End of August

Familia!

 

I can't believe August is coming to a close. I feel like I just picked up my trainee and now he's been out here almost a full month. Time is flying by. Sounds like everyone is back on the school grind! I remember it was always kind of nice to be back on a routine, but nothing beats summer break haha. I'm not even sure what I would do without a schedule now haha. I'd be lost.

 

I look back on what was happening at the beginning of this week and it seems like it was a lot longer than just a few days haha. We started teaching Monica's sister, Marci, and her husband, Richard. That house is full of potential! The whole family has really warmed up to us and enjoys having us come and teach them. Marci was telling us that when we first started coming by she used to say "Here they come again" and everyone would quiet down inside haha. Now they all sit outside and listen and participate in the lessons, it's been super cool to see the change. They are all worried that I'll get transferred in a couple weeks. I hope I can stay one more, but I've already been here for quite a while. We'll see what happens! Monica made it to church yesterday, but Maria didn't. The other Elders in the district are teaching Monica's sister, Jessica, and last night at their lesson, Monica was present and helped explain the Book of Mormon and said that she knew it was true! The Elders called me last night afterward to tell us about it. How sweet is that?! They said it was like having a member-present lesson! Haha

 

Sounds like dad is having to put up with some excitement haha. I hope that all smooths out and goes well. You've always been a great example of hard work, Pops! I appreciate your example of balancing work, church callings, and family and doing such a good job of it. We had a "Missionary Sunday" yesterday at church where the missionaries took care of sacrament meeting. My companion gave a great talk about "Every Member a Missionary." We've kind of had a struggle in this ward with receiving help from the members, especially with making investigators feel welcome. It is getting better though. I never even realized how important members were in missionary work until getting out here. They are key! The missionaries will come and go, but the friendships they have with investigators will help them through the tough times. Help the missionaries whenever you can! Are the missionaries in the Spanish branch Elders or Sisters? I look forward to working with the people there. I love you all so much and am grateful for all that you do! Have the best week!

 

Elder Reynolds

Familia!

Familia!

 

It feels like the weather is heating back up! This past week wasn't too hot, so it was nice to feel a little break from the heat that was "bruuuutal" as dad would say haha. Monica and Maria didn't come to church yesterday because they said something came up last minute. My companion and I were a little concerned, so we met with Monica a little later in the evening and brought a member who just got back from a mission about 9 months ago. Something seemed a little off, and then Monica said she'd been thinking about it and she doesn't want to get baptized. Just for a little background--We challenged Monica on Thursday to read the Book of Mormon and pray every day untilnext Sunday and promised her that if she did so, she'd receive an answer of either yes or no if the Book of Mormon and everything else is true. We were praying super hard and had planned to fast this week, but that kind of caught us by surprise. Some good news though was that we taught Maria (Monica's mom) on Wednesday night and she came out with the Book of Mormon in her hands saying that it is so much easier to understand than the Bible and that she knows it's the word of God! What a testimony builder! We had been trying to get her to read and pray about it, promising her that she'd find out it was true and then she did! We are working to still get them both up to the Visitor's Center and have a powerful lesson with them up there.

 

I hope you've all been able to get that Book of Mormon reading going. It's interesting to me how each time I read it, different things stick out and I always learn something new. That book is the key! All the kids here started school this past Tuesday, so they're all back into the swing of things. Mom, thanks for the update on your trip to Utah! Sounds like things went really well! Dad, thanks for letting me know about the hike. Sounds like a pretty one but all that smoke is getting in the way of things! I hope those fires calm down here soon. I had an email from Joshua Finch, so it was great to hear from him. I can't believe he's back and that Matthew is an Elder! All great things! Let that family know how much I love and appreciate them.

 

In Elder's Quorum yesterday the teacher talked about how sometimes the fruits of our labors are not seen by our own eyes. He talked about his great-great grandfather was one of very few people to be baptized on the island of Samoa back then and it might have seemed like a failure that only one or two people humbled themselves and joined the church. But then he recounted how many of that one man's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren had served missions and also helped others come unto Christ and receive the restored gospel. He said his family in total has nearly 2,000 members of the church living. That's huge! He just emphasized that no effort is ever wasted. Even though it may seem that what we are doing makes no difference, even the smallest changes can bring huge miracles. (Alma 37:6) The Lord pays attention to every detail of our lives and will help us to be an instrument in His hands, if we seek to do His will. What a blessing!

