Week 29: A Love Story...

April 16, 2018 

“A Love Story: Evenly and Pastor”

 

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo

     So, the best thing happened this week! Evelyn and Pastor finally got married and baptized! I would love to just give this story rapidito (quickly)! First off, Pastor and Evelyn have known the missionaries and the branch forever! They’ve been through about 3-4 sets of missionaries. I am so grateful that these missionaries found them because had they not talked to them, then none of this would have happened!

So, almost a year ago they got to know the missionaries, and the branch. Pastor said, when he entered into the church he knew that it was true, and he knew that this was the church of Christ! He felt something about the people that was just different. They received all the discussions and everything and they both attended church regularly! Basically, they were members without the covenants of being baptized. In order to be baptized, they needed to get married. Every missionary that has ever taught them has told them the same thing. If you get married you will be blessed and then you can have an eternal family and be sealed in the temple. It was the same for me when I initially started teaching them with my first companion Elder Espinoza. However, I remember the first time I entered into their home and talked with them. I felt something, and I said to myself I will not leave Barranca until I see them married and baptized! So, I set that goal and I worked hard and fasted and prayed for the Lord to help me accomplish this goal. When Elder Espinoza left I was determined to take control of the situation and help them in any way possible to get them married. Well, in our Correlation meetings the other missionaries told me I needed to drop them and stop teaching them, because they just weren’t progressing. That’s when faith was tested and I said the same thing to the missionaries that I said to myself. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL I SEE THEM MARRIED AND BAPTIZED and I WILL NOT DROP THEM!!! One day I was at lunch, sitting, thinking and praying in my heart about what in the world I was going to do to get them married and get the process started. Well, I had an impression to call Heidi who is a recent convert to the church as well as a lawyer! I called her up feeling a little nervous thinking that she wouldn’t have the time to help me but, to my surprise she was totally willing to help! We drove to Evelyn and Pastor’s house and miracles started to happen right after that. We said the prayer and the moment we started to talk about marriage the world went silent. The Spirit entered the room ,and in an instant, we were getting papers ready, meeting to organize papers, and get everything situated for a wedding. Along the way there were many trials and difficulties. There was relationship drama, health problems, spiritual problems, and even emotional problems. Satan did not want this couple to be married. Luckily, Evelyn is strong and so is Pastor. Over the course of a few weeks Evelyn actually proposed to Pastor! We started to pray that from that point on it would just be smooth sailing and to my surprise, it was! I am so grateful for that! The day of the wedding was something I won’t ever forget! As we sat in this room as testigos (witnesses) of the wedding and then listened to the not so fun stuff first (they seemed to be talking a lot about divorce).... Finally, they put the rings on and shared a few words and promises to each other. The Spirit flooded the room and my heart was touched as this couple completed a commandment of God. After that, we rushed them to baptismal interviews and then the FIESTA!!!!! Which was also very sweet. I will never forget the words from Pastor as he said, "And our next goal is to have an Eternal familia!" They aren’t getting married because I told them to, they are getting married because they have that goal in mind. They know that through marriage and then baptism that there is an even brighter future which is an eternal family! My heart was touched once again in the amazing baptism. The part I will always love and remember are their testimonies, hearing them say that they know that what they are doing is the right path. Evelyn expressed how it was a hard decision and how her head was hurting before the baptism. She also said that after the baptism the pain just went away. Pastor said something similar in that all of his doubts were washed away, and he feels more at peace! Then, Jacinto our mission leader, asked me if I would like to share my testimony. And man, I just couldn’t keep myself together! I felt the Spirit testify to me soooo strongly first that CHRIST LIVES! And that this is just a first step to a hurricane of blessings. And I told them about how the first time I stepped into their house I knew I would baptize them! Now, Evelyn wants to get sealed in the temple too. Maybe Bogota.... or Barranquilla... or USA!!! So, hey mom and dad after the mish please help a family out ;) I love them, and I am so happy that I was able to walk in faith and follow the Spirit to make one phone call that changed the lives of a whole family! I sure do love this gospel and what it does for people to help them become better and, to continually strive to become more like Christ! 

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 28: You Find Out Who Your Friends Are...

April 9, 2018

“You Find Out Who Your Friends are, Someone’s Gonna Drop Everything Get There Fast…

Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo

      Where do I start? Let’s just say this was one of the hardest weeks ever! I know, I know, I’ll bet that all of you are thinking Elder Weaver seems to have a lot of hard weeks! Well that’s something that I have thought too. Well, I really don’t know what I want to share about this week but here it goes… First, my companion is no longer the District Leader of our District...I have now been called to be District Leader. If I am being completely honest, I don’t want to be. I am also now the senior companion in my companionship with Elder Castro. Which, I don’t want either. I am sure that you are all very confused as to why and wand to know what has happened. But I really just don’t think I should share all of the details. I have been humbled this week and God has tested my faith. As I have now been asked to walk blind in faith. However, I am doing great now and I am so happy every week that Heavenly Father has built me and purified me just a little bit more to get me closer to the man that He wants me to become. Now, I would like to share the cool part. We started a fast. We fast every Saturday into Sunday and I know that might be dangerous here in the hottest city in Colombia, but it’s for the blessings and we really need them. I have a testimony of fasting. It was hard, really hard! But when that time came to go to church, with a prayer repeating in your mind that hopefully someone came and you finally open your eyes, and see 10 people there you gain a little bit more faith! I am so happy and thankful that we had people come to church. It wasn’t easy, and it never will be. But it sure is worth it when you see them there. I am grateful for fasting and I have seen miracles every time I fast and forget about myself and focus on the people. 

