Week 55...

Hey all ya'll! 

So this last week was literally nuts. I'm running on very little sleep right now, but I'm pumped because I'm going to be receiving my first greenie today! That’s why I’m writing you guys today and not yesterday! Not only was I called to train, but I will also be District Leader here in Ochagavia. I have a companionship in a rama called Buenaventura and I'm District Leader over the Zone Leaders in the most ghetto sector in the mission called La Victoria. Sounds like they all have baptismal dates this weekend, so I'll be doing baptismal interviews this Thursday.

This last week was a solid week of work! Elder Marquina wanted to leave the sector in a good condition after being in the house for 2 weeks so we went all out this week to try and find and put fechas down! We also had the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast from the general authorities this past Wednesday that was spectacular.  It was a super simple message, but many times we forget as missionaries that the person really needs to experience that conversion before baptism or they’ll never stay firm in the church after their baptism. The people have to realize that without Christ we really are hopeless and if we aren't constantly doing our part to come unto Him, we aren't true Latter-Day Saints. I realized personally how much I really need the atonement even as a missionary. The times that I have felt the most successful is when I was constantly looking to improve myself rather than seeing all the reasons and excuses why people weren't progressing in my teaching pool! I loved the lesson that Elder Bednar touched about teaching with the spirit as well and how we are only the instruments for the spirit, but the Holy Ghost is the teacher. He mentioned something that is so true. We think as missionaries and as members that we can just jam our testimony into the heart of another person, but really we can only present an opportunity to bring the spirit close to the person's heart and they have to do the rest! They have to take the first steps of repentance by acting! That action is compromisos like reading the book of Mormon and praying and going to church. The people need to understand that every compromiso is an act of repentance because we're saying to our heavenly father that we're willing to act in order to change and come unto His son Jesus Christ! All in all, it was a great Worldwide Missionary Broadcast! Shout out to all those Mozambique missionaries that are going to see Elder Cook in this next month!

It was sad to say bye to Elder Marquina. He's been a great comp, and he was also the comp that I learned the most from. Lots and lots and lots of desafíos and pruebas de paciencia. I only hope to apply what I learned from him the rest of my mission. His Peruvian cooking will be missed as well. 

This is my first sector that I've had more than 3 changes. Not going to lie, it's hard because the sector is small and I feel as if I've contacted every house. We're going to baptize anyway though. 

This gospel is amazing, this mission is amazing, and I'm ready to take on the challenge of training while being a District Leader! I imagine my greenie coming in like Elder Calhoun from best two years with bottle glasses and his luggage everywhere and grabbing me and saying in the nerdiest voice ever "MY NEW COMPANEGA, ELDER JOHNSON WILL YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF US?" Then I'm going to give him the dirtiest look ever and we'll go to work! Ha! Ha! I love that part in the movie!  I’m sure I’m going to love him and we are going to get to work from day 1!  I'm pumped and nervous as all get out at the same time. Presidente really put the pressure on us yesterday in our trainers meeting. I have to set an example so that this mission continues to be the highest baptizing mission in Chile! 

Love all of you!

Much Love, Un Abrazo,

Elder Weaver