I Have Enough Women In My Family...

Hey guys,

So I miss snow. It is crazy for me to think that basically nobody here has ever even touched snow. Ever. Snow is useful for a lot of things. It makes driving a car a lot more fun. It is like God putting life on expert mode. It also creates a softer landing while doing whatever activity. 

Here they are listening to Christmas music but it is not very different from the music they listen to all year round. It just mentions Jesus a lot more. I miss my Christmas music. 

So my Bishop got ahead of the game and scheduled all of the FHEs this month and we will start with the first one tonight at his house. The Church has honestly given us a great way to use Light the World and it will just require a little work!! I am so excited. 

I have not gotten my package yet but I am not worried about it. It will get here when it gets here and I won't open it until Christmas. Might have my comp look through it and fish out my hair gel though haha

So this week we had a mission wide conference which has not happened since April of 2017 when I had literally less than a week in the mission field. When President asked those who were there to raise their hands there were only 10 of us. It was a sad moment. I am basically like old news now. 

It was really cool though. President gave a very strong testimony about temples. He worked in the Salt Lake temple for years and he said that he has had experiences that can only be experienced in the temple. But he was so firm about it. It was awesome. 

I also realized that basically all of the sisters don't like me because I avoid them like a plague. I have none in my zone and I just don't really see the need to talk to them. There are a lot of missionaries that are a little tooo friendly with the sisters. That is weird. So basically all they see is me having to boss everyone around because President asks me to. I have enough women in my family to worry about why add on more problems? 

BSU usually chokes when it comes down to it. It is sad? Hey when is the superbowl? I hope I make it. With my luck it will be the Sunday before I come home. 

I asked Presidents permission to do bumper cars with my zone and he said yes so today we did. It was so much fun. We looked like little children and screamed and laughed it was awesome. I will try and attach a homemade go pro video and a pic! 

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great start to their Christmas season! I love you all and wish you the best! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

It is Like Eating At Home

Hey guys,

I did not go black friday shopping if anyone was wondering. 

On Wednesday my pensionista told me she wanted to cook me turkey for thanksgiving but that she didn't know how. So I told her I would help her if she got the turkey. 

She got it and on Thursday morning we went over and I helped her clean it and prepare it. 

It took a while but we had some good turkey and everyone loves gravy! I put a little too much flour in it though but it was still good! 

So I had a thanksgiving lunch with part of my colombian family which is the best I can get for now! 

We have a lot to do right now because there is going to be a FHE every day in December and we have to let all of the families know because no one else has time apparently. I don't even know half of the people on the list. 

Also, with that happening our ward councils have turned into like 1 and half hour nonsense. Which includes all of the ward leaders suggesting food options for events that they know I don't like and then look at me and then have a 10 minute discussion about how strange of a human being I am. It is like eating at home. 

So the plan was to baptize Alfredo this Saturday BUUUUT we are going to have a stake conference and he can't be confirmed so that means it won't happen which also means he won't be able to participate in the temple dedication which makes me wanna punch someone. But I won't. 

Do temple dedications take the place of sacrament meeting in the states? Because on Sunday the 9th there will only be the temple dedication nothing else.

Anyways, I am doing great I hope that everyone had a great thanksgiving and that they enjoy the Christmas music! #iluminaelmundo

COn amor,

Elder Reese 

I Only Have Two Transfers Left...

Hey guys,

So today we had transfers and as all of you know my companion was finishing his mission which pretty much assured my spot here in Floresta for another transfer. And I was right! 

I am now with Elder Saavedra who is also from Peru and the weird thing is that I was at the airport when he got to the mission and everything. So I have known him since day 1. Also, just a side note, like a year and 2 weeks ago I started my time in the offices. Isn't that crazy? 

They have sent 2 more new missionaries to my zone and that means we have 5 areas that are training out of 7. That is a big ratio. 

I said goodbye to Elder Flores this morning in the office and also Elder Sarnowski who is finishing as well. That one was a lot harder. We were in the offices for 7 months together and before that we were in Palmira and Pasto together for 6 months so we have spent over a year of our missions in the same zone. Or house. 

Then I went and picked up my new companion who is a zone leader with me this time which will be fantastic! 

