Hello All,
We have officially completed week 2 in the great Ohio land. I guess by
we I mean my incredible trainer Sister Corbett and I. We've had an
exciting week teaching all of our lovely investigators, visiting, less
active members for our ward, singing, and engaging in all kinds
of missionary madness. I decided to let you see inside a new
missionaries brain this week with a few confessions:
1. We have no idea where we are going and who we meet with most of the
time... BUT we are definitely excited to be doing whatever we are
doing.
Being thrown into the mission field after a 5 hour long flight, crazy
night at the mission home, and emotional first transfer meeting is
crazy. Your first 24 hours in your area is pure chaos and you remember
very little, BUT you do bring one thing with you from MTC and that is
pure zeal for missionary work. Your teachers did a really good job of
pumping you up full of spiritual fire and you can use it all in the
field. I don't always know what I'm doing or the best way to teach but
I am excited to be doing it!
2. We are always tired... BUT It's because we work so hard!
The missionary schedule is great. Get up at 6:30, excercise,
breakfast, so much studying, leave the apartment at 11, do the work,
be back at 9, plan, go to bed at 10:30. We get 8 hours of sleep a day,
but it never feels like enough. Preaching and teaching really takes
the energy out of you every day. My trainer ensures that this will
continue throughout the next 17 months so no worries
3. We marvel at the gospel...
We've been reading a talk called "Your potential, Your Privileges" by
Elder Uchtdorf in preparation for zone conference this week. President
Uchtdorf talks a lot about how we need to be finding joy in the
everyday activities we get to participate in as members of the gospel
(especially missionaries). I have only been here for 12 days and I
have seen so many amazing things happen because of the gospel. We are
preparing an investigator named Sister Wilson for baptism on Saturday.
She was what we call a Golden investigator, or someone who we found
that has been extremely prepared by God to accept the gospel. She has
so much faith, has already read half of the Book of Mormon, and is
willing to accept all of the teachings except for a few word of wisdom
hold ups. She soaks the Gospel in during every appointment, and I can
see God helping her along. Our other investigator planning to be
baptized in August literally asked us "What do I need to do to be
baptized?" And agreed she was ready after we read her the
qualifications. She was so willing to give up anything she had to just
so she could go through that powerful experience. She also mentioned
at the end of the lesson she was planning on going to the Temple Open
House in Indianapolis on her own. The gospel changes hearts and it's
so fun to be able to watch.
4. We love the little things...
One if my favorite parts of my day is clipping on my missionary tag in
the morning. I love saying prayers before we do anything (study, eat,
leave the apartment, plan). I love having the mission song stuck in my
head (even if it's beyond cheesy and almost too peppy some mornings. I
love hearing the people we teach say prayers. I love being the backer
for my trainer (standing behind our car and making sure she doesn't
hit anything while she's in reverse). I love the Ohio sunsets and
country farm land. I love walks with my companion in between visits. I
love listening to her belt out EFY songs on our way home. All of those
things that probably get old after 18 months, we still love them.
5. We miss you...
Adjusting to missionary life is interesting. Even when you are
throwing yourself into the lords work your heart always finds a way
home. We think of all of you, pray for you, and cannot wait until we
get to see you again. Even if we don't always write, and we spend 16
hours of the day thinking about the people in our area and the Lord,
we think of you too.
6. We LOVE The scriptures
The scriptures are the guidebook to our personal lives. We are taught
as missionaries to answer every question with a scripture, because all
answers can be found there. The scripture of the week is
2 Nephi 4:15-16
15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the
scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul
delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth
them for the learning and the profit of my children.
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart
pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
What kinds of things does your soul delight in?
There are some thoughts running through a new missionary's brain.
Life is good here in Scioto.
I hope you are all doing well!!!
Love,
Sister Reynolds
PS
My current address is (for 2+ transfers, or 12+weeks)
4219 Kathryn's Place
Grove City OH 43123
Or you can send mail to the mission home and they can forward it to me
19 Clairedan Dr
Powell OH 43065
(Packages have to be first class or priority mail to be forwarded.)
