The Church Is SO True!‏

It's been a fun filled week full of Emmaus Experiences! This week I'm choosing to share specific experience. So let's start with Sunday shall we? After church we had a lesson with Cara at her in-laws the Evans who are members. We taught The Plan of Salvation, and when we invited her to be baptized, she said she is 50/50. That's a huge improvement! She is still afraid she won't be a "good Mormon". We made cute little pictures of the Creation, and what was created each day, etc and then the Sun, the Moon and the Stars to represent the Kingdoms of Glory. We put our little heart and soul into those pictures, and then me being the scatter brain that I am spaced our pictures of the creation and jumped into "..So Adam and Eve". However we did use our pictures representing Heaven. 1 brownie point?

P-day was really fun! We actually had time for a nap for about half an hour, and before that we played four square and football with Dayne who's 11, his sister Starr who's 15, and Nick who's 13, and the Elders. So you are probably wondering how we played football? Right? Ok, maybe not, but irregardless Sister Downs and I played quarterback because we can't really play tackle football. No explanation necessary. We're missionaries ok. That night we saw Jaime who is less active and the Elders have been teaching her husband who is not a member. She is AWESOME! Sister Downs felt prompted to share the story of Jared and the Brother of Jared and related it to Jaime that it's ok to pray to God how ever often we want, and it's ok to ask Him things. And she was told us what a great lesson it was, and how it's funny because she has been struggling with that. She feels "bad" asking for things, like God has more people to worry about. I know I've worried about this most my life of, why does He want to hear from ME? Other people need Him more right now. But of course that isn't true. We all need God always! And He wants us to pray to Him often. That's how we exercize our faith. Will he answer my prayers? Is he listening? Does He need to hear from me? As we pray it's exercizing our faith that Yes He will, and yes He is, and yes He does! 

Tuesday we met Angie and her family who met missionaries when they lived in Mexico for a few years, and met the Hamilton Hermanas a few weeks ago, and then the Elders not knowing that, tracted into them and then referred them to us. We are super excited about them! They're busy, but all of them can be there Wednesday evenings. We had thought that the Elders knew the Hamilton Sister met them, but they had no idea when they tracted into them. And because it's getting darker earlier we have to be a little more creative with what we do, so we wrote thank you notes to some members and door bell ditched them. It was super fun! And Wednesday we played murder in the dark with the kids for Mutual. The Branch is trying to get mutual started and having Starr and Nick invite friends. 

Gosh there's just so much more to write, but for the sake of time I have to be short. But Thursday's weekly planning was amazing! We had companionship prayers taking turns with each prayer for each investigator, and received the same inspiration for each of them! It was the coolest thing! And we have both been getting the prompting to tract, and so of course my studies led me to Matthew 10 and Alma 8 which had me laughing all study because it was so direct to the point of, ok ok I get it. We need to tract. haha So we tracted and met someone that basically said, I'm Baptist and not interested but hey, go see my neighbor, they need it! It was a house that looked abandoned, just behind our apartments. We would have NEVER gone there if we hadn't had tracted. So when we went to knock on the door we were hesitant, and because of all the NO TRESSPASSING signs. Then as we get to the front door, written in black sharpie is says, If it's past 9 pm, go away! Sister Downs said, "Well it's not after 9!" We knock. A voice says, who is it? We state who we are. "Come in! I'm in bed, I just had back surgery." We couldn't decide whether she was crazy for letting two strangers in her house or if the spirit was able to let her know it was safe to let us in. We were able to get a return appointment which NEVER happens! People always say, "Oh yeah! Come whenever!" So we set a time to come back Saturday!

Friday we had Zone Conference which was amazing! And so much of what we learned was applied so perfectly to our day Saturday. We saw Amy and asked her if she wanted to be baptized. She said not right now, but she's very open to us coming over and she really needs direction in her life! She offered us a drink and Sister Downs said her sister said the elect offer you food and drink. We turn to each other! "She's getting baptized!" Ha We are just super blessed to have found them and super grateful for the Heavenly Father is pushing us to where and what we needed to go and do. 

