Hola!

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...

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...

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

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!

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

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?

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!