January 27, 2012
Dear Family & Friends,
I am so glad to hear you are all doing well. I enjoy hearing about all of the great
things you are up to and involved in.
Can you believe it’s already been about 8 months since last June? I can’t. Time is sure moving right on by. I am loving this opportunity to serve and am looking forward
to the next 16 months of service.
I don’t know if I already told you, but Tina Ford got
baptized in my last area on her date of January 1st. Elder Ingersoll texted us and said it
went great. And Camille and
Anthony Garr are still working on quitting a few things, but they know it’s
true and will be baptized soon.
Tiffin has been picking up more and there should be
baptism’s happening in this area in the following months. It’s been kind of a dead area for a
long time. The branch here feels
like they are re-dedicating themselves to moving the work forward now
though. If we can help them really
fellowship the investigators we have right now they would begin to be a growing
branch. The members here are all
super funny, and have some pretty strong personalities. They also have very strong testimonies
of the Gospel. The members here
trust us and love us. They were so
relieved to here that neither Elder Jarvis nor I were being transferred last
week. Oh yeah, by the way,
transfers came and gone and I will be in Tiffin at least another 6 weeks. They are beginning to come forward with
names of friends and are sharing bits of the Gospel with them. Also we have received a referral from
Tim Molter for his brother Steve.
Tim Molter and Christina Jones was a couple that was found
just before I got here. They have
several things that need to happen before baptism, but they know it’s true and
are looking forward to that day.
(April 7th is there scheduled day.) Tim was at a party at one of the colleges around here. A fight broke out and he jumped off of
a 7-foot porch and one of his feet got caught in a hole in the ground and
snapped all the bones right above the ankle. His foot has been black from the injury ever since and has
only found one doctor who was willing to operate on it instead of
amputating. Even that doctor has
been skeptical about his foots recovery.
This has made things very difficult for him and his family the last 9-10
months. Him, Christina, and their
3 boys ages 14, 6, and 2, have had a rough time with all the challenges of him
not being able to work. Tim said
things weren’t looking good, but then the missionaries came and shared a
message, which lit up his faith in Christ once more. Tim received a blessing from Elder Metcalf and Elder Jarvis
for his first surgery and then Elder Jarvis and I for his second surgery. His foot has color once again, is
healing, and has shocked the doctor performing the surgeries. Tim has one more surgery in 5 weeks and
then is hoping to regain his strength so he can walk instead of hobble. Tim knows what made the difference was
in the blessings he received, his faith in them, and because our Savior is
watching over him. He and
Christina’s testimonies continue to grow each week, and there is a huge
difference in them and their home every time we visit. They are learning and gaining and
immense faith and trust in God.
They plan to be married the month after his last surgery, and baptized
the following month.
God’s hand is in each of our lives and he can and will
work miracles in our lives if we allow him to. His miracles are wrought according to our faith, just as the
Book of Mormon teaches in 3 Nephi 19:35-36. I know that this is true and that if people will allow God
and the restore Gospel into their lives, trusting wholly in it, we will each
witness “Great Miracles.” I have
seen great miracles on my mission and know that God is capable of everything. He will not take away or manipulate our
agency in any way, but He will work his miracles as we exercise our agency and
follow our Savior.
I love you all dearly and pray for you often. I know that we can accomplish all the
work that God has laid before us, and as we do so faithfully he will be there
in every step. Continue fulfilling
our Fathers will always. “God be
with you till we meet again!” Love
you all!
Love,
Elder Weaver
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