What A Trying And Yet Blessed Week

August 27, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

What a trying and yet blessed week we have had. We have had a few investigators who have been very solid drop this last week. One was Lexi whose parents refuse to let her have any more contact with members, missionaries, etc. She knows its true though and her resolve in our last contact with her was to join when she is 18. John is another that has let sudden trials in his life stop him from investigating, but we are praying for him and think in a few months perhaps he may be open once again to learning more. However, as we have persevered and strengthened our efforts to find, we have been blessed to find more who have a sincere interest in learning of the restored Gospel.  One is a family of 7 that is very enthusiastic with having us come over and share our message with them. The parent’s names are David and Leah. Sister Golden, a returning member who is working to go to the temple right now helped us meet them. We invited Sister Golden in a previous visit to seek to find those in her life who may be open to learning about the Gospel.  Sister Golden has been donating many things to a man named Jim who runs a local charity. He gets things for free and cleans them up and finds families and individuals who can use these items, and gives it to them for free. Sister Golden invited us to come help him move some large couches and items that she was donating and giving to David and his family. They have recently moved into the area and are super nice. They thanked us again and again for coming and helping and asked us several times to come and meet with them saying, "we need it."  David’s got a pretty funny story about his service in the Military and getting shot 3 times by 3 different women in Afghanistan/Iraq.  You wouldn't think you would laugh at a story of someone getting shot, but he gets you laughing pretty good. 

The Lord continues to bless us and the Ward here. Bishop Talbot spoke powerfully in sacrament meeting this last week and let the Ward know that the Lord intends to gather the saints here beyond the capacity of this building. He spoke about the biggest thing that could hinder that progress which is the judgment of oneself and others and how that contention drives the spirit away. He boldly invited each of us to love one another and to forgive those who may have wronged us in any way. Speaking with members afterwards we heard several positive things of people forgiving and loving those that they have previously disliked.  The spirit is present here.  Powerfully present.  And I am so thankful to be able to serve in an area that has that.  One of my favorite parts of his talk that keeps running through my head was, "you are neither qualified nor have the authority to judge yourself or others."  A very powerful and edifying talk and I wish we could have a typed up version of it!

Well I hope you all have a good second week back to the grindstone (school)!  I love you all very much and pray for you continually. 

Love,

Elder Weaver

This Week Flew By

August 20, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

This week flew by!  We were blessed with appointments filling everyday this week, and most of this week is already planned and ready to go as well.  God loves His children, and as we each put forth our faith He works miracles.  That is something that I have seen and experienced here more than at any other time of my life.  Being able to witness literal miracles that can't of happened any other way.  There is no other way to explain it.  Our God is a God of miracles and I firmly know that now. 

The Arnett family is being baptized this next week, and Kaelon Moore in our area will be baptized September 1st.  Unfortunately due to some things that happened with his parents it had to be put off another week.  He is excited and ready though.  This September is going to be another great month is this zone.  All areas have from 2-9 that are actually progressing well and doing the things necessary to come to know by the Spirit that these things are true.  The Lima Ward is going to keep growing.  With the way things are working AND continue to be improved God will continue to bless and uphold this Ward as long as they each show that they are willing to do the things he asks of each of us.  He continues to prepare the members and those we are currently teaching/finding because He knows they are ready and willing to take upon themselves this work and to do it cheerfully. 

I am glad to hear you are all doing so well.  Sounds like Dad’s Birthday month has gone well and that the day was fun and enjoyable.  I'll be there next year.  I love you all very much and pray you have a great first week back and the "routine" that all is going well as we kick off this next school year.

Love,

Elder Weaver

August 18, 2012 On our way to a Service Day with the District

A New Video of Elder Weaver & Ingersoll

The parents of Elder Ingersoll emailed us another new video of both Elder Weaver and Ingersoll singing and playing the violin.  This is the last performance they gave when their mission president went home.  The parents of Elder Weaver went to the home coming of their mission president and wife and happen to meet them and the parents of Elder Ingersoll.  We were all happy to meet.

I hope you enjoy the video like we did.  Click on the link below.

Click this: Elder Weaver & Ingersoll one last song before their mission president came home.

Wow! This Week Has Been The Best/Craziest Week Of My Mission!

August 14, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

Wow!  This week has been the best/craziest week of my mission!  We have been blessed to teach more lessons than I have ever before this last week.  Saturday Shanin Holland was baptized and the spirit was super strong.  She brought her mom and friend Amanda who are now taking the lessons and have baptismal dates in September.  What is interesting is to see how much more confident Shanin is now.  When we first started meeting she told us she would never "get up in front of everybody and talk about her testimony."  After she was baptized she bore her testimony of what she knew to be true and how she came to know it.   

August 11, 2013 Shanin Holland Baptism - Elder Romrell & Weaver

August 11, 2013 The Sisters with Shanin Holland

After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday she helped us teach her mom and friends and she taught principles and bore testimony with out any hesitation.  She is really coming to love young women’s and knows that they love and care for her.  It was a great Saturday and Sunday!   Also all four of us missionaries here were asked to speak at church on Sunday.  My topic was D&C section 4. This last Sunday were 23 either investigators or inactive members we have been working with here in the Ward who attended church on Sunday. The classes were full, and it was great to see so many of our brothers and sisters attend and are able to feel the Spirit with us.  In addition to speaking we sang the missionary medley as a musical number.  Then after church we all ran to a senior/disabled living center and did a musical devotional there.  Busy, busy, busy, I love it!

