November 13, 2017

Hey Family,

Sorry I forgot to tell you where to send the package. 

You can send the package to: Elder Austin Reiley

                                                 Albuquerque New Mexico Mission

                                                 4400 Presidential Drive NE #E

                                                 Albuquerque, NM 87109

Our questions in italics:

What was church like? How big is your ward/branch? Have you met the bishop?

Church was not too bad. I fasted today and that was real different, but church was good and definitely not a lot of people. The branch is really tiny, actually we go to two of them. One at 9 and one at 11. The one at 11, the church building is about the size of the relief society room in our church. We don't have a bishop, but a branch president and his name is President Begay. He is a full blood Indian. 

Do you know any families in the branch? Tell us about any people that you've met.

One family is the Secateros. They are a super nice family and they are willing to feed us. And I got to get my hands on an elk they shot a few days ago so man, that was nice. They are really big into hunting.

Do they have mutual and primary and everything like here?

Not out here but they have it in Albuquerque so we will go with the zone leaders to some of them.

Did you teach anyone this past week? If so, who was it, and what did you teach them, and how did you feel about the teaching experience?

We taught a guy named Jalyn. He is a native and we taught him the restoration and it was nuts. I actually think I did really well. It was a cool experience.

Are you teaching anyone regularly?

We are teaching a lot of people regularly, but mostly service and a scripture message.

Are you writing in your journal every night?

Yep, every night no matter what I write in my journal.

What do you do every day? Routine?

Get up at 6:15, get dressed and go run laps around that little church building every morning. Come in, shower, eat and do studies for 2 hours then we go meet people so a lot of driving involved. Then we come back at about 8 and do some more studies and eat and go to bed by 10:30. Oh, and we fit lunch in there sometime too. 

What is one thing you've learned this past week? 

Don't ever look ahead - JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME.

That was the best thing about this past week?

The best thing this week was we found 2 new investigators and that has never happened before in the same week.

What was the hardest thing about this past week?

Not thinking about the long run. I get overwhelmed when I do that.

How has your testimony grown during this past month - or just tell us your testimony.

My testimony has gotten a lot stronger. I remember what dad said:"You can't do it all by yourself you have to have the Lord." and boy, you do! I know that it will all be worth it in the end, I just have to stop thinking about the end, but it is getting a lot better.

Is there anything else you want to tell us about?

We have been doing a lot of stuff actually. I worked a lot on a member's car so I got a ton of oil on my hands and it felt so good to get that. Also I had red chili soup. Holy cow, that stuff is so hot, but surprisingly good. Also one of the zone leaders' name is Elder Grover. He is from Chester and went to South Fremont. And do you know a Heather Farmer? I can't remember if I told you but I ran into a guy named Marty Schapp. He went to the same mission as dad so if dad gets a random phone call, it's probably him. That's it. 

Sounds like you had a great week. Love you a ton.

Love, Elder Reiley

From Marilyn: another small world connection:

Jaxon just texted me and told me that a senior missionary, Sister Lambert,  that served in his mission got a text from her sister in law (Joan Johnson) who lives in Albuquerque. She forwarded her conversation to Jaxon, who then forwarded it to me. The text said:  "We have a brand new elder serving in our branch whose brother served in your mission. Maybe you know him. Elder Reiley?"  Sister Lambert's reply: "Yes! Yes! Yes! We loved Elder Reiley. He is here at USU and told me that his brother was going to Albuquerque. I was going to tell you, but never dreamed you'd meet him so soon. I will let his brother know. Small world!" Sister-in-law Joan replied: "It is such a small world! Our Elder Reiley is already a wonderful missionary. He said he wasn't even considering a mission until after he started getting letters from your Elder Reiley in Washington! Powerful!"

Even in Budville....