Elder Reeder - The District Rocks!!

			April 7, 2012

Hello Family!

This week has been excellent. We had a really good district meeting. President talked about in the capacitation of how we need to be friends with people in the street as we find people to teach. So i was thinking of a way i could measure BEING FRIENDS, and create some sort of commitment. In the end i came to the conclusion that we can show photos of ourselves and families in every contacts. We have been doing it and it is working! Yeah! hahaha the photo thing has stopped having a big effect but the district is following what president said and it is helping us a lot. Revelation is awesome.

I did not get all of my letters written last week... I will repent! I will do them today. I notice lately that there are a lot of things that i should do, that would make my life a lot easier, but i am too lasy to do them. Example, i was sitting at my desk after getting done planning thinking about cutting out photos and gettin them ready to send to the lady in punta arenas. Well i ended making myself and eating it... hahaha! Haha but i have noticed this, and now i am fixing it. I remembered that Faith without works is dead, so i should just do it and i will get even more blessings. And my life is easier.

The book i am reading, well i finished already, is believing christ. I read it really fast. After i finished it, and studied for a bit, i figured out my question. Mercy is like the attitude and dispostion of god. Grace is the power we access through mercy, the power that cleans us etc. All thanks to the atonement. Is this right? That is why in moroni 10 it talks about grace, because grace, the cleansing power of the atonement, is what cleans us. The same power helps us during our lives also. Pretty cool.

Good news about Chris. Say hi for me. I like the schedule! I am finishing doctrine and covenants soon. Pretty cool. I dont think i will study the old testament... i want to... but i dont think it will help me much in the mission. I am just reading the chapter headings so i know where things are when people start making things up... hahaha!

I love you all! Thanks for everything. Thanks dad for the notes, i am going to print it and read it now.

Love,
Elder Reeder

Elder Reeder Learning New Things

March 31, 2012

Hello Family!

Today is conference and we have to be there in 30min! So i will be quick!

Before i forget anything. Good news about the scriptures, i will buy them, but i need to decide if i want a spanish case, spanish scriptures are a different size, or an english case. Also, if i choose english, do i pick the quad or separated? I know dad has them separated, there is probably a good reason why... but as of i know i am thinking the quad. Hope i dont mess up!

My toothbrush is breaking/broken. The core of the bottom part is slowly coming out. It is unhinged or something? Anyways when it is on it vibrates and collides against the other inside parts of the brush and makes a really loud noise, thus all the vibrations go to the handle instead of the part that brushes my teeth.... So what should i do? Is there some sort of warranty? Or do i need a new one.... I feel really bad this is happening now... i feel like a lot of little problems have happened lately. So that would be good to know.

This week has been great! Last week we taught 8 lessons with member, the whole week. This week we had 9 by wednesday. So we repented, and blessings came really quickly. Pretty sweet. I feel good. I am learning to trust in my companion more, or people in general. To expect the best of their intentions. To think positive and that their intentions are good, because i a lot of times i dont. I have been catching myself lately. For example, the other day i was talking to the zone leaders, and they told me that the teenagers that leave with us want to to teach more, not just give their testimony. So we should let them.... Well how i responded, was that we had already tried to get them to do so and they didnt want to. Justifying myself. But what i failed to see, was that they just want to help us, and to help us be successful. So i sort of took it the wrong way. When i was in puerto montt, i expected the best of people, especially my leaders. Now i am doing that again, i feel a lot happier. I am trying to have more charity and expect the best of others.

I am learning that everyone is different. Everyone gets a fresh opportunity to have my trust, clean slate. I cant determine what one person will do based off of another. I am learning this... It is still really hard, because sometimes i throw my trust out there and they totally destroy it. Or sometimes i am defensive, justly, but to others, they feel like the bad guy when i act like that. So i guess that could sum up what i am learning!!

