Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Dear Family & Friends,  

We have several invitations of places for Thanksgiving but haven't decided where to go yet...but at least this is a good sign that so many members like us.  I know we will be playing a Turkey Bowl at 8:30 AM that morning though!  So that should be pretty fun.  We have a Preparation Day today to do laundry and email and shop till 1:00 PM so that’s why I am able to email today.  I am thankful to be here serving and being able to invite others to come unto Christ. 

  

The musical number went great yesterday.  Music has a special connection to the spirit.  I love it so much. 

The work is going swell.  We just keep trying to build the Lords Kingdom wherever we are.  We have been working more with the members and it is looking like the missionary work among them will be picking up soon.  They trust us and are getting excited about the work.  Hopefully we will begin receiving more referrals from the Ward.  It's incredible how much quicker investigators progress when they are introduced by a member or have a lot of member support.  People are making big changes in their lives and lifestyles.  They need the support and as we reach out as the Spirit directs they truly feel the Lord reaching out to them as well. 

We have so much to be thankful for and the Lord continues to bless each of us as we faithfully march forward with unshaken faith in Him and keep the Commandments, which we have been given so that we may be blessed.  I love this Gospel and how beautifully perfect it is.  My testimony and my conversion grow stronger each day as I study and apply the Gospel.  Consistently striving to live the Gospel, and applying the atonement to do so, is how we become better sons and daughters of God each day.  It is how we will become like Him someday. 

Teach pool...two of our baptismal dates were set, and then they went out of town.  So we need to reset the dates this next week.  And then we set two yesterday while we were out contacting.  Hopefully they will continue to progress.  The Spirit was in both lessons strongly so hopefully they will remember that and desire it more in their lives.  We also found a potential new investigator who we could tell felt the Spirit when we shared a quick message about the restoration.  He works long hours all week but we have an appointment for this next Saturday.  I think he will be a strong investigator if he keeps his appointment and we are able to meet with him.

Well if Brother Norton is in Cleveland he will need to drive South about an hour to Cuyahoga Falls.  So maybe if he visits the Tallmadge Ward in the Akron Stake we will see him!

I love you all and hope you have a great week and happy Thanksgiving! 

Love,

Elder Weaver

We Always Find Something That Really Make The Day!

Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been wonderful.  Aside from so many people having to cancel and reschedule we always find something that really makes the day.  This last week we had several opportunities to open hearts through service.  One of them was a potential investigator family that we felt prompted to call them.  It just so happened...coincidence?  I think not...that they needed to tar and cement a long strip behind their house where the dogs had dug out and that night before all the storms hit.  They already had some water in their basement and they had just finished and were worried about the snow that was coming.  We called and 20 minutes later we were there with Brother Dotson to help them accomplish this project that they couldn't do by themselves.  The Spirit touched their hearts as they thanked us again and again.  Camille, the Mom, said that this was the difference between our religion and others...That we live it.  They are having us over to share the Gospel on Tuesday.  We are excited to see what happens with this wonderful family.

I am glad all went well with the primary program back home in the Ward!  Kids are definitely crazy...but they make it all worth it in the end. :)  I am sure they all did wonderfully for the performance and touched the hearts of all in attendance.

I am glad that Brother Biggs was able to send you all that video.  I am grateful to be able to share what I have worked on for so long and continue to work on.  We are going to perform it this next week at church and are looking forward to sharing this message with those in attendance.  We had a chance to perform it at Zone Conference last week as well and it is always wonderful to be able to bring the Spirit with music.  I recently read the message from the first presidency at the beginning of the church’s hymnbook.  It is so true and that’s how I feel when I get to perform. 

We have 2 dates for baptisms...well both will now need to be reset because they were both out of town this last week and a half and they have to be at church at least 3 times.  But Tina and Dominic we are hoping will receive baptism this next month.  Dominic seems like he is ready to learn and accept the Gospel.  And Tina just needs to put forth more effort and she will be ready.  I am excited for these two.  We also will be setting more dates this next week with the appointments we will be having so hopefully we will be having more baptisms over the next month and a half! 

Transfers are coming up on the 5th of December.  I don't want to leave because we just doubled the size of our area and great things are happening here in this area that was absolutely dead 8 months ago.  We will go where we need to be, but we hope to stay and continue building up this area a little longer. 