     Another thing I am grateful for is the amazing people put into my life here in Barranca. One being my second father named Hermano Ochoa. He has really helped me out a lot and seems to always know what to say. He talked to me a bit when I was struggling and a lot of what he said I felt was something my actual dad would say, but it was in Spanish! I love that man and I know my Heavenly Father just keeps putting people in my life to help me. The Familia Ochoa has helped us a lot and we had a great Family Home Evening with my older converts Yolanda Zapata and her daughter Valentina and then Sebastian. They are all going through hard things right now. Yolanda is a little dry on the money side and sometimes doesn’t have water or even light in her apartment. Now, take a step back and imagine that. NO LIGHT OR WATER! Duro (Hard). Then, with Valentina and Sebastian we are trying to get them prepared for missions. But they aren’t going to seminary. Well, Valentina actually goes every now and then but we are trying to get her there every day! But with Sebastian, his parents are being really hard on him. So, we had a great Family Home Evening about faith, we watched a short movie about a man who had a lot of faith to walk with a messed up leg and then talked about it. I just told Sebastian, “I know if you actually go to seminary and try your hardest to be here and talk with your parents that a pathway will be opened that you never knew could be open.” I said that if he tries, God WILL bless him. I know he will, you just need that faith! Now, it’s all in his hands. He just needs to take those steps. I really thanked the Familia Ochoa for that. They really are great people and they are going to help Yolanda financially. I Love them! 

     Another thing I learned is that when things are hard you find out who your friends are. Well, Elder Razcón is one of them. All through my life when things seem to get tough I always find out who my friends are. Those who will hang on and help you through the process and not just drop you. Well, Elder Razcón is a perfect example of that, he has been through a lot with me and he hasn’t dropped off. He really has helped me through almost every trial of faith I have had here on the mission. I think as missionaries we have trials every week which truly test our faith. But I know our heavenly father is always watching over us. I know it. He has shown me time after time and week after week. I Love how the first thing we teach as missionaries is that God is our loving Heavenly Father. Because it’s so true. He never gives us something we can’t handle. Your knees might be weak and sore every now and then, because of the time you spend pleading and praying for some source of help. But, I know after all the tears He is there helping you out. I love that. Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial (God is our Loving Heavenly Father). 

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 27: Conference General, Bautismos, Propuestas y Digging a Little Deeper

April 2, 2018

Conferencia General, Bautismos, Propuestas y Digging a Little Deeper

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo!

       WOW! This week was insane! It went by fast and it had about 10,000,000 things jammed into it! First, we had “intercambios” and that’s always fun when you’re with your older Mexican brother you never knew you had! Then, we had interviews for Zharick and Melanie to be baptized. Then, we had General Conference and had to get people to try to come to see it at the church. Believe it or not that is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Of course, we also had the Baptism of Zharick and Melanie! And boy is there a story for each one of those events but, I’m going to focus on just a few. First off, I LOVE President Nelson! How many spiritual bombs did he drop on us!?! Also, I realized that General Conference on the mission is not what I thought it would be. Let me explain first that General Conference is when the Prophet of the Church and the 12 Apostles and other authorities of the church address the members of the church, as a whole. This happens every 6 months in October, and April. President Nelson, was called as our new Prophet after the passing of President Monson, and during this conference we had the priviledge of sustaining him as our new Prophet. He receives revelation for the whole world like unto Moses or Noah. And boy, did he show us that! I say it was different, because the whole time I was honestly just worried if investigators were going to come. This hit me hard on Sunday, and I really had to dig deep. Saturday was great! I felt good about the whole thing. I probably wasn’t as worried because we had another day to get people to church if they didn’t come on Saturday. Well, Sunday came and I sent texts, called, and even went to houses and only 3 people came in all of the 2 days.... My heart broke. I had, had it! I was with Elder Razcon trying get my investigators and others to come. Then, when no one would commit I was honestly just mad. I was expressing all my frustration to the effect of, "Why can’t I have that golden investigator…the one who gives referrals and then goes and picks them up himself?... Why?! Why?! Why??!!" Elder Razcon continued to stayed silent as we walked. Then, we got into the taxi to go to the church, I was going to sit up front when he told me to sit in the back with him. He then gave me some advice. He said first, you can’t compare yourself to others, because you’re not me or any other missionary and you won’t get baptisms that way, so it does no good to compare yourself. You can compare in a good way and a bad way, but you’re comparing in a bad way. Try looking at what others do and apply the things they do good that would work for you. Second, this is a learning experience. That’s the great thing about being here on the mission. You are here for 2 years and you get to apply all that you learn now, later in your mission and throughout the rest of your life. You need to learn from your falls. I knew he was right. But I was just too sad and broken-hearted. I had to cry! You all know I cry a lot and well I cried. I just love these people and can’t help but sit there, as I watchand listen to these talks thinking about how and what the people of Colombia are missing out on! This talk would have been great for him or her! This could have been the converting point for him... I was just distraught. Elder Razcon saw that, so he embraced me, and told me to listen with the spirit and I will find my answer in this last session. I am a little embarrassed to say…I felt I didn’t get any answers, but then I looked back on my notes and the one talk that stuck out was from Elder Bednar about meekness! I realized am missing a bit of that. I don’t fully understand meekness, and I need to work on better understanding it and become more meek for sure. Elder Razcon also said, “You will learn the most from this Conference than you ever have or maybe will learn. Not just from the talks but more from the experience.” and, he was right! I just didn’t see it right then.

     Then, we had the baptism for Zharick and Melanie and let me tell you it was hard. The dad was a little hard to convince and the mom wanted this pathway 100% for her daughters and so she drove them herself to the baptism and I baptized them. I messed up on their names a half a million times but they’re baptized and I know 100% that this pathway has just set them up for greatness here in this life and the one to come! Now, we need to work a bit more with the mother and father and then it will be a full member family. It was hard, but in the end was worth it! A wise old man named Dad once said, “Sometimes in our lives it feels like we work 98% of the time, with 2% of our time being joy or the rewards of our work.” That’s what I felt, and I am finally seeing a bit more of that 2%. Which means maybe it will soon become 3% joy and success! I am happy to be in this church with a living prophet andvery excited to be a part of the Lord’s plan to bring people to this gospel and help them realize that what we have is pure, and it is exactly what God wants for us. I love being a missionary. I have had trial after trial after trial and I am just barely in my mission. God purifies that’s for sure! And he has to work on me everyday it seems. But after all the pain and suffering there is always more light, and I come out a little bit more pure. Interesting how that works. Go check out the words and council FROM A LIVING PROPHET! On lds.org!!

