It Doesn't Feel Like a Waste of Time

Hey guys,

This week was pretty busy! 

We have this event coming up that is called a capilla abierta or an open chapel in English. It will be held in our chapel and we are in charge of making sure all the missionaries are ready and prepared and we have to set up the chapel as well. 

President Trochez is in charge of everything else but since nobody really helps him he asks us. 

Also, we had to start looking for a new house for a companionship in my zone because their house is a disaster. It is literally one room and a bathroom. 

This week we spent a lot of time running errands and there is a member that always takes us  his name is Hector and he is hilarious. He bought us ice cream at this really good ice cream place and when we get tired in the car he starts dancing and it is really funny because he is a BIG dude. 

I honestly don't have much to report for this week. My zone got me a little fired up this week when we were doing a practice run for the capilla abierta and they weren't even close  to where they needed to be when Pres Trochez came in. They were just talking and not paying attention so I gave a good raise my voice without yelling type of thing. They listened though. 

I am practicing lots of hymns on the guitar because I think it is fun to play hymns and it doesn't feel like a waste of time. 

Looks like Ricky got married so that is good! He got tied down! I wanna go whitewater rafting eventually when I get home. It was a lot of fun when we went that one day with the Webers right after Travis got home from his mission. 

I apologize for this short email but  it has to happen! I love you all! 

Elder reese 

My Shower Is Cold

Hey guys,

Yea I guess I come home in less than 6 months now and it is kind of sad. They say home is where the heart is and mine seems to be split in two. It will be just like leaving home all over again when I head to my other home. 

I am working on getting my birthday package. The government has it in customs so I am about to take em down. 

Sounds like Dad is enjoying the "Retired" life. I always liked fishing but only when it was easy. I was never one to wait for an hour without a nibble. The best part was just being there though. 

It sounds like everyone had fun at Silverwood! I can't even remember the last time I went there. I remember when Aaron used to work their but that is about it. Wait! We went there when we were there for state. But it was Halloween.

I hope they (our plans to add on to our house) get approved! Are the plans you have now the same ones you sent a little earlier? 

Elder Kelley  (I connected with Elder Kelley's mom) is indeed in my zone and we get along great. He is a really good musician and 2 weeks ago we sang Hallelujah together. The Kelley's are pretty much the best. 

I am sure Dad is having tons of fun. Fishing in the great lakes is a pretty cool experience. 

9 o'clock church is pretty good (our ward just switched buildings and meeting time to 9:00). My ward right now starts at 8 and that is like pushing it but we have 2 showers in our house so it is a lot easier. My shower is cold (hehehe) though but I enjoy it.

I have not seen Elizabeth (my aunt) in a really long time but I sure do miss her! I love her house. That is a very well located house. 

Our investigators are doing well. If we work really hard we should have 4 investigators with baptismal dates. I will keep you updated on that! 

This week we had splits with 2 district leaders. I was with Elder Guerrero from Chile and Elder Choque from Peru. They are both great missionaries and I was happy to work with them for a day each. Elder Choque has a pretty thick Peruvian accent so sometimes I didn't understand what he said but I was not the only one so I didn't feel so bad. With both of them we were able to find new investigators and teach some good progressing ones as well. 

With Elder Guerrero I went to his area which is like the most dangerous part of Cali. On the local radio station they have an hourly death count of just that part of Cali. When I was there at 5pm it was up to 14 that day. It is a great part of town. (YIKES!)

We taught this 35 year old lady that could not stop looking at me. I would be teaching and looking away and she would stare at me and then compliment my eyes. We would ask her questions and she wanted to sound smart so she would just say whatever came to her mind but she had no idea what she was talking about. She mentioned "Moses and the ark" more than once. I was so ready to leave. 

Anyways, it was a good week. I hope everyone had a good week! I love you all! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

It's All About Delegating

Hey guys,

I sent some pictures from the zone conference and leadership training! 

I am imagining that you have arrived to northern Idaho by now. I hope you guys have fun! 

Conducting meetings is not that bad (I had to conduct Relief Society and lead the discussion on Sunday; I was a one man show). It is all about delegating. You say hi and thanks for coming and then say we will sing this and this person will pray and we will have a lesson. Boom. Don't fret. 

Where did you go out to eat (we went to dinner for my birthday)? I have forgotten what exists there! I forgot that Gretchen and Kevin live in Caldwell now oops. 

I had to go to a walking therapist when I was little but that is because I can't feel my feet! (My grandson is going to speech therapy) He will be talking in no time! He does look a little bit like me. That is what I thought when he was a baby. By the way the pics you attached are of Jaxon and Maddi. Which I am totally fine with hahaha

I am glad Courtney and Lance got to go to Arcadia! 

Duke is a dumb genius.(I'm not sure which instance Hunter is referring to; there has been so many this summer)

As a zone leader we have less time to do normal things than other missionaries. The best part is that it is nothing compared to being in the office! 

I am trying really hard to get to know the missionaries in my zone. There are about  3 that aren't making it very easy. My companion enjoys being the bad cop which is fine with me. I am more than happy to correct people but there is a constructive way and a not so constructive way. 

One of the districts is doing great. We have just put down some new goals and they are killing it! 

Sounds like you could have used me in that conference call Dad! When I get home and you have another one you can pay me by the hour to help hahaha 

I have had a lot of comps from Peru. They are pretty great people. 

As for our investigators we will be having some baptisms pretty soon. An investigator that has been waiting to be baptized 2 years will finally be getting married. Then baptized. That should be next week. 

We had a new investigator just show up to church and she seems really interested. We will have to see how it goes. 

