Update: So Much Stuff! - from Araturi

Hey, everybody! I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have written an email for everybody. Things have been crazy this past transfer, and just keep getting crazier!

So, I am in Araturi, in Caucaia Stake (if you want to see on Google Maps exactly where I am at this exact moment, go to http://goo.gl/maps/YzDtv). I am here with Elder Day, who is from Cottonwood Heights (basically Salt Lake), and we are zone leaders. It is an awesome area, and I am so excited to work really hard for these last few weeks. It is crazy to think that I only have five weeks left to accomplish what I need to get done! Gotta work hard!

A few weeks ago, we had the blessing and miracle of having five baptisms in our ward! All involved some form of reactivation, and we are so glad to see them becoming more and more involved in the Church and its programs. We are going to start working with them and family history. It's going to be sweet:)

Thanks for everything! I will be sure to keep everyone up to date from now on!

I love you all, and have a great week! Drop me an email when you can, I love to hear from you all! reid.empey@myldsmail.net

Love,

Élder Reid Powell Empey

Happy Week, Happy Transfer! - From José Walter 2

Hello, All! 
I stayed in the same area and with the same compasnion for one more transfer! How exciting! It's going to be great. The Lord thought it necessary to let me stay with someone I really enjoy as a companion for a bit longer!

The Sisters in our district had a big change, though. Sister Peres is going to train two sisters at the same time! Because of the explosion of missionary inceases, especially with sisters, they need to do it that way! One sister I know, Sister Costa, is training four at the same time! They couldn't have Elders training Sisters, so they put a bunch of Sisters together:)

Anyway, I am out of time again, but this is going to be an awesome week! I can feel it!

Have a great week!

Love you all, 

Elder Reid Powell Empey

The Weekly News from José Walter 2

Hey, everyone! 

Sorry that I haven't written much these past few weeks, my time has been tight on the computer recently. So many emails, so little time!

Things are going well here. I am enjoying the area, and I love my companion, Elder Pinheiro. We get along really well, and I have been able to talk to him quite openly about everything!. He is quite new here on the mission, but he is energetic and excited to do the work. What a blessing it is for us to be together!

I have been thinking a lot recently about how important our testimonies are, especially our testimony of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, and His Church here upon the earth. I seek to strengthen my testimony of these truths, and invite all of you to do the same. Please, read the Book of Mormon every day. I don't think we realize how important this really is! It will change our lives if we will read it, ponder it, and drink deeply of its truths and words. I seek to deepen and strengthen my testimony through this truely inspired and God-sent volume of scripture.

Anyway, got to go...again! Have a wonderful week, and never forget who you are!

Love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

P.S. Have a great trip in Germany, Claire and Eric! You're gonna love it!

Hey, Everybody,

I got transferred!
Now, I'm in José Walter 2, with Elder Pinheiro, and I am totally stoked. Unfortunately, I am also totally out of time. So, I will tell you all all (wow, Portuguese gets to ya....) about it next week.

Tchau! I love you guys, and have a good week!

With love as always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

Hello! from Maranguape

Well, this week was great! We nearly had a baptism, but Angela nees a little more time, and we met a bunch of new people, so this week is going to be busy! I am excited to see how things will turn out, and I am loving the time I have with my new companion, Elder Patino. He is from Columbus, Ohio.

I ran out of time again, so I will just have to explain things more "detalhado" next week! Hope you have a good one!

Send me pics and quotes and stories of how your wonderful lives are going! If any of you are heading out on a mission, please send me a letter and your mission address so that I can write you back!

Love you all,

Elder Reid Powell Empey

The News - from Maranguape

Hello, all!

So, I have a bit of a sad piece of news. Elder Tibbitts, my companion, because of the headaches that he has been having (nearly six weeks without stopping now), it has become necessary that he return home to try to resolve the difficulties. He hasn't been able to study, nor walk a lot, or much of anything, and so it will be much easier for him to relax at home. I have a new companion, Elder Patino from Ohio, and we are already getting along really well. Elder Tibbitts is flying out on Wednesday. So, my "son" will be continuing his adventures and service elsewhere for the time being. The Lord has a plan in everything, and I am so grateful to have been Elder Tibbitts' companion during this time. I know that the Lord has His hand in all things in our lives.

So, Vitrória and Daniel were confirmed, and now all the members of their family that can be baptized are baptized! I am so happy to see them progressing in the Gospel.

Anyway, I gotta go, but I love you all, and have a wonderful week!

Tchau!

Até o próximo, 

Elder Reid Powell Empey

Quick!

So, another quick email!

We saw a few miracles this week. Márcio was baptized and confirmed, and then, even though I highly doubted and never thought that it would actually happen, Jacinta's daughter and son were baptized as well! Vitória, her daughter, is getting along well with the young women in the ward, and Daniel, her son, is attending. He is very shy and timid, but the young men's president is going to work more with him to help him out.

So, this has been an amazing week! Sadly, the headaches of my companion continue to be a difficulty. We are trying to not do anything to aggravate the situation, which is hard considering that the pain is aggravated by basically anything we do, walking, speaking in Portuguese, studying, the hot Cearense sun, etc. So, we are just doing the best that we can, and trying to keep moving forward!

I'm way out of time, but I love you all, and wish you a happy New Year, 2013! I never thought we'd get this far because of 2012, so I guess I'll have to re-think my life plan......:)

Love always,

Elder Reid Powell Empey