Week 40: 7/2/2028- "A Good Week This Week!"

July 2, 2018

“A Good Week This Week!”

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo! 

This week was a very interesting week with highs and lows, of course, but mostly highs! I can say that I am seeing the fruits of our labors and this week was definitely a fruitful week. We have honestly been working hard in doing all things possible to have the Spirit with us always like being obedient with exactness and by helping those with whom we are teaching right now. In this moment we are working with 2 families who are great. In the first family, the father is a member, but his wife and their son who is 9 years old aren’t. We have been trying hard to get appointments and to get them to church. Finally, we had an appointment where we talked about the Restoration and its funny because the mom loves it, but the son loves it even more and he’s really smart. I see a bright future for this family! Well, they finally went to church this week which was a huge step for the mom who a devout Catholic. So, for her to go to church was a big step for her and the family. The other family has a somewhat similar situation as the other except that the mom is a member and we are teaching her two 2 kids right now because, the dad and the oldest son don’t want to listen. I feel as we teach the two kids we will be able to talk to them as well. This week was special because we set a date for the baptism of the 2 kids and they said yes! Now, here’s the thing, baptisms can’t happen if they aren’t attending church and they hadn’t attended up until that point. All I can say is that I was very happy to see the two kids and their mom there at church this week! So, we had both of these families as well as some other investigators at church this week. It was AWESOME!! I can testify that after all the hard work, and as you try your hardest to be obedient, and as you try to be the best missionary you can that the Lord does bless you! It’s not because you walk the fastest or that you are always on the GO,GO,GO,GO but rather that you try to seek the Spirit by being obedient, reading the scriptures, praying with faith, and once again, USING THE SPIRIT! I just really am loving what I am doing! I can testify and say that the Book of Mormon is 100% true! Not only I can say that, but so can one of our investigators! He will also be getting baptized on the 14th of July and was with us in an appointment with another investigator. So, we asked him how he came to know that the Book of Mormon is true. He gave a strong testimony that when he started to read he found comfort with a hard situation that he was in and he said that when he was reading in 2 Nephi he found his answers and that the Book of Mormon helped him find comfort and resolve his problems. Then, he looked this girl in the eyes and said, “I can truly say that this book is true and that it is really the word of God equal to the Bible and we can find out when we read it and pray about it. I know it is true.” Then My comp and I were just in awe, like wow! He has a testimony. So, honestly, it is as easy as that to know the truth by just reading a little bit at a time and, of course, praying as you read. Ask if it’s true. I would hope that some of my friends back home that aren’t members read this and apply it to their lives too. Because, I know that if you do you’ll feel the same way as this man Johann who came to know that the Book of Mormon is true for himself. Thanks for everything! I love you all! I am really loving it here and I love the fact that Colombia beat Senegal and we are moving on and that tomorrow we are gonna kill England! COLOMBIA!!!!!! COLOMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VIVA COLOMBIA!!!!!! JAMES FALCAO CUADRADO!!!!!!!

      

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 39: 6/25/2018- "Working Hard and Getting Work Done"

June 25, 2018 

“Working Hard and Getting Work Done.”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo!

     This week wasn’t like crazy, but at the same time it was. I don’t know how to really say it another way, but overall it was a really good week! On Tuesday, I got to go out on intercambios (exchanges) with Elder Vincent who is the bomb! I love that guy and honestly, I have learned a TON FROM HIM! He is a great example of just being happy always and letting things roll off your back. He works really hard and isn’t afraid to take suggestions or to just do something. For example, we had an appointment that fell through and the last thing that I wanted to do is contact because here in Bogotá it’s like, “Hi, we are...” and they just keep walking and completely ignore us. But sometimes you got to do what you got to do. So, we went out and contacted and there is just something about contacting with another gringo that is just way fun. We went out contacting and just went out and talked to any and every person that we could see. And really that’s how it is supposed to be! Anyway, at the end of the day I learned a lot from him and I think that no matter what we need to stay positive and have that hope and that faith. We need to think how maybe that appointment might have fallen through to give us another opportunity to find someone who really wants to hear the gospel message that we have to share and so we need to search for that person. 

