Well I don't have much to write about today.
We have a General Authority coming to our mission this next week, the 19th. It should be fun, we are getting the whole mission together to listen to him.... He may be a Jr. Member of the 12, oh wait, in fact he is! Elder Anderson is coming and we are going to be able to listen to him for a few hours on Saturday morning. It's going to be really fun to have him in our mission.
We had Zone Conference this last week! It was very fun to be around President and Sister Collins. They are doing smaller zone conferences so it was our zone and the Muncie zone that met and were trained. They used to have 4 zones all together for them, but I like the smaller groups we get to be in. E. Jones and I prepared a training for the afternoon, and we were able to train our zone on helping people see the bigger picture of the gospel. All too often we meet people and they don't want to continue to meet with us, yet there isn't 1 spirit on this earth that didn't at one point choose this very plan, and we need to be able to remind that spirit inside of them that it's true. Sometimes we have to look at the box when we are putting a puzzle together!
We have seen a big jump in the progress and understanding of our own investigators over the last week as we have been able to apply the lesson we trained on. We have investigators that weren't really progressing decide that they want to share this message with other family and friends, and that means that their faith is growing and that they are gaining a testimony! It's fun to watch and be apart of.
Well last week I officially hit 15 months... kind of sad to think that there are only going to be 9 more of these.... It's hard to think back about how life was before the mission, and even more intimidating to think about how life could be after... Scary thoughts all around.
Well other than that, not much else is going on. We are prepping for a good week of teaching, and going on several exchanges with elders in our zone, and then mothers day is here, and call number 3 out of 4 will take place! Scary!? You have no idea what it's like to press send and call home.
I hope all is well and that life keeps going well for all of you!
Love Elder Rees
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
April 30, 2012
Hey Family!
Well, another beautiful day in the neighborhood. Really, the weather here has been great! One thing that I love here is the rain storms. There is great lightening, and thunder, and then you'll get absolute downpours! Days when it's raining I'm so glad to have a full time car!
Well we have been busy, and not so busy this week. I have emotionally and spiritually be doing so much better than a few weeks ago, and that has truly come because of the power of Prayer. I have for sure been lifted by prayers from family and friends back home, and here on the mission, and have realized more and more my lack of truly praying. I am very good at ordering food from a menu at a restaurant... I know how I like it, and will order food that will meet my needs and wants. I was approaching prayer in this way... Well those of you that have kids will know this principle, come dinner time, "I don't like this.... It's gross! I want Cereal" My prayers are/were much the same way. All i want is the sugary goodness of blessings, and not the crunchy vegetables that will help my body be stronger. Parents know what is going to be best for their kids, and God is no different. Trials are a way of growing! My prayers have been so much harder to do... They are now very hard work. I still struggle, and find myself placing orders some nights, but other times it's been amazing to feel the love of God come into my heart.
Here is an example of a neat thing that has happened because of prayer.
We are teaching a man that is on house arrest... His wife went back to work to support their 5 kids and him, but she was only working through a temp agency. The agency cancelled her job for at least a month. They were already behind on most bills, which is the first time this has ever happened in their lives together. He struggled to find a job because of his situation, and put it off and allowed their family to kind of squeak by, but now the situation became very real for them, they needed an income, or their electricity would be shut off, thereby turning off the home detention box, and he'd be in violation and would be sent to jail. He called us one night and expressed his frustration, and said it wouldn't be a good night for an appointment... I kindly said NO!, we are still coming over! To which he responded nicely, and welcomed us over. We discussed 1 Nephi 8, and reviewed the neat things contained in that chapter, and then came time for the closing prayer. He invited me to say it. So, I didn't hold back. It was a time when I truly felt that I was communicating with God, and from the moment I started I knew He was listening! A truly indescribable feeling. I opened up and called down blessings, that he'd find a job, and would be able to keep providing for his family, and that they could continue to see blessings and feel of the Holy Ghost more in their lives. We concluded the prayer, talked about the feelings of Joy, Peace, and Happiness we all felt.... obviously the spirit was there greatly! The next day we got a call in the evening from our investigator. He said he woke up, got online, made 1 phone call, and secured a job! He would be starting tomorrow, and that he was going to be able to pay his bills. Greater miracles worked out. In order for him to get to work he needed gas, but they also needed food... In some old clothes he found a gift card, and was able buy food with that for his family to make it through the week and was able to use the other money to pay for gas so he could travel to work. God is real. So are miracles, this is a great miracle! He hears and answers prayers. It's hard to describe the feelings of the spirit when praying, but we prayed according to the will of God. These are all righteous blessings that have resulted in an increased testimony of His existence. One of my most powerful experiences on the mission for sure.
I have to push myself every day to repeat the steps of actual communication with God, and not everyday is it this powerful, but I know it can be if needed.
