December 25, 2011

OK, so I really didn't have much to add to this day... But show you a few of the cool things that I got for Christmas!

OK, So 1st amazing thing!   UW  Basketball shorts!  Holy smokes I almost cried, and that's no exaggeration. 

2nd cool thing...  A Sweet Stocking, that actually has "ELDER REES, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS" Printed on the name tag. 

One of my favorite things; My little Lego Missionary!   Complete with name tag, and it doubles as a fridge magnet!  The blue square is meant to be a Book of Mormon. We got a random guy too, mine is a Gladiator, and I decided to make a Stripling warrior out of him instead.  I've had fun changing out their accessories, and making my missionary a true member of the Army of God! 

Thank you to all who have made this Christmas the best ever!  The cards, notes, letters, packages, and gifts!  The love, prayers, and thoughts are all anyone could ask for! 

Love you all! 

Love Elder Rees

December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve! 

OK, I'm going to do this in 2 Posts...  Too much to remember and type about.

12/24/2011-

All missionaries in the Lafayette Indiana Stake/Zone, were invited to go up to Purdue Campus by our Stake President, President Ellis, and eat at an Indian Food Buffet!  I was excited because I really like Indian food!  So here are a few pictures of the restaurant!  Starting with the Front left working our way around to the top, Elder Bodily (ZL), Elder Mayfield, Elder Henderson, Elder Lowe, (DL) Elder Marchant, Elder Bair, Elder Judkins, and Elder Mecham (other ZL).  Here is my table... Sister Berrett, Sister Little, My empty seat, and Elder Rivest.   We also got to go back to President Ellis' house and have a Gingerbread house competition...  All entries were not that good... except for the sisters... theirs was impressive...

After a spiritual thought, and a wonderful blessing from our Stake President, we headed off to a Lafayette 1st wards apartment, and crashed there for the night.  Here is a picture of our fun...  OK, so you take a PVC pipe, and cut to lenght, and tape for decoration.  You then take Nerf Darts, and use it as a Blow Gun!  We played this in the dark for a few hours before bed, and celebrated being missionaries, and Christmas!  After sleeping on the floor it was back home on Christmas day to prepare for church, and a busy day of eating and calling home!  

One of the Highlights was this dart game!   Left to Right: Judkins, Marchant, Rees, Bair, and in the front row, Elder Lowe.  Don't worry the sunglasses actually were used as eye protection, they also make you look cool!  ... you need them in this game! 

December 19, 2011

Hey Family and Friends! 

Well another week has FLOWN by!  Here in Indiana, the weather is now cold.... It's usually in the 30's and with the Humidity, that does make it feel like it's in the Teens!  It's not too bad, this week we actually got a full time car!   So we are feeling pretty special, and warm because we are now cruising a car of our very own.  It makes the work so much more effective!  We get so much more accomplished when we don't have to plan in travel time. 

Here are a few miracles from this weeks work!

#1: (actually happened last week) 
We were tracting in an area that we'd been wanting to get up to and visit.  We are finding that we now want to go into areas where people have jobs, and cars....  Which also means that we really have to plan to go tracting in those areas when people are going to be home.  We knocked a few doors the previous week in that neighborhood, and had a few people invite us back... but they haven't been home since... so we decided to head to the next street, and work that one.  We had plenty of time to visit all the doors so we went down one side and back up the other...  Within the first few doors we had a few frustrating experiences...  It seemed like the first 5 doors were very rude... They would just walk away from us as we talked with them, or they gave us a good excuse "We have the Flu" and that makes it kind of easy for us to just say "have a great day!"   We had 2 very rude people in a row, and from past experience I knew what that meant.... we were on the right track...  I told my companion this is where we need to be, and so on we went.  Next door, nice but not interested, even though they don't know what it is we are bringing to their door, next door not home.  Next door, an invitation to come back!   We set an appointment, which was for last Monday, and before we left for her house, she calls us and says she's not going to be home and we'd need to reschedule...  Most just don't show.... so that was a good sign.  We went back this week and set another appointment for tonight... 12/19/2011, and we are anxious to meet with her and help her see that we are here for her.  I asked her "We know why we are here.... but why are you allowing us to come back...?   -"I guess I'm curious" was her response, and now we can go and take those promptings of the spirit and share the message that will help her most! 
I know that when we are being tried, and our patience is wearing thin, that is when we are so close to the blessings of the Lord, and all we need to do is endure a little longer. 

Awesome Miracle #2:
More tracting in an area I'd wanted to get into for some time....  
OK this story begins earlier in that day...  Elder Rivest decided that during our lunch break to make some lunch.... Chicken and Scalloped potatoes...  the box said 20 minutes for complete preparation and cooking time... so he should have had plenty of time within our 1 hour lunch break to complete.   He started by getting a pan with oil nice and hot, and then proceeded to drop in his chicken.... as the box instructions directed him to do...  Save for the fact that his chicken just got pulled out of the freezer....  OIL WENT EVERYWHERE!!!   I got frustrated, and informed him that frozen chicken doesn't fry well...  We removed it from the heat, I tried to carry the pan outside, and got oil all over me...  He just kind of stood there dumbfounded at what was happening and didn't really know what to do.  We pulled the chicken, and started the defrosting process in the microwave instead....   UGH...   I sat and stewed on this little experience for the rest of our break, and was frustrated that it was taking him such a long time to make a meal, when I could have been done cooking it for him already.   But how else will he learn.  Lesson 1: frozen chicken and hot oil is a bad idea.  We had a teaching appointment right after that, and I was still angry.  We got there and she decided to reschedule on us so we went to our back up plans, and were able to visit a few less active families, and that was good.  I could change my attitude for the time we were inside, but as we got back in the car my heart was still upset.  We went to go tracting like we had planned, and drove the small neighborhood for a minute to see where we wanted to start.  It was small enough that we could have completed the whole neighborhood in an hour or so if no one was home, but we parked the car, and Elder Rivest decided to complete 2 little side streets, and see where that got us.  So, I'm still angry, and knowing that we wouldn't have any success unless I spoke my mind, and told him how I was feeling.  After voicing my frustrations, I came to the conclusion that there should be no reason for me to be angry.  He finished cooking his meal, (didn't have time to eat it now) the house didn't burn down, we were able to make it to our teaching appointment on time, and he seemed to be happy as could be.... You really can't dampen his spirits!   Got to love that about my companion!   I was still feeling this bug of frustration, and knew that there was no reason for me to be feeling this way...  So Elder Rivest suggests we pray....   Frustration level just went up!   Thinking back to my last week.... When things get hard, I know I'm on the right track.... So I asked Elder Rivest to say a prayer for our tracting time, and for me... I told him I'm going to be saying my own little prayer so I may not say amen at the same time he does, because I need to pray by myself too...   I prayed that my pride would be swallowed, and these feelings would leave me.  We stepped out of the car and walked to the first door with a whole new attitude!   I love my companion, and his wisdom!   We tracted all the doors, and were left with 1 duplex to knock.  Apartment B, No one answered.... like most of the houses on the street... Apartment A, A VERY nice couple that allowed us to come in, gave us a drink, we shared the message of the Restoration, briefly, and left them with a copy of The Book of Mormon, and set a return appointment to discuss this more fully... they seemed very interested, and Lesson learned!  Got to love the Humble! 

We still have a baptism on December 31st, and are excited to welcome in the first member of the Church in Indiana on 1/1/2012!  We had a Plan of Salvation lesson with her this week, and at the end she said this: "you know I really look to Christ like an older Brother...  is that weird?"   I couldn't even contain myself!  I was so happy!  She has truly been converted.  After our lesson, she took a  Book of Mormon over to a friends house for her.... What an awesome investigator!  

