"Another one rides the bus!"

This week was just absolutely crazy!! I'm gaining some really good City Park stories, some of which are scary, and others are just hilarious. Recently, I just... I don't even know how to explain it. I've gone from being partially blind, to a guy grabbing my hand, to walking forever, struggling with getting people to work, sitting alone on a couch for over an hour, balancing on a wobbly ladder, people telling me that people in the Book of Mormon smoked or carried around these different drugs, getting handed many flowers, maaaanny jump scares late at night with people (one in black) coming out of no where, and so forth. I looovvee adventures and story telling, and I'm still completely safe, so I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

My Zone and I went to the Zoo last week, and Ryan and Sister Green tagged along! The Zoo was amazing!! Of course, since it was so big and chaotic, the zone ended splitting up into at least 3 groups. It was super fun, and I would highly recommend it. (Partly because a Recent Convert, a gorgeous member, and a new investigator, Olivia, works there).

We taught the three of them a few times this week, but my favorite was on Tuesday. Sister LeCheminant played some prelude outside of the chapel while we waited for them to arrive. When they got there, I explained about the reverence that needed to happen in the chapel. We walked in, and my companion sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer as I played the piano, and then one of them said an opening prayer. The Spirit in that chapel was so strong as we taught them about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We taught Shawnee about this before, Sister Green has been a member for 5 years, and Olivia has been taught by the missionaries before, but I feel like they understood so much more this time around. 

Transfers this week. To summary transfers in the Colorado Denver North Mission, "It's worse than waiting for you mission call". On Monday we got a call that we were getting a bunk bed (like the top part to go on one of the already existing beds). On Tuesday we got the extra bed. On Wednesday morning we were told that Sister LeCheminant and I were getting a third companion. A few hours later, we were told that we were still both staying, but no more third companion. I decided that on Monday I was going to buy a doll named Sister Sally to fill the extra bed and space we had made. On Thursday, they took away our bed, crushing my dreams of Sister Sally haha. It felt sooooo empty without actually getting that 3rd person. Transfers created a mixed amount of emotions, it's super stressful, makes it impossible to go to work, and you really can't trust anything anyone says about what's going to happen, because it always changes.

On Thursday/ transfer day, some Elders, who were on bike, had to take our car to go to the transfers meeting. Since we no longer had transportation, we borrowed their RTD bus passes. Now, Sister Reynolds has been wanting to ride the bus in Denver since her very first transfer, that started over a year ago. She finally got this opportunity, and Sister Reynolds just couldn't be happier!!! It was honestly the best thing in the world. Why? I have no idea, but it was just so amazing!!!


Challenge;
In Mosiah 23:7 it says, "... he shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another..." There are so many things that happen that causes one to look like they're just achieving more greatness than another. People will tend to flip their hair and grow big heads. Or, some people will have pity on themselves for never being good enough. It's always good to look and see that you're able to accomplish things, or that you need to work harder. However, never compare yourself to another. Just stop that! "Comparison is the thief of joy", so why hurt yourself? Love everyone around you, and know that no one deserve to be put under or above anyone else.

Shout-outs;
-This cool guy named Mat taught my companion and I how to say Hawaii correctly, mission prepares you for life.
-Mat also taught me some dance moves. He was also preparing me for the fun life!
-It's cool how many people in City Park are in the Marines.
-There's a small black and white dog that looked like someone I know. She had her paws facing out, and didn't seem completely mentally their either. Since you have a twin Jake, I was able to talk to a nice guy named Ron on the way to dinner.

--Sister Reynolds

Closing of the best transfer

Monday- Sisters P-day! It was a pretty fun and mostly relaxed day. We hung-out at 16th street mall and explored some tourist shops and clothes shopping. I love the Sisters!!

Tuesday- The Sisters in our zone had hail damage on their car, and to get it fixed. Since we're the only other sisters here, we had to get them from Maaco. They're awesome, but they stole the poor City Park Elders' car while theirs is in the shop. The Elders are are on foot and got bus passes, which I'm a little jealous about haha.

Wednesday- Interviews with President Savage happened in the morning. While waiting for President to interview the members in our zone, we played a word game. Before my interview, I destroyed the Elders when it was my turn. In the evening Shawnee had her baptismal interview with our District Leader. While that was going on, Ryan was running around the church playing a nerf gun war with other young men in the ward, it was intense.

Thursday- At our last District Meeting for this transfer, there were some Farwell's said to the two Elders leaving, and the AP going home showed up as well. It was really sad to see that this transfer went by so fast! I have come to love my district, this zone, and this area! Life has to move on, and you have to take what you learned with you.

