Episode 6: Prayers and Painting!

Another week full of Miracles!

Wow who else loves to Pray??? This past week has been FILLED with them!! This is going to be a short one, I'm short on time haha but seriously! The power of prayer is real! We needed 3 rides for some of our friends to get to church and the Elders in our area (we share a ward with them) needed 4 rides and NO ONE was responding! One particular was critical getting to church, Don Steed. He is getting baptized this week and if he didn't come this Sunday, we would have to move his date back and he is so ready so we were stressing all week to get people to help us out. Saturday night we got 3 call backs saying they could give people rides! It was a miracle!

We weren't meeting our goal on finding people to teach and help serve, so our hearts were in continual prayer to help someone come closer to Christ. It was a rough week for us but I believe because of how much we were praying, God felt sorry and sent us 3 new people!! Haha no just kidding, but Thursday, Friday and Saturday we found people and were so humbled by the love of God and that He was listening to their prayers as well as ours. Thursday, we met Teresa, a 73 year old grandma who is full of life and saying she is "the hippiest grandma you'll ever meet!" Haha we love her and are teaching her the importance of baptism. She is so close already and is so willing to learn and loves the things we share. She is an elect child of God ready for His blessings!

On Friday we found a less active, Vicky and she asked us to help paint her living room! We were so excited to help do some service! So Saturday, we go over and are painting and get it all done in 3 hours and her cousin, Sandy, comes over and she was suppose to help but got caught up in stuff and couldn't make it until then. But she sees us there and she is a super nice lady. She is a preschool teacher and is so sweet and funny! She starts asking us questions about our missions and then starts asking all these really in depth questions about the church! So of course we perk right up and go into the Articles of Faith and teach the Restoration and teach the Book of Mormon, and holy cow!! She was just soaking everything up!! We couldn't believe it! She had tears in her eyes and would testify of the truth of the things we literally just taught her! She said that everything just made sense now and she couldn't wait to share it with her husband!! We were all just ecstatic! The less active was able to help us testify of coming to church and help us teach her cousin about what we believe, it was incredible...we were all in tears at one point and the spirit was so strong. We all had a moment of clarity and a moment when the spirit testified to us the truth of the things we said...it was magnificent!!! We gave her a Book of Mormon, like 3 pamphlets, a card with the Articles of Faith, and our card! We just loaded her up! We have an appointment to meet with her this following week! We can not wait...it was truly a miracle.

Later that night, we met up with a part member family, the Dillon's, ah such a wonderful family!! They were so sweet and kind! The husband is a member and the wife is not a member, so we taught the Restoration. Since being pumped up for meeting Sandy, we were just pumped and ready to go! Haha and the spirit was so so strong there too. She had previously been taught and dropped because she wasn't making a lot of progress, but we just felt that she was ready and she was! She was in tune with the spirit and it allowed us to teach and bring the spirit there as well. My companion and I were so in tune with each other and we were just on fire!! We had tears in our eyes as we testified of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon...man, I love that book!! Anyways, I felt impressed to share my Mother's conversion story. The Dillon's are originally Baptist and my Mom was raised Baptist too and I talked of the same questions my Mom had and she later exclaimed "how did you know I questioned that too??" And we were able to testify that it was the spirit of God. That Heavenly Father knows what she needs all the time and that because we are His servants, we felt we needed to share that. She was in tears as we all were! (Sisters, am I right? Haha I can't control my tears!!) But it was such a fabulous way to end the week. We could not believe all the miracles we just witnessed! That night we stayed on our knees in thanksgiving for what felt like hours!!! There is always so much you can thank our Heavenly Father for. I love this gospel and I love my Savior. Because of Him, I can be saved and because of Him, I can help bring in His lost sheep. Heavenly Father is so aware of our needs! Small or big, He shows us! One way He has shown me that He is aware of me is having our apartment right next to our friendly neighbor who has a dog named Molly!! (Back home we have a dog named Molly). She is a sweetheart and so I have a little bit of home...here in good ole' West Virginia!
Sister Reynolds

Our neighbor dog, Molly :)

Off to the doctor's office, which was creepy because it seemed like a sketchy little building...

