Back to My Roots!!!

This weekend I got to go back to Tennessee!! I had forgotten how beautiful it is. The leaves were changing colors on the trees, the weather was beautiful, but best of all was spending time with some of my siblings. Take time for the things that really matter in life!!!!!

We Love Football Games!!!

O'Connor has won three games in a row, wahoo!!!!! Our friend Christian says it's because his dad hasn't gone to any of the games, but we know it's because of the awesome spiritline!!! Great job Rhegan!!!!

Looking Forward to September 24th!!!!

We have some exciting news!! Rees and Tracee are getting married. We couldn't be happier!! It's been so fun to see them go from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend, then a 2 year mission for Rees as Tracee waited patiently, and now the best part-a wedding in the Mesa Temple. Thank you both for making good choices in your lives and for choosing each other!! We love you!!!!!

18 Days!!! Wahoo!!!!

Hey Mom,
Thanks for the dinero. I´ll let you know if I need more. I got a suit today. It came with a shirt and a tie. Good deal. Umm, things are good. Just finishing out. I cant believe there are only two more sundays. We had a great baptism yesterday. This computer I´m on is sucky and I cant send pictures from here so sorry. There is a sister in our ward and 3 sundays ago she came up to me and told me her granddaughter wanted to listen to us so we went and she had already been to church before, and her boyfriend had just got back from the mission a month before (yes she waited for him). So we taught her and she progressed real quick. She read and prayed and knew it was true and yesterday was her baptism. It was a good service. Sometimes we get into a rutine with the baptismal services and they aren´t that good. But in this one, her granny and her boyfriend were there to give talks and share testimonies and it made it real special. Umm, what else.... I think that´s about it. Next monday I am gonna go look for your purses cuz this morning we played soccer and I didnt have time to go. Love you tons mom. Tell everyone I say hi and that I am excited to see them.
Love, Rees

39 Days, but who's counting?????

Hey Fam,
How´s things? Here things are great. The only problem is the fact that I´m from Arizona. These people want to beat the crap out of me! I just say I´m from Utah now and they dont say anything. So this week was good. We had a baptism. I´ll have to tell you guys about it later cuz it was pretty funny. I cant send the picture cuz this computer is being dumb. But next week fore sure. Today was amazing. We had a devotional with Elder Bednar. He blew me away. Bishop McMullin was there too and Elder Johnson, the area president. Overall it was awesome. We talked alot about how to help the investigators learn and experiment the changes in their lives. He said like 20 times and made it quite clear that we are not the ones teaching, but it´s the Spirit. It says in the scriptures that the spirit takes it UNTO their hearts. But they need it to enter INTO their hearts. So as we invite them to make and fulfill commitments they will excersice their faith and open their hearts so that the Spirit can enter. That is when they gain a testimony and become converted. He mentioned how he has asked thousands of recent converts what they remembered about the missionary lessons, and they all respond, NOTHING! They say that it is the most weird unlogical experience of their lives.... angels appearing to a boy, golden plates, etc... But they all feel the power of the Spirit and have that desire to know more. He taught us so much and I wish I could talk about all of it but I cant. I love you all and appreciate the emails. Tell everyone I say hi like always.
Love, Rees

Work, Work, Work

Hey Fam,
Another good week here in Ixtapaluca. Me and my comp worked like dogs this week. I dont think I have ever been so tired in my mission. It´s so true what it says in Preach My Gospel, the key to missionary work is just that, work. We worked a ton and had a good day yesterday at church. I am excited to talk to everyone on Sunday. Can you believe next month I´ll be home?!?!! Crazy!
Love, Rees

Happy Birthday Rees!!!!!

Rhegan!!!!

Rhegan was apparently out with Julia the other day and I received these via e-mail. Rhegan said they are a joke, if they are a joke, I would love to see the real deal!!
Thanks Julia, love them!!!!!

