July 30, 2012
Dear Family & Friends
What a fantastic week we have had
here in Lima this last week! There have been so many miracles occurring and an
amazing outpouring of God's love in so many of our brothers and sisters lives.
The Spirit continues to get stronger and stronger here and it is exciting to
see the changes and successes that have resulted from the Spirit touching each
of us and changing us. This last week we have met several new contacts that are
feeling the Spirit and truly desiring to know the truthfulness of this Gospel.
Yesterday we had a great Ward Council meeting and identified several things
that are going well and where we can improve. This next week they are planning
on going with the Stake and inviting 11 new individuals/families to prepare to
return to the temple. Many people are returning or going for the first time
this next week (August 3rd). At church there were 11 or 12 non-members who
attended church between our areas, the sisters, and then one friend that Shanin
Holland (investigator) brought as well as Nathaniel Smith (return missionary)
brought. There were also many less active members who attended yesterday as
well, many of whom were lined up for interviews with the Bishopric after the
meeting yesterday. There have been so many wonderful things happening this week
it would take too long to even write and express them in this letter. The
Spirit is here, God's love is being made manifest, and hearts are changing. The
Gospel is beautiful.
Shanin Holland is preparing for Baptism on August 11th. She has been
hesitant through out some of this journey, but she is really seeing how it is
affecting her life and is gaining a true desire to come unto Christ
and receive all that her Father in Heaven has in store for her and her
family. Kaelon Moore who is the son of a couple returning to the
church is progressing very well. He is 9 and was super shy in the first
lesson, but is now very comfortable and retains so much! Definitely he is
like unto a sponge. He volunteered to pray yesterday after having been so
nervous about praying in front of us at first. Before I could even ask to
start with a prayer he jumps and says, “I’m saying the opening prayer!”
He is feeling the Spirit and it is evident in the lessons we are having with
him.
Justin Harris is an investigator we met with our Ward Mission Leader this
last week while we were walking back to his car to head home at the end of the
day. Before getting in I saw him walking by and started talking with
him. He has a great faith in Christ and our Heavenly Father and has
enjoyed meeting with us and the Spirit that he has felt. We have only
taught him a little so far, but he wants to learn. His wife is less
interested but in talking to him later he expressed how much he wanted this for
his family and wife right now. They are 18 and are married and
may be expecting here soon. He knows what he wants in life, and it's a
righteous desire that he has. Great things lay in store for him if he
continues to exercise his faith and plant and nourish the seed.
Lexie is 16 and is an investigator who began meeting with the
missionaries in the Columbus Mission at her grandparent’s house. She too has great desires to know if
these things are true, and has already definitely been feeling the Spirit about
what she has learned and read. She has fear though of leaving the
Lutheran Church she has been attending for several years, what others might
think, and what how her family feels about her meeting with "Mormons."
Fear is a great tool that Satan uses. We had a great first lesson
with her on Saturday though where she felt the Spirit, knows that God loves
her, and is going to support and strengthen her continuously as she follows His
direction and counsel.
I love this area, Ward, and the
missionary's serving here. Elder Eric Romrell, Sister Darrillyn Bell,
Sister Jessica Yates and I have grown so much here and are excited to continue
sharing the love of God with everyone we can. The Gospel is true and is taught
and administered through the literal Church of Jesus Christ. God's love
is eternal and as we come to understand and share that love we are enabled and strengthened
to become the sons and daughters of God that we have the potential to
become. I love this work and I love each of you! I hope you have a
wonderful week and continuously seek for and follow the Spirit.
Love,
Elder Weaver
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