He Got HIs Package!

Hey guys!

So this week was a little strange. I did get my package though and everything was in it. My camera, mp3, speaker, 4 bags of hot cheetos, 2 bags of jerky, 1 bag of jerky sticks, 2 things of pixie stix, goldfish, zone bars, smarties, fruit roll ups, my ring and necklace, and the three boxes of candy. 

Thank you so much it made me so happy! I am trying to make them all last! 

As for my week...Elder Vernaza got sick Monday night and stayed sick until Saturday morning. He kept going out though! Except for Thursday and Friday. I got to study a lot. I love that John Bytheway track it is very cool. It is really fun studying your scriptures in depth as a missionary! You can always think about the situations that you could use the scriptures you have! 

As for my letters from grandma I haven't seen a single one! I will have to ask the office about that and see if there is something special we need to do. 

My baptismal date got moved up to Saturday the 24th of June. She went to see family this Sunday and didn't attend church so we cant baptize her until then. 

Not much happened this week because Elder Vernaza was sick but it was still a good week.

Now, about transfers. Elder Vernaza got transferred to an area called Popoyan. I stayed in Prado where I have been. My new companion is Elder Vallenas from Peru! He speaks Spanish like a gringo because he has had a lot of gringo companions. A big trial has come into my life with this cambio. Wannna hear it?

So he arrived in Palmira and I took us to the house and then I said I needed to cut my hair so we got ready and left. While the dude was cutting my hair he was talking about a lot of church stuff and his opinion on things and I was staying with him pretty well. Elder Vallenas didn't say a whole lot but i figured it was fine. He told me earlier he has like 1 year and 2 months in the mission. After the haircut we were talking and he told me that he still doesn't understand everything people say!!!! I was like are you kidding me!! We are like two deacons short of a quorum here. I know that this is God saying I am about to have to learn how to step up my game.

He is very nice and a little quiet but I can fix that! He plays the guitar beautifully! It was hard to say goodbye to Elder Vernaza but it is part of the mission. 

I hope everyone is healthy and strong and being good. There is not a temple in my mission. I now know what it feels like to enter the temple and I don't know why anyone would decide not to go there regularly. Please try and make it a goal to go at least once a month or more!! I just know it will bless you guys! I love you all so much! Stay strong!

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

No Package Yet!

Hey guys!

This week was good. Not a whole lot happened but it was still good. Every week is what you make it!

As for my package...no. I should get it this week on Thursday possibly Wednesday! 

I haven't ran into a lot of mosquitoes while I have been awake but they sure visit me at night dirty turds. It is rainy season here so they aren't as lively I don't think. 

As for investigators. In South America you almost always have investigators. I have another baptism the 17th of June. She is amazing. Her Book of Mormon is marked better than most members. I have another investigtor who has taken the discussions for 3 years and his baptism is very close. He finally started reading the Book of Mormon which is the reason for his dramatic change. We have some others but they aren't keeping all of their commitments.

I have heard a lot of different things about the new mission president and when he gets here so I don't really know when he gets here for sure. 

As for Grandmas letters...I have yet to receive a single one. So you might want to check with her on what address she is using and things like that.

 

As for new friends, yes mom, I always make friends with whoever I can! All the Elders are my friends and all my investigators as well. (I asked him if he was making any new friends)

Bishop Black emailed me so I can email him back through that! 

There is a series called The District where camera crews followed around missionaries. I have to watch it as part of my training. One of the sister missionaries on there had 2 months in her mission when her brother died. She said something that caught my attention that I really like. She said that there comes a point in everyone's life where they have to have God because they have nothing else. In our lives at some point, we will be in a place that only one person can go with us. That is God. Always remember that. 

Other than that it was a basic week. We have transfers next Sunday. I think Elder Vernaza will leave and I will get a new companion. I don't think I will go but you never know. If I don't email on Monday it is because I got transferred and I have a 14 hour bus ride somewhere. 

Anyways I love you all and stay faithful!

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

Teaching the Gospel

Hey Guys,

I didn't get my package and I probably won't get it until the following week! You only receive packages during interviews, transfers, and when the zone leaders go to Cali every beginning of the month. So they go to Cali next Wednesday which means that is when I will probably get it. 

As for this week it was good. We had some pretty cool experiences. That family that we figured out wasn't married, we taught them the law of chastity. It was good. Last night they told us that they are probably going to get married. They have lived together for 17 years and they are going to get married because we taught them that it was right. That makes me pretty happy. 

