Week 71: The Midnight Sun

Dear Family and Friends,

This week went by fast! We got to weed houses, paint, teach, meet a lot of new people, learn who those in our branch were, play ultimate frisbee with tons of mosquitos out, etc. I am willing to bet that I have the Alaska flag in mosquito bites on my foot! Those things finally showed up on me yesterday. I also have found out what my favorite burger is- seeing as I have never really loved hamburger before---BUFFALO burger! We went to Loose Moose with a member on Tuesday and that's where they serve a lot of Alaskan meats from Delta.

Sister Hart and I eating a Buffalo Burger!!!

 

 

It rained early in the day of solstice- it looked just like a San Francisco winter, but cleared up later in the day. We woke up at midnight just so we could get a picture to show how light it was- everyone was excited to have the midnight run and solstice baseball game they have had for over 100 years at that time. It's bigger than 4th of July up here I bet.

 

 

 

 

 

This is at 9 pm, although we stayed up until later

 

 

 

We had a couple of lessons with (the woman whose daughter went on a mission) before she heads to Europe for a few weeks. Something she continued to say throughout the whole lesson on Tuesday is that Everything can be fulfilled "...IN HIS TIME" She gave us some Red Salmon to bring home to cook from her husband's catch last week- which sounded like major defensive fishing. They have to tie themselves off to stay safe because the river they were on was dangerous, but everyone goes to fish there- can't remember where exactly- it was amazing fish though!! Our next lesson we talked a lot about the Sabbath day, and she shared things which she had studied for it, and later on in the lesson, she had a question about the Book of Mormon, and was trying to figure it out. We knew little bits of what it was, but we aren't perfect teachers, and we were all trying to figure it out. I had seen the answer to the question somewhere before, and each of us were searching, finally when we were all searching, I felt strongly that she didn't need to know all those details right away, even didn't have to have us find it to tell it to her, but that she could know that Heavenly Father knew he had to help us understand the need for a Restoration and that that evidence is found in the Book of Mormon. The smile came back to her face after we talked about that and you can just feel the enthusiasm from her as she has now begun reading it from the beginning. Yes, she has questions, but all can't be learned at once, as we all come to find in our daily lives. The Faith to seek after knowledge will be there as we seek it diligently. She s doing that so constantly, and I have been so blessed to teach her and to be able to tell her daughter about that over email while she is in Ireland.

The Red Salmon--it was so delicious!

We spent most of our Saturday out in North Pole visiting a few different people and didn't even make it to some people we were wanting to because all of our appointments went through! Good news!!! We got to clear a lady's yard who isn't able and shouldn't be doing it herself- she talked us to death all afternoon while we were there but she is so sweet.  She came to the lesson we had with Joe, our investigator afterward and bore her testimony to him. She is a convert of a few years, and has a powerful drive and testimony to not go back to her old life- lives in a humble place out in the backwoods of town and is content to live a simple life, even without the support of her family.   (a young man) came to church yesterday, and it was neat to see the progression he is making a little at a time too, and that even in the two people we bring to his lessons each time to see them getting excited. 

We had a Sisters Training over PVC Friday night to Saturday morning. It was neat to be able to see them and we had a testimony meeting on Saturday morning and even though we couldn't get internet connection to see them that morning, it was great to hear their testimonies, because we don't get to hear them very often.

The Worldwide Training yesterday was so neat to be a part of! Our room was full of people from the branch and we have been trying so many different finding activities lately for the work up here that it only pumped us up even more to go out and serve and the branch is excited too! I loved hearing the testimonies and personal stories the missionary department had to give, for President Monson and what he said to close the meeting even as he is now in a difficult time of his life.

Well, Hope this all makes a little bit of sense! Love you lots!!! We are having a blast teaching these people! They are so amazing!