And Between Elder Rivests family, and you all... We are officially enjoying the 36 Days of Christmas!   With more treats, and goodies than either of our waste lines care to eat!  But don't worry we are getting through them slowly but surely....  My Blood/Swedish fish levels are off the charts though....  I'm not sure what the legal limit is but I'm sure I've surpassed that!


I want you all to know that my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ has grown so much!  I love Him, I know he knows me, and loves me!   I know that this time of year is so special because I get to help others come and follow him!  I am so proud (in a good way) to represent him everyday, and be his disciple.  

I love you all, and am wishing you a very Happy Christmas here from Indiana! 

Love Elder Rees

December 5, 2011

Hey Family!  It's beginning to look not so much like Christmas...  Only a little though. 

I was so blessed to get a couple of amazing packages this week in the mail!  We were talking with a member who asked if we had any Christmas decorations and we don't, and that same day in the mail I got this from my awesome sister Heather!   Ornaments included! 

Thank you Heather for this Awesome Christmas Tree!  You'll see that there is even a present under the tree!  Thanks to Grandma Gwen for that!   She said I can open it early and put it to use, so i just may later today!


I may have shared with you a story about Abbi...

If not here is a quick recap.  Abbi is an investigator, but isn't taking the missionary lessons.  She's been attending seminary, (early) daily, and has really grown in her testimony.  She was always drawn to her friend Alexis, and the spirit she felt while at their home.  This led her to investigate why...   Her parents aren't religious, and really don't believe in God, but over the course of the last year, Abbi, has learned for herself that "God is real, He Loves me, and He has a Son, named Jesus, Who is my Savior."  What more powerful of a testimony could you ask for!  She's been to the Temple waiting room, and felt this "burning" of her soul, and has felt that on a number of other occasions! 

We were invited over to Alexis' house to share a meal, and a few spiritual thoughts, and Abbi says she's now ready to live this gospel.  She's been living it for a long time now, but is now ready for the commitment of being baptized.  She does want her family to be OK with her decision to join The Church, but knows that this is where she wants to be.  She wants to raise her family in this gospel, and be married in the temple!  We went through the baptismal interview questions and she says "those are easy!"  hahaha  Oh man she is so ready to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Ghost.  We are hopeful that her baptismal day could be in the next few weeks, she is ready and could be baptized anytime. 

My Companion, Elder Rivest, is doing great!  He's learning very quickly.  There are so many times throughout our week however that he's the teacher and I'm the student.  The spirit works through him so often!  I'm loving being apart of his training and helping him learn to be a missionary. 

Others in our area are progressing too!   We had a wonderful experience this week.  We were supposed to have an appointment with a lady in a town about 8 miles south of us, and when we got to her house we saw another car there... Anyway, she had company over, and tried calling us, and left a message asking if we could reschedule, she was sorry, and really did try to let us know.  We then went to our backup plan, and visited a young single mother in the same town we had made contact with about a month before.   She was glad to have us in her home again.  She shared with us a few experiences of her own she'd had over the last month.  Her 4 year old asked, "can we be buried together?"  And "mom make sure we are together in Heaven..."  A few days later her 7 year old says... "Mom, Hell would be a really bad place to spend Eternity.... do you know how long Eternity is...?  Well all I'm saying is that I'm going to be good from now on, and want us all to be good too."  1 more week later and she was at her daughters preschool picking her up, and the teacher ran up and gave her a big hug.  Saying that she (the teacher) had had a dream about her, and that when she came up to pick up her daughter that she passed out, and  they couldn't revive her...

By this point our investigator was a little overwhelmed with all of these things, and went back to investigate... She asked her 4 year old daughter... "what would make you ask such questions?"  "God and Jesus told me to tell you... and that you would go away for a while but we would be with you again..." 

Now she is really shaken up. 

We met with her, and discussed a few topics that were on her mind.  After clearing up the Multiple marriage thing, We talked about Gods commandments, Specifically the Word of Wisdom.  She asked what we believed about smoking drinking and more importantly Marijuana...  We shared that God has called prophets for our day, to direct us against Satan and his evil designs.  She seemed to feel that it's her vs. the world.  It's so evil, and she wants to give her kids the best chance possible.  We simply had to make the connections for her that the Gospel is the way!  And that we can help, and there are people who hold these same values, and to surround yourself, and your kids with these things!  

I was talking with my companion afterward, and realized that IF we would have gotten the message to not come down to visit our first appointment.... we would not have gone.... and we would not have gotten to meet with this other lady...   WOW!  RIGHT!?  God really does have his hand in our work, and is making it possible for those that are prepared to find the gospel, Find it! 

Cool stuff yeah!?  these things happen so often I love it! 

November 28, 2011

~Turkey Day~
Well.....  This years Turkey day was Jam Packed Full of Flavor and aches and pains! 

Our Day:

6:30 arise, and prepare for the day...

8:00 TURKEY BOWL! 
          We got to go and play on the Wabash Soccer Field!  It was fun to play on the turf, and to have such a good turnout!  We got clearance to go and play football with the ward members and others from the community!  We had 32 people show up!  We had 2 full games going and played 2 hand touch.... don't let that fool you however!  Injuries were incurred!   I went to block on a little screen pass play, and one foot stayed planted and my other slid in the opposite direction...  I was SPLIT!  ha!  Well and turned out was sore for a few days after.  My companion got plowed over by the bishop!  HA HA!  Good times!  My team ended up winning the Turkey bowl going 2-0!  

10:00 we went with the Jensen family and helped  them cut wood!  Yep Service on the Thanksgiving!  It was fun to get covered in Sawdust while holding logs, and working hard!  To get our hands dirty, and help out!  We did our job and I know I had fun.

12:00 Home and to shower and clean up....  Quickly!

12:30 we were back to the Jensen's for Dinner that started at 1 pm.    A few highlights from that dinner.... I helped prepare the dish of Yams!  with marshmallows and everything!   Something new that I had never had was Miles Standish Stuffing!   MOM, GET THIS RECIPE!!   Sister Jensen did a great job with the meal, and her family was so much fun to be around! 

3:00  Over the the Snyder Family!  there were 20+ people here at this one, and it made for some chaos...  All of her kids came back with their families and dogs.... not the nice little yippy dogs that I'm used to having around on holidays... these things would eat "Tootsie" and "Herc", and "Koda"  HUGE dogs all over!  It was fun to talk with the families! 

6:00 Off to the Marks family.... They are Recent converts of ours, and we had a good time here!  We had another great turkey, and all the trimmings, by this time I was so stuffed the thought of food made it all just about come back up...  

9:00 Back home to plan for the next day, and try not to fall asleep!  So much turkey in one day and no naps is not a good combination. 


It was a very good day!  Full of great families and good food!   One I'll never forget! 

As for the work here...

It's progressing.  We just had 2 baptisms in October, and now we have several people who are really progressing, and gaining for themselves a testimony of this gospel.  I truly hope to be apart of their baptisms, and conversions.   It's amazing to see that the Lord really does have his hand in people's lives, and works through us to accomplish his designs.   We have a new investigator who has already read 19 chapters of the Book of Mormon, and is comparing what she's reading to the Bible, and is finding them to be very close to the same!  She's gaining a testimony and all we have to do is help her see that those simple feelings are the Holy Ghost testifying that this is true!  So cool! 

Well friends and family, I hope that all is going well out west!  It's fun and cold here!   It's starting to rain more, and it's really cooled off.   Time for the thermals, and heavy coats!

Love you all!

