Israel, Israel God is Calling

We got another email from Elder Weaver! It is so exciting hearing from this great young man! I guess that they change his P-day every week or every other week or something down there based upon missionary flow? Kind of crazy! Oh well, it sure was awesome to hear from him today.  I've got his email below and I will be sending out these letters via email later this week to those who have requested them.  We sure love this boy!  Unfortunately, he still hasn't sent us even one picture!  We can tell that he's very busy.  Enjoy…


Dear Family and Friends,

I know that you all want to know whats happening here in the best city on Earth-- Santiago! And I wish I had time to write everything that has happened since Ive been here, but theres been SO MUCH that has happened in just the 14 days since Ive been set apart. I seriously have experienced a ton already. Ive grown and learned a lot already too. But things are settling down in the CCM (Centro de Capitación Misional) becuse weve finally picked up on what`s going on and how to schedule. So here`s my best shot at explaining my experiences. When we got to Santiago which is literally trasnlated as James by the way. I just soaked it all in. The spanish, the chaos and confusion of getting to Alcantara, the crazy driving of our van driver where we literally came within 3 inches of kiling someone with our van probably 8 times. I soaked in the city and the culture and meeting the latinos. But as soon as I got the CCM on the 15th I wanted to hit the ground running. I had already memorized Su Objectivo in spanish in PMG and I just wanted to go, go, go. Like I said... this feeling I have can only be described as my determination to win a National Championship times a million--seriosuly. I just want to learn and start telling EVERYONE about this amazing Gospel. UNfotunately, my district is not entirely on the same page as me or at least wasnt. My district has Elder Leavitt our DL and my companion from Atlanta. Elder Blake from Riverside, CA. Elder Allen from Springville, UT.Elder Santini from Kona, Hawaii, Elder Matthews from Whitehall, Wisconsin. Hermana Johnson from Logan, UT, Hermana Hulick from Provo.  Then, Hermana Lane from Cali. 

So only me, one other elder, and the hermanas have really read the Book of Mormon all the way through too. That kinda sums up where our district is at as far as spiritually, obedience, and everything. Most of them have never and won't ever read the Missionary Handbook either because its too long. No matter how many times I encourage them to do so. Yes, so you can imagine that teaching lessons can be rather difficult. Elder Allen knows the best spanish out of all of us though and he's super patient so he's a huge example to me.  So I have learned to exercise some serious patience. And that's where I want to go with this. I prayed a lot these past 2 weeks for the Lord to bless me with patience and to learn why I was given this district for my 6 week stay in the CCM. Because in a way I feel like I've been hindered. BUT I've learned why and I am so thankful for the very minor trials I've had so far in the CCM. I've learned how to love people. Sure, one Hermana cries at the drop of a hat and probably shows that she's feeling the spirit by crying WAY too often, but I've learned to appreciate her and love her for her sweet and sensitive spirit. Sure, a couple of the other Elder's can be disruptive and irreverant, but I've learned to love their humor and learned how to get them to be reverent and little more disciplined without making them feel hurt. I was given the oppurtunity to be apart of District 9 because I need to learn patience and how to be a leader NOW. I dont know why yet. I'm sure I'll find out later when I'm in the field. But Heavenly Father needs me to develop these attributes now because I'll need them down the road... I just know it. So that is why we should be grateful for our trials in a way. Especially minor ones like mine. Our district is SO much better than day 1. We are all growing. Elder Blake and Elder Matthews are understaning that this is a mission not some vacation. They're adapting to the mission life basically. It's all about accenutating the positive in people and not being negative with them. I've learned that they continue to be reverant if you thank them for their reverance and you only say ¨hey guys I'm really going to work on not complaining this week, I just want you to know I'm trying to improve¨ Rather than telling them that they complain ALL THE TIME. And this is coming from Connor the Complainer. You have to take their negative attributes and put them on yourself in order for them to understand that they need to improve their negativity. Weird, I know, but it works. 