     

Love you all!

Elder Weaver

Week 26: Multi-Zone Spirit Bomb

March 26, 2018 

“Multi-Zona Spirit Bomb”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo,

     Well, this past week was a little crazy and difficult on me. On Tuesday we had plans to help the Zone Leaders move into their new house in the morning. So, guess what happened.... nothing went right! They wouldn’t let them move out of the building until something was payed off. And, they couldn’t just move the next day because they were leaving the next day for Bogotá. So, we HAD to do it that day, and we ended up spending the whole day there. So, that was not fun and it really hurts your motivation to just sit around all day long. The rest of the week I grinded through and let’s just say that my patience was tested with my companion a bit this week. Long story short, the day we were going to leave for the Multi Zona I decided to just take it up with the Big Man himself, my Heavenly Father. I have been receiving advice from all different directions and it just got to the point where I was confused. So, I prayed until I got an answer. I received my answer little by little throughout the day and into the next during the Multi Zona. I recalled something that I had read. It’s a great talk called, “100% Responsible” that our mission president gave to the whole mission. I read it all. It talks about marriage in it and well we all know that I’m not married, so I put the word “companion” in for wife or husband. And, weird enough, it applies to us a lot. Something that really stood out to me was even if I am 100% right I need to just forgive and also say that I’m sorry. That’s being 100% responsible even when you are right you say you’re sorry. So, that’s what I did. I decided I could let my PRIDE take control of my companionship and ultimately my mind or I could create a great companionship for these next few weeks I have with him. It’s hard saying you’re sorry when you know that all of your efforts have been for the good of the mission and what I thought to be the good of our companionship. I know how a missionary should act and I will continue to act that way. But, I can’t force that upon him or others. Because if I do it just leads to frustration, and me sitting waiting for him to apologize isn’t going to happen. So, before my interview my President I talked to him. I said, "Listen, I am sorry for what happened the other day and what has been happening between us. It has not been fun and I’m not here to talk about it, because I really don’t want to talk about it. I just want to say that I am sorry and I want to re-start." Then, he gave me a hug, and that was that. We have been fine since then. It’s interesting because Mormon and Moroni were so right in the Book of Mormon. They literally say I have seen you and your doings and it’s all pride! PRIDE! Pride stinks! And, everyday God shows me that I still have a little bit of pride that I need to get filtered out.

     The Multi Zona was great! I mean I got to be with my cousin Sam (Elder Stewart) again! How can that not be awesome? And It was a spiritual BOMB! I felt touched! The words of President Laney help me to see that there are so many things that I can be doing. One of them being inspired questions and more listening. I’ll be honest, I felt a little crummy, because I feel like I’m just not doing so hot when it comes to the practice of this. I have been feeling like that for a while. I thought maybe it’s just because I don’t have great command of the language, or that I don’t totally understand everything that is being said all the time. Becasue I felt like before my mission I was pretty good at helping people address their needs. I now have a better understanding of why I felt fairly confident in this area. It’s because I LISTENED!  Sometimes, as a missionary, I am so worried to hit all the points, give the lesson, and check things off the daily list. When, in reality we need to LISTEN. I can’t ignore the people. They won’t be converted that way. If we listen with our ears, then with our hearts to feel and hear the spirit, we will then have a thought, a question, or a response come that will help the people. Another thing that a wise missionary told me in the Multi Zona was, "Elder Weaver, don’t worry too much about it! Obviously, it’s good that you recognize it and that you want to be better but, worrying won’t make it any better. Just don’t worry and keep doing your best, and continue to follow and go by what the Spirit tells you.” Another revelation that I got was that sometimes you need to be crazy about baptizing to baptize! Some of the best missionaries I know are crazy! They get the people they baptize converted! But seriously, you need to be an energetic, baptizing freak if you want to baptize! The AP’s are crazy! My zone leader is crazy and everyone else who baptizes is crazy! It’s a good thing that I have some crazy in me too! Maybe not like my little brother Adin, but I can be crazy ha-ha! (Mom, you can cut that out for the big email if you think it’s not appropriate ha-ha). Bueno, I just want to say that I am extremely grateful for this week. It was hard not physically but spiritually. I was tried in ways I never knew possible, and I am so grateful for those trials. I am grateful for the people that God has put into my life. My companion, Zone Leaders, random members, and random missionaries, and of course, my mission president. He’s a really great man and he has helped me a lot! I know that God is looking out for me because he keeps sending people into my life, and showing me the way. I am becoming more and more like the missionary I want to be, and putting the things of this world aside every day. No matter what any missionary tells you, it is a process to put the world aside, and it does not happen, the day you enter the mission field. It happens little by little, as you lose yourself in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and truly commit yourself to His work. And this is a huge blessing in my life. Thank you for all of the amazing support and for the emails! Go check out the church someday, or invite those two guys over who have a nametag and wear a white shirt and tie every day because really, they’ll change your life! 

Love,

     Elder Weaver

PS, I have to get surgery on my toe you know that weird in-grown toenail that I’ve had forever…well its gotten to that point and it’s a good thing my mission President was a surgeon, because he looked at it and told me that I need to get that fixed! Don’t worry though :) it’ll be fine!

Week 25: Pruebas...