I need to write, Elina, Scott, James, Mauricio, Pablo and Vanessa, Brian, Casey, and the scripture case lady. Hold me to it! A lot of times we do things as a zone on pdays, and in the end there is no time. I could make time, but PEER PRESSURE to do other thingshahaha!!! Haha no, i will get it done today. The package came! yeah! this week we have put 4 people with fecha! YEAH!!!

Ps. Dad i am reading... let us believe christ, or something like that is the book. could you explain to me what is the difference between grace and mercy??? this book makes getting to the celestial kingdom seem easy. but it frustruates me because i dont really understand grace, justification by the law, justification by faith, and that category.... but mostly the what is grace, how it is interpreted, especially with moroni 10 34, 35 36 etc... That topic in general. Thanks!!!

Love,

Elder Reeder

Elder Reeder - Fastest week ever...

March 24, 2012

Hello Family!

This week has been great! I am learning a lot! Always learning! These past few pdays i have worn my jacket during the day, but it always ends up getting hot and i die of heat. But today i decided to wear a tshirt and flip flops. Well turns out that it was really cold today..... So i am learning.... Haha!

This week has been a little tough. I feel like everyone in the sector is becoming a lot less receptive, and my companion is becoming less responsible. A good thing, because we both thought, oh, he will get it done, but in the end it doesnt get done. I recognized this, so im getting it done. I talked to him about it, he agrees. SO NOW WE ARE BOTH GOING TO WORK CRAZY HARD AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!!!! YEAH!!!! 

The highlight of the week is that a family of 4 is going to church this week! They are awesome!. We plan to pass by today and put them with fecha before they go, so they go with the right vision. Baptism. I am continually learning how to be more loving. The other day i was talking to a lady who got baptized who turned adventist. For 5min i tried to be nice and promise lots of blessings etc... but she just wasnt understanding.... so i was really clear. I asked, if you live the mosaic law, then why dont you stone people who dont go to church? or sacrificies? and a whole bunch of other stuff. She got offended and angry, and no result. She also told me i should be nicer. I thought i was really nice and loving, but she got really angry at me. So i am always learning how i can be nicer and more loving, even when i feel i am doing so. Blessings>destroying people and their religions. I know this, but it is hard to not just spit it all out in their face. GOSPEL!!!! Hahaha....

I am learning a lot about leadership. Yesterday we had a leaders meeting. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! A lot of questions i had were cleared up about meetings and what i can do. So now i am going to be way more creative and go crazy with the meetings. For Example. Worst case scenario: You are in the forest, and are teaching a guy with no legs. How are you going to get him to church??? A member with his car. Gets them thinking, leads to..... WORKING WITH MEMBERS! Hahah silly things like that, the office elders are like batteries and they need recharge hahaha!!! They need to think. Be responsable. Solve their problems. Get thigns down. I am going to make commitments we can measure that will develop whatever it is they need. Awesome. I cant explain it all. New skills.

I love you all! Thank you scott and ashley for writing! Elina, i am finishing your letter and sending it today! LOVE YOU ALL!!!! 

Quesion... can i buy leather scripture cases? i am going to stay with manual for now.... future reference: for my birthday i think a laptop would be really nice for school. internet=knowledge=the WORLD!!! and i can get all my assignments done on campus really easily.... or lasik. i dont know.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Elder Reeder

Elder Reeder - New Companion!

March 10, 2012

Hello Family!

So the results of the cambios! Elder Mercado ending up leaving to Frutillar, and my new companion is ELDER JUAREZ! YEAH!! He is an Elder that was in my zone in punta arenas, and he is a machine (igual que yo), and we are working awesome together. It is really nice. We plan fast, we teach fast, we teach effectively... everything good! He thinks a lot like i do already because he has a year of experience and is super capo. Awesome. We are going to rock. It is really nice because in comp studies he shares everything he got out of it, not everything he studied. It is a big relief. But i cant relax, that usually happens when both are working hard, one slacks off.

