Picture Video!!! "Feels Like Home" Please read and then watch...

I've spent a few late nights creating this picture video with some of the pics Derek sent home. Blythe and I went to see My Sister's Keeper recently and the song "Feels Like Home" plays towards the end of the movie (love that song!). You might also recognize the song from "The Notebook" -- I surfed MP3 songs in search of a male singer of the song and found one by a Mario Frangoulis that took my breath away!... Just what I was looking for.

When I was young I used to go to a popular summer camp through the school district called Millhollow. I was preteen age. I loved that camp! I also loved going home after camp -- walking into the fresh scent of my home, the comforts of my own bed and the unconditional love of my parents and family! I love that memory! That's the best way to describe what it felt like when I finally gave my religion a chance . Most of you know my story, I was inactive most of my life, quite bitter towards the religion actually. It wasn't until I became an adult that I finally openned my heart to this religion I was born into, and after that I couldn't take it in fast enough. And that's the best way to describe it for me, it was like coming home.

Elder Reid is doing well! And I will let his pictures speak for themselves. I added some gospel pictures in, just fit the theme of the song. The pic of two elders praying and the three elders in the picture at the end are pictures I found on-line (not anything Derek took).

The first baptism pic is Silvia & her son Jesus -- his letter that week was so infectious! He was on cloud 9!!! Very nervous because his Spanish was still rusty "and they have long names!" She was so happy to get baptized she hugged them afterwards! She didn't know you aren't supposed to do that. She was very happy to become a member!

The 2nd baptism pic is Dolores -- she was raised catholic and "knew the Bible very well." She kept reading and taking the lessons but every time they would try to set a date she would chicken out and doubt herself. One night she had a dream, and in that dream her grandson was drowning and one of the missionaries (she couldn't remember which one) came to rescue him and they were all in white. To her, that was her sign. In Derek's letter he wrote "funny that it took a dream to get her to finally commit -- but that Sunday afterwards she bore her testimony and it sounded as though she had always been a member and I knew she was going to be just fine." The next week her husband was baptized and Derek said there daughter just cried and cried -- she didn't think her dad would ever get baptized and she was very thankful knowing that in a year they can be sealed in the temple.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we have. He looks happy, doesn't he?

Retro Week Results - working their tails off in the heat!

This guy must be really really hot, poor thing!

Last week Derek's Mission President (who himself served in Mexico many years ago) challenged his missionaries to a “retro” week – meaning serving like they did back in his day. This meant no e-mail, no cell phone, no visiting members – just good ol’ fashioned full-blown non-stop tracting. So we didn’t get an e-mail last week (that was rough). Here’s some of what Elder Reid had to say about this experience…

Well, today i am tired! Haha This week was really one of the best weeks here in the mission! it was called semana retro and in english its like old type week - like how they worked in the past. We would leave at 9 a.m. and we worked til 10 at night – everyday! No e-mail, we had to hand write our letters haha so i have one for you guys! Watch for it. We had like 12 hours of work and one hour to eat. President Johnston (back in his day) worked an average of 82 hours a week and taught 52 lessons, so that was our goal to try to meet or beat. so me and my comp, we are here in el carrizo with tons of little areas with just us -- and we have others in our district in mochis and so we wanted to beat all there numbers so we just had this planted in our heads “we were going to work like dogs” and tuesday we had 15 lessons which is a lot, and alot for one day! we just worked like a machine all week and the end we had all together taught 69 lessons and had 41 new investigators. the other missionaries in our district had like 50 lessons and 21 new investigators -- we worked our tails off! i am like beat and running off coke haha but ya it was really one great week and i learned a lot – like how easy it is to just fall into the normal routine of things and how we just become satisfied with the normal. but there is always room to be better and do better and I really learned to rely on the Lord more. We have to rely on a lot of rides and well, we had faith and we got rides -- way easier and sooner this week and we had the strength to go and go and the Lord gives us strength and helps us when we do all we can and put all our effort in something.....it was really a good experience!

so for your questions, no i don’t get to go to the temple at all, the nearest temple to us is like 7 hours away but there is like so many years for that after haha (We also asked if he dreams in Spanish yet) Well, here is the problem.....i dont dream - well i can’t dream. i dont know what it is but i dont dream and don’t know if i ever will hahahaha (duh, he really always has slept this sound – should have remembered that one!) But Happy 25 years mom and dad that is really just wow haha crazy! (Yep, our 25th this week – woo-hoo!) So I’ve been out almost 8 months now, seems like it was just 7 but now 8 -- how time flies and it is going good! i would not trade it for the world!... i am going in the heat, it is like 110 now here and in mochis it was 122 – ya, way hot! like cook an egg in the street in one minute hot - but drinking lots of water haha. i am glad to get to email you and hear all is good and i am going strong and loving it. love you guys take care this week LOvE ELdeR ReID

Seven months and counting!...