Monday in Mexico

Whats goin on?
Conference was amazing huh? I can tell by the emails that you guys loved it too. It was such an uplifiting experience. Even more amazing was the opportunity we had to take investigators. All of them left conference with smiles on their faces and told us they enjoyed it so much. How blessed we are to have the opportunity to listen to the Lord through his servants here on earth. Aren´t they so powerful? What do you think they do different than we do? I still have no idea, but we just have to keep doing our part and the Lord will bless us as well. I just thought of a talk from a while back about how every responsiblity is just as important as the other. The Lord is just as pleased with us as he is witht the prophet, (if we´re obedient). There is no greater joy than finishing a day just worn out after a full day of hard work. I love you all and am so appreciative of all the support. Gotta run.
Love, Rees

Are We Willing to Do What the Lord Wants Us to Do??

Hey everyone,
What´s new back home? Things here are normal. It´s raining, which is super nice. The sun has just been burning my face these past few days. So the cloud coverage really helps. The work is moving along as well. We had four baptisms yesterday. We have had an amazing experience teaching one of our investigators. I think I might have told you guys last week but we were teaching here and she´s all, I was praying for an answer and I think you guys are it. I learn so much from the people we teach. Being baptized is really a big decision and a huge change in these people´s lives, and I admire so much the faith they have to take such a big step so fast. There is a talk, I dont remember who gave it, but it said that someone who as read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it´s true and felt and answer in their heart, will be willing to do anything the Lord tells them to be able to follow him. I have really seen that here in the mission. Those who read and pray with real intent will receive and answer and those who have an answer will do whatever they need to to follow the Lord. Sometimes I am hesitant to do the things I know I need to, but the example these new converts show is really amazing. Our faith is really what will save us. After a long period of time without progression, we dont notice that anything is wrong, and that´s when we need to reflect and think about how we can increase our faith. We need to enter into the unknown, go out of our convert zone and do those extra things that set us apart from the rest, and then the Lord will reveal his hand and our faith will continue to grow. I love you all and hope all is well at home. I gotta get goin, we have a few appointments right now. Keep me updated on all the good stuff.
Love, Rees

3 Months Left!!!!

Hey fam,
Sounds like the trip to Monticello was a blast. Man I miss the cold. Here is has just been pure sun. It´s not that hot, not even close to how it is at home, but the sun burns so bad. I have one of the best neck tan lines in the mission. Today we went and played soccer and then ate pizza as a zone. It was fun but it took up all our time. Now it´s late and I dont have much time to wrtie so I´ll be quick. This week flew by. We had a baptism of a family of 4 on sunday. I´m attaching the pictures right now. They have really changed since they have been going to church. It is amazing how much the Gospel changes the lives of the people. I know I probabably say that every week but in every person the changes are different and it is such a great experience to be able to see. O how blessed we are. Tell Jager and Bubba that I´m stoked for them. O what amazing experiences lie ahead of them. I love you all. Thanks for everything.
Love, Rees

Work, Work, Work!!!

Hey fam,
Wow sounds like there is a lot going on these days. I cant believe Bubba is headed out so fast. That´s gonna be awesome going to Monticello with Jager. Lots of exciting news. Here things are normal like usual. Just work work and more work. I dont think I have ever been so blessed before in my life. The truth, the Lord has blessed me with 21 amazing months. There is no greater work than this, and it´s a huge blessing to be able to work here. It´s sometimes overwhelming to think that we are the only ones in the world that can help those around us achieve salvation. And even more so to think that only two of us, here in our area, are the ones that can do it. The Lord trusts in us more than we know. Especially if he lets a bunch of teenagers do this great work. He continues blessing us with miracles each week and the gospel truly changes these people´s lives. I love you all tons. Have a great week.
Love, Rees

Lessons from Rees!!

