Summertime Sadness!

Familia!

It's always tough trying to get used to the thought of going back to school, but it sounds like you all have had a great summer. Crazy to think Parker will be a big freshman! Parks--I felt the same way you do right now. My advice would be to not worry about going to Toppenish, you'll have a good time. Your buddies will all be there and you'll make some good memories with them. All your older bros have walked those halls! Your name is already known there and people will be looking up to you and expecting a lot from you just because of that. Be a good influence to your buddies! Remember the saying that "the grass is always greener.." In almost everything we have or experience, we can always think of how it could be better if we had something else. The key is to be thankful for what we've got right now and to make the most of it! You'll eventually look back and be glad you went there, even if that sounds crazy haha.

It was a pretty slow, tough week this week. Not much success with our investigators and it just kind of seemed like no one wanted to give us much time. But that is okay, I have learned more about agency in this past month than ever before in my whole life haha. It is super frustrating! But is also such a gift that we can use to prove our obedience and readiness to receive blessings.

I am sad to hear that Faye isn't doing too good, I hope she can get better quick. You're good for taking such good care of her, Mom. Tell Aunt Lisa happy birthday for me as well! Glad to hear you got some good cabin time in with the Farias fam. I really miss the fresh air haha.

I didn't think I was going to have anything to write about this week, but just before we came to the internet cafe, my companion and I had an interesting experience haha. We were just about to get into the car when a lady walked up to us and asked us who we were, so we explained to her who we are and what we are doing here. She was a little bit drunk, but she still knew what was going on and had no problem understanding what we were talking about. She started to tell us all these problems she has and was complaining and mad because she wanted to know why God "makes" all the temptations that there are in the world. She said she had asked every religious person she had met and none of them were able to answer. I answered her question simply, but she continued saying that we weren't able to answer the question and kept blaming God for all the bad in the world. This went on (for longer than it should have) until I finally felt that I needed to powerfully answer her question and explain some things to her. As I began to speak, she stopped talking and listened intently as I explained with as much patience and power as I could. I explained that it is not God that creates the wickedness in the world and that it is not Him who makes us choose to do evil (she kept saying He makes us do bad things). But that we have the agency to choose between right or wrong and that as we learn to choose the right, we are blessed and are better able to do so again and again. When I was done talking, all she said was, "Well I guess you have a point." It wasn't quite the response I was hoping for haha, but I was glad that she was finally able to listen to what was being said and I hope that she felt her question was answered.

Mom--I didn't get the package on Friday, so no pictures. It sounded like you sent it last Monday, so I figured it'd be here, but I'm sure I'll get it this Friday. So maybe I'll be able to send some pictures next week haha.

CJ growing again?! That's crazy! He's going to be a giant when he returns, or maybe he'll just stay there in Russia haha. I haven't really had anything weird or too different to eat. The area I'm in right now is pretty much the same as Toppenish, just a little more developed as a city. There isn't the nice open space or fields or anything. But other than that, it feels pretty much the same as good ol' Toppenish, it isn't very foreign from what I grew up in haha.

You should finish 2 Nephi 9 by next Sunday for the reading. I'll send a picture of the reading log I have next week. Oh and mom--an investigator we taught this week has a kumquat tree! I had some fresh kumquats right off the tree! They were super soft and tasted a lot better than the ones I've had before haha.

I love you all! I hope you have a great week!

Elder Reynolds

Bishop Stauffer!

Fun to hear that Uncle Brett will be serving as the new bishop of good ol' Toppenish 1st! He will be a stud in fulfilling that calling and help a lot to strengthen the ward. That is a fun story to hear that the same thing happened to him on his mission. I just had the thought of how fun that will be for him to present CJ's (and mine) mission plaque up on the stand when that time comes. Awesome.

Sounds like summer is officially coming to a close here pretty quick! Enjoy it as much as you can! That hike sounded like a lot of fun, I miss fresh air and the wilderness haha. Even though I'm spending two years in LA, I don't think I'll ever be a fan of the big city haha. My companion taught a lady up in LA who got baptized yesterday so we drove up for that. We drove right past USC which was kind of cool. But I couldn't think of their fight song! It's been killing me! There is always traffic though, no matter what time of the day. It's just worse at certain times haha.

I have a challenge for everyone reading this email. We have been challenged as a mission by President Weidman to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas and mark every verse that relates to the Savior. You don't have to mark every verse that relates to the Savior because that takes a bit longer (it's almost every verse), but I challenge you all to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas! It averages to about 2 chapters per day. It only takes about 5-10 minutes tops. I will send a picture of our reading chart next week if I get the chance

My companion and I had an awesome experience last night that strengthened my testimony that the Lord is at the head of this work and that He has a plan. We had just got back from an appointment and had planned to take an investigator up to a fireside for the departing missionaries, but at the last minute, everything started to fall through. Our ride wasn't responding to our calls or texts, and neither was our investigator! We were pretty disappointed that we weren't going to be able to take him, but we still headed out to find some people to teach. We spent two or three hours street contacting and going to the addresses of less-actives. No one answered! The only people we talked to were those we ran into on the streets. It was a little after 8 pm and we chose a less-active couple to go visit out of a stack of about 20 papers. We knocked on their door and they opened right up! The man is from Nicaragua and the woman from Chihuaha Mexico. They are both awesome people! We got to know them a lot better and they have some things that keep them from attending church on Sundays, but we are going to meet with them again this week and see what we can do to best serve them. We both felt that we were meant to find that family.

