Jan 30 through Feb 13

Usted es bien fuerte y gordo Jan. 30

Buenos dias familia! El titulo de mi carta esta semana es una experiencia bien chistosa que yo tuve con E. anoche. hablabamos con el, y el dijo que el es bien fuerte, y yo trate de decir guapo, pero dije gordo. Elder Moore rio bastante, y yo estaba muy embarazado, (broma, me avergonce mucho). Pero, E. rio tambien, y todo salio bien. Entonces, yo he tenido una semana bien interestante, pero, estuvo muy bien.

Good day, family! The title of my letter this week is a very funny experience I had with E. last night. We were talking with him, and he said he was very strong, and I tried to say he was handsome, but I said fat. Elder Moore laughed a lot, and I was very pregnant (joking, I was very embarrassed). But E. laughed as well, so everything worked out OK. So, I've had a very interesting week, but it was all good. (I loved his 'Nemo' joke, by the way.)

Good Morning Family!

It's another great week over here in L.A. 6th, sun is shining, birds are singing, Missionaries are tracting, the tank is clean...The tank is clean!

But it's been a good week. We've had some interesting experiences. First of all, I've had my first experience being chased by a dog in a dark alley. That was quite exciting. Me and Elder Moore accidentally turned down an alley, (we thought it would go through), rode down to the end, and then these two bull dogs just came out of nowhere, and we booked it on our bikes, and they chased us right out that alley. That was really interesting. Also, I learned how to make Papusas for real! Me and Elder Moore had a dinner, and the hermana taught us how to do every stage of papusa making! It was awesome. And me and elder Moore had an awesome idea. Papusas are mostly beans and cheese, but we had an idea to make breakfast papusas! With egg, bacon, and cheese. We're going to try that out on sunday morning and see how it goes! I feel like it's been forever since I've written, and that I've got so many things to tell you all about, but at the same time I can't believe this week is already over! And so is january! That's what I really can't believe. It's crazy.

But we've had some really awesome experiences this week. Me and Elder Moore were riding to an appointment, we saw a lady unloading groceries, stopped, threw down our bikes and offered to help. And she said we could! This was a big deal. Latinos will never let us help them. They can be carrying a refrigerator by themselves, you offer to help, and they just say, no estoy bien. But we helped her, started talking to her a little bit, and invited her to church. And this week, she came, and she even brought a friend! She loved it, and we're really hoping she will go somewhere. We also had an amazing lesson with a less active family. We had dinner with them, and then, we started teaching them the plan of salvation. And I've never had people pay more attention to us in a lesson. It was awesome. We taught it, and they started firing off the questions. The Spirit was really strong in that lesson, and it was amazing, knowing that that lesson was exactly what they needed that night. Lessons like that are what make me love being a missionary. I got out of it afterward, and I was just amazed that I get to have that opportunity to go in peoples houses and teach them. It's really amazing. We also had a great lesson with E. He's been doing incredibly well, he's been clean ever since we started teaching him, and he came to church yesterday, with his suit and tie, he looked like a bishop. I think Heavenly Father has a very special plan for him, I'm really excited to see what it is. He loves everything, he reads everything, loves church, and he's just amazing. He had a hard day on saturday, he said he really was tempted. We were teaching about the WoW, and there is a page in that pamphlet about addiction recovery, and one suggestion is to give a blessing. Me and Elder Moore both felt inspired to offer him a blessing. I sometimes get nervous about doing blessings, I'm still not very confident about them, but I gave him the blessings, and I didn't even feel particularly inspired, but afterwards, he said, I needed that. And he said he felt so much better, and it really made a difference to him. It was pretty amazing. Incredibly amazing that I, with God's help, can really help people here. I've been learning a lot about listening to the Spirit this week, I've had some really amazing spiritual experiences on my mission, but I'm learning a lot more about how to recognize it when it's quieter. When it's just subtle enough, that if you're not paying attention, you lose it. And the more I learn about it, the more I realize just how much God is involved in every part of my life. Every minute of every day. It's amazing. And I learn more and more, how i can't do anything without His help. It's very humbling, but also very strengthening, realizing it's not all up to me. I've also learned a lot about the scripture, 2nd nephi 28:30. God gives us a little by little. My mission has not been easy for me in the slightest. It's definitely been the hardest 6 months of my life. There's been a lot of days where I was not sure if I could keep going. But little by little, Heavenly Father is really teaching me to trust him, and to trust that He knows where He wants me to be, and what He wants me to be. And I'm so grateful that he hasn't solved all my problems like I've wanted Him to, but he's given me just enough to keep going, so I could learn for myself. I know He is watching over me, and all of you too. Every day, my testimony of that just gets stronger and stronger. And I know how much he loves me, because the fact that He hasn't let me stop. Sometimes, He's kept me going despite all of my best efforts to give up. And I'm so grateful for that.

I'm also really grateful for all of your amazing letters, I'm sorry I don't have more time today, but know I enjoyed every single one of your letters, and can't wait to hear from you all next week! (especially Amy, you could have switched Air force Bases 3 times since the last time I heard from you! I love you all so much, and I know that the gospel is true! And I'm so grateful I can live with you all forever, because of it. And I know that I can. Love you!

KT- Ellie-fant! I love it! It's amazing!

squash-thanks for the pictures!

Oh boy! 3 A.M.! Feb 6

Buenas tardes la famila reichman (richman? rechman? riceman? oh...elder!) Ha sido una semana buena en L.A. 6th. hemos tenido una semana un poco dificil, un poco duro, pero por lo general estuvo muy bien. muchas de nuestras buenas citas nos cancelaron, y hemos tocado muchas puertas y hemos hablado con tantas personas. Me siento que hayamos trabajado muy duro, y por eso, me siento bien, solo no hemos visto el fruto de nuestros labores mucho esta semana. Pero, esta bien, y vamos a seguir trabajando duro y eficazmente y tendremos mucho exito esta proxima semana!

Good afternoon Reichman family! It's been a good week in L.A. 6th. We've had a week that was a little difficult, a little hard, but generally it was very good. A lot of our appointments canceled on us, and we've knocked a lot of doors, and we've talked to many people. i feel like we've worked very hard, and for this, I feel good. Only we haven't seen the fruit of our labors much this week. But, it's OK, and we are going to continue working hard and effectively and we will have a lot of success this next week!

Hi familia!

It's been an interesting week. We've had tons of missed appointments, zone conference, tons of tracting and street contacting, trying to contact referalls, all that good missionary stuff! First of all, E. is continuing to do awesome! He's been clean ever since we met him, but unfortunately we won't be getting baptized anytime soon, President Baker wants him to wait for at least 3 months, because he had some pretty strong addictions and he wants to make sure he's truly left them. But he's doing great, he loves church, and this sunday, he just turned to us and said, "I can't wait to serve in the church here. maybe I'll be sitting up on the stand someday." He's so awesome. And once he's a member, I could see it. I feel Heavenly Father has a big plan for this ward, because all 3 companionships in the ward have been finding and baptizing some of the coolest people, who are really going to strengthen the ward. (also, did I tell you that M. got called as a ward missionary? It was one of the coolest things ever on saturday, seeing her walk into coordination meeting with her own copy of Preach my Gospel. She's so awesome, and it's really, really awesome to be able to continue to see her and work with her, even though I left the area.) We've also got a really awesome couple, named A. and L., he's been investigating for over a year now, and they're ready to be baptized, they just have to wait for probation and marriage problems to be baptized. And the grocery lady, C., we were unfortunately unable to see her this week, she was working a ton (work is the enemy of missionary work here, that's all anybody does), she wasn't able to make it to church yesterday either, but we have an appointment with her tomorrow that should be awesome. And we have a less active named R., and we are teaching her husband S. right now, and he's doing great as well. They gave us seviche on saturday, and Elder Moore almost died. He hates seafood, and seviche had shrimp, snails, octopus and oysters in it. I didn't even enjoy it that much, but Elder Moore was dying. and I wasn't laughing at all. I was very compassionate and caring. It was a very interesting dish, mostly just seeing little octopus legs covered in suckers all over. But that's about it for our investigators. We've been contacting a lot, and planning on dropping most of our area book this next week I think. but we'll see what happens. Also, this week, we had Zone conference! It was great. I love zone conference and district meetings and stuff. Just kind of a little break for a while. And President Baker gave an awesome talk about obedience. Most the time, when the President talks about obedience, we figure it will just be him telling us to be more obedient, but he talked about the difference between being obedient and being willingly obedient. That really, really hit me. I've been very obedient in my mission, but not very willingly most the time. And because of that, I've seen awesome blessings, but I haven't really been in the place that I could enjoy them the way I want to. And President Baker said, the real reason we are obedient is because we love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and we are grateful for what they do for us. I've been thinking a lot about that recently, and it's really helping me to put things in focus. It's helping me want to be obedient, rather than setting a list of rules that if I break, it means i'm a terrible missionary. It's been great to feel that change, to feel myself slowly starting to be obedient because I want to, rather than stressing out every second about whether or not I'm being obedient enough. And it brings the Spirit more into my life, I''ve noticed my biggest obstacle to feeling the spirit is worrying about and stressing, not from not being obedient enough. But I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and I'm slowly starting to feel that more and more in my life.

