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!!!!