When I arrived in West Virginia, I got a cold...

then it turned into an ear infection. Sister McKendrick suggested doing an ear candle, which I have never done before and it was scary!! It helped a little. The ward mission leader is a doctor and said I probably have a cold and ear infection due to adjusting to the climate of cold/humid. Being sick and away from home is not fun at all :(

Video chat on March 25, 2019

Episode 5: Box Springs, Haircuts and Faith!

MIRACLES Everyday!

Hello Everyone!

Wow I feel like I have experienced so much and I'm just ready to head home now! haha No just kidding but it has been crazy! Everyday we are seeing MIRACLES and sharing the gospel to everyone and anyone who will listen!

So Tuesday we had to head to Walmart just to get emergency things we missed from P-Day and we decided to walk there, which is about a half mile commute...no biggy! And previously, Sister McKendrick's box spring on her bed broke. When we loaded up our bags with the stuff we needed, we got a text from Walmart saying her box spring was ready for pickup! We were pumped her bed came in!! YAY it worked out perfectly...we were there and we could just pick it up and take it home! But then we realized we walked there...and it was a 45 pound box (we weighed it when we got home!) and I JOKINGLY suggested we just carry it! Go Sister Reynolds! Hahaha and she was like oh ya, duh lets just do that! And she was completely serious, and tells me I need to have faith and the Lord will provide. I said a prayer something along the lines of "Heavenly Father bless these weak muscles of mine, Amen." Haha and so we started walking! And my arms were dying, let me tell you, and then we pass this group of men and you could tell were out if it...drinking no doubt and druggies. They start following us and get about 10 feet behind us. It was so scary, we were walking so fast. As fast as you could walk in a skirt, carrying a 45 pound box and praying so hard. I prayed and asked God to let those men be distracted by something else and walk the opposite direction. Our hearts were pounding and our arms were about to fall off lol, but about 2 minutes later, we don't hear anything and I look behind us and they were nowhere!!!! A MIRACLE! We relaxed, breathed and slowed our pace and started singing hymns and back to normal joyful missionaries! Not 5 minutes go by and Sister McKendrick says "I wonder how long it will take someone to stop and help us." Lol And a couple of seconds later, this car pulls in front of us and a man jumps out and immediately says "I'm a member! It's ok I'll help you. Get in! I have children and you can trust me." He takes our box and I look at Sister McKendrick and she looks dead serious and says "Get in!" Haha I'm kinda freaking out because a man just approached us and tells us to get in his car! I trusted my companion so I open the door and see no kids, but I still get in his car and he starts asking us where we were from and all that. When I say I am from Farmington, New Mexico he is like "Oh no, really?? I have family down there, what ward?" And I am just freaking out, thinking...This is a MIRACLE! And turns out he is related to Bro. Kevin Eddy and Bro. James Larson! His name is P Blair. His sisters are married to Bro. Eddy and Bro. Larson! Hahahaha we are both just going back and forth talking and Sister McKendrick is just looking between us in disbelief! What a small world!! Haha he takes us to our apartment, takes a picture to send to his family and we say goodbye haha. It was the coolest, craziest experience! I've learned something from it. I later was reading in 1 Nephi and when Nephi and his brothers are commanded to go back to Jerusalem and all the things they went through with it and the Lord provided! I realized I was Laman and Lemuel! I didn't trust my companion and I didn't have faith. Yes it's a silly story and we could've avoided carrying the box spring haha but I needed to learn this lesson. I needed to follow and have faith that Heavenly Father will protect His missionaries, even His disciples, which is all of us! He promised that He will look over His people I love this work! Through everything you do, there is always something to learn. This week has been full of experiences learning to trust in my Savior. I have started to feel some homesickness, not a lot just a few here and there and realizing I am here for another year and a half is daunting. But every time I have thought like that, Christ puts a MIRACLE in my life and makes me realize why I am here and why I am needed here in West Virginia. I have felt ALL of your prayers carrying me throughout this week and have gained so much strength and appreciation from you all! I've been battling a cold and lack of sleep but because of you all and your faith in me and in missionary work, I am able to keep the work moving forward! The power of prayer is real! 

