Power of Trios

It feels so awesome to be in a trio again! For a long while now, we've been asked to get 10 actual contacts everyday. These past few days the three of us have been on fire! Also, it makes things so much more interesting with a small party rather than you and only one other.

To entertain ourselves, Sister Christensen and I decided to make/ add to our coin jar. Every time we see a coin on the ground, we pick it up and just let our tiny piles grow. Now that we have Sister Pease, we told her of this new way of life. The only thing is, we have a car now, so it makes it a little harder to find them with less walking. Plus, there's three of us, and so it's more likely that another one will pick it. It's a fun, random activity.

On Friday, we had an adventure of things happen. I was gone most of the day at MLC (Missionary Leadership Council). I left a bit after 7, then carpooled a lot, and eventually made it to the church. There were a total of 5 of our companionships, each companionship had one STL. My companions spent the morning at our apartment and cleaned-out our whole room once again. Friday was the last time that they were spraying our place, and I'm glad that's over with. Then, to my surprise, MLC ended not too long before dinner and my companions picked me up in a car! Miracles do exist!! We no longer have to be on foot, it's crazy. I'm still making Sister Christensen drive until they tell us that I'm the DD (designated driver), which it's not official yet, but I know I probably am.

Last night we went over and taught Sarah. She is the cutest thing ever and I really love her! Her faith is so huge and she's willing to keep all the commitments we give her. Just like it is for all of us, life isn't easy for her all the time. She really wants to be baptized, but because of things outside of her control, there is something she had to follow first. We will continue to teach her all the lessons and get her to read more in the Book of Mormon.

During our lesson, these Elders called us. We ignored them, but then they called again. We decided to answer it, and at 8:30 at night they were driving over to President and Sister Savage's (the mission president and wife) house. They asked me to join. We finished our lesson with Sarah and then ran on over! We discussed some things concerning Meet the Missionaries. I was finally able to offer a lot of my ideas on the table about what should be done, and my companions were in the room next door just hanging out. The Savages know little about stage hand and sound, but the two Elders know a pretty good amount. I felt super special to be in such a small group discussing my passion and really being heard. Somehow, we were only there until 10:15 and didn't go way over. As missionaries, we get up at 6:30am, have to be outside doing missionary work from 10am-9pm, and then lights out by 10:30pm. This week, the musically talented missionaries will meet 4 days and have practice for 3 hours one day, and 5 hours the other three. There's a pretty big likelihood that I can really join them. I've been waiting to be apart of this since the middle of October (that's when I talked to President and he said I could be in it), and I've heard about missionaries doing this since even before that. First the two Elders that I was with last night were called to be in it. They created all the songs. Next I was asked to be in it. Then just pretty recently, 2 more Elders and 4 Sisters (who are mostly extremely new to the mission) joined in. It's been a fun and interesting process!

Shout-outs;
-At MLC they told us to be like a lion.
-I contacted someone in Spanish!!

-Sister Reynolds :)

I just got here!

My brain is totally fried for all that has happened this week and a half, I can't even remember what there is to report on.

Over a week ago, we took a little trip to the mission office so my companion could pay a fee, we could return some bug spray, and so I could say by to the wonderful Elder and Sister Etherington. I remember when they came into the mission for the very first time. I met them in the mission office, and then the very next day I was in Georgia. When I came back, I became very close to them, and they really mean the world to me!

At the beginning of last week, we had an event change our life.Wednesday morning we took our car into the shop. Tuesday night our Malibu was beeping at us and saying that our Engine Power was Reduced. We contacted our car coordinator and asked about what we should do. He told us to take it in and have people look at it. We called ahead of time, and they wouldn't let us schedule an appointment. We took it in to a guy who goes by the name Tall Tom (yes, he actually is pretty tall). Anyways, we asked him how long he think it'd take, and he said that he'd just contact us when it's done. We expected that it would take about two hours.... and now it's been over a week. As a result, we've been walking everywhere, including through different weathers where they have actually grounded cars because of how unsafe it became. We rode the bus once, hurt our toes, carried many hand warmers around, slid many many times (it's a new talent that I'm calling Slippery Trickery), walked half an hour one way on multiple occasions, became really dizzy, on the verge of becoming sick, was uncontrollably shivering inside for over four hours, I think my pinkie toe is broken, I somehow was bleeding from a nice big space on my leg onto my tights, etc. I love these random adventures. I think it's super fun and funny!!