Love Elder Rees

November 21, 2011

More Dr. Visits!   Well this week we went to the Dr. up in Lafayette, which was pretty uneventful.  He felt my joints for swelling, (it all went away thanks to the priesthood) and made the comment, "it must be getting better", NO DUH!  Thanks for that!  Well he asked a few more questions and was coming to the conclusion that he didn't know what was wrong.  So he ordered a whole bunch of blood tests, and chest xrays...  I don't know what he's searching for.  My swelling is gone, but i still have a hard time sitting because my knees will just ache!  and at night my elbows feel like they are hyper-extending, and i wake up with pain there too...  My fingers do feel swollen in the mornings too! 

Green Meal!   A C-ville Tradition!  Thanks to Sister Leaming! 

Everything was green for our new "Greenie"  We started with Green Apples, and Kiwi.  Went to Broccoli, and Peas, Shepherds Pie, with green potatoes, and cheese stars.  We had Green Biscuits in the shape of stars.  Green Napkins, and A green cup for the Greenie.  Green Deviled eggs, Grapes, and Green Juice.  Not to mention the Green Brownies, and cookies, and the green pie that we got sent home with!  

Here are a few pictures... they really don't do this meal justice!  But it was so fun!   This family also keeps a log of all the kids that ate there... and there are 2 more Missionaries from our stake in Lyman WY, and there names are on her books!   Seth Potter, and the  Tippetts Kid (Jeremy maybe?) too... those were a few years ago, but they remembered the Tippetts kid pretty well, but not the Potter kid.

Well it's been a busy and slow week, not too much has happened, we've had Training in Peru IN, and district meetings, and Dr. Visits.   It felt like we didn't proselyte at all this week... but we always have next week! 

Love you all! 

Love Elder Rees

**Other pictures not working right. Will try to put them in again later**

November 14, 2011

This is part of an email sent to me (Jodi) and I thought I would share. There are also a couple of pics of Dallin's swollen feet.

It's now monday, I'm sitting here in the Library, and finishing up my email session! 

Today is great!  it rained last night which means it's going to be humid today, but the heat is gone for the most part, and we are not bothered by the humidity as bad!  

Glad you were able to go to the blessing!  mandy sent pictures and it looked like a good time!  It was good to hear that she and jon are feeling the spirit and push to get back into church more!  Their ward council needs to be there and all over them!   I'm thinking of sicking the missionaries on them!   I have a member in our ward here who is serving in the SLC South mission, and he could contact the other missionaries to go over and pay them a visit, but i'm holding off on that for now! 

It's not yet winter here...  50-60 degrees still, and sometimes it's in the 40's, we haven't had too many cold days.   It did snow for a few minutes the other day but not too much.... it's all gone now. 

As far as anything that i need.... Nothing...  :)  I'm going to go to the post office today, and ship home some extra clothes....  mainly T shirts, and Ball Shorts, and a few of my planners.

Well Life is good, my comp is good, but is like a moth.... shiny lights and loud noise attract him...  I wish i had a shock collar to push a button and help him refocus.... I do have to push him a little to stay on task.. .I'm sure with some of your kids  with ADHD you know how that goes.   He's good though and will be great!


Love you tons! 

Love Elder Rees

November 7, 2011

Well family, I have wonderful News....  After waiting 9 months my 'boy' has officially arrived!   No, I'm not dating anyone, and it's not a baby!!  it's my new Companion...   He's 19, Named Elder Rivest.... (I always want to say RIVESTA, with a little bit of flare on the "a") he's from Orem Ut, and has been such a blessing to my mission!  ha!  I love how much this sounds like I've had a baby! 

Here is his picture!  

We are working hard here in Crawfordsville, and he's been lucky we haven't had too many people come and yell at us, or too many doors slammed in our face!  We actually set a new baptismal date for December, and have found 4 new investigators this week!  OH MY!  I wish my first week was like that!  But it just goes to show that Miracles come after Faith, and new missionaries are so full of faith it's amazing to see the miracles that come because of it. 

I'm still swollen...  I called our mission Dr. and he checked out my lab work, and has recommended i see a Rhuemetologist, i hope i spelled that right, and see what he thinks of my situation.  I hope that they can figure something out and get me not looking like the "Michelin man."   I know things will work out the way they are supposed to, and I'll be able to continue working in full force.  The swelling and pain really haven't slowed me down, but have been annoying. 

As far as anything new, not much.  We are working... It's so much fun to see a new missionary try out things, and be bold, and talk with people.   It's such a new experience and it is fun to feel of their growth and watch them learn a little bit. 

It's so hard to imagine that it was almost 1 year ago, (Nov 10) that I got my mission call to indiana, and now here I am, 9 months out!  Crazy how fast that time has gone by!  I have loved learning the lessons you can't learn any where else but in the field! 

By the end of my time with my greenie, i'll have been out for 12 months!  WOW!  Time flies! 

Well We have a super busy day planned, and We've got to get running!

I love you all, and love getting those packages!  (mom, jodi, and Gma!)  Thank you!

Mom keeps me pretty informed about the happenings in in the family, but it's always great to hear more details! 


Loves!

Elder Rees

October 31, 2011

Hey family! 

Well this week has been pretty uneventful.  We have had a very slow week as far as teaching appointments, and it's been a struggle to find new people, or teach the ones that we are working with.  So we have been working hard, but not seeing too many numbers from the efforts.  Numbers and blessings will come I know that! 

This week we had 2 things.  Stake Conference, and Transfer Calls (those were this morning)...   Stake Conference was Great!  We had Brother McConkie, from the General Sunday school Presidency here, and he was Excellent!  We were taught so much about the call of teaching... not only investigators, but to our families, and within our church callings.  It was great to hear from him, and to feel of his and the brethren's love for us.
I was also called this morning by my Mission President!  Which means that I'll be spending time in Crawfordsville, training a new missionary!  I am pretty excited... the nerves have not really kicked in yet, nor the realization that this boys entire mission experience can and will change with my efforts in helping him get adapted to the life of the work. 

It's cool that miracles happen!  Thanks for all the care and concern about the tooth... I pulled out the last stitch today, they were supposed to dissolve but they were driving me nuts so i just pulled them.  My joint swelling is back...  I think that will mean more trips to different doctors to find out what is causing the swelling in my feet, knees, and wrists.  I'm always asked if I'm in pain, and i have not yet felt pain associated with them, but more of an annoyance of pressure, or in the best words i can muster, it feels different.  I hope they have an answer for me.

Well it's been such an honor to serve with Elder Magleby...  He's going to be leaving the area, and he's a little bummed about it.  It's such a great ward, and it's going to be hard for him to leave such wonderful friends and people behind.  He's doing great, and is I hope ready for a Senior Companion role here in the mission... I don't know yet if he'll get that assignment. 

OOOOH!!!!   Sweet Story!

OK, you may remember a story a few months ago from my 2nd area... Logansport.   Right before I got transferred we started teaching a lady (Connie) that was a referral from a member out in Arizona...  The member was a Nurse for a man who was dying, and one of his daughters (Connie) came out for the last moments of his life, and that lady lived in Logansport....  Well Connie said on our first meeting that she was planning a fall trip out to SLC for Conference... Well I talked with Elders after Stake Conference was over, and they said that she went, was able to see all 4 sessions, and came home with a Temple Dress!  WHAT!!?!?!?!?   So Stinkin AWESOME!   She has totally received a witness that this church is true, and is  going to be baptized soon, she doesn't have a date yet, but is working on that!   It's so neat to see that a few of the people in whom I've come in contact with are starting to join the church, or are progressing in their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! 

Well other than that more will come next week when I have a new companion, and I hope a few miraculous stories to share from his first week! 

I love you all and hope all is well out west! 

Love Elder Rees

October 24, 2011

MIRACLES,  MORE STITCHES, AND BLOOD!!

In the spirit of Halloween which is fast approaching I'm sending this email with all the gruesome details of my last week here in the mission field!  

