Monday, March 10, 2014

Mother's note: I wrote to Parker about what his uncle told us about what he did on his mission for Gripe. Basically antibiotics.  Now here is Elder Weiss' email...

First of all, I TOLD YOU GRIPE WASN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL. hahahah I still have it, and I have been taking the pills. It's slowly going away. Elder Victoria has it too, so I think we keep regiving it to each other, hahah. Anyways, I will get on to my week now.

Tuesday - I went out all day with Elder Victoria in his area. Met a lot of his families which was awesome. We talked a lot and he helped a lot with my Spanish. But ya, that was a fun day!

Wednesday - We had district meeting in the morning, then in the afternoon, we went to Nicauri's. Michael was there so we taught them both. It sounds like Nicauri really really wants to get married for her baptism that we have a goal for the 5th with her. She keeps telling him to marry her, but now she is threatening leaving. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. Make sacrifices for the Lord. She is awesome, and she is doing the right thing though. As of now, we're still waiting though. Then we taught some families. The usual stuff.

Thursday - Went to Palave, and taught some new investigators with a member up there. To be honest, they are all girls, and they are a little bit..... showy.... so we haven't been back to teach them. The only reason they listen is because we are walking green cards basically. But hey, we taught Hermano Reyes, and he loves that he gets to come to church every week once again. I love it too! That was about it for this day that was worth talking about haha.

Friday - Zone Meeting in the morning!! Got to meet all the new people. Then we ate at a Pica Pollo (basically a KFC) and then we got home, and left to work. We taught Ernasto again and he seems to be getting it. We also went out with our Ward Mission leader to go teach Nicauri and Suhenne, but both of them weren't home.

Saturday - We went to go check out a house we were looking at, around noon. Nice house, had a water heater!!!!!!!! But I don't think we are going to get it. Too far away you know. Anyways, we were going to head to Palave today, but because of circumstances, had to change plans and we stayed down in Hato Nuevo and got fired by ALL of our investigators. Just trials is all. :) We ended up spending a lot of time with members that day. Oh but I forgot, we did have lunch with the family Lara, the Utah family as I call them, and we finished teaching them the Plan of Salvation.

Sunday - Well Maxi Lara, the dad of the family Utah, showed up to church today. Said he enjoyed it very much and whenever he doesn't have work on Sundays he will be attending. Dang good feeling! I woke up with a nasty cough, and Elder Hope had a headache way bad, so we came home and slept for a bit. Then about 3 we left and got fired again by all our investigators, so we went to an investigators house of the other two elders with the ward. That was a neat experience. That was all that really happened. Nothing major.

Monday - Woke up, cleaned, went to a members and made dumplings, then played some dominoes, and now I am here!

So ya, way fun week full of trials, but hey, they were all worth it! I learned a lot this week, and I am super grateful for all that I have. Oh, haven't received the letter from Goodpapa yet, but I am waiting for that! Anyways, trust in the Lord, he knows everything we are struggling with and is always willing to help, we just have to ask first. I am grateful for this glad gospel message. I love being here. It is an amazing work. Stay awesome, love you so much!

Haz lo justo,

Elder Weiss :)

Mother's Note: I asked Parker what it meant when he said his investigator's "fired" them. He said it is when you make an appointment with an investigator and when you show up they aren't home.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Sounds way exciting this week! I love hearing how I was a good influence to so many people in the ward. Makes me feel super good! And yes I did hear from Zane his mission call! Super awesome! I am so proud of him. This work is amazing and I absolutely love it! So here was my week! 

Elder Weiss with 1st Companion Elder Zilm.

