Transfers!

Familia!

We've got some transfer craziness going for y'all.. I'll be going back up to Santa Monica! And I'll be with an old companion, Elder Cox! And we'll be zone leaders together! Haha it was a crazy day yesterday finding out about all that. It should be great though. It's funny because after president called me and extended the invitation, I was thinking how around this time last year I was with Elder Cox and how crazy it would be if I was with him again. And then it turned out that I will be! I might be with him for both Thanksgivings, both Christmases, and both New Years haha. Good things to come! I really do feel like I'm leaving a big part of me here in Carson and Wilmington though. I love this area so much! So many people and experiences and memories have been flooding my mind today. I'm sad to leave, but I know that there is a lot yet to be done. Monica's family was pretty bummed to find out I'm leaving, but they invited us over for a going away dinner tonight, so it will be fun to be able to say goodbye to them all. I just can't believe how quick my time here has gone! It's been nearly 7 months, but it feels like only 7 weeks!

This week was amazing though. We had a super spiritual couple events happen. On Thursday, we went to the Visitor's Center with Monica, her mom, her sister, and her sisters two kids. It was awesome! We walked around the temple and there is always such a peace on the grounds there. You can look out and see the city and all the cars and things, but it's like that little area is protected from it all. There's a missionary exhibit there in the VC and part of it has 1,400 missionary name tags up on one of the walls. Mine is one of them! Haha, it was cool seeing it up there. Then last night, we had a FHE with Monica and the member family who have been her member mentors. It was so good! My companion and I focused our thoughts on the talk "Turn to Him and Answers Will Come." It was a great meeting. The Spirit was super strong as we each shared moments of difficult when we were able to turn to the teachings of the gospel and ultimately to God in prayer in order to receive the divine help we needed.

I love you all so much and am grateful for your love and prayers! I know that we all have to face difficult times in this life as part of the test we have to prove ourselves worthy and that those hard times and challenges can make us who we are. We can either let them weaken us and turn us away from the truths we know, or we can rely on the Savior's merits and grace and be strengthened through the power of His Atonement. Let us allow our challenges to strengthen us and help is become who the Lord needs us to be. I know God hears our prayers and that He allows us to go through certain things in order to eventually be able to measure up to our full potential. "Come what may and love it." I love the Gospel. Have the best week!

Elder Reynolds