Dearest Family

December 25, 2012

My Family!

Well, I didn't write an e-mail this week, and after talking with you all, I was left with a few emotions, and things that I would like to share with you!  First of all, I love you all.  The most powerful thing I have learned as a missionary is really the love of a family.  As I have said before, I was never much of a 'say I love you' kind of guy before the mission, but I have learned the importance of those three little words.  I have felt a love for each and every one of you that I can't even describe.  I pray each and every day for your well being.  I want you to know that there is nothing in this world more important to me than our family.  The well repeated phrase that a missionary leaves his family for two years so that others can be with theirs for eternity has new meaning for me.  I ponder often on the importance of the covenants that we have made in the temple which allow us to return to the presence of God as a family.  I pray that we live worthy to receive all of the blessings that our Father in Heaven has in store for us. 

I invite you all to make a New Years resolution:  I know it is a little cliche, but hear me out.  #1. Never let a day go by without telling your family members that you love them.  Don't assume that they know you love them--tell them!  #2.  Show your love.  Take time to serve one another.  I was told that we never truly love someone until we serve them, and I have realized it is true!  Take time out to do something little for them--buy their favorite treat, help with the dishes or the wash, make breakfast, but find a way to serve them every single day.  #3.  Pray together.  A family that prays together stays together.  The Lord commanded us to pray together (3 Nephi 18:21).  Don't allow a day to pass by without praying as a family.  #4.  Look for the best in each other.  Its really easy to find faults in people.  We are all imperfect people who have faults.  Look for the good--the glass can be half empty or half full--we are who decides.  #5.  Study the scriptures together.  Scripture Power!!  I never understood the truth of that song until the mission.  Daily scripture study is vital!  #6.  Look forward with faith.  We live in a world filled with negativity.  It is hard to stay positive sometimes!  The economy is in the pits, people do bad things, where is the joy?  The joy is in Christ.  When we have true faith in Christ, we are able to look beyond the troubles and trials of this world, and into the peace and joy that comes from Christ. 

In a lesson a few days ago, I was teaching, but in turn I feel as if I was the recipient of the lesson.  We all have our challenges, weaknesses, but someday they will be our strong points, if we are humble.  My companion started talking about 2 Nephi 4.   From verse 15 on.....( I suggest reading it).  While he was reading that, I started thinking about how Nephi really humbled himself before the Lord, and was able to not only receive forgiveness, but also strength from the Lord!  And I thought of Ether 12:27-28, and how the Lord teaches us that if we are humble, He makes us strong!  And then, He teaches us about faith, hope, and charity!  Well, then I thought about Moroni 7:40-48.  I recommend studying those scriptures!  It is an interesting cycle to see how all of that hooks together and really teaches us an important lesson. 

I want you to know I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission.  Sometimes I look at myself and think, "Have I really become what the Lord wants me to be?"  The answer is no, but I have started down the path.  Each and every day as I study his words, I try to be a little more like Him.  To be a little more humble, a little more charitable, and a little more Christian, and I have the faith and hope that one day when I finish my mission here in the D.R., He will accept my service, and I will feel the sweet words, "well done my good and faithful servant". 

Love,

Elder Riley Ted Reeder

Dengue Survivor!

December 23, 2012

Hello Family!

Well, I'm here---alive and everything!  I officially survived dengue...and it really wasn't all too bad. 
Guess what?  I got over Dengue in 2 days....Hooray for Priesthood blessings.  Yep, I got a blessing from my companion on Sunday, and he told me that I would be better to be able to do what I needed to do, and I was.  It was amazing.  Hey guys, I'm planning on skyping!!  Wahoo!  I'm going to do it from the Schmidts' apartment, so it is going to work like a champ!  (I hope).  I think it will be in the early afternoon here...probably like 2 or 3?  I will need your information to skype, but I will call you when we get a little closer to get it all planned out.  Love you guys, and can't wait to talk to ya!  Look what I got......it's awesome--unbelievable!!  

Dengue Fever

December 16, 2012

Hey Guys,

Well, it looks like I'm in the same boat as you guys!  I'm sick....it looks like the dreaded dengue has got me!  So....for that...I'm not gonna write a whole lot because I'm quite exhausted honestly.  Tomorrow is the Christmas Conference, so that's a little exciting!  Besides that, not much is new.  I'm honestly still not sure what we are going to do for the phone call/skype.  It all depends if we have to come back to the capital next Monday for our meeting.  If we don't have a meeting, we will stay in Azua, and I will just call.  If we come to the capital, I would like to try and Skype because I think that would be way fun.  I will let you know what the plan is after I talk to President.  Thanks for everything!