March 19, 2018

“Pruebas en La Vida de Las Personas”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo, 

     Let me just say that once you really get into this work, once you really forget yourself, you really start to feel a little bit of the pain that the people you know and talk with every day are experiencing. Let me start with Evelyn and Pastor. They are great! We went by their house one day this past week to see how they were doing. Well, to my surprise all was fine and great, they were holding hands and well.... basically, they were all lovey-dovey like any relationship, so that was good to see. But, at the same time Evelyn had changed a lot! She changed in a good way. She was really humble and really soft spoken. The best way to describe it is that her spirit is contrite and her heart was broken (in other words, she is humble). This is what happens when you truly convert to Christ! That is what happens when there are trials in your life and then it hits you that the only thing you can do is turn to God. We were sitting there and she was completely distraught, but at the same time happy... My companion shared this scripture that described how she was feeling perfectly. It is in Doctrine and Covenants 58:4:  

"For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

She’s been through a lot of tribulation and now she feels she is starting to feel those blessings. She was just different, and we found out why. She had left to go buy some empanadas for us to eat when Pastor told us what was going on. He said that she was worried and nervous. I asked if it was about the wedding? He said not so much…it’s because…SHES GOT A TUMOR IN HER BRAIN. She has a tumor! At first, I didn’t quite understand. I thought it might have been a slang thing or a saying I wasn’t understanding but no, she has a tumor in her head. I was shocked and really sad. That’s when it all came together. She’s being a little humbled by this experience. And, I am grateful to be here to help her in any way that I can. It will be hard, but I know she can do it. That’s what the Gospel is for anyway, it helps people deal with situations like this. It is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ and it can help heal and repair a person! So, that news was a little rough to hear. 

On top of that, I’m having my own internal battles trying to figure out what to do with myself. Let’s just say that I feel like I take on most of the stress in our companionship. I walk fast to get to appointments on time, and I am constantly contacting people to get referrals and to just BE A MISSIONARY. Then, I turn around and my companion tells me that I need to slow down and not work so hard. Then, other people tell me that I need to keep pushing it. Well, let’s just say that I’m trying to find some kind of balance. I am trying to be humble and patient and really just try to have the end goal in mind which is seeing these people in the waters of baptism. And once again, there are the people who help me along the way. A member in our ward helped me realize that the “Weaver Way” (he defines the “Weaver Way” as going all-out all of the time) is THE way ha-ha! She may not really know what the “Weaver Way” is but she helped me realize I am doing all the right things by pushing, working hard and being the best missionary that I can be is the way it should be as a missionary. The standard of God never changes and so I need to keep trying to live that standard always, and especially now! I am hear to give the Lord my all and I can’t do that if I am not willing to go all out-all the time! 

     

We also had a bit of a hard time with an investigator who has been really working hard to get his marriage situation done, just to find out the truth. And well, it was hard for me this last time we visited him because he feels like there are 6 true churches! I was a bit confused as to why he thought that, but I tried hard to help him. I felt like we lost control of that situation. There was a moment in our discussion when the Spirit was not present in the in the room. It changed when he was just trying to prove something. It got me a little bit frustrated, and it didn’t help that I was the only one talking either. I tried so hard to contain my emotions and I honestly did a pretty good job, but it was clear that I was a bit frustrated. Really, my frustration was more because my heart was breaking due to the fact that we have been helping him for soooo long and now it’s possible he’s done listening to what we have to say. What it boiled down to was that he hadn’t prayed about it. This is key! Then, he told me on Sunday that he did pray, but that he just didn’t feel it. I told him to keep praying. I know that God answers and will testify to him the truth. So, we will see where that goes. Overall, I’m doing good! I am trying my hardest and trying to really follow the great examples of my Dad and older brother Connor. I know they were great missionaries and I want to be like them! 

I know this Gospel is true and I know we all have trials and maybe sometimes we feel like we aren’t receiving answers to our prayers, but I know that in some way and/or form He will answer. Sometimes we need to just dig deeper, keep praying, reading, and studying to find the answers. It happens to all of us and it happens to me too. But, I can say with 100% of my heart that He does answer.

Thank you all for the emails and talking with me and supporting me! I love you all! (Maybe, stop by sometime and check out the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!)

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 24: An 18 Year-old Marriage Counselor

March 12, 2018

“An 18 Year-Old Marriage Counselor”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo,

     Hey sorry that I didn’t say anything last week…but Ethan my man! Happy birthday! Love ya kid!

     Ok now where do I start? Well, I got 2 whole days with my cousin Sam (Elder Stewart) in the mission soooo that’s pretty rad! Boy oh boy does it just bring back memories and I also think it’s great because we can help each other out. Elder Stewart is a great missionary and I do think we were both called here together for a reason! But man was it just fun to be with him! I love him to death! Now let’s get to the meat of this week....

     So, Evelyn Y Pastor.... we come back from our Multi-Zone Conference and the next day we had an appointment with Evelyn to help her submit the proper papers for her wedding and all that jazz. Well, she seemed a little tired at first and you know that’s kind of normal. Then she told us what was really going on. I don’t know if I want to share all of the details but basically Pastor is having a few doubts and it’s been a little hard on him. This past week was a little rough for them both...So, we talked to her a bit and set an appointment to talk with them the next day. And let me tell you that it’s hard being an 18 year old boy who has had absolutely no personal experience having a serious relationship such as marriage, and then being expected to counsel with people and help them clear up their doubts. I mean I never even really had a serious girlfriend let alone a wife! Yet, here I was sitting with these two adults helping them with their marriage! Evelyn was really distraught. She started off with the prayer and then expressed her feelings. She said that she had read the scripture story about Jesus and Mary when He asked her why she was crying. And Evelyn expressed how no scripture has ever hit her harder. I don’t know why but it was really hard for me to discern her thoughts that day. I usually am right on but, this time it was really hard. But, I kept trying to go by the Spirit. She eventually told me how she has a lot of doubts too. She’s worried that if she gets married it will tear her family apart. I guess her mom does not like Pastor and marriage is the last thing that she wants for them. So, she got really worried. And she started to really cry. I really tried hard to express how much of a blessing marriage is and could be to her and her families lives. I explained how obviously I don’t know everything and that I’m not married, but I do know one thing and that is that I love my family and I love my parents. I know that having a family and being married wasn’t always easy for my parents, but I do know that in the end of every day we do love each other and that we have received innumerable blessings from their choice to be married and raise a family. I know that there is more joy, happiness and blessings within the family and within marriage. 

