Dear Mom and Dad,
Haha, hey, yeah, everything is ok. We have had a little more success this week. Nothin really interesting has happened, really. Well, that I can remember.
First off, the Jazz traded Dwill? Wow, I never woulda thought of that. But its all good. I’m sure that it was more or less his time anyway. Oh, I was excited that mom was pregnant. That would be such a good present after the mish to have another little brother or sister! Haha, I dunno, we´ll see. Madison’s takin the ACT, that’s good, and the kids sound ok. I’m glad for all of that. Haha, its glad to hear that there are people out there supportin us. I already knew it, but its still always just good to hear. Thanks for sending out the packages. They are really appreciated. I always am excited to get one. I got one from Grandma and Grandpa Giles this last week, and it was good. I was happy for it. Macaroni, and trail mix! Ah! Haha, good times. Well, thanks for all the help and prayers and everything. Keep them comin. I really need it. I can’t believe that it’s already almost 7 months for me. These last 4 weeks have been so ridiculously fast. Like, crazzzzy, crazy fast. Especially these last two. Honestly, it feels like just two days ago I emailed. Cool, but fast. What else? Oh yeah, you guys gotta start writing down every movie, EVERY, that comes out in the theaters, and when I get back, there will be a big ol list ready. Haha, I dunno.
Well, let’s see. First off. The food. Yeah, that’s about the weirdest its gotten. I had some more cow stomach Saturday. Its got kinda a weird texture, but it really doesn’t have a weird taste. I’ve tried some more fruits too. Lets see, the ones native here. Well, there’s maracuyá, my favorite ever, tamarinda, naranjilla, guanabana, and yesterday bobaco. They are all decent. There’s a juice called "Tomate de Arbol" or Tree tomato, and it sucks. I don’t like it at all, and there is SO much of it here. Freak. Don’t really want none of that. But other than that, nothin, really. Rice, Chicken, Sauce, tomato, and lettuce. And millions of kinds of soup. And all are good, haha. I hope to have some more of a different one, but we´ll see.
The nuns. Well, the Catholics really never wanna fight. Ever. The majority of the people here are just fine and don’t wanna fight at all. But the Catholics, never. When we contact them, haha, its great. None of them know anything of the Bible or anything like that. They just don’t wanna take time to listen. "See, the thing is, I’m Catholic." Oh, so you know a little about the Bible? "Umm, sure." Yeah, they don’t. It’s my favorite when we ask, "So, are you religious at all?" "No, I’m Catholic." Hahahaha, just goes to show you how fake it really is. I always laugh hard. That, or when we talk to people, and ask "So when can we come visit you?" and they say "Well, I have a friend that lives like three houses down, and he really needs it. He’s not a good person, and he drinks." That’s fine and dandy, but you? Haha, everyone is like that here. Oh well. The ones that fight are the Testiguos, or Jehovahs Witnesses. Freak, those people have been brainwashed. Like Dad said, they’re TAUGHT in their church that they should argue. That they SHOULD. Wow. I like to read 3 Ne 27:19, wait, say something short, and then just leave. It really helps. But sometimes, haha, I really just like to show them how wrong they are. With the Catholics, well, its easy. It’s one of the ten commandments not to worship idols. And the virgin is. . . . Oh, and they worship the Baby Jesus. Didn’t know that. Here, he’s called "El Divino Niño." Hey, that rhymes! Lets worship! It’s really sad. Everyone only does it because of traditions. "See, we´re catholic, and we´ll never change religion, because my parents were catholic and their parents and theirs and theirs." Cool. But something I’ve learned. We´re not here to change the religion of these people. I totally thought that before. We´re here to invite people to come unto Christ, and by doing so, they´ll see the importance of the church and its ordinances, and they´ll want to come to the church, because we have the truth. It’s hard, but I’ve learned so much. I love it!
Haha, well, there’s that ramble. This week, nothin has happened. I hardly took pictures, and we contacted for a total of 12 hours! Yeah, and we found like 3 people. Whoo, it’s tough, but we found a really awesome family, and we´re excited to see what happens with them. I think something good. But we even had a zone leader, well, I did, and we contacted for all that time, and didn’t find anyone. The people here just don’t wanna listen. Not sure why, but they don’t. All good. This week, we should have a couple more people, and shouldn’t have to contact for that long. I sure as heck hope not, at least.
Haha, the experience of the week. Yeah, ok. Well, apart from the regular stuff thats happened, nothin big. My comp had contacted a family from Esmeraldas, who are black. We went to the house of the girl, just invited her to church, and she came. Cool, no? So we went to teach her, but she wasn’t there. But. . her older sister, who we didn’t know, was. And she is really, really, really pretty. Haha, and so we taught her, and she was interested. We went back on Friday, and they both were there. They were acting a little suspicious, and at the end, they asked us if we could have girlfriends in the mission. Oh. Ummm, no? Haha, no, we said no, and they invited us to a dance, as well. Super flirty. Super awkward. Super not good for this 19 year old guy with a pretty girl. Nah, it didn’t phase me, but it was just funny. The older sister came to church too this week, and are gonna come the next, too. Awesome.
Well, that’s about it. I can’t remember what goes on during the week, the funny things, or anything, really, for that matter, but its ok. Poca a Poca, I think in the end, I’ll have a lot more than I thought. And if I don’t, its ok. I will have learned a ton, and I’ll be a lot happier. Anyway. This church is true, pray, read the Book of Mormon, go to church, and do it all as a family. Oh, and like Madison, get your patriarcal blessings! It will help you guys a ton! It’s never too late. I would suggest it. And, well, I’m a missionary, so do it! I love all of you guys and miss you a ton, and I’ll talk to you in what will feel like 2 days, haha.
