Week 6: March 26, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

       So, this week has been particularly interesting... Something we love to do is to sticky note the members to say thank you for either coming to lessons with us or for feeding us.  Particularly this week, we ate dinner with members who own a health food store (One of my favorite things ever (nope, not sarchastic)), and we ate in the cafe of their store as we talked about the work.  One thing that stuck out was when he said God cannot give a miracle unless we ask for it.  It made me realize and remember that God has power to do all things, but if we just expect him to give without even asking, then why should we have any right to that at all and it goes for each person.  It has changed the way I pray, my prayers have become more specific and I am already recognizing God's hand in life each and every day and the increase in help I have received.

       Our zone conference for the Anchorage North Zone was this last Wednesday (almost all day).  Sister Halatokoua and I gave a quick 20 minutes (lesson) there about helping out less actives, and helping them understand the importance of God in their lives.  This work is not about numbers, it is about individuals and their lives.  I know that as I am out here, I can be the hand of the Lord to help someone understand the blessings God has in store for each of us as we follow him.  I can only be worthy of this through following him and being obedient.  The days are long; there are alot of appointments, visiting, backup plans, and a lot of finding; it is truly work ,but it is some of the most rewarding work you could hope for. It is the companionship of the Holy Ghost that guides us where to go and as we follow those promptings right away, then God is able to bless us.   Never postpone a prompting, there is a reason why it is there.  We had an experience this week with this...where both my companion and I separately had a prompting to leave a situation; neither knew that the other was feeling that way, but it came the same to both of us and because of it, I know that God is watching out for us continually.

 

     We ate dinner with a member last week who, as we shared a scripture, interrupted us in excitement.  She said, "I just have to let you know, I thought you were just telling me to read my scriptures and say my prayers just to do them, but they really work. It has made everything easier to handle..."  Her testimony to us was one of true conversion.  The Spirit testified of truth at that moment and this was one experience that I will never forget--because it works.  As we come unto God, he can come unto us--"ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you."  He asks us to do this so that we can communicate with him and this is a blessing that once we understand it we know that God love each of us.  We are his children, everyone here on the earth, and he tends to the individual and loves them.

 

    We have a member in our ward who absolutely LOVES the sister missionaries also--she is so fun-- she emphasized that we could ask her for anything, to come and teach with us, dinner, etc., but just to let you know back home, the members are wonderful and taking care of us very well.  They are so sweet here in Turnagain Ward.  By the way, I bet you've never seen someone shoveling snow off their roof before-- breakup of the snow is only beginning and I have been avoiding wearing my coat so that I don't want to fall asleep throughout the day.  It has been pretty good weather also, lots of sunny days, and I love to crunch the ice underneath my feet as we walk the streets.  I also have texted more than I ever have in my life and I am getting good :)

   We have a member who has been in the hospital, and she is in her 90's.  She is so positive and has brightened my days more than anything.  I don't have time to finish writing, but I will tell you more soon.   Also, my companion and I like to speak in English accents as we drive around town - after a while I don't really think we remember we're doing it... just thought I would share that :).

Love and miss you all!

Love, Sister Wuehler

isms and quotes this week:

- "have we asked for a miracle?"

- "sister ______ is the stake presidents wife" "oh we have the stake president in our ward whats his name?" "uh, brother ____"

 

 

Scripture: Moroni 7:35-37

"And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain."

First Week in Alaska - March 19, 2012 Letter

Dear Family and Friends,


ALASKA from my airplane window!

It has been a crazy week, really busy, so we kind of missed out on preparation day last week and on emailing. But our little group made it up to Alaska-- It was harder than I had anticipated leaving behind everyone at the MTC who we had gotten close to because you really have to depend on each other. Upon arriving in Alaska, the Beesleys (President and Sister Beesley are Mission President and his wife) and the assistants picked us up at the airport and brought us back to the mission office.  We went out tracting with our mission trainers (of which we did not know which one would be our companions), but we began with that experience and then returned to the mission home for the night. Sister Beesley made us dinner and said that we might try muktuck-- which I had no idea what it was.  We didn't end up getting it that night and, right now, knowing it is whale, I am so glad that I didn't have to then.  It is something I might have to prepare myself on, but one of the members here has now offered so I know that it is going to happen. Ah! don't know what to expect with that- I'll either love it or I'll hate it.

