work, work, work and then killing a missionary.....

Hello! 

So this week wasn't very eventful to be honest. At least in the sense that we did missionary work. Tuesday we saw one investigator, David, who is a double amputee on his legs that Elder Breckenridge taught when he was first here. He is really cool. He has a pretty hard life, with no legs and all, but he is really smart and attentive. After that we were on our way to a funeral when one of our recent converts called needing help for an emergency moveout. apparently he had some problems with the neighbors, and wanted to get out as soon as possible. That took the rest of our afternoon. Wednesday was zone meeting, and the first one I have actually needed to drive to. In conway our zone met at our building, but in my new zone the center is about 1.5 hours away. It was good though, I got to see some people I have never met before. That night, we went out with the young men. Our partner was Corey, who is about 6 foot a lot, and he barely fit in our car. We saw one family, Gregorio & Carina, and watched a church video, Together Forever, with them. (If you haven't watched it before, I'd recommend it. A bit 80s, but good message.) Thursday we saw david again, then went and had lunch at the Rich's house before going to rake leaves for a family who just had a baby. I have never actually raked leaves before (never been a need) so that was aactually pretty fun! It took a while, though. We didn't have time to finish, because we had an appointment at 6:30 with Don. He is all set to be baptized this coming Saturday at 5 pm (if any of y'all want to come :P) and he's very ready for it! He is inviting the members of his biker church to attend, even though he's gotten a rather cold reception. 

Friday we helped out Bro. Rougeau at the college again, and we finished gutting out an old lab to make an office. I found out that I am not very good at tearing things out. It's just not my thing, I guess. 

Saturday was another P-day for us! For departing missionaries, they get their last satruday to say goodbye, ship stuff home, pack, etc. So basically we relaxed all day while elder Breckenridge did stuff. 

Sunday, me and elder Diaz were in a special musical number in church. We did a four part men's quartet of "I Wonder as I Wander" (one of my new favorites, btw) and it went really well, considering we had about 2 hours of practice.

And also today, we said goodbye to elder Breckenridge, who hitched a ride to little rock with a former missionary from here, Elder Robles, this morning. That makes 3 companions I have "killed" out of 5. It's fun. :P

Aaaannnd that's my week! Hopefully this week we get our Ipads at zone conference, that'll be AWESOME! 

Another day, Another College Town...

Well, the results are IN! I am now serving in Jonesboro, up in northern Arkansas. It's the home town of Arkansas State University, so now I have to get a Red Wolves shirt to go with my UCA Bears one. 

I am serving with Elder Diaz, who is a tiny little Guatemalan guy from Villa Nueva. (dad, did you ever serve there? ) and also Elder Breckenridge, an English Missionary who is going home next Tuesday for school. He started his mission here, and as a joke he requested to end it here too. haha. So he's stuck with us now, for this week!

Speaking of this week, here's how it went: Monday we went around, said goodbye to people, packed. Tuesday was the same. Wednesday we went to transfers, said bye to some more people, and drove up to jonesboro with Sister Rich, one of the members. We got to the English apartment that we were taking over, and it was FILTHY. so we spent a few hours cleaning up, then went out to go see some people. Our coolest investigator by far is Don. He's a chaplain for a biker church, the Christian Biker's Association. He started investigating the church out of curiosity, and now he is set to be baptized on the 20th! He just absorbed everything we taught him this week, and even though he was told that if he joined the Church he would lose his position in the CBA, he is still set on it. Actually, we never set a date for his baptism, he just was walking around at church telling everyone he'd get baptized in 2 weeks. WOO

Let's see, what else? Well, on fridays we help out Bro. Rougeau, a chemistry teacher at ASU, fix up his classrooms. This week we took out old cabinets and a fumehood to make a new office. Do you know how hard it is to take apart rusted metal from the 60s without power tools while at the same time not breaking the GLASS gas pipe in the back? eh. But we got it mostly done. 

Well, that's avbout all I can remember about this week! OH also you need to see this. So ELder Diaz is making a present for President Wakolo. It's a model of the Memphis temple. Now, when I say model, I really mean architect grade replica from styrofoam presentation board. Here. I'll send more pics in a sec.

Elder Durham - who goes home next week.

Elder Wells, my district leader in Conway, who is also a really good missionary

Sister Armstrong- not approving of the selfie - she's super funny though.

