M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I‏

As usual it's been an adjustment getting used to a new area. I'm in MISSISSIPPI with Sister Butterfield! Pretty sure we knew each other in the pre-existence HA. We are in the Tupelo Ward with 8 other missionaries! It's a drastic difference from Haleyville. I know I'll say this after leaving each area, but I miss Haleyville so much! The first morning in Tupelo I freaked out as to where I was. I'm loving it here already! The members are fabulous! We are going to kick some bum out here! In Sacrament Meeting the Chapmans spoke. 3 boys, and their mom and dad, and I KNEW them but couldn't figure out how. So I joked that maybe I had a "dream" about coming to Tupelo! Once Brother Chapman got up to speak it clicked. He is on the High Council and their whole family came to Haleyville when Sister Downs and I had just gotten there. I remember now because their kids were our primary that Sunday! So sadly I didn't have a dream about being in Tupelo, but I still KNOW I'm supposed to be here with Sister Butterfield. There is someone prepared to receive the Gospel here! A scripture that really stook out to me this week was in Mosiah 21:15. In this chapter the Nephites and Lamanites are at war (big shocker) and the Lamanites are defeating the Nephites. So the Nephites humble themselves and go to the Lord in prayer that He may deliver them out of their afflictions. The Lord didn't instantly help them. He softened the hearts of the Lamanites, but He didn't just take away their burdens. This made me think of that video on mormonmessages.org about that man's family who was killed in a car accident. He said when he cried to the Lord, "He didn't instantly make me feel better, He listens first." I love that about Heavenly Father. He won't instantly take us out of our struggles, or afflictions, and trials, He lets us use our agency, our faith, and our strength to come to Him and trust in Him. What a blessing this is, because otherwise we wouldn't have as much grown as He see's fit. I'm grateful for this new area! I miss my little Haleyville Branch, and the members I grew to love so so much. I miss Stephanie and Angie and Oscar. But it's a blessing to be in a Ward as well. A few members have already offered to come out with us. We have a dinner calendar so we can see members often and get them excited about sharing the gospel with their friends. Oh AND Sister Dodini is in the same Ward!!! We are startin' fresh and killin' this area! I'll see you in the future Bama! I'm in MISSISSIPPI! 

I love y'all!

Sister Reyne