So i am really excited about that. Cool experience, there is less active member, she has 2 kids who arent baptized and a husband. We can never get him to come down and share with us! So, brought a video "only a stonecutter". We got to the house and he got there the same time as us (coincidence?) and we asked if he wanted to share. He said no, no, and no. Then he asked if he could help us set up the dvd and stuff so we could watch the video. Haha while he was setting it up we told him, "este video se trata de un hombre que nunca se rinde a pesar de los desafíos en su vida". Sorry, that just sounds better in spanish. We told him this video is about a man who never gives in/gives up/gets beat down regardless of his challenges in life. He liked how it sounded so he decided to watch it. He got absorbed, after the movie we HAD HIM!!! HAHAAH!!! And we taught him and he really liked it. It was awesome. The whole time i was thinking "oh my goodness, this man is listening, i cant screw this up". It was really good. We have a return appointment with them.

There is another Elder here from logan, i forgot his name. But he is here. Pretty cool. i met him in the bus terminal. I saw a lot of elders because i had to hang out with the zone leaders until 5pm waiting for my comp. It was sweet.

That is really cool about matthew, i am not sure if i understood what he is doing, but it sounds really cool and helpful! Thats sweet! You will have to explain more, or tell him to explain it to me, sounds awesome!

DO NOT SHARE

I am not too stressed about mckenna anymore... it is kind of hard to accept it. it seems really surreal, but i just need to move on. i notice that i always fall in love with girls, and when i fall deeply in love. like with... an example... shawn johnson the gymnast, or... i cant think of anything else. VISTE i have already forgetten! i just need a replacement, but it is hard to imagine, but i shouldnt worry about that anyway... sooooooo yes.

oh hey could you find out why addy is coming home early? that boy needs faith! I want more details. That is really interesting.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Elder Reeder

Elder Reeder - !DA MISION IZ DA BEZST!

March 17, 2012

¡¿Como estai flia loca po?!

This week has been GRRREEEAAATT!!! We have 3 new people with baptismal
fechas and 7 commited to church. My companion (Elder Juarez) and I are
getting along great. We have a new   district that is ready to learn
and everything is awesome!

So i was talking to an investigator the other day. He is the a
supervisor at his business and he tells us how it is, it is really
cool. Leadership in work is just like leadership in the mission! Also
the principles in PMG gospel apply for EVERYTHING in life. So i am
very happy i know the secret to life, that is PMG. Read it. I invite
you.

The other day we had to drop a jehovahs witness. Well he dropped us.
He said basically he doesnt want us to come back. I asked "can we do a
prayer to continue coversing?" we did it, and we showed him how jesus
christ is jehovah and his bible is missing a lot of verses etc....
Anyways, he knows very clearly what it means if the BOM is true. It
was cool.

Nothing eventful is happening. The sector is great, the district is
improving, an elder who was having problems is being revived. It is
awesome. He is obedient, he is more excited. I dont know what is
companion is doing but i am really excited. That is really eventful I
am very happy.

I was cleaning my electric razor, and the blades fell down the drain.
we tried to find them but we couldnt..... i am sorry. i dont know what
else i can do. As of now, i will just use normal ones.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! I INVITE YOU ALL TO READ THE Book Of Mormon!!! IT IS
TRUE, if not then everything we believe is a lie. So it is very
important you strengthen that testimony every day. But it is true.

ELDER REEDER

Elder Reeder - Surprise!

March 3, 2012

Hello Family!

Things have been going great! My companion and I are destroying everything together with the members. I am reading Priesthood in Action, The Everlasting Life Vol.1, and The Great Apostasy in my free time. Also finishing jesus the christ. Things are going the great. The district is great. There is one elder who is having problems, we are having exchanges every week to keep an eye on him. We (the assistents and Zls and I) dont know how to help him. So i am learning a lot talking to him and encouraging him to work etc... I wont say anymore because i dont know if i can hahaha but that is what is happening.

