There Was A Donkey That Looked Like Bugs Bunny

Hey guys, 

So this week was pretty great. Mom is gonna be mad because we had the Christmas conference and I didn't take a single picture. I didn't take my camera out of my bag. Others took pics though! 

Regarding what I want to do when I get home - I would be happy to help you finish the upstairs and also just kind of see my options. I don't want to do that for too long but I have no plans to get home running to college because I can't, haha. I would actually appreciate it if you guys could reach out to some old soccer friends for me and see if there will be any indoor teams I can join.

I am totally fine with the white Hyundai. It has a hitch on it which makes it more useful to me. And it is AWD. 

We have 3 investigators who will be getting baptized before the end of the month. They are doing great. Also at the moment we are contacting 20 people or more during the day everyday right now as a goal and I really like it because it opens up a lot of options. Obviously not everyone will make it to the end but some will. 

The Christmas conference was good because we got to watch Coco!! The Disney movie. It was a great movie! I realize that you guys have all seen it and moved on but I dont get to watch movies like you do so it was special! 

We did a Jeopardy separated by zone and there were 5 zones in total. Who`s zone won? Thats right MINE! I was so happy about that! My zone is like a little family. We were the only zone that sat together at lunch and I didn't even tell everyone to. I sat down at a table and everyone sat down there and we just had a great lunch. I love em all. 

This week we also had a Christmas dinner in our ward and Elder Saavedra and I helped the ward out a lot and it is pretty cool. I have really connected with the members in this ward and I hope president leaves me here for my last transfer. The bishop and his family are really good at giving the example which is great. 

In the ward Christmas dinner we watched the primary do the nativity and there was a donkey that looked like bugs bunny and a lamb that looked like a cloud it was pretty funny haha but it was good. The best part though was when they opened the curtains and a full on mariachi was on stage! Then they offered their hats for pictures and I stood up pretty quick because everyone else was embarrassed. The only problem is that after my brave act of going first I put the hat on the wrong way 3 times so I still ended up looking kinda dumb, hahaha.

Also, I didnt get my package. What is the tracking number? 

Anyways, that is all for this week! Love you! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

PS Mom did you get pictures this Sunday sent to your Facebook? From Omaira Millan?

 

Me Rambling English Words Under My Breath

Hey guys, 

So this week was great!! The FHE's started and my ward is doing great! My Bishop is really good at what he does. 

You know you can tell someone is called of God if you just pay attention. He is a convert of about 16 years. He did not serve a mission but that has not slowed him down. One of the most interesting things I have seen in the mission is what the Gospel requires. It is not time, it is dedication. You can be a baptized member from 8 to 100 and that will not get you a spot with God. You have to ACT. And God always chooses his servants that have the ability to act. 

I met an English teacher this week in a FHE and he did NOT speak English. It was SOOO uncomfortable because he kept talking to me in English and I couldn't understand him so I didn't know how to respond him but the son of the member family was his student so I didn't want them to know he didn't speak very good English. The result? Me mumbling random English words under my breath that would require the gift of tongues to translate. It was fun. 

We had interviews as well and they went well. President thanked me for all the work I had done with my companion (who is a great missionary) and with the zone. He said all the new missionaries said that I was always good to them. It was an interview like all the rest. At the end he said that he was just going to pretend like this wasn't one of the last ones haha. 

This week was also Candle Day here in Colombia which I will try and send pictures of (No pictures yet). It is a strange holiday, but oh well.

Probably the coolest part of my week was the temple dedication in Barranquilla here in Colombia. Elder Oaks did the dedication but there are always talks before. One thing that Elder Oaks said while they were putting mortar on the corner stone was when he invited 2 kids from the crowd to participate saying ¨This temple will be here for this rising generation to use it up until the coming of the Lord.¨ I am going to let you translate that how you see fit but I know what I think.

Anyways, thank you for everything! I love you all! Have a great week and let me know about the Skype call! 

Con amor, 

Elder Reese 

PS I haven't gotten my package yet!

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