I am a little bummed because the odds of me training just shot way down because I only have two transfers left and usually President wants people to train for all 12 weeks. I will be happy to finish here though if it comes to that. 

Thanksgiving was good! The gravy turned out really good! I was very surprised. I just kinda winged it like I do with most things in life and it came out great!! The Latinos loved it. It doesn't exist here. 

There is a temple dedication in Barranquilla in December. I really want Alfredo and Yamileth to get baptized before then so that they can go to the chapel and watch the broadcast because only baptized members with a recommend can go. I am also super excited for that.

I showed up in the system for my itinerary to be bought but I told Elder Whiting he could wait until after transfers to request the flights. But it should be here in like 2 weeks. Tops. So no worries. 

OH! I don't know if you are doing this in our ward but part of light the world this year is having a Family Home Evening every day in the ward in a different members house from December 2nd until December 22nd. Who are the only people allowed to attend all of the FHE's? That's right. The missionaries. We planned it all in ward council and we are ready to light it up. 

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and a safe Black Friday! Love you all! 

Elder Reese 

He Just Kinda Is There Like a Traffic Cone in the Road

Hey guys,

It is my companions last pday and he is SOOOO ready to go home. In church he takes his suit jacket off after sacrament and then when we contact he just kinda is there like a traffic cone on the road. 

Just a tip to any missionaries or future missionaries or priesthood holders: The first sign of laziness in the gospel is not buttoning up your top button of your whiteshirt. Literally every missionary I know that struggles in the mission doesn't do that. It seems so little and it is but I promise that it makes a difference. 

This week was kind of rough. Not because of my companion haha. I love him and he is a good guy. The biggest upset was Alfredo not being able to be baptized because he is getting thrown out of his house this Wednesday. If he can't find a place he is thinking about going back to Venezuela which would break my heart. 

I just know that he needs to stay here. I know God could make it happen. I know that for a fact. I just know that he can't take away Alfredos agency. I hope that a good offer comes up so that he will stay. 

On the other side, Yamileths husband had a huge change of heart and we went to go get them married and they had problems with some papers so we will have to go back this week again. So that will result in a baptism! 

We went to a desembarco this week in a different area which was kind of weird. Usually you go out with the ward and contact new people but this time we contacted 3 members and then it was over. So I just contacted close to the church until everyone else came back but the member ditched us. 

We should be having a thanksgiving dinner this week as a zone with President Trochez which should be fantastic. They asked me if they could play christmas music and I said heck no that is a sin. I explained to them that no one can listen to Christmas music until after thanksgiving. 

Also, President Trochez was given an american visa this week because he will be in Utah in March so I will definitely be lookin for him!! 

Anyways, thanks for everything! Have a good week! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

This Week a Bird Pooped on My Shoe

Hey guys, 

This week a bird pooped on my shoe. Which is half a blessing because a step behind the shoe was my head so i guess I should be grateful. 

This week Alfredo came to church all by himself again and he FASTED!! He also paid his fast offering all by himself. He should be getting baptized this Saturday so we will see what happens. It should be great because we will have his brother baptize him. 

I had 2 baptismal interviews as well which is what happens when you are going to be baptized. The only thing was that the lady I interviewed was a lot crazy. She sees spirits every other second. During the interview she would look at the door and just start to cry because the burnt spirits were there and they scare her. I am not saying it isn't possible. For some the veil is thinner that it is for others but I think a lot of it was loose screws. Nevertheless I passed her because she has a testimony and knows the commandments she needs to keep. 

Also, she is almost 70 and her husband is like 59 and they had just gotten married that day. So when I asked her about the law of chastity she explained it to me and I just wanted to give her and example so I said ¨For example you and your husband couldnt keep the law of chastity before today because you werent married correct?¨ 

To which she responded ¨Actually we have been keeping it because my husband has been a little sick.¨ 

That is the grosest thing she could have ever said to me. 

I got some really good news this week about Yamileth. I dont know if you remember but she has been an investigator for years and has never been able to get marrried and finally her boyfriend has had a big change and they are talking about getting it done this week and that would result in a baptism the following Saturday. Not for me but for A LOT of missionaries. 

I did not just have transfers though. Transfers are the 18th of November. We still have 2 weeks left. 