Congrats Jim and Vanessa!! Ezra is so adorable!!!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

Scriptures:

Doctrine and Covenants 6:4-7 (Christlike attributes, notice the pattern),1 Nephi 4:6 (Perfect Faith), Jacob 2:17 (We are rich with the Gospel, sharing it helps others to receive that too), Alma 34, 3 Nephi 1:1-8 (Sounds like Alaska in the summer time)

 

 

ism: "When you feed a man a fish, you feed him for a day. When you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. When you teach a man to teach a man to fish, you feed generations."

"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a small room with a mosquito" -An old African proverb- or a fairbanks proverb..."You are all like mosquitos, but you are God's army of mosquitos- and you are going to swarm the evils of this world and suck it dry." -- Relief Society President

"The first step in forgiving someone is not hating their guts!" -A sister in our relief society

Week 70: SOLSTICE this weekend!

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week was Crazy busy! Monday night we stayed at the Inlet View sisters apartment (same apartment I was trained in); then made it to the mission home to sneak downstairs by 8:45 so the trainees wouldn't see us. Their training went longer so they didn't even get downstairs until 11/ 11:30 to meet us and then we found out who would be our companions. My companion is Sister Hart! Sister Hart is from Holladay, Utah. She is 19 and has been studying at UVU.

 



Sister Hart and I

 

 

 

We were able to attend the Temple together.

 

Temple Windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is SO hot in Fairbanks- Even Sister Hart says it is and she was just in SLC and Provo. We figured out a little more about why this week.   Someone told us it's because the sun is closer up here and never really gets over head, just that it keeps going around the sky (i can't remember the terms). We have seen a ton of thermometers say 100 or over 100, and it's just in the 80s (it will be 90s or more this week i hear), but I really think it's because thermometers can't handle the temperature range up here... -60 to 100 Fahrenheit is bound to break some thermometers because we HAVEN'T seen 100 yet.

SUMMER SOLSTICE IS THIS WEEK! The Sun will be out for 24 hours!!! They have solstice activities up here and we probably can't go to it, but I will try to get a picture of how bright it is outside.

 

Now that I have talked about the weather for the last two paragraphs, this week went well. A lot of cancelled appointments, but we are laying the ground work in other ways in the branch, especially because now we only have 4th Branch to focus on. 

We went to the memorial service for (a sister who we had been teaching, her) Dad (who was killed by a bear) on Friday. The day before we left some white chocolate on her doorstep, so that whenever she got there, there would be a note and her favorite chocolate-- we got a text the night of the service late that she got it and that they were her favorites. I just keep feeling her dad knows the improvement she is making and is so proud of her- he keeps watching out for her and I feel like I know him through all of the seeds he has planted of good. They will be together again one day, and even though tragedy has struck their family again, the legacy they have within their family is to be carried on, not mourned over. They are so wonderful! I even felt that when we were in the temple on Tuesday. He is at peace, and he is watching over his family. A lot was talked about in the service about how he was a man who was happy to be in the back woods, how he flew over the pipeline in his "jet pack" paragliding and how he never seemed to want to bring much attention to himself, and the irony is that the room was packed, his death was broadcast across the country and there were so many he helped. In his life, he did so much, and we can if we decide to as well. We can love as deeply, and show that love through serving those around us.

Since, it's Sister Hart's first week, we have been introducing her to a lot of people. At a dinner, (a member) made sure EVERYTHING was GREEN! Since we shouldn't be calling her a greenie, we didn't, but being a new missionary and it is her first dinner! They made the alfredo sauce GREEN and she made sure we didn't know until she served it! Then broccoli and mint ice cream. We were laughing the whole dinner, and telling stories and got to close with a message.

 

I found out an investigator I taught in Turnagain got baptized two weeks ago!!! That was so exciting! I heard it from (a member), who we used to bring to lessons with him and others- she is in the YSA ward down there and I got to see her at the temple when we went!

