Happy Halloween!

Man. I think Halloween is the only holiday I don't know how to say in spanish. But hi family! I hope everything is going well. No tengo mucho tiempo hoy, porque yo quiero enviarles fotos! entonces, creo que no voy a escribir mucho en espanol, pero, todo esta bien, y mi espanol esta mejorando mucho! Esta semana fue loca. muy muy loca. Estaba muy ocupado. Tengo una buena noticia para Matt, yo comi mole! por mi primera vez esta semana pasada. Usted no va a creerme, pero, me gusto mucho! creo yo tuve un buen tipo. Pero, fue muy rico.

(Matt’s translation --- I don't have a lot of time today because I want to send you all photos! So I don't think I'm going to write much in Spanish, but all is well, and my Spanish is improving a lot! This week was crazy. Very, very crazy. I was very busy. I have good news for Matt — I ate mole! For my first time this past week. You aren't going to believe me, but I liked it a lot. I think I had a good kind. It was very tasty. Editor's note: Ryan needs to lock his heart. It's the Holy Ghost, not the flavor of the mole, that he is feeling. I've seen it a hundred times.)

Oh man. This week was crazy! Let me esplain. no, too long. let me summarize. So, first, transfers were crazy! This was a very, very different transfer. Because they made two new zones in my mission! So Elder Watkins left to go be the zone leader in one of the new zones, and then something very interesting happened to me. First, it's weird in the first place that i'm losing my trainer after one transfer, especially with the new training program they're doing. And second, they moved me to a new area too! I'm actually still in the same ward, i'm just one area over. Elder Watkins trained an elder before me, and his parents are columbian, and he went over to this area, but now he's back in Jefferson Park training and I'm with Elder Goll in his old area. It's all very mixed. So I still see most the people from my old area at church, i'm really just on the other side. It's interesting. Also, I'm now a bike elder! I bought a bike today, and surprisingly, I'm actually really enjoying riding my bike so far. It helps me to stay focused I think, plus it's easy to feel like you've worked hard all day when you get back to your area dead tired with your legs on fire. My area is really interesting. It's fairly similar to my old area, but USC is right in the middle of it! so there's this weird mix of latinos, black people and then lots of kids with very rich parents. Also, saturday night was a USC game, and they had a Halloween rave. We were trying to ride to an appointment, and the streets are just filled with cars, and drunk people, and all sorts of stuff. I don't think I've ever felt more out of place. Or enjoyed it more. Halloween is a very interesting day for us. It's really the only day we don't dress up and knock doors! We don't get to go out Halloween night, and I can see why now! So I get kind of a interesting p-day today, we have a teaching appointment during the middle of it, and then a zone activity tonight, and then time to do whatever. It's interesting. And also, my companions name is Elder Goll, he's 26 and he's from Australia! I included a picture of him on this email. We actually get along really well so far, and we've been doing well. We had a really cool finding experience this week, when we were planning I felt like we should go tract on Browning street. So we did, and then our second to last door, this girl opened. She just kind of looked at us for a second, and then invited us in. We couldn't stay long, but we just talked for a second and set up a return appt. I reached in my backpack and reached for a restoration pamphlet. And I was almost positive I had one. but then after I gave it to her, I looked in her hand and it was a plan of salvation pamphlet! I was really confused, but I just decided to let it be. And then as were walking out, we explained just a little bit about the plan of salvation, and she told us that she had just been to a funeral that morning and was thinking alot about what happens after we die. It was a pretty amazing experience. We were completely guided there, and we didn't really notice it until afterward. but that was my cool experience of the week! We have an appointment with her tomorrow, so I hope it turns out well! Also, you guys aren't e'en gonna b'lee dis. Sunday was a really crazy day. I confirmed the woman we baptized! in spanish! That was so scary. My heart was beating a mile a minute, I was so nervous, but it actually turned out really well. she's doing really well so far, and her son has started talking to the missionaries too! It's really cool. She's really sad that me and Elder Watkins are gone, and I'm sad too. It was unexpectedly hard to leave my area. I didn't realize how attached to it i'd gotten. But that's my week, and now time for personal notes! I'm scared to not write them now...haha. Also, if anybody was feeling especially creative/loving this week, I would love to get some Christmas CD's within the next couple weeks! I know KT has already started listening, but I can wait til after thanksgiving. And Amy asked me what I would like for packages, so I just figured i'd include this for everybody (i'm not saying you have to send me stuff i'm just saying it'd be nice....). Probably what I would want right now is just music and food. And I love all your letters, and it amazes me every week how inspired everyone is with their letters. It's almost as if you guys consulted together, but all the letters seem to tell me something I need to hear. I love you guys, and I can't wait to talk to you next week! Happy halloween!

