I Got To Baptize Wiliane!

May 5, 2014

Família & Friends,

The Mission President Report:

Wiliane foi batizada esta semana! Ela foi muito preparada. A ala apoia ela muito, especialmente os missionários da ala e a presidenta das moças. Vamos continuar ensinar os primos dela e encontrar novas pessoas a batizar em nossa nova bairro "Praia de Carapebus". Obrigado por tudo!

(Google Translation)

Wiliane was baptized this week! She was very prepared. The ward supports it too, especially the ward missionaries and the president of the girls. We will continue to teach her ​​cousins ​​and find new people to baptize in our new neighborhood "Beach Carapebus". Thanks for everything!

Okay, Presidente Araújo told me that he has not authorized Google Hangout, sadly :( Desculpa! He has only authorized Skype. So please use Dad's Skype "kc7mjk" because this is the one I will call. But if there's a problem, it might not be a bad idea to log on to Allison's Skype so I can call her as backup. What we can do is I'll call you on Skype on Dad's iPad or a computer or something and you can call Ashley on Google Hangout on another computer and have us face each other so you can talk to both of us at the same time! I'm sorry, I know this is really techy but if you need help, I'm sure Allison can help you guys out! :) I will be calling at around 4 o clock in the afternoon, Sunday, The 11th of May, Mother's Day :), Serra time. If this changes, I will have a member email you to notify you at kdaaab@gmail.com. I'm sorry we couldn't do it the way you guys wanted, but I Love You, and I'm just glad I can talk to you!

As you read above, I got to baptize Wiliane! That was a neat experience, and I will give you all of the details on Mother's Day. My investigator, Nadir, said, the other day, "What is this?! Every day is Mother's Day, isn't it?!?!?!" Hahaha. I agree with Her :)

I'm so glad to hear Jessica is going to the MTC!!! Please send her my Love. She was there, with Grandma and Grandpa when I prepared to enter that Holy Ground. I Love our family. Congrats to Shawn! Honolulu will never be the same. I'm so glad to hear you had an uplifting experience at Women's Conference. The family’s looks lovely and please send them my Love. Also, thank you for looking into that at BYU for me! That is my dream, to go to school there. It might be a little difficult to do the application here, because our mission President only authorizes 1 hour of computer time a week, whether that is emailing family or not. But maybe we will get more time when President Young gets here. I don't know, but if the rule stays the same, maybe I can just send y'all a quick email one P-Day in November and use the rest of the time for the application. I'll work it out, but Thank You So Much!

I am so glad to hear that Jake and Laura Jones stopped by! I made an entry in my study journal about them the other day. They are very special to me. Did you know that Jake, too, served a mission in Brasil? And so did Nate Theriault and they were home teaching companions for a little bit before Nate left on His mission. I am glad to hear that Sister Jones is maintaining her health and I hope the diabetes resolves itself. Thank You, Mom, for paying for my piano lessons. I am so Sorry I did not always practice, but I learned a lot from the Jones's, whether it was technical piano skills or spiritual things, I was always uplifted in their home. And I continue my practice when I can in the Capela here in Brasil ! :)

I Love my companion, Elder M. Silva. In the District 2, Elder Tuituu says how he felt like Elder Murray was a companion he could trust who helps him work his best. That is how my companion is. Pedro, our Ward Mission Leader is very helpful. We get fed a lot!!! This area is one of the most supportive in the mission from what I hear. Yeah! When you find that song by Janice Kapp Perry please let me know!

Here is a poem Sister Tenney (a missionary from Kansas who also got her Visa to go to Brasil) received and shared with me. It is very applicable to missionary work, and life, and I think you'll like it:

Mission...

A mission is a strange experience.

It is a trial & a test.

A mission throws you the worst

Yet, teaches you the best.

I've never been so happy.

I've never been so depressed.

I've never felt so forsaken,

I've never been so blessed.

I've never been so confused,

Things have never been so clear.

I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant,

He's never been so near.

I've never been so discouraged,

I've never been so full of hope.

