Isaiah 61:1 - My Calling

( Let me take a deep breath before I start this email).....

Hey family!

Two years ago to this month I was spending my last few weeks with the family. I was able to make use of every last second before my mission by fishing in Alaska, spending a few days in the Utah House, and best of all spending precious days with the family.  Many of my friends already had a few months of their mission experience under their belts and all I wanted to do was follow in their steps.  I still remember the anxious feelings that I had as the countdown began winding down. Then without even realizing it, the night arrived of when I would be set apart by a worthy Stake President.  I spent the last few moments of that night trying to imagine how the next two years would be.  The date of the next morning was the 22nd of August 2012, my assigned day to enter into the MTC. I finished packing the suitcases and then waited with the family.  We left the house and shortly arrived to the MTC.  The fact that this would be the last time that I would be with most of my family for 2 years began to dawn on me as the last photos were taken, but the excitement to begin my long awaited mission over powered the other feelings. I was dropped off at the curb of the MTC and, after saying a quick goodbye, walked away while fighting off the desire to look back.  I didn´t need to see them in order to know that they were there supporting me in every step that I was going to take.

After spending 2 months in the MTC, I realized that, as I arrived to Chile, my time spent there was meant to easily make the life change.  I thought that I had a pretty good grasp on Spanish but once I began talking with the Chileans, I realized two things: 1.  There is a Chilean Spanish and 2. They talk SO fast that it seems like they don´t take time to breath! The first area where the Lord needed me to work was in Limarí, Ovalle.  My amazing first trainer, Elder King, helped me straight off the bat put my heart into the work.  Instead of giving me time to unpack on my first day, we hit the streets and immediately began talking with people.  That first experience with my trainer set off the focus of my mission: Spend every minute of the day fulfilling my purpose as missionary. After six weeks, Elder King was sent to Valparaiso and Elder Crist, a missionary who immediately can gain the confidence of anyone, became my second ¨papa¨. We spent the following 3 months underneath the scorching summer sun in Ovalle and it was there where I learned never to complain as Laman and Lemuel always did.  There are miracles each and everyday and we decide whether or not to look for them.  The Lord then decided that my time was finished in Ovalle and I was sent to Con Con, where Elder Rivera taught me many things about Chile.  I was truly blessing to have a Chilean companion because in those 6 weeks I gained a never-ending love for the country of Chile.  Through Elder Rivera, I was able to gain a deep understanding of the Chilean culture and understood that the best way to serve these people was by loving them with they same love that they always had for me.  I was then able to share all that I had learned with Elder Farnsworth as we spent quite a bit of time in the house as he recovered from the operation he had been given.  He also taught me the importance to always put the Lord´s Will before anything else.  As he told me all about his life and mission, I seriously thought that Parley P Pratt was sent to be my companion.  A converted missionary. The short 3 months in Con Con came to a close as I was called to serve with Elder Yorgason in Parte Alta, Coquimbo.  Upon arriving to our sector, I began to realize that I was about to have my first experience with the challenging hills of Chile. I soon learned from my companion that the hills are only challenging if we allow them to discourage us because everyday he would leave with a huge smile and everyone could see how happy he was by the way he walked and talked. I great teaching was left by Elder Yorgason to never let the discouragement dampen my spirits on the mission.  Every single door can be shut in our faces or the streets can seem like water slides due to the rain, but if we have a uplifting attitude, we will always be happy.  I was able to transmit the same spirit to my next companion Elder Dawson, who was arriving straight from the MTC.  We enjoyed our short month together, where he taught me more about repentance than I had learned in my whole life.  In that moment I was able to witness the example of a humbled son of God who put the blessing of repentance before his own pride and desires.  Elder Morales then replaced my companion and, in the 2 quick weeks together, showed me how one must apply their faith in every single prayer that they offer. I would have loved to have spent 6 more weeks with him, but the Lord had different plans for the second half my mission.