I am seriously so happy to be here though. Every morning when we run I can't help but thank Heavenly Father for this beautiful country and these people. I would encourage everyone that is about to serve a mission to listen to Elder Bednar's conference talk about preparing to be a missionary. Be a missionary BEFORE you come on the mission. The transition is easier and you'll find success and blessings immediately. I am so thankful that I prepared the way that I did. 

Now for the fun stuff. Elder Leavitt and I gave a blessing to Hermana Johnson on Thursday that she would find comfort in the CCM. So that was cool and she's doing so much better too. For a girl who knew no spanish coming in, she is improving so rapidly. The latinos left yesterday and it was actually really sad. We developed such a strong relationship with them and Im going to miss 'em. But we get a new set of latinos tomorrow and then we only have to go through one more wave of them after that and then I'm in the field. Alcantara can best be desribed as Snow White's cottage on steroids and we are so lucky to be staying there. Sister Jacobson makes us great breakfasts and snacks at night. Hopefully, I can send pics. OH Dad Elder Godoy from Paraguay asked if you knew Gurani and I said yes and HE FREAKED OUT. He was so happy to hear that. His Dad is from Brazil so he also knows Portuguese and he was so pumped to hear that you knew Protuguese too. He said you're definitely a Paraguayo. When I asked if he knew Guarani he said ¨Si, claro, SOY PARAGUAYO!¨ So he wants us to visit him in El Ciudad de Este in Paraguay at the end of my mission. He was so happy that I knew Ay Wapuh too. I dont think I spelled that right. I became really good friends with Elder Godoy and he cried last night and totally hugged me for like 5 minutes. All the Latinos were sad to leave us and they definitely show it. They are so kind hearted and I LOVE IT. They are so great. 

I love you all so much. This is the best thing that I could possibly be doing in my life right now. I am growing closer to my Savior every day. It's not necessarily the hardest thing I've ever done, but it is making me grow more than I ever have before. Elder Ballard gave us a devotional on Sunday, well from Provo anyway, and he talked about writing a letter to Joseph Smith while he was in Liberty Jail for 4 months to help lift his spirits whenever were feeling down. I personally just think of Tyson and Tim, but either way... I can never feel down because I know that the Lord is on my side. I feel your prayers every single day. The district is improving and so am I. Spanish is overwhelming, and I sometimes wonder if I'm even progressing in it. So please pray that I can just learn this language. Last P Day I got a haricut and just getting that haricut here was tricky. Out in the real world Santiago you realize that you dont know squat about spanish. I wonder how Dad ever did it so fast sometimes. 

I love you all so much! This gospel brings joy and happiness and it is so true. I know it without a doubt. 

Hasta Lluego!

Chau,

Elder Weaver 

Semana Numero Uno!

It was AWESOME to finally hear from Elder Weaver today.  I have his first official email below…

Dear Family, Friends, and Missionary Friends,

Holy cow! What a week. It`s hard to believe that it`s been a week. I appreciate all the emails I got. I feel so loved and it really is nice to see all of them. I havent read them yet because I only have 30 minutes to write. 

SO, let's begin with how this week has gone. Flying to Chile was incredibly fun. Elder Conger and Hermana McNevin joined me to Salt Lake on a little plane and then in Salt Lake we met up with probably 8 more elders and 1 more hermana. I ate Cafe Rio for the last time in Salt Lake and it was Elder Congers first time because he lives in small town Colorado near Sterling basically. He is a great guy, its unfortunate that hes not in my district. 

On our flight to Atlanta I just talked it up with the couple sitting next to me. It's crazy, but I really changed immediately after I was set apart. I wanted to tell everyone what I was going to do! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! They live in Atlanta and they were definitely devout baptists, but it was a good chat none the less. 

In Atlanta I got my last American hamburger at a joint called The Varsity which is apparently Georgias premiere burger place. That's what the guy I was standing in line with said anyway. So one last double bacon cheeseburger for two years and then I was off to Santiago on a 9 and a half hour flight! 

