Jan. 26th, 2015... time is flying!

Here is Elder Reed's short update for this week, including a picture or two! :)

Left to right: in the back: Elderes: Jones, Alvarado,Panta, Puma, Reed, Anderson, Carter, Derr. Middle: Elderes: Chiroque, Mauldwin, Risco, Hermanas: Taconni, Guisti, Waite, Martinez, Osseler. Up Front: Elder Farfan.

Ouch to the sunburned neck!

Elder Reed let us know that it was transfer day, and he seemed to think he would see change in some way, but I'm not sure if that means he'll get a new companion or a new area - tune in next week! :) When I asked him if the weather was hot and humid down there, he said, "Hot and dry... well, upon reflection, yah humid!" :)

He said he's been out 4 months already [where has the time gone?!] and he enjoyed the music we were able to send him this past week. He even shared it with another missionary - yay for sharing the gift of music! 

Elder Reed also said, "This week has been the best week in the field with E' Puma. He and I were a great companionship this week and I can't complain, even though I'm not allowed to anyway :)!" Lol!

Elder Reed's spiritual thought for this week "comes from DyC [Doctrine and Covenants] 101:43-55. Read it [here] and then compare it to ourselves. We need to be actively doing all we can to prepare Zion for the second coming [of the Savior]!  Brought to you by, Elder Reed"

January 19th, 2015 update

Hello again! This week, Elder Reed shared a family letter and I was able to do some "real-time" emailing - I am so grateful for technology!

Here are some items from his letter: "Wow, what a week. Fast and very sunny. This week my pensionista made pancakes or crepes and had strawberry jam! WOW! 4 months and they are/were HEAVENLY. [I think he's talking about the crepes/pancakes and his Mission... Ha ha.]

Our p-day in Santa Anita was also very, very cool. I have included a few pictures of a bridge that we had to use in order to get to where we wanted to go. We also had to pass over about 10 lanes of jammed traffic for all the toll booths! They're everywhere!

This week was also pretty difficult, as some problems arose in the lives of those of our area. I hope and I know that everything will be ok in the end."

Elder Reed then thanked many people for their letters and cards! Thanks for supporting him! He finished his letter with the following: "Found a bug eating through the binding of one of my Journals this morning.... gross. [He then explained vaguely how he'd taken care of it... this is a reminder to ask him about it when he gets home! :) Lol] We just had Surco Stake Conference with Elder Godoy of the 70. He looks very familiar, but I've never seen him before now. Weird.   Love you all and wish the best for all, Elder "Michael" Reed"

During our emails back and forth, I asked him how the language is coming along. He said that he does great and that he can understand everything until they start talking for a very long time, then he starts having trouble. I'm sure it's a work-in-progress. :) Until next week, enjoy the pictures and remember to keep trying to do the right thing - you will be blessed! 

January 12th, 2015 update

Good morning - Sorry for the delay in posting this week. Life often gets very hectic here!  Elder Reed's update for this week was in the form of a family letter, and I'd like to share some of it with you. :)

Elder Reed said, "This week was a bit long at first; because we [were] waiting for the rule change in the mission from Pres. Boswell [their Mission President there in the Peru Lima East Mission]. We had our Zone meeting on Thursday this week! With the implication of Mission Standards of Excellence, we were all repumped to continue working, keep finding, and keep talking with people. Once we set Zone goals, how many people we were to contact, how many lessons we were going to have each week, and how many new investigadores we were going to have, we dove back into the work and the rest of the week went by very quickly!
     Guess what? This week we also had a visit from Presidente Boswell and a lesson with him! It, the lesson, was amazing! I want to be a missionary like Presidente Boswell! I also realized that the visits of the Travelling Missionaries (last week) and Presidente Boswell were answers to my prayers for certain people! Too bad they can't visit with us all the time! We might have more baptisms than we have now in Los Sauces! (We haven't had any!) Apparently the Zone I'm serving in now has been nicknamed the "Zone for the Valiant" or the "Proving Grounds" because there were only 3 baptisms in the entire Zone the last transfer with 22-ish missionaries! (Not a lot... :( ) BUT, I intend to keep trying and working and I continue to be blessed!
     My spiritual thought this week comes from [Ether] 2-3 [Chapters - they can be found here] about how we can't always have the Lord give us all the answers and that sometimes we need to act before we can realize that our prayers have been answered!! 
   Love you all!
   Elder Reed"

Thanks to everyone for their continued love and support! Remember to keep trying, to keep working, and you will be blessed!

Jan. 5th, 2015 update

It's a new year! Time is flying by! This week, Elder Reed's update has some pictures and included a letter to family (which I will share parts of) - 

"WOO HOO! 2 months in the field! I've included my weekly letter, pics of the pday we had this past week, at los dunes, the dunes, which were sooooooooo cool and steep and dry and sandy and hot and tall! I also included pics of my foot and of the Package Mom sent!!! THANKS MOM IT WAS GREAT! I also found in the package of sweedins fish a double fish! CRAZY! Thanks for all your love and support!
Love Elder Reed,      :)"

[I had included Swedish Fish in the package to Elder Reed, because I know he loves them!]

He also shared some other thoughts: "This week, I learned a couple of things: 1) I can be an effective missionary in this field - we got a visit from the traveling missionaries and I discovered I can do a ton more than I gave myself credit for; 2) the gift of tongues is real, and it is powerful!..... I now have 2 months in the field and 3.5 in total - time passes quickly when you're having fun! (AND working hard!)  For Christmas & the New Year, we practically didn't sleep! These people have no idea of what it means to have personal music in their own houses that can't be heard for 3 blocks! And the fireworks. They NEVER stop using them, but during the holidays" .... it's even worse. He finished by saying, Happy New Year in Spanish, which I'm not sure how to type on the blog yet. :) Something to learn!