Monday...  I had noticed some swelling in my feet and ankles, and was having really sharp pain in my heel in the middle of the night, enought that it would wake me up, and it was really hard to sleep well.   I was also feeling the pain as we walked and stood on doorsteps... standing still made it so much worse!     There is a family here that has taken such good care of us, me especially, and he's a nurse and recommended I contact Sister Collins and have a Dr. check me out.   There were some fears that my heart wasn't properly functioning or that my kidneys were not working....  (very early prognosis).  Well we went a few more days and just hoped it would disappear. 

Wednesday...  TOOTH DOOMSDAY!!!   Well we traveled to Indy to have my tooth extracted!  It was a very nervous time for me... I felt more nervous than I did the first time I had my tooth pulled...  We got to the Dr. office and they take me back.   He didn't charge me for another Xray, and as I looked at the screen I could notice a very good difference!   My 1st Xray is from April, and you can easily see that the bone around the implant is missing, and is receeding up my implant.  The Xray from wednesday was much improved... you can see that the bone line was closer to where it needed to be, and looked a lot more healthy... So i bring it up!  I asked the Dr what he thought of the X rays, and said he noticed the difference as well.  We talked about treatment, and still felt that taking the tooth out was the best option, it had already been infected 2 times, and it was more than likely going to happen again, and would result in me losing more bone structure.  I also wanted to get the process started because of the insurance that i'm going to be losing in March and want to take advantage of that while I can.  Well he starts the surgery and made a rather large diagnal cut up my gums in order to see the full bone structure on the front side of my tooth... We poked, pulled, prauded, and tugged, and soon said "NOPE"!  I'm not going to take this out!   I sat there just in awe!  After opening up  the gums and noticing just how well improved the health of the site was he didn't feel comfortable taking out a healthy implant.  I know MIRACLES happen, and I thank all of you for your prayers, and putting my name in the Temple!  Those little things helped to heal my tooth (at least for now) and have helped me have an easier mission!  So here are the pictures!  Here are my stitches, Hallie I can totally sympathize!   And a few pictures of my X Rays... I took these from my camera so i hope they turn out well!  

FRIDAY:  Back to INDY!!!  So I mentioned earlier that my feet were swelling... well it moved to both feet, and to both knees, and to both hands and wrists!   It was time to see a DR.  I went to the closest Urgent Care, and they asked me all sorts of questions and ruled out Arthritis, and a Change in daily medication...  Which now meant they didn't have any idea without doing more tests...  So back came the nurse and had a full tray of Vials for my BLOOD!!   Well out came about 8 vials, and off they went to the Lab...   All came back negative...  Save for one... I was having an Allergic Reaction....  when I asked what they didn't have any idea about that, but it was good to know that I didn't have any major health issues, but was just allergic to something...   I may never know what it was. 

SO now i'm left with Dissolveable stitches in my gums, and I'm taking steroids for swelling, and Antibiotics to help me heal... 2 trips to the pharmacy, 2 to different doctors, and we still managed to make it to church this week!  

Oh what a week!

Thank you all for your love support and prayers!  They work!  Miracles happen, and I know our Heavenly Father know's and Loves us more than we can comprehend, and is waiting to bless us with the things our hearts desire! 

October 17, 2011

Well this is maybe the only time in the mission, that I'll have 2 baptisms in 1 transfer, and more than likely that I'll have 2 baptisms in consecutive weeks! 

Danny was baptized this weekend, and it was so awesome....  Well kind of stressful but awesome.   We told Danny to be to the church by about 5:30, so that we could do some rehearsals, and to get him into a jumpsuit...  Well we should have told him 5:00 pm.... The service started at 6, and we were still waiting for him to show up at 6:05...  So a few frantic phone calls, and we soon found out that he's on the way, and he was there in just a few minutes after that...  We got him dressed, and went right in to start to listen to the talks...  We dunked him, Elder Magleby was honored to do that, and then dressed and back in for the talk on confirmation. 

You would think that after being late for his own baptism, his confirmation would be a different story... NOPE...  9:08 he walked in the door... :)  It sure made the bishopric nervous... :)  I just laughed, and had faith!    So here is a picture of Danny, and his dad Tom, they are such great people super nice, and very caring.  They come from a Gypsy background, and have some of the greatest accents ever... for instance... the word "that"  is "tat"  "they"  "tey"  I laugh every time!  They seem like such mobsters! 

Very cool week!   We have been so blessed to be finding 5 new investigators this week as well that makes up for the 2 which we baptized!  We are working hard, and are preparing this are for the next missionaries to come in and have success too...  That is if we get transferred in 2 weeks...  we'll see. 

We also got to go on a tour of a Tank Museum here in Indiana!   it was awesome!  We got to go inside of one of the big artillery tanks, and check out the periscope and the knobs and buttons, and look in the scopes, sit in the drivers seat, pretend to be in combat, and overall just be kids in a Tank Museum!   We had the whole place to ourselves and it was a good thing...  We touched things that we maybe weren't supposed to... .but how often am i going to be in a tank museum, and have an opportunity to see, and feel genuine world war 2 era weapons and artifacts!?    (I'm sending a separate email with all of those pictures!)

We have had a great week, and it may help prepare us for this week.  I'm going to have my tooth pulled and it's going to be a trial for sure...  I have always enjoyed being busy while here on the mission and it makes me nervous to have some down time.  It makes me feel like a "jack" missionary. 

Since I'm titling this post 2x2... all good things come in pairs...  I was offered a daughter the other day, and apparently she's going to be writing me... SWEET!  And the other day at dinner there was a lady that offered to have her Niece write me as well...  SWEETER!   But the SWEETEST thing was that these two sisters in the ward, for some reason were talking about me and it got brought up that they had both recruited people to write me, turned out to be an interesting conversation about, no my daughter's going to write him, and no, my niece is going to write him.....  I hope i don't lose out on both letters!  :)    All good things come in twos! 

I'm also struggling with a bit of a cold... I don't feel sick, but have a runny congested nose, a scratchy throat, and a bit of a cough... I'll stock up on some medicine at the Walmart today.  Also My ankles have been swelling up a bunch lately...  Tons of walking and I've never had any problems but for some reason lately the pain is real, and the swelling makes standing at doorsteps pretty uncomfortable... I may buy some new insoles for my shoes...

Well now I'm just rambling.  I love you all, and can't wait to get a few letters! 

Thank for all the emails! 

Love Elder Rees

Current Address

Elder Dallin Rees
402 S. Washington St. #2
Crawfordsville, IN 47933

October 12, 2011

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!  not sure how often my blog is being updated so i'm including you in this email.... but feel free to check out other weeks at www.dallininindiana.blogspot.com

 

 

OK, this could be the biggest post EVER!  Or one that includes the most information/stories! 

 

OK, lets start with the Pictures! 

 

This week we were so blessed to have a baptism, we baptised a little girl named Alea!  Her family is so great, and I've really become good friends with them, and it's been great to help them get over a few things that were holding them back from coming to church and to help Alea get baptized!  I was able to give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost!  It was so cool to be apart of that.   It completed one of my goals for my mission: to find, teach, and Baptize all in 6 weeks!  It was so great to help this family become active again, and help Alea be baptized! 

 

 

 

We had 2 lessons with them this week, and one of the lessons we were coming home and I see these little beady eyes on the side of the road....  OPOSSUM!   I have made a vow early on in my mission that if I ever had the chance to kill an opossum on side of the road/roadway, I'd take them out.  They are super creepy!   SO as we approach this animal, I have not yet discovered what it is, but we are driving toward it, and instead of running across the street, it runs away from us!   Stupid animal!  all i had to do was line it up with the drive side tires and then...... THUMP THUMP!!  :)   This was the night where my District Leader was with me, he came on exchange to perform Alea's baptismal interview.... So I'm driving see this opossum, and hit it, and am waiting to see if he's going to get mad at me for hitting it.... or what his reaction would be.... so I'm sitting there kind of cringing to see what is going to happen next and he starts laughing uncontrollably, and makes us turn around and take pictures!  I didn't have my camera so i can't add any to this email, but needless to say it was awesome!  We had a BIG Laugh, and a journal entry for sure!