I really enjoyed getting to know the Elders and hermanas that traveled here with me. We laughed so much together. Then, once we got to Santiago it was mayhem! We got through customs just fine but then getting our rides to the CCM or what you would know as the Chile MTC was crazy. I hadn't even met my mission president yet. Instead, some members separated us into buses.  That process literally took us an hour because no one spoke spanish and they didnt know any english. I literally just sat there and laughed because it hit me... Im in Santiago Chile! We finally got in a small bus with this guy who took us to what is basically a mansion called Alcantara because it is on Alcantara street. President Hinckley has stayed here along with numerous apostles! Its way nice because it used to be a swiss embassy. I was so confused though as to why we were there.  So, that frustrated me a little bit. I wanted to be at the CCM but now that I've had classes and everything here I am so grateful that I'm staying in Alcantara. Elder Jacobson and Hermana Jacobson are the senior couple for this area and they basically just run the Alcantara. We had lunch there and just basically tried to communicate! 

Two latino Elders met us at the airport and were with us. One is Elder Godoy from Paraguay... yeah Dad Paraguay! And one is Elder Carreras from Concepion. We did get to take a nap and the day was really relaxed with a little training on memorizing the missionary purpose in Spanish. Then, we went to bed that night and that night there was a 5 second earthquake that woke up the whole house except me at 2 am. Yep... I slept right through it. When I sleep... I SLEEP, 4.7 on the Rictor scale. 

Then, the next day we got more Latino Elders in our house and went to the CCM. Everything from that point on is a blur. Non stop spanish! Devotionals, prayers, everything.... IN SPANISH. Overwhelming but so fun. Oh, at the Alcantara I was assigned Elder Leavitt from Atlanta as my first companero. He's a great guy and probably the person I like the most in my district.  Elder Leavitt is also our district leader and he uses me for advice and everything all the time. Which is great. We really do make a good team. 

Since I have such little time to write, Im going to save you the details of what we do and just say what I've felt and my thoughts and impressions on the mission so far. Anyone that tells you that the MTC is a non stop spiritual high is lying to you. You have serious lows. It is a time of trial, just like anything in life. Learning to have a companion within sight and sound of you at ALL TIMES is hard to adjust to at first. Our classroom is literally a room as big as Preston's with 9 people in it and then one teacher. We never switch rooms because the CCM is smalll and packed full already. The room is all white with a white baord and one picture of Christ and a TV for spanish Missionary videos. The lights are LED and will literally burn your retinas out. It is a hard room to stay and learn in for 13 hours a day. BUT, what makes it hard is that I can't remember being so focused and so determined in my life. Not even when I was training for Cross Country or Nationals. 

My District however can be extremely irreverant and theres only 3 other elders in my district that have even read through the Book of Mormon once. So they're trying to get spirtiually prepared while I'm just trying to learn this language. It makes it hard because we are all on very different levels, but we are improving in our relationship as a district. They also don't teach you a ton of spanish like you'd think. A lot of your learning is just on your own. And its hard because sometimes you don't even know what the teachers are expecting you to do because they just say it in spanish. 

There's 25 American and probably 40 Latinos in the CCM. I LOVE ALL THE LATINOS. Seriously they're from everywhere: Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, you name it... They are so kind and so patient with our terrible terrible terrible spanish. You can just tell they have great testimonies and great spirits. I just wish so bad that I could speak their language. Either way we\ve become great friends with them. Epsecially Elder Godoy from Paraguy who shares the pool house with Elder LEavitt and I along with Elder Cutipa from Peru. Sundays are so spiritual and so great after a long week in the CCM. This Dia de Preparaccion is actually great. I wish I could articulate everything thats happened and all the fun I've had and the experiences that have been so great. The only thing I miss already is talking to you Mom and Dad about life and what is going on and how I should handle certain situations. BUT, the Lord answered my prayers yesterday. 

