It Was So Good To See All Of You One Last Time On Skype!

December 29, 2014

Dear Familía & Friends,

It was so good to see all of you one last time on the Skype ;) For, the next time will be in person :)

Mission President Letter

Joaquim foi confirmado e ele falou como ele sentiu O Santo Espírito do Senhor descer sobre ele. A gente vai focalizar bastante em achar novos pesquisadores. E aqueles que nós temos vamos ajudar eles a cumprirem os compromissos deles. Esse Domingo Everton e Ana devem estar na Reunião Sacramental.

Google Translation

Joaquim was confirmed and he spoke as he felt the Spirit of the Holy Ghost descending upon him. We will focus rather on finding new researchers. And those that we have we will help them to fulfill their commitments. This Sunday Everton and Ana should be in Sacrament Meeting.

It was good to talk it all out with you guys! There aren't any other people I trust as much as the members of my family! :) You really are THE BEST!

I ended up speaking on Genesis 22 and the great sacrifice that Abraham made of his son Isaac. It didn't seek in before, but I learned that Moriah, the land where that sacrifice was made, is the same place where Jesus Christ was Crucified (Golgotha). The name only changed because of the great difference in time. Each of us should make a sacrifice to show our love for God this New Year!

We have to go home at 7 o clock, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!

Yes! I loved to see Ashley as well. That was a once in a lifetime experience! :)  I am so glad you got to see Grandma and Grandpa! Please send them my Love! I hope to see them soon, too!

And send Josh my Love. I have been praying for him. I Love him.

I hope Allison Loves it! She will. This is good. As Angels and Airwaves once put it, "...sometimes it comes with a Shove..." :) Allison will thank you for all of your tender nudging down the road, because that is your purpose as parents. To set your children on a course that will lead them back to their Heavenly Father. Bishop Porter told me that once.  And thank you for your help on setting goals! I will certainly apply this to 2015! This year will be the best one yet!

I Love each of you so much. And boy do I have stories to tell you when I get back. As Gadalf said, "You'll have a tail or two to tell by the time you come back."

Bilbo, "But you never promised that I would come back."

Gandalf, "No, and if you do...you will NOT be the same!" :)

You have probably noticed, but...

I am not the same.

Not completely.

Love,

Elder Weaver

Transfers Was This Week, But Everyone Stayed!!!

December 15, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Mission President Letter:

Dayene, Dayara, Chayene, Shayara, Isabela, e Joacim estavam na Igreja!!! Joacim vai ser batizado esse Domingo e nós vamos convidar Iago ser batizado esse Domingo também! Eu amo ver os filhos de Pai Celestial arrependendo para ser batizados. Nós estamos muitos animados para batizar essa transferência!

Goggle Translation:

Dayene, Dayara, Chayene, Shayara, Isabela, and Joacim were in the Church! Joacim will be baptized this Sunday and we will invite Iago to be baptized this Sunday too! I love to see Heavenly Father's children to be baptized and repenting. We are very excited to baptize this transfer!

So, Transfers was this week, but everyone stayed!!! I get to train still. And Elder Bean is a great District Leader.

Yay! I Love That Movie!!! I got a letter from the Potts! Please thank them for me! I need to reply today to them. And I am glad you got to join in the rescue. We are all dear to the heart of The Shepherd.

This Sunday the Elders Quorum President asked what Christmas traditions we had to remember the Savior, and I talked about how my mother always put Nativities throughout the house and Dad would read the passage in Luke about The Birth.

What a wonderful opportunity you had to juxtapose two very different Christmas events. How bright is the contrast between a work Christmas party and a Christmas Activity of the Church! We also had a Zone Christmas Party, which was awesome. I got sunburned! hahaha playing volleyball. We watched an adorable video of these Brazilian children re-enacting the nativity story. I'll have to send you the link.

