Man, some days I dislike agency

It's been another week of southern weather- rain and then heat, usually withing the same hour. I think our investigators might be mimicking the weather patterns. The beginning of this week was pretty awesome. We set a baptismal date with a guy named L., who is one of the smartest Hispanics I have met as far as gospel understanding goes. We read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon with him. When we asked if he had questions, all he asked us was what Babylon was. Needless to say we were thrilled. We found some more people in this little neighborhood across the street from our apartments with some cool people there. We also have been exploring a trailer park that we had never been to. We found quite a few Hispanics, and had some really good lessons with some of the people there. We got R., our recent convert, committed to come with us to church this coming Sunday (he's still going to his old church, which kinda chubs us, but little by little) and we got into the homes of some of the Nayarit bros. Also, Hermana David has been having really bad back pain, and so we got her in contact with the member that gives us free chiropractic work, and so she is getting help for free as well. Hopefully, that will help M. to feel a bit more open to saying yes to a certain little question. :P OH YEAH AND JOSE V. GOT THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD THAT WAS SUPER EXCITING!

Then things started to go a little downhill. While we were trying to visit the C. family, one of the people who runs the little outdoor nondenominational church in the trailer park (who happens to hate our guts and has made it known on a few occasions) whipped his car into the driveway, walks right past us on to the porch, and confronts the uncle. I'll translate what he said in broken Spanish: "Hello! These guys? The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good. They not good. Let's go!" Then he runs back to his truck and drives off. Yeah, the mom "was showering" and then came out five minutes later perfectly dry while we were walking on the other side. We are not sure what to do with them. They basically lie to us every time we come over, but honest or no, they are members, and they need to baptize their kids. When Sunday came around, we were getting everybody to get ready. We had about four or five committed to go. One family, who we had tried to get a ride for but couldn't, even said they were willing to call a taxi and go. In the words of the Beatles song, "Nobody came." So our baptism date dropped, and we didn't have anyone in the class except for the Vasquez family. Of course, it was about the time that Mexico was playing in the World Cup, so I would imagine that would draw quite a crowd. 

Well, we have a volleyball game to get to! I hope that this didn't get y'all down too bad. I learned something in the MTC: Whenever things seem hardest and all is against you, know that the devil is trying his hardest because the best stuff is around the corner. I'm stoked, needless to say. 

--

Llamado a Servir,

Andrew Reay

A Fresh Photo

From a local member: We had a nice dinner with the Elders tonight. Elder Reay continues to work hard & make you proud. His new companion is right beside him. He's from Idaho Falls. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!!

Companion #3, and this time he's not leaving!

Hello all! Sorry I couldn't do much last week, we were busy killing off Elder Davidson. Now that he's gone, back to business. My new Companion is Elder Dyorich, of Idaho Falls. He seems like a cool guy. He's newer in the mission, about a year old. Don't know him that well yet, but he seems like a fun guy. 

So! as far as the mission goes: President will be leaving in about two weeks. That may or may not throw the mission into a shambles, but probably not. To bring up some points from last week, we found a less-active family who started coming to church now that they know where the building is. (I know right?) We started up volleyball games with the hispanics on Friday nights, and they have been pretty successful. 

I also found this shirt on clearance when Davidson was buying civilian clothes, and it's awesome. They love it a lot.

Well, not much else is going on here. It got hot enough outside to where I could wring my shirt out and that was nasty, but we have a car now, so it's all good. I hope all y'all Arizonans aren't baking out there. 

So I got a nice picture of Elder Davidson, finally.

 ...and we think this would make a good Nike ad.

Here are Elder Wells and Fiso, the English Elders.

DAD, THIS IS WEIRD!  OK, so there's an Elder here, Elder Reed, who kinda looks a lot like you as a kid.  

(Note from Dad: You've got a point.)

I am an orphan once again

As I am writing this, my mother, Elder Davidson, is in the mission home eating dinner.

:(

I have no Idea who I am going to get! i'm freaking out! 

Man, I don't really know what to write, I don't have much time for this. So, let's begin. We had bike week. M. isn't getting baptized yet BUT HE WILL.  We found an awesome less active family. We played Volleyball this week with the Hispanics (and I have an awesome T_shirt that they love, show y'all next time).  I met one of the relatives of Elder Dube of the Seventy, who is serving a mission here and she's really cool, and I am out of time because we had to wait at the apartment all day for a ride to get Elder Davidson. I will write you next week, I promise.  Attached is a pic I took when we were messing with our camera effects. It's awesome.

--

Llamado a Servir,

Andrew Reay

I hate to keep talking weather, but....

Ok, so I have talked to the folks here in Arkansas and they have said that this much rain is not normal. I'm glad. Yesterday we had the most solid rain I have been in. We were at an investigator's house, and we had parked probably 150 yards down the street. While we were in there it started POURING, and there was lightning everywhere, and it was nuts. So we walked outside, and it was more than a shower. When they say buckets, they mean buckets. We both had waterproof raincoats (thanks, mom!) but in about thirty seconds we were dripping. So we tried running to the car. Which is hard to do with a few inches of water covering the entire road. I hit a pothole and biffed it, which stinks because it tore a hole in the suit pants I found here that I really liked. But yeah, when we got to the car we looked like we had jumped in a pool.

But enough about the weather! We finally set a date with M., the boyfriend of A.D.! They need to get married the same day, but we should be set by the 14th if her kids don't throw a fit about it. I'm super excited, he's one of my favorite people here!

Also, today marks the final P-Day of my second companion, elder Davidson. I haven't been able to get a good picture of him, so this is the best I have: 

Isn't he friendly looking? He really is though. he is a very hard worker, and I will miss him a lot. 

Well, that's my progress for this week! I will see you next time!
--

Llamado a Servir,

Andrew Reay

Nayarit has a bunch of good landscapers

So this week has been pretty darn wet. It has been raining super hard up until yesterday. Now in most situations that would be miserable, but for us Spanish missionaries, it's totally bomb, because pretty much every single Hispanic man works in construction or lawncare, two professions that are kind of hard to do when it's pouring. so, we could find a bunch of people this week! there is a stretch of apartments we found with a grand total of about 20 guys from a tiny town in a tiny state of Mexico, Nayarit. They all got hired by this lawn company here, so they all have visas and everything. We have high hopes for them. Also, we FINALLY got some people to church yesterday, which was great. I have been teaching the Gospel Principles class in Spanish (too darn stressful but it's going) and it was nice to have more than just one member couple there. 

Speaking of the most awesome human beings on the face of the planet, I don't believe I have mentioned the V. family. The wife, M., is a convert of about six years. She is just plain awesome. She's in her forties, plays club soccer on the weekends, and goes teaching with us at least once a week. Also she knows every hispanic in Conway so she's great for referrals. Her husband, whom she just married a few months back, is a convert of about 10 months. He is by far the humblest man I have ever met. He is a straight incredible man. He works construction and also just plain works out so he is also extremely ripped. He is able to curl 70 pounds with one arm, and once beat a professional arm wrestler. but as he says, "that was back in my old life, when I was much different, not like today at all." Yeah, they are just awesome. and they have a reeeeally cute grandbaby that lives with them, named Abel. I will try to get a picture of him this week. 

Well, that's all I got! I will see y'all next time!

Elder Reay and Elder Davidson