Josh- hey buddy! ok, I got a deal for you. I love writing you personal notes, but you gotta give me more to work with here! What's going on? how's school, frisbee, lily, de todo! I'm still waiting for pictures by the way! I hope everything is going well with you, it's all good here!

B- oh man B. I can't wait to see pictures. That sounds amazing. I think you should wear that costume at least once when you're skiing. School sounds good, I am so glad that I don't have to take physics classes right now. Good luck with everything b!

amy- Amy, I know how you feel with choir! because you are now talking to the unoffical pianista del barrio por barrio sexto! My spanish ward here does not have a pianist! So i got to play on sunday, and I had to sightread two of the hymns! it actually went surprisingly well. I was just super nervous because of that and my confirmation. But all your treats sound really good! email me some! I know what you mean about the texting, I still sometimes find myself reaching in my pocket to text people. It's so weird. I hope Cary is doing good, and i'm glad he's not a pararescue person either.

Matt-Dishonor on you, dishonor on your family, dishonor on your cow!

Lauren- Thanks for the email Lauren! I love getting emails from you, I hope everything is going well, and I hope Jeff is enjoying his time at BYU! Say to him for me too.

K&T-KT, I almost squeed myself to death here. Your super prego! and hilarious! your costume is amazing. What was todd? I can't believe i'll be an aunt i mean uncle soon! And even weirder, you'll be a mom! I still kind of feel like you're just babysitting Lola. In your tummy. for 9 months.

Mops-thanks for the letters mops! I got a little teary eyed reading it, I sure miss you! but I love you, and thanks for all you do! for me and for everyone else. I'm glad everything is going well. I love you!

Pops- thanks for the email pops! I can't believe it's already snowing there. It's not even close to snowing here. Weather is still perfect. It's only rained like 3 days too.

Well, I am all out of time now, but I love you all, and i'll write you all next week!

Yo nade

Yo nade

Pretend that there is an accent above that e in the title. And it means, I swam! Our baptism went really well! And man, I ended up being the one to baptize her! That was really cool, but it sure didn't help with the whole feeling stressed thing. The baptism went really well! It ended up being a double baptism, one of the other companionships in the ward was baptizing too. The guy Elder Watkins trained before me is in it, but his parents are from Colombia so he's already fluent in Spanish. Elder Watkins said it was weird training somebody who spoke way better spanish than him. But it was a double baptism, and the ward had some great support for us. We couldn't even talk to her after it, because the Relief Society was was surrounding her. That was so good to see. she's already made friends with the ward, she loves the Book of Mormon, and I think she's going to be such a blessing to the ward. Another fun fact about the baptismal service, I sang in spanish as part of a musical number for it! Me and two other elders sang "cuando me bautice". It could have been better, but mostly just because I got sick this week so my throats a little scratchy, and one of the other elders was super tone deaf, but I think that just helped us fit in with the music here. And then, I baptized her! I was really nervous, but it all went smoothly. Except I think I forgot to say amen at the end of baptismal prayer. But the bishopric and the witnesses said it was good, so I guess I'll trust them. But it went really well, and she seems really happy. I know that we've really made a difference in her life, and that's amazing. It still feels unreal to me though. I almost feel like I'm still practicing at the MTC. And then I remember that these are real people and it scares me. But it went really well. And one of the coolest parts about teaching her, is me and Elder Watkins taught her everything together. We found her together, taught her and baptized her together in one transfer! That's really cool. She was definitely prepared, and we were definitely guided to find her. The more I think about it the more I realize how much we've been guided in this process. It's amazing. Speaking of being guided, me and Elder Watkins had a really, really amazing experience this week. I think it was thursday, we were just out knocking doors, we were tired, and just not really accomplishing anything. So elder Watkins suggested we go back to the car, and say a prayer. We did, and as he was praying he said a name came into his head of a former investigator. I was devoid of revelation, my mind just had flies and bits of fluff, so we went with his suggestion. And as we were driving, we noticed a helicopter flying overhead, and then we started seeing police cars everywhere. We had to park about 3 streets away, because about 6 blocks were covered and barricaded with cop cars, there must have been at least 30 of them. And a helicopter flying super low, only a couple hundred feet above the palm trees. It was so crazy. Apparently there was a bank robbery or something and the suspects were somewhere in those 6 streets. We found out that the person elder watkins thought of lived right in the middle of what was going on. So we were just like, what the heck? There's no way we can get to her, we'll definitely get shot. As we were walking a guy shouted at us that we weren't in Utah anymore, which made Elder Watkins mad because he actually is from utah. I thought it was funny, so I started talking to him. And turns out he lived in Utah, and just moved here a few months ago, and he was waiting outside because he couldn't get back to his house. He seemed really interested, and said we could come back, so we asked for his address, and it was the same address of the lady we were looking for! He was her nephew! It was a miracle. It was incredible. There is no way we would have ever done that without the guidance of the Lord. It was amazing.

