Week 89: Super Awesome Week!!! 4/27/20

Hey ya'll, how's it going? Things have been going good here in the land of Wagoner Oklahoma!! This last week was super special for one big reason! We were able to go through with James Walters baptism and it went super well! He seemed so happy and I can't begin to express how much it meant to him and his family! It was a simple little service where only 10 people could attend, but he didn't mind that at all, he was just super focused on the ordinance which is ultimately what matters most! There were some great talks given as well and it ended off with him singing a song with his wife in the Cherokee language which was honestly super cool! We are glad he has made the steps towards baptism, but this is only the beginning to his remarkable journey he has ahead! He is looking forward to going to the temple!

Well, that was the one thing I wanted to share with you this week! It was a super good experience! I'm still doing good though and surviving these difficult times! I hope you all are as well! This week will be my last full week being a missionary as I get ready to head home in 10 days! I'm determined to finish things strong!! I'll catch you all later!!

Love ya'll!! 

Love, 

Elder Weese

Week 88: I'm Still Alive!!!!! 4/20/20

Hello everyone! Sorry I'm catching ya'll this late, but things have been going super good lately despite the fact that we are still in quarantine! We had a lesson with James Walter's on Saturday in which we planned to teach him about the Gospel of Jesus christ, or the doctrine of Christ! Well we taught him about all of that, like faith, Repentance, and baptism as it's a part of that topic as well, so after that we wanted to pinpoint a day for him to be baptized... And he said next week!! We told him that there are other things we had to teach him like the word of wisdom, law of chastity, etc. and that he also needed an interview from another missionary. So he told us to teach him all of the remaining lessons right then and there, so we did! Haha! It went super well and he doesn't have a problem with any of it! As for the interview, he asked if we could get it set up for the next day, so we did and he got through it without any issues. He has already been to church many times before the COVID19 effect, and he'd read the book of mormon on occasion many times in the past. It is needless to say that he has been ready for along time, and now he fully wants to commit and wants it NOW! So unexpectedly, this week will be a week in preparation for his baptism and we are super excited!!

Well, being self isolated is getting pretty old! Me and my comp are trying our best to come up with things to do as we try to continue to work effectively! It's hard because normal missionary work feels way more productive and accomplished, but trying to do things this way has felt as we have decreased in productivity even though we try to do our best when we can! It's hard, but this will be something that I will look back on forever and I am super grateful to be a missionary at this particular time to experience all of these things! I know all things are done for our benefit, we may not see it that way especially with all of the pain and struggle that goes on, it is done in the wisdom of the one who knoweth all things, God himself! We will be stronger once this is all said and done! I've seen it as I go on day to day during this trial! I hope you all are experiencing that on your end! 

I hope ya'll are doing well! I'm excited for another week of opportunity ahead of us! I love you all! Have an awesome week! 

Love, 

Elder Weese 

Week 87: Masked Missionaries 4/13/20

Week 86: "Hear Him" 4/6/2020

Hey everyone! Just wanted to give a quick hello! It was a great week, especially this weekend as we had the chance to listen to general conference. I enjoyed every minute of it and there is no doubt in my mind that my testimony of this Gospel was strengthened. I am super grateful for the peace and comfort that was definitely granted to us through the conference. it reminds me of the scripture in John where it states "peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!" The truth of that scripture was clearly emphasized not in word, but in feelings as I watched the conference. Christ truly is the source of peace and he can make things that may bring doubt and discouragement feel invisible to us. It's such a blessing! 

I am also grateful for the opportunity that we get to fast as a WORLD this upcoming Friday! I am definitely looking forward to it and I know that as we reach out to the Lord, he will grant us with many blessings! I invite you all to do the same. 

Well, other than another week of being quarantined in our house, we had a pretty good lesson with James Walter's once again where we went through the entire plan of salvation. He is a strong Christian man with a huge background in theology, so explaining the concepts of the plan of salvation was a bit challenging. He is kinda uncertain when it comes to a few things, especially life after death. He is a firm believer in the heaven or hell and that's it idea. So we had to work hard to get around that. I just remember the most powerful part of that was when we talked about how much God really does love us, how he grants everyone a chance to recieve the Gospel because he is a just God. He wants us to live with him even when we constantly disappoint him through our actions, and he has given us the Savior to change our hearts, minds, and desires. We gave him some stuff to think about until the next time we talk virtually which will be sometime next week. 

Well, I'm glad to have gotten through another week! Not going to lie, it's super hard having to stay in all day, it makes time go by super slow and it makes you feel so unproductive, but I know this is what we need to do in order to conquer this pandemic! I hope everyone is safe and healthy! I love you all! 

Love, 

Elder Weese

No pics, it's hard to take pics when you are not out and about..... 

Week 85: Another Week Being Quarantined!!! 3/30/20

Hello! How's everybody! Man, times sure keep getting crazy!! I can' believe how long all of this has lasted for, and what effect it has on everybody! I hope all of you are being safe and are fully healthy! 

Well, not to much went on this week. We are still practicing our self isolation and trying to do as much as we can working over technology. We had a super good lesson with a part member family named the Walter's, he's the man who wants to be baptized FAST so he could take his wife through the temple some day, the reason why I emphasize the word "fast" is because he has been taught many times by the missionaries before, it was just the wrong timing for him. He feels it's the right timing so he wants to be baptized as soon as possible. He has always had a hard time with the Book of Mormon because he absolutely loves the Bible. He reads it everyday, he's also native American so he reads it in Cherokee as well. We talked to him about why we needed the Book of Mormon and also told him that since he loves the Bible, he will also come to love the Book of Mormon as he continues to learn and find out why it's here and where it came from. It is such a blessing that we have the Book of Mormon. I don't know where this world would be with out it! 

Another thing I've been doing this week during our time being stuck inside was watching a lot of movies put out by the church. Some about the early pioneers as well as documentaries on Joseph Smith and some more about the restoration. Watching some of those has put me into huge appreciation for the blessings we have to do. If you think now is hard, look at what these pioneers had to go through. Having to walk hundreds of miles under the scorching sun or in thick blizzards with no cars, no food, and not a lot of clothing. It was remarkable to see how much they were willing to put on the line, just to follow God and Jesus Christ. Also, Joseph Smith went through a lot too as well as his entire family. It's crazy for me to see so much persecution go his way and him still having the drive to keep things going. It's some crazy stuff and I appreciate those who were willing to do so much for the Gospels sake! 

Well, I hope things are getting better out there! I continue to pray that things will get better, but I know the Lord is aware of all of us. We have been prepared through his living prophet, who we will get the chance to hear from this weekend! I hope everyone has a good week and I look forward to hearing from ya'll again soon! Love you all! 

Love, 

Elder Weese

1) All over Oklahoma! 

2) Rides with the Fair Oaks Elders

3) First district counsel done through Google hangouts!