I had a brilliant idea this week! If you have ever seen the Mormon Message 'Earthly Father, Heavenly Father', then you know the music is catchy, any it being my favorite, it's stuck in my head a lot. I think that they need to make a missionary version of that for fun, completely an inside joke, but when that idea came into mind, I am determined to get it going with someone! Sister Hart had a brilliant idea this week too. They need to make a Mosquito man. They already have a spider man character. That would be funny.  (Link to Mormon Messages: http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages#earthly-father-heavenly-father)

We had a really great sacrament meeting yesterday, with another farewell-- (a sister)-- and the Elders Quorum spoke. Much of it was on Family History and Perfecting the Saints. The Elders Quorum President got up and told a story of someone who got up to give a talk and just sat there for a LONG awkward time, and when that silence was finished he said that what they said is "You've been waiting for me to speak for all this time. How long have your ancestors been waiting for you to do your family history. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." If that doesn't put the point across, I don't know what else does!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY YESTERDAY DAD!!!!

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE LIVE BROADCAST ON JUNE 23!!!! (www.lds.org)

Love,

Sister Wuehler

scripture: Helaman 12:1, Ether 12:4,27, 2 Nephi 4

ism: "infants are just sucking vortexes of need. Yet we can't help but love them even though they haven't done anything to deserve our love." -the stake president while speaking at the memorial service (he seems to always make it onto these quotes- he always says things in a way everyone can understand)

"Most of the time it's not a question of what is right and wrong. It is all about what is better and what is best"

If we are obedient, we will see the blessings

 

 

 

Release Date:

 

August 8, 2013!

 

 

Coming Fast!!!!

 

58 more days!!! Wow!

week 69: in anchorage for the day, going back to fairbanks soon

Dear Family and friends,

 

 Today has been a crazy week! So first off, right now I am in Anchorage- we just drove in- and I am staying in Fairbanks YSA and training! That was news to me, seeing I only have 8 weeks to train her, but there will be someone who steps in when I go to finish up the training I am sure. Sister Poudrier is training in 5th Ward in Fairbanks, and they are whitewashing because now there will be 2 sets of missionaries there instead of 1.

 

The drive was so long with all the construction, but it is so nice to be by the water again. So please pardon the briefness or confusion of my letter today, but I can barely keep my eyes open.

 

We started out the week (last Monday) with a hike in the middle of 6th wards area somewhere off the Parks highway which was supposed to go to a lake. Turns out by the end of the trail all there was was a dried up area with lots of mud and mosquitos, and that we were hiking a 4 wheelers trail. Nothing too interesting but we all got to hike with the Beesleys- that was good. We had interviews on Tuesday and President laughed when we walked in with our three area books stacked high onto the table. He said he would make it to be one for each of us. That is exactly what's happening now! Yes!

 

We did get some shocking news this week that has been constantly on my mind. One of the ladies we meet with each week found out her dad was mauled by a bear out at their cabin and was killed. The whole town seems to know it and their prayers have been so amazing to watch. It broke my heart to see how close she was to them and how difficult this must be now. We text her each night, and with this we have continued to do that, and we got to see her early Sunday morning, and share with her what her dad told the Elders a few weeks ago, about how he could see her changing and how proud he was of her. It seems like the way everything happened, that was just right that he talked to the Elders that day and they passed it onto us. He was a wonderful man, and I know their family will be together again. That was a tender mercy I have never felt more grateful for. We will keep in close contact with her- she is a big strength to her mother right now who was trying to chase the bear away. Please keep them in your prayers!

 

We taught ______ (investigator) about the gospel of Jesus Christ this week and when we got to talking about baptism I showed him how the penny can be cleaned by ketchup. He did his best to pick the dirtiest penny- and boy could you see that in the ketchup as it got filthier and filthier!!! gross. Don't really want to look at ketchup for a while after that, but while I was cleaning it I asked him what he thought about baptism- past thoughts, etc. Right away our member who was with us said, "I was wondering when you were going to ask that".  She turned to him and said "So when are you going to get baptized?! Lets set a date!!!" She was super excited about that and he seemed to like the idea too.  Just has been so pressured in the other direction by his family and friend, but he picked his birthday- in October-- We asked him to pray about it for himself, but as of now he is planning on it in October and working on being ready! Exciting!!! Miracle!