Speaking of prayer, we pray about everything as missionaries, including the people we are teaching who needs haircuts! Haha I might have mentioned before Don Steed. He is investigating the church and is set to be baptized the 28th of this month! And we were hoping to help clean him up a bit before then and we offered to cut his hair! (People are poor here and he is on disability pay and he has no money to get a haircut) I wish I would have taken a before and after picture but his hair was looooong and his beard was long too! He is so nice and accepting! Haha It turned out alright for a hillbilly haircut and he was glowing by the end of it :) He is so ready to be baptized and follow the example of Jesus Christ. He is a slow learner, but is so determined to learn everything he can. He is just like a vacuum! Lol It's a wonderful thing to help a child of God and bring him closer to our Father in Heaven. It is a privilege to be a part of this chapter in his life and see his progression. The church is true. The power of the Book of Mormon is real and we should not shrink away from sharing it! I know my Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and that He sent His Son to atone for our sins. I know that Christ visited the ancient Americas and ministered to them. I love the Book of Mormon with all my heart, and it can come to life and pierce your soul if you let it. I testify of these things!!!

Sister Reynolds

We visited a less active part member family and they lived on a farm! This family was incredible. They let us in and were so nice. They are willing to let us come back and share a message or two!!

They have goats and one of them just gave birth last week! These goats are just a week old. It was the coolest thing.

In the middle of Bro. Steed's haircut...

After haircut! The both of us don't know how to cut hair. Not bad lol!

He was glowing by the end of his haircut!

This is our district leader Elder Pickett! He is 6' 7" crazy right? Yes he does play basketball and yes he does hit his head on door frames lol...crazy life! This is our first time officially meeting him. When I found out how tall he was I had to get a picture because I am 5' 4" lol.

Now to put her bed together!

So my toilet broke and I had to play Mrs. Fixit haha. The lever that helps flush broke and so we just super glued it back and it's working great now! LOL

#foundmycallinginlife

I love WV!!

Video Chat March 19, 2019

Episode 4: WEST VIRGINIA!

West Virginia Charleston Mission

February 13, 2019 - September 4, 2020

Hello Everyone!
I am alive! My journey the past week and a half was eventful. On Friday, March 1, I wasn't feeling too well and that evening I had super bad sharp pains in my lower abdomen. After 3 hours of trying to endure the pain, I finally told my roommates. It was funny to see the Sisters hustle and bustle around me doing their individual doctor exams on me lol! One Sister's Dad was a doctor and a couple of other Sisters' Mom's were nurses so they were trying to figure out what was wrong with me! Meanwhile my companion, Sister Salter, calls and reports that I am sick and in pain. They come up and examine me. They call the doctor who is on call and he says to get me to the ER because it sounds like appendicitis. So off to the ER we go at 11:00 pm. They did several tests and couldn't find anything! Meanwhile they give me morphine! I was a bit loopy lol. My companion now had her hands full taking care of me!!! They sent us back to the MTC and we got in about 3:30 am. What a night...that I didn't remember lol. The MTC asked if I wanted to call my Mom at 3:00 am or wait until the morning. I slurred as I said "I'll call her now (which was 3:00 am) but my companion was like "um, no she will call tomorrow!" I didn't wake up until like 11:30 the next morning. Still feeling groggy. Ugh I don't do well with pain meds. My companion and I were talking and we both said "there aren't many missionaries who can say that their companion was on morphine lol!" I called my Mom about noon the next day and told her what happened. I don't remember much of the conversation due to the drugs haha. Everything is ok. No appendicitis and not sure what was wrong!! Just so glad to be off morphine!

I was able to celebrate my 21st Birthday in the MTC (March 5th)!! Just like my brother Kyle haha. He was in the Mexico MTC when he turned 21. It was weird to celebrate a birthday without family but they were thoughtful and sent me a birthday package!! Yay, I finally received a fun package lol!!!! I felt so loved by my family.