Also, Pedro and Gisele held their Wedding Reception at the Church. There was a huge turnout. People from out of state came including her parents. And I even got to speak English with some dude from England. We took pictures, which are on her camera so; I'll forward them as soon as I can. Everything was perfect! I didn't get to sing like they wanted because the microphone wasn't working...saved by the bell! Haha. But seriously it was awesome! Gisele told me in 1 year they will go to the temple to be sealed as a family. They invited me to attend if at all possible. I Love fading into the background to notice how the gospel transforms people's lives. We really did nothing. We just invited. They were the ones who made the changes and it was The Savior who atoned for them.

Hahaha, oh Dad. I'm glad you guys got a visit from a Seventy! Yeah, Sundays offer a different sort of work than the rest of the week.

You got it! I'll try and shop for a Presépio today!

As for now the plan is to spend Christmas at Acassio's. We will probably Skype from there after lunch about 2 a clock our time, but I am not sure. Is it possible for Ashley and I to speak with each other? If you know her schedule please let me know! :)

Thank you for your kind words.  I am just trying to do The Will of The Lord.

I am not sure what will happen, but I hope you know that whatever happens, my only desire in all of these things I've done has been to bring honor to My Heavenly Father, second to my family, and then to the Stake which I represent which is the Salem, Oregon Stake.

Merry Christmas,

Love,

Élder Weaver

This Week Was Great!

December 8, 2014

Dear Família & Friends,

Mission President Letter

Obrigado por suas respostas! Essa semana foi ótima! Joacim estava na Igreja e ele tem um data por batismo dia 14! Vamos tentar marcar uma data com Iago também que estava esse Domingo. A maioria dos outros que estavam na Igreja infelizmente não são casados legalmente. Vamos trabalhar para a caramba! 

Google Translation

Thanks for your answers. This week was great! Joacim was in church and he has a date for baptism on the 14th! We will try to arrange a date with Iago also this Sunday. Most others who were in the Church unfortunately are not legally married. We will work to hard!

Yes! I can. Sister Young collects Nativities like you do, so she might know where to find one. She Loved the Wise Men tie you gave me by the way! Thank You :)

I did! We have new pass-along cards with the link to He Is The Gift, and that's been working out pretty well.

Thank you for sending that to Jake for me!

No! I missed it, but I'll download The Christmas Devotional and so I'll listen to it later!!

We had 7 investigators at church this week! I think it was my record. One of them has a baptismal date marked for next week! He is an old man named Joacim and he is sweet.

Your comments remind me of what I read in Alma 26 today:

 5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did   ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall   be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

 6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day;  yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their  place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall  they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth  to carry them.

 7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

I especially LOVE verse 7. Our recent converts are a precious priority. President Hinckley once spoke of how they need 3 things: 1. A Friend, 2. A Responsibility, and 3. Nourished in The Good Word of God. We truly need to take care of all of them. That they might "go no more out" (Alma 7:25).

I believe it. I can tell, just through the emails, that Allison is changed.

We were born in a good country.

Thank YOU for your scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 21. I was called upon serious reflection...

This Christmas Season we really should focus more on the Savior.

Yesterday, after teaching 3 lessons in a row with our awesome Ward Mission Leader, Acássio, we were talking about how wonderful the teachings of The Savior are. How He taught simply, and firmly, yet many did not or would not understand. But He kept His course. For instance, when speaking to the Jews He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19) They thought He was talking about the temple structure, but in reality He was referring to His Body as a Temple, and how after 3 days He would be Resurrected. Or when the Jews claimed superiority to other people due to their direct lineage to Abraham and their "rights" to the Covenant established with him. Jesus replied, "Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58) The Hebrew name Jehovah means "I am" or "The self-existent one", or in other words, here Jesus The Christ taught that He was "the great I am" who conversed with Moses. Or when He was tried before a corrupt nation and when questioned He kept His peace. Like the centurion present at the Crucifixion we know that, "Truly this man is The Son of God" (Mark 15:39).

Brother Johnson is sweet! I always loved his gospel principles class. As a missionary I have learned a lot about how to teach.