hey fam,
How´s things???? Things here are going great. We´re getting to know the area a bit better and we´ve had tons of fun. This week we found like 4 families and wow what a blessing. I learned a good lesson this week. When our motives aren´t pure, the Lord doesn´t help out that much. Sometimes I still get caught in the idea of baptizing a lot for the recognition. But I just think about some of the people I have baptized and how the Gospel has changed their lives and I realize, that´s what really matters. We are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives. There really isn´t a greater feeling that helping others come unto the Lord. I think sometimes it feels so good because so many reject us and slam doors in our faces, and then when one finally accepts, o how awesome it is. This week we have our zone conference and the picture of the mission again. That should be fun. I´ll be sure to send a copy when we get it. I love you guys tons. Thanks for all the emails each week.
Love, Rees

LDS Prom

Rhegan and Joel Rollins went to LDS Prom together. It was amazing!!! Isn't she a beauty????

SPIRITLINE!!!!

Rhegan has had a great year on spiritline!!
Cheering at football games, basketball games, performing at assemblies, and end of the year banquet!!! Rhegan, you rock!!!!

Happy 17 Rhegan!!!!

RHEGAN AND MONICA!!!!


PEIWEI WITH FRIENDS


I can't believe you have been in our home for 17 years. We were so excited to have a princess after two boys. Thank you for all the joy and happiness you have brought into our home!!! You are loved!!!!

4 Months Left!!!!!

Hey Fam,
Sounds like things are good as usual. Things here are great too. Tuesday we had changes. I got my new comp Elder Cordova and we got put here in Izcalli, Ixtapaluca. Our area is awesome and there is just tons of people in the streets! We are just on the other side of the hill of Chicoloapan, where I was for 7 months. So it´s exciting to be back in the city where all the people are. On tuesday at the changes meeting I wanted to see if I could guess who my new comp would be, so I went and said hi to a group of newbies, but I didnt know which one it would be, and as I was walking away I turned the corner and saw my comp, and all I said to him was, hey your gonna be my comp. And sure enough, that´s how it was. He´s an awesome kid. I bet dad would get along with him cuz he likes to dance. = ) He´s from Tabasco, down south. We really have a lot of fun together and we get along great. On Sunday we had our first baptism and it was awesome to see him baptize on his first sunday in the mission. The only problem here is the ward, the assistance is really low and there is no bishop nor first councelor. It´s almost all pure women and they all gossip like crazy. So we´ll be working extra hard with the member to get the ward going. It´s gonna be a great 4 months here in Izcalli. I love you all and hope all is well back home. Say hi to everyone. Thanks for writing. = )
Love, Rees

The Atonement

Hey Fam,
We had another great week. Lots of work like always. Not much to say this week. Sometimes I think I teach people just to baptize them. But this week I learned that it´s more than that. I know, after so much time you think I would have already known that huh? Everything we have and do and believe revolves (?) around the atonement and our Savior. The trick is to help others gain a testimony of Christ and what he did for us. If we dont know it or feel it ourselves, how could we ever help them to feel it. I dont know if this makes sense, but it does to me. = ) The work is going great. I love you all and hope all is well.
Love, Rees

More Miracles!!!

Whats up fam,
Sounds like it was a busy week back home. I never thought I´d see the day that the Saints won the superbowl! Thats exciting. What part of Mexico was Harry in? I forgot... We had an amazing week this week. We found a family knocking doors, and when we asked if they had read the folleto (i dont know how to say that in english), they said ya and that they felt amazing about Joseph Smith and then the dad is all, hey I read something about baptism and was wondering if you guys could baptize us..., and then at the end of the lesson the dad says, when I listen to you guys I feel this burning in my chest and I feel like I´ve found what I was looking for. It was amazing. I am so grateful to be able to see miracles like that. It truly is a miracle to be able to find someone that the Lord has prepared to receive the Gospel. Then yesterday we had a couple baptism which was an amazing experiece like always. I love you all and appreciate all the support.
-Love, Rees

Thanks for the Christmas Cards!!!!