Well, for right now, I'm just chilling here in the mission home trying to stay hydrated.  There really isn't anything anyone can do, but thanks!  I was fine until yesterday at 11:30 in the night, and I got a fever out of nowhere, and it has just gotten higher and higher.  I'm gonna have to stay here because I'm not driving back to Azua like this...and my companion can't drive!  I have a fever of 102.7, and it (dengue) just gives you headache, diarrhea, and your whole body just hurts.  It really is quite pleasant :)  Well, I can't do anything about it, so it wouldn't do me much good to complain!  You really don't need to worry...it isn't that big of a deal!  Hna. Brown is taking good care of me--thank heaven for senior missionaries!

Love,

Elder Reeder

Just Some Pictures :)

December 9, 2012


These are the famous iguanas of the D.R.!  They only live out by this great big old lake in the south...the Browns took us out there to see them.  :)  I think a more fitting name would be dragon or triceratops...!   They are crazy!  This is me pretending to not be scared...but I really think it was about to eat me! 

La Primera Navidad....oops....la segunda navidad!

December 2, 2012

Hello!

Well, this was another great week out in the south!  I don't quite know where to start, but I will try!  So every weekend (Sunday), we come in to Santo Domingo, and then we head back to the south on Tuesday morning.  So last week, Monday and Tuesday were quite boring--just a bunch of meetings and driving!  It was fun to come back to the office and see Elder Batista and Elder Luzon, I really love those two.  On Wednesday, we headed out to Barahona again!  This time we went clear out in the boonies to Neyba, Duverge, and all of those places!  There is basically a whole lot of nothing....you go to the boonies...then you pass it by 50 miles, and there you are!  I could hardly believe that we have missionaries in those cities, because they are just so far away!  It is also so hot there...that the sun starts fires....yeah....wow! 

Thursday, we had a meeting with all of the Zone Leaders to go over some of their responsibilities and to help us get acquainted with them.  It was a really fun experience.  As we were preparing the meeting, I felt as if Elder Chinchilla and I really got a lot of help from the Lord.  At first I felt kinda overwhelmed because neither of us have ever even been zone leaders, and here we had to tell them what to do!  Well, we studied really hard, and we were able to find some really good things!  One of the things that we want to improve on is how the missionaries make goals.  We are seeing that lots of missionaries just throw out numbers for goals, but they don't really have any plan of what they are going to do!  We gave this as an example..      
"For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.^"
This is Heavenly Fathers goal.  He wants all of His children to return and live with Him again.  Now, imagine if He hadn't made a plan to accomplish that!  What if He had just said...this is what I want...and left it at that?  It would have been kind of hard to accomplish it.  So, Heavenly Father designed a plan, the plan of salvation, so that He could accomplish His goal of living with all of His children again!  We are really hoping to make better goals..and really have a plan to how we are going to achieve them! 

After the meeting, we headed out to San Juan to do an intercambio with the Zone Leaders out there, Elders Boswell and Stewart.  I worked with them, and my companion with the other companionship that lives in that house.  It was awesome!  I really do love doing intercambios.  It has been a huge learning experience for me.  Every single missionary has a different way of teaching the gospel, and that is what I love most.  I realize even more the importance of really becoming the best missionary that I can be.  I don't need to be anyone else.  I need to be the very best me that I can be!  I know that the Lord has sent me to this mission, and to the area that I am now for a reason!  I hope that I am able to be an instrument in His hands to help people to come to His Church. 

Yesterday, we had an interesting experience.  We were contacting, and we decided to contact a road.  We just started walking...and both walked to the same house...in the middle of the road.  Well, we started talking, and out came a woman calling, "ELDERES!"  Whenever we hear that we know that it is a member.  Well, it turned out that she is extremely less active.  Well, we were able to share with her, and she told us that we were the answer to her prayers, and that she really needed that visit.  We then received her parents as references, and have planned to go back this week.  I am so amazed in the way that the Lord inspires us.  It almost always is in such ways so simple, that if we aren't paying attention, we just might miss it. 

I am so grateful for everything that you have done for me!  I am grateful for all of my many blessings, but especially for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for the Atonement and for the cleansing, purifying power.  I am grateful that I have been given a chance to serve a mission.  I know that it has been such a blessing in my life.  I get nervous that I have such little time left.  Sometimes I feel as if I haven't become what I need to be.  But, I hope that if I keep working, the Lord will help me to become what He desires. 

Love you guys!

Elder Riley Ted Reeder

BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE!!!

November 25, 2012

Dearest Family,

I just have to start out saying that this week really has been one of the greatest weeks of my life!  I know that I will never be able to tell you everything that has happened this week, but I will try my best!  So, we had to help out with the transfers on Tuesday, and they went okay.  It was a little stressful. The Schmidts did the presentation to the new missionaries on the finances, and they did a great job! 

