Well, That Was An Interesting Week!

November 6, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

Well, that was an interesting week.  We spent a lot of time shifting plans around and helping take care of all the things around the mission for safety and the security of missionaries.  We are all well.  The storm did cause us to lose power for 2 days, along with several other sets of missionaries around the Cleveland and Kirtland area.  We stayed in the mission home 1 night with a couple of missionaries.  The longest set of missionaries with out power was about 4 days.  Some members just got power back on Sunday.  However, we were very blessed to have not been hit harder. Many flooded basements, and downed trees.  Most people deny help due to trees being on power lines and are calling professionals to pump out there basements.  We have offered many a time.  It sounds like great service is being rendered in the harder hit states though.  We have seen several articles about the help missionaries and stakes in New York and New Jersey are giving to the communities they are in.  Hearts are softened by these acts of charity and kindness.  People must just wonder where all of these smiling, hard working people come from.  

We had a great study time in the mission home while we stayed there during the storms. President Vellinga had all of us look up a scripture on storms and then teach each other about the doctrine it taught.  It was an awesome meeting.  A great edifying spirit attended and we each came to a greater knowledge of the power of the atonement and grew in our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His enabling and strengthening power.  

After all the storms and things passed we held Mission Council with all the Zone Leaders, as well as the trainers meeting for all the new trainers for this next transfer.  Today is Arrival Day of all the new Elders and Sisters, so we will be taking them around today and doing some training with them tonight.  Then tomorrow is Transfers and Departures.  Everyone will find out who their new companion is and where they will be serving, and then we put our "trunky boots" on while we assist President in getting all the departing missionaries to the mission home for their final night and then off to the airport early tomorrow morning.  It amazes me how much faster time can fly when you are busy.  This last 6 weeks doesn't even feel like a week. 

We may have found a family.  We have made contact with both the wife and the husband and they are both interested.  Incredibly busy alternating schedules, but they have a desire to meet and come to church.  We are praying hard for them and the other investigators we have found recently. We have a goal to help 6 of our brothers and sisters enter into the covenant of baptism by the end of the year in our area and it’s completely possible.  We are striving to exercise our faith and to work diligently to find, teach, and baptize those who the Lord has prepared here in North Olmsted.

I hope you have been having a great week.  It sounds like the haunted garage was a success and that Christmas is already getting into full swing. Elder Metcalf loves Christmas ALOT. We have already listened to Christmas CD's several times. :)  Good thing I don't mind.  

I did receive a package from you, thank you so much.  I love the ginger snaps; they are the best.  I shared a few with President and Elder Metcalf and they loved them as well.  I thoroughly enjoyed the article and letter in there as well.  Small, small world we have.  All the time I am finding connections to people I know back home are here in the mission.  Tell the Kimball’s thank you for the Halloween package and letters.  Also, thank the Miller’s for sending a package a received when I was in Lima.  Tell both families I appreciate their love and encouragement, as well as the tasty treats.

Well I sure love you all and pray that you have a fantastic week.

Love,

Elder Weaver