happy!! I love and pray for you all so much! I just hope that everything you are doing  you know that I am cheering you on and wishing you the best. Families are forever. And I am so grateful that I get to be with you guys forever---COOLEST THING OF ALL TIME. Tyler, Austin and Hayden---(and shaylie, if she wants)---The mission is the greatest decision you could ever make. It has already changed my life and changed who I am. When you go, you will never regret it. I can't wait to hear about all the experiences you are having. I love you all so much!! Besitos! (kisses in spanish)!!!

I will send you pictures next Friday, I didn't know I would have a computer, and left my camera in my dorm. My dorm is quished p.s. There are like 20000000298401928903801928 billion missionaries here. There are six people in the size of the dorms at BYU. Crazy. I love it though. I love my roommates. I love the work. I can't wait to hear all about your lives, and hear about all the wonderful things you are doing. Apparently only 750 missionaries entered the day I did, and 1,000 are excepted for the next week. It is so inspiring to see all of theses people coming out to serve. My district leader is only 18 years old! so exciting for him. He is awesome. My teachers are awesome. I am running out of time, but know I will send you pictures next week. Know that you are in my prayers and that the GOSPEL IS RIGHT AND IT IS TRUE. I have tried to serve, serve, serve and that is what has made me the happiest, and I know it will make you happy too. Keep up the good work! I love you guys so much! The MTC is such a great place, wish that you could see it. No word on the visa yet, hopefully  soon.

I love you all so much and can't thank you enough for all you do for me and all the support that you give to me.

STAND STRONG!!

your biggest fan,

Hermana Weenig

P.S. :) smile big for me this week and serve someone new!

February 13, 2013 --  I'm in the MTC!!!!

(First letter from MTC)

Mom & Dad & Family,

Hola! Oh my goodness. I am in the MTC and I love it so much already.  Saying goodbye was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but thanks for being strong for me!  My companion's name is Sister Erickson and she is from Idaho!  She is going to Cordoba, too! I don't have tons of time to write, but they asked us to be sure we wrote you tonight (I wanted to anyway) and let you know that I'm happy, safe, missing you and that I love you.  My p-day isn't till NEXT Friday. So I think that is the 22nd of February.  So don't expect to hear from me till then.   We may be getting a half p-day on Saturday.  No word on my visa yet.  I'm still in the advanced course (I'm the only American-grown girl ... ha, ha) -- we will see what happens.  I love you all so much.  Mom & Dad you've taught me so well.  I'm already learning so much here.  I don't even have time to take it all in.  I kinda feel like a pile of bricks just landed on my face.  We have already done 3 hours of training on learning how to get investigators.  All I've done since I got here is think about what I can do to bring others to Christ -- I love that.  I am absolutely exhausted.  They threw like 5,000 million GB of info at us.  Hopefully, I can take it all in.

Anyway, my good friend Maren from Jr. High took me under her wing.  She gave me a tour and brought me a cookie tonight -- I love her.  I also saw Taylor Thomas 4 times today!  She attacked me with a hug!  She looks beautiful -- I love her a lot.  There are 10 people in my district.  I love it here, but it's hard already -- I've got a LOT to learn.

Tell Jorden thanks for the package and that I love him.  I haven't gotten it yet because mail is not set up for delivery, but I will write him on p-day.  Tell Candy I love her and know that I love you guys so much.  And Mom!!! they have salad here!  Wahoooo!  Can't wait to hear from you guys.  I love you more than life.

Love,
Sister Weenig

PS: Dad, you were right!!  This is hard work.  Puttin' my shoulder to the plow :)