My Amazing Missionary!!!

Que Onda?
We had a great week this week. I actually dont even remember what we did because time is just going to fast. Its impossible to keep track of time now... On friday we went to the youth conference of all the stakes in our mission for the missionary activity. The youth had to teach inactive families and help them with their problems and then we evaluated them and told them what to do better. It was pretty fun. But the best part was seeing converts from my first area there participating. I always pray that they´ll stay firm in the church and continue progressing but you never really know. So it was amazing to see some of them there and know that they´re still active and doing great. Besides that, not much going on. Just work as usual. Me and my companion dont have changes this cylce so we´ll be together another 6 weeks. He finishes his mission this cycle so we´ll see how things go. We have found some of the most amazing people in these past couple weeks. On saturday we took them to the visistors center in the temple and they loved it. All of them left talking about getting baptized and cealed(?) in the temple. Every week I am just blown away by the power of faith and repentance and obedience to the commandments. It is something I have never experienced befor, seeing the HUGE changes that people make, and the power our Heavenly Father gives them to quit smoking or drinking or any other thing. There is nothing better than seeing those things, those miracles that the Lord blesses us with EVERY day. I cant even put in words how grateful I am for this time here and the experiences I´ve had and all I´ve learned. I love you all and thank you soooo much for all the love and support you give me. I look forward each week to hear how everyone is. O and mom I´m good on clothes and stuff for now but I´ll be sure to let you know if I need anything. The other day I bought socks (12 pairs) for 9 pesos a pair (you can imagine how much that is in dollars). I love cheap things in Mexico! = ) Love you guys and tell everyone I say hi!
Love, Rees

Vaca at the Beach!!!

Wahoo!!! We went to my sister's beach house for a week and a half!! We had a blast!!
Thank you Tammy and Andy for letting us crash your party!!

My Best Friend Turned 50!!!!!

Bart is slowly catching up to me, I am all of 52!! He turned 50 on June 28th, our
24th wedding anniversary!!! Bart said I was the best birthday present he ever got!! Do you think I still am??? I hope so!!!

TRUE JOY!!!!!!

What up fam,
Hey sorry you guys didnt get my email last week. I sent one but not sure why it didnt get there. Hope Dad and Riley had great birthdays this year. Wish I could have been there to see dad with his diapers. = ) Things are goin good here. We had two baptisms this week. They are some of the best people I`ve ever baptized. One of them has already read the Book of Mormon from front to back, and they both sit and take notes in all their classes. It`s amazing to see how people progress so quickly when they listen and follos the Holy Ghost. I can`t even put into words how amazing this work is. It`s indescribeable to see the changes that take place in the lives of the people when they apply the principles of the gospel in their lives. Each day I enjoy more and more sharing the Gospel. There is nothing that brings greater joy than being an instrument in the hands of the Lord to do His work. I love you guys and appreciate all you do. Tell everyone to write me if they have time because I love hearing from everyone. Love you guys. Love Rees

Can You Believe it Has Been a Year??????

I can't believe it has been one whole year since we dropped Rees off at the MTC. I don't know about you, but it has gone fast. Yesterday Tracee, Rhegan, and I went to Olive Garden (that's where Rees likes to eat) to celebrate!! I am so thankful for Tracee, she has been Rees' best friend for several years and I appreciate her love and support for him!! Thank you Tracee, I love you too!!! As I read Rees' e-mails each week I am brought to tears at the growth and commitment he has to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love to read his testimony because it strengthens mine. I miss him, but I am so grateful he has chosen to serve the Lord. Here is his latest letter!!

Whats up fam,
Hows things goin at home? I´m sure good cuz everyone is at camp. Things here are great as normal. Just work work work. Can you guys believe it´s been a year already?!?! It just blows my mind. Everyone says the second year goes twice as fast as the first, so that´s pretty scary to think about too. We got put in a trio this week. A new american elder who just got here last week didn´t like Mexico so he went home after 4 days in the mission. So his comp is with us for the time being. It´s so sad to see people lose out on so many blessings and so much growth. It´s a lot like what Elder Holland said once, what I was before my mission, I will never be again. It´s amazing to see the Lord´s hand in our lives daily. There is nothing better than helping others gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. During the past 90 days we have been reading the Book of Mormon as a mission and we´re gonna finish tomorrow. I have never felt so much the power of that book. There are so many people who read it, and nothing happens, but that´s not because the book isn´t good, like it says in Alma 32, it´s because the ground is barren. Some people aren´t ready spiritually so understand and apply the principles of the Gospel. I´m so grateful to my Father in Heaven for letting me be born into the Church. There is nothing that brings greater joy than living the gospel principles and seeing how the Lord blesses us and works in our lives. I love you guys and hope you had a great time at camp. Love hearing from everyone!
Love, Rees
P.S. Happy ONE YEAR!!!

Monday Missionary!!!

What up fam,
Sounds like things are good at home. We had a great week this week. Lots of work work work. It´s been kinda hot lately, not compared to there, but the sun burns like crazy here. This week are changes, but me and my comp are gonna be together another cycle. Today we went to the centro. I´ll be sending pictures right now. It was awesome to see all the cool historic sites in Mexico. We went with a brother from our ward who showed us around and it was a great time. I bought some new cheap shoes too. The good shoes here cost like 40 bucks so that´s nice. But besides that, the work is going great. We had another baptism this week and it was awesome. The dad of the kid we baptized is reading and hopefully he´ll be next. The members here are kinda weird. They either love us or they hate us. They complain when missionaries don´t baptize and then the complain when they baptize a bunch. Since I´ve been here we´ve only not baptized one week and the members really don´t like it. It would be amazing to have the members from our ward at home, they´d be so stoked and would be helping and visiting the converts. But it´s all good. Just gotta keep doing our part. So that´s about it. Lots of work and but I´ve never been so happy in the work before, or so excited to share the Gospel. Every day is amazing, even when we get rejected a lot. I love you guys and appreciate all your support. Love, Rees

Where's Rees???

Hey Fam!
Sounds like things are goin good. The super activity sounds like it was a blast. I can´t believe Jules is doing swim lessons with that stomach. I´m not sure if I told you guys, but one Sunday we baptized this pregnate lady and her son, and the next day at 5 in the morning she had her baby. It was pretty exciting. Things are going good here in Mexico. The sun has been super strong lately and I´m getting fried every day. The people tell me I´m starting to look Mexican. = ) A couple weeks ago we took the photo of the whole mission so I´ll be forwarding you guys that picture in the email of Sister Bulloch. Last week we had interviews with President Bulloch, and after, he took me and my comp out to lunch so that was fun. I´ll send a pic of that too. The work is going good. It´s always challenging but so rewarding when people go to church and read the Book of Mormon. I´m so grateful for this time I´ve had here and all the things I´ve learned and I hope you guys know how much I appreciate all your support. Love you guys. Love, Rees P.S. Dad, tell Jay I could use a few sports updates because I´m so out of the loop right now. = )