     Then, the rest of the week flew by! But, I can’t lie we had our days where we wished we just had an appointment. Once again you have to make the best out of the situation. But the best day was hands down Saturday! We had a baptism! This lady named Paula Flores got baptized and she is absolutely amazing! Honestly! She has gone to church without invitation and has received all of the lessons and it just came down to whether she wanted it or not. Well, clearly, she wanted it! Now there were a lot of people who helped with her from our mission leader to other members in our ward as well as from other wards, past missionaries and, most of all, our Heavenly Father who I think helped her realize that now was the time. Her baptism was amazing I was a bit stressed because she hadn’t left her house yet when the baptism was about to start but luckily our mission leader has a car, so he went to get her and she arrived and we were able to start the baptism. The talks were great and heart-felt, the hymns were great, the ordinance was amazing, and the best part, was her testimony. Now we had a unique experience with this, because an old friend of hers that now lives in another part of Colombia sent her testimony so Paula could see it. This really touched the heart of Paula, as well as myself to see someone so far away show that she still cares. Paula’s testimony was amazing, and it is clear that she has a testimony of this gospel. She recognizes God in her life and she knows that this was the right step to help her as well as her son to grow and learn in the gospel. All I can say is that at the end of the day I am happy to be a missionary. I don’t do this for the numbers, I do it because I love my Heavenly Father and Savior, and the people of Colombia! I am just happy because those moments make the hard moments bit sweeter and all worth it! I love what I am doing, and I love being here! I know this Gospel is true and I know that when we have the Book of Mormon and the Bible that we have the plentitude of the gospel. This gospel is Pure happiness and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else! 

Love,     

Elder Weaver

Week 38: 6/18/2018- "Hey, So I Met an Apostle, So That's Cool..."

June 18, 2018

“Hey, So I Met an Apostle, So That’s Cool…”

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo! 

     So, this week was super busy! We literally only had one full day to work because we had our last multi zone with Presidente Laney. Super sad! Then, we had to travel to Buccaramanga to see Elder Stevenson! The APOSTLE! YEAH! It was pretty cool! I can say 100% that that man is a man of God and was called of God to do His work as an apostle because it was interesting.... He really didn’t share anything ground breaking with us. Honestly, just really short and simple things that I already knew.But, the power I felt as he spoke with us was something else. For him to say, “I know that Christ lives” was like.... Woah... he KNOWS. And it’s because he really is a special witness of Jesus the Christ. He shared a lot of things with us and I am not going to mention it all, but I will share the things that stuck out most to me. First, being that he basically started by talking about after the mission. Which, for me, was a little weird because well... I have more than a year or something left... And so, you would think that hearing that would make you feel like, man I want to go home but, it’s quite the contrary. He talked about how we need to be careful that when we go back home that we don’t stop doing the simple things such as reading our scriptures. He talked about how if he, for example, were to talk to me 60 days after my mission, that he better hear that I am still reading the scriptures every day! Because that’s how the bad things get to us when we stop doing the simple things. He said that if we read 60 days after our mission then we will never lose the habit or our testimonies! Then, he talked about how we can be more successful in things as missionaries. For example, our invitations to people can be so simple, but we sometimes overlook them. We need to do them. Then he looked at President and Sister Laney and said, “Look at them Elders! You want your wife to be like this woman! You need to try your hardest to find a woman like her!” Man, honestly, I can’t even tell you how much I felt the Spirit. The gospel is simple, and he only focused on those simple things. It was just how he said them. It was by the Spirit. And honestly, I learned a lot just from that. I walked away from that and I said, “Wow!” Because he knows, I know, and we all know that this gospel is true. So, to see a man who is an apostle talk is amazing. It really helped solidify my testimony that we do have a Prophet and Apostles on the earth today!! 

