Week 59

 Mis Queridos Familiares y Amigos, 

Another week has passed by here in Villa Sur, or as Elder Cachari siempre dice (always says) "Villa Flyte" (flyte is a Chilean term that they use to describe crazy or out of touch). First and foremost I have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!  The 19th I was thinking about you! Can you believe that a year ago Presidente Doll let me make a video to send to you on your birthday while I was in the CCM? Crazy how time flies! I wasn't able to do that this year, but I was still thinking about you and all that you do for me! I LOVE YA A TON MOM!!! 

In other news, it's a bummer to hear about how Preston ended his wrestling season. That kid is such a fighter though! He's definitely a Weaver! He got beat because he literally lost consciousness out on the mat… I can only imagine the amount of pressure and pain he went through, but HE NEVER GAVE IN AND NEVER GAVE UP! That's the Weaver way, no pain no gain, and no mercy. The kid will be State Champ next year when I'm there to see him! What a stud!  He’s so freaking ripped too!!  So proud of that kid not only as an athlete, but his pure goodness as a person.  I love that kid!  

So this week another interesting thing happened. On Friday we went to an appointment with a group of Haitianos that we're teaching. They were sitting outside their house (because it's hotter than heck here) and were eating sandia, (watermelon) super tranquillo, enjoying the shade and sunshine. They invited us to sit down in a lawn chair with them to share "la palabra de Dios." (The Word of God) Suddenly a flyte came out of his house, the house right in front of the Haitianos. He started yelling at me and getting up in my face and saying SO MANY CUSS WORDS. Elder Cachari didn't understand a single thing he was saying because the cuss words are different here in Chile than they are in Bolivia, and flytes are super hard to understand because they have no education and they speak even faster than the typical Chileno. I was calm and started talking about Jesus Christ with him, he wasn't having any of it though and he was also super drugged out... to the point he was foaming at the mouth. He told me that if I didn't leave "his sector" right there and then that he was going to put a cap in my head or "da un palazo a mi cerebro." He threatened that he was going to grab his palo (stick) from his house. He went into his house and the next thing I know he came out with a huge freaking 2 by 8! He came running at me and I got up from my chair to defend myself. The coolest part is that one Haitiano got up first and totally defended me. The fylte didn't do anything to him, and he ended up putting his palo away. He kept screaming at me though and saying that he was "el diablo." (The Devil) Next thing we know he was outside watering his plants with a hose and I was looking at him and just knew he was going to mojarnos (get us wet). Sure enough he did, he totally drenched me with water and Elder Cachari too. Then kept screaming "he vivido aquí 20 años, yo y mi perra, yo y mi perra! Ésta es mi población!" (I have lived here 20 years, me and my dog, me and my dog. This is my area/home!) Of course he had cuss words mixed in there... he was totally drugged out though and it actually just made me laugh. We went into the Haitian hut to have the lesson to avoid any other problems... 

The only other thing I can say about this week is that I'm real tired. I can't lie, I think the one thing I will look forward to when I get home is being able to go to church and actually enjoy all the meetings. SUNDAYS ARE SO STRESSFUL ON THE MISSION! I have to worry about investigators going to church, menos actives going to church, then when I’m finally there…I end up giving talks/lessons because others just don’t show up. I know that God is the only one giving me strength, because honestly, no normal human being would put up with the stuff that goes down here in Villa Sur. Sometimes I just want to break down and cry because of the lack of any desire or understanding to be obedient to Gods laws, or because they don't want to get up in the morning to make it to church by 10AM. It just all kills me. The one thing that keeps me going is that I have converts like Osvaldo, Maycol, and Remy that are very active members and set an example to even those who have been members for many years in the church. It’s a miracle.

Speaking of Osvaldo... He had his cousin come over to his house last night to get a lesson from us. Not going to lie... it was super sad. Him and his kid who is 4 years old just live in poverty. He wants to change his life, but it's just so sad to see the way people live here in Ochagavía. Osvaldo just wants to save his whole family... he's such a stud. 

GOTTA GO! LOVE YA GUYS! HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!! 

Elder Weaver