Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Office week 3 - White christmas
This past week was the best week ever. For christmas eve, us office elders and the ayudantes went to the Hinckleys and we did a nativity scene with them and another family in our ward who´s from the US. Presidente Hinckley told the story as us missionaries and the little kids of the family acted out the scenes. It was super fun. Then after we all went to our piso and watched Mr. Krugers christmas and slept over with all the office elders. Then in the morning we made some french toast and went to church and then i talked to the fam!! It was a great first christmas here in the mission field.
So this whole year we´ve been working towards our goal of 450 baptisms and this last sunday was the last sunday of the year. Sunday night we did all the numbers with President and we had............................................................. 448 baptisms!!! Just 2 off!! But there are 3 other people in the mission who have dates to be baptized and confirmed before the end of the year so we can still hit 450!!!!! The Lord has blessed us so much during this whole year and is still blessing us with miracles. I know revelation is real and President Hinckley set this goal according to the Lord´s will. Last year we only baptized 340 and the most that´s ever baptized was 403 in this mission. And this next year we´re going to baptize EVEN MORE!!
We saw so many blessings this past week and had 2 miracle baptisms this last saturday. This is the story of Sebastián...
2 and a half weeks ago, the sunday before i got here to the office, Sebastián walked in to church with his wife Piedades, who is a member. Sebastián is from Spain and his wife is from Bolivia. The missionaries here in this ward had never met him but he came to church and said that he wanted to change his life and be baptized by his friend José Luis who is a member in our ward. He has been taught all of the lessons before but never progressed to baptism. He and his wife had plans to move back to Bolivia before the end of this year so he wanted to get baptized before he left. We started teaching him and found out that he never learned how to read and he smoked... so we knew it would be a huge miracle for him to be prepared to be baptized before he left to Bolivia. After the first couple of visits he had almost completely given up smoking and his wife would read to him in between visits from the book of mormon and the pamphlets. This last week he gave up smoking completely and said he would never smoke again and he would be ready for his baptism on the 24th. He was baptized this last saturday and confirmed on sunday by his friend José Luis. The very next day, monday, he left with his wife to Bolivia. It was a miracle to see him progress so fast and change his life to be baptized within 13 days. He was so prepared and had the true desires to receive the blessings of the gospel. They both promised us that they would keep going to church every week when they got down there to Bolivia and now they are progressing together to go to the temple in a year. I love this gospel and there really isnt any greater happiness than to see someone come into the gospel and start a new life in Christ.
Our other investigator who got baptized was another miracle but i dont have time to write about it. But just really quick her name is Cindy from the Philippines and she´s 15 years old. She lives here with her sister and her parents are still in the Philippines. She had a date to be baptized about 4 years ago but her parents didnt let her. Elder Krasnoselsky and Call found her in the area book and we got her parents permission to baptize her. We were praying and praying before she called her parents so that she would get permission. Her parents said "we want you to think deeply about this before you make a decision and make sure you are doing the right thing." When we asked her what her decision was about baptism she said "why not?" Heavenly Father heard our prayers and softened the hearts of her parents so that she could be baptized.
I love you familia. Im so grateful for your prayers and your fasting for me and for our investigators. Ive had so many experiences and blessings because of your prayers. So keep praying for me and happy new year!! 2012.... wow this is going way too fast. Is anyone going to the rose parade? and who´s playing in the championship?? Yeah im still kinda interested in sports.
Elder Reeves
So this whole year we´ve been working towards our goal of 450 baptisms and this last sunday was the last sunday of the year. Sunday night we did all the numbers with President and we had............................................................. 448 baptisms!!! Just 2 off!! But there are 3 other people in the mission who have dates to be baptized and confirmed before the end of the year so we can still hit 450!!!!! The Lord has blessed us so much during this whole year and is still blessing us with miracles. I know revelation is real and President Hinckley set this goal according to the Lord´s will. Last year we only baptized 340 and the most that´s ever baptized was 403 in this mission. And this next year we´re going to baptize EVEN MORE!!
We saw so many blessings this past week and had 2 miracle baptisms this last saturday. This is the story of Sebastián...