I just had a chance to talk with a guy here in the internet cafe I'm in that served in Bahia Blanca Argentina! He's not active anymore, but we talked for about 15 minutes about his mission haha. 

I hope you all have a great week! The Book of Mormon is true and we can come to recognize the Lord's voice as we read that book. It changes lives! Dad--Thanks for that sweet picture up in the mountains.

Elder Reynolds

2 Months

Familia-

Crazy to think that today marks 2 months since I've left home! But the adventure is just beginning. Sounds like Pops is still going out into the wilderness by himself? Haha good ol' Kraigers. I hope you guys can find a sweet spot to go with a few of the brothers. It was crazy to think that I had a couple brothers down here with me in CA! Tell Aunt Patty thank you for her emails. She was down here too it sounds like! 

I am able to understand a lot more what people are saying, but I'm still working on being able to talk. It's tough. I just try to not care about making mistakes and try to say everything I can, but that is often easier said than done. I'm excited to hear who the new Bishop of Toppenish 1st will be! Bishop Keller was a good Bishop. Can you guys believe your summer is already almost over?! Enjoy it while you can! I always remember dreading those last couple weeks and then days before school started haha. After a few days, it's not so bad. Parker Lou will be at the High School! When do you start?

I don't feel like I have a whole lot to write this week, but I hope you will still enjoy this email. I've got another Elder's camera, so I'll try to put a couple pictures up.

We have the goal as a mission to get 20 meaningful conversations per companionship every day. It's really tough some days, especially when there are set appointments, but yesterday we street contacted for the last 3 hours of the day and ended up getting something like 37 contacts! Everyone deserves the chance to accept or reject the message, so don't be embarrassed or ashamed to share it. It's tough sometimes, but I always just try to make it fun somehow. There are some interesting people you run into haha. Especially here around LA.

I'm sorry this email is going to be shorter than most of the others, but next weeks should be a bit better. I love you all! The Gospel is true, it changes peoples' lives. It's a great privilege and opportunity to be out here serving the Lord for two short years. I hope you all have a great week! Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! 

Elder Reynolds

Pictures: Still getting some 'G' love down here in Compton!, Me and Elder Santos (my comp)

Familia!

¡Hola Familia!

Sounds like everyone had a pretty good week! Parker Lou beating dad in the tri?! Pahkahhh Lahhhh! Haha way to go stud! Is Parks ready to get the Invisalign goin? Sounds like he'll have to show me how it's done when I get back haha. Mom, that sriracha honey chicken sounds super good! You'll have to keep that recipe for me! Isn't that crazy that Elder Budica went straight to our area? I never thought that'd happen haha. That would be sweet if I saw his mom at the Temple!

For the card reader for my camera, it just needs to be able to take a regular sized SD card. If you're not sure what that is, ask any of the boys. They'll all know what I'm talking about. One of my buddies at the CCM had one that was just a USB with a slot on the back that accepted SD cards. But anything that takes SD cards and connects to a computer through a USB port will work. I can't think of anything else I really need right now, thank you though!

I'm pretty well into the routine of an average day. It is always super hot though, so by the end of the day it doesn't feel too good haha. Our apartment only has two fans that we use and we're on the second floor, so the sun beats on our apt. all day long and then we get back and it's hotter inside than out haha. It's all for the EXPERIENCE! Sounds like that little backpacking trip in Idaho will be sweet! Wind Rivers was way fun when we did that with all the boys, except Ethan missed out. We'll have to do that one again with everybody.

The name of our Branch is called South Gate 1st. It's not very big, but it's a good little branch. I had the chance to bear my testimony yesterdayduring sacrament meeting haha. Most of our investigators don't speak English, but almost everyone else around does. Most of our street contacts are in English and we still teach some lessons in English. So it'll take some time to really get a hold on the language. I'm working hard to listen closely and participate when I can though. There's a lot to learn!

Don't worry about putting people on the email list, anyone who wants to get my emails can. Aaron Avalos emailed me and said he would like to be as well. His email is mitch.avalos@gmail.com

This week was pretty sweet! We had an investigator accept a baptismal date and we are working with a few others to get them to that point! I feel pretty blessed to be in this area as my first area. Since we are covering two different areas, there are lots of people to be found. The family that got baptized last Sunday was confirmed yesterday. They are awesome. Two of their kids got baptized a month or two ago, so it was just the parents that got baptized last week. But their goal is to get sealed in the Temple in a year! They are from El Salvador and are super nice people.

My testimony is strong that the Lord will bless those who strive to do the things he has commanded. I have already been blessed to see the lives of some of our investigators improve just in the short time I have been here. I was reading this morning and came across Enos 1:1-12. It strengthened my testimony of the power of prayer! A prayer of faith is a powerful thing. It's an honor to be here doing the Lord's work at this time! Many people are prepared and are just waiting to hear the message of the Restored Gospel. Others need a little nudge haha. But everyone deserves the chance to hear about the message of the Gospel! Don't be afraid to share what you know!

I love you all and pray for you. Thank you for your emails and love! 

PS--Tell Parker Lou to email me haha. The picture is me, my companion, Raul (the son of the parents who got baptized last week), and another elder that taught them.

Have a great week!

Elder Reynolds