LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!

Round 2 of WORMS!!

Elder Reynolds and Elder Peña

Hello Everyone!
This was a superb week with Elder Peña! He is super cool. He pretty much knows English so it's nice to have a walking dictionary-translator with me the whole day if I want to know a word or something haha. He is from the Dominican Republic. Like always, we traveled a lot this week. Some interesting thing that happened to us was there was a big change as the other Elders in our ward got taken out and now there are Sisters...wahooo...haha just kidding. They are the best. They are real hard workers.

We also had to take a bed to Tena which was 2 hours away. It was super awkward carrying a bed around to the bus and then when we got there to Tena, they weren't there yet so we just camped out by the terminal with this random bed. I could only imagine what people were thinking! haha Now thinking about it, I wish I would've taken pictures because we straight up looked like hobos lol. We have to take a desk from Baños to Tena. So for sure, I'll be taking pictures of that adventure, but we got everything done! Well for now.

I learned something very very useful in my scripture study this week. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." I don't know if I interpret this scripture correctly but basically Jesus is saying LIVE IN THE MOMENT! Because tomorrow there's going to be a lot more that's going to go down...That has been my motto for this past week. Whenever a missionary ends the mission, it makes it that much harder for the other missionary to carry on. I think I touched on this last week but it really stuck this week. I found myself wishing away the days. Which I think every missionary or every person has found themselves doing at some point in their lives. But as we all know, even if we don't feel like it, cause I know it sure didn't, it's the worse thing we can do! Sometimes we want to live life seeing miles ahead in the future, or maybe even a few yards ahead or even a few feet! But I think an essential part of God's plan is obviously trusting and only being able to see a few inches in the future at a time. Not going to lie, I would loooove to see what's going to happen in these coming months and then what's going to happen after the mission...but what I can control and what my role is right now is to travel inch by inch in this path to eternal life. And sure enough like Jesus said LIVE IN THE MOMENT! haha Tomorrow is going to have its trials and its "stuff," so why do we worry so much about something we can't change? Easier said than done for sure...

We also had an amazing experience with an investigator this week. She has been investigating the church for about 3 1/2 months now. She has had a baptismal date once, but it fell. She had all the reasons and "symptoms" for us to drop her for a bit...but there was something that was telling us that we shouldn't. Finally...FINALLY, as Heavenly Father always comes through, we saw the light. It was a simple lesson as we entered the lesson at 8:35pm. Not having much time to teach. We didn't have a lesson plan.We were obviously wanting to talk about baptism but we have shared that topic about 20 times with her so we were sure it was something she understood haha. We simply shared John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." We asked a simple question "Before knowing the church, have you felt this peace that Jesus talks about?" She answered "No." Then we asked "When was the last time you have felt this peace?" She said "When I read the Book of Mormon. Despite my problems, my many many problems, whenever I read your book it seems as everything disappears for a small moment and I can escape from realty." We then asked "Would you like to feel this peace for the rest of your life, even when not readying the Book of Mormon?" Obviously her answer was "yes." And this is where for the first time in my mission, I know I am a little slow..that it clicked. My purpose as a missionary is to invite people to come unto Christ. To be honest I thought I could help people whether or not they came unto Christ and were baptized..which is true to a certain point but finally, FINALLY it clicked! The best way I know how to help people is inviting them to Christ...BEING BAPTIZED. It finally clicked!!!I opened my mouth and said "Sister, I can't tell you how much I care for you. I want the best for you. And the best thing I can offer you, believe it or not is the invitation to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I could offer you a million dollars and I am sure that would solve the majority of your problems. But believe it or not, that would be nothing compared to what we offer as representatives of Jesus Christ." It was amazing. We handed her a calendar and boldly said "We want you to pick a date for your baptism, Sister." She did her usual laugh and tried to dodge it with questions and concerns but we remained completely silent...looking straight into her soul. For what it seemed like 30 minutes. But the spirit entered the room and in these 30 minutes (honestly probably 5 minutes) she faced her wall of faith and climbed it like a champ and picked the 11th of August to be baptized! And then the hardest thing about the baptismal invitation is you can't jump for joy and scream and go and hug the investigator. So we just sat there smiling trying to keep it cool haha. Man I love this work!!! This truly is the best way to help people. Hopefully other missionaries and all of you will realize this right now, so it may become something natural to bring up to our friends and families. I love you all. I want the absolute best for you. I wish I could hug you all. I love you! Keep on this path and never look back!
Elder Reynolds

Traveling ALONE to Quito for his last rabies shot!

Grateful for the members who feed us!

Round 2 of worms lol!

It was funny because they served it to us as if it was regular haha. It's actually a delicacy here!

Life Lesson...When Trials Come, Learn to Laugh!!