Quillota, the land of the avocados, was calling my name as I arrived to the change meeting.  Elder Sosa, a dear friend of mine, and I spent 4 months together and as I think back on the experiences we had together, I begin to understand why I miss that place so much.  The members, our converts, the missionaries, and even the sudden trips to other sectors in the zone help me realize how I was changed by focusing on the needs of others.  Elder Sosa and I were able to help many people as we truly consecrated ourselves to the work.  Elder Brown then replaced him and, through his way of teaching, I saw how the Gospel is the only thing in this world that can truly bring us joy from heaven. My 6 months in Quillota came to a close as I was called to work in my dream area, Valparaiso. Elder Baird introduced me to the amazing city and also left me always looking for the Lord´s Hand in the work.  With him we were able to follow the Spirit to God´s children who were waiting for us. Then Elder Bojorquez and I experienced a handful of events that truly changed our perspective on life. Together we were able to help others conquer (sp?) the unexpected trials of this earthly life. Elder Bojorquez also taught me about the importance to deeply think about teachings of Christ so that I can always apply the blessings that come from His sacrifice. Now I find myself in Quilpue and have tried to teach my companion Elder Swindler, all that I have learned in these past 2 years.  I don´t think that we were given enough time together but that doesn´t stop me from trying. I don´t feel that I deserve all the blessings that I have received but I know that I must share what I have learned with others.

The truth is that my two years of the mission will shortly end, but my eternal dedication to consecrate myself to the Lord´s work has just begun. I thank you all for the support and prayers made in my behalf.  Soon we will see each other and I will try my hardest to tell about the experiences I´ve had on the mission but I believe that only Jesus Christ will be able to truly understand the full change that I have made.  I love you all!   

Elder Cory Weidman 

DyC 84:88 - I'll be on your right and on your left

Hey Family!

  Do you all want to know how I feel right now?  Let me tell you then.  This morning in our companionship study, Elder Swindler and I read a talk by Elder Tad R. Callister called ¨A Consecrated Missionary¨ (mom you sent me this talk about a year ago and it changed my mission).  In that talk, Elder Callister explains the change of nature that a missionary must have in order to become as the missionaries in the Book of Mormon.  Near the end his talk, he mentions about Roger Bannister who broke the 4 minute mile. ¨He collapsed at the finish line into the hands of his well-wishers¨. I feel that I am running the same race and that I have now approached the last 100 meters.  If I don´t give it my all and keep sprinting even through the finish line, everything will have been in vain.  The Lord has set the standards for this mile race and He has said that one must serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength until the ¨Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.¨ So now to answer the question: I feel great! I have realized that through out my mission, I have always dedicated all my efforts in serving the Lord.  My willingness to leave everything behind began the day that I entered the MTC.  The difference, however, is that now I have studied Preach My Gospel from cover to cover and know how to apply it in the Work so that the Spirit is the true teacher.  I have the same determination and devotion but the big change is that, through deep study and meditation, I can truly say that I love Jesus Christ and I understand what I must do in order to have His Atoning Blood convert me into a consecrated servant.  I invite all who read this to consider the blessings that come to each and everyone of us due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Let His blood and sacrifice free you from the bonds of the Adversary! It is the one thing that we must do while in this earthy life so that our family can live together forever. I hope that you can feel the testimony and love that I now have of Jesus Christ.  I love you all!

Elder Weidman

DyC 100:5-8 Speak thoughts God puts in your heart

Hey family!

   The week flew by like always which isnt the most pleasing thing for me. I'm trying to make use of every minute that I have left while trying to make it pass by slow at the same time, but I've come to the conclusion that it is imposible.  When you are lost in the work, the time doesn't matter.  Every minute is spent giving your all.  The continuos effort given out should never decrease from 100%, whether it be 11 in the morning or 930 at night. Your mind should be competely focused on the Lord's work.  You should not let anything distract you from your purpose as missionary.  In Doctrine and Covenants 4 it says that the eye should be single to the glory of God but I would like to talk about the Spanish translation.  In the spanish Doctrine and Covenants the word "eye" is replaced with "mira" which means "scope" in English. Like the scope that is used on a sniper rifle to aim directly at the target. If the scope is used correctly, you can hit exactly where necessary with 0 doubt. Dad has a lot of experience and I´m sure that he would be more than pleased to explain with more detail the benefits of a scope! In Mission Work, you must have your ¨scope¨ pointed with 100% zoom at God´s purpose which is to ¨bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man¨. Once your vision is at that point, nothing will effect you.  You won´t even notice the things that are passing around you because the all your efforts, desires, and prayers will be consecrated to Him.  Not a single distraction will be able to enter.  What an amazing promise.

