June 27, 2011

Dear Family,
Hey, yeah, its true, I’m hittin another decade of my life this next week. Pretty freakin crazy. I can’t believe I’ve already almost put a year away from home in. But whaddya do, right? That’s life. Yeah, Thursday will just be like any other day, just that I might buy a cake and maybe some ice cream. Maybe we´ll cook something, too. My comp knows how to cook good, so maybe I can talk him into something. If not, ah well. Another day, another soul to find and save.

I’m glad everything is going good at home. Sounds like there were some incidents at home, and it’s kinda funny, really. It had to happen at some point in life, right? Yo creo. But just keep doin the same ol, same ol. I know that everything is going fun and good. Here is going ok too. This last week was one of the hardest of my mission. No idea what happened, but I was so, so unmotivated. Didn’t have any energy, nothing like that. But that’s gonna change. I still got a lot left, and can’t afford to waste a single minute. We´re workin but we still don’t have a ton of people. Some. Two for sure, the ninth basically, and maybe even three. But apart from that, we don’t got nobody. We´ve been finding people, but they are never home when we go back to visit. It’s really frustrating, but I know that we´re gonna start to change things. Just gotta keep working, and the zone leaders put in a new system that should get us a bunch of references, so I’m excited. Keep praying for us, and especially for me. I’m having fun here. Playing guitar, eating regular food, doing all of that. Of course, after proselyting. Anyway. I ‘m kinda out of it right now. Really tired, and just wanna eat some ice cream. Think I’m gonna go buy some.

Ummmm, not really anything else. Can’t remember. One thing bad, haven’t written in my journal since the first of May. A long time. I need to just start back up again. Hopefully. The pictures, yeah, are a little hard. It’s kinda dangerous to carry the camera around. I’ll try to hide it well and maybe get some photos with some families that we have. Cool experiences this week, umm, can’t think of one right now. I’ll try to make one this week. Some guy called me a */!_* %!*/-!!, thanks to my freakin comp. He was drunk out of his mind, and it was kinda funny. Anyway. I love you guys a lot, and hope that this week goes well for all of you. I’ll try to live it up on Thursday. Chevere. Bueno. Cuidense.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber
Your almost not teenager


Madison,
Hey, thanks. Yeah, I’m turning 20. It’s pretty nuts. More nuts, though. In like December of September, I remember thinking that when the day comes, way WAY far off that its my birthday, I would almost have a year in the freakin mission. And guess what. In 4 days, I’ll be there. And I’m almost at a freakin YEAR in the mission. That’s what’s crazy. When I hit a year, you guys will have to start school again. I dunno, sis, its’ fast like lightning, no? That’s life.

I’m glad you had fun. You guys are going to Yellowstone, no, and Lagoon? Haha, I remember telling mom that it would be right after I left for college, or the mission that the family would start to do the funnest stuff. Looks like it was true. :P Nah, whatevs. It´ll be really fun for you guys. Don’t worry about it. I liked it a lot with Sam.

Just keep your head up. Remember your brother Jace once in a while in Ecuador, talkin in Spanish to people he doesn’t know, speakin about a subject that everyone has and doesn’t wanna change. Good stuff. Well, I love ya and hope you keep up the summer. It’s almost your birthday, too. 17, no? Still can’t buy cigarretes. That’s 19. Ah well. Solo 13 meses y media hasta que me vaya a la casa otra vez. ¿Loco, no? Claro que sí.

Atte,
Elder Jace Reber


Dear Brooklyn, Whitney, and Hunter,
Hey, thanks for all of the fun stuff that you guys told me. It sounds like it was pretty fun. Dad got a hook stuck in his finger. That’s kinda funny. And then Grandpa, too. I bet it hurt pretty bad. But oh well. Everything is all good, now. I’m glad you’re having fun with your summer. It’s already almost July. Wow! Pretty crazy, huh? I think so. Thanks for wishing me a happy birthday. I hope that its a good one. I think me and my companion are gonna buy me a cake, but I’m not too sure. We´ll see. Haha, well, I love you guys a lot, and hope that you have a lot of fun this week, too.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

June 20, 2011

Dear Family,
Hey, yeah, I’m doing really well. Just another day in Quito, as I say. Well, not really. Lifes been movin on. Fast as fast. But good. This new sector is pretty cool. It’s basically just one huge are, like, neighborhood, so its easy to get lost and there are thousands of houses right next to each other. I like it a lot. The people here are way good, and we never have problems putting return dates, and I love it. We have already found some cool little families, and we have planned sooo many more. This place has a lot of potential, we just gotta get to work and involve the members and everything will be golden.

My comp is ok. From Peru. A little different, but whaddya do. All good in the working department. Hes got 20 months, and is still comp menor, but that’s ok. Some are a little bit more inicuos than others. But whatever. I’m learning.

