July 11, 2011
Good Morning Family and Friends!
This week has been amazing. It's hard for me to believe that I'm already a couple of weeks into this transfer. It feels like I just moved here to Mishawaka 2 days ago.
Here is my new address
318 Lincolnway East Apt 2
Mishawaka In 46544
We live in an old mansion that has been turned into several apartments, it's small but it fits our needs and is really fun!
The ward here is great, they are really advanced in the area of missionary work. There are people here from all over the country working on their "Residency" for medical school, and they are a big help with getting us referrals. We get to teach a ton of lessons, and also spend a ton of time finding, or knocking doors. We are having so much fun as a companionship, we quote movies all the time, and for me that is a big deal. We get to be ourselves around each other, and are trying to serve each other daily to help build a lasting friendship.
We have set a baptismal date this week with an investigator named Joe, and it's been amazing. We knew he was close to baptism, and we prayed to know if a day in August was right for him, and we didn't really feel anything and as we changed and prayed for the 30th of July, we KNEW it was what is right for him. He's overcoming the Word of Wisdom, and he's doing great so far with it and we are trying to keep him motivated and to help surround him with support. Got to love working with Part member families!
I have really come to rely more fully upon the Lord these last few weeks. I was feeling very out of place here, and needed something to change within me. Prayer has played a huge part of this. I was totally open with God, and my feelings, and he understands, and has really lifted me up, and my attitude and mood have really improved. I was worried about how effective I have been as a missionary and really understand now that part of being a missionary is to get to work. That is what we do. WORK! Getting out and doing my best is what the Lord asks, He'll fill in the rest and use the spirit to work people closer to repenting and baptism.
It's been so great to be able to study the Christlike attributes in Chapter 6 of preach my gospel, and to really gain strength from them! Section 121 of Doctrine and covenants has really helped to. Blessings of heaven are Predicated upon the Virtues of the Gospel, which as you read in the end of the Section, you see that they are the Christlike attributes that we will eventually get better with. They really have helped me, and I'm really understanding that the help I get through the spirit is the help from God.
He changes lives, but those lives have to be willing to accept Him, and to follow Him. There are so many people here that are being prepared by the spirit, and it's amazing to feel how the Lord has lifted me up, and will do the same for those we are teaching, and finding.
Well i hope all is going well for you in ________, but for me here in Mishawaka, it's great! Love the work, and my companion, and the ward!
If you haven't had the missionaries over recently have them over for dinner, or even better prepare a friend to hear the message of the gospel, and have them taught in your home!
Well Pray hard!
Love Elder Rees
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 4th...kind of
July 5, 2011
Hey everyone!
Happy 4th of July, even though today is the 5th. We are emailing at such a weird time and I won't be able to chat with any of you! This week was transfers and it was such a wonderful time. I love being around other missionaries, and being able to see them grow so much in such short amounts of time.
I have had a few rough days. For some reason the transfer took it's toll on me. I had friend here in the mission go home.... He came out with us, and it was hard to hear that he had a few things to take care of at home. I know he understands the importance of the Atonement, and will be back out here soon!
It is hard to go from an area where you know everyone, and know the streets, and have relationships with investigators, to an area that is 10 times as big population wise, and you know no one! It's humbling, and depressing, and frustrating. My prayers really have expressed those same feelings, and it's been good just to get to work.
I'm with Elder Eames, he's from Manan ID, Near Rexburg, and he's an amazing missionary. He's district leader, so I'm still Jr Companion, but I'm realizing there is so much more to learn, and I'm really glad to have more time to get to know how to be a better missionary.
The 4th.... Drunks, Explosives, and no one was home... It was a great day!
It was also very recently my 5 month mark! One more and I'm burning a tie! I have it picked out already! It's amazing how time flies here and just how much i have learned. I'm figuring out that there are many lessons I'm learning at the Lords pace, and am frustrated I'm not perfect yet... But that is the ultimate goal, and will take some practice and some time.
We are on exchange today, and so i don't have my companion here to tell me what our address is.... I'm hoping to get it from him soon, but I'm not sure I'll get it before we have to leave for an appointment. Such is the life of a missionary.