Love,
Jace
Elder Reber
Haha, hey, yeah, everything is ok. We have had a little more success this week. Nothin really interesting has happened, really. Well, that I can remember.
First off, the Jazz traded Dwill? Wow, I never woulda thought of that. But its all good. I’m sure that it was more or less his time anyway. Oh, I was excited that mom was pregnant. That would be such a good present after the mish to have another little brother or sister! Haha, I dunno, we´ll see. Madison’s takin the ACT, that’s good, and the kids sound ok. I’m glad for all of that. Haha, its glad to hear that there are people out there supportin us. I already knew it, but its still always just good to hear. Thanks for sending out the packages. They are really appreciated. I always am excited to get one. I got one from Grandma and Grandpa Giles this last week, and it was good. I was happy for it. Macaroni, and trail mix! Ah! Haha, good times. Well, thanks for all the help and prayers and everything. Keep them comin. I really need it. I can’t believe that it’s already almost 7 months for me. These last 4 weeks have been so ridiculously fast. Like, crazzzzy, crazy fast. Especially these last two. Honestly, it feels like just two days ago I emailed. Cool, but fast. What else? Oh yeah, you guys gotta start writing down every movie, EVERY, that comes out in the theaters, and when I get back, there will be a big ol list ready. Haha, I dunno.
Well, let’s see. First off. The food. Yeah, that’s about the weirdest its gotten. I had some more cow stomach Saturday. Its got kinda a weird texture, but it really doesn’t have a weird taste. I’ve tried some more fruits too. Lets see, the ones native here. Well, there’s maracuyá, my favorite ever, tamarinda, naranjilla, guanabana, and yesterday bobaco. They are all decent. There’s a juice called "Tomate de Arbol" or Tree tomato, and it sucks. I don’t like it at all, and there is SO much of it here. Freak. Don’t really want none of that. But other than that, nothin, really. Rice, Chicken, Sauce, tomato, and lettuce. And millions of kinds of soup. And all are good, haha. I hope to have some more of a different one, but we´ll see.
The nuns. Well, the Catholics really never wanna fight. Ever. The majority of the people here are just fine and don’t wanna fight at all. But the Catholics, never. When we contact them, haha, its great. None of them know anything of the Bible or anything like that. They just don’t wanna take time to listen. "See, the thing is, I’m Catholic." Oh, so you know a little about the Bible? "Umm, sure." Yeah, they don’t. It’s my favorite when we ask, "So, are you religious at all?" "No, I’m Catholic." Hahahaha, just goes to show you how fake it really is. I always laugh hard. That, or when we talk to people, and ask "So when can we come visit you?" and they say "Well, I have a friend that lives like three houses down, and he really needs it. He’s not a good person, and he drinks." That’s fine and dandy, but you? Haha, everyone is like that here. Oh well. The ones that fight are the Testiguos, or Jehovahs Witnesses. Freak, those people have been brainwashed. Like Dad said, they’re TAUGHT in their church that they should argue. That they SHOULD. Wow. I like to read 3 Ne 27:19, wait, say something short, and then just leave. It really helps. But sometimes, haha, I really just like to show them how wrong they are. With the Catholics, well, its easy. It’s one of the ten commandments not to worship idols. And the virgin is. . . . Oh, and they worship the Baby Jesus. Didn’t know that. Here, he’s called "El Divino Niño." Hey, that rhymes! Lets worship! It’s really sad. Everyone only does it because of traditions. "See, we´re catholic, and we´ll never change religion, because my parents were catholic and their parents and theirs and theirs." Cool. But something I’ve learned. We´re not here to change the religion of these people. I totally thought that before. We´re here to invite people to come unto Christ, and by doing so, they´ll see the importance of the church and its ordinances, and they´ll want to come to the church, because we have the truth. It’s hard, but I’ve learned so much. I love it!
Haha, well, there’s that ramble. This week, nothin has happened. I hardly took pictures, and we contacted for a total of 12 hours! Yeah, and we found like 3 people. Whoo, it’s tough, but we found a really awesome family, and we´re excited to see what happens with them. I think something good. But we even had a zone leader, well, I did, and we contacted for all that time, and didn’t find anyone. The people here just don’t wanna listen. Not sure why, but they don’t. All good. This week, we should have a couple more people, and shouldn’t have to contact for that long. I sure as heck hope not, at least.
Haha, the experience of the week. Yeah, ok. Well, apart from the regular stuff thats happened, nothin big. My comp had contacted a family from Esmeraldas, who are black. We went to the house of the girl, just invited her to church, and she came. Cool, no? So we went to teach her, but she wasn’t there. But. . her older sister, who we didn’t know, was. And she is really, really, really pretty. Haha, and so we taught her, and she was interested. We went back on Friday, and they both were there. They were acting a little suspicious, and at the end, they asked us if we could have girlfriends in the mission. Oh. Ummm, no? Haha, no, we said no, and they invited us to a dance, as well. Super flirty. Super awkward. Super not good for this 19 year old guy with a pretty girl. Nah, it didn’t phase me, but it was just funny. The older sister came to church too this week, and are gonna come the next, too. Awesome.
Well, that’s about it. I can’t remember what goes on during the week, the funny things, or anything, really, for that matter, but its ok. Poca a Poca, I think in the end, I’ll have a lot more than I thought. And if I don’t, its ok. I will have learned a ton, and I’ll be a lot happier. Anyway. This church is true, pray, read the Book of Mormon, go to church, and do it all as a family. Oh, and like Madison, get your patriarcal blessings! It will help you guys a ton! It’s never too late. I would suggest it. And, well, I’m a missionary, so do it! I love all of you guys and miss you a ton, and I’ll talk to you in what will feel like 2 days, haha.
Love,
Jace
Elder Reber