It's Been a Great Year!

Good Afternoon!!!

It's been a great year for me here in the CRM! I can't believe it has been that long! They always say "time fly's when you are having fun!". It's been fun looking back on this year and realizing how much I truly have changed, learned, and grown. I was scared to change, scared to become a different person, and let the mission change me. Now, I have 6 months left and I hope I change more! I'm sad that a year is gone but I look forward to what the next 6 months hold! 

This week has been great! I absolutely love my companion! I must say....we are quite funny together! The Elders told us this week "Sisters you the coolest sisters in the mission!" I must say...I love our District!

Here are a few highlights from the past week:

~R's Baptism! Can you say a big crowd? We had to hold it in the chapel because so many people came to support her! It was great! R was being taught in another ward by Elders, when they found out that she didn't live in their ward boundaries we started teaching her for a couple weeks and then she was baptized. We are very excited to teach her the recent convert lessons (although she can teach us) and get to know her more! She is such a cute girl! 

~Last p-day we went spent some time with some of the Young Women. Good times! They wanted to give us makeovers and well....we don't got time for that ever...why not! 

~District Meeting...well that's always a blast!

~Lots of service! Old folks and the food bank! This week we took R, a lady visiting from Fiji with us! She is such a fun lady to be around. 

~I ate Fijian food! So we went to R's house and her Sister and cousin were making food. Sister Vakapuna was all over that and so they invited us to eat with them! Fish cooked in coconut milk and Taro...it's like some root they eat. I ate it...I may not have enjoyed it...but I did it:)

~Today we went and had a District Ping Pong Tournament...It involves a ball...therefore...we know the outcome:)

Life is awesome! The mission life is great! 

This week I have been thinking about the examples that we are, that we need to be, and those that have impacted my life! Think of Nephi, his brothers complained, fought, and turned against God's teachings, and yet Nephi stayed faithful and was an example to all those around him! I am so thankful for the family, friends, and missionaries I have been able to look up to. "Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better."-Howard W. Hunter

Love,

Sister Reber

Pictures:

~Me and Sister Vakapuna

~1 YEAR!!!

~All the Missionaries at R's Baptism!

~Elders(that taught R), Sister Vakapuna and I, and R.

 

 

About .....Love.

Good Afternoon Family and Friends! 

What a wonderful couple weeks it has been! Here are some highlights from the past couple weeks.....

~Exchanges with the Sisters. I was in Alta Sierra with Sister Puletua. She taught me a Haka. Good times. 

~We went and walked with Doc. This man is awesome! He pops out of his chair like one of those jack in the boxes and is ready to go! 

~Sister Phelps went to her departing temple trip so Sister Bugg came and spent the day with me. We weekly planned for our areas and went out to lunch with the district. 

~One of the men in our ward passed away, so we went to the memorial for him. It was amazing at how many people attended and the lives he changed. I want to be like him!

~The Vs took us out to dinner and Beach Hut Deli.

~We started teaching a part member family in the ward. They are doing awesome and they ask so many wonderful questions. They should be at church next week.

~Helped clean the church. Cleanliness is next to Godliness is what President Marston always says.

~Our ward missionaries and us planned a game night. It was a great fellow-shipping activity and we had more people then expected. 3 non members and 30 members. It was a great success! 

~Sunday was transfer calls! I am staying in Auburn and got a new companion. Most of our Zone changed. Elder Avery is now my new District Leader and that has been very fun. 

~Monday I sent Sister Phelps off to head back to Utah. Bittersweet moment. I stayed with the Alta Sierra Sisters until Tuesday when Sister Vakapuna came. 

~Sister Vakapuna and I hit it off! She is so fun! She is from West Jordan Utah,Tongan, and a crack up! I'm so excited for this transfer! 

~This week we went and played Bingo with D! We won 2 times and the 3rd time the lady in charge got mad at us for winning so many times! haha. old folks! 

~Went to MLC and that was great. We talked about being better missionaries and being more obedient as missionaries in general. 