     We then got to talking with Pastor. He was definitely acting different. And so once again we had to dig deep. We started by just listening. He’s worried that when he gets married something bad will happen. For example, he thinks that she will leave him or something similar. Well, my comp took the reigns this time and helped him to realize that everything will be fine, and we showed him how much Evelyn truly wants to marry him. Here’s the thing, we had to teach a bit of repentance too. He had some really bad doubts earlier in the week and we had to tell him that if he really wants to make things work out that he can work with his future wife to become twice as strong. Well, eventually we ran out of time. My comp asked if we could do a kneeling prayer. My first time in the mission with investigadores (investigator’s) in a kneeing prayer. The Spirit was strong before but during this prayer it was even stronger. I am so glad my comp was there to help me out. I still don’t understand Spanish 100% and I am an 18 year- old boy who knows nothing about marriage. When that prayer was done we left and just talked about it. I mean man that might have been one of the hardest decisions that I’ve had to make. But, I am so grateful that we followed the promptings because it seemed to work. We came back to their house on Sunday for lunch before church and Pastor was normal. He was really happy and he told us how everything was better. Whatever the Spirit testified to them worked, because I think everything is fine! Now we are just waiting for their wedding date! 

Speaking of weddings, our zone leaders had a wedding with two of their investigator’s and it was amazing! I mean how can you not feel the Spirit when someone completes a commandment of God!? It was great! Really! Then, in the night we had their party and that was crazy! Colombians party that’s for sure! We had the party in the church and it was so much fun. It was a little hard that we can’t dance and that we can only sit and watch but it was still fun! Ha-ha! All the missionaries want weddings now. I think even more so the Elders than even the Sisters, ha-ha! 

     Well, let’s just say this week was good! What did I learn? Follow the Spirit no matter what! In this case of Evelyn and Pastor it really helped clear up some of their doubts! I love how the Spirit works in our lives! Follow the promptings of the spirit and you will see miracles!!

Love you all,

Elder Weaver

Week 23: Elder Cousin...And Miracles!

March 5, 2018

“ELDER COUSIN…And Miracles!”

Dear familia, amigos y mundo!

    I am very excited because after months and months I finally got to see my cousin Sam!! Elder Stewart! Right now, he is literally sitting across from me as I email! We have the chance to stay in the same apartment too! So, here’s what happened… we asked special permission to come here (another area) a little earlier for our P-day before the multi- zona (Multi-Zone Conference). So, this morning we left Barranca at 8 in the morning and when I arrived at the soccer field all of the sudden this big tall kid runs up and hugs me!!! It was sooo sweet! We were like, NOOOOO FREAKING WAY ARE WE ACTAULLY IN THE SAME MISSION!!! THIS IS CRAZY!!! Obviously, we knew that we were going to be in the same mission but, it’s pretty crazy when you actually realize it and see him and you’re actually  here!! I am sooo happy! And, let me just say that Elder Stewart is a great missionary! I am so happy and excited to be here with him! The feeling is indescribable! OK, ok, enough about that because next week I am sure I’ll have more to say about this, but a lot of things happened this week and one thing in particular… 

      Ok, are you all ready for this story? So, we were fasting and had plans with a member to accompany us. Let me just tell you I was dying a bit mostly because it was so hot!! And I really wanted water! But, I was fasting with a purpose! I was fasting for these amazing people of Barranca. We had 2 appointments fall through that day and then we were walking along the street when a man we had talked to before was in the street in a wheelchair. We actually had given him a priesthood blessing in our previous meeting. So, basically something bad happened and he had an injury of some kind and he hasn’t been able to walk for 4 years. That’s 4 years of no driving, no work, no nothing. Well, we were walking along the street and we asked him with smiles on our faces how he was and guess what he said.... "MUY MAL, MUY, MUY MAL" (VERY BAD, VERY, VERY BAD). He said that he was sad because he has 4 years in this wheelchair and still can’t walk. That’s when the member felt the spirit and asked if we could share something with him? He accepted and we went into his house and we started to share The Plan of Salvation. At first it seemed like the right thing to talk about, but then the Spirit prompted us otherwise. What happened is we asked him what happened with Adam and Eve and he started to explain, then in the next moment he was telling us how mad he was. He said that he’s prayed over and over again for God to just forgive him of his sins and let him walk, and how he’s now just waiting. Waiting for Him to lift this man on his feet. Then, he started to cry. His name is Samuel. Well, Samuel started to cry and share his frustration with how he hasn’t been healed. He stopped speaking for a second and in my head I was like, we need to start actually helping this man and drop the lesson and teach this man! TEACH PEOPLE and help them!! For a little while my companion continued teaching about Adam and Eve, but I knew that we needed to stop teaching and start helping! I waited for my companion to finish and then he looked at me and I started to tell him a few things mostly about faith. All is possible through faith! Miracles happen with faith! I wasn’t about to just sit there and tell him that it’s not possible for him to walk because I know it is possible, I know it! Well, I then told him that if he isn’t healed then this is a trial in his life that he would just have to continue to work through with faith knowing that the Savior loves him and knows what is best for him. I told him the same thing happened in my family with my uncles. I am sure that many times my grandparents shouted to the heavens just asking God to heal their sons, but it didn’t happen. Then, someone knocked at the door and Samuel answered the door and when he came back the member that was with us said, “SamueI, you know you can walk because all is possible through faith. ALL! I know that you can.” That’s when the spirit hit me HARD. I felt prompted to stand up and command him to stand and walk. I was nervous! I mean I am sure you all think I’m crazy and I kind of thought I was crazy too! But, the feeling never let up, it just kept coming! And I saw something in my head of him walking into the church! That’s when I asked him, “Hermano Samuel, do you have faith?” He said, “Yes.” “Do you have faith in us as missionaries?” “Yes.” “Do you have faith that you can be healed right now?” “Yes.” Never have I met a man more sure of something than this man was! I stood up and told him we are going to do una bendición de salud (a blessing of health). And then when I say, “Amen!” he would be able to stand and walk. Now, what I am about to tell you is 100% true!!! I said, “Amen” after the blessing and I walked in front of him and he started to get up and then he stood up! It wasn’t perfect, but he did it... he took 3 steps forward and then looked at us and said, “YA” (that’s Spanish for “that’s all or that’s enough.” He had not stood up in 4 years, but he did it that day! Do you understand what I am saying? He got up and walked! I gave him my testimony and told him that anything is possible through faith! He may not walk perfectly, and it will be hard but, it is possible! He was so happy! As we left we shook his hand and he gave us a thumbs-up, and a gracias! The next day, he went to church. We had 4 members help him up the stairs. We gave him a Book of Mormon which he gladly accepted, and he wants us to visit him more. He loved everything about the church! This happened, and it was amazing!!