   The work here in Quilpue is beginning to explode.  We ended the week with 3 bautismal dates: 1 for the coming Sunday and 2 for the one that will follow.  The 2 for the 10th of August are a brother and sister.  The brother is Lucas, who I talked a little about last week.  His schedule is a bit difficult because he is only home at 930 pm during the week, but we have been taking advantage of every second that we have with him.  He inicially had a baptismal date for the 3rd but after introducing us to his sister, Cata, and explaining to her about how his view on life has changed in the past 2 weeks, he happily accepted an invitation to be baptized with  Cata on the 10th!  They both are reading the Book of Mormon together and if one has a doubt or fear of being baptized, the other will comfort them with advice and make sure that they are happy. It´s awesome to be able to teach a brother and sister and see how they are united in this decision.  Great examples!

Love,
Elder Weidman

Ether 12:27 - Weakness Become Strong

Hey Family!

   Well the transfers came and now I am working in Quilpue with my new companion, Elder Swindler. He has just started his second transfer in the mission field so Ill be covering his training for the next month. He is from Riverton, Utah and is the youngest of 7 so we have a LOT in common.  He understands how hard and stressful it is to be the youngest in a big family :). JOKE! No, we have talked a lot about how blessed we have been in our lives to have older siblings who have been huge role models in our lives. I feel really privileged to have Elder Swindler as my new companion because he came to the mission spiritually pre-trained.  You cant even tell that this is his 8th week in the field because he shows his tremendous faith through his comments and actions in the day.

  The Lord blessed me too much by sending me here to Quilpue.  A day has not pasted where we have not found a new investigator.  2 of those investigators now have baptismal dates for the 3rd of August and we are working with 2 others so that our baptismal goal of 4 for our time together can be accomplished. On of the investigators with a baptismal date is named Lucas.  He is 18 years old, was in prision last year, and wants to have a complete change in his life. We taught him the plan of salvacion this past week and he understood everything! When we explained about why it was necessary for Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, he practically yelled that it made so much sense.  At the end of the lesson he accepted a baptismal date and said that he wanted to do it so that he could live in the Celestial Kingdom!  I love when our investigators understand the Plan of Salvation.  My favorite moment is when the light bulb clicks, a smile comes on their face, and the Holy Ghost is seen in their eyes. It is an undescribable moment where the investigator usually gains their first testimony of the Restored Gospel. Lucas came with us to Church yesterday and we were able to get to know the members together. We plan on having contact with him everyday this week in order to help him continue progressing.

   Saying goodbye to Valparaiso was truly a sad moment but once we arrived to the transfers meeting and sang Ill go where you want me to go, I felt a spiritual assurance that I need to be in Quilpue. 

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

DyC 9:7-8

Hey family!

   We woke up to rain this morning, which ruined our desires to play soccer with the ward members who are on winter break, but that means more time to clean our apartment!!  This week we´ll have transfers and I´m pretty sure that I´ll be sent off to a new area to finish off the mission.  The truth is that I would love to open up an area or something similar but if I have learned one thing on the mission it is that the Lord usually has something else in mind that will allow me to consecrate even more than what I can imagine. The truth is that I will truly miss the members and friends here in Valparaiso if I am needed in another sector especially due to the life changing experiences we faced together.  I never would have thought that experiences so spiritually impacting would have happened to me here in Valparaiso but I have come to understand the purpose behind every experience that I have had and each one has led to me trust more and more in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. After having seen how the Atonement can change peoples lives, I now know what I must continue doing throughout my life in order to accomplish my purpose as a child of God.

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

Helaman 15:6 - Unwearied Dilligence

Hey family!