Tuesday - Well this day we said goodbye to Elder Vargas, and said hello to Elder Soto! He is from the DR and only has 5 weeks left in his mission. He's kind of a work out junkie and has been taking us to a gym at a members house every morning since Tuesday, so I've been working out real good this week!!! But ya, we got him, and then me and my companion were planning on leaving the house at two, but right before we were about to leave, water came back to the house and started coming out of all the pipes again, which we lost it last week, so we filled up all our tanks and stuff to prepare to lose it again. Luckily, water has stayed since this day (prayer answered right there) but this day we received to much water. For some reason, one of our drains in the house was shooting out water and mud all day, and we couldn't find out why, and it was flooding the house. So for 2 hours straight, I sat at this drain and swept all this muddy water into the next nearest drain. It stops randomly, but it keeps happening. Luckily its never been that bad again so we usually just leave it. Anyways, we left around 6 because we were forced to, and only talked to the bishop that night about what is going on in our zone. Really good talk. Very needed. 

Wednesday - Well we taught Nicauri and she had questions about marriage, and so we talked to her about that. Sounds like marriage is in the near future! Hopefully, because than she can be baptized!!!!! Wooohooo!!! We also went to the Castro's, and taught them a lesson with a kid who isn't a member. He said he'd like to learn more, but with work, hardly ever has time, so its a bit difficult. We'll see! hahah We contacted for about 2 hours and got some promising contacts. Then we finished the night at Erick's house, the member who will be going back to Columbia on his mission soon. We played dominoes with him. Dominoes here is boss. Definitely going to teach you how to play it the DR way when I get home. So fun. :)

Thursday - Don't know if you remember, but on Sunday we had a guy stop us at the church and told us that he wanted to learn about the church cause he has a daughter who is a member in Utah. Well we taught them this day, and let me tell you, this family has been prepared to hear this message. They are all very receptive. It's a family of a mom, dad, a daughter, and two granddaughters. They all are very interested to learn more, and its nice to see. We taught them the first lesson and they brought up amazing points. Oh, and I found out their daughter lives in Provo, Utah. Oh and also, she is trying to get her dad a visa so that he can live their with them. It's very possible he will go, and I will be able to see him frequently after my mission! Super sweet! Anyways, after we taught that family, we went to Palave, and visited with Hermano Reyes. He is basically my grandpa on the mission. Just the sweetest guy ever. Love him to death. I wish I could just carry him in my backpack with me all day. Hahah he kinda looks like a black old man from the movie Up. haha, so anyways taught him and just love spending time with him.

Elder Weiss in Palave.

Friday - We worked with our ward mission leader all day this day. He had a reference for us, which turned out to be a guy that sells hamburgers, called chimis, on the corner of our street, so we already knew him a little bit. His name is Ernasto, and he is a boss. Love this guy. He wants to learn a lot, but also needs to come to church. We also visited members a lot, and we tried to go to Nicauri's and Suhenne's but they both weren't there. Bummer!

Saturday - Again worked with the ward mission leader. We went back to the Familia Laura, the family who has a daughter in Utah. The only person who was there was Maxi, the dad. So we taught him with our WML, and Maxi told us he is planning on getting married, just out of the blue. Super awesome, because that is a key thing that needs to happen before baptism! I really hope this family keeps progressing! We also again went to Ernasto's. We taught both him and his wife this time. He understands the Restoration of the Gospel really well. He's really easy to teach, just needs to come to church darn it! hahah

Another view of Palave.

Sunday - Went to church, was fasting like a boss, and then after church made spaghetti for the house. YUM! Then we went up to Palave and talked to Hermano Reyes again. He made mention he wants to get married in the Temple with his wife. They have 26 years together and haven't been legally married yet, which is common here, but he wants that, and to be sealed for eternity too. Its just sad, that for 26 years, he and his wife had the opportunity to visit the temple and be sealed and hadn't done it. Imagine the blessings they missed, but now they won't anymore. :) We're preparing them to go to the temple now, and it is an amazing feeling. Anyways, after a long talk with them, we had to go to the church for Ward Council. That was good. Sounds like the missionaries will be getting a lot of help from members soon, which is very needed!

Elder Weiss in Palave.