Wednesday, March 6
We were scheduled to check out of the MTC at 4:00 am which meant to wake up at 3:00 am to make sure we were all ready to go! There were 16 total leaving the MTC that morning. I was a bit nervous to travel because I had 2 huge suitcases and 1 carry-on. I thought there would be Elders who would help me but as I looked at everyone else, they all had the same amount of luggage as me! We walked to the bus station then took the tracks to Salt Lake Airport. Yep 4:00 am! I must be crazy. I am never up this early for anything!! We made it to the airport safely. Out of the 16 missionaries, 14 of us were flying to West Virginia. That was comforting to travel with lots of missionaries! Our flight left at 8:40 am and we were stopping in Houston, Texas and then switching planes. In the Houston airport, I see some military men who were in the Army. I got a little teary eyed as I thought of my brother, Colby, who serves in the Army. I wasn't able to say good-bye to him because he is serving in San Antonio. I did go up to these men and thanked them for their service. They were so nice and appreciative of my support. This made me miss Colby even more. We then flew from Houston to Charleston, West Virginia. We stayed the night at the mission home. They next morning I met my companion, Sister McKendrick! She is so nice and sweet. She is from Highland, Utah. I will be with her and in this area for 12 weeks! I am assigned to the Parkersburg 2 area. I live in Vienna, West Virginia, which is on the border of Ohio. Our area does go into Ohio which is like 30 minutes away. Vienna is an hour and a half north of Charleston. We are over one ward with a set of Elders. Our ward is like 30-40 people. The Elders cover South Parkersburg and we cover North Parkersburg. We drive a 2017 Chevy Malibu. It's a blessing because our area is huge. There are a few ward members who know exactly where New Mexico is. They have either driven thru it or have lived in Southern New Mexico! How crazy is that!! So that's my "in" when I talk to people haha.

The second day there, a member takes us to eat at Wendy's. Her name is G. Allen. During our conversation, she talks about BYU and Provo. I tell her I use to live in Orem. She asks if I know any Reynolds up there. I tell her yes. She asks if I know Susan Reynolds. I tell her SHE IS MY GRANDMA!!! She tells me that she use to live up the street from her many years ago and use to babysit for them. She said that all she could remember is a girl named Amy. I ask her if she remembers Jason and she said yes! I tell her THAT IS MY DAD!!!! What a tender mercy from the Lord. I know I am suppose to be serving here!

We had a referral for someone who lives 30 minutes away. We get there and park the car. We walk up the street and find the home. We see cars parked in the front and see 2 men, one younger and the other older. We walk up and almost immediately my companion is super nervous and uneasy. The men looked a little rugged and were a lot bigger than us. They walk up to us and are like 2 feet from us. That was a bit intimidating to have two men walk pretty fast toward you. They begin questioning us, where are we from, why we are here, how we got there, what our names are, etc. Sister McKendricks' voice was shaky and I sensed that she was super scared because she kept getting closer and closer to me. I felt okay when we first started talking but then they were asking weird questions. I could tell my companion was trying to find a way out of there. The thought ran through my mind, could we out run them? How could we make an escape. I then felt I needed to pray. I said a quick prayer and immediately I felt comforted. I then had a prompting to talk about cars. Since I use to work at a car dealership and my Dad and Colby would work on cars a lot lol. This worked!!! The younger guy's name is Josh and the older guy's name is John--who is the Dad. Josh walks away and we talk to John. Immediately after saying a prayer and talk about cars, his heart softens. We give him a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet to read!! He accepts both of them!!!!! He even gives us a referral and asks us to visit his daughter! We are to follow up next week. Wow, I am witnessing miracles!

I'm learning that all the things we do should help us focus on our purpose. Anytime we get on our phones, is it going to bring us closer to Christ? Will it help someone else come closer to Christ? It's great! It allows the spirit to constantly be with me and helps keep me focused on my purpose as a missionary. I love being a missionary! I love this gospel. I am thankful for the miracles I see each day. I know the power that the Book of Mormon holds. It is my favorite book!
Sister Reynolds

I know the power that the Book of Mormon holds. It is my favorite book!