Elder Manwaring and Elder Reynolds

Baños Ecuador

Hello Everyone,
Well the hardest part of the mission is for sure the goodbyes. Thankfully it wasn't me saying goodbye to anyone! It was my companion, Elder Manwaring, who is going home. Not going to lie, it is pretty hard being with someone that is ending the mission. Not at all because he was trunky but you get so close to someone even though you know there is an expiration date. It's crazy how fast and how close you can make relationships here like with the people in Ecuador and with your companion. I sure have had so many that I miss and love. But that's life! I will be staying here in Puyo and my new companions name is Elder Peña and he is from the Dominican Republic. This week was obviously a lot of goodbyes and little going away parties for my companion. It hit me...why do we always wait to celebrate!! Why do we put off happiness??! Until the last moments when we are with those we love??? It was pretty crazy when I thought about it... Along with the parties came many...MANY opportunities to grow. So basically this email will be just talking about Thursday. Man that was a long day. On Thursday we had to go to Baños for a meeting and I was able to meet up with Elder...now Bro. Jacobs!!! He is from North Carolina and finished his mission last December. He was my trainer and the one who I spent my first 12 weeks with here in Ecuador! It was awesome!! A BIG shout-out to him and and his parents (Jeff and Lisa) for all that they did for me. They took us to lunch Wednesday in Puyo and then we met again on Thursday in Baños. On Thursday, they took us out to a restaurant and I was served my favorite plate...CHICKEN ALFREDO. That is one thing I really miss eating from the state!! Prayers are really answered lol!! They were so very kind and took the time to visit and treat us out. It was awesome to reunite with Elder/Bro. Jacobs! They also hand delivered a package from home!!!

Anyways, we got back to Puyo in the late afternoon and started to work. No joke...3 appointments in a row with kids. I'll explain that a little bit more. Now in the photos I sent I look pretty happy and content with all the kids...hahahaha. So the first lesson we go to is with a new investigator. So we start by explaining who we are and told them thank you so much for letting us in. They have a little girl, super cute and super playful. We started playing with her a little bit and so she thought "wow, these guys came to play with me! Cool!! Let me bring all my toys in the room" haha. So while she was gathering her toys, we started the lesson. For the next 45 minutes we took turns playing and explaining the gospel. Man what a lesson that was. We went to the next lesson which was with another new investigator and yep sure enough they have a boy from the age of the terrible 2's! Man I could not believe how much energy he had. All I could do was smile and think of the scripture when Christ said Let all the children come to me. I don't know what He did, but He sure did have a gift haha! Then the 3rd lesson...I can't lie, I was pretty drained. Just emotionally and physically. We came into a progressing investigators house with a kid crying his eyes out. I was starting to think that it was maybe our fault that they kids were crying or being obnoxious...haha. But that lesson was another super hard one as I felt as if I was trying to calm a raging sea but instead I think I was making the waves grow bigger. After all was said and done, we went back to the house completely exhausted. My companion said to me, "Elder, I don't want to have kids for a long time." hahahaha And then we start talking about how not only physically we were tried but emotionally. It was funny because earlier in the change we were telling each other about the craziest times when people didn't quite treat us the best. One in specific is when we were spit on and how it was pretty dang hard just to turn the other cheek...but then we came to the conclusion that if someone were to spit on us or call us ugly, we would probably just break down crying lol. We were so exhausted and so we went to bed pretty early that night. I have no idea why I told that story but it was something that has impacted me for the rest of my life lol. I am thankful for trials, especially when you have your companion there to laugh with. I hope everyone had a great week and can find time to laugh and of course have a great time. Love you!!!
Elder Reynolds

On Wednesday, they met up with Elder/Bro. Jacobs. He was on splits with this Elder, who spoke no English!

This was at their apartment!

During our Mother's Day skype, he asked Mom to compile a scrapbook of what the family has been up to while on his mission. He can't open and read it until November 20th...on his plane ride HOME!!

Corbin Jacobs...Elder Reynolds' trainer

~Dessert~

On Thursday, they met up for lunch in Baños at this restaurant and he had his favorite....

CHICKEN ALFREDO!!!!

During our Christmas skype, we had asked him what American food he missed, he said CHICKEN ALFREDO!!! Thank you Lisa and Jeff for everything!!!

Elder Reynolds spent the first 12 weeks in Ecuador with Elder Jacobs!

This is Elder Manwaring's last week in the mission!

Elder Reynolds travels frequently on these buses!

Anything to entertain a baby!

My tie must be tasty...this baby is usually crying all the time, but not when he's with Elder Reynolds lol!

K I D S

More K I D S

These kids are so cool!

Success lol

The Valencia family!!!

In the care package, there was American candy which he shared with the kids there! They were so excited to taste and learn how to say "FUN DIP"

Another Baptism in the books!!!!

The boys getting their P-day on!

The worst part of the mission....goodbyes

Enduring with Patience, Love and Happiness!

Elder Fillmore and Elder Reynolds

They found each other in the mission offices! 

Hello Everyone!
Crazy that Monday is here again! This week we were traveling a ton. We were able to go to good old Quito again to get my anti-monkey vaccination and then go to Ambato for a zone conference. I love seeing old missionaries and talking with them about the good old times. My Dad recently reminded me of how these are the good ole times despite the many trials that we are facing in these moments. One of the things I have learned while being out in the field is exactly that. Being able to endure with patience, with love, with happiness. Seeing the hand of the Lord in my life is so life changing. I am grateful to be out here serving the Lord in this capacity that I am called.