It's been an interesting week, I've learned a lot, and I'm really excited for this next week! I can't wait to hear from you all again, and I love you all so much, and I hope you have an awesome week!

Addendum:

J-i can't believe you got a snowday

B- I have tons of sisters in my zone because most the sisters in the mission work in the visitors center, and they split the VC sisters between the Westwood and Marina zones. I actually really like having sisters, for the most part they're pretty awesome. they give awesome tours as well in the VC, so you definitely want to be friends with them.

Kt- I could really use some moccasins as well! I bought some cheap slippers cause my apartment floor is gross, but it's just not the same!

M@- I love president monsons abundant life! we're gonna share it tonight at an FHE with Angel and Luz! Also, Papusas are from El Salvador primarily. And We didnt get to try the breakfast papusas, we forgot it was fast sunday, but this week for sure.

Mops-obedience is hard. I really liked your thoughts about obedience, it's been something I've been thinking about a lot as well! Also I got the package, I loved it! Your letters make me tear up all the time, but they're awesome! I love you so much Momma, and you should send me a hand picture! I'd love it.

Pops-Thanks for sending that text to Amy! I really appreciate it. I sure love you Pops, thanks for your great example to me, and sorry I don't have more time! I wish I could have seen Kola and Lilly in the snow, that sounds adorable and hilarious.

los tres amigos! Feb. 13

Hola Familia!

That reichman family group is pretty nifty there! Thank you Matt for setting that up! Well, we've had a very interesting week this week. It's been another kind of discouraging week. We did our weekly planning on thursday, and just dumped out our area book. But good news is, there is now plenty of room for people who will progress! We've had a lot of people who just weren't going anywhere fast, so we decided to drop most of them and concentrate on finding new people. We kept a few people, mostly E., A. and L., S., and a couple other people. E. is still doing awesome. He now has 52 days clean, and we have taught him everything! He's agreed to everything, and has even started paying his tithing! His obedience has been very inspiring to me. I always get nervous teaching some of the commandments, but in essence, when we were talking about tithing, he said, "I know the church is true, and I have to go 100% or nothing." So he's doing great. And he always talks to people on the street, at his job, his family, teaching them everything we teach him. He's so amazing. I really can't wait to see where he's at in a few years. He's so cool. A. and L. are also doing great, we have an FHE with them and another family in the ward today, and I'm excited for that, they went to a baptismal service this sunday, and they both seemed to really like it, and I'm also really excited to see where they end up in a few years. S.....we've had some interesting lessons. His wife sits there and whispers the answers to questions in his ear, but he still just says what he thinks we want to hear. It's really weird, but also kind of hilarious. But we've had a few cool things happen this week. First, I got to go on splits with my brother! Elder Watkins trained Elder Gonzalez right before me, and now Elder Gonzalez is my District leader, and he's awesome. He's a great missionary. It's kind of interesting, his parents are Colombian, so we actually went in the MTC the same day, but he was only there 3 weeks, and we go home together. But it was really fun, and we found this really cool new family, and I'm so excited for our lesson with them tomorrow. Also, biggest news of the week, is I'm now a grandpa! Kind of. I'm not really sure how the whole relationship works here, but me and Elder Moore are training! We got a call from President Baker during one of our appointments, and he told us he was going to give us a visa waiter! So we now have Elder Clark working with us in L.A. 6th! Me and Elder Moore are starting to train him, we're not really sure how long he'll be with us, but he's great. He's going to Cuernavaca, Mexico, once he gets his visa. And a really interesting thing, Elder Clark was in the same district in the MTC as I was, District 44-E, with Hermano Gillon! He took the place of the group after me. It's kind of interesting. But It's been really interesting having him, me and Elder Moore are both training him, and it's really weird having responsibility over them both. Elder Moore already knows everything, but technically I'm still senior companion, and if nobody knows what to do or they need to make a decision, I'm the one they look to and I have the final say in what we do. It's weird. Especially because I hate making decisions. I'm terrible at it. Also, we had the craziest lesson this week! We got a referral this week that was actually supposed to go to the english elders, but we didn't know it at the time, and we tried to contact them. We knocked the door, and a guy with a strange accent opened the door. Closed it for a second, and then invited us in. We realized that his accent was not spanish. But we got in, and he told us he was french. And turns out there were 4 different people in the house speaking like 4 different languages! All in all, during the course of the lesson, there was portugese, spanish, french, italian and english. We would talk in spanish to the one guy who had a high school spanish education, and then they would all talk amongst themselves in French. It was crazy! and even crazier, one of them was a blind black guy, who turns out to be a famous french fashion designer! It was so crazy. His name was Mason Ewing, I'm sure you could look him up. It was crazy. And they invited us back for dinner, they really liked us, but we can't because the english elders are already teaching them! It was a crazy night. It's been interesting, I hope this week things start to pick up again. But I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you next week! And Happy Valentines day!

J-haha, I loved the Mario analogy. Except you typed Marco. Mops sent me mario candy for Christmas, and one of them came in a coin box, and I keep my quarters in it for laundry. It's great. Your snow cave sounds great, I haven't even seen snow in about a year, so I can't even remember what thats like! Also Pops told me you woke up at 5:30 and started packing up, and then had to get out your sleeping bag again when you realized it was still early. I didn't laugh at all. But I love you buddy, and go have an exciting week this week! Seize the day! Especially if it involves dressing up like Mario

B- hooray for singles awareness day! That's so awesome that you taught your elders quorum the my little buttercup dance. I am so jealous. and I wish I could see that video. I can't wait to see it when I do get back! Also, your tests sound gross. i am really glad I don't have tests like that. Although, when I think about it, my day every day is kind of a test of what I studied that morning. But at least they are not in the testing center!

Yam-AAHH!!! i still can't believe Cary is going to be a pilot. That is so crazy. That is going to be so cool when you get to break his wings! I'm surprised you didn't break them right then and there when he called you fat! Oh man. That story killed me. I LQTM-ed. I'm really glad, for Cary's sake, that he was talking to Abby, and not you. Also, your weekend sounds delicious. I wish you would email me some cookies. but guess what! I'm going to make the cookies you sent me, and we are going to decorate them for the FHE tonight! And it's going to be great!

M@-I had a great brentism this week. I was trying to say papusas are filled with beans and cheese, and I accidentally said beas and cheens! Elder Moore died. It was hilarious, and our investigators had no idea what we were laughing about.

Kt-your anniversary sounds great!

Mops-Guess what? I found something about your questions a couple weeks ago. In true to the faith, ( a gospel reference), it talks about how the sacrament means we are clean again. I was really excited when I found it! But thanks for your awesome letters Mops, I love you!

Pops-The snow caves sound great. Also, I saw a lot of asian people this week for some reason, and I kept almost talking to them in spanish. I know understand why Mexico is so hard for you.

But that;s all the time I have, but I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Jan 9 - Jan 23. The weeks fly by, even though not fast enough for Ry's mom!

So like 50? Jan. 9

Buenos dias familia! Como estan? espero que todo este bien con ustedes. Hemos tenido una semana muy buena! Comi mucho, trabaje mucho, dormi mucho, y tambien, bautizamos mucho! S. se bautizo ayer! Fue un servicio bonito. Yo tuve mucho estres, porque nuestro lider misonal del barrio no estaba, y yo tuve que hacer mucho, como llenar la pila bautismal, tocar el piano, encontrar personas a decir las oraciones y dar discursos, y cosas asi. me senti que yo tuviera mucha responsibilidad. No me gusto. No hay a nadie que deba confiarme con responsibilidad. Pero, todo fue bueno, y S. es muy feliz ahora. Y yo estoy feliz, porque ella es feliz. y tambien nos dio mucha carne asada con rica salsa picante. Bien rica.

Good day, family! I hope that all is well with you. We have had a great week! I ate a lot, worked a lot, slept a lot, and also, we baptized a lot! S. got baptized yesterday. It was a pretty service. I had a lot of stress, because our ward mission leader wasn't there, and I had a lot to do, like fill the baptismal font, play the piano, find people to say the prayers and give talks, and stuff like that. I felt like I had a lot of responsibility. I didn't like it. Nobody should trust me with responsibility. But, all was well, and S. is very happy now. And I am happy, because she is happy. And she also gave us a lot of carnegie salad with delicious hot salsa. Very tasty.

Good Morning Family!

