Took Hannah Back to the MTC!

Well, it happened!  We got the long-awaited phone call from our Stake President Tuesday night, and he calmly informed us that Hannah was cleared to go back to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah.  After all her doctor appointments, it's been determined that she's well enough from her sickness (she had mononucleosis...ugh!) for her to go back out on her mission.  They needed her either Wednesday or Thursday.  Since Wednesday was the very next day, we said, "How about Thursday?"  From that minute on, it was a go!  

We had gone through this process already.  Last September 17, 2014, we tearfully and proudly deposited our daughter on the doorstep of the MTC as she began her mission preparation for the Bakersfield California Mission.  What we didn't know was that, even at that time, she was sick...very sick.  That very week that we dropped her off, she became extremely ill with swollen lymph nodes all throughout her neck, throat, and stomach areas, giving her a fearful sore throat, awful nausea, plus she became feverish and lost 11 pounds in four days.  By the time she came home, she was only consuming water.  It was pretty awful for her.  But, like I said, she had been showing all the signs of mono before she left, we just had no idea at all.  That's what you get for burning the candle at both ends.  

How can you prepare for something out of the blue like that?  Well, what happened was that we got a call on the following Tuesday and were informed how sick she was and that it was best she recovered at home since this illness has a year / year-and-a-half recovery time, and that it would be difficult to know when she'd be well enough to go back out serving a full-time mission.  Up at 6:30 a.m. and running until 10 p.m.  She just couldn't do it.  We're not even sure she can do it now.  But six months later, and hopefully enough recovery time, we're putting our trust in the Lord with much faith and, having experienced many a miracle in our lives, we know that if its the Lord's will, it'll happen. Add to that a healthy dose of prayers, and we truly hope that she's able to accomplish this goal she's had since it was announced that young women could serve earlier at age 19.  

So, lucky us, we got to go through the entire process of getting Hannah ready to go on her mission again--more lists, more harried errands (but we were happy!) and then on to reorganizing, recounting, and repacking...  Much fun, as you can imagine...  We are extremely proud of Hannah and her decision to serve the Lord by spreading His gospel message upon this earth, readying all within her reach for that special day of reckoning.  Hope we get it right...right?  

There were tears, much hugging, and urging to write from both ends.  So those of you out there who might like to support and encourage our little one--who's not so little anymore--please feel free to write to her and send pictures and loving support from time to time.  We would appreciate it very much, and I know she will too.  

Here's some photos from our day together.  Yes, we left early this morning and drove all day there and back again.  One day!  At least last time, we spread it out in two days.  We just didn't have that kind of time this time, and so decided to just go for it.  What a day!

Here's to you and your loved ones,

Devin, Ellise & family

P.S.  We love you, Hannah! <3

 

The Light at the Tunnel's End

This has been the hardest trial I personally have had to endure.  But Heavenly Father has taught me a lot about the gospel through all of this.  In fact, I would write down what I learned but some things cannot be written because they are so special to me.  One of the things I have learned though is that Heavenly Father never abandons us.  When we are at our most vulnerable, He guides and uplifts us and lets us know that He is there for us if we let Him in.  He loves us so infinitely; beyond any comparison or description.  I have grown closer to everyone I love.

I feel so grateful that He allowed me to stay home long enough to see four of my best friends off on their missions, although it has made me all the more anxious to get out there to serve with them.
I have been able to see a friend of mine join the church and for her to experience the infinite love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our sweet Heavenly Father... there are no words to fully express my gratitude to the Lord for this blessing in her life.

It's been great to have these adventures in the time that I've been home, but now I am headed out March 1st to return to my mission and to finish it.  I am so excited.  I don't think anyone really comprehends how excited I am; I don't even comprehend how thrilled I am.  This is something that I've wanted to do for ages.  I finally get to go out into the world and help make a difference in someone's life.  All I've wanted to be is a representative of Jesus Christ and to bring His love into someone's life.  They need Him as much as I do and I will do anything to help them come close to Him and feel His love.

I am Sister Hannah Weaver.  I am a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I have been called to serve.  And I am answering that call once more.

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

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!!!