Monday - Today we went to our Zone Leader's chapel and played games, then got to the internet center. Here I am! Nothing exciting. hahah

So that was my week! I love being a missionary, and the experiences I have, I wouldn't change for the world. No matter what happens in my life, whether good or bad, I am proud to say I made the choice to bring others this message. You get bad news constantly as a missionary, stuff that brings you down past your knees, but all you got to do is have faith that the Lord's plan for you is in play, and that the things that are happening are all part of your plan. I love this gospel, and I will forever stay strong to it.I have realized the importance it has made it my life. I will never change my standards, or my beliefs. This gospel is amazing. I love it and am so grateful to live it every day. I hope you are doing well. I can't wait to hear from you. :) Love you dad, and family as well!!!

Elder Weiss

Elder Weiss being silly.

Happy not to be eating rice & beans.

Some kind of flying insect. Dragonfly? Really big.

Elder Weiss and his new companion Elder Hope.

Monday, February 24, 2014 (4 Months out!)

 So my week. Here it goes!

On Tuesday - We cleaned our house in the morning because we had inspections the next day. We cleaned so hard because we had a competition with the zone. Whoever got the best score, the rest of the zone had to buy the winners free pizza, so we cleaned all morning! Also,We had a bunch of visits set up with a bunch on investigators like Nicauri, but all of them fell through, so me and my companion did a super hard day of contacting for 4 hours. We didn't teach anyone on the spot, but we got a ton of sitas set for the next day. All in all it was good, but it just made me super tired. I learned a lot about my companion though! The kid is awesome, and such a hard worker!

On Wednesday - Had our inspection in the morning They gave us our score, an 89, which ended up being the highest score, so we won free pizza from our zone!!!!!!! Super awesome!!!! Anyways, after that, we went over to one of our new investigator's houses. Can't remember her name, but we taught her the first lesson and she seemed to be getting it, then she got some sort of lock jaw or something and couldn't talk because it hurts so bad, so she told us to come back this coming Wednesday. That was awesome though. Really. hahaha We went contacting some more that day, and met a girl named Suhenne, who had been taught by missionaries previously and still wants to learn more. She had two other girls at her house with her at the time and we found out one was baptised and just hasn't visited the church but she said she is going to try to come this week!!! So ya, we got two new investigators, and one less active in that. We taught them the first lesson on the spot, and the spirit was so strong, when I asked her to pray she said the most beautiful prayer and began crying. Just simply amazing. The Lord has prepared her and these two other girls. I can tell they will be ready for baptism soon.

On Thursday - We went to Palave and taught all the less actives (Menos activos en Espanol) up there. One of them, Hermano Reyes, is a tailorer, and he has been tailoring all my shirts to be fitted for free. I will tell you what, the style here is fitted shirts, every missionary has them, and I can see why. They aren't all baggy and so much better. Anyways, we also taught him an awesome lesson. He has such a strong spirit with him. He was the same guy who hadn't assisted the church for 10 or so year before we started talking to him. Now he comes every week, and I just love him. :)

On Friday - Well we finally lost water on Friday in our house. It left and it was hard for my companion. First time he's lost water in a house before. I made burgers for the house the Five Guys way, and I will tell you what, I missed a good burger and a coke! Hahaha But this day was overall hard. We tried to go to Nicauris again but she wasn't there. She is having a kid soon and she told us she's been having pains, so I am just hoping she is doing alright. We taught Suhenne again and the other two ladies, and had another bomb lesson. We talked all through the restoration of the gospel. She has faith it is all true which is just amazing. She says she wants her husband to hear, which I think is the best. Everyone should hear this glad message. :) We did a lot more contacting this day and got fired a ton. Also, me and my companion came down with some sort of sickness. Don't know what it is but we both lost our appetites and had upset stomachs all day. It was only for this day though. Kinda weird.

On Saturday - We went to Palave again and told everyone up there to assist the 6 baptisms that were happening at 6 that night. None showed up. But ya, there were six baptisms this day! 5 for the other missionaries, and one for the ward. It just makes me want to work harder to get all of my investigators to receive the Holy Ghost too! They all need to get married first! Ay mi madre!!!!!