Friday- There was a ward picnic, and barley anyone showed up. It was cool to bond with some of the members some more. One of the Elders in our ward was just having a crazy, good day. He was talking about a million miles per hour, and it was kind of concerning, but pretty entertaining haha.

Saturday- In the morning we had a Stake service project, cleaning up Bible Park. My companion and I were putting mulch under some "leafy trees", and two Elders came and helped lug around the mulch. The big pile of mulch was far from the trees, so the Elders took their "handcarts" and made a "trek across the plains". In the evening, we had a baptism! Shawnee Palmer got baptized, and it was wonderful! 

Sunday- Sister LeCheminant, in the middle of us trying to go knock on doors, started to get the hiccups. We stood on the sidewalk for a second, waiting for her hiccups to disappear. Then this young lady walked by and we started talking to her. She just moved to Colorado to try and start a music career. She has done some studies on religion, and is interested in learning more. We set-up a time for us to get together on Tuesday and talk more. Ryan Littlefair was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood! The work is hastening on!

Challenge;
Learn something new this week that you really love! I am currently slowly learning Spanish, ASL and deeper doctrinal things in the Book of Mormon. It's great to be able to expand your knowledge in a specific area if your heart is into it. Find something that really sings to your heart and an area that you love, then put your mind into learning more about it. It's amazing how exciting it can be! :)

Shout-outs;

-You're crazy!!!! But thanks for the chocolates

-On 16th street mall, there's the USA flag, Colorado flag, and Canada flag...

psh, who says I'm not an angel

--Sister Reynolds

Consecrated Missionaries Have the Best of Times!

This week has been a blast!!! I love being a missionary, the area I'm in, and the Elders that serve around me! This email is just about how happy missionaries can be sometimes, and just the joy of serving the Lord!

District P-Day;

Through-out my whole mission, I've never had a District P-day until this last Monday. We all went out to eat lunch at Cafe Rio, I feel like I'm discovering more and more places that most people know about. I'm told that this restaurant is actually a common and popular place "for Mormons", as I'm told by my Utah Elders. After food, we played cards, Mofia and Skum, and just hung-out with snacks at the Grant church building, which is stacked 4 floors high. I inserted a lot of selfish quotes from mainly this day. I love my District, and I wish we could all just stay together next transfer, but 2 Elders are actually going home. This was just a super fun day of laughter, joking around, good friendly and competitive games, goofing around, bugging each other, some Elders singing, and just having the time of our lives!! :)

District Meeting;

The District Leader wanted to include an elder in our meeting, so he asked him to give a training. This wonderful Elder talked about how we can do better at talking to everyone. For his role-play, we played "missionary hide-and-go-seek". How it worked was that we were separated into companionships, of course, because my companion and I are the only sisters, we stayed together. One pair would hide, then the other one would have to go find them and start teaching them about the gospel. My companion and I found these Elders in a ditch and we had a Spanish conversation with them. When we switched, Sister LeCheminant and I hid in the back of the Elders truck. After a few minutes of the Elders not being able to find us, they got in the truck and drove 2 inches, pretending district meeting was over. When they contacted us, we communicated with them in Sign Language. This training was one to remember, but... also pretty interesting. I love that we are able to be flexible enough with those missionaries who have a harder time to understand how some things are supposed to go. All in all, I'm thankful for the good laughs these random things can bring us, and how close all of us are with each other.

The Zoo;

Some Spanish Sisters were able to find a service opportunity with Salvation Army at the Denver Zoo. They asked us, and the Elders we ward share to join them. We were under a pavilion and handed out some backpacks for some kids going to school. Before they came, and after we set everything up, we had the chance to go explore a small portion of the Zoo. The Zoo here is huge! It was so nice to see some animals (especially the monkeys). Some of them actually looked pretty fake because of how long it's been since I've been to any zoo. I love the Elders and Sisters I was with, and the good time we had, with the fun memories that we all created.

Exchange;

Our second exchange happened this week. Sister Neville, my STL, and I were in City Park. Since we had tons of meetings, out little exchange didn't last for long. However, we still had tons of fun being together. We ate with a family who lives in the Downtown area. After dinner, the took us up to the roof. Both us, and the Elders were on an exchange. We took advantage of this opportunity to take tons of pictures with each other. As you've guessed, we had a lot of fun together!

Silly Quotes about Sister Reynolds, from other people;

"Awww, look at her, she's so... guilty."

"So the only option left is to just turn it to Sister Reynolds"

"That's literally the best thing I've ever seen while playing this game"

"OHHHH SISTER REYNOLDS!"

"Up to kiiiing"

"Sister Reynolds, I'm coming after you!"