Current Comp (waiting for a reply on his name) --

celebrating 6 months and 17 months respectively!

Click on this one for a better view, his face is classic! Elder Reid, first comp, and other native roommates

President & Sister Johnston (who are both awesome)

Love this pic w/Mexican flag flying behind him...
This posting is a little long, life and summer have been extremely busy! But hopefully worth the reid (Reid, get it?! ha ha). We got a thumb drive of pics from him finally, on the day of his birthday! What a pleasant surprise! I will post them on one of those scrolly things as soon as I can remember how! Pics are extra sweet, I can tell how happy he truly is!

I’m going to sum up (or try) what’s been going on in Elder Reid's world. They have been visiting with a Sister (a mom) who lost her son recently in an accident. She’s a member, but has been in-active. I can tell by his letters that he has a deep love and concern for this sister, as she for them. She always sends them home with food, and “makes the best tortillas in the world!” Mmmm… I like this woman already! It warms my heart when he talks about her. She's very good to them. They have two investigators they have been working with that are close to baptism (although one needs to marry the woman he lives with first, hmmm… ha ha). He also says they tend to favor the gringo over his native companion. One member always gives Derek bigger portions of food, or larger glasses of water! ha ha. Someone with a sense of humor but he gets a kick out of it. For his birthday, Derek, his comp and four others from his district went to eat at KFC, his treat! He was quite excited about that. And was super happy about a “sic” (meaning totally awesome) blanket that a good friend sent to him! He absolutely loves it (way to go Ry!) One of the investigators that they been working with was making him a cake. His birthday landed on a P-day, so I think that was fun for him. Biggest and most frustrating part about his current area is that members don’t stay active, or attend church… and if they go to church, don't always attend all three meetings (I wonder how many times he's had to teach or talk -- I'll ask that next time -- a lot probably). He also received our birthday packages a day after his birthday, which included two pair of Van’s – a favorite broken in pair from home and a new pair – with a shirt and shorts to go with -- the Vans were a bright ocean blue and just screamed Derek!! Yep, he loved them! Something to wear for a few minutes on a P-day but he's happy.

With the thumb drive he sent a nine page letter that was written over a two month period. I chuckled throughout the whole thing. We like it when he writes letters because his personality shines through more. In honor of my b-day and Mother’s Day he wrote this… which makes me laugh (man, I miss this kid)…
“so, I guess not being around your family, you start thinking of all the good times you’ve had with them, and so I have been thinking a lot about things we have done together!
1. First and most important is… “sweet tooth Sundays” – I swear mom, every Sunday we would always have a sweet tooth and it was usually for the same thing, be it ice cream, cake, pie, brownies, or any other chocolate goodness but I just remember always having that time with my mom to cook deserts on Sunday where we could talk and bond through our love of goodies. Good thing we both are skinny ha! Don’t know how though… ha ha, J/K!
2. “Shopping for school clothes” This was a treat for you with Blythe but with me it was easy and just going shopping with you and then we would go out to eat somewhere and then shop a little (yeah - when he says little, he means it! He’s a get in, get out kind of guy!). I liked that, it was some good times - so in two years me and you have a date mom!
3. “Movies” – We always had the same mood to watch movies… and we would always be ready with the movie in and we would have to wait for dad… “dad, are you coming?” Ya! “Dad are you coming”… Ya!.... “Dad, are you COMING!” Ya! Ha ha ha Jeeze dad! And we would watch the menu guide through like 18 million times waiting! Ha ha Good times!
4. “Texts from Mom” – ha ha, you know I have to put this in here – ha ha! always I would get a text from you “where you at?... What ya doin?” ha ha, and like, if I was texting a girl earlier then stop… like when she was supposed to answer me back about hanging out and I get a text (“oh, it’s her!”)… nope, just my mom… or Ricky, “Oh, it’s them… “ or “who is that huh huh?” Oh, My MOM… liar, OK look again! Oh, my mom! Ha! Classic, all the time! Good old mom keeping track of her sheep! He was always so patient with my sheep herding too, bless his heart! then again, he knew who paid the cell phone bill (smart kid!)
5. “Love” last and final is Love. You always just seemed to know and say the right things like when I broke my arm and you guys drove up to get me! And when I almost rolled my jeep and you had to come at 2 in the morning to pick me up! Good times, and you always had so much love and I thank you for that! Mom, I love you so much, I really do. And I am glad to have a mom as great as you that does everything she can for her kids so they have what they need. You are the best mom in the world, and you have a heart of gold and you are amazing! Without you, I would be… oh, I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, ha ha. So thank you for your example all my life and for all you do and the love you give me! Funny thing is, it was actually me yelling and loosing it upon seeing his jeep ready to roll! And it was his dad that kept his cool with Derek and didn’t jump all over him. Keith must have masked that one for me! Ha ha. I quickly learned that when Derek called late on a weekend and and asked to talk to his dad -- that they were probably in a pickle of some sort! Rather than panic and ask questions, I learned to just pass the phone over to my better half! And keep breathing!