   The title of this email has a lot to do with what happened this week. In the moment, we don´t have many investigators so we have been working extra hard on finding news and the zone has also been passing for the same situation.  Realizing that the lack of investigators was a problem all over the stake of Valparaiso, the Stake President, High Priest assigned to the Mission Work, and us met together with the Bishops of every ward in one huge meeting in order to develop a Stake level plan of how to involve members more in the work.  A stake mission plan was made that consists of two sides: the ward council side and everyday member side. Here is the first part of the plan: First, members of the Ward Council, accompanied by the missionaries, will visit every single active family in the ward and will explain the ward mission plan with great detail.  Second, the Bishopric will do divisiones with the missionaries of their ward at least one weekend of every month. Third, all the members of the ward in organized groups will spend one Sunday afternoon of every month visiting the less active member families that have at least one person over the age of 7 in their home who is not baptized to encourage the family to return to church.  These are the 3 actions that the ward council has the responsibility to bring to pass. 

   The second part of the stake mission plan is for each member and focuses on helping the members make the participation in missionary work be a natural part of their lives.  Every member will be given a Preach My Gospel (fulfilling Elder Ballard´s invitation) and a hard cover Book of Mormon.  The families will focus one family home evening of every month on Preach My Gospel so that they can apply the teachings and see the blessings. It will be a family goal (like seen in this video  https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast?lang=eng#media=16902107223790014226-eng) and they will always have a Book of Mormon available to give out.  The ward and full time missionaries will pass by often to give brief training and answer any questions had.

   It´s a very spiritually inspired and thought out plan that is difficult to write in an email with the little time that I have.  But like I said before, the main purpose of the plan is to have the members develop personal testimonies of the Work of Salvation so that they too can participate. 

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

Mosiah 7:18-19 - Put your trust in God

Hey family!

   I can´t believe that I am already writing another email again. The days are going by quicker and quicker and I have no way to make it pass by slower.  This week I went to the area of one of our missionaries who has been struggling a bit lately with the disobedience. In my time in the mission, I have come to realize that there is always a reason behind the disobedience that is not seen.  Some missionaries who see these disobedient missionaries immediately  judge them without trying to know nor help them.  This is not the way to do it and many time this will cause a missionary to be even more disobedient. The best way to help this type of missionary has two steps (from my own experience): 1. See them in God´s eyes (President Monson´s talk in the October 2012 Conference) and 2. Dig deeper and find the iceberg underneath the disobedience (Preach my Gospel). The iceberg may come from homesickness, lack of faith, frustration, a misunderstanding about the rules, or even at times lack of sleep.  Now I will return to the experience that I had with this elder.  I went to his area with desires to help him change.  I have about 6 months here in the zone and he has 4.  When he arrived, there was not even a lick of disobedience (does that make sense?) but through the past months, we noticed that he was changing.   I knew and had seen his true potential and was praying, practically begging, that this interchange with him would help him in his conversion process of the mission.  I already had a strong relationship with him, so I straight up told him about what we had seen, and how we desired to help him due to the love we felt towards him.  While walking in the street, he told me that the disobedience had come from frustration.  Frustration in not seeing results, especially from the contacts in the street.  Our Mission President always has promised that if we do 20 contacts each day, we would be blessed with results.  I helped him realize of the blessings that he had been receiving before when he was happily doing the 20 each day, and of the blessings that he had lost when he stopped.  He expected that the blessings would come through more investigators, better numbers, more baptisms etc, but we talked about how he personally had become spiritually strengthened during those contacts.  We then offered a prayer so that the Lord would show us even more blessings from the street contacts and then set the goal to do the 20.  Let me tell you that our prayer was answered!  The Lord seriously placed about 5 people in our path that day that truly were striving to make a spiritual change in their lives.  One of the best days of my mission.  That was a day when we saw miracles in the street.  We must have the faith that those days can happen everyday, and not get discouraged when it doesn´t happen.  There is always a reason why!

Love, 

Elder Weidman

John 14:26 - Purpose of the Holy Ghost

Hey Family!

   Well I spent too much time thinking about my answers for the survey and now I have practically no time at all to write the email.  I´ll give you all an update on the recent converts that have been baptized in the past 2 months.

Makarena- Remember how she began coming to church after her house burnt down?  Well she has been continuing strong and yesterday she had an interview with the Bishop so that she can go to the temple in Santiago on July 5th and do baptisms for the dead!  She is loving the Young Women´s program.