Well best run!
Love you all!
Love Elder Rees
Well, another beautiful day in the neighborhood. Really, the weather here has been great! One thing that I love here is the rain storms. There is great lightening, and thunder, and then you'll get absolute downpours! Days when it's raining I'm so glad to have a full time car!
Well we have been busy, and not so busy this week. I have emotionally and spiritually be doing so much better than a few weeks ago, and that has truly come because of the power of Prayer. I have for sure been lifted by prayers from family and friends back home, and here on the mission, and have realized more and more my lack of truly praying. I am very good at ordering food from a menu at a restaurant... I know how I like it, and will order food that will meet my needs and wants. I was approaching prayer in this way... Well those of you that have kids will know this principle, come dinner time, "I don't like this.... It's gross! I want Cereal" My prayers are/were much the same way. All i want is the sugary goodness of blessings, and not the crunchy vegetables that will help my body be stronger. Parents know what is going to be best for their kids, and God is no different. Trials are a way of growing! My prayers have been so much harder to do... They are now very hard work. I still struggle, and find myself placing orders some nights, but other times it's been amazing to feel the love of God come into my heart.
Here is an example of a neat thing that has happened because of prayer.
We are teaching a man that is on house arrest... His wife went back to work to support their 5 kids and him, but she was only working through a temp agency. The agency cancelled her job for at least a month. They were already behind on most bills, which is the first time this has ever happened in their lives together. He struggled to find a job because of his situation, and put it off and allowed their family to kind of squeak by, but now the situation became very real for them, they needed an income, or their electricity would be shut off, thereby turning off the home detention box, and he'd be in violation and would be sent to jail. He called us one night and expressed his frustration, and said it wouldn't be a good night for an appointment... I kindly said NO!, we are still coming over! To which he responded nicely, and welcomed us over. We discussed 1 Nephi 8, and reviewed the neat things contained in that chapter, and then came time for the closing prayer. He invited me to say it. So, I didn't hold back. It was a time when I truly felt that I was communicating with God, and from the moment I started I knew He was listening! A truly indescribable feeling. I opened up and called down blessings, that he'd find a job, and would be able to keep providing for his family, and that they could continue to see blessings and feel of the Holy Ghost more in their lives. We concluded the prayer, talked about the feelings of Joy, Peace, and Happiness we all felt.... obviously the spirit was there greatly! The next day we got a call in the evening from our investigator. He said he woke up, got online, made 1 phone call, and secured a job! He would be starting tomorrow, and that he was going to be able to pay his bills. Greater miracles worked out. In order for him to get to work he needed gas, but they also needed food... In some old clothes he found a gift card, and was able buy food with that for his family to make it through the week and was able to use the other money to pay for gas so he could travel to work. God is real. So are miracles, this is a great miracle! He hears and answers prayers. It's hard to describe the feelings of the spirit when praying, but we prayed according to the will of God. These are all righteous blessings that have resulted in an increased testimony of His existence. One of my most powerful experiences on the mission for sure.
I have to push myself every day to repeat the steps of actual communication with God, and not everyday is it this powerful, but I know it can be if needed.
Well best run!
Love you all!
Love Elder Rees
April 23, 2012
Well Family and friends,
Here we are, another week has gone by and I'm still alive. Good news huh! hahah! Well I'm still serving in Cumberland ward, and now am serving with my "Brother" Elder S. Jones.
He was trained by Elder Eric Jones (jones and jones, i know right!?), and they were in Crawfordsville... so we have a few things to talk about. Elder Eric Jones then served as a Zone leader for a while, and then became My Trainer TOO, (hence he's my brother). Elder Jones is from the NW corner of Phoenix. He's got about 5 weeks left... he's a super missionary, and is my companion at this time for all the right reasons. I am so blessed to have him.
Well not much else has changed. Life is getting better, we have lost a bunch of our investigators due to their laziness, and them not making us a priority. It's kind of sad when people exercise their agency to make a choice that doesn't end in a covenant, but all we are allowed to do is invite. We are out to find those who are prepared right now to find the gospel. We are going to be stepping up our efforts with the members of the ward, and increase the spirit of missionary work in their lives.... It's starting to show that they are not too motivated. The bishop actually had us re-sing the rest hymn of "Put your shoulder to the wheel" because our first attempt was pitiful. Members and investigators alike have a hard time feeling welcomed in that ward, and i know that is something that we can help with.
My life the past 6 weeks was pretty hard. I didn't realize it but I was slacking in the work. I was allowing my companion to do everything and outshine me in every way, which then led to a hard few last weeks, and it made it very hard to function. As I talked with President Collins about a few things that were on my mind he helped me apply this tool, it can be applied to almost any trial, or temptation for that matter, and I can testify that having put it to work for the last week it is working:
I'm paraphrasing from memory....
