Give Thanks!

Smile it's a Beautiful Day!
Isn't it a great day? If not... You better make it that way! As President Hinkley always said "life is to be enjoyed, not just endured!" This week Sister Phelps and I have been focusing on the little things, the miracles, and seeing the positive in everything! We have had such a great week! There were some pits but a whole lot more peaks!
This week we were able to spend a few hours doing yard work with an awesome less active. It's  Mandarin Orange season now, and for your information....Utah "cutie oranges" have nothing on the good California stuff! (I may just stay in California forever...I'm so addicted to all this fresh fruit!) But back to the story! We found the perfect looking orange and Sister Phelps told me this awesome story/I don't know what you would call it..
"CONSIDER THE ORANGE"
A tree, that is naturally growing upon the earth produces naturally this round vegetation.
You and I can pick off these products and see that they fit into the palm of our hand.
Whose hand? Our hand! It was made for us!
It has a layer around it so as to keep the contents within fresh, protected and delicious so that we can consume it! We can eat it! It was made for us!
You peel off that outer layer and see there is multiple bite size pieces! What size pieces? Bite size! It was made for us!
Each of those bite size pieces has another protective layer around it to make it convenient for us to pull apart, and not get our hands sticky, throw into our mouth and delight in the taste while it
provides us with multiple necessary vitamins we need to survive!
IT WAS MADE FOR US!
Within the Orange, most often are seeds. That when planted can bring forth another tree to carry on the same process. All coming forth naturally from the earth!
Man has never been able to create something so miraculous and simple. This orange, as well as other wonders here on the earth were given by a loving God, who is our Heavenly Father, to us! Everything that has been made is for us! He loves us. This earth was created by him, for us! There is no better, more loving, knowledgeable, understanding and powerful being than your loving Heavenly Father. Consider the Orange and remember it is all for you."  -Mike McKinnon

We truly do have so much! "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
D&C 78:19
A few other highlights from our week...
We went to the B Family's home, which they have a big farm and do Markets with their produce. They are the coolest people ever! Brother B taught me how to read the sugar percentage in fruit. I was thrilled to learn new agriculture stuff! I also ate a Roasted Fire Ant! Nasty!!! They are a delicacy in Peru. I was brave and ate it plain! Brother B bragged about us to the whole Ward at the ward
party how cool of sister missionaries they have! Haha the things you have to do on a mission!
The Thanksgiving Ward Party was nice! We had a lot of less actives and non members there and it was a good night.
R was Baptized on Saturday! What an awesome experience. The spirit was so strong at her baptism and her family was able to be there. R is the last one in her family to get baptized and now they are
working towards going to the temple as a family. Such a cool experience. Just a side note. Last week we were teaching R and she shared her testimony on how she found out that God was real. I was in
shock!! As I listened to her story it started sounding more and more like the experience I had. As tears filled my eyes I knew I was sent here to help teach R. It's such an amazing blessing to be on a mission. Her confirmation was a spiritual experience for all. As she sat down to be confirmed, in front of the ward, she started tearing up. Her blessing was amazing, led by the spirit, and boy does she has an amazing life ahead of her. She stood up and looked at the ward and said "wow, that
is happiness!" I'm so blessed to be on a mission!

I hit my half way mark! 9 months have gone way to fast!
Family and Friends I'm so thankful for this life on earth, for every day we get to wake up and see Gods creatures, and to know each one of you! Thank you all for the support and encouragement!
Love,
Sister Reber

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

 -Celebrating 9 months at Mongolian BBQ for the first time

 -Hump Day!! 9 Months:)

 -Sister Hänninen(was able to come back for the baptism)R, Me, and Sister Phelps. Happy time!

 -Our Truck....his name is Lance Kelly!

 -Fire Ants!

 -Zone Meeting with President Marston!

Good Afternoon!

Good Afternoon!!
I hope this email finds you all well and happy! I am so happy today and so grateful to be on a mission! This week has been a lot of hard work but fun! Last Tuesday I took Sister Hänninen to the mission office and got Sister Phelps. Not only a new companion BUT....I got a brand new blue truck! I didn't even have to beg! They love me that much;) Sister Phelps is awesome! We hit it off right away! She is from West Valley, Utah ,been out 15 months, and just fun! She is an all out exerciser and wants to be a personal trainer. Don't worry I'm still alive....just way sore! I have my own personal trainer and it's great! Haha.

