July 25, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad,
Hey, I’m still here, just truckin along. Thanks for all of the updates. I’m glad that you guys could get away, and have a little time for yourselves. And that everyone else is good at home. Yeah, pues.

I’m doing ok. We did have another baptism, but of the mom of the little kids that got baptized last week. The other kid fell through. His mom is really just grabby and obligating, which I hate with my whole soul, and he won’t do it without her permission. So there’s almost nothing that we can do. I dunno. And, well, we found another golden family, we thought, but they didn’t come to church. We´re gonna find out tomorrow why not, but they have a date for sometime in August. No, these next two weeks we don’t have anything, but we´re gonna start new this week lookin for people to teach and all of that. Pray for us. We need it.

We talked to some J Witness´, and that was fun. It was freezing outside, but we helped. I realized again how perfect the church and this message is. No one can try to fight it or anything. They can, but they´ll lose. So that’s ok. I can’t remember anything else that we did. Oh, today we went to Cotopaxi, one of the only places in all of Ecuador with snow. It was cool. Refreshing to see snow again. I miss it, a lot. Oh well.

Well, that’s about it. I’ll try to send some pics. I don’t know how to suck off the virus, but I can still take pictures and everything. I think I could even just leave it until I get home. I think. I hope, anyway. That’s that. I’m kinda tired, haha. I’m not sure what will happen next week with changes, if I’ll even have time to write, but I hope so. I love you guys and miss you. Keep praying that I can have success. Thanks for it up to this point.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

July 25, 2011

Horses at Cotopaxi

Baptism of the mom of the Maldonado kids

Me in the freakin snow!

July 25, 2011

Madison,
Just cuz I left on a mish doesn’t mean I’ll be lame. Yeah. Anyway. Have fun doing all of the stuff that you have planned. Lake Powell should be cool, I would think. Same with everything else. Schools almost starting again, right? That sucks. Haha, good luck with that. Well, I love ya and miss ya. I hope that this week goes good for ya.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

July 18, 2011

Mom and Dad,
Hey, yeah, I’m doing really good. This is what it’s all about. Yeah, we had 3 more bappy’s this last week, and they were awesome. And, haha, we have another one this week. So good. After that, though, nobody, but this place is super good. We´ll be sure to find somebody new this week to date, and then just keep the ball going. Good stuff.

I’m glad everything is going good at home. As always. It seems like the little things are the things I miss most, but, yeah, that’s life. We´ll see how it goes. 24 years, huh? I’ll miss the 25 year party by just a month. Wooooow, that´ll be a weird day. But still cool. Congrats, yeah?

Food, nothing. Just some candy from the states. Like, I dunno, something good. I´d say chocolate, but I think it would melt. I dunno. I do like the starbursts, those are good. And that’s about it. Yeah, mac and cheese would be cool, too. It sucks here. I just need some new ideas of food I can make in the mornings, because I’m almost out. I think I’m gonna start going for fruit, because its so cheap here. Pineapple all day. I love that crap now. SO good. That and maracuya. Good stuff. And the music, no, I don’t have a cd player. You could just send it to my room, cuz I’ll need some music for after the mish for Sundays and whatnot. That´d be good.

Ummm, what else? Oh, I was thinking, and you guys need to get your patriarchal blessings. That is a really big blessing, and I think it´ll help the both of you a lot. I’m gonna tell Madison to do it, too. So get on that.

This week, I can’t remember much. We taught a new family that is really confused. They attend a church, La Iglesia Universal, where they do miracles and all of that fun stuff. Way fake, but still. They ask "sacrifices, and just rob people blind. They say "Jesus had 33 years when he got baptized, so you all have to pay 33 dollars." What? How stupid. I don’t understand why the people think that its real. We
slammed DOWN on them, and basically told them that they were just using people and they should never go back. I thought it got in their heads, but they didn’t come to church yesterday. Freak! We´ll keep passing by. This family is way poor. Don’t have anything.