A Venezuelan family is so ready as well but they need to get married first! She just had a baby and he is adorable. We are working hard with them. 

I am trying to find lots of new investigators but there are some obstacles but I will overcome them! 

I love you guys a ton! Be safe! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

Organizing Your Life

Hey guys,

I have been wondering if Connor was in the mission or not! (This is a friend Hunter had in high school) I am glad he has plans! I am actually pretty used to hot weather believe it or not because here it is either hot or raining. 

I heard from Natalee (Hunter's sister). I sent the boys (Hunter's nephews) a quick email last week and she said everything is going great. The boys are starting up their sports so we will see how that goes. 

I am sad you guys couldnt go to the reuinion. I hope that they had fun anyways! 

We watched a talk on Sunday from Elder Godoy about how you are supposed to organize your life as a member of the church. 

First, is your family. Always. Keeping a good relationship in your family is the most important thing we need to do. Always finding time for them. 

Second your job. It is important that you provide for your family and yourself and keep your relationship with your job at a strong level. 

Third, your calling. Isnt that a little strange? President Hinkley said that it is third important thing. If you think about it, how are you going to be able to uphold your calling if your family and your job are crashing down around you? You just cant do it. 

Fourth, yourself. You need to find time for yourself as well. Excercise and scripture study etc. 

These are all things that we have to figure out how to balance. So dont let your job replace your family or your calling replace your job. Find a balance. 

Elijah was a very cocky prophet. I say that in the sense that he taunted people with the power of God because he had so much faith. He was so sure that God would back him up that he never doubted it. He trash talked the priests in that story until they started dancing around the altar cutting themselves and then he killed them later. What a guy. 

I have not gotten my package yet. We asked the place here in Cali if they had it and they said that the people that send us the notice that is here in Cali is a different company where the package always goes when it first enters the country. Do you have the tracking number? I might call them or something to figure it out. 

My ankle is totally fine now. I will try and get you pictures of it next week because it was very ugly. Cool story huh? 

I am excited to see the plans for the house! If you a copy you should scan it to me! 

I remember going to Aunt Elizabeths house. It is beautiful there. I wish I could go! I am glad Ty is finally graduating. I hope you guys have fun at Silverwood! 

We have interviews tomorrow and then on Thursday we have zone conference and we have to do a presentation to our zone. Today me and my companion planned a zone activity and we had lots of fun. We had pancakes at President Trochez house. (He is basically a missionary) His wife died 4 years ago and he was stake president, bishop, mission counselor, etc and he always goes on splits with us. 

Then we played games at the chapel. 

I got to do splits with Elder Carrion this week as well which was fun because he was my old companion and we have some good memories together. He goes home at the end of this transfer.  

President Trochez went with us and it was great. Elder Carrion didnt say much but he said enough. President Trochez told me that he liked the way I taught because he could feel the spirit. That made me really happy. He is my favorite person ever. 

Me and my companion get along great. We make fun of eachother in a different way everytime we contact someone and keep going until they let us in. 

Anyways, Grandma told me in her letter to give her and Grandpa a shoutout in my email. So Hi Grandma and Grandpa! I have a lot of letters for you! I will try to send them home with an Elder that is going home this transfer who is from Meridian! I miss you guys a bunch and love you so much! Hope you missed me at the property this week! Be safe and know you are always in my prayers! 

I love you all! Be safe! 

Con amor, 

Elder Reese 

Just So You Know Mom...

Hey guys,

Well here I am! In the field!!! WOOHOOO!! 

Elder Saboya and me are in Villa Colombia which is here in Cali. Elder Saboya is from Lima and he is 25. He is a convert of about 6 years. The only member in his family and an awesome guy! 

Just so you know Mom if you don't recieve an email that means nobody did. I always write you guys first. 

I wish I could have been there to help with Grandmas house. (We are finishing a laundry room for Hunter's Grandma) I miss doing some work like that from time to time. 

The last time I went to Silverwood was when we went there for state my junior year and it was the halloween themed Silverwood. I hope you guys have fun! (We are headed there in a couple weeks with Brittany and Ty)

I will be happy to come home to a half finished house or the same house however you have it. It might be better to come home while it is being worked on so Dad doesnt have to do everything (in terms of heavy lifting) by himself because then he gets grumpy. 

This email will be short but there is a reason that I have kept a secret for 2 weeks. when I hurt my ankle I hurt it pretty bad and they gave me a cast and they just took it off today and everything is better and I am back to normal. Problem solved! The appointment was later in the day so we got back late but I have a recording! 

The recording will explain the rest! I love you guys! 

Con amor,

Elder Reese 

Hunter's New Area

Hunter didn't have time to send an email this week, but he sent a recording that he didn't get sent last week.  Bill was able to chat with him this week; he is in his first area in Palmira and he likes his companion, Elder Leon, who is from Peru.  They were able to make 40 contacts in 4 days and he was excited about that.  He hasn't gotten his birthday box yet, but he thinks he will get it this week.  He is feeling better but he rolled his ankle today "winning" at soccer.  It is so swelled up that his shoe is tight, but he is okay with that; he won and that's all that matters!  That is all the information he gave us.  His recording will be uploaded as soon as I can remember how to do it.

Thanks for all your support and prayers for Hunter!  He should be home in February!  Not like I'm counting or anything, though.

I Will Be Writing on Mondays Now

Hey so spread the word that I will be writing on Monday instead of Saturday! President sent me out into the field for a week because there are some problems with some missionaries and he needs someone out there to just put them to work! Woohoo!!!!

I will be talking to you guys on Monday! Love you!