That's my cool stories for this week. It's been a really weird week. It's been tough. This is kind of a sad city. There are a lot of people who are just destroying themselves. And almost everyone lives with someone that they are not married to. It's sad, and it's hard to see. We had some really challenges come up for some of our investigators this week, and we haven't had a lot of outward success this week. But we've also had some truly incredible experiences. And some funny experiences. Elder Watkins had a brentism! It was awesome. He said he received a friend from a letter. And then I kept laughing and he thought it was weird that I thought it was so funny. Also, they have the coolest restaurant here. It's called Famous Louisiana Fried Chicken, Chinese food and donuts! It's so weird! I'm not even making it up! Sadly, they don't have a combo that includes all three of those.

Me and Elder Watkins ate there on saturday, and it was good, I took a picture of the sign and I'll be sending some pictures soon. Also, did I ever tell you you can see the Hollywood sign from my area? it's cool. Except on days when it's really smoggy. Also, I'll for sure not be with elder Watkins next transfer. I'm most likely staying here in Jefferson Park, and I don't know anything past that. I'll find out tomorrow!

One more cool experience: Last night, I was feeling stressed. It was a super stressful day with the baptism, and I was sick, and I just felt terrible all around. I went in the bathroom of our house, and I just got down and prayed on my knees for help. I went back, and I was sitting at my desk, and I just had this feeling I should get out my Book of Mormon and read Helaman 5. I've read Helaman 5 probably 20 times. It's a great chapter. But I just felt like it was written for me last night. It was amazing. God really does listen to prayers, and he helps. He will give us answers, especially in the scriptures. I'd say probably the most important thing I've learned on my mission is how important prayer and the Book of Mormon are. Almost all the problems I've seen with the people here are when they stop doing that, and they make bad decisions. and I know that it helps me more than I can say. Just make sure you never stop doing that! Anyway, my time is short, but it's been a really good week in a lot of ways, and thank you so much for all your letters! they lift me up so much, and everyone single one helps. Thank you for all you do for me! I love you all, the church is true, and the Book of Mormon is true, and Heavenly Father is aware of every single one of us. I know that. Have a great week, and I can't wait to hear from you next monday!

(P.s. I got my halloween package today! And I already ate half of it)

It's a major award!

Well I'm assuming since none of you mentioned it in your email, that you guys haven't checked the blog lately. If you check it real soon, you'll see that the one and only Elder Reichman was a runner up for the clean apartment awards this month! how do you like them apples? I bet you guys can't believe that. I can't believe it. Our apartment isn't messy, but it's not exactly pristine. I hear that there is a little bit of rigging going on in the awards, but it was still awesome. reward? glory. And Lunch with President and Sister Baker! It was really cool to have lunch with them and just get to talk to them. There were 8 elders there, including Elder Auna from my MTC district. It was really fun. And I got 3 candy bars! It was a good day. Anyway, keep your eye on the blog, and my mug should be up there soon.

And now....for the real news of the week!

Esta semana fue muy bien. tuvimos mucho exito esta semana. Encontramos diez investigadores nuevos! Es increible. Lo mal es muchos de los investigadors tienen que trabajar en domingos y solo podemos ensenarles mensual. No tuvimos un bautismo este domingo, pero, vamos a tener un bautismo este semana y un otro bautismo la proxima semana. Nuestra investigadora que va a ser bautizada esta semana es estupendo. Ella tiene un esposo moreno y dos hijos morenos y todos hablan espanol. Su famila no tiene interes. Pero, ella es muy fuerte, y a ella le gusta el evangelio mucho y tiene un testimonio fuerte. ya ella lee el libro de mormon durante su almuerzo! Fuimos al centro de visitantes ayer, y eso fue muy bien. El centro es increible! Tenemos que regresar despues mi mision. Esta bien? Yo llore un poco durante el video acerca de la familia. Les extrano, pero estoy haciendo la obra del senor. espero que ustedes tengan una buena semana! Les quiero!