We have been so blessed to be able to serve here and have so many miracles occur.  We are planning on the baptism of Kaelon Moore on the 25th with the Arnett family who the sisters are teaching.  In our area the investigators we are currently teaching are Kaelon Moore (baptism this month) Lexi Billingham, John Kuhr, Nick Larsen, Daecha and Dennis Moore, Emilie Moore, Gary Cooper, Michelle Stuber (Shanins Mom), Amanda Martin (Shanins Friend), and Michael Stephensen (Shanins Cousin). They all have dates for September that they are working for, and the majority is looking very solid for being baptized next month.

I love you all and thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and love.  Have a fun, safe week.

Love,

Elder Weaver

August 13, 2012 District Meeting with Funky Glasses

August 14, 2013 P-Day with the Sisters

August 14, 2013 P-Day with the Sisters

How I Love This Work

August 6, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

How I love this work.  The spirit that we have had continues to grow and be with us.  Each of us missionaries in this Ward truly love those we are serving; members, investigators, less-active...anyone.  We have grown in our love for God and for those we serve and this has allowed us to grow in faith in order to witness many mighty miracles in our lives and especially in the lives of those we are teaching.  We have seen many tender mercies occur in our lives and especially the lives of our investigators and those preparing to go to the temple. Those who went to the temple on Friday were blessed greatly with the Spirit and are now excited to help and be involved with the next group who will be preparing to return in the coming months. They have become truly converted and are now looking to share this joy with others. Both our investigators and the Sisters have been richly blessed with many experiences of feeling the Spirit and are coming to know for themselves that these things are true and are sent from their loving Heavenly Father to bless the lives of them, their family, and their friends. We continually are seeking to identify where we as missionaries can improve and how we can better help our Brothers and Sisters here grow in Faith and feel the Spirit. The Ward Council and Bishopric are doing the same and it is marvelous the work that is being done as we seek to be united and take the spirit into the lives and homes of those we are meeting and coming to truly love. Much work yet to be done! We have some new things we have plans to work on with regards to retention now that we have many coming in and many returning. We are working with the Ward in order to achieve this and lay a solid foundation for growth for the future.  We have in our Ward right now about 10 preparing and progressing for baptism this month and several others preparing for September.  Powerful experiences have been happening in their lives, and I know much of it is because they have a desire to learn and a willingness to do the things necessary to receive answers.  They themselves have witnessed miracles and the Spirit is inviting and strengthening them to change. 

Shanin Holland will be baptized next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and is doing great.  She has examples in her life of those who are striving to live the Gospel and those who are not, and she has truly grown in her desire to follow Christ and do the things He has asked of us.  Kaelon Moore and Lexi Billingham are both progressing very well and are like sponges.  They retain everything so well and are understanding that they truly do have a loving Heavenly Father and that there is a plan for them to return to Him again.  Lexi is 16 and her parents are allowing her to meet with us but are against the church and her desire to join.  We are hoping to meet them and answer many of their questions and misconceptions about the church this next week.  We fasted and prayed for Lexi yesterday and especially for her parent’s hearts to soften and their minds to be open.  The incredible thing to is that Lexi did it with us, and then as we told the Ward Council yesterday Bishop Talbot invited all in attendance to include Lexi and her family in their fasts and prayers.  I love this Ward.  John Kuhr is a 51-year-old man who was found by the Sisters at a bus stop he thought he was supposed to be at.  He realized 20 minutes after meeting the Sisters that he was at the wrong bus station, a mistake he has never made before.  The Sisters met once briefly with him and found out that he lives in our area.  We met him the next day and he has truly been prepared and is ready to do all that his Father and Savior would have him do.  He keeps every commitment with exactness and takes notes and records of what he learns and the impressions and feelings he has.  Because of this the Spirit is truly teaching him.  He understands the principles with ease and accepts them instantly.  The Spirit is strong in every single one of our meetings.  He loved church yesterday, took notes, and was crying during some of the testimonies shared in church yesterday.  He is doing amazing, and understands that he will face trials but with God's help can conquer any of them.  What’s been great with each of them is they have a desire and are willing to share this with others.  The Sisters are teaching the Arnette Family who were former investigators.  They are ready this time.  They have had so many direct answers to prayers and so many spiritual experiences that they know these things are true.  They are all coming in together as an immediate family, extended family, and even friends and their families are wanting to learn and feel and experience the things that this family has been experiencing.  There are new people in the lessons there every week.  I can't express in words the miracles that have been occurring here, but I know that our God is a God of Miracles.  He loves us, and truly desires each and every one of us to know it. 

I truly hope you each have a wonderful week!!!  Crazy that school is about to start up again.  Good luck with all the preparations.  I love and pray for each of you every day.

Love,

Elder Weaver

August 5, 2012 Really Bad Thunder Storm Rolled Through