A Whole New Meaning‏

First off, if you haven't been able to tell .. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! The gospel of Jesus Christ has a more in depth meaning to me now. Already. I can't imagine a year from now. I understood the Book of Mormon better than before. Heck, I really didn't know the Book of Mormon. I have a greater love for my Savior than ever before, and a greater love for God and those around me. The Atonement isn't just one prayer of forgiveness and you feel complete peace, it's gradual. It's what the Lord knows you are needing, enough for you to learn and grow and stretch, but enough that you know he's right there with you. And it's incredible the love I can feel from God and my family and friends. And it's amazing how you can grow in testimony when you aren't meaning to. You are meaning to increase others faith, and you really do in turn change yours... I could go for days talking about these things. It all has a whole new meaning to me now.  

 

The General Relief Society conference was great! I loved that it was all Sister Missionaries singing in the choir. Just kill me! My eyes could drown in my tears. Martha brought Roxanne (Sister Stevens would be so proud). She really enjoyed it. She knows it's true! There's a different you can just tell people can feel that. This morning we called Sister Pope because she was sick and wasn't at church. She told us she watched the RS Conference on her laptop like we invited her to do! She watched it instead of the Alabama vs Mississippi game! We told her, now that's dedication! That's putting the Lord first and he will bless you for that. We say it in a joking way, you just have to understand Sister Pope, but of course we are serious (Krusty understands this).

 

We had lunch with YSA Sisters and Tuscaloosa Sisters at the Madsens. They have us for lunch one a transfer. I just love them! It makes me really appreciate gma and gpa on their missions. .. Susan and Greg had us for dinner last week and we brought a little baby child cake for dessert. We talked about the gospel of Christ, and can't wait to talk more about the importance of baptism!

 

We taught Roxanne with Martha last Sunday and again Thursday. We watched the Bread of Life from mormonmessages. SO GOOD! And she's reading the Book of Mormon! .. Mariah has been struggling with prayer. She doesn't feel comfortable praying, so we are trying to understand why. We saw Sister Outland last night and she is just the greatest! We talked about the importance of covenants, then we were led to talk about the light of Christ and not dwelling in darkness. And we ate candy together. And then we went to see Phoebi. We were led to talk about the Atonement of Christ in Alma 7, and how it's so important to do our part in coming unto Him. It was a really fun night!

 

So many things happened this week I'm sure, but it just all blends, and so I try and pick out a few things that stood out. We did find a family that we have been praying for! We see them again Thursday! We have high hopes for them!

 

PS - Alabama beat Ol' Miss ... ROLL TIDE

 

Peace and Blessin'

 

Sister Reyne

Bama Fama Fe Fi Fo Fana‏

I just never know where to begin. I'll just start with Monday ..

 

Monday after dinner we went to Dollar General, my favorite store. But really. And picked up some things for Bettie Loo (She gave us $20 the other week). Then we went to her house and she wanted me to shape her eyebrows and do her makeup, and then she wanted Sister Williams to clean her stove. (Now remember Betty is 66). She pretty much uses us, but we love her still. She isn't progressing whatsoever, so we aren't going to go by much anymore, but maybe once every other 2 weeks to keep her company and still teach a short lesson.

 

Tuesday was INCREDIBLE! Elder Kopishke of the 70 came for our Multi Zone Conference. There were about 160 of us (half the mission). It meeting went for most of the day, but it felt like 2 hours. It changed my whole outlook on the mission! If you have a vision for your mission, make a vision for every day! It really has made a difference so far. Then we went to the Footes, and Elder Hardmann and Elder Bean came (Elders in Northport) and had Family Home Evening with them and Susan and Greg (Susan is Cindy Footes sister). We had a lesson on the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and then watched the 20 min version of The Restoration video. It was awesome! We had pizza and banana pudding. I've noticed banana pudding is big here! But jello is big in the West! Notice that?