 

OK, on a more serious note, we met a lady a few weeks ago on the street and she expressed some interest in getting closer to God, she then showed us her arms.... She's a cutter, and slices open her wrists in order to take away some of the emotional pain she's feeling....  kind of scary!    We a few days ago we get a call from her... and she leaves us a voicemail, in the message she's crying, and going on and on about how she feels, and how she wants to feel better, how she needs help, and wants us to show her that we can help her...  She said she wanted to die, and was so lonely, but then said no, i don't want to die....  The phone went silent, and then we heard "here i go."  We were only a few blocks away from her house, and we took off on foot that direction...  We called her back and got through, I calmly asked if she'd hurt herself, and she said she'd cut her wrist open, and needed help...  We walked a little faster now.  We called a member and had him meet us at her house.  We got in and her arm was cut, but by this point wasn't bleeding and may have only needed a few stitches to keep it together....   I applied some pressure to her arm, while my companion and the member gave her a blessing of comfort...  We calmed her down and got her permission to call for some help.   Police, and Ambulance arrive, and take her away to get medical attention....  We filled out a report, and have not been back since... but are hopefully going to go by today and see how she's doing...     Crazy right!?

 

Cool story number 3.

 

We were driving in a neighboring town, and saw a little old lady tossing logs into the back of a truck.  We didn't have any appointments so we stopped to offer some help which we were glad she allowed us to.  There was a man there also using a big log splitter to split up the remains of an old tree.  These stumps were HUGE!!  The man was in his 60's maybe, and had had a stroke, so his right side was useless... His arm was in a sling, and his leg was in a brace.  He had about a 50 word vocabulary, but he was so strong!  He used his left arm to wrangle the logs into place and then hold them with his good leg, and pull down the hydraulic press...  We stayed there for several hours in our white shirts and suit pants to help them!   SO MUCH FUN!   It took the 2.5 of us to get the logs into place and help get them split.  We were in the right place at the right time, and it was so much fun to help out strangers and to split wood!  I explained I've missed out on the wood work this year while being here so it was good to be there and be able to help!

 

See a SUPER busy week, a fun week, and kind of a crazy week!  But so many blessings came from this week, and we are excited to have another baptism this Weekend too! 

 

His name is Danny, and he's so great!   He's been ready for baptism for a while, and is excited to get wet, and make that covenant with God. 

 

Well I've got to run I'm running out of time here in the library!

 

Love you all,  Remember God loves you and Will answer your prayers

 

Love Elder Rees

Media

Hey so we are part of a new Media Blitz by the church, and are encouraged to get familiar with www.mormon.org and really use that more and more in our missionary efforts. 

 

CHALLENGE:  Get to know the people of mormon.org, by watching the 3 minute video profiles!  They are short, but so powerful!  You will feel the spirit! 

 

Also Make your own profile for you to share your testimony with those around you! 

 

I'll soon have my profile up, and will point you all to it so you can see what i'm talking about, but go to the website, and check out a few of the profiles on your own!  

 

Love you all

 

Love Elder Rees

October 3, 2011

Has it really been 8 months?!  General Conference was here again!  What a wonderful time!  I truly do love being able to listen to the General Authorities, and other officers of the church.  The spirit was so strong in the sessions, and being able to sit and listen to the Prophets voice is such a wonderful blessings that millions of other human beings don't even realize they have that honor and right as well.  I have realized I need to be a Bolder Missionary, and truly proclaim with vigor, and with sincerity that Christ Lives, and that he works through His servant the Prophet.  Also super neat is that Wyoming is getting a TEMPLE!!  It's too bad it's not in the Bridger Valley, but I guess Star valley works too! 

 

This week:  I'm trying to think if there was anything cool that happened or if it was just another week...  We get to teach people all the time that make me glad I'm living the commandments.  One guy who weighs 97 pounds... He has a disease that was contracted from drinking and smoking for 45 years....  He's going to die, very soon, and it won't be peaceful or painless.  Another person, pays 4 child supports, and now doesn't have a paycheck....  We then get all those messages in conference to live the law of chastity, and the word of wisdom, so that we aren't "bound" by satans chains, which lead to destruction, and hell, it's so visible to me. 

 

Um, I'm going to the Dentist today, to have a flipper made once again.  I'm pretty bummed I have to be toothless once again, but it will be good to get some of that work done before I no longer have insurance. 

 

We have a baptism this Saturday!  WOOOHOOO!!  I found out last night I'm going to be the one who gets to confirm!  That's crazy!  It will be the first one that I'll perform while on the mission.  It's such a blessing!  Their family needed us.  Not other missionaries, but us.  For some reason they needed our personalities to help them get back to full activity in the church and to help their daughter get baptised!  Really fun! 

 

Well other than that, we are in need of people to teach, we have dropped several of the people that aren't progressing, and it's really intimidating to look at your teaching pool, and see only 4 names, 2 of which don't meet regularly, and the other 2 are getting baptized this month... 

 

Well i love you all, and am glad to hear that things are still going well out west!  It was kind of hard to see the scenes of SLC on conference and not feel a little flutter of "oh i miss that" but those things soon pass.

 

I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week, 

Love Elder Rees

September 26, 2011

This Week:  In a Word.... LONG! 

I'm now beginning to understand what it means when RM's say that a mission is the Hardest thing they have ever done in their lives...  It is tough sometimes.  It's tough to do the right thing, it's even tougher to know what it is you are doing is the right thing...  We plan, we study, we attempt to teach, we plan more, we study more, we re-evaluate, we re-plan, we study, we walk, and walk, and walk.... (I'd like riding a bike, but..... I'm a nice senior companion), we get anti church people trying to save us...   Which by the way, I love... :)  There are too many times when people seem to think that by asking us if we've read the bible, that the Book of Mormon will magically go away, and if we read the bible we'll understand the Book of Mormon is false.... ???    All the Negative in the world that surrounds the church is just another testimony that it's true!  We get to see the MOST opposition from Satan, and we sure don't see him out to destroy other churches or other peoples faith.  So with all of that planning and walking, studying, and talking, we should yield some success in the future weeks.   On that note, we do actually have 2 baptisms coming up!  :)  One is with an amazing 10 year old little girl, who we truly were blessed and prepared to meet.  She is the only remaining member of her family to get baptized, and she is so ready!  She sits in Primary and just knows all the answers and runs circles around the other kids in there.  Missionaries have known about this part member family for some time, and we were the ones that got in the door, and are blessed to see the baptism.  It all happens in the Lords time, and I'm so glad that He's blessing us with some of his choicest.  The other Baptism is an investigator, who all of his family also has been baptised, but more recently.  We have been able to help him get to know the gospel so much better, and have really helped him overcome a few things in the past few weeks.  Satan is working hard on this one, and it will be a stretch to get him wet the 15th.... 

Life as a missionary is getting better, I'm understanding a little bit more about why I'm here, and figuring things out by making mistake,s and struggling a little bit, but that is how we grow.  I'm also really excited to be able to participate in General Conference, there are so many blessings that are found in those words...  A Girl in the Seminary class here said this: "so it's like you listen to what God would have you know and learn for the next 6 months..."  So simple, profound and True! 

