Changes in Renton

Hello family!!

 It has been a really good week, Kinda crazy but way good! We got news about a week or two ago that our stake was going to rearrange the ward boundaries. We had to keep it a secret from the members and it was killing us!! So last night they announced it and so we are free from our silence! One of our wards got dissolved and so now we are only in one ward. We still are not sure what our boundaries are but hopefully by the end of today we will be more informed. We are now just waiting for this Sunday to know what the transfer news is. There are 24 new missionaries coming in so we are expecting some big changes to happen! Crazy stuff going down!

 This week we were checking on former investigators and we found this woman named Kristin. She is way cool. She is super open to other religions and as she was talking to us about her beliefs she was talking about every gospel doctrine that we teach. I’m still not sure why she isn't a member yet. She asked us why we think there are so many denominations and why there isn't just one. (Perfect questions my friend) we definitely had an answer for her. We started teaching her about the Apostasy and as we were teaching her face sorta brightened up. She really liked it and said we could go back to teach her more! :D We are excited to work with her but we don’t know if she will even be in our area anymore because of the changes!

 We have a baptism this week; well as of yesterday another ward has a baptism for this week. Alex, a 10 year old boy who has been learning for 2 years, is entering into the waters of Baptism! We are SO excited for him. Sadly he will be in another ward now but I know that he will love it there too and the missionaries taking over are good elders so it'll all be okay. This kid is so sharp. I love him and am so impressed with his desire to learn and share the gospel! We hope his family will have a desire to learn more from seeing his determination to follow Christ!

 We had Zone Conference on Friday. It was so good! We talked about teaching Faith and helping others come unto Christ through Baptism. Sister Rasmussen showed a video of the widow of Zarephath. I have watched this video many times but this time it hit me differently. 

( https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-12-016-widow-of-zarephath?category=personal-finances&lang=eng)

I have come to realize the importance of having the faith to do anything the Lord asks of us. I Desire to have the faith that this women did. It would be so hard to give the last bit of food to a random man on a promise that God would give her all she needed but she did it. I look up to her and i am working on increasing my faith to this level. I believe the Lord can do all things and i hope to help others gain this same belief. 

 We got the chance to watch the YSA broadcast yesterday. First off I got to see a lot of the members from the YSA ward that I first served in and it was awesome! I love these people so much! Second the broadcast was amazing! I would encourage you all to watch it. President Bednar spoke about being a welding link in our generations and making sure we aren’t the weak link. I know it can be hard to be in the world and not follow the temptations of those around us but I know that when we try our best to endure through our trials awe can become a strong link and our generations will be continually strengthened! 

 I am grateful for this gospel and the blessing it is in my life! Thank you for all your emails! They mean a lot to me and I can feel of your love. I hope each of you have an amazing week!

Love,

Sister Reynolds

1. a member fed us dinner and we had  behemoth burger! It was so good. It was a grilled cheese sandwich, hamburger bun, 4 pieces of bacon, grilled onions, pickles, BBQ sauce and another grilled cheese sandwich for the top bun. I felt my arteries closing but I think it was worth it!

2. my companion loves me :)

What a crazy week!

 Hello,

 Our week has been insane but it has been some really good moments! Sister Morris and I went to help with our ward assignment at the Salvation Army church in Seattle. It was a really cool experience. In the beginning someone gave a little sermon thing and a prayer over the food. I handed out coffee to people, the irony, and Sister Morris was in charge of desserts. I met some interesting people. Lots of people asked me to have coffee with them... I had to decline which they weren’t too fond of but they kept coming back. I’m grateful for opportunities like this to serve. I want to find ways to do this more when I’m home! (not that I’m thinking of that at all...)

 Sunday was amazing... but also an emotional roller coaster! We had a woman named Mellissa walk into the church and want to know more. Our bishop asked her to come back at one and we would show her around and sit with her during church service. So, at 1pm she came back. She is amazing. She has had a hard life though. She has been on the street alone since she was 13 and is currently living in her van. From the moment she walked into the building till we left she had a stream of tears on her cheeks. My heart melted with love for her. I have never felt so much Charity for a person I had just met. The ward truly welcomed her in and showed her that she had a family here. a recent convert bore her testimony to her in Gospel Principles and it was powerful. The spirit was thick in that room.  she asked a lot of questions and we tried to answer them but we told her we would answer more if she was available to meet with us on Monday.. And she said okay!! So yesterday we taught her about the restoration of the gospel with he Ramsey’s help. We didn't get through it all but we think she is getting a better understanding of the Gospel and of who Christ is. Brother Ramsey told her this was her family now and she said, "I know and I’m STOKED!" ahhh I love it!! This Church is TRUE!! ❤

 We had the chance to go to the Temple this morning! Oh my lanta I’ve been waiting for so long to go! I am incredibly grateful for the chance I have to live so close to a house of the Lord. I felt so much peace as I thought about those on the other side waiting for us to finish their temple work. What an amazing gift we can all give to them! Whether we do baptisms, endowment or sealing it is an amazing opportunity to give these gifts to people. I love this gospel with all my heart!