On Sunday - So we got to church and before we walked in a guy was driving past on a motorcycle and stopped us and said that him and his wife want to learn more about this church because there daughter is a member and lives in UTAH!!!!!! I was like, whoa, what???????? He didn't have time to talk that day, so I took his number down and his name and we're going to call him tomorrow and go teach him. That was awesome. Oh and after church, we taught Suhenne again. She is learning quickly and is already getting the lessons about baptism. We are going to ask if she wants to get baptized probably tomorrow. I am really excited for that. :) Oh then in the night, it is time for TRANSFERS. So we waited for the call to find out if we are leaving or staying. The call came. Elder Vargas is leaving the area. Elder Victoria is staying. My companion is staying. And strangly..... I am.......staying too. hahah I knew that though. Anyways, there will be a little of a switch in the house this week. We'll find out tomorrow who the new guy is.

Today - Woke up and went and played basketball with some members, then went to receive our reward for having the cleanest house out of the zone, free pizza with the zone!!!!!!!!!! Then I went around with Elder Vargas and said goodbye to all the people in the ward with him, and that is why I wasn't able to get on until now. Oh and then when we got to the internet center I had to wait 30 minutes for a free computer, but I am on now!!!!!!!! :) That was my crazy insane week. Been thinking alot, learning alot, and just realizing who I really am. I can't express how amazing it is to be a missionary and to have all these amazing blessings and miracles every single day in my life. I just can't express my love for this gospel. It is just amazing.

Sorry it was a good week so I had a lot to write. I forgot my chord to connect my camera to the computer but I will have pictures for you next week about stuff for this week and next week I promise. Anyways, if you are online, I would love to talk! Recuerda que el Señor sabe todas las cosas lo que paso en nuestras vidas. Este es un mensaje muy importante. Yo tengo mucho amor por esta iglesia. Ser un misionero es el mejor cosa que yo tuve la opurtinidad hacer. Ahora, yo se que mi Padre Eternal tiene amor para mi y todas las personas en el mundo!!!! I'm sending you my love and prayers, like always!!!!!!!!!!!

Con amor,

Elder Weiss

Monday, February 17, 2014

My week was good! Strange and different and oh so difficult, but that is okay! OnTuesday we stayed down in Hato Nuevo and worked with some members. We didn't have any sitas with investigators, which was a bummer that day, so that was just working with members. On Wednesday we went to Palave and finally got to teach an investigator we have had but couldn't find before. His name is Frank and we taught him his first lesson. He seems to like it, but he can´t come to church because he works all day on Sundays. I have faith and pray that his boss will change his schedule like he asked for, so that he´ll be able to attend church!!

On Thursday we worked super hard and got to teach Nicauri and that was awesome. Way fun lesson. She still needs to be married, so we´re waiting on that still. Oh and we went contacting for 4 hours that day. Only got 5 new contacts, so that was a bit humbling, but what can you do. Here is where the week gets strange. As we were in bed, we got a call and they wanted to talk to Elder Zilm. He left the bedroom, and when he came back he told me he was leaving tomorrow. So ya, Elder Zilm got special transferred into a new area to become a Zone Leader there. So I helped him pack all that night. I was just really confused and thought it was a joke, because transfers are this Saturday. But sure enough, Friday morning came, and the Assistants pulled up, and Elder Zilm got in the car and left, and now I have a new companion, Elder Hope. He only has 6 more weeks in the mission than me, he is from Herriman, and his Spanish is struggling, so I am basically training him. Its been hard, because we both don´t really understand the language. I´ve been praying real hard this week for comfort and help with that. So that happened. I know we´ll be fine. I have been showing him around the area from Friday until now, just meeting with members and stuff so he can see the area. So that is how I spent my Valentine´s Day! But nothing strange happened on Saturday.

