Off to Malolos!

Hey Fam
Well, yet again an awesome week in Navotas Ward! I feel like I always just start off my emails like that haha, but this week is my last week saying Caloocan zone! Haha yep, after seven months here in Caloocan I am now going to transfer this Wednesday.

So we had zone interviews this week, and President told me that I will be transferring to Malolos next transfer. You are probably wondering if there is more nature in that area... and the answer is yes:) Idk how much, but I am excited to see haha! Anyway he told me he has heard from lots of Elders about my attitude in Caloocan and how it has really helped us all improve. He also told me that I am going to be a Zone Leader next transfer! Haha ano ba iyan. I feel really young in the mission to have that responsibility because I have only been in the field for 8 and a half months. But the good news is my new comp is going to be Elder Pajaran! He was an AP last transfer haha so it will be super dope! I also found out yesterday that his current companion Elder Brown extended 3 weeks so we will be a trio for half of the next transfer haha. Elder Brown was an AP as well so I know I am going to learn a ton in the next couple weeks!! It will be a big change for sure, but I am excited to grow:)

Anyway, this week we had 5 investigators at church. Three of those 5 are getting really close to baptism though so I am sad I will miss that. We taught a lot of really good lessons this week:) I feel like my teaching skills are getting a little better each day. I have honestly been pretty makulit with all the members and investigators so they all love me here hahah. We played Telephone with a bunch of our members for an FHE, and also with the Danofrata family. They all thought it was like the funniest game ever haha. Then at the end we tied it into the Apostasy. How over time, the truth was changed. It was sad saying bye to so many of them! I got a ton of good pictures this week and gave them a bunch of the pennies Marla made for me. I made them into necklaces and they all loved them! Little things like that go a really long way here:)

Anyway, I am excited for what lays ahead of me! I might get my butt kicked for a min, but I am praying that I do! Because we can't grow inside of our comfort zone! I hope you guys all had an amazing week! Love you guys:)

-Elder Reber

Graden sent tons of pics and even a few videos this week. He was able to go say goodbye to all of his favorite people that he has met while working in this area. He is excited for a new adventure- and more nature:) but will miss all of the great friends he made in Caloocan. 

The Jolly Bee- Kindof like getting your pic with Ronald McDonald :)

This is Graden's little favorite friend that reminds him of his youngest sister, Capri. Apparently she has heard of her:)

Graden would like us to work on making  some yard art for when he returns home. 

Graden called as we were visiting the cemetery. We bring items that remind us of my dad. Apparently a few of us remembered he loved oreos. There is also a pass to Millcreek canyon-an all time favorite place for him. Glad Gray could be around for a special part of our weekend.

Navatos Baptism x3

Hey Fam:)

Well, it has been another fun week here in Navotas! I guess we will just start with the highlight, we had 3 baptisms this Saturday!:) It has been over a year since the last baptism in this ward, so the ward was super excited. We baptized Rosemarie Danofrata and her son Marck. Then we also had a baptism for Isaias Sante. We were kind of sad though because Maxine Danofrata was also supposed to be baptized, but she moved to Bulacan. She had passed her interview and everything! It was super fun to see some success in our area and ward though:) The baptism went smoothly and they all gave awesome testimonies. Brother Isaias was coming in hot with the tears of joy haha!

We had an emergency exchange in our apartment, Elder Berkheimer moved out on Tuesday, and Elder Obligacion came in. I think President just had some problems in the other area, so Elder Berkheimer switched him. It has been fun having another Filipino in the house though. We haven't had any pure Tagalog in our house for the last 2 transfers! Elder Obligacion is super cool, I got to go on a quick exchange with him because Elder Smith was sick.

I have been eating a ton of eggs lately haha. Usually I have 4 each morning, and then sometimes some at night too if I don't want to cook real food.

We had our District meeting this morning. We went fishing up in Panghulo's area. We just went to a little fish resort place and caught a ton of fish haha. Not going to lie, it was my first fish I have ever caught... I know that is sad for a guy that likes the outdoors as much as I do! But yeah it was super fun, I caught the biggest fish on my first cast haha! We just used a bamboo stick, line, and bread for bait. It reminded me of when I went fishing for Piranhas in Bolivia:)

That's about a wrap for this week though. We have zone interviews this upcoming Wednesday, so I might find out if I am transferring or not. We have the 30 Human Relation points memorized and ready to go! I love it here in Navatos!

You can only be as happy as you choose to be:) Be happy noodle heads:)

-Elder Reber

Happy Mothers Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

First of all I want to give a shout out to my Mom for being the best Mom ever! You aren't only the best Mom for me, but for all my friends too haha. We were lucky to grow up with like 10 moms each! It kept us on track doing what we should:) Anyway, I never realized how much my mom really did for me until I had to do everything on my own! Haha absolutely nothing! Life is so easy;) Jk you spoiled us all the time! I was super grateful for all the Chick-fil-a lunch runs, folded clean clothes, homemade dinners (even if I was the only one that ate them sometimes), you watched us play soccer in the rain, snow or heat, and for overall not being a bobo:) You really are the best Mom ever! Thanks! Love ya!

So this week was pretty dang productive! We found 22 new investigators and had 5 of them show up to church for their first time. Our ward did an awesome job at fellow shipping and I think they all had a good experience! It was funny because Sunday morning I asked Elder Smith "Is your journal ready, because today is going to be a crazy day of success my friend!"

So on Saturday, President Hughes came out and interviewed Isaias Sante for us. There is a rule here that if they aren't married, but they have had a previous spouse and have been living with their new partner for 5 years they can still be baptized. But the Mission President has to interview them. There are just no divorces here so that's why. Anyway, President had me sit in and translate the whole interview! I did pretty good though and Bro Isaias was tearing up when President told him he passed. Isaias said the closing prayer and by the end of it, they were both tearing up a ton. It was a super, super cool experience for me to see the spirit in action. President couldn't understand what Isaias was saying in his prayer, but the spirit was powerful:) Anyway, President told us thank you for preparing him so well.

Later that day, Sister Ogden texted me and told me that President Hughes wants me to get a Philippines drivers license in the next few weeks. So I might be able to drive in this crazy country sometime later in my mission! Haha I doubt it will be anytime soon, but that would be so fun!

I got some super sad news on Thursday night. I was calling some missionaries in my district to get their numbers, and Elder Holman told them he wanted to talk to me. Elder Holman is in their house and in my old area. Anyway, Idk if you guys remember Enrico. He is the one that I had a bunch of funny pictures with our feet in the air, and a video of him tying his tie. He was like one of my best friends when I first got to that ward, but it turns out he passed away on Thursday. His family found him dead on his bed:( They are pretty sure he had a heart attack. It was super sad, but I know he is in a better place now for sure!

Well, I hope you guys all have an amazing week! I'll leave a little quote with you guys I heard in church yesterday. Bro Junior said "It is not about doing, it is about becoming." Whatever we are putting a lot of time into, whether it be school, work, mission, or family. Make sure you aren't just going through the motions. Life is too short for that haha! Become something better:) Love you guys!

“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.” -Bible Dictionary

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for. Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success." -Dale Carnagie

-Elder Reber