Sometimes He Lets It Rain

Hey everyone!
I'm halfway through my mono (hopefully) and this has been a crazy month and a half.  Ever since I stepped off of that plane and into my mother's open arms, I've been an emotional wreck.  This has been one of the hardest trials I have ever faced.  For a long time, I asked myself, "Why me??  I was ready to go!!"  It was so hard for me to be so excited to go and so excited to finally get my life going.  I was so excited to serve the people of Bakersfield, CA, and more importantly to serve my Beloved Heavenly Father.  I was so frustrated that I was "one of those people" that came home wayyyyyyy too early.  Am I planning on going back out?? ABSOLUTELY! I have watched so many of my friends and peers leave to serve their missions.  I've been so jealous because I was supposed to be out in the mission field by now!!! I would've been out for almost two months!  Why did the Lord want me to come home of all things???

Well.... today I received my answer.  But first, let me tell you a little bit of background.  So when I got off of the plane I was so sick.  My temperature was very high (It was about 100 degrees fahrenheit), my tonsils were so big that I looked like I had just had my wisdom teeth removed, and I was so weak and tired.  I promise I'm not over emphasizing.  It was horrible.  I couldn't hardly swallow water, let alone any kind of food.  The lymph nodes in my stomach were so swollen that you could feel them and they made me nauseous every time I would eat anything.  Let me tell you, it's been one of the worst experiences ever.  With all that said, I was near tears when I saw my mother again.  I had talked to her on the phone the day before to tell her I was coming home and it was definitely one of the most bittersweet phone calls I've ever had to make.  I was so disappointed in myself for having to come home.  I missed the mission field and I missed my companion, Sister Jacobs.  Well to make a long story short, I've been released from my mission until I get better.  So I'm hopefully headed back out to the mission field at the end of this month or the first of December.

While I've been home, I've had to learn patience.  I've had the chance to talk a lot with my sweet mother and her experience with her trials.  I've been able to accept and love the small things in life that I had previously taken for granted.  I've been able to learn how to crochet (and I'm currently working on a King size blanket) and it's so fun!!  I've been able to think about my purpose as a missionary a lot and I've had the chance to talk and encourage my friends who have just recently gone out on missions.  I've had the chance to help my sweetheart get ready for his mission (and we'll be leaving around the same time this time.... YAY!!!).  I've had opportunities to edit books and to improve my own study skills.  I've had so many opportunities to learn and to grow.  I haven't enjoyed it very much, but I've certainly enjoyed the extra time at home with my sweet family <3

So my purpose in writing this... well... I've discovered my purpose why I came home.  The Lord hasn't given me an answer of why I'm home and I think that was His purpose.  I've had to contemplate and ponder whether or not I should really go back on my mission.  I've had so many moments of self-doubt.  It hasn't been fun.  But the reason I'm home is because the Lord is testing me to see if I'm really committed to His work.  And I am.  I want to be a servant to the Lord for 18 months.  I'm willing to make that sacrifice.  I want this.

A song that I heard today really helped me grasp my purpose... it helped me to realize that the Lord has been mindful of me and that he is not punishing me for anything... he's really helping me to grow.

Some of the lyrics say:
"Sometimes He lets it rain,
He lets the fierce winds blow.
Sometimes it takes a storm to lead a heart where it can grow."

Listen to it for yourselves.  Trials of faith come to those whom the Lord trusts.  I know we all can grow from hard trials.  God has built us to do hard things.  We are His children.  He hasn't sent us here to fail.  Do your best and ask your Heavenly Father for help.  I promise His help will come.  You can do this <3

Love,
Sister Weaver

Sometimes He Lets it Rain video

Sad Day...

Sad day.  Hannah is coming home (which is not really a sad thing), but the reason why is.  She has Mono.  Ugh.  Poor thing.  She had to have been exposed to the virus in the last 7 to 4 weeks and incubated all this time until she (at the MTC) broke out in fever, swollen glands, and horribly huge tonsils, along with nausea, and just generally feeling awful.

We are on our way to pick her up at the airport right now.  Hopefully we can get her healthy and strong and on her way again, back to the MTC.

Welcome home, Hannah!

Love,
Mom <3

Hannah's first email to us! :)

I forgot to post Hannah's first email since I have the flu and am not thinking straight...so here it is.

Hahahahaha! Dad it's so weird to see you as a missionary!!! So today is not my P-Day but President Meyers said to send a quick email home to tell you that I was alive ;) So here I am! I'm alive! I miss you all, but this has been an incredible journey.  I love my companion and we get along great! Her name is Sister Jacobs and she looks a little like Marissa Bagley so that's a tender mercy! It's amazing!!!  I don't have much time so I'm gonna say I love you so much and that you guys take care!!! I'm learning lots! Love you!!!

XOXOXO,

Sister Weaver

P.S. my teacher is British.

P.S.S My district leader and his comp are slightly annoying ;)

LOVE YA

First Day without Hannah... :(

Calli, Connor, and Hannah

September 18, 2014~

Our first day without Hannah.  Both a sad and a happy day.  How can that be? you ask.  Simple.  I know whose hands I’ve given her over to.  The Lord’s hands.  He has a special place in His heart for His missionaries. 