Sisters Cooke and Bryce, from left to right. These two are a RIOT. Among my best friends on the mission.

Sister DeShauer- the hyper one from Mesa.  She's a good teacher though.

Ain't he adorable?  He is 5'1" tall.  (Elder Reay's words)

Model of the Memphis Temple constructed by Elder Diaz

So quite possibly the worst news we could get...

So, bad news: I'm getting transferred.

Worse news: So is Elder Dyorich.

Even worse news: No one's coming to replace us. 

Yep, they are closing Conway Spanish once again! We got the call this morning, so now in addition to packing ourselves, we have to pack the apartment. I'm... a little ticked. I've been here for 6 of the 7 transfers it was reopened, and we were actually having hopes of restarting the branch and having Hispanics at church in reasonable numbers. But I guess not. It's hard, I've gotten to know so many amazing people here, but now not only will I not be in contact, but no one else will be either. Oh well. We knew one area was bound to close due to lack of numbers, but we didn't think it'd be us. So yeah, I will post my change of address next week once I know where I am! 

Anyway, aside from that the week was pretty good. Due to riots all over the mission we had a 7pm curfew Monday and Tuesday, THAT was fun. We had district meetingtuesday, and afterwards I went on exchanges with Elder Mitchell in the English area. We went to Morrilton and gave up the car to the Russelville sisters. Our ride took a while to get there, so we didn't actually get to our bikes until about 4. We went around, saw a few people, but seeing as they live pretty far out and there was a 7pmcurfew, we couldn't do much. We got back in, had some root beer and watched church movies. It was an interesting exchange. Thursday was super fun! We went to the Charlton's house for Thanksgiving. We entertained the kids while the parents got the food ready. "entertained the kids" means that we first went out to the trampoline to bounce around per the daughter's request, then back inside to watch the two boys play Minecraft and Lego superheroes per their request, then to play some board games with everybody, THEN to the eating. And then more board games, karaoke, and pictures. It was a good day. Friday and satruday consisted of runnign all over town to see people, with about 40-50% success because it was fall break. Sundaywas pretty good, we had one of our less actives, Ricardo, show up. 

Well, that's about all that happened this week! Hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and didn't get sick or anything. 

Oh, and P.S. here's an awesome Christmas video called "He is the Gift." Watch it!

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

well, not sure what to call this week

Hello! Sorry I'm writing late, we were in an INTENSE game of RISK. I had
Australia and held it off until the very end, when elder Durham came at me with 110 troops and beat me at 45. I'm proud of myself.

So, this was a pretty good week! Tuesday was specialized training, so we performed our special musical number. It was okay, not our best performance. Also we said goodbye to all the missionaries leaving, and there are a LOT of them too. Word on the street is they are transferring at least one spanish elder per companionship, and they'd have to close an area or split two. Not sure who that's gonna be, but I'm packing once again. Wednesday was a standard proselyting day. We taught Luis one of the new member lessons and then got some delicious mexican soda from Bro. Crockett! It was super good, it's called Sangria. 

Thursday was pretty good! we talked to Ricky, and actually he came to the Book of Mormon class again! We're hoping that he progresses from there. Jose went out with us again to see some other people too. He comes out with us at least 3 times a week, because he really has nothing else to do. We are extremely grateful. 

Friday we had a pretty average day, not a ton happened. Saturday was the same, but we got to talk to Jose and erica, the ex missionary and his wife. She is going really well! She's reading the Book of Mormon and really wants to learn. 

Sunday was all right. Jose had to work, so they didn't come to church. We did have Bro. Garcia's mom and aunt come in from Dallas to visit, so we had a class for gospel principles.

Well, P-days about over now, so sorry I can't write y'all back! I will see you next week! 

--

Llamado a Servir,

Andrew Reay

What in the name of arctic cold fronts is going on?!

So if it's any indication of how the weather was, this is what we woke up to this morning:

Yep, it SNOWED! It's all gone now, though. But yeah, it was really cold this week, I am NOT used to it. 

Anyway, what happened....... 