I am glad you got to watch White Christmas. I Love that movie. Also, the church website has "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens available for download. I may listen to it to invite the season; Allison might like to know this as well. I am dreaming of a White Christmas. Not in snow...that would be a little unrealistic here, but in white in Baptisms. Gisele and Pedro were finally married and baptized...the same day. I will send pictures as soon as I get them!

Merry Christmas!

I Love You All!

Feliz Natal!

Élder Weaver

Our Week Was Great!

December 1, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Mission President Letter

Nossa semana foi ótima! Encontramos a família de Josélia (uma menos ativa) na qual Wenderson não foi batizado! Também marcamos datas com Gezieu e Washington. Nós estamos achando bastante novos. Michael também tem muito potencial. Vamos trabalhar muito para realizar essas metas.

Google Translation

Our week was great! We found the family Josélia (a less active) in which Wenderson was not baptized! Also mark dates with Gezieu and Washington. We are finding quite new. Michael also has a lot of potential. We will work hard to achieve these goals.

I am so sorry! I just couldn't wait ;) But thank you. The only present I want on Christmas is to speak with all of you.  And of course, helping others receive of baptism would be wonderful. I am dreaming of a "White Christmas", if you know what I'm sayin'! :)

I am glad that you got to visit everyone! I hope Thanksgiving was edifying. I am grateful you live in a country where holidays like that are still celebrated.

As always, I will pray for Josh.

I love our family. It isn't always that we get to see each other. Thanks for the pictures from Ashley!

I have so many goals to share with y'all when I get home. 

Your thoughts remind me of one of my scriptures from a favorite chapter of The Book of Mormon

" 15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the  scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my  soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

 16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."  2 Nephi 15-16

Thank you for your quote from the marvelous Marvin J. Ashton!!! I actually received that quote one year in seminary! It helps a lot to know of all the gifts of God!  I, too, have a quote from Elder Marvin J. Ashton to share, "A True Friend is one who is willing to take us the way we are but is still able to leave us BETTER than he found us."

No matter what happens, I just want all of you to know that all I intended from my service as a missionary was to bring honor to first My Heavenly Father, then to my Family, and thirdly to the Stake in which I represent (which in my case is the magnificent Salem Oregon Stake in Zion).

I Love You All!

'Till Next Time,

Élder Weaver

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Letter To Mission President

Essa semana a gente foi protegido muito do mão do senhor. Membros e missionários na aula Cariacica trabalhavam juntos para ensinar nossa pesquisadora Brenda. Temos a meta de batizar ela depois a Igreja no Domingo que vem. Eu estou muito feliz pelo batismo de Pedro e Gisele dia 4 de Dezembro! Eu nunca tinha um pesquisador que marcou o próprio reunião batismal deles! Eles são bem especiais. E eu estou feliz a ver Élder Ferreira de novo. Washington e Damiana foram na Igreja também e vamos marcar uma data por eles essa semana!

Google Translation

This week we were protected much of the Lord's hand. Members and missionaries in Cariacica class worked together to teach our researcher Brenda. We have the goal of baptizing her after church on Sunday next. I'm very happy for the baptism of Peter and Gisele December 4! I never had a researcher who scored the own baptismal theme! They are very special. And I'm happy to see Elder Ferreira again. Washington and Damiana were also in the Church and we set a date for them this week!

His new companions name is Elder Barros (Bah-Hooz).  

Acassio! He is stellar! We had a good meeting with him and Bishop yesterday. He knows what it's like to serve a mission and so he knows how to meet our needs in coordination with the ward. He's like me; he talks like an old man sometimes. His wife is really nice too. She calls herself my "black mom" hahaha.

It's funny you should mention that. We have new pass-along cards that say, "He is the Present" with a picture of The Savior. And Elder Bessa goes up to people and says, "Hey have you received a present yet today? No, well here's one just for you..."

Our Sacrament meeting was good too. Washington showed up at the last second even though he was really tired. It was nice to get to partake of the Sacrament this week.

