Rhett - The Grind

What's up family and friends,

I hope you all had a great week. It's always great getting to hear from you guys. This week was a good one. Elder Coello and I have just been working and working and finding new people to help and serve every day. One thing that's been kinda hard here in Paraguay is finding people when they are home. The people here are always working during the week. Moms, dads, kids, everyone is out of the house trying to work to make money for their families. We meet so many people every week, have great lessons with them, but then come back another day and they are not home because they had to leave to work again. Haha it's a bit difficult at times but we have continued to find more people to teach and a few are really progressing.

These past weeks we have been teaching a family of three. The dad Euhenio, the mom Dominga, and their daughter Sophia. We found them one day just walking down a street one day contacting their house. We told the mom that we had a message really important for her and her family that can bless and change her life. She let us in and we starting talking to her and her daughter.They told us that they were Catholic but don't really go to church much. After talking with them for a while, I came to find out that they didn't really know much at all about Jesus Christ and who He actually was. We were able to explain to them who Jesus Christ actually was and what He did for us. That through him, we can overcome the pains are burdens of sin and one day return to live with our Father in Heaven. Man it was a great experience and to really testify and bring Christ into their lives. We have continued to teach them and they have accepted to be baptized next month! We just have to help them come to church!

We have also been teaching a kid named Santiago. He is 13 years old and is always outside playing soccer near his house. We have been teaching him about Jesus. I just want to testify that I know Christ lives! He died for me and for all of you because He loves us and wants us to have the peace that we seek in this life and in the life to come. I know that through Him we can live with God again! Love you all! 

Elder Reilly

Haha this family had cups from IHOP!

Pictures of my area here in Barrio Obrero!

Trent - 5 Months

Hola Everyone!

Love and miss you all! This week was awesome. We have baptisimal dates with 2 investigators, Camila and Edmundo. Camila is ready for baptism. She knows what we have shared with her is true and she is reading the Book of Mormon every day. She wants to be baptized, but her mom will not let her and she's only 16. Her mom does not like our Church...classic. We finally got her to let us have a lesson in her house so that she could listen to what her daughter is learning. I was really scared at first because this woman is straight cold and intimidating haha. She straight up told me that she'll never let her daughter get baptized even if she gets a spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Haha so I had that in mind while entering into her house to teach her. Elder Sanchez and I were feeling really nervous because we just wanted to have a great lesson so the Mom's heart could be softened. We said a prayer before and we just felt this peace that everything was going to be ok. And it was. We had an awesome lesson with Camila and her parents. The Spirit was there. There was just this peace in the house and I know Camila's mom felt it. It was awesome. We invited Camila's parents to read the Book of Mormon as a family and we promised them that the same peace would always be in their home if they did it. They accepted! The mom still doesnt want Camila to be baptized, YET, but the Spirit changes. El Espíritu cambia! And that's the experience for the week. The Spirit changes the hearts of people. I know it because it's changed mine! I love you and miss you all. Hasta la proxima semana!

Elder Reilly

Trent - Almost 5 Months out here

Hola Everyone!

Love you and miss you all. I don't have very much time to write, but just know that I had another great week. We are helping two of our investigators prepare for their baptisms. Camila and Edmundo. Camila is completely ready. She is reading the Book of Mormon and she told us she knows it's true and that she wants to get baptized. We are working with her parents so that they let her get baptized. She has such a sweet testimony and she was truly prepared by the Lord! Edmundo also has problems with his family. They don't want him to get baptized. He knows it's true. We are passnig by his house frequently to read the Book of Mormon with him and strengthen him. I love this work. I love seeing the Spirit change people. We all have light and when we do good things like go to church, read the scriptures, or serve people, our light grows. I've felt it and I've seen it out here. My light is shining and I just feel full of joy and love for everyone! Keep shining your light everyone! Love you and miss you all! Till next week!

Rhett - Time Flies

Hola Familia!

I hope you guys are all doing well and had a great week! I want to start off by saying thank you for all the birthday wishes! I love all you guys and it's always great to hear how you are doing.