Matt’s translation: This week went really well. We had a lot of success this week. We found 10 new investigators! It's incredible. The bad part was a lot of our investigators have to work on Sundays and we can only teach them once a month. We didn't have a baptism this Sunday, but we are going to have a baptism this week and another baptism the next week. Our investigator that is going to be baptized this week is stupendous. Her family isn't interested. But she is very strong and she likes the Gospel a lot and has a strong testimony. She already reads the Book of Mormon during breakfast. We went to the visitor's center yesterday and it went really well. The center is incredible. We have to return after my mission. Is that OK? A cried a little during the video about the family. I miss you all, but I'm doing the work of the Lord. I hope you all have a great week. I love you!

From Amy: Silly Matt, almuerzo means lunch, not breakfast!

From Matt: Whoops! Actually, at least in Puebla, it's used more like brunch. We called lunch "la comida" (the food). Not sure why.

Family!

This week has been interesting. It hasn't even been a full week since I wrote you last, but I feel like I've got tons to write you. It's been a good and a bad week. We've had some really good lessons and success, but personally I've been having a little trouble getting stressed. I was doing better, and then for a couple days I just got really, really stressed. But elder Watkins gave me a blessing, and that changed everything. I feel much better, i'm still feeling pretty stressed, but my mind feels like it's where it should be. My body just needs to get with the program. I'm very grateful for the power of the priesthood this week. First, with a blessing for myself. Second, me and elder Watkins got to give two blessings this week. I actually gave one, but I got to do it in English. It still terrifies me in English, I might pass out my first spanish one. I'm slowly learning how to do them in spanish. I'm feeling better about my ability to do that. I also got to help confer the melchizadek priesthood on one of the recent converts in this ward, that was pretty cool. Although I still feel like people are going to look up and be like, hey, what's that kid doing in the circle up there? Isn't there a microphone for him to be holding or something? It's a really weird feeling. Our week went really well. We had such a good lesson with our investigator. She's getting baptized this sunday, at least as long as nothing goes wrong. But we just have to teach her about tithing, and then she's all ready. She's so awesome. I contacted her my second day in the mission, and she's the lady I accidentally started speaking english too. It was very inspired that we just randomly contacted her. And her husband and family aren't very interested, so she's going solo right now. but she's doing so well. She has such a strong testimony, and she loves to read the book of mormon. she reads the bom and the bible side by side, and brings her book of mormon to work everyday to read during lunch. It was so cool. The really cool part, was she had an FHE with a family here. They were just recently baptized, and they mentioned how they had to give up coffee to be baptized. We were worrying about that, and we went to her house thursday to teach the Word of Wisdom. She likes her coffee, she drank about 5 cups a day. But we got there, and started teaching, and we hardly even had to teach her. she gave up coffee after the members just told her about it! It was so cool. She replaced it with green tea, which we then had to tell her wasn't very good either. But she's doing well. Our lesson on saturday went really well. We taught her in the church, and we kind of did a church tour as we were teaching her. We taught the gospel of jesus Christ, and it was really cool pointing out the aspects of it that we find in the church. It helped me find a lot more meaning in the weekly things we do at church. But she's so awesome. I'm so excited for her to get baptized. I know we made a difference in her life. She wasn't sad when we met her, but you can tell she's happier now, she laughs and smiles a lot during our lessons, and she's always so happy to see us. We didn't see her for a couple days, and she told us she missed us. She started crying during one of our lessons, and at least from what all I understand in spanish, this is making a big difference to her. It's so cool. This is what missionary work is all about. After our lesson on thursday night, I was so happy. Nothing makes you happier than a good lesson with a good investigator. It feels so good. We have another investigator who will be baptized next week, but she's been investigating for 10 years, I really didn't have much to do with that. And then another will be baptized as soon as she finds her husband in guatemala and gets divorced from him, and then another just has to wait to get off probation. We also found 10 new investigators this week! We were on a role. the only bad part is most of them only want to meet once a week, and a lot of them can't ever attend church because of work. So we'll see. We've had a lot of success here. But things are going to change a little next transfer. One of our zone leaders is leaving, and he pretty much told us that Elder Watkins is going to replace him. So I'm going to get a new companion in another week or so! So that will be interesting. It probably means I'll be staying here though, which is good, we've got a lot of potentials right here, a lot of potential in this area.

