QUAIL!!

Transfers happened this past week. I finally escaped the beautiful and lovely and wonderful Parker South area! I truly miss it, but I'm super thankful that I am able to go and serve in another part of my mission. I went from the very South of my mission to the North half of my mission. 

A few weeks ago Sister Aversa and I played the "transfer game" with the Book Of Mormon. I never heard about this before her, but it was fun to do. You first have one companion take the Book Of Mormon and flip through the pages and the other companion tells her when to stop. Next, on the two pages in front of you, you move your finger up and down the pages, then the other companion tells you when to stop. Sister Aversa did it for me and I told her when to stop. These were the words she read, "to the land northward". It's super funny how that actually worked!!

I am serving in the Arvada zone, in the Arvada Stake, and in the Arvada 4th ward. My District is called the Quail District. Now because of that everyone says "quail" randomly, it's super fun. The boundaries for my ward are super tiny, but it's nice on the miles. My companion's name is Sister Sanwo.

She is amazing and I love her with all my heart. She has been out a transfer less than I have, so that makes me the senior companion, second time holding that role. She is actually taller than me and she can drive. It's super nice to have things change a bit. Since she's driving, that means that I am her backer and that I hold the phone for the majority of the time. If any of you go on missions, know that Sister Reynolds looovvveesss backing, it's honestly super fun. I haven't heard of a single other missionary that enjoys backing, but it's an awesome position to hold, no matter what weather it is :)

On Tuesday we went to Maaco to see how much our car would cost from the car accident that happened on the 1st of November. While we were there we did what most missionaries never feel like we have enough time for, study. It was nice to be able to sit there and get some extra things done. After stopping by there, which btw was way out of our zone, we decided to stop and get some pizza for our district on the way to district meeting. I have honestly wanted to get pizza my whole mission, but there has never been anything close by. While in Aurora, for Maaco, Sister Aversa knew where to quickly get some pizza and I love her for her idea of that. Also in Aurora we tried to get gas, but nothing was working, and we saw two sets of Elders who were super confused as to why we were super far away from our area.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year! I was able to go to a Christmas Party this past week, and it was super cool. Ward Christmas parties are so much fun and there's so much light in their eyes. As a zone we have also been Caroling. It was so fun. I love my District and Zone already that are in the Arvada area. This will be an amazing transfer!

In my ward, we barely have anyone investigating the church and the boundaries for this place are so small. Since this is happening, there has been a tooonnn of tracting. We have been using the Light The World initiative and people love it. My companion and I will be working super hard and we will let the Lord use us in whatever way we can to help bring Him success in His wonderful and amazing work :)

Challenge: LIGHT THE WORLD!!!!

Spiritual experiences;

*Something that I really haven't told anyone, but it's happened to me quite a few times on my mission recently. So there's this song "Consider the Lilies of the Field". My mom once told me that it was my Aunt's, who is now passed away, favorite song. There was this one day where, for some reason, it played about 4 times off of the USB my companion and I have. I can't fully explain it, but I truly felt Aunt Christy with me. There are random times when the song will play, and sometimes where it doesn't even have to play, and I know that she is right with me. I know that I can't recall any memories about her, but it's amazing to know that she is right there. I am not a crier, but I am on the verge of tears every time I know she's there and even while I type this up. 

*I stopped by a lot of people this week and had to say bye to them. I know that God sends His missionaries where He needs them the most. There are moments that I come in contact with people on my mission, like Wendy or Alex from Parker, and I know I'm there to help there. I know that everyone that I have met, I have met for a reason, but others I know that I'm still supposed to be in contact with after I leave that area.

*I also know that the companion I'm with was put with me on purpose. She is perfect, but some things happened to her caused by other people. These silly things are stuff that I can relate to almost perfectly, and I am able to help her out. It also helps me out knowing how useful I can be to this perfect and hard-working missionary!

*While we were caroling, the Spirit was sooo strong! I'm so thankful for the wonderful Spirit that comes when music is involved.

*Sister Sanwo and I were in the church building yesterday. Someone said the closing prayer for the end of the meeting. I had this super random thought that someone was going to hit their forehead.  When we were leaving Sister Sanwo hit her forehead. 

Shoutouts;

-Last P-Day I noticed that I had some split-ends. I got a hair-cut from a member in one of the stakes next to mine. It was cut shorter than I expected *sighs*, but now it's all clean.  Hope you enjoy dad ;p

 My family sent me a package, and it was the sweetest thing every!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

-I also got another package from my family's new home ward. That package means the world to me. I don't know anyone in that ward, but I love them for them reaching out to me and sharing their love to me. 

-My first day in Arvada we did service. We went to this super cute Old Folks home. We painted nails. I am so thankful that these people don't have perfect vision (like you Jeff!), or they'd be really disappointed with the job done.

-On the way to the meeting that was going to tell me the new area I'd be serving in, Sister Aversa and I stopped at Chick-fil-a. On the way from the meeting to my new area, Sister Sanwo and I stopped at Chick-fil-a. I didn't get much because it would've been too much food for me, but I think it's so funny how missionaries love that place. It wasn't my idea to go there either time, but I was happy by it. Thanks to all who ever went with me there!!

-There is a Hawaiian in my zone, he's my zone leader. He's not as tall as the one I know, but it's pretty fun to have him. We are going to do a Hawaiian themed thing next week for P-Day, super excited!

-Super close to the mountains!!

While tracting, I saw some decorated dinosaurs, 

I love you all my friends

Light The World My People!