Meet The Missionaries: I don't have much information on this, but I know what songs are being sung and the dates of it all going down. They let me listen to everything on Monday, the first day the missionaries were practicing on the stage, and it was pretty good. I also joined the practice that was on Wednesday as well. There's been a lot more practices, but I was just popping in. There are a lot of ideas that they're thinking about implementing, but nothing seems to really be making sense. I'm not too positive on all they want me to do yet, but I have totally blocked the whole thing and have created different set and prop lists. Hopefully I can start being more involved, but right now I haven't done much. However, I am excited to be able to follow these missionaries around the mission and do whatever they'll let me do!!

Other stuff from this week is included as follows. We were kicked-out of our apartment, even though we don't have a car, for 8 hours so people could spray anti-bug stuff. Went to a talk about institute by John Bytheway. Did service at a Food Bank. Had a lesson and a church tour with Tony, and he didn't end up coming to church. Got stuck in the middle of our area, with no car, far away from our apartment and church building, and couldn't get a hold of anyone for a long while. Skipped going to one of our wards because we didn't have a way to get there, now we don't cover that ward anymore. Met some of the greenies when the music missionaries sang to them after practice. Got a ride from basically everyone we know. Experienced near death. Most importantly, had fun and partied!

Transfers were today, and I saw a lot of my old Elder friends. I reconnected with so many of them, and they helped let me know that the clock is ticking. My reality is so shaken-up. My companions, Sister Christensen and Sister Pease, were making fun of me and telling me that I'm in the denial stage. The truth is, I'll be a missionary forever, the end.

Shout-outs;
-I taught the less active member twice since last time I emailed. He's about 61, plays golf about every weekend, and he lived off of Andrews street (at a house that used to be owned by his family) in Edinburgh.
-Thanks for the black gloves to keep my hands warm!
Special Shout-outs;
*I thought about you almost every day to try and figure out what should go here. Now I can't remember anything I thought of..*
-At these one members house, they had 4 little girls, each girl had completely bleach blonde hair.
-Ummm... something about make-up or hair..
-Other things and stuff.
-More stuff because I love ya!

Sister Reynolds :)

Sister's Are the Top Dogs

It's super weird, some people are counting down the days until when I go home. They informed me that I'm now in the double digits, I don't like this decrease in time. Also, heads-up, my P-Day next week will be moved to Thursday due to our transfers coming up. For now on, every 6 weeks it will be that way!

Last P-day we had Zone P-day! As the usual and typical thing to do, we played some sports. It was a little crazy, yet pretty fun. We have a really big zone, so I feel like I don't really know anyone here, but they all seem cool.

Sister's Conference was on Tuesday! A little more than a third of the sisters in the mission got together to have a special meeting. We had some senior sisters give us some really good trainings, they fed us lunch, we did some silly activities, and also had a fashion show. For the fashion show, we were showing the other sisters what was and wasn't appropriate to wear on a mission. I was a dis-obedient missionary, who could've guessed. Of course, I was overly dramatic with the jewelry and crazy outfit, I made the sisters laugh and have a good time. Also, one of the senior missionaries texted one of our APs, who actually came out with me, and asked him who he knew that could help set-up some computers to a tv for some presentations. Apparently, this Elder suggested me. Fun fact, just because I know theatre tech, doesn't mean I know tech tech, but I was more than ecstatic to be specifically called up and help out. The more I talk to others, the more I find out how Sister Savage told tons of people that I was going to be apart of an upcoming musical fireside called Meet the Missionaries!