2 and a half weeks ago, the sunday before i got here to the office, Sebastián walked in to church with his wife Piedades, who is a member. Sebastián is from Spain and his wife is from Bolivia. The missionaries here in this ward had never met him but he came to church and said that he wanted to change his life and be baptized by his friend José Luis who is a member in our ward. He has been taught all of the lessons before but never progressed to baptism. He and his wife had plans to move back to Bolivia before the end of this year so he wanted to get baptized before he left. We started teaching him and found out that he never learned how to read and he smoked... so we knew it would be a huge miracle for him to be prepared to be baptized before he left to Bolivia. After the first couple of visits he had almost completely given up smoking and his wife would read to him in between visits from the book of mormon and the pamphlets. This last week he gave up smoking completely and said he would never smoke again and he would be ready for his baptism on the 24th. He was baptized this last saturday and confirmed on sunday by his friend José Luis. The very next day, monday, he left with his wife to Bolivia. It was a miracle to see him progress so fast and change his life to be baptized within 13 days. He was so prepared and had the true desires to receive the blessings of the gospel. They both promised us that they would keep going to church every week when they got down there to Bolivia and now they are progressing together to go to the temple in a year. I love this gospel and there really isnt any greater happiness than to see someone come into the gospel and start a new life in Christ.
Our other investigator who got baptized was another miracle but i dont have time to write about it. But just really quick her name is Cindy from the Philippines and she´s 15 years old. She lives here with her sister and her parents are still in the Philippines. She had a date to be baptized about 4 years ago but her parents didnt let her. Elder Krasnoselsky and Call found her in the area book and we got her parents permission to baptize her. We were praying and praying before she called her parents so that she would get permission. Her parents said "we want you to think deeply about this before you make a decision and make sure you are doing the right thing." When we asked her what her decision was about baptism she said "why not?" Heavenly Father heard our prayers and softened the hearts of her parents so that she could be baptized.
I love you familia. Im so grateful for your prayers and your fasting for me and for our investigators. Ive had so many experiences and blessings because of your prayers. So keep praying for me and happy new year!! 2012.... wow this is going way too fast. Is anyone going to the rose parade? and who´s playing in the championship?? Yeah im still kinda interested in sports.
Elder Reeves
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Fotos Navidad
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| Shot of Barcelona |
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| The Three Wise Men |
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| Christmas Eve at the Hinckley's (reenacting the nativity story) |
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| Christmas Day with Archie |
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Just wanted to send out a quick christmas card while my companions are talking to their families. I love you all and it was so much fun talking to you!! Im sorry i didnt see anyone else in the family but dont worry im doing the best ever. Enjoy!
Elder Reeves
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Oficina week 2 - A quick one
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
Wow its weird that im going to be talking to you guys in a couple of days... it almost feels like you dont exist haha but im SO excited!! Yeah mom i´ll be calling around 2 or 2:30 my time so it will be 8/8:30 new york time. i´ll call one of the skype accounts so just wait for the call. About the package mom, it got to Lleida and is sitting there in the post office. Elder Bajaña is going to send it to me and it will hopefully be here soon.
Sorry i have like no time to write at all but everything is going great here in the office. My job is actually pretty fun because theres a bunch of different stuff to do so i get to leave the office a lot and get some fresh air while everyone else in the office is just sitting at their desks going crazy. We´re in the last week of our goal to baptize 450 people before christmas and we´re so close!! We´re at 427 baptisms right now and we´re praying for miracles. So keep praying for our investigators and for the goal we have. We´re hoping to see at least one baptism this week with this 15 year old philipino girl but it will take a miracle. Oh by the way our area is PACKED with people from the phillipines and there a lot of people in our ward from there. Most of them speak english too so they love being with us missionaries. Its super fun. I´ll have to send you some pictures later. I love you all and i will talk to you on sunday!!! Adeu
Elder Reeves
Wow its weird that im going to be talking to you guys in a couple of days... it almost feels like you dont exist haha but im SO excited!! Yeah mom i´ll be calling around 2 or 2:30 my time so it will be 8/8:30 new york time. i´ll call one of the skype accounts so just wait for the call. About the package mom, it got to Lleida and is sitting there in the post office. Elder Bajaña is going to send it to me and it will hopefully be here soon.