This week, or the past 4 days since I last wrote have been great! I've actually got a lot to tell you about, in only 4 days! First of all, S. got baptized! The service went really well, and she seems really happy. Elder Moore got to baptize her! He did a great job. I forgot my camera, but I'll try and email some pictures next week. Or just send my memory card home. But it went really well, I was really stressed at the actual service, trying to make sure people were coming and everything was ready, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. But we got to sit down and eat dinner with her and her family later, and that was really cool. I remember the first time I went over to their house, the first lesson I taught her. And it's amazing the progress she's made, and also how close I feel to them after such a short time. They treated us like the guests of honor, it was very touching. And humbling, especially realizing how little I've really done. I've just sat in the lessons, occasionally said something, and then Heavenly Father has done the rest. It's been really cool. And it's stuff like that, that makes it all worth it. That makes it not work. That makes it being a missionary, not doing missionary things. It was a really amazing feeling. We've had some very good finding experiences this week as well. We received a referall, and we were trying to contact it. Elder Moore had a more complete map on him, so he could see it wasn't in our area. I thought it might be. And I just felt we should go check, so we ended up riding up there, even though Elder Moore knew it wasn't there. But as we were riding, we stopped at a stoplight. This guy named J. was there, and he just started talking to us. We found out he was baptized over 20 years ago, but hadn't been to church in at least that long. It was pretty crazy, that Heavenly Father put us there so we would be able to talk to him at just that moment. We set up an appt with him and we'll see what happens with it. Then, we got to the area, and learned that the house of the referral was not in our area. It made perfect sense to go down and visit another investigator we found, E., who was a lot of addiction problems. But I just felt we should tract around there. And we found this really cool guy with tons of questions and said he loved to read and said we could come back. It was a pretty amazing afternoon. We been very inspired this week. And then I accidentally turned down the wrong street and found another really cool guy. It's been a great week.

Also, me and Elder Moore had an awesome conversation yesterday. I can tell my spanish is getting good (or I'm just going crazy) We just finished contacting these two guys, and they didn't have much interest, and as they were talking I just had a very inspired question that they just couldn't answer. It's amazing how the Holy Ghost will just give you what you need to say. And I was talking to Elder Moore afterwards, and I said, I wish we were english missionaries sometimes, then I could talk and understand better, just like with those two guys over there. And then he was really confused, and he didn't get what he was saying. And I got frustrated, cause I had no idea what he was not getting about that. Then, about 4 hours later, I realized why Elder Moore was so confused. It's because I was speaking in spanish the whole time! I am getting to where after lessons I sometimes don't remember if we gave it in english or spanish. That's really cool. I guess I have not been able to really speak and address concerns like that in spanish before, and it just took me by surprise. After that conversation, all I could think about was me and amy's conversation. (48? 50?)

But that has been my week, it's been an awesome one, and I can't wait to talk to you all next week!

Borsh- I hope now that you're back at school, you'll have more to tell me about your week! How's your friends? How's school? how's Kola and Lily? How's mops? are you being nice to her? Have you read anything cool in the Book of Mormon lately? I love you bud, I can't wait to hear from you again next week!

A-mmmmm. Cheesecake. Email me some ok? I keep not having time to make those cookies you sent me, and it's making me sad. I also realized, I don't have a cookie sheet. Which makes it harder. but I will, and I will decorate them and make them beautiful. Also, I had some really delicious carne asada last night. It was so good. With grilled chilies and onions, and salsa de chile de arbol, it was so good. but bad news. I've inexplicably gotten fat this week. I don't know what happened. I still ride my bike, eat about the same, but somehow, my pants are tighter. This is not good news. I need to ride my bike harder and exercise more. because the eating won't stop. Also, I can't believe Cary gets his assignment soon! I'm already getting anxious about this next transfer, I can't even imagine how you and Cary feel. It's like an uber-transfar. Also, that's crazy that you have a gun. I can't e'en b'lee dat. Also, tell Abby and Cary hi!

B- I love your spiritual thought from a christmas carol B. It's so true. We've been dealing with some addiction problems this week, and knowing that they are not beyond hope is something incredible. They've been struggling their wholes lives with this, but they are still not beyond hope. It's truly the good news of the gospel. Also, I can't wait to get a little C's with you again. The mission time is feeling super weird right now. I feel like i'll be going home tomorrow, but at the same time, it feels forever away. Time is only going faster though. Keep up the good work with your studies! (my shtudies!)

KT- I am very sad to hear about the lack of sweatervests in your new class. But at least there is one with a suit, that makes it better. and I'm glad ellie is continuing to be adorable! You sending me something in bulgarian reminded me of an awesome experience me and elder moore had. We went to this musem wednesday for p-day (really boring, all they had was paintings and statues.) but as we were there, we ended up talking to this security guard. Who told us he knew 14 languages and was a russian emigrant. But the best part, I don't know if this was just an english mistake or what, but he said, "at 16, I was killed by the KGB" Me and Elder Moore almost started laughing right there. We still don't know what he meant. But say hi to todd and Ellie for me, and I hope Todd learns to eat fast soon!

M@- I just needed to tell you this. Thanks to my helmet, I know have a permanent bell. Also, I accidentally said, Elder Phone, do you have the moore? Luckily he didn't hear me. But I still laughed. Love you Matt!

Pops- You're so right pops. As I'm getting closer to my 6 month mark, the mission really is just getting better. I am starting to enjoy it more, and feeling more like myself during it. It's getting much better. I'm glad Kola and Lily didn't wear Elenore out completely! I can't wait to see some pictures of big Lily soon! You think she'll be bigger than Kola?

Mops-I sure love you momma! And I'm very impressed with your restraint. I hope it keeps up! Also, remember how all these years, you've told me to make sure I check the oven after I use it? It didn't take. I cooked a pot pie for lunch, and then me and Elder Moore got back about 9 at night, and our apartment felt like a sauna. We were confused, and then we discovered I left the oven on! I felt very smart about that. But thanks for your letters mops, I sure love you, and can you believe I'll hit 6 months this week? I really can't. I'm gonba be home before you know it. the time is really starting to go faster here. This transfer has flown by. But I'm all out of time, but I love you all, and I will write you next week!

We have two progrestigating investigators! Jan. 16

Buenos dias familia! It is so great to hear from you all today! You all wrote awesome letters, and all the other missionaries kept asking me why I was giggling the whole time. Because you guys are hilarious, that's why! Also, I am hilarious. I keep saying progrestigating this week! I think it's a cross between progressing and investigating, but I'm not really sure. But this has been a very interesting week for me and elder Moore. I had my first sick day on my mission! I just woke up wednesday, and I felt completely terrible! I think I just caught the 24 hour bug, because I woke up, felt terrible, went to a couple appointments, and then I ended up getting a fever and throwing up! It was fun. And also, Elder Moore got a great experience. He got to teach the Book of Mormon class all by himself that night! In spanish! He did great. I'm so proud of him, only 2 transfers and already teaching a BOM class in spanish. But this week has been interesting. It's been kind of a hard week, we've had tons of appointments fall through, and not a lot of visible success. But it's been good, all the same. Our newest progressing investigator, E., we just randomly tracted into him while trying to contact a former, and he loves the church. He really wants to be a part of it. He's got a few very difficult addictions, but we're working with him on those. He's doing great, and he's been clean for 24 days right now! He's really making a lot of progress, and it's honestly amazing to see. I have a lot of hope for him, and it's incredible the difference the gospel makes. Because, the only thing I've ever been addicted to is peanut butter m&m's. I don't know how to help him. But by doing what it says in Preach my Gospel, visiting him, as he is trying to come closer to Christ, he's getting over it. I know I'm really not doing much, i'm just grateful I get to be a part of helping him. That's been the biggest news of the week, oh, and before I forget, S. got confirmed yesterday! The bishop did it, and it went really well! we've got a lot of potential in our area, we've got tons of potentials, we'll just see this week what happens, and who becomes real investigators!

I had a really great day on friday. We were practicing teaching during our district meeting, and I just had a feeling of how I should teach the other elder, and he said he really liked it, and that was what he wanted to do for his investigator. It was really amazing. We also had a lesson with enrique that night, and he was telling us just a little bit about what the addictions do to him. I was just imagining that, imagining what it would feel like, and then I imagined what Christ would feel like taking that on himself. How much harder it would be for him, because He was perfect. And as we were teaching, I knew that he really did take it upon Him. He took every pain of E., and He's already paid for it. It was really amazing, to realize how little I truly comprehend the Atonement. Just that tiny little part, I understand a little bit better now. It's amazing. Well, can you all believe it's 6 months? Time is really starting to do weird things now. It's starting to go fast, and I'm really starting to enjoy it more as well. But I'm out of time, but I love you all, and I know that this church is true, and that Christ really did suffer for all of us. And more than anything, it's never too late to realize that. Have a great week, and I'll write you soon! P.S. transfers are this week, so we'll see what happens! I think I'll be staying here with Elder Moore. But we'll see!

Borsh-That is awesome that Bro D. is your teacher. I'm jealous of that. I'm glad to hear Kola and Lily are still adorable, and that they get along so well! I hope you have a great week bud!