Next is dad… Happy Father’s Day!
Ha! So I’m doing this one big letter with mom’s b-day and Mother’s day, and now Father’s Day all in one, well although late… but hey! I save 3 stamps! Ha ha ha. But OK, you had a good time golfing (Mesquite). I miss golfing already! But you golf enough for my half too! Ha ha. So with it being hot in Nevada, at 93-95 you know kind of what I deal with, but with 100-105!!! Right now! But I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you and your example to me in my life. It helped me to make the right choices and when it’s so easy to go another path, like, that fast! But I thank you dad for all the years you taught me how to fix things even though I lost some of your tools along the way! Ha ha. And for your example of service, both you and Grandpa Reid were so quick to always lend a hand to others with things and to put service out there. That is helping me more and more here in the mission! I miss golfing with you so in two years we have a date for a round of golf! But it will be winter so that will give us time to map out all the courses we want to play! Perhaps in Mexico, ha ha! But hope you had a good Father’s day and sorry you don’t get a call for Father’s Day… they must figure mom’s might start a riot if they don’t get to talk to their babies for Mother’s Day! Ha!... Love you Dad, more than words can say!... Boy... send a young teenage son on a two-year mission… get back a young man with lots of wisdom -- I can’t even begin to fathom how much he's learned about life already. Tears welling up now, let’s move on…

And last but not least, I have to include the close of his letter… We (Blythe included) always look forward to greeting cards from Derek – he has a knack for putting in cleverly funny comments! Holds true with his letters as well...
Love you both, you are gems, diamonds of parents and I can’t thank you enough for how much you helped me in every aspect of my life. Enjoy the Utah cold brisk air and I will try to kick Mexico’s butt! And survive the heat, ha ha… Love you all! Love your one and only, tall, dark and handsome, well… in the face and arms… son, that is in Mexico, eating crazy food, throwing up, and drinking gallons and gallons of water a day.
Yours truly, now, later, and for eternity… I know, that’s a long time with me ha! … get used to it!
Elder Reid (I never tire of that last sentence, too funny!)

Send Elder Reid some birthday love!!!

Yep..., this cowboy's turning 20! July 27th!!! And he's quite excited. Please please please send him a birthday wish, he'd would love it! There's a link to dearelder.com on the right hand of this blog page (it's free and super easy to use - just type in his name with Culiacan Mexico for the location). If you send it by Friday before noon he should get it rather quickly! I'm (momma Reid) in Denver this week, so I will blog about his last e-mails as soon as I get back to a normal schedule, but he's doing great! Quite tan these days - well, farmers tan of course - but he tells us he keeps getting asked if he's Spanish! ha ha! Hmmm, must look and sound like a true native already... Happy Birthday Elder Reidriguez!!! ha ha ha!

Hey there Delilah (I'm at the MTC)... a must see youtube link!