H F V has been taking the lessons for more than three years and comes to church every Sunday and prays and has lessons with us but he wouldn't read his Book of Mormon. We decided that all our lessons we were just going to read the Book of Mormon with him. Well we read the introduction that says all the things you should do to know it is true. Then the testimony of the three and 8 witnesses and part of Joseph Smiths testimony. He really livened up during that lesson.

 

Later that week we had a FHE with some members and some investigators. The video we wanted to show wouldn't work so we showed one on the Book of Mormon. He said the closing prayer and he couldn't finish the prayer because he was overcome with the Spirit.

A few days later we had a lesson with him. I was talking to his daughter, a member of 3 years, and she told me that he started reading his Book of Mormon. During that lesson he said that his baptism is very close. So tomorrow we are going to ask him to be baptized on the 10th of June. 

I also had to give a talk in church yesterday. It was on missionary work. Not for missionaries for members. The 12 apostles said that the role of full time missionaries is to simply help the warm members with the missionary work. As members we can do so much. Always remember that. 

Anyways, other than that it was a pretty normal week. I hope all is going well and tell Katelyn congratulations for me!

I am doing good and staying obedient! Love you guys! Until next week!

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

First Baptism

Hey guys

This week was awesome! We had my first baptism which was awesome!! 

AGL was baptized on Saturday. Her ex-husband was supposed to do it but he got sick the morning before so he couldn't. We didn't learn this until lunch the day of the baptism. I was talking to her on the phone and I told her she could choose any member with the authority or any of us two. She asked if we had the authority and I said yes and then she said okay then I choose you Elder Reese!! WOOHOO!! I felt so good. 

The baptism was at six and I had to go get clothes and what not. We called her at 6 because she wasn't there and she said she was coming. We had a lot of people there and we just showed the restoration video because she didn't show up until almost 7!! Anyways we had all the hymns and the talks and then we got into the water which was freezing! I was so worried it was gonna be cold for her. 

I told her to come in and she did. I forgot to say her name so I started over. In Spanish this is what I said AGL habiendo sido comisianado por Jesuacristo yo te bautizo en el nombre del Padre, y del hijo, y del Espiritu Santo amen. I dunked her and when she came up out of the water her gown was pretty much transparent and she didn't wear what we told her to underneath. So that was interesting.

Anyways she bought a cake for Elder Vernaza because she didn't know if he would transfer or not and his birthday is the 26th of May. He didn't transfer by the way and neither did I. It was so sweet. 

He confirmed her a member of the church yesterday and gave a powerful blessing. 

Also, yesterday we taught this lady named L and she asked for a blessing for her back. We had just taught her about the word of wisdom and she had a little bit of problem with coffee but said she would do it. During the blessing the spirit told me in a way that she needed to know if she followed the word of wisdom that her back would be healed. As soon as I felt that Elder Vernaza said it in the blessing. It was very powerful. 

As for my package I didn't get it. I should have but I didn't and I don't know why. I will have to call the office. I am bummed because I really wanted it!

Other than that I don't really have anything to report. I love you guys and I pray for you everyday! We will have more baptisms here soon! Stay true!

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

Blessings of the Priesthood

Hey Guys!

Thank you so much for the Skype call, it was awesome. I enjoyed seeing everyone and having some laughs! I have a lot of them here as well though. Me and Elder Vernaza are always laughing and making jokes. 

I hope you guys enjoyed my call. I didn't really know what to say. It is weird because I don't think you guys knew either so I just started talking. Elder Vernaza said dad has a cool beard and that he looks a little scary. I just laughed and said he really isn't and that a lot of people that don't know him say that. 

Elder Vernaza is a good boy mom and an amazing missionary (I told Hunter I thought his companion looked like a good boy). And yes there really was an accident yesterday (It was very loud where Hunter was calling from and we heard a crash and apparently there was really a crash), but nobody was seriously hurt so it is all good. Yes it was a real building with walls and yes it is usually pretty hectic. As for the baptism she gets to choose and she has time to choose. It isn't important to me because as long as she gets in the water and is fully immersed she will be clean regardless of the missionary who dunks her. She was a reference from the zone leaders. I can print stuff off here yes.  (Hunter and his companion are going to baptize an investigator and I asked him who was going to baptize her)

Anyways, I wasn't super homesick after the Skype call I was relieved. I just wanted to go work and as soon as we hit end and payed we were off to an appointment. We found out last night that the boyfriend of the sister of one of the members here was hit and killed by a car yesterday. That was hard because she just shut everyone out.