Well, I’ll be writing on this, Hannah’s Blog, from now on.  She’s on her mission and isn’t allowed to use technology other than that for mission purposes…so, with that said…  Oh!  But--I will be posting Hannah's letters here as well, for those of you who would like to read them and see pictures.  You can also choose to 'follow' this blog, which means, you'll be notified when it is updated.  On one of the sidebars, there should be that option to 'follow' her.  ;)

We’re so proud of Hannah’s desire to serve the Lord by going on a mission.  We know what this sacrifice means.  Right off the top of the list, it means that Hannah has willingly given up 18 months of her life to serve the Lord full time.  She now has a completely new routine: getting up by 6:30 a.m. to shower, eat, and get ready for her day.  Then she will dedicate an hour to her personal study of the scriptures and prayer.  Then she will dedicate another hour to studying with her missionary companion (since they are always in twos for their own protection), and pray some more as they put their day’s agenda together.  This requires faith in the Lord that they will know His will on where to go and who to meet.  The Lord already knows who He wants them to meet for that day, and if they are in tune with His spirit, they will find those whom He has already prepared. 

This is beautiful, I think.  Beautiful that our Father in heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ, know their children so well and know who has been prepared to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for a daughter who has prepared herself to receive divine inspiration on the part of His children.  As much as I miss her already, Hannah has willingly sacrificed these next 18 months in order to bring the gospel message to God’s children who might want to know His will for them.  For you see, there are certain things that we must do if we want to live with our Father again.  Heaven has many levels; levels for all His children to be happy and complete.  But not all those levels will be where our Heavenly Father dwells.  I, personally, want to be with my family in the highest degree of heaven where we can have eternal life and the full measure of God’s blessings to his children.  He wishes to give us everything He has, and honestly, my goal is to be with Him someday.  Nowhere else would I be as happy and productive as I want to be than there. 

I believe Heaven is a very busy place preparing for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  A very busy place, might I reemphasize.  I want to be a part of the beautiful thing that is rolling forth, that stone cut without hands, rolling forth to consume the earth—that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And I’m grateful to have a daughter that I can support in her endeavors to help bring this to pass during this hastening of God’s work here on earth.  I might not be able to do a lot of things, but I am happy to raise my family unto the Lord.  They are good kids. 

The time is nearing, folks.  Our Savior truly will reign here upon this earth soon.  There will be one kingdom only upon this earth.  How will that happen?  By all nations bowing to Him.  There are difficult times ahead, but through following God’s prophet on the earth today, we can be prepared and be a help to the people of this earth.  Things are happening all around us that have been prophesied in the scriptures.  We are in the last hour.  My daughter is part of the hastening of God’s work upon the earth in these last days.  I’m grateful for her sacrifice.  I miss her terribly already, but I know she’s in good hands.  I know she has a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that she will be okay.  I’m grateful for her sweet spirit and testimony.  She’ll be fine.  I know she will.  She has much left to do upon this earth. 

So, Hannah, God speed and God be with you til we meet again!

Love,

Mom

'This is the Place' Monument

Salt Lake Temple

Chuck-a-Rama is one of Hannah's favorite places to eat (all the kids, really...) and they gave her a free lunch because she was a missionary.  Cool! :)

It was very bright and very hot in front of the Provo, Utah Temple.

Enjoying the last of our family time before we have to say good-bye...

Saying good-bye was difficult for all of us...

...especially for the kids.  This was heartbreaking, but sweet.  I'm glad they love each other.

If you don't know what the face of sacrifice looks like, here it is...
I'm missing her already.
But Hannah's doing a very good thing.  We're very proud of her sacrifice.

See you in 18 months!!!

He Answered Me Directly

I have only one week left until I leave for my mission, and I have been constantly worrying about what might happen here at home.  My mission call specifically asks for me to leave all of my personal affairs at home and lean on my Savior to help me through my mission.  I have been trying to figure out a way to allow myself to let go all of my personal affairs... my home, my family, my friends, my sweetheart.... But tonight as I prayed for strength and I prayed for help I received a direct answer from my beloved Heavenly Father.  I randomly turned to  Doctrine & Covenants 84:119, and it says, "For I, The Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will come and reign with my people."

This immediate response from my Father in Heaven penetrated my soul.  He gave me peace.  He gave me hope.  He taught me how to trust in Him.  He gave me all that I needed in one little verse of scripture.  He told me to be patient by telling me that I can't see it now, but I will.  Heavenly Father told me that I will see it... and then I will be there to testify of Him.  I testify of his goodness and his perfect timing.  I testify of His love and His devotion.  I testify of His power.  I testify that He knows each and every one of us.  I know that our beloved Father in Heaven knows how to take care of us.  We are His children.  He knows us.  He knows how we recognize Him.  And tonight, I believe He wrapped His arms around me and told me that He is going to take care of everything that I cannot.  I love Him.  He has prepared me for my tasks and my duties.

He has prepared me..... And I am ready now.  I am ready to stand as one of His daughters.  I am ready to serve.

Bakersfield, HERE I COME!

Hey everyone!!!

So I know I'm not on a mission yet, but this blog looked slightly bare... SO I decided I'd post a little "pre-mission" jitters here while I'm waiting.

To start off, I HAVE 22 DAYS UNTIL I LEAVE!!! Crazy right??? Oh so crazy! I'm starting to feel the pressure of everything. I'm starting to wonder how many things I'm going to forget at home.  I have most of my mission shopping done (which is good) but now it's trying to figure out what I'm missing that's the issue.  So today I've decided I'm going to try and reapply to school so I can defer and have my college figured out so I don't stress about it while I'm on my grand adventure.  So that's frustrating me, but college always frustrated me.

I am soo soooo sooooooo excited to be able to go serve the people of the California Bakersfield Mission and I'm very grateful for this opportunity to do so!  Thank you to each and every one of you that have helped me progress this far in my life. I love you all!

Love, 

Sister Weaver