Oh, Mother. Thank you for your kind words. I too, am touched by the story of the Brother of Jared. The Lord could have made any way for them to get to the Promised Land, He could have invented an airplane, He could have parted the ocean, but He chose to send them through a stormy sea with light in their barges and all this to test their faith.  "Off to the rescue we'll hasten..."

I received your package! Thank you so much! The Mint Oreos are already gone ;) The gummy bears and cinnamon bears are still there, but not for long. I LOVE the CD from Vocal Point. They added another verse to "Danny Boy" that is not included in the original. It is way good. I appreciate all you do to support the Lord’s work and me. Sometimes I wish I knew just how to show my gratitude.

The Ensigns have also been a great source of study and spiritual nourishment.  Sadly, I need to go, but may His Spirit be with and bless you this week, and forever.

Love,

Élder Weaver

And thank you so much for the package!!!

These should be some familiar faces!

My friends from Colatina.

Elder Branco is still my Zone Leader

and I see him almost every day!

And Sister Benítez is training now as well!    

My New Companion Is Great! I'm Training Again.

November 17, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Mission President Letter

Muito Obrigado por sua ajuda e confiança em mim! Élder Barros é um ótimo missionário e ele está ajustando bem para a vida missionária. Ele ensina bem e com O Espírito Santo. Ele aplica muitos dos princípios que ele aprendeu no CTM.

Nós estamos ensinando Brenda e espero marcar a data do batismo dela por dia 29 de Novembro. Nós vamos achar e ensinar muitos novos pessoas esses dias.

Google Translation

Thank you very much for your help and trust in me! Elder Barros is a great missionary and he is adjusting well to the missionary life. He teaches well and with the Holy Spirit. He applies many of the principles he learned at the MTC.  We're teaching Brenda and hopefully mark the date of her baptism on 29 November. We'll find and teach many young people these days.

My new companion is great! He is from Recife. And he's brand new. I'm training again. We'll see if I get to stick with this one for the full 2 transfers or not! Hahaha. Elder Johnson taught me a lot, even if it was just one transfer that I trained him. Elder Ferreira went to Colatina, my last area and I know he'll like it there. Don't forget to let me tell you about Colatina.

I think I've mentioned this before, but I really Love our Ward Mission Leader, Acassio. He is THE MAN. Ward Council was good yesterday, many new leadership callings were extended and Bishop is way animated.

REALLY?!?!?!, now the wait. OH BYU I LOVE YOU! I really hope I get in! :)

Thank you for all of your HELP :) and for giving birth to me and raising me.

I'm glad you guys got to reunite in the 'Zona! Aunt Sandi always sends me the funniest cards and pictures! I Love her. She needs to meet my old investigator, Sister Harris. They are a lot alike! She calls herself "a nut".

I hope you get the work you are looking for. It's funny you should use that word, because I was reading in Alma 12 today about how our life is a probationary period. Hang in there, it'll all work out.

I can't wait to spend an Oregon Winter with all of you.  I am so glad we have a temple so close to us. The people here have to travel about 12 hours or more to São Paulo in order to reach the Temple in Campina. It's a beautiful structure. I'll go inside someday.

If you ever get a chance to watch the Church video "Between Heaven And Earth" you should! Sister Romney talks about how the temple is like our light in the neighborhood! My planner has the Kansas City Missouri Temple as a cover!

We had a chance to hear from a Seventy, Elder Mazzagardi. He shared his conversion story with us. He also told us how the Lord doesn't just forgive our sins, but He actually has the power to take the sin from us and He puts its weight upon Himself because of His marvelous forgiveness and Love for us.

Thank You for your thoughts from our Beloved President Uchtdorf who onetime said he was afraid to speak English, but is now blessing the lives of millions the world over in his effort to share his testimony. He is a good example of not being afraid to share light.

I have been thinking a lot about y'all.

Every step we conquering go.

Rest on. You deserve it. And send my Love to as much as you can.

