I Feel Like I Just Emailed You Yesterday!

October 29, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

So this week...I feel like I just emailed you yesterday.  I don't even know where this week went.  Crazy.  Well first things first.  You may have heard a big storm from the hurricane happening right now is hitting the eastern missions.  We are all-OK and are doing well.  We are reporting to our mission president how all the missionaries in the mission are doing periodically and have helped everyone prepare for a major storm.  We are supposed to have heavy rain and high winds from tonight through about Wednesday morning.  It hopefully will turn, but if not we are prepared.

So this weeks stories of the week are:  We met a man named Vincent.  I noticed his car out front and it seemed like an older persons car so I made mention of it to elder Metcalf.  He said to me, "Oh, well lets use a family history approach with them."  We walked up to the door and knocked and he answers and says, "I have been expecting someone, come on in."  Elder Metcalf and I look at each other and then walked on in.  Vince proceeds to tell us he is on familysearch.org all the time and fills out the surveys he sends him.  He said, "I figured they'd be sending someone out here soon."  We let him know that was what we were planning on talking with him about, but that we had no contact information to come and visit him.  Ha Ha we had a good laugh as we talked about this with him and had a great opportunity to share much of the restoration with him.  We are meeting with him again and taking him to the family history center at our church building this next Thursday.  Another lady we met this week is named Cheryl.  She has a great faith in Christ and says she has read the bible 14 times and the Koran and has always wanted to read the Book of Mormon but never knew how to get one.  We gave her one and talked for a little bit about it and just asked yesterday when we gave her a tour of our church building how far she is.  She is just getting into 2 Nephi and has enjoyed what she has read.  We are meeting with her again on Thursday as well.

Sorry this week is so short.  We have a bunch of things to get done in preparation for mission council, trainers meeting, upcoming transfers, and our zone conferences.  I will write to you all again next week.

Love,

Elder Weaver

What A Quick Week; It Doesn't Slow Down

October 22, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

What a quick week, I was always thinking that Friday was Thursday and Saturday Friday.  It doesn't slow down. 

 We had a finding week for sure with many member lessons, recent convert/less active visits, and contacting. We found a couple potential families throughout this week through these efforts. One is named Sam, Elder Burch (Elder I was on exchange with) and I knocked on her door and just invited her to basically learn more about Jesus Christ and His teachings and she said she would really like that. We emphasized the family and how the gospel will bless them as they learn. Elder Metcalf went by again on a separate exchange and talked with her about primary and the primary program this next week. Sam asked her daughter if she would like that and her daughter excitedly said yes. Another family we met lives next door to members in the ward. We arrived 20 minutes early to the member’s home for dinner and decided to contact some of the neighbors. Their neighbor was outside raking leaves with his wife and daughter. We started talking with them about the church and they expressed how they are looking for a church and would be interested in checking out ours. They didn't understand quite what we do as missionaries and weren't into meeting with us yet, but when we invited them to the chili cook off on Friday and the primary program on Sunday they said they would be interested in coming to those. We talked with the members after and he said he would follow up with them and see if he could get work off to go with them. They would be great fellowship for this family. Both are very friendly and I think if we can work through the member family, this family will want to meet with us in the near future.  Kevin has had quite a bit of anti come his way and is debating meeting with us.  He hasn't dropped us, but we hopefully will be able to get over there again and help him feel and identify the spirit again.  Scott has been super busy with work and we have not been able to meet with them.  They sound like they are doing well; he is just working tons of hours right now.  Praying for an opportunity to meet with them again soon.

  

Thank you for sending me some of the spiritual experiences you have had this past week.  I enjoyed reading them and learning from your testimonies. 

I sure love each of you and pray you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Weaver

Have You Had Any Opportunity To Share The Gospel This Week?

October 15, 2012

Dear Family & Friends

  

Before I start talking about a couple of things from this past week I wanted to ask you all if you had any experiences or opportunities to share the Gospel this week?  Or did you have any spiritual experiences that stood out to you?

This last week we received a media referral from Mormon.org requesting a Book of Mormon and a missionary visit from a man named Kevin.  He is 25 and had a desire to find out what we believed.  He has heard all sorts of things about our "practices" but wanted to find out what it was that we believed.  As we met with him he expressed this and then proceeded to tell us how he wanted to know what his purpose in life was.  He has made many changes throughout his life and is looking for something more.  As we met with him and shared some things about the Gospel, families, and the church he expressed, "I want what you two have."  A strong spirit was felt that day in his home.  He accepted to read the Book of Mormon and to meet with us to find out if this is true and if he can find the peace and happiness that we talked with him about.  We assured him it was here and bore testimony that this Gospel would bless him and his family immensely.  They are out there.  Prepared sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father who want what we have so much, but simply do not know where to find it.  How blessed I am to have been able to share some of it with Kevin this week.  I pray we may each be worthy and ready to share the Gospel with our brothers and sisters.  What a joy it is to be part of this great work. 

