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.

We Had A Great Week! Andreia & Rebeca Were Baptized!

November 3, 2014

Dear Family, (The Most Important Social Unit) and Friends,

Mission President Letter

Tivemos uma ótima semana! Andréia e Rebeca foram batizadas!!! (Aquele da Cervada) Elas têm respostas bem fortes do Evangelho. Essa semana eu vou trazer mais membros lá para integrar eles na Ala Cariacica. Foi um privilegio ter você e Sister Young lá! Esse sábado nós temos duas datas marcadas por Wilmax e Gezieu. Vamos trabalhar bem para realizar essas metas juntos com a ala.

Google Translation

We had a great week! Andreia and Rebecca were baptized !!! (That's Cervada) They have very strong responses to the Gospel. This week I'll bring more members to join them there in Ala Cariacica. It was a privilege to have you and Sister Young there! This Saturday we have two dates scheduled for Wilmax and Gezieu. We will work well together to accomplish these goals with the wing.

Thank You so much! I will get it all in ASAP! I was very pleased with the visit I had with President Young.

I am emailing from 10:30 our time. I am not sure how many hours separate us now. It's summer now, or will be soon they say.

Wow! I didn't know that Marisa got called to Boston! That's crazy! Everyone here has family in Boston. It's ridiculous. It makes no sense.

I am glad Halloween was swell for y'all! Halloween is also Elder Cervantes' Birthday!

Andréia and Rebeca

As you may have read, we had a baptism!!! Andréia and Rebeca! I took pictures this time and I'll send them in. They are really special. Andréia is the mom and Rebeca is her 8-year-old daughter. She is so great! When she learned about the Word of Wisdom she stopped drinking coffee immediately and started drinking Cervada (it's this substitute made of corn or wheat or something that many members drink here). She came to Church twice. We invited her to be baptized on Saturday during the first visit and she accepted! She loved the story of a boy with sincere questions who received answers and identified much with him. She has gone through hard times like all of us, but she has always sought Jesus Christ. She had always seen missionaries passing by her home (because it lies on the way to church) and she wanted to know what they do, but never asked. Elder Branco (my buddy from Colatina, last companion, and current Zone Leader) did an exchange with us one day and he decided to talk to her and Rebecca when we passed by their house. Her Facebook page is filled with posts from the church website and she watches conference talks after work. She also tells everyone at her work about her baptism and the church. She read parts of The Book of Mormon that we didn't even assign to her. She wants to be a Visiting Teacher soon. And she thinks it would be neat if Rebeca decides to serve a mission one day.

In other news Gisele and Pedro (my two friends who will marry soon in order to be baptized) moved to Marcilho. We helped with the move. It was a sad day for me, but I think it will be for the best. The ward there has more youth which will be a good support for my 3 recent converts Rafaela, Gabriel, and Laura.

Haha, that's good to know about Cathy and Nani! I'll come to them when my wife wants to decorate the house for the holidays.

That sounds like a wonderful activity! For Young Women in excellence, we did something similar with our District in the MTC. We found out much about one another, and grew to trust each other from this activity.  I like it when Dad shares that testimony. I am always reminded of the song "I Fall Asleep Counting My Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" from White Christmas. In Kansas, Sister Bell gave each of us a gratitude tablet (a notebook) and each day we write 3 things we are grateful for. I still use it, and reflect on it from time to time.

Thank you for that story. I have always been touched by that story. We watched it in the MTC. A video where President Hinkley recounts the tale, I would like a picture of that crossing in my home, one day, when I have a home of my own.

I Love You All So Much! I am anxiously awaiting the work we will do together for those on this side of the veil and on the other. This side of The Sweetwater Crossing and on the other. We will save ourselves with all our dead. And we cannot stop, until the work is done.

I will get everything in, I Promise.

The Savior Already Suffered The Atonement. He will never condemn us for coming to him. As Sister Bell once put it, he will say, "Thank You for coming to ME for help, and not some other source."

May we ever come to Him is my plea, prayer, and invitation,

For All Of Us,

Love, Your Sweetwater Son,

Élder Weaver