Hello All,
It's been a solid 5 days since I talked to you last. This weekend was a bit frustrating agency wise. Satan did everything in his power to keep all of our investigators away from the extremely fantastic
experience that was general conference. Evonne we intensely invited (as in texted multiple times this week, found rides for, and just bugged them to make sure they had a way to watch it) found a way to
get out of coming to our church to watch it with us. Most of them bailed on Saturday, and even with several loving visits declined the invitation to come hear the words of modern day prophets. It was
especially sad because as a missionary who is aware of most (hopefully all) of their concerns with the gospel, I heard very clear answers to each and EVERY single one of those concerns. While I would have loved for them to be there with us learning from the spirit in the moment, Satan cannot prevent me from sharing those messages with them later on this week with our lovely technology so take that you punk! Matt also dodged all of our attempts to set up a lesson with him this
weekend so we'll have to put his date on hold or push it back after we talk to him tonight. His desire is so real, but just like Elder Durrant said this conference, he has to "Exercise his faith,
discipline himself, and just do it!" It being come to church, and continue to keep the commandments. As a student of patience lately, I'm not worried that much. I have seen his faith grow and I know
Sister Williams and I can help him be ready to be baptized this month.
Also, we had transfer meeting on Thursday and as always it was inspiring! We said goodbye to the my lovely Sister Training leader of 12 weeks Sister Preston. Her testimony was spot on, and She is a gem! I know she's going to great things back home! I brought Sister Williams home to Scioto with me and sent Sister Morgan away to party with Sister Rose in Huber Heights. Sister Williams is fresh off the boat from California. She is a very capable, quite, curious, fun loving missionary. We have already been learning a lot together. She has been a little cold, and after wearing her big winter coat during our cold but not really cold weekend Sister Reynolds is worried she might not make it through winter but we'll work on that! Training is a party, except I promise she's basically training me more. It's a good reminder of everything I ever learned in the MTC and an exercise of getting used to missionary life all over again. Moral of the story; Sister Williams is fantastic and with the right lessons will be able to spread her wealth of gospel knowledge and convert all of Ohio AND Sister Reynolds is trying her best not to corrupt her and stay out of her way as she lovingly guides her to be the best missionary ever!!
That confession of unfortunate flaws in my leadership leads to my spiritual thought of the week. Let's start by expressing just how much I love our prophet, and apostles. It was so amazing to witness the
three new apostles called and to hear all of their humble testimonies. I also am impressed (and a little scared) by President Monson and his talk despite his obviously deteriorating health. I'm sure he and his family could use some hard core prayers right now!! One of the running themes I came away with was improvement and progression. President Daines talked a bit about the idea of divine discontent at a mission wide meeting we had in August and I thought it went along really well with the theme of always trying to better and learn from our trials and use the atonement that so many of the leaders of the church talked about. Divine Discontent is a discontent that stems from an understanding that because we are children of God we will eventually be able to be perfect like him, BUT that perfection can only come through the atonement and hard work to improve our weaknesses and become like the savior. It is to be discontent with where we are, and always want to be a little better every day. It is NOT discouragement, and finding fault in everything we do and giving up. It is to do what Elder Lawrence said and to continually ask the Lord "What lack I yet?", with the real intent to act on his answer and to be better. As missionaries we evaluate everything we do in our lives, and then we
repractice, and try them again. We use repentance every day, and every new interaction with someone is a chance to teach a little more simply, testify more, or leave a more solid commitment. We are always trying to improve, because we know if we do Heavenly Father will help us reach our divine potential. This goes for everyone! I loved the humble testimonies of our 3 new apostles. They each admitted their mortal flaws, but promised that through Christ they would each do their best to help us in every way they could. They have that attiutude of divine discontent. Have that spirit of divine discontent in your life this week. Look for things you can do to be a little better each day, and be grateful for a savior who loves us so much he gave up his life so we have the opportunity to change and be perfect like him eventually!!
What were some of your favorite parts of general conference? Any thoughts on the new apostles?
It's going to be a good week folks, hope everyone is enjoying fall!! I love and pray for you all every day.