OK... Gotta blog twice this week! When Derek was in High School he found himself short on art credit. He has always been very artistic and has a huge imagination. For some reason the thought of basic art (drawing) sounded boring to him so signed up for Ceramics. The funny thing is, the teacher took an immediate interest in his talents. He was quite maticulous and creative and ended up really enjoying the class. Some of his work was entered into art shows by the teacher and won awards. Another of Derek's hidden talents, he could sing! (didn't inherit that from me). One of my favorite times to spend with my kids was in the car, talking and listening and singing to the radio. Derek was always hitting the buttons on the radio looking for songs he liked. He can make his voice go really low, it's pretty cool! He could be one of those movie announcer guys! He also could make his voice go high, especially when he was screwin around. One of the songs I liked to hear him sing was "Hey There Delilah" -- and, when he was in Ceramics he made a yacht and called it the Dalila! I ran down to his room and snapped these pics. Before he left for his mission I made sure to download the song to my phone and ipod because it reminds me of him and makes me smile! One of the MM's sent a link to this Youtube video clip, the title immediatly caught my eye. It's so good and I had to share!!!! Listen closely to the words... clever and funny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xi4OsIdmn8

Great Mother of Peas!

Mmmmm, yummy peas... (hey, until I get Derek's promised pics, we are making due!) - His e-mail this week is below, I promise!



BFF & Bro Jared (blue tie) called to serve in Chili!

Awesome & hillarious buddy Jason (middle) called to Atlanta Georgia! (see Derek's comments about these calls below)

Fireman spraying the kids at July 4th neighborhood breakfast - the kids love this part! Awesome firemen!

Had to add the Mexi flag this year of course (notice we are still politically correct (USA & Utah are flying beside).

So, what does Elder Reid have to do with peas? Well, nothing... but, Derek’s email is in response to our 4th of July neighborhood breakfast being a success! (well, until Steven dragged Blythe under the water, ha ha! She still looks pretty wet by the way!) And to Jared’s mission call (woo-hoo!) And, our canning event at the Murray Cannery on the evening of July 4th – yes, PEAS came into harvest (not ours of course) but somewhere in Riverton. Truly awesome experience! I must say we have a very organized and cool church! 63,297 cans of peas were completed in one day! ONE DAY! From pod, to de-podded to cooked to canned to all boxed up and ready to ship! My arm muscles seriously hurt for three days after, Doh! Not that it toned up my RS flaps any, darn it (ha ha ha).

But, back to the good stuff - Elder Reid's e-mail from 7/07/09: ok so sounds like you guys had a great holiday and great pariade ha ha but so i am not going to lie, i did not even realize it was forth of july ah ha till now that you say something about it. so ya i am going to be here in el carrizo for another change with the same companion because well - 23 elders left to there houses today so it was like a huge hit in the mission areas but it is good. we had a investigator come to church this week and he is due for baptism the 25 of july so that is cool! and another cool inv so it should be a good month! so today I actually bought all the month of july food. i bought 3 big boxes of cereal and 12 milks and like a huge bag, huge of pancakes ha ha its awesome! and muffins and hot dogs i am set! and it all was 50 dollars cool huh? food is so cheep down here (he discovered a Sam's club nearby, $20 bucks for a two year membership!) so that is cool you did canning haha - ya in the liahona it talks about the food and stuff and how many tons of food they have and send out all over the world...

but, what? jared got his call to chili! serious serious? ha ha i knew he was going to a spanish speaking mission, i knew it! i was like he will go to a spanish mission - that is so cool ha ah i was right but ya, two that will know spanish - and jared like - my pal, my brother, serious?!....... and so ya so you are sending my packages ha ha yaaaaaa! (he’s turning 20 soon) i am so excited not going to lie i cant wait! i will look and wait for them and no i dont think i need anything more. i think i am good nothing in particular so ya and no i dont think i need more money and ya its way cool i keep hearing who is all going to where (mission calls). jason is going to ........altlanta goergia haha! what in the world? that is perfect for him! like perfect ha ha fried chicken.......ha! but i am good and have to run, there is lots of things i need to do but love you and take care and love you guys - Elder Reid

But wait, there’s more… he also answered a couple of questions from a different e-mail: "I really really miss you. But pictures would sustain me (HINT HINT) J/K! but soon, yes? Pictures in the mail? Yes?" yes mom soon very very soon like tommorrow i am sending the usb thing in the mail to you with pictures so soon love you too haha

"And, you mentioned getting sick again, holy cow! You've been sick more since January then you've been since you were born! Do you think you've had swine flu?? no!!!!!

"How many times (counting in your head) have you been sick?" like too many

"Is it just the difference in environments do you think? Cleanliness problem in Mexico maybe?"
yes i think it is just different things here and the weather and all that i dont know i think i was ammune to all the things in utah and now in two years i will be used to here and get sick in Utah, dang

Called to Serve!...

