It's A Train‏

1/3 of the mission were able to go to a special training this last Thursday! It was INCREDIBLE! We talked about how to better work with members, and how to be better teachers. But the best part was when we talked about the Doctrine of Christ. The Doctrine of Christ is merely to have a brightness of hope! It is as 2 Nephi 31: 20 says, to be steadfast in Christ. The gospel gives us hope that we can change and become more like our Savior. We also talked about what it means to endure. Endure doesn't always mean, "You can do it! Push through! It's rough!" Enduring means to keep and renew your covenants, repent - meaning to change and follow Christ, and to become more like God. The spirit touched me, that this is truth. God has a plan for us. God wants us to become like Him. We just have to align our lives to meet Gods standards and we can become heirs in His Kingdom. The gospel forever changes lives. I will never deny that. This is Gods work that we are able to do because of Jesus Christ.

Back in 'Bama‏

Is it bad that I hate emailing? I love reading emails, but it just takes so much time and brains to even remember what happens each week. Sister Butterfield and I were double transferred out of Tupelo, and they put in Elders. There are still 10 missionaries in the Tupelo Ward though. Gosh I miss that gurl! I'm in Huntsville Alabama now. The ward is fabulous! We are the first Sisters in the Weatherly Ward (atleast it's been years and years). We don't have a car in our area, but thankfully it's been beautiful for biking and walking. Maybe I'll lose some weight? I'm not worried about my weight on my mission. If I gain, oh well. Too many other things to be stressed about on a mission other than your body fat. Our apartment is great other than there may or may not be a rat or maybe a friendly spirit in our kitchen? We hear random noises every so often, and the floors are super creeky. We seriously like gutted that apartment. Elders left a ton of food though which was thoughtful. .. We've met a few people within the last few days. We've explored quite a bit, getting used to the area. I feel like I'll be here for a while. I'm pumped to be back in 'Bama!

 

Love y'all,

 

Sister Reyne

 

 

 

Tupelo. Elvis.

 

 

 Ashton gives the cutest prayers I've ever heard.

 Julius. His mom always says, "JU! Ima woop you!"

A friendly note from the Elders in our new apartment. 

 

Nine Months......

This week has been a little rough. We tried different ways of giving out Books of Mormon but were denied every single time. People were just denying the word of God all day long dangit! What's that all about? But then there were SO many miracle this week too! I wish I could convey my feelings of how the Lord has built me up! On Wednesday we had exchanges with the STL's and it was so much fun! Thursday Morning we get a call that NATHAN WAS GETTING BAPTIZED SATURDAY!!!!!!!! The greatest tender mercy! On March 1st was my half point of my mission. Gosh it's gone by so so fast! I was worried how I would "celebrate" my half point and what fun thing we could do. Driving to Tupe' Town for Nathan's baptism was the BEST "gift" I could have received. The Elders let us have the car for the weekend so we could drive to Mississippi for the baptism. I got to speak at the baptism! Gosh it was just the best experience! I got to teach someone from the beginning to end and see them change! My miracle story of my mission. The stories you hear from missionaries all the time but then never feel like you have them yourself. Just in 2 weeks since I've been gone I saw a change in Nathan! Jessica has had a really hard time since Sister Butterfield and I left. It made me so sad for her to tell me that. I love that family so much! I LOVE being a missionary dangit! Now it's like the "count down" of the mission and I don't like that thought. I had some other sweet experiences this past week that I will forever remember. 

 

This Thursday I get to go to a special conference that I'm super stoked about! I'm sure next weeks email will be full of even more spiritual experiences. 