William received the Aaronic Priesthood to the office of a Priest yesterday.  He just glowed once again.  He came out to a few appointments with us later yesterday afternoon and is really liking sharing and teaching the Gospel with us.  He was up for tracting, member lessons, teaching investigators, etc.  He loves to share the Gospel.  That’s the promise in the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the Gospel will increase." (PMG pg. 2)  He has felt the atonement in his life and has a great desire to share it.  A mini mission was once talked about with him awhile ago, and he brought it up again 2 days ago saying, "Can we still do that mini mission thing?"  He is doing great!

This transfer is clipping by, already about half way into the transfer.  Loving the time here serving with Elder Metcalf.

I hope you all are having a fabulous week.  I love and pray for you all each day. 

Love,

Elder Weaver

What A Wonderful Past Weekend of Conferences

October 8, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

What a wonderful past weekend this has been to enjoy General Conference.  I love being edified and instructed by the Spirit through those who have authority and power given them from God to deliver His messages.  Let us all seek to take these teachings and allow them to purify our thoughts, actions, hearts, and souls.  One great teaching from President Monson in the first 5 minutes of conference, "There's room for improvement. "How true this is.  Let us humbly seek for what God would have us improve upon next and boldly take action in bringing our lives in harmony with the Saviors.  Let us have the attitude to joyfully apply the atonement in our lives, allowing it to transform us into what we can become. So much depends upon our attitude.  We cannot allow Satan to tell us we can't do it.  Another of my favorite teachings from conference came from a couple sources.  It started with part of a companionship study concerning thoughts and thought processes.  It continued with President Monson’s address on listening and following the Spirit and some teachings of David A. Bednar in recent years.  As we follow the counsel in Moroni 7:13 and act on any promptings and thoughts that "invite and entice to do good...to love God, and to serve him, "We can know of assuredly that it is from God.  As we follow and fulfill those promptings, God will trust us to bless the lives of many of His children, which is in reality a blessing to us.  As we keep our covenants and take upon ourselves the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments we will receive these promptings and it will be our great privilege to have the Spirit more abundantly in our lives. Having these thoughts and acting upon them will be a great force in purifying us, as the Spirit is able to work undaunted through us.

So this last week we had our Mission Council with President and the Zone Leaders of the Mission.  We focused on obedience and how to use the Book of Mormon more effectively in conversion.  Obedience qualifies us for the spirit and the "Book of Mormon, combined with the spirit is (our) most powerful resource in conversion." (PMG pg.104).  It was a great revelatory meeting as we counseled together and decided the best way to train the mission this month.  Later in the week we had our new missionaries from this past transfer and their trainers come for a training meeting.  We had a great meeting and went over some key principles and training for new missionaries.  We then had a great time going to down town Cleveland and do some contacting.  Twenty missionaries total went to downtown Cleveland on the day that President Obama was there as well.  We all had lots of people to talk to.  While talking to a 19 year old young man named Dayquan a woman walked up and said, "Hi, I’m a member of their church.  If you need a ride to church sometime feel free to give me a call."  She then gave him a pass-along card with her name and number.  Member missionary? Check!  Later we talked to a young woman from India who had just moved here a month and a half ago.  When we introduced ourselves I told her we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a Christian faith, and that we help people learn about Him and His teachings.  She said, "Oh!  Can I join your church?"  We said, "Yes of course!" and explained how she could come to know what we share is true and what she will do in preparation to join the church.  She was excited to begin meeting with missionaries.  

On Sunday nights we collect our mission indicators information for the week (number of lessons, people to church, etc.) and then Monday mornings we come and email this information and announcements out to the Stakes, the mission and prepare a report to President Vellinga for his staff meeting at 9:30 Monday mornings.  Usually we would be gearing up for some more meetings for the month, but due to how October fell we don't have too many crazy things going on so we will have a good 2 or so weeks to really work hard in our own area. 

  

With the new age changes for Elders and Sisters I think it is both exciting and will be a new adjustment.  Training will be a little different here in the mission and a transition will be taking place over the next couple years.  I thought about if the church had done this a couple years ago I would have gotten back this past June...that’s nuts!  