Another. The baptism this weekend is a kid whose 18. Way smart, has good questions. Had one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission with him. He was afraid to make covenants with God, because he didn’t wanna disappoint him. My comp put out some way inspired questions, and I came in with desires. I asked a question, he changed, and the Spirit just flooded in the room. It was awesome. Way, way, way cool. And now he’s gettin dunked this weekend. That’s what it’s all about. Just changin people. It’s these ones that just help someone to understand
the purpose of the mish, and why it’s so important. I love this, and it’s good but bad that time’s passing. Time is going, and I like it, because it should be going. But, I’m almost at a year. The second year is even faster, they say, and I’ll be home. I won’t be able to say that I’m Elder Reber. I can’t invite people to be baptized. Never can proselyte again. I will never have the Spirit like this again. So much I gain, but so much I lose. It’s sad, really. But that’s life. Yeah, pues.

Well, that’s that. I love you guys, and hope that you have a fun trip. There should be some stuff next week, I´d assume, and then after that, not sure. We´ll see what happens. Ok. Well, I’ll see ya in a little bit.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

The baptism of the Maldonado kids, July 16, 2011. The mom should get baptized really quick.

The Maldonado kids I baptized. They love the gringo!

It's my birthday!!

The Garces Family, baptized July 9th, 2011

Blow out them candles!

My companion, Elder Moreyra

July 18, 2011

Madison,
Hey, I’m glad that you are having an ok week. Whatever. It’s better than nothing, right? What you need to focus on is takin the ACT again. Like, 2 or 3 more times, I’m serious. It’s the most important. 3 more, yeah? I took it three times, and improved a bit. So do that.

Sent home, huh? What did mom and dad say about that? Angry, I would guess? Can’t say, but maybe. Don’t do anything to jeapordize your reputation, ok? It’s the best thing you can have. But still have fun. Last year of life. Freakin school is gonna start again soon, HAHA. That sucks for all of you. For me, yeah, whatever, just another year, right? Right. Just another year. But that’s ok.

I’ve had some dreams too where I come home, but not yet. A little more. Well, I ain’t got more to say. I love ya, and hope that this week is freakin just awesome. Time here is like 5 times faster than at home, I’m serious, but that’s how it works. How’s my room? You should buy a PS3 and put it in my room before I get home. That would be awesome, heh heh. Nah, we´ll see. Chao, chica.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

July 11, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad and Family,
Hey, thanks for all of the news, as usual. It sounds like everything is still carrying on well. That’s always good to hear. Lots of partying in Lagoon and Yellowstone, and some funny stories in the process. Chevere. That’s life for ya, right? Matt leaving, who woulda thought it. Furt, too. Both good. Way, way, way cool about the baptism. I’m never gonna miss a single one. How many people went? Did the members support? Ha,ha, my mind has completely flipped here. Before, if there were only 2 people in a baptism, so what? Now, after having some, chuta, it helps so much. So much more morale in the ward and in our companionship. So go, when the other two get baptized, too. So cool. What else? Oh, you can’t give away Bandit! That would just suck. But if you gotta, yeah, pues. I dunno. I’m just here teaching the Gospel to Catholics and Testiguos(J witness´) in Spanish, and livin it up. But thanks for the updates. Sounds fun.

With me. Well, lets see. Yeah, we had 3 baptisms on Saturday. Awesome. A family whose mom got baptized forever ago. First day here. We´re contacting, knock her door, and she comes out. We do the whole thing, as usual. She tells us she’s a member, and like 4 days before, the oldest daughter said, "I think we need to go to a church." And she says "Well, lets go to my old one. It’s cool and helps a lot." She told us she thought it was an answer to her prayer. Heck yes, it was. Way cool. So the three little ones got baptized. And we have 3 more little kids for this Saturday, and the mom really soon. Shes gotta get married, but the husband is willing. So golden. I love this area. The people are so humble and willing to listen. I just hope it keeps going. Would really help me remember the reason I’m here. We´ll see. I’ll try to send some pics if the computer permits. It’s way slow.