Traveling on the bus to Salt Lake City airport....too early in the morning!

A I R P L A N E  A D V E N T U R E S

It felt like the tiniest airplane lol

Salt Lake City--) Houston, Texas--) Charleston, West Virginia

My companion Sister McKendrick!!

President and Sister Lindhardt

Welcome to West Virginia!

The Mission Home in Charleston, West Virginia

Episode 3: Life in the MTC!!

"We need women who teach fearlessly" 

President Russell M. Nelson

February 28, 2019

WOOOW This week has been so insane....ly GREAT!!!  Haha when you’re constantly surrounded by so many missionaries that all have the spirit with them it's hard to be in a bad mood! Ok I promise ill make this email a little shorter too lol 

I love the spirit of our Sunday sacrament meetings here at the MTC! It is so strong and powerful. It is so awesome to see these young men at the age of 18 to worthily bless and pass the sacrament. To see them use their priesthood and fulfill their duties as disciple of Christ. Me and my comp, Sister Salter, got priesthood blessings as well and the spirit was so overwhelming (in a good way). So one of the new Sisters' mom, was getting brain surgery on Monday. It was going to be a scary and tricky procedure. The doctors weren't sure of how extensive the damage was and were going in blind and would make a plan when they would cut her open. I could not imagine the faith this Sister missionary has to still have come knowing her mother was going through this just a couple days after her leaving. She was given special permission to keep in touch with her family on Monday and she seemed so strong. Me and Sister Salter decided to fast for her starting on Sunday dinner until Monday lunch. I can testify the power of fasting is real. Her mother had a tumor growing and the doctors weren't expecting much to go right. But they were able to take out 95% of it and her mother is recovering well. Our whole Zone was praying for her and it was such a special couple of days. Another Sister during this same time had gotten the flu and needed to be put in isolation! So she also was added to the fast. She is slowly getting better and is taking it like a champ. Then another Sister was going through a realllyyy hard time. She wasn't sleeping and was so homesick. So she was also added. She later received a blessing and now is thriving. It was so incredible to be a part of such a fast. I wasn't hungry until the moment I broke it! haha But I know the Lord's hand was in these Sisters' lives and it was such a testimony to me of their strength. 

Believe it or not I woke up at 5:45 AM to go workout with another Sister, who's companion didn't want to and my companion didn't want to either! haha Ministering...ISN'T IT WONDERFUL?! I have never been happier to wake up that early haha. Working out has helped me with release stress and feel rejuvenated. I am normally not a early morning riser but it really felt good to wake up early! I miss working out everyday!! 

Earlier this week we taught a person and his name is Nefi (Nefee).He was...so interesting! haha definitely a challenge. Me and my comp have been struggling with agreeing on what to teach and it was difficult to teach him in general. I am realizing that it's so important to be on the same page as your companion when you teach. The spirit will withdraw if there is any contention. I hope to be able to work out our differences in our teaching. 

Today we were able to go to the Provo Temple again and I love the peace you feel in the temple! I'm still trying to figure out how to use my time wisely on P-day! Although there isn't really much you can do in the MTC lol. I am really loving the MTC. There are a lot of missionaries who are dying to get out in the mission field, but I really like it here! Being a STL, I am able to help other Sisters who may be struggling. Some are home sick and some have mental health issues. I'm thankful for the experiences I have had in my life because I am able to relate to the Sisters and help them through their trials and struggles. I know I was meant to go through my personal trials for a reason because I am now helping others deal with things that I have been through. 

Next Wednesday, March 6, I will be flying out to West Virginia! So my P-day won't be on Thursday. It will now be on Mondays, so my next P-day isn't until March 11. I'm ready to serve in the mission field! I'm excited to see who my companion will be and my first area there in West Virginia. I'm a bit nervous to travel though lol. I have 2 huge suitcases and a carry-on. Everyone else has the same amount of luggage so we will be responsible for our own lugguage lol. We will check out of the MTC at 4:00 AM (not looking forward to that!!) and walk to the bus station. We will take the tracks to Salt Lake Airport and fly to Houston, Texas and then to Charleston, West Virginia!!! Thank you for your love and prayers! I feel them each day!!!!

