April 23, 2018
“SO, QUICK STORY…”
Dear Familia, Amigos y Mundo
So, this past week was absolutely crazy!!!! We had a lot happen! First, we helped get a girl named Nayeli ready for her baptism and then we left Barranca to go to see Elder Zivic, a General Authority of the church (he spoke in the last General Conference, you can see or read his talk here…https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/he-that-shall-endure-unto-the-end-the-same-shall-be-saved?lang=eng). Apparently, Elder Zivic wanted to have a personal interview with just me! So, that was pretty cool. Yes, I had a personal interview with a General Authority! He is a great guy! It’s weird how much love he has and at the same time you feel like he stares deep into your soul! Then his capacitación (council) was amazing! After that amazing experience we went back to Barranca and had a baptism. Now, here’s the crazy part! Her name is Nayeli and her mom HATES the idea of baptism in another church, but Nayeli wanted it. So, we have to get a form signed by a parent to have the baptism because she is under the age of 18. Apparently, the mom took the form and ripped it to shreds and told her that she will live and die a Catholic... Ok let’s simmer down a bit please! Well, Saturday we went into her house in the morning to talk to the mom and well the mom still wouldn’t change her mind and even lied to us telling us that Nayeli wasn’t at the house... OK! But later in the day through her member friends la Familia Jalabe we found out that Nayeli was actually at the house. So, we ran over there 3 hours before the baptism to try to see if we could get the paper signed. NO! The mom was not having it! We asked if her dad could and the mom told the dad not sign the paper, so she suggested that we have her grandma sign the paper...I wasn’t sure if the grandmother could sign the papers or not? I had to ask permission and see. Apparently, it was fine to have her sign it. So, the grandma signs the paper, and we rush to change our clothes and waited in the church for Nayeli and la Familia Jalabe who were going to bring her over. Well, an hour passes and there was still no sign of Nayeli. The Zone Leaders had a baptism at the same time as ours and so, I just told them to go ahead and start. We got through almost the whole baptismal meeting before Nayeli arrived. Sister Jalabe the mom of la Familia Jalabe said, “We better do this quick and fast because the mom would not let her leave. Well, we got her baptized and wow, that day was rough! Let’s just say Satan did not want her baptized. Now, let me explain why it was so important she got baptized and we didn’t just wait. She has been through a lot in her life. She basically only lives with her family to have a house because she spends all of her time at the Jalabe’s house every day. Sister Jalabe is basically her mom. She’s had problems before with cutting herself and basically feeling alone. She was depressed and doesn’t have very supportive parents. Overall, this pathway is the best pathway for her and will change her life. I know that she will now grow and develop into a great woman. It’s great because she has the love, support, and help from a whole family (la Familia Jalabe) as well as the entire branch.
I’m sad to say that my days in Barranca are over. I leave today, April 23rd at 8 pm to go to my new area in Bogotá. I’m sad to leave the family I made here in Barranca! I love them all, the members of the church, the investigators, the converts and just overall any and every person I came into contact with. Barranca is my family. The hardest goodbye was definitely with Evelyn and Pastor. I mean, I’m their Padrino (Godfather)! I literally am part of their family now!! But man, I almost cried. I think it will probably hit me on the bus, but I really do love them! I’ll miss everyone. I just hope Barranca knows that I gave all my heart, blood, sweat, tears and every fiber of my being to every person I came into contact with! Now I just have to keep doing that. On to my next area. I love you all! I’ll see y’all in Bogotá next week!
Love,
Elder Weaver
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