A little about my area... I'm now in the South Bend Zone, and our area covers a little bit of South Bend. It's funny because South Bend is as far north as you can go in Indiana. We are in a big area, tons of people, and our ward is huge too! It is great to have members around. We get fed most nights, and get to have members go out with us about 3 times a week. There are a ton of people here working on their Residencies, Working at St. Joes hospital here in Mishawaka, and a ton of people becoming doctors. We have a lady in the ward do our laundry, that is weird to me, but kinda fun, it leaves more time for our 'P' day for us. We have a big district, 4 companionships of elders, and we get together most p days and play basketball. I'm really surprised that I win most of the games... Not bragging my skills, simply pointing out the lack of others... :) Great spiritual Giants, but are mostly short in stature. The area that we live in is more of the down town part of the city, and it's filled with little shops. We live in an old Victorian style mansion, that has been split into 12 apartments. Ours is small, but good enough... I can sit on the toilet, and put my head in the sink at the same time. Super small bathroom, but we make it work.
Well life here is good, struggles at times, but those make us closer to our goal of perfection.
I was reading in Ether, where the brother of Jared and all the people leave for the promised land in the vessels. A few things. No matter what storms rage their vessels were tight... How tight is our spiritual vessel, or testimony? Do we let water sink in when we have trials? It's also unique to think that without all of the tempests, and storms, they wouldn't have been pushed to the promise land... that last insight was from my companion.
Well food for thought. Feast upon the Scriptures!
I love seeing so many emails in my inbox, even the little short ones.
Sorry you'll have to wait till next week to get my address.... I failed... and didn't get it before time ran out...
Love you all,
Love Elder Rees
Hey everyone!
Happy 4th of July, even though today is the 5th. We are emailing at such a weird time and I won't be able to chat with any of you! This week was transfers and it was such a wonderful time. I love being around other missionaries, and being able to see them grow so much in such short amounts of time.
I have had a few rough days. For some reason the transfer took it's toll on me. I had friend here in the mission go home.... He came out with us, and it was hard to hear that he had a few things to take care of at home. I know he understands the importance of the Atonement, and will be back out here soon!
It is hard to go from an area where you know everyone, and know the streets, and have relationships with investigators, to an area that is 10 times as big population wise, and you know no one! It's humbling, and depressing, and frustrating. My prayers really have expressed those same feelings, and it's been good just to get to work.
I'm with Elder Eames, he's from Manan ID, Near Rexburg, and he's an amazing missionary. He's district leader, so I'm still Jr Companion, but I'm realizing there is so much more to learn, and I'm really glad to have more time to get to know how to be a better missionary.
The 4th.... Drunks, Explosives, and no one was home... It was a great day!
It was also very recently my 5 month mark! One more and I'm burning a tie! I have it picked out already! It's amazing how time flies here and just how much i have learned. I'm figuring out that there are many lessons I'm learning at the Lords pace, and am frustrated I'm not perfect yet... But that is the ultimate goal, and will take some practice and some time.
We are on exchange today, and so i don't have my companion here to tell me what our address is.... I'm hoping to get it from him soon, but I'm not sure I'll get it before we have to leave for an appointment. Such is the life of a missionary.
A little about my area... I'm now in the South Bend Zone, and our area covers a little bit of South Bend. It's funny because South Bend is as far north as you can go in Indiana. We are in a big area, tons of people, and our ward is huge too! It is great to have members around. We get fed most nights, and get to have members go out with us about 3 times a week. There are a ton of people here working on their Residencies, Working at St. Joes hospital here in Mishawaka, and a ton of people becoming doctors. We have a lady in the ward do our laundry, that is weird to me, but kinda fun, it leaves more time for our 'P' day for us. We have a big district, 4 companionships of elders, and we get together most p days and play basketball. I'm really surprised that I win most of the games... Not bragging my skills, simply pointing out the lack of others... :) Great spiritual Giants, but are mostly short in stature. The area that we live in is more of the down town part of the city, and it's filled with little shops. We live in an old Victorian style mansion, that has been split into 12 apartments. Ours is small, but good enough... I can sit on the toilet, and put my head in the sink at the same time. Super small bathroom, but we make it work.
Well life here is good, struggles at times, but those make us closer to our goal of perfection.
I was reading in Ether, where the brother of Jared and all the people leave for the promised land in the vessels. A few things. No matter what storms rage their vessels were tight... How tight is our spiritual vessel, or testimony? Do we let water sink in when we have trials? It's also unique to think that without all of the tempests, and storms, they wouldn't have been pushed to the promise land... that last insight was from my companion.
Well food for thought. Feast upon the Scriptures!
I love seeing so many emails in my inbox, even the little short ones.
Sorry you'll have to wait till next week to get my address.... I failed... and didn't get it before time ran out...
Love you all,
Love Elder Rees
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