B-2 dates? I'm so proud of you B. way to go! I can't believe you're playing for the BYu team! that's crazy. They're really good. And really fast. And I do get a lot of compliments on spanish actually, most people are surprised when they find out I've only been out 6 months.

m@-That's so crazy the Rich's know President Baker! He is great. I love him, but I don't get too much interaction with him, he is a busy man. also, I can't believe you're taking the GRE! that's crazy. good luck!

Lauren-Our teaching pool is slowly growing! It's going great, and we were all really sad about the mission home. It was quite the fire, I saw videos of it.

Kt-Please promise me Ellie will love me more than the ceiling fan when I get home. Please? I sure love you KT, and I'm so happy for you and Ellie! And I'm so glad she's sleeping more too!

A- I'm expecting a much longer list of delicious things this next week. I can't believe you are running another half mararthon. you are crazy.

Mops- transfers this week! We'll see what happens. And as for your questions, we get fed by members every night. Sometimes two or three times a night. And me and Elder Moore eat pasta roni every day pretty much, we don't cook much.

Pops- I can't believe you know elder cornish! His talk is one of my very favorite this conference, I read it a lot. It's awesome.

Well, that's my week family, it's been a good one, and we'll see where I'm writing you from next week! I love you all!

Transfers! Jan. 23

Buenas tardes (originally spelled tarders) familia! Pops escribio que el sentia bien inteligente porque el podia entender todo mi espanol la semana pasada. Entonces, yo voy a escribir completamente en espanol hoy. broma, yo no puedo. bueno, creo que yo puedo, pero me cuesta demasiado tiempo para hacerlo. yo he enviado algunos fotos con esta carta, de S. a su servicio bautismal, y tambien, yo compre un nuevo diario, y cuando recibi mi calendario de ustedes, me di cuenta que los dos son opuestos. yo voy a escribir en ingles ahora.

Good evening, family! Pops wrote that he felt very smart because he could understand all my Spanish lat week. So, I'm going to write completely in Spanish today. Joking, I can't. Well, I think I could, but it would take too much time to do it. I've sent some photos with this letter, of S. at her baptismal service, and also, I bought a new journal, and when I received my calendar from you guys, I realized that the two are opposites (?). And I'm going to write in English now.

Hi family! I hope everything is going well with all of you! It's been a good week here in......

L.A. 6th! Kudos to Matthew (chocolate chip kind), and to me, for guessing correctly! I'm staying here in L.A. 6th for another transfer with Elder Moore! I'm glad to still be here, I definitely feel like there's more work for me here. I'm excited to work here for another transfer. It's fun to be in an area long enough that I can walk down a street and say, "hey, I knocked that door." " a potential lives there" and stuff like that. Also, fun extra for this transfer, the district leader area changed again, and it's now in Jefferson park, so this week I get to go on splits back in my first area! It's gonna be fun to be back in that area for a day, and I don't think I ever told you all about this guy me and Elder Watkins contacted named F. We contacted him late one night, he didn't seem too interested, but we came back, he seemed to have more interest, and the other missionaries kept going back, and him and his family should all be getting baptized really soon! It's pretty crazy. It makes me really realize how important the small things are, and makes me realy grateful I listened to the Spirit that night and decided to contact him. I remember the night we contacted him really well, and I'm so grateful I did. Me and Elder Moore have had an interesting week. We've had a lot of our appointments fall through, but we've been having a lot of success just contacting. We had a really good day on saturday, I think it was one of the days in my mission where I've felt most guided by the Spirit. It was interesting, I've had some really miraculous finding experiences on my mission, and it wasn't like that, but it still felt just as guided, just in a quieter way. We found a lot of people at just the right time it seemed like. Including this black minister named R. P., who took out his phone and called for a Book of Mormon as we were standing there. That was so cool. We also had a pretty amazing lesson with Y. this week. most of Y.'s family is less active, really only her and her grandpa are active, faithful, members. But her uncle happened to be sitting with us, he's actually served a mission, but then has been less active for the past 10 years. We've talked to him a little bit, and we've invited him to come back to church and to sit in our lessons with us. But we was sitting there, and he was actually sick, and me and Elder Moore ended up giving him a blessing, and he just started crying, and saying how much he missed feeling the Spirit, and how he wanted it back. Then the whole family just started hugging each other, and the Spirit was really strong. And then, the next day at church, seeing him walk back into the chapel with Y. was one of the best feelings I've had on my mission. And he told us, thanks to you guys, I'm coming back to church, and I'm going to make my life right. It was really amazing, and it made me really feel like I'd been successful. Although I really don't feel like I do much. It was amazing, and amazing to see that after all this time, he still recognized what was missing, and he wanted it back. That was a testimony builder to me as well, seeing how much the church really does bless our lives, even though a lot of times we get so used to it that it can be hard to see, and sometimes we don't see it til it's gone.

But it's been a good week, and me and Elder Moore are really hoping to get some good progrestigating investigators this week. I love you all, thank you so much for your prayers, and love, and letters, and all you do to make me feel loved and missed. It really means a lot to me, and I couldn't do it without all of your support!

J- ah Skyrim is cool? There is a giant billboard for it that I always see on the freeway, and it always makes we want to play it. I'm jealous. That's really fun that you got to spend the weekend with Harris, that's great. Is school still going well? What classes are you taking this semester? Are you getting ready to start ultimate frisbee again? I hope so, then you can beat B. Well I love you g-borsh, have a great week!

B- You're going to be in such good shape when I get home. And I will be roughly the size and shape of a young killer whale, I think. And then you will have to teach me all your new frisbee skills. I'm so glad about your new Home teaching assignment. thats the kind of calling I want after my mission. Being in this ward here has really taught me how important that is. Mostly the lack of it here. There are so many less actives here in this ward that could have been avoided if people had done their home teaching. It's really sad, but it's a huge testimony to me of how inspired home teaching is. You've got such an important calling! no pressure, but everything depends on you. Just jk-ing B. Love you!

Kt-Woohoo! You almost exercised? 3 times? thats fantastic! I am already getting excited about your package. I can't imagine what it is. The way you described it, I'm imaging you're sending Ellie in a box of puppies. But whatever it is, I am sure I will squee, and I will love it! Ellie sounds so adorable, and I can understand her sleeve problem. I hate wearing long sleeve shirts here. Short sleeves are the way to go. Unfortunately, no sleeves are frowned upon. but I love you Kt, thanks for your awesome letters, they make me laugh every week, and I love hearing about all your little everyday things, they make me giggle all the time. I lvoe you sister!

M@- haha, find progrestigating investigators. I should send that in to Brother Bott. I'm sure he'd use it. I'm so glad to hear your GRE studying is going so well, I'm so proud of you.

Lauren- Thanks for the quote Lauren! I love it. That's a really applicable quote for me, it can be really hard for me to do that. I have the same problem you do, just focus on what I still have to do in the future, instead of enjoying what I'm doing now.

Mops- I've heard that about the Sacrament too, and I've also wondered about it. I've heard it enough times, and from enough sources, that I think it is true. It's something I've thought a lot about too, and the more I've thought about it, the more it seems to make sense to me and to help me understand more about the sacrament.

P.S. I got your package today! I still need to call about the credit card, and i got the shirt and calendar! I thought for sure I would make it in the calendar this year, but I guess not. There's always next year!

Pops-Ah did you tell Emily and Jessica hi for me? if you see Jessica again, remind her she promised to write me at least 2 letters while I was gone. I think you should come travel and be the high council speaker here. We have notoriously boring sacrament meetings here, with an average of one speaker per meeting. It's rough.

Well, I'm all out of time, but I love you family, and I can't wait to hear from you all again next week! Have a great week!

The last three weeks worth of emails. Catching up...

Christmas in Killarney December 19

I was in CVS two p-days ago, and they started playing that! And after that all of my other favorite Christmas songs! It was so great! Because I didn't really have a choice but to listen to them you know? But Merry Christmas from L.A. 6th! O, Feliz Navidad! And you know what Christmas means? I get to talk to you all in less than a week! I'm so excited! unfortunately only for 40 minutes, but we will make the best of it! And as for what we're planning right now, me and Elder Moore are thinking to call from 7-9. So I will most likely call you at 9 o clock at night christmas day! Please let me know if that won't work. And then we'll get to talk! I won't have time to talk to people individually, but hopefully you will all be able to be together and we can talk on speaker phone! and as for numbers, I'm just going to call Pops number if that's alright. Ah!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!! I can't wait to talk to you all! I'm already getting excited and distracted.