As I was talking to Elder Catreras from Peru during breakfast at Alcantara I told him in spanish why I was frustrated. He said don't focus on your district and focus on yourself. He said he could tell I am a really great person with a great spirit, and that I just needed to focus on myself. That day it hit me in class that I'm not learning spanish for myself, I'm not on this mission for myself, I'm not doing any of this for myself or even for my family. Im doing this to change lives. This gospel changes lives. I'm giving this everything that I have because I truly just want to be able to communicate my feelings for this gospel to the people of Chile. The moment you say oh well I just want to learn spanish so that I can have vacations in Mexico and talk or so I can get a better job after my mission is when you start not learning as quickly. I'm learning spanish because that is how I am going to preach this amazing gospel. 

Elder Leavitt and I are teaching our fake investigators right now named Miguel Angel and Sebastian Diaz. Both are very different people with very different needs. And boy oh boy is it hard to teach a lesson effectively in Spanish, but we already got Hermano Angel to commit to baptism and we gave hermano Diaz a Book of Mormon so it's going alright. The teachers are being easy on us though. The food here is good but very Chilean. The bread is great but everything else you just shovel down and enjoy because that's all you get. I like it though... its definitely not bad. 

Funny story, on Saturday night I woke Elder Leavitt up because I started yelling, "DONDE ESTA MI COMPANERO? DONDE ESTA MI COMPANERO ELDER LEAVITT!" He was like, "Elder Weaver I'm right here go back to bed." And then he realized I was asleep. I was just up in my bed just yelling things in spanish. He was freaked out, then I just plopped back down and kept sleeping. So thats how much I hear spanish all day everyday, it just seems like I'm not progressing anywhere. 

Well I'm running out of time.... I'll try to send pics. I haven't taken very many because we are only allowed to take pics on P Day. I'm learning to be exactly obedient and sometimes that can be hard, like going to the bathroom with your companion even though its right down the hall. 

Oh, and I have been running 20 minutes every day. It's a requirement in the Alcantara that we run at least 15 minutes for exercise every day but Elder Leavitt was on a national championship soccer team in High School so we run 20 minutes usually everyday and the Latinos think we're crazy. It's definitely not a run though... more of a jog. 

The city is amazing! Very modern, and very smoggy. I've only seen part of the Andes through the haze twice! But, they are absolutely breath-taking. On the plane I got goose bumps seeing them. This gospel is true. There is no better thing that I could be doing with my life right now then to be on a mission here in Chile. 

I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that he knows exactly what Im feeling and what I need to learn and to grow right now. I hope that I can pick up spanish within 3 months like Dad. All the missionaries here basically tell us to not even bother with learning spanish in the CCM and so everyone seems to be losing hope. They think that it will just magically come at 6 to 8 months. I want to be talking well in 3. They say it's impossible but I'm going to make it happen. 

Oh, and theres only a little mold in our bathroom, but it's SUPER HOT HERE ALL THE TIME. I literally sweat going to bed every night but it's so awesome. I pray for you all everyday... in spanish and in english. I love all of you. Thank you for being such a great family and great friends. I've come to realize how very blessed that I am to have had the people in my life that I've had. Thank you for the letters too. I loved reading them on the plane and when I opened my suitcases and things. Good luck Elder Waters in the MTC this week! I love you man! You'll do great! Welcome to the field! Have a great week! 

First Signs of Life from Santiago

Connor was able to email both Alyson and me yesterday.  It's amazing how just a few words from him made us feel 100% better!

His email to me…

Hola mi Padre,

I am here. It`s unreal here and already overwhelmingly and crazy.I`ll write more on Monday. I`m safe and super happy. This is exactly what I need in my life. Tell Mom I say hola!

- Elder Weaver

His email to his mom…

Hola mi madre,

I replied to Dad earlier but they`re allowing me to write you real quick too. I`m safe and I`m happy. Tell Dad that today I already memorized the purpose of a missionary in spanish. They think my accent is better than all the new American missionaries. Also, one of the elders with us is from Paraguay and he is hilarious. Doesn`t speak any english whatsoever but that makes it ever more fun (divertido). 

I look forward to updating you guys on monday. 

Quiero,

Elder Weaver 

A Walk Down Memory Lane

I had to take this video out of HD to get it on this blog, but this is the video that we showed last Sunday after Connor's farewell…