Mar. 23, 2015 update - 6 months!!!

This week had a very short email, so I thought I'd just post some of the pictures - Elder Reed said that they had a zone conference this week, with lots of missionaries and lots of zones (from my rough translation). He also had this in his email subject line "this week!!!!!! I have 6 months in the field". :)  Time is flying by!

silly boys!!

Until next time, remember to laugh and to love, and to count the blessings all around you! They are there!

Mar. 16th, 2015 update

Elder Reed shared the following this week: 
"Well Ive been in Barrio Tilda, Estaca Vitarte for a whole week now and I absolutely love it!!! The people are great, Elder Vásconez is probably the best comp I will ever get and I have found myself laughing and joking around with the rest of the Spanish speakers! I´ve also wondered where other missionaries went to have such dirty nametags and I am in one of those areas!!! [A lot of dust, from what I understand.]

I am also sharing a room with a total of 2 companionships and I am blessed to be in the same apartment as one of the missinaries from my group and Elder Maxwell!!!!!! He is awesome!!!!!! I´m going to LOVE this transfer!

Elder Reed"

"From my last area, this is our lunch with my pension. We are as follows: Elder Moreyra, Chiroque, Smith, Me, Hermana Martinez, and Hermana Tigre!"

See above - awesome missionaries!

"A great food I found" - another missionary shared this find with him. :)

Until next week, remember that your efforts for good make a difference!

March 9th, 2015 update

Elder Reed's family letter this week shared how much he will miss the people of the Los Sauces I area (Surco Stake [regional area]), where he has been since October. He felt confident he was going to be transferred and, as it turns out, he was. He is now in the Vitarte area [another area in Lima] and has a new companion. He said that, whatever the circumstance, he will adapt and continue to work to the best of his ability. [Good advice for all of us!]

From Elder Reed: "This past week has been interesting in that I have been allowed to use my Spanish ... and I've said some pretty interesting things (see "The Best Two Years" [a movie] for reference). That's how you learn, but I can't help smacking myself in the forehead later... sigh.

I actually have developed something like a small cold that only affects me in the morning! The morning weather here (and the pollution) vary so much (but not the pollution) that I can't walk 10 steps w/o feeling the need to sneeze. Sometimes it is a really good sensation, but most of the time the combination of walking and sneezing is very strange. 

As word has spread that I'm going to be transferred, I have come to see just how loved I am in this ward. It's AWESOME! I have also seen the progress of my Spanish. There was a North American girl here in our ward yesterday & I was able to translate for her... what a cool feeling! Here in this ward I have met all kinds of cool people: 2-time South American Bowling Champion (sister-in-law to my pensionista), one of the first missionaries in Peru, and obviously everybody else!"

Here are some pictures he sent as well. Remember that we may never know the impact we have on others, but we WILL have an impact!

The Chapel where the missionaries spent part of their preparation day.

Elder Reed's pensionista, who set everything up - bless her! :)

The missionaries "pigging out", as Elder Reed puts it. :)

A bag that Elder Reed purchased - this one is better suited for what he is doing. (And it is super cool with the mission information and his name!)

A Peruvian Standard Time joke... apparently Peruvians aren't known for being on time...?

March 2, 2015 update

E. Moreyra

Mosiah 2:23-24

Elder Reed shared this week that time continues to fly by! He said that he recommends "Ephraim's Rescue" as a great video to see - it's a Church video that is well worth the time to find. [I will be looking for that one soon!]

Elder Reed said that it was a great week, in part, because of interviews with his mission president, Presidente Boswell. He shared his great love for him and his wife, and the help they are to the missionaries in the Peru Lima East Mission. I will put some of what he wrote here:

"Generally, interviews of any kind would scare me, but I am proud to say that I am actually sweating with anticipation to get into the room to speak to Presidente. What do you think would be the first question he would ask? "Do you think that I could see your planner?" (No, but mine's good :) ) "Is there anything in your conduct that you feel you need to tell me?" (No, but he keeps reassuring me that I am a great example for my companions without even realizing it :) ) 

The first thing he asks me is "Hey Elder Reed, what do you want to talk about today?" My interviews with him are always chill. I love the way that the Lord blesses His children (especially His missionaries) with one of the strictest missions in the world with one of the most spiritually and emotionally receptive mission presidents."

Elder Reed also stated that "Hma [Hermana] Boswell ... is just about the best replacement mom I could've been blessed with. Actually, they are the best parents FOR A MISSION that I know. That doesn't by any means signify that I've given up on my actual parents. :)  My family, for 2 years, IS EVER E..X..P..A..N...D....I.....N.......G!" [How true this is, as we reach out to more people, we realize that we are all brothers and sisters, all part of the same family!]

Elder Reed shared a spiritual thought/scripture, which I will share here and you can look up. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 and Doctrine & Covenants 82:10. 

Elder Reed finished his letter by also adding a "non-spiritual thought". "What is the laziest animal in the world? ...... The fish because it does nada! :) (Nada in this sense is "it swims")" 

Elder Reed also shares his love and gratitude to everyone for their continued love and support and prayers - thank you!  

Some Spanish from Elder Reed

[It was requested that I post some of the Spanish Elder Reed has been writing, so I wanted to wait until I had Elder Reed's permission (as it was his stuff being sent), and then I had to find time to post - not always easy! I only went back a few weeks for stuff, but will try to include the Spanish versions from now on! :) ]