This Week Sister Rousseau Was Proposed Too Again!

December 22, 2014

Momasita & Family & Friends,

Yes for sure 10:00 a.m. can work my time.  I gave her your number too so whomever calls whoever first :)

Yup, just send it to my apt. address. Thank you all so much! No I haven't received my package yet but I am definitely looking forward to it :) I am so excited to see you all though! No one could ask for a better Christmas present!!!  (Dip a cracker in THAT cheese, but it's true!)

This week Sister Rousseau was proposed to, again and by the same guy. It was awkward. We are seeing them again today so that should be interesting.

My trainer finished up her mission and went home this week :( along with Sister Silcox (who came to our ward in Sun Prairie yesterday and I got to meet her family!!) They are adjusting well I guess, so they say, back to normal life. SO weird!

We have been prepping Chris for his upcoming baptism! He was not able to make it to church, unfortunately, so he needs to make it one more time before next week; we are praying more "family" stuff does not come up next week. He is progressing well, but we are going to go over the baptismal questions with him once more to see where his understanding truly is in regards to his testimony of the gospel.

We met with Laura this week also and her agnostic son, who has been giving us a lot of grief about the gospel, but has been asking us very good questions and promised he would not stand in the way of his mom being taught. Luckily, he bonded pretty well with Elder Thompson, when we referred him to talk with him, because they come from similar circumstances. He said that it went pretty well and they will be talking about the gospel with him again.

We have been getting some investigator referrals as well, and miracles are happening with a lot of new people we are meeting with! Luckily we had a member with us when we met Laura Brown, a woman who is studying to receive her ministerial certificate. She was very open to us and loved our testimonies of Jesus Christ. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon again (since she had one before) and do so with the question of whether or not the promise inside is true. She said that we were an answer to her prayer and said that she said there is only so much she can learn, but she wants what is in her head to move to her heart. She invited us back :)

Yesterday we were blessed with a ride up to Columbus from one of our members to see the Sullivan family again. They were so happy to see us and apologized for not getting back with us about meeting with them. They are still interested they are just going through ALOT of sickness and change in their family right now but we FINALLY set up a solid return appointment with them. We read with them from the Book of Mormon as well and they promised to read from it.

May the Lord continue to shower blessings down upon you all this Christmas season! I know that this work is true and it is Christ who stands at the helm!

I can't wait to see you all either! Love you more than I can express!

-Sister Weaver-

Our District's Last Picture

We met Elvis with our Eteernigators
the Stoll's when they took us out
to lunch for their anniversary.

We made Brother Stoll Santa Claus
at our Ward Christmas Party!
He loved it.
None of the little kidlets knew
it was him, hehe.

A New Week!

December 15, 2014

Haha...oh Da, I can just picture that. Allison said, "For someone who doesn't like Christmas, Dad sure is going all out for it (lights)." Speaking of which, here is a pic of his favorite person: 

No, sadly I have not yet asked President about y'all coming in July...what would be easiest for you guys...for me to come home and then we leave and make our rounds on this part of the country or vice versa? Because I am good either way...

I don't think I need anything; things are being accumulated here as far as people giving us stuff and missionaries leaving behind stuff that we take :) But if you WANT to, I really love the Lamb of God soundtrack (the one with the song "Here is Hope") and the Cumorah's Hill soundtrack if you can find it. Other than that, just seeing your crazy faces will be gift enough for me 

Yeah I'm still with Sister Rousseau--she is on fire and I hope I'm catching it... Sometimes I have to cool her down, but talking with everyone is most definitely key...even if we have to chase down cars pahaha and always remember, "If it ain't awkward, it ain't missionary work!" - Elder Stephens

I LOVE the story of Daniel...he is probably one of my favorite prophets in the Old Testament (other than Elijah: spiritual throw-down!) He is always true, unwavering and full of faith!

Don't worry I will for sure update you what time we are doing Skype...it may be in the evening when we see the Clinton's for dinner (with ALL the missionaries...AHH!!!) so that should be chaotic...I hope we'll be able to find someone else if that's what's happening. But I'll let you know Monday.

