Week 77 Punk

Merry Christmas. So much fun getting to talk to you last night. Its amazing that we could all be in different parts of the world, talking to each other. When james was on his mission, I remember gathering on our phone attached to our wall to each get to talk to him. Now everyone's on iPhones, and Free just types up a couple numbers on Skype, and we're all on the same call. Amazing how things have changed. I ate so much junk food as we talked!

Elder Frei enjoyed listening inand talking to you guys, he says he cant wait to meet you. Yes, my family is hilarious. I got to speak to his mom today, he has such a huge family. It was funny to get to hear his little 9-15 year old brothers requesting him to send home Pokémon cards and airsoft guns. Meanwhile Issa is older than most of the missionaries in the mission, and all she requested was more bookmarks. He also go to talk to both sets of grandparents, while me on the other hand, haven't had grandparents for a while.

Last phone call came and went to quick. Glad I wasn't in the hospital this time.

I have tons, like seriously, TONS of pics to send you, but I don't know if I'll get a chance today, unless another computer frees up in this place. This one isn't letting me plug into the USB. Ok, I'll send those off as soon as I get a chance. I think Elder frei may just forward some to me.

Love you all,

Elder Reyes

Week Unical 76

I'll get to speak to you on the phone this next sunday or monday, so I can keep this one short again. Buuuut, we had an amazing day yesterday that I have to tell you about. We had 3 investigators at church, and the English Branch had a really cool sacrament meeting. I'd never see one like it before, they called it a musical testimony meeting. You go up, ay what you're favorite hymn is, and why, and then the whole congregation sings one of the verses of the hymn. We sang so much my voice was cracking all over the place towards the end of the meeting.

There was a really funny moment when a primary kid came up and said the song he wanted to sing, and then just stood at the pulpit for 30 seconds blankly staring at everyone then exclaiming, "OKAY, can we sing the song ALREADY!" The chorister was cracking up like crazy the entire song cuz of that. It was realy spiritual, and there were some amazing stories behind why people picked those songs.

On saturday we had a big combined Christmas party with the english branch and the Korean ward. There were confused looks of "What the heck is this?" on both ends of the potluck dinner. Most Koreans hate turkey, and most korean food looks not as appetizing as it is, so it was quite funny to watch. Perhaps the only time its ok to lie as a missionary is when we had to reassure the kids that, "Yes, of course that is the real Santa Clause." "He said your name wrong because that is what our name is in spanish." Worked like  charm.

It's been freakishly cold lately, luckily though there hasn't been any snow. At least any that has stuck anyway. I've been gathering some gifts for you guys, but it'll be too late for christmas, and I may just hold on to em till I get back to save on shipping, especially now that some people (won't name names) are on the east coast, getting an edjumacation or whatever...College boy!

Oh, last night we got into  fender bender when we were with Elder Wilcox's parents. They had us and Elder Eisenhaur over for dinner, and when they were dropping us off at our houses, Bother Wilcox may or may not have hit a wall after Elder Frei accidently told him to go the wrong way down a one way street. Fun times. Everyone couldn't help but just laugh it off. Great ride home. haha Even with a huge gash on the side of Sister Wilcox's van.

Ok, I'll save other stories for later. love you all. Talk to you in a week or less!

-Elder Reyes

Week 75 Cent Chicken Wings

I don't have too much time on here. I was busy trying to upload photos to send send in for the Christmas conference we have coming up next week, and it kept bugging out. So i ate up a ton of time doing that. I want to get outta here quick, too, because it'll be Elder Eisenhaur's last P-day. He's getting honorably released because he needs surgery on his ankle. I'll be losing my best friend in the mish the day after our Christmas Conference. I'm pretty torn up about it, but his ankle is totally jacked, and the doctors are giving him the boot back home. We would have been going home at the same time. It's crazy, I was there when he broke his ankle, and it was by lightly jogging over to a soccer ball. Ya never know what kinda crazy stuff will happen to your body.

