Almost October!

Familia!

 

Great to hear from you all this week! It sounds like everyone is doing well! Dad, good luck with the marathon this weekend! You will be in my thoughts and prayers! I know you will do great. It sounds like you have been training well for it. Is anyone else as excited about General Conference this weekend as I am? Haha probably not. I don't think I've ever looked forward to it as much as I have out here on the mission. A chance to listen to a Prophet of God! What a blessing!

 

I feel like this week was the best week of my mission. The past few days were just a blast, and it seemed like that made the whole week great. It is funny how powerful a few good experiences can be and how it feels like one good experience outweighs hundreds of bad ones. After church yesterday, my tire on my bike popped (again). We had an appointment 2 or 3 miles away, clear on the other side of our area. But we have the goal to talk to 20 new people each day about the Gospel, so we thought walking to the appointment would be a great way to accomplish that! It was actually super fun! We talked to every person we had the chance to. Some didn't want to talk to us of course, but others were really friendly and open to our message. It was a good chance to practice some quick Spanish too, which was nice. After our appointment, we walked to another appointment back on the other side of the area and continued contacting. The sun was going down and we were just walking and chatting with everyone we saw. It was a great experience! By the end of the day, we were able to get 21 new contacts. It felt like a pretty successful day. It is also beginning to get a little chilly at night! (As far as California is concerned, that is).

 

I don't have much time to email, so I'm sorry this isn't a very long message. But know that it has been a great week for me! I hope you all have a great upcoming week! Enjoy General Conference this weekend! Go in with questions and I am sure they will be answered! Those are inspired men and women who will be speaking.

 

I love you all! You are in my thoughts and prayers!

 

Elder Reynolds

 

Picture: The sunset last night at the end of a very successful day.

Another Week!

Familia!

 

I hope everyone is doing great! The weather actually cooled down a little bit this week. It probably wasn't much in degrees, but it felt like a lot haha. I'm going to be a baby when it comes to weather after these two years in the California sun! It has been pretty nice to not be so hot the whole day though.

 

I know Parker will do great with seminary! That will just prepare him more for the mission! He'll already have the scriptures down! That'll be a huge blessing. That's alright that he didn't get an email off this week, I know he's a busy kid. Glad you've got that computer working! The batter life isn't very good, but it worked well for me haha. Mom--I remember hearing that story of Brigham Young in the Church History class I took at BYU! Those guys were studs!

 

Last P-day I played soccer with one elder from Taiwan and another from Northern England. It's pretty crazy how some missionaries from other countries get called here. Elder Yang (from Taiwan) told me that everyone there HAS to learn English and that they teach them from a really young age! I thought that was super cool and what a blessing that is. He said you can go pretty much anywhere and there will be someone who speaks English. It made me wonder if it was that way when Uncle Brett was there.

 

I can't believe Taylor is engaged! How crazy is that! Send her my congratulations. How are Mallory and Nathan doing? Crazy to think it's already been a few months since they've been married!

 

I actually met a family when I was on splits this past week and the daughter goes to BYU-I and knows Jefferson Stancliffe! How crazy is that! I told her to keep her eyes open for the Kendalls down there! Her name is Yajaira Ramos. Super awesome family. The mother served a mission in Guatemala for 2 1/2 years and has some awesome stories!

 

I'm sorry I don't have a whole lot to write about this week, but I'm sure next week I will! I have committed to memory the poem titled "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley. I had a printed email from Grandpa Reynolds that had the poem on it in one of the pages of my Preach My Gospel, so I decided I'd better get that memorized! I know Dallin had that memorized as well. It is a great motivator! I have a suggestion for FHE tonight if you have the chance to have it. Listen to the talk by Hyrum Smith titled "Why 1820." Hopefully you can find it! I'm sure it's on Youtube or something. It is potente!

 

How is everyone doing with the Book of Mormon reading? I love that book so much!  I love you all as well! ¡Espero que tengan una buena semana! ¡Cuídense!

 

Elder Reynolds

California Sunshine

Familia--

It has been really hot here lately. Today especially! No signs of the Fall season here in Southern California yet haha. Before I forget, the scripture I would like on my missionary plaque is Alma 42:31. "declare the word with truth and soberness.." that one. It's a super good scripture. Also, I think Ethan has a picture for it, but I can't remember. Maybe ask him just to make sure. If not, I can take one and send it to you or something.

The bike is definitely a different experience! It is pretty fun sometimes though, especially at night when it cools down a little bit. It has just been so hot lately that it's been brutal. And all the stops and starts at the traffic lights is kind of tough too. 

I'm glad to hear that Mom got a new washer and dryer! I hope those never start screeching like the other haha. Thanks for sending my emails to Joe Bailey. I got an email from him today and it made my week! I was really excited to hear from him. Were you all able to get the picture of the reading log? It really is basically one or two chapters per day, and you'll be done a week or so before Christmas. I have run into a number of really awesome verses lately this time reading it. How are Grandma and Grandpa doing?