Sorry i have like no time to write at all but everything is going great here in the office. My job is actually pretty fun because theres a bunch of different stuff to do so i get to leave the office a lot and get some fresh air while everyone else in the office is just sitting at their desks going crazy. We´re in the last week of our goal to baptize 450 people before christmas and we´re so close!! We´re at 427 baptisms right now and we´re praying for miracles. So keep praying for our investigators and for the goal we have. We´re hoping to see at least one baptism this week with this 15 year old philipino girl but it will take a miracle. Oh by the way our area is PACKED with people from the phillipines and there a lot of people in our ward from there. Most of them speak english too so they love being with us missionaries. Its super fun. I´ll have to send you some pictures later. I love you all and i will talk to you on sunday!!! Adeu
Elder Reeves
Friday, December 16, 2011
Oficina week 1 - Mas noticias
Family I finally have preparation day!! Its been a week and a half since my last one and now im in the office! We usually have preparation day on wednesdays in the office but this week is on thursday because it was transfer week. I got here to Barcelona on tuesday morning and got thrown right into the work here in the office. There is SO much stuff to do and ive been probably the most tired ive ever been in the mission. Im in a trio right now with Elder Call, who is the finaciero who´s going to be leaving, and Elder Krasnoselsky, the Registrador. Elder Call is from Alabama and Elder Krasnoselsky is from Argentina!! So im going to be with another native! But he speaks perfect english and loves speaking it so i try to speak to him in spanish but he just answers back in english haha but he´s such a good Elder. Its tons of fun. The other Elders in the office are Elder Tyler, who came in with me on tuesday and has been getting taught by Elder Bronson, who is over the Distribution stuff, and then there´s Elder Hastings who is the secretary of President. So onto the new news..................
Elder Call has been teaching me how to do all the finance stuff and he´ll be leaving in a couple weeks once he teaches everything there is to know. I was learning a bunch and getting the hang of things these last two days and it hasnt been too much fun haha but somebody has to do it. There´s tons of money we work with and all the bills we have to pay for the pisos and for utilities. Elder Tyler was getting taught by Elder Bronson about the distribution stuff these last 2 days but then... this morning we were on our way to the office and Elder Bronson called me and asked me if i had heard the news. I was like "what news?". Then he said "President walked in this morning to the office and said, "I hope everyone hasnt gotten too comfortable yet because i woke up during the night last night and i felt like we have to make some changes."" So pretty much everything i learned in the last 2 days doesnt matter because im getting changed to be over the distribution!! pretty crazy because i totally wasnt expecting it. But i am SO happy that i dont have to do the financial stuff haha it really is so boring. So i feel pretty bad for Elder Tyler but President has a purpose in it. So starting tomorrow im going to start working with Elder Bronson and he´s going to be teaching me about everything over distribution. I think it just consists of buying stuff for pisos and replacing furniture and giving out the supplies for all the missionaries. Im super excited to do it. Plus we get to like drive to ikea and buy a bunch of stuff which will be fun. Elder Krasnoselsky will still be my companion but we´re just switching the callings.
This past week has been nuts but we still see miracles every day. We work in the office all day until 6 in the afternoon and then we proselyte till 10. There´s so many good investigators that we´re teaching here. We have a couple of fechas set for the 24 of this month and we´re still working with them. The investigators in Lleida have been getting attacked by satan and when i left, every single investigator had some kind of doubt or problem in their life. But Elena still has a date for the 24th. We still dont know whats going to be happening with La Seu and Andorra but hopefully i´ll still be going up there every week with another companion.
