Episode 15: I'M ENGAGED...IN THE WORK!!! (ehh got em)

Guys!!!! Members of the church!! I love this gospel!!!
WOW ok this week has been crazy busy so hold on to your armchairs!!
We had exchanges this week and I got out of Parkersburg for 2 days!! I got to experience a little more of this blessed land :) I was serving with Sister Sujeta, who is an amazing missionary that loves chocolate haha!! She is really just a ball of fun and we were able to teach so many wonderful people. While I was gone, my companions just went to town with finding people!! They found a new person to start teaching named Dale, I have yet to meet him so stay tuned!!

When I got back we were preparing for a church tour for that young couple, Jenny and Mitch, who are Baptists and they are amazing people. They are more curious as to what we believe but are genuine in learning. We met them at the church with a member who was just called to be a ward missionary and is AMAZING! She takes her calling very seriously and is solely committed to be a part of this wonderful work!! She is so kind and brought such an amazing spirit to the tour. They had many questions and were very pleased that a lot of what we do during church is the same, or that it isn't "too crazy" haha. The spirit was so strong and they were able to feel it too. Sister Henrie is speaking this next Sunday so we invited them to come and we hope they can make it!!

With exchanges, I set a goal to see the world with new eyes...specifically through God's eyes (shout out to my old companion, Sister McKendrick, for showing me a really good song by Brandon Heath "Give me your eyes.") but because I asked to see the world as He does, we have seen so many miracles! We have had so many opportunities to talk to people and feel that nervousness blow away and courage and boldness replace it. God can work miracles if we allow Him to!

While tracting we met this young man, a college aged guy, Michael who seemed semi interested and took a Book of Mormon. We invited him to church but he kindly declined and said maybe in the future I'll come. So we gave him our card and number and said if he wanted to learn more that we will stop by and he can also give us a call. Not an hour later, he called us saying he wanted to come to church!! We were amazed and felt that he was elect and ready to receive the blessings that God offers...unfortunately, he didn't make it to church but we plan on stopping by this evening...stay tuned!!

So I feel I must describe my heading a little more haha. We were having our companion studies and I asked what their favorite stories were in the Bible. They shared the tempest when Jesus was sleeping and woke up and calmed the sea, how in their own lives He has piloted them where to go and calming the storms as they came up. I shared my favorite of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. I was somewhere learning about this, and it was explained in much better words (probably because the spirit was teaching me and I'm gonna butcher it so bare with me!!) but essentially that all Jesus asked for was what we could give Him. In this story, it was food, and all they could give Him was 5 loaves and 2 fishes. They were worried and questioned the ability to feed those 5000 people, but through Christ, He performed a miracle out of the sacrifice. It is the same with our lives. As I was being taught this I realized that my 5 loves and 2 fishes was my mission. I was giving Him all I could for 18 months and everyday I would sacrifice something...and because of that sacrifice He is creating miracles out of it. Let Him guide you and let Him in your life!! So as I was sharing this with my companions, Sister Henrie says "Sister Reynolds, You're engaged!!!" And I was soooo confused haha but we all busted out laughing and she further explained that we are engaged in the work :) haha. It was probably one of those moments where you had to be there! But it was on our minds because congrats to my brother, Kyle for getting engaged to Jacei!!! I am so happy for you brother!!! and you too Jacei!!!

I love you all and thank you for your support!! You're all amazing and I just want you all to know, if you haven't noticed yet that I love this gospel and I love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ!!!! The church is true!!
Have a wonderful week!
Sister Reynolds

We are ENGAGED IN THE WORK!

"Heavenly Father loves and trusts His precious daughters and now as never before, is the time to flood the earth with their virtue, their strong spirits and their light."

Elaine S. Dalton

~Another Testament of Jesus Christ~

Episode 14: The Breakthrough and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Wow! What a wonderful week!! It has been really busy for us, which is exactly what we need after being stuck in the apartment for so long! Some awesome updates from this week:
We were walking to an appointment and had a few minutes to spare, and I felt prompted to go down a specific street and knock on some doors. Sister Brerton picked a red door and we knocked on it and met a wonderful woman named Betsy!! She was very curious about who we were and what we do. It's always so humbling to testify the importance of missionary work and why we dedicate 18 months to the Lord. She was impressed and wanted to learn more, since we insisted on sharing! Haha It was one of the best door approaches I have had and she accepted a Book of Mormon and we scheduled a follow-up appointment for this Tuesday! We are so pumped!!