And that's my news for the week. And if you see a new Nike commercial anytime soon, and it happens to take place in a school in LA, they filmed that here. Me and Elder Havas were walking, and we just saw this helicopter flying super low over this high school, and we figured somebody got shot. But they were actually filming a commercial. But you see helicopters all the time, they're always flying over us looking for people. It's crazy. You all might not want to come back and visit haha. There's really not too much to see here. But anyway, that was my week, I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you next week! have a great week! and I'll leave you with my favorite new scripture. It's 2nd Nephi 8:12-13. It pretty much says, you are a child of God. Why would you ever be afraid? It's really good. Anyway, I love you all! have a great day!

Josh-You got surpreichmoed! How does that feel? Remember when me and B did that to you a little while ago? that was awesome. Sounds like everything is going great for you bud, I hope you continue to enjoy everything and I'll talk to you next week! Can you throw a flick and a hammer yet?

Amy- Yay for running! sometimes me and elder watkins run in the mornings. i super hate it. It feels so terrible running that early. But at least the weather is always perfect here. That stinks that you never get to see Carebear. It's just like a sleepover! Except he's flying....but anyway. That's cool. I'm super jealous of your bluebell and brownies. I just ate at a korean barbecue. It was super delish. but I'm super full now. I ate way too much. Why is our conversation always about food?

B-I am glad you're doing physics and not me. I've decided i'm going to be a professional food taster. I'm getting good at it. That supreichmo sounds awesome. I'm so jealous. I hope the ladies continue to treat you well, and just remember. girls are like trolley cars, you miss one, you hop on the next-barth palmer/vader

Matt-Aguas! As soon as you typed me that phrase, somebody told me about it. So it actually does exist. Your surpreichmo sounds awesome. you got Josh so good. I love it. I can't believe that salesman. Has the same size mole as you. That just doesnt happen very often. Lauren! I hope you weren't too lonely while matt was gone. It was probably nice to not have somebody farting in your house for once. That might be the first time that's ever happened.

Kt-So bad news. I don't know if you guys got an email, but they want me to deactivate my facebook. So Sadly I'm going to have to ask you do that I think. If you could get the mission information for a few of my friends before you do, that'd be awesome. Notably, TJ melanson, Jacob Guest, Trevor Anderson, William higbee, Orion howard, that'd be great. I'm going to be an aunt in about a month! that's so crazy. You're way too young to have a baby. and I'm way too young to be on a mission. it's crazyness. And Todd, good luck. I'm glad to hear your work situation is getting closer to settling down, but I know whatever you do, you're going to do great. You can talk to anybody, and everybody loves you. you're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.

Mops and pops-I love you guys! I can't wait to get my package this week, or next. I'm glad you had a good weekend, with lily and surpreichmos to keep you busy. although hopefully only the former peed on the rug. Thanks for all you do, and I will write you next week!

Mmm..... Gallo

Hola Familia!

No puedo creer que yo olvide decirles que yo tuve un templo dia de preparacion esta semana. entonces, estoy escribiendoles ahora, y yo espero que ustedes puedan perdonarme. Me encanta sus cartas hoy! Me siento muy bien ahora, porque yo fui en el templo antes tambien yo tengo buenas cartas! Yo he hecho muchas cosas esta semana. Yo tengo muchas cosas la cual escribir. Y yo puedo escribir mejor en ingles.

Translation, says Matt... Hello family! I can't believe I forgot to tell you all that I had a temple day P-day this week. So I'm writing you now, and I hope you can forgive me (as if!). I love your letters today! I feel very good right now because I went to the temple before and also I have good letters. I have done a lot of things this week. I have a lot of things to writer. I can write better in English.

Hi family!