This week was amazing. I went to one of the best sacrament meetings that I'd been to in forever. A man spoke of his conversion story, and about how his jewish family disowned him, and 10 years after serving his mission in the Philippines, there was finaly a reconciliation. His parents have now been to all his kids missionary farewells, and all that. Pretty amazing stuff. When his Dad asked him why he was gonna serve a mission (pretty much a year exactly after he was baptized), he told him "Dad, when you know something is true. You have to share it with other people."

I feel so lucky to have parents who didn't just support my decision, but shaped me and prepared me all my life to serve a mission. The only opposition I faced was snot nosed kids bad mouthing me on music blogs. lol

I've gotten a chance to really get some good bonding time with our investigators lately. We have some really amazing ones. It helps when they are member referrals. It makes the process so much easier, and it just really gives opportunities for them to feel the spirit. Too many stories to tell from this past week, and not enough time. I'll be getting to speak with you on the phone soon, so I can afford to keep this short.

Ok, love you all! Work out a time for me to call.

-Elder Reyes

Week 74

Ok, now my translator is on the fritz. I wanted to record some things but I'm afraid to. I thought I lost all of my files, which would have been huge bummer. Most of it is replaceable, but somethings, like my audio journals, or my journals that I used to keep in korean on there would have been lost. BUt when I plug my translator into the computer, all my files are still there, so I back em up on my SD card. Don't know why it's not able to read the multimedia folder, but nothing other than the usual functions of my translator are showing up. I can record new things, but there is a risk I could be recording over data I want, or that it would not be able to be saved later when I retrieve my other files. Anyway... sorry. Looks like I have to type my thoughts this time... what a drag. haha

Ok, so I got to go on exchanges this week with an Elder Wilcox. He is well known throughout the mission because his family ended up moving to Seoul Korea while he's been on his mission. His dad served his mission here as well, and his job brought him out to korea due to his Korean abilities. So since his parents live in Seoul, a lot of missionaries have gotten to eat with his family, and have seen and been in his new house before he gets to. It's a weird thing to tell another missionary that "I've been in your bedroom... but you haven't."  HIs parents are amazing, and since I'm covering the English branch, I get to see them every week. In fact, his older sister is in town and I  got to meet Elder Wilcox's little nephew.... again, before Elder Wilcox has had a chance to yet.

He thought he'd never get to serve right in Seoul. He's been put on the outskirts up until this point. He's literally one subway stop away from his family now. Luckily he and his parents are both keeping their distance. The one accidental meeting they had at the temple was apparently so weird that they all avoid each other like the plague.

Ok, that's alot of backstory, but I just had to tell it. He's such a great missionary. He was apart of that first group of missionaries that I trained, and his trainer was a good friend of mine in the mish. So we've both been looking forward to going on splits. We had an awesome miracle too. There's an investigator Elder Frei and I have been teaching. She feeds us at her restaurant every week, but lately it's been really hard to get into the lessons at the restaurant, whether there's anyone there or not. So we went in with the plan to get her to take of the church sometime next week. She agreed to it, and said that she had actually passed by the church that past week. After we finished eating, she said, "So can I see the church now?" "Right now?" I asked. "Yeah, there won't be anyone here till dinner time. I wanna see your Church." Elder Wilcox and I looked at each other and said....."OK!"

It was amazing. She had questions for every single painting on the walls, every little banner or poster, we got to teach her so much. Best of all though, was the Spirit could be felt. She was really impressed with the church, and with the church organization. The church building we have in this area really is ridiculous, it's 4 stories tall!

The rest of the week went great. We got to go with our American investigator, Steve, to Body Worlds. Those plastinated human bodies, that are in everyday positions. It was pretty crazy stuff. And afterwards he took us to a all you can eat steak buffet on base. it was one of the funnest days I've had on my mission so far. I've got a few pics I'll have to send as well! Ok, I'll tell you more about it, too much happened that day. haha

Ok, love you all. Take care. And seriously... Thanksgiving pics, I wanna see em.

-Elder Reyes