August 28, 2008

This is his email:

MOMMA!!!!!

It is so good to hear from you. I haven't received any letters for a week so it felt so good to hear from you. That is good that someone is interested in riata. I really hope she gets sold. Oh I got called to be District leader. I was a little scared because there are some missionaries in our district that are struggling with homesickness and I didnt know what to say to them. I was praying alot and still wasn't receiving an answer. Well, on Tuesday night we had a Devotional and in the middle of the the Speakers talk the spirt came to me and said "I will fill your mouth with the right words at the right time" Well after the Devotional we had a District review about the fireside. I don't remember what I said but the spirit was there. I believe the problems of homesickness have been resloved! I am here to testify about the power of prayer!! He does hear your prayers and will answer them in his own time Isaiah 55: 8-9. I love the Lord so much! I miss you, dad and the family. But this is where I need to be! I love you all so much!! Tell Jared I love him also!

Elder Reed

This is the letter I received from him dated the same day:

Hey Momma and Dad

How is everything going. How is Jared doing? Is football going good? Is his foot okay? Well the MTC is so amazing. The Spirit is always so strong. Well I went to the temple today. It was so amazing! I love going there and just feeling the peace which is there! Hey do you think you could do me a favor? Could you get Cody's email address for me? Oh and tell him sorry for not writing him back fast. It seems like I don't have time for anything:) Well hope all is well.

Love Elder Reed

Oh maybe as a family you could read Alma 57:21,26-27 I love it and it has been such a get help to me!:) Love ya.

Elder Reed

August 21, 2008

Hey Mom and Dad,

How the heck have you been? I have been great. Just learning the gospel and espanol. How has everything been going for you? How is Jared doing in school? Is he going to play football?
Well guess who talked in devotional Tuesday night? Dallin H. Oakes. It was so amazing! The spirit just filled the auditorium when he walked in! I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and his atonement. Next time you go to church look as they are getting ready to bless the sacrament at the cloth draped over the bread and water. It literally represents Jesus! Always remember the sacrifice which he made for every single one of us! What a GREAT man, Our Savior! Well I am gonna go. I love you and hope to hear from ya soon.
Love, Elder Reed

First Mission Pictures

Here are the pictures that he sent home...

I found Preston or AKA Elder Solly. :)
This is me and my comp. Elder Butler.
This is my District - Pretty loco :)
This is our roommates. Elder Dunn, Elder Demke, me, then Elder Butler.
My comp Elder Butler
My Desk where I study.
Momma do you see my dill pickle seeds. :)
Love ya!

Aug 14, 2008

Hey Momma! and Papa!

This week has been so amazing. The spirit here is so strong! Well like I said in my last note/letter, my comp is Elder Butler. He has the sweetest spirit. Everyone in my district thinks he looks like a giant Burrly Russian. We are getting to know each other very well! My room also has two Elders in. Their names are Elder Demke and Elder Dunn. Pretty much all the Elders in my district are from Utah except for me and 2 others which are from Cali. We all get along great. I am surprised how many Elders I know here! Well my days have been super busy! I wake up at 6:30 study till 7:45 then go to breakfast. I then come back and study till its time for lunch. After lunch I go back study for a couple of hours, then have a 50 min gym time (which everyone looks forward to) then after that we go to dinner then study until 9:00 and then we have a planning session for tomorrow. After that is done we go take a shower, write in our journals then go to bed. It seems like I never have a spare moment. This has to be the most I have ever studied in my whole life! But I love it. It seems like I don't wanna put my scriptures down! I love being a missionary so much! Well I got to go but know that I think and pray for you every single day. I love you momma.

Yo se que El Libro do Mormon es verdadero! Que Thomas S Monson es el verdadero profeta! Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y que el expiacion es verdadero. La inglesa de Jesucristo do los Santos do los Ultimos dias es verdadero! Yo se que familias pueden ser eternas. En el nombre de Jesucristo Amen

Love Elder Reed

I will send pictures next week.

Oh and I have my P-day on Thursday so thats when I can write back.

1st letter Aug 6, 2006

Dear Mom, Dad and Jared

Well my first day at the MTC has been a blast! I love it so much. My companion is Elder Butler. He is from Moroni, Utah. This place has such a wonderful spirit to it. Well my district is so awesome. There is 10 of us, 6 are going to the Mexico City East Mission and the other 4 are going to another mission in Mexico I have never heard of. Well, I got asked to be senior companion. Pretty cool. Well I hope all is well. I LOVE YOU ALL so much. I will write as soon as I can.

Love Elder Reed

Oh I saw Justin Kelley, Preston and Derek Buttars here. It is so amazing how everyone treats you like a best friend. I LOVE YOU

John arrives at the MTC

Brian putting John's new name tag on
John entering the MTC
MTC volunteers with seam rippers cutting open the pockets on new suits

John reported to the MTC on Aug 6, 2008

Brian, Jared and John in front of the MTC they almost kept Jared too

Cousins John Reed and Jake Stowell enter the MTC on the same day. John is going to Mexico City East and Jake is going to Halifax Canada

Mexico City East Mission

John recieved his Mission call on April 25! He is going to be serving in the Mexico City East Mission. He will report on August 6th at the MTC in Provo, UT.

Preston Solomon, one of John's best friends, is also serving in Mexico.