Alright i´ll talk to you next wednesday. Mom and dad, as far as the christmas call i´ll probably be able to call in the morning for you guys in new york. Our ward here ends at 1, which is 7 in the morning in new york i think. Im not sure exactly what time i´ll be able to call but probably around 8 or 9 in the morning, new york time. i should know better next week so i´ll let you know. Loves
Elder Reeves
Elder Call has been teaching me how to do all the finance stuff and he´ll be leaving in a couple weeks once he teaches everything there is to know. I was learning a bunch and getting the hang of things these last two days and it hasnt been too much fun haha but somebody has to do it. There´s tons of money we work with and all the bills we have to pay for the pisos and for utilities. Elder Tyler was getting taught by Elder Bronson about the distribution stuff these last 2 days but then... this morning we were on our way to the office and Elder Bronson called me and asked me if i had heard the news. I was like "what news?". Then he said "President walked in this morning to the office and said, "I hope everyone hasnt gotten too comfortable yet because i woke up during the night last night and i felt like we have to make some changes."" So pretty much everything i learned in the last 2 days doesnt matter because im getting changed to be over the distribution!! pretty crazy because i totally wasnt expecting it. But i am SO happy that i dont have to do the financial stuff haha it really is so boring. So i feel pretty bad for Elder Tyler but President has a purpose in it. So starting tomorrow im going to start working with Elder Bronson and he´s going to be teaching me about everything over distribution. I think it just consists of buying stuff for pisos and replacing furniture and giving out the supplies for all the missionaries. Im super excited to do it. Plus we get to like drive to ikea and buy a bunch of stuff which will be fun. Elder Krasnoselsky will still be my companion but we´re just switching the callings.
This past week has been nuts but we still see miracles every day. We work in the office all day until 6 in the afternoon and then we proselyte till 10. There´s so many good investigators that we´re teaching here. We have a couple of fechas set for the 24 of this month and we´re still working with them. The investigators in Lleida have been getting attacked by satan and when i left, every single investigator had some kind of doubt or problem in their life. But Elena still has a date for the 24th. We still dont know whats going to be happening with La Seu and Andorra but hopefully i´ll still be going up there every week with another companion.
Alright i´ll talk to you next wednesday. Mom and dad, as far as the christmas call i´ll probably be able to call in the morning for you guys in new york. Our ward here ends at 1, which is 7 in the morning in new york i think. Im not sure exactly what time i´ll be able to call but probably around 8 or 9 in the morning, new york time. i should know better next week so i´ll let you know. Loves
Elder Reeves
Monday, December 5, 2011
Lleida week 17 - Noticias
First off i would also just like to give my thanks for Emily and for the life she lived. I feel of her help and her work that she is doing on the other side of the veil. She has always been such an example to me and always will be. I cant wait for that day when we can all be with her again. I´m so grateful for the plan that God has for all of us and that we are a family sealed for all eternity.
What is this storm that happened?? 102 m/h winds?! Thats crazy! I know Heavenly Father is always watching over and protecting my family while im away. It´s so weird because i dont feel scared for you haha sorry if that sounds a little harsh fam but i just know i can trust in Heavenly Father and make my will His will. I know He is always watching over you all.
Alright so i have some noticias for all of you..... first of all, this week there´s a lot of Christmas conferences and meetings for the mission that President has to go to SO...................... we got transfer calls today instead of next week!! Actually it was all on our emails and so i know whats happening next week. AND............... im getting transfered out of Lleida! AND..................... im going to the OFFICE! Yeah i know, the LAST thing i thought would happen to me. Im going to be ayudante at 6 months! Haha no im just kidding im going to either be over the finances or over the distribution. President isnt sure yet. But crazy huh?? Im going to be in Barcelona in the office every day for the next 6 months at least! I think we have to be in the office until 5 every day and then we can go out and proselite for the rest of the night. And im not sure who my companion is yet but i´ll let you know next week. Its definitely going to be a trial for me not being able to proselite all day all the time but i know President Hinckley is called of God and receives revelation for this mission. Im going to learn a lot and im excited to work closer with President and Hermana Hinckley. Elder Bajaña is staying here in Lleida and is going to be Zone Leader again! The Zone Leaders of this zone have always been in Zaragoza but the zone conferences have always been here in Lleida because its the Lleida zone. So President changed it so everything is a lot easier for the conferences and intercambios. His companion will be Elder Jimenez who ive never met but he seems like an amazing missionary. Elder Rasmussen is going to Alcoy which is in the Valencia zone and Elder Kane is staying here and is going to get the Elder who´s coming from Alcoy. So, BIG changes in the Lleida zone. Alright onto my story for this week.