Challenge:  Make sure you prepare yourself for Conference!  This is the time where God answers Prayers!  Revelation will come.  Each one of us is working on something, and I KNOW that in the 10 hours of General Conference there will be something said that will help you.  God will answer your prayers through His Servants the Prophets.   Go into conference with a question on your mind, and it WILL get answered! 

I love you all, and appreciate all the Love, and Letters! 

Till next week! 

Love Elder Rees

September 19, 2011

ELDERS IN THE CORN!!

OK, Well it's Harvest Season, and the Corn is as big as it's going to get.  There are Corn Fields EVERYWHERE!!!  I mean really they are all over, they get squeezed in, in the most crazy places.  Well the Corn in mostly all dried out, and it's time to harvest.  The type of corn here is not used for eating, but more for Feed, and for Ethanol....  but before it went away for the year i figured I'd better snap a few pictures and really show you all just how big the corn can be.  So here are 2 pictures that i hope will show you just how tall the stalks are!  Well over 10 Feet!  and then another (sunset one) to show you the contrast with the corn field, and a field next to it (soybeans, also everywhere). 

 

 

Well Today was transfer calls, and we are Both going to be staying for at least another 6 weeks.  Elders in the past have spent a lot of time here...  One elder was here for 9 months of his mission, so there is a possibility that I'll get to be one of those, ( i sure hope not, i like moving).  We sat down with the bishop yesterday, and expressed our love for the ward, and our desire to help as much as we can, and I'm sure it's going to pay off.  We have been pointed in the right direction as far as people to go and try by, and people to start to work on as far as re-activating.  One of those families is a Part member family, where the 10 year old daughter isn't a member.  We were able to meet with her 2 times and have set a baptismal date of 10/8/2011, we are so excited to be a part of her special day.  This girl is so smart, and the family is the most "active" Less actives I've ever met.  They all have solid testimonies, and are keeping all of the commandments, but have allowed a simple offense to take them away from renewing their covenants on a regular basis.  They are a wonderful family.  We got to help unload a few hundred bales of hay, and I loved it.  I want to be a farmer... (only for a few hours, then I'll be bored). 

 

Life here is good, there are so many people that are here that have expressed some interest in having us come back and to teach them.  I hope and pray that, that wonderful blessing of being a full time teacher will continue.  I'm beginning to enter a different phase of missionary work....  For the first 6 months I've been concerned with getting to know the What to do, and now I'm wanting to learn more and more the How, and Why? of missionary work.  There are so many times i want to understand the process, and not just go out and "do work."  It's been good to have Zone Leaders, and District Leaders who are here to help me in my understanding. 

 

My companion is great, we are working hard, and are being blessed.  Thank you for your letters, emails, and pictures!  It's really great to see all of your families, and see just how big everyone is getting. 

 

I hope you enjoy the pictures of your missionary in Indiana.  There are so many times i wish i had my camera, but am missing it.  The Sunsets out here are amazing, and my little camera just doesn't do the colors justice. 

 

The time here is Flying BY!!!  I look at the calendar and it's almost at month 8 for me....  I now only have 3 more transfers till my year mark! WOW! 

 

Oh, other good news:  54-10  FOR THE U!!    I must say my Sunday morning got very good when our Ward mission leader picked us up for church and said he was tired because he was watching the game...  the words of a hymn came to my mind "oh how lovely was the morning, radiant beamed the sun above."  Oh, good times.  There are so many BYU fans here so it was great, I only wish i would have wore my red tie to church to show my true colors.  

 

Well Got to run, I love you all, and appreciate all of your prayers and love and concern.  

 

Love Elder Rees   

September 12, 2011

So here is a little bit of the Mishawaka landscape! 

  

So there is a little river walk behind our apartment, it made for some good pictures.  I also have a picture of our house, we lived in one of the apartments, but this is a huge mansion that we were living in. 

 

 

Life in Mishawaka was fun, but i'll be sending some pictures of that a little bit later! 

 

 

LIfe in the mission is fun and busy, no real new stories to share.   At least none that i think are worth sharing..

 

Love you all and hope to hear from you soon!

 

 Love Elder Rees

 

I would love to hear from YOU!!!

Send me an email at...
dallin.rees@myldsmail.net

September 6, 2011

SUPER BUSY!~
OK, so with a Double Emergency Transfer we have been super busy!  We have been going around like crazy trying to get to know as many people as possible.  There are so many things that I'm neglecting as a senior companion and feel like I'm forgetting to enjoy the work.  We have met several people this week who are very promising, but then we went to one today, and she asked us not to come back...?  We saw her looking over her shoulder as if her husband would have beat her if he knew we were there.... Sad.  But what can we do. 

We have been welcomed so much by the ward, and have really loved getting to know the people here.  They are so strong in the church and in there testimonies.   With the holiday yesterday we are emailing today, and we should have come this morning, but we are now here and struggling with time to get this done.   Sorry this email will be so scattered. 

Good news: we set a baptismal date with one of our investigators for 9/1/2011, we are excited and as long as he shows up for church on Sundays we'll be good to get him wet!  He has a a really strong testimony and we are excited to help him make that covenant.  We have been working hard to get to know some of the Less actives, and the Part member families in the ward, and there are several whom we can make appointments with, and help others get baptised as well.  We are hoping to set more baptismal dates in the very near future, as long as agency doesn't get in the way...  (teasing).

Well next week I'll be sending some pictures via email, i got a converter that will help me upload pictures on any computer so it will be great to send some and save on printing them out. 

Well sorry this is going to be so short!  We have NO TIME!!!  EVER!  We have been blessed with many new contacts, but we simply need them to keep appointments, and then we'll really count our blessings. 

Love Elder Rees


This is the pet I want when I get home.

Me with the "Spirit"

Our car after our wreck!

August 29, 2011

Ben Hur...Really?

Hey Friends and Family!

Welcome to Crawfordsville, Claim to fame is "Ben Hur" really go look it up!  Right here in my little town.  Other cool things, Wabash College for men.... an all boys private college.... Apparently it's pretty prestigious, but I hadn't heard of it, it has about 900 guys that attend. 


Ooooh, there is also found here 2 of the Biggest Anti-LDS churches in the world here.  They make annual trips to Manti for the pageant, and i think some even go to SLC for conference.  I got to talk to one the other day... He asked me about Joseph Smith's 29 wives, and how 11 of them had other husbands that weren't dead, and how come i followed a prophet who had committed adultery....    It's going to be a fun transfer, and I'm going to learn a lot about Anti material. 

I'm now Serving with Elder Magleby.  He's from Provo UT, and has been out Exactly the same amount of time as me!  That's right We were in the same MTC District together.  He's great!  He's a totally different missionary from the MTC.  He used to fall asleep in class, and now he's so Obedient, and motivated, and really loves the work.  We are going to work hard together, and get along pretty good. 

We did get Emergency transferred in, but for reasons that are unknown to me.  All we were told is that the past missionaries weren't working well as a companionship, and that a change had to be made immediately... So we both got moved in here. 

We have been here for less than a week, and it's going pretty well!  We have a wonderfully supportive ward, and bishopric, and we have several people who are prepared for baptism, or will be soon.  2 of them are non members that are attending Early morning Seminary, and have already started to refer to themselves as "members."  It's going to be great to help them progress even more in the Gospel.

We had Zone Conference with Elder Robbins from the Seventy.  He gave a talk last General Conference about having a "to Be" list.... I recommend reading and IMPLEMENTING a To Be list!  It will help you so much.  If you are struggling with anything, focus more on the Christlike attributes that you can improve upon and learn more about and you'll find yourself having more success and will be happier. 

Apparently there is some crazy weather happening out east?  We don't hear anything so keep me posted with some of the headlines.

