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