My week. Well, I did a lot of divisions, I’m way lost in this place, and I broke down Wednesday, because we said bye to President. Oh wow. It was way rough. I love that guy so much, and I have learned a ton from him. It’s gonna be really hard without him here, but I gotta go on. Lot of respect. I’ll be sure to visit him after the mish. Other than that, nothin. We knock doors all day, all the days. I’ve only been here 3 of the 6 days this last week, but we just contacted and contacted and contacted. Fun! Keep prayin for these people. We have some planned for the 2 of July, and we should be slappin some dates on some other people, too, so I’m excited. We´ll see. Had some cool experiences with my brother, Elder Redd. Well, brother as in we have the same trainer, or dad. Elder Evenson trained him, too. Just taught way, way good and the Spirit was there way strong. I enjoyed it. Plus, it’s good to kiss up a little to the leaders. Maybe I’ll get bumped up and get a cell phone. Man, that would be handy. Ah well. Ya take what ya get.

Well, that’s about it. I don’t have photos, because it’s dangerous here to bring the camera in the street, but I’ll try to find a way to do it. We´ll see. I’m learning a lot, time is flying, and only 10 days until I’m 20. Craziness. Well, the church is true, the restored gospel is perfect, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and Christ is our Savior. Yo sé todas de estas cosas, y lo comparto en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. Haha, yeah, there’s the testimony closer. Anyway. I love you guys a lot, and have a good week. Enjoy the summer. It’s flying away like crazy. Already almost July. Wow.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

June 20, 2011

Madison,
Hey, sounds like your’e just livin it up. Gotta while you can. The summer is flying away. It's already almost our birthdays. Pretty excited for that. You know it. And time is flying. Haha, its not goin fast there? It’s already been 10 months, almost 11! I’m becoming a veteran in this freaking place. But it’s fun. Good stuff, ya know? Yeah, 17 is a good age. You can do a lot more stuff, and it’s fun. But you’re movin up in age. Lots get married at 18. Careful, yeah?

But I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Just try to live a little. This is your second to last summer, basically. You gotta live it up while you can. Just a little free, and without too much stress. Cool that your friend is coming too. That´ll be a fun time, no? I think so.

This place is cool. The people are really receptive, and I’m learnin. Lookin forward to really delve in this week, and start throwin DOWN baptisms. Haha, we´ll see. I love ya, miss ya, and hope you have a good week. Eat some cake for my birthday, yeah? I’m thinkin we´ll buy one here for my birthday, too. That´ll be fun. Well, chao, mi ñaña.

Con amor,
Elder Jace Reber
Tu hermano

June 14, 2011

Hey, and even just one thing more. I’m kinda not supposed to be here, but there were freakin changes. Yeah. I know. I’m in a new place, in the most south of Quito. It’s called Chillogallo. The two” ll´s” make the "yo" sound. I dunno. Freakin emergency changes. My new companion is Elder Moreyra, from Peru. He’s cool. We have gotten along well so far. He has a lot of time here, 20 months, but I’m not sure why he’s not senior comp. We´re opening a sector here, the both of us. He’s only been here a week, and we don’t know anyone or have anyone. Fun! Not really. I assume we will be contacting like madmen.

We´ll see how it goes. I’ll let you know in my letter next week.
Anyway. The name of my sector is called Manantial. As of now, it’s called Asistencia Social 2, or Social Assistence 2, but that’s ugly. They’re splitting the ward here, so there will be two, and this is the new one. Should be good. They say in this zone the members are excellent and want to help like crazy, so maybe a good change of scenery. We´ll see. Pray for me still, and yeah. I’m actually really excited. I wanted to get out of freakin Conocoto. I like the people and all, but we weren’t doing anything, and the leaders were gonna just rip me a new one for not having anyone. This solves that. We´ll see. Well, love you guys.
Love,
Elder Jace Reber

