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