Alma 17:2-3 Teach with Power and Authority

Hey family,

   A quick note this week.  Quillota is awesome!  My companion and I have been running every other morning and doing other exercises the other days because of the great weather in the morning.  I have met most all of the active members in the ward, and they are all willing to work with us.  This past week, a recent convert who was baptized about 2 weeks ago gave us a reference, who´s name is Nico.  Nico is 15 years old and is very interested in the Church.  During our first lesson, he confessed to us that he wants to serve a mission even though he isn´t a member.  His mom already gave him permission to be baptized and now his is only waiting for the 8th of September.  Yesterday he came to church 20 minutes early and loved every second of it.  I feel very blessed to have an investigator like him because we really didn´t do much to find him and he doesn´t have any problems that will stop him from being baptized.  The second investigator with a baptismal date is Nacho.  He is the boyfriend of one of the members and recently returned from Spain.  He shared with missionaries before leaving for Spain and didn´t have much interest, but now that him and his girlfriend, Coni, are going to get married, he is thinking a lot more about baptism.  He came to a ward activity we had on Saturday and then to Church yesterday.  During church, we talked to him about a baptismal date and he accepted for the 8th of September as well.  This morning, we went with him and Coni to set a date for their marriage. The Lord is blessing us tremendously.

  I had an interchange with Elder Gatica this week.  I don´t know if you all remember him but we shared the ward of Con Con back in April.  He helped me improve and live up to my potential as a missionary back in those days.  Now he is Assistant and we were able to spend a day together in his area in Viña.  The Spirit was amazing that day and I was, yet again, taught many things by him.  I know that Presidente Kahnlein calls the mission leaders by revelation.

   That is all for this week.  I heard that school is starting this week.  Good luck everyone!  I still can´t believe that the past school year has already ended.  Oh well.. Have a good week!

Love,

Elder Weidman

D&C 68:5-6 Don't Fear, Be of Good Cheer

Hey Family!

   First, before anything, I want to congratulate Lyle for his mission call to Rio, Brazil!!  He´ll be a great missionary and friend to those waiting to receive the Gospel from him. WOOHOO!

   A quick update on my life.  Right now I´m a Zone Leader in Quillota, therefore I won´t have as much time to write every week due to all the forms and numbers that we have to send to the office.  I´m still going to try to send an update of my investigators every week, but sorry if the emails are a bit smaller than usual.  We are in charge of 18 missionaries here in Quillota and all of them are amazing.  They all have desires to serve their Heavenly Father and are always looking for ways to improve.  I pray that I can be an instrument in the Lord´s Hands as I serve with these missionaries for the next few months.  If anyone has a few tips or pointers on how to be a successful leader, feel free to send them my way!  I´m always trying to improve in the roles that Heavenly Father has given me.  

   Tuesday morning, I was informed that I would be leaving Parte Alta.  Even though I was only there for 3 months,  I was truly a bit sad when I had to say goodbye to the members and investigators.  They have become my family and we have shared many spiritual moments together that I will never forget.  My companion was very nervous when he heard I was leaving because that meant that he was left to direct the area.  I know that will do great because the Lord always will help when He commands us to do something.  The truth in that statement is unbelievable.  This is His Church, therefore He knows what is needed in every aspect of the Work of Salvation.  Whether it be with missionaries, young men, Primary, Priesthood quorums, Relief Society, or simply raising a family in the house,  everything we do should be directed towards bringing about the Lord´s Work.  I have seen the blessings that come from true dedication while on the mission and know that each of us can equally consecrate our lives to serving the Lord.  If you don´t know how,  pray to Him and you will receive a quick answer.  

   On Wednesday,  we took a 6 hour bus ride to arrive to Viña Del Mar for the transfer meeting.  Right when I got off the bus, we were put to work by helping unload the suitcases and arranging things for the meeting.  Once everthing was ready,  the meeting started and I was informed that I was going to Quillota as a Zone Leader.  Usually Presidente Kahnlain extends the leadership assignments by phone the night before the transfer meetings, but he was sick this time and wasn´t able to, therefore I found out on the spot about being a zone leader.  My companion, Elder Sosa, was my zone leader for a change in my previous area but now we´re together here in Quillota, working to save a few more souls through baptism and temple covenants.  Elder Sosa is from Uruguay, but lived in London for a few years of his life so he knows a bit of English.  He is a hard working, yet hilarious missionary and I am blessed to have him as my companion.  Quillota is very different from Parte Alta but the spirit of the work is the same so we will continue working no matter the circumstances.  I don´t really know the investigators or members to well right now due to the little time I´ve been here but I will give you a better update next week on what is happening here in Quillota.  

