When Deacons Become Elders

Dear Family & Friends,

So tomorrow will be transfers and Elder Jarvis and I will be driving up to Cleveland.  Travel details will be coming tonight, we may carpool with the Zone Leaders but don't know yet.  So how transfers work is all Elders or Sisters getting transferred meet at the Kirtland Stake Center and we are all sitting in the chapel with the Zone Leaders and Assistants and President and Sister Sorensen on the stand.  All the new Elders and trainers sit in the first two rows (the new trainers have a previous meeting to find out who their trainer/trainee will be), we will have a short meeting, all the departing missionaries bear their testimony and then the Zone Leaders announce who will be working with who in each new area, and then you go leave to your areas and get to work.  I am excited to train again and to continue to learn and grow throughout this next part of my mission. 

That's funny that you found that picture of all us current missionaries as Deacons.  We all look so little! (The attached picture is when Corey Wardell, Brother Brandon Greenwood, Zach Nielsen, Jason Brown, and Chris Weaver were all serving together in the Deacon’s Quorum Presidency in Aug. 2005.)

This last week we had a great Branch Conference.  All the messages and speakers were amazing.  The Spirit was very strong and I think that it really made an effect on many people.  The Spirit in this area is increasing as people are strengthening their testimonies and conversion.  As the focus on the Atonement, Book of Mormon, and testimony/conversion has been emphasized in the mission I have felt a major change in the members here and I.  Powerful things have been taking place here and I am excited to see the changes and growth with this area over the next three months. 

Well sorry my letter is brief today...but I had an opportunity to write a short testimony and message to the Sorensen’s (Mission President and wife) for their birthday last week.  All the missionaries wrote their testimonies and sent them to the Assistants who compiled them into a book.  The following is the testimony I sent in by email.  

“This Gospel is and forever will be true.  We have a Father in Heaven who loves us and knows us each specifically and personally.  Our Savior Jesus Christ lives and has atoned for each of us, making our path home possible and clear.  The Gift of the Holy Ghost that God has given to us is of infinite worth and a key to our personal salvation.  This gift is clear evidence to me of Gods love for each and every one of us.  I feel and see Him in my life and the lives around me.  Joseph Smith has restored this Gospel and was and is called as a Prophet and servant of God, sealing his testimony of this great and marvelous work with his life.  Through the Book of Mormon and my personal relationship with God I stand and bear my personal testimony that all these things are true.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is restored and is blessing the lives of all the inhabitants of both Heaven and Earth.  The work that we have entered into covenant with God to take to all people is true and will roll forth to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.  It is the message of peace, hope, and happiness.  Our families can and will be together forever in our Heavenly Fathers presence as we live worthily of the blessings and promises of God.  The Prophet Thomas S. Monson and all of the Apostles of our day today have been called of God to uphold and bring about His marvelous work.  They lead and guide each of us in righteousness, helping us to safely come home.  I know that I am exactly where I need to be at this time in my life, in the service of my Father in Heaven.  Of this I testify in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.”

I hope you each have a wonderful week! 

Love,

Elder Weaver 

I Will Be Training Another New Elder Next Week!

Dear Family & Friends,

It is so great to hear from you.  I have had a great week, and am looking forward to continuing to serve here in Tiffin for the following 3 months.  I found out Monday that I will be training another new Elder next week and I went up to Cleveland for a wonderful Trainers Meeting.  I am so excited to train again.  There are 4 new Elders coming out next week and 10 Sisters.  Here is some new information about the new mission President coming out....

“We wanted to inform you of your new mission president and his family.  We will have more information coming.  President and Sister Michael L. Vellinga, from Clinton, Utah. President Vellinga works for the Church in the CES department.  They have eight children.  Six are married, one son, who is preparing to leave on his mission by July 1^st, and one daughter, who will be 16 that will be coming with them.  Please begin praying for them.  I know you will love them.”

I love the Sorensens and am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had and will have until later this year to serve with them.  I also am excited to meet the Vellinga's and serve with them.  I will be praying for them and the new missionaries coming out next week.  

This week we have had several great opportunities to meet new people to begin teaching.  We contacted a girl named Kelsea who goes to a local University here.  Through her and her roommate Alison we have met 6 others who they invited to meet with us.  Some are more interested than others, but I see great things that can come from this opportunity.  We shared the restoration with all of them this last week with the Grine's (couple in the ward).  It went well and they had some great questions about the message.  Another exciting opportunity we had was to meet a part-member family on Sunday.  We felt inspired to go and visit a name on the Branch Directory on Sunday evening.  The name was back when this lady was single and she now has a husband and 5 children (2 sets of twins over 8, and a 6 year old.)  We invited them to Branch conference this coming Sunday and set a return appointment for this next Saturday.  Not just a coincidence.  I am excited to meet with them and get the Branch involved there.  There is so much potential for growth in this area.  I am excited to be able to continue serving here in Tiffin.  Many are learning and making changes here and things are about to really get rolling. 

I like the goal you now have as a Ward.  As you focus on the one collectively each one of you will make an effort to share and invite others to come unto Christ, which definitely will turn, into more than one being touched and affected by the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Keep me updated on how the work moves forth back home!

I love you all and hope you have another wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Weaver

Thank You So Much For Your Emails This Week!

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you so much for your emails this week.  They have touched me and I am so very grateful for each of you and your desires to do good and serve the Lord.  You each are great examples of love and service to me and I truly am who I am today because of your influences. 