 

Wednesday was pretty awesome! One name. Martha. She so great! She be making up her own words. For example, she said, "I don't like chocolate cake, because chocolate cake is snuffy." Example 2. ".. we was sniggling it was so funny." She was baptized in July and is already sharing the word with her family! They weren't supportive at all in the beginning, but they are opening up a little more now. She's in her early 60's. And we may start teaching her grandson Justin if her daughter "ok's" it. .. That night we went to the Porters and taught about the importance of the Book of Mormon. I really like their family! Their little girls show us their cheers. We're hoping to go to one of their games, because we don't get to see them often other than church because they live in Gordo which is kind of in the woods.

 

Thursday we saw Susan and Greg and talked a lot about Jesus Christ. We watched some cool videos. I love the Bible videos there are when you go to mormon messages. Susan is getting sick with a sore throat or something and so we are hoping she will still be able to take her chemo today because it's every 28 days, and this Monday is her second time she's supposed to take it. .. Every time we leave their house we miss them already. That night we met some cool people at Taco Bell. A guy named Jarvarias came up to us and started asking US questions, it was a blessing after the day we had because for about 2 hours we went out with Kaylene to meet some referrals she gave us and all of them either no longer lived there, or looked at us like we were nutty. It's a blessing when people come up to you and start asking you questions. I LOVE IT! .. Then we came home to no A/C. Sister Williams probably could have died. She was not happy. But long story short a miracle happened and it was fixed Saturday. Thank gosh we are only in the apartment not often.

 

Friday was awesome! We had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. Sister Child came with me and Sister Williams. We biked about 20 miles!

 

Saturday was a home game! Thankfully we had plans most the day so we didnt' have to stress about what to do. Next week is another home game against Ol' Miss!

 

And the rest of the week was great! ... Oh and I can't forget Sunday after dinner ... CompanUship study! (That one's for you Krusty)

 

Bama Fama Fe Fi Fo Fana

 

Peace & Blessin',

 

Sister Reyne

Roll Tide Roll‏

What a week! It was wonderful, but this week will be nice to be back on our regular schedule! Because of the meetings and things in the morning we didn't study Sunday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning. We were having withdrawls! So Tuesday .. FINALLY THE TEMPLE! It was wonderful, and I just wish I could spend all day there sometimes. (Y'all will be happy that I have a picture for my plaque finally) Wednesday was Zone Training which I LOVE! It was something I really needed. I needed a little kick in the bum. I realized some more weaknesses that I have. It was humbling, because I know that I have a long way to go, and I can't learn everything all at once, but I can take it one goal at a time. Sister Isaak and Sister Child are our Sister Training Leaders, and I always love what they have to teach. They talked about lot prioritizing, and setting goals.

 

 

I know everyone probably gets sick of me saying this, but I love Susan and Greg so so much! They are family to me! We are having FHE with them at Susan's sisters families house, this Tuesday! We are going to go over the Restoration, and show the video.

 

 

GAME DAY! Sister Millard and Sister Leifson the YSA Sisters did a free lemonade stand with us on Saturday! It was Texas vs Alabama. We went to Dollar General, got posters, cups, lemonade, etc. We got chairs from the Brannons and a table from the Hutchisons. And set up on the strip. It was SO MUCH FUN! No, we didn't really find a lot of people (which was the whole point) but a lot of drunk college kids liked us. ... We didn't think that one through. Football. Game Day. College campus. = We just yell ROLL TIDE ROLL! Quite a few people took mormon.org cards, and Sister Williams wrote mormon.org on the cups. BRILLIANT. It was so fun! And Alabama won! ... Good news for Sundays. Sister Brannon said last year when we lost it was like people were in mourning.

 

 