Man. I can't believe I forgot to tell you guys it was temple p-day this week. Temple p-day is the best. The Los Angeles temple is so beautiful. It's so pretty outside and inside, and definitely stands out from everywhere else. And we get an extra hour or two of pday, because we have to go super early, and then I get another pday monday! unfortunately it only comes every 3 months. Which as Brent could probably tell me is better than never. But it's so cool. It's so beautiful. Anyway, I feel like I haven't written in months, and I have so much to tell you, but because it's been so long I can't remember everything. First of all, patillas means sideburns. Not kneecaps. Although they are almost the same. And I did mean savila, not avila. I had savila juice, which is aloe juice. Which sounds really gross, and really weird, but is actually suprisingly good. Speaking of gross things, I hope you all are ready for this. Especially Matt. I talked to a few people this week, and they said they loved moronga! Not sure about the spelling on that, but gross. Sangre de puercos? no quiero probarlo. I think it is a Oaxaca thing. Everyone here is from El Salvador, guatemala or Oaxaca. I swear. but they said they liked it! They said you put chiles, and a bunch of other stuff and its really good. I couldn't believe it. Also, I felt a real kinship with Matt this week. I had rooster soup. It was really good, but I could just picture Matt perfectly sitting in some poor mexican house, eating rooster soup for the millionth time. Pretty much just soup and rice with a big rooster leg sitting in it. super interesting. also, have you guys heard/tried of papusas? I hadn't before I got here. I think it's an el salvador thing. but they're really good, almost like stuffed corn pancakes. but oh man. the people are trying to feed me to death here. It was fast sunday for us this past sunday, and then after that we ended up having two dinners! and then we almost had three dinners the next night but ended up with only two. The combination of fasting and having all that food gave me the worst case of date gut I've ever had. But it was good. I should be grateful that they love to feed us so much. And they do. If you ever give the slightest hint that you don't want to eat the food, it's like you insulted them and their families. And their dogs. which are also everywhere. And they all hate us. I've never been barked at so much in my life. Anyway, now on to my week. It was a really good week. It actually went by really fast. I also went on splits three times this week. Which was interesting. I got to be an english bike riding elder for two days, and then the other day I was alone in my area with an english elder! oh man. that was weird. He knows a little spanish, but I still had to do most the talking and understanding. Which was actually good for me. When I know that if I don't catch something, Elder Watkins will, I have a tendency to zone out. Which I think is most my problem with understanding people. I'm just a bad listener in general. But it was really good. It rained this week, and that was one of the days that I was riding a bike. riding my bike in the rain made me feel like a real missionary, it was really fun actually. And one of the guys I was with is straight from Tonga! He taught me how to say some cool stuff in tongan. He's really cool. Me and Elder Watkins have really been blessed this week. We found 9 new investigators this past week, and on monday, man, we were on fire. We were very blessed. We found 6 new investigators just on monday! And on monday, we had a really cool experience. We had dinner with some less actives, but we couldn't enter the house because there wasn't a man, so they had to bring everything out, and we ate, and it was a lot of work for them, and we felt bad, and it was kind of awkward and chaotic, and I made it even more awkward when I accidentally called the grandma a hermano, and it was just weird. We were grumbling a little (or a lot) about that rule, but we followed it. but then at another appointment later that night, the man was outside smoking, and they made him come in so we could teach him. And Heavenly Father blessed us so much. he came in, and was super grumpy at first, but when we started teaching, he got really interested, and just started asking questions, and then at the end, we asked him to pray, and he got down on his knees and started praying without hardly thinking about it. It was pretty amazing. He was definitely prepared for our message. And we would have missed that opportunity if we hadn't been obedient. It was a little chastening, because it was like Heavenly Father was talking just to us, saying, I made these rules for a reason, they come from me, and even if your attitude wasn't quite where it should have been, I'm going to bless you for being obedient anyway. It was really cool. I wish I had more time to tell you everything. but there's so much cool stuff that happens, I can't fit it all in. but we're doing really well, we're working hard, finding tons of new people, and we've got some investigators who are progressing really well. We should have two baptisms the sunday after this one! On the 23rd. And they are cool baptisms too. One of them has been 10 years in the making, and the other was a lady that me and Elder Watkins found, so it's really cool, because when she gets baptized i'll have been involved in her whole teaching process. I'm really excited. Hmmm. That's really all I can think of, It was a good week, and I hope this letter finds you all safe and happy! I love you all so much, and thanks for all you do for me, and for everyone around you. The whole church runs on the small efforts of everybody involved, i'm realizing that a lot. So never feel like you're doing nothing, every single one of your letters lifts me up, and just keeping doing the little things. Especially the Book of Mormon. I think of all I have learned here, I've learned how important daily reading of the book of mormon is. it makes such a difference. But anyway, have a great week, and i'll be writing you guys again on monday!