One Day It Will All Come Together,

Love,

Élder Weaver

D&C 130:2

I Was Very Happy To Have New People In Church This Week!

November 10, 2014

Dear Família & Friends,

Mission President Letter

Nossa semana! Eu fui muito feliz para ter novas pessoas na Igreja. Conseguimos marcar datas com duas delas (Com Brenda e Willian) por esse Domingo. Vamos tentar marcar com os outros essa semana. Também eu sou feliz para ouvir de Élder Mazzagardi. Eu sou muito animado por essa nova transferência! Eu amo minha Cariacica.

Google Translation

Our week! I was very happy to have new people in the church. I managed to score dates with two of them (Brenda and William) for that Sunday. Let's try to score with others this week. I am also happy to hear from Elder Mazzagardi. I am very excited by this new transfer! I love my Cariacica.

Bahahahaha! Cute picture! I Love it!

Well transfers have rolled around again, and I'm staying! My good companion, Elder Ferreira will be transferred. I Love Him.

That's sweet Elder Andersen came to Stake Conference! He came in person or it was a transmission?

Haha. That's a funny story. Yeah, I heard the Temple in São Paulo was the first one in South America.

It is wonderful. When we get the chance to baptize unto repentance. Once they have developed faith and repented, nothing impedes them to enter in by the gate. That was a neat baptism because the daughter asked to go first and then she waited on the steps and watched as her mom was baptized as well.

I do Love the people I teach. They are each different. And have unique life experiences.

Yeah, it's easy to feel lonely sometimes. I just remember that I have thousands of other missionaries around me serving our tiny world. And there are perhaps even more Missionary Moms who lend support to each other and those around them. I hope this experience will bring us closer to our Father in Heaven.

That sounds like it was a special meeting. We thank the Lord for a prophet. I am glad they worry about even us in little old Oregon.

And that is good news to hear about Emma and the other missionary returned from Slovakia.

I only had a few moments to speak with President Wilder. But of those few, I could see that he is a man of God. I am glad the Lord has put shepherds over us to watch and remind us of the only true way to the Father, even the Son, Jesus The Christ.

Your thoughts remind me of a hymn I came to Love in Kansas. It rests in our hymnal under the appellation, "We Are Sowing". It was sung at a Stake Conference there. This song holds both literal and spiritual application for those who live there.

I was also pleased to see that the Church will participate in a religious gathering at The Vatican to speak out on the importance of marriage and The Family.

I Love that part of Alma!!! The scriptures lift us up from the blues. I Love how President Packer once spoke on how sometimes it doesn't always matter what we study just that we study. For instance, said he, just open The Book of Mormon and start to read! You will feel the Spirit in your life.

Yay! Angels & Airwaves!!! :) I have some new music I picked up on my mission to show you guys too! There's a church band called "The Lower Lights" that do renditions of hymns! It's wayyy groovy. They got their name from the song, "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"..."...let the Lower Lights be burning...send a gleam across the wave..."

I Luv You more than Butterscotch Loves to drool! Send that widdle guy my wuv pweeez!

I'm sorry this is short, I will have to make a trip to Vitória to get some things ready for transfers, but know that I Love You All!

From Brazil With Love,

Élder Weaver

P.S. My Testimony Experience This Week

So, I had a neat experience this week. I was teaching a lady who did not believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected, or at least not in the traditional sense. She had been taught that His Spirit went through a "change" but not that he re-entered His mortal body to a glorified, perfected state. Imagine trying to teach this in Portuguese. I was not there in the tomb. I have not thrusted my hands into His side or over His hands and feet as Thomas did, but I know that He was Resurrected. I gained a stronger testimony through teaching this woman. I KNOW. "For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39) were His own words. But I know simply because The Spirit made it known unto me. As was told to Peter, Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto me but my Father who is in Heaven. (See Matthew 16:16-17) I Love each of you, and I just felt I needed to bear testimony of this particular doctrine.