Week 41: Only Five more P-days till Christmas!

(Note from Jeanne:  Sister Wuehler has been out for half of her mission now!!! Wow--that went by quickly!)

Dear Family and Friends,

Yeahhh!  A pre-Christmas and Thanksgiving package!!!

Sister Wuehler, Sister Gerber, and Sister Morey

New WARM, WARM Boots!!!!!

This week we walked right by a Moose without noticing-- It looked like a rock and we were tracting a house near Rabbit creek road-- I had my hood on and was walking in front of my companions- so i couldn't really hear or see them because through my hood I can never tell for sure- but I noticed a little bit of rustling from Sister Gerber and Morey-- My companions told me later that the moose- 100 yards away had turned and looked at them and I am sure it would have got up if there would have been any off movements. PROBABLY a good thing I didn't know about it till then haha. That moose was HUGE!

This week I was lucky to have a Sister from the ward share some of her mission experience with me and she mentioned that as missionaries, we talk about how the atonement can help others to be cleased, but sometimes we forget that it applies to us, especially when we make mistakes. Sister Gerber later shared her Dads insight that Christ prayed for hours and days for us and to the Father, how ungrateful are we if we don't. It is much like a pig eating acorns underneath a tree, but never looking up to see where they are coming from.

I got a letter from Sister Burbank this week and she shared what was happening in Kenai. There is a less active in Kenai who we spent so much time trying to help and everyone wanted us to find her, and eventually all worked together with that, and it was amazing to see how it did, but I got a letter that said that she married her boyfriend and that he wanted to be baptized and they want to be married in the temple!!! SO happy for them-- The Lords work really is planting and harvesting seeds-- constantly and in every aspect of our lives!

For Thanksgiving we lucked out with only one dinner and only two pieces of pie-- I am so happy no one forced me to eat more! It was a great day to be around others and we did a lot of jumping from house to house and shared the mormon message "In the spirit of Thanksgiving" alot. I really noticed the difference when we really open our eyes to see why we actually have this time to be grateful when it should be every day we are turning back to our Heavenly Father in thanks. I loved to see, throughout the day, the promptings of where we needed to be at specific times to share with other specific things that would touch their hearts.

We had zone conference this Friday-- I wish I brought my notes with me that I wanted to share but we talked a lot about how the Lord develops and harvests us in our capabilities and attributes. As we grow and learn we become but also as we share, others can grow and become as well. President Beesley made a focus on Christlike attributes (Preach My Gospel) and he asks missionaries each interview what attribute they are working on and he said the ones that surface the most are Charity, Humility, and Patience. A few months ago we wrote out what is called "My desire" and I asked the Beesleys what they filled in for theirs and I was impressed with this one from President, he said, "my desire is that life be made fair and that can't be done until we are all sealed in the temple." They again shared their families experience and about the pain they felt earlier in their life as different walls were place in their way until they finally had that opportunity. That is why God has guided us, so that life can be made fair. I was grateful as well that it has been a year on Friday since I was able to first go to the temple for myself, and have seen great blessings from that.

Transfers -- but we're staying together!

 

 

 

District Meeting



Chocolate Cream Pies!!!

Well, today is our Christmas shopping day, Love you all!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scripture:

 Alma 34:38

38 That ye ^acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the ^bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and ^cworship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in ^dthanksgiving daily, for the many ^emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

 

Alma 61:9, 12-14

9 And now, in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not ^bseek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us ^cfree.

12 We would subject ourselves to the ^ayoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do.

13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our ^atrust in him, and he will deliver us.

14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our ^awords, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us ^bresist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.

 

 

 

ism: "The Lord develops you so that you can serve others."

"The only Problem with Patience is that it takes too long." -President Beesley

 

 

Alaska Sunset

Week 40: Happy Thanksgiving week!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week we did about 14 hours of service and were still able to see SO many people! We moved some couches (because we have a truck and a lot of missionaries want the truck haha), set up for a wedding, did a lot of work around the mission home in preparation for transfers, etc. NO transfers for the three of us this time- we are here atleast until new years and we will know then whats going to happen. Sister Peterson (my MTC comp.) is training in Fairbanks though! So excited for her! We are going to tract with the new missionaries tonight. They call it "first harvest" or "greenie tract."

 

 

 

 

 

In an elevator!! That's why it's blurry!

