The whole zone of Los Tuxtlas covered in mud and

drinking mineral water from leaves on the 1rst of June 2009

(Jordan is the 2nd on the left standing up:) )

Elder Weaver covered in a facial mud on the 1rst of June 2009

Letter we recieved June 27, 2009 in the mail...

6/08/2009

Hola mi familia!

Como estan? Estoy bien porque Dies es con me y El es siempre protection his missionaries y helping us. Hoy es Lunes y luego nosotros vamos a San Andres por Jugar Deportes con la total zona. Yo recibin dos Dear Elders on 6/03/2009

Padre, Gracias por su ejemplo para mi y recuarda yo siempre le amo usted. Un mision es dificil pero con Dios es posible.

Madre, Gracias por su cartas y apoyo. Da Padre y mi hermanos un grande brazo para mi. Le amo usted.

Hermano Jace, Preparo por su mision ahrita leera el Libro de Mormon y Santa Biblia. Recuarda Dios es su padre Celestial y quiero que ayudar usted en su vida. Le amo usted.

Hermano Justin, Confienza y fe en Dios es muy importante en esta vida, El sabe que usted necesito en su vida, pido El por fuerza y salud. Le amo usted.

Hermano Jax, Creser en la caminos de Dios y su Evengelio y usted will be un bueno hombre cuando usted es rico. Le amo usted.

I'm including two pictures with this letter, information is on the back of them. I love you all and have you in my prayers. Let me know when you get this letter. Thanks for your love, support and confidence.

P.S. Ask Jake Barker if he know a Hermana Limon.

Love you all, be good and trust in God for all things.

Your son and Brother

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Note from Mom-Makes me wish I would have paid more attention to my 3 years of Spanish in school, I can pick a little out here and there, maybe you can too-good luck:)
The Church is true no matter what language-

Photos! Yea!

Pot of Gold I found under the rainbow at a waterfall, ha-ha
Merman I found at the beach, he looked familiar,

but I don't know why...

Me eating breakfast one day

A baptism we had last week...
I baptized the kid, had to do it four times
because he would not go under:)

Hola mi familia,

I am glad that you got the letter and so quickly, maybe it depends on the week I send it. This has been a good week, and Mom I am eating fine, I go to bed sick sometimes because of all the food we eat but no worries, the Lord is watching over me.

Today we went to Montopio, it's a beautiful beach and was a lot of fun to get my legs wet. I found a really cool seashell that I am going to try to keep for the next twenty months. I am excited that you are having the missionaries come over and teach some investigators, I hope it works out.

Yesterday a guy drove up to us and asked me in English, if I wanted his kid because he was disobedient. There was a bottle of beer in the car and the Mom was in the back with some more beer. We are going to teach them on Wednesday, to try to help them be a better family and teach them the gospel. We also have one investigator who is an alcoholic, but wants to change, we have him lined up to be baptized next week, his name is Adolfo.

Before I forget, can you send me a handheld umbrella too, and some more of those little lemonade packages, they are really good. Oh and some more Mac and Cheese, please:)

I speak more Spanish then I thought I ever would and it's fun talking to people and being able to understand them. I gave a talk yesterday in church about missionary work and the branch president said that my Spanish is good.

It's interesting in the mornings to look in the mirror and see someone different, I feel the same just lighter because I have lost weight.

Sorry this isn't a lot of info, transferring the pictures took a while, next week will be more photos and more info, I promise.

Love you all and keep you in my prayers

Your older brother and oldest son,

Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Note from Mom-We received a letter from him with two photos on Saturday, June 27, 2009 the date on the letter was the 8th of June, I will post this one soon, he wrote most of it in Spanish, we are going to get translation and then I'll post it-maybe tomorrow... loved the little look that we got to the apartment at the breakfast table, you can click on photos to make larger, notice someone is counting on the desk, maybe counting days:)

He sounds so happy and so grown up, I love his sense of humor he added to each photo-so Jordan,

so grateful his Spanish is coming and he has had a good week!

Miss you Jordan, it's great to see that big smile!