 

Well, get excited for a great school year and I'll keep you all in my prayers that all goes well! Thanks for the great emails and prayers! Love you all! Have the best week!

 

Elder Reynolds

Hot Week! (8-17-2015)

Familia!

It has been super hot this week! I was thinking that maybe it'd never quite reach the heat that we got last year at this time, but then this week, things really heated up. August is the hottest month of the year though, so it was expected. I hear that there's been some fires up near you guys. I hope things cool off and you get some water here soon.

Well Monica and Maria made it to church again yesterday and they were able to stay for the Gospel Principles class this time! That's three weeks in a row that they've made it to at least Sacrament Meeting now! They are so awesome, but they still don't feel like they are quite ready. They even invited us over for dinner on Wednesday and made pozole because they knew that it is one of my favorites. It was so good! I always enjoy some good Mexican food. 

We got some disappointing news on Friday that Hermano Carrillo (who we had previously helped get off of alcohol and who came to church for 2 straight months) started drinking again. I was super sad to see him just like how he was when I first met him, but I know it's possible for him to kick the addiction again, so we're going to help him do that. Alcohol is such a rough thing. So many people out here have a problem with it. It's sad to see what it does to people and their families. Stay away from it!

Thanks for the package, Mom! I got a "chocolate surprise" on Friday when I opened the box and chocolate powder was all over everything haha. One of the breakfast essentials things had busted open and spilled all over the place. The rest of the stuff was fine though. Football season already starting up?! That's a crazy thought. Who is BYU's quarterback this year? 

We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission again, so I want to extend the same challenge I did last year to everyone about reading the Book of Mormon before Christmas! It is about 2 chapters per day. We started today and will be done December 15th, so you'll have 10 extra days. We are going to be marking every invitation/commandment given in one color and then every promised blessing related to that invitation/commandment in another. You don't need to mark, but you do need to read! My testimony of that book was strengthened a lot last year when we read it, and I know it will be the same for you all. I know the Book of Mormon is true! Have a great week!

Elder Reynolds

Trainee! (8-10-2015)

Familia!

 

This week has been a great one! We had some good member help during the week and were able to help three of our investigators get to church! Monica and Maria (the mother and daughter) made it again this week, which makes it two weeks in a row! They are still hesitant to accept a baptismal date, but we are continuing to work with that. Then Elizabeth, a 15 year old investigator we have came and actually brought a friend! It was a great Sunday! I got my trainee on Tuesday as well and he is a stud! His name is Elder Ancheta, he was born in Uruguay, but moved to Arizona when he was 4. So he speaks Spanish which is a huge blessing haha. He actually moved to Spanish Fork about a year ago, so I told him I used to go there all the time when Stu lived there. It's been fun to chat with him, because his Uruguayo (Uruguasho) accent comes out every now and again, even though it's not all the time. I got a good mate going last night and he said there are some Argentines in his ward in Utah that used to drink in on Sunday evenings haha. It's been a fun week!

 

It sounds like you all had a good time floating the Yakima river! I can't believe all those Yakima missionaries are making it home. I'm sure Tyler Cluff will be home here in the next few weeks as well. That's crazy. It has been an interesting experience thinking about when I had just entered the mission as I now have a companion who is in that spot. It feels like I was just there haha. I can still remember distinctly my first week, P-day, etc. The time goes fast and it only seems to be going faster! I'll try to get you a picture of me and my companion here soon.

 

We met a lady who has been going through some really tough times as of late and so we shared with her Ether 12:27. That is one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon. I know that we all have things we struggle with, difficulties, and hard times, but as we humble ourselves and turn to the Lord, He will make those weaknesses strengths. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, but more importantly for Jesus Christ and all He does for each one of us. I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of His love for ALL of us, and shows that our prayers can be answered if we ask with faith and real intent. I love you all so much and am grateful for your prayers! Have a great week!

 

Elder Reynolds

Transfers! (8-03-2015)

Familia!

We got transfer calls last night and the news is that I will be
staying in this area and training a new missionary. Round 2 for
training! It should be a good experience to get to train another brand
new missionary. Maybe he'll be an Argentine pibe from Buenos AIRES!
Haha I'll be excited to meet him tomorrow morning though. Good things
coming our way! We had two investigators at church yesterday! It was
so good! A mother and daughter (Monica daughter and Maria mother) came
to church together. We've been teaching them separately since they've
got completely different schedules, but they were able to both come
together so that worked out well. Jocelin wasn't able to make it
because she had to open at work, but we are hoping she will be able to
come this Sunday along with some others.