Also please put my whole name, Sister Anna Reynolds, so they know
which Sister Reynolds to send it too. Thanks :)
We have officially completed week 2 in the great Ohio land. I guess by
we I mean my incredible trainer Sister Corbett and I. We've had an
exciting week teaching all of our lovely investigators, visiting, less
active members for our ward, singing, and engaging in all kinds
of missionary madness. I decided to let you see inside a new
missionaries brain this week with a few confessions:
1. We have no idea where we are going and who we meet with most of the
time... BUT we are definitely excited to be doing whatever we are
doing.
Being thrown into the mission field after a 5 hour long flight, crazy
night at the mission home, and emotional first transfer meeting is
crazy. Your first 24 hours in your area is pure chaos and you remember
very little, BUT you do bring one thing with you from MTC and that is
pure zeal for missionary work. Your teachers did a really good job of
pumping you up full of spiritual fire and you can use it all in the
field. I don't always know what I'm doing or the best way to teach but
I am excited to be doing it!
2. We are always tired... BUT It's because we work so hard!
The missionary schedule is great. Get up at 6:30, excercise,
breakfast, so much studying, leave the apartment at 11, do the work,
be back at 9, plan, go to bed at 10:30. We get 8 hours of sleep a day,
but it never feels like enough. Preaching and teaching really takes
the energy out of you every day. My trainer ensures that this will
continue throughout the next 17 months so no worries
3. We marvel at the gospel...
We've been reading a talk called "Your potential, Your Privileges" by
Elder Uchtdorf in preparation for zone conference this week. President
Uchtdorf talks a lot about how we need to be finding joy in the
everyday activities we get to participate in as members of the gospel
(especially missionaries). I have only been here for 12 days and I
have seen so many amazing things happen because of the gospel. We are
preparing an investigator named Sister Wilson for baptism on Saturday.
She was what we call a Golden investigator, or someone who we found
that has been extremely prepared by God to accept the gospel. She has
so much faith, has already read half of the Book of Mormon, and is
willing to accept all of the teachings except for a few word of wisdom
hold ups. She soaks the Gospel in during every appointment, and I can
see God helping her along. Our other investigator planning to be
baptized in August literally asked us "What do I need to do to be
baptized?" And agreed she was ready after we read her the
qualifications. She was so willing to give up anything she had to just
so she could go through that powerful experience. She also mentioned
at the end of the lesson she was planning on going to the Temple Open
House in Indianapolis on her own. The gospel changes hearts and it's
so fun to be able to watch.
4. We love the little things...
One if my favorite parts of my day is clipping on my missionary tag in
the morning. I love saying prayers before we do anything (study, eat,
leave the apartment, plan). I love having the mission song stuck in my
head (even if it's beyond cheesy and almost too peppy some mornings. I
love hearing the people we teach say prayers. I love being the backer
for my trainer (standing behind our car and making sure she doesn't
hit anything while she's in reverse). I love the Ohio sunsets and
country farm land. I love walks with my companion in between visits. I
love listening to her belt out EFY songs on our way home. All of those
things that probably get old after 18 months, we still love them.
5. We miss you...
Adjusting to missionary life is interesting. Even when you are
throwing yourself into the lords work your heart always finds a way
home. We think of all of you, pray for you, and cannot wait until we
get to see you again. Even if we don't always write, and we spend 16
hours of the day thinking about the people in our area and the Lord,
we think of you too.
6. We LOVE The scriptures
The scriptures are the guidebook to our personal lives. We are taught
as missionaries to answer every question with a scripture, because all
answers can be found there. The scripture of the week is
2 Nephi 4:15-16
15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the
scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul
delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth
them for the learning and the profit of my children.
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart
pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
What kinds of things does your soul delight in?
There are some thoughts running through a new missionary's brain.
Life is good here in Scioto.
I hope you are all doing well!!!
Love,
Sister Reynolds
PS
My current address is (for 2+ transfers, or 12+weeks)
4219 Kathryn's Place
Grove City OH 43123
Or you can send mail to the mission home and they can forward it to me
19 Clairedan Dr
Powell OH 43065
(Packages have to be first class or priority mail to be forwarded.)
Also please put my whole name, Sister Anna Reynolds, so they know
which Sister Reynolds to send it too. Thanks :)
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