Week 53...

January 11, 2016

There Are No Excuses!

 Mis estimados gringitos,

Needless to say, this week was LA HIEL!!!! I don't want to focus on the bad, but it is the worst thing in the world to not be able to leave from your pension for 1 week! WE HAVE ONE WEEK MORE!!!!!!!! I HATE CHICKEN POX, AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE IT! 

In other news, the cologne that you guys gave me for my 12th birthday has finally run out. You know, that Abercrombie and Fitch cologne? Yeah, I finally used the last of it about 2 days ago. 8 years with that cologne, and I think it's like a fine wine that increases in value as it ages... it was truly a pity when I used the last spray. I got nostalgic and everything. 8 good years with that little bottle of cologne. Fortunately I still have the American Eagle cologne! That should run out by the end of my mission! 

This week I will officially complete 1 year in the mission. The 12th of January a year ago I was set apart right after Ohio State won the national championship and I left for Chile on the 13th, now here I am... El Barrio Villa Sur!

 Our Awesome Ward Mission Leader! My Companion for the week!

I did leave every single day this week, but sometimes not until like 6 or 7 in the afternoon. Luckily our Ward Mission Leader loves us and he's a stud and was willing to leave with me everyday. Papa Soza has to stay in the house with Elder Marquina though, so that's why I would have to wait. It's a huge blessing that we live where we live though. It made it possible for me to work a little this week! 

Yesterday was the most stressful day of my mission. Our Haitiano investigator Ludes passed his baptismal interview this Saturday and was all set to be baptized this Sunday! I called him Saturday night to confirm that we could pass by to pick him up and walk to church at 9:30. I then called him at 8 in the morning to wake him up and to make sure he was getting ready. He said yes and that there was no problem. I then called again at 9:15 right before I left with my Ward Mission leader Lizardo to pick him up. He told us he was good to go. We get to his house.... and his wife (who speaks no Spanish) told us he left to go to his friend's house! Luckily, I know where his friend lives and we went there. We got there and he told us that he barely left and was going to wait in an Internet cafe nearby. I called him again and he told me he was coming and that we should wait. We waited and waited and he never showed up. I called again and his phone was turned off!! Now we're about 15 minutes away from the church and its 9:55 and church starts at 10. Then, the bishop calls me and asks where I am; I told him that we were looking for our investigator with a baptismal date for after sacrament meeting. He said, “But Elder you need to come to the church! Can you give a talk in sacrament meeting?" I was like.... today Bishop? Yes, today, you can talk about any subject! PLEASE HELP US ELDER WEAVER! I said all right and we booked it to the chapel. We got there just in time to take the santa cena. I literally just got up to the pulpit after and started talking about enduring to the end and the atonement and how if we aren't progressing we aren't fulfilling our calling as members of the true church of Jesus Christ. I used a lot of Alma 5... Then after they asked me to give the gospel principles class.... Needless to say.... it was a stressful Sunday and Ludes did not get baptized and I have yet to get in contact with him. 

I did go to the temple with Osvaldo and Katuisca and Maycol this weekend! IT WAS AMAZING!! It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Santiago and I had the opportunity to baptize Osvaldo for the dead in the temple! IT WAS INCREDIBLE! They ALL ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Osvaldo is talking to everyone about the church and I just love this family! One month ago they were struggling and now they pay tithing every week and have done baptisms for the dead! This gospel is true. 

There are no excuses in mission work; I did everything I could to get investigators and inactive members in the capilla this Sunday with the circumstances I was in. I was a little disappointed when Ludes didn't get baptized, and wondered why God would allow us to be stuck in the pension all week and then after all the work I did.... he didn't get baptized. D&C 122:7-8 (7- My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; 8- And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.) There are no excuses, I need to be better! There’s obviously something to learn from all of this. 

I know this is the Lord's work. I know he lives. I know he's aware of me personally. I know if we keep the commandments and do everything we can possibly do... we can put our trust in God and He will take care of the rest and bless us in his due time! 

Love all of you!!! Have a great week! You should see baptisms in these next few weeks!!! 

Elder Weaver 

Elder Marquina!  He’s got the pox bad!!

Our Awesome Ward Mission Leader! My Companion for the week!