Well let’s start with Sacrament Meeting - it was wonderful.  We had 4 investigators there of our own who are each progressing.  We had Brian Alford, Paul Collins, Junior Massacou, and Mark.  They all really enjoyed the services.  The talks were wonderful and the musical number according to the congregation was wonderful.  We are now working on another musical number for the Branch or Stake Conference in a couple weeks...I don’t' remember which President Nord said.  We also had several people there who were invited by others yesterday.  They each loved Sacrament Meeting and enjoyed the rest of the meetings as well.  We had a few ask for Book of Mormons and express desires to come back to church again.  We taught our Gospel Principle's lesson on missionary work explaining what we do as missionaries and as members of Christ church.  We are looking forward to following up with members and whom they brought this next week and beginning to teach some referrals!  It really amazed me how by a couple simple invites how much it affected church yesterday.  The chapel was full and there were more smiles and energy in people than I have ever seen here.  All of the messages were right on point and I could see the blessing being poured out as people fulfilled their purpose as Disciples of Christ yesterday.  Good things are happening; this area is going to start growing.  People are making changes and the Spirit is strengthening each of us.  I love this Gospel.

We are having a Zone Conference on Wednesday of this week!  I am looking forward to it!  We are about half way done with the Book of Mormon since the beginning of the year and I have loved it!  I am looking forward to continuing to serve here in the Tiffin area.  People are progressing towards the waters of Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.

Christina is doing better.  We were able to re-teach the Plan of Salvation to her and her mother this last week with Brother Smith.  As we re-taught it she was picking up more than ever this time through.  She began to feel more of the peace that came from this knowledge and is putting her trust in Christ through this.  We are planning on going through the Gospel of Jesus Christ discussion again this next week with her.  Her family is asking more and more questions about the Church and we are excited to answer their questions and begin teaching them.  Tim is still learning.  He had a great desire to follow Christ and get his life in order.  He was making changes and purifying his Spirit before he passed on.  He will continue to do so. 

I did get that second pair of shoes this week!  Thank you so much!  Also, the audio clip of Matt Roundy worked and it was great to hear him!  Haha it was sure Matt speaking.  Did he have his hair cut for it?

I love this Gospel.  I love the scriptures.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven and hope to show that love ever increasingly.  I love you each so very much.  I know this Gospel is truth.  It is the source of all peace and happiness.  As we live righteously we can feel of those things in any situation.  I pray you may each be safe and have a great week!

Love you all,

Elder Weaver

Thank You So Much For Your Prayers and Fasting!

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers and fasting.  I know that they help.  Elder Jarvis and I have felt them and I know that our investigators are feeling them as well.  We weren't able to really meet with Christina this week because our schedules didn't match up this week.  We were able to stop by for a minute and see them and invite them to read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet.  We are going to re-teach that and add some other details to it with them this next week.  She was more stable when we visited and seemed to be getting a grasp on what she needs to do and move towards.  We are there for them and are trying to really get the Branch more involved.  The members getting to know and comfort them will be key to helping them heal.  Something I have kind of been thinking about this week  is that investigators aren't the "missionaries investigators", they are the Ward or Branches investigators.  What they see and know of the Church is what and who the members are.  Missionaries’ leave, members stay.  The members are the key to helping them with the conversion process and retaining those who join.  It's very difficult when missionaries are the teachers and the fellow shippers.  My mission has changed my life and I will be more dedicated to this work for the remainder of my life now that I understand how it works.  Members play a very active role in missionary work.  This is the way it has been revealed and this is the only way this work will roll forward the way that it is supposed to.  Things have been picking up here and I am excited to be part of the work here in this area!

So we have a pretty large teach pool right now and after this last weekend we found several new potentials that should be investigators after this week.  We are excited to have so many people to teach.  A couple of the newest investigators are Junior Massacou and Stacy.  Junior is from Central Africa and moved to the US by himself at the age of 16.  He was recruited to play basketball at a Catholic High School called Calvert High.  He stayed with a family here during those years and then went to play at a university in Indiana.  Then somebody messed up with his visas to be here in the US.  Most of the time when this happens the students get sent back to their country and have to start the process all over again...if they are able to ever come back again.  He prayed and prayed and prayed.  He finally got the clearance that he was able to stay.  He is currently going to a smaller university here in Tiffin and staying with the family that he stayed with in high school till he can get accepted to a larger university.  He is 20 years old and is majoring in International Business.  He knows 3 languages and is working on a fourth.  We have only met with him twice now and we are hoping that we can start meeting with him and the family he is staying with.  He has kept his commitments and says if he comes to know that this is true that he will be baptized.  We are excited to continue teaching him.  Stacy is 21 years old and has a 6-month-old baby.  She has been having some different trials and has been wondering what the purpose and meaning of life is.  We then knocked on her door!  We have met with her 3 times now and she is progressing well.  She wasn't able to come to church yesterday, but this Sunday she will be there.  Next Sunday is going to be great too.  We are having an "invite a friend to church" day on Sunday with the Branch.  I will be singing an arrangement of "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul."  And the Branch Presidents daughter Gabriela will be accompanying.  Then a High council representative Brother Chase will speak on the Atonement, followed by Pres. Nord speaking on the purpose for the Book of Mormon.  This will be a great meeting for all who will be in attendance.

Kind of a cool experience this last week and something I have been thinking about is how important it is to really know the scriptures.  As I have come to better understand the scriptures and know where things are at, the Spirit has been better able to draw upon that knowledge to help investigators.  I have found as I really listen to the investigator and the Spirit, a scripture and or thought of what will help them always come to mind.  It finally hit me this last week during a meeting with Brian Alford.  The Spirit just directed me straight to the scripture he needed and then Elder Jarvis and I were able to bear testimony of the principle it taught.  Oh how I love the time we have to study and treasure up the knowledge of the Gospel.  This Gospel is so true and as I see it change lives more and more each day my testimony continues to grow.   

I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Weaver