Week 98...Día de Acción de Gracias

November 21, 2016

Día de Acción de Gracias

Cómo Estáis mis queridos? 

I have now received the emails from Presidente Woodward that I need to start making plans and setting goals for what I’m going to do with my life when I get back home. Needless to say, the trunkiness is trying to set in and I just keep fighting it. The good news is that we have a baptism this weekend and it very well may be one of the best baptisms I've had on the mission. Her name is Tamara and she's 19 years old. We found her contacting, but it turns out that the missionaries passed by her house earlier this year and then they never came back. It's a shame that they never came back because she is WAY prepared. I've never seen an investigator so prepared in my entire mission. I know I keep saying this, but it never ceases to amaze me the miracles I see everyday! She’s a Chilena that has no issues with anything and is obedient in everything we ask her to do and more. She reads the church website everyday and she loves reading the Book of Mormon. She is already in Mosiah after only 2 weeks of teaching her. It’s amazing how God has just perfectly prepared her to be baptized and she is way excited for this Saturday! I keep praying that this isn’t my last baptism in the mission! 

My companion keeps saying that I need to just enjoy this last part of my mission. He’s not exactly here to keep me motivated and inspired. I just want to keep working like crazy up until the very end and live without regret. I pray every single day that I can live every day without regret! I know that the only way that I'll be happy in this life is by keeping strong in the gospel, continuing to serve and loving everyone, and giving it my all every single day. I've seen a lot of miracles on my mission, but the biggest miracle is the change that I've made in myself. I don't want to come back being the same Connor Weaver. I hope that the good attributes that I had before my mission are even better now and I hope that my weaknesses have become strengths. I see life with a whole new perspective, and I honestly just wish the mission would never end. I've come to realize though that it's not going to end. It's going to be hard to take off the missionary name tag, but I know that I can still help a ton of people when I come home and I know that I can keep growing and progressing even more in the real world. In the meantime I plan of magnifying my calling and inviting everyone I see to come unto Christ and be baptized by someone who has the authority to do it!

We had a pretty awesome zone conference this week. A lot of the missionaries cried with a motivational video that I showed them. We talked a lot about the power of our callings and I had a Gringo missionary, Brasilero missionary, and a Latino read their mission calls in their native language and then give their testimonies about how they felt when they first received their callings. The room was silent and the spirit was so strong. It reminded me of when I opened my calling that night that I got back from Canada after competing in my last World Championship triathlon and reading Chile Santiago Oeste! I've come a long, long, long way since that night and I honestly had no idea what I was really getting myself into. It's been an amazing ride and the best part is that it’s still not over! I’ve still got time to make a difference in the life of a Chileno! 

I’m running everyday with Elder Villota at 6 it’s basically a fartlek every single day, as I sprint and then turn around to keep him in my sights. It will be quite a change not having a person on my back every second of every day when I get home! Elder Villota is basically dying and I've never seen a missionary sleep so many times in lessons in my whole mission. It's pretty funny how worn out he is after exercise! He sleeps during personal study, comp study, language study, and then he sleeps in almost every lesson during the day. It's unreal. He's a funny, funny dude! 

The gospel is true. The book is blue. Saquen la mugre no más! 

Les amo! Que tengan una buena semana! 3 Domingos más! 

Elder Weaver 

Week 96...Yo Pudiera Ser tu Héroe

November 7, 2016

Yo Pudiera Ser Tu Héroe

Yo what up, 

So this week was amazing! We had another baptism with my main man Enrique Iglesias! Okay, so maybe he's not Enrique Iglesias he's definitely much cooler than him! The baptism was pretty solid. We didn't have any issues with the font or with the bishop getting there to preside and there was little to no drama! I felt uncomfortable, because things just went way too smoothly. We even started on time at 7 which never happens... 7 in Chilean time is usually 7:45-7:50 but this time the service started exactly at 7! I am no longer stricken with the Grizzweaver curse and it honestly just makes me feel weird. I'm sure all with go back to normal when I see you guys again... what are we at now? 20 more weeks right? Ha-ha nah, I know I have 5 more Sundays left... how do I know that? Because I need to know how many more chances I have to baptize and confirm people! I confirmed Enrique and I felt a strong impression to guarantee him that if he keeps faithful in his covenants that he'll regain his ability to speak clearly. He can't speak very well after a stroke he had about 6 months ago, but I know that by not drinking and living a better life that he'll regain that ability! The gospel is amazing people! More amazing than the time I helped Vista win 2 state championships... QUE PASA CON VISTA NATION! It's all-good though a 4 peat is pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to going out on a run with Paxton Smith when I get back. Love that kid!

Anyway, we have another baptism all set and ready to go for this weekend. Antonella is a 10-year-old girl that is apart of an inactive family and her Mom has been endowed in the temple. It's amazing because we've basically reactivated the family and now Antonella is getting baptized! The members are calling us miracle workers! It's pretty amazing to see all the miracles taking place as I finish this last part of my mission. God is good... not to sound hippy or anything, but it is pretty awe-inspiring here in San Antonio! To the point where I just don't even want to go home. 

The zone is improving. We had a leadership meeting in Maipu on Friday and there was an earthquake and the Woodward’s just laughed because it started to shake pretty hard and we just kept talking and participating like normal. President Woodward was like, "Now I know that you guys are Chilenos because the earthquakes don't even cause you stop doing what you're doing." My comp always says that I'm "demasiado chileno." Because, I've picked up a few of their customs. It'll be funny to see when I come home if I crave some of the things I've grown to love in chile. 

I got to see Nacho Gonzalez be set apart as a full-time missionary on Monday.  He is head off to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Let me just tell ya that the Latinos basically have the whole ward present to see a missionary get set apart. It's like a party and everything! It’s cool to think when this kid gets out of the MTC... I'll be on my flight home. The work never stops or takes a break!

We have a ton of baptisms coming up and I just hope that President doesn't take me out of this sector to finish my last 5 weeks in some other zone! Pray that I stay here to finish! We have changes this Sunday! 

Love all of you guys. Keep it fresh. It's aright if ya'll feel trunky, but I ain't feelin it!

Love,

Elder Weaver