But as for and my week, it's been an interesting week. Full of lots of ups and downs. First of all, we found out Y. had a problem that we weren't expecting. But she had her baptismal interview yesterday, and she passed! So she is now completely ready to get baptized Christmas Day! We are so excited with her, it's really been amazing to see the change in her. She hardly talked to us at first, but now she talks and laughs with us, and you can really tell what the difference the spirit has made in her. and she really likes reading in the book of mormon, she reads it every day and writes down her questions for us. She's really excited to be baptized, and we're really excited for her! Our other investigator, S., is still progressing, we actually got to go to the Visitors Center with her last night! Which was really good. I think they really enjoyed it. I hope they did! She's not going to be quite ready for baptism this week, but we're hoping for the week after I think. And we're hoping for 2 or 3 baptisms in january too! The visitors center is amazing here. We are incredibly fortunate to have it in our mission, especially during Christmas time! they have this amazing family video, it's great for investigators, but it's hard for missionaries. Speaking of family, I got your Christmas card this week! You all look awesome, and it was great to see you. I sure love you guys, it's hard being away at this time of year, but I do know this is where I'm supposed to be right now. This week has been really interesting. It is interesting being the senior companion. Very humbling. I learned a very important lesson from last week. Everything went really well, and I felt the spirit guiding me more than I ever have. And I've realized it's because I had the most faith right then and that I was thinking all about Elder Moore and my investigators, and not about myself. And it's really those two things, faith, and thinking about others, that help me the most. And my worst days in the mission, is really when I forget those two things. Me and Elder Moore had a couple really cool finding experiences, it was really cool, we were riding to S’s house, and under my excellent senior companionship leadership, we somehow ended up at the bottom left of our area. Which was really weird. We started riding back, and I felt we should go back to the street we were just on, so we did, and we stopped this guy on the street, who said he'd talked to missionaries before and wanted to go to church! He didn't end up coming, but it's incredible how Heavenly Father guides us. And I know without that, I really could do nothing. But it's been a great week, and I'm so excited to talk to you all!

Borsh-Have fun at cornbird! I am so jealous that you have all that time to channel your inner Ellie. I'll do my best by eating a lot this week, but I do that every week here! I hope Snowbird is great, and make sure you beat magneto for me!

Amy-I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying my iphone! Think of me every time you use it. And remember our great texts back and forth? (dishonor on you, dishonor on your family, dishonor on your cow!) I will have you know I ate a whole package of chips ahoy by myself this past week. I'm not ashamed. Y’'s grandma gives us tons of cookies every time we teach her. I eat so much here! I want to learn how to make this stuff so I can share it with you! It's so good. Have fun at cornbird, and I can't wait to talk to you and Cary!

B- In case you didn't know, I was the most popular guy on campus last year. Everybody in my mission thinks the same thing. I got 7 letters and 2 packages this week! I really felt the love from everybody this week. Do you remember anybody who's talked to you? I can't wait to talk to you soon B, and we can speak in czech together! (ahoy. knedliky. ahoy.) that's all I got.

M-You are definitely right, it's very humbling. It's really weird being the senior companion, and I find myself doing a lot of the same things I hated that my senior companions would do. I haven't had arroz con leche again, thankfully. But I did have pasole(?) for the first time! It was delicious. Say hi to Lauren for me!

Kt-Ellie is tots adorb! her snugglebug is awesome! hopefully she will learn to say Elder Yanr in the next 6 days so I can talk to her! And thanks for your christmas cds! I listen to them all I can! You're my favoritest sister with a kid! Tell Todd hi for me!

Mops and pops-I am sorry to hear about the lack of skiing! if it makes you feel better, there is a lot less here! I can't wait to talk to you next week, I love you, and Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year! December 26

Feliz Cumpleanos! o sea, Feliz navidad! Y feliz nuevo ano (with the accent over the n). Familia! Les extrano mucho, pero fue grandisimo a escuchar sus voces anoche! Ustedes suena a coro de angeles. yo queria que pudieramos hablar por un medio dia. pues, no es posible. lo siento que no hay mucho nieve, pero en 2013 voy a traer el nieve conmigo. no temais. Me siento que no tenga muchas cosas las cuales escribirles. porque hable con ustedes anoche! pero, voy a tratar y escribir algo interesante!

Belated translations:

Happy birthday! Or rather, Merry Christmas! And a happy new year (with an accent over the n). Family! I miss you a lot, but it was extremely grand (wonderful) to hear your voices last night! You sounded like a chorus of angels. I wished that we could talk for half a day. But, it's not possible. I'm so there isn't much snow, but in 2013 I will bring the snow with me. Don't fear. (temais = vosotros, or "you all" form, used only in Spain and the Bible, mainly.) I feel like I don't have much to write you guys. Because I spoke with you last night! But I'm going to try to write something interesting.

Editor's note: Ry's Spanish is awesome. I'm very impressed by his "suena a coro do angeles" line, because usually ESL would say "suena como coro" but that's an incorrect preposition. Unusual prepositions with certain verbs are the sort of advanced grammar points most missionaries never learn.

Hey familia! Man. Everybody who thinks it was good to talk last night, say yeah (yeah yeah yeah leprechaun leprechaun...) It was so good to hear your voices. Even if sometimes I couldn't actually tell who was talking! It was kind of weird to be talking on the phone in english too, I've gotten used to doing it in spanish! Ah. I'm worried. I'm worried that I'm forgetting how to talk. The only way I know how to be funny is through movie quotes. And movie quotes are discouraged here. But it was so good to talk with all of you and hear your voices and quote movies with you, just like we used too! And will do again! Except after my mission I'll be mixing in mission quotes. I need to start keeping a journal of funny stuff people say to me. a ver....

This week has been interesting. I've been kind of stressed this week. I'm really not sure why. Which has made this week harder. But it ended really well, with Y's baptism and talking to you all on Christmas! and also opening presents! The baptismal service went well, all the missionaries sang a song, and both my old companions came back for the service, so I got to see them! Y. seemed really happy afterwards, and that's what really matters! And then she'll get confirmed on New Years and she'll be a real member of the church! We have a couple other investigators getting close to baptism, so that's good. But this week we're going to work really hard, and we're going to do awesome. We're going to find some awesome new investigators and we're really excited. Also, I want to thank everyone who sent me packages/letters! They made my christmas morning awesome! Me and Elder Moore both woke up feeling terrible, on account of our four dinners the night before, neither of us slept very well, but then we turned the tree and the magic on! and we opened our presents before church. And Santa was good to us this year! I got so much candy, and the true desire of my heart, socks! Wouldn't Albus Dumbledore be proud? And mops, don't you worry, me and Elder Moore gave the cars their test run this morning, and they are awesome! It's going to be hard not to let them distract me from the work though. They are really fun!

Well I can't really remember too much more about my week right now. I've been learning a lot. This week especially, I've been learning a lot about the difference between doing missionary things and being a christlike missionary. A lot of my mission I've just been doing missionary things because I know it's what I'm supposed to do, and that's hard. I'm trying to learn more about the meaning behind the missionary work, and really trying to remember what's really important, which is the people I'm with. There was a quote I read in the general conference ensign, and it said "that is the model the Savior has given us. His love is for all, but he never loses sight of the one." And that's something I'm trying to do better. When I think about all I need to do, I try and do it all and then none of it really gets done well. I get rushed in lessons, they don't feel the spirit, I'm unhappy, and it doesn't work out well for anybody. But some of my best lessons have been where I've just forgotten about the time and concentrated on the person. Well, I'm running out of time (like always), but I sure love you all, and it was absolutely fantastic to hear all your voices last night! Even if Brent and Ellie were crying the whole time. Have a great week, and a happy new year!

Borsh-Have you been channeling your inner Ellie? sleeping and eating? It sounds like that's all you've got to do this year! besides go down to the northcade and play Tekken and x-men. Make sure you eat plenty for me!

KT- I have never heard such a story of travail! I'm sorry Ellie was so whiny! me and elder moore were like that too on christmas eve. We were so full and unhappy. We spent half the night crying! And I can't believe you dropped your phone in the toilet! It seems like they should have an app to prevent/fix something like that. I'm glad it survived! Maybe it was the spongebob case that did it. I mean, all drains lead to the ocean. Say hi to bundle D and Ellie for me!

B- You know B, a lot of people have told me that my spanish is good. But coming from you, that means a lot. A man of your spanish experience, i'm touched. But it was great to talk to you! I'm sorry that my czech is a little rusty, I'll work on that! I hope the skiing gets better soon, I can't believe there's no snow there. That's crazy. And I can't believe d-roy is getting married! that is crazy. And then you'll be next! I can't believe you got an ipad! I see tons of adds for them around here, I want to try one!

Matt- I can't wait to talk to you in spanish more! You will love my ghetto spanish, a mix of spanish from el salvador, guatemala, mexico, and also a touch of eubonics. It's fancy. I feel I had so much to say to you here, but now i can't remember anything. But I love you, and thanks for such an awesome letter every week! And the funnies and an awesome package!

Lauren, it was great to talk to you! I am still slightly embarrassed I couldn't recognize your voice at first!

Amy-I am very disappointed in your lack of eating good things. I ate pasole, pan con pollo, so many different things! tamales, man. I'm starving. One member brought us over a whole chicken! And me and Elder Moore ate with our pastaroni that we eat every day. It was great. Thanks so much for the package Yam! I sure love you, and I am really missing our christmas tradition of eating a lot! I mean, making and decorating cookies and then delivering them to the poor and needy. Like we always keep doing!