I am glad that BSU is still holding on to that BYU title. Sucks that Middleton lost to Hillcrest though. Out of all of the schools it had to be HIllcrest. 

Something that has really caught my attention this time around reading the Book of Mormon is that not only were Laman and Lemuel total dweebs but throughout the entire story the Lamanites use the actions of Laman and Lemuel as an excuse to be dumb. They use that example and believe it to be correct. The crazy thing? WE DO THE SAME THING. Maybe not what our parents do but maybe we see someone else that claims to be righteous do something wrong and look for the right in it. When good people make bad decisions it doesnt make it a good decision and we sometimes look at it that way. 

Anyways, if I try for more wisdom it wont come out so smoothly haha. Love you guys! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

We Helped Cut Talons off 2000 Chickens Feet

Hey guys! 

I met Alfredo through his brother who is a member from Venezuela. He is a really good guy! He has had a pretty wordly past but he has slowly gotten over those things. This Sunday he came to church all by himself without his brother and that was a big step. 

My camera is currently locked up in the chapel but I will try and send pictures really quick tonight because this week we helped Alfredo cut the talons off of like 2000 chicken feet. Why? Because they eat those here and put them in soup. He was really grateful for the help though. 

Good news from today is that we had a visit from Elder Falabella who is our President of our area and also we had Brother and Sister Homes and Durant who are part of the young men and Sunday School presidensy. 

Brother Homes had this awesome class about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how simple it really is if we just focus on what we need to. He told us that the fuel to keep living the Gospel (Faith, Repentence, Baptism, The Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End.) Is the Word. 

Which means any way that we are able to recieve the word of God. 1. The scriptures 2. Through Prayer 3. Through the spoken work (Going to church). 

He said that if you can find a rythym in life with those things then the Gospel will be a lot easier to live. 

Brother Durant talked about how simple it really needs to be to share the Gospel with others. That there are a lot of things we do only because it is routine. He showed us some ideas and techniches about how to contact. 

We also had an activity this week in the chapel because we loaned our chapel to the goverment for an activity they wanted to do and so we decided to contact all the people we could. 

It was a very cool experience. The only problem was that it was an all day thing and most of the missionaries got tired. A lot of them were a little scared to stop people from leaving to invite them to come participate. So I just started grabbing random missionaries and forced them to contact with me. 

In the end of the day all went well and we got a lot of references for all of Cali. 

The highlight of this week was receiving these pictures of two of my conerts in Prado, my first area. 

They went to the temple to get endowed this week and it was probably one of the most fullfilling moments in my entire mission. 

Anyways, thanks for everything! I love you guys! 

Con amor, 

Elder Reese 

PS If you havent sent my package I would love some more gel!!! My good gel. If you could send 2 that would be great

I Am Super Proud of Grandma Reese!

Hey guys,

Sounds like everyone had a good week. I hope Summer sticks with Volleyball. She could do great. 

I am super proud of Grandma Reese r and I knew that my prayers got all the way over there even though I am here. She once told me my prayers counted as double (Oh Grandma) haha

Out of all of the memories I have from home the ones that I cherish the most are memories from Copper Basin or from other family activities. I am super pumped! 

Ricky (One of Hunter's best friends) will be a great Dad even though he will have some growing up to do in the process. I am super happy for him! Ashlyn is a great girl as well so no worries there.

I cant believe Tyson is getting married. That is so strange. It has been 11 months. I have no plans on beating him on that one. 

The travel arrangers on Salt Lake won't let you know until 3 months before I come home so you should get it (I have been watching for Hunter's flight information when he comes home) in about 6 weeks.

As for me this week, every area in my zone has a baptismal date! WOOHOOO! Including us! For November 10th. His name is Alfredo and he is one of my best friends. I have really enjoyed teaching him. I have seen his desires slowly grow as we have taught him. He is from Venezuela and a super good guy. 

We also had a speacial broadcast with President Nelson and Elder Stevenson. It was super good! He said that 3/4 of the convert baptisms a year come from the Americas. He said that we should be so grateful for the call to serve in this part if the world. 

Today 2 of my missionaries got taken out of my zone and it was sad. Now Elder Hodges is a district leader and that means we will be able to do splits which will be epic. 

Anyways, the recording I made is not working so that will be for next week! Love you guys! 

Elder Reese