 

We met an investigator from Matanuska who had been working in Fairbanks ... and got to talk to him about a few questions he had before he moved back to Wasilla area. One of his big questions he had was - if there is a God, why do bad things happen. We talked to him a lot about agency and Sister Poudrier actually had this question a lot before she joined the church 4 years ago. She showed him Alma 14:10-11 and he got so excited to feel an answer. You could see and hear that it was like a light went off for him- it just made sense! Later he asked about where we go after we die and we talked about the plan of happiness and Alma 40- it was so great, but he moved on Saturday.

    Alma 14:10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the ^apower of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in ^aglory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the ^bjudgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the ^cblood of the ^dinnocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

 

We went to Denny's with the Elders for a last district lunch- 8 of us. It is crazy how fast a transfer flies by. With the trees actually having leaves on them, apparently I can't find my way around the same. The street signs all look different! We also tried bear roast this week-- not a big fan. It is like ALMOST any roast but I can't get past the idea that it's bear. We also had dinner with all the princess or holiday bus drivers in the branch- they all live in this apartment with like, 12 of them, and they're never all home at the same time. Temple and trainees tomorrow!!! LOVE YOU!!!

 

Love,

 

Sister Wuehler

 

Scripture:

Alma 4:15

15 And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their ^ainequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.

 

Alma 60:13

 13 For the Lord suffereth the ^arighteous to be slain that his justice and ^bjudgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.

 

Doctrine and Covenants 18

 

 

 

ism: "he wanted a truck, I gave him a truck" -netty, when she gave her husband a remote control truck

 

 "Whenever the Lord wants to raise up a righteous people he sends them into the wilderness." -pres duval

 

 

Week 68: "just rubberbandin' it" - stretching ourselves to our limit :)

This is actually leaving the Lutheran Church parking lot!
 
 

Our Zone

 
 
 
 

 

Me, Sister Gerber, and Sister Poudrier as Sister G. is getting ready to go home.

 

While we're driving!!  Self - Portrait -- "Just the 2 of us!"
 

 

Dear Family and Friends,

In a week we went from winter to summer! You would be surprised at how fast the leaves have grown! They started at the size of my thumb and in a matter of a day and a half got to the size of my whole hand and keep growing! EVERYONE is outside and loving the sun! I am pretty jealous of all the bikes I keep seeing- they are awesome. The Alaskan mosquitos are also back. UGH! oh well, I am lucky because they don't usually get me like they get everyone else.

I got my going home date- August 8th. Sooner than I thought, but I will leave it at that and stop talking about it.

So since Sister Gerber went home, life has been chaotic! Or maybe I should just say it continued to be chaotic- with the amount of work we have, now it is only harder to divide it between us between all the phone work, appointments, etc. We still have the 3 different areas of work- YSA, Asian and 2nd ward. We are staying busy, but that is a GOOD problem to have! We do miss Sister Gerber lots though!

Next week is transfers, so we have another busy week ahead of us, but good news- we have so many leftovers from people that we don't even have to go grocery shopping today! yes!

We taught a couple of lessons after we dropped Sis. G at the airport on tuesday at 4-- we had a lesson with a less active sister we have been teaching. She is doing SO GOOD with giving up coffee and trying to avoid the replacements she's been trying to put in. Haha, we send out scriptures of the day to lots of people most days and SHE even has started sending US scriptures of the day (the one she sent us yesterday was 2 Nephi 31:20-21)

 

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the ^away; and there is ^bnone other way nor ^cname given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the ^ddoctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the ^eFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is ^fone God, without end. Amen.