     This morning I Jimmered it up in basketball.  I still got skills.

I love and pray for you all!

Elder Weidman

D&C 132:50 -- He has seen our sacrifices

Hey Family!

   This week was a great week as well.  The week flew by like most weeks and Ed was baptized yesterday!  The main change that I have noticed this past week was the unity that the ward and missionaries had together. The first change I realized was the amount of references that we were receiving.  We received so many that some days of the week we had no time to proselyte for ourselves because the members were loading us with names.  The Quorum of the 12 have testified that that is how God wants the Missionary Work to be.  All appointments from members and no time for knocking doors.  From experience, I can testify that is a very effective way to bring the Gospel into more people´s lives.  Of course as missionaries, we still have to do our part in finding new investigators because there are millions of people out there who are ready to hear the Gospel, but the Lord has commanded that every member be a missionary.  Why would we not want to share the happiness and joy we have that comes from the Restored Gospel?!  As missionaries, we are promised power and authority in our words if we strive to teach with the Spirit but this promise is extended to all children of God.  Just this week a member named Cesar told us of his first contact with the church.  He said that he was talking with a friend who wasn´t a member but had a little knowledge about the Gospel.  His friend explained a little bit about the Restoration through Joseph Smith and then bore his testimony by saying that he approved of the message.  This little chat impacted the heart of Cesar and he continued looking for more until he found the missionaries.  The little and simple testimony that a non member gave to his friend lead to the conversion of a child of God.  Now this member is always looking for ways to share the Gospel with his friends.  Like it says in the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord recognizes our sacrifices and will provide the way for us!  Our joy will be tremendous if we share what we know.  I challenge all who read this letter to share their testimony with one friend who does not have the same beliefs as you.  One little sentence of how the Lord has blessed you in your life.  I promise that the Spirit will give power to the words that you say.

   Wow.  Well enough of that. I just exploded what was in my mind onto the email. I hope it makes sense.  Ed was baptized and around 58 people attended his baptism!  He asked me to perform the baptism and I was more than happy to do it.  His mom died a couple years ago and while we were stepping into the water, he said ¨I know that my mom is happy.¨  That simple truth almost brought tears to my eyes.  The branch has done an amazing job of extending their love to Ed and he will now stay active in the church.  

   Wednesday are changes.  Tomorrow we will know if I leave or not.  I´ve been here for 3 months, so there is a possiblity that I leave, but only God knows.  Mom and Dad, you have changes this week too right?  I bet that it is very stressful right now.  You are in our prayers!  You´re a Weidman.  You can do it!

Love,

Elder Weidman

Romans 1:16, Alma 31:5 - Power of Salvation is Most Powerful

 Hey Family!

   I have a companion now!  His name is Elder Morales, has been on the mission for 2 months, and is from Peru.  I don´t know if I told you last week, but he as in Con Con and baptized one of my old investigators.  My old companion, Elder Farnsworth, started the training of Elder Morales and now I am finishing it.  I know that Elder Morales has a purpose for coming up to Coquimbo so unexpectedly and we are both going to figure it out together.   

   This week was a lot of walking and talking to people in the street, but one of our investigators, Pat, was baptized yesterday!  The baptismal program as amazing because 50 people came and we were all jammed inside a small room where the font was, but the spirit was very strong!  I had the privilege to baptize him and everything went perfectly.  Our other investigator, Ed, went to the baptism and he is super excited for his baptism next weekend.  We have taught him about all the lessons and he has accepted every single one without a problem.  I feel really blessed to have had these two investigators, especially during the past week when I was all over the place.  I know that the Lord has put me and my companions here in Coquimbo because it is where we need to be.  We must become consecrated missionaries so that He can guide us to those who are ready for the Gospel.  Leave everything on the table and give your whole self to The Creator.  I´m going to make this email short, but this week is the last week of the change.  I´m pretty sure that I´ll write next Monday, but who knows.  MAYBE NOT!  I´ll try to send a few more photos!

I pray for and love you all!

Elder Weidman

Without any forehand experience, us 6 missionaries built fences for a neighbor. We're fierce like fire.

We had fun while doing some service one morning.

A photo of my area from the other side of the bay.

Lighthouse.