"Eat your peach"

"Sister Reynolds, do you like that Bird?"

"This place is perfect for you, there are 7-Elevens everywhere"

"She literally has no stomach"

Other quotes;

"There! I just prayed for everyone's food at this table, individually"

"Kill me, save me, it's me!"

"That was a good prayer"

"Ohhhh, tanning lotion. I have to have some!"

"Penguins!"

"Oh! Poaching! I gotta read this!"

"Guuuuuyyysss! I was reading a sign, and when I turned around, everyone was gone!"

"Whaaatt?"

Challenge;

Compliments to others and service are the best way to show your love to another. Go out and reach out to those around you, regardless if you know them or not. It's crazy how much of an impact a little thing you can do will make. 

Baptism;

RYAN GOT BAPTIZED!! I'm so thankful for the choice he made at a young age as he is. His mom is going to have a baptismal interview this week, I'm super excited for her.

At Ryan's baptism, he asked me to talk about the Holy Ghost, and so I made a little poem for him. The Elders in our ward saved us by helping conduct the meeting, and be our witnesses, because of how many people weren't able to make it to the baptism. After the baptism, my companion and I had to clean everything up. We figured out, after many mistakes and do-overs, how to mop it all up. Super fun, but a little scary because we literally had no idea on what we were supposed to do.

Shout-Outs;

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!

-Happy Birthday Dylan, Kainoa, and Tyler, love you all!!

-Ryan and Sister Green played with my shocking pen, along with some Elders who did the interview for them.

-My current car's name is Bonnie... In every area my companion and I named our car. My current companion and I couldn't do it, and so this one new sister helped me, and that's what she picked. I thought it was the perfect name for a completely crazy place full of adventures, I love you!!

-My companion and I went to Chick-fil-a, and the place we went to looked exactly like the one in Las Vegas, except there were no shinning and glowing lights on the sign outside!

-At District P-day, an Elder said "Wow, your dad and I are literally the same person", when revering to playing golf and Texas Hold'em.

-While walking, my companion keeps running into me and taking up the whole sidewalk. At times I get a little confused on whether that is my companion or whether that's my sister ;p

-My companion hit the side of the church building, in the basement part/ bottom floor, while backing up. It reminded me of when a friend of mine had the garage hit her car.

-Sister Aubrey Kaye Reynolds!!! :D

The Lord's work is hastening on! :)

Dear my gorgeous people!!

I HIT 9 MONTHS!!! I lost tract of when my birthday really was, but I know that I hit 9 months!! It's scary to think that I made it through half of my mission, and I only have half of it left to hold on to. I'm so thankful to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There's no place I would rather be than right here at this exact time. Thank you for all of the support many of you have given me. I am so blessed be each and every one of you!! I know that this church is true, that Prophet Russel M. Nelson is our prophet who leads and guides us today, that Joseph Smith restored this church and translated the Book of Mormon, I know that the Book of Mormon is true and the Spirit will witness of it and testify of Jesus Christ every time you open it. I love this gospel with all my heart!

Monday- P-Day is always such a super fun and joyful day!! We went to 16th Street Mall and stopped by all the Colorado stores we could. I felt so weird to be on this crazy and busy street, and not having the main focus of how many people we could talk to. I finally took some pictures of some alleys! I took pictures of some funny ones, and then there's one of my companion and I right outside our apartment.

Tuesday- We had exchanges!!!! Exchanges are the joys of my life!! I stayed in my area, and this wonderful greenie came and joined me. Sister Haderlie is the cutest person ever! I took her to 16th street mall and we did some street contacting. We went to Firestone because our oil was super scarily at 1%. It was at 2% on Friday, and the earliest appointment that we could come in was on Wednesday. While on exchanges, I learned how to drive and figure out how to not go onto one ways the wrong way, I'm a pro driver!

Wednesday- We Went over and taught Ryan. He accepted the date to be baptized on the 4th of August. I tried to make it the 3rd, since baptisms don't have to be on a Saturday, but it worked better to do it on the Saturday. Shawnee wants to be baptized the week after Ryan. Shawnee was taught by the Greens that she needs to come to church a few times before baptism. This last Sunday was her last day that she had working, so from now on, she'll be available to come to church. 

Thursday- We had District Meeting and I was asked to give a technology training. I felt super unqualified because these people have had technology longer than I have, but I absolutely love being up front and giving any sort of training! For the Role-play that we did, everyone was just being super goofy with each other over FB Messenger. It's so weird to be using technology for a training, and to text the Elders as if you're teaching them (with your companion just chilling in the background of the chat of course, to make sure nothing bad goes on). I love my District so much!!!