Sister Reynolds
It's been a solid 5 days since I talked to you last. This weekend was a bit frustrating agency wise. Satan did everything in his power to keep all of our investigators away from the extremely fantastic
experience that was general conference. Evonne we intensely invited (as in texted multiple times this week, found rides for, and just bugged them to make sure they had a way to watch it) found a way to
get out of coming to our church to watch it with us. Most of them bailed on Saturday, and even with several loving visits declined the invitation to come hear the words of modern day prophets. It was
especially sad because as a missionary who is aware of most (hopefully all) of their concerns with the gospel, I heard very clear answers to each and EVERY single one of those concerns. While I would have loved for them to be there with us learning from the spirit in the moment, Satan cannot prevent me from sharing those messages with them later on this week with our lovely technology so take that you punk! Matt also dodged all of our attempts to set up a lesson with him this
weekend so we'll have to put his date on hold or push it back after we talk to him tonight. His desire is so real, but just like Elder Durrant said this conference, he has to "Exercise his faith,
discipline himself, and just do it!" It being come to church, and continue to keep the commandments. As a student of patience lately, I'm not worried that much. I have seen his faith grow and I know
Sister Williams and I can help him be ready to be baptized this month.
Also, we had transfer meeting on Thursday and as always it was inspiring! We said goodbye to the my lovely Sister Training leader of 12 weeks Sister Preston. Her testimony was spot on, and She is a gem! I know she's going to great things back home! I brought Sister Williams home to Scioto with me and sent Sister Morgan away to party with Sister Rose in Huber Heights. Sister Williams is fresh off the boat from California. She is a very capable, quite, curious, fun loving missionary. We have already been learning a lot together. She has been a little cold, and after wearing her big winter coat during our cold but not really cold weekend Sister Reynolds is worried she might not make it through winter but we'll work on that! Training is a party, except I promise she's basically training me more. It's a good reminder of everything I ever learned in the MTC and an exercise of getting used to missionary life all over again. Moral of the story; Sister Williams is fantastic and with the right lessons will be able to spread her wealth of gospel knowledge and convert all of Ohio AND Sister Reynolds is trying her best not to corrupt her and stay out of her way as she lovingly guides her to be the best missionary ever!!
That confession of unfortunate flaws in my leadership leads to my spiritual thought of the week. Let's start by expressing just how much I love our prophet, and apostles. It was so amazing to witness the
three new apostles called and to hear all of their humble testimonies. I also am impressed (and a little scared) by President Monson and his talk despite his obviously deteriorating health. I'm sure he and his family could use some hard core prayers right now!! One of the running themes I came away with was improvement and progression. President Daines talked a bit about the idea of divine discontent at a mission wide meeting we had in August and I thought it went along really well with the theme of always trying to better and learn from our trials and use the atonement that so many of the leaders of the church talked about. Divine Discontent is a discontent that stems from an understanding that because we are children of God we will eventually be able to be perfect like him, BUT that perfection can only come through the atonement and hard work to improve our weaknesses and become like the savior. It is to be discontent with where we are, and always want to be a little better every day. It is NOT discouragement, and finding fault in everything we do and giving up. It is to do what Elder Lawrence said and to continually ask the Lord "What lack I yet?", with the real intent to act on his answer and to be better. As missionaries we evaluate everything we do in our lives, and then we
repractice, and try them again. We use repentance every day, and every new interaction with someone is a chance to teach a little more simply, testify more, or leave a more solid commitment. We are always trying to improve, because we know if we do Heavenly Father will help us reach our divine potential. This goes for everyone! I loved the humble testimonies of our 3 new apostles. They each admitted their mortal flaws, but promised that through Christ they would each do their best to help us in every way they could. They have that attiutude of divine discontent. Have that spirit of divine discontent in your life this week. Look for things you can do to be a little better each day, and be grateful for a savior who loves us so much he gave up his life so we have the opportunity to change and be perfect like him eventually!!
What were some of your favorite parts of general conference? Any thoughts on the new apostles?
It's going to be a good week folks, hope everyone is enjoying fall!! I love and pray for you all every day.
Sister Reynolds
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| Oh and yeah, my lovely new companion!! Here's our first awkward selfie as a companionship |
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| What happens when you give Egan your iPad to keep him quiet while you watch conference... #lovethiskid |
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| General Conference, feasting on the words of Christ, AND chocolate chip pancakes |
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