God bless and keep you ...Mom

Good morning my family

Tue 6/23/09 12:59 PM
Hola mi familia,
Today I got my haircut it was fun and different because the lady who did it used a straight razor for the back of my neck and my side burns, i have never seen a straight razor before so it was cool when she pulled it out and started to use it. I received that package yesterday and everything was in it so no worries, i also received the invitation to Austin's Graduation. And Elder Pages mom sent me a Dear Elder too.
We had Elder Grow and Sister Grow from the quorum of the seventy with us it was a lot of fun shaking hands with an apostle of the Lord.
i have received some dear elders from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Debbie
We didn't have a baptism last week because the sister we had ready for it we went to see her and do and interview with her and she didn't want to be baptized, she didn't believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet or that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God because its not in the Bible, it broke our hearts. Hopefully we can have three this week, Two on Saturday and one on Sunday. we made it a goal to baptize and confirm 15 of the Lords children this cambio.
My companion has 11 months on his misiona and is from Catamacko,
i wont be sending pictures this week because i left my camera at my district leaders house, so next week there will be photos i hope. it rains but doesn't get cold just really wet i am going to buy a umbrella today,
the next time you send a package can you send me some of that facial mask stuff that would sit on my face for half an our and then i pull it off and my face looked cleaner, and when are the little boys Birthdays because i am having a hard time remembering things in Inglish and also others things, that i want to know.
Jace, Justin, and Jax be good and help mom and dad in every way that you can okay, and when school starts develop good study habits now and then you will have that abilities to study your language when you serve your misions, and love each other okay, you don't know how much you will miss each other when you leave.
Love you all and read your scriptures and remember to pray. tell everyone hi for me and give them all a big hug, okay.
MOM and DAD i love you both and am grateful for the examples you have been to me, its okay that i was the experimental child, i think i turned out okay. :)
Love ya and hope that my room is coming along okay, ha ha jk
talk to you next week
Love you, Your oldest son, and oldest brother, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver

Note from Mom-I am leaving this in Jordan's form, his spelling, (I corrected a few), and his "Inglish" :) It makes me so happy that he is losing his English, that means the language is coming-yea! So many prayers are answered, it is amazing the way that we have all been blessed since Jordan has been out-we are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for these experiences, both in Veracruz and at Home!

Salto de Eyipantla

Today we went to Salto de Eyipantla, it's a waterfall which is really beautiful. I got some great pictures of it and of me in front of it.
Saturday I ripped the crotch of my pants and then yesterday morning I sewed them back together, I have gotten pretty good at sewing.
We have one baptism for this week and she is an older lady who is simply great. We went to go get her for church yesterday and she was already a couple of houses away from her house when we got there. She is ready for this big decision in her life and I am so glad that the Lord helped us find her, her name is Alicia.
I am really excited for Brady, Sterling and Kyle, I have to ask for their addresses now.
Jax, I miss sitting in sacrament too but, but this gives you the chance to listen in sacrament and not play games with me. Which bed do you like the best, the top or bottom, the bottom is bigger but the top is higher, how do you decide? Love ya monkey, take care of the family and be safe, love ya, Jordan
Justin, hey I am glad you got the cast off but then you get sun burnt? Need to be a little more careful buddy. My favorite part about the apartment is that it's easy to clean and keep clean. Yes I am having a good time, when it gets difficult I remember that I have been called here by a prophet of God and then move on. Love ya bud, and hit them hard in football. Love ya, Jordan
Jace, hey Jace, I am doing fine and the language is a little easier everyday. My companion tells me that I am doing a lot better in my teaching and that I shouldn't worry but continue to trust in the Lord. Your whole body is going to by hurting by the time "HellWeek" roles around, so get used to the pain and don't let it stop you from hurting the other players. Love ya, Jordan
Mom, I am glad you got that photo and my letter, it seems that the mail is really slow, six weeks to get a letter so if I repeat myself in things I am sorry. I love you and hope that the little boys are helping you like they should. A member here shows me my blog on Mondays, it looks good, love ya Mom, Your Stripling Warrior. Jordan
It might rain a little today at least that's what I figure when I hear thunder and see storm clouds. Yes they celebrate Father's Day, I am not exactly sure how but they do, of before I forget, HAPPY 21ST ANNIVERSARY! I think I have the days right. Can you tell me every ones birthdays so I can write them out. I love how I look right now, I have lost weight and am working out every morning, so I look fit and feel fit, we go running some mornings.
We had one experience yesterday where we found this lady who couldn't read and wasn't sure if she wanted to pray. These moments when others aren't sure about what we shared with them breaks my heart. Saturday we found one lady who runs a small store and she worked in Atlanta for six years so I spoke some English with her and she was really excited that I could understand her. We taught her and are going back tomorrow for a return appointment.
DAD, I love you and want you to know that you have been a great father in my life, there is not a better one in this world. Thank you with all my heart, your son, Jordan
Love you all, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver
p.s. Next Monday
We have a general authority coming next week so I might not get to email you, any questions ask Hermana Hansen because I don't know the full details, Love ya, Elder Weaver