Veronica - One of the best converts of my mission.  She has taken everything in and now is working super hard on her Family History so that she can perform the baptism on July 5th.  A quick miracle: She thought that her mom, who is Baptist, would never give her permission to be baptized for her grandmother, but after a long phone call where she shared her testimony about the family history work, Veronica obtained permission to be baptized for her grandmother!  She began crying when she told us that experience.

Camila - She was confirmed member of the Church yesterday and passed her temple interview with the Bishop right after the meetings!  Her favorite passage in the Book of Mormon up to this point is the mourning of Nephi in 2 Nephi 4.  She printed out the verses and framed them on her wall.

   I have loved being able to be in Valparaiso for 6 months because I have been able to see the personal progression of every single one of my converts.  I will be able to apply the examples and teachings that they have left me in my entire life!

Love,

Elder Weidman

Alma 31:34-35 - Power and Wisdom

Hey family!

   This past week we had the special privilege to listen to Elder Robbins from the Presidency of the Seventies in a Mission Conference held on Tuesday.  Here are some of the notes that I feel the need to share with you:

1.  The missionary agenda has a picture of a compass on the front. We read Alma 37:38-42 and he had us replace the word compass with agenda.  He also testified to us that the agenda is a spiritual tool made by the First Presidency to help us truly be led where the Lord needs us to be. My companion and I have put this into practice after the conference by planning more slowly and listen to what the Spirit tells us in our planning sessions and the difference is too obvious.

2.  He spoke to us also about the two different ways to be obedient.  Nefi was obedient, but Laman and Lemuel were also obedient.  They were obedient to the Lord when they left Jerusalem, went back to get the plates, cross the sea, and in many other things but what was the difference between them and Nefi?  They would always murmur while Nefi would obey without delay or complain.  That is the difference between an obedient missionary and an exactly obedient missionary.

Well my time has ended, but I hope that those 2 teachings will help you this week and the decisions that need to be made.

I love and pray for you all!

Elder Weidman

Jacob 4:10

Hey family!

  I´m staying in Valparaiso for another 6 weeks of rain and wind!!  This week was super crazy due to transfers and the baptism of Camila.  Let me give you a quick summary of the week.

   On Monday night, we talked with Camila and spilled the beans that transfers were coming up, which probaby meant that I would be leaving.  For the past month, we have been looking for rent for her and her family who live a bit up north from here so that she could leave the house of her ex-boyfriend, live with her parents and siblings, and be baptize.  The search for rent for that many people was turning out to be very difficult and a long process, so when Camila found out that transfers were coming, she told us that she would be willing to find a small rent and live alone with her daughter until a bigger apartment was found.  She wanted to do this so that I could be present in her baptism.  We ended Monday night realizing that we only had 24 hours to find a rent, move Camila out of her house, have the baptismal interview, and plan the baptismal service.  Just call us the Jack Bauer missionaries.

   On Tuesday, we began the day by asking President Kahnlein if Camila could be baptized the day right after moving out of her ex´s house and he asked us why it was necessary so quickly.  We told him of our worry that I might leave, and he agreed that it would be a great idea to have the baptism before Wednesday afternoon.  That comment made us believe that I was gone for sure so we began the search for a smaller apartment. The Lord guided us the whole time because within an hour we had found an apartment that at first was too expensive for Camila, but then when the owner found out that Camila would be a member of the Church, she lowered the price.  Blessing #1  - Lowing of the price.  Then we realized that we needed a member to help us move everything out of Camila´s old house to her new house.  We immediately called a member who has a truck and he said that luckily he was free that night. Blessing #2 - Free night of a member. Camila then had her baptismal interview but then something happened that we weren´t expecting: she needed to have another interview with someone with more experience in the Church.  Due to transfers, President Kahnlein had no time that night, so we decided to cancel the baptism for Wednesday morning yet continue with the apartment move in the night time.  The move went excellent and there was no problem with the ex-boyfriend. Blessing #3 - Ex didn´t do anything to stop her from moving.  The night ended and we all thought that I wouldn´t be able to be there for the baptism.  We all knew that the move had to happen that day so that Camila would be free from her Ex, yet we were a bit sad for how things turned out.