The kids here are going back to school August 18th which seems super
soon. It seems like "summer" barely started and now it's already
coming to a close. I'm glad to hear you've been able to do some fun
things this summer though! It always goes faster than you think haha.
I'm hoping that with people getting back on their scheduled routines,
there will be more appointments that they keep. Always tough with the
Hispanics though haha. I'm real glad that I'm staying though, things
have picked up a little bit lately and I've really come to love this
Ward and the people in this area. I think it's mainly because there
was nothing when I got here and now there are good things happening! I
know that when we put in our part and do all that we can, the Lord
takes note of our efforts and will bless us in His way and in His
time. I've come to realize that we don't always receive the blessings
that we might expect, but we do receive exactly what we need. I love
the knowledge the gospel brings.

Last night was the "despedida" or the going away fireside for the
missionaries going home on Wednesday, and we were able to go to that.
It was fun seeing some of my great buddies that I've made out here.
Weird thinking that they'll be normal people pretty soon though! I
only know them with ties and tags on haha. I was also able to run into
some people from my past areas that I taught and also some members. I
was surprised at how many people still recognized me and came up to
me. It was super good to see some familiar faces! Including the girl I
baptized my second transfer was there and she said that she is still
doing well and going to church! That's what matters! I've been blessed
to meet some awesome people out here.

I want you all know how much I love you and am grateful for the
support and love you send to Los Angeles, CA! There was a video I saw
recently about a missionary talking about missionary work and how it
is a labor of love. I've come to see that love is something that can
really change people. It's easy sometimes to get caught up in other
things while doing missionary work, but seeing people how they can be
and not just how they currently are can make all the difference. I am
grateful for the chance to see the change that the gospel brings to
other's lives and be able to see it in my own as well. I know it is
only through Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement that we are able
to not only change habits, but change our character and become who our
Father in Heaven knows we can be. I hope you all realize the love that
God and Jesus Christ have for us and are able to feel that love for
others. It is a great feeling! Have a great week!

Elder Reynolds

Church Attendance! (7-27-2015)

Familia!

We finally had someone at church this week! Jocelin, who we've taught
a few times, committed to come to church with us and she actually
came! It was so sweet. She is catholic by birth and culture, but
hasn't been to that church for a long time. She's taken some college
classes that kind of have to do with religion, so she's generally kind
of curious about all religions, but we're hoping to help her come to
know the truth of the gospel. We also had our temple day this
Wednesday and it was a great experience. It was a real early morning
since we had the 6:45 am session and we're the most southern zone in
the mission and had to take the 405 all the way up, but it was
definitely worth it! There's a peace and comfort in they building that
isn't found anywhere else. I love the Temple!

That is shocking news to hear about Kelly. Wow, that is sad. I love
that kid! He was always extremely full of life. I hope his family is
doing okay. How grateful I am for the plan of salvation and for the
comfort the gospel brings. I'm not sure I could handle the thought of
losing a loved one without the knowledge of the gospel and the plan of
happiness that God has for us. I know that God loves each one of us
and that he gives each person the opportunity to accept the Gospel,
whether in this life or the next. The gospel is true.

Dad, I'm glad you were able to see Gabe! He is a great kid (man now I
guess haha). I'm sure he's got some great stories being in east LA
haha. It's pretty sketchy over there. Thanks for sharing some points
from his discourse. Luckily, I've always been able to roll my r's, but
I know that is something you have struggled with haha. Looks like you
can get it going! It sure would've been nice to start out with 4 years
of Spanish under my belt though! I love the Spanish language. I've
been blessed to progress pretty well with it and know that I'll have
to use it later on as well.

We met some real cool people tracting the other day. It was a super
hot, long day and we hadn't found a single person who would listen or
let us come back another day. And then there were 3 out of 4 doors
that set return appointments with us! It's funny how it always seems
to be just when you can't think you can go any more, you see the hand
of the Lord helping the way. I'm so grateful for that.

Espero que todos los que leen esta carta sepan que Dios nos ama y que
tiene un plan para nosotros. Aunque la vida sea difícil, Él siempre
estará pendiente de nosotros y dispuesto a ayudar. Sé que tenemos
pruebas y dificultades para que nos fortalezcamos. Es una bendición
saber que a través de todo, ¡hay un plan perfecto! Les amo a cada uno
de ustedes y estoy agradecido por la oportunidad que se me ha dado de
ser un misionero de tiempo completo. ¡El evangelio es verdadero!

Elder Reynolds