What A Fastball Of A Week That Was

November 12, 2012

Dear Family,

What a fastball of a week that was.  Tuesday we had enough time to get a hair cut, shop, and wash the Mission van and trailer before going and picking up the new arriving missionaries.  Then Tuesday we spend with the arrivals all day, doing some training and getting them excited to get out to work.  New missionaries arrive every 6 weeks.  Then the next day we take them to the Kirtland temple and sites.  After that off to the stake center for transfers, where we have a brief meeting, announce new companionships, say goodbye to the departing missionaries and then the moving of baggage and missionaries to vehicles to get them where they need to go.  After this we take all the departing missionaries to the school of the prophets to give an accounting of their mission to the Lord.  An awesome experience that I look forward to, but not before my time to do that...if that makes sense.  Then we spend the day with them taking them to the mission home, going over their departure packet, and helping them get set to depart early the next morning.  And then bam, we are already to Thursday of our week.  We spent quite a bit of Thursday planning with President Vellinga for our zone conference in the Kirtland Temple/Visitors center at the end of this month.  It is going to be awesome.  We are focusing on building faith in Jesus Christ, Finding those that God has prepared to hear the Restored Gospel, and to prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.  I am super excited for it.  Friday we had time to proselyte.

We met with many members this week to identify a family they would like to take to the nativity displays in Kirtland this year.  We have been giving them invitations that were created for the event to give as they invite a family or friend to go with them.  We have also been using the pass-along card version of the invitation for our door/contacting approaches.  It's been cool to see as we have used this approach the difference in how people react.  Even if they aren't interested in meeting and learning more, they have a greater trust and stay long enough to feel the spirit about us.  Also, it has opened up several doors for us to teach and testify of the Restored Gospel.  We met Nancy this week and she has had several experiences in the last couple of years that have helped her truly gain a testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ.  We were able to learn about her family that lived around and how she hoped that they would be willing to learn more about Jesus Christ and see all that He can be in their lives.  We had an appointment for Saturday, but something come up in her family and couldn't meet that day.  We are now looking to meet with her this week. With Sam and Jordan we are scheduling with them for an appointment this week.  We are going by tomorrow to schedule and hopefully meet their family.  With their crazy schedules it will be difficult, but completely possible.  I have gained a testimony of 1 Nephi 3:7, God will always prepare a way.

For Thanksgiving we are going to the Kirkham’s.  They are a neat young family in the ward, and are having tons of people over, including President and his family.  

I am glad to hear you are all doing well with school, work, church, and just everything.  I love you all so much, and am very grateful for your wonderful examples, love, and encouragement.  I pray you all have a wonderful week.  Break a leg in the show Sis.  I wish I could see it live!  You will do great.  

Love,

Elder Weaver