Momma-Thanks for helping to make this such a great Christmas! and you helped make someone else’s Christmas too! elder moore and i played secret santa, and delivered the christmas tree in a box, along with some other stuff to one of the families we were teaching. It was awesome! and your nativity set was much used and much loved. I sure love you momma, and merry Christmas! (also, I can't believe you! texting me? I was so surprised when I read it! But I can't believe you!) I love you momma!

pops-I'm sorry there's no snow! sounds like you're all having a great time. thanks for supporting me so much pops, I wouldn't be here without you and your support! love you, and I can't wait to talk to you all soon!

I love you all! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Auld Lang Syne January 4

buenos dias familia! como estan? yo estoy muy bien! fui al templo esta manana! tengo mucho sueno, porque tuvimos que despertar muy temprano, pero me gusto bastante. me siento muy bien despues el templo, y tambien porque hemos tenido una semana muy buena. Y. fue confirmada en domingo! Elder Moore lo hizo, y lo hizo muy bien. estoy muy orgulloso de el. mi hijastro esta progresando muy bien. Tambien, tenemos muchas buenas nuevas! S. va a bautizarse este domingo! El Senor nos ha bendecido mucho, estoy seguro de eso. Infelizmente, tenemos que encontrar mucho mas personas, despues el bautismo de S., no tenemos mas investigadores que estan progresando! Pero, vamos a trabajar muy duro, especialmente porque pienso que yo voy a permanecer en esta area con elder moore por un traslado mas. pero esta bien! Una historia muy chistosa, elder moore tiene piel muy blanco y pelo y cejas muy amarillos. Dos morenitas estaban riendose, y le dijeron a Elder Moore cuandos les pasamos, "donde estan sus cejas?" fue bien chistoso. creo que el tiene el pelo mas amarillo en toda mi area. Pero, voy a escribir en ingles ahora.

Good day, family! How are you all? I am very good. I went to the temple this morning. I am very tired, because we had to wake up very early, but I loved it a lot. I feel very good after the temple, and we've also had a very good week. Y.was confirmed on Sunday! Elder Moore did it, and he did it very well. I am very proud of him. My stepson is progressing very well. Also, we have a lot of good new ones (c'mon, Ry, news = noticias). S. is going to get baptized this Sunday! The Lord has blessed us a lot, I'm sure of this. Unhappily, we have to find a lot more people, after the baptism of S., we don't have any other progressing investigators. But we are going to work very hard, especially because I think I'm going to stay in this area with Elder Moore for one more transfer. But it's OK! A funny story, Elder Moore has very white skin and very yellow hair and eyebrows. Two brown girls were laughing, and they told Elder Moore when we passed them, "Where are your eyebrows?" It was really funny. I think he has the yellowest hair in all of my area. But, I'm going to write in English now.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's already 2012! It surprises me every time. I loved reading about all the new years festivities, I hope Brent remember (ed, i'm already speaking english like a latino) this year that six is not a word. Our new years was pretty great. We weren't able to go out, but we had a fiesta in the church with my zone. We played volleyball and basketball, and some of the sisters made chile relleno, and it was great. Me and Elder Moore didn't stay up, I was tempted to just use all the poppers and cover him with confetti while he slept, but I decided not to. I didn't want to scare all the cockroaches, for one. Our apartment has been progressively digressing. We finally got the maintenance man to our apartment, but both him and his wife, who is the landlady, are chinese, don't understand us very well. And every time we try and talk to them, we just end up accidentally speaking spanish to them. Just like pops speaking japanese in mexico, but al reves. He keeps coming over and telling us that we are dirty, which is true, and telling us we need to be cleaning before we start reading. Listening to him ranting at us in chinese/english is one of the more hilarious things I've heard, and the last time Elder Moore just lost it. He just had to go to the kitchen and laugh it out. But we've decided this p-day, we're going to clean it. We have more time, and we're going to make our apartment beautiful.

Apart from that, our week has been great! Y. got confirmed on sunday, and elder Moore did it! She seems to be doing good in the ward, we're glad her grandparents are members, even though her grandma is not the most faithful right now. And along with Y., S. will be baptized and confirmed in the next couple weeks! S. had her baptismal interview last night, and she is ready to get baptized this sunday! And Elder Moore is going to be doing that too! I'm really excited for her, she's really made a lot of progress the past couple weeks. We had a scare this week, Elder Moore just got random chest pains during a lesson, and he had them for the rest of the day and night, but turns out he was probably just too dehydrated (hydration is happiness!). But that took us out for most of last tuesday. As for me, I've seen a lot of tender mercies in my life this past week. Just those little things that make you realize Heavenly Father is watching, even when it's not really a big deal. Like last night, on exchanges, me and Elder Panta (from ecuador! We only spoke spanish the whole day, it was great) got out of a lesson really late. at like 9:30, which is supposed to be the latest you can be in. I felt pretty terrible, and we were driving back, and I remembered there is never parking where they live. Their area is called the Jungle, and the name fits. But I said a prayer right as we turned on the street, and there was this giant parking spot open right next to their house. Just little things like that, that help me know Heavenly Father is watching over me, even and especially when I'm not doing everything I should be or I've maybe messed up. It was really cool, and made me realize just a little bit more just how merciful my Heavenly Father is to me, and to those around me. But that's been my week, I don't have time to write more, but I love you all, and I love this church, and I'm glad to be here doing this. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, I've felt it over and over again, and I know the Book of Mormon is true, I actually finished it, in spanish for the first time, on new years eve. and I prayed about it, and I got that witness that it is the word of God. I already knew it, but Heavenly Father told me again. And the thing that has most impressed me this week, is that God is listening. He hears our prayers, and he's always watching over us. I know he's watching over me, and I know he's watching over you all too, or I wouldn't be here. I love you all, and I will write again monday! Happy January!

Borsh! I can't believe you gave Cary another name! doesn't he already have enough? But I like Alfred. We should make Cary a list of all his names sometimes. And I can't believe how big Lilly is getting, and mostly I can't believe you still haven't sent me any pictures of her! I hope you have a good re entry into school this week buddy, and I love you! Don't forget to read the Book of Mormon! Every day!

B- oh b. imaging you and Todd acting out Mr. Beans Christmas brought a smile to my face and happiness to my heart here. Hearing about your schedule for school, and realizing for the next couple years, the only math I have to do is for my groceries, made it even better. Good luck with that B!

Pops- I'm so proud of your surpreichmo! Todd is truly a member of the family now, being involved in a surpreichmo is the last phase of initiation to the clan. I'm so glad everyone tells mission stories at Snowbird, because that is definitely all I will be doing when I get home. I've already got so many good stories, I can't imagine what i'll have by the end of my mission!

Mops-Happy New Years! I'm glad you still got to have your news years kiss. even if it made you leak. Kt sent me a picture of you and Pops and Ellie on new years, and it was adorable! I love imagining you and Pops as grandparents, it makes me happy. You’re definitely going to spoil Ellie rotten! I love you so much mops, and hooray for one mission holiday over!

Kt-That picture is adorable! Ellie sounds so cute! My new years was good, but probably not as exciting as yours!

M@-oh tucanos......I am salivating just thinking about it. we woke up early for the temple and I didn't eat breakfast, and I could eat a horse right now.

Amy-I am so fat. I eat so much here! I had two dinners yesterday! I don't know what I will do when I get home. Will you still be my friend when I have to use a wheelchair and shower with moist towelettes?

Well I'm out of time, but I sure love you all, and happy new year!

Dashing through the hood...on my bike in the rain Dec. 12

Dashing through the hood...on my bike in the rain

That is the delightful song a black homeless man started singing to me as we were waiting at a stoplight. I added the second line on my own.

Family, it has been quite a week. Since KT seems to like to take everyones thunder, what with announcing her pregnancy after I opened my mission call and having Ellie right before thanksgiving, I figured it was time to show her up. And here's my news for this week.....

It's a boy!!!!

