Anyone know how stressful transfers are?

So this transfer was the first one that I have been part of where I actually had to worry about me going somewhere. It was a doozy too, with about 2/3 of the companionships being affected. When it came down to it, however, Conway Spanish and Little Rock north were the only spanish elders not affected. So I am staying where I am for at least six more weeks. That makes me and sister Mecham the most experienced missionaries in Conway. Sister Martell, who has been here a LONG time, is going home tomorrow. That was kinda sad, seeing as I have known here longer than any of the other missionaries here in Conway.

Now that transfers are out of the way, how about the rest of the week? Actually quite good. We got in with Lerin after ages of him going to work right when we get there. He is reading his scriptures on his own, and he has really good questions. We had a good talk, and he says that he wants to be baptized, but he will need some more time to learn. Oh, he'll learn, all right. :)

Brother McKinney is back in town, which makes ward correlation turn into the "war room." SO much stuff gets done there, even when he isn't there, it's crazy. I can firmly say that we have some of the most mission-centered wards here in Conway. They don't have a lot of Spanish speakers, but they show support as much as they can. 

Not sure if I brought this up last week, but we have a new investigator that I am really excited about. His name is Afarat (odd, right?) and he is the cousin of a member here. He has come to church twice now, read a bit of the Book of Mormon, and seems to be interested. He used to sell automated robots in Mexico (for car factories and stuff) and he is really cool! We want to start teaching him soon. Because all this is happening without us really having to talk to him. 

Well, not much else is happening here! I hope none of you are cooking out there! We're supposed to get a cold front this week, so hoping for the best! It's bike week! 

and y'all thought I would be jealous...

First off, Thank you for the letters, guys! I'd been having a bit of a rough day, so those were well-timed. However, I noticed a common theme of "bet you want our weather huh?" Well I will have you know that I preferred our weather this week. Apparently there was a huge dip in the jet stream from the Arctic, which brought temperatures here down to highs of 70 to 75 for most of the week.

So HA.

Anyhoo, this week was not the best. We were fine, but there seemed to be a rather large bout of the Shady Hispanic Ignorance Syndrome. Not very many people actually did what they said they would. I mean, we did get stuff done. We have a car again, we found some new people that we are going to see today, but the people we do have just aren't keeping commitments, or stopped caring, or stuff like that. We do have some good news though. On Sunday, we had a relative of one of the Hispanic members come to church on his own, sit through our Gospel Principles class, start reading the Book of Mormon when he stopped paying attention to class (not sure if that's better or not) and he told us he would be here for six months. So WOO! By the looks of things we may have a solid investigator without us having to find him. 

Speaking of being here for six months, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN OUT FOR SIX MONTHS. What in the frl;hkpatohdspi. This can't actually be right, can it? I'm already starting my fourth transfer next week. SPEAKING OF WHICH we have heard rumors (from a shady missionary, so we aren't positive) that Elder Dyorich is going to train! If he does, that means I am going to be changing addresses, so DONT SEND ANYTHING UNTIL I AM SURE WHAT'S GOING ON. That should be next week. 

Well, I think that's about it! Let me know who that Elder is, so I can ask around.

--

Llamado a Servir,

Andrew Reay

Our District

From the left: Sister Aase (ay-see), first transfer in the mission, Me, Sister Mecham, Aase's trainer, Elder Dyorich, who is not smiling at ALL, Elder Wells, who was adopted from Ethiopia when he was 10, Elder Wright, one of our zone leaders, Sister Armstrong,  on her second transfer, Elder Durham, another zone leader, Sister Martell, who is going home in 2 weeks, and our district leader, Elder Fiso!

A few misconceptions I'd like to clear up

Ok, So I have a bit of time this week, so I'd like to make this special email specifically for the blog. 

On my mission, I have noticed a lot of people know of the Book of Mormon. I also have noticed that basically no one has a correct understanding of it. So, I would like to make this list of some common misconceptions people have of the Book of Mormon, and clear things up a little. 

1. The Book Of Mormon is our Bible: Not true. We believe that the Bible is the word of God, and it is an extremely important book. We use both of these books of scripture together to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book Of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, just as the Bible is. 

2. The Book of Mormon was written by Joseph Smith: Again, not true. The Book of Mormon, is a collection of records of Prophets that lived in the ancient Americas. These people came over from Jerusalem about 600 B.C. as a family led by a prophet named Lehi. His son Nephi, also a prophet, began his record and passed it down to his brother, and so on and so forth until a prophet living about 400 AD was commanded to take all of the records and compile them. This prophet was named Mormon (which is why it is called the Book of Mormon.) He gave the combined version to his son, Moroni, who buried it. It was hidden until Joseph Smith was guided to it by Moroni, then a resurrected and glorified being. He translated the plates into English by the power of God. So he  did not write it; he only translated it.

