"That We May Have Joy"

Good afternoon everyone!
This week has been wonderful. This is how it went down!
Monday-P-day, also known as preparation day, "party day", and in my terms "let's take a nap day".

Tuesday- We had a great district meeting. It's so awesome to see the spirit fill the room when we get serious. We had an awesome practice teach with Elder Ross and Elder Avery. They gave us some great ideas for one of our investigators and we were able to take their idea and the lesson went amazing.

Wednesday- Care Center! I'm going to have to start writing down the funny stories again that happen. We were also able to attend the temple with Sister Marston, the mission presidents wife. I, with a
ward member, have been working on some of Dave's family history. The youth were able to do 48 names for him. While the youth were doing the baptisms we were able to have a lesson with one of our investigators, D. She is doing so awesome and getting ready to be baptized on April 11th. There was such a strong spirit on the temple grounds that made the lesson that much more special. After the youth came out, Sister Vakapuna and I were able to do some initatories.

Thursday- I spent the day with the amazing Sister Leah Hardy! My lil Indian, adopted sister, and the greatest missionary around. It was so good to go on exchanges with her. She is doing so well with her area and a great example! Thursday night I was able to have dinner with R before she headed out of town.

Friday- Our district went out to lunch for Elder Avery's birthday. Sister Vakapuna and I found an awesome new investigator in a "man caves" shop.

Saturday- I loved our service! We went and helped a lady clean her house but then her husband wasn't suppose to be on a ladder so we helped take down a patio. Our district went and chalked at the local
park. We did a visual on the new video "Because he lives". (See video) Saturday night was the Women's Broadcast! Was it not awesome!?!

Sunday-  We were studying the sabbath day and this really stood out to me, due to the lack of rain.  "If we honor the Sabbath day, we may receive great spiritual and temporal blessings. The Lord has said that if we keep the Sabbath day with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts, we will be full of joy. He has promised: “The fulness of the earth is yours, … whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
“Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
“Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul” (D&C 59:16–19).

Monday(Today)- We went caving this morning! So fun! Pictures to come next week. We also went to a members house and spent some time having a girls day.

Overall, a great week! I hope everyone watches general conference this weekend!
I love you all! Thanks for everything!
Sister Reber

Sorry not a very spiritual letter this week. Busy day.

Another Week has come & gone.

Hello Everyone!

So I have had a lot on my mind the past week, learned a lot, and excited for a new week. Here are just some thoughts, experiences, and whatever else from this week.

~“As in all things, Jesus set the example for us. … In his great intercessory prayer he stated, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4; emphasis added).  If we are to use Christ as our guide through life, we too have to finish the work God has given us to do.  I think Christ is trying to tell us simply and succinctly that complete joy will only be hour when our actions and aspirations match perfectly with God’s plan for us, and not God’s plan for somebody else.” -Patricia T. Holland

~“Do you remember the old object lessons we would sometimes see in classes on sin and repentance?  You pound a nail into a board and pull it out.  Sin is likened to the nail.  You can pull it out with repentance, but the hole is there afterwards.  I never felt comfortable looking at the hole still in the wood.  I reject the whole idea.  I think Christ’s Atonement re-weaves the fibers of that board as if no nail was ever driven."  --S. Michael Wilcox

~We had a wonderful ward conference this week. One of the discussions was on The importance of family councils. Here are just a few notes....

          How does a family council differ from family home evening?
           Family home evening- friends are invited, missionary work is going on, and it consists of family bonding.
           Council-family concerns become resolved, planning occurs, each family member has his right to talk, create unity in the home, confidential, make it a pattern. As needed. Planned an advance. Don't just council when there is a problem.

         

           The perfect family council?
         Bring treats. Give them out at the end. Identify the issue or concern of the council. Everyone is to be heard. Councils often, regularly. Be sensitive. Start with a prayer. Strive for unity at the end of the council. Post out come on a family bulletin board, follow up.

           How can we have family council when someone disagrees with families standards?

Ground rules, the things that aren't negotiable. Discuss unity, why we
do certain things in our family. Every member should have a voice.
Come up with an outcome of what punishments should be and everyone
agrees on it. Ongoing patience, there will always be something or
someone that will be a constant offender. Show constant love no matter
what.  One on one councils. Councils are 2 or more people, it can be
like a companionship inventory.