This has been quite the transfers week. For those who haven't been on missions, I'm training this transfer! My new companion is elder Moore, he's not really a newbie, the way the new training is it takes 12 weeks. So he served one transfer already, and now I'm finishing his training. So he's really my stepson. It was really funny, he was in my zone at the MTC, and we used to joke that I would train him. And now I really am! It's crazy. I don't feel qualified at all, but with a little faith and a lot of help from the Lord, we've actually had a pretty incredible week. I'm in the same area, so by the time this transfer is over, i'll have been in this ward for at least 4 and a half months! It's really good to have a new companion. Me and Elder Goll had some good times together, but it's been really nice to switch it up. Me and elder moore are having a great time so far, and being senior companion has really, really helped me. I don't know what it was, maybe just a lack of confidence, but I always felt like I was doing something wrong with my trainers. And that really kind of hindered my ability to teach with the Spirit. Because this whole week, I've never felt more guided in my teaching. It's been amazing. I've had some of the best lessons of my whole mission this past 5 days. We had a great lesson with Y. on wednesday. When we were teaching, I felt like I should ask her to pray about which day she should be baptized. She wasn't ready for yesterday, so I asked her to pray about which day she should be baptized, 18th or the 25th. And we went back the next day, and she told us that she got an answer! She said she started crying, and felt really, really happy. And that's what we've been waiting for, is for her to really feel like she's gotten an answer. So guess who is going to have a white christmas? Elder Reichman! She wants to get baptized on December 25th! Which is also her birthday! and she wants me to baptize her! And then, thursday was such a good day. Right after our lesson with Y., we had a lesson with our investigator named S. And she's been progressing slowly, she's very hesitant, and we extended a kind of shaky baptismal date for the 25th for her, but she didn't seem very committed to it. But on thursday, we went by her house, and she told us she'd been thinking about it, and she really wants to get baptized on the 25th! So, if all goes well, and I'm not seeing an problems, we'll have a double baptism on christmas! And, the two kids of M, who I baptized my first transfer, should be getting baptized then too! It's been so cool. It's been an amazing week. And yesterday, I had the best lesson I've ever had, with N. It was so good, that lesson was completely guided, the Spirit was truly giving me what to say in the moment I needed it. Teaching was never easier than it was that lesson. It was amazing. She's not progressing, but I'm really hoping she'll start reading for real and get an answer after that lesson. After my best lessons with N, I always run into crazy men who drive the Spirit away. I always get out feeling a million bucks, and then run into crazy guys. It's really weird. (that cur did it again. The frequency of it is starting to make me doubt it's accidental nature). I feel like I'm living in the "can I have your number" video. I wish I could video tape my life here, I could have a few Youtube sensations by now. But anyway, it's been an awesome week. I've never felt more guided by the spirit than I have this week. And, I realize, the more success I get, how little I really do. Every single thing is given to me. I just try and show Heavenly Father that I want it. It's very humbling, and also relieving. It's been a really great week, and I'm really excited for this week too! We've got a lot of solid investigators, and I really think even more of them are going to start progressing. I love you all so much family, and I hope you enjoy the snowdogs at cornbird for me! Have a great week, and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon everyday!

Borsh! That stinks that Lily and Kola are both sick! That really stinks. My church is at 11 right now, and it switches to 9 soon. I'm fine with that, but I feel attendance will drop 50%. We have a hard enough time getting people to church as it is! I hope you can endure through school this next week, and have a great time at snowbird!

B-I always hated finals. I don't know who you are. That stinks there hasn't been any snow. We haven't had any either! It's started raining today, which is always interesting on a bike. Hopefully Snowbird will get some snow in time for you to ski!

M@- A penas recibio su playera? casi olivide sobre eso. Su playera dice "por eso tengo calor" verdad? Con Mario? Yo no puedo recordar. Yo probi arroz con leche. Usted tuvo eso mucho? no me gusto! yo no podia acabarlo. todos los personas aqui nos llamen hermanos. no elderes, solamente hermanos. y tambien, no hay a nadie que pueda decir mi apellido. voy a salir el barrio, y nadie va a recordarme. Porque, nadie saben mi nombre haha. Tenga una buena semana!

Amy-I've been wanting to make oreo truffles for so long. You have no idea. I remember when we ate all those truffles. That was awesome. I eat so much. Carne asada, sopes, papusas, mucho arroz, cosas asi. I do remember our Adele sing a long, that was awesome. Me and elder Moore have just been singing "dashing through the hood the past couple days". That's so crazy Anna and sarah are both getting married! I cant e'en b'lee dat. You need to tell them congrats for me. And Cary is finishing pilot training? What? that's really crazy. I can't wait to hear where you're going next! That's gonna be so interesting. That's really too bad you don't have good mexican food in Del Rio. I actually don't eat much mexican food. Mostly Salvadorean and guatemalan actually. I've only eaten with mexicans a few times, oddly enough.

Kt-Squee! ellie looks super adorable, albeit a tiny bit grumpy. There are tons of Christmas lights here, and as missionaries in the LA mission, we are incredibly lucky because we can go to the temple and the visitors center with our investigators! We went with yecenia on saturday night and looked at the lights, it was a really awesome experience. and she really loved it. I'm sure I'm going to get some tamales this Christmas! I'm excited. It's gonna be a great christmas.

Momma! The tree in a box was the best thing ever! Me and elder moore were stoked this morning when we put it together! I'll send some pictures. and I'm being obedient, and I haven't opened the brown box yet! aren't you proud of me? I am running out of time, but I sure love you and can't wait to talk to you soon! and I will probably end up calling in the afternoon, so it should all work out great!

Pops-I got sick this past week too! It's made this week more interesting. It makes church hard. That's great that bro D. got released, I know how excited he is about that. I think they need to call you to be bishop down here. I'm sure that you talking over the pulpit in your english/japanese would be great for them and help pull this ward into shape.

I'm all out of time, but I love you all, keep me in your prayers, and I'll always keep you in mine! I love you!

I have pins and needles I am sitting on - Dec 5

Hi Family!

Esta Semana tenemos traslados! No tengo ninguna idea de donde me voy. Creo que yo voy a permanecer en mi area, y creo que elder goll va a salir. el lleva 6 meses en esta area, y el quiere ir. Pero, tenemos mucho potencial y es mejor para tener una persona que conoce la area, entonces, creo q

I don't know why that sent so early. But anyway, transfers are this week! I have no idea whats going to happen. I am pretty sure Elder Goll is going to leave and I'm going to stay, but I have no idea what kind of companion I will end up having. I'm excited and not about that idea, we've got some great potential in our area, and I think we could have 3 baptisms, easy. But at the same time I want a new area. I think if I stay, I will begin to wage war against the cockroaches in my apartment. They're getting out of control. But everything is going good over here! Our investigator is doing really well, and I think she'll get baptized this sunday. But I won't know for sure til thursday when she has her interview. We have a few new investigators that I could see getting baptized this next transfer, and a couple others who are just so close, but something just isn't quite clicking. I went on exchanges with the zone leaders last saturday, and I had a really cool experience. I was with Elder Patten, the night was almost over, we were trying to decide which former investigator to visit, and he asked me to pick one. I picked one, and it ended up being one we'd already tried to visit earlier that day, but we decided to go anyway. We get there, and knock the door, and found out that he actually moved away. We started walking away, and I just started thinking, there has got to be a reason we're here. We saw a guy walking across the street, and we decided to go talk to him. We contact him, and found out he only speaks spanish, so I started talking to him. Elder Patten is an english elder and doesnt speak spanish at all, so I did all the talking and listening here. It was kind of scary. I gave him a Finding Faith in Christ card, and we were talking about how faith in Christ can help us. He started telling me, yeah I already know that, and then I asked him if he'd had any experiences that helped him to know that. He then told me that he had a dream two days ago where Christ talked to him and told him he needed to change his life, and that the picture on the card was the same picture he'd seen in his dream! It was a really cool experience, and it was amazing looking back and seeing the guidance of the Spirit even when I didn't recognize it in the moment. It was one of the coolest experiences I've had on my mission, and kind of amazing, because to be honest, I wasn't looking for it. I didn't feel particularly inspired, I was tired and not feeling well, and Heavenly Father just gave that to me out of the blue. It says in Preach my Gospel that you know the Lord is pleased with your efforts when you feel the Spirit working through you. And that was awesome. The spirit definitely worked with me there, and it's amazing how Heavenly Father is so merciful to give me that kind of experience, often when I don't feel like I'm even doing that much. That was probably the highlight of the week. Along with the Christmas devotional last night! That was awesome. I felt like President Uchtdorf and President Monson's talks were just for me. And I felt an urge to read the Christmas Carol, which is something that has never happened to me before. Maybe it's just because It's been so long since i've read anything other than scriptures. Something that President Monson talked about, and something I've been thinking about a lot, is how it's so important to remember why you're doing things. It's easy to do a lot of good things on a mission and forget why, kind of the same with all the Christmas stuff. The whole end point of all of it is to help others and point ourselves more towards the Savior. And when we do that, everything else just comes with it. Well, that is my week! I hope you've all had an awesome week, and you're as excited about christmas as I am! We read the Christmas story with a less active family in the ward, and by the end of it, the spirit was so strong, and the mom and daughter were crying. It's really a special time of year. I love it. They have lights at the temple here, and programs every night, it's really pretty and great for investigators. Sadly a lot of the best Christmas things are harder to do with people who speak spanish. But It's alright. Anyway, I love you all, and I hope you have a great week, and thank you for all your letters and prayers and support! completely honestly, I would not be here without it. Thank you for all you do!

Borsh- hey borsh! I hope your keeping the advent calendars up to date for me! I'm glad it sounds like everything is going well. Have you been playing with Kola and Lily in the snow a lot? I almost forget what snow is like, I probably won't see it til two years from now! We were biking on wednesday night, and the winds were crazy! They were almost blowing us off. I hope you had a great week bud!