Anyways, I love you all and I am keeping my guitar so I can learn hymns mom (He found someone who makes guitars and got one). I am doing great I don't think that me or my companion will transfer this time. I hope you all stay strong. 

Before I go, I have an experience I want to share. We have this family called the R family. D is 16 and she has been having stomach problems the last two weeks. Finally we told her that we had that authority we had been talking about called the Priesthood and with that we have the privilege to give blessings to help those who are sick or afflicted. She said immediatly that she wanted a blessing. Her whole family was there and I sealed the oil first and then Elder Vernaza gave the blessing. When he started the blessing, the spirit started to manifest itself. As he continued I couldn't hold my hands still and I almost couldn't stand. He ended the blessing and she stood up with this strange look on her face. She said thank you. She said she feels better and knows that she won't have problems with it anymore. The important thing about this story is that it wasn't the words Elder Vernaza said. It was the fact that we have the power and authority and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As members of this church solely through our actions the Holy Ghost will do amazing things.

I will pray for Todd. That is a good reason to go to the temple by the way! 

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

Mother's Day Call

Hey guys!

Sounds like you had a fun weekend! My week was pretty good and normal. 

The missionary work is going good. Me and Elder Vernaza are always ready to work. This week there a was a moment he didn't want to go talk to this guy because he was a little rough looking but I told him everything would be alright. The man was very nice and invited us in. God watches out for his missionaries! 

Yes dad we get the Liahona! In Spanish. So...I don't read it much yet.

As to Mothers day. I get to Skype on Sunday! Elder Vernaza is going first and I have to sit by him and babysit him and then he has to do the same for me. He will go at 4 our time and I will allow him to go until 5 30 but he might end early so be ready at 5 15 please. That way we can talk as long as possible.

No Mom, I have not had a transfer. Transfers are every 6 weeks and this is the start of week 5. We had our interviews with President and Hermana Pricoli for transfers though. They both said I speak Spanish like I have been out for a year. I think they say that to everyone though. 

No, members can't feed us. It is dangerous to eat a lot of stuff unless it is properly prepared. And I am having the time of my life in my own way. It is very rewarding.

During fast and testimony meeting a little girl named Vanessa who is the daughter of one of our investigators shared her testimony. She said that the missionaries came to her house this week and shared a scripture with her family. She said that it really meant a lot to her because she just wants her mom to be baptized so she can be with her forever. She is 10 years old. I will never forget the feeling I had at the moment. 

After that, I bore my testimony. I said that I know the church is true because even though my house and my ward is on the other side of the world I feel the same spirit, I partake of the same sacrament, and the priesthood is just as powerful. I know that is true and I love you all.

I will see you Sunday!! Email me your Skype name this week so I know what to call! Love you!

Con Amor,

Elder Reese

A Man With a Knife and an Earthquake

Hello Family and Friends

To answer your questions, I am about an hour from the Mission home, transfers are every 6 weeks and this one ends on the 21st of May, I think me and Elder Vernaza will be together for at least one more transfer, oh and I GET TO SKYPE ON THE 14TH OF MAY!! ON SUNDAY!, So don't forget. We have a lot of investigators very close to being ready! We have to wait on a couple of them because they have some problems that require an interview. Yes I am eating good mom I had Dominos twice this week, hahahaha. 

Anyways, this week was full of adventures! The first was on Wednesday while me and Elder Vernaza were getting 7 ups in a Panaderia and we were talking with the lady behind the counter and she gasped really loud and we turned around and these guys were yelling at each other and one of them was chasing the other. One dude had a knife and the other guy made a run for it and he lunged and barely missed him! So he cut his losses and stole the dudes bike and left. This was in the middle of the day by the way. It was all very slow. So mom don't worry, I can speed walk faster than that.

On Friday night I had a cool experience!! In the middle of the night I woke up to a very loud crash and the room kinda felt funny. I asked Elder Vernaza what was up but he was out cold. IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!! Do you know how cool that is?? I was so pumped! Still don't know what the noise was but all our neighbors are still alive so all is well. 

And yes dad I bought some stuff and I will probably need more just to buy somethings I need so put just some more money in there please. 

My Spanish is getting better, but I have a hard time understanding people. I can speak but not understand. This is a little problematic, but I will figure it out. 

This week was good and I am excited to see who we can get in the water soon! We have a family that really likes to hear me speak English even though they don't understand it. I don't know why but it is what it is. 

Thank you for doing all that I asked! I love you guys and I will see you soon! I will let you know next week what time to expect the Skype call! Stay true! 

Con Amor,

Elder Reese