Hey Fam,
We had a good week this week. All is going great like always. Just enjoying the blessings. I feel like I write the same things every week so sorry if it gets boring... Ok, before I forget, tell everyone I FINALLY got Christmas cards! Thanks so much everyone. I loved seeing everyone and I cant believe how everyone has changes. Those King boys are sure getting big. I couldn´t believe the Wandelts´ picture either. Congradulations Jim on no surgeries this year! = ) O, I do know Elder Rasmussen. Tell Karleah to tell his mom (if she sees her again) that he is an amazing elder and a great leader. That would be so exciting to see someone from home get their call to here. There are several missionaries that are from the same wards. Small ward huh... Anyways, I dont know what else to say... the work is great. I have really learned during this time that the blessings almost always come after the hard stuff. Sometimes we get so worn out or frustrated working so hard and not having success, but EVERY time the Lord makes it well worth it. There are so many little things that just make it impossible to deny that this is the Lords work. Me and my comp passed a street a couple times in the past weeks and felt that we should go knock it, but we never had time. And this week as we passed we decided to do it. That day we spent the whole morning knocking that one street, not because it was big, but because there were so many people who opened their doors and listened to us. We are so imperfect sometimes, as missionaries we just go out and work wherever, when the Lord wants us to go to certain areas, but He understands and always puts those elect in our path when we´re diligent in our efforts. I dont know if I said this last time, but the Lord is much quicker to bless those who get up and go to work, than those who sit around thinking all day about where they should go. The key to this work, and to life I think, is just that, work. A principle that many lack these days. But like I said, the Lord understands that we´re imperfect and is always sure to bless us when we most need it. I love you all and again thank you for the Christmas cards. Love, Rees

Happy Birthday Rhegan!!!!

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful girl and the bestest friend in the world!!

Raul

Family,
How´s things? Things here are great. I think I told you guys the other week about our investigator Raul. He was the kid we found when the JW´s were at his door. Well he was baptized this week and it was incredible. When we found him he was just about dead from all the drugs and other stuff he was doing. But wow, what a change. I have never seen anyone who appreciates the church so much. Today he played soccer with us and some guy made a comment about how the church was ugly (who knows why), and Raul was about the punch the guy. And after he told me, "these people dont even know what they have". It´s so true. Sometimes we really forget how blessed we are. The Gospel changes peoples lives around completely. And now, for the example of Raul, his family is interested in the Gospel. In this time the Lord has taught me so much, and mostly thru the recent converts. I have never seen people with so much faith, who leave everything from the world to be able to follow the Lord. We can all do a better job of setting examples for those around us and sharing what we have. How blessed we are to have been born into the Gospel and to know it since we were little, but sometimes those who are new in the Church are the ones who set the example for us. The Lord can change anyone, and the experience of seeing it happen is indescribable. We should all pray and desire to see that more often. I love you all and pray for you always. Love, Rees

Love the People!!!

Fam,
We had a good week here. Just work like always. The Lord has really blessed us lately with finding some amazing people. I think something that has helped me a lot lately is trying to love the people more. Honestly, sometimes missionaries just see people as numbers, we´ve all done it, but the experience is 10 times more amazing when you do it because you love them and you desire to help them recieve salvation. This morning we went with two other missionaries and two brothers in the ward to Real del Monte and Mineral del Chico. They´re these two little towns in the middle of the mountains with some awesome mines and caves and rivers. It was a blast. I´ll be attaching the pictures in a minute. So ya, we´re having a great time here, as always. Me and my comp dont have changes this cycle so we´ll be together another 6 weeks. I´m excited. Like I said, we have been blessed to find some amazing people and the baptisms should be great. Love you all and appreciate all you do. Sorry this is a bit short. Look forward to hearing from everyone next week too. Love, Rees

Snow Day in Arizona!!

We love Arizona!! Where else can you leave the warm desert and drive 2 hours to play in the snow!!!!