Three of Jordan's life long friends got their calls, Brady Shock is going to Lima East Peru, Sterling Patterson is going to Seatlle Washington, and Kyle DeYoung is stateside, I can't remember where but will be speaking "mong"? Good luck guys!

Love you all, church is true,

sorry so blurry, it's a photo of a photo

It's great to get mail, especially when it has a Mexico stamp on it:) On June 12th we received this letter dated May 12th, it goes like this...
!Hola Familia! Estoy animado por mi mision. Yo recibera mi nueve companero. El nombre es Elder Gil, nosotros es en Tuxtlas, (nombre de zona) Presidente y Hermana Hansen are muy divertido. Anoche nosotros comia real Mexicana comida. Yo gusta flying es divertido, no saca photos de airplane porque you sleeping, I had spicy food and I liked it, It was so good. Horchata es muy bien. It's rice milk with sugar and cinnamon a great drink. Our mission hymn es "Brillan rayos de clemecia" pg. 208 Bright beams of Father's mercy pg 335 My first area is Lerdo de Tejada
Love you all church is true,
signed Elder Jordan Ross Weaver
with love

We also received a letter from his mission President and Sis. Hansen...
Dear Weaver Family,
We are delighted to report to you that your son, Elder Weaver, has arrived to begin his service in La Mision Mexico Veracruz. He looks great, is healthy, and is very excited to begin his service. We are thrilled to receive him and we will take good care of him. It was our privilege to serve him a meal after he arrived in Veracruz. After the meal and a personal interview with the president, we feel like we are beginning to know him quite well.
Elder Weaver is assigned to the area of the mission called Lerdo. His companion is Elder Gil. Please be assured that these assignments are not made randomly, but are a matter of serious pondering and prayer. Our experience with Elder Gil is that he is an exemplary missionary, one who is committed and dedicated, with an eye single to the work of the Lord.
You should begin to receive weekly email or other correspondence each Monday from Elder Weaver. If his communication becomes erratic, please email the mission office and we will remind him that this is very important. Of course, you will email or write to him weekly, as well. These letters are precious to the missionaries and serve as a source of motivation and peace to them. Emails are a wonderful means of communication, but the joy that a missionary feels when holding a handwritten letter from home is priceless. Don't underestimate the importance of handwritten communication.
We already love your son. We now consider him to be one of ours. We pray for him and are honored to serve with him in La Mision Mexico Veracruz. Thank you for sharing him with us for these two years. May the Lord bless you and keep you and your family.
Con carino,
Hansen's (each signed the letter)

How great it is to look back, and see the growth he has made in the last four weeks,
You are SPECTACULAR, Jordan, love you Mom and Dad

Hola mi Familia!!