     Apart from that really there wasn’t anything too ground breaking happen this week. We have to work hard this next week to find more people, and to really just work hard to complete the promises made by the apostle. I guess I could share one more thing. In the Multi Zone Conference we talked about things us as missionaries need to drop. We have left sooooo many things and so what is holding us back? We need to drop everything. Drop the pride. The girlfriend. The car you had. The World. Because if we don’t, what’s the point? You left your family and everything for 2 years if you didn’t give your all, it would all be in vain. Well that really hit me and motivated me to try my hardest to drop everything from before my mission for now. It’s hard sometimes but, it is possible, and I know I will see blessings. I know my Savior lives and that this is the TRUE church. I think many of my non-member friends read my letters and probably think, wow, cool he’s really having a great time, and really don’t understand that this is true this isn’t just another church. I am talking about the True church here. Just think about that! We have the plentitude of the gospel. Everything. The Church of JESUS CHRIST is here again on the earth. Just think about that... What if the true church was here? Again on the earth.... Wouldn’t you want to be a part of it?

    

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 37: 6/11/2018- "Did I Do A Good Thing Today?"

June 11, 2018 

“Did I Do a Good Thing Today?”

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo

     So, this past week with my new companion was great! He is from Perú and he is really funny. I’m not gonna lie, he is on the little bit more rare side of things but that’s what I like about him. I don’t feel overwhelmed with how much he knows, and I don’t feel like I’m in a shadow. In fact, it is the exact opposite! We laugh so much in the street. Honestly, I think I like the little bit more weird but energetic people the most. He really is a great guy. He’s from the coast so he talks suuuuuuuuuuuuper fast and so it’s good for me cause I have to listen a little bit more. I feel like I will learn a lot more Spanish too. That’s another thing, yeah, I’m still learning! I can talk to anyone and everyone but I’m still learning and with him I can ask questions sin miedo (without fear)! Which is great! Just know I am really happy, happy, happy! We really are starting to see more and more miracles and it’s interesting how in one week so much happened because we changed the little things. Being just a little bit more obedient and when the 2 people in the companionship are obedient you really see more and more things happen. 

     Now, we didn’t have appointments every hour of every day but what we did do was work hard in any and every possible way looking for references we receive in the mission page, from members, and looking for ourselves. It’s been tough but, one day we received a miracle call saying a guy from Bogotá south has received the first lesson and he has a baptismal date, but he lives in our area! This guy in great! We talked with him and he really is what you would call a person who has a contrite spirit and a broken heart. As we talked with him we found out many things that have happened and believe it or not it’s all from a girl. A girl broke his heart and so he started to talk more with his family about the church because they are members. He says he really finds peace in the Book of Mormon and he really has just come to the realization that this is the true church. And well, we talked with him more and he went to church and family home evening with the young adults in the ward and he took us this morning to the center of Bogotá! And freak this guy is GOLD! He for sure will get baptized! So that’s one miracle I saw this week but another was the reason this email is titled, “Did I do a Good Thing Today?”

     

