We Had A Baptism!

June 16, 2014

The Mission President Report:

Cleiton foi batizado!!! Ele tinha apoio do Presidente dos Rapazes e outros membros la também. Vamos continuar ensinando Sarah, Melissa, e Samuel. E nós vamos continuar encontrando novas pessoas a ensinar e batizar.

(Google Translation)

Cleiton was baptized! He had support from the President of the Boys and other members of her too. We will continue teaching Sarah, Melissa, and Samuel. And we will continue to find new people to teach and baptize.

Dear Family & Friends,

WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! Cleiton! I'll try and get the pictures from my companion. He has a lot I need to send to you.

President only mandated that we stay inside on the days of the games where Brasil is competing. We had our first game on Thursday...you should have seen it. It was nutz!! People were launching off fireworks after every goal (Brasil only had 3). We stayed inside all day that day. The rule was we had to be home 2 hours before the game and stay in until the end of the night. We all dressed up in our Brasil stuff and ate junk food. It was very fun! :) Our next game is tomorrow...MOM'S BIRTHDAY!!!...the 17th of June... ;) No, I didn't forget. 2 P-Days this week! :) Mom, tomorrow all of Brasil will celebrate your birthday with you :)

We also had a wonderful Zone Conference this Wednesday, and I got to see Elder Cervantes!!! He had 10 Baptisms this transfer! We were talking all about it. He is serving in Vila Velha right now...it's one of the Zones closest to ours. We talked for like 2 hours it was great! After the conference there's usually food and Soccer and Volleyball and other sports. It was also way fun! I also talked for a while with Elder Bybee. He is the best friend of Elder Holbrook, my trainer from Kansas. We swapped stories about all of the crazy things he has done!

I don't think he served a mission there, but he was an Area Seventy over South America for a while and so I believe he spent a lot of time in Brasil. I think he also oversaw the translation of the LDS version of The Holy Bible in Spanish, but I could be wrong on that one.

Jake's email address is: jacob.theriault@myldsmail.net

Wait, I thought this was your 29th Birthday...you must have done the math wrong! :)

Yes, I can certainly give you a shirt. My companion's Mom got me one, which will probably fit you. (Yes, I'll send her a thank you letter.)

Transfers are the 8th of July, but President leaves the 27th. President Araújo is from Fortaleza. I think this last Zone Conference was his party. His final remarks were, "Elders and Sisters I'm going to talk about something I always talk about with you: Baptism. The thing is this:...ah-uh.ahh......just baptize everyone! And if your new President gets here and says you shouldn't do that...just remember: I was never here!" He always had a sense of humor. I'll have to show you my imitation of him when I get home. He was pretty hilarious!

I am glad Nani got to see her friends!!! Hey do the Conover’s have any kids in Brasil? My mission? I thought I saw a missionary who looked like a Conover, but I could be mistaken...that's good you guys got to reunite. I am also glad to hear it felt strange being guests. I am so glad we live in Salem now. I tell everyone I am from Oregon, because THAT is my home. In Brasil they think it's weird because to them you are "from" where you were born and you can never change that, but in the US we have the privilege of reinventing ourselves. Salem is the place for our family right now.

I am glad to hear Dad got to do what He wanted. I am also glad we live in a country with that right. Here, it is against the law for citizens to bear arms. Bishop is a good pal. I hope he is continuing to bless the ward.

Yes, and remember the words of the Savior when He said that blessed are we when we are persecuted for His name's sake. I know how you feel.

Mom, I had a lady in Kansas tell me that Elder Evans and I are going straight to Hell. While in the very moment we each felt the Spirit testify to us that if we stay our current course, we would enter the Celestial Kingdom. Here, too, in Brasil we have been anointed with persecution. I will share with you the favorite scripture of my professor, Brother Rosemore from the MTC:

1 Nephi 19:9  And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE! Jesus Christ. HE is our perfect example in all things. I am so glad to as President Monson says, "Dare To Be a MORMON!" I love and admire all of you, so much! :)

Okay, I'll let you know when I get the package! Those are words of wisdom! :) Thank you for your thoughts. I will certainly, "GET REGULAR" this week! :)

Mom, You are an angel. And though we cannot embrace right now, I hope you feel my presence with you. WE, all of us, have been sealed in a family relationship that cannot be broken. Only through our own negligence or direct disobedience is that possible. But, I trust that as we continue keeping our covenants we will be together forever. God Always Makes Good On The Promises He Makes.

You and Dad were OUR missionaries. We learned the gospel from You. And You Invited Us To Be Baptized By Proper Priesthood Authority! :)

You Deserve Your Best Birthday Yet! :D

With all of the love in Kansas, Brasil, and the rest of the Universe,

Your Son,

Élder Weaver