Friday- Weekly Planning! We were able to finish planning for the week, it felt so nice to be organized in that! Went over and saw S, and reviewed with her the Word of Wisdom. There's some medicine that she takes that is from a drug, and so we're going to try and figure out what exactly she is doing and talk with our mission president to see what's allowed. We taught Ryan and Shawnee the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity. They received it really well, and their fellow-shippers are just so amazing at helping us teach and explain things!

Saturday- We saw L. She hasn't been acting on any of her commitments, so we will probably be dropping her soon. Nothing too interesting occurred besides trying to work super hard and feeling super exhausted from it! ;)

Sunday- We took Ryan to his Sunday School class and stayed with him. Ryan is super shy, so we helped introduce him to all the 3 YM there are in this ward, there were no YW there. I miss being in a Sunday school class with the teenagers, they're super funny and they know all these random facts. After church we taught Ryan more commandments to prepare him for his baptism!

Baptism!!!!;

On Tuesday the Zone leaders had a baptism. Since the ZL's are in my district, I was able to go to that. My companion and I showed up 10 minutes early, and to our surprise, the only people there who weren't part of the baptism where the beautiful people that we teach and invited. Ryan Little Fair, 12 year-old, and his mom, Shawnee Palmer, were taken by the Greens. Also, the Montiels were there too. Nicole, 8 year-old, is now a little less scared to be dunked into the water for her baptism.

PLUS! In my last area, Richard was baptized! Richard (on the right) was baptized by a recent convert (on the left). I'm so thankful and proud of them both!

Quotes from the last two-weeks(sorry for these);

"I'm a free lady,..."

"*gets in bed, pulls soft blanket over, puts of sweatshirt and it's hood, curls up and cries*"

"Colflex"

"I want Sister LeCheminant's milk"

"That moment when your fire alarm goes off, and you just sit in your apartment and ignore it"

"Little did my surprise"

"Sister Sister Reynolds"

"I think the microphone is making him sound like a robot"

"When your companion uses you as a piano"

shout-outs;

- I keep getting a ton of compliments on some treble clef earrings, thanks!!

- Every week, my companion and I have to do this thing called a "phone audit". Thanks to all my siblings and friends who would just take my phone, mess with my pictures, and go through some of my messages. Y'all really prepared me for so much!! I love ya!

- While walking for half an hour, save miles!, my companion and I ran into the City Park Golf Course, we have to go back there one day!

- There is a giant poster of Deadpool people on the Greens door, but it's Ryan's.

- There's this one building in Denver with big words on it that say "Scottish"

-Happy Birthday again my beautiful mother!! I love you with all my heart!!

*Sister Reynolds  \(~.~\)

Emails are so much work

Emails are so exhausting to do every week! 

People;

*Brizida, a recent convert (11 years old), and her sister, Lali (a 9 yr old investigator), just moved this week. It was a total last minute change, and so we didn't the chance to say good-bye to them. We aren't sure if they're moving permanently, or if it's just for a week or two. Regardless, we will be contacting the missionaries near them and get them to see them. I'm super sad that they're gone! On exchanges last transfer, I taught Brizi once, and on another exchange I helped prepare her for her baptism.

*Sherry is awesome! She does believe in reincarnation. She comes to church every Sunday. She used to be homeless, but now makes jewelry and lives in a government owned apartment, she honestly reminds me of a bit of a hippie.

*Linda is also pretty amazing! She us currently trying to get over smoking. She wants to be baptized, yet struggles with coming to church because of her health.

*Ryan is 12 yrs old, as of 2 Sundays ago. He's shy, but super sweet. He wants to be baptized, and is a pretty solid inve investigator. We are going to try and put him on a specific date to be baptized this week.

*Angela, the mom, and Nicole, 8 yr old, are precious people. The mom is a member and Nicole wants to be baptized. We're teaching them the missionary discussions. The Elders came by and they

Random stuff/ miricales;

>missionary work is exhausting!

>we got rained on this week

>we had zone-conference and it was a blast!

>we helped this young sister move. I felt like I was in theatre UIL as I packed the UHAUL.

>as we were trying to go see some members in our ward, this brother invited us into our ward. The husband isn't a member, but his wife is. We haven't seen them at church, but we wanted to meet them. We talked with this brother for a long while, and then his wife came home and cooked us dinner.

>My companion and I went to the church building to do some studies. We show up and they're about done setting up for a 90th surprise birthday party. To get this sister to come to the church, they told her that the sisters wanted food. They asked my companion and I to go down and get this sister and two others. If we didn't have to do studies right then, their whole plan would've been ruined.

Shout-outs;

♡I shocked the Elders in my ward, thanks for your help!

- Sister Reynolds :)