 

 

 

We met a man working at a shoe store this last week--BY THE WAY! we found boots for Sister Gerber! more like tennis shoes/ boots-- now we can tract without having to get in the car every other house-- but while we were at this store we met him and as he was helping us find shoes he started to share his story with us-- he told us about how he used to live his life big-- always had what he wanted and didn't care about anything or anyone else-- some things happened in his life and one day he hit someone drunk driving and the crash was fatal. He went to prison and while he was there he read the bible. While he was there he "found Christ." I think it was amazing how uncoincidental our meeting was there that day as we can only see him there as he is getting on his feet-- we offered him a book of mormon and he accepted- he called us the next day but we weren't able to get his phone call and he doesn't have a cell phone. We got a call the other night from Elders in North Anchorage about how they visit a less active in the same place where he is and he shared how that man was so excited to get the book of mormon, and for the kindness he received. It is amazing what people in the world can take for granted and when we truly come unto Christ, we see clearly what good he has for us and we understand what purpose we have in our lives. This life isn't about the money or being ahead. That is pointless. I have seen more happiness in a moment in that man than I have seen from some in years. We need to appreciate the little things before we can the big things.

 

Also, I encourage you all, starting November 26th to check on mormon.org/christmas- there will be Christmas music, bible videos, places to share your testimony, etc. Hope you enjoy it! We shared it with people while we were out tracting this week and everyone seemed pretty positive and excited about it!

We taught our teenage investigator whose mom was not sure about what the church was-- she invited her mom to church last week and all went well- the mom liked it and she really wants to be baptized. We taught her the plan of salvation and she loved that, like Christ being resurrected, we can all be resurrected one day and have our bodies again.

Something that helped out this week was about knowing the difference between good and not so good. We saw a woman this week where things just were not lining up and we were able to know what was right. I am grateful to have that guidance every day as we approach situations and are guided as to what we need to do and that we know what the fruits of the spirit are (Galations 5: 22-23). Someone shared this quote this week, "Evil will find a place, even if it's a crack in the wall"-- with that we need to figure out if we are in the right place and if we are seeing things as God would have us see them-- With the story of Ruth, Naomi was the mother in law and her daughters in law didn't want to leave her- they must have felt kindness from her or else why would they want to stay-- Naomi is the true example of goodness we must hope to emulate.You also see how the spirit can turn your and others hearts for good, even when you think that things will never change.

Well, anyways, I feel like I am rambling! ...Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone is excited for all the Holiday season- watch the Thanksgiviing day parade for me and enjoy getting the Christmas tree on Friday!!! Love you!!!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

 

ism: Love for God, Love for others and Love for self begets true happiness-- don't look for hapiness, create it.

Scripture:

Mosiah 24:15

 " And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did ^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord."

 Alma 42:30

 30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the ^ajustice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his ^bmercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in ^chumility.

Alma 41: 10-15

10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, ^awickedness never was ^bhappiness.

11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of ^anature, or I would say, in a ^bcarnal state, are in the ^cgall of bitterness and in the ^dbonds of iniquity; they are ^ewithout God in the world, and they have gone ^fcontrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.

12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?

13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again ^aevil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.

14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal ^ajustly, ^bjudge righteously, and do ^cgood continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your ^dreward; yea, ye shall have ^emercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.

15 For that which ye do ^asend out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

 

A moose eating a pumpkin!

Week 39: talent show and tracting

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Well, this week we had exchanges because Sister Rivera from Beach Lake ward went to a mission leader meeting so she went with Sister Beesley and we took her trainee, Sister Claspell with us for about a day and a half.  Last night at dinner we taught the message of the restoration to a family in the ward. I just wanted to say it was the funniest thing when the 11 year old boy couldn't say the work apostasy and kept saying "Aposta-py"! We had a Talent Show for the ward, which they got us to do an act for--wow, this ward has a lot of talent!  We sang "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission", and the words were switched up--it was John Bytheway's version switched a little. We also made cookies for a member in the ward--she makes 500 each month to give out for her kids classes- she said it started years ago on a much smaller scale and now there are so much more.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Morey, Sister Gerber, and Me!

 

At Halloween--note the cobwebs in background

We went to the temple one early morning- We were so blessed- we planned to get up at four so we could be there and ready by five in the morning- and we thought one of our companions had set the alarm- come to find out in the morning, she never did, but she woke up at five- so we had 30 minutes to get ready for the session. We all prayed that we could make it there on time and safely and we bolted out the door. Seriously, we made it with plenty of time. Prayers were definitely answered!

Another answer to prayer this week came when Sister Gerber and I went tracting, we weren't sure where but I had a feeling to go to a particular area. We prayed that someone would let us in and as soon as we got up to the first house, she let us in. We shared a thought with the woman, got to know her, said a prayed and asked if we could come back. She said she'd seen missionaries before, and that would be fine. I was amazed at how quick that prayer was answered! We had another amazing experience with tracting in the Brayton Elders area-- Each Saturday we have whats called zone tract, where the whole zone tracts in one area and are assigned a street. We found a woman this week who wants to learn more and prayed for truth in her life. The Lord prepares people to receive the Gospel-it is amazing to see! We also saw a man who was supposed to have someone who wanted to know more about the church- it just so happened that that man was not home and his Roomate opened the door- He is a less active member and hadn't gone for a long time. We sang him I am a Child of God and you could see the recognition and excitement on his face.