Monday we went out with Maria and Jose and visited one of maria's old friends, Renee. It's a guy, fyi. He is super cool. He was taught by missionaries before, a long time back. He has a daughter named Moncerat (moncy for short) who moved here recently from Mexico city. Then there is a guy there who lives there a lot named Gerardo, and he's a HOOT. We had a good time. Tuesday was district meeting, which went well. The sisters coioked us lunch, which was ham and provolone sliders with jello for dessert. It was delicious. Wednesday we froze outside looking for people who weren't home (I think they go into hibernating) and also taught Luis one of the new member discussions with Bro. Coy. Speaking of which, they are moving to AZ in December, I should have him look y'all up. Thursday was about the same. I nthe evening they had an orchestra concert/dinner, and we volunteered to help serve the food. We made taco salads for 1100+ people. It was fun! I was the cake boss, so I cut and served a LOT of cake. My dress pants were covered in frosting. Friday was another pretty slow day,  but we got homemade chicken soup from the Hulbert family, which was great. Saturday we saw some more people, which was nice. Lerin, the kitchen manager at TGI Friday's who we have been trying to see for months, was finally home. He has a 7-month old daughter. It's weird, because I remember when his wife was pregnant with her, and now she's almost walking. I've been here a while. 

Then sunday came along, and we woke up with a phone call from the English elders asking for help with the BAPTISMAL SERVICE they just got organized the day before. They had baptized a 16 year old kid named dusting a few weeks ago, and yesterday Dustin got to baptize his 2 younger brothers and his mother. It was awesome. SO in the past 5 weeks we have had 9 baptisms in the ward. Everyone is very excited. Plus we had our part member family come to church unannounced, which was a nice surprise!

Well, that was my week! Pretty slow, but also pretty awesome too! Hoping to see some miracles this week! 

I think I may actually die now

So the common comment all of this week has been "oh, you're from AZ? you're gonna freeze this week!" Yeah. NOT looking forward to it. 

So, this week! pretty good stuff too! We had zone meeting on tuesday, then song practice, then helped a family move to another house, which was fun because it was raining. We met with one of our long term investigators, Leonel. He's Maria's cousin. We showed his family the Restoration video, after which they all scattered, which destroyed our lesson plan. Sigh.  Wednesday was pretty average, except for the fact that Elder Dyorich accidentally turned the car over a raingutter opening and got it stuck on a concrete barrier. THAT was entertaining. It's all fine now, no damage.Thursday we went to the Chevy dealer AGAIN for more recall checks, and had a meeting with all of the Spanish speaking ward missionaries about all the less actives and part-member families and how to help them. That went really well, and now we are all organized! Friday was another average day, we met with one of our newer families, K.  and J. They seem pretty cool, and also pretty shady at the same time. We aren't sure yet. Then Saturday was spent proselyting again, the usual. We went out with Jose, visited about 20 people, and NO ONE was there. Maybe the Catholic church was having a party, I don't know. Then Sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting! Also forgot my scriptures in English! A little stressful but I borrowed the other speaker's scriptures, and it was good. I talked about covenants. 

Well, Gotta get going! Hope you have an awesome week!

b-b-b-baptism!

This week was the first one where it actually felt like fall the WHOLE TIME. it was awesome.  

so, this week: 

Tuesday was district meeting, it was really good. We discussed the Ordain Women presentation that was at UCA the day before, and also how important it was for investigators to come to church to progress. 

Wednesday was exchanges again! I went with Elder Wells in my area this time, and we had a good day. We met up for dinner with the others at a less active's house, and then went to TRUNK OR TREAT! It was pretty awesome. since we couldn't have a "costume," we got our suits, tied up Elder Mitchell, threw him in the trunk and BAM! we were mobsters. It was super fun, and everyone thought it was hilarious. 

 We met with a lot of our new part-members, and committed them all to church. They are all cool, especially Jose. He is 23, an elder and returned missionary. He has work a lot, though, so he can't come to church as much he wants. Then there is Roxanna and her 2 daughters, Jerusalem and Sinai (bible names, right?) who like us a lot, too. and by "like" I mean "cooks us a lot of taquitios without asking us." We aren't complaining, though. 

This weekend was the BEST, though. The sisters have been teaching this family, a mom named Amanda and her 3 girls Kelsey, Amelia and Alivia, for about 6 months now. The elders taught this kid named Dustin for about a month. ALL 5 got baptized this weekend! It was amazing to see. they all looked happy, and there is something special about all of them. they just have this "thing" about them that makes them seem very strong spiritually. I am very excited to see where they go! 

Well, that's about all I have. Have a good time eating all your halloween candy!