Glad to hear Parker is having a good time at the Stake dances! I guess one of us had to go to some of those haha. Dad--We biked up to a little store near the USC campus, so I biked past a lot of the buildings. One of these days, I'll have to get a picture with one of the signs.

This week was a pretty tough one overall! We didn't have too much success in finding or teaching people, and it just felt like the days were kind of dragging on. I was feeling pretty discouraged with my Spanish and teaching skills too, but then I received a tender mercy at the end of the week. I got a call from my last companion back in my my first area who said one of our investigators was getting baptized and asked if I could do it. What a great opportunity! It is true that sometimes we have to go a little farther than we think we can, push forward when we think we can't, and then we receive the blessing. "After the trial of our faith" as it says in the scriptures. I know the Lord looks out for those who serve Him. That was a pretty awesome opportunity I had, to go back to my old Branch and participate in the baptism. 

Thank you for your prayers and support! It is a blessing to be able to see the change in the life of someone who accepts and applies both the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. I know the Church is true! What a blessing to know what we know, to have the teachings we have to help guide our lives. It is my humble prayer every day to be able to find those who are ready and willing to accept the message that we as missionaries bring. I know that it can benefit anyone and everyone! 

Have a great week!

Elder Reynolds

Photo 1: My first time eating a chicken foot. (It was in my soup).

Photo 2: Baptism

Welcome to LA

Familia!

 

Sounds like everyone is starting to get back in the groove! I forgot about Parker getting to start seminary this year! I hope he enjoys that. I can't believe that it is September already! Wasn't it just June? I always loved the months of September and October. Especially October, that's when Fall was really in full swing. I'm going to miss that Fall season! You'll have to enjoy it for me! Are there any yellow leaves on the birch tree yet?

 

My new companion is named Elder Luna and he's from New Jersey. Good ol' Joizey boi! He and I get along well. I've been blessed to be with another native speaking companion! This area is pretty tough, not much success. But I'm hoping with a lot of hard work and prayer, we will be able to change that. Being on a bike is a change too! I got a "fixie" for about 150 bucks. All the kids here ride fixies, so I've gotta fit in haha. It is kind of fun being on bike, but there are definitely times where it isn't the best.

 

I finally got your package Mom! Thanks so much for sending that. I like that little misty thing too! My comp and I have enjoyed that haha. I've got the card reader too, which is perfect. I'll now try to send at least a picture or two each week. There hasn't been a whole lot to take pictures of, but whenever there is, I'll try to send some. It only lets me send two per email, so I'll probably send another email after this one with a couple.

 

I'm in a ward now and it seems to be like a pretty good one. LA 6th ward is the name of it. It was kind of nice having it as fast Sunday yesterday, because I had the chance to get up and bear my testimony and introduce myself a little bit. Whenever I feel discouraged about the language, I try to think back about when I first entered the MTC and didn't even have any idea how to pray in Spanish haha. Now I'm able to bear my testimony and teach quite a bit in Spanish, I even cracked a joke yesterday in front of the ward haha.

 

How are Grandma and Grandpa Lott doing? Send them my love. I will try to get a letter sent to them as soon as I can.

 

I love you guys! Thanks for your emails, prayers, and support. The Savior lives! It is because of Him and all He has done for me that I am here today.


It is my humble hope and prayer that through me, the Holy Ghost will be able to testify to others that the message I share is true. I know it is! It changes lives! The Book of Mormon is true, I know that with all my heart. It truly is another testament of Jesus Christ. Anyone can come to know that it truly is the word of God for themselves, if they are willing to read and pray about it. That is all we as missionaries do: invite others to come unto Christ. What a great opportunity that is!

 

I love you all! Have a great week!

 

Elder Reynolds

 

Here's the reading schedule.

 

And a pretty pic of the Temple.

What a great name!

City of Compton!

Transfers

Familia!

And the news is... I'm getting transferred up to LA. Pretty surprised to be getting transferred already after only 6 weeks with my trainer and being in this area, but we'll see what's in store for me up there. The guy running this internet cafe just told us he's leaving in a few minutes, so I don't have much time to write this week.

Dad--Please make sure there is enough money in my checking account. I have to buy a bike and all the stuff that goes with it now. Not really looking forward to being on bike, but it's all part of the experience haha.

Mom--Did you get my notes from Alli?

Glad to hear the Book of Mormon reading is going well. I hope everyone is doing it that can. I still didn't get your package, so I'm kind of wondering what happened. If I don't get it this Friday, then something must have went wrong haha.

No email from Kraigers this week? Haha I hope he and Parks are having a good time up at the cabin. Parker Lou enjoying the Olympics eh? Tell that kid to send me an email or letter or something. I hope he's not too cool for that haha.

You are all in my prayers, I hope you have a great week. I'll let you know how the big city is in my email next week. I love you all!

Elder Reynolds