Friday, January 31, 2014

San Sebastian - Week Twenty-one

HIIII FAMILY!

How are you? I miss you guys! Thanks for all the videos mom, I love seeing those. Also Austin is so manly now. willlldddd. SO this week was good! It rained every single day this week, makes me feel like I'm in CT again. Somedays it's super cold but some days it's not so bad, we're surviving okay. Especially cuz of my sweet rainboots gracias a TYLA. The best!

So we saw some pretty amazing miracles this week. So I think last you heard, our goal was to focus just on church attendance with Max because I think the goal of a baptism made him too nervous. Well turns out, he gave himself a goal to be baptized on the 8th haha. But something happened with him, he totally has been improving a ton. I think he's finally decided for himself that he wants to be baptized, without feeling the need to seek approval of other people. I think we saw him almost every day this week. He's been reading and praying super consistently, and all week long he told us he was going to come to church for sure. Towards the end of the week, we asked if he would like a blessing. He's been trying to stop smoking and has been doing pretty well. He used to smoke packs a day, but now he's down to one or two a day. On Saturday, Elder Green (who knows Cooper btw) gave him a blessing to help him to quit smoking for good. Before the blessing Elder Green told him that Christ always told people that blessings work according to our faith. The blessing was really incredible. After the blessing, Max told us he felt really good, really different. The next day, he called us right after he woke up and told us normally when he wakes up he wants to smoke really bad, but when he woke up, he had ZERO desire to smoke. He was so so excited. He's been trying to stop for 11 years I think and hasn't been able to.  We met with him that day and in his prayer he said something like "thank you for this day, it is a very special day because I have finally quit smoking, thank you for my sisters, and I know the Book of Mormon is true". It was super tender. Also he came to church finally! He was so excited he showed up an hour early haha. He lives like 5 minutes from the building.. We were way excited to see him. The ward really welcomed him too. He's so close to baptism! Keep him in your prayers. He's been such a big miracle for me. I've really loved watching his conversion. He's progressing a ton.

Oh also, our Peruvians came to church! The mom didn't, cuz she works on the weekends, but the dad and the two boys came right when church started yesterday. It was a miracle. Getting people to church is one of the hardest things as a missionary, so seeing them show up was huge! They loved it too, the boys had a blast. Both the boys have a baptismal date for the 8th as well, so keep them in your prayers!

I can't think of a whole lot else this week. Thursday (Jeudi) is still doing well and hopefully we will have his baptism the 8th as well. Keep your fingers crossed! We're seeing tons of miracles up here. I'm loving it. It's cool to see how much my faith grows as I see the faith of my investigators grow. There's no better feeling than watching your investigators progress. I love it.

PS. blueberries are super expensive here. the worst right? I just realized I haven't had blueberries in six months. sensitive.

Haha anyway, I'm loving the mission! It's super fun to be here. Hermana Woodbury and I are having a blast together. Working hard, and soaking wet!

Love you all!


Hermana Reid

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

San Sebastian - Week Twenty

Hiiiii everyone!

How's everyone this week? So happy San Sebastian day! Apparently today is some huge holiday in SanSe. Still not sure what it is really. But basically, the entire town dressed up in these strange clothes (pics to follow) and  drummed around the city.. for 24 hours straight. They started last night at midnight and they have different groups going around for the next 24 hours playing instruments and drumming... nonstop. It's wild. Needless to say I didn't sleep last night haha, it was pretty loud outside of our piso. Way cool though. These people have such SanSe pride I love it. We went to watch our friend Javi play with his group this morning, it was super fun. Except it poured. and hailed haha. That always makes it better..  the bummer is everything is closed here today.. Evvveerrryything haha so no shopping for us.. the worst.. probably better though right?

Anyway, this week was good! We had some way good stuff. Miracle man is progressing well. Found out his name, Jeudi.. means Thursday in french haha. So I'm gonna call  him Thursday from now on. But we taught him the plan of salvation and it blew his mind. He loved it. He came to church on Sunday too and brought his girlfriend. So that was like the best thing ever. We're really excited to keep teaching him, he's reading and praying too. So keep him in your prayers!

We also had a great lesson this week with two of our investigators John and Gladys. We hadn't seen them in forever cuz they are super busy, but they finally had time this past week so we went to teach them the restoration. They LOVED it. It was great. The only thing is she works Sundays so she can't come to church, although I think shes got next Sunday off so they are gonna try to come together. They are really awesome. Two very prepared people. I don't remember if I told you this about them but last time they let us over John told us he doesn't usually answer the door for people like us but he felt like we were different so he let us in. They both really need the gospel in their lives, I'm excited to keep teaching them.