Sister Reynolds

Sister Salter and Sister Reynolds

Elder Thompson, Elder Davis and Sister Salter

I love this painting, the man who painted it made it look like the people were bowing down and worshiping Christ, but also made them look like sheep and Christ is our Shepherd.

Alma 56:47-48

"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying : We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

I absolutely LOVE seeing all these pictures in the MTC!

Christ appearing to the Nephites

Joseph Smith

Matthew 18:4

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Video chat with our favorite missionary!!

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught."

~I'm trying to be like Jesus~

Episode 2: First Week in the MTC!

Sister Reynolds and Sister Salter

They were assgined to be STL's-Sister Training Leaders!

February 21, 2019
Hello all!
I almost said Elders and Sisters because we are not allowed to say "guys" lol. Well at least I'm learning!! lol (for once) just kidding but I love this gospel!!! I don't even know where to begin! Everyday has been such a blur and I can hardly even remember what I did each morning lol. I feel like my memory was 100% and now it's at 22% yaaayy haha BUT luckily we have wise prophets who told us to write in journals! Hopefully I can explain to the best of my abilities my week here in the MTC.
WEDNESDAY-February 13
Wow, my first day here, actually half day but it was crazy. Literally went into class 10 minutes after being dropped off. You don't even have time to think of or miss your families! (No offense) But the energy here is so incredible. I feel super blessed to have had a couple of years under my belt and went to Mission Prep (Shout out to Bro. Larson and Bro. Gladden!). I felt almost over prepared haha But I absolutely loooove my companion, Sister Salter!! She is identical to my cousin, Sister Allsup--who is currently serving in the Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission!! That has been such a blessing, having a little bit of home with me all the time. Literally ALL the time. We were talking in our dorm one night and she said "Were you with me when so and so came up to talk about blah blah blah" and I thought about it and then she realized oh wait duh you're always with me! It was a little weird at first to be with someone but now it's so freaking scary to be without her! Like a 5 year old lost in a store without mom lol but she is so awesome. Our District is so awesome! All of us are going to West Virginia! How cool is that!?! We all have come to realize that it was not a coincidence that it happened that way and every day here we realize it all over again. I have been blessed to be with spiritual giants! We learn SO WELL together and bounce questions, answers, doctrine, testimony, anything you could think of, off of each other. They have helped me in my transition here so much. Our District has 3 Elders (a trio companionship) Elder Nibly, who is a big boy haha but so full of love and knowledge of the gospel. He is 18 and was asked to be our District Leader! So cool. Elder Thompson, who reminds me so much of my little brother, Caiden!! It's so crazy! Just his personality and the way he thinks, and has a strong solid testimony of his Savior. Elder Davissss...haha he is such a goofball and little on the quiet side but when he speaks up or when he testifies, you are left in amazement and with goosebumps lol. And then we have 3 sets of the companionship's of Sisters! So 6 of us total. Sister Coombs, so cute and is musically talented and the MOM of the group. Sister Lasike, who is Tongan, I mean how cool is that? She is a great note taker and has a powerful desire to serve. Sister Peterson, who is 18, but got special permission to be here since she will have her birthday in the MTC and is born on leap year! So cool. She is so knowledgeable, it's incredible. Sister Nielson, who is so kind and thoughtful and full of love.
THURSDAY-February 14
You definitely could feel the love today...FOR THIS GOSPEL!! haha Happy Valentines Day! 2nd day and had a bit of trouble sleeping but I'm over it lol. We talked a lot about the gospel of Jesus Christ lol which was pretty awesome because that's what one of my farewell talks was on! It was jammed packed with lots of things to learn and so, sooo many classes!! My head feels like it's going to explode from all the things being shoved in there! I need time to sort it all out haha but definitely learning and loving the concept of Exact Obedience. Never thought that being obedient would be so fun!! haha Just kidding but I have been able to have that testified to me through my actions and examples and has blessed us as a District. I love this gospel!!
FRIDAY-February 15
Today was pretty similar to yesterday but I was looking a little too much inward and not enough outward. So I learned what it meant to lose yourself in the work!! haha Funny thing I hadn't yet received my phone and today I did! But I didn't know it at the time lol sooo our District Leader gets the mail for our District every day and tells us at our meal time. He said I had 3 packages!! I felt so loved! hahaha So I'm all excited and basically fun back to our room to open them aaaand all I see in there are my phone, case, and Chromecast....I was so crushed!! hahaha While all the other Sisters got good packages, I just got my phone! So sad lol but we were all laughing about it :) Still haven't gotten used to this crazy schedule though! It feels like school and it's literally been years since I've had this structured schedule and it's killing meeee! I have faith that I can get use to it haha but I love my Savior and I know He lives <3
SATURDAY-February 16