Last but not least, a funny story and something that I can and will never forget! At Stake Conference this weekend Sister Hanks told a story of when she and President first got to Alabama and were trying to decide how to pronounce the city Tupelo (which is our stake). They couldn't decide so they went into a local establishment and asked the employee, "Can you tell us where we are, and say it slowly and clearly?" The employee's response, "t a h - c o - b e l l" ... Presidents talks are always hilarious, direct, and inspiring. He said, "If you are wondering if Joseph Smith really saw God and Jesus Christ, ask God, He was there!" ... It's something to think about for anyone who has not received an "answer" and who is even struggling with their testimony. I'm going to invite anyone who reads this, who wants to know. Follow President Hanks advice. "Ask God. He was there." The Church is So true! 

Well I love you all! I cannot thank you enough for the support! I'm so very blessed! 

I love all y'all and each y'all!

PS - Am I aloud to ask y'all to pray that Alabama beats Auburn this Saturday? Ok ... maybe just pray that we can find meaningful activities during the game. NO ONE will let us in I guarantee it! 

Sister Reyne

God Is Great! Rootbeer Is Good! And People Are Crazy!‏

Where has the week gone? Where has my mission gone? I've been out over 5 months now. I'm loving Haleyville! We're at the end of the transfer, but me and Sister Downs are both thinking we will stay another transfer, which means we will be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Blessing! I sure love the people here! The only reason I wouldn't want to stay another transfer is because I'll start loving the people here even MORE like I did in Northport and it's that much harder to leave. Sister Downs and I are convinced and have faith we can find someone ready to be baptized by November 30th!

Miracle recap! April PRAYED at the end of the lesson! She has never prayed out loud! Tiffany said before we met her she was praying about churches and direction and then we show up! Sister Downs and I have been praying for Jerry to quit smoking. He said every time he wants to smoke he feels dizzy! (Little does he know, he has no idea we've been praying for him.)

This week is Zone Conference, and this weekend is Stake Conference! So excited! Now if only we could go to the Temple this week!

God is great! Rootbeer is good! And people are crazy! I'm convinced this country song came from Haleyville! 

Love y'all!

Sister Reyne

Get Yer Fix

Every Day Is Different ...‏

Story for the week. Had about 30 minutes "to kill" so we tracted (which luckily we don't ever have to do). We knock on the door. Little children are screaming. A child answers the door. We say, "Is your mom or dad home". Dad answers the door. "Come on in!!" In 5 minutes we find out all 5 kids have ADD and/or ADHD. The dad tell us his father used to shoot at missionaries. He wants to know more about the Mormon. We ask if there is a better time we can come back. Gave restoration pamphlet. I invited him to be baptized once he comes to know our message is true. Agreed. Scheduled return appointment. As we are leaving, he runs out the door looking for lost child that must have escaped. Finds child. ... What just happened? Now there's the story of the week from Haleyville! 

It's been a good week! We went to the Evan's for Halloween. We carved pumpkins the Saturday before with Cara and Ricky. We met Lindsay! I just love her! Her fiance' Daniel is taking the lessons and we met their friend Cody. We committed Daniel and Cody to be baptized! Sister Downs and I both have a good feeling about Cody!  

Sorry to keep it short! Lots more has happened, but that's why I come home from my mission to tell the in between stories! 

Love y'all!

Sister Reyne

Haleyville! Call 911!‏

Fact of the day. Ever heard of Haleyville? No? Don't worry, you aint' alone. But did you know, Haleyville has something in common with the whole country? Haleyville started 911! Sister Downs said, "No wonder! People are crazy, and want out of this town!" So let's backtrack. 

