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