Feliz Navidad

Familia!

 

I hope everyone is enjoying and making the most out of their time together during this Christmas season! Definitely missing you all a little bit (haha) but I know this is where I need to be!

 

Thanks for the forwarded email from Joe Bailey! That was an awesome story! Elder Baxter said that his mission president used to always say "You aren't allowed to be discouraged in this mission!" He said that you could be disappointed at times when things didn't go your way, but that you were never allowed to let that turn into discouragement. You'll have to see if Diana remembers something like that. So cool!

 

We contacted a man a few weeks ago from Guatemala who really seemed open and interested in our message. He's kind of a younger guy (about 30) and has a wife and two little kids. We hadn't had the chance to teach them because they weren't home or we had other things we had to do, but we finally got to this past week! They are awesome! His name is Willy, his wife is Siria, and they've got two little kids Bruce (8) and Landon (13 mos.). We taught them twice and both lessons went pretty well. How awesome is that! Really hoping they progress! Mom, you'd love little Landon haha. He's "tremendo", always running around from place to place and wanting to be in everything. We had a lot of people cancel appointments on us or just not be at home. We only actually teach about 1 of every 6 set appointments.

 

Glad to hear that everyone has made it home safe so far, I'll be praying Luke does tomorrow night as well. A little store had a stereo outside a few days ago and as we walked by earlier in the day, it was playing a song from Buble's Christmas album. Then when we walked by later in the day, it was playing one of Barry Manilow's songs from the greatest Christmas album ever!! What's up with that?! Haha it's good though, I try not to let myself think too much about things like that.

 

Sorry about the 40 minute call. I'm pretty bummed about that, but hopefully it goes well. It'll probably be around noon, but I think I'll be able to call you on Christmas Eve to confirm. What time will it be there if it's 12 here? Oh wait! We're in the same time zone! Haha don't have to worry about any weird time differences! It should be Skype too, so we'll have to get that figured out. Don't use the computer I left, it won't work well haha. Use one of the boys' computers. No Christmas dinner scheduled, so it might be a hungry Christmas, but it'll be good. We'll probably just work the whole day, so it won't be too special as far as the schedule goes haha. I'm looking forward to getting to chat with you all though! Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your time together! Love you all!

 

Elder Reynolds

Elder Baxter Zone Conference

Familia!

 

I had the best Friday ever this past week haha. Elder Baxter from the 70 came and we had the chance to meet with him from about 9:30-4:00. The time flew by and when it was over, I didn't want it to end! Lots of good counsel from that man. I feel like the notes I took from that conference are priceless. He was super positive and uplifting and focused a lot on a personal level for each missionary instead of general things. The other zone conferences we've had have all just kind of been things we need to be doing better and new rules, but this one was super positive and was definitely the best one I've been to yet out on the mission. I wish I could share with you all the things he said, but I don't have the time haha. Maybe I'll try to get you a copy of my notes. Plus he had a sweet Scottish accent, so that was cool! Haha

 

As for the Christmas call, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to Skype. A family offered to let us come over and do it, so I think that'll work out. As far as arranging the time and everything, I'll probably just try to call a day or two before. I'm not too sure on that yet. It'll probably only be 40 minutes for a few reasons that are out of my control, but we'll make the most of it. I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing you all!

 

I'll be finishing the Book of Mormon reading this week! Crazy to think it's already been 4 months since starting that haha. I've started reading it over in Spanish and am trying to incorporate a new marking technique that is going to help me really focus in on each verse. I find myself a lot of the time reading something and then not remembering what I just read, so I'm really looking forward to that. Random question, did Taylor already get married? I thought I read something about it being in November or December, but I'm not sure. Crazy stuff!

 

Just a quick experience for you that happened on Saturday. There are a couple formers that live right off this busy street that we always street contact on, but they never open their door. Just about every time we pass, I always knock, assuming that eventually they've gotta open up haha. It was late and dark on Saturday night and we were about to walk past the door, when I thought, why not knock. I told my companion to knock it once just to see and he said he was tired of knocking that door, so I knocked it. Then waited.. Then knocked again.. Then waited. Then they opened! We finally got in! They didn't have much time, so we just talked for a minute and then set a return appointment for this Friday! Super stoked for that! Pray that it all goes well!