We seem to approach our trials in a very head on way... As if there is a doorway to get through, and in that door way is a Giant, a man so large there is no way around him. So we gird up our loins, fresh courage take, arm ourselves with the armor of God, and get to the fight! We swing, jab, poke, slash, cut, thrust, stab, attack at full force, and eventually end up exhausted, and tired. Easily able to be knocked over by the smallest of temptations that Giant still has in his arsenal. The trick is to back up. We know that every step backwards is a success! Even if we only move a few inches or a few feet, we are moving away from that fight against the giant, and each step is a victory. We continue to step back until we manage to move ourselves out of range, but don't stop there, keep going backward until we see that giant as a small little speck on our horizon. The giant won't and can't follow us! We are now safe! The temptations of Satan are still there, but they are now so small and far away, we see them coming, and are able to push them aside very quickly. They no longer have effect.
As I once again reflect on his story, and parallel it with one Jodi sent me, it's easier to see that we aren't only stepping away from our giants, but we are stepping closer to the Lord. We look to him, turn your back to the giant and face the joy of the truly living the gospel.
I've had to do a lot of self reflecting these past few weeks, and it's been a joy to realize that I may not be as close to the Lord as I thought, and have a wonderful opportunity to put myself closer and closer to him by truly living his gospel... Faith, Repentance, Sacrament, and relying on the Holy Ghost!
I'm not out of reach from my giant yet, but I know I will be soon.
I love you all, and look forward to Mothers day when I can talk with some of you!
Love Elder Rees
Here we are, another week has gone by and I'm still alive. Good news huh! hahah! Well I'm still serving in Cumberland ward, and now am serving with my "Brother" Elder S. Jones.
He was trained by Elder Eric Jones (jones and jones, i know right!?), and they were in Crawfordsville... so we have a few things to talk about. Elder Eric Jones then served as a Zone leader for a while, and then became My Trainer TOO, (hence he's my brother). Elder Jones is from the NW corner of Phoenix. He's got about 5 weeks left... he's a super missionary, and is my companion at this time for all the right reasons. I am so blessed to have him.
Well not much else has changed. Life is getting better, we have lost a bunch of our investigators due to their laziness, and them not making us a priority. It's kind of sad when people exercise their agency to make a choice that doesn't end in a covenant, but all we are allowed to do is invite. We are out to find those who are prepared right now to find the gospel. We are going to be stepping up our efforts with the members of the ward, and increase the spirit of missionary work in their lives.... It's starting to show that they are not too motivated. The bishop actually had us re-sing the rest hymn of "Put your shoulder to the wheel" because our first attempt was pitiful. Members and investigators alike have a hard time feeling welcomed in that ward, and i know that is something that we can help with.
My life the past 6 weeks was pretty hard. I didn't realize it but I was slacking in the work. I was allowing my companion to do everything and outshine me in every way, which then led to a hard few last weeks, and it made it very hard to function. As I talked with President Collins about a few things that were on my mind he helped me apply this tool, it can be applied to almost any trial, or temptation for that matter, and I can testify that having put it to work for the last week it is working:
I'm paraphrasing from memory....
We seem to approach our trials in a very head on way... As if there is a doorway to get through, and in that door way is a Giant, a man so large there is no way around him. So we gird up our loins, fresh courage take, arm ourselves with the armor of God, and get to the fight! We swing, jab, poke, slash, cut, thrust, stab, attack at full force, and eventually end up exhausted, and tired. Easily able to be knocked over by the smallest of temptations that Giant still has in his arsenal. The trick is to back up. We know that every step backwards is a success! Even if we only move a few inches or a few feet, we are moving away from that fight against the giant, and each step is a victory. We continue to step back until we manage to move ourselves out of range, but don't stop there, keep going backward until we see that giant as a small little speck on our horizon. The giant won't and can't follow us! We are now safe! The temptations of Satan are still there, but they are now so small and far away, we see them coming, and are able to push them aside very quickly. They no longer have effect.
As I once again reflect on his story, and parallel it with one Jodi sent me, it's easier to see that we aren't only stepping away from our giants, but we are stepping closer to the Lord. We look to him, turn your back to the giant and face the joy of the truly living the gospel.
I've had to do a lot of self reflecting these past few weeks, and it's been a joy to realize that I may not be as close to the Lord as I thought, and have a wonderful opportunity to put myself closer and closer to him by truly living his gospel... Faith, Repentance, Sacrament, and relying on the Holy Ghost!
I'm not out of reach from my giant yet, but I know I will be soon.
I love you all, and look forward to Mothers day when I can talk with some of you!
Love Elder Rees
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