Baptism, cops, & frost bite

Hello everyone! 

 What a week it has been! How is everyone? It was so good to hear from a few of you! I love hearing about your lives and fun experiences! Send pictures if you ever get the chance. I mean I’ve basically forgotten what you all look like... :)

 So before any of you get over excited, no, we didn’t have a baptism BUT, we did have the chance to commit 2 people to baptism this week! It was super cool to talk to them and share about the restoration of this gospel! They were super willing to learn more! The first one we had was named Trevor Springer! Trevor was talking to us while we were on the top balcony of an apartment complex finding! We worked our way down and started to teach him! He is YSA age, score, and he is looking for a change in his life! We are hoping that he can focus on the good that is going to come his way and not the bad. Sadly whenever we commit someone to baptism they usually avoid contact after because Satan is really good at making bad things happen and making them doubt what they felt. Trevor is kinda going down that path BUT we will get him! We probably seem like obnoxious girls bombarding him with texts and calls but we know what is good for him! Hopefully there will be more with him soon! 

 Our 2nd person we committed was Jamiel Jackson! What a guy he is! He is also YSA, score again! He is a super cool guy who was very willing to talk with us! He grew up Christian and knows a little about our church but was willing to learn more! He even set up his own return appointment for tomorrow! It was so cool! We hope that we can help him grow faith in Christ as soon as possible! He might struggle a little bit with the word of wisdom. Pot is a mans best friend here in Washington and he seems to like it a wee bit so that will be a trail but not one that can’t be overcome with the help of the Atonement! More on him later as well...

 Let me tell you a little about Kent Washington. It is kind of like the ghettos of mesa leaning towards phoenix when you move closer towards Tacoma! I love it! I have become accustomed to cops and crazy people! I feel right at home! :) In this last week, almost every day we had a run in with the cops and one of those crazy people I mentioned. Mom, dad, don’t freak out I have lived to tell the tale so all is well. One of the best ones happened on Tuesday last week. We went tracting for about an hour and decided to go to the Washington park apartments. It seemed like this is where we were supposed to go and nothing felt weird about it. When we arrived there were 5 cop cars pulled around one of the buildings. We got out and started to walk towards the building we were going to go to, the one right across from it, maybe not the smartest at that moment but made for a great memory. We walked over there and saw a man sitting on the roof talking to himself and to the cops, apparently he and the pot are good friends. Anyway, while we continued to walk around 5 more cop cars came as well as the canine unit, it was insane! We decided that we should start the trek back to the car at that moment and we were glad we did. The man then laid down with a gun flying around and cursing and yelling. We left pretty quickly so I sadly cannot give an end to the story. If any of you have a hankering to google it maybe you can find out more info but nevertheless it is still a fun time. 😂 All in a days work I guess!

Family and friends cold is a real thing. If you have never believed that wind and rain could be bone chilling think again. Here in the wonderful land of rain and fog we have the most freezing rain you could ever feel, it pelts you like little needles embedding into your skin. I know not what I have done to deserve this kind of weather but I apologize for it! I wake up thinking that my toes, nose, and fingers will fall off but I guess we don’t really need them now do we? Maybe it is a little exaggerated but honestly this Arizonian doesn't know how to survive in such a climate! We were tracting in the rain the other day. I looked like a wet dog and all me and my companion could do was laugh! We had droplets of rain on our face that continually cascaded down until we were soaked through and through! By the time we got home we had to put our clothes in the dryer and sit by the heater so we didn't get hypothermia. Now I know that if you look at the weather and you see it’s only in the 50's you’ll think I’m crazy but I would invite you to come here and do it yourself. Experience the land of pin and needle rain, it is something to behold! :) 

 The work really is going well! We have such a good ward, which are so willing to work with us. The people here are kind even though they have their quirks I still love them more than I thought I could love strangers. I think it comes from being a representative of Jesus Christ. It is only through him and our father in heaven that I am able to do any of this! I encourage you all to continue doing missionary work! You’re awesome! I also would ask that you keep the faith! Everyone struggles at times and we do not always know why but our trials will become learning experiences and we can glory in them as it says in 1 peter 1:7! i know that we sometimes have to go through the refiners fire but if we stay strong and true to the faith we can learn to glory in the grace of God! I love you all so much! Thanks for the amazing examples that you have been to me!

Love Sister Reynolds

Motivation Wall and flowers from Sis. Richardson while staying for exchanges

At the library in Covington, Washington