     My companion here is Sister Halatokoua and we are serving here in North Anchorage. It is almost like being in San Leandro because, although it is still labeled as Anchorage, it feels like a little suburb of downtown where all sorts of people live. It is beautiful here and breakup (of the snow) is beginning. Anchorage has almost broken it's record of snowfall and we are hoping for at least a couple more inches of snow, even though some of the locals REALLY do not want any more snow-- I don't know if the roofs can take it any more.

     We are living with ward members here and they are so sweet. It seems like everyone and anyone has pets, especially dogs, and I am so happy about that because it means that I get to see them and play with them every once in a while. This week Sister Halatokoua got the car stuck on a small street at a member’s home.  We called the Elders, but they were fifteen minutes away. . .we both just decided to shovel it out-- who said the Sisters need the Elders help-- we got ourselves out on our own- woohoo!  That night we were going out to contact and visit members, and also in our way were two moose- a momma and a baby: right then- there was NO WAY I was getting out of the car--if the moose would charge the car, then it would charge me.

Anchorage, Alaska Temple in March!

     Our mission president has it so that we eat at members’ homes each night for dinner, so it has been fun getting to know them, share a message and so on.  We have access to a kitchen at our apartment, and although we don't have too much time to cook for ourselves, we do what we can. Hopefully today we'll be able to make cookies at the mission home to bring out as a thank you to someone who helped the last sisters get their car unstuck (I wonder if getting stuck is going to be a regular occurrence, but with the snow melting, let's hope not).

     I have grown a new respect for my bed.  I know that 10:30 is bedtime, but most of the time now, I just want to pass out at 9 which ends up being 10. Waking up isn't too bad, and for gym time we have been walking another member’s dog, running in the snow, etc.; it just depends on how ambitious we are that day- haha.

  

     I love going into homes and teaching. My companion and I work so well together- she is from Utah, she's Tongan and she's been out 14 months. Before we even had time to study together, we seemed to be able to listen to the spirit in our teaching and to be able to flow from one topic to the other. A lot of the focus in our area is on less actives, but we hope that we can start a little more on finding-- if there are any ideas out there feel free to share them.

  

     I love you all.   Any questions on specifics, send them to me because I would love to try my best to answer them.

 Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scripture: Ether 12:4 "hope is anything but wishful: it is expectation based on experience"

“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”

isms: "there is a reality show coming up in two weeks- it's called general conference."

"and that is how the cow ate the cabbage"- one of the members from the south

Sister Wuehler is in Alaska! (Monday, March 12, 2012)

HERE SHE IS!

    Sister Wuehler called early Monday morning from the Salt Lake City airport--ready to leave and all excited!  She sounded so good and positive; again reiterating that the work is hard and full-time, having no spare minutes to do much else other than study, learn, practice, and prepare to be a missionary in the field.  She said it was hard to leave the other two sisters who had been in her district who were going to other countries.  Also, she would have more time to email (one hour instead a 1/2 hour) and write.  She is doing her best to write letters!  It was a nice, short phonecall and so good to hear her voice again. 

Four Sisters in District together--Sister Wuehler and her companion, Sister Peterson, are on the right.

Sister Wuehler loves to take pictures and be in pictures!  Mustaches??!!

 Eight of them were traveling together; her companion, Sister Peterson and six Elders.  They would spend Monday afternoon and night at the Mission Home.  We checked the weather to see what it would be like when she arrived there--8 degrees!

 Sister Wuehler's MTC District -- All going to Alaska Anchorage Mission!

   She emailed a quick email Monday night telling us that she had arrived there:
 
    "Alaska is Beautiful!!! I am going to be serving in the Turnagain ward in the Anchorage North  area.  Hope all is going well back home and I will write more soon."
   Love, Sister Wuehler

   Scripture: 1 Nephi 3:7   (I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.)  

  "by the way, monday is p-day"

 
  We 'googled' the street maps of her area--it looks like a normal residential area with lots of farm-equipment driving down the roads.  She is not that far from the Mission Home or the Temple.  I think they are all in her stake, as well as the Institute building.  There are quite a few chapels in Anchorage.  We hope to get an actual address of where she will be living --  we'll see! 

Sister Wuehler leaves MTC Monday, March 12

Sister Wuehler will leave early, early Monday morning, March 12th to go the airport and head to Anchorage.  We will get to talk to her on the phone (yippee).  So, if you are writing a letter, you probably should send it to the new address on the sideboard to Anchorage.  If you are writing on DearElder.com and having the letter delivered to the MTC, the last you could write would be Friday morning before 11 am for her to receive it.  Emails probably won't be seen by her until sometime after she gets to her mission, for family to write.  A letter is still 45 cents.  And she LOVES letters!!