This week Sister Phelps and I have made a lot of goals for our time here in Auburn, went around meeting a lot members, spent some time with the Bishop, and just got excited about being here together. We work really well together and have a lot of new ideas we have came up with.

Wednesday we went to the care center...nothing too funny happened this week! Same sweet little old people!
Thursday we had our Zone meeting. It went great! We taught a little and the rest of the missionaries bore testimony! It was so great and the spirit was strong!

Friday we went to the temple. Sister Phelps had a recent convert going to do Baptisms of the Dead and went to watch. What a cool experience! E is 71 years old and super tall! He was baptized for his brother. I have never felt the spirit so strong in the baptismal room. He was smiling ear to ear! That's what a mission is all about! It's not seeing them in white at their baptism, that's just the first step,
seeing them in the temple is when you see the success!
R is getting baptized this week and we are very excited for that! She is very excited for this next step in her life. She is such an awesome women!
Well it's time to get to work!
I love you all and thanks for all the support and encouragement!
Love,
Sister Reber

"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
Psalms 95:1-3

 Look who I found! Elder Avery!! What an awesome Elder!

 Sister Phelps and I at the temple.

Smile!

Hello Family and Friends! 

It's been such a good week! Transfer calls came last night and Sister Hännanen will be leaving me. She is going back to her greenie area for her last 5 weeks. She is super excited and has been a hoot to listen to all morning. I'm getting a new companion, Sister Phelps, which I know nothing about but I am super excited to meet her. 

This week I was able to go see the H family, from my last area, go through the temple! It was such an awesome experience. President Marston always says "We shouldn't think of the people we teach in white at their baptism but wearing white in the temple." I can honestly say it is one of the greatest feelings being the the celestial room with people you have come to love. They were shining and so happy! It was great to see the Palo Cedro Ward as well. 

So here's another care center story! This week we were teaching M. G wanted to listen too. We started talking about prophets and President Monson. She wanted to see a picture of him so I showed her. She holds my iPad, looks at him, and starts talking to him! "Let me look into your eyes...you sure your called of God." "Why is your hand fisted?" "What's that grin on your face...you look too happy to be a prophet." Haha she is a hoot! These care center people are the best! 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Reber 

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God

Good Afternoon Family and Friends, 

 

It has been a great week! I don't have much time to write today but...this week I have had a few things on my mind. This week during our time at the care center I had some interesting conversations. One of them was with a man that asked me "Am I dead?" And said "No, you're alive" and the conversation went on. Later I looked over and he was praying. His prayer was so simple. He was asking God for help to get through this time in his life. 

Another man, that never talks, came and sat by me. As I asked questions, not expecting an answer, he started to talk. He started talking about how beautiful it was outside and how warm it was. I didn't say anything for a few minutes and noticed he was looking at me. I asked "what are you doing?" He smiled and said "looking at you" ...."you are beautiful". My heart was filled. 

As I thought about these conversations over the week, these conversations with men that probably won't be on this earth for much longer, it reminded me of what really matters in life. The knowledge of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, thanking and recognizing God for the little things in life, and treating others with a great respect. I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity to be on a mission and the things I learn everyday. 

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

D&C 18:10

A few other of this weeks highlights:

-Came upon a car accident, called 911, and well it's along story.

-Zone Blitz in Grass Valley. The whole zone went to Grass Valley and spent the day there doing missionary work. Contacting mostly less actives. We saw a lot of success from it. 

-Interview with President went great. 

-Halloween night was spent weekly planning but we got one trick-or-treater. 

-I have now had a physiological reasoning for my personality...as well as the rest of the zone. We took color personality tests a few weeks ago and had fun figuring out about each other. 

Sorry it's a boring letter this week. Love you all!

Love,

Sister Reber 

Photos- A cute family made us "Sister Missionary" cookies. 

Our CRM pumpkin.