     This past week was hard work. It came to a day where basically no one was answering, and we only had one appointment at night. So, we got things figured out and we met with our mission leader in our ward and talked about the investigators we have and what we should do. BUENO, then after that I didn’t know what to do, but I got a feeling I needed to visit a member. She is super sick, and she can’t even leave her bed. She is like 70 years of age so it’s just bad. Her granddaughter lives with her but really doesn’t seem to do anything for her which is kind of sad. Her granddaughter is nice but just super busy and never really around. Well, I felt prompted to bring a few Liahona’s (church magazines) to her, because she can only read and watch TV so it’s pretty boring for her. We went over there and spent time with her talking, reading the scriptures, and just really listening. She talks and talks and talks. The thing is, not many people visit her and so we really are just there so that she feels loved and so someone can listen to her. Imagine being in a bed day in and day out with nothing to do. You might want to talk to someone. Well, after a while we had our appointment, but as we were leaving the appointment cancelled... I was devastated, and honestly, really sad. Like have I done anything good today or did I just waste the Lord’s time? As I looked back on that day I knew I did something good. I helped someone in need. I remember when I was a kid in the Parker Stake there was a missionary was in our ward and he was tone of the best missionaries we had ever seen. It wasn’t because he had a bunch of baptisms. In fact, from what I rememberhe never had a baptism. But, he served everyone from members, to neighbors, to random strangers. He was self-less. This is  that’s really what my mom and dad taught me. They said to us, “Kids, do you know why he’s such a great missionary?” We all took our guesses and we were all wrong. They said, “Because no matter what, he just served. He served the members of this ward and anyone he could and he changed the ward.” I took that as inspiration. That, in fact, yes that day was good! We had 0 appointments, but it was a successful day because I did something good by serving a sister in need. So, the question is, did you do something good today? Did you lift another person up and help them? Did you give a person in need your coat and maybe a little bit more? I sure hope you can finish the day and ask yourself that question and respond saying, “Yes, yes I did!” In doing that you know your Heavenly Father is happy with you! I love you all, I know this gospel is true and I invite you to just take a peek in that book we have, which IS another testament of Jesus Christ! 

Love,
Elder Weaver

Week 36: 6/4/2018- "The Refiner's Fire"

June 4, 2018

“The Refiner’s Fire.”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo, 

      I can say that I maybe have been through some of the most mentally challenging things a person can go through before the mission, as well on the mission. I am really grateful for it. Because it is impossible for me to change and become a better man if I don’t go through the refiner’s fire first. This past week I had the opportunity to talk with my "Father" of the mission. My mission President. I have really learned a lot from this man. He took the opportunity to meet with me this week after I had just gone through some hard events in my mission. I really just appreciate the man a lot. He told me, "Elder Weaver you really remind me of me.... and that can be a good thing or a bad one. I am just like you. I was a wrestler and I just grew up knowing that there’s only one way. That’s just how a lot of us wrestlers are. There’s only one way and in this case its God’s way. So, it is really hard when people don’t follow the rules. Often I even get very mad, but we need to strive to learn to act and not react. Too often we react and basically that just ends up crushing a person and not resolving anything, but if we act we keep a level head and little by little things will get fixed." If you can’t tell, I have had a huge problem with disobedient missionaries. It just so happens that I have had to deal with a few of them. What happens is that I am either patient and wait, or I act by serving or doing something to take care of it. But, when it gets to numero 100 I just want to blow up. So, this is no secret…I have gained a lot of patience in my mission. But God seems to want to try me a bit more. I can say through these experiences I have become more humble and patient and able to learn to listen and then act. This past week was great after my interview with President Laney, I really just tried my hardest and am still trying to apply the advice he gave me. I know not everyone is perfect and neither am I. We are all on the same journey, it’s just that some people are in different places. I just need to recognize that and strive to love people for who they are and give them the gentle nudge every now and again. I know I am not perfect. But, I sure am trying to be more and more like the Savior each day. I just want you all to know that I am doing great! There are problems in life for sure, but if there were no problems there would be no purpose here on earth. We wouldn’t be able to grow. I think I gained a greater testimony of this these past few weeks. We are all here to grow. Including me, and growth comes individually, and in a very personal way. 

     Elder Cantos has been transferred and now I am with Elder Aguilar. He is from Arequipa, Perú and he is a character, I know that it’s going to be fun. I am excited and ready. I am going full-gas-vomit here in Granada! I love the work. I love the People. I love what God is doing to make me into a better man. It’s hard but worth it. It’s always worth it. ALWAYS. I know this work is the work of a loving Heavenly Father, and I am a part of this great truth. I love you all! Thanks for the emails!