Josh- I'm glad Lily and Kola are doing well! And frisbee is going well. Everything is going so well here. Me and Elder Watkins are really learning to teach well together, and we get along just great and everything. Thanks so much for your letter this week buddy, it was an awesome letter, I sure love you, and your letters really mean a lot to me. have a good week, and I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Amy-Thanks for sacrificing to write me in your food coma, I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to end up in a permanent food coma after my mission. and need to be carried around in a chair. I hope Cary is still doing well, It sounds like you two had an awesome weekend together, full of tons of delicious things. I'm so jealous of your pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Anyway, have a good week amy and tell cary i say hi!

B- i was just thinking the other day how grateful I am to not be in school right now. I hope it's not dragging you down too much, sounds like you've still got plenty of time for dates and everything, and also how in the world are you the family and relations teacher in your ward? I think that's the best thing ever. Next thing I know you'll be relief society president! haha, have a good week B, good luck with those ladies.

Matt-I'm so jealous of mexico, that sounds awesome. Minus the chafing. And wreck. but still good! did you shout aguas when you got hit? You should have, I got your funnies letter this week, and I'm going to open it when I get home! Love you Matt! Lauren-Hi Lauren! I hope you had a good week, thanks for all the letters you've sent me, I really love them, and have a great week!

Kt-Usted esta embarazada! Man. You're super huge. and pregnant. I can't believe how close it's getting! Thats so weird. You're gonna have a baby soon! And Todd! Tell Todd i say hi, and clarence. jkhk. He'll understand that

Mops and Pops-I love you guys, thanks for all you do! I am out of time, but I will write you guys on monday! We're already almost there. Love you!

Me gusta sus patillas

I'll do some translating, since Matt is frolicking on the beach!

Title: I like your patillas??? I have no idea what patillas are. I'll leave that one for matt to figure out. (it's sideburns)

Conference was marvelous! I like conference a lot. I hope you guys were able to watch it. Hmmm. It was an interesting week. The ime on the mission is very strange. All of the days seem very long. But the weeks feel like days. They are very short. It's very interesting. I hope my Spanish is right, but I'm not sure. Matt can correct me.

And Matt's letter part- I'm in Mexico too. It's the same right? I tried avila (no idea what avila, i'm guessing he meant savila, which mean aloe?) juice last week. Have you tried it? It was really good. I hope you and Lauren are very happy on your trip, and that your work isn't too busy when you come back. I'll write you next week! I want you! (You say te quiero in spanish to say I love you, but literally it means I want you.)

And there ya go!

On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 4:05 PM, Ryan Reichman wrote:

Conferencia fue maravillosa! Me gusto la conferencia mucho. Yo espero que ustedes pudieran mirarlo. Hmmm. Fue una semana interesante. El tiempo en el mision es muy extrano. Todos los dias son muy largo. Pero, las semanas parecen como dias. Ellos son muy corto. Es muy interesante. Yo espero que mi espanol este correcto, pero, no estoy seguro. Matt puede arreglarme.

Hi Family!

