Sometimes the Spirit Tells You to Get Pizza

I have been doing a lot of self reflection this last week, and have made some 6 month goals because my year mark is coming up!! I want to be better. There are still so many things I can improve on that I'll be writing about to mom and dad. But for now ... here's a story: Last week we had hungry sisters staying at our apartment to help with tornado clean up last Saturday. What better place than Little Caesars? It's quick, cheap, and pretty much everyone likes pizza. There we met Cleveland and his son. Cleveland talked with us about how his family is looking for a church. He said they have heard of Mormon, and have met some Elders, but didn't say much else other than that. After grabbing our pizza, we got his information and asked if we could come next week to teach his family. He very kindly agreed, and gave us his address and number. He is Black and his wife Hispanic, and they have 3 kids. We met Maria and the kids a few days later when Cleveland was working. We did "how to begin teaching" and told them how the gospel could bless their family for eternity. She began to cry. We asked her how she felt. Clenching her fist, she put it to her heart and said, "I cannot explain, I just feel good, I feel happy inside." At that moment I knew this family was prepared and ready to hear the gospel. Since then, I've had the same feeling I did when Sister Butterfield and I began teaching Nathan and Jessica. I just can't wait to see them!! I want to see them and teach them everyday! Saturday at exactly 12:00 we knock on the front door and hear a yell from the back. Cleveland shows us to the back door and as we walk inside, Maria and their three kids were all sitting around at the kitchen table, quiet, and ready to listen. Sister Wilson and I just looked to each other and smiled! As we taught the restoration the spirit was consistent the whole lesson. We rarely experience that, where the spirit is consistent from the time we walk in to the time we leave. Cleveland especially was excited to read the Book of Mormon and come to church the next day, but they weren't able to come because of a family get together that doesn't happen often. Sister Wilson said something so crucial as we drove to our next appointment. She said other families we have taught who are so solid are that way because we saw them as often as we could, we prayed for them everyday, we got members involved right from the beginning, and we loved them. "... all your heart, might, mind, and strength applies to devoting everything to your investigators. I love being a missionary! There are times I feel inadequate, or unsure of my abilities, but it's those times I choose to depend on the Lord that I feel successful.
 

 

Thank y'all for your prayers.

Sister Reyne 

The Tupelo Tornado

Here are some pictures from this week ... I've never been so exhausted in my entire life.

Picture Update!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY‏

Sorry if this email is scattered .. I'm a space head anyway, so it's probably expected, but there's just SO much to write about. I'm just going for it!! .. 

Words cannot express how much my testimony of God and Jesus Christ has grown. I can say that I KNOW Christ lives. I KNOW God is in charge and so aware of the details in our life. Something that struck me this past week (being Easter) is when Christ had been resurrected and appeared to Mary, in John 20:17 "Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father ..." Christ had to have been in the spirit world. I knew this according to the Book of Mormon that He was there for 3 days instructing others to teach, but in the BIBLE (I'm in the South) it says He had not ascended to the Father! PROOF of the spirit world! People just believe in Heaven and Hell after death!! I just WISH I could convey in words how incredible God's plan is!!! His purpose is all for us! Commandments aren't to stop us from "living life" they are a test of obedience, they are for our safety so we can be led to a better life with the companionship of the spirit. If we keep commandments we can become more like Him, and be prepared to live in His presence.  ... Gosh I could go on and on! 

Sister Wilson is one of my favorite companions! A lot of my companions are my favorite, just in different ways! I just love Sister Wilson so much! I have never learned so much from another companion. My whole outlook of my mission has changed because of her. She has changed my mission! If you have a vision, if you have a goal, and if you pray about it, GOD MAKES IT HAPPEN! If you are sincere and willing to act on your prayer, He WILL answer! I have seen so many miracles this transfer. I wish everyone could experience the things I have experienced these last few weeks! ... This last week has been crazy busy, but it's a blessing! I LOVE being a Sister Training Leader!! I have never been so stressed in my life, but I have never been so happy! 

This last Friday we went to the Birmingham Temple with Lewis and Laura!! And Jessica and Nathan went to Memphis! Then we had some sisters in our zone stay Saturday night and Sunday because of Stake Conference, Interviews with President, and a zone activity today. Saturday night was the adult session of Stake Conference where multiple wards come together twice a year. Elder Teh of the Quorum of the Seventy was there. He said, "The Lord is hastening His work no matter what!" He doesn't really need us to hasten it. It's not us hastening it. He just allows us to be a part of it, because of the joy and blessings it brings to our life. ... But before I get repetitive. Toward the end of the meeting Elder Teh asked Matt who was recently baptized to share his conversion story. I am convinced that man will be a patriarch one day. His life has changed so much because of the gospel. (Even Ashley who's 18 who was baptized a few weeks ago is telling all her friends that she has never experienced happiness like this being in the church, and she wants to go on a mission!) Matt had mentioned Sister Wilsons name (because she is the one who began teaching him and was there through the whole process up to his baptism) so after his testimony, Elder Teh said, "Sister Wilson, will you bring your companion up with you" We went up and then he asked Sister Wilson to share how she was feeling. Then he asked us both different questions like, what is your purpose in the ward as a missionary? Do you go to ward council? etc. We both answered the different questions. Then he had all the missionaries stand up ... 48 in our stake!!!! Then he had them all sit down and say, well I'm going to have Sister Wilson and Reyne represent you all this evening. It was a cool experience. And then I saw people from Haleyville!!!! 