 With everything that goes on in the mission, the good and the bad, I see the Lords hand trying to help me through. I am so grateful to know that all things are for my good and everything is just a small moment in the grand scheme of things! Sorry this is short but know I love y’all!

 

Sister Reynolds

Grateful for another week

Hello Friends!!

Temple trip North area

 It has been a good week! I am grateful we got to start it off with the temple last Tuesday and I was able to be spiritually uplifted throughout the week! What a blessing.

 We had new missionary follow up training for Sister Morris this week. It went really well! We talked a lot about struggles we have in our specific areas and we also talked about the Doctrine of Christ. I love that throughout every Gospel related thing we learn about Christs Doctrine. faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the end are scattered throughout the scriptures, words of the prophets and every-other thing you can think of!! It’s amazing!

We went to a 5 dollar car wash just so we could give
 these people an 'I'm a Mormon' card.. so worth it

 Sister Morris and I are trying to be more creative while tracting. We have spent a lot of time thinking about different things and we have decided to work with boards. We made one board that has different questions like, "what gives you motivation" or "how do you strengthen your family". On the back we have printed out different options that they can choose to put as answers to the questions. Kinda silly but it has been working! Especially with families who have little kids. We also printed off a world map, thanks to the amazing Ramsey family! We take the map around and ask people about their Ancestors and where they came from. We lead it into Gods love for families and doing family history work. So many people are willing to talk about their family history and I t is a lot easier of a way to have a conversation with random people. Hopefully that all makes sense! Ha ha! I know that when missionary work is new and different things are tried miracles happen so that’s what we are going for. 

 So this morning we were cleaning our house, because cleanliness is next to godliness apparently, and sister Morris came to me with the most horrified look on her face, all she said was I need your help. In our lovely ghetto apartment there is the water tank thing in our closet and that thing is nasty crusty dirty... she pointed to the base of it and said, "What. Is. THAT." I got down and looked at what seemed to be the largest dried up rat I’ve ever laid eyes on. So, I searched the house for a flashlight so I could see it better and after a few minutes of pep talking myself to look at it I got down on the ground and inspected it closer. My heart was beating and my mouth ran dry. I feared that today would be the day that an R.A.T. would leap onto my face and that would be the end of Sister Reynolds. BUT my fear was in vain. All it was a weird old piece of carpet covered in a mountain of dust bunnies. I was equally relieved and disappointed for the lack of an exciting ending. But I guess it is truly a blessing.

 Anyway, life is good! I’m so grateful that I am still alive and I have another day to live! Miracles are happening in the work here in the Washington Federal Way mission! I’m grateful every day to be here (even when the Canada fires make everything hazy) I love this Gospel and I love my Savior! I invite each of you to share your testimony with someone this week so they can experience the joy that comes from knowing about Christ! I love you all!!!

Sister Reynolds

Day of the Eclipse

Friends!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY President Monson!! Isn’t it amazing that we have a prophet of God leading and guiding our church today!? What a  blessing it is. I know he is a prophet of God. We are a part of the restoration of the church. It’s amazing that we have been blessed to be here and see the miracles of each day. I am so grateful for the priesthood power of God!!

On another note,  TODAY IS THE DAY THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING IS THE END OF THE WORLD. So far I have yet to die. The only thing is that my eyes can’t see much because the sun has decided to be as bright as… well, the sun I guess. This solar eclipse has been all the rage here in Washington! Everyone we meet has been talking about it and how they are planning on going to Oregon or Idaho to see the full thing. We were able to get special glasses thanks to our STL's and watched it today. It was 93% covered by 10:20. It truly was an amazing thing to see and it was a blessing that we had a clear blue sky day here in Washington. I won’t lie though, even with looking through the glasses my eyes and head hurt... hopefully all will be well ;) 

 We had a crazy week. Some weird things went down but I guess those make for good memories. Sister Morris and I were knocking doors and we went down to talk to these guys who lived on this random farm in the middle of a normal neighborhood. They were outside roping. We said hi and apparently one of them had spoken to missionaries previously and so we talked briefly but they said they weren’t interested. I was going to try to salvage the conversation by asking to rope with them but then one of them had this sly look in his eyes and said, " we don’t need anything but would you ladies like to have a beer with us?" oh my lanta. My friend the only beer that is good for the soul is root beer. I don’t think that was what he was offering so I declined and quickly made Sister Morris walk away with me haha! Good times, Still sad that I didn’t rope but of well. 