On Wednesday, we went to President's house to learn our responsibilities and to see what he wanted us to do.  We will be working with the zones in the south, so we help them with basically whatever!  We do intercambios with areas that are struggling, work with the zone leaders, all of that fun stuff, and the most exciting thing--we work in an area!  :)

So Wednesday, we met with President, and we were off to Azua!  We got there really late, got set up, planned and went to bed.  On Thursday, we headed off at 6:30 to Barahona to do an intercambio with some missionaries out there.  We had to take Elder and Sister Brown out to a place called Casa Bonita to meet up with President Glazier (the CCM President), to go on a little vacation!  Just look it up....yeah....it was pretty dang sweet!  Anyway, then we went back to Barahona and did an intercambio.  I really like doing intercambios because every time I learn a ton from the missionaries!  It is amazing how every missionary has their own way of teaching, and I can always learn something from them! 

On Friday, we had THANKSGIVING!  Yes, the Browns cooked us turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, all of the vaina!  It was delicious--so yes, I enjoyed the Thanksgiving spirit!  And then, I got to leave and go visit San Juan, which is a beautiful city! 

Well, this week, I'm grateful for you guys.  Grateful for your love, your support, and everything that you do for me!  But, this week I am grateful for missionary work.  These past few days I have been on cloud 9 1/2.  I feel like even though I wasn't teaching much in the office, I learned to be a better missionary.  I have felt joy indescribable in these last few days, and I know that it is the joy of helping the children of God.  I know that the Lord loves each and every one of His children, and that we have the responsibility to share the gospel with each and every one of them!  I know that sometimes the Lord tests us, gives us challenges, but for our benefit!  I know that I will still have challenges, but I also know that the Lord can always give me the strength to overcome them! 

Love,

Elder Reeder


P.S.

Answers For Mom:

Elder Chinchilla is a great missionary, he only has 10 months, but he is doing great.  We will work together extremely well!  Azua is great!  It is a straight up campo!  I love it...I feel more at home...less noise...humble people...it is sweet!  Sorry, I don't have pictures because I let the Browns use my camera because theirs broke, and they are almost going home, so this week I will get on that!  We live with the zone leaders from Azua right now, but we will move into the Brown's house when they leave.  I didn't take my Hilux with me, but I brought an Isuzu DMAX.  Yeah, I drive a duramax...but its just a little duramax.  I have been walking a ton in my area, though, and it feels great...I also am getting tan again...I was a freaking whitie!  Yes, I have met all of the above...I have visited all of the zones, and it has been a great experience.  It has been weird to "preside" meetings.  We work with about 100 missionaries.  Yes, I will do splits with them...Elder Gatherum is in the capital...so for now I won't be able to work with him. 

Thanks for sending Elder Batista a package...it will mean a lot to him!  He doesn't have a brother in this mission....I bet that he just flubbed up his English...he has two brothers who have served missions.  Thanks for going to Zayn's homecoming...He is a stud.  I'm sure he did great.  

I also don't have a P-Day...in the office we had a "P-Day", but now we don't have p-day...but I think I will write Sundays or Mondays.  Thanks for everything mom!  

Great News, and Great Baptism!

November 17, 2012

WAHOO!!!!!   TRANSFERRED!!!!

Hello Family,

Well, this is the short e-mail to tell you that the transfers came...and I have left the office!!!! WAHOO!!!!  I shall let you know what is going on....

I'm heading out to the campo!!!  I will be going out to Azua, to take over the work of a senior couple.....again...as an "ayudante" 

I will be working with all the missionaries of the south, until the new couple comes, basically doing what I do now, in the south...and I will work full time in my area :) :)

Baptism today- I feel great :)

Love, Elder Reeder


Well family,

The news of today has been really exciting!  I'm extremely grateful for the things that I have learned here in the office, I know that it has helped me to be a better missionary, and more prepared for the rest of my life.  Now, I will head off to the south as an "ayudante".  It is a new position, so we are whitewashed!  We will be in charge of 5 zones, and it is going to be quite an experience!  Now I will get to know the rest of the mission--the campo!  We will come back to the capital every weekend to attend the office meetings, to get the mail for the missionaries out there, and to help the Schmidts with any questions they have.  My new companion will be Elder Chinchilla, (not a joke), who Elder Batista trained.  He is a great missionary, and I'm excited to be able to learn from our new companionship. 

Today the baptism was great.  We had a great turnout, including another investigator, and it was really a special experience.  Everyone was really excited for him, and we could really see that he was ready and excited to take such an important step in his life.  It is going to be hard to leave him, but I know that he will be in good hands with Elder Batista.  My replacement is Elder Bryner, he is from my group, and I'm sure he will learn fast and do a great job.  

Sorry this is quick.  We are really busy getting ready for transfers!  I'm really not sure when my P-Day will be, but it will be Saturday or Monday.  So if I don't write you on Saturday, I'm sorry...

Well family, 

I love you guys!  

Elder Reeder