We are teaching a few people through the daily dose program of the church to help them learn English and they help us to understand Chinese as well. One of our investigators just learned to pray in English, and he doesn't have a huge Christian background I believe. He started out his prayer in broken English "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. We thank thee for our families in the name of Jesus Christ Amen." It was the sweetest prayer and by the end we explained to him simply again how to do it and it improved, but that was so great to listen to!

So we had a lesson with an investigator this week, (a man), who we hadn't been able to see in a while. He shared with us about an experience he had at work where he couldn't get everything to work out right- so he went in to a room and knelt down and prayed. Soon after the trucks with the stock came in and he saw the answer to his prayer! SO AWESOME! We brought a member who is one of the bus drivers in the branch to that lesson and another sister and he came to us at institute later that night and said, "It is the HIGHLIGHT of my WEEK to go to missionary lessons!" It is great how the spirit work, because we are constantly battered on all sides, but we can see the marvelous light that overcomes all darkness. As missionaries we get to experience firsthand that light each day as we seek it diligently.

Other interesting and crazy events this week: I fell backwards in my chair at my desk- it's naturally a chair that leans back and it leaned back too far- luckily I broke my fall to the wall with my elbow and now its all bruised up-- all good now-- thought you might like to know the advice you gave me my whole life to not lean back in my chair is kicking in! Also, it is so interesting to see how everything works out.  First, we saw how prepared Sister Gerber had been to go home beforehand that we had not known quite why beforehand. Next, on Saturday we had so many appointments cancel and even drove to North Pole to find out the person we were going to meet with wasn't there (we even brought members with us and it was a bummer, but it turned out okay) and drove back to Fairbanks. When we got to University and Geist we were waiting at the stoplight about 5 or 6 cars back talking when we saw a car spin out of control and crash and the 2nd car came crashing next to them into the first car at the light. The people around ran- one pedestrian throwing his backpack to help the people out of the car- there were a couple of injuries, it seems that none were too serious, but the older man looked very in shock. They were each walked to the sidewalk and eventually all taken care of, but was so impressed by the people running to their aid without the hesitation. It was a powerful moment to be there, and shook me a little, but I was grateful to see that. We all have good instilled in us by our Heavenly Father.

We helped at a place called SOAP (forgot what it stands for)- for homeless youth. The Elders painted and we fixed up the closet- it was FILTHY and a mess. We have gotten to talk to a lot of new people this week.  We met a girl there and had a good conversation about her background with the church, although she is not a member.We finally met her after recognizing that she is a referral we were trying to contact. We also helped a woman move her food storage this week- she is moving to the Badger Road area and has been member for only about 4 years I believe. She is the only member in her family and has a HUGE truck full of storage.  She has been so diligent with it. When we asked her why she had so much, she responded that her family didn't have it, and that she has children and grandchildren she wanted to help if ever need be. THAT is faith!

One of the sisters in 2nd ward who comes to an investigator's lesson each week told us about how at zone conference she made the lunch with a few other sisters, but was early in finishing her part and sat up on the counter and started drinking her pepsi just as the Zwicks walked by! She laughed about how she knew that they wouldn't judge her but a general authority just saw her sitting around! She is too funny!

We were happily surprised to see our recent convert at church on Sunday because we didn't know he was coming back from the slope so soon!!! That was exciting!

Yesterday at Sacrament Meeting in 2nd ward, an investigator who is getting baptized and the Elders are teaching stood up and gave his testimony that he knows that this is the true church and was just so grateful.  He took out his cigarettes and said that he would publicly give them up. It was really neat to watch! We also had the bus drivers bring a few of their friends to church in 4th branch- they are so excited about missionary work and so prompt about it!

Well, love you!

Love,

Sister Wuehler

scriptures:

Mosiah 24:15

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.

1 Nephi 18:15-16

15 And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to ^asee that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.

16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did ^apraise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

Alma 62:41 (Similar experience, different reactions)

41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their ^aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility. 

Alma 61:14

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: "Sista Gerber, angel from heaven, can only eat apple and wataa!" from a sweet thai lady, penny, who loves to feed us :)