Here's an update on the peeps:

When we met with Chris this week, we met in the Fulmer's home again and they truly helped bring the Book of Mormon to life for him. He is keeping his commitments, but it takes a while for him to open up to how he is really feeling or understanding the principles being taught. We will be meeting him tonight again and he is still very excited for his upcoming baptism.

We met a new woman who works at the Nursing Home named Autumn, who has three kids and is looking for truth in this world. She is the sweetest person and allowed us to share with her the Restoration at her home...the Spirit was so strong! She said she could definitely relate to Joseph Smith and is eager to learn more. We hope to set a baptismal date with her this week.

We also met a young 16 year-old girl named Chidinma, who is actually the sister of one of our potentials, Anthony. She lives with him and his fiancé while her parents are staying in Chicago.

Sadly, Rena, the grandma with stage 4 throat cancer, passed away this week, and we were invited to her funeral this Saturday. We will continue to teach her husband Byron, who is still interested, as well as Kiesha, who had a baptismal date before everything went further downhill with her grandma :( Luckily her whole family was there so it was a peaceful passing.

Laura is another new investigator we met a few weeks ago at Goodwill who contacted us this week, wanting to know more because she was going through some hard things in addition to her depression and anxiety. She came to church and had a wonderful time, meeting a lot of friendly members of the ward. She felt very welcome. We are teaching her slowly and simply because she has a learning disability, but she has been listening to the Book of Mormon on her phone and we plan on inviting her to baptism once we finish the restoration!

Eric has been coming to church regularly and is still searching to know if the priesthood authority is true and has been praying but is getting frustrated because he has not received a clear answer yet. We told him to be patient, prayerful, and continue to read the Book of Mormon. He has been relating it more to his life and we can see his testimony of the Book of Mormon gets stronger each time he reads!

Thank you for all you do in supporting me and bro and all the other missionaries in this work! That is SO crazy that there is still so much work that needs to still be done in America: "For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel" (3 Nephi 21:4).

All my love,

-Sister Weaver-

PICS!!! Better late than never!

Me losing epically at some peg-game
at the Clinton's on Thanksgiving.

Us helping Dominique
hang curtains.

After exchanges with the STL's.
Our cute decorated apt.

What used to be a Christmas
tree in a sad little lit bundle
under our desk.

Crazy cupcakes Sister Rousseau
made for Dominique...bless her heart.

How Blessed We Are...

December 8, 2014

Dearest Family & Friends,

You are right (as always) about how blessed we are to have come to earth in a time when great and exciting things are occurring in God's kingdom on earth. The literal fulfillment of prophecy in rolling forth as the stone cut from the mountain without hands fills the earth with enormous immensity! I am so grateful too for the men and women--like Handel, Luther, Calvin, Tyndale, Joan of Arc, Columbus, our Founding Fathers--whom God has inspired to prepare the way for the Restoration of the Gospel, just as John the Baptist and Samuel the Lamanite prepared the way for the Savior. It is interesting that you mention the pre-mortal existence because I was pondering too and came to the conclusion that missionary work neither began at birth, nor concludes at death. In the pre-mortal existence just imagine how many of us pulling for the Savior tried to, or succeeded in, helping to bring those who wanted to follow Lucifer back to the Savior. Who knows, maybe before the war in heaven there were more than 1/3 that were led astray! As we know, work continues in the Spirit World for those who have passed without the knowledge of the fruits of the gospel. And, during that wonderful time when Satan will be loosed after the Millennium, trying to drag as many of God's children as he can down with him before Judgment, just imagine how ridiculously busy missionaries will be on both sides of the veil! Until the time comes when the faithful may receive a place in heaven and continue in the eternal truth and work that the Lord has prepared from the beginning. Onward, ever onward...to victory!

I am so happy to hear that sissy is prepping so well for the blessed land of Rexburg, she will love it so much; she won't know what to do :)

Thank you so much for Brother Johnson's message, he truly is inspired. I love nothing more than answering or asking questions (or seeking to find the answers when I can't answer), so this formula is superb!