Life as a missionary is Great, Going senior companion has been a struggle and a blessing.   There have been so many times already where I've felt and increased feeling of the spirit, and have tried my best to follow those promptings.  It's amazing to feel this way, and to have the help from God about what we should do or say.   We have so much work to do here to get the area back into shape, and to help the people here as best we can, but we do have a few Perfect Beings on our side that are doing more of the work than we realize. 

Got to Run,

Welcome little Morgan Middleton!  Cutest little M&M Ever! 

Keep reading!  Study Preach My Gospel, there are so many things in there that will help you through your struggles!

Love Elder Rees

August 22, 2011

Farewell Mishawaka

Hey I'm including a few extra people today, just in case some of you aren't around a computer you can get this and see what is going on.

Well today is my final  P Day in Mishawaka...  Wow, i was expecting about 5 more...  I found out Sunday night that I'm going to be moving to Crawfordsville as part of an Emergency Transfer situation.  I'm not sure what happened with the Elders there, but they are now gone, and Myself and another Elder I came out with will be double transferred into that area on Wednesday...  So i have 2 days to pack and get some things in order. 

So if you have a letter hold on to it for a week or send it to the Mission home address, which i know has been posted in one of the first blog posts so go back and look it up, or wait till next p day and I'll have my new address.

Mom, thanks for the Banana bread, it got a little disfigured, but not too bad, and I had another Elder eat some, he said it's the best he's had, regardless of what it looked like....  It really did keep its form pretty well in the mail system.  Jodi and Mandy, thanks for the package!  It was great!  the Scentsy's stuff was perfect.  I brought a bottle out, and my companion loved it, and to have 2 more "man" smells is going to be great!   The treats were awesome too! 

I'm sad to be leaving my Companion Elder Eames.... We have had so many good times, but I have learned so much from him, and am so glad to have been blessed to be his companion.

This last week we faced so much opposition....  We went into visit a few members, and an investigator in 2 separate apartment complexes, and we were harassed by workers of those complexes for "no soliciting" but they can't stop us from visiting people we already know, or people who are members of our church, but they are just a pain, and frustrate us.  We also went tracting in an are we have not been in before, and we started to approach a house, we were still on the neighbors sidewalk, and the gentleman in the house we were going towards comes out of his house with a baseball bat on his shoulder, and said "Don't even think about it!"  I don't entirely know what he thought it is we do.... but i guess he doesn't like to meet new people.  We froze in our tracks, and he pointed the baseball bat away from his house, and said "that way, now!"  My companions frustrations came out, "A Simple no would have worked"  HAHAHA oh man, We talked about it later, and we wanted to go back and start preaching in his street, i mean really what was he going to do hit us?  We have a cop in our bishopric... We'd have so many police there and he'd have our Mission President (lawyer) to thank for the few nights in jail.  Hahaha So many could have's in that story, but we were safe, and left chuckling to ourselves.  You always get the best stories while tracting. 

We haven't had very many "yes please come back" type of responses lately, mainly we just get "no, I'm catholic, baptist, Pentecostal, or something"  There are a few "Super Churches" here.... I'm talking they are as big as shopping malls, and have services for all different types of people... Great and Spacious buildings, with slides that lead into classrooms (really they have one) and slides that lead others away from the True Gospel, and order of God. 

Anyway.... This week is full of changes, so I'll for sure keep you all posted.   I'm glad to see little Opal made it safe!  She's So Cute!  I hope Tiff's delivery goes as well!

Mom i did go to a Dr here in South Bend, but because of the move i won't be going back... you may see some info come through insurance for a 75.00 consultation fee... I paid cash, so if they (insurance) gives a refund then just deposit it.

I found out I'll be about 9 months with out a tooth, and will have a Fantastic Flipper again.... UGH, I will miss not being about to enunciate words...  But such is the life.  The xray shows my bone loss is about half way up my implant...  And they'll have to bore out the rest... Really they have a round drill bit that will cut around the implant i think of a saw that cuts can lights out for ceilings.... something that i didn't need to hear about before the procedure, but it will be all good.


Well more to come later, when i get moved and settled! 

Love you all, Keep those Nieces and Nephew safe! 

Keep going to church all of you!

Love Elder Rees

August 15, 2011

Well this week has been good!  We only have about 40 minutes to email today.... We have a member taking us out to lunch, so we have very limited time today.  This week has been great!  We have been trying to get our area moving again...  It seems that the few weeks following a baptism the other areas of missionary work go down... such as we no longer have an investigator at church, but a new member, and we no longer are teaching investigators, but Recent converts.  So our numbers go down a little bit, but it's good because we are still helping out the ward and those around us.  We haven't had anything really exciting happen, no car wrecks... a few close calls while on our bikes :) people don't usually watch for us, but we are quick. 

It's amazing here... There are so many people that have a belief in Jesus Christ, but won't listen...  I wonder if some of Christ's miracles such as healing the blind or the deaf, meant that he opened they eyes and ears of those around Him...?  Just a thought.  We don't often find people who don't have a faith, but this week we did.  We met a nice young lady, 28ish, and she has 4 kids, and no husband.  Her fiance died tragically before they got married, and now she is just mad at God.  She has never set foot in a church, and gets most of her understanding of God, and Prayer and Religion from TV....  Great source right?   We knew we'd need to go slow and really teach her the basics.  She wanted to go into our church and confess all of her sins, and get things off her chest to someone who wouldn't judge her, but we don't really do that with our bishops...  I wouldn't want to do that to a bishop.  But we did teach her about prayer, and the healing power of being able to talk with God openly, and seek his help, what an amazing blessing I've taken for granted so many times in my life.  We followed up with her a few days later and she said she'd tried praying and that she felt so much better afterwards.  It's a small testimony, but a foundation nonetheless.  She'll be a slow convert if she fully accepts this, but she is willing to try things, and more importantly we are simply allowing the Spirit to testify to her that this is true.  I'm realizing more and more that we are only here to create the opportunity for  the spirit to testify, it's not us that does the teaching. 

We have Presidents interviews this week, and the week after we have Zone Conference.  We get to hear from Elder Robbins of the Seventy.  It will be great to have a General Authority from the Church here to teach us.  

Well got to run this is a busy day!  

Well it's about time to leave!  Till next week and with love

Elder Rees

August 8, 2011

6 Months...

Well 6 Months finally came, and went!  It wasn't as cool as you may think.  A big milestone like this really made me look back and think about the last 6 months, and what I have accomplished as a missionary.  I also get to think about my goals that I set/ thought about when, when I first started, and how I'm doing on those.  I came out kind of frustrated not really thinking too much about changing myself but more about all of the things that I struggle with... My companion and I talked about it a lot last night, and we realized that I tend to compare myself to those around me.... and how well they are doing is how well i should be doing.  My mind doesn't comprehend the fact that most I'm comparing myself to are almost going home.  It's hard for me not to compare myself to others, and feel like I'm falling short. 

I know that my purpose as a missionary is Simply to Invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the Restored Gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ, and his atonement, Repentance, baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy ghost and Enduring to the End.  It's simple...  INVITE!  6 months in, and I've seen wonderful success already, sure it's not a Brazil mission where you get blessed with tons of baptisms... I don't think they ever drain their fonts.... but I've seen the miracles of people accepting this message and being happier!  I get too caught up in the logistics of being a missionary that I forget to have fun, and do missionary work. 

So yes, sorry that was a tangent i didn't want to go to but i did...   So how did i celebrate my 6 month mark... Well lets go to 8/1/2011.... 1 week ago, we started celebrating the day before...  By getting into a car wreck!  We were just so excited we just pulled right out into oncoming traffic.  :)   No actually here is the story, we were going to the church for some P day activities, and we were pulling out of our house, but couldn't see because there were cars parked on the street.  We were super careful too!  We waited and watched for cars for a few minutes and thought we were clear to head East, but a car headed west was hidden, and hit us!  Our car got the front end essentially taken off, and we were left sitting there facing the opposite direction...  She was going about 35, and we were just pulling out.  We were lucky we weren't further out in the road or we would have been broadsided, and that would have caused much more injury to us and to the other driver... who was OK too by the way.  