Amy!- the past couple weeks, I've been hearing adele songs. and it's so hard to not just bust out my best Adele voice and serenade the people at the bus stops. But I'm resisting. And it always make me think of you! and our great jam sessions. and our Hey Soul Sister dance. You better practice and keep your skills sharp. I'm so glad that you ate enough for the both of us when you were home, that really means a lot to me. I have been eating a lot lately. I think i'm getting a tortilla belly. But it's so good! and I'm so hungry at dinner! also, i forgot to mention, I'm learning how to cook! A lady in the ward taught us how to make papusas! It was really fun, and now, I'm going to open a papuseria when I get home! And, speaking of cooking experiences, I cooked bacon the other day. and learned the grease can't be too hot if you're putting it in a plastic bottle. Because if it is, the plastic shrinks, and you're left holding a really tiny plastic bottle overflowing with scalding bacon grease! At least, that's what I heard. Anyway, I love talking about food with you too amy! I'm gonna have some awesome food stories for you by the end of my mission. Love you amy, say hi to cary for me!

B-Ah. Shred up snowbird for me B. That's so crazy that the semester is already coming to an N. I can't even b'lee dat! I can't say that I agree with your dating policy, because Christmas time is the best time for dates! although I understand the whole break thing, that gets awkward. But you have your own judgement. Also, I had a great brentism the other day, I think you'll like it. I was trying to say that our dinner cancelled. But I accidentally said our dancer kenelled. Luckily elder goll didn't catch it. Anyway, love you B!

Matt-! I've got some pretty good names here, I can't wait to compare names and stories someday. We're going to have a lot of similarities but a lot of differences too. I was very glad to hear you didn't have diarhea on your birthday, and also glad to hear your joke. Mango de mantillo? Now i'm ready if I hear that. Anyway, I'm running out of time, but love you Matt! and I love you too Lauren! Thanks for your email! and I'm so glad to hear your dad has a possible job!

Kt and Todd! Ah! KT, I am so proud of you for your decision to wear pants everyday this week. And I sympathize with todd that he has to do it everyday! It's rough doing it everyday. I'm kind of sick today, and all I want to wear is my footie pajamas. with a tie over them. But I have to wear real clothes too! It's so sad. I'm so glad Ellie is still adorable, and I can't wait to get more pictures! And I'm sure you'll rapidly be able to leave the house and get dressed. at least by the time I get home.

Mops-I love you! Also, if you wanted to send me another journal, I'd be alright with that. And I think I need a new credit and check card. I rode with my wallet in my pocket for my first couple weeks, and that took it's toll on them. I can almost fold them in half right now. Love you momma!

Pops- I can't believe you have so much snow. I wear a short sleeved shirt pretty much everyday. It gets a little chilly, and everyone here thinks its freezing, but it's really not too bad for me right now. Also, is Elder usevitch still in our ward? I found out this week that he was elder golls district leader in the MTC! It was kind of crazy. small world huh? I'm sad to hear that baby it's cold outside got voted down in high council, I think that would have gone over really well. I'm still playing piano in our ward, and I played our first christmas songs yesterday! that was fun.

Anyway, I am all out of time. I love you family!

I'm an aunt!

AAAAHHHHHH! I CAN'T E'EN B'LEE DAT! I'M AN UNCLE!

That is really unbelievable. I'm not old enough to missionary, and KT is definitely not old enough to be a momma. She's not a momma, she's nothing but a sister! Wow. She looks completely adorable, and what I wouldn't give for a thanksgiving onesie with turkeys on it like her. Squeeee! Wow. Typing is really just utterly inadequate to say what I want to, I want to see her so bad! I'm so happy for you Tatie and Kodd! And I'm glad Todd didn't faint during the whole thing. I had a lot to be grateful for this week, and I was very grateful that everything went so well with that.

You all are probably wondering why I didn't write last week. As for me, I was also wondering that last week. We finished the turkey bowl and started emailing down in the family history center right next to the mission home, and I wrote my letter to my mission president and was just opening my letters and looking at little Ellie and getting super excited and emotional when they told us the center was closing! So we left, and I didn't send a note because I figured we'd get home in time so I could finish my emailing. Unfortunately, traffic was really bad, and it took us an hour to get home. And let me tell you, reading about Katie having little Ellie made me all sorts of happy and emotional, and then having to leave like that, killed me. And then we got stuck in traffic, and by the time we got home we had to go to appointments. It killed me. I was one unhappy little Elder Reichman, and I am so sorry that I didn't get to write last week. But Kt, I hope you know how happy I am for you, even if I don't get to be there, and i'm so happy and grateful that everything went well and that Ellie is everything you hoped she would be! And I'm so proud of you! Reading about how amazing it was to have Ellie, and realizing that because of the gospel, you would be with her forever, really helped me realize how grateful I am for the gospel and what the joy of the gospel really is. I don't always do a very good job of telling/showing it, especially in my limited email time, but I hope you all realize how very much I love you and miss you. You all mean everything to you, and I can't tell you how grateful I am for all you do for me, with the packages, and emails, and prayers, and I could not do this without you. I love you all!

Well.

There has been a lot that has happened since I last wrote you. My Thanksgiving was very good, I ended up having two different thanksgiving dinners and at least 3 different desserts. I wanted to die when I got home, being so full of everything and then biking was a fun experience. I had a lot of turkey, and also some tamales for thanksgiving. It was definitely a little different! It was a little hard to focus this week, what with the news of Ellie and Thanksgiving and everything. But the people here are so nice to us, especially in the food department, and I really have a lot to be grateful for. A lot more than I realize. I have so much I want to write in this email that my thoughts are getting all scattered and I don't know what to say, so if this email gets all rambly and scattered, please forgive me! The work is going pretty well. We should hopefully have two people getting baptized this next month! This past week was really tough, we had tons of appointments but nobody was home and nobody seems to be progressing much right now. But this week will be better. Our first investigator will be getting baptized probably dec 11th, and she's going great and everything, she just doesnt have a very firm testimony of the Book of Mormon yet. and our other one is going well, we just only see her once a week so she's not progressing as fast as we'd like. It's been a really interesting week. Biking is still very exciting. I had another fall last week, it was good. I was trying to go over a curb and just didn't angle quite right and went flying over the handle bars. It was exciting. And fairly painful, and the black guys across the street laughed at me. But i didn't get injured, the only casualty was my front tire, it got bent a little bit. Brent, Matt and Pops, remember how I used to be afraid of mountain biking? I don't think I will be anymore. Biking here is like mountain biking where the boulders are trying to hit you. And after USc games, it's like mountain biking where drunk boulders are trying to hit you. And the streets are full of potholes, and if you ride on the sidewalks, the trees grow really close, and the routes push up the sidewalk and make random mountains in the middle of the sidewalks. It's exciting!

I don't have time to say all that I want, and I really just want to write some personal notes now! So here goes!

borsh!- That's so cool that you got modern warfare 3! It sounds really cool. all the buses around here have giant billboards on them, so I see ads for movies and video games all the times, and it always make me want to play them! Just tell me it's not very fun ok? Your letters are awesome Josh, they make me laugh all the time. Thanks for all you do for me buddy!

Kt and Todd!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! It's a girl! I'm so happy for you two! You're gonna be such great parents. I can't wait to hear even more about Ellie, and I've loved seeing the pictures! I want to type so much more, but I just don't have time! I just hope you know how happy I am for you, and how much I love you! And I got your package today, and it made me tear up a little bit! Thanks so much KT, I can't believe you sent me a package and had a baby! You're amazing! I'm loving my sweet beatz already, and I've already made a significant dent in my M&M's! I love you so much sister!

B- Happy Birthday B! You're an old fart now! One year older and one year closer to being a menace to society! Hooray! I hope you ate double for me at Thanksgiving.

Amy- Amy, Last week, I got a carton of ice cream. By the end of the week, it was gone. and I ate the whole thing. myself. out of the carton. with a spoon. I thought you'd be proud of me. also, Mops sent me a giant bag of peanut butter M&M's, and I ate the whole thing in 3 days. I can't believe how much you've been running lately, that's crazy!

Matt and Lauren- Happy Birthday Lauren! And I can't believe I forgot about Matt's birthday too! Please forgive me!

Mops and Pops-Thanks so much for the package Mops! I loved it! and I ate all the candy way too fast. The nativity is hanging on my fridge as we speak though! Thanks for all you do, and I'm so sorry that I didn't write last week, I felt terrible about it, and I hope you didn't worry too much!

Ah. Family, I'm sorry. I was so unhappy to not write last week, I'm trying not to think too much about it or else it will just make me sad again. and I'm sorry for this letter too. I feel very weird about it. I feel I haven't even written a hundreth part of what I want to, and you guys deserve a much better letter than this. But thank you, thank you, thank you, for all your do for me. I'm so very grateful for all of you and every letter and every prayer, and I don't deserve the half of it! This week made me realize how grateful I am for you, which made it hard to be away. I love you all so much, and I'm going to write a much better letter next week. Once again, I love you all so much, and I'm so grateful for each of you and what you do for me. Have a great week!