 

Bad news: my camera completely stopped working. I'm going to try to send it home in hopes that you've still got the receipt and everything. If not, I guess we can work something out later haha.

 

Thanks for everything you all do! I know this church is true and the Lord loves each and every one of us. At times I can feel a portion of that love when I feel the burning desire for one of His children to accept His gospel and live it. Please pray for the ladies from Honduras this week! Taira, Delmi, and Judy. I love them and want the best for them!

 

Have a great week!

 

Elder Reynolds

December!

So crazy that we're already in December! I'm sure I probably said that last week too haha. It's wild! Sorry that this email probably won't be too long, I don't have a whole lot of time. I'll type fast!

 

One awesome thing that happened this week was that I got to eat with a guy I taught quite a while ago and now he is a baptized member of the church! My companion and I taught him for a while and worked hard with him, but he ended up moving out of the mission. He came back to visit this past week and he is doing great! He thanked me for being so patient with him and spending so much time on him haha. It was all worth it seeing the change in him! I was so excited to get to chat with him for a while! His name is Ulisses. He always felt too nervous to pray, but he even offered to say the closing prayer this time! So awesome.

 

We have a 70 coming this week named Elder Baxter. I think he's from the UK. He's doing a mission tour and our zone is meeting with him on Friday. I'm super excited! It should be a great day.  

 

Had a great week this past week with 3 ladies we are teaching from Honduras. I think I mentioned them in a previous email. We got a member to go out with us both times and it helped out a lot. It's an indescribable feeling when you can see someone else feel the Spirit. Their names are Taira, Delmi, and Judi. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers! They are awesome. I convinced Delmi to make me baleadas next time we meet with them haha. It's a super popular Honduran dish, you'll have to look it up.

 

We are also working hard with the "He is the Gift" campaign, AKA "Él es la Dádiva." It's super nice being able to share the video and purpose behind it all with everyone.

 

I hope you all know how much I love you! You are in my prayers and thoughts. Let's all make a goal to focus more on what is really most important this Christmas season and spend more time reflecting on what we have to be thankful for than on what we wish we had. We have SO MUCH to be thankful for! I know that Christ lives and that He loves us. That alone is a gift in and of itself. I hope you all know that He wants the best for each of us and that is why we have His Gospel and His church!

 

Have a great week!

 

Elder Reynolds

December Already?!

Is it really already the month of December?! Crazy stuff! No one really decorated for Halloween around here, but there's already quite a few houses with some pretty nice decorations up! We had a pretty good rainstorm last night that was super fun on bike (not really). It was freezing! I was soaked to the bone haha. A couple people actually let us in though, so I guess that was a benefit. Glad to hear you had a good Thanksgiving and that Stu and Jess made it home to surprise you all! I had a good "Día de Pavo" with a family from the ward. I had some ham, turkey, and rice with tapatio haha. It was a pretty good meal.

 

Just so I don't forget, I'd like my mission scripture to be Alma 42:31. Hopefully this email doesn't get lost so you can get that done haha. Also, thanks for that package mom! That was a protein-package! The ties were great also!

 

It was kind of a week of rises and falls. We found one family of four and another family of three who we taught the Restoration to and we were super excited! They seemed to be interested and definitely had (have) potential. But when we tried to go back for a second lesson with them yesterday, both families dropped us. It was pretty discouraging. Being soaked and freezing out at night in a rainstorm just kind of added to the effect! But I'm sure we will find someone else who is prepared. We only had 10 conversations with an hour left in the day, so we decided to tract for the last hour with the hope to get at least 10 more. We knocked about 25 doors and only 10 of those people even allowed us to have a meaningful conversation with them, but we got a couple return appointments!

 

Have you had the chance to see the new christmas.mormon.org website yet? We're doing a huge push with it right now with pass along cards and everything. You should have gotten some with this month's Ensign. You'll have to check out the website, the video is super good! All day today, the church is supposed to have an ad on Youtube. You'll have to look for that as well.

 

He is the Gift! Jesus Christ really is the best and most important gift we ever have received. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season with gifts and parties and things, but it is super important that we always remember the reason we even celebrate Christmas. I hope that this month we can all try to focus in more on the true meaning of Christmas  and the things we are thankful for! I am thankful for you all and love you all so much! Have a great week!

 

Elder Reynolds