Hi mom
I know that you are there in the office waiting for me, but I found out we aren't supposed to chat with our families on-line. Sorry, I always liked talking with you but it's against the rules...so this is going to be a long letter.
We didn't go paintballing today, we just stayed home and cleaned and wrote letters, I wrote you all a letter and sent some pictures with it too. You will have to let me know when you get it. Last time I left because my hour was up, I thought I sent you a letter saying I was leaving but you must not have gotten it. I also wrote a letter for Grandma Pat, and sent her a picture too.
This week has been a good week, my teaching is better and I am learning the language. The baptisms this week were good except I had to baptize one hermana twice because I didn't get her name right and I kept forgetting one word in the prayer, I had to say it 5 different times until I got it right. Yesterday we gave two blessings to a baby and a hermana with a bad headache. It was cool even though I didn't know what to say for the anointing of the oil in Spanish.
Friday we ate at one hermanas house and she was mad at me for not telling her that I don't eat the pork down here because it gives me diarrhea, so she made me eat baby food, cream of carrots to be exact, it wasn't half bad, and I got some pictures of it.
Last night we were offered some beer from a family who we had asked if they would like to hear a message, they said yes and we went up to the house and there was a box of beer, and two guys are holding bottles in their hands, and they point to the box and ask if we wanted any. We said no and asked if we could come back another time when they were sober, they said yes, but I doubt they knew what they were saying yes to. We got a good laugh from being offered beer.
You have to be careful of the dogs around here, some are good but then some, if they can will sneak up on you and get ya, luckily we watch all the dogs because if they know that you are watching them they won't come near ya.
Dad, I am really excited for ya, bein hecho on the "Crash Crits" How is work coming along, whats the word on Park City, how is Jacer working for ya, does he feel like you yell at him too, or does he know that you need to be heard above the noise, haha, love ya Dad
Jax, Hey buddy how are you doing? Great on getting Brian Johnson's autograph, I can't believe how big you must be, size 7 mens for shoes, my goodness you'll be bigger than me when I get back. Is it nice to be out of school and helping mom clean the house? HaHa Love ya, goofy.
Justin, Lucky, mom wouldn't let me keep my cast, but I didn't have a famous football player sign mine either, so I guess it's fair. I am excited that you will be able to do 7 on 7 with Bonneville, be safe and don't get hurt, show them how a Weaver plays football and make Mom and Dad proud. Love ya and HIT THEM HARD!!!!
Jace, How is it driving? Is it as much fun as you thought it would be, and how about work what does Dad have you do, probably all of the same stuff that I did except driving alone to get lunch or tools huh, bud. Prepare for high school and be careful around girls, show them all what you got and be the best that you can be, (the teachers and coaches, not the girls)love you and be smart.
Hi Mom, love you and hope that the little boys are behaving themselves for you, can you send me Landon's address and how is Jeff doing? How is Jericho? How are you doing on your bike rides, do you ride a lot with Dad? Well here is the weekly report, sorry we can't chat anymore. Love you and have you all in my prayers.
Talk to you next week,
Your oldest Stripling Warrior, Elder Jordan Ross Weaver


Mom's note-makes me sad that we cannot chat anymore, but grateful for the times we did! He sounds so grown up-giving advice to his brothers! Just a note-Ross was in "Cash Crits" not "Crash" :) Can't wait for his letter with pictures-yea!

Hola de Veracruz

We saw Elder Weaver in Lerdo on Wednesday and he looks even better than he did the last time I saw him. He is very tan and very happy. I wish you could see his big smile and beautiful blue eyes against that dark tan. Muy guapo, el! If he keeps up this pace he will be a lean machine by the end of his mission. The elders were teasing him that he looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger...I don't think he and Elder Gil ever stop except to eat lunch!
It was fun to deliver him some letters. I love it when the elders have letters from home that they can hold in their hands and read and reread. He was really cute, he took his letters and found a nice shady "private" spot in front of the church and just beamed as he read them. Thanks for your support and love. He is a GREAT missionary and obviously has been well prepared by a loving family. His language is coming rapidly. I am amazed at how well he is speaking and teaching. His companion speaks like a machine gun and moves about that fast as well, so everything is happening really quickly. They are teaching and baptizing lots. It is so fun to watch our nuevos turn into real missionaries so quickly! It is truly a a miracle!
Thanks again for sending him to us, we love him already!
Con amor,
Hna Hansen

What a blessing she is in our lives, to take the time is amazing to me! I can picture his tan face with his beaming white smile:) we teased him before he left that he would end up looking more like a native than some of the natives...he has always been muy guapo to me:) Thanks to all that are sending him letters and DearElders, he finally got them, yea! Thanks for all of the love, support and prayers-THE CHURCH IS TRUE! Love you all, Tam and Ross

"This week has been much better"

