Elder Kaden Rees

 

 

 

  你好！ This week has been challenging but rewarding. I have been practicing speaking Chinese with my dad and he is still much better than I am despite his mission being 30 years ago. I hope to be able to memorize all the Chinese basic core before I head to the provo MTC this Wednesday. I am also quite relieved to be done with zoom classes all day. Me and my companion were able to teach two practice discussions this week to volunteer nonmembers. The first discussion was somewhat of a dumpster fire but the second one went over very well. I am enjoying the chance to study my Book of Mormon and I have been reading some of it in Chinese (although I don't understand most of it, it is nice to help with pronunciations). I also got the chance last week to go to the temple and I would challenge all of you to try and attend the temple more! Every time I get the chance to go it is like a spiritual recharge and I find it easier to make it through the week. Anyways, that is al...

  你好！ My first week as a missionary has been amazing! My day consists of nine hours of zoom classes, studying my scriptures, and learning Mandarin. My home MTC hobbies are playing piano, shooting baskets, and fetch with my dog. Everyone in my district is involved and actively trying to learn. We are all progressing with our Chinese and although it is overwhelming I am surprised at how fast I am picking it up. I have learned more Chinese this week than my entire 2 year class at Davis High. My companion is Elder Larsen (Larsen 长老) and he is a stud! He is from Hurricane, Utah and is going to the California Riverside Mission. He also happens to be 6'8, so me and him are going to own the courts at the provo MTC. I have loved being able to study my Book of Mormon and my testimony of it has only grown! I challenge all of you to read your Book of Mormon daily, and I promise you will see improvements in your own life. Anyway, that is all for this week, Rees 长老 Scripture of the Week: 2 Nephi...

  What a marvelous evening!  We met with President Saunders at the Stake Center at 5:15pm.  Grandpa and Grandma Rees, John & Christina, Craig, Sandi, Madison, & CJ joined Kaden to be ordained and set apart as missionary.   The blessing by Pres Saunders was special.  He blessed him with a powerful blessing!  So grateful for the gifts he has and how close he is to the spirit.  He started the blessing mentioning that Kaden may serve outside his mission area?  He blessed him that he would be recognized for his leadership early on and that he would be a leader throughout his missionary time.  He mentioned that he would be bold and use his talents and bless the lives of many people with his knowledge and gifts and the study he had made.  He blessed him that during his mission someone or thing would happen that would be significant to his profession in his future.  He warned him that satan would try and use disease and his hea...

What an incredible day!  Kaden spoke in the Barnes Park Ward at 12pm.  He is blessed with many family and friends who love him and were there to support him and who filled the chapel and gym to capacity!!  He spoke on "Trusting in the Lord".   He worked diligently on what to share the entire week.  Then on Saturday we received news that a 16 yr old boy in our ward had died tragically.  He knew the meeting would be somber.  Kaden's message fit in perfectly about how when we "...trust in God he will deliver you from your trials, your troubles, your afflictions, and be lifted up at the last day..."  - Alma 38:5. We invited family and friends over to our home after for Hawaiian Haystacks, Salad, Rolls, & Desserts.  I couldn't resist putting some chinese food items on the table.  So Madison & Sarah Dickson, CJ's girlfriend helped put the tray together.  They were cutting and placing items so beautifully to make it colorful ...

Mom took her cell phone and Kaden dressed up in his missionary attire and the pictures turned out great!! Chinese Book of Mormon picture turned out great! You have to do a missionary flag picture as well!!