We have been teaching Jennifer D. for a while, as well as multiple sets of missionaries before us. BUT this week we had a breakthrough!! The spirit was so so soooo strong, and we talked about the importance of teaching and learning in the gospel and enduring to the end. We had her on a baptismal date for May 18th but she got really sick and we had to postpone. So we asked her to recommit to a date and asked for her and her husband to pray about a specific date. As we talked and shared testimonies all around she finally expressed that she knew it was true. That everything was true and that all the things we say and testify are true and because of the Book of Mormon and she KNOWS that the Book of Mormon is the word of God!! I couldn't help but cry! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it now. She has one of the strongest testimonies I know and I am so grateful to have witnessed her testimony of our Savior develop more deeply. This gospel can do so much for us if we let it. We are teaching another couple, the Hubers. One of the things we are really trying to express is that we are not here to take away what they know and replace it...we want you to take what you know and build upon it. That is the whole reason behind the Book of Mormon. I love seeing their eyes light up as we tell them this and the questioning of "There is more? Where and how do we find it?" I know this is the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ lives and He loves each and every one of us!

Fun story: I love doing service!! We get to meet so many wonderful people because of it and can hold their crazy pets too haha!! We went to help this single lady scrape paint off her walls to repaint it. She introduced us to her snakes as well!! It was so scary but fun, but scary!! Not sure I could ever have a snack for a pet but I support those people who want to haha!

I love this work and I love West Virginia!! Everyday I get to wake up and realize how blessed I am and thank my Heavenly Father for the bounteous blessings He bestows upon me daily. This past Sunday was wonderful to be able to thank and recognize all the fathers, including our Heavenly Father. Take some time this week to thank them and to deepen your relationship with our Father in Heaven. It'll be the best thing you do!!
I love you all. Have a wonderful week and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
Sister Reynolds

My Companions are amazing!

S N A K E S

A bit unsure...

Our car was making weird noises so I got down and took a look lol and my companion snapped a picture because I'm so cool hahahaha jk

FATHER'S DAY VIDEO CHAT

June 16, 2019

Episode 13: Squirrels and Testimonies

I love this work and I love being a missionary!!!

WOW!! This week was a slow/fast one! You ever feel that way? haha Sister Brereton was still sick so we were inside until Friday. It's hard being stuck inside with not much to do!! haha But it's ok because the three of us were really able to get to know one another. This past week has actually been such a spiritual upliftment for me. As I have been able to get to know each of my companions, they have shared their testimonies with me about the gospel. We have had many opportunities to share insights and thoughts about certain subjects and really have just enjoyed each others company! I love the women I am able to serve with, it sets the perfect example of who I want to become. We have discussed a lot about the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ and our role in preparing the world, or preparing West Virginia for this miraculous event. We have all been able to express our deepest gratitude for Christ and what He can truly do for us. We were able to create a plan of how we are going to help those we come in contact with to develop or deepen this same testimony! That He is the Son of God, that He lives! That He atoned for our sins so that we may return back to our Heavenly home. He conquered death so that we may be able to, too. His love is deeper than any situation we have found ourselves in. It truly amazes me...His love for me and for all of us.

A neat little story, we were at Walmart picking up some more medicine and we needed a few soups as well, and while in the soup aisle an elder woman stopped in front of us with the biggest smile on her face and asked "Who are you? I need to know who you are!" We were a bit taken off guard but we introduced ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She seemed to have tears in her eyes as we stated that and went on to tell us "I knew it. I can feel the light of Christ when I'm around you, and I can see His countenance in you three women. Keep doing what you are doing because it shows!" It was such a touching moment for the three of us and it testified that we are truly messengers to preach His gospel...and if necessary to use words. (I love that talk by Elder Uchtdorf "Waiting on the Road to Damascus" April 2011). But it's true and it was a tender mercy for all of us.