I would like to say something that might seem bold, I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church in the world and I know that only we hold the priesthood keys here on this earth! I know because I saw God’s power work through me to provide a miracle of healing! I know it’s true! I know it, and no one can tell me otherwise! I know miracles can and do occur everyday, and we will see them if we just look for them. The Heaven’s are not silent and our Savior and Heavenly Father are God’s of miracles even today. I am grateful to have been raised but such wonderful parents who have taught me to act upon every spiritual prompting or revelation. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of the gospel and of the priesthood that I hold. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today! I know it! Please come and see what I am talking about. I know that you’ll feel the same as me.  

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 22: Debilidades...

February 26, 2018 

“Debilidades” (Weaknesses)

Dear Familia, amigos y el mundo! 

    Well, this past week was a good one! It was a bit different too. We had intercambios (exchanges) and an activity to contact and interact with other people to share our message, interviews for baptisms, and interviews with President that didn’t end up happening.... I’ll explain that later. But what I found this week that was of great worth to tell all of you is that I actually have a lot of weaknesses! A LOT! Now, here’s what happened. We had intercambios which means that I was with one Zone Leader and my comp was with the other one for a day. And, I love it because you really do learn a lot. It’s also fun because I was with Elder Razcon who’s from Mexico and he’s my best friend here on the mission. He’s a really cool guy who has been out for a little over a year. I think that he’s great! He’s a little crazy but he’s great because when it comes to the serious stuff he really is serious about what happens to these people and what they feel and how to properly help and teach them. Well, we went through the day and it was great. There were a few things where I was a little embarrassed because I forgot something or didn’t say something correctly. Well, I was thinking at the end of the day in our companionship inventory that maybe for the "thing I need to improve in" would be all of those little things that had happened. So, that’s what I told him that I could improve on. He looked at me and said "con azúcar o sin azúcar" (with sugar or without sugar) of course I want the cold hard truth and so I said, “SIN AZÚCAR!” (WITHOUT SUGAR) Well, I was not ready for what was about to come at me! He takes out his planner and to my surprise he had a list of about 6 or 7 things that he thinks I need to improve on. What hit me hardest was that I have a lot to learn whether this mission was in English or Español it wouldn’t matter, I have a lot to learn. I need to make sure not to let my frustration get to me and just be like Christ is. I need to be calm and collected and much, much more which sometimes I just am not. I was a bit frustrated at first because I didn’t understand a bit of the counsel I was given and then as I asked and asked. Finally, I understood. Really what it took for me to understand was to take a deep breath, swallow my pride and just take the council. Well, upon thinking about it and even going into the next day I really thought about it, and I came to understand that man, Elder Weaver, you don’t know it all! I KNOW! I am just as shocked as you! I don’t know it all! I have a lot of weaknesses. I think the reason why it hit me so hard was that in the past few weeks and really all of my life I have felt like I have always understood what to do and what was expected of me and how to do it. I felt I had more strengths than weaknesses. Now I don’t know but sometimes I feel like I might have more weaknesses. BUT, with that being said, I went to the scriptures and I looked up weaknesses and a lot of them talk about how God takes your weaknesses and makes them strengths. In the Book of Mormon it talks about the Sons of Mosiah and how they were wary and they were told how their weaknesses would be made strengths. Well, I think that’s what is happening to me. God is showing me my weaknesses so that I can be made stronger. One day I was reading a letter from my older brother Connor and he basically told me how it is… that as I grow closer to the Spirit and as I actually get stronger in faith and in my testimony, I will find that I have more weaknesses and then I should take them and improve upon them! So, that’s what I did and that’s what I am going to continue to do into this week and during all of my mission. Debilidades (weaknesses) man.... 

     So, those interviews with President that didn’t happen… Yeah, so President came to Barranca and usually when he comes we don’t plan anything from 1:30-5pm mas o menos (more or less). Well.... we all arrived and what happens is that we sit... and sit.... and sit... waiting. As you might imagine things run through your mind like we could have had 4 appointments and reminded people to go to church and all that. Well no, the President was in another room talking to the other Ramas (Branches that he is over) about stuff that I don’t know about. But, all I know is that he couldn’t do the interviews because of whatever was going on, so it must have been important. Well, we were fortunate enough to attend a baptism that night too. President Laney was there, and it was a great baptism! This convert of the Hermanas (Sister missionaries) is powerful. LIKE, POWERFUL. He really prayed and wrestled to know the truth accepting and following every commitment that the missionaries made with him. And, he received an answer that this is definitely this is the true Church. Once again, I have been spiritually up-lifted by someone who I barely know. And, he only has 2 days as a member of the Church! 

     I would like to just say how happy and grateful I am to be here in Colombia, especially here in Barranca! I love it here sooo much! These people have changed me! I am praying that I will have at least 6 more weeks here. I have an unshakable testimony of this gospel. I can’t hide it either. I have to share it every week with you guys. I know this Church is true and that this gospel is actually the true gospel of Jesus Christ! And, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we may see our weaknesses and then change them and make them strengths! Thank you for everything! I love all of the emails and love I feel from you all! I’m going to keep up the work here! 