~The past few weeks we spent multiple days in Gridley, with Elder Nielsen from the Seventy, learning how to become "Disciples in the Digital Age". We are so blessed to have wonderful tools at our fingertips. As new advancements come, we are able to see more and more miracles. As the world moves forward, so does our church, and so does missionary work. As our mission starts this new program we will currently be off of all Social Media(for a few weeks). This next week

the new Easter video "Because He Lives" comes out, we were able to view the video this week...AMAZING!! We were also able to relieve some statistics from the Christmas video and from the initiative missionaries were able to pick up 34,000 new investigators! We would invite you to share this Easter video with friends and family through all your Social networking. "If we don't flood the Internet with uplifting and spiritual things, Satan will  gladly do otherwise" said Elder Nielsen.

~Elder Neilsen also talked to us about our Ipads and why they are letting us use them. He talked alotabout Pornography. Back in the day people were coming into missions talking to the missionaries about drugs and alcohol, now it's Pornography. We have to learn how to overcome those temptations. Elder Neilsen said, to us, "You have kids waiting to come down to this earth. They are hoping their mom and dad's don't get involved in Pornography. It's not just about you missionaries, it's about your future families." One rule we are to follow is always having our companion at our side, he invited us to do the same when we get home. To have someone that we can be accountable to. 

~This week we were able to get Destiny, a 13 year old, on date. What an awesome experience. We started talking about baptism and she asked "So when can I get baptized?". That's the most rewarding things as a missionary! We are excited to continue working with her and see the miracles in her life. 

~Today was kind of a rough day. Sister Vakapuna received a call that a member in her last area had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and that she only had today to live. This morning we traveled down to Roseville for Sister Vakapuna to say goodbye. It was hard, I tried to stay tough, but it was hard. Seeing your companion in pain...is hard! It was so hard to hold back tears as a saw a family surrounding their mother. I am so grateful for the plan of salvation! 

Love you all!

Sister Reber

Pictures:

-Happy St.Patricks Day!!

-The New Missionary Age! Our new ipads! 

Staying in Auburn.

Good Afternoon Folks!!!

What an awesome week it has been! First off, transfer calls came in...and I am staying in Auburn. 5 transfers here...5 in my last..I guess I am a long termer! That's ok! I love my companion and 

ready to see why I stayed here longer. 

Here are a few highlights from my week...

Monday~P-day! We took the Sisters bowling and we had a great time! We have such awesome sisters! 

Tuesday~All mission conference! What an awesome experience! Elder Neilson of the 70 and Brother Heaton from the MTC came and talked to us about the new church Ipad system. It was great to see all 200 and something missionaries together.

Wednesday~Zone Meeting! Good times....

Thursday~Service at the Care Center. This week I worked on a puzzle...cause I love that so much:) We also had a car fast day so members took us around to every where we needed to go. It was fun to have members so involved with us throughout the day. 

Friday~We received some sad news that our friend, Dave, was shortly leaving this earth. He later died that night. I thought I would be sad. Of course it is hard not being able to go spend time with him anymore BUT he is in such a better place. I also have been able to spend some time doing his family history work and that has been a blessing. 

Saturday~Exchanges! I was able to spend time in Alta Sierra with Sister Puletua! What a fun time! It is good to get out of your own area once in awhile and work with others. We had some awesome lessons. 

I am so thankful for the wonderful experience of being on a mission, people I am able to gain relationships with, and the testimony I have been able to grow. 

Thank you all for all you do! 

Love,

Sister Reber

I would challenge you this week to:

Make a post on Facebook of what the Atonement means to you. 

Our mission will not be on Facebook for a few weeks, so I would invite you to keep the missionary work going for us!

 “The comforts we have, the peace we have, and, most important, the faith and knowledge of the things of God that we have, were bought with a terrible price by those who have gone before us. . . .It is because of our Redeemer’s life and sacrifice that we are here.  It is because of His sacrificial atonement that we and all of the sons and daughters of God will partake of the salvation of the Lord. . . .It is because of the sacrificial redemption wrought by the Savior of the world that the great plan of the eternal gospel is made available to us under which those who die in the Lord shall not taste of death but shall have the opportunity of going on to a celestial and eternal glory.  In our own helplessness, He becomes our rescuer, saving us from damnation and bringing us to eternal life.

                                                          --Gordon B. Hinckley

Pictures:

~Auburn South District Unites again!