Thank you for all your support for her!  

Love, Jeanne (Julie's mom)

Second Week in MTC--Not a "Greenie" Anymore!

Dear Family and friends,

    First of all, I would like to say that it is amazing to wear my jeans after having to wear a skirt all week. It has been snowing on and off all week, but mostly it looks like spring (In Provo?!?). I am now down to the last few days in the MTC as next time I check my email I will be in ALASKA!!! Crazy, i know! Most of our district will be going at once- 8 of us, but the other two girls who are going to Germany are going to have a while longer here.
   As this is P-Day for my zone, it is also MTC entry day for many, and as we see many with their new nametags, we see the red sticker indicating them as new, but we love to greet them. First day is stressful beyond belief because you are trying to figure out everything, where you're supposed to be going, doing and learning the rules of mission life; it is so deserved by these fresh missionaries to hear that they are welcome. By the way, look up the mormon messages "civility experiment" (http://www.lds.org/pages/the-civility-experimentlang=eng&query=mormon+messages+civility+experiment) -- we watched this in class and over the weekend and did our own civility experiment. My companion and I got two grunts over the weekend when we greeted other missionaries (rather than hellos) which was better than the Elders had gotten. I am probably not explaining it very well, but i hope you see the point.
  This last Sunday, Alex Boye spoke at our fireside, and he was absolutely wonderful. He sang for us, and told his own conversion story. Elder Holland came last week. We role play life situations every day here and it is amazing to put yourself in the shoes of those you teach and ask questions that they may ask, and feel the things which they would as you speak to them. Part of this is that the missionaries teach each other.



MY DISTRICT!

   To say the ABSOLUTE least, this week has been a tough one. This is where the endurance has kicked in. Between sleep and sick roommates, 19 year old elders, and learning to be with our companions 24/7, it has gotten a little bit stressful, but I know that there is nothing that the Lord has asked me to do that he does not help me in doing or that he doesn't prepare me for. The Lord doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called according to their faith in him. Our teachers and branch presidencies are truly inspired in their council and teaching here. We set goals after a turn of a lesson this week that have put things into a clearer perspective. They have turned my persective around in a way that I could not do unless they had been listening to the spirit in helping me understand how to do it, but it all comes down to our purpose: why do we do things, why are we driven in the way we are, and here, it is because of the people. The people who we can help, and to the people who are earnestly seeking truth. To be able to give that to them is worth all the struggles. We taught a man this week in TRC who was a simple man, but his spirit was bigger than a giant, you knew that he had been prepared to hear our message. "Onward, Christian Soldiers, this is our work now". (insert from Mom: The TRC is the Teaching Resource Center. All missionaries visit the TRC each week. Volunteers who speak the language role play as investigators in these teaching situations. For the missionaries, it is an invaluable experience to learn how to teach with the Spirit and from their hearts.)

BY THE WAY: There is never a time a missionary does not appreciate a letter. It is difficult to answer them in good time, and slowly, but surely, I am working on it.

Love,

Sister Wuehler

MTC-isms: "I looked out the window and what did I see- two sister missionaries lookin' at me" (to the tune of popcorn popping)

Scripture of the Week: Enos 1. We are here to feed his sheep.

"When we know in our head moves to our heart, by the power of revelation, that's the beginning of understanding" -Elder Bednar

Excerpts from a Written Letter -- March 2, 2012

(Letter edited by Mom with a few excerpts) 
    Hey!  It's me again! It was really stressful emailing because in the MTC you only have thirty minutes to read them and write back althogether....The Sisters here are amazing--I can't get enough of it --also the Elders....The Provo temple--inside, is probably the most beautiful place ever--if you haven't been recently, go! (When you're in Provo!)

...Well, it really is wonderful here--it can be difficult at times and I really miss you all. My companion and I had two amazing lessons today (FINALLY), and where we are still at the beginning, we are in a good place. Also, going to the temple with the missionaries is one of the most amazing experiences. You really receive personal revelation there--always go with a question.

   "The food can either be really good, or not so good here, but there are always salads--but they have BYU Creamery ice cream Thursdays!!! Yes!--Lunch AND Dinner! (Just thought I would let you know--I'm not gaining weight like crazy--don't worry about it)....Look up the fundamentals of the Gospel--we are learning those and they are so amazing.

Love, 
Sister Wuehler