Blog Letter 10/27/2014

¡SÍ SE PUEDE!

Or in english: Yes you can!

In the mission here, we are in the middle of a huge change. The mission is changing a lot here in Rosario Argentina. When Pres. Zanni got here he saw a lot of missionaries who had the attitude that here in the Rosario Mission we do not baptize, or that there is very little success. That bad thought has been around for a long time, and we as leaders are now here to KILL IT and show the missionaries that here in Rosario we have a lot of success. We have been hounding faith, hardwork, and what I wrote at the beginning Sí se puede! We have seen a lot of miracles since and we are just barely beginning. Within a couple of months this attitude change, this feeling of: "yes you can" will change the lives of a lot of people. 

We as a companionship have been applying it to not only other missionaries, but to our members and investigators. Bringing a message of no matter what it is, no matter what the goal, or trial, or dream is: Sí se puede! Yes you can! 

That's what the gospel of Christ does for us. It makes everything possible, it makes whatever dream or goal we have possible, if we put Him first. Like it says in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me. 

I am here to tell you all, that YES YOU CAN! Because of Christ's atonement and through faith in him, you can do whatever you want! I have no doubt, cause I have seen it. It's his infinite love in action! We just have to have faith!

On a change of thought process: This next week we are going to be having a baptism. Our investigator will be being baptized! I am super excited. Her daughter is 5 years old, and loves us! She put us down as older brothers for a report she had to do in school! It really made my day! It's wonderful to be a missionary! 

I love you all so much! I hope you are all smiling and just living happily. 

Love,

Elder Mason Paul Reid

Blog Letter 10/20/2014

Alright Muy buen día a todos!!

Wanna hear a REALLY funny story at the expense of my companion?

If anyone answered "yes" Shame on you! But its okay I got his permission, wether it was given bitterly or lovingly I dont know. I didnt wanna ask more then once. :) 

So we were waiting for the bus to get home, we where standing and talking for about 10 minutes when we saw the bus, right as we are just about to move to get on the bus my comp realizes he has been standing on an ant hill for the past 10 minutes, and he is covered in ants. These are not just your regular black ants, they have Pitbull heads on them, they got some teeth.

Well we get on the bus, my companion sits down trying to get the ants off his leg through a series of shaking his feet, and swatting with his hands. I am sure everyone thought he was on drugs. I was containing my laughter...well trying to contain it. He literally had ants in his pants. The entire ride you see two kids in white shirts, one laughing, and the other swatting at his legs. Just a great scene. After getting off the bus, and heading home he is in a panic trying to fight the now biting ants. I am sure it was a terrible experience for Elder R, but he was a good sport, and didnt get mad at my laughter. But it did make for a good story. :)

This week has been awesome for us, we are working with a lady who I hope well be baptized within the next two weeks, and another lady who we found yesterday. I will tell more about her next week.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Mason Paul Reid

P.S Remember: We are always going to follow the desires of our heart.

Put God first, then others, then ourselves

Blog Letter 10/13/2014

Saludos De Paraná

Just before anyone asks, I am doing great! I really am. I have had a wonderful first week here in Paraná. My companion is a Capo, and for those of you who don't speak Argentinian, that means stud. Really Capo is a stronger, more capo way of saying stud. It's like super stud. He loves to work and we are getting a lot done. We are also getting along great. 

President Zanni in a council of leaders once said: "In order to accomplish things never accomplished, you have to do things never done." That is what we are doing here in Paraná. We are changing a lot of things and trying to change the mind set of the people here. It's a lot of work and it's going to require time, effort, a lot of faith and prayer, but we have high hopes for the Paraná stake. 

I would like to share with you an observation I made Sunday in sacrament meeting. A single mom stood up to bear her testimony accompanied by her 7-8 year old daughter. As she was giving her testimony her little baby boy who can't walk, but can definitely crawl, crawled from the front row to the pulpit. She picked him, and continued giving her testimony. There I was, watching this single mom give her testimony of Christ, with her baby in her arms and her daughter by her side. I thought to myself: This is a single mom, who has to try and keep her family together, teach them the gospel, and be an example for the kids solo. She is in charge of protecting, providing, and nourishing her kids. When I saw her there at the pulpit with the kids I realized she is succeeding. She might be struggling with a lot of doubts and fears of money, bills, work, house keeping, and time for her kids. But here she was with her family at church. It really touched me. I realized how much she loves God and I respect her so much. She is a wonderful parent and a wonderful example to her kids and me. Even though she has her faults, just like every single one of us. 

That is what I would like to share with you all this week! To always remember our priority's and never lose our love for Christ and our trust in him. It will always bless us and our family's. 

I love you all so much!

Elder Mason Paul Reid

Blog Letter 10/7/2014

Hey family how are you doing? 

I really had a great week this week. I have good news and some bad news for you all. Well, maybe its not bad news, but I wasn't looking forward to it. 

I will be leaving my current area of Nébel to go to Paraná which is actually Elder T's old area.  I will stay a zone leader. I am pretty excited to go over there and it should be pretty interesting. I have been told there is a lot of black magic and gypsies, which is even more interesting. I will keep you informed on the black magic. :) 

It will be hard to leave this area. I really do love the people and I feel like I didn't have too much time here, but as the scriptures say ,my ways are not the Lords ways. 

This last conference has been amazing! I hope you all could watch it and really soak it all in. If you couldn't I strongly invite you too. It was super good this year. 

My favorite talks were:

Jorg Klebingat: He gave us six pieces of advice to have a better life.

Lynn G. Robbins: We need to have confidence in who we are, and not fold under pressure.

Richard G. Scott: Tools of God: Prayer, Scripture Study, Family Home Evening, and Temples

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "Lord, is it I"

James J. Humula: The blessings of the sacrament. 

My favorite one liners were: "Absolute truths do exist" -Elder Bednar

"Acknowledge your weaknesses but dont be immobalized by them" -Elder Jorg Klebingat

"Come and see" -Elder Bednar

"Stay in the boat"- Richard G. Scott. 

"Never forget which way you face"- Lynn G. Robbins

I really loved this general conference. I hope you are all doing great.

Love,

Elder Mason Paul Reid