Dear Family & Friends,
This week was a week of frustration and happiness. The fact of the matter is that I can never stay unhappy in the mission even though there's always something to resolve and always something to do in an area that has more that one problem.
Let's start off with the most embarrassing thing that happened this week. I MESSED UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE MISSION ON TUESDAY IN OUR MISSIONARY PURPOSE! I have said the missionary purpose perfectly every time I've been asked to do it, but on Tuesday they asked me to do it in front of 200 missionaries in our mission conference and I messed up! Elder Cachari cursed me before and said, "I know you're going to mess up Elder Weaver" and the Zone Leaders were like "NO PRESSURE!" I skipped repentance and just jumped straight to baptism. Yes, it was embarrassing, but everyone said that I saved myself with the spiritual thought afterword and that I was cool, calm, and collected. I said, "debido a que me equivoqué con el arrepentimiento, voy a compartir una escritura acerca del arrepentimiento. Es que a veces como misioneros hablamos de bautismos con todos, pero fallamos en el paso del arrepentimiento antes de bautismo, y como yo salté el arrepentimiento... saltamos arrepentimiento con los investigadores y nunca tenemos investigadores reales. (Because I skipped over repentance, I will share a scripture with you about repentance. This is what we sometimes do as missionaries, we talk about baptism with everyone, but we fail in teaching the step of repentance before baptism and jump right to baptism. Just like I skipped over repentance…we do this with investigators and then never have real researchers.) “ Ha-ha, I kind of saved myself, I shared Alma 26:27 ( Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.) and changed los lamanitas en los chilenos. I can't believe I biffed it like that. Oh well!
So as far as the gossip goes, I'd just like to say something that every true converted latter day saint knows... there are always people in the ward that talk about everyone and think they are perfect and think that they have the right to talk bad and spread rumors about everyone else... somehow, someway, these type of latter-day saints think that they are converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ when they don't have a clue the damage they are making in the lives of other people! EVERYONE SHOULD JUST MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! SALVATION IS PERSONAL! I promise that we will stand face to face with our Savior and He will show you the damage you have made in the lives of other people just because you are over judgmental and lack CHARITY! Unfortunately, our ward has people who have managed to kill a ward that should have 150 people attending to a ward that has 85 attending on a good day.
Elder Marquina and I have always had fear with our converts that these people were going to cause damage to our convert’s lives... that came to pass this week. THE WEEK AFTER OUR CONVERT’S DEATH OF THEIR DAD, THIS PERSON FOUND IT APPROPRIATE TO TALK BAD ABOUT THEM AND POST LIES ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THEM.
Fortunately my converts are extremely humble and the sister is very mature and handled the situation just fine. Further more, Elder Marquina called them that very day out of nowhere and shared D&C 122:7-8 (7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?) without knowing what was happening with them. HEAVEN SENT, GOD takes care of his children in mysterious ways!
Our convert’s were thinking about going to a different ward in the stake just to stay away from the drama, but they decided that wasn't the answer. The truth is…I laughed as this sister was talking about it because she’s like my Mom in a lot of ways. It was hilarious to hear her talk about the stupid-ness of the drama in the ward. She said, "We aren't little teenagers Elder Weaver!" She also loves cooking, but hates thinking about WHAT to cook... just like Mom. I was sent to this family for a reason. I Love them so much!
All is well in the little ward of Villa Sur now, but watch your mouths people and don't be hypocrites that judge! You will be condemned!
It was a great week of work and we found miracles, we will be baptizing more. Haitian Nation is on the rise.
1 Nephi 4:13 13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief. (the gossipers in the whole church)
Signing out, love all of you! Disfruten Nicaragua!
Elder Weaver
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