Love you All!

Elder Weaver

Week 21

February 19, 2018

“Jacobo y Rubis!!!!!”

Dear familia, amigos y el mundo!!!!

     What miracles did pass this week!!! But, as always, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM WHO IS THE GREATEST MOM IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!! Seriously, I would not be the person I am today if my mom wasn’t my mom! She truly taught me what the Book of Mormon says about the stripling warriors who were taught by their mothers! MOMS ARE GREAT! But, my mom is the best! Happy birthday and I hope it’s amazing! I’m actually celebrating it later in the night with Evelyn and Pastor who are in the process of marriage! So, I’ll send those pictures for you next week!

     What happened this week? First of all, the normal hard work of every day kinda just starts to blend together now. This past week flew by so fast!! But, Jacobo and Rubis got to receive one of the greatest blessings ever…baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost!! So, I’d like to share with you all the story of Jacobo rapidito (quickly)! So, he was initially a contact we made while we were walking along the street. We were just talking to people and we passed by his house and his door was wide open. He saw us and he was like, “Come on in!” We just told him we were stopping by really fast and that we wanted to share a message with him the next day. He was like, “Of course!” Well, at first it was kinda just presenting who we were and then we slowly, little by little, were able to give all of the lessons. Now he loves the Book of Mormon and the Bible! This is great because he always checks the bible references to make sure everything is true. It’s kind of funny. At first, he didn’t have a strong testimony and we had planned his baptism for an earlier date. But, he just wasn’t ready. He still had too many questions and hadn’t truly prayed to know the answers. Well, after coming to church a few times and when my new comp came I asked him directly, "Have you prayed to know the answers?" and he, to my surprise said, "Sí!" I was a bit shocked, but I asked, "How did you feel after you prayed?" He then described it as something smooth, calm, and warming and I was like, “HERMANO!! That’s the Spirit testifying to you that this Book is true and that means that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he translated the book!” He understood, and I invited him to continue to pray and find out for himself. The next week came and we decided to ask the baptismal questions to see if he was ready. And, he believed it all! In one week his heart had completely changed! Pretty amazing stuff.

     Now for Rubis, she is an interesting story one for sure. She was always great! She always read, took notes, and wrote summaries of chapters and of the pamphlets. And so, feeling prompted and because of a situation she was in health-wise we asked her if she would like to be baptized earlier? Well, she didn’t come to church the past week because she was really sick. But, the problem was that she couldn’t be baptized this week because she’s going to have surgery on her knee on Friday and she can’t leave her house for 3 MONTHS!!! We didn’t know what to do? But I knew that she was strong and already had a strong testimony. She was firm in her faith. We called the Zone Leaders and asked if it was possible for her to be baptized earlier? They said, “Yes!” So, she will have her interview on the same day as the planned baptism but, in the morning before her baptism (this is very rare). It all went very well, and she was baptized! What a miracle!! We are now arranging plans for members to visit her and to bring her the sacrament and help teach her for the next 3 months at her home. We need to help her stay firm in her beliefs even when she can’t come to church. The baptism was great and powerful!

     I had the opportunity to baptize Rubis and Presidente Pover baptized Jacobo. It was such a sweet baptism and as always, the testimonies hit me! Rubis’ was short and sweet but powerful! She started to tear up and her testimony just showed me how much she actually knew and how strong her testimony actually is! Jacobo’s was great as well! His was a bit longer but, powerful as well. When he described the difference that he felt with us as missionaries as well as in our church compared to other churches that he had attended he said it was something different and special. And he knew there was something we had that he needed in his life. He felt that. He said, “Amen.” And then he just stood up there for a few more seconds while tears filled his eyes and his two hands were clasped together. He just said, “Thank you!” and then he sat down. Man, that killed me! I know even more now that this Church is the Church of God and His son Jesus Christ. 

    The next day was Sunday, and I had a trial of faith or a trial of something. Because we had zero of our investigators come to church, zero! The number zero! We did have Jacobo and Rubis there, but they are members now! I spent all morning calling people and then we visited people to ask if they would be coming? Of course we received the “yes’s” and some “no’s” but, we had received enough “yes's” to have had at least 10 investigator’s at church. I literally talked face to face with them and they had said, “Yes, we’ll be coming!” Then, I called Sharik y Melani who had a baptismal date for this week too. Their sister who is a member is sick and so we arranged for a neighbor to help us and also the mom said, “Yes, they will go.” Well, I call right before lunch and they said no because they were having lunch with their mom far away.... I got a little frustrated because of a few reasons, but mainly my heart was just broken. I have been working so hard with them and trying my hardest to help them and they can’t come to church because of lunch? When we finally got to church I had hoped for at least a few of them to come. But none showed up! I felt really down and un-motivated. I just sat down and looked at the ground when a church leader from the other branch saw me and asked if I was sad? I said yes and then explained. He had served a mission in Bolivia. I was just going leave and go into the bathroom when he grabbed me and looked me in the eyes and said, “Es duro, yo sé, yo sé, es muy duro...” (It’s hard, I know, I know, it’s very hard…) He gave me a huge hug and then he explained what it was like for him while he was on his mission as well as some other things. And I felt for one of the first times in a while true sincere love from a person I had never even talked too. He had met me 2 minutes before and yet he gave me the biggest hug! And that’s what I will remember and that’s what I needed. I was just overwhelmed and honestly started to cry a bit and he just saw and he tried to help. When he hugged me that was the first time I felt like someone really cared for me. TRULY cared for me while on the mission. My comp cares, my zone leaders care, but this was different. All I know is that it helped. 

     Yesterday was hard on me but, it can’t destroy what I know. I know the gospel blesses families! I know it does. And, hard things happen. The Book of Mormon is true. My invitation is to read it and pray. 