8/2/2011 was the official 6 month mark, and it was fun.  I was on exchange with another Elder, who came out with me, so it was fun to have both of us take pictures and burn ties together!  His name is Elder Pachner, (Pock ner)  he's from California.  Celebrations are now continuing today, because my companion and I get to stay together for another 6 weeks!  It's Great!  it's the first time on my mission that i don't get to go to transfer meeting.  It's going to be great!  Not only do we get along super well but we are learning a lot from each other, and are making great strides here in our area.   We are anticipating a few more baptisms this transfer 5 hopefully!!!  So that would be so fun if they all progressed and worked out that well! 

Well i don't have much time, Life here is good, and I'll keep you all informed with my tooth issues, and I'll try and send pictures home soon.   I need to get an attachment for my SD card so i can email pictures home, but maybe another time!  

Love you all, things are great! 

Love Elder Rees

Aug. 1, 2011

Blessings and Trials,
So I'm going to start out today and share that I've started the Book of Mormon over again!  I finished it a few weeks ago, and have spent some time studying in the Bible, which is good, but I was missing the Book of Mormon so I started over.  It is amazing how simple little principles are now jumping out.

For instance:  Lehi is taught in a vision about the destruction of Jerusalem, and is commanded from God to go out and to teach the people the Gospel.  Call them to repentance, and to keep them from being destroyed.  He is obedient to those commands, but is chased out of town, is threatened, and doesn't see any success!  HMMMMM..... Sounds familiar.  But he was diligent and obedient none the less.  Now because of his obedience, he's given a warning, and was commanded to leave with his family, and tent, to head out to the wilderness, which some people may see as a trial, which it is, but what a blessing to remove yourself from the temptations of the world, and be saved!  Laman and Lemuel were obedient, but for the wrong reason....  You see them begrudgingly obey the commands of their father.  You see Nephi valiantly accept the commandments, and performs them out of love for his father, and God, thus receiving the blessings his elder brothers forfeit because of their attitude of obedience. 

I then get to see that with other missionaries, and people in general.  Be Obedient to the commandments of God!  We can do it with a happy and willing attitude and be blessed with all the blessings our Heavenly Father has, or we can be obedient for the wrong reasons, and miss out on all the growth and blessings in store for those who accept it.   We may not always see the blessings of our work right off hand, we may feel like we are wandering in the desert for 9 years, sleeping in tents, and eating little food, but we are better off than being in captivity, being drug down to hell by the chains of satan.

Trials.....  My Tooth is infected once again...  Which means my Implant i had put in before I left, will now have to be pulled, and I'll once again live with a flipper...  This = Trial. 

Blessings:  We had a wonderful baptism this week, and we are finding more and more people to teach.  We also are helping others understand our purpose, and helping them think about the messages we share.  The more questions we can raise in other peoples heads, the more the spirit has an opportunity to work on their hearts and minds to help them accept the messages we share.  What a blessing that is!  It's also a blessing not to have a full time job!  :)  To worry about money or rent or car payments, i love this simpler life of being a missionary.  I love going to homes and having kids freak out because there are visitors in their home that haven't seen all their tricks!  LOOK AT ME!!   Going into church and seeing an investigator!   Going into church and seeing a New Member be welcomed unanimously by the ward.  Those are just a few... 

I know that becoming a little more "Hoosier" and loosing a tooth will bring blessings!  I simply have to have the right attitude as Nephi did, and follow with faith!

Thank you all for your love, support, prayers, letters and packages!   It was great to have a letter from the Young's, full of sweet cards, and treats!  Got your letter too mom!  Thank you!

Well I love you all, and will have some pictures of my 6 month tie burning ceremony to share tomorrow! 

Love Elder Rees

July 25, 2011

2x4 Motivation...

We ate with the Vakalahi Family yesterday.  They have 2 missionaries out they are both in Ohio, the next state over, and are in the same mission, their mom won't write them.  i think it's a cultural thing, she seems to think that once they are out of the house they aren't her's anymore, Buut are the Lords and she doesn't need to talk to them or encourage them.  no letters, packages, nothing.  They are to focus on their mission.  She's a nice lady but don't tick her off or you get a 2x4 to the head!   Litterally her wooden spoon is a 2x4.   She does love her kids it's just she knows the blessings of complete service.  She spoils us though, that is how i know she loves her kids.  If her kids were to come home early from a mission, they don't come home....  They wouldn't have a home to come home to...  Kind of intense, but i appreciate her unyeilding values. 

So thank you for your love and care and for the support prayers, packages, letters, and all the love from home, they help me, 2x4's don't.

 

We are so excited, we have a baptism coming up this saturday!  It really has been a miracle!  He was once anti-mormon, and has had his heart softened and has instantly given up smoking, and has accepted all of the commandments that we have committed him to live.  He's amazing!  He truly has been prepared, and is going to make a great member.  Our only concern is that his wife may not be making the progress that he is, but we know that she wants to, but may not have the willpower to make it on her own. 

Other miracle:
We were out visiting members, there are always so many members that we don't know or get to meet, so we usually plan to go and meet members, often times we run into active members and now get to put a name with a face.  We went and knocked on a door of a member, they have 5 kids, 14 to 4, and are such a nice family, the mom is way active, but the dad isn't.  We knocked and the dad answered and said instantly come in we have a job for you to do. 
It turns out the just moments before our knock they (husband and wife) were talking about what to do for their sick daughter, she has a stomach issue, the doctors can't seem to figure out and it is preventing her from eating or drinking anything, and hasn't for the last couple of days.  The family asked if we could give her a blessing.  They were talking about seeking help from someone in the ward to come and perform the ordinance, because the husband isn't able to, and what a testimony to me that was.  Each night we plan, and are supposed to plan by the spirit, the spirit will teach you all things which ye should do, so we try and plan activities based upon the impressions of our mind and our heart.  That night was a testimony that we are following the spirit.  Not all the time do I feel that way, because people aren't home, or we find a lot of rejection, but that night, we were in the right place at the right time, and prepared to perform the right ordinance for that family.  we were able to teach them more about why we use oil, and the blessing that having the Priesthood in their home is.  Truly a miracle. 

The mission is going too fast!  I am loving this area, still trying to figure out where people are, it's a big city, and has tons of streets, something i'm not used to, but it's coming.  I have a wonderful companion, Elder Eames really is great!   He is thinking always of others, and is a wonderful example of leadership in the mission.  He just hit his 18 month mark, we are almost mirrored in time.  We laugh alot, but work hard, and are obedient!  what more can i ask for?

Something i'm starting, or want to start is to keep a little notebook with me, something small enough that can go into my pocket, and write down all the miracles that happen in the mission.  I've said it before but all you hear in homecoming talks are the miracles of missions, and it's something that i'm recognizing even more.  Miracles happen almost constantly, in your lives too, so keep track of them, value them for the tender mercies that they are!

We are in need of people to teach!  We are spending more time finding people, and are seeking more people to teach from Members.  It's a wonderful blessing to go to members and have them say, that their neighbors are good friends of theirs and have been asking questions, it has happened several times here and i realize that being at home that needs to be a bigger part of my life after my misison.  We fasted for people to find this week, what a blessing i know that will be.  We are excited to go out this week and witness even more miracles from our loving Father in Heaven. 

Well Thanks for your love and support, keep track of the miracles in your life, and renew your covenants! 

Love Elder Rees