6-1-09
Hi my friend,
I hope your day is better than last week, and your baptisms were great! I wish I had some great wisdom to share with you about your first weeks in the mission field, but you know me, no wisdom here. Just remember you have only been out in the big world for 3 weeks and you only have 24 hours in a day, you can't do everything in that amount of time, all you can do is your best, as your earthly father I have seen you do that, and I'm so very proud of you! I can only imagine how proud your Father in Heaven is of YOU! Take time to enjoy being a greeny, smell the roses, look at the flowers for soon it will all be over, it goes fast. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all day every day, we are there with you, we feel you, just take a breath and you will feel us, and more importantly your Father in Heaven.
If you read this email before you send us ours, just send a quick note telling us you are online, then write your letter to us that might give us time to get on with you and we can talk back and forth some more. I love you, your a great man, just enjoy being new,
Your biggest fan and Dad
be super!
Are you there?
I'm on line
Anybody there
Hi Jordan, I'm here, how was your day/week? (I sent him an email catching him up on the latest at home and asked him some other questions, it is just way long and I am not going to include it here:))
This week has been much better, we have five baptisms lined up for this week and today as a zone we went to Nanciyaga, next week if President Hansen approves of it we will be going paintballing. I don't know what kind of cable I need for the camera but I will wait for the card reader to see if that works. I see the other Elders twice a week, sometimes three times if we need the district leader to conduct baptism interviews.
We live close to the church building, and this is the address "Meichor ocampo esguina 16 de Septiembre tiene un techo color verde".
It doesn't rain much, it's mostly sunny, I have big blisters, there is a lot of fruit that members or even investigators give us,
I want to cry when I see how some of these people live, then I think about how they don't know of any better way then what they have.
I don't print these emails, but I am going to start to
One tiny favor, I will tell you when I am online, but please don't send me three emails asking me if I'm here yet.
I am really excited for Landon, tell him I love him and that he needs to send me a letter
I have not received any mail yet but that's okay, there is not much time in a regular day to read.
This week we are baptising a family of three, a mom, her daughter, and son. These people are a reference from the branch president's daughter and they are Golden. We found out yesterday that the husband who is working in Guatemala wants to join the church too, we are really excited,
Any Questions?
Are you taking lots of pictures, how is your stomach liking all of the different foods, what's your favorite/least favorite so far?
Dad was just on the phone from Mt. Green and says hello and he loves you, be spectacular!
Your clothes, everything wearing okay, besides the shoes and blisters
How close are you to shopping?
I am taking as many pictures as I can, and all my stuff if fine, I still have a while before I need to buy anything.
My stomach is doing fine with the food, my favorite so far was an omelet, my least favorite the pork tacos because they gave me diarrhea.
The name of my branch is Lerdo, or Lerdo de Tejada
We found out last week that Jeff had to come home because of an injury to his knee, he is getting medical help from here and hopefully will go back out to Mexico, if not there, state side, we will keep you up to date as we get more information...
You have $200.00 on you card, so if you need it use it okay
How is your farmers tan-we talk all the time about how you must look like a native already?
Have you needed a haircut since in Veracruz? We just did them here and missed not doing yours:)
How about showers are you in a shower, a barrel, someones hose?
I know silly questions but I'm Mom:)
I look the same in my opinion except I have a mexy mustache, we have a shower head, but simply fill up a ten gallon bucket and wash off with that. I hope Jeff will be okay and I am keeping him in my prayers. I haven't had to use my card yet and I still have 42 dollars in American money that I haven't traded yet.
Are there lots of women who make things to sell on the streets or are you in a more rural area? The eggs for your omelet are they fresh? Do they let you grow the mustache or you just can't keep on top of it?

It's been a bit longer, are you still there? Are you emailing from a members home or from an internet cafe? We miss and love you and being able to chat like this makes it feel like you are not so far away! When you get a minute read D&C 84:77-91, Love you tons, Mom and Dad
I'll keep chatting if you are still there!

Hi Jordan, it's still Monday June 1rst and a 1/2 hour from your last reply, I haven't gotten another reply, hope all is good and we look forward to hearing from you next week-love you so much-Mom

90 minutes after his last response came this, so relieved, all the things that run through a Mom's mind....
I have to get going Mom, love you, we only stay at the church from ten to one, and yes our baptisms attend. We could probably fit the whole branch in the Relief Society room back home.Love you and will talk to you next week, Your oldest Stripling Warrior. Elder Weaver

Congratulations Landon Weaver-he is going to serve in Buenos Aries, Argentina he leaves on September 23, 2009-we are so excited for you!