"Soy ateo, gracias a Dios"

Familia!

I hope you all had a great week. I also hope you like the title of this letter, it's what a guy said last night that we contacted haha. I thought it was pretty good.

It was kind of a rough week. We had 6 people commit to come to church and then none of them came. I'm sorry that this letter is short, but I'm pressed for time. We found a couple new investigators named Gloria and Heidi. They met missionaries up in Fresno and then we met them down here! They have a ton of potential. I love this work. I hope you all have the best week and know how much I love you! 

Elder Reynolds

PS-- Comp's name is Elder Balmas and he's Filipino. Fun kid. 

Transfers

Familia!

First and foremost, I'd like to give a shout-out to Parker Lou turning 15 today! Just the bigger boy! I hope you have a great day today Parks! I love you!

We had transfer calls last night and I'll be staying in this area but getting a new companion. I think they said his name was Elder Palma, so hopefully he's a native and we'll be able to get some good Spanish going haha. We had an awesome miracle yesterday at church! Two of our investigators came! Liliana Mayo who investigated the church in Washington accepted a baptismal date for the 14th of June on Friday and then came to church yesterday! She brought her daughter, Maria, who accepted a baptismal date for the 21st of June just yesterday. It's awesome to see the blessings the Lord sees fit to give us. Sadly, Williams' schedule at work changed, so we weren't able to meet with him last week and he didn't make it to church. We're hoping that the change in the schedule wasn't permanent though and that we'll be able to keep helping him progress.

I'm sad to hear about Grandma Stauffer's fall. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers and hope that she recovers quickly. Keep me updated on how she's doing.

Mom, I'm so glad you mentioned the lesson about flooding the world with the Book of Mormon! I love sharing that book so much because I've been able to see TONS of blessings as I strive to truly study its teachings. Just yesterday, we were teaching Liliana and her daughter after church and after we had finished the lesson, a friend of theirs came up to us and asked how she should use the Book of Mormon if she wanted to feel better. I was a little taken aback by the question, but felt it was a great opportunity to testify of its truthfulness. She explained to me that two of her children had been taken away by their father and she has no way of knowing where they are or how they are doing. I asked her if she had tried to teach her two kids about God and Jesus Christ and she said yes, so I shared with her the story of the 2,000 stripling warriors who "did not doubt their mothers knew it." I talked to her about the important role she has in the life of her children as a mother and that her teaching them that would play a large part in their well-being. I then invited her to read more and pray to know if its truthfulness. I love the Book of Mormon!

I hope you all have the best week this week. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. I love you!

Elder Reynolds

Mother's Day

Familia!

So good to see you all yesterday, even though I couldn't really hear ya haha. You all look great. I was glad we were able to work that out and get the bros on. Always a good time getting the boys together :)

I obviously don't have much to say because not much has happened since last night until now, but I hope you all know how much I love you! Dad just reminded me that today is 11 months since I started. I can hardly believe that! Scary how fast the time is going. I hope I've got enough time to become the missionary the Lord expects me to be. I had the chance to read Alma chapter 5 this morning and what a great chapter that is! I would invite you all to read it.

I truly love that book and the things it teaches. I've come to love testifying that I know of its truthfulness because of my own witness. Many people think that they can't receive an answer or sometimes they just don't want to. But I know that anyone can receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true if they read with an open heart, think about the message it teaches, and then pray to God and simply ask if it's true, I've done it time and time again out here on the mission that I know the Book of Mormon is true.

I love you all so much and hope you have the best week!

Elder Reynolds

May Flowers!

Familia!

Can you believe that May has already rolled around? Scary stuff! I'm sure you are all getting excited for summer to finally be here! I'm not sure what time I'll be skyping on Sunday yet, but I'll probably just give you a quick call Saturday night to get it set up. It feels like we just saw each other!

I had a great experience this Friday when we were able to set a baptismal date with one of our investigators named Williams! We actually ran into him while tracting a couple weeks ago, because after about my first week in the area we had already contacted every potential in the area book haha. He opened the door and we were able to set a return appointment with him for a few days later. He wasn't there when we went by for the appointment, but we stopped by his house on Tuesday and he let us in! We taught him the Restoration and he really seemed to understand the importance and reality of it. We went back again on Thursday and introduced him to the Book of Mormon and read with him. On Friday we went back and he had kept his commitment to read 2 Nephi 31, so we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to be baptized! And he accepted! He is so cool. I love that guy so much, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers so that he'll be able to make his baptismal date for the 31st of May.

Sounds like you had a great time in Utah! I'm glad you were able to enjoy that time with the family down there and see Stu get his diploma! Congrats! Alli sent me a picture of Jess and she looks good with a little bump! Haha, it's exciting for me to see that and think of a little niece coming into the world soon. So thankful for my family. I hope you all know how much I love you and am so grateful to have you all for eternity! I know that families are forever and that they are a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. I know the Gospel is true with no doubts. The simple truths of the Gospel are what help people to understand that as well. I will talk to you soon! Love you!

Elder Reynolds

Picture of me and Maria. She is 93 years old and just got here from Mexico 2 weeks ago. One of the sweetest people I've ever met.