June 13, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad,
Hey, yeah, I’m doing ok. Just livin the life of the average missionary, I would say. Well, there is no average missionary, but I’m pretty accustomated (is that the word?) to this life now, so yeah. This week. . . well, chupó. Durisimo. But that’s ok. I was really, really discouraged yesterday. I’ve never thought about wanting to just go home and sleep, but yesterday, yes. It was rough. But then I spoke with some people, contacted a bit, laughed, and yeah, its ok. We just gotta keep going. I have had absolutely nothing, and it’s hard not to compare to others, but I’m doin the best I can. Just gotta keep on. Anyway. Thanks for the info on everything. You guys always got a lot goin on, but that’s life. Nothin you can really change much about that now. But its fun. Rarely do I have time either to just sit. And when I do, it feels weird. Like I should be walking, at the very least. How’s it gonna be after? I dunno. I haven’t decided yet either if I wanna push school back another semester or no. As of now, I think yes, but it’s still way too early to decide.
Yeah, I’m doing better. This week, we have a ton to work on. Just keep prayin at home and everything, and helping out in that way, and I know that everything will go good.
Sorry for not putting any pictures. I haven’t really been takin them recently, and I’m not sure why. This week, I think I am going to take a bunch, because there’s a good chance that I’m leaving this next Monday. Changes. Haha, I hope. I’m kinda tired of this spot. Need a new set of scenery, and a new style of people. That´ll help boost the morale, too.
Well, about this week. Yeah, it was funny at first, too, with the familia Vargas, the brother and sister, but now. . . haha, not so much. They can’t get married, it’s against the law, and it went all the way up to the 12. Yeah, apostles. They were talking about Elder Reber and a family that he’s teaching in freakin Conocoto Quito Ecuador. We are going to talk to them Wednesday, with the Zone Leaders, and tell them they gotta separate if they wanna, and because, well, it’s just wrong. Ugh. And they knew the whole time. That’s the worst part. Feo. Yeah, pues.
Haha, other than that, just more experiences with crazies. To a new guy who wasn’t listening.

"Yeah, brother, well, we want you to pray, and do all of that. Will you do it? Ok, cool. Well, we´d like to leave with a prayer, if that’s ok."

"Ummm, no. I would like to leave just saying that we need to bless the earth and the environment, because it’s really important. . . . . . . " ". . . .

“Um, no, we´re gonna pray, yeah?"

What a weird freakin guy. That, and the Catholic lady from yesterday that took me out of my slump.

"Hey, we´re misisonaries, yeah, de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Dias, and we wanna help you be more happy and have an eternal family."

"Wow, that’s good but I’m Catholic."

"No worries, we talk with everyone. We just invite people to come more unto Christ, so that they can have more of the happiness we said and be able to know with a sureity that what they are doing is of God. Then, we just invite that they can pray and ask God himself if what we teach is true or not."

"Oh, I know that my church isn’t true. The Catholics here are bad people. They don’t listen, we lie, tons of things. But I can’t leave."

". . . . . .Why not?"

"Because I’ve been my whole life."

"Bueno, hermana, but if your church isn’t true, and what you are doing is wrong, then. . . well, its not right, pues. You won’t be saved by following, and you’re honestly wasting time."

"Exactly what you said, missionary. I know that’s true. But I’m Catholic. I can’t."

". . . . . . . . Yeah, um, well, see ya. Thanks?"

Freak. I dunno. These people don’t think! They just kinda talk. It’ s honestly sad. They’re all just brainwashed by their church leaders. I heard from an investigator that in a lot of the church’s, they are warned never to open the doors on us. Haha, I really like that. On the Jehovah’s Witness or whatever else, its ok, but on us, don’t even mess around. Because it’s true! So true. It’s logical, and it’s awesome. Anyway.
Well, that’s that. Sorry. It’s a little long. I still don’t have any pictures, I don’t think, and I don’t really remember what I’ve sent, but we´ll see. I love you guys a lot, and am grateful for all of your sacrifices so that I can be there. I know that I am contiunally progressing, and it’s just been fun so far. Time is going by faster every single week, really, and I just hit 10 months. Double digits! Locisimo. Well, enough of that. This is Christ’s church. Keep doin the stuff that Ive told you. The conference talks just came out, and they’re super good. Read em. Bueno, hasta en 14 meses, más or menos. Los amo bastante, y quiero que tengan una buena semana y sigan haciendo las cosas divertidas.
Love,
Elder Jace Reber

Oh, and by the way, yeah, the blog looks really nice. I haven’t got a chance to eat any cuy yet, but I hope to soon. (cuy is guinea pig)

June 13, 2011

Dear Ñaños,
Hey, thanks for all of the good updates about stuff. It sounds like everyone is just having a ton of fun, as always at home. Good stuff. Keep doing it! The summer is going by a lot faster than you know it! I’m glad you got to go to the Powwow and get to go to Yellowstone, which is really fun, and all of the other things too.
Yep, it’s almost my birthday. Pretty close. But that’s fun. We´ll see how it goes. I love you guys and miss you a lot and pray for all of you, too. Bueno, ¡tengan una buena semana!
Love,
Jace

June 6, 2011

Dear Family,
Haha, well, I’m glad everyone is doing well back in the good ol Cedar City. I’m doing ok, too. Still here in Quito, in Conocoto, with Elder Martinez. So that’s ok. Thanks for all of the new news and stuff. Shawn just barely left, then, huh. Well, its better now than have to keep waiting, like mom said. I’m sure everything will be just fine. He just has to ponerse pilas and he´ll be alright. ( That means put himself batteries, or think quick and be sharp.) Same with the graduation. Crazy that Kyle is now graduated. He was behind me two years, right? Yeah, that’s nuts for me. We´re all gettin older, and it kinda freaks me out. Megan should be graduating college pretty soon too, no? Wow.