   On Wednesday, I receive a call that I will be staying for 6 more weeks in Valparaiso!  The Lord knew that Camila needed to change everything on Tuesday and I believe that President Kahnlein was inspired to make us believe that I would be leaving or Camila would never have left the house.  The rest of the week went amazing and, as you can see from the picture, Camila was baptized yesterday. She is true pioneer that has left almost everything in order to follow the Lord´s instruction.  She through herself into the Lord´s hands and trusted that He would do His part.  She even fasted to find a way out of her problems so that her only desire could be fulfilled. This is the Lord´s Work of Salvation and He truly directs it.  

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

D y C 43:16 - Sanctify Yourself

Hey Family!

   Remember the video chat that we had on Mother´s Day about when I go home and all that jazz?  Well after much prayer, thought, and reading of my Patriachal Blessing, I´ve decided to come home 2 weeks early so that I can prepare for the semester that comes in BYU.  My original date was to come home on the 27th but now I will be coming home in the middle of the week of the 11th - 17th.  I´m still not sure which day it will be but just wanting to give a heads up so that plans can be made and all that. The truth is that it was a hard decision and I wanted to feel 100% sure on my decision therefore I know that it is what the Lord needs me to do so that I can accomplish my true potencial.  I really had the need to stay in the mission for 2 years because I felt that my mission wouldn´t be fully complete without that but then I felt the Lord tell me that He is the One who decides whether or not the work done was sufficient.  The time spent in the field doesn´t matter nor the number of converts. What matters is the dedication and consecration that you place willingly in the Lord´s Hands.  He knows what I must do and I can truly say that this is the decision that will lead me even closer to His presence.

   Now enough about me.  Camila, our investigator who is just dying to be baptized, continues progressing quickly.  She can´t be baptized in the moment because she is living with her ex boyfriend and can´t find any rent due to all the victims who are were effected by the fire that are living in rents.  We even did a fast with her this week to find an apartment, and we continue looking with faith. The Lord will definitely provide the way because this is a meaningful step so that Camila can enter into His Church.  Within in the second of finding rent, she is going to have her baptismal interview and be baptized.  We have changes this week, and I really hope to be here in her baptism but that is my personal desire that doesn´t matter in the end.  The important thing is that she can make a life changing promise with God that will never be forgotten nor broken.

 Love you all!

Elder Weidman

Moroni 8:9-10 -- Teach to those who are accountable

Hey family!

   Really quickly I got a few seconds to write you all! Veronica got confirmed yesterday and she is one of the best converts I have in the mission! She called us this morning to let us know that she has already started her genealogy without us having to expain anything!  We have already set a goal to go to the temple on May 2015 and she is 100% concentrated on accomplishing that goal.  She said that her whole life she has had goals but never has she had such a strong desire to complete one until now.  It´s crazy to think that if we had not followed the Spirit that day in contacting her in the street, she would still be lost in the world, looking for a way out of her problems.  My companion says that she has helped him have for faith in the many contacts that we do in the street because only the Lord can guide us to those who are willing to accept the Gospel just like Veronica did.

Congratulations Lucy in your baptism!!

Love,

Elder Weidman

Moroni 7:48 - Pray with all heart to receive love

Hey Family!

   As you can see from the photo, Veronica was baptized yesterday and it was one of the most spiritual baptisms that I have ever been in!  Let me explain why.  Veronica arrived to Sacrament Meeting and all of the members were excited to accompany her in her baptism but then the Bishop organized a last second emergency service project in the hills which meant that almost all of the members would need to leave after sacrament and climb the hills to serve.  Only the Bishop y 5 other people could stay for the baptism.  Veronica said that she understood and didn´t feel bad for not having many people in her baptism but my companion and I still felt a bit let down because we wanted to have her baptism be full of people so that everyone would remember, but the Lord had different plans.  The baptism service then began right after the 3rd hour of church and even though a handful of people were there, the Spirit was powerfully present.  Veronica had asked me to baptize her so I had the opportunity to be in the baptismal font with her to witness the immediate change she had.  She was very nervous when walking into the water but when I took her hand in mine and rose my hand to the square, I felt her take a deep breath and just wait.  I offered the prayer and then layed her into the water. Those watching from the other side of the font said that when she came out of the water her face was glowing.  Her smile was unforgettable.  When the doors were closed, she told me that she was glad that water was dripping down her face so that people couldn´t see the tears streaming down.  It reminded me a lot of the new Bible video of Christ´s Baptism.  The feeling felt in that baptism was one that every person in the world should have the opportunity to partake of. 