I feel like I could go on forever,

I think I've come to the end of my rope.

I've never had it quite so easy,

I've never had it quite so tough.

Things have never been so smooth,

Things have never been so rough.

I've never travelled through more valleys,

I've never ascended more peaks.

I've never met so many nice people,

I've never met so many freaks!

I've never had so many ups

I've never had so many downs.

I've never worn so many smiles,

I've never had so many frowns.

I've never been so lonely.

I've never had so many friends.

Boy, I hope this is over soon,

Gosh, I hope it never ends.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on that. I Love You All So Much! 'Till next week!

Sunday Will Come,

Élder Weaver

This Week We Found Wiliane

April 28, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

The Report to President:

Esta semana nós encontramos Wiliane. Ela estava na Igreja ontem e quer ser batizada! Vamos ensinar ela a resta e convidar para a entrevista! Vamos visitar Deborah hoje. Eu amo meu companheiro. Ele é muito bom! Obrigado por tudo!

(Google Translation)

This week we found Wiliane. She was in church yesterday and wants to be baptized! We will teach her ​​the remaining discussions and invite to the interview! Deborah will visit today. I love my companion. He is very good! Thanks for everything!

Wiliane is amazing. She wants to be baptized so bad! And she is a good friend with our other recent convert Lorrainy.

Mother's Day here is Sunday the 11th. I don't know if it is celebrated different there? But that is when we're permitted to call. President hasn't returned my calls but I promise I will get an answer this week and tell you the next P-Day before Mother's Day! :)

I'm glad to hear you all were able to help out at the soup kitchen. Awwww. I'm sorry to hear about Allison's phone! That's okay those things can be replaced. I was thinking about Dad yesterday, too. Especially all of the support he received from Bishop Jackson and President Wilder. I look forward to the day when I can report to them again. We are blessed to have such inspired men as our leaders. Interestingly enough, I will return on the 5th of May. We don't know why all of these things happen, but it is ALWAYS for our good. And I can't wait till Dad and I can go camping again. Thanks for sending me that one hymn: "When Faith Endures". It helped me greatly. Here are the rest of the verses to "Love At Home" I found them by listening to "History of the Hymns" on the Mormon Channel:

Anger cools and pressures cease, When There's Love At Home

Children learn to live in peace, When There's Love At Home

Courage to reach out in grace, meet a stranger face to face

Find a reconciling place, When There's Love At Home

There's no question you can't ask, When There's Love At Home

There is strength for EVERY task, When There's Love At Home

Sharing joy in work or play, Confidence To Face The Day,

Knowing Love will find a way, When There's Love At Home

Jesus show they mercy mine, Then, There's Love At Home

Sweetly whisper 'I Am Thine' Then, There's Love At Home

Source Of Love, Thy Cheering Light, Far Exceeds The Sun, So Bright

Can Dispell The Gloom Of Night, Then, There's Love At Home

Pretty neat, isn't it? I'm glad to hear about your sacrament meeting. I had a pretty special one yesterday, too. We had our investigator, Wiliane, at church, which hasn't happened in a while. And Sister Silva gave a talk on service. I may have said this already, but she served a mission in Campinas, and was trained by my teacher in the MTC, Sister Tirrell. She shared an experience about when her companion served her. Afterward we sang, "Tal Como Um Facho" ("The Spirit of God" in Portuguese). But the title more literally translates to, "As a Pillar of Fire." I teared up and cried. And the closing hymn was, "Famílias Poderão Ser Eternas" or "Families Can Be Together Forever." I Love our ward. An Irmã joked saying, "Élder, are you going to die here?" Because 4 transfers is a long time to stick around in the same area, but I wouldn't mind dying in this Ward.

Please tell Aunt Sandi thank you for the Winnie The Pooh card she gave me :) I Love Our Family.

I'm sorry this isn't longer, too. I am Élder Weaver. I am a Son of God. I am a missionary in the Great Brasil Vitória Mission.