I Love You All! 

Elder Weaver

Week 35: 5/28/2018- "God Keeps Sending People to Comfort Me!"

May 28,2018

“God Keeps Sending People to Comfort Me!”

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo, 

     I am sorry but this week’s email is not going to be long. Let’s just say that I had a difficult week. I found myself on my knees a lot trying to find a ton of strength. Once again, the Lord sent people to help me! First off, we had to do divisions, because we had a lot of appointments on Sunday! So, I got to be with a man that I consider to be my now 3rd or 4th dad. Well, he counseled me a little bit. I have gotten really close to him and his family and really, I find a lot of joy just being with them. We were walking back to his house when I asked him a question. Not only him but his wife and the brother of his wife helped me out a lot. They were all missionaries and they really just showed their true love for me by helping me and telling me that the way I am is good and that I shouldn’t change. They told me that things happen in the mission where you might struggle, where we fall or even doubt people or other missionaries in the mission. But, I just need to stay strong and keep doing what I am doing, because it is the way our Savior would have me be. When I felt lost I was found by people that helped me feel like I actually am a very capable young man with a lot of heart and really this was an answer to my prayers. I find it interesting how God keeps sending these people to help look out for me. I love you all and I’m sorry that this email is so short. I am good, so don’t you worry! (Mom) I know the gospel is true and this work that I am doing is true. This is the TRUE church of Jesus Christ! I know it! 

Love you all! 

Elder Weaver

Week 34: 5/21/2018- "I Can't Take the Credit"

May 21, 2018

“I Can’t Take the Credit”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo! 

      This week was hard.... Yeah, it was hard for a few reasons, but it was also great at the same time actually! I know weird! Well, it was really hard honestly because I was so sick that I could barely breathe at all! I swear that I about died! Not really but, it was bad! I looked like I got hit by a truck, slapped in the face, and run over one more time! Ha-ha, I was not feeling the hottest in the world, but I pushed through. It makes some days a little long when you’re sick, but the problem with me is that if I go back to the house and rest I feel even worse about myself! I always want to go, go, go! I just can’t do it I’m crazy that way! Then, I also found out a lot about myself if you know what I mean! I was studying the scriptures and really pondering things while reading in my “Preach My Gospel” manual and well, I was in the section about humility (again, you’d think that I would be humble already) and I found so many good things! I just fell in love with the Book of Mormon all over again! Because this book is a book about people for people! It literally helps solve any problem that you might have. In my case, it was getting over a bit of pride, while also finding the courage to say things that needed to be said. I found that as I applied the things I learned I was actually a lot more happy! I felt a bit of my burdens lifted off of me! So yeah, that was cool! Then, of course, the best part of the week was the amazing baptism that I had! 

      Now this is why I titled this email, “I Can’t Take the Credit” because I literally just can’t. I can maybe take 2% of credit! But, in reality, I have 2 amazing missionaries to  thank who were here before me; my comp and also Elder Shaw (an Elder that I know and met when I started the mission). He really is just a great missionary. I absolutely love that guy and he really taught this amazing girl that we got to baptized! The baptism was amazing for a few reasons, namely because there was a ton of people there to support her in the church! That was just amazing to see! This girl has a powerful testimony! I was stunned! I never really knew how strong it was until I heard her bear it. I honestly don’t think that you really know how strong a person’s testimony is until they share it. She blew me away with the Spirit! I was touched and felt honored to be there and to have at least had the few lessons I had with her! Truly, it was an amazing experience! I know my email might be a bit short today, but I just want to express how, yes sometimes the work is hard, but if we are patient, humble, diligent and obedient we can really see miracles and really see changes in the lives of others and in our own lives as well. I think that the thing I learned the most was just to act. ACT on impressions from the Spirit and ACT when something needs to be said! So, ACT! I love you all and thanks for the emails and support! I love what I’m doing here!

Love, 

Elder Weaver