3. The book of Mormon is about Joseph Smith: Really it doesn't mention him more than once. As you read above, it is about the people that lived here in the Americas. This civilization had the gospel of Jesus Christ and prophets, just like in Jerusalem. It records their prophecies, as well as the wars that were had with their rival nation, the Lamanites. It'a actually got a really good story to it. 

Well, I don't have a whole lot of time to finish. Let me just say this. I know there are some of you  out there who do not believe in this book or still have some misconceptions about it. If that is your case, do some research. There is a really good website, mormon.org, that tells you everything about it in clear terms. They also have missionaries like myself on there to answer any more questions you have. But when it really comes down to it, there is only one way to really know the truth about this book, and that is to read it. There is a promise, written by the prophet Moroni, just before he buries the plates. He says, "And when ye shall receive these things (or the Book of Mormon), "I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask him with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And By the Power of the Holy ghost ye may know the truth of all things." That's really the only way that anyone can really know. I promise you that this works. I have done it, and I have seen others find out for themselves by doing it. If you have any other questions, let me know. 

Summer is one long sweat stain

As we come to the end of Bike Week IV, I am fully convinced that I sweat more than is healthy for me. My companion is actually concerned for my welfare about this. It's bad. I had to throw my clothes in the dryer three times. In the same day. It's just nasty. On the bright side I got a lot of exercise, and I appreciate our air conditioner more. Actually, quick question about that. So we have a little closet with I guess an intake vent for the AC. Whenever we leave it on for too long or anywhere below 75 degrees, it gets covered in about half an inch of ice. Anyone know how to fix that? Please, let me know. 

So, naturally as a result of bike week, nobody was home to let us in. the beginning of the week, we had a microburst, which hit as we were leaving a trailer park about three miles from our apartment. It dropped 20 degrees in about ten seconds, which felt really nice. Then it started raining with 40 mile an hour winds, and we didn't like it. So, we were forced to stay inside that night. It was crazy. we had bike problems tuesday, and so really this week went really slowly. We got a new member in our ward who is an RM who speaks perfect Spanish, so we are excited about that. And other than that, really nothing much happened this week. To the family, I hope you are having fun in Utah! Say hi to everybody for me!!

Met the new president, ate venison, and possibly lost our recent convert, all in one weekend!

He-llo everybody!  How's it going?

So! This week really flew by. We have done quite a bit of work this week, a lot of it not with investigators. We helped out the Parra family (a less active family of three) get some rent things in order and also got them to church this week.

We also got yelled at by some guy who must belong to the same church the other one was, but this guy went on for an hour and a half, with me standing facing the same direction the whole time. Needless to say, I am still sunburned. It's funny how these people still think that they can prove us wrong without the fullness of the gospel. He wants to take us out to lunch sometime because he "is concerned for our souls." 

 We got to help out the scouts put up flags in people's yards at 6 am, but it was followed by a pancake breakfast so it was all worth it. 

the fourth of july was awesome! We were not able to do a whole lot of work though. We had the flags and then the pancake breakfast, and then we went to help a disabled member hack some trees apart with axes and chainsaws ( I caught two little frogs, they were super chill and could fit on my fingertip) and them we went home, got ready, did some proselyting, met a cool guy who likes fishing (never met a Hispanic who liked to fish, is that normal?) and then we went to the Brocks' house for dinner. They are super rich, and we had a ton of meat, including venison (great to have that again, been too long).

Also on the fourth, we met our new mission president. he is AWESOME. He came with his whole family,which included his wife and two children. His son, Glen, actually had come the week before to play dodgeball with us, but I had no idea who he was. Then he has an adorable 10 year old named Jasmine. He taught us for a while, and the spirit he brought was incredible. I'm excited to be led by him. 

Sunday was pretty good! We had a lot of Hispanics there, most of them returning to activity. And then at the end of Gospel Principles, We were packing up, and Ricky, our RC, went to go talk to  my companion. 

Ricky: How are you? 

Dyorich: I'm okay. I had to translate all of sacrament meeting, and teach in Gospel Principles, so I'm a little tired of talking.

Ricky (apparently taking that as "I don't want to talk to you"): Ok, fine. Bye. <storms out>

We couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not, but apparently he wasn't. He ended up walking out the door, and walking the three/four miles home. We don't know what's going to come of that.

Well, this week marks the start of another bike week! I must admit, we have been spoiled. We've been driving a 2014 Toyota corrola (which look fierce, btw) and it's amazing. But now I will be riding the 2014 Specialized hybrid bike. And it's supposed to hit 98 this week. Whee. 

Well, If I don't die, I will talk to you later!