Love,

Your Son,

Élder Weaver

This Week Was Transfers and All Is Staying Put

April 21, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

This week was transfers. All of us are staying put! This will be my fourth transfer here. I look forward to serving with Elders M. Silva, Nielsen, and Eliseu. Elder Nielsen has helped me a lot and we have become good friends. The area has a lot of work to do. We will clean up the Area Book this week. Michele and her family have a lot of potential right now. Rafael also loved the plan of Salvation and we'll teach him the message of the Restoration today. Elido still has fear but his big brother Luciano is helping him. Elder Johnson finishes his mission today. He was a great help to me as well. We will be getting new Zone Leaders and I will be sure to ask them about Google Hangout for Mother's Day.

The Lord helped me learn something this week. Just because I am here in Brazil, that does not mean I have to stop loving Kansas. I had learned to love the people there. And that perhaps is one reason why I was meant to come here. Because the Lord knew there was more room in my heart for the people here. I finally figured out now why The Doctor has two hearts. I promise. I will serve the people and love them every day I am here. I will work for them. And, hopefully, somewhere along the way their behavior will begin to make more sense to me. The Lord suffered not only for our sins and weaknesses, but also for our difficulties and for our personalities. He makes up for every flaw I have. And through Him, I can be made whole, meaningful again, and become my best. I came to Brazil to learn to trust in myself and in the Lord on a level that I have never yet experienced.

I am grateful to hear about Cathy. Keep it up! The gospel sounds much more convincing when it comes from a true friend. I am glad to hear you had a good Easter! I enjoyed the package and I loved everything. Easter here is celebrated starting on the Friday and continues till Sunday. And some stores may still be closed today. It's nice to live in a society that still somewhat recognizes The Lord's Day. The Catholic Church has influenced the culture a lot, but surprisingly, not many people are Catholics. Brasil is a lot like the US. The evangelical Baptist and other churches are more prevalent than Catholicism.

Did you know there are more verses to the hymn Love At Home? Next week I will write them all down for you. This song has become my favorite. I want to only let the language of love be spoken at my home. This language, I have learned transcends all English or Portuguese that we can muster.

You, my family, will always be engraved on the Title of Liberty of my heart. My patriarchal blessing says that I will be saved from the ravages of war. But for all other battles of the heart, mind, and soul, you will take part in the reason I still fight. Like Brother Brems I echo the words, "My Heavenly Father, has been SO good to me."

The Stronger The Wind, The Stronger The Trees.

Love, Your Son,

True and Faithful,

Élder Austin Earl Weaver

Short Letter This Week

April 15, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

As you read above, Luciano received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday. He asked me to give it to him :) I was honored. I'm pretty sure I didn't say it right, but God knows what I meant. It was good enough. "...and what we do in the church is Good Enough..." President Boyd K. Packer. 

Thank you for that quote from President Benson. Elder Arend told me that once when I was in Kansas, but he didn't remember who said it, and I had been looking for its author ever since. So, thank you!

Thank you for the package and the card. I will use the Flash Drive for Church music and talks. I loved the article about the two farmers...Farmers...like the ones in Kansas. 

They did the right thing not sharing the land.

Love,

Élder Weaver

The Mission President Report

April 15, 2014

The Mission President Report:

Obrigado por Super P-Day aqui em Serra na última semana. Foi muito divertido para assistir O Hobbit 1 & 2! Esta semana foi boa Luciano recebeu o sacerdócio Aarônico. Agora Vera e Patricia têm o mais potencial ser batizadas. Elido está tentando a ir à Igreja ainda. Sou grato que eu posso estar na maravilhosa Missão Brasil Vitória!

(Google Translation)

Thanks for Super P-Day here in Sierra last week. It was really fun to watch The Hobbit 1 & 2! This week was good Luciano received the Aaronic priesthood. Now Patricia and Vera have the most potential to be baptized. Elido are trying to go to church yet. I am grateful that I can be in the beautiful Mission Brazil Vitoria.

Elder Weaver

Conference Was Spectacular!