 We taught Nicauri again and gave her an awesome lesson about Joseph Smith. Then yesterday we contacted some new apartment building and got some new contacts, and a new investigator! It was a good day yesterday!!! And today, we have cleaned the house and slept. I´m in charge of everything right now until Elder Hope learns the area a little better. Its hard but manageable!!! I´ll live! Oh and I forgot to mention, Elder Hope is the boyfriend of Julie Capson. Ya weird, but we were closer at home than we thought. Kinda strange! hahaha oh, and also, about your whole missionary service thing, never be afraid to lend out a hand. I have learned here that no matter who I am talking to or what I am doing, I will always try to incorporate the gospel into it, because you see a change on their face and you can see the joy its putting into their heart and I just love it. This gospel is amazing. Its the one thing that when all else fails, I can get on my knees and pray, and I know I will be alright. Even though this week and probably the next couple weeks are hard, I know I will always be okay. As long as I have faith in the Lord. He is opening up my plan little by little every day. Read Mosiah 4:9. I love teaching out of that scripture. It teaches a lot.

Also we had interviews with President this week. He told me in that that I am going to amount to great things on my mission, and "The Lord has big plans for me in the near future." Made me think a little bit, but I am not going to think that hard about it. That was on Tuesday. It has been fun here. Oh, I got an old authentic baseball glove, right handed, from the guy in my ward who played for the Kansas City Royals. He doesn't use it anymore and never had a lefty to give it to. Its one of the gloves he played with while he was on the team. Super sweet. Very awesome gift that I will treasure always. 

 Anyways, I love you, you are awesome! Make sure to tell the family a big hello for me, and anyone else who has been asking about me. Love you all!

Con amor,

Elder Weiss :)

PICTURES!

Helping a member add on to his house.

Elder Weiss and Elder Zilm 

The blue siding is the original side of house.

Elder Weiss Super Hero

Superhero needs his cape!

D.R. flag

Elder Weiss playing baseball, his new favorite sport.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Monday as you know was P-Day and we finished the night sharing a FHE lessons with a girl and her kids in my ward. On Tuesday, we went and visited with Nicauri and Michael and talked to them more about getting married. I love talking to them, because you just feel the spirit so hard!!! Then on Wednesday we went and contacted all day. Super hard, but way rewarding. Got a bunch of new contacts that could possibly become new investigators!!! :) Just keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.

Thursday a guy came over to our house and fixed our old washing machine so now we have two in the house, which is super duper convenient! And after that we went over to the Castro's (professional baseball player) and found out that the Elder who baptized them two years ago is coming to visit today and called to see if the missionaries in their area (us) wanted anything from them from the States! We're going to talk to him later tonight at their house, so that will be super awesome. :)

On Friday we went and worked with some members in our ward and did a service for a lady, and deep cleaned her house. Then after that we went around and visited with members all day. Saturday we went up to Palave with the Relief Society and taught all the less actives up there. One of the Relief Society members told all the ladies up there that if they went to church on Sunday she'd give them all chocolate. That day was awesome, because we just followed their lead and they had everything planned so we could relax a little. Then on Sunday all those ladies came to church, and that girl gave them all chocolate like she promised. We got some too though, so it was a good trade for us as well. ;) We even got a member who hasn't been to church in a year show up yesterday! Its just amazing how much influence the members have on people. When they reach out their hands to help, the Lord blesses the people with what they need. What an amazing experience.

Today I went and played baseball at the Zone Leader's church, and tomorrow we have interviews with our President, and I can't wait for that!!!!! But that has been my week! Sadly though, I feel as though my time with Elder Zilm will be ending here coming next transfer, which is sad, because I have gotten so close to him, but I guess we'll see what happens!!!! So that is life.

We still have water in the house, and we haven't received our inverter yet, but it's supposedly on the way. But ya, life here is still pretty normal other than that. We still haven't found another house yet, but as long as I have water, I don't really need to find another! Anyways, I love you, you guys all rock, and thank you for the support! I feel your virtual fatherly arms every day!! hahah so that always helps! Love you all. This gospel is amazing, and I wouldn't trade my mission for anything in the world!!!