Last Monday we were at Dinner and I shared the thought-- the quote I shared was about charity and the member shared a story about a woman who seemed to be rude over a phone call- I don't remember the full story but that was the basic-- he said that the person on the receiving end took offense, but later found that what HAD happened was because that person had cancer and could not do what they needed to at that moment- he said, when you are talking to anyone, always give them the brain tumor treatment. We have no reason to judge what is in someone's heart, and we have no right.

One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is Almas prayer in Alma 31. When Alma prayed for all those sharing this Gospel, he was also praying for us today. It was just an amazing insight into our lives and his work now and that prayers really do get answered. That is really always the reason to be positive, because we are not alone in all of this, God is mindful.

Love you! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scripture: Alma 26:27-30,31

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to ^aturn back, behold, the Lord ^bcomforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with ^cpatience thine ^dafflictions, and I will give unto you success.

28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their ^asynagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been ^bstoned, and taken and bound with ^cstrong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ^ajoy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the ^afruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are ^bmany; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

 

ism: "Many of the Regrets of tomorrow can be avoided by following the Savior today"

Pumpkin Snowman at someone's home

 

 

Week 38: boots and bible study

Dear Family and Friends,

This week Sister Gerber found that her boots were giving her migraines (she has special orthopedics and her only other shoes freeze her feet when we are out) and so we got permission and we have been looking for ANYTHING that would work. We must have tried 35 stores. It wasn't the style of the boot because she was trying on everything. I noticed in this how lucky I am to have the health that I do. I think we mostly take for granted that kind of thing, but I see clearly the lengths some have to go to just for survival. She knows she was sent here to Alaska for a reason so she knows that it will be worked out but Sister Morey shared a scripture relevant to the situation we were in-- Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my ^athoughts are not ^byour thoughts, neither are your ^cways my ^dways"

They'll be a way-- at the moment we just knock a couple of houses at a time so her feet don't get too cold. Even though she says she can tough it through- this is an Alaskan winter- there is a better way-- we will keep trying to figure one out.

We got some HUGE news at training this week!!! Pres and sister Beesley just got beack from the mission president's seminar in San Diego and shared that our mission, beginning in February, is getting a hundred more missionaries!! The said this from the seminar: “As Church leaders had anticipated when the change was announced, the number of individuals who have begun the missionary application process has increased significantly. Typically approximately 700 new applications are started each week. The last two weeks that number has increased to approximately 4,000 per week. Slightly more than half of the applicants are women."

All the U.S. missions will take the bulk of the missionaries and we should all be up to 250. All of us are supposed to be trainer ready by then, especially the sisters! AHH! All I can say is that I'll do it, but training is not my desire. Optimistic side: just like the saints in Nauvoo were only given a direction to go, not knowing the details or the means by which it was to be, they went. So will we.

 (Note:  At the last General Conference in October, President Monson announced that Elders may begin serving a mission at age 18, and Sisters may begin serving at 19, instead of 21.)

Our seventeen year old investigator is doing so great- She brought a friend to church and is going to invite her parents to church so they can see it for themselves. She really wants to get baptized, but now she is taking in everything and is so happy. We went to young womens yesterday because we were invited in for the lesson and I am so impressed with the strength of the youth in this ward. We met a boy this week who is in the Brayton Ward boundaries but we were invited by his friend to teach him- he really loved the plan of salvation and knowing that there was purpose and direction in life. We had the Brayton Elders come to the second lesson with us and they are going back this week- he even came to church and was so happy. The Gospel is so wonderful!

Halloween was fun, I don't have a ton of time to talk about it but we enjoyed it.

We went to a bible study with an investigator this week up in North Anchorage! It was a church started in the south and Sister Gerber, having served on the bible belt was a little nervous to go, but it was very friendly, very loud and we were the only white people there. It was so fun to hear them. The pastor was a real funny guy, he said "we cannot serve God and Mammoth" without even realizing it. I notice, all in all, they were teaching many great things but I felt someting missing. I know that Heavenly Father restored that fulness to the earth with the priesthood and for the spirit to testify to our hearts of it's truth. God is the author of all good, but incomplete is not full. We enjoyed it and were grateful to share the time with her.

We are getting so much support from the ward and are so blessed here! Thank you for all your prayers- ther are felt daily!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scripture: Alma 8: 13-18
13 Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and ^areviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be ^bcast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.

14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much ^atribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an ^bangel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:

15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that ^adelivered it unto you.

16 And behold, I am sent to ^acommand thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will ^bdestroy them.

17 For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the ^astatutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people.

18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.

ism: "Let Go and Let God"

"Mother Nature took the all the Strawberries and just left me with the Blonde"

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs)