The Work in Veracruz/Villahermosa

After two years....

2011-04-19T13:27:00.014-06:00

Ross and I were so fortunate to go and pick Jordan up in Villahermosa...this is our experiences with him. We arrived Friday the 4 of March, late-we stayed at the Hilton next to the Villahermosa Airport, very beautiful hotel. Saturday we spent driving around Villahermosa trying to find the Chapel where we would meet Jordan tomorrow morning, we also looked for his apartment, never found it, but we found out later that we were so close. When we found the chapel the gate was open so Ross went in and there was the YM President with some young men playing X-box for an activity and he asked in broken English-Spanish about Elder
Weaver and they said he was working today and that he would be there tomorrow. Yea we were in the right place. We tried to figure out the money system and exchanged some, we of course rented a car and soaked up the amazing sunshine since we left Utah with about 6 inches of snow and it was at least 95 degrees and glorious in Mexico....anyways that night about 10 p.m. we got a call from Jordan at a pay phone asking where we were and Ross said where should we be? Jordan was very nervous that we would get lost and he was not for sure when or where we were going to be spending the night, funny boy! Anyways we told him that we would meet him at church in the morning-it all seemed so unreal-where did 2 years go...needless to say that night was very restless, we got up early and went to meet him, of course we got to the church early and so we parked and waited to see him, we sat there a bit and it started to sprinkle a little, and then Ross said look back in the window and my heart, sounds corny but lept! There was our missionary, still makes me cry and it has been about 6 six weeks ago, but there he was standing tall with his shoulders back, so full of confidence and that smile, so I took a few pictures thru the back window and Ross got out of our little Mexican Chevy, and was not coming fast enough and so I got out, Ross usually opens my door-I was too excited! Jordan spotted us and walked quickly across the street, we hugged we cried and we met Elder Groesbeck. After a minute of a reality check we went into the chapel. So cute, because it had been raining they left a mop by the door to wipe your feet on, since there are no carpets or doormats.

We went into the building and Jordan introduced us to members as they came in...we were overwhelmed with the love and kindness that they showed to us...every member shook our hands and welcomed us and the women hugged me and kissed me on the cheek...it was so amazing the spirit that these beautiful people have. Jordan had mentioned that we were coming and a sweet little girl said that she wanted to play the opening song for sacrament meeting because we were coming...so she played "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" on the keyboard there in the small chapel off to the right side of the photos. The other hymns were done on CD players and we sang to them. Sacrament meeting was first and we were there on Fast Sunday...they had the meeting just like we do, however, when the Bishop got up to open for testimonies we noticed that his counselors sat behind the sacrament table and we he was finished he joined them, then the member from the audience filled the chairs on the stand and started bearing their testimonies and the seats would continually fill up, Jordan bore his testimony and I had to pinch myself as I continue to cry...what a great young man, and messenger of our Father in Heaven. He has grown in was that are indescribable...the testimonies continued and finally we noticed two of the Aaronic priesthood holders go the the steps so that the members would stop coming up so that they could keep their meetings on schedule-amazing! We staye in the same place for Sunday School and then we went to R.S and Priesthood. Ross stayed with Jordan and attended Priesthood with him, I went with a Sister that Jordan asked to take care of me....we went to the kitchen and a sister with broken English introduced me again and made me feel very welcome. The lesson was taught by the RS President and I could feel her spirit so strongly...she taught about the importance of visiting teaching...all in spanish, but the spirit spoke to my heart. After our meetings Jordan and Elder Groesbeck need to meet with the bishop to tell him of their work in the area, they were both leaving...

This group of young men and some primary kids, they left before a picture, kept us company while the missionaries met with their bishop. They loved Ross, he speaks no Spanish and he had pictures of snow on his phone. While we waited one little girl asked if she could sing us a song and she did, it was beautiful. What a great day already and we had only just begun. We took Jordan and his comp back to their apartment to break their fast and then we were going to have dinner with a member family.

The Oak Tree

2011-02-28T18:16:00.002-07:00

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A might wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of jut how much I could endure.

But now I've found wth thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

Jace brought this home from his missionary prep class and wanted to share it with Jordan! Way to go Jordan, thanks for being a great example and standing like a giant oak!

See you soon…

2011-02-28T17:58:00.003-07:00

the fisrt picture is of my zone as we did our zone activity today, the second picture is of me and my companion, and the third picture is of me and Elder Price, from Orem Utah, we did a chest bump together and accidently haed-butted eachother, my tooth caught him in the cheek, the fourth`picture is of the baptism we had the other week and the last one is of a cake from DQ ..........no this week we dont have a baptism, there is a chance but the brother doesnt feel ready, yes church is at 9 in the morning and we stay fro all three hours. yes its at teh deportiva building, in the street Avanida mexico, behind the plaza San Luis. yes on monday i think you guys can help me pack, i am only allowed to take one bag wit m,e so maybye you guys can take the other i think on tuesday or wensday we will vbe able to go to the temple, but you guys should bring your clothing ........................i feel content that i am finishing up this service that i have given to the Lord, thyere are a few things i wished i could have down better, mistakes that i comitted, but, i have grown closer to my Heavenly Father in these two years and also i have felt the loving arms of teh Savior wrapped around me forgiving me of those mistakes. people are always asking how i feel and i tell them....... clean. as missionaries our purpose is to "Invite others to come unto Christ, be helping them recieve the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentence, baptism, recieving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end." i had never thought that as i invited others to come unto Christ that i myself would go unto him, through my faith he has cleaned me, through my obedience ha has protected me, through my diligence he has blessed me, and through my love he has saved other children of God, so that they may also have the Life Eternal. i feel sad becuase once i am back home i will be entering a different world, just like entering into the misssion, i started climbing to the montain top and i have reached it, stumbling along the way, but with the Saviors gentle hand always there to steady me, now i have reached the top i must go dwon to the foot of the nest mountain, a bigger one, and begin the journey again, i want to thank everyone for the support that you have all given me, i know that at times i didnt show much appriciation, but all the letters, the packages the e-mails, and everysingle p`rayer that was offered for me i thank you. thank you for the love, the support and the jokes, glad to see you all soon. con todo mi amor, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

It is amazing to me the emotions that I have, having come to the end of his two years, I sent his last email in tears this morning and I publish this one with tears also...It's truly incredible the blessings that have come from having him in the mission field! Blessings that seemed like trials have taught us so much and I know that our whole family has grown because of his opportunity to serve. I am very anxious to see him this weekend-we leave Friday and will see him for church Sunday morning, looks like we will get to help him pack and do whatever-then Tuesday he is ours :) We plan on doing whatever he wants before we fly out together on Thursday. Ross checked the weather today and it is 100 degrees there today with 84% humidity, so feels like 134 degrees-big difference from the 15 inches of snow here! I will take lots of pictures and add them to this blog-Thanks again to all of you that have written, sent packages and love and prayers, money everything you have done for him and us-we so love and appreciate you-the church is true-I can say that without a doubt! Good job Jordan-God bless!

Extension…

2011-02-21T14:29:00.004-07:00

our baptism went fine last week, and well this was an interesting week that i had. i am really excitedt hat you guys arestill comming so that yo can sign a permission pper saying that i can stay for another 6 weeks it will be cool i talked about it with the mission president he will let me go with you guys for three days and then you guys go home and i stay for another 6 weeks. i am not sure when we will go to the temple, but it will before yo guys have to go home, and yes thewardsname is Deportiva, and its Bishop Hernandez Friday morning when we get a call from a elder in our zone, him and his copanion had been fighting and things werereally tense, they werentbeing obedient ad, so we had to get involved.i went with a elder who is from my generation, because hehad been buying and watching movies, and the younger elder who has 6 monhs i themission came with my companion. President Casteñeda new all about the problems so he old me that i was to watch this elder to see what was going on, and if he didnt shape up he would go home two weeks early. so i was with this elder and two others that had been watching movies, and as soon as i get tothier house i didnt feel the Spirit, because when a missinary is disobedient theSpirit of the Lord does not stay, and in thhis house the Spirit hadlog left to another place, so we blessed the house nd i got them intothe habit of dong mrning nd evening devotionals everyday so that the spirit fo the Lord wasstron in hat house. because the missionary shaped up he is going to stay to finish his mission, but mycompnion being a goofball and knowing that i was spying for the mission president dubbed me 00weaver like 007, but with my name. oh and about the extension i am only joking, so mom dont flip.
well thats all i have for this week love you guysElder Jordan Ross Weaver ............................So funny, yes I did flip and got all crazy, so fun living in a house of all men, even when they are not here they still have to tease! :)

BETELEHEMU

2011-02-15T08:21:00.003-07:00

Date: Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Subject: BETELEHEMU
To: ROSS WEAVER <roswv@msn.com>
the fisrt pisture is of me and four other elders who are from my generation, the second is of Elder Allred, and Elder Groesbeck (my companion), the third is of me and Elder Rosales and the last is of the four of at having braekfast with a sister no i didnt know the americans before i got to the house i had seen them befor, but never really talked to them, with Elder Rosales, i have known him for a long time, we do have a baptism for this Saterday his name is Frank, and he is really excited,The conference went really well with President Casteñeda, i asked him about you guys coming to get me and he told me it would be fine im sent him the plans and will have a new answer for myou guys next the house is found at col Tamulty, street nicolas bravo, , number205 , apartment 3, and we have the church services at 9 we bathe with hot water that we boil, and a brather has a washer vand he washes our clothing for us, we eat alot of pizza and icecream from DQ, but thats about it, at home we have a stove a toaster and a microwave, so we do more cooking back home then we eat in the street the title of this letter is Betelehemu because a few years ago we went on a youth activity so the confernce center to listen to MoTab, and there was a song that dad really liked i found in a a disc that my companion has so there is you song dad, well sterday night we wnet looking for a old investigator from years ago we found her and she is a really heavy smoker, i told her about Uncles Brents experience with the missionaries and the blessing they gave him, it really touched here heart and we are going back to see her soo, her name is Luara Duran, thats all i have for this week love you guys, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Two letters…

2011-02-14T14:58:00.003-07:00

finish strong.... okay last week i sent you guys a letter with pictures and everything also saying that President Casteñeda is fine with the travel plans that you guys have put, i sent it and ya , i come here today having a email telling me that the one i sent last week didnt go through, so i resent that one and am sending another one, we had a baptism on saterday and Frank is really excited, and tommorow we are having a trainingship meeting with President Casteñeda, and me and my companio are going to be giving the class, i am going to ask a favor that you can put $50 in my account to finish the time that i have left in the mission, i have $30 but the banks wont trade me for them with pesos so i need your guys help. today i went to get my hair cut, and it looks pretty good, i am sorry but this computer is bad thats why i am not sending any picturesi am really excited because the zone that i am in we are all working pretty hard, and also sad because the letter i sent didnt go throu lats week so if the letter isnt that exciting, sorry . we have 3 people who can be batisezed at the moment we just need to got one married and help the other two know that the church is true, their names are Jesus, Gabriel and Guadalupe . so ya President is fine with the travel plans that you guys have and he only asks that you not distract me from the work that i have, so i will let you guys plan ot the details and see you on the 6th of March.
well i hope that this letter gets to guys along with the other that i resent so that you guys will know that i love and that i wasnt mad last week, its just the technology that dosent want to do its job. love you guys talk to you next week, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver Only the one letter came through-we just have 24 more days! Wow!

No email this week :(

2011-02-08T08:10:00.002-07:00

Zone Leader…

2011-02-01T07:48:00.003-07:00

the fist picture is of me with Dominoes pizza, and the next two pictures are of the kitchen we have, the last tow are of two different paper walls that we have to keep track of people that weteach and also of the poeple our zone teaches and for when they will bebaptized we are four missionaries that live in the house, and as a zone leader i have to watch over 16 missionaries, and make sure that they are beaing very obedient and working, I really get along just fine with my companion today we went to buy stuff and also we cleaned a good part of the house, okay i have a favor to ask...I am going to ask that everybody stop talking to me about time, its hard to stay focused when everyone is rushing the days when i want to slow them down. thanks. the direcion of the chapel is Street Venida Mexico, behind the plaza San Luis. i dont have the direccion of the house, and my companion at the moment does not remember it. we have avery nice area, we have DQ, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, and Sub Way, also we have a Walmart in the area to do our shoping. Tomorrow night we have a meeting to go to as zoneleaders with President Casteñeda, i will talk to him about your travel plans and see what he says. we are three americans in the same house and one mexican and its alot of fun having three different people to talk to. we listen to music at night and tell missionary jokes. well thats all for this week i love you guys, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Changes…

2011-01-24T16:27:00.002-07:00

the first is of the baptism we had this week, the second is of a giant stutue that we have here in Cunduacan. and the last is of me in my hammock. ockay Tommorow i leave to Villahermosa, with my new companion named elder Groesbeck he is from Utah to and i am goiung tpo be Zone leader, the new area is called Deportiva. i am not sure what Elder Faussett said aboput the travel plans but i am fine with them, we had a baptism last week and it was alot of fun, and the other day we were helping one sister prepare for her baby shower by helping her paint little figurines that she gave to peopl, and no we didnt eat the chicken i just thought it would be fun to chase one seeing as we dont have any back home. i am not going to be able to write alot becaiuse the mission offices sent me some documenst tjhat iu need to print and sine, so this is all i have for today. love you all Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Fun week…

2011-01-17T14:48:00.002-07:00

Chasing Dinner?
First picture of new companion Elder Castellos...

Great picture!

Wow!

Thanks Sewells-you have spoiled him on his mission!

the first picture is of the baptisms we had last week i baptized the three adults and my companion baptized the little girl. the secong picture is of me with the sunset, the tjhird is of us with the three wise men, the fourth is of me with the package that Sewells sent me full of candy, (Thank you Sewell Family) the fifth and sixth one is of me with a big rooster, that i chased down. first off mom i didnt understand what you were trying to tell me, was it that you need to know when you can come get me and what do i want to do when you get here, or was it something else. and President Casteñeda is fine with you guys coming to get me he told me on saterday that you have been bugging him for some time about my tavel plans so he is excited to meet you guys. that i have a understanding he would relaese me the 8th of march a tueseday the same day of the changes, you guys could fly down here on monday i would see ya tueseday we have those two days to visit poelpe and old ruins also go to the temple, then thursady we come home but i am not sure mom it would be better to talk to Elder Faucett, because i am not sure on what you guys would want to do. this week was a fun week we had four baptisms and this week we are working to have one more his name is Alexander, and today i spent the morning chasing chickens and washing my clothing, in a couple of minutes i am going to go get my haircut, beacease its really long. my plans were for when you guys get here to take you to meet some of the poeple i baptized and also to go to some old ruins and alo through the temple then thats all i had, becaese as a missionary i wouldnt have much to do as a tourist . well thats all i have let me know what the plans are next week, love you guys Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

So-I have not been bugging the mission Pres. I have sent one email requesting to know if it was the correct email and an another asking for permission to come and get him...so if that's bugging-I am bugging! We also received an email from Elder Fausett from the mission office today, and he said that we are more then welcome to come and get him and that I need to contact the travel office tomorrow and make plans with them, and that I can "feel free to email him again with any other questions and he will do everything he can to get back to me about things" How nice! So I don't know if Jordan is having problems understanding my questions/letters because he is into his spanish so much, but he made me feel like I am bothering him more than helping-so that's my vent for the day! I cried and now I am on with things-I know there are those of you that are saying you should not put this in his blog-but again it's for future references- BIG SMILES! :) I love you Jordan and I am so proud of you and the fine young man that you are, but you will always be my first and my learning child! The church is true! So happy about the baptisms and that the work is going forward, and I love the sunset picture-it's amazing, like I said before we are huge sunset people-and the roosters pictures are awesome-wonder if it was dinner?

Travel Plans!

2011-01-11T11:51:00.002-07:00

So I just got the email-
he will be home

Thursday, March 10,

arrives at Salt Lake Airport at 2:56 p.m.

Yea!

Pictures

2011-01-11T07:59:00.003-07:00

sure wish he would not have waited so long to get new shoes...lots of hard work and dedication shoes in his shoes....

Ockay to start off with pictures, the first one is of me getting dressed as Santa, the second of me as Santa, then third one is of me with a fire work for christmas, (no i did not light it, a member did), the fourth one is of my old shoes that i started the mission with,
and the next two are of my new shoes, and the last one is of what i have on my on one side of my study desk, the picture of you all is on the other side well i didnt do anything for my Birthday my companio invited me to a sandwich,and the bishop gave me a piece of papre that he had recieved from you guys in a fax, THANK YOU, so who is speaking spanish and who hepled you guys wriote the card. This saterday we are going to have 4 baptism and next saterday we are going to have another, thier names are Bartolo, Ruben Susana, Ruby and Alexander, there is another who is preparing named Ramses. Mom i am asking that you be patient Elkder Deal is my good friend because i have known him since the MTC, and the mission offices just called me today in the morning asking why they didnt ahve my form yet, i told them that i had sent it and them they checked iut again and found it in another file, so mayby you guys will know this week. today was fun becasue we went as a zone and bought Daminoes pizza, and watched a movie called Blind Side. its a really good movie and i really liked it. also we got to watch it in english, so it was even better.no i havent recieved anything lately from anyone back home but its probably time to stop sending stuff because i might not get it by the time i finish. so tell everyone thank you and that i will see you all in 7 weeks. love you all, one lats picture of the first baptism that i had here in Cunduacan, wiuth love, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver So I need to tell you what has happened with his travel...I called last month and they said that they had not heard from the Pres. for his papers to start, so being "patient" I waited and he said two weeks ago that he filled out papers and turned them in, well we belong to a very efficient church so I had not heard so I called last Friday, the 3rd and they said that they should have had plans at least 3 months in advance, so they gave me to the Sister over the Villahermosa mission and she thought it was odd that they did not have plans and said that she would email right then and tell them they needed paper work, and then on the Mom website I find out that Elder Deal is coming home the 10th of March, same time as Jordan should and his plans are in motion-so yes I panic a little and think that because he looks like a native maybe they don't realize he needs to come home :)- so I am being patient and hope to hear this week-if you look at the picture of him with Elder Rojo, they don't look that different, same height and color, of course I am more partial to Jordan...anyways only 7 weeks and yes I am counting!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-01-05T13:34:00.003-07:00

hello my wonderfull family. how is everyone doing.
no we didnt do anything for new yaers but its all good, we are still working hards, and i dont now who alberto is but Bartolo wasnt baptized.
the picture i am going to send is of a dummy that they burn at new
yeras eve, its upposeblky the old year and well i havent haerd
anything about my flight plans ye and no there arent any special
plabns for my birthday, thanks for not sendinga package becuae its
becominga biggre hassel then before because they are going to charge us for our packages, because the mail system is stupid.
we are hoping for 5 baptisms on the 15 of januray their name srae
Susana, Ruben, Ruby, Ramses, and Bartolo. if yo can put them in your
prayers thanks.
love you guys but teh copu was really dumb today.
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD
hope that you enjoy your party on wedsday and that you will eat my
piece of cake enjoying the fact that you will get a good birthday hug
and beating when i get home, i am sendi a a picture of a construction
site hope you like it. love you
elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I am coming home!

2010-12-27T15:59:00.002-07:00

Well it was fun talking to you guys yesturday and also fun finding other emails telling me to resent you guys the phone number, I am sending an attachment with all of my information that the mission needs for my trip home, can you guys check it and let me know that its all good, and hopefully in these weeks we will have a date and plane plans.
Now that they have asked me to fill out forms to go home I feel more trunky then ever and well hopefully the Lord will forgive me and help me to keep on working and not loose these ten more weeks that I have left, and sorry but the computer won't let me send photos at this moment, you might have to wait ten weeks to see all of my pictures.
This week we are hoping for two baptisms and we also have a young couple in teaching but they aren't married so we are going to help them,l to complete the commandments of God.
I am sorry but that's all I have to say today because I lost my train of thought with the plans of coming home...
Love you guys
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Santa Claus

2010-12-27T15:52:00.002-07:00

Okay to start off here is the number that you guys are going to call me at.... and I will be waiting the call on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. here in Mexico which shoulc be 7:00 p.m. back home, I think...
Well last week were the changes so I get a new comp, who has 5 months in the mission and he is a native Mexican, probably the shortest comp that I have had.
And yes I have put my hammock up now and sometimes I sleep in it, when it's not to cold at night. I am still not sure on what the plans are for Christmas day, but this Wednesday is the Christmas dinner for the ward and I am going to dress up as Santa Claus, I am going to be the tallest and skinniest Santa in history.
I didn't get any photos of my room so I hope its coming along fine and that no one else gets injured working on it.
Well on Saturday we had two baptisms of two little girls and well I can't really say how it went because I had food poisoning from some bad shrimp, that day and I was asleep during the service.
Well I don't have a lot to say this week but we will talk alot on Sunday,
Love you guys,
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I am late posting this email-we left for Vegas for the football game last week and I just did not get around to posting, so this is after we have talked to him last night...he said that he and about 5 other Elders called about sickness following sea food in the area and they are now banned from eating it-weird huh? He also said that the little kids in the ward were so excited to see Santa Claus come through the door at the party and then got closer and said you are not Santa, Elder, you are too skinny! Cute!

Oops!

2010-12-13T17:32:00.001-07:00

Hello my family, this is going to be short because the computer shut me out, I am getting a new companion tomorrow and he is called Castellnos, and Mom what info do you need exactly to ask presidente next wee-love you guys
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Something is better than nothing :)

Christmastime and the Temple

2010-12-06T13:06:00.003-07:00

Thanks again Sis. Hoopes!

Hello my wonderful family, How is everyone doing over in snowless Utah. okay to start out i did get the picture from last week and well this week i cant send any pictures because the computer wont read my card. we did have a baptis this week end and he was a big guy, so my companion being shorter then me its only natural that the brother choose me to baptize him, i almost went under with the big guy. we have an actual chapel here so i baptized him in a normal font. i didnt eat the crabs because they were really small but i do have an oyster collecion, i cleaned them out and have a bunch of cool shells. it was a ocean beach becasue we could see oild rigs and drills so it ws kinda cool. the apartment that we live in is pretty nice we live on the first floor and its stays really cool, it doesnt haet up like other places that i have stayed at. yes i got to see the fisrt presidency message, and yes i got the package, President Casteñeda came to see us to do a special interview and he brought us some chinese food, and also the package. it looks like christams because everyone has trees and lights and music but its not cold, so i still feel like i am in spring. this thursday we are getting together as a whole mission for a specail Christmas confernce and that same day wew are going to go to the temple. so when i find a place that will let me send pictures i will be sure to send like 15 beacses i have alot of stories to tell but its always better with the pictures. today i am going to go get my haircut beacsue its kinda long, i am sure that mom would have cut it like 3 wekks ago for me buit i havent had time to do it until today. we are hoping to have two morte baptism this week and two more next week. last week we did divisions and i got to do 2 hours of service with another missionary from my district we painted a house so my jeans have paint all over them and also my t-shirt. i havent been able to find a small nativity set because they are all huge and not very orignal like i would like. well thats all i have for you guys this week, hopefully next week i will be able to send pictures. con amor, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver I called the Church travel office this last week and they don't have anything scheduled yet, they said that the Pres. of the mission needs to request stuff to happen...I asked Jordan to remind the Pres. of what the travel office said, so hopefully we should be hearing any day from what I understand, however I do know that he cannot stay longer than his visa is good for...Thanks to all that are writing him and keeping him in your prayers, have a super Holiday Season!

No pictures

2010-11-29T15:48:00.003-07:00

well today was alot of fun because we went to the beach as a zone to play vollyball and i got soem cool pictures of a crab tha i had caught and also a ship that was running around along the beach. the problem is that i didnt bring my cable to send you guys pictures with so we have to wate until next week. my stomahc is taking all of the new food just find and no we arent eating that much chicken anymore, we have a wedding tommorow becauese one of our investigators needs it to be baptized this week end.
they prepare the food like a bar-ba-q then the take the meet and cut it up and everyone serves themselves with tacos. my comp has his hammock up so there is no room for me to put my hammock and as of right now i havent seen any natividy sets, but i be lookin. my companion goes home in Januray and he is scare becauese he doesnt know what he is going to do. i didnt understand jacers e-mail did he say that he is looking into colleges on where he is going to play and i am really excited that justin gets his egal tomorow and jax be more carefull sleddinga nd enjoy basket ball. well thats it for the week, love you guys Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I will replace picture with his when he sends it...:)

Double digits-99 more days!

2010-11-26T18:51:00.004-07:00

Jordan with Elder Stevens from Utah valley area...

Yes, I am a very grateful mother, we are 99 more days...although we do not have a release date...I am counting towards March 4, 2011

I recieved these photos from a cute "missionary Mom" ...our sons have not been companions but have served together in Mexico!

Thanks Ruth Ann

Trip Home

2010-11-22T18:41:00.004-07:00

(I added the picture...it is good for me to know that

we are underneath the same great moon...

"somewhere out there")

Well i was hoping to send home some pictures today but the computer wont read my card so i cant send pictures this week. We just got done washing our clothing we have a washer and a dryer now so it's a lot easier, and also i ate some cow udder tacos for lunch today. the other day i had cow tongue and brain. this week i am going to try cow eye and also we had crab tacos. i like this area a lot, its bigger and we have a chaple with about 100 attendance we might have a baptism this week and we have three planned for the fourth of December. President Casteñeda told me that you guys need to talk to the mission offices to see when you can come get me. i only ask that you not tell me until the end of Feburay in what your guys plan is. Elder Rojo is alot of fun he is a short fat guy and is from Guadalajara, he goes home in January and is alot of fun to work with, at night before bed we play card games like monopoly and he has some cool music from the church, the other night we found qa mouse in our garbage so we played broom hocky and then scared it out with a sling shot. there si no hot running water but i have gotten used to the cold water showers. i am still a district laeder and so is Eler Rojo we are Co-distrcit laeders. we are in charge of a dictrict of 6 other misionaries and two of them are brand new to the mission, and the two of them spaek very little spanish. On wensday the bishops son and nephew are going to leave for the same mission and they are both really excited. well that all i ahve for this week love ya guys. Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Moving…

2010-11-16T07:46:00.005-07:00

The 'house of prayer', this is where Jordan was to go if the rains got to high, and I am pretty sure this is where some of the pictures are taken where there is a stairwell in the back ground...and of course where his farewell party was held last night...

So grateful for our chapels, we are so spoiled...

Okay to begin with i need a apple pie recipe and a pumkin pie recipe before Thanksgiving, so tha i can some what celebrate it her in mexico, and the week has gone good, i am being changed erly because 24 americans got thier visas late and my compnion is getting a kid while i go to Cunduacan with a mexican named Elder Rojo.

today well i got all of my stuff ready for tomorow for when i laeve and lso we went and played soccer as a district, tonight the branch is foing to do a farwell party for me at the house of prayer. seeing as i cant stop you guys from sending me a package even though i have asked that you dont, please dont send me stuff that i a not going to use.
yes i did get my line of authority and i gave a copy of it to this brother that i ordained
Okay the first picrure is of an egg that i had in the fridge and it froze and cot cracked, the second is of the housev of prayer that we have in Huimanguillo, the third is a picture of the sacrement room, and the fourth is off the Elders qurem
we have stopped giving seminary because the studenst werentr taking it seriuosly so they found another teacher.
i write Landon off and on and i write him in spanish
i am going to say that jill will have a girl.
well thats it for this week love you guys
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I get anxious for Jordan the night and day that he is transferred, what a leap of faith to go somewhere you have never heard of, by yourself, to live with someone you don't know...so much more courageous then I...God bless and keep you Jordan, I am so proud of you and the great servant of our Heavenly Father that you are!

Pictures

2010-11-08T17:33:00.004-07:00

From what grandma pat tells me you guys might get some snow pretty soon, i hope that you guys are excited for the snow, my companio is still with me until Dicember and no the show table hasnt really helped with anything.. we havent had any baptisms but we are working to have some, we are also trying to get the members excited about working more with us so it can be easier. its still getting a little cold down here but we stay warm at night with our blankets well the pictures are of the show tables we did, and also the brother that i ordanied to Elder and the last is our garbage truck that passes by every day of the week. the last picture si of the three members whohelped us with the show table.
Well that all i can do because the computer is slow, love you guys. Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Priesthood line of Authority

2010-11-01T17:25:00.005-06:00

Priesthood Line of Authority

-Jordan Ross Weaver ordained an Elder by Ross C. Weaver March 3, 2009
-Ross C. Weaver ordained High Priest by Armel O. Beardall May, 24, 1992
-Armel O. Beardall ordained High Priest by Franklin D. Richards Jan 14 1971
-Franklin D. Richards ordained High Priest by Arthur S. Woods Mar. 21, 1955
-Arthur S. Woods ordained High Priest by George Albert Smith July 28, 1924
-George Albert Smith ordained an Apostle by Joseph F. Smith Oct. 8, 1903
-Joseph F. Smith was ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young July 1, 1866
-Brigham Young was ordained an Apostle under the hands of the Three Witnesses Feb. 14, 1835
-Three Witnesses: Oliver Cowdrey, David Whitmer, Martin Harris
were called by revelation to choose the Twelve Apostles and Feb. 14, 1835 were "blessed by the laying on of the hands of the Presidency" Joseph Smith Jr, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, to ordain the Twelve Apostles.
-Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdrey received the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1829 under the hands of Peter James and John.
-Peter, James and John were ordained Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:16)
-Jesus Christ

600 ordinances…

2010-11-01T17:14:00.003-06:00

My week was raelly busy but alot of fun, we wnet to the Temple on Thursaday like i told you guys we were going to, and we were 17 adults with some small children that went, we had a samll van to go in so people were sitting on others laps and i was on the floor, we did 600 odinances because they did 50 each only 12 did the baptisms and confirmatiosn, me and my companion were the witneses, afterward the mission President cam,e and took pictures for us and then we hedaed home w left for the temple at 2 in the afternoon and got home at 9 at night.Then on Saterday we had a show table put up in the market place so we could try to talk to more peopel about the church we did like a science fair board with pictures of christ and church materaila on the table and we stared inviting poeple to coma and learn about the church. Three members helped us and two of them are our converts. When can yo guys send me my line of authority to give a copy to the brother that i ordained. if you need to send it to me in a envelope not in a package, lets hold off with the packages plaese.
i have a blanket that i use at night and its raining on and off not alot, and i am not using my hammock because we have no hooks in the wallwe got the tranfers yesterday i am staying here until the 14 of Decimberand no i have not been having problems with my luggage, its holding up pretty good, i havent been bugged by any bugs for some weeks now because the mission gave us bug spray again, and iguana was a regular meal. Yesterday for lunch we both ate 7 burritos and they were really good, well thats it for this week love you guys, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Sock-yuck!

2010-10-25T13:36:00.003-06:00

Hair cut looks great and still love that smile! This makes me sad! Look at his heel and his socks are ridiculous...should have sent the package and ignored his request-I will know better next time!

How is everyone back in Utah doing with signs of snow? i think after the mission i will just live in Texas until its sping again back home. Zone Conference only lasted half a day this time because it was a normal Zone Confernce the other times its beacsue its a Leadership Training, i had a interview with President Casteñeda and we laerned about how we can better find new people to teach the Gospel to. Stake confernce was fun to we had four ordinations to the mElquesidic priesthood and i ordiend one of them so i need my line of Authority to share with him, if you guys can send it to me. and no we did not have to speak at the stake confernce. we are going along just fine with the Temple Preparatiosn and we are going to be going in the afternoon like at 5 we will be entering, 5:00 back in Utah 6:00 here in Mexico Seminary is ockay we have three studenst but its just not as much fun as i thought it would be, and as such not a future career choice.and we do it at night. As for the pictures that i am sending one is of me with my new haircut, and the other is of my sock. its cool here because the wife of the Stake young mens president gave us each three pairs of socks, i am reading the book of Mormon in Spanish because its boring in English and i fall asleep. i baught a new shirt today so that i can go to the Temple in nice white clothing, and i took out some of the m,oney that was in my card so that i could but some new garments. Landon and i have been in contact and he tells me that he is going to be a District leader to. Well thats all i ahve for this week, i will be sure to send pictures of the temple next week, Love you all, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Elder/Seminary Teacher

2010-10-19T07:49:00.007-06:00

Well how is it getting over there in cold old Utah, I have been getting cold these past nights so I am sure that back home I am going to die from cold.
Today was a fun day we got together as a zone and we went and saw Toy Story 3. On Wednesday we are going to have zone conference and this weekend is going to be stake conference. Me and my companion are going to be the new seminary teachers until they call a new teacher, because the old one never came to give the classes.
Yes I got the pipe pictures how much did you guys have to lay out, and yes we wash our clothes in the back of our apartment.
Yesterday we had to take a small bus to get to lunch and well we got on and two ladies were really drunk and we think the bus driver was too, after a couple of minutes another lady got on and well the two drunk ladies offered her a beer and she took it. People really like to drink down here.
I actually have a few favorite mexican families becasue the are all alot of fun and they are golden converts that help us work and they are fun to talk to.
So alot of people are getting married back home huh...so does that mean I can get married when Iw ant to when I get home..? :)
I went and bought some boots that I needed and also a rain poncho which keeps me and my stuff pretty dry...sorry but I don't have any pictures for this week and its because we are at a different internet cafe then usual and it does not read my memory.
I finished the book of Mormon and I have started to read it again right now I am in Alma chapter 30.
Tomorrow we are going to take some members to the Family History Center to prepare some names of their ancestors for the Temple trip that we have planned.
love you all
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Hello again,

2010-10-12T07:34:00.003-06:00

What a great picture...we would sure like to go through the temple there with him!

Wow! As Mom of course I had to enlarge this picture to look at all of the surrounding "stuff"...notice the lovely green on the ground, humidity? Yes he is eating well-haha!

Well hello again my favorite american Family, i cant say just plain family because i have a favorite Mexican family too :) the first picture is of me in front of the Temple of VillaHermosa, the next is of our baptism on confernce weekend and the third is of the baptism we had this past Saterday, the fourth is of me washing my clothes with a stick in a big water gallon, and the fifth is of me at BK
About coming to get me i will talk to President Casteñeda about it in Feburary. We had a more or less week this past week, it was hard to find new people to teach but we did have a baptism this week to. Today we got together as a district of 8 people and played Mafia, it was fun we did it differently though, in the place of mobster they were Gadianton Robbers, and in the place of cops they were angels and in the place of normal citizins they were nephites. then after wards we went and ate at BK. We are still in the process of preapring everyone to go to rthe temple so its going to be alot of fun and mom i am food, so there is no need to send me a package, in the place of sending me a package maybye keep the money so i can start school, when i get back. The water heater heats up to much and melted the outlet so we are still bathing with copld water but the bugs dont bug me anymore. The food is always the same chiken, and pig and yesterday i ate iguana, it tastes like fish and still had some bones in it, but it was good in a taco.

well thats it for this week love you all. con amor Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Answers to Questions

2010-10-05T20:24:00.003-06:00

Hello my family,
Well to start off I am sorry but there will be no pictures for this week, because the computer won't read my card but that's okay, there will be more for next week.
Well you all had some great ideas about what I should do when I get home but to tell the truth I still plan on sticking with landscaping idea and building off of Dad's business if he will be my partner, and give me a helping hand.
Jace why would you want a new car when I will get it when you leave for your mission, it's better that I being the oldest brother should get it to study and date and while your away I will watch over it :)
My stay with President Casteneda was fun we learned some new teaching methods and the last day he took us to do a session in the Temple, we all felt spiritually strengthened and also with the General Conference that happened we received a lot of strength, even though we had to see it in English.
We are planning on taking 15 people to the Temple and they are in the process of preparing names of their ancestors to do the work for them.
Today I got a good laugh because the sisters that I have in my district called me up and told me that they have a tarantula in their house. I asked them what they wanted me to do about it and they went quiet, as if not sure what to do...I told them to get it outside with a broom or kill it with some Raid. They called me back up after 10 minutes and told me that they had killed it with a rock.
I am going to study Mom so lets not worry about school and don't worry about what I will do, I got my answer and will act upon it.
About coming and getting me well they aren't allowing it so it's not really an option, besides it would be boring for you guys not understanding what people are saying and boring for me because I would have to be translating the whole time...
We had a baptism on Saturday and we are planning on having another one this Saturday and also a trip to the stake center to use the Family History Center.
Thank you all for your support in this time of my life, I love you all and hope that everything will keep working out.
Con amor
Elder Weaver

Conference Question...

2010-09-29T07:27:00.008-06:00

baptism day!

One of my handsome sons, love the tan line on his neck...notice no light bulb in the back, I wonder if this is a stair well to his appartment?

Tiny bike for a tall gringo :) He may look Spanish, but he is a gringo at heart!

Favorite still...hugh...has someone been trying to replace me over there but they aren't as goodlooking as me that's why I am still the favorite. jk.

Okay the pictures are of a couple we baptized this past Friday, and well Pres. Casteneda is the one who contacted them for us and he came to the baptism and did a special number.

President then called us after the baptism and told us that he wants me and my companion to prepare the branch to go to the Temple on the 28 of October, and he said the we can go with them to do work for the dead, so we are really excited about being able to go to the Temple.

My skin infection isn't really a skin infection ants just seem to eat us alive at night so its ant bite nothing more.

The stake fast went fine it was cool because some of our investigators were fasting during it too so we could really feel the spirit. The people we baptized last week live below us and are related to our landlord who is a inactive member...we had never thought about teaching them until one day president Casteneda and the assistants came to visit us, and that's when we started teaching them.

We are going to baptize two more people this weekend, and they are really excited to be able to go to the Temple also.

The other two pictures are of me and of me on the bike

The river hasn't done anything yet and we are still staying nice and dry.

I title this letter because I want to we how well we can agree on revelation, I am going to go to General Conference with a specific question on what I should do after the mission and you guys do the same, then we will compare answers on Monday to see what's in for my future :)

This week I am going to VillaHermosa again for another three days with President Casteneda.

Well that's it for this week, love you guys,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

It's amazing to me to look at how grown up my little Jordan has become, where did the days go...I love how white his clothes are, maybe I should do laundry in a bucket :), I think that we will go to the temple on October 28th with Jordan's branch, what a great opportunity! The boys are amazed at how small the bike is, no wonder they went to horses-jk! As far as the "conference question" we have lots of ideas of what we think he should do, so maybe this will narrow things down a little, I just think it's fun how this is the second time his whole mission he has talked about what to do when he gets home...yes I am counting the days-I am a Mom! Love you Jordan, you look super, God speed my little man!

Smiles!

2010-09-22T09:38:00.003-06:00

Electric water heater....looks like a lot of wires close to water to me...maybe it's the electric shock that will kill the skin infection....

Hello my favorite family,

I am doing good this week, Last Thursday was a lot of fun, we went to the stake center and saw the dances and also the food was pretty good too. And no I am not getting "trunky". I am still having a lot of fun.

Today we installed an electric water heater in the house so we can shower with warm water and kill the skin infection that me and my companion both have.

I am not sure where we are going to watch General Conference, but I just want to see it in Inglish and not Spanish.

We have a really big river by us and it's been going up but the whole stake is going to do a special fast this weekend so that nothing happens and that all the people who are homeless right now are going to be able to find another place to live or that area will be drained. We haven't been told to prepare anything like a 72 hour supply, and yes I am still dry. To tell you the truth I am not sure when the rainy season will end.

The Sister missionaries are native and I get along fine with them. They have the same job as I do but they don't baptize people, someone from their ward does it for them.

I can't really tell you what the young women do here Mom, there are not a lot here and also we don't associate a lot with young ladies :)
I feel fin and the only thing I need to buy are some boots for the rain, but I am not sure how much I have in the account because they charge me here to check. I have been getting along fine with my companion, I get along better with the other foreign people then with the natives, I don't know why.

This week we are going to have two baptisms and next week we are planning on having two more, there are a lot of people we are teaching and the Lord has been helping us find his elect children who are going to progress and be baptized.

Well, that's it for this week, love you guys,

con amor

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Wow, great letter! The event he spoke of last Thursday was the Bicentenial Celebration for Mexico's Independance day, it is September 16, not May 5....

Sounds like the work is moving on rain, sleet, wind, Hurricanes!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Veracruz, if you watch the news some of his old areas were hit very hard and we have gotten letters saying that Elders in that area were told to get 72 hour kits, and that they had safe houses if it got to that point...God bless you and keep you safe!

same ol-same ol

2010-09-14T07:37:00.003-06:00

Hi my favorite family,
My week has been fun so far, we found out that in two weeks we are going to have the stake conference and then the week after is General Conference so we are looking forward to those and also this Thursday is the Mexican night party for the stake we are going to see if we can go like last year. I really hope so because it was a lot of fun. We haven't really done anything different this week then what I have been doing since March 4, 2009.
It's starting to rain again but thank goodness that the river is not flooding. I went and got my haircut today, an investigator that we have did it for us, I think that Jacer should wait until I get home then we can talk about who should get a new car :)
Here is President Castenedas email so that you can write him mom.
ncastanedaruiz@ldschurch.org
So how is dad feeling now does he still hurt pretty bad or does he feel better now that he got LOTOJA out of the way?
I now have sister missionaries in my district so I am in charge of two sisters as well as myself and my companion. It's really different because I have never had a sister in my district, ever since I started the mission.
Well that's all I have for this week, sorry will try to have more infor next week,
con amor
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Sounds kinda "trunky", 5 1/2 more months, hang in there buddy!

Giant Pina (Pineapple)

2010-09-06T20:40:00.005-06:00

Hello everyone,

I am doing good and dry. Villa has been flooding but we are still good in not having any problems, thank goodness.

Okay the first pictures is of the baptsim we had last week. Her name is Anna and she is living with another sister from the branch and she went to church with us and really liked it, and the next picture is of the three baptisms we had this week their names are Carolin, her son Juan and Julieta, Caroline we contacted her in the street and her son completed 8 years old on last Monday and Julietas Dad is a recent convert and he got to baptize her. And then the last picture is of me with a gian pineapple.

It doesn't matter how much it rains here it's still hotter then heck and I love it, sweating is a great way to lose weight, all I need to do is start doing crunches and I could come home with a six pack.

The visit we had from Elder Johnson was alot of fun we learned alot about the atonment of Christ and how we as missionaries are inviting people to partake of the atoning sacrifice that he gave for us.

We have stopped with the bikes because we only needed them to go to a ranch 20 minutes from town but they don't want anything with the church so we haven't used them for a while. Walking is a lot better. All the little things that I sent home was stuff that members have been giving me and I didn't have the money to send the hammock home so I am going to keep it...I just need to buy some rope and I can use it in the house.

Mom I love you but I am going to correct you on your Spanish, in the place of putting (con muy amor), lets put (con mucho amor)
We are planning on building a baptismal font here in our area because it would be better here then having to have to travel to the stake center half an hour away.

Well that's allo I have for you guys this week because we went to some pyramids today and come home an hour ago, I still need to buy groceries and wash my clothing, infact I am going to send a picture of what I was going to have for lunch..

Con mucho amor

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Thank heaven's he is dry, prayers have been answered, and I love that he is correcting my little spanish that I pretend to know :)

He looks so skinny to me, look at his belt, it almost goes around a half a time again...

Riding horses?

2010-08-31T07:42:00.006-06:00

estamos viendo muchas bendiciones aqui en Huimanguillo, vamos a tener tres bautismos esta sabada y esperamos a que vamos a poder seguir encontrando los escogidos de Dios. con amor Elder Weaver
(We are seeing many blessing here in Huimanguillo, we are going to have three baptisms this sabada & hope too that we are going to be able to continue finding the chosen ones of God, with love, Elder Weaver)
I have put my letter to Pres Castenada for this week above this letter but I don't know why you guys want it.
I am sorry again but no pictures this week because the computer won't let me show where they are.
We had a baptism last week and working to have three more this weekend.
Elder Johnson the area seventy is coming to visit the mission this Thursday, I really like this area it's a lot of fun working with these people, especially because I am in a different state.
We aren't biking that much because its a pain in the butt. We are starting to horse back ride which is alot easier and faster...(jk)
It's raining alot here and the people are starting to talk about how the river has a really goood chance of overflowing. If it does overflow then the house of prayer is the safe house for the members, we live in the second story of a house so we have ver little probles with the rain.
This computer is really dumb and ya, my time ran out.
Con amor
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Mensaje del Presidente 22 Agosto 2010

2010-08-23T15:30:00.007-06:00

Jordan is on the back left side in front of the window... Click on the picture/letter to enlarge it and then click again and make it bigger! He has a great message for the missionaries and we are so excited for Jordan's new adventure!

Chuka Chuka

2010-08-23T15:07:00.002-06:00

I cant believe its monday again, the time really went by fast this week. School is starting over here too for all of the students and well, its always summer in this weather, but it also rains like nothing else.
My four days with President Casteneda were a lot of fun, we had meetings and also we went and worked in Villahermosa. I took pictures of the temple there and it looks really tiny. I didnt bring my camera with me right now so I cant send you guys any pictures of my adventures. We have a small branch of about 40 people so we have alot of work to do and its kind of like Lerdo Mom to answer your question.
I am really excited that the little boys are doing good and that they are having alot of fun.
I wash my clothes in a bucket with a pole and while you wash your clothing it makes a sound like chuka, chuka, chuka. We dont eat that many bananas yet because they arent ripe yet, and there arent that many potatoes.
We are going to baptize this week and we are working to have 4 next week so wish us luck. I got the postcard with the stamps in it and also George and Lynn's pickle comics, tell them thanks for me.
I am attaching an email from Pres. Casteneda so you guys can see a cool picture of all the leaders in the mission.
Well, that's all I have for this week, sorry so short, but I don't have any pictures to show you guys and explain the stories until next week
Con amor,
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Home in Aayucan...

2010-08-21T13:01:00.002-06:00

Elder Robinson from Hooper, UT and Elder Weaver from Odgen which is near Hooper, were companions in Acayucan. They live above a lady who collects puppies from ranchos and sells them. There must have been 20 of them in the enclosed cement-floored entry area to the apartment. Were it not for the incessant barking and odor, you would hardly know the dogs were there.
We are going to miss these missionaries.

1000 Days in Veracruz

"Until I see you in Paradise or the Celestial Kingdom"

2010-08-20T14:58:00.002-06:00

"We went to work on the finishing touches for the final zone conference of the Mexico Veracruz Mission as we know it. We decided that it would be good for the missionaries to come together as one in a mission conference rather than the typical series of 8 zone conferences all around the mission. We knew that the missionaries would love to see their friends from the MTC's and from past experiences together in zones and districts, former companionships and trainers seeing how their new missionaries had grown up. There would be lots of picture-taking and hugging and crying and laughing. Besides that, it would be easier for us to say good-bye just once. You see, 73 of these missionaries head south to the new Villahermosa Mission and 118 remain with us in Veracruz. Most of them will not see one another again until the next life. One of the Mexican missionaries actually wrote that to me in his letter this week. "Hasta ver en el paraíso o el reino celestial!" "Until I see you in paradise or the celestial kingdom." He is very likely correct, if he makes it there. . . I mean, if I make it there."

1000 Days in Veracruz

Saying Goodbye to the Veracruz Mission...

2010-08-20T14:52:00.002-06:00

again "borrowed" from Pres. Hansen's blog...

So we bused them in--191 missionaries in suits and ties. It was quite a sight. We lined them all up from tallest to shortest. There were a lot of shortest. A professional photographer then took them 20 at a time and lined them up on rows on the temple lawn to take a professional photo. Line 'em up, snap a dozen shots, go into the stake center and start the conference. Easy, right? Should take about 15-20 minutes. That is what we planned to happen. Not so fast there, Newt. That would be way too easy.
After 45 minutes of melting to a puddle in the mid-morning sun--I was personally drenched completely through after 5 minutes, blinded by my own sweat, and getting cranky because my Old Spice Original Scent had long since turned from a light green pleasant smelling gel to an I-don't-know-what-color brackish oil slick; my underwear felt like wet Saran Wrap. I went and asked the photogs, as politely as I could what in Mexico was the holdup. They had, by then, seated 11 sister missionaries and 9 elders on chairs and had an additional 20 standing behind them. The problem was that the hill sloped up but also pitched to the east-south-east. Way too many directions to deal with. What if this were a 3-D project? Oh my!

So, I told the missionaries to pick up the chairs. We moved to the steps in front of the temple. I had the missionaries stand on the steps behind the chairs. There were more steps behind the first row. Risers! What a novel idea! The photogs were amazed! In five minutes all the missionaries were in place. We all looked down the barrels of the cameras and together said, "José Smeeth" so that we were all showing our teeth at the same time.

Snap, crackle, pop, and we were done.
We moved into the stake center for a six-hour zone conference, fed them Costco pizza, and kissed them good-bye.
Jordan is in the right upper side, 2nd row from the top 6th Elder over

1000 Days in Veracruz

Focus!!!

2010-08-18T20:59:00.003-06:00

more stuff from Pres. Hansen's Blog...thanks Hansens-your awesome!
Elder Weaver was in Coatzacoalcos one day and stopped to dream of his future.

He seemed a lot happier a few days later when he and his district all baptized. They are Elders Baas, Weaver, Medina, and Chavez.

1000 Days in Veracruz: Search results for elder weaver

From Pres. Hansen's Blog...Thanks!

2010-08-18T08:23:00.002-06:00

This is a story from Elder Weaver of North Ogden and his companion Elder Medina who served together in Coatzacoalcos. I will paraphrase the letter which was written in Spanish...
"One afternoon we went out to contact a reference we had been given. A man approached us and said that he wante to talk with us right now. We went with him to his office. He said that he knew who we were and said that he wanted us to convince him using the Bible. We thought, 'Que chafa' but went ahead and presented him a brief lesson on the apostasy and the Restortation. (Chafa is chaff and the phrase is slang for 'what a waste' and referred to the man, not the Bible) We told him that everything we teach relates to the Bible. He asked where this Book of Mormon comes from in relation to the Bible. I remembered Ezekiel 37:15-19 and explained this scripture. The man argue about the scripture. His name is Eduardo Juarez Castillo.
"Hno. Eduardo had visited our church. He was offened, however, because one of the missionairies there devalued the Bible. So, we began to reinforce the apostasy but he didn't want to understand. We pushed through the lesson and invited him to pray to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and taht the Book of Mormon was the word of God. He said, 'Okay, I'll do it and I hope I get an answer becaue I really want to know. I really want to be with you because this is one of the best organized churches I have attended.' (Chafa?, maybe not) We set an appointment for the next day.
"He said that he had received no answer to his prayer. But, he asked us what the steps were to receive baptism and we told him to study the gospel, that his might be a trial of his faith and that he should continue studying and praying. He said that htis is not a game with him. We told him to humbly pray sincerely and with intent as described in Moroni 10:3-5. He said, 'I think that I am not humble.' We told him that he should kneel and pray, that his baptism was being prepared for him.
"He did not progress and said that he did not desire baptism. We dropped him for a short time and later returned. We visited him again. For the third time we shoed him the movie, 'The Restoration.' Finally he got it! He said that it was true and that he wanted to join the Church. Then he told us that the Jehovah's Witnesses require you to read the Bible four times before you can join. He also said that he was one of their pastors and had been so for 14 years. He joined that church 38 years earlier. In the end, he asked us to come back and teach is family."

VillaHermosa

2010-08-18T07:55:00.003-06:00

Well hello everyone, how is life up in Utah, here in Tabasco it's even hotter than ususal, and I am going to be at the main city of VillaHermosa for the next four days with all the other district and zone leaders, fun, fun four days with President Casteneda.
My new comp is alot of fun to work with and well we spent the whole morning washing the house and our clothing by hand, no washing machine here for us, but its alot of fun, but it also takes forever.
In this area we have a small branch of about 40 people so we have alot of work to do so that this branch can become a ward. I should have asked you guys a long time ago but I forgot, anyways why did you repaint the house?
Anyways the two pictures are of a sunset and of me saying goodbye to Elder Robinson, we had to take a five hour bus ride to get here and we found the house totally filthy, and also WE HAVE BIKES!!!!! We live out in the wilderness practaclly and have to ride the bikes around to get to far away places, but it's a pain in the butt because they belonged to two little mexicans, very tiny bikes for big people, I have been chaffing all week and it hurts.
The food is the same here so I almost can answer all of Mom's normal questions. My comp is Elder Brown and is from Canada he has been a member for three years now because his girlfriend invited him to a church activity. His parents arent members and werent that happy about him going on a mission from what he has told me, but he loves the church and has a strong testimony.
The branch that we are in has some really nice members, and we are gettting to know the area really good, they grow a lot of bananans here and also corn, we are also next to a big river, but they don't baptize in it because it is really dangerous, it has a high current and also who knows whats livin in it.
Also the thunder storms here are really cool, the other day we were standing at the front door of our land lords house watching as the rain just comes pouring down when a lightning bolt hits the telephone pole across the street from us. All I remember is a huge bright light and then the sound like a bomb was blowing up over my head we all ran to the kitchen and watched as one wire was burning in the street. Really cool but also really scary at the same time, nobody felt anything and we all started to laugh about the near death experience we had.
Well those are the stories for this week, love you guys,
Con amor
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver
Mom's note....our computer crashed last weekend, I did not get to email him on Monday, Ross sent him a quick note...I can't believe how much he wrote-so happy! We are still working with the new computer and trying to find everything so I will post pictures sooon!

7 more months-unbelievable!

2010-08-09T20:40:00.005-06:00

"Godspeed"

Dragon tales and the "water is wide"
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, will find the mouse
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

My heart is so full and I am so grateful for a house full of young men! So grateful that we can be a family forever! Thanks Ross!

Godspeed Jordan!

Lemons

2010-08-09T14:48:00.007-06:00

oops! it's on twice...

Hello everyone i am doing good this week and especially since i am bieng changed to Tabaso, the area is called Huimanguillo, i leave tommorow at 5:30 in the morning with a Elder Brown. He´s from Canada, and is also of my generation.

The first picture is of me with a giant lemon. The second is of my favorite drink. The third and fourth is of the baptisms we had this week.

well i didnt get any pictures of the house so i cant really tell you guys what i think, and i am still prayin that dad will put in a Hot Tub :)

Mom i am going to put a challange to ya. for the time that i have left in the mission no more packages. Here is the home phone of my companion so you guys can get into contact,

i see some of my friends from the MTC, Two of us just got made District Leaders. well tomorow me and Elder Brown are going to our new area without any idea of how it is,

and mom i fell fat, its beacuse your looking at me from the front and not the side thats why i look skinny, i am trying to do more excersize but i have been to lazy to do so. i am eating just fine the sisters here are like the ones back home they feed ya until you cant walk because you are holding a bowling ball in front of ya....

well thats all the time i have because i had to send soime pictures to the mission office of the area, and stuff .

con amor Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Baptism

2010-08-02T17:14:00.010-06:00

Hello evryone how are they all doing in only 90 degrees , wow that sounds actually a bit chilly to me at the time, first things firts the pictures are of two baptisms we had and the third is of some frogs we were catching at the church building. this week has been alot of fun the Lord blessed uswith som e new investigators three of witch are getting baptized this Friday and one mor for next week. my comp got robbed while we were at the bptismal font he left his churtch pants in there so they would be dry and well during the baptism services some one entered the church and stole his wallet and his watch. neither one of us got hurt and ......well.... i might not tell about the crocadile i havent gotten boots yet and my unbrella really does help keeps me and my stuff dry. and well Herman Catañeda wants to know my blood type becasue she is now my mission mom and Dr. I cant believe that you guys are re-painting the house, what was wrong with the old candwaht else is dad doing to make the house differenrt , i have a suggestion, HOT TUB, for those really cold nights and we can be outside chilling in a hot tub, suggestion nothin more. oh oh oh now that my companion just remindede me, we know a Tod Christinsen right, i think i have one of his old mission companions in my ward, ask him where he went on a mission and if he had a companio named Elder Ivens.well that all the excitmnent for this week love you guys,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Blessings of "Blogging"

2010-07-27T18:20:00.005-06:00

When our son was called to the Veracruz mission in November 2009 we went online to look up information on the area. We came across Elder Jordan Weaver's blog. It was a great way to introduce Spencer to what his mission would be like (he was especially interested in the picture of the spider next to his name tag!) Now he part of the Villahermosa mission and in his letter home on July 19th he wrote: "I got to meet Elder Weaver mom, he is the companion of Elder Robinson, who is my generation." It was a neat experience for him to meet the Elder of the blog who was now the companion of one of the Elders Spencer trained with in the MTC!

Hola...Elder..somos la familia Sanchez Hernandez de Coatz..la hermana Magie y Cesar...nos llena de emosion verle y saber que es una persona muy amable. amorosa y noble...gracias por servir en este barrio...esperamos algun dia poder verle...saludos...barrio boulevar
Hi we are the elder of Coatzacoalcos hernandez familia sanchez sister magie and cease sofly emotions fills us see and know that it is very noble amable.amorosa.y..thanks for serving in this neighborhood...hope to see you some day...greetings neighborhood boulevard...July 18, 2010

Rain

2010-07-26T15:13:00.001-06:00

Rain clouds-"cats and dogs" rain clouds
Pinata from egg shells

Amazing sunset..

The following letter is copied right from Jordan's email, gotta love the Spanglish on the Spanish keyboard :)

Rain

2010-07-26T15:09:00.001-06:00

Wow had it bun a really fun week this week, its beens raining cats and dogs here like you guys would not belive it,
we had one baptism on staerday but her daughter baile don us, and then she didnt come sunday to be confirmed so it doesnt count as a baptism until the person gets confirmed,
i am going to explain all of the pictures that i am going to send right ow so that i dont forget later the first picture is of a rain storm comin in, the second is of a pinata made with egg shells, the third is of a sunset that i really liked.

Zone Confernce was more like a question and anserw time to get to know President Catseñeda better, and i dident play in the open house i am practicing the piano but i am not close to being able to play in front of people.
we invited people to come and we explained all the different rooms. Sacrament, Primary, YW, YM, Family history. me and my comp explaind the baptismal font afterwards everyone went to the gym and we saw a movie on missionary work that the ward mission leader found on Youtube, then we got up and intoduced our selves then we put on another movie about our beliefs, afterward my comp played Iknow that my redeemer lives violan. afterwards we ate tamlolies and water de jamika. we had 13 investigators go and probably 25 members, but it was alot of fun we are going to try to do a open house once a month or every two months.

i almost got bitten by a crocodile this week and my comp got robbed.

its been a very exciting week, today we wnet and played soccer again and alos Monopoly but in a card game form its alot of fun especially in spanish , but it would be better in inglish.
i am in 3 Nephi 14 with my Book of Mormon reading, so tell me if i am way aheda of you guys or are we still going along at a pretty good pace. or on the slight chance that you guys are ahead of me and i need to start picking up some speed.
well thats it for this week will talk to you guys next week
con amor Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Note to all you future missionaries, write more details, how and why was he almost bitten by a crocodile and how was his comp robbed? Was he hurt, did they take everything, just his wallet-where was Jord?
Lotsa details! Mom's want to know EVERYTHING!

Busy Week

2010-07-19T17:10:00.000-06:00

Sure is different to see him in his suit coat...
So beautiful and green....

Part of the Armor of God?

Hello everyone,

Everyone's favorite missionary is doing good so no worries. I am going to explain the pictures first...the first is of me with President Castaneda, the second is of me working in a graveyard with a machete hacking down the weeds, and the third is of the four best missionaries with their machetes.

This has been a very eventful week, also we are going to have two baptisms this weekend and we can have 5 next week so keep those prayers of yours going sky high!

Oh and before I forget I need to know my blood type so I don't know if you guys can investigate into this and let me know later.

Saturday we went to a pantallion (graveyard) and did two hours of service cleaning it all up and making it look really nice.

I really like President Castaneda and his family, he came here with his wife and four kids, he has one in the mission right now and he is in Veracruz, really close I know.

Yesterday I spoke in Sacrament again about the missionary work and well three people showed up with out us knowing and they are really interested in the church.

Also we are running around with everyone trying to get everything ready for the open house that we are going to have for this weekend. My comp has been practicing the violin and me the piano but it's kinda slow when we only have once a week to practice.

Well that's it for this week, I will let you know what happens with the open house next week.

Con Amor,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Jace Tatoo...

2010-07-12T16:51:00.001-06:00

Thought I had better explain, Jace has not gotten a real tatoo, he and Justin are involved in the "Arise" youth spectacular that the church is putting on. He is representing New Zealand and dressing for the "Haka" dance, I will post better photos of both him and Justin in costume this week, their performances are this weekend. (Justin is representing Samoa) There are about 3500 youth involved, 500 leaders, all from 30 stakes from our surrounding area, they will perform at Weber State University football field, look for it in the New Era soon, we are expecting someone from the First Presidency to come to Saturdays performance-it has been a great experience for all of us-what an amazing spirit that has been felt!

Fireworks!

2010-07-12T16:36:00.001-06:00

Before the rain....

After the rain!

Ward activity?

Hola como estan mi familia, yo estoy bien cansado por esta semana,

Well this has been a fun week because it has been raining a lot and that will explain the first two pictures...the third is us at a ward activity that are done every Saturday night.

Today we went and played soccer again and also basketball, this Thursday we are going to have zone conference so it will be the first time I get to meet the new mission president and his family, and also I am going to send a package home today so be expecting a box in a couple of weeks.

I am really excited for Jace and Justin and Jacer's tatoo looks really cool, but what is Justin's costume look like? And Jax is still to young to participate right?

Today I also got my haircut and the reason I named this letter fireworks is because they sell Mexican fireworks here, they are really small but have a really big Bang.

Mom don't worry about me I am not thinking about marriage, I just wanted to make a joke.

Well that's it for this week, I sure do love you guys and look forward to telling you about zone conference,

Elder Weaver

Wow-short but sweet, wish we knew a little or any thing about what kind of ward activity they are doing :)

4th of July??

2010-07-05T16:13:00.001-06:00

Full fridge!

Laundry!

Hello my wonderful family,

How is everyone doing, better I hope and not so sick. I am doing good this week, I haven't heard from the new mission president yet but I sent him and e-mail to let him know who I am, things are still the same we are only working with a different president now.

We don't really knock on doors, that is something that they have asked us not to do, we visit members to ask for references or we are out in the street contacting people and taking down their addresses.

I am having a lot of fun with Elder Robinson, it's fun being able to speak some English and also teach someone else Spanish. In our down time we talk and make jokes to relax more and we can sleep better when we are relaxed and not so stressed out. I haven't gotten any boots yet because it only rains at nights when we are in the house. It's been raining a lot but it get cool at night. I can put my hammock up but I am going to send it home next week with some other things that I don't need or that I have bought here in the mission.

Today we went and played soccer again with some of the youth and it's a lot of fun. I am getting a little better.

Something that the ward does here for the missionaries is that every first Sunday they give us food, cereal, milk, fruit and other things to put in the house.

We are planning an open house for the 24th of this month so hopefully me and my comp won't see any changes for this transfer.

I am really excited that Jace and Justin are having fun with the dance activity, it will be really cool if Pres. Monson went to see it. I am glad Jacer isn't in that much of trouble then for starting a fire. Jax be patient you will be working before you know it.

The pictures are of me washing clothes and of the fridge of how full it is.

It's fun here in Acayucan, it gets really hot, but the members are really friendly. We might be able to get a new branch set up because of how the ward boundary is so spread out. There are also some pretty girls here, if I don't get married to someone from back home I might come back here..haha lol, jk.

Did you guys go over to see my comps parents, I sent you the address and everything, just to see if you guys went to see them or not,

Well I sure love you guys, this is it for this week,

Con Amor, Elder Weaver

Called to Serve!

2010-07-03T21:10:00.000-06:00

New Mission!

2010-07-01T18:31:00.000-06:00

Today starts Jordan's new mission, he is now serving in the Villahermosa Mission!
His new address is...
Mexico Villahermosa Mission
Elder Jordan Weaver
Calle Vias #104
86095 Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico

Have fun bud, and God bless, keep up the good work!
The Church is True!
We love you,
Mom, Dad, Jace Justin and Jax

Hugs!

2010-06-29T12:12:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,
I am glad everyone is doing good, and JACE what in the devils name were you doing lighting a field on fire, that can really get you in danger with the law, and how much is the fine that you have to pay.
Well the two pictures are of me and my comp and the other is of me and a snow ball I made with the freezer frost, I am also trying to download a short video of my comp doing a funny voice.
My comps parents are Alan and Julene Robinson, in Hooper, Utah.
Here is the new direccion of the Mission...
Via 2 #104 Dep 302 y 303
Entre Samankanda y Paseo Tabasco
Col. Tabasco 2000
Villahermosa, Tabasco C.P. 86035
Okay I am excited for the new mission and I got to give Sister Hansen a hug, they came over and saw our house and at the end we all got hugs. I haven't met the new Pres. yet but he should be here soon. We are doing a lot of work with the members here, they help us out with references and we are starting to have better success then when we were working alone.
We are in the ward Villalta, the chapel is on Vasquez Gomez esg prolagnacion Lerdo. Our house is on 5 de Mayo Callejon Rubirosa, we live on the second floor of an orange house. We attend church from 10-1
Wow, Emily's engaged, cool! But Mom we aren't that young, you just won't let us grow up yet :)
For p-day we washed our clothes and also bought food, the fridge is full! I forgot to get a picture of what the fridge looks like, then afterwards we went to the chapel to play futball.
Well that is about my week that has passed, we are going to do an open house on the 17th of July so if you guys can pray that we will have success with it, it would really help us out.
Love you all,
Elder Weaver

Note from Mom, Jace lit a "flower" and tossed it just short of the street and caught his friends bushes on fire, the hose would not reach and his friends mom called the fire department, they came with a sheriff and he sited Jace because it was not with in the 3 days before/after the 4th...it burned about a 5' section of "fitzers" in the park strip of the front yard...he was pretty shaken up...but now is more nervous about the court appearance...the fine could be from $100-$500 I will keep you posted...the cop said that if it would have been next Saturday he would not have sited him-lesson learned, just because they are selling them in the grocery store doesn't mean you can light them!
Happy 4th of July!

Hola de Veracruz

2010-06-24T21:26:00.000-06:00

Sis. Weaver:
Just wanted to send you a little note and tell you how much I LOVE your son, Elder Weaver!!! We were able to drop by his apartment this morning and give him some M&M's and a great big hug...It felt so good :) He really is a wonderful young men and I will miss seeing his smiling face, but I know that he is serving where the Lord needs hime to serve. He has some great things to do in the new mission and will be a blessing to the Castenedas. This has been a hard thing for me to say good-bye to my 73 Elders who are in the South, but I am really excited to hear about all of the success that the mission will be having. We are sending some fabulous missionaries and I can testify that I have felt the Lord's hand inall of this. I feel like our missionaries are ready to go forward with renewed excitement!
Thank you again for sending your son to serve the Lord with us in Veracruz. It has been a joy to work side by side with him in this marvelous work!
Con amor,
Hna H
PS It seems like only yesterday that he was running around Lerdo with Elder Gil and barely speaking Spanish! Time sure flies!

I have never met her, I would love to someday, to thank her in person for the wonderful mission Mom that she has been to Jordan and also to us at home...she is so personable and I will miss her little notes dearly...Thank heaven Jordan has had the Hansens for so much of his mission...they have spoiled us! We are excited that he is going to serve with the Castenedas and look forward to getting to know more about them...all of the feelings of a new missionary have surfaced all over again...so many emotions, we know that he is going where he needs to be!
Can't believe we are down to 8 months left...
Time does fly-I promise, Grandma Pat, and the Crezee's :)!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-22T07:53:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's summer back home, cool. It always feel like summer here, it gets so hot we wake to 85 degrees and have lunch at 120-125 degrees in the shade, but it's a lot of fun, I am sending a picture of a moth we had in the house, it's just as big as my name tag, cool, huh!
It's a lot of fun with my new comp, I am teaching him Spanish and also he is helping me learn the area. Our talks went well yesterday we received three references from the ward members and are going to visit them during the week. No I haven't received the letter yet, and I don't have the address of the mission office to let you guys know, so hold on with everything for a while till I tell ya word.
Ya the rain has started and it is really cool the lightning storms we can get down here.
We don't have any baptisms for this week but we are praying for one next week.
No we haven't heard anything from the new mission president yet.
I am staying healthy and the food is the same nothing weird here, and the family we live above always have a bunch of puppys because they buy them from ranchers and sell them here in the city. It's a good area like Ogden, that's what I would compare it to.
Life is the same, we get up at 6:30, we shower, shave, eat breakfast study, work, have lunch, work, go home plan what we are going to do the next day, write in our journals and sleep. Yesterday we had dinner with the bishop and that's when I found out it was Father's Day, so HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD.
Well that's it for this week, love you guys,
Elder Weaver

New Mission Papers...

2010-06-14T16:27:00.000-06:00

I can't scan the letter in right now...technology...but here are the contents of it... this letter came in the mail the same day we got Jordan's "repentance" email (June 7th)...he has been preparing for this change for some time, and is still excited about it...he says "I will go where the Lord needs me!" (please note-this is not a result of his mistake)

24 May 2010
Dear Family of Elder Weaver,
This is and exciting time to be serving the Lord as a missionary in Mexico. We have witnessed the hand of the Lord as He has prepared the way for the creation of the new Mexico Villahermosa Mission. After many months of prayer and paying close attention to the promptings of the Spririt, your son, Elder Weaver has been assigned to serve as one of the very first missionaries in the Villahermosa Mission with President Castaneda and his wife. They are a wonderful family and have been called by a prophet of God to guide and direct the work in Villahermosa. We know that they will be a blessing to your missionary. We know that your son will continue to serve the Lord with all of his heart and that he will have many wonderful and unique opportunities in the new mission.
We are so grateful to our Father in Heaven for this opportunity that we have had to serve with your son in Veracruz. We love him with all of our heart and we are excited for the success that he will continue to have as he serves the Lord in Villahermosa. We will always count him as one of our own.
Thank you for your love, your support and especially for your prayers. This is the Lord's work and we bear witness that He is guiding and directing it. It is truly a marvelous work and a wonder!
Con amor,
Prs. and Hna Hansen

Miracles of Forgiveness!

2010-06-14T15:26:00.000-06:00

Jordan and Elder Robinson,

Acayucan Veracruz,

1rst North American comp., Jordan looks like a native :)

Strawberry send off...

I have had an okay week this week. My new area is in Aayucan and it's called Villalta, my new companion is named Elder Robinbson and he is from Hooper Utah, he has 4 months in the mission and speaks little Spanich, I am his stepfather and so far we have gotten along great.

Okay, here is the full story...we went to eat breakfast with an investigator who has a taco stan, while we were eating the zone leaders called me asking to know where we were, I told them that we were in the house studying, they said okay and well they knew we weren't at home because they were at our house when we went back home and they found us, well because I was a district leader Pres. Hansen calls me and told me how upset he was with me about the example I had put forth. He told me he couldn't have a district leader who lies, so he moved me here.

The picture is of me and my comp, and the second is of a cake with chocolate covered strawberries that some members bought to say goodbye to me.

Today we went and played dodge ball as a zone and also had ice cream for lunch. The are is cool and the members are starting to help us a lot.

We have a nice house of three rooms and bigger fridge then I have ever had in the mission, this week me and my comp are going to be speaking about missionary work and I am excited for it, bu my comp is a little nervous about it. It's starting the rainy season now and I am thinking about buying some boots, I will let you guys know next week of the prices, and I am still looking for a box to send stuff home in.

Mom I am fine if you put this all on the blog, even last weeks letter, if you haven't...

You guys said that you want to know how I feel, well I feel bad that I broke Pres. Hansen's trust, I thought about not telling you guys what had happened but I knew I would have felt worse...I feel bad to because well, the Lord had trusted me with a calling and I failed.

Love you guys, thanks for not being mad, I was afraid that you would be, that's why I thought about hiding it from you,

Talk to you next week,

Elder Weaver

I feel bad that he put himself in this situation, he knows better, I hope that he will learn from his mistakes and be able to be a benefit to the people he is serving now...

Repentance

2010-06-14T15:22:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone, how is everyone doing, I am good, this week has been fun and surprise I am going to Acayucan tommorrow, my companion will be Elder Robinson...okay I am going to be honest, I made a mistake and am being moved for that mistake, I am not going to be the district leader any more, I lied to the zone leaders about not being a breakfast, so that's why I am being moved, and dropped to a senior comp again, I am sorry I know that you guiys must be disappointed, but I feel worse, well because I failed a lot of people. I am sorry I don't feel like writing much this week.
Love you guys,
Jordan

progressing...

2010-06-01T15:32:00.000-06:00

Fishing...

2010-06-01T09:19:00.001-06:00

What a great picture, I believe that the Elder Jordan has his arm around was his comp in the MTC...

10 heads are better than one!

hello everyone,

okay mom i am still going to have four weeks with president hansen so i am sure that you can send me the stamps,

Veracruz was fun we left our house at 4 in the morniong got there at 9 and waited for an hour so that some professionals could take the mission picture, then we started the 6 hour confernce left at 6 and got home at 12 at night, so a long long long day we had,

the first picture is of me and my geneeration the twelve miisionarioes who all have the same time in the mission. the second is of me in front of the wall of heads at 5:30 in the morning today, and the third and last is of me fishing todfay, but becaues there arent any fishing rods here, you take a platic bottle wrap fishing line around it put the hook and wieght on and the bait, then to cast the line you do like a the sling that david used to kill goliath, but the fish werent hungry today so we caught nothing.
no new foods this week but we did see a shark the length of me arm for sail in a fish market we thought about buying it for lunch but we decided it would be better next week.
this friday we are going to start giving english classes to the members but to get in they have to bringa non-member freind, this way we get more references, we are still working with Franco, if its not this week we are going to drop him,
they came out with a Shrek 4 are you kiiding? so where is the Jerassic park 4, or Godzilla 2, whats peope are we forgeting the action films
well thats it for this week i sure love you guys, talk to ya next week,
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Hola!

2010-05-24T18:19:00.001-06:00

Can't believe this is a re-sole, looks better than new!

Hola!‏ hello my family how is everyone doing over in utah, i am doing good, as a district leader i have to call the other elders in my district to see how they are doing and to see if that they are working, also evry sunday i call them to see how they worked in the week and then i talk to the zone leaders to talk to them about us and about my district. Coatza is going to be part of the new mission, and in five weeks is when the changes happen, we are going to baptize Franco this week so keep him in your prayers.
okay the first picture is of my shoes after i had them resoled so that they should lats me the rest of the mission, but the rainy season is coming and alot of members have told me that i should buy some boots. i will let you guys now what i am going to do. the second picture is of me with my first and only subway sandwich here in mexico, they arent that cool here so thats why its my last.
i am sure glad that work is picking up and i am curios as what happend with the park city job, and i am really jelous that your going to Crystal hot springs with out me but have fun and enjoy the waterslide. what part is the sister from because Coatza is a big place so who nows if i will see them, if you can get me her parents wards name and their home direction to see if its in this area or not. and i am doing good with everthing that i have this wensday we are going to veracruz for a mission confernce to say goodbye to president and sister hansen (sorry mom you wont have anyone to spy on me now) :)
i am still looking for a way to send all the stuff that i want to send home but be patient , i am going to get stuff sent, oh aand one thing i do need is about 20 first class stamps to send the pouch mail.
Any new and exciting fruits you've tasted? the fruits are the same but i ate pig intestine this week and it tastes really good.
today we cleaned the house and also went to print pictures, and washed our clothers, the washing machine does not work so i washed my clothes by hand, it took longer but it was alot fo fun.
i have one week being a distrist leader and so far so good.
well thats it for this week i sure do love you guys and hope that all is well,
con amor
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Note from Mom...I love to see him eating, wish it was better than what he says! I finally figured out how to post his emails again without having to type them all over-yea! Anyways that is why there are so many misspellings, and it may sound Spanglish :), it's truly what he sent-I received his hard bound book in the mail this week from the first year of this missionary blog-I have to say it is truly a treasure, infact I reordered another so that Jordan can have one and we will have one, I highly recommend doing this just for journal/scrapbook purposes, you can keep your own blog private, but it is such an easy way to stay on top of things...after getting it I also had some feelings of guilt-I feel like I have not been adding little bits and pieces here and there like I did the first half-so I am going to do better! He has grown so much and you can sure tell from our phone conversation and his recent letters that he truly is a young man, we are so proud and my heart is so full, yes I do worry because I think that he is very thin, but he says that he feels great! I know that he is in God's hands! We are heart broken that he is leaving Pres. and Hna Hansen, they've have truly been angels, but we are looking forward to his new adventure in the Villahermosa Mission and having new Pres. and Mission Mom...keep working hard Jordan, wear those soles of your shoes out serving our Father in Heaven...Love MOM and DAD

Missionary Shoes...

2010-05-18T08:29:00.001-06:00

Found this and thought of you and your service...

"I had a great experience the other day. In the transfer meeting I was listening to the testimony of one of the new Elders. I looked at his shoes and then I looked at mine. Tears came to my eyes. His shoes were brand new and shiny, just like the Elder with his enthusiasm-all ready to go to work. Mine were old and beat up but with a world of experience-just like the Elder wearing them.
I started thinking of my shoes. They've passed through two sewing jobs, four sole replacements and an infinite amount of paint jobs. They've passed through the halls of the MTC, pounded the paved streets of Veracruz, and kicked up dust in the small villages of Lerdo. They've carried Books of Mormon, pamphlets, and sacks of vegetables and corn. They've tracked through sun, rain, mud, and humidity. They've witnessed the visit of President Hansen, the changing of missions, and most important, the conversion and baptism of many humble Lamanites. They love to play basketball with the youth, soccer with the street kids, walk to discussion, and rest under the bed at night. They've almost been in the jaws of a dog, and have been within the walls of the Temple. They see miracles constantly and go through heaven and hell daily. They have passed through many unexpected things and countless beautiful experiences-the most beautiful this world can provide. But most important is that through all this walking, sweating, crying and laughing, they have followed a path that has led them to eternal happiness.
They have followed the same path two beat-up sandals followed in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. They have followed the path of "The Master." They have taken up their cross for the love of the Mexican people just as those two sandals took up their cross for the love of all mankind. And, just as those sandals did, these two shoes have found that as they have lost their life in the service of others they have truly found themselves. They have found an eternal joy bigger than this world can provided. They have found that it's not what's on the outside that counts but what's inside the soul.
These shoes aren't just for two years, but are ready to walk to the ends of the earth and through all eternities to follow that path and help others to find it. I love these shoes and I love my Savior. I know He lives. I love this work.
I remember a story Brigham Young told. He was visiting a young lady on her death bed. She had given up all her hopes for the future and her schooling at a very young age to go to work to support herself and her brother when her mother died and left them orphans. She spent her short life working with her hands to feed her brother. She asked President Young how the Lord would know that she is His. President Young said, "Show Him your hands." When I return to my Maker, I am going to show him my shoes."
Author Unknown

Keep up the good work Jordan, wear your shoes out :) Love MOM

Mission changes...

2010-05-18T08:22:00.001-06:00

I borrowed this from Prs. Hansen's blog....I will try and get the maps to work...

Friday, May 14, 2010

The word for unique in Spanish is único and it means "unique" (duh), but it also means "singular" which might be what unique means. I am not sure anymore. But, I am sure if this. The Lord's hand can be seen very clearly in Mexico. Let me expound on an experience very única which took place on February 2, 2010.

If you were to search the Doctrine and Covenants for the word "establish" or its variations, you would find many examples of the Resurrected Christ talking to Joseph Smith about the establishment of the Church in the promised land and in the latter days. My personal favorite is in section 31:3-7. It is very personal to us. Elder Holland taught that it to us in the very last hour of the new mission presidents seminar on June 25, 2008. This scripture is taught to every incoming and outgoing missionary in the Veracruz Mission.

The phrase "establish a church by your hand" speaks volumes. The definition of the establishment of the Church is found in "Preach My Gospel", page 10. That is what we are trying to do the the Mexico Veracruz Mission. Establish the Church. Good things are happening.

On Tuesday morning the 2nd, I was invited to a conference call with the Area Presidency and the presidents of the Tampico and Tuxtla-Gutierrez Missions. They announced to us that the Frist Presidency has approved the creation of two new missions in Mexico. One will be called the Mexico City Northwest Mission. The other will be called the Mexico Villahermosa Mission. The second is the one which impacts us.
Three stakes and two districts will be taken from the Tuxtla-Gutierrez Mission. Five stakes and our one district will be taken from the Veracruz Mission. The Veracruz Mission will inherit four stakes from the Tampico Mission, leaving us with thirteen stakes, all generally north of Veracruz. The Lord continues to establish His church in Mexico. We get to be part of this marvelous and único event. What an amazing blessing!!! The effective date is July 1st, 2010.

What does that mean for the Mexico Veracruz Mission? First, the famous ruins, El Tajín which adorn many license plates in Mexico, will now be part of the Veracruz Mission. Second, we lose 73 of our 186 (today's count) missionaries to the Villahermosa Mission. Third, we gain 50 missionaries from Tampico. Fourth, and this one really hurts my heart, we lose the Los Tuxtlas District. We love that place and those people. It is very único, I believe, in the entire world. But, it is the right thing. The Lord knows what He is doing. There is much more, but those are the basic nuts and bolts.

I want to share with you some things personal. I knew this was coming. In October (I think) of 2008, I was sitting in an Area Council in Mexico City with my 20 mission president brothers and the 21 Area Seventy. The Area Presidency was up front. Out of nowhere, it was a lightning bolt, I felt that our mission would be divided. The thought never left me, but I did not share it with anyone, including Mom. A few weeks later, Mom and I were in Temazcal attending a baptismal service at the river. They have no font. As we were waiting for people to show up, Elder C. Scott Grow, who was serving as the first counselor in the Area Presidency, called. He told me that I should begin to think about being involved in a division of our mission. I asked a couple of questions and he answered them. He told me to counsel with Mom, but with no one else at that point. After months, I had heard nothing. In a subsequent phone conversation, Elder Grow told me that the First Presidency had placed a temporary moratorium on the creation of any new missions due to the worldwide economic situation. That notwithstanding, the thought never left. It had to happen. It was the right thing and I knew it. The only question was when the Lord would tell the Brethren to proceed. The time is now.

The Church is true. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands is rolling forth (Daniel 2:45). The Lord continues to establish His church in all the world including Mexico.

These are the missions as we exist today.

This are the new missions.

District Leader

2010-05-17T20:10:00.001-06:00

Hello my wonderful family,
How is everyone doing? I am really excited for Austin! If he wants to learn the Bible quickly, tell him to buy a book called, Day of Defense, it's by A. Melvin McDonald, it's from a former missionary who had a cool experience and explains a lot about the Bible. Also tell him to start reading Jesus the Christ, this book also has a lot of good information that he can use.
Well my family, it is confirmed that I am going to be part of the new mission, I am also going to be District Leader again.
The first picture is of a members pet racoon who he has raised since it was little, the second is of me holding the pet racoon... the third is of a furless dog that the Aztecs would eat back when they were a powerful nation.
As you can tell by the pictures, my hair is not that long anymore, because I got it cut, and also I am skinny but that okay, I feel good being this way.
This is the last week of school for the little boyhs right? I am really excited for them, and Ihope that they enjoy their summer.
Today I prepared the spaghetti that you guys sent me and it tasted okay, I guess I should have helped Mom more when she was cooking and it could have turned out better.
We had no baptissms this week, but this coming week we can have one, his name is Franco, if you guys can put him in your prayers, I am also thinking of starting an English class once a week at the chapel so that we can find more people.
I am staying with my comp for another six weeks, until the new mission president tells us otherwise, but I still have Pres. Hansen as my mission president for the next six weeks...
This was longer but the computer shut me out, so this is the info for this week,
Love you guys and thanks for the letters and comics
Con Amor
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Mother's Day-smile!

2010-05-11T08:33:00.001-06:00

Hi my family, Yesterday was a lot of fun, but it went by really fast,

Here are some of the pictures I will be sending today,

the first is of a baptism we had... the second is of me with my lunch for today...

the third is of me at a soccer game with some other elders. I am going to start getting some things together to send home and also look for a box to send it all home in...more pictures on the way....

Pizza Hut pizza yum!

fridge magnet, that says

if you like your mother's cooking let her cook

Me in the older house with my hammock,

I am going to include a letter Sister Hansen wrote to us...

May 10, 2010

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

What a joy it is to know you and to love you! I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the blessing that is mine to serve in the Mexico Veracruz Mission with my beloved sons and daughters. You are everything that a mother could hope for in her child, you are obedient, strong, humble and full of Love for the Lord and for your fellow man.

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the story of Hannah. In the Spirit of fasting and prayer, Hannah went to the temple and poured out her soul to the Lord in prayer, and pleaded with him to send her a son. She covenanted with the Lord that she would give her son to Him "all the days of his life". The Lord heard her prayers and she delivered a son whom she called "Samuel". She enjoyed a very brief time with her beloved child and then took him to the Prophet Eli in the temple and presented him to the Lord as promised. Not only did she give the Lord her only son, but she also brought other sacrifices to lie upon the altar of the temple. Every year Hannah returned to the temple with a little coat that she made for him. How she must have looked forward to those reunions with her child and how she must have wept as she cut and sewed each little coat imagining how little Samuel was growing taller and bigger every day and hoping that he still remembered her lullabies and the sound of her voice in his ears and praising God for allowing her to be his mother.

I liken this story to each one of our Mothers. Each of our mothers held you close in her arms and sang to you and whispered her hopes and dreams for you into your tiny ears. Your mother taught you to love the Lord and prepared you to serve Him for these 2 years and for the rest of your life. She prays for you every day that you will remember the things that you have been taught, and that you are continuing to learn and to grow as you serve the Lord. She has presented not only you, her child, to the Lord, but has sacrificed many things to prepare you and to sustain you as you serve your mission. She imagines as Hannah did, that you are being perfectly obedient, growing taller and bigger in both body and in Spirit as you serve Him with all of your heart, might, mind and soul. She gives thanks to God for the opportunity she has been given to be your mother.

I, too, sing praises of gratitude to the Lord for my sons and daughters, my missionaries. I rejoice in your success and weep over your trials. I pray for each of you every day that you will be always remember who you are, that you will remember and recognize the whisperings of the Spirit as He testifies of the Father and of the Son and of you. It is a joy and a privilege to watch you grow into might men and women of God. I love you with all of my heart and give thanks to your mothers for preparing you to serve the Lord during this exciting time in la Mision Mexico Veracruz. This is truly a marvelous work and a wonder. May the Lord bless you always!

Con amor,

Hna H

Well that is it for today, love you guys,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I knew his letter would be short because we talked for an hour on Mother's Day...

It was great to talk to him on Mother's Day, he is definitely growing!

He looks so thin to me in pictures, but he assures me that he feels great...he said it is soooo Hot! So hot that they never feel like eating much, however the members keep feeding them meat :), he said that the fruit is very good and he wishes he could eat more of it. He mentioned that they will not be doing so many baptisms at the beach-the bishops down there asked why do we have fonts in the buildings if they are going to baptize at the beach, so only when necessary... He dodged our question about how his tooth broke again, but finally admitted to taking a plastic cap off a bottle with his teeth---We asked about Cinco de Mayo, he said just another day, that the big Independence Celebration in this area is September 14, Jace was thrilled, it's his birthday! I asked what he thought about us coming to get him, he said "Mom, I still have 10 months, I don't want to talk about that now, can we talk about it at Christmas ", He says that he is happy, they want to put him into English classes because he looks like a Mexican, he said his language is better, we could hear his Spanish accent, and some Spanish comes out, and he could not think of a few words in English. He thanks all that are supporting him, sends his love to all! He loves this area that he is in, he compared it to downtown Salt Lake, more business like...they do street contacts, and get about 140 a week, if I understood right, he has 38 baptisms to date, he loves the work, he loves the ward, I think it is the "Boulevard" ward, not many primary, or youth, maybe 200 members with 50-80 that come. He asked the boys about school and encouraged them to do their best! He is such a young man, he and Ross joked back and forth, their little smart alleck way, and then it was all done, he said his time was gone and it was, Ross said no tears-I am so proud of him and yes I did cry, when I got to my room, can't believe the amazing young man that he is, not a man of many words, but full of great spirit-Thanks Jordan for being a great son and example to us, God bless you and keep you safe, love you so much-Mom

Museo

2010-05-03T16:43:00.001-06:00

Hello, I am doing good with a new tooth and 10 pounds lighter, for a stomach infection that I had for the whole week, but I am skinny, woohoo Okay the first picture is of the baptisms we had on Friday, and the second is of a statue because we went to a museum in Tabasco, and the picture is of me with an ancestor,

the third is of me behind a bike rider, to get to the museum people will bike you in, this guy had four of us and was really going, it was a lot of fun.

Okay the plan for Mother's Day will be I want to talk on Sunday, the number is, Sunday at 6 if you guys can which should make it about 7 here, also I did get my tooth fixed on Saturday, and the dentist didn't charge me he is a member and we have part of his family being taught, and also today in the museum I bought some souvenirs, four little olmeca heads, a marble elephant and a high priest statue.

Home is good, and I don't understand what you mean by chores Mom, but the house is clean if that's what your asking.

Ohh and guess what, I am going to be part of the new mission, but as a District Leader, cool, hugh.

Mom, we do our own laundry and no we haven't put up the hammock quite yet, it's taking up space in my luggage and it's for that reason that I don't want you guys to send me any packages just yet, because I have no space.

I love the fruit. This place is making me sick of so much meat. With this heat people need to eat more fruits and grains, and I am getting sick of chicken. Member in the ward are really friendly, Oh one of my converts died on Tuesday, he was old and it was his time to go, and this was the day I got the stomach infection, throwing up and diarrhea and not eating anything for three days, wow talk about fun. Mom and Dad, I am not telling you this to freak you guys out, you have always told me to be honest and that you guys can handle the truth.

Sometimes I miss not being able to do certain things like take a bath, or read a new book, or take an afternoon nap after a day of work with Dad, but I have grown in my testimony of this gospel and I am developing a new me for a better future. I still have a lot of room to improve my life but I know that with the Lord's help and support from my family, (present and future) I can become some one who can make a better life for others.

I sure do love and miss you guys, but this was the decision we all took and felt that it was right, and I know that the Lord is watching over you guys while I am gone and he is protecting me while I do his will,

Jace, Justin, and Jax watch out for one another please, help each other and love each other be preparing for our own missions and learn new things everyday, help Mom around the house and spend time with Dad,

I love you all and look forward to Sunday,

Your son and brother,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I am excited for him and the adventures he will have in a new mission, however, I have to say it breaks my heart that he will not be serving with Pres. and Sis. Hansen, they are such wonderful, amazing people and I have grown to love them so much!

Tooth-again?

2010-05-01T13:09:00.000-06:00

Hi Mom and Dad,

Look I asked permission of Pres. Hansen if I could send an email to you guys because as you will see in the picture my tooth has fallen off, the whole piece that Jim did. I am going to go to the dentist, but for this I am unsure of how much money I have with the debit card, if you can send me $100 bucks because last time its wasn't that expensive so this is all I need...

Love you guys, hope this gets to you soon,

Elder Weaver

Hope that the "Tooth Fairy" finds Jordan, he broke this tooth as a sophomore lifting weights, so maybe thats the "shelf life" of the repair-it will be fun to see what he ends up with, maybe gold would look nice-ARG!

Almost attacked!

2010-04-27T15:36:00.000-06:00

This week was fun we didn't baptize but I almost got attacked by two dogs, one on one day, the other another day, but nothing happened.
The new house is cool, but it gets really hot at night, but that's okay because we have two fans that make the house feel really cool at night. The weather is always the same here in Coatza, but it sounds nice that you guys are able to enjoy a different climate every once in a while. I am glad that everyone is doing well at home.
Justin I sure am glad that your track meeting went well and I sure am excited that our going to be an SBO
Jax enjoy your game tonight and be sure to get a few home runs for me, and be sure to enjoy a little bit of fun.
Jace I sure hope that the football training with Unga is go well. I am glad that you were able to talk in sacrament and hope that it went well.
Well I sure am glad that Dad is doing well in work and that thing are starting to pick up, so where are you working now Dad?
So far I don't know anything about Mother's Day, but next week I will have more information for ya, I haven't spoken in sacrament but we are starting to have some more success in this area and we are hoping for some more baptisms next week, also this week, but they aren't sure. Sorry that there aren't any pictures for ya today but next week I will send some.
I was cool this week because as we were coming home on Saturday night a lady started talking to us, she is from South Jordan and her maiden name is Price, so maybe you guys can ask Bro. and Sis. Price if they have a son-in-law who is Mexican, because that would be cool if I met their daughter here in my area.
Well that's it for this week,
Sure do love you guys talk to ya next week.
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Man does it get hot down here...

2010-04-19T16:36:00.000-06:00

Hello my family,

I am doing good and man does it get hot down here, but it's okay, they say the more a missionary works in the sun the better looking his wife will be...Wow, what am I thinking about, ha, ha, lol, don't worry that's the third thing on my mind-LOL!

And now to explain the pictures the first is of the baptism we had on Saturday, it was at the church, the second is of me today at the beach with my sand tower, cool huh. The third is of me with a really big fish that they sell for 40 pesos, and the last is of me in front of a sign that says...Here come the best, here come Elder Weaver :)

This week was pretty good, we are working and Zone Conference was fun, we learned a lot about the Holy Ghost and repentance, I have a list of books that I need to read for when I get home, Doctrine of Salvation 1-3 and the Miracle of Forgiveness. If you guys can get these books for me and keep them for when I get home I would appreciate it.

Life is fun is Coatza, we only baptized one person but we are hoping for three this week, we always teach in the persons home but if we can we teach in the chapel to feel the spirit stronger. we are in a middle class town.

So Dad got the kitchen looking better and it only took three swear words wow Dad you have grown a lot, I remember working in the basement and...well there was a lot more then three...and how is my room looking?

I hope that you didn't send a package Mom and only the letters like I asked because I have no room for all the stuff that you guys all send me and I don't need anything at the time being so I hope that you are still waiting on that package.

Jace, Justin, and Jax, Hi guys, hope that all is going well for you at the time and that you are all being obedient to Mom and Dad. Remember to read your scriptures and do your prayers, so that you won't be tempted over what you can bear. Love one another and be willing to help each other okay guys, I sure do love and miss you all but the time is passing by quickly. Be examples of who you believe okay...

Well my time is up, love ya guys and I am sorry that these are getting shorter, but nothing much happens anymore, it's a normal life.

Love you all

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Kisses from Mexico!

2010-04-14T16:28:00.000-06:00

Hi family how is everyone doing? I am doing good and I am really excited because we are working to have three baptisms this Saturday, their names are David, Eduardo, and a young man named Joaquin. The couple from last week we are still working for the brother to divorce with his first wife who he hasn't seen for ten years so him and his girlfriend can get married and then be baptized next week.

I am sending three pictures, the first is of me with a kiss, and that's the closest I have ever been to a kiss on my mission, the other is of me kissing the kiss, something I can't do the girls because I am a missionary, the third is a bumper sticker that says "don't follow me, I am lost" pretty cool huh,

FELICIDADES JUSTIN I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU...so your going to be SBO, very cool are you excited? What are you going to differently this year so that it will be better? Remember that this means you have to be an example and do good in your classes so that your grades are really good, love ya bud

JACER AND SOMEONE SITTING IN A TREE KISSING ha ha, Jace who are you taking to Morp, and what are your day and dinner plans, I want pictures where are the pictures? and how is training with Unga goin? Do you think that it's helping? You too need to remember to be an example to your little brothers, and do good in school, love ya

JAX WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE LITTLE BRO, ARE YOU EXCITED THAT YOUR WORKING HARD IN SCOUTS AND ARE YOU READY TO BE A BASEBALL PLAYER? How is school going and what else have you been up to? Remember your school work and be obedient to Mom and Dad, love ya goofy

The new house is cool and no we haven't put up the hammock

Tomorrow we have zone conference so it's going to be cool to see what President Hansen teaches us,

Love ya,

Elder Weaver

Note from Mom, sounds like he is on a little sugar high, maybe he wrote after he ate the giant kiss:)

After General Conference

2010-04-05T17:19:00.001-06:00

Jordan is not pictured below...must have been moving help... Hello my family, I am doing good and I am glad to hear that you are all doing good as well.
This weekend was fun but it's not the same like at home, for instance, there is no Easter Bunny here, and on Crucifixion Fridays people volunteer to be crucified in remembrance of Jesus Christ.
The first picture is of use taking our mini fridge out of the trunk of a car, the second is where we had lunch after the Saturday morning session of conference, and the third is of another car I have fallen in love with, (it didn't come through)
I was able to see the five sessions in English and I was with 7 other Americans and one Samoan. It was really cool, I learned a lot and my favorite talk was by Elder Holland from the Priesthood Session. (Ross says Elder Holland didn't speak in this session, maybe he meant the 2nd session, or confused him with someone else?) We watched conference at the stake center it was fun.
Yes we moved and the house is good, it just really gets hot at night but we have two fans working all the time. We are going to put hooks up so I can use my hammock.
Mom my stomach is fine, has been fine and always will be fine, so there is no need to worry. (Silly me, I thought he asked us to pray about his health and stomach ache, and he has been losing weight, I think I'm losing it, won't ask anymore)
The street name is Quevedo number 607
We have two baptism dates for the 17th of this month and more on the way, it's cool because we found a family of three and they are really excited to be baptized we just have to divorce the man with his first wife and then have him marry the woman he lives with at the moment, and they have a 13 year old boy who is really excited. Every Friday night we go to the chapel and play soccer with the youth and their friends who aren't members we talk to.
Jace, Justin, and Jax, I hope that you put a lot of attention to the talks during conference because they did a lot of talking about the family and missionary work, I am glad that you are all enjoying being young still, and hope that you will grow the way the Lord wants you to.
I am starting in Alma, so I hope that I am still with you guys in the Book of Mormon reading, well I sure do love you guys, I hurried and loaded a video of a guy making pizza hope you like it,
I will send another in a minute. Love ya
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Okay I lied and can't send a video love ya bye

Hi Dad I am glad to hear from ya,

Dad one thing I learned during conference was about the importance of family interaction, I am sorry I didn't want much to do with you, but I am going to try harder when I get home,

Love ya Dad,

Your son, Jordan

Happy Easter!

2010-03-29T16:49:00.000-06:00

Hello my family,
I am doing fine so there are no worries, I feel fine and I am still working like I should, this week I am hopeing to be able to watch the conference in Inglish because well they are alot better in ones native tongue. This past week was fun because Friday we went to a civil wedding, a couple wanted to be baptized but they needed to get married so my comp was a witness, because as a gringo I can't be a witness for these kind of things, I am sending a picture of me in a jeep that I fell in love with and then a pictures of a bug for Jax because I know how much he likes cars,

I also found a relative of Jerico, his name is Rex and has two years,

For Easter they do things the same here, but no Easter bunny that I have seen so far, and we aren't aloud to drink Coke, but Mom I am doing fine I feel good being skinnier, this way Dad and you won't always have to warn me about what I eat, and how I will look when I am thirty, I haven't seen a Doctor, I talked to Sister Hansen and I am doing what she tells me, we are trying to change house today, we just need to find a truck to put all of our stuff in, my Spanish is good, people are surprised when I tell them I am from the states and then they ask me if my parents are Mexican, some people try getting me to take English classes, It's funny, life is good, I am still waiting for pictures of my room, but I am content,

Jace what have you been learning in your missionary class?

Justin are you excited about running for SBO?

Jax are you going out for baseball?

Well I sure do love you guys and hope all is well, talk to you next week,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

I left this the way he typed it you can see his broken English/Inglish and I think it's super!

Feliz Cumpleanos

2010-03-25T08:38:00.000-06:00

Elder Weaver sends you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish!!!! I just talked to him and he told me that tomorrow is the big day and asked me to send you a big shout out...Hope you have a great day and eat lots of chocolate while you sit out in the bright spring sunshine!
Con amor,
Hna H

I am posting this not to get Birthday wishes, but to show how wonderful his Mission Mom is! She took the time to do this for one of her many Elders, at 9:39 pm., what an angel!
We feel so fortunate that Jordan has such great people that are leading his mission and taking such good care to do so!
Thanks again Hansens-God bless you!

I receieved....a "Dear John"

2010-03-22T14:23:00.000-06:00

Okay, first of all the letter is from Sam Larsen. She sent me a wedding invitation and so I opened it up at the zone conference, another Elder saw it with a picture, grabbed the picture and the invitation and yelled, ELDER WEAVER GOT DEAR JOHNED, before I knew it 30 Elders had me surrounded saying sorry and that there are a lot of girls in the world, some got really upset because they said Sam looks really good and wanted to know how a guy like me was able to date a girl like her. I finally shouted that she is only a friend...they didn't believe me, so people are still thinking that I got Dear Johned, it was funny.
The first picture is of the baptism we had this week, it was really cool in the ocean again, and the second is of me with a new shirt that I bought, cool lookin right?

The Zone conference was a lot of fun and my stomach is the same, I weigh 180 pounds which I am happy with, I talked to Sis. Hansen and she put me on an antibiotic. My comp speaks pretty good English and also some members so it's fun speaking in English. Elder Reidhead is a month older than me in the mission, but he is really cool, he is from Arizona.

Farmer's Tan-what farmer's tan-when I am darker then the people who live here for their whole lives, they think my comp is the American and I am the Mexican. I am doing good on garments, Mom, don't worry if I need anything I will let you guys know.

We are still going to change apartments because the one we are in just is ugly, and dirty and difficult to keep clean.

I live on the street lave between allende y garero.

As far as I know I will be watching the conference in English with some other Americans.

Today we had the zone activity. We went to the beach and played kickball and then after we played, I don't know what it's called, but we did it for football training. You put the whole team in a line with one guy 15 yards in front, he had to tackle another to have a friend help him get other people. So we played that which was a lot of fun because we have some big Elders here on the mission, one is Tongan and he layed me flat when I went to tackle him but it was a lot of fun.

Well that's all I have for you guys this week, I love you all and hope that everything will continue to work out,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Dad I sure do love you, thanks for putting forth a great example for me

Your oldest son Jordan

Baptism at the beach

2010-03-15T18:57:00.000-06:00

Hello my family,
I had to change my email because they updated the website so every missionary got a new email.
We had two baptisms this week, the first one was at the beach it was really cool because the wind and the waves were fighting against us, but when my comp put his arm to the square to perform the ordinance everything went calm, he said the prayer, put down his arm and the waves and wind were back. We also baptized in the church which was cool, but they are better at the beach. Yesterday I confirmed the sister which was really cool, and also we gave a blessing to a little girl who was really sick, afterwards she was running around and playing like she was normal..These experiences have really strengthened my faith in the power of God and how he trusts us as his sons to hold and use it worthily.

The last picture is of today, the four missionaries at the beach, we went and played soccer, then walked along the beach possin and everything. Names of the Elders from left to right, Elder Castro, Elder Riedhead, Elder Medina, and the mas guapo, Elder Weaver. (very handsome, Elder Weaver)

I am glad that things are starting to pick up back home and that everyone is doing good, thanks for the picture Mom and Dad. We are going to have conference tomorrow and I am really excited, because it was supposed to be last week but they changed it for this week to prepare a better lesson, I am really pumped to learn some doctrine.

Jace, Justin, and Jax, I hope you are all behaving and helping Mom and Dad as much as you guys can, something I have learned here on the mission is that the Lord blesses us when we are obedient, that includes being obedient to Mom and Dad. I know sometimes you want to just rebel against them like I did sometimes but it's not a fun path to walk, so I pray that the tree of you will try better to obey Mom and Dad, and also the commandments of the Lord.

Jace how is the missionary class going, what have you learned? Have you been on any other dates, if so I want to see pictures.

Justin be good and tell me what it's like being an SBO, are you excited or do you want something else more fun.

Jax, hey goofy, how are the other two boys treating you? How is school going? Can you drive yet like me Jace, and Justin or is Mom holding on to her youngest still?

If you guys can, keep my health in your prayers because for the past 5 days I have had a sore stomach and have lost weight from going to the bathroom. I have taken pepto and received blessings from my comp. Tomorrow I am going to talk to Sis. Hansen, Mom I don't want you to freak out and send an email to Sis. Hansen, I will talk to her tomorrow, just keep me in your prayers like I asked (Dad don't let Mom write Sis. Hansen)

I love you all and look forward to hearing from you next week

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

p.s. Happy Birthday Grandma Pat!

Silly boy, I won't email Sis. Hansen, just pray continually, then hopefully I will hear from her soon...maybe it's just a bug or a worm-yuck! maybe just stomach flu-have faith, he is in the Lord's hands, Faith not Fear! Faith not Fear!

Serve with all your might!

2010-03-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

You were "green." You were new.

A missionary who didn't know what to do.

For a year now you have been growing and changing

In spirit, mind and body, rearranging.

You know what to say now,

how to follow the Spirit's lead.

You've hit the half-way point.

You know how to succeed.

The first year was for you

to learn and grow and reach.

This second year is for others,

Go and do and teach.

Bear it without fear.

Be more valiant in your conviction,

Those with ears will hear.

Sound your personal battle cry!

Go forwar and boldly fight!

You've only got a year left!

Serve with all your might!

We love you, our Elder Jordan Ross Weaver,

God bless and keep you,

Keep up the good fight!

Love Dad, Mom, Jace, Justin, Jax and Jerico

Questions answered...

2010-03-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hello my family,

I am doing good, here are the answers to your questions.

My new area is great, we are really close to the ocean so we can baptize at the beach, and the people are really friendly, my comp is Elder Medina, he will turn 20 on the 25th of this month, his from a place called Tampico, he is a hard worker and we will be trying for 17 baptism for this month, can you guys help and keep this goal in your prayers. My comp has 7 months left. Lately my comps have been really cool.

The apartment needs work and we are looking into changing. We wash our clothes and make breakfast and dinner but the members always give us lunch.

So far nothing more than cacroches,

The food is the same, I am close to the sea but there is not much sea food.

My responsibilities as senor comp are the same as when I was a minor, I get the phone talk to our leaders and have to pass along the numbers every Sunday. This is a modern close area. We don't knock doors because we talk to a lot of people on the street. I don't know the address of the chapel and we have church at 12.

It's really hot here, mom still hold off on the package, I have no space to keep it.

I burned a shirt when I completed one year, I will be sending a picture.

Today we went to the beach to take some more pictures, they have some really cool stuff here.

We are trying to get 4 people in the baptismal waters this weekend and we are hoping to have that at the beach.

The email I am using is a new address so you guys can check it good,

The second picture is of me at the beach, it was really cool seeing so much ocean.

Look I am sorry that the letter is short this week, I am coping all of my emails and pictures onto a USB memory, but I love you all and know that you are safe,

Con mucho amor,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

ps. my new address is....

Happy Day! 365 more to go...

2010-03-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

Note from home!
We are celebrating today, Jordan is half way...I found this about a camel and thought how appropriate for "Hump Day"!

The Camel is the symbol of a seasoned Missionary

by Cheryl K. Carpenter
As you come to the one-year mark of your mission, I am sending you this camel to remind you how far you have come, and where you are going. There are many similar characteristics of a great missionary and a camel.
The first is the "hump". Yes, you have crossed the mark and now are over the hump of the first year. But remember the hump of a camel is used to store food for the long journey. Camels can go for long periods of time without food, but he must store his food in his hump. A Missionary has learned from so many experiences, but a wise Missionary will store the knowledge he has gained, and put it to greater use the second half of his mission.
Another important symbol, is what the camel does to be prepared to carry his load for his Master. A camel sometimes protests his heavy load, but he drops to knees for his Master, and once started, he patiently carries his load. As a missionary sometimes the load seems heavy and difficult to carry. But when you drop to your knees and succumb to the Master's will, he will carefully lead you and you can bear the load patiently, and do your Father in Heaven's work as he would have you do. This is why the camel's knee are heavily padded, as a Missionary, your knees are calloused from the many hours of kneeling in prayer.
The camel has high set eyes, that enable him to see long distances. A Missionary has his eyes set on higher things, he follows the Spirit that enables him to see the Children of God, those who are seeking answers, and he teaches them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The camel has broad, two-toed feet, that keep it from sinking in the desert sand. A Missionary has a broad knowledge and a firm testimony of the Gospel. This enables him to teach with boldness and stand firm in his testimony. The people you teach do not yet have the blessing of such a sure-foot, but as you teach with love and the Spirit, you will help them gain their own testimony that will help them walk on firmer ground. One that will lead them back to their Father in Heaven.
So you see, a Missionary has a lot in common with a camel. Put this camel where you can see it often. Dedicate yourself to do as the camel does. Serve your Master well and patiently over the long journey. You have come a long way, there is still much ground to cover. Continue to move forward, serving with love, until you mission is complete and your Father in Heaven will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

I sent Jordan a picture of a camel to keep with him because we just got a package from him of all of the extra stuff he has been packing from place to place and this will be easy for him to stick in his scriptures rather than packing around a "stuffed" camel.

We are on the other side of the "Hill"! Yea!

Short...

2010-03-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

hey stupid computer cut me short
I love you all,
Elder Weaver

At least I still know he is alive and in his new area,
technology again, gotta love it!

Changes...

2010-02-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hello my family,
How is everyone doing? I am doing good as always. I am being changed to Coatzacoalcos, and I don't remember the name of my new comp, but I am going to be senor comp. I also was finally able to send the package, it should be there by Saturday at the latest. Mom I am going to ask you to hold off with the package a little longer because I don't need anything.
The Ogden Temple looks cool with the changes, and so do I because I got my haircut today, and tomorrow I take a five hour bus ride with two other Elders to our new assignment.
Jace get out there and start dating before Mom and Dad get on your case about your social life like they did with me. But remember to be smart and treat your dates like they are daughters of God and nothing will go wrong.
Justin, I haven't heard much from you but I know that you are still being a good kid and example to your friends like our Father in Heaven wants you to be.
Jax, you little goofball, how is life? Do Jace and Justin treat you better or are they still giving you a hard time? Be good and help Mom and Dad
I love you three a lot and miss you a lot too. It's hard not having your brothers to talk to and hang out with. Be good and do your best in school and at home, remember your prayers and help one another.
Mom and Dad, I am still safe, and yes skinny, I will be getting a lot skinnier with my new area, because it's one of the hottest. I love you both and always have you in my prayers, my Spanish is still coming along with patience and practice.
Love you all and sorry because there aren't any pictures the computer won't read my card...
Elder Weaver

Gracias a su hijo!

2010-02-22T15:55:00.001-07:00

Hermana Weaver,
Just wanted to drop you a little note and let you know how much I love and appreciate your son. He is so kind and sweet to his companion, Elder Valenzuela and Elder Hernandez tambien. He truly has the attribute of charity towards his companions. I am so grateful that you raised him in a loving home that is obviously full of love and kindess. He is genuinely caring and loving which is unusual in a man of his age.
Good job, Mom & Dad!
Con amor,
Hna Hansen

This note came last night about 8:15 p.m. I had been missing Jordan more than usual and was very grateful for the note. We wish that we could take credit for Jordan being the way he is but his body came to our family with this amazing spirit and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.

I know my Father lives...

2010-02-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

and loves me too!Aren't Heavenly Father's creations amazing?

These are more photos Jordan sent,

as a family we always have noticed the sunsets and

Jordan always has pointed out the amazing flowers to me,

wish we could grow them here:)

Wow, I am not in Utah anymore...

2010-02-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hello my family,
This week has been interesting because it's Carnival, yesterday and Saturday we had to be in the house at 6:00 because of all the sinning people do here. Saturday I saw two girls in Las Vegas dancing clothing and then yesterday a truck full of them drove by whistling and making kissy faces at us.
Wow, I am not in Utah any more...
But we had two baptisms, the first was of Daniella, which was two weeks ago but I forgot to send the picture, and then we had a baptism on Saturday, which went well.

I am not sure where I am going to end up with the mission changes, but I know that the Lord will put me where he needs me. I did get the email and was able to take out the money I needed but have to wait until next Monday to sent the package, sorry.

We had a baptism date for this week, but her husband told her that if she gets baptized that he will kick her and the son and daughter out of the house, he is from a different religion and does not want his wife to be Mormon.

Jace, Justin and Jax, Hi guys, how are you all doing? I am doing good, and still trying to be a good older brother to you guys, are you all practicing the piano with Mom, and also working on your Spanish? How are you guys doing reading your Books of Mormon? Love you all, and hope that you are enjoying life.

Mom and Dad as you always know I am fine, still working to find the Lord's chosen like is my calling, I look forward to pictures of everyone and also my room in progress:)
Well I am going to try to send more pictures

Love ya all,

Elder Weaver

Mission changes...

2010-02-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

The latest and greatest from the Church News...
The creation of the Mexico Villahermose Mission will be achieved from a division of Mexico Tampico, Tuxtla Guitierrez Mission and (Jordan's mission) Mexico Veracruz Mission. The changes will take place effective July 1, 2010.
We are not sure where Jordan will be, it is very exciting news though,
"Zion is growing"...
Keep up the great work all of you stripling warriors!

I am trying to post a map of the new missions and their areas...

Notice the fixed tooth...

2010-02-09T20:11:00.001-07:00

Looks pretty good...

Fort and Prison...

2010-02-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hello my family,
I am doing well as always and had a great day visiting an old fort and torture prison. The first picture is of me in the prison, and my comp is treating me well, you can all relax.
It was weird yesterday for me to not being able to write to you guys yesterday. Yesterday we worked, that's all. And I have found a way to send a package but I will send it next week. I still don't need anything so wait on the package I asked for.
And please stop telling me how much time I have left, it's one of the biggest ways that missionaries die because their families are counting the days. (we just mentioned that he is done with 11 months, and almost on the other side of the hill :( )
Elder Valenzuela says Hi,
There are going to be changes in our boundaries in July, I just don't know what changes exactly.
Love you all and don't worry I am sending another with more photos in five minutes.
Elder Weaver
The first is of me on a canon, the second is of me and the sea.

What a handsome young man:) ... must look like his Dad!

These last two pictures is of coral, which the whole fort is made of,

and of me in a torture chamber where the stalagmites did the Chinese water torture on your head.

Love you all, talk to you next week.

We have heard rumors about mission boundary changes...

Zion is growing!

Tooth

2010-02-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

chipped tooth before it was fixed

Hello my family,

How is everyone doing? I am doing well so no worries, okay. My week was good, we have put two baptism dates, for the 20th of this month, their names are Maria Del Carmen, and Carmen Garcia.

I have two photos of my tooth for you, and the third one is of a flower here in Veracruz that looks a lot like an exploding firework, really cool, huh? (the flower picture didn't make it)
We baptized Saturday but she didn't go to chruch yesterday to get confirmed so we have to wait until the next week to confirm her. Other than that I am doing good, next week I will write you guys on Tuesday because as a zone we are going to visit an abandoned prison, which is only open on Tuesdays, so Monday I will be working.

Here is the list of people who have sent me letters, the Prices, Pedersons, Thurells, Eccles, Jacobs, Ivies, and Grandpa Rhett, I only write to you guys and President Hansen. I am still looking into sending a package home.

I think it's funny when members always tell me that I am really skinny, then I just laugh because I am happy how I look and feel.

We work from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. so we have time to find lots of people and teach lots of people too in one week, I am standing tall like I am supposed to but it's tough when your comp can't walk as fast as you.

Well, I love you all and hope that you enjoy the pictures, talk to you Tuesday.

Elder Weaver

Note from Mom...so glad the chip in his tooth is so little, when he was a soph in High School he chipped/broke the same tooth off about 1/2 up, so when he said he chipped it again that is what we imagined, and now I can see why it was less then $40.00 to fix-:) I have been thinking as we come upon the end of his 11th month on the 4th, how quickly time has really gone, I love that we have contact from week to week and maybe that is why it doesn't seem to drag, we always say, talk to you next week!

Please, if there are any moms or RMs that read this and know an inexpensive way for him to send some stuff home please let me know-thanks-and then I will pass on the info. to him...

Christmas catch up! Finally!

2010-01-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

After counting down all Christmas day, finally is was 5:30 our time, and then 5:35, no call, so Ross, the very inspired person that he is tries the number Jordan had given us, well, his cell phone cannot make international calls, so we hurry and get on with AT&T, on Christmas night, and get the service for international calls, so we try the number again and a Spanish voice on the other end said no, no Elder Weaver is not here he is here, and then gave us a different number. In the meantime, Jordan's best friend Logan calls and I ask him if I can call him back because we are waiting for Jordan to call and he says that, that is why he is calling, Jordan just contacted him by email and he cannot get through and so we got the number from Logan and sure enough it went through, in the mean time again, Jeff, Jordan's other friend, shows up at the door and says Jordan can't reach you, you need to call him...Needless to say, a 1/2 hour later we got to start talking to him...:)Big smiles!
He is super, sounds just like our Jordan, only a whole lot faster!
Christmas morning they spent cleaning a blind woman's home, getting it ready to paint, He wore a blister on his finger because they were scraping walls with a butter knife.
They did not get to stay for lunch because they were preparing for a baptism the next day, a young girl and boy. The girl is afraid of water so Jordan and his comp filled up the font and let her go swimming in it on Monday and were doing it again today. The girl feels safer with Jordan because he is a foot taller than his comp and not so close to the water.
We cried as he talked about his struggles with the language, he is very hard on himself and wants it to be perfect for the work he is doing for his Heavenly Father. He is getting along fine with his comp.
He weighs 185 and was pretty excited about that, he likes how he feels and how he looks and how his clothes fit.
He said that he always has plenty of money for food each month, they use most of their money for transportation, and buying Book of Mormons.
I asked him how he is stomaching the food, he said it's okay, until he eats super spicy, he had a chili that his comp said was not that spicy, but it was very hot and was just as bad going down as it was coming out (gross) and a lot faster:)
He loves the flowers down there, he wishes he could bring some home to me and my Dad to plant in our yards, he said they are amazing.
He is still looking for construction work for Ross:), said that the quality of cement is amazingly poor.
It is not rainy season now, it is still warm, he still sweats while his comp freezes, at 70 degrees, he said that the nights are beautiful, perfect weather.
He likes to turn the boiler on 1rst thing to get a hot shower,
He does not have any desire to live there:)
Loves to get with the "North Americans" or "Gringos" to speak English, he said he never realized how much he loves our language.
His favorite part of the mission is baptizing, and then went on for a good 5-10 minutes about how important baptism is, and then he said well that's enough preaching:)
He could not believe how the boys voices had changed and could not tell who was who....
He talked about the small lizards that are there, they are poisonous and are all over, they have had lots of mosquitoes, they use raid plug ins and fans at night to keep them off of them.
Jax asked about spiders, he said that there happened to be one today and the sister missionaries were all screaming and he laughed and laughed.
He said that he has not seen one North American Sister Missionary, all have been Native Mexicans.
He loves Pres. and Hma. Hansen, they are a lot of fun, and interview often, and are very interested in each missionary, they have given him good council and have cried with him when he has had difficult days.
We talked more about his Spanish, tried to build him up and feel more confident with the language.
He is still practicing the piano, he is learning There is a Green Hill Far Away, I told him I would learn it too.
His new camera takes video, he has been testing it out, and likes it a lot.
The Internet cafe is 10 pesos to use.
His transportation is buses, taxis are too expensive the bus costs 6 pesos, he is in a large area, huge he said, he loves all of the walking, no blisters for a while, he has resoled his shoes once and ready to do it again. His pants are pretty beat up and will buy more soon.
Prints emails off from Beardalls, Us, Grandma Pat, Weavers
He get handwritten letters often from Prices, Ivies, and "Pickles" comics from Pedersons and "they really brighten his day"
He loves the Sunday comics that we send, loves meeting with the North Americans and telling jokes, he said Spanish jokes just don't seem to be as funny:)
He is very happy, I asked:) He sleeps well most of the time, has not been able to sight see in the city, but he reminded me "I still have another year mom"
He was going to make the birthday cake I sent him for his birthday, he is very excited for that day, it happens to be the "Day of the 3 Kings", very big Spanish holiday, they believe it is when the wisemen reached the Christ child they celebrate with lots of gifts and festivities.
He asked for the recipe for monkey bread, says he really misses it, misses "normal" spaghetti,
Boys asked about the Day of the Dead, 1rst night is like Halloween they give out money not candy, the 2nd day the adults go out, door to door and ask for alcohol.
Loves the Christmas palm leaves re-enactment with pine branches, the natives go door to door waving branches singing
He goes by pine trees and rubs the branches to smell "HOME"
He is in a very rich area, said that of course it's easier to knock on "poor" doors, much more humble people.
Jace and Jordan talked about the Camel thru the eye of a needle and that whole parable...Jordan recited the whole story and Jace was very impressed with his older brother:)
We decided to read the Book of Mormon together, he is reading with his zone, but will read a chapter a day and stay with us also.
Again I asked if he was happy, and he says-yes Mom!
Ross gave him some fatherly advice, be happy, have patience with himself, don't beat yourself up, everything will come. He dreams in Spanish and his comp tells him that he has woken up to him singing in Spanish while he is sleeping.
In his Patriarchal Blessing he was given many promises about the language of the people of his mission and we reminded him to read and pray about that.
Ross asked him if our time was up, and Jordan, said no not yet (we had been on for 45 minutes)
I asked about eating, and he said he eats well, lots of food, said he often goes home with a belly ache because he ate to much. He said that there are lots of apples, pears, strawberries, and mangos.
While we were on the phone he was walking around in circles, I asked if he was nervous he said no, it just feels weird to stand still.
He said to have no worries, he is in the Lord's hands and he is protecting him.
He said that almost 20 years old feels the same.
He spoke in Sacrament meeting Christmas Sunday, they were asked to prepare a 5 minute talk and time ran out so they got to bear their testimonies.
He asked about Alex Weaver, one of Jace's friends that has been having FHE with our family, asked about the Elders that have been teaching her. He said that in Mexico they ask about being baptized on the 1rst or 2nd lesson. He said that a lot of the Spanish people fall in love with the Elders and when they leave not a lot of them remain active, they fall in love with the boys and not the gospel.
We are trying to have family prayer the same time he has his prayers at night,
Ross asked him to bear his testimony in Spanish, he did and we all cried...then it was time to go, He said he misses being able to hug us, he loves and misses us all, we didn't want to hang up...God bless you Jordan, you are such a great son!
Merry Christmas and we'll talk to you soon...

As I post this on January 25, I still cry, however I only have 104 more days to talk to him again, we are about 37 days from being half way done, but who is counting, I would not trade this experience for anything, or have him be any where else at this time in his life, he thinks I don't worry, Ha, I am his mom, I know he is serving the Lord and he will be fine, but I can still miss, love, and worry about him:), sorry it took me so long to post this, but here is most of our conversation in a nut shell, all 1 hour and 13 minutes:)

My tooth is fine

2010-01-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hi family,
I am doing good this week, we have a baptism lined up for this week and we are hoping that it will go through.
Yes I did take money out for the dentist and also some more to send a package home, I am still looking into it, but no worries I will find a way.
My comp is 19 but only has 5 months left in the mission. He is a hard worker and he has good ideas on how we can find new people to teach. Last Friday was conference and I received a lot of letters from people in the ward, I am sorry I don't have the letters here at the moment to tell you who to thank but next week I will give you the whole list.
We don't teach classes anymore because the semester ended, the work is coming along, as we put forth our best effort to find, teach and baptize the Lord's elect. We are working so that others may have the joy in their lives that we have.
This computer doesn't want to help me with any pictures, so next week I hope to have a good computer with my cable so that I can send you guys pictures. I have a cool one of the sky and some hawks.
Jax, How are ya buddy, I am doing good as you know, sure do love ya.
Justin, Thank you for your letter and the poem and the picture, it's really cool that you and Jax are with Utah's QB.
Jace, any more dates that I should know about, any first kisses. I am your older brother and I have the right to know these things that will embarrass you:)
You three, I hope that you are all reading your scriptures and saying your prayers to be better prepared for your missions, and be examples now during your lives, there is no age limit to be a missionary of and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Mom and Dad I love and miss you both, but will be back home to make you both worry about other things, while I am here on a mission it's easy because I am in the Lord's hands, back home your both stuck with me, ha ah ah
Love you all and hope all is well
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Sure wish the computer was working, we are dying to see this new tooth, hope it's not wooden, especially if it cost less then $40.00 :)
Thanks to all of you that have written him and are keep track of his mission, can you believe he is almost 1/2 way! :)

Chipped tooth...

2010-01-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

I am doing good this week...today I am going to the dentist because Saturday I fell and chipped my tooth, that I chipped sophomore year. I forgot my cable so sorry that I don't have any picture for you guys this week.
I get along just fine with my comp, he is a short kid who will die in 5 months (goes home in 5 months)
When we are walking down the street I feel like I am living the life of those two cartoon missionaries that you guys always send me cards of.
I sure do hope that Jace doesn't get to hooked on girls like I did, and focus on his school work, Justin and Jax the same goes for you two also.
Mom I am going to ask that you hold off with the packages until I have a need for something that I can't get here in Mexico.
Jace Justin and Jax always be obedient of Mom and Dad, and be sure that you are always reading your scriptures and saying your prayers, I was lazy and didn't do these things and now I am paying the price of not being better prepared for my mission.
Dad, I love you and Mom more than you guys can know, I know I wasn't the best of expressing myself with you guys but I hope that when I get home I will be able to do so better.
My neck really hurts because I splept weird last nigh, but me and my comp have enjoying ourselves because he has the card game UNO, and I have been winning 7 to 3, I have won 7 games and him 3 games, so I am enjoying myself.
Will talk to you all next week with photos of my tooth before and after the dentist.
Elder Weaver

Hi Family,

2010-01-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

What I did on my birthday was...
We went to a members house to have breakfast and I made the cake that you sent me in the last package, afterwards we went and worked and then we returned to the members house to eat the cake, afterwards they gave me some gifts, a top, a plat wooden race car, a coffee mug, and a yo-yo, also a key chain that's all in the picture. They sung happy birthday to me and then my comp smashes my face into the cake, I am going to see if I can send the video, more on the way.
Love Jordan
Sorry, I tried downloading the video but it's taking a lot of time.
We did baptise this last week but only Efren, his sister doesn't feel ready. I am staying and my comp is leaving, my new comps name is Elder Valenzuela, he has 6 months left in his mission, and yes Mom I am keeping my journal up to date, also I have been reading my scriptures with you guys, I am at Chapter 12 of 1 Nephi.
I get emails from You, dad, Grandpa and Grandma Beardall, Grandma Pat and Jeff, also Shaun and Jill.
Here are two more pictures, one is of everyone who went to the baptism and the other is of the young man, me and my comp. The water was freezing cold, so we did it really fast,
love you all, talk to next week,
Elder Weaver

Happy Birthday,

2010-01-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Sister Weaver,
Just wanted to send you a birthday hug today! I called and sang "Happy Birthday" to Elder Weaver this morning and he was chowing down on King's Bread for breakfast at a member's house. How fun to have a birthday on a holiday day, he will be well-fed, that is for sure. Not exactly birthday cake and ice cream, but a pretty good runner up...I know that you are missing and loving him a lot today, that is what Mom's do. I know it is hard to believe that it has already been twenty years since you first welcomed him into your arms and now he is a Stripling Warrior serving the Lord with all of his heart, mind and soul. Thank you for welcoming him into your family and for raising him to be a worthy missionary. We love him and are grateful to you for sending him to us!
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Con amor,
Hna Hansen

Happy Birthday Jordan!

2010-01-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

I ran across this picture the other day and cannot believe how much things have changed and all of the life that has been lived, and how it seems to have gone by so quickly. Jordan was two at the time and loved to keep up with his dad...
I used to go into Jordan's room at night to make sure he was covered up, and I remember thinking how small he was, just the day before, it was all for such a short period of time,
I watched as he slowly grew to big for his bed and wonder where time has gone...
Jordan was born the day after Ross' birthday and we have always had their birthday cakes together, sad to say this is the first time in 20 years that they have been apart for their birthdays.
When we talked to Jordan for Christmas he said that Mexico celebrates January 6th pretty big because they believe that it is the day the wisemen came to the Christ child, So tonight they are having cake in a members home for his birthday and I'm sure there will be more celebrating going on! So glad he will not be alone:)
Mom and Dad just called and sang Happy Birthday to Jordan, to me!
Thanks to all of you that have given us money to put into his account for Christmas and his Birthday. He bought himself a new camera, memory card and a portable CD player, he spent about $180.00. and sends his gratitude.
Thanks to all of you that help support him while he is one his mission, whether it be cards, letters, emails, concerns, prayers or money-it is all so overwhelming and we appreciate you so much, you know who you are!:)
So with tears in my eyes and gratitude in my heart, I thank my Heavenly Father for the wonderful blessing he sent to our home 20 years ago, don't know what we would do without our round headed little boy, the leader and example that he has turned out to be. The Lord surely knew which one of our boys to send first, he is so patient and has so much unconditional love for everyone, and has been such a good sport about us learning how to be parents on him!
I love you Jordan and send you the very best Birthday wishes,
May God bless and keep you safe and let you feel our love everyday, but especially today!
Con amor,
Mom

I am late

2010-01-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

My New Year started out well. We went to dinner with a family and then had to be home at 8:30 because it's dangerous here with drunk people shooting there guns and flares in the air. We watched "Up" and also "Ice Age 3" I was sleeping when it was midnight so I still don't feel like I am in the New Year.
We are hoping for two baptisms before this Sunday because changes are this week, the names of the people are Efran and Danella. Can you pray for them?
This is going to be short because I don't have much time until we have to start working, I sure do love you guys and hope that all is well.
I am practicing the piano and I get a little better every day. I practice with my Spanish and it comes, not as quickly as I want but it comes.
I did get the monkey bread recipe but they don't have the bread here that I need so now worries.
I will be sure to take lots of pictures for you guys, one family has invited us over to have cake on Wednesday for my birthday. Really cool.
Well I sure do love you all and know that all is well. All is good with me and I love you all.
More will be found next week I promise
Elder Weaver

Christmas gifts...

2009-12-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Christmas dinner

waiting for Santa...

Hello my family,
It was great talking to you all, and I hope that you all had a good Christmas.

We baptized the two kids that I told you about and it was great. The little girl went right under without a problem. The first picture is in front of the Temple, the second in front of the manger. More on the way,

the first picture is of me and my

companion getting ready to paint a house,

the next is me after we had talked

Christmas tears...

Your handsome son
and the last is of a tree with some cool flowers
like I was telling you Mom

He told us on the phone he would be sending more pictures today, but writing less because we talked on Friday. He did not title this email, so I did. So many Christmas gifts this year, we got to talk to him for an hour and 13 minutes:), he got to baptize the day after Christmas, and I think it was at the Temple, on Christmas day they painted a blind ladies home, the manger, and the Christmas spirit that is always present there, that amazing smile and tired eyes, and the flowers he sent us for Christmas, (the picture of course:))

I will blog our phone conversation some time this week, emotions still very close to the surface:)

Christmas Calling!

2009-12-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, the plans for calling you guys will be on Friday at 6:00 here so 5:00 there at home,
Mexico a U.S.A. 00+1+telephone number
U.S.A. a Mexico 011+52 +telephone number
I am going to call from a members house,
you never told me about my pin number and I still don't understand if there is a problem with the card or no. I am thinking about buying a new camera.
I am really excited to talk to you guys,
This week we are hoping to have a baptism, it's a ten year old girl named Brenda, the only problem we have is that she is afraid of water.
Above I have the numbers you need to call to Mexico, I will call first so that you guys can have the number, then when you get it you can call me.
I don't have much to write this week, probably because I am going to talk to you all soon. I don't have any pictures to send this week either sorry,
Today we went and played basketball at the church, it was a lot of fun.
I have been doing good this week, and all of you, whats up in life? Is there a ton of snow at home? What is the matter today, I don't have anything to write you guys and I have been here for 40 minutes writing the little bit that's on the page.
I am really excited to talk to you and I have nothing to write because I will be talking to you soon.
Sure do love you all and hope all is well.
Call ya Friday at 5:00 for you guys.
Love you.
Elder Weaver

Here is the number that I will be calling you guys from...

I think he is just as excited as we are to talk to each other,
AT THE END OF THE WEEK ;)

This year for Christmas...

2009-12-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year for Christmas I'm giving my son.
I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread Novembers Ensign,
and my testimonys been stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year for Christmas I'm giving my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss that smile a ton,
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorized his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand,
Christ's birth should be celebrated
by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year...I'm giving Christ my son.

thanks to the Missionary Mom website for this poem,
I can't help but think of Mary, and her knowledge that her son was to be a gift and a sacrifice for all of us, the least I can do is show my love and gratitued to my Savior by sharing my son with the people of Veracruz...my heart is so full...we are so blessed to have Jordan in our family, and the example he is to each one of us-
We love you Jordan,
God bless you and Merriest of Christmases!

Warm Winter Wishes

2009-12-14T19:56:00.001-07:00

Hello my cold family,
I am still doing good, losing weight and getting darker everyday. I still don't know what will be happening next week but I will let you know on Monday when we figure out a place were we can call our families.
Zone conference was a lot of fun, we were given ties with the mission logo on it, and also I received THREE packages. Two from you and one from, Sewells. It was really exciting.
One problem with the card is that I have forgotten the pin number, but I do have it and might buy a new camera, smaller and better so I will be sending some stuff home for you guys when I get the chance.
If was fun going through the temple, it's the same just like in Utah, only in Spanish. I wish I could go more often, because the spirit there really charges the batteries.

Yes I am getting the pictures from Dad's phone, but they come up blurry, but I really like them.

Thanks Sewells for the package,

and to all those that have put

Christmas money in my account!

Jace, Justin, and Jax, how are you three doing? I hope that you are all helping Mom and Dad this year. And also doing your best in school and also doing your best in your church duties. Remember your prayers and your scripture study. Every night I try to say my prayers at 10:30, if you guys want, get permission from Mom and Dad to have family prayer at home at 9:30 so that we can all pray together. I sure do love you guys and am surprised by how big your getting. I am going to be the smallest of you three when I get back. Be good, and be examples to your friends, and help one another.
The first picture is of me with my three packages, the second is for Dad. It's publicity for construction workers, hope you still have our pail and shovel. The third is of me and my Christmas stocking.
If you can let me know how much I have on my card, and the pin number, I would appreciate it.
Sure do love and miss you guys,
Elder Weaver, Jordan Ross

"Construction workers, hope you still have your pail and shovel!"
(Ross and I are seriously looking into moving to Mexico,

it's warm and looks like they need construction workers-perfect!)

Thanks Sis. Hoopes for my Christmas stocking, I love it!

Mom's note...Just wanted to say thanks for all of your love and support, and for keeping in touch with Jordan, you know who you are!

Can't wait to talk to him next week, he sure looks good, skinny, but good:)

Have faith not fear! For with God nothing is impossible!

Lighthouse

2009-12-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

Hola mi familia,
Como estan? Estoy bien come siempre, trabajando como es mi proposito. Este viernes vamos a entrar en el tiempo para Navidad.
(Hello my family, How are you? I am fine, as always working as it is my purpose. This Friday we will enter the Temple for Christmas)
The first picture is of the baptisms we had last week. One brother from the ward helped us baptize left to right, Bro Salas, Neila, me, Valentin, two youngsters and my comp. I baptized the short guy, my comp baptized the kids and Bro. Salas baptized the lady.

The next picture is of the Temple, and the last picture is of a lighthouse that we have out in our area, just only half a mile out at sea... I haven't been taking my camera around because it's to big for my backpack that I have, and I don't want to be robbed for looking like a tourist.
We eat eggs for breakfast, whatever the members give us for lunch, tacos with pigs intestine, turtle and fish, then dinner is a sandwich.
The unique thing about this area is that people live in real houses, not houses made of boxes or bottles like my other area. I am also near the city.
I haven't heard if my package has arrived yet, but I will find out Friday at zone conference.
I don't see Pres. and Sis. Hansen any more than what I used to, can you guys get me Landon's email account, I asked Pres. Hansen if I could email him and he said yes.
I am still getting used to having to have someone with me twenty-four-seven, sometimes it works other times you just want to return home and to your old way of life, Mom he is 21, he is not younger than me.
I am going to tell you the truth, this gets harder every day as we get closer to Christmas. I want to cry, I want to come home and I just want to live a normal life, but who wants to be normal, it's not fun.
Today we went as a zone to the stake center because our zone will be singing Joy to the World this Friday for Zone Conference, and yesterday we had the chance of going to the Christmas devotional. It was in Spanish so I didn't get to enjoy it as much, but I love getting with the other North Americans, and talking in English, it's so much funner.
Well I sure love you guys, talk to you next week.
Elder Jordan Ross Weaver
Extra photos
Your son after a hard day's work (I think this is posed, he used to have the same look on Christmas morning, trying to fake asleep...)

Our chaple in Costa Verde

The World Trade Center in Veracruz
Elders Ladausqet, Decker and Weaver, all of the same generation