This week my testimony was strengthened on the importance of surveys. We found and taught three families about the gospel! Although a couple has decided to stick with their church, we have high hopes for the one we found in Columbus. We received a referral for someone at the Catholic School down there, but when we discovered it was the actual school we were referred to, we decided to try some surveys before heading home. The second door we knocked, Sean let us in and introduced us to his wife Emily. Although she just started to believe in Christianity, she is open to learn more about our faith and our views on what is happening in the world. She really liked our stance on gay marriage and became more open to what we taught. Sean told us their family had experienced 5 deaths in the past 4 months and that they are Catholic, but still searching. After the survey, we taught them the Plan of Salvation, emphasizing the importance of the Savior and how much He loves us. They appreciated it and told us that it would take them a little bit to digest what we had told them, because it was so new to them. Emily liked the concept of there not being damned to hell if you don't believe in Christ, but she expressed her gratitude that there was a place for everyone and that she wanted to get as close to God as possible. After we left, they texted us about how grateful they were that we taught them, and said they would keep in touch :) We hope to be able to get down there again so we can keep teaching them!

On Wednesday Nykeria and her friend Deanna went caroling with the Young Women! It was great to see how much fun they had and how the youth welcomed them into the fold.

I feel so blessed to have learned and taught a lot about the Savior's Atonement this week. At one of our less-actives, the Figuera's, Patricia received personal revelation about the three kingdoms of glory and how she wants to be prepared when the Savior comes.

Tye received personal revelation during our lesson as well, when we testified of the importance of scripture study and prayer. She said that sometimes she has trouble applying what we teach, but today she felt very moved and inspired that the Lord is telling her what she needs to know :)

President Cutler truly is a man of God, inspiring us to set these new goals to accomplish in order to gather more of God's children into His fold!

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

(Romans 13:11-12)

Love you all!

Keep the Light Burning Bright!

-Sister Weaver-

Turkey Coma Hangover!

December 1, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Sadly...I forgot my camera...so no pics this week :( SORRY!! But Thanksgiving was awesome!!! We went to the Millers for breakfast (sausage, gravy and biscuits, YUM!!), the Rainey's for lunch (with a caramel cream pie, MMM!), and the Clinton's for dinner (MORE turkey!)...By then I was pretty shot. I gained a few pounds, but no big thang!

My Reynad's is okay, although my feet and hands turn blue on occasion...

Yes, as missionaries we are doing something called the He is the Gift Initiative! Were we give out cards with the link to the video and then report each week on how many of our investigators came in contact with it.

I am so sorry to hear about Josh, he is so strong and his family is as well during this time of uncertainty and struggle. It's so weird teaching people about the Plan of Salvation and having them not believe or even doubt it, when I know that the truth reflects back to them whether they can grasp it at this time or not. All things are done in the wisdom of God, whether we can see it in this life, or not. But I know that He has a plan in which all may be edified in and through the matchless Gift of His Divine Son!

This week, Chris and Tye are progressing well, although they weren't able to come to church this past Sunday due to work and illness. Tye was so excited to go she had us help her pick out skirts to buy for the occasion, so we are working hard to help her commit to coming this week! Chris is so excited about his baptism, he opened up a bit more and we helped him understand more of the Savior's atonement in his life. We moved up his date to Dec. 20th because he has been progressing so much in so short of time.

We were able to meet a lovely family through the surveys and they are willing to have us back in their home later this week. We are going to finish teaching them the Plan of Salvation. Adam has his doubts, but his girlfriend Krista is more open to it.

Claire has been cutting way down on her smoking! We had a great lesson in the Jacobson's home and were able to teach the Word of Wisdom more clearly and powerfully. Sister Jacobson is an amazing fellow shipper. Claire ended up wanting a blessing and Brother Jacobson and Brother Williams were able to administer one. She is sleeping on Cynthia's couch right now and is having to deal with a few men who are always over threatening her and doing drugs. She is surrounded by it frequently, but is staying strong in the face of it. She said drugs are starting to look more and more repulsive to her, as she is seeing the difference without having to rely on them to cope with emotional stress. She invited us to her sister's baby shower and was able to meet her family! YAY! I think they are more open to her meeting with us now that they have gotten to know us better.

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and wonderful thoughts!

-Sister Weaver-