This week, not gonna lie was pretty difficult for me and my companion. Almost all of our investigators either weren't home when we went to visit or were working, or just couldn't visit with us. It was pretty sad to see and me and my companion were pretty frustrated and sad. But in reality we had 2 decisions to make. We could sit there, be mad, and take a nap, or we could go out and find some more people to teach who need the gospel in their lives. We decided to take option number 2 and went out and found more some people to teach. And I can say that the Lord is blessing us for our work. When we do the work of the Lord there are always people to teach. We went out contacting, house by house, and we were able to find some great investigators. People who felt lonely, or were having problems in their lives, PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THE GOSPEL IN THEIR LIVES. It has been a humbling week but actually one of the best for me to learn that there are always people to teach! The mission is seriously amazing. I am really starting to feel Heavenly Father's help in the work. I am starting to feel more and how the Spirit is working with me and allowing me to open my mouth. I feel like sometimes I don't know what to say while others are talking and then they turn and look at me and I just start speaking and the words flow. I know that that is the Lord helping me and that through the Spirit I can change the hearts of the people here in Paraguay and help them recieve this great gospel in their lives! Me and my comp are doing great. I love Elder Coello haha we are working really well together. He doesn't say a whole lot but loves to work and is super humble. In the lessons I feel like the people really can see the love we have for them!

Man... I just want to say that I know this is the work of the Lord. This gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of love. I know all who find it will feel God's love in their lives and have a desire to change and become better. Love you guys.

Elder Reilly

Rhett - Count Your Blessings

Hola Familia!

First off I just want to say, Feliz Dia De La Madre, Madre! Happy Mothers Day Mom. Our family is so lucky to have you as our Mother. That was so great getting to talk to all of you guys on skype yesterday. It just made me think of how blessed I really am to be a part of this great family! It also made me more excited to be a missionary here in Paraguay to share a message that can bless families here too!

The work here in San Miguel (Rama 3) has been going really great. Me and Elder Coello have worked really hard and have found a lot of people to teach. A lot which are progressing and learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lately we have been working a lot with the youth or a lot of younger people. It's been awesome to see the change that takes place when they know that God really does love them and has a plan for each and every one of them. There are so many people here that believe in God and are looking for light in their lives, but don't really know where to find it or what God wants for them. It's been awesome to share the message with them of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and how God does have a plan for each of us so that we can return to live in his presence one day!

Man, I love this work. I know God does know us individually and is always calling us to Him. He loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us. Through the Love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can return to live with God one day. Love you all. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Elder Reilly

Sorry Pictures next week!

Trent - Happy Mothers Day

Hola Everyone!

What an awesome week! First of all, Happy Mother´s Day Mom! It was so fun talking to evryone and seeing all of your faces! All of the other missionaries said that I was gonna cry on my first skype, but I loved it! It didnt make me sad, it had the opposite effect! I'm so pumped to go share the Gospel and be directed and find the people who are prepared for me by the Lord! So thank you family for pumping me up!

Elder Sanchez and I have been working really hard and we have some solid investigators that are progressing. We set a baptisimal date for a girl named Camila for the 27th of May. She is so awesome. She has such a desire to learn and know if what we share is true. She has been reading the Book of Mormon daily and praying daily and bacause she has put in the work to search for the truth she has found it. She told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and we challenged her to get baptized after a really awesome lesson. We are going to have to get over the hurdle of her parents not being so excited about it, but we have faith the the Lord will work everything out for her good.

Man I just love this work. There's nothing better than seeing a person full of light because of the truth they have found. I have no doubt in my mind that this is the Lord's work. These are His children out here and nothing brings me more joy than knowing that I am helping them. Love you and miss you all! Till the next week!

Rhett - The Whitewash

Hola!

Whats up everybody once again. I hope you all are doing great. So this week I met my new companion and we moved to our new area. My new area is also in Cuidad Del Este but a little bit closer to the center. I was a little bummed about leaving Santa Ana but also excited for the challenge.

My companion is Elder Coello from Ecuador. He is just finishing up his mission so I will be his last companion. He is like 4 feet tall and doesn't speak any english haha. He is super cool though and a super humble missionary. I was a little nervous at first when I heard he was finishing his mission because I thought maybe he wouldn't want to work but now being with him this week that is not the case. We have been working super hard this week and just talking to everyone. We literally just go from house to house and if the door is open...we are there. We are talking to everyone, and I can see the blessings that are coming from it. We have found a lot of people that are really prepared for the the gospel in their lives. Its been a great first week. I am excited for the next week to follow up with them and to work even harder to share the Gospel!

I don't have much time, but I wanted to end with a scripture. I want to invite you all to read Alma 5 in the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ is always there for us calling us in unto him. If we choose to follow him, we can experience a mighty change in our hearts and enjoy the blessings the gospel brings. When we experience this change, we will want to share it with everyone. Love you guys, have a great week!

Elder Reilly

Trent - First Week with the Mexican

Hola Everyone! 

It was another great week. Full of joy and miracles. I'm working well with my new companion Elder Sanchez. We found some new people this week and had every day full of teaching investigators. And what more can you ask for?