We are seeing so many miracles and the work it picking up! 

This morning I was thinking about Valentines, because that's my favorite holiday, and how I could incorporate it into my email today. I started thinking about love..how we have love in our life, how we show love, etc. I was thinking about God's love for us. God shows his love for us in so many ways. 

Your Heavenly Father LOVES you - each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents or abilities. It is simply there. It is there for your when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God's love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve it. IT IS SIMPLY ALWAYS THERE! 

I am so thankful for the love that each one of you shows me! I love my mission and the people I have met here in California. I love you all! I know your Heavenly Father loves you! 

Love,

Sister Reber 

Changes!

Hello!
This is Brandi.  Sister Elli Reber was unable to get an email out this week.  She has been busy getting her companion packed up ready to return home and getting ready to welcome a new one.

She will continue to serve in the Auburn area for another transfer so all addresses will remain the same for now.  She promises more next week.

Thank you all for your support!

Using Starbucks wifi....

Good Morning!! 

This week has been wonderful. We have gotten so much done and it feels great. When we called out Ward mission leader last night he told us that since Sister Phelps and I have been here the sacrament attendance percentage has gone from 44% to 48%. The Ward councils goal was to get to 49% for the 2015 year. We have just been going through all the Ward list and moving people out! Simple stuff, that makes a huge difference. 

We also picked up 3 new investigators! Miracle week for us. It's funny to hear from missionaries serving in different parts of the world that are teaching 20-30 people and we are jumping with joy when we get 1-2 new a week! The work is picking up in the area and we are starting to see the fruits of our labor! I pray that this week is just as great so that Sister Phelps can go home with a bang!

This week we also had our Zone Blitz. This is a day when all the missionaries in our zone go to one area and do missionary work in that area. We had a great time and met so many awesome people! We had lunch by a stream up in the woods, helped some people move, and of course found people that needed us that day! 

"Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers!" I grew up singing and loving that song and I came to gain a testimony this week of praying often. I was sitting in a lesson last night and one of our investigators asked me "Tell me the truth, do you know do you really know that your prayers are answered and God hears them?". I sat there for a few seconds just thinking. Going through my head "well I guess there have been a lot of things that I have wanted and prayed for that haven't happened" and then out of know where I said "Yes, but sometimes God's answer is NO, sometimes God's answer is just to remain silent and let us figure it out!" 

Elder Richard G. Scott said, “It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, ‘Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you’. At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.”

In the Bible Dictionary it says "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

These past few weeks I have been on my knees praying and praying for an answer. I had received some inspiration 2 months ago and knew that I needed to make a decision. As I began praying I kept feeling....nothing. I was just more confused. One day I was studying and had the thought come "are you willing to do what God wants you to? If not, He isn't going to answer!" That was it! I was praying just to get it out of my head but I wasn't sure if I really was willing to do what He wanted be to do." I finally made up my decision! And I received my answer. His will was my will all along...BUT He was teaching me a lesson I needed to learn! I know that God answers prayers! Sometimes the answer isn't what we expect, sometimes He lets us make the decision, sometimes it's No and sometimes Yes. Sometimes the answer it not yet. Sometimes it's like a brick hitting us and sometimes it's a little light at the end of a long tunnel. Prayer is answered in different ways, sometimes it's answered through others. There is not one way to receive an answer.(and that's not always easy) The question shouldn't be Heavenly Father will you do this? It should be "Heavenly Father what is thy will for me? And I will go and do it!" 

God is a God of miracles. He hears our prayers, He answers our prayers. We may not know how or when, but I can testify that they will come...at HIS TIME AND HIS WAY. Trials are real, they teach us and are for our good! This gospel is a blessing, a gift, and I am so thankful to be out sharing it. I'm so thankful for the temple and the sealing power. For the knowledge that I can be with my family and future family for eternity! We have a LOVING Heavenly Father and I know He LOVES YOU! This life is wonderful! Enjoy it and cherish it! 

Love,

Sister Reber 

Lovin' Cali!