What else happened? Nothin, really. Can’t remember anything funny or cool. Just teaching and having a good ol time. My comp, yeah, is a little lazy, but little by little. I just gotta push him. It’s hard, honestly, but I’m trying. I did eat some cake, by the way. 8 freakin bucks. And it sucked a little. But hey, I’m in Ecuador. Maybe only one more in my whole life I’ll get to have here.

Well, that’s about it. Nothing else. I’ll try to remember what has happened, but I don’t think anything. I’m gonna open a new ward in like 2 weeks, and the chapel that they’re gonna build will be the biggest in all of Quito, and when the authorities come to talk with people, they’re gonna do it there. They say a Colosium type thing. That would be awesome. Well, that’s all. I love you guys and miss you a lot. Have a good week.

Love,
Elder Jace Reber

July 11, 2011

Madison,
¿Qué más, loca? It sounds like you had a good time. I’m glad for that. Keep enjoying it, really. You’re a senior now, WOW, and then it’s off to college. And then the rest of your life. Or a mish. That would be really cool. I didn’t know how much I wanted with the church before. Now, well, duh. I actually have a testimony, and know that this stuff is true. Whatever you want.

Cool on the stuff that you´ll get to do. Oh, yeah, and happy birthday tomorrow. 17. It was an important date for me. Hey, well, just keep doing the good stuff. Stay away from boys. Love ya, sissy. Miss ya.
Love,
Elder Jace Reber




Dear Ñaños,
Hey, thanks for all of the new stuff. It sounds like you all had a way super awesome fun week, right? I think so. Lagoon, Yellowstone, a new ride, awesome. Haha, and the rocket, too. Cool. And Mikey got married. That’s pretty crazy, but also really cool. I’m glad you guys had a lot of fun. I had some baptisms this week: A family of only girls! How bad, right? Haha, nah, but it was fun. I’ll try to send the pictures to mom. Well, I love you guys, and have another good week!
Love,
Jace

July 4, 2011

Dear Family,
Thanks for the update. It sounds like everything went well. Glad for that. My birthday was ok. I got beat twenty times with a belt, but got 5 bucks outta it. 25 cents a hit. So worth it. Other than that, nothin. We are tearin it up here, and have some good potential. 3 baptisms this week, and five planned for next. Super ,super stoked, and they are all looking so positive, too. There’s just a ton of stuff I gotta improve on. We´re gonna start. Keep prayin for me and everything. Time keeps on passin. Not sure what to think. In 3 years from today, I’m thinkin I should have 3 kids. Two after, and the one I had before. . . I mean, yeah, just 2. Ok. Well, I love you guys, and I’ll be sure to send some photos of the bappy’s this weekend. Gonna be excellent. Keep choosin the right, or else I’ll have to machete you all when I get back home.

Love,
Elder Reber

Oooh, tambien, President Sloan left. Met President Ghent today. He is ridiculously tall. Like, higher than Kyle. Big ol guy, but really nice. I know that I’ll love him, too. Anyway. Keep on keepin on! Sigan adelante.

July 4, 2011

Madison,
Yeah? I’m not that interesting. By the time I get back, you´ll be able to tell all of your problems to your husband, so no worries. Fun times, it´ll be. Haha, oh yeah. I’m glad you guys had a good time. I would like to go. Maybe when I get back, we´ll all be able to do something as a family. I’m actually kinda scared to see everyone. I just think it´ll be really awkward at first. I hope it’s not like that.

Hey, well, I love ya. Keep doin stuff. Time really is just flying by. It’s already almost time for you guys to start school again, and then I’ll probably just explode. I’ll have a year then, and then I’ll just start counting down. We´ll see, chica. Bueno, otra vez, te amo, quiero que siempre sea feliz, y que tambien en estas dias tu recibes todas las cosas que quiere de Dios. Haz las cosas justas, y Dios nunca va a sacar lo que te ha dado. ¿Me entiendes? Ójala que si. Te extraña, mi ñaña, pero solo un poco más, y Elder Reber estará allí.

Con amor,
Elder Jace Reber