We finally had time to exercise!! This was such a blessing and I felt so destressed...is that a word? lol It is now! But I was able to learn so much today. Specifically in my personal study. I was reading in 3 Nephi 11 and it's the chapter when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas after being resurrected and let me tell you that it really did happen. I felt so strongly connected to this chapter. I know that it happened and the Savior is with us all. I'm sure He visits us all daily and puts something in our life to testify that He is there for us, we just have to look for it. Another thing I noticed was that after He descended from Heaven and testified of Himself and the Atonement, the first thing He teaches is baptism. He immediately ordains Nephi and gives him the priesthood to baptized these people. I LOOOVE that! We are so afraid sometimes that we will scare people off with inviting them to be baptized but we shouldn't be! It is the one thing that can truly bring them closer to Christ! Why should we keep that from them?? If you are holding back from this invitation, please...please do not any longer. Baptism will help them far more than just to be there for them or to not lose a friendship. I absolutely cannot wait to share this message to the world!!
SUNDAY-February 17
It's Sunday!! I have been looking forward to Sunday for so long it seems haha but taking the sacrament was such a blessing! I truly felt the strength to go throughout this week. Brothers and Sisters, the power of the sacrament is real! So today was...a learning day haha but in a different way. Tonight we had a devotional and had one of the members of the MTC Presidencies talk. Sitting in front of me and Sister Salter were some Elders emailing home and chewing gum really loudly and wearing a beanie in the gym, which are all No No's. Sister Salter and I felt weird about calling them out and would ever so often whisper to each other and determine what we should tell our own Zone and District. Oh! I forgot to say that Sister Salter and I were assigned to be STL's...Sister Training Leaders :) So that's why we were discussing what we should say to our Zone, but anyways after the devotional the wife of one of the Presidency members came up to us and asked if she could talk to us and we said "oh of course!" Totally not prepared for what she was going to say to us. She started out asking how we liked it and then with no compassion WHATSOEVER started to tell us that we were being so disruptive and distracting, that she could not stop watching us and continued to tell us that we were not listening at all! Which by the way, we used a lot of what we learned in our companion study and lesson, so we were paying attention lol and we were sitting at the top at the very end of the bleachers so only had Elders in front of us and 2 Sisters in back of us which we apologized about talking and told them why and they thought the same of the Elders. But ya and she continued to say all this negative stuff about our appearance and then said that we were so bad that we were jerks...she literally called us jerks!! Sister Salter and I were...so confused and astonished that she said that?! She kept calling us a bunch of jerks the rest of the time talking to us and said that she did not feel bad about calling us that...I was so mad and hurt and discouraged by this, as was my companion. Then after her basically yelling at us she did a complete 180 turn of the topic and was like oh but I love you and am so proud of your desire to serve, let me know if you need anything and tried hugging us! I later, MUCH later, felt bad about not smiling or hugging back but what do you do in that situation?? So we still had another hour of class and the spirit was totally taken away and we could not concentrate. We said a little prayer to forgive and forget and to try to concentrate on the next thing but it was so hard. That next class actually talked about turning outward and serving one another, rather than letting the natural man take over. Which made it even harder to listen!! haha But I later realized that all it could take is one little incident, one little thing that we may not even think about doing or thinking it being offensive, for someone not to want to join the church or feel loved or connected to us. We as members of the Church have taken on ourselves the name of Christ and need to represent Him. I'm still learning and now can laugh at the situation but I have faith that I can always turn to the Savior for help, I love that power of the Atonement. It is so real and I love the love the Savior has for me.
MONDAY-February 18
We got to teach real people! It was so rewarding to finally apply the things we were studying and learning about! We are teaching a girl named Lindsey and she is so ready for the gospel in her life! We felt that we should definitely invite her to baptism but during the lesson it never came, which was totally ok! We were really able to connect with her and gain her trust. She has such a strong testimony in this gospel! I love it! I love her!!
TUESDAY-February 19
We got to teach another person who was investigating the church and it was going so well!!! haha So we prepared to teach her the plan of salvation which was a stretch for us because we necessarily haven't been taught that and what to specially teach but we prayed and received the answer to teach what we prepared, so we did and as we got into the lesson and we powerfully testified of the love that God has for her and taught her about Christs' Atonement and the spirit was so strong and testified so well to her it brought her and us to tears. It was incredible...then we opened our mouths and instead of listening to the spirit, we taught what we planned...BOTH of us feeling that we should just keep teaching her about God and the Savior but didn't know what to do so we went on with our lesson. It was such a rookie mistake haha but she did learn so much and the spirit was still there to help her about her purpose in this life. It was so awesome and we definitely have learned to always just trust in the spirit lol.
WEDNESDAY-February 20
Today we met with Lindsey and she committed to being baptized!!! The spirit was so strong and she was so happy and you could see the light of Christ in her. We saw her in white. It was glorious! It truly testified to us the power of conversion and baptism. Sister Salter's mind was blown at how powerful it was!! haha I love the constant companionship of the spirit and I love my Savior and I love being His missionaries. The church is true and it will save and bless the lives of all who want to come closer to our Heavenly Father.
Talk to you next week! Thank you for your prayers and love, I have felt them daily <3
Sister Reynolds