This past Monday was Sister's P-Day. I'm not sure who's idea it was , but someone thought it would be fun to have a girly Sister's P- Day. We did a black mask and then a mask that was in a package. My companion also did my toe-nails. I let her decide whatever color, so I got a yellow that looks kinda gross and a hot pink on my pinkies. It looks so bad, but it's kinda funny!

On Saturday we had exchanges. I got to go with the lovely Sister Pobanz to the Grandview area. She has been out one transfer less than I have. She is the sweetest girl ever and I love her so much. She is super obedient, super kind, and I learned so much from being with her and hanging around within her area.

Transfers are about to occur. They changed the rules as of this week. Instead of us finding out the information on what's happening to us on Monday, we get a call on Wednesday from 3-4 pm. Instead of being transferred on Wednesday, we do it on Thursday. We also don't get sent the document that has all the information where other missionaries are going. So the only way to find out-- is wait until you see a new missionary in your area or start emailing some of your missionaries to find-out. It is interesting, but we all know that our mission President is inspired by the Spirit for the things that need to happen in our area. 

We sang carols last night at a park that is near this library I write emails at. We sang Christmas songs and we even got to hear a solo from one of our Elders. Not many people were around to hear us, but in a way that was a pretty good thing. It was totally unplanned, we were not singing together, and most of us cannot sing. There were 4 teenagers who came by as we were singing. I was able to hand out, to each of them, a "Light The World" card with our number on the back of it. It was super cool that I was able to pass those out. Those youth then came over and joined us in singing some songs. Although not much happened, it was awesome to be with a bunch of Elders and Sisters on that wonderful and beautiful night!

Challenge: There was a christmas devotional this past Sunday. You should all see it. 
Also, WORK ON LIGHT THE WORLD PLEASE

sorry it's short, I'm working on a project. love you all!!

--Sister Reynolds:)

Okay, Sister Reynolds now approves of the Christmas lights being up and on

Hey my lovely angels, I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!!

Last P-Day was the one with the Zone. We played Mofia, lovely game, and "who's line is it anyways?" There was the question game and my siblings know that no one can beat me at that, so I enjoyed that. This same day before we met up with our zone we went shopping. My comp loooooves shopping. We were in the toy isle and the cheap Sister Reynolds was bored. She just started pushing all the buttons in the toy isle, one being a pokemon ball. This magical ball and I started having a conversation. I picked it up, and was holding/ hugging it and talked to each other as Sister Aversa was finding things for her family. This guy kept asking em questions and wanted to figure out what pokemon I was thinking of.  

For thanksgiving they didn't want us going out and tracting. On usual days, they ask you to try to keep dinner to only 1 hour. On thanksgiving, they didn't give us any limit that we needed to be there, but just to be smart. They also asked us to make sure that we don't get too relaxed where we're just lazy.

The morning of Thanksgiving the missionaries all got together and we played our own Turkey Bowl. I remember how I'd watch some Turkey Bowls in Texas at the High School Football grounds. For once I was able to really participate in it! There was 12 Elders and 6 Sisters who showed up from our zone, we were oonly missing 2 other Elders. At first I was a bit confused because I really had no idea what was going on. So the two other Sisters on my team had a Sister on the other team that we were guarding and were guarding us, and all six of us would just run around and run from each other. Once I started getting the hang of it I was able to lose the person who was supposed to watch over me. There were times when I was able to run with the ball and I even caught the ball a few times and scored once (lot better than my other sisters)

For thanksgiving dinner, I ate at the church building at 2. A family had reserved the building for the whole day. Two total families were there and it was completely packed. There were different areas for games and activites in the gym. I played 9- square (a game that is like 4-square, but you go over the pipes instead of getting the ball to hit the ground -once you're in the middle you get to be king, and yes, I was king a good handful of times-), I also did some crafts and colored a turkey, and then I maaayyy have gone through a bounce-house (so, i maaayyyy have fallen down the stairs while going up to the slide, but i later figured out that was because i was wearing socks). 

There this 20 year-old who's name is Alex, who reminds me of my best friend. I did service for his non-member/ less-active grandpa. Afterwards we all had lunch together. Sister Aversa helped make and prepare the food We had steak, potatoes and salad. I let Sister Aversa take care of the steak because I am no cook, and then she burnt it, it was pretty funny. When we were about to leave and move on, Alex stopped me. He asked if we could start teaching him the recent convert discussions. I was super excited to hear that and I'm super excited to teach him before he goes to the army in Jan!!

Other random things that happened; I was tracting this week and we went to 49 houses and 8 people from those houses let us ask them a 5 question survey. I cleaned out a garage for service. Another service thing I did I was able to ride on this Sister's chairlift. This little 8 year old made my companion and I some slim. While street-contacting I was able to share the Light The World program with someone and he seemed excited about it. 

Since I have a friend who loves asking and talking about it constantly I'll give you a little update on some random information. At the beginning of this week my companion and I have been working out. So I did lose a little bit, until thanksgiving happened. Then I went back to not caring as much :)

Challenge: If anyone has any good jokes, feel free to send them to me! I'm trying to get a good collection of them. It doesn't have to be mormon ones, but just don't make it inappropriate :)

                   Light The World is now out!!!!! Please try to work on it or watch the videos. I want to hear about your amazingly cool experiences. Check out the calendar and videos on Mormon.org!! 

Shoutouts;

-Thanks for being a part of ros and guild are dead so I could learn about the game, and for my little ones to always play the questions game with me!

-Thanks for teaching me about the world of Pokemon older bro, so I was able to have a good convo with my new friend

-Thanks to my family, who can be active sometimes, for helping me enjoy games and running around and making me slightly competitive!