The past 2 weeks

 Hey friends :) 

I got the booster shot on Friday. And we also got our car taken away on Friday too. Why? Oh becauseeeeee someone hurt their arm, soooo now we just walk everywhere. It takes about an hour to walk home. 

Anyway so I got the booster shot and DIED on Saturday. But i kept going! We watched Luz de las Naciones. And oh my it is so beautiful. If you want to watch latino culture, look it up. It is amazing! 

I also gave my first talk in Spanish... was it horrible?? Tal vez... pero esta bien :) the spirit was there and that is all that matters

We are teaching a Columbian lady who lives with 2 Germans people. I honestly have no idea how they communicate... anyway. I have met a ton of people here who are married and don't speak the other persons language. So they live off google Translate. I have also met 3 british people, so it is crazy here. 

This week I have been focusing a lot on being outwardly grateful. And giving thanks for each things that I have, and thanking God for each thing. Everything on this earth is his, every talent we have, he gave us. It is a really humbling thing to realize. And to give thanks to the one who gave it to you, but it is really beautiful. I feel genuine love deep in my heart. And it is so amazing. 

This week I got to go to a members house who preferred to speak english. And she opened her heart to us. I felt genuine christlike love for her. I got to testify to her of her worth. And I was an instrument in God's hands. I had the opportunity to tell her what God needed her to hear. 

Another time this happened was with an older lady named Anna. She became inactive, and we just called her. She told us that she had to call the police on her husband and live with her friend. We met her that night in a park. We talked to her for about 2 hours. She has been through a lot. And all she said she wanted was to feel peace. And being with us, she felt peace. And going to church, she feels peace. 

There is peace in Christ. I never understood that until recently. I never understood the importance of the Book of Mormon until recently also. 

In our mission, we were challenged to read the whole book of Mormon by Christmas. That is about 50 days or like 5 chapters a day. But the overwhelming peace, and joy I have felt is indescribable. If you want any motivation for reading the book of Mormon, watch "Safety for the Soul" by Jeffery R. Holland. He says it better than I ever could 

Week 2: 

We had Thanksgiving dinner with 6 of our missionaries at a Lil venezuelans house. She is the best! And her food, delightful. She loves to cook. However, venezuelans don't really like sweet food. It is so sad. Que triste! 

Transfers happened!!! Soo I have been a missionary for 3 months??? Crazy! Wow! Anyway so my companion is going to die halfway through the transfer :( but we will be in a trio :)))) annnnnd the girl we are getting is a fluent Spanish speaker. Woohoo! She is from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 

We also do Spanish fasts everyday from 9-9 to help. And honestly I have improved like crazy. Plus the Lord is definitely blessing me. 

I just ponder how much God truly loves us. Like trials are blessings, and it's okay. We can get through it. God loves us. He sees us. We aren't alone in these hard times. Think about how many people are cheering you on... an all knowing God, a kind loving Savior, your family/ancestors, ministering angels, and your friends and family in this life. You have a whole team on your side. You aren't alone. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever. 

Jeffery R. Holland said in his 2016 talk entitled 'Tomorrow the Lord will Do Wonders Among You'

"My brothers and sisters, the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—that’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life. Indeed it is only with that reassurance burning in our soul that we can have the confidence to keep trying to improve, keep seeking forgiveness for our sins, and keep extending that grace to our neighbor.

President George Q. Cannon once taught: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. … He will [always] stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them.”

I just want to testify that God loves you, you aren't alone, you are loved, you are important, you are enough. And I am so grateful you are in my life. I love you infinitely

Hermana Reynolds