HAPPY PIONEER DAY MY FRIENDS!

What a day it is! 

We were doing comp study with brother Ramsey..
 Sneaky man took some pictures.. I like the
root beer bottle. It adds a good effect I’d say 

 I am dressed up in my most pioneer outfit I could find! I’m really feeling the spirit of this pioneer day thing. Not too sure if the people of Washington do understand my excitement but I will help them understand somehow! I hope everyone is doing well and has had a good week! Ours has been super good!

 So fun story for y’all. We went to this house and saw this cat that was basically starving. Its ribs were showing and I’m pretty sure it hadn’t eaten in forever... so after we knocked the door I convince Sister Jay to let us get a can of tuna to feed it. We went to Brother Ramsey to ask for a can. (he is the best. always a reliable source for our strange need... like tuna...) so by this time we are back on the road and we have a can of tuna, a can opener, and a whole new mission in front of us. When we get there we opened the can and it took the cat a min to even recognize it was food but the moment it did that thing moved faster than lightning and was devouring the tuna. Sister Jay and I were feeling real good about ourselves and as we were turning to the car. The man who lived at the house came out to see if the cat was okay. After an incredibly awkward conversation as to why we were feeding his cat we bolted... suffice to say we won’t be going to his house for a while... but in my defense, animal planet instilled a love for animals and I couldn’t let it just wither away slowly. I only hope that it is still alive and the tuna didn’t kill it.... ha ha...

random picture of family i found at the discovery center
My dad's grandma & grandpa, his dad and siblings.

 We had the chance to go to the Family Discovery Center in Bellevue with Rhonda on the day of her baptism! It was super cool! I learned a lot about my family history and I found some cool pictures of family members! (I will attach them) so, I’m not sure why but I never thought I had any ancestors who crossed the plains but that is FALSE! There is a woman named Rebekah Finch (I think) who was from England and sailed to America and then took a handcart to salt lake! What a woman! I would like to sum up how she met her husband though because I think it could come in handy to those who are on the search of a spouse. On Halloween she was out with some friends and when she came home to the little inn that her family owned she went to her room and decided to try out a little superstition. Apparently if you blind fold yourself and walk backwards to your bed the n take of the blindfold, the next man you meet will be your future husband. So, Rebekah did this and when she sat on her bed she reached up to grab the pillow. Instead of the pillow she felt a head of curly hair! She screamed and that woke up the young man who had gone to the wrong bedroom. After fixing everything that evening, they went to bed in their right rooms. the next morning they got to know each other and 2 months later they were married. So, if you want a husband wait for Halloween night and walk backwards. It worked for her it can work for you ;) I think it is amazing the things we can learn from the past, even if they are funny stories. I’m grateful for the chance I had to learn some more about my family!

 Rhonda got baptized Saturday!! It was an amazing service. There were a few non-members there and I’m grateful that they were able to come. The spirit was incredibly strong. Sister Jay and i gave the Restoration during the time that Rhonda was changing. It was a powerful experience and as i said the first vision I came to realize even more that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God. I started the Book of Mormon again and I have come to know in even greater ways that it was translated by the power of God. There is no way someone around my age could have written that! It is a Book that will always answer your questions and will invite the spirit into your life. I know it is true and I know that Joseph Smith was called of God! I’m grateful for the pioneers who made the trek

 to salt lake and I’m grateful that we are able to worship how we wish because of their sacrifices. Our Father in Heaven loves us dearly and wants us to be happy. If we pray to know things he will answer our questions just as he did for Joseph Smith. I know this church is true!!! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Sister Reynolds

What a fun week it has been!

HELLO!! 

The senior Sisters serving in the
ward before us leave us the cutest
 treats for us to snack on in between
our 2 wards! Love them!!

 What a fun week it has been! We have seen lots of miracles and we have had some fun times! I have learned a lot from Sister Jay. One of the many things that she is good at is asking 'get to know you' questions, consecrated ones nonetheless! Here are some examples of her favorite things to ask:

-"if you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be?

-" you’re on a high speed chase. You are with one other person from the zone. Who would you pick?"

-" If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? (Plot twist was that when I answered she then added, “oh ya, you can never come back from there." so now I am stuck in Italy, which really isn’t too big of a deal I guess...)

I love her a lot! We have had lots of fun times together the past few weeks! 

Our ward mission leader in Garrison Creek is the best. We report to him about our day most nights and we are able to talk about the ward and the work and figure out how we can improve. Of course we discuss other things as well. The subject of Christ and marriage got brought up. He told me that I would marry Jesus. (Yes that might be taken out of context......but I think it might be a compliment so I’ll take it ;) 

Sister Jay is a model. Enough said

RHONDA'S GETTING BAPTIZED!!!! She is an investigator in the Soos Creek ward and has been looking into the church for almost 2 years and on Saturday she will be getting baptized! WOOT WOOT! She sent us Alma 5:62 the other day that says, "... I speak by way of invitation, saying: come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life." She knows it’s true and I am so proud of her!! It has been a blessing to get to know her more and more and to help her in these last minute times before she makes this covenant! The gospel is so good!

 We had dinner at the Halverson’s house the other day. (I love this family) Brother Halverson served his mission in Bolivia and he was telling us that the legends of the Bolivian people line up to the stories that are in the Book of Mormon. He showed us this power point he made for some presentation that showed how their stories line up. It went over the geography and different things of the Book of Mormon and South America. I really can’t do it justice but sister Jay and I were in awe the whole time! It was cool to see the similarities of the people and the Book of Mormon. He told us that the people had great faith and they understood that it was a true book! AMAZING!! (Theory that probably everyone but myself has thought about: cureloms and cummons, LLAMAS AND ALPACAS!!!!) 