 Members in the Garrison Creek ward found out it was my Birthday a few weeks ago so they took us out to lunch on Saturday! We went to this restaurant called Amantes and it had some amazing Italian food! I got a Calzone that was the size of my face. I’m STILL trying to finish it! They also brought me flowers which was very kind of them. Renton is a great place :)

 I don’t know if I talked about this last week but we got a new car! It is a 2017 Toyota corolla. I don’t understand how they trust teenagers to drive these cars but I’m grateful. As I’ve been driving I’ve found out it has some fun features, for instance, when I go out of the lines at all, it beeps at me and then takes over the wheel and puts me back in the lane. Whenever I put it on cruise control I can set how many cars apart I would like to be. I feel like I’m invincible... but also like I’m driving something that may be smarter than me so that’s freaky. We are trying to think of a name for it so if you have any ideas let us know :)

 We were contacting the other day and we talked to this man who at first said his name was Mula. (like money) turns out it was Ed.  Ed was nice, his mom is a member and his sister just got baptized not too long ago. He wasn’t interested but he talked to us for a while. He said we should add him on snapchat and I told him we couldn’t have snapchat till we got home. He said he knew that and he had a past missionary who took his snapchat name and added him later. So I now have a snapchat name from Ed. I told him I would send him scriptures and he just laughed. I can honestly say this is a first for me! He was super cool though and I pray that his heart will be softened towards the gospel.

 I am so grateful for this call to serve. I’ve realized that this isn’t an easy thing to do but so far I haven’t done anything that was this rewarding. I was reading in Jacob 2 and I loved verse 8, 

 "...come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul."

I know this is true. I have seen so many times in my own life and in the lives of others how the word of God has healed them. We met with this woman who was finally coming back into activity after many years of not coming to church. She said it wasn’t until she truly read the Book of Mormon for herself that she realized her potential and the blessings that God is waiting to pour out to us. I love that. I know that it is true. We go through these times in our life s that are so hard and for us we may not see the hand of God helping us but if we will read from the scriptures and study the words of the prophets all things will be made known unto us and we will be healed! What an amazing thing! I have said it a million times before but I would invite you to read the Book of Mormon either for the 1st time or the 100th time! You will always learn. I know it is true. I feel it in my heart. I have found healing in the things it testifies of. I love you all and I love this gospel!!

Have an AMAZING week!!!

Sister Reynolds

This week is my 1 year mark!

Hello!!

well.. this would be our attempt
at a 3 generation picture..
(my trainer aka my mom, me and my
baby and her and her grandma..
does that make sense?haha 

 After many days wishing for the liquid sunshine to pour down onto us we have been blessed. We had the first rain in over 50 days on Sunday and what a relief it was! The fires in Canada have created smog in the air and it was quite toasty but we are now back to the high 60's and low 70's. What a blessing :D 

 Anyway this week has been good! It has been crazy training and trying to still learn this area. Sister Morris is great and I feel like a proud mom every time she teaches me a lesson. Little by little she is getting this and it is AWESOME! She is from Atlanta Georgia and she is the second of 10 kids! It is going to be a fun transfer being able to get to know her better.

 We had a 'Day of Finding' on Saturday and it went really well! We had the chance to go into the other sister’s areas and help them find people and then they came into our area and did the same thing. It was a really cool experience to help out each other in that way! I have found great joy in seeing others success in the field. I love the joy they have and I can feel it myself even if it doesn’t have anything to do with my area!!

sister Taylor and i 

 We set a goal as a mission for finding and baptizing 38 of Gods children! it was cool how the mission leadership council came to that goal. They all knelt in prayer and after praying together they waited for a while and when they came back together they all thought of the number 38! It is truly inspired! We got together as a zone and did the same thing basically. We wanted to know how many people the Renton Zone could find and bring into the waters of baptism. We threw around some numbers all around 5-8 and then we turned it to the Lord. We knelt down and prayed to know how many and the spirit was incredible. All of us had the number 7 come into our mind. It was inspired. My heart was so warm as we were talking about it and tears came to my eyes. I firmly believe that 7 of MY brothers and Sisters will be able to be baptized by the end of this transfer! I’m so excited!! 

 Miracles are all around us my friends! I have noticed that the more that we point them out to ourselves the easier it is to have our faith strengthened in our savior. He cares about us and our Father is always looking out for us as well! I have a firm testimony in that! I know everything is possible with the Lords help! Never give up even if you are struggling! He loves us and will help us through!! I love you all! Have a great week!

 LOOK FOR THE MIRACLES!

Sister Reynolds ❤

this is my new best friend. Humphrey the egg floaty

Transfers have come and gone!

Hello!!