This miracle story starts 3 weeks ago when our recent convert Maria brought her friend Elena to church. We had a good lesson with her right after church and we set another visit with her for that next tuesday. We went to the visit that tuesday and Elena didnt show up. Maria told us that she said she´s been in her church for too long and she doesnt want anything else from another church. We were pretty let down because we thought she would be a miracle baptism. Then this last saturday we went to visit Maria and.... Elena was there! She told us that things in her life are not going so good and she´s looking for the happiness and peace that she doesnt have. She started crying and the thought came to my head to give her a blessing. We taught her about the power of the priesthood and we gave her a blessing. It was amazing to feel the power of the Holy Ghost work through me and feel my mouth get filled with the words to say. During the blessing she stopped crying and was SO calm and quiet. We set a fecha with her right after the blessing. She came to church yesterday with Maria and told us that during the blessing she knew that she had to get baptized in the church.
Fam, the power of the priesthood is real and miracles still happen today. I have felt it work through me and i know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ with God´s authority and power. I love this work and the experiences that i have every day. I love you all and will talk to you next week.... in BARCELONA!! The good thing is i´ll get all my letters and packages right on time haha
Elder Reeves
What is this storm that happened?? 102 m/h winds?! Thats crazy! I know Heavenly Father is always watching over and protecting my family while im away. It´s so weird because i dont feel scared for you haha sorry if that sounds a little harsh fam but i just know i can trust in Heavenly Father and make my will His will. I know He is always watching over you all.
Alright so i have some noticias for all of you..... first of all, this week there´s a lot of Christmas conferences and meetings for the mission that President has to go to SO...................... we got transfer calls today instead of next week!! Actually it was all on our emails and so i know whats happening next week. AND............... im getting transfered out of Lleida! AND..................... im going to the OFFICE! Yeah i know, the LAST thing i thought would happen to me. Im going to be ayudante at 6 months! Haha no im just kidding im going to either be over the finances or over the distribution. President isnt sure yet. But crazy huh?? Im going to be in Barcelona in the office every day for the next 6 months at least! I think we have to be in the office until 5 every day and then we can go out and proselite for the rest of the night. And im not sure who my companion is yet but i´ll let you know next week. Its definitely going to be a trial for me not being able to proselite all day all the time but i know President Hinckley is called of God and receives revelation for this mission. Im going to learn a lot and im excited to work closer with President and Hermana Hinckley. Elder Bajaña is staying here in Lleida and is going to be Zone Leader again! The Zone Leaders of this zone have always been in Zaragoza but the zone conferences have always been here in Lleida because its the Lleida zone. So President changed it so everything is a lot easier for the conferences and intercambios. His companion will be Elder Jimenez who ive never met but he seems like an amazing missionary. Elder Rasmussen is going to Alcoy which is in the Valencia zone and Elder Kane is staying here and is going to get the Elder who´s coming from Alcoy. So, BIG changes in the Lleida zone. Alright onto my story for this week.
This miracle story starts 3 weeks ago when our recent convert Maria brought her friend Elena to church. We had a good lesson with her right after church and we set another visit with her for that next tuesday. We went to the visit that tuesday and Elena didnt show up. Maria told us that she said she´s been in her church for too long and she doesnt want anything else from another church. We were pretty let down because we thought she would be a miracle baptism. Then this last saturday we went to visit Maria and.... Elena was there! She told us that things in her life are not going so good and she´s looking for the happiness and peace that she doesnt have. She started crying and the thought came to my head to give her a blessing. We taught her about the power of the priesthood and we gave her a blessing. It was amazing to feel the power of the Holy Ghost work through me and feel my mouth get filled with the words to say. During the blessing she stopped crying and was SO calm and quiet. We set a fecha with her right after the blessing. She came to church yesterday with Maria and told us that during the blessing she knew that she had to get baptized in the church.
Fam, the power of the priesthood is real and miracles still happen today. I have felt it work through me and i know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ with God´s authority and power. I love this work and the experiences that i have every day. I love you all and will talk to you next week.... in BARCELONA!! The good thing is i´ll get all my letters and packages right on time haha
Elder Reeves
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