April 7, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Conference was spectacular! I watched some sessions in Portuguese, some in English, and some I missed because we were working. So, I will need to revisit a lot of it to understand completely, but what I watched I Loved. I Loved Elder Bednar's story about the truck and needing traction. I thought about Dad and you going back and forth about such decisions, haha. And he always illustrates principles so clearly using metaphors and such. I hope each of us can develop more spiritual traction. Yeah, I was thrilled when they sang "Lead, Kindly Light". Priesthood session was good; I believe President Monson talked about courage. That was one session that I had to watch in Portuguese, so...I'll get back to you on that, haha! :)

I too enjoyed President Uchtdorf's talk. My mission has been almost nothing but new beginnings and abrupt endings, and yet at the same time, things continue on. As Doctor Who once said, "Those we Love never leave us. Not really." Sorry, I had to. I'm wearing the Dr. Who shirt you gave me because we have a super P-Day today with the whole Zone. But speaking of being grateful, yes. That is something that has helped tremendously throughout my mission because of my various circumstances. I used to feel so angry that I could not remain in Kansas. But, I decided instead to offer prayers of gratitude thanking Heavenly Father that I was able to go there in the first place. Many missionaries go straight to Brazil and never are blessed with such opportunities. I can honestly say that I have served (or am serving) two missions. I will have 3 Mission Presidents! Not many can say that. You can take me out of Kansas, but Kansas will never quite be taken out of me. Here is something Elder Evans once shared with me during companionship study when I was having a bad day. I was wondering why the Lord had suffered me to come to Kansas and not go straight to Brazil. This is what he shared from:

Doctrine and Covenants 100:2-8

2 "Therefore, follow me, and listen to the counsel which I shall give unto you.

3 Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this eastern land.

4 Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the ^asalvation of souls.

5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; ^aspeak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be ^bconfounded before men;

6 For it shall be ^agiven you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

 7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye ^adeclare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the ^{aHoly Ghost} shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say."

I felt as though I was doing no good there, but then the Lord showed me this scripture through His servant, my companion, and I realized that what I did may not have added up to many Key Indicators, but I was opening up an effectual door in those eastern lands. Many missionaries say that in order to have a full broken heart and contrite spirit the Lord does things back home to break our hearts. For instance, most missionaries have girlfriends that break up with them and marry other returned missionaries instead of them. This breaks their hearts. Well, I don't have a girlfriend, so, I guess the Lord saw fit to break my heart another way. Once I had sacrificed everything and given my whole (yet imperfect, and clumsy) heart to the people of Kansas, the Lord pulled me from it. What ever remained of my heart was completely shattered when I got here. Maybe I would not be fully consecrated if this did not happen. The Lord wants to see how far I am really willing to go for Him. But I am grateful for everything the Lord has seen fit to do for me. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. For every purpose under heaven there is a time and a season. A time for joy and a time for misery.  A time for Kansas and a time for Brazil. I don't know if I can have joy the remainder of my mission. But I will serve well. I promise. Whatever happens, I need to try to pay the Lord back for sending me to Kansas. I will live every day in gratitude for what He has done. I may not understand everything, I may not speak anything right, but I will do whatever my weak self can as long as I am in this place the people call "Brasil".

Another newsflash. Elder Alexandrino, my "dad" here was Emergency Transferred this week. He traded places with and Elder M. Silva who is my new companion. He was a Zone Leader in Linhares, and now he is our District Leader. I am gratefully for every change.

Love,

Your Son,

Élder Weaver

Letter To The President

April 7, 2014

  

The Report (Brief):

Esta semana foi boa! Eu tenho saudade de Élder Alexandrino, mas eu vou continuar. Elido não estava na Igreja por causa do trabalho, mas ele quer ser batizado ainda. Ele foi entrevistado e vamos marcar por o mais próximo Sábado.

(Google Translation)

This week was good! I miss Elder Alexandrian, but I'll continue. Elido was not in the church because of work, but he still wants to be baptized. He was interviewed and we'll schedule him by the next closest Saturday.

Elder Weaver