Some of the Sisters in my District! Sister Peterson, Sister Nielson and my companion Sister Salter!

I'm so thankful to go to the Provo Temple on my PDay!

I love my companion <3

She reminds me SO much of my cousin, Sawyer!!!

B E A U T I E S

LOVING the mission!

Some bunny loves me!

The Sister doing a kissy face is Sister Lasike (she is tongan, so cool!) and the Sister next to me is Sister Coombs. The other two were our old STL's.

Bent FORKS...a little bit of home...

Sister Reynolds always had forks in her room and car and we would get after her because we were always short on forks. We even bought plastic forks so she can take them and throw them away! One morning we noticed a flat fork in the driveway...Sister Reynolds ran over it and flattened it....

Soooo my luck with forks have not changed lol

The "GIRL" in me! I HAD to get this shirt, it just spoke to me! Fourth Floor Last Door is a talk by Elder Uchtdorf and it's about him meeting his wife. It's so awesome!!!

The MTC needed a sister to go and welcome the incoming sisters who were being dropped off at the MTC. Sister Reynolds jumped up and quickly volunteered! Little did she know that she was a HUGE blessing to the Clark family. This is Sister Ashley Clark from Farmington New Mexico! She is in our stake and was being dropped off by her family. She is serving a mission in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sister Reynolds had no idea who this was when she walked toward the car, ready to welcome a new sister missionary. When she saw who it was they were SO happy to see each other!!!! Ashley's mom, Lisa, knew this was Heavenly Father's hand. She was SO comforted that Kendra welcomed her Ashley with a huge smile and a heart full of love. We all know Kendra, she's so welcoming and friendly! Lisa was so thankful. A blessing for a Mom who is dropping her daughter off to serve a mission for 18 months! She also told us that she knows that these two sweet sisters...Sister Reynolds and Sister Clark ARE IN THE LORD'S HANDS! A tender mercy :)

1st video chat with her. What a blessing!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!