Two of Derek's best buddies just got their calls! Zac got called to serve in the Washington Seattle mission... and Jared got called to serve in Chili, Spanish speaking! Ah-oh! That makes three boys that will be having their own little private spanish conversations when they return! ha ha! (His friend Jake is also serving a Spanish speaking mission). Congrats and best wishes to Zac and Jared, they will be awesome missionaries!

Happy Father's Day!

Not a recent picture, but a good one!

We spent a few days in Mesquite. I was born on Father's day so it's kind of a special celebration with me and my dad. Unfortunately dad's health hasn't been the greatest lately and he ended up in the hospital for a couple of the days we were there. He recently got a new breast implant (defibulator) inserted -- three wires now plugged into his heart in case it stops trying to beat. The incision area probably got a little infected and was causing him to run high fevers. Mom had a little minor surgery on her foot that ended up being not as minor as she thought, so we stayed an extra day -- as luck would have it, dad got released from the hospital the same day she had her toe surgery. So we got up at O-dark thirty and drove to St. George to start rounding up the patients and drove them back home and got them nestled all snug in their ryclyners! Dad looked much better, had some color again and his fever seems to be gone. I've decided the hardest part about going to Mesquite is leaving! I've been blessed with such wonderful parents, and mom's cooking is wonderful! I gain five pounds every time we visit! ha ha! We also got to see Aunt Lee and her hubby for a little bit. Her laugh never changes! She has the most wonderful laugh! It was great seeing them! Let's keep our fingers crossed that dad will continue to recover...

As for Elder Reid, he continues to do great! I'm summarizing from memory what he's written to us lately. He loves his new area. The people are very kind and humble. Only problem, they have a problem going to church. His ward is very small and he calls the church a house of prayer, I'm hoping to get a better explanation of that Monday. He wrote his dad a nice long letter for Father's day thanking him for his example. Yes, Father Reid does know best! :-) He wrote how much he appreciates his dad's obedience and example - especially in always arriving to church early! He gets the importance now of how important Sundays are, not only Sacrament, but the spirit and strength it brings in getting you through another week. It was a nice long letter, but I don't have a copy with me right now.

Here's a portion of his e-mail to me while we were in Mesquite... hey from mexico! how is the old mesquite? ha ha, and talk about hot, this week we had to stand on the side of the highway for an hour and a half for a ride because we don't have money for buses so its stand there till someone gives you a ride and it is blazing hot out and windy here too! but its good and hard we don't have anyone that is progressing because they dont go to church, but its going and we just need to have faith and work hard but ya i am survivig being dehydrated all the time....hañ.......but that is funny that they are both in the hospitol at the same time -- but hopfully grandpa gets better. love you and hope you had a good birthday mom and ha ha speeding tickets are not the presents you want silly! love you tons and tons and tons - love you from mexico from your only son Elder Reid

Yes, I got a speeding ticket the week of my birthday... doh! I think we have pictures coming soon, I can't wait to post them! Life has been super dooper busy lately, keeping up with two jobs is tricky! However, it's true what they say about having a missionary out, things just work out smoothly and blessings come!

But wait, there's more!... (posting twice today)

Total Derek wack-i-ness! Baseball hat, red ryder bee bee gun, cowboy boots, bandit mask, and his favorite levis!
(click the picture for a closer look at Blythe, her face says it all!)

Giggly kisses

And yes, baby brother in the doll buggy! Blythe would tote him back and forth a billion times, up and down the hall. She only tipped him over a couple of times, ha ha! Sounds like we might be getting pictures soon! We're excited!

I’m posting some of Derek’s letter to Blythe first (which made me laugh, then cry - and is the reason I dug out these pictures to post)… Happy Birthday this week Blythe! And it’s OK that he’s trying to make you one year older than you are – ha ha! After all, apparently me and your dad are ancient – bless his heart! Tee-hee

hola mi hermana! how is it going this week for you? hope all is well with you guys. all is going good for me, in my new area now. its about the same - lots of dirt and really hot but its good. loving the work and learning everyday! but just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and what, now you are like 23 i think, no? ha ha but ya i told mom that her and dad are old - you are turning 23 and your baby brother that you used to push around in a doll cart and know exactly what i wanted without me saying anything is almost 20 ha ha crazy i don’t feel 20, i feel like i am still 16 just learning to drive - crazy how fast life hits you. its not a year to year thing, it’s a 5 year thing that things pass in, its crazy but i love you with tons of love you don’t even know about (how much) its so deep it will never show, but its there. love you and happy birthday and have fun - go to dinner and stuff but have fun and love life ha ha - love you sis! Elder Reid