Good Afternoon!

This week has been great! Things are working out and I'm back to enjoying every moment! Monday started out awesome with p-day and my birthday. We went bowling with the Elders in the zone. Monday night, our dinner appointment(with my companions sneakiness) surprised me with a birthday party. So thankful for awesome people! 

Tuesday was district meeting and of course it was awesome! 

Wednesday was the care center, I painted valentines bird houses with some of the women. We went to go get ice cream, of course because it's $1 ice cram day, and a man bought our ice cream. We started talking to him and he was a member but his friend with him was actually in our Ward, not a member, but his son is. We were able to go over to his house this week and get to know them. 

Thursday was a busy day! We had a meeting with the Zone leaders and President in the morning and then we had our interviews. I just love President! He gives such awesome council and so easy to talk to. When Elder Neilson from the 70 came to the mission he told us that we weren't necessarily called to a mission but to a mission president. I know I was suppose to be under President Marston's direction.  We also went and did service at the local food bank and did some service with a Ward member and took her Christmas tree down. 

Friday was weekly planning. We got a lot done and looking forward to this week. We also we were able to go to the family history center and do some family history for Dave, a recent convert. We went there just expecting to get his parents done so we could get their temple work done, we came out with 22 of his ancestors names. What an awesome experience! Names just popped up! 

This week has been awesome! Miracles in lessons and prayers answered! 

I LOVE MY LIFE! 

"This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Thanks for all the love and support!  Love,Sister Reber 

Pictures- Bowling

-birthday dinner 

-Today we went to the tallest bridge in California and walked across it....can you say scared of heights. 

Two By Two

Hello Folks!!
What a week!! I must say missionary work has its ups and downs but I've never had such steep up and downs in on week! /\/\/\/
Peaks: We picked up an awesome new investigator! She referred herself and she is golden! She is 20-30 yrs. old and started telling us what she believes....exactly what we believe. We had an awesome lesson with her and she opened up and told us a lot of personal concerns.
I went on exchanges this week. Sister Pulatua, a greenie from Samoa, came to Auburn. What a funny sister! I can't imagine learning a new language. She is doing awesome though and has some much patience with herself. I took her to the care center and somehow.... It ended in her singing and putting on a little concert! Good times!
A lot of service this week....which I love! We also went to the Interfaith Food Closet and filled orders, and moved a lady.
Pits:I am so thankful for trials. Trials are great! As we struggle with missionary work we just keep reminding ourselves that trials are good! That just means we are growing and learning....nothing wrong with that:) One day we will find the rainbow through the storm!
Praises: Thanks to everyone that wished me Happy Birthday! It's been a great day so far! We went bowling with the Elders in the Zone and Sister Phelps made brownies....couldn't have gotten any better!
I'm thankful to be on a mission! So so thankful!
Prayers: I pray and pray to know what God's will is for us in this area. I know we are here for a reason and I know God will tell us.

And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God.

Love,

Sister Reber

Happy New Year!

I am doing great! They finally fixed our heater this week, so we aren't freezing now.

Our New Years was great. We had to be in at 6:30 so we just made goals, read our journals over the past year...crazy that I've almost been out a year! It literally feels like 4 months! New Year's Day we
had MLC in Gridley. Everyone is going home! Said bye to Elder Palmer, what a good friend...kept me sane in Palo Cedro!

Doctrine and Covenants 86, this is a Revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1832. In verse 5 we read "Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto The Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields". WE WERE THOSE ANGELS begging to come to this Earth to share the gospel! We are ALL missionaries! Our purpose is to INVITE others to come unto Christ! Yes sharing the Gospel might be scary, but you were born to do it, you were born on
this earth, at this special time to SHARE to Gospel. How we share the gospel doesn't matter, what matters is that we share it! Whether it's inviting a family over for dinner, whether it's posting something on Facebook for friends and family to see, or inviting someone to meet with the missionaries. It is our, every members, responsibility.

Thanks for everything! I love you all!

Sister Elli Reber
California Roseville Mission