Luckily this week we did not have any unexpected hospital visits! That's a first in a while. I was expecting this week to have some cool awesome experience about what we did for the 4th of July. We didn't even get a picture! I was pretty bummed...But as a tribute we did watch Ephraim's Rescue. I haven't seen that movie in a looooong time! But it was super hard watching. I learned that the main actor is Elder Manwaring's great great great grandpa! Well not the actor but the actual person haha. But as I was watching the movie I felt so horrible. So this week we finally got our shower fixed. Even though it is hot here in Puyo, I still feel like I need a warm shower haha...showering in freezing cold water is something that is...hard for me lol! I know I sound so spoiled right now but we have been pretty ornery to the person that was suppose to come fix the shower about 2 weeks ago and still hadn't and I've been having impatience. After watching that movie, I felt dumbstruck...maybe not dumbstruck but just dumb. I couldn't believe I was so caught up in the whole shower dilemma while all the while these pioneers, who I owe so much to for suffering and enduring through all those hardships, had far far more reason to be complaining and they didn't. I always disliked comparing my situation to another's because from my point of view I thought it wasn't fair to me and that I needed attention. I guess this email just ended up being Elder Reynolds confession time, as if Ephraim's Rescue wasn't enough. I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 121 and the Lord said:
Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.
So obviously the Lord was trying to teach me about humility, there will always be someone worse than me...worse than my situation. Above all Jesus Christ who was the best of us all yet descended below all. I know you are all better than me, but hopefully learning from my pathetic quejas (complaints) we can all learn haha. I love you guys!!!
Elder Reynolds

6 Baptisms in Puyo!! BELIEVE!!!

6 Baptisms in Puyo!!
Elder Reynolds baptized David!

Hello!
Awesome week this week! We ended up having some of the Valencia family get baptized! 5 of their kids got baptized. We would've waited for the whole family to get baptized but with the crazy marriage process that this country has, it is going to take the parents more than 2 months to get everything done. Man it was so awesome. I'll be honest I haven't baptized more than 2 people at a time...it is sooooo cool when a family gets baptized! Everyone is super excited and the atmosphere is just lit! It was definitely a special experience for all. We had a great turnout too from the members and non-members. We wanted to include the ward so we brought the brethren of the ward over and the kids chose who they wanted to baptize them! I personally felt the spirit super strong. Although...a scripture came to mind after pondering about all that went on this weekend.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
To be honest, all these ordenanzas (ordinances) and all that we do in the church is a bit weird when you think about it. Haha no I'm not going apostate but just from a person looking from the outward in...bathing people in water after saying a little prayer, several men putting their hands on someone's head to give them the Holy Spirit...and so on. I thought about that a lot as in total there were 6 baptisms that took place. To me and all the members of the church these (VUDU) acts actually mean something to us. What is the difference?? It's all...COMPLETELY...about faith and believing. Kind of weird but I thought of the Polar Express when the kid didn't hear the bell ring until he actually believed. When he got that ticket from the conductor and it said BELIEVE, it made me ponder a lot about where I am at with my faith and belief in THINGS THAT ARE NOT SEEN BUT ARE TRUE. I must admit sometimes I feel like that kid. Satan puts things into my mind like this...that everything we do as missionaries and members of the church is just some fad or belief to make us feel better in moments of despair. But as this scripture firmly declares, it's because spiritual things are only understood by those with the spirit. I personally think it's okay to have doubts. I think if at some point those doubts don't come creeping in then we are too far in Lala land. But on the contrary we can't be all seeing is believing type of attitude. Obviously there is a balance. Just like Jesus said "Only believe." I am learning to love that word more and more! It's becoming more part of my life. One of my favorite scriptures that depict this is in Alma 32
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment up on my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
So if you are ever caught up in the world of doubts...you are not alone. Elder Reynolds is right by your side learning as he goes. But we have to believe. Honestly we don't even have to believe! We just have to desire to believe, want to believe! Awesome right?? I know that we are in the truth. As I learn more, the latter doubts seem to fade but newer doubts seem to come. And that's alright. Just be believing. I love you all! Be believing!!
Elder Reynolds

5 children from the Valencia family were baptized!!!

The Valencia Family :)

BELIEVE

SO EXCITING to baptize a family!!!!

My life is a gift; my life has a plan.

My life has a purpose; in heav'n it began.

My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth

And seek for God's light to direct me from birth.

I will follow God's plan for me,

Holding fast to his word and his love.

I will work, and I will pray;

I will always walk in his way.

Then I will be happy on earth

And in my home above.

~I will Follow God's Plan ~

After they were confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Another ER visit just for fun!!!

We seem to have the best luck...my companion was trying to cut a coconut and ended up cutting himself...

Elder Reynolds and Elder Manwaring

Traveling means different comps just about everyday haha!

On splits with Elder Chuqumango!

On splits with Elder Mooney...remember the "Companion of the Year?!?!"