 

Love y'all,

 

Sister Reyne 

 

On the road to Tupe' town

Nathan's baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me & Sister Wilding 

These Girls Are On FIRE!‏

This week we were on FIRE! We gave Books of Mormon through drive through windows! We taught one lesson after the other! It's been an incredible week. Thursday we had Zone Training. It was the best one I have ever been to. The spirit was so thick and no one there could deny that. I don't think I have ever felt it that strongly before in my life. What a cool experience it was! It's been cold and harder to contact people, but Saturday it was beautiful so we went to the park and took chalk to draw on the sidewalks the Plan of Salvation. People started coming up to us and asking us about it, or we would say, hey, what do you think? ... Sister Butterfield and I have been working really hard and praying for those people to be placed in our path and to recognize them, and recognize those prompting. And having the faith and trust in the Lord. So as we're drawing we see a young man sitting on the bench near us in a suit, looking distraught. We both felt we should go talk to him, but didn't follow that feeling right away, and as people are coming up to us, he disappeared. I was so sad, because I felt I missed the opportunity. But then maybe 10 minutes later he was on that same bench. As we are talking with more people, he comes up to US! We talk with him, end up teaching briefly the Plan of Salvation with our sidewalk chalk. After talking and answering his questions, we sat down taught the Restoration, and then gave him a Book of Mormon. We're going to meet him at the park again next Saturday because he lives far away. After Sister B and I start walking to our car. We KNEW God places him in our path! I mean he was sitting there alone on a bench .. TWICE! As we taught the Restoration, I pictured him doing the same thing, as a missionary! He's 16. I truely feel one day he will be a missionary. The best part of this story. His name is Angel.

The Lord is truely hastening His work! L. Tom Perry and some of the Quorum of the 70 gave a devotional to a few different areas in the south about Hastening the Work! It was INCREDIBLE! NOW is truely the time! They shared D&C 88:73. This broadcast is what helped us be so determined and motivated and on FIRE this week! I have learned the urgency of following promptings! Not letting your nerves get you, or your doubts.

I love y'all!

Sister Reyne

Did That Just Happen?

Preparation days never cease to amaze me. Something strange or funny or whatever always happens. As I'm vacuuming our oh so lovely carpet, I want to get to the areas that maybe don't get as much TLC. As I'm vacuuming I lift our floor lamp up to vacuum under it, the top of the lamp sparks and I feel my hand and arm go numb. ... I freeze and Sister Butterfield just looks at me and it's quiet ... then we just start busting laughing! I'm pretty sure I got electricuted a little. 

Tuesday was AWESOME and we had back to back appointments with investigators all day! We met with Sara who's going to school at ICC and wants to meet with us again this week! Then we saw Lindsay. We aren't sure how to read her. She said she thinks she's going to hell, and when we ask her questions like "Who is God to you?" or "Have you ever thought of where you came from?" she just said she doesn't know and she's never thought of it, but she's told us she's looking for a church to join, and she's learning about different religions. So far we have taught her Lesson 1&2 and testified of the power of the Atonement. After we saw Lynn and had an incredible experience with her. She said when she is reading the Book of Mormon she feels like God is trying to tell her something. Be bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration. She isn't sure yet if Joseph Smith is a prophet, but she's come a long way just since I've seen her! Before she said she would mock the names in the Book of Mormon, and now she LOVES reading it! And she really liked church last Sunday. After a few other potentials and appointments with members it was 8:00 at this point. As I'm driving around a drive way so Sister Butterfield doesn't have to back me up, our car starts to make a funny noise and it's not driving like it's supposed to. I get out and check the tires and the right front tire is completely FLAT! I may or may not have grazed the curb. As all this is happening Sister Butterfield is already on the phone with the Elders, so we ask them to come help us. After we hang up, we just look at each other put on the music and start dancing. It was the greatest day and the tire just made it even better! It was hilarious actually. We just had to laugh about it. ... So naturally the next day we go to Firestone. As we are there waiting there are two ladies waiting for their car too. She ends up asking for a Book of Mormon saying she's always wanted to read it, and we get her information and give it to the Pontotoc Sisters where they live. So maybe the tire was supposed to pop? ... Well that's all the time I have! Jessica and Nathan are doing great! They came to church yesterday! We invited them to be baptized and they said when they come to know, yes! No date yet. 

Moral of the story this week I guess ... be careful with electricity and tires kids!

Love y'all,

Sister Reyne