The Halversons gave us some hand
 soap on Sunday! I mentioned
 that I liked theirs a few days earlier!
They are the best

 Life in Washington is good! I’m grateful to be serving here!! I love these people and I’m blessed every day to talk with them! I know this church is true and even through our hard times we can overcome them through the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ!! I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Sister Reynolds

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS PINECONE!!!
the elders who first were in our apartment
brought it into the house... apparently it
was a home to quite  a few bugs
and they ended up having to get an
exterminator..only Elders.... haha

 We didn't do much to be honest. We had our district meeting later in the day and then we had to be inside by 7, or in an appointment. Basically they didn’t want us to be contacting drunken people with explosives. I see no danger in that scenario ;) We did some service for members and less active members and went to a few BBQ... I love Americans and their desire to grill hamburgers and hot dogs. I think it makes them happier! That evening we finished studies and we were exhausted so we called it an early night and we were in bed by 9:30. Not too exciting but we did watch our Russian neighbors light sparklers and stuff from our bedroom windows. Not to exciting but we had a little taste of patriotism so the day was a success!

 I finally was able to meet Rhonda! She is an investigator in the Soos Creek ward and she is getting baptized on the 22nd! She has had this day planned forever so we are super excited for her! She is the only one in her family who has wanted to learn more about the church. I have a special place in my heart for those who choose to join this church and are doing it alone. That is something that would be incredibly hard to do. They have such a strong testimony and I know that their example to their family will one day pay off! I am so grateful for my family and the fact that i have been raised in this gospel! It is a true blessing. 

 Yesterday, Sunday, Sister Jay and I were driving to try to contact some people in the ward and a huge black dog darted into the street. After having a moment of panic I jumped out of the car and called the dog to me and got it off the main road. This wonderful creature looked like a Great Dane and a lab mixed together! It was MASSIVE! We went door to door asking if anyone knew who’s dog it was and as we went I fell in love with this dog. Sister Jay named it sunshine and both of us got attached way to quick. It didn’t bark, jump, or lick you! Basically it was perfect. If the white handbook didn’t say no pets of any kind I would be the proud new owner of sunshine the lost dog. Anyway, we couldn’t find where he belonged so we were going to call some members and see if they could take him in. One of the neighbors came out and said he thought he knew who’s dog it was so he took him... I might have cried and been in mourning for the rest of the night because of the loss we had... But don’t worry, I think I have gotten over it. Sunshine the dog will be missed. ;)

Take by ward mission leader and sent to mom

 Those are all the high lights of my week. I am loving the area and the ward members are awesome! They are supportive and trying their best to do member missionary work! I know that it is us, as members of the church, who make the biggest impact for those who choose to look into the Church. I am so grateful that I am able to be a missionary and help others with their own missionary work! Everyone can do it. I have heard people say they can’t or they don’t know anyone but we can all share our testimony of the Restoration of Jesus Christs church! I invite all of you to pray about a way you personally can share your own witness!! It won’t just help other but it will help you strengthen your own testimony!

 I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support you have shown me! Have an amazing week!!

Sister Reynolds

Back In The City We Go....

Hello!!

 So if there is one thing I have learned about myself this past week is that I truly do enjoy the smaller town feel. I am back in Renton area and I love it but the hustle and bustle can never meet up to the wonderful peace of the backwoods :) but really I do love it! We have seen lots of miracles and also some really strange things... but I guess that’s what you get in life! Both are favorites for sure!

 In my first week here I have been hit on by a man with nothing good going on in his mind, seen a few homeless men taking a nap on the road for 3 hours and a man get arrested at gun point. Man. this is the life. I think I could write a book with these things! :) 

Sister Jay and I!

 My companion is awesome! Her name is Sister Jay! She is from Utah and she is a Pun master. Very *puny* if I do say so myself... bad joke. Okay, she really is sweet! We have gotten a long really well and have had lots of laughs. We were given a gallon of milk on Sunday because a ward member had too much and we were pondering on how we would use it all. (We both still have some from last P-day shopping) And I’m not much of a milk drinker and there is only so much milk a person can drink! so our first idea was to get a bunch of different cereal at WinCo and eat cereal for breakfast lunch and dinner.... well not really dinner because we will be eating with members but the week of cereal has officially begun!! haha!

 I really love both wards I’m in! They have amazing members and I am excited to work with them more and get to know them! In Garrison creek ward the YSA bishop I worked with before and one of the YSA members are in the ward! It was fun being able to see them both! Surprising them was the best :D 

we took over the elders apartment.. im not sure where
they got this but it creeps me out just a bit..
but we also dont think we can just throw it away...

 We had what is called a 'day of finding' on Saturday. We go out tracting all day and miracles happened for sure! We were able to find 2 new investigators and one of the accepted a baptismal date for august 112th! We are excited to start working with her. It was amazing to walk into her home and feel the tension and sadness that she had going on and by the time we left the spirit was so strong. She offered a beautiful prayer and asked for a witness to know if this was true and she said she felt good inside and that this was the way God wants her to go! Truly a miracle. God is good. That lesson strengthened my testimony of the Holy Ghost and how it is capable of testifying of truth to anyone who desires to know it! We can all know what we must do to become closer to our savior and know that we are loved all from the wonderful gift of the Spirit! 

Went to dinner with a Samoan family! we had Seafood and
it was so good! we ate it with our hands only... my kinda place :)
 ( i am super white... Washington problems)

 I am grateful for this gospel and its goodness. This is truly the restored church of Jesus Christ! We are all able to know that it is true and once we know we have the duty to share it with others! Luke 22:32. I invite you all to share your testimony this week with someone! I know as you do that you will feel your own testimony grow! 

 I love you all so much!

Sister Reynolds