So one of our other investigators, Elizabeth from Nigeria, had a baptismal date for this weekend. She  was so ready and everything, progressing super well, and coming to church consistently.. the only thing is, she's living with her boyfriend. So we taught her the law of chastity and surprisingly it went pretty well. She totally agrees it's something she needs to be living and she said she felt at peace when we were teaching her about it. It's hard to get married here though, from what I've heard. It costs a lot and takes time. So I think that'll delay her baptism a while. Which I'm super bummed about,  but it happens sometimes.

Our Peruvian family is doing well, we taught their boys the plan of salvation and they loved it. They are reading and praying all the time together as a family. They always have questions for us and are eager to be baptized. They struggle money-wise to get to church, and the mom still works Sundays, but I think the dad and boys are gonna try and make it this next week. So pray for them!

Also Max... he's all over the place lately. The latest is that his mom told him again that he can't be baptized because he already was in his church. We talked to him last night and reassured him again. Our goal is to help him get to church first, and then we will talk about baptism. He's just so nervous about it all, and keeps finding excuses to not come to church, so were gonna help him through it, one Sunday at a time. He brought us pictures he painted though.. I attached them. Haha super funny. He's great.

Well, I think that's all for this week. I love you guys! I hope you have a greeat week! Miss you!

Love Hermana Reid









The first is us and our friend Javi (from Honduras) dressed in his drumming costume
The second is a group of all of them





Monday, January 13, 2014

San Sebastian - Week Nineteen

Hey Everyone!

How are you all this week? My week was super good. As always. I love it here. I can't believe I've been here so long haha. I just realized I'll have spent a third of my mission here by the time I leave. I know this place like the back of my clammy hand. haha jk, my hands aren't clammy anymore. ANYWAYYY, life is good! It's still decently warm here in SanSe which is way weird, but I'm not complaining.

SO Max. Let me tell you, we've been on a rollercoaster with him this week. I think last you heard he was super pumped about baptism. Well the day after, he asked to meet us at the church cuz he had 30 new questions for us. Well, as well, he had a note for us that said he was going to the anglican church instead. He said he didn't know why, but his head was telling him he should go there. Strange right? Well, we started answering his questions, but ran out of time cuz we had another cita. He told us he was still going to come to church with us though.. we went to get him for church and someone he lives with told us he was sick and wasn't coming. We were way bummed. He texted us later that day and told us he would meet with us later in the week when he felt better.. and that he was still thinking about being baptized. Haha Max is all over the place. I think he's just nervous about making the wrong decision. We´re gonna help him out though, well see him this week again and clear it all up.

Also, Shan asked about Onome.. shes doing good! It was weird cuz we hadn't heard from her or been able to get ahold of her for a whole month basically. She fell off the face of the earth. Turns out she was super busy changing pisos and this that and the other, but now shes got her life settled again and seems super happy. She came to church Sunday and said she's got a goal to go every Sunday. She's doing well. Also funny story, in the middle of our lesson with her the other day she interrupts me and goes, excuse me, sorry.. but Hermana Woodbury.. why are you so white? haha. Super funny. WE ARE PALE WHERE'S SUMMER.

Also Helen, idk if I've told you much about her, but shes from Mexico. She's awesome. She literally loves us. We taught her the Restoration and she loved it! The only thing is she works Sundays now. (this happens alllll the time) so she can't come to church, but she's way excited to learn more. God will provide a way for her to come to church, if she demonstrates her faith. Also her moms being taught by the missionaries in Mexico right now too. Way sweet.

Our miracle man Jeudi is doing super well too, we had a lesson with him and he's got a goal to be baptized. He's reading and progressing really well.

Also the other day we contacted this girl on the street and asked if we could share a message with her and she said no, laughed, and literally ran away. Haha people are so strange sometimes.

Also the other day we met with Joseph, and during the lesson I asked him how he knows that God loves him. He told us it's because God sent us to him. He told us the night we found him in the street he had thought about traveling to another city to see his sister but ended up not going. But he told us he's so glad he found us. He's incredible. I feel bad for the guy, he's got a lot of struggles in his life. He told us he's still struggling, but ever since he's been baptized he feels calm now. He has a lot more peace. There's so much power to baptism. I don't think I realized before my mission how incredibly important and life changing it can be. It's such an incredible blessing we have in this life.

Also we got locked out this morning without keys or a phone. It was an adventure. I sent a voice recording about it though haha. Handled it like a champ. Anyway, that's all really, for this week. I love the mission! Were having a blast.