Anyway. Nothing else here is new, really. We are still strugglin to find people. Not sure why its so hard, but nobody wants to listen. We almost had another worthless week, but it turned out ok in the end. I was happy. I’ll fill in some of that later. But yeah, it’s ok. I still feel like I’m not putting my all. I can’t force myself to talk to people about that. It’s something I always pray for. Just the street contacting. And I know that that is the reason that we are down right now. But we´re gonna do it. I just gotta. Pray for that, yeah? That Jace will just grow some and talk to the people. That would help.

Hmmm, what else. They tell me I’m gonna be District Leader soon. Kinda scary, but the same thing with the being Comp Mayor. You just gotta take it, and it comes and passes. All good. I’m not positive, and if no, yeah, its fine. I’m not here to rise up, just work. It would be cool to have a phone, though. Way easier to talk and call than the stupid freakin cabinas.

Haha, alright, to some stories. Freak. Get ready.

Ok, we had a family, their name is Vargas, yeah? The familia Vargas. We have been teaching forever. Oh wow. We also have been trying to get them married for a freakin month so that they can get baptized, but its just not happenin. Satan is workin hardcore. Every time we go to the civil registry, there is another problem. So there’s that. But, we go this last week, finally, to put in the papers for them to do it. Everything was fine and dandy, and she got in there. But. . . she leaves, and says, "It didn’t process. Lets go." .. . . . .". . .wait, wait. . Wait, Hermana, no wait!" But yeah, she leaves. We are walkin, and she tells us that she has to talk to her hubby about some personal stuff. Freak.

So we go 2 nights ago, and just ask what’s up. We find out, yeah, here it goes, that they are half brother and sister. Haha, related! It’s a crazy long story, but the thing is, they can’t get married or baptized yet until we find out what they can do. We´ll see. Brother and sister. That’s my freakin life. And now we don’t have anyone. Sucks.

Well, we did find a big ol family yesterday, but they’re not married, and they got porn plastered all over the walls, so that’s not good, but they listened and I think that we can really help them to change and be better and happier. We´ll just have to see what happens.

That’s my week. Nothing else new is happening. Just kinda goin week by week, day by day. Time is flying so fast now. Like, ridiculously fast. I can barely believe it. I am creepin up on one year. Almost ten months. At the end of the next change, I will basically be there. And they say the last year is the fastest of them all. We´ll see. I love you guys and miss you a lot, and I’m grateful for everything that you do for me. I know that what I’m doing is real, and that the people here are changing. Just gotta keep pluggin away, and the blessings will come. Bueno, hasta la proxima semana. Suerte con toda, ¿ja?

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

Oh, and I bought me a guitar, not sure if I told you. Its good stuff.

June 6, 2011

Dear Brooklyn,
Fun stuff. Yeah, sometimes it’s hard. We never got to see the cousins a whole lot, and its kinda hard, but hey, at least they live close to us. I’m glad you guys had a fun week. So Saturday, then, was when Shawn left. Crazy. Yeah, we´ll be comin back at the same time. I come home in August, and he does, too, I think. That’s cool. And no, I have only benen out for like almost 10 months. 5 days and it´ll be 10 months. That’s crazy, too. Anyway. Love you!

Dear Whitney,
Hahaha, of course I was there when they got married! I haven’t been gone that long, have I? No, but it’s ok. No worries. I love you too and miss you all a lot. Thanks for prayin for me. I know that it helps.

Dear Hunter,
I have only been to 2 places, and they are just ok. Not really that fun, but still a little bit. I’m ok with that. I’m glad that you guys had a good weekend, too. Was Madison able to go, too? I hope so. Well, I love you.

Love you guys!
Elder Jace Reber

June 6, 2011

Madison,
Cool beans, a guitar! That’s awesome. Don’t worry about it, if you wanna use the big one, too, use it. I don’t mind. What is the brand name? Just tell me that, and I’ll let you know if its good or not. If not, oh well. Like you said, its a freakin guitar.
Lots of marriages. Crazy. Oh well. Just keep your chin up. Everything is gonna be just dandy and fine and happy. This Girls´ State thing is gonna look good on your college thing, and will be a good way to get a scholarship, I think.
Thanks for all of the other happenin’s in the life. Here, everything is the same. Every week goes by that much faster. Before I can even think, you guys are gonna be starting school again, I’m serious, and then I’ll just be a year behind. That’s when the things start to just fly like crazy. Oh well. That’s how it should be. I think. Then back to freakin life to work and have to do the same ol same ol like always.
Well, I love you and miss you, and hope you have a super awesome time. Let me know what else happens. Oh, and did you cry when Shawn left? Why didn’t anyone cry when I left?!?! Heh heh, yeah, its ok.

Love,
Jace