And, some of our e-mail this week… one week into his new area (El Carrizo)

- On Ms. Boberg’s passing (wonderful teacher at RHS)… ya i had her, she was the teacher for AP history - she was cool and really nice so that is sad to hear

- Weather? it is like 100 degrees today ha ha and its hot as a pistol here! ha but ya i got a cool tan on my arms and face! nada mas..... (going to have to translate that one)

- How is the new place, and the people? Any interested investigators? How's your new Ward? And do you like your new companion? the new place is nice, its a house thats above another so less bugs which is good. its just me and my companion and it’s a pretty big place so its nice. it has tiny stairs to it and the first day i cracked my head on the corner Aaaa! i will send you a picture and yes it is the same house as elder baker and ya i know him ha its the second picture i will send pictures too but ya its good. my area has alot of little towns like 30 min away so lots of gordos or rides ha ha but it is cool and ya they have 11 fechas for bautismal but they have a problem of not coming to church so we will see and we have a house of prayer not a church. its nice though, small ward but good people......and my companion is one that was in la cruz - my first change so its cool, i knew him before but ya he is cool and ya just working hard!

- We need to send your birthday package out soon - do you have anything on your wish list? i dont think that i have anything as of right now but i will think and make a list of things and send it to you so you can send me a package for my birthday! ha ha! wow 20 years old mom. ha ha you and dad are old and blythes, wow - you are ancient now! but i am good and just getting used to the area and people. they all have weird names here and i can never remember them, but i am working on it. i just call them hermana y hermano (Brother & Sister), it works, but its good and i am liking it although its hot hot hot! but what can you do - they say just wait till july august, oh boy, can i just tell you i cant wait? ha ha my birhtday i am going to fry! i could bake me a cake on the cement outside ha ha but love you tons and tons and take care this week. love your son that’s almost 20 - Elder Reid

Not so happy bus ride... (1st Transfer!)

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Wow! Life has gotten so busy… work, Ward parties, work, family, work… There’s so much to tell you all, I just can’t seem to find time to get to the computer! Derek survived his first transfer! A wee 7-hour trek across Mexico by bus. He traveled from La Cruz to El Carrizo on June 1st.

ok so pues ya so i had one hecccccckkkk of a trip! so I went to culiacan with the one other (missionary) in la cruz that was leaving with me but was going to just culiacan and then on to another place. we got there at like 10 and then stayed there waiting for other people that are going to los mochis with me and no one showed up -- and its close to one now so they say you are solo and put me on a bus and i go for 3 hours to los mochis. so i am close to the bus stop and i see missionaries out there so i go to get off and get my bags and it is like 15 minutes and go in the front and no one is there and i ask in my half good spanish and they tell me that there was missionaries here and so i get out the card with numbers and the lady says she can't call the cell phone numbers so i wait some more and then go talk to her again and finally get her to call the president… and ya so i call him and tell him i am in the bus station and no one is there and so he calls them to see what the deal is and they forgot i was coming. forgot i was coming! how do you forget someone is coming? so i was in that bus station for like 4 hours waiting. i was there till 8! it was crazy and so we slept in los mochis and then came here. el carrizo is my new area and i am with elder navariz and the house is cool (hmmm... air or cool house?) and its good and I just put my stuff in there and now emailing you so ya ya but they do have air conditioning in the big busses ha ha and my hair cutting went well and ya like with a 3 and the whole thing but for the second try it broke but i took it back and got my money back so that was good ha ha but that is about it and i am tired and i will let you know more next week about my new area ah ha ha love you tons and tons and have a good week love Elder Reid

Now… as most of you know, missionaries aren’t ever supposed to be alone. His story made us laugh – kinda reminds you of the “Other Side of Heaven” movie? We are so glad he made it safely and is keeping his sense of humor. One of the MM’s was telling me that she thinks Derek is following the same route her son has been taking. I looked at her missionary web site and found some pictures that her son had sent. The first picture is the kitchen of the first apartment Derek was in in La Cruz – makes me laugh as it is pretty much just like he described it on the phone on Mother’s day! The 2nd picture is of his new place – I was able to verify that in his e-mail today. Now I understand his statement “the house is cool” – uh huh, mucho’s better-o’s! ;-)