Aug 10, 2010 Home at last!

John and Justin Kelley

Justin got home from his mission on Aug 6th

John and Preston Solomon

Lacey doesn't know what to think of her first meeting with John

John meeting Weston for the first time

Mayley being shy

Devin and Ashton are excited to see John again

John going to greet the family

John embracing Brian

I finally get to hug my son

We are anxiously looking to get a glimpse of John

The grandkids holding the welcome home sign

Colton, Ashton and Devin

Briley, Caleb, Calvin and Carson

Trying to keep Mayley and Weston entertained

Walking to the terminal

We feeled the elevator at the airport pretty full

Aug 6, 2010

Everyone of the kids came to welcome John home from his mission. He was suppose to fly into Phoenix on Saturday the 7th of Aug. 2010. At 8:00pm on the 6th I received a call from John caying that the Mexican government wouldn't allow the missionaries to leave Mexico because their Visas were expired. He said that they didn't know when they would be allowed to leave. That was a big let down for all of us as Nich had even flown in from Texas and eveyone needed to get back to work on Monday. Pres Solomon called John's mission President who use to be our old stake president, Robert Hicken, who said that the church had sent the money in for the visa back in April and the government just wanted more money. He said that he was hoping to get the missionaries gone in 4 days. All the kids stayed for Sunday as the grandkids sang in church and Brian and I had to talk on what we were learning from this experience. Then Sunday night James and Bridget had to return home. Monday, Brooke and Nich decided that they we need to head back to Texas so we had dinner and as Brooke and Nich were driving out of the driveway I received a phone call from Pres. Hicken saying that John would be returning home the next day. The timing was perfect as Brooke and Nich decided to wait a day to leave so they could see John.
Tuesday the 10th Brian watched the planes path all the way from Mexico and was nervous the whole day.

John's return home

We are happy to finally announce that John will be returning home this Saturday Aug 7. He will be speaking in our ward this Sunday the 8th at the Chandler Heights and Ellsworth Building at 11:00 am. We will also have an open house that evening starting at 6:00 at our house. Come by and say hi to John. We are anxious to have him home again and grateful for the past two years and the blessings that John's mission has brought to our family.

Aug 2, 2010 Last email

hey momma

Well now its time! I really can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I can still rememeber the first day that I went into the MTC like yesterday. Man I am really gonna miss being a missionary, but I guess this mission is done and the Lord wants me to get on to my other mission.
There are soo many things that I have learned out here these last 2 years but I think the most important thing that I have learned are about the saving principles of the gospel, and of coarse the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am soo very thankful for my elder brother who suffered and gave his life so that each one of us can have the opportunity to return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father. I know that I am nothing but an inutil(useless) servant but I also know that as we give everything the our Father in Heaven and try with all our hearts to keep his commandments we can feel of his love and joy. He wants us to be happy, he wants us to receive blessings, he wants us to be with him forever. Now the only way that we can try to pay him back and show him our love is by first, keep his commandments and second, share this marvelous news to everyone we love and know. That is why missionary work is a marvelous work and wonder. I know this church is true. I know God lives as well as his son and my savior Jesus Chirst. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and from his time we have always had a prophet of God who has lead this Church through Revelation! I love this work and I love my God. Thank you so much family for your support, love and example which you have given me. You will never know how much it means to me!!

con mucho mucho AMOR

Elder Reed- For the Last time

July 19, 2010

Hey momma

Well it sounds like your days have been pretty busy huh! I bet you guys just had a blast these last couple days in Texas and then at the family reunion. I wish I could of been there. How was it anyway? What did you guys do? Well here in Mexico everything is pretty nice. Me and my comp are just trying to finish out strong. It is way crazy to me to think that I only have 2 more Sundays to baptize! Man that kinda scares me. But all in all everything is going good. 2 of my converts here in my ward just received the Melchizedek Priesthood and I am really excited. Both of them have given blessings to there families and are really going strong in the church. I really love missionary work!!
Well how are things looking in the ward. What is the church attendence every week? Have there been alot of baptisms lately? What are the missionaries names that are there right now? Man I really hope all is well over there in the house. I can't wait to here and see all of you. Well I really can't think of anything else to tell ya except I love ya and keep giving references to the missionaries ok :)

con mucho amor

ELder Reed

July 12, 2010

hey momma

Well I guess you are in Texas right now and I bet it is just beautiful with monsoon season coming in. I also bet it is great seeing Brooke again. I hope all is well and that her baby is doing ok. Over here things are going good. Me and my companion just like I always say are doing good, working hard and trying to find the chosen people to baptize. I am hoping to finish off the mission these next 3 weeks with 3 baptisms. I will be good after that. It is soo crazy how fast the time passes huh?!

Well as for my ankle, all in all everything is ok. I am walking good now and it feels alot stronger. Every once in awhile it starts to bother me but its all good.

Oh my goodness I wish that you all could be here in Pachuca. It has been soo beautiful lately! It has been raining quite a bit and these last couple days. I have had to use a sweater because it has been pretty cold. A lot different than AZ hahaha. I really love it here and it will be hard to leave. Actually I heard from some members that it is suppose to rain for the next 3 months. How crazy is that? I am ok with it though.

Well this past week we had our Zone counsel with Pres Hickens. It was a really great experience. He is such a great man and is going to do great things over here in Mexico. I was also talking to Sister Hickens for awhile and she says hi. She is such a sweet lady and is really trying hard to learn Spanish.

Well I really can't think of anything else to say except that I love you all and please let me know if you need anything.

con mucho amor

Elder Reed

July 5, 2010

This is my last zone conference with Pres Bulloch

John hurt his ankle bad about 2 weeks ago

This is a family I baptized

they are soooo awesome!

This is a chunk of coal I found in a field

VIVA MEXICO!!!