Happy Memorial Day!

Because of Memorial Day all the libraries were CLOSED so that is why I am emailing so late! Sorry about that. Sounds like everyone had a fantastic week by the way :)
WEllll this last week we had a BAPTISM!!! It was SO GREAT! Our investigator Nicolas, who we've been teaching about 3 months, got baptized. A member family brought him to church and we were like, "Can we come to your house?" And he shrugged and said, "Why not?" He didn't want to be baptized at first, but one day that just changed and he wanted it.

His baptism was CRAZY. I mean literally.
Everything that went wrong with the baptism:
~Jonatan (a recent convert who baptized him) and Nicolas got in the font before the baptism began thinking that they had to just wait there. They didn't realize that we had to do part of the program first. So then we had to get them new suits and everything. And everyone was like, "What happened?! Did he already baptize him??!?!" Luckily he hadn't.
~They both forgot towels (and we forgot to remind them) so they that through the entire baptism and afterwards wet.
~The Bishopric wasn't there so this random member welcomed him and it was really weird.
Everything that went right:
~HE GOT BAPTIZED!
Being baptized is the most important part and we are so happy for him! Next week he will be confirmed and it will be great!

Another classic moment of the week:
Yesterday, teaching an investigator about the Restoration:
Sister Reed: "We can know the truth about our message by reading the Book of Mormon and praying to God whether it is true."
Investigator, looking at my companion: "Is she always this happy?"
Companion, nodding solemnly: "Yes, hermano."
At Neil's request, I am going to explain a normal preparation day!
8-10: Normal studies
10:30-12:30 Emailing errybody in the whole world
1-3: buy/put away food
3-6: clean apartment, clean car, shopping, or getting together with missionaries and playing sports or the  ukulele
Because we couldn't email on Memorial day we had extra time! So we got together with all the missionaries from the Newark church units (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) and some of the Spanish Ward members and played soccer all day. It was a blast and I got the best burn ever. Yay for farmer's tans! But boy I am soooooore. My poor body.
It RAINED this week. When it rains in New Jersey, it pours. Luckily, I had a raincoat, but my knees down were completely soaked through. I could have jumped in a pool and not been any wetter. So then we jumped in puddles and gave bemused people cards in the pouring rain.
Hope you all have a great next week and remember to crack open those scriptures! Love you all! Choose the right and know what you stand for!
Love,
Sister Reed

Planner Covers from Faraway Lands

Another good week in Kearny, New Jersey!
Highlights of the week:
~ Drinking mate with one of our Uruguayan members. It was a welcome return to the Paraguayan lifestyle :) She said next time we come over we are going to drink it again. Yaaaaay MATE NIGHTS EVERY WEEK FOREVER!!!
~ One day it was pouring rain, so we took off our shoes when we got into a less-active's house. When she saw our bare feet she made us wear socks and when it was time to leave she insisted we wear her socks with our flats, which we did and it was the best thing ever. Don't know why I've never before though to wear men's socks with my flats.
~ Teaching a lesson to an investigator outside his steps in the pouring rain in the dark. Couldn't hear a word by by golly WE'RE GOING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.
~ Getting locked in our garage every day (our garage door opener is very broken)
~ Sister Heule left :( Our trio is gone! It was a glorious two weeks while it lasted.
~ Cleaning our apartment!! I love being clean...
~Getting sent planner covers from my friend Rachel Houldridge in Paraguay! It was a really late birthday present. I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!
It was a week of ups and downs. While on my mission I think often of Elder Holland's conference talk about discipleship. There are good parts of discipleship—encouragement, progress, happiness—and then there's the hard part—the pain at someone's fall, the tears, the calling to repentance. I've realized that the mission isn't easy because discipleship isn't easy. It never will be. But it will be worth it. Never have I put so much of myself into such a worthy cause: to be a missionary of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so happy that Heavenly Father made me come out here in the first place :)
I love you all! I love what I do. I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ. Remember to choose the right and know what you stand for!!!
Love,
Sister Reed
P.S. My niece and nephews are the cutest children on earth! Just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of that :)

This Week was Hit and Miss :)

I've decided to do this letter in the format Neil sent one of his letters to me in: Hit/Miss!

Hit: Tino went to church!
Hit: He just barely had back surgery, but he determinedly sat through the whole thing!
Hit: He listened and soaked in the testimony meeting and even started crying during one man's testimony.
Hit: At the end of the sacrament meeting he was like, "Is that all?"
Miss: Church was shortened to sacrament meeting because it was Mother's Day. Don't ask me why because it doesn't make sense to me either.

Miss: Our other investigator Nicolas didn't go to church
Hit: He has been reading the Book of Mormon
Hit: When we asked if there was anything we could do for him, he asked us to call and be his friend! I was like, "YES, I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND!!!!!"

Hit: We had transfers!
Hit: Sister Stevens is staying :)
Miss: Sister Heule is leaving :(

Hit: The weather is warm!
Miss: It's windy and that's a problem when you are wearing a skirt! Pencil skirts here I come!

Hit: We had a Mother's Day party!
Miss: We had to sing :/ AGAIN

Hit: Sister Stevens and Heule called their families!!
Miss: I didn't!
Hit: I will call them one dayyyy

That was our lovely week! I love people. They are just great. It's amazing to see people come to the Gospel and find the things they sometimes didn't know they were looking for. The Church is true! I know it!

Love you all! Choose the right and know what you stand for!!

Sister Reed

New Comp!

This week was exciting because even though we still have a week left of the transfer we got a NEW COMP! She is a missionary who went home and is now returning to the mission. Her name is Sister Stevens and she is a very awesome missionary.
So we are now a trio, and it is way more fun than I thought it would be. It seems to be that trios would be hard —three people have to decide instead of two—and it is a bit more challenging that way. But I have really enjoyed the entire three days I have had as a trio :) Unfortunately, my companion contracted a deadly cold/strep throat on Thursday so we had a weekend indoors. We were fortunate enough not to get it, but I did feel a little bad we had so much inside time. But we are looking forward to a week of work this upcoming week.
The members don't know what to do with us. Quote from Hermano Medina, our ward mission leader: "There are three of you now? What a punishment!" The members love us—they just don't know it yet :) WE'LL GET THEM EVENTUALLY.
We found some really cool new investigators last week. One of them is a man named Angel who is struggling a lot right now financially and maritally. We taught him a really good door lesson, since he didn't want us to come inside because of his roommates. When we gave him a Book of Mormon, he was really willing to read it! It's exactly the right approach to reading the Book of Mormon; with prayer and reading it every day. I could't believe he understood almost immediately how to read it! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
We also moved someone in pouring rain this week—in jeans. WEIRD.
Love you all! Have a happy Mother's Day!! Choose the right and know what you stand for!
Love,
Sister Reed
P.S. The pictures are next to "The Wall" in downtown Newark.