Love,

Elder Weaver

Week 20

February 12, 2018

“Milagros, Sí Pasan”

Dear Familia, Amigos y el Mundo

     First of all, Reid (Preston’s cousin) have a great birthday! I hope it’s super rad!! Love ya my dude!!!!

     SO, Jacobo has his baptism this Saturday on the 17^th. We were supposed to have Sharik y Melani and Rubis as well but.... they didn’t show up to church and I am a little sad about that. But, I can’t do anything about it. They have their agency and they will have to wait for the next week I guess. But, Jacobo is great and the story with him isn’t something miraculous but it is indeed a miracle! I’ll share that story with y’all next week after the baptism! I am so happy and excited and so is he! He is this old man who is very ready and really wants baptism and the blessing of the gospel in his life!! Man, am I happy for him! Man, did this week just fly by! So much happened and yet it felt like it was no time at all! 

     Well, one of the major things that happened this week is that we started the process of marriage for 2 of our investigators. Now the story for them is really long so I want to save it cause it’s a good one but... This week I was really thinking about them a lot and how I could help them. They know this church is true and they have told me that. Their son has already been baptized! And so somedays I was a bit frustrated why they just didn’t get married and it seemed a lot like it was just the desire and more for the wife. Their names are Evelyn y Pastor and Evelyn had told me how she doesn’t like to put a date to anything and blah, blah, blah (a lot of excuses). Well, I was thinking and praying a lot for them and I thought and remembered something. There is a recent convert who is a lawyer and can help us with this! So, during lunch way before our appointment I called her. I was a little scared because who knows what would happen. It’s kind of far from where she lives and she’s a busy lady. Well, I called and told her what was going on and then asked if she could help us, and she said, “Yes, no problem at all!” Ha-ha, mostly because they have a car which is actually rare here but not for them. Anyways, we met her at the appointment for Evelyn y Pastor and let me tell you at first it was not the ideal teaching situation. We show up and there’s this guy with a mic and huge speakers outside preaching to the world so loud that I could barely think. Well, we went inside thinking it would maybe be quieter. Luckily it was! At least I could hear my thoughts a little bit more and hear a little of what was being said. But, I told them I was going to say a prayer even though it was still really, really, REALLY loud. I went ahead and said the prayer and the noise didn’t stop but we were talking kinda casually. You know, kinda “get to know you stuff” and then all of the sudden Hermana Heydi (the lawyer) started to say a little about marriage and, I KID YOU NOT, the noise completely stopped! And we started talking about it and Evelyn was still a little stubborn about it all and then Heydi would throw the statement back with a resolution. Then, I started to see the real problem had to do with money, kids, time, etc. But, we had and expert with us and she totally helped them understand all that can be resolved and done quickly and cheaply. And all of the sudden we were talking about papers and documents and rings and then they were like hey, we need testigos (witnesses) for the wedding, “Elders that’s you!” And then all of the sudden we had a date set to meet and do all the papers! WHAT!? I was just as confused as you might be! We then shifted gears to spiritual topics. I talked basically the whole time because I knew them more personally than my comp. I explained to them what the temple is, and shared stories about my cousins who are WAY younger than they are, and how they have all been married in the temple, and how happy they are. I finally just told then how much I loved them in a way that was very appropriate and shared how I really want to see them go through the temple. I want to see them walk through the Bogotá temple and be sealed for eternity. But, more so, our Heavenly father wants to see that! And, he’s just waiting patiently for them to do it. And I was on the verge of tears as I expressed my love and they could see it too. I could tell how much they wanted this for their family too. Well, we have a day set now to do the paper work and I will have the privilege of seeing it happen! I hope and I’m praying that in the next three weeks I don’t get transferred out of this area. But, WOW I was overwhelmed with joy! I could hardly contain myself! So many Elders have talked and taught with them over the years I am happy to finally see all of that work pay off! MILAGROS Sí PASAN!! (MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!) I am so grateful for that!

    A few other things happened this week, where I had to talk with my companion concerning rules. Let me just say one thing, he isn’t a bad guy at all! I actually love him a lot! I have been working very hard with him and trying to help him. He will be leaving the mission in 5 months. So, what it comes down to is he’s started to feel a lot of regret. At the end of the day yesterday he was really down. Because a few rules that he should have known had been pushed in his face. For example, a family almost watched a movie called “COCO” with us and I was like, WOAH sorry I don’t think we can watch this, but my comp was like, “I’m not sure maybe we can...” For me it was clear, but he asked the Zone Leaders anyway and what do you know they didn’t answer their phone. Well, the Sister missionaries came and they helped me out by reinforcing what I was saying in that we absolutely cannot watch a movie! And we watched a church movie instead with the family. Well, he felt a bit sad after that. I mean wouldn’t you too? When we do something wrong we feel sad. Well, he felt really bad and that’s when I shifted from companion to friend. He need a friend to help him and explain to him that we all commit errors and all we can do is ask for forgiveness, correct what we’ve done, commit to do better, and then try to forget about it and move on! I tried to helped him out and I think everything is good now. What I really sensed was some regret from his whole mission. Well, I comforted him and helped him as much as I could. And here’s what I have to say. DON’T LIVE WITH REGRETS! BE strictly obedient and follow the rules and live how God and Christ would have you live!! And, I promise it will be a life more fulfilling, a life with no regrets, and more importantly a life that is much more happy. Stay away from the drugs, the alcohol, the tobacco, the junk which is on the internet and media, and stay morally clean! This applies to the life on and off the mission! And, I will promise you blessings! That is a promise I am giving you! I had a huge change of heart this week by doing all that I could to serve and help others and my comp and turning outward and forgetting about myself including my past and my future! And, I had one of the happiest weeks ever! "Forget yourself and serve!" said the father of President Gordon B. Hinckley and that’s not only for the mission that’s for life. This gospel is true and I am seeing the miracles everyday as I work. I know with 100% of my heart and being that this is the true gospel and no one will convince me otherwise! 

Love,

Elder Weaver 

(aka, Elder Spiderman)