My companions are just great!! Mostly because they are willing to go along with my ridiculous ideas...like skinning a squirrel!! :D haha I was driving and I saw a black squirrel on the side of the road (take note: we have a Senior couple who the lady will make book covers and all sorts of things out of hides of animals) and so I find a plastic bag, pick it up and when we got back to the apartment...I skinned it!! I was inclined to do this because it made me get a tiny little taste of what it's like to being in the OR...it's a stretch haha but we had fun with it and I was able to entertain us for a couple of hours while being stuck in the apartment...only in West Virginia...and only Sister Reynolds...but now it's all salted up and in our freezer!! lol I had never skinned anything before but have seen my father do it many times and I was actually really surprised at how well I did it!! With the help of my two "scrub nurses" haha. I'm sure our neighbors thought we were crazy with our constant squeals of ewws and yucks haha. (We did NOT eat it because it was roadkill) lol but it was a fun adventure!

So that's how it's been for us, unfortunately since being sick we still haven't picked up teaching anyone new, but it's given us opportunities to see our members and plan meetings with them and getting them excited for missionary work in their own neighborhoods. Something we have been inviting members to do is carry a pass along card with them and either pass it along as you feel prompted to in those moments or pray to give it to someone specifically. We have seen and heard many success stories from doing this and it's simple and easy! You're always prepared for an opportunity to share the gospel!! :) I love this work and I love being a missionary for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The church is true!! The Book is blue! And Moroni's on the Ball!! ;D  Have a great week Ya'll! I love you all!
Sister Reynolds

Skinning a Squirrel...

Needed a sharper knife!

Sister Reynolds and her one of her Scrub Nurses

SUCCESS!!!

It's salted and in our freezer...

ready to be a book cover lol 

Episode 12: Transfers!!! I am Blessed with not ONE New Companion but TWO!!!

Hello New Mexico!

Wow, sorry it has been awhile. My email went whack and wouldn't let me email for awhile there! But quick update with your missionary in West Virginia:

I sent home my trainer, Sister McKendrick.... :( so sad!! She was an amazing missionary and helped me learn so much about how to love the people here. She is incredible and I wish her well in her new (home) area!! ;D

I got super blessed this transfer. I am staying here in Vienna with not ONE new companion but TWO!! I am in a trio with two AMAZING missionaries!! Sister Henrie is from Arizona and Sister Brareton is from Washington State. They have already taught me so much and they are on fire and ready to help Parkersburg receive the gospel of Jesus Christ!! Unfortunately we haven't had a lot of success with finding more people to teach. This area has been struggling a little bit so we are focusing a lot on our ward members. I love my ward!! They are quirky in their own WV way and I love it :) They have a very strong and sincere desire to do missionary work, which has been amazing to see.

I am so humbled to be a part of this work. I am deeply grateful for my Savior and His love for me and what He has done for me while being out on the mission. If you do let Him into your life, He will be there. My favorite scripture this week has been 2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." Do we rejoice in Him? How often? I have come to realize that the Book of Mormon is full of accounts of when people are afflicted in some way, but instead of dwelling on the bad, they rejoice in their Savior! I am so grateful that those prophets of old went through so much in order to give us this record of their people, and to warn us, give us hope, and essentially give us that second witness of our Savior! My gratitude for the early pioneers has grown immensely while studying our church's history through Saints. I'm moved by everyone's testimonies of this gospel shared every week at church. I'm humbled by my day to day experiences of being a missionary and being able to echo all of these testimonies to those who have never heard it or just happened to open the door to us haha. I love God and I will rejoice in Him!!
Have a good week Ya'll!!
Sister Reynolds

My Trainer, Sister McKendrick

Saying Good-bye

S M O O T H I E S

This Phillipino family is AWESOME and are so nice! They take us to Panera a lot!!

Shirley, Sister Reynolds and Linda

These ladies are our neighbors and best friends and they are hilarious!! They love giving us boy advice and making fun of each other hahaha. I love them to death!

My new companions and I were playing "Restoration Jenga!" Each jenga piece has a principle in what we believe in and if you take the priesthood away then that's how all the other churches started forming...I hope that makes sense lol.

Video chat on May 27, 2019

Heading out to play pickleball with Sister McKendrick!

Video chat on June 3, 2019