 Whelp. Transfers have come and gone! I will be staying here in Renton and Sister Jay will be going to my old area in Graham!! woot woot! I’m excited for her but I am sad to see her go! She is a great missionary! The real exciting thing is that I am TRAINING! I’m super excited but I am also terrified! Ha ha! I know it will be a great experience but whenever I think about the fact that she will go out for the rest of her mission doing a lot of the things I trained her to do is intimidating... I gotta make sure I’m living right and being obedient :) Prayers would be much appreciated!

 Yesterday we had a crazy day, mostly in the evening. We spent most of the evening with one of the Hermana’s in the mission! Her companion finished her mission so she had to join us. Sister Jay and I had a member dinner at 4:45 and got out around 5:50 and went to pick her up. She told us that she had a member dinner as well...at 6pm. sister Jay and I also had a late lunch around 3pm. I thought my stomach would BURST! haha! So we went and had some yummy Honduras food. We were told to eat everything because that’s how they show their love so I was eating everything I could and when I didn’t think I could go anymore God stepped in and blessed me with an enlarged stomach! haha true miracles right there!

 This area of Washington has hit a record of 51 consecutive days without rain, that hasn’t happened in YEARS! I think I have cursed them with the Arizona dry heat and AZ is getting all the H2O! I’m grateful though because it isn’t as humid as it could be! No one in Washington has AC either so we all just sit and sweat or stand in front of box fans. I think it is a real bonding moment to be teaching someone and to sit sweating with one another. the gospel is truer in these situations ;) but I’m not complaining at all! haha

 We met this woman while knocking doors and we taught her the restoration. She is amazing and I’m super impressed with her. She is open to learning about the gospel which is awesome. As we were leaving we tried to schedule a return appointment for 2 days later but she let us know she was going through chemo so it would have to be a week or so in order for her to get her strength back. She is truly an amazing example to me. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings us peace in situations like these. We gave her a book of Mormon to read while she is getting treatments and I promised her that she would find the help she needed as she read. I felt very confident in that promise. I know that the Book of Mormon provides ways for us to find joy and peace in any situation we are in and that is such a blessing. I have recently started the book of Mormon over again and I have learned so much and felt Gods love in powerful ways. I know this book is true and that it does testify of our savior! I invite all of you to read it each day and see how it affects you individually! 

 I love you all and am grateful for all of your love! i know this church is true and I’m grateful to be serving here in the Washington Federal Way mission! have an amazing week!

Sister Reynolds

Fishing Tips 101

Hello!!!

 It has been a super good week! We have had a lot of fun times and lots of times where I thought we were going to die but here i am to tell the tale of another week!! I would like to address the Fishing Tips 101 thing. I have been reading preach my Gospel more and in one of the sections there is this quote:

 

“None of us should be like the fisherman who think  she has been fishing all day when in reality he has spent most of his time getting to and from the water, eating lunch, and fussing with his equipment. Fishing success is related to how long you have your line in the water, not to how long you are away from the apartment. Some fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for ten hours. Other fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for only two hours. This last type may wonder why they do not have the same success as others.
“The same principle applies to missionaries, whom the Master called ‘fishers of men.’ A missionary’s line should drop into the fishing water the moment he or she leaves the apartment” (Dallin H. Oaks, seminar for new mission presidents, June 20, 2000).

 So, I have now been making 'Fishing Tips' and putting them on our door. Such things as, if you’re not getting any bites, change out the bait. I would say that is like going out and knocking doors or talking to people on the street. Sometimes we need to change our approach for the different people that we meet. The best way to be prepared to do that is to follow the spirit. 

 It was really cool that I have been thinking about all these fishing things because in our zone conference on Friday, President Rasmussen talked about fly fishing and the difference between that and just sitting on the dock bait fishing. One of them takes a lot more work but the reward is greater. We need to examine our surroundings and be aware of the different things people are needing in their lives. It was an awesome way to think about the work we do. The zone conference was really good in general. The spirit was so strong. We were practicing inviting people to be baptized while focusing on faith at one point and as I was role-playing with one of the Hermana’s I felt the love that our heavenly father has for her. I knew she was already a faithful member but just pretending that she wasn’t a member and bearing witness of the things that I know to be true was an amazing experience for me. I am so grateful for these little tender mercies I have seen since serving a mission. I know that we all have them but we have to make sure we look to see what they are. 

 My birthday was on Sunday and I want to say thank you for all the birthday wishes! I love you all so much. I’m feeling old and soon I’m going to have to have a cane to get around... ;) the ward members were very kind to me. we got many treats that I will now me living off of for the next week. :)

 Life is good and I’m so grateful to be here! Washington has a piece of my heart for sure. I have met some amazing people that have impacted my life in so many ways. I am also glad I have learned so much about fishing ;) it will probably become my favorite pass time one of these days haha!  Thank you for all the love and support that ya'll give me! i love you all so much! I hope you have an amazing week!

Sister Reynolds