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