Sunday ... well Sunday's are always a struggle after church, but what a miracle occured! We went to Katies, and she wasn't home (we were a little early) so we figured we'd do a little tracting just before. The first house was not interested, but the next house we hear yelling. I mean, it sounded like someone was beatin' their children! Sister Williams and I just look at each other, like, "yes? .. no? ... um.. ?" I just said, yeah. I didn't have any bad feelings. Some yelled, "Who is it?". I say, "We're missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." .. A man holding one kid, and the other next to him stood there and smiled. What felt like eternity we just stood there with no words because we KNEW we knew these people! I'm thinking, where have I seen these kids? ... Well turns out it was a family in our ward! The kids were just playing with their dad. He is not a member, but Sister Morgan is in the Relief Society Presidency. ... I mean, we had NO IDEA they lived here! It was so funny! We ended up leaving a blessing on the home. This is why it is such a miracle though. ... As we walked back to Katies, I told Sister Williams, "I can't get over that that JUST happened. What's crazy is I had a feeling to talk to Sister Morgan at church today!" We had tried to see them weeks back, but schedules never worked, and it wasn't until this Sunday that I had the thought .. We still haven't seen them. We need to see them. .. Sister Williams said she did too! .. So God just had to kick us and show us we weren't listening. .. What's funny is Katie ended up texting us that she wasn't home, she was called to work. And she don't live close! We drove all that way, but we needed to see the Morgans.

 

 

We have been in a little rut the last week, so this week we are really going to be focusing on finding! And what a blessing that "we found" the Morgans. It's a start to start teaching new people. This week was hard in the aspect of, we need to find new ideas of how to find people. So it's going to be a lot of fun bike riding this week! WOO!

 

Love y'all! Peace and blessin',

 

Sister Reyne

I LOVE THIS PLACE WITH EVERY INCH OF MY DANG HEART!‏

Hey y'all!

 

Keepin' it short! Sorry! Mom, you got the better version.

 

This week was amazing! It's the first week of the new transfer and we exceeded our goals, FINALLY! Sister Williams and I spoke in Sacrament meeting. I spoke on the language of prayer, and she spoke on coninuous prayer. And it was the first Sunday that plans didn't fall through. What a BLESSING!. And we were busy all day. So on days like that we find when we teach, and teach when we find. Susan is doing well! We were so happy to see her and Greg come to church!! Best day ever! ... Then in Sunday school we talked about tithing, and what do you know, we talked about tithing with Sister Outland the day before that. When we saw her Saturday we asked her what she wants. One thing she wants to work on. She said she wants to do a proxy baptism for her husband. So, we went through the baptismal interview questions because they are so similar to a temple recommend interview. Then we chose one thing she wants to work on which was tithing so that she can work toward that goal of the temple. So in Sunday school, Brother Posey, our Ward Mission Leader taught the lesson. It was fabulous! Sister Outland had a $20 bill in her Gospel Principles book and so I asked her what it was for, she said, "It's the first step." She reminds me a lot of grandma Reyne! Her hands are so similar to hers. That sounds weird, but I just love sitting by her because I feel like I'm sitting next to grandma sometimes.

 

So much more, but not enough time! AH!

 

I love this place with every inch of my dang heart!

 

Peace & Blessin'

 

Sister Reyne

 

 

Ol' Miss vs. Alabama‏

Sorry this is a day late, but the library was closed for Labor Day yesterday, so we have about an hour today to email.

 

Sister Williams and I haven't felt great this last week, but we still had a great one!! Thursday we felt sick, but luckily most the day is consumed with planning. But just a quick recap, we got to learn how to make buscuits and chocolate gravy with Sister Stockman, we got to paint with the Brannons, we found Chastidy after being prompted to go to Walmart (we had gotten her wrong number 2 weeks ago when we first met her). She's coming to Institute with us tonight! We got to teach Mariah (who is 16) after church Sunday and her dad Eric who has been less active for 8 years just started coming back to church. She is Pentecostal, but she has already been texting us some great questions. I just love her already! Transfer call happened on Saturday night at 8:40 p.m. ... And both Sister Williams and I are STAYING in Northport for another 6 weeks! We literally started jumping up and down. We have so much more to do here in Northport.

 

We had a really great night with Susan and Greg last night! We love them more and more each time we see them! We had a wonderful dinner with them, and then talked about the Plan of Salvation. The spirit was there the entire time.

 

Sister Williams were asked to speak on prayer in Sacrament Meeting. So excited! We really want Susan and Greg to come, and it will be perfect for Mariah to be there, and we hope Roxanne will come as well!

 

Oh, and Saturday was interesting trying to find plans because NO ONE wants to see you on Game Day! Luckily Alabama won! ;)

 

THE CHURCH IS JUST SO TRUE!

 

Peace and Blessin'

 

Sister Reyne