I pretty much will have a job when I get home.  Sister Bell, from my last area, works at Poll Sound in St. George.  They do the sound at Tuacahn, concerts all over, the sound at the conference center, etc. etc.  She's worked there for several years and is being hired back on when she gets home. She was telling me about it before we all got transferred from Lima and it sounds like a great job to have when I get home.  It's right up my alley!  You work from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm most days of the week unless you have overtime.  Sister Bell also told me about other part time jobs that she works in theatre after 3:00 pm on those days as well.  She has helped other missionaries in the past get hired there so she wrote her boss about me a couple weeks ago.  Here boss said he loved the prospect of having two great workers on his team next summer.  So...there are some other details, but I am thinking I will potentially be moving down there fairly soon after getting home next June.  We will talk more as time gets closer, but I have a pretty good feeling about the way things have worked out with it.  I feel the spirit about it and feel it will be good to go work there for a year before the next year’s auditions at Weber State for scholarships since I'll miss both entry opportunities before getting home.  I've worked out some quick budget sheets a couple weeks ago and I think that this will work well. 

Miracles of the week:  William was baptized the weekend before I got here.  He has some trouble getting jobs and any work due to some past history.  A miracle occurred as he has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon. We were talking with a part  member family and setting up an appointment to teach the husband and the 8-year-old daughter.  The husband heard there was a baptism at the church.  We told him about William and he said,"Oh really? I recently fired a guy at my car detailing company."  We then talked about bringing him to our next teaching appointment.  He agreed and wanted to interview him.  We went to the appointment and taught about the Atonement and how that could help him overcome smoking, something William had recently done.  William bore his testimony and it touched this mans heart and he set a baptismal date for this next November. His name is Scott.  Scott after the appointment interviewed William and hired him that night despite his past.  William is now working 40+ hours down at Scotts Company.  Amazing what God does in His time. 

Another miracle is Alesha a young member who is returning to activity.  She has had a hard time deciding to join the Air Force or not.  She said she has always had a hard time seeking answers from God.  We talked about revelation and different ways we can receive it.  We emphasized conference this last weekend and she was excited to watch and seek an answer to her question. After the first session she texted a message to thank us for helping her receive her answer that she received during the first session of conference.  We asked what her answer was and how it came.  She said President Monson announcing the new mission ages for women and then Russell M. Nelson's talk on missionaries.  She has decided to serve the Lord as a missionary! 

I love this work.  I love you all very much.  I pray and hope you have a great week

Love,

Elder Weaver

Assistant to the President Call Letter

What A Week As An Assistant

October 1, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

What a week!  First things first...Elder Crosland, a great Elder took my place in Lima and they had a great baptism of Michelle and Amanda!  They were doing well before I left and I am excited to see them continue to progress and do well.  I chose not to go out for the baptism for a couple reasons.  It was for the best.  First it takes 3 hours to get there, second I wanted the Lima Ward to get to know Elder Crosland and not be focused on seeing me again, and third I knew it was a well planned baptism and would go well no matter what.  But I was there in spirit!

As far as assistant responsibilities we have many training meetings, leadership meetings, recording and reporting, and a responsibility to lift and inspire.  It's a humbling experience that I am so grateful I am able to experience and grow in.  The Lord and His atoning sacrifice have strengthened me this last week as I have turned to Him.  It is going well here and I am looking forward to the next couple months!

My new address for mail will be the mission office: 2070 West 117th Street, Cleveland, OH 44111. 

So Elder Benjamin Ford Metcalf...great Elder that I have known since the days of the MTC.  He served with Elder Prince (also from our MTC team) as an assistant for the last 4 1/2 months.  We love this time we have to serve together!  Elder Metcalf is from Boise, Idaho.  He actually went to High School with Elder Ingersoll and they played basketball together in High School.  He enjoys missionary work, baptizing, confirming, tracting...before the mission he enjoyed running, reading, writing, history, a good cheeseburger, basketball, BYU sports, JIMMER FAN, loves a Greek gyro.  He went to BYU for a year before his mission.  He reminds me of a cross between of my cousin Austin Weaver and my friend Matt Roundy together.  If you meet him you will know what I mean.  I love being able to serve with so many wonderful people and getting to see the miracles occur across the mission.

  

I am sure excited for General conference this next week.  The opportunity that we have to be strengthened, to remember and reflect, to prepare, to seek for revelation and apply it to life and our callings and assignments, a chance to repent and come closer to our Father in Heaven.  All things that we can receive as we listen to the word of God from those who are called to represent Him.  How grateful I am to know that we have living Prophets and Apostles who have authority and power given them to lead and guide us.  I am grateful for their sacrifices and their worthiness to hold and magnify their callings.  Listen carefully to their messages, remember and apply what the spirit speaks to each of us and we will experience a greater joy and peace in our daily lives.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  I look forward to your letters next week.  Love you all bunches!

Love,

Elder Weaver