Also do you like how all my paragraphs start with also? haha. sorrynotsorry?

Love you all!!

Love Hermana Reid

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

At a Glance - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Have you ever been curious about what Kassi is teaching as she serves as a missionary or about the church she belongs to? Here is a quick video describing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a glance.



If you would like learn more about the LDS Church, feel free to click here for more videos.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

San Sebastian - Week Eighteen

Hey Fam! How is everyone this week? I don't know why but this week seemed like dayzzzz. A bunch of awesome things happened, but it was really long too. Strange. Anywaaay.... I'm still in San Sebastian! Haha. I'm staying another transfer. Wild right? That'll mean I'll have spent 6 months here by the time I leave. Hermana Woodbury and I were super pumped when we found out we had another transfer together. We have so much fun together. Literally loling for dayz up here.

Anyway, this week we saw tons of miracles. Incredible. The first was last Tuesday. For some reason we left piso a little early, and walked to our first cita. We realized we had extra time, so we contacted people on the way. It was way funny cuz the first 5 or 6 people we contacted wouldn't even stop to hear us speak, they'd just say thanks and keep on walking without skipping a beat. Strange people. Anyway, as we walked to the church, we decided to walk a different road than we normally do. We contacted this guy and asked if we could share a message with him (like we do with everyone) and he said yeah okay, where? Both Hermana Woodbury and I were kind of shocked. That never happens. I looked over at Hermana Woodbury not knowing what to say and she goes, well uh, that bench right there? haha. So we sat down with this kid. He's 23 and from Dominican Republic. I can't pronounce his name. But it's something like Jeudi or Algo. Idk. We always just call him miracle man. Haha. I've had him repeat it to me like 3 times and I still didn't get it. The struggles of life.

Anyway, while we were talking, he told us that earlier that morning he had been praying to God to help him, to give him more direction in his life. He talked about how much evil he sees around him and knows he should be going to a church, he basically told us he was searching for the truth. Then he left his apartment and started walking and then we stopped him to talk to him, so he took that as a sign. Hermana Woodbury and I sat there with our jaws dropped. It was incredible. It's just amazing how when you're doing what you're supposed to, God places people in your path. It wasn't like we had some major prompting to walk that road, or to even talk to him. I just have such a testimony that if you're doing the right thing, and being exactly obedient, God will place people in your path and the spirit will guide you. Anyway, he came to church on Sunday and we met with him again yesterday. He's really excited to read the Book of Mormon. I'm excited to see him progress!

Also we had a baptism! Joseph from Congo, who we've been teaching for about three weeks got baptized on Saturday. It was super good. The elders baptized a little girl that night too. This ward is coming alive, we've seen some really great stuff lately. I feel like we are finally seeing the fruits of our labors up here, we feel so blessed. We are going to see some great stuff this month. We have a lot of people that are ready to get in that font!!!

Oh also, another miracle. SO max. This is a good one. So early in the week we met with him and taught him about tithing and fasting. In the middle of our lesson he goes, I'm sorry, can I interrupt? Haha he always does that. But he said that his mom is okay with him being baptized! We were so excited! We had been fasting for his moms heart to be softened. So we planned for him to be baptized for the 18th. Then about three days later, he calls us and says hes moving to Ukraine. (I think it was Friday, and he told us he bought the plane ticket and everything for Monday) I have never been so sad. We were absolutely devastated. The only thing that helped me to not be sad was knowing that some Ukrainian missionaries would be super happy to find out that Max would come, ready to get in that font. Well, then a few days later haha, he calls us again and says that in the end he's not moving haha. Yeah, and you all thought I was indecisive..

So he's staying! He says hes leaving in February, but we will see. He's got a baptismal date for the 25th right now. He's been taught everything, he's just gotta start coming to church, he's so nervous to meet people. But he's so great. Last night we met with him and he looked at me with the biggest smile and said, "I'm so glad you knocked on my door". My heart just melted. I remember that night so well, the first time we met him. I want to see him baptized so bad. He told us he feels so peaceful in the church, he loves meeting with us. After we got back to piso last night he sent us a text and said "thank you, I guess I've found a big family". He's the best. Such a miracle. It's just another example of someone searching for the truth that was put in our hands.

Anyway, I am loving it here. We had some other great stuff, but that was the gist of it. Also I ate gulas again. Be proud. It was a rough round 2. We had a fun new years and new years eve with the members and the elders. I'm super excited to be sticking around another 6 weeks. I love you family! I hope you have a great week!

Love Hermana REEEIIIDDD






 You gotta include a selfie...