Elder Graden Reber: KILL your investigators

So this email was actually about last week. When we talked to Graden he got to tell us about one of the most amazing days he has had on his mission so far. So many good things happening in the Philippines. Hopefully he will get caught up next week!
Last call for Bday emails as Gray's bday is on Tuesday, December 10. I am sure he would love to hear from you!
graden.reber@missionary.org

This week was super fun! Elder Chambers and I have been making our workshop for zone conference. It has to be 20 mins long all about finding new people to teach. Of course we got a little distracted and started seeing who could make a funnier random workshop! This was what I came up with on the spot.

Elders and Sisters today we are going to teach you how to KILL your investigators! This is just an acronym though to help you remember it.

K- Kneel in Faith (That will throw the Filipinos for a spin😂)

I- IXPLAIN the doctrine!!

L- Love your message

L- Live what you teach

Haha it was a good laugh and made the Zone con planning a little bit more fun! Although it was a joke, KILLing our investigators actually had a decent message behind it haha.

This week we had the BAPTISM of Roberto Rotol. His kids and wife got baptized like 3 weeks ago, but he has just now stopped smoking which is awesome! They are a REEAALLY poor family, so it is fun to see the gospel coming into their little shack house on their farm:) Life is good as a missionary!

We had a really cool lesson this week. It was actually to our 2nd councilor Tatay Abo. Come to find out life for him has been really rough lately. He opened up to us about how he has been having problems with his marriage. We just listened to him get everything out as he started crying with just us 3 in the back of his battery shop. He mentioned if he could have ONE SUPER POWER in his life it wouldn't be to fly, it wouldn't be super speed or strength, it wouldn't be invisibility, instead it would be the ability to remove all social media from the world instantly! It was sad to hear how social media has slowly torn his family away, but not a huge surprise as we look at other families around us. Tatay Abo was doubting God a little bit. He hate feeling of hate towards those that are hurting him and his family. I told him to take a deep breath, erase all his thoughts at the moment, and focus on his feelings he had as we taught him. We felt the spirit so strong and gave him a little bit of council focusing his life back to the fundamentals of the gospel. I asked him probably 15 basic questions regarding the basics. "Do you believe we have a God? Do you believe he loves you? Do you believe he wants you do be happy? Do you believe that he sent his son to die for you? Do you believe there is peace to be found through the atonement? Do you believe God hears your prayers? Then I testified strongly about my testimony... About Satan:) I told him how I know there is opposition in all things. How the devil is working hard especially on the families that are progressing in the gospel. We had a good talk and committed him to read the BOM daily with his wife.

Ultimately we told him to go to bishop though because he has the keys for that. But let's all remember what really matters in life. How much time are you on social media? Is the content you are watching benefitting you in the long run? Are you still finding time to be with your siblings or spouse? I know I didn't realize how crazy our world really is when it comes to phone usage until I got out here.

Luckily, we know that we have guidance in our lives today. One question I always ask investigators is "Did Jesus Christ have a cell phone? Did Moses have a TV? Alright but surely Noah had wifi on his ark!?" I tell them that our world is always changing. We have different temptations and trials in life. But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I know that we have a living prophet today. We can listen to President Nelson and all our other amazing leaders to receive the guidance God wants us to have. We're not alone in our journey back home:) I know that if we will follow the map of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will find true happiness in our lives right now and in the life to come. Jesus Christ is the light of our world. Let's share that with others this Christmas season!

I love you guys, and I love my mission! I've been pondering my life over the last year. Wow. I've met so many people, taught so many lessons, shared my testimony so many times, and have seen so many lives change in the process. Most importantly though I've seen change in myself. About a month ago I felt like I haven't changed at all😂 I am still the same happy personality that I was before my mission, quick to make a joke. But I've noticed the change in my priorities. My love for others has grown so much. I don't focus on myself nearly as much as I did in high school. Thats one thing I think it would have taken me a lifetime to learn if I didn't step away from normal life for two years to serve others. The mission is bringing eternal blessings into my life, and it has been an awesome journey!!

Anyway, love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

-Elder Reber

A little message to an old area's ward.

Last Tuesday they had to stay in all day as the typhoon was expected. They missionaries kept busy sharing with each other their favorite FHE games, and different ways to approach people.

Stir crazy after being inside all day

There were a few days where they were on a trial run of not wearing ties.

Wedding Day

Baptism days are the best!

When Graden switches ties with Elder Morris and tells his he looks exceptionally incredible today and asks for a picture together. You can tell this guy is a bit confused.