Man. I hope you all had a chance to watch all that conference! It was so good! Oh man. I loved it. I think my two favorite talks were President Uchtdorfs and Elder Cooks. And Elder Hollands talk at the priesthood session made me really glad I was already on a mission and not preparing for one. but I loved it. We had a couple investigators that were able to come, and one of them was there during Elder Callisters talk on the BOM. Man, that one was awesome. And she seemed to really like conference, which was awesome because if all goes well she'll be getting baptized later this month! If she does get baptized, it'll be amazing. We really were led to her, and she's one of the first people I ever contacted. She's really awesome, she's really enjoying everything we're teaching her so far and she's been reading the Book of Mormon a lot. We've got very high hopes for her. And some hopes for her kids. Her husband is a black man from honduras, so her kids are black but speak spanish. It's interesting. I think they felt really awkward at the spanish church though. And conference was even better because we got to watch it in English! They have a projector set up in the chapel, but that's the spanish one. But they set up a TV in the relief society room for all the english elders pretty much. This church is a little on the poorer side, they don't have hymnbooks, and the TV we used wasn't quite what i'm used to. It looked like I was watching general conference out of the 80's. I love it. And due to my recent experiences in my area, and the fact that the color was a little faded, but the Motab has never looked whiter. Everytime they focused on the black guy in the Motab it made me feel a little more comfortable. So something interesting this week is that I went on splits for the first time! So I was actually an english elder on tuesday. And I rode a bike and everything. I actually really enjoyed it. It's been so long since i've been outside for that long. And we met some really interesting people. and I almost got hugged by a black lady. She went for it, and I stepped back, and she got super offended. I felt terrible, but once I explained it I think she felt better. Also, we watched a video by a general authority at a members house, and it was awesome. It's by F. enzio busche. He gave a BYU devotional a lot of years ago, and I would definitely recommend you all watch it. It's awesome. It's on Youtube. I wish I had more exciting news for you all. This week has been really interesting. It's gone by really fast it feels like. We've got a lot of potential in our area right now, but right now nothing is happening fast. We've got 3 investigators who are ready for baptism but can't right now for one reason or the other, and then 3 others with baptismal dates that we've found. Also, you all would be so proud of me. I've eaten spaghetti twice since I've got here. And I didn't even cry. and I'm actually starting to like beans and rice. Todd, I've had some really good beans and rice here. Now I just need to convince the hermanas to share the recipes with me. But I've had some delicious carne asada, I had the best tilapia with beans and rice i've ever had, and tons of other stuff. It's really good food here. I hardly eat anything besides dinner so I don't get fat. And I had In'n'out for the first time today since I got here. And we had a half hour conversation with a muslim man outside of it. It was really interesting. And a lady inside was taking pictures of us. So keep your eye out for pictures of me on the Web alright? But anyway, everything is going well for me. I hope i'll have some really good stuff to tell you next week. But the church is true. I can't watch General conference without knowing that. And the Book of Mormon is definitely true too. And mostly what I want to say, the Atonement is a real thing. The one thing about being a missionary with so many rules, it's a lot of opportunites for blessings, but it's also a lot of opportunites for repentence. And I've had some really great experiences with that this week, not great because I've messed up, but great because I know i've been forgiven even though I don't deserve it in the slightest. And that's really the amazing thing about the Atonement. Is that we don't deserve it at all. It's just a gift from our Brother who loves us more than we can imagine, and who died so that we can be like Him. And that's why i'm here, because there are a lot of people who need it here. LA is not kind to a lot of people. Anyway, I love you all so much. I loved to get your letters, and I can't wait to write you all next week! keep reading your scriptures and praying! And going to church! I love you!

Borsh-Borsh! That's so crazy that you played in a frisbee game. It seems like just yesterday I was doing that. I hope you made the Reichman name proud. Or at least brought it up from when I left there. How's Lily? I hope she's doing well, and you're not spending all your time playing video games and neglecting her. But you wouldn't do that. thanks for your great letter this week bud, it was great to hear from you. Keep on having fun at school, and I will talk to you soon! Love you buddy!

Amy-Amy. Our letters are going to be the same soon. We're just going to spend all our time comparing the things we ate during the week. If I get fat, you have to get fat with me, deal? I'm so glad Cary's checkride went well. he's been in my prayers here. I hope things calm down for you two soon, and that Abby stops licking your cinnamon rolls.

B-Oh B. I forgive for your lack of letter last week now. I'm sorry to hear about your interesting news on the girl front, but i'm sure it'll improve. I mean, i'm talking to the guy wearing the 5000 dollar suit! I got a little caesars during p-day last week, and it made me think for a second about all the little c's we got together. Good thing there are plenty more of those in our future. Anyway, I love you B! (and I thought you concentrated on calculus laast year)

Matt- Mexico! Soy en mexico tambien. es lo mismo si? Yo probe el jugo de avila semana pasada. usted ha probado eso? fue muy bien. yo espero que Usted y lauren esten muy feliz en su viaje, y su trabajo no es demasiado ocupado despues. Les escribire proxima semana! Les quiero!

P.S. I like what you said about spiritual snacking, not just feasting. It's easy to have feasts every now and then. But the real staying power is in the daily snacking there.

Kt- I am also of the opinion that Wesley could have peed on the rug. Let's not point the figure to Kola. Could have been Josh too. I'm so glad to hear of all your exciting baby stuff! That's so exciting. I can't wait to see pictures, and tell Todd not to be too jealous of all my beans and rice. Tell Lola hi for me!

Mops and Pops- Mops, you would be so proud of me. Last week, I sliced up a watermelon! all by myself! And yesterday, and I found a little george foreman in our apartment, and I made myself a delicious panini! just like mom used to make! thanks for teaching me all that stuff! and pops, I could open the video, but I really want to see it. I sure love you both, and thanks for all your do for our family.

I love you all so much, and I hope you have a wonderful week!