Yesterday we did a short exchange with some of our sisters and so me and Sister Platt felt like we should see Christinne a recent convert. We went over and her dad who isn't a member was there! He broke down and said how he wants to change his life around. We testified of the healing power of the Atonement (which we had just been talking about in the car on the way over!) and he was like yearning to get a Book of Mormon! Then on our way to a potential investigator we saw Zephania who we haven't been able to get in contact with for a month! He walked by us at the PERFECT time! It was so crazy! He was baptized a few months ago but his mom is not supportive and isn't allowing him to come to church. Because he's only 16 we can't really do anything about it. It was a miracle that he even got baptized! ... Well this letter is WAY too long!!! 

I couldn't do this without the support of friends and family, but most importantly without my knowledge of God and Christ. Sister Wilson and I have been talking about our testimonies alot. Our testimony of God and Jesus Christ has become less of faith and more of a knowledge. 

I love y'all! For real. 

Sister Reyne 

God is Good and Jesus is Real‏

This week has been life changing. I have never felt this close to my Savior. The reality of Him and Heavenly Father is so much clearer. Thursday, April 17, 2014 I had one of the greatest experiences of my life. Taken from the words of one of the Assistants to President Hanks, Elder Munns, here is his "side of the story" :

“We received a call from the Tupelo Sister Training Leaders on Wednesday, Sister Maren Wilson from Saratoga Springs, UT and Sister Analise Reyne from Lincoln, CA discussing their investigator family who was set to be baptized that Easter Sunday. "The wife would jump in the font right now if she could, but the Husband is a little more hesitant." said the Sisters. "Would you be willing to come teach them with us?" they asked. Honestly, how could I pass up an opportunity like that?

Thursday we drove up to Tremont, Mississippi for this appointment. It was us, the Sisters, and their ward mission leader. The lesson started pretty crazy as during the small talk there was a knock on the door. The wife began to tear up immediately. They opened the door and it was the State Family Services. This woman's Mother had filed a case against them saying that they were abusing the children (they clearly weren't the Grandma is just a little psycho.) The lady from state services was accompanied by a couple police officers which really made things interesting. After about 10 minutes of questioning, the people left. This is where the Sister Missionaries really shined because normally when someone cries I just kind of sit there awkwardly. They however, went and put their arms around this woman and consoled her. It was great.

After this, it took us a few minutes to get things back into Gospel mode. Eventually it did though. The Mother continued to express just how much she loved "her church" and how if she could she would be baptized right that second. I began to question the Father of the Family asking him what his thoughts and feelings were about it. "I have enjoyed everything I've heard, and I feel it is good. I just don't feel like I know enough quite yet. I don't feel ready" We kept trying to tell him that he was indeed ready, and he didn't need to know more but he wasn't hearing it. It was one of those lessons where you couldn't seem to get it pointed in the direction that you wanted it to. I have seen time and time again on my mission where we have lessons like this, and there is only one thing you can do. I bowed my head and offered a silent prayer asking Father in Heaven to bless me with the direction and words that needed to be spoken to help this man be baptized on Sunday. I had come to the realization that nothing I could say would cause this man to get baptized. It had to be the Spirit. So, I trusted that my prayer would be answered, and began to speak. I do not recall what was spoken, but I do recall this man's reaction. The Sisters had a lesson with the Family previously, showing them a picture of the double mirrors in the sealing room. "Lewis, do you remember how you felt when we discussed this?" The Spirit slowly began to mount. The Sisters did phenomenally, stirring him to a remembrance of what he had learned already. The Member then stepped in and powerfully discussed the opportunity this man would have to hold the Priesthood, and to give his children blessings. "You are losing time, my friend. You'll be fine if you aren't baptized this Sunday but that is time that could have been spent with the Priesthood Power in your home."  After the comments of the member, I stared at the Father and said, "You've heard the words of each one of us. We know you will be blessed as you are baptized this Sunday with your wife. You must find this for yourself, however. Will you (as we knelt down) ask God in the presence of His representatives, if He wants you to be baptized this Sunday?" He accepted the invitation. Kneeling there, 4 missionaries, a member and this investigator Family the Spirit was poured out abundantly. I prayed with all my heart during the prayer that this man would receive his answer. I cannot recall another experience like this one in my life. The Father asked, "Lord, will you show me....." His voice trembled, the Spirit had pricked his heart. He didn't even finish the prayer. I looked up and just saw he and his Family hugging each other. "I'll do it." he told his dear Wife. What a beautiful sight this was. This Family was indeed baptized this Easter Sunday in Tupelo, Mississippi.

As soon as I realized that nothing that I could do would cause this Family to be baptized, and relied on the Lord the Spirit poured out abundantly. Indeed, "that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God" 2 Corinthians 1:9" Elder Munns

I literally felt the presence of the Savior during this experience. I feel like I can pray differently now. I can never and will never deny the power of prayer. If we set expectations, if we have faith, and if we have a sincere desire we can know through the holy ghost, the presence of God. 

AND! Jessica got baptized!!!! And Nathan baptized her!! .. There were 6 confirmations in church this Sunday!!!! How many people can say they witnessed that! Ponotoc, or as I call them, Ponnietaco Sisters had 2 baptisms, and then Jessica, Laura and Lewis were baptized this weekend. And the Elders had 1 baptism. And this week we were only in our area Monday to prepare for Zone training, Tuesday for Zone Training and then we weren't back in our area until Friday. Is is ALL God! As Sister Wilson says, "I love Heavenly Father, He is so nice!" 

There is no other explanation for this week, than to say, God is good, and Jesus is real!