My companion is becoming a great teacher now. Hahah the other day we were teaching Hermano Añasco and we read so many scriptures with him and resolved all of his doubts in really short time. On monday we challenged 4 people and 4 accepted to be baptized. 2 are jehovahs witness. The BOM is the key to everything and it destroys all the false doctrine/ideas. It is awesome. We can put of people with baptismal dates, the hard part is getting them to look, get an answer, and go to church. But we are doing our part helping people to understand.

Cambios are wednesday, so i will let you all know what happens. My companion Elder Mercado lives next to machu pichu, he is going to major in tourism when he gets home. He is really cool. He doesnt always accept everything i say but i just let him learn and figure it out on his own, and something happens and he hits himself the face for not listening.... I just need to be patient. It is fun hahaha. I just laugh and dont worry about it. There is a happy balance between not using their ideas becuase they wont work, and doing them so they learn. If you do them all you will destroy the sector hahahaha!!!!! But things are great. Good Pday. We just need to get a baptism. Hno Rafael is awesome, he is going to his church this week to tell his pastor its false and he is sick of it and not going anymore. We tried to tell him it doesnt matter so he comes to our church, but he has to get married so he has a month or 2 anyways to attend.

The Book of Mormon is true. 1 John 5:10-11. If you already believe it is true, but you are looking for an "answer", stop looking, because you already have one. If you believe it is true it is because the holy ghost has already told you. Just like no man can say jesus is the christ but by the holy ghost. The answer comes like turning on a light, or the rising sun. When it comes slow, you wont notice, you will just know. I know it is true. I had to read it twice. It doesnt matter how many times you have to read it, because if is, and it is, then a lot is in balance!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Thanks Elina for writing, i will write back and try writing everyone else!

Elder Reeder

Elder Reeder - Faith=Miracles

Feb 25, 2012 Hello Family!! This week has been AMAZING!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! We have five people committed to church. My companion and I have a lot of unity and we are working hard!!!!! I am learning a lot as a district leader. It is incredible the things you learn helping missionaries and other people. Answers to all the questions they dont ask etc... I really enjoy learning. The Holy Ghost is amazing. Cool experience. The other day we were teaching an investiator named Rafael. This man is amazing! He is evangelical but he knows a lot. He is smart, he understands everything, yet he looks like a crazy old man. He is great! He already knew about the apostasy, he was telling us in the lesson that he knows all the church are false and are of men no mas. He told us that a pastor went up to him and asked him to be the pastor for a few churches. You know what he said? I dont have power or authority of god to do that. So no. HAHAHAHA!!! This is before we got there. So amazing!! He already has a BOM and he has been reading it and praying and asking god. In every lesson we kneel down with him and ask. We invited him to go to church and he said no because he has to go to his, but then i told him if he doesnt go he wont get an answer from god, because he wont be showing faith and doing his part. He eyes got really big and looked at his wife and said, thats is why we havent gotten our answer, we are going to church and we are going to get that answer we have been looking for. We asked if what it would mean if it was true and he told us that he would be baptized, he would get eternal life and he would be the happiest person in the world. In that lesson i felt so happy. It was amazing. I have only had 2 or 3 other experiences that were better than that in the mission. So awesome. Wow that is crazy how many people are leaving. Blake, Sy, Corbin etc... It really surprises me they are old enough! I wont see them for a while oh my goodness. I am going to look for an umbrella today, and maybe some chilean jerseys in the markets outside.... Things are going great. The districts is progressing, my companion is progressing, i feel that as a companionship we are growing grace by grace and EVERYTHING is working because we have the spirit. Soooo awesome. Mom, i decided on my classes but i left the paper at home..... I want to take USU Physical Science, and nutrition. What is horticulture? I also want a spanish minor so count me in on the test and classes if necesarry after. I would like to take more than 12 credits. Like 15 or 18. I want to be busy and get things done. I have a list at home. Please wait!!! Well just start doing everything and change it when i let you know!! I will show you... as far the career class... it is a possibility but i think i have things clear on what i want to do. So bussines. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! Elder Reeder