Hello Family!
Thank you all for the letters! It was great to hear how you all are doing. Its always great to hear that everyone is doing good! As for me, I'm still alive and kicking down here in the D.R. I guess I will start off by answering Mom's questions! Yes, the pants are hemmed, the sastre (tailor) that made all my pants made the suit....entirely for me. It took him 5 and a half yards of fabric. He measured me up, and 4 days later--wahoo--a suit. Pretty sweet! Yes, it is way, way, way too hot to wear a suit! It's just hanging in a nice bag and won't get worn until I come home! Ha ha. I'm gonna be honest, I'm super jealous that you guys went to the Coppermill. I would be lying if I said I don't miss a good old hamburger! But, beans and rice have become quite tasty! Ha ha. Although that was a huge temptation to just eat all the bacon, I have conserved it! I put it in my scrambled eggs that I eat every morning! It makes them so good! I still really like bacon........
Dad did you take in the receiver to Best Buy? I'm positive that it has a warranty!! I remember buying it! Ashley, that house looks sweet! 2.5 acres is awesome too! Does Keagan know my name yet? I'm pretty sure that is the first name she is going to say! Ha ha. Mom, the package has not arrived yet....but I don't think we need to fear yet, it has only been about 2 and a half months! Elder Day said he just got a package that was sent in September, so who knows? Anyway, now for my letter.
So, this week has been a really good week in all honesty. My first day back to work, I felt a huge miracle in my own life. As we taught our investigators, I just felt that I am where I'm supposed to be. I felt so happy to teach them and to see the joy that the gospel brings into their lives! Being a missionary really is an experience that you can't describe but is absolutely amazing. Sharing the gospel has brought so much joy into my life. Tuesday was a fun day, we all went to the transfer chapel and welcomed the "new" missionaries to the zone. Elder Day was in charge of the transfer bus, so I got to see him, which is always fun!
After that, it was back to work. I stopped by all the people that I said goodbye to, and told them oops, just kidding! Mami freaked out and gave me a big hug....don't be worried, she's like 70. But all in all, I just felt good to be working in Madre Vieja Norte!
Other than that, it was a normal week until Friday. Friday we had Zone Meeting, where we learned all the news for this transfer! Needless to say, it is going to be a sweet transfer!! On the 18th of February, Elder Bednar is coming to the D.R. to speak with all of our mission, and all of the Mission Este! We are all going to the capital and are going to get to listen to him. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to listen to an Apostle of the Lord while I'm on the mission! Also, we get to go to the temple! Words can't describe how excited I am to go to the temple. I hope you all utilize the temple being in our backyard....it's such a blessing! Please try to go as often as possible--it is the House of the Lord! We should be pounding down the door to get to spend some time in the House of the Lord, but sometimes the things that are extremely easy to do, are the hardest. I know that doesn't make sense, but I think you catch my drift.
Also, I am now District Leader. Once again, I don't know how I feel about that. I just remember that the Lord calls us in our weakness, but qualifies us for the work. I know that I don't have what it takes to be a District Leader at this point in the mission, but I know the Lord will help me. It's already proven to be quite a bit of work, but with sacrifice comes blessings! I am in charge of our district. I have to do baptismal interviews, and district meeting every week, and I have to do nightly "call in reports" to the zone leaders.
I just want to briefly share an experience that Elder Hall and I had on Saturday. We had a 1st visit with a woman that taught me a lot. We went into the visit, introduced ourselves again, said a prayer, then I said about 5 words and boom--she went off. She began to attack our doctrine, our leaders, our beliefs, basically everything! She went into the Bible, trying to prove how our religion was incorrect. She was doing all of this just with the biggest smile on her face. She was just so happy that she was "proving" our Church wrong. Although we could have spent time contending with her from the Bible, proving that indeed this is the true Church, we didn't, and we don't have to.
All we have to do is have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. If these two things are true, all of our message is true. The message that we as missionaries share is simple: God has restored His Church on the earth again through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We can know this for ourselves when we read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Isn't it beautiful? It's so simple, yet profoundly powerful. I left that visit with an even stronger testimony of the Church, the Book of Mormon, and of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know without a doubt in my mind that he restored the true Church of Christ to the earth. I know that Jesus Christ lives, that He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows us by name, and He loves us so very much. I also love you guys so very much! I pray for you every day!
Love,
Elder Riley Ted Reeder
P.S. Sorry, I don't have my camera today, so no pictures!
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