It all started when we got the call Saturday night at the end of transfers. "Sister Reyne, you will be in a new area, and receiving a new companion. Sister Williams, you will be staying in Northport and receiving a new companion." I knew it was inevitable, and that's kind of what we had figured was going to happen. I was excited and ready to take on a new area! Saying goodbye to people in Northport was harder than I thought. It was like leaving home. Wednesday, transfer day came. We have a slide show that shows who will be with who, and what area they will be in. My picture comes up. In Haleyville, Sister Reyne will be training Sister Downs. I can't even explain how unprepared I felt. I knew when I was going to be training Sister Williams, but I wasn't mentally prepared to train, because I wasn't told. But the Lord truely blessed me, because I feel like Sister Downs is training me. She is an excellent missionary! I have already grown and learned so much in the last 2 weeks. It's already the middle of this transfer in Haleyville! We are starting this area (as Sisters) so we had no area book to go by, we were starting fresh. So we really relied on our members, and they are wonderful! We have received so many referrals, and so many ideas of who to contact. That's the blessing of a small branch and small town. The hard part ... hearing people have been in Hamilton (which is close to Haleyville, also a small town) for 9 months. Now that would be rough! For those that live in Lincoln California, Lincoln is huge compared to this Podunk place. 

So where is Haleyville? What is Haleyville? It's just what it sounds to be. It's a small village filled with hay and hicks. Well that's an exaggeration, but a little bit kind of true. Population 4,000. Branch members at church last Sunday, 20. A lot of people who live here have lived here their whole lives. We have met lots of scary dogs .. A LOT! And there is a lot more to say, but for the sake of time, this is the best things we've heard yet. Many people literally wanting to kill their spouses. One story in particular, she said she had a gun ready to shoot her husband, but nothing happened because there was no bullet inside. That's just one. So you get the gist. It's a small hick town. It's been a really rough 2 weeks, but we've been working SO hard! And we have been so blessed with busy schedule already! And I'm starting to love the people here so much!

We started teaching Sue and her daughter April. Sue is 50, and April is in her 30's. Sue's daughter other daughter Felicia is 8, and April has two little girls Peyton and Isabelle. April says she isn't a church goer, and Sue was raised Penicostal. I really like them a lot! On Monday we had an incredible lesson with them! It was one of the few times I can honestly say, I truely walked out of that lesson and KNEW the spirit guided it. I knew we were teaching through spirit. It is the most incredible thing. 

We are also teaching Cara and her less active husband Ricky (Ricky is April's brother-in-law) A lot of people are related in Haleyville. They have a 4 month old Annabelle. Cara was raised Catholic and is afraid to join the church because of her grandmother who passed away would be looking down on her. Cara is blunt and hilarious! I love her already! We have met a few others that we have started teaching.

We're working on getting Ward Coorlation started, and getting involved in Ward Council. The first Sunday we were here we taught Primary which consisted of 7 kids, but that's only because the high councilmen was here with his 5 boys. The other 2 .. well you get it. Then this last Sunday Sister Downs spoke in Sacrament (we don't have chapel, its' just one big room used for Sacrament, Sunday School, and Relief Society. Then there's a little trailer just by the building that the men go to for Priesthood). Then I taught Relief Society which consisted of 5 people, including me and Sister Downs. So we are building up this area and getting people active! 

Missions are hard. Waking up at 6:30 everyday is hard. Being in a new place is hard. Sleeping in a new apartment every few months is hard. Getting new companions is hard. Meeting all new people is hard. Teaching is hard. Constantly thinking of how you can build others faith is hard. Knowing you are responsible for bringing souls unto Christ as His representative is hard. But if it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be worth it. Something that President Hanks quoted from Jeffrey R. Holland says, "This is hard work. It's the hardest work you will ever do. That is why I say, it is the most important work you will ever do. I know this work is real! It's hard, but oh so worth it! I love my Savior, and I hope I can be a better missionary each day! I know that His Church has been restored so we know how to gain peace in this life and the life to come. We have the tools that help us get there. I love y'all! Thank you for all the support!

Roll Tide!

Sister Reyne