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)