~The Auburn Zone...and this explains our relationship!:)

If today was my last day...this is what I would tell you!

If today was my last day...this is what I would tell you!

I would tell you that I love you! Some of you, I probably have
offended you, I've been a jerk, and I know I have...I'm not perfect! I
hope you forgive me. I love you and you have changed my life. You have
been an example. You will never know the impact you make on those
around you, including me! Some of you I tell you I love you vocally,
some I don't tell you enough, but I'm

I would tell you that God loves you! He LOVES YOU! No one will ever
love you as much as He does. We have God on our side...it doesn't
matter who is against us! He is there ALWAYS, whether we think we
deserve him or not! Life is hard, life gets tough sometimes, but
remember that life's battles are always won on your knees....praying!
He will help, He knows what you can handle!

I would tell you that this Church is true! I haven't always had a testimony,

I have had to find it myself...one principle at a time. I've had doubts...but they 

have turned into testimony. Doubts and questions still come...and I get on my 

knees and pray about them. 

I would tell you that you can be guilt free. That you have a Savior, your Savior,

that made it possible to return back to our Heavenly Father. 

This week I have really pondered on our life. I heard a song talking about 

If today was our last day...it made me think...it made me want to be better. 

I know this isn't all that I would tell you. I would tell you each individual things as

well, like the impact you made on my life. Thank you all for your wonderful examples

and love! 

Love,

Sister Reber 

Just for Today

• • 
  I will seek my Heavenly Father in earnest prayer. I will listen for the promptings of the Spirit to guide me.
• • 
  I will express my love for God and His Son, Jesus Christ, in prayer and will show my love for Them through service to my fellowmen.
• • 
  I will study and strive for more understanding of the gospel.
• • 
  I will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
• • 
  I will listen to and heed the counsel of God’s prophet. I will keep the covenants and commandments.
• • 
  I will teach someone about the gospel by word or by example.
• • 
  I will observe the standards of the Church.
• • 
  I will express through word and deed my love for my family.
• • 
  I will be honest in all my dealings.
• • 
  I will prepare myself for the tasks that have been assigned to me.
• • 
  I will do a kind deed for someone this day.
• • 
  I will express appreciation and gratitude for all blessings.
• • 
  I will be loyal where I should be loyal.

Supposing today were your last day on earth,

The last mile of the journey you’ve trod;

After all of your struggles, how much are you worth?

How much can you take home to God?

3/2/2015

Good Afternoon Family and Friends(you might as well be called family too!),

What an awesome week! Missionary work is so awesome! I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now! My week in a glance...

~ Awesome lesson with a part member family we are teaching. We were talking about the past lesson we had with them and asked them if they had any questions. It made me feel so needed, and know that I am in Auburn for her, when she said "I didn't understand my prayers being answered until you talked about it with me last time, I not am realizing that my prayers are being answered." Sometimes this "Hicktown farm girls talk"(Sis. Vakapuna) can get to people. 

~We were able to go to the Family History Center with R, a recent convert, and start her on her family history. I have really come to love family history on my mission. I also did some more work on D's family history and found some more names to take to the temple. Although he wasn't all the way there when I told him, he was excited. 

~Lot's of Service this week. Care Center, Cleaned some house, and cut potatoes to be planted for a farmer. 

~R, our Recent Convert, is doing awesome! We were able to have a FHE with her this week and it went great. She has such an amazing testimony. 

~Zone Conference this week was awesome! It was all about becoming converted unto the Lord. If you have some time...or make time:) here are some awesome talks to look up and read. "Converted unto the Lord by Elder David A. Bednar" and "Be Ye Converted by Bonnie L. Oscarson". We also got news that our mission is having a temple day all together. I am so excited for that. 

~The past few weeks we have been teaching D the lessons. He is our old ward mission leaders son. Him and his 3 siblings were adopted from Ukraine 2 years ago. It has been so fun getting him ready for his baptism. He really digs right in and loves the gospel. I wish I would have been like that! Last week we met with him right before his interview and he was so excited because he knew all the questions. At the baptism Bishop said "D came into my office for the interview, ran in, sat on the chair, and said "I'm ready Bishop I know all the answers! The sisters just told me everything!" Haha! Our kid passed the test! 

It's been a wonderful week! I love this work! Thank you all for your wonderful examples!

Love,

Sister Reber

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/wrong-roads

​