We had exchanges with the sisters that I'm over. I went over to their area and we had a blast! I was with Sister Haderlie and Sister Draney, and I pretty sure they're the absolute sweetest sisters in the world!! It was actually almost scary how perfect the two of them really are, I love them. They taught me how to do OTC (Online Teaching Center), it was so cool how missionaries can literally talk to anyone anywhere. If you're ever curious on talking to missionaries, just go to mormon.org

#LightTheWorld | Mormon.org Come participate in our worship services, activities, and programs. You can feel the joy of the gospel as you get involved in a community of fellowship, service, and love. mormon.org

and start a chat or request something. There's so many people online waiting for those who want to talk. 

We went to choir practice for the first time in the Red Leaf Ward. We were really impressed by how well everyone sounded and by the amazing choice of the music.

Interviews with President Savage were on Sunday. We discussed a few things about the areas and my companion briefly. Then we got to the good stuff. President Savage was telling me how they were progressing on the Meet the Missionary practices on a musical stand point. President explained some of the struggles and ideas. I told him how I was practically going crazy just sitting in the background waiting. As someone that has been as involved with theatre and the whole process as I have been, I feel like I have to be in the center of the whole creation. I was informed that they didn't want to waste my time, so they've been holding off a little until I fully come into the picture. I had the chance to ask President Savage what exactly I was doing. He said that he wants me to help out with the lights and props and all that jazz. Then more specifically, he wants me to work the sound during the performances. He asked me if I would be okay doing that, and I'm all in. They might be ready for me to jump on the ship by Wednesday, but I'm not going to count on anything. Performances for this start at the end of February and go until sometime in April. I'm super excited I get to do one of my top few dream jobs while I'm serving the Lord!!

Shout-outs;

-Only reason I knew how to help-out with Sister's Conference was because of having to hook-up some video gaming units.

-My ward mission leader/ a senior missionary/ the Elder who is the secretary to the mission president/ a recent convert of five years/ Elder Martin loves Bruce R. McConkie. In fact, that's his favorite person and he reads all of his books!

-My companion loves the Fruit Smiles fruit snacks.

-Too many kids know about and play Fortnite, I'm glad I learned some things from you before I came back out.

Sister Aubrey Kaye Reynolds :)

Another Week of Gathering Israel!!

I greatly apologize, but my motivation to write these is really lacking today. A quick update on my week!

☆Bed bugs- Funny story, we had bed bugs. Which, in fact, all started having names. Only one if them bit me, and I blame that on the one that Sister Christensen named. We had to completely tear-up our bedroom, and then we were kicked out of our place for most of the day. We also went to this super sketchy place to throw all/ 100%/ literally everything we own/ nothing left in the closet or drawers of our laundry into these heat, like burning heat, dryer. It was super fun, and now all my clothes smell pretty gross, most of them have shrunk, and they're extremely wrinkly. I really enjoy when crazy things happen, but I just have to figure out how to get new clothes or fix my old ones. 

☆Car tow warning- My companion is a little off when parking. One day we parked to go to our apartment, did a little studies, and when we came out there was a bright orange sticker telling us how we can't do double parking or our car is going to go bye bye  

☆Stuck in the snow- It has snowed a lot recently. One day, we were parked uphill and stayed at someone's house for an hour or so, as we were dealing with bed bug stuff, and when we came out, it took multiple tries to figure out how to get our car to move. 

☆Zone conference- Zone conference was pretty good. The Elders from my old zone have decided to not disown me. At lunch time, my companion and I were trying to figure out where to sit. Three sets Elders, 3 are still greenies, the other 3 are training them, called us over to sit with them. I'm so thankful for them and their love towards the both of us, it made my week!

Shout-outs;

-I'm really becoming a fan of guacomole now, I'm prepared to see you when I come home. 

-My favorite face to make is still \(^.^\)

☆Sister Reynolds☆