Oh and I remember that day with Zane when I stood in for the blessing very well. I too felt another presence there, and I remember my hands were on top and I could feel some one else resting their hands on mine. I brought it up to Zane before he did and he told me he felt it and thought it was his grandpa. Very cool experience. To know that people who aren't even on our earth are still here for us to bless us. Oh which reminds me. I gave a blessing to a girl in our ward yesterday too. I don't know if I did it right or said it correctly, but I knew the spirit was guiding me. Just awesome, the power of blessings. What a blessing it is to have this priesthood power!!

Con amor,

Elder Weiss :)

From Monday, February 3, 2014

I heard the Superbowl was lame. Something like the Seahawks owned the Broncos big or something??? Ah well.Tuesday was pretty normal, we went and taught our investigator Nicauri again, but this time, her boyfriend was there. We told them straight up they had to get married in order for Nicauri to get baptized. It was a little harsh, but it was what was needed.

 Oh and that night we went over to a members house, The Castros, who are the ones that the dad is a professional baseball player, and we got to go watch him teach his son and a couple other kids a little bit of baseball. I like to relate the gospel to sports. Its like this, in this sense, The Coach of the time is our Heavenly Father and the Assistant Coach is Jesus Christ. They both tell us how to do things correctly from the beginning, and then they just watch. As we "play", or in this sense, go through life, they shout out to us and tell us we are doing something wrong. Now we have the chance to either change that to make us better, or not listen and continue to play wrong. If you don't change, you will be able to play the game and finish it, but you wouldn't be able to say you finished it as best as you could have. That is why we have our teammates who are out on the field with us, or the Holy Ghost. They are there to give us help when we need a little talk when we cant fully hear our coaches speaking. All in all, its a team effort, with one goal: To make you the best player you can possibly be. :) That is my analogy. :)

 Anyways, Wednesday we went contacting in a new area and got some new contacts, which was awesome. Thursday my companion had gripe bad so we stayed home. Friday we went and visited with members and had a zone meeting, which was pretty casual. Saturday we went and taught our new contacts that we contacted on Wednesday. Only one of them was home, but so far she seems to be an awesome new investigator. We cant teach her until next week because she wont be home, but that was good. We also went to Nicauri´s house that day. She wasn't home, which was a bummer.

 Oh, a girl yelled at us from the street and told us she was taught before by Elders and wanted to learn more. We told her we could pass by after church the next day so she said that would work. Then on Sunday, the first person we see at church is this lady!!!!! So amazing! And it was Fast Sunday too! Looks like some of the things I was fasting for like receiving new investigators came to pass quicker than I thought!!! It was awesome. But after church we went to her house and she wasn't there, so we will try her again tomorrow! Oh we also had a Ward Council Meeting at night too, so that was sweet. And today we got up and played baseball in the morning with some other missionaries! I got pictures of that, so I will send those soon! But that was my week!!! :) Anyways, sorry to hear that you've been moving a bunch of boxes! Hopefully that hasn't killed your back! Health wise, I am fine right now, but my back is just pain!!!!! But oh well, I will live. Anyways, that was life this week! I love you guys!!!!

Elder Weiss :)

(Heather was able to email "chat" with him for a bit and she asked him about his back and a bit more about Nicauri and her boyfriend's response. Here was his reply).

He is a member, but he is less active, hardly ever shows up, so when we told them that, the reason they say they haven't is "because of the time they've been together." So my comp asked "do you love her?" He was like, ya.... and then he asked Nicauri "Do you love him?" She said claro, which means obviously. hahah so then he was like, "what are you waiting for then?" basically. then he kinda avoided that..... so ya, he wants her to get baptized though because he knows it is right and its what she wants, so we'll see how that goes! My back is just in pain because of all the service we did by building that house, then carrying a bag with books all day... it just stings. I asked my companion to do it (pop his back) yesterday and I felt it pop, so my back should be getting better soon. It feels better today which is nice. :)

(We were able to chat more, but that's a personal conversation. The pictures he sent us will be posted soon.)