Good to hear Zach Nielsen is heading out for his mission!  Go forth with faith and never look back!  If he just dives in, all will go well.

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week.  Remember He is always there; we just need to let Him in.  I love the picture of the savior knocking on the door where the door handle is on the other side. I will keep working hard and doing all I can to help others come unto Christ.

Love,

Elder Weaver 

Practice Time

Hi!

Your sons are serving in our ward in Ohio.  They asked our son to accompany them for a musical number in Sacrament Meeting.  Tonight they were at the church practicing and we took a video so we could share it with you.  We are blessed to have your sons serving in our area and are grateful they asked our son to help them.  They are great examples to him and he has enjoyed the opportunity to work with them. We hope you enjoy it.

Thanks,

Joel and Jennifer Biggs

Click this link to watch the video.

http://youtu.be/na6x_JiaArE

This Week Has Been Going Great!

Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been going great.  We had many opportunities to teach and share the Gospel.  Often times planting seeds, but others we have found who are ready to learn and come closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father.  One is a young man named Dominic.  He is 17 and in hunger to learn about God and this Gospel.  We are preparing him for baptism on the 26th of this month.  He has loved the first two lessons and we are looking forward to sharing this gospel further with him. 

The Baptism and Confirmation of the Lewis family was great.  I baptized Enoch, Tim Dotson baptized Marcus, and then we both baptized Mesha...she had an unknown fear of water that kicked in right as she stepped into the font.  We had to calm her down a bit and we both helped her under and back up.  Afterwards she was fine, and when they were confirmed she got up and bore a simple, but powerful testimony of how the gospel has changed her life and her outlook on everything.  Marcus is going to receive the Priesthood next week, and even talked to the Bishop about the possibility of a mission.  The Gospel is incredible and it truly changes us, and all of us need it every day.  We are excited to continue to see this family grow stronger and stronger in the faith. 

I am so happy to hear the changes occurring in the youth back home.  It sounds like the Gospel has really started to take affect in their lives, and I am excited to hear how they continue to grow.  Zach Nielsen will be just a couple hours south of me here in 3 weeks!  He will continue to grow a ton in these next couple weeks. 

The work is really growing here and the congregation in this Ward is growing more and more each week as we strengthen the members who in turn help us strengthen the less actives and investigators.  We are seeing more and more people come out as each of us works together in unity in sharing this gospel and helping others repent and come unto Christ.

We are having a Zone Conference this next Wednesday, and we had a wonderful leadership meeting last Wednesday.  I sang with Elder Helton playing piano last week and was asked to sing with Elder Ingersoll playing violin and Elder Romerall playing piano this next week.  Lots of great opportunities!

For thanksgiving the Mission President is switching our Prep day to that Thursday.  We don't really do much other than what we usually do...but we will be eating at someone’s house for Thanksgiving dinner! 

Well I hope you have a wonderful week!  It sounds like great things are happening all over, and it's good to hear.  I believe that negative things will bring us down but God will bring us up.  People need that.  They need to be brought back up.

Love you all lots!

Elder Weaver

Elder Weaver A New District Leader

Dear Family & Friends,

This week go?  How about 4 months go?  Every week I email or have weekly planning I say... every time... "I feel like we just did this yesterday." 

The AP's called us this week and let us know that we are keeping are car in our area and it is going to be expanded.  We will probably at least double the size of our area tonight as we meet with the Zone Leaders and draw up some new boundaries after our District Meeting.  This area has some great growth and things happening and we are very excited and blessed to be part of this incredible process. 

The Lewis's, Misha (Mom), Marcus, and Enoch (Sons), should be baptized this next Saturday at 2 o'clock and confirmed on Sunday.  We are all very excited for them and are looking forward to continue building their faith and testimonies with the ward after their baptism.  Will let you know how it goes next week!

   

Ether 12 it talks about that God will show unto us our weaknesses so that they can become strong also.  I know that this is how we progress and become what our Heavenly Father wants, and knows we can become.  Keep up the good work and helping the youth realize the importance of the Gospel in each of our lives.

Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support.  I appreciate all of you so much, and have a deeper love for each of you and what you have been and are in my life.

Love,

Elder Weaver

Elder Weaver A District Leader