 Happy Birthday to the buck hunter of the family, to the man who fights head on head with death (so other people don´t die), and to the movie spoiler of the family (when Danny saw Tangled for the first time)

A note for Lucy: You are too big and too mature.  I can´t believe that you will be baptized on Saturday!  You are setting a great example for your younger siblings.  Never forget your baptism!  

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

DyC: 60:2 -- Courage to Open Your Mouth

Hey family!

   Long time no talk!  That video chat last night was great just like usual and, even though Taylor, Nina, nor Danny were heard, we could see how much fun they were having and it makes me happy that they are making unforgettable memories in Thailand.  I want to share really quickly about two comments that I received last night after the phone call.  First was one from my companion who, for a short history update, is the only member in his family and his parents don´t support him too much on the mission.  He was listening to the entire call and he admitted to me after that he began crying because of the Spirit that was felt and the strong bong that he saw among our family.  He said that he is very excited to raise his own family in the Church because he knows that they will be a happy, loving family just like ours.  Also La Familia Risco, the family that you all got to meet, have been having some recent trials in their life that have caused the mom to question the Church a little bit.  She said that, even though she couldn´t understand our words, we helped her realize that her family is the most important part of her life and that she must stay in the church for her family.  She began remembering all the spiritual experiences that she has shared with her family in the Gospel and the video chat helped her solidify her shaking testimony. I´m sure that none of you had any idea about how much you were spiritually helping those who were in the house with me last night.  Even Wyatt, Sam, Gracie, and Lucy had a part in the help!

* The picture included in the email is one of the baptism of Macarena.  She is the niece of the family where I was last night.  They are all in the photo.

   A quick update on our investigators. First off is a woman named Veronica.  A few months ago we contacted her in the street.  The contact was actually very cool because we were contacting another guy when she walked past.  Both my companion and I felt the need to talk with her therefore we literally ended the conversation we were having with the man in two seconds and ran quickly to catch up to her.  She told us she had been a member of the Catholic Church, but then had stop attending due to a bad experience that left her doubting if God exists. We set up an appointment with her, which she didn´t arrive to, but then like a month later she showed up to General Conference and we had a really spiritual lesson ( I feel like I already explained about it in a past email).  Due to the fire of Valparaiso, we lost contact with her until just two weeks ago.  She now really wants to be baptized and begin on her path towards the Celestial Kingdom.  Satan has tried attacking her with many trials, but she has been able to conquer every single one through the Book of Mormon.  Tomorrow night she will have her Baptismal Interview and on Sunday she will be baptized.  A great conversion story!

  The other investigator, Carolina, who I talked about last week is progressing very well.  She has been smoking for 21 years and is in the process of overcoming the addiction.  Yesteday she went to church for the 2nd time and her testimony continues to grow.  Now the members are supporting her in the tough battle that she has with smoking.  We are going to teach about the fast this week so that she can show the Lord that her Spirit is stronger than her body.

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

2 Nefi 4:34 - Trust in the Lord

Hey Family!

    As you can see from the photo, Macarena was baptized yesterday by her uncle, Jesus!  She was accompanied by two other 8 year old primary girls.  I´m going to send another photo in the email that follows this of all 3 of them with the people who baptized them.  In the middle of the photo is Ignacia who asked my companion and I to teach her for the past month in order to prepare her for her baptism.  I don´t know if I have mentioned about her before but she and her little sister remind me exactly of Lucy and Gracie!  Ignacia is always laughing, sharing what she learned in school with everyone, and trying to be the best example for her sister, while the sister is in her own little world and making people laugh.  I´m sure that Lucy and Gracie have changed quite a bit in the past 2 years, but they will always be the same in my mind.  The other girl in the picture is a daughter of a member who recently returned to the church.  She along with about 40 other members have, due to the fire, felt the need to rekindle their relationship with God and return to His Church.  I have never seen such a high number of asistence in any ward on my mission!  Yesterday the Bishop said that 160 members partook of the Sacrament, a new record for the year. 