My new comp is not accustomed to walking as much as we walk here in San Martin haha. I've been having to drag him along a little bit and I'm not gonna lie it was a little hard at first having to be the super enthusiastic and excited all the time Elder. Haha but as I continued to be over excited and full of joy to animate my companion, I found that it actually filled me up. I didn't have to fake it so to speak. I was actually excited about everything we did and it was awesome! I started running a couple times just to be funny haha. Elder Sanchez didnt laugh that hard but it's all good haha. I love him. He's a great Elder and we're gonna work some miracles here in San Martin this transfer!

I love the mission! Ive never felt closer to my Father in Heaven. I find that as I dedicate every minute of every day to the service of Him and His children, I am filled with joy and never discouraged! I recognize the promptings of the Spirit and I know what I need to do and what I need to say. I wouldn't trade these two years to serve and grow closer to my God for anything. I hope I can help many others do the same! There's nothing better than being a servant of the Lord! I never want to leave San Martin! I love the people here so much and I want to serve and teach and baptize them all! 

Love you and miss you all! Hold it down in the States or wherever you are. Till next week!

Elder Reilly

Rhett - 5.1.17

Hola Fam!

This past week was another good one! These past six weeks have seriously gone by so fast. I cant believe ive been out here for 12 weeks and am finished with my training! My spanish has gotten so much better and I feel like I can pretty much just think and say whatever I want to say in the lessons, its awesome. I can see the Lords hand in helping me learn and during the lessons when we are teaching.

Some exciting news for this week... Dalma, one of the daughters one the Espenola family was baptized on Saturday! My companion Elder Viveros had the opportunity to baptize her and I had the opportunity to confirm her a member of the church. Man the baptism was seriously so awesome though! Her mom got up and bore her testimony with tears in her eyes and said how proud she was of her daugher and that she will follow her and be baptized and go to the temple. I am so grateful for this work. Its the experiences like this that make this work so great. Im not gonna lie, the mission is hard, and sometimes its crazy to think that im all the way here in Paraguay right now, but I wouldn´t trade it for the world. The joy I feel from helping bring one soul unto Christ is indescribable. The baptism of Dalma just makes me want to work harder so that I kind bring more people unto the joy that the gospel brings!

Some other news for this week, some pretty sad news.. I found out yesterday that me and Elder Viveros are both getting transferred to different areas for this exchange. Im gonna be going to another city in Cuidad Del Este called Rama 3. Its gonna be another white wash too haha. I was kinda bummed at this at first because I love this area and the people here and we have seriously found so many people here that are interested in the gospel and are really starting to progress. But I feel good to know that I have planted many seeds in the people here, and there will be much work here for the next missionaries to come. My new area is actually really close though so i think I will be able to come back for the baotisms of the rest of the Espenola family! I am excited about that. Its gonna be hard my new area, cause we have a white wash, so basically we have to start all over and just find new people to teach. But I am super pumped and ready to just talk to everyone and share this gospel with everyone! I love barrio 4 and the people here but I know that the Lord has his plan for me and that there are people waiting in Rama 3 for me to teach!

I just want to end this letter off by saying how much I love this work and this gospel. I know the same church that Christ established when he was on the earth is on the earth today. And that church was restored to the earth in the Latter Days though the prophet Joseph Smith. I want to challenge all of you to gain a testimony for yourself. Read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true. You can recieve an answer and know for yourself. I know if you do this, you will come closer to Christ,.. and "Oh how great shall be your Joy." I love you all, have a great week!

Elder Reilly​

Saying Goodbye to Elder Cabrera for the last time. He is done with his mission.

Baptism of Dalma

A uper cool waterfall close to my area​

Trent - I got a new companion!

Hola everyone! 

I love and miss you all! Transfers were today and I'm staying in beautiful San Martin! My second trainer got transferred up North and I got a new comp. His name is Elder Sanchez and he is from Mexico. Haha he doesn't speak any English. But he seems like he is going to be a great Elder and we are gonna work hard and follow the Spirit and do what the Lord needs us to do here in San Martin!

This week was great in terms of finding. We found a ton of new people who are really interested and we have a ton of appointments for this coming week so that is great. I was studying Preach My Gospel this week about improving your teaching skills and I felt inspired to study the part about listening. I learned that if you ask questions inspired by the Spirit and LISTEN to the people and to the Spirit, the Spirit will always reveal to me what the people need to hear. There's always a principle of the gospel that comes to mind that I can testify about to help these people.

This work is truly so awesome! I love it! I love dedicating everything to other people. I am always thinking about what I can do to help others come unto Christ and it is so fulfilling! I can feel God helping and supporting me every day in this work! And there's nothing better than knowing that I have an all-powerful Eternal Father by my side bearing me up and supporting me when I need it. I KNOW it! He is here!

I love and miss you all! Till next week!!