   We have another investigator name Carolina who has a baptismal date for the 18th of this month.  She works in a little office that has an open gate facing the street, and one day while passing her office, we decided to talk to her through the iron bars even though she was very concentrated in her computer.  Any normal person would have thought that that isn´t the best way to begin talking with a stranger but when the Spirit prompts us to do something, we follow the whispering without second thoughts.  As we began talking with her, she kinda looked at us pecularly (sp?) but was very interested in what we were explaining about how God has revealed what our purpose is through modern day prophets.  She accepted a Book of Mormon and we set another appointment to return.  Well she wasn´t their for the appointment and we lost contact with her for a few weeks.  Then the huge fire happened and during the same week, we contacted her while yet again passing her office.  This time she was 10X more open with us and began explaining her personal interests and beliefs.  She even admitted that she didn´t know why she was so open with us, but that she felt very comfortable talking with us.  She has a very hard past that has left her single with 2 children of 22 years and 16 years.  She has a hard time trusting in people but she realized that that shell was broken as we began teaching.  Yesterday she came to church and immediately became best friends with the woman of the Relief Society!  I will expain more in the next email about the especific details of her conversion because it is yet another amazing story that I never thought that I would be a part of. 

   We will be seeing each other next Sunday!  Mary knows everything about the video call, so just contact her at anytime to know more.  She especially loves when people call her in the middle of the night!

 Love you all!

Elder Weidman

Well my camera ran out of batteries.  The computer seems to suck the juice out of it everytime I´m here.....

2 Nephi 33:1 - Power of Holy Ghost in Conversion

Hey Family!

   The life is starting to get back to normal here, well as normal as it can get with half of the hills burnt away.  Studies started up again, therefore there aren´t quite as many people serving in the hills like before.  Most of the burnt debris has been brought to the bottom and now we are in the process of constructing little houses called ¨Media Aguas¨, which are one room homes with enough space to put two three men tents.  There is no bathroom, but it´s mainly there so that the people have an acual roof over their heads.  The reconstruction of the houses will take months and months, but the people needed shelter for the rain that comes with the winter.  Most of those who lost their houses have gone relative´s houses but there are still many who won´t give up their land, therefore they have been camping out ever since the fire. Truly dedicated to recovering their life.

   I want to share a little story about one family who lost their house.  The mom, Brenda, is a member of the Church but had been inactive for MANY years.  She now has two daughters, one of 12 years and the other of 5.  On the night of the fire, she and her two daughters ran to the only place of shelter, the chapel.  She said that it was pure chaos outside, but once she entered the building´s doors peace was found.  Nothing could be heard from outside and she and her daughters slept peacefully.  The next morning they stayed for the sacrament meeting and were comforted by all the members.  Her brother and his family, who are strongly active, took them into their home and cared for them the entire week.  During the week, we began passing by and teaching Macarena, the 12 year old daughter.  Now she has a baptismal date for the 4th of April and her uncle will baptism her.  We also began teaching Brenda more and helping her put her life back together.  She is expecting another baby and plans to be married with her boyfriend by the end of the year.  Even though she literally lost all her physical possessions in the fire, she says that right now is the happiest time of her life.  She can not remember any other time when she was more happier.  The Lord´s purposes are unimaginable. We can always rely on Him.  There is no trial too tough that will lead us off His path.  Everything depends on our own decisions and how were exercise our agency.

   Yesterday at 9 p.m, all of the residents of Valparaiso ran out of their houses clapping their hands in thankfulness for those who sacrificed time and talents in repairing Valparaiso.  A moment that I will never forget.  Shouts of thanks were heard from every single hill.

Love you all!

Elder Weidman

Photo: My dirty face after a day of service.