Mother's Day Weekend‏

My dear mother, I must apologize.
I've not been keeping all of your advice.
I've talked to some strangers
Stayed up past eight,
Had sleepovers with friends
And never once had a date
The mission has a way of changing me
From everything that you raised me to be. :)


Sort of a tongue-in-cheek tribute to my mom, in response to the past Mother's Day.


This week we flew down to Richmond for a big missionary meeting. On the flight down, we were blessed to have the sassiest flight attendant I've ever met. It kept the flight interesting. The meeting itself was fantastic, and President Burt asked me to conduct the Accounting Session; it's a 20-minute portion in the meeting when each zone leader and sister training leader stands up to account for the work of their zone in the previous month. It was very humbling to stand before such wonderful missionaries to lead discussion on their work, offering praise where possible and correction when necessary.

This week, we will be preparing for zone meeting, which is always a great but busy endeavor. We need to convey not only the information that President Burt has given us, but also the great love and Spirit that he brings to each of the missionaries.


I'll let you know how it goes!


-Elder Reynolds

View from Teapot Mountai

From the Drive to Richmond‏

May!

What are the odds
Out of trillions of stars
So very far,
We found the Sun?

What are the odds
That millions of codes
Lined up and showed
The poems that I've begun?

What are the odds
That among the whole Earth
The place of your birth
Was planned by someone?

What are the odds
And what are the chances
Of all circumstances
These things have been done?

What if I said
That there was a plan
For each woman and man
With a prize to be won?

What if part of that plan
Was to find rest
From Hell's evil test
Through the Holy Son?

What are the odds
Out of trillions of souls
With individual roles,
That He will forsake none?

No matter the odds,
The scriptures ring clear
To each ear that will hear:
God loves us, every one.

Welcome into the month of May! There's the poem, just as promised from last week!


This past week we made the drive out to Burns Lake for exchanges (about 3 hour drive), then had our very first Skype District Meeting. We will likely be doing more of those from now on, which is exciting! On the way back from Burns Lake, we had to stop in Vanderhoof to clear out an apartment that will no longer be used by missionaries. When we made it back to Prince George, we took my first trip to the dump; there's a special feeling with carelessly chucking large furniture into a large metal bin.


To relate a brief spiritual experience this week, we received a phone call from a less-active member who told us that his brother was in the hospice and about to pass away. Apparently it seemed that the brother had been fighting his passing for about a week, though the family and doctors were certain that he should have already died. We were asked to go and pray with the brother and his family.


We received another phone call that evening, and we were told that the brother had passed away just a few hours after our visit and prayer. It was wonderful to help this man at least feel comforted in his progression through the Plan of Salvation.


Until next week!

 

Another Transfer, Another Tripanionship‏

So... I had a poem this week, I promise. But I left it at the apartment today. Now I know that's one of the most common excuses not to turn in your homework, but I mean it this time.


Transfers have, as they've always done, come and gone! I remain here with my companions Elder Nielsen and Elder Dunn in beautiful Prince George.Elder Nielsen is from Logan, Utah, and Elder Dunn is from Ogden, Utah. It's been a while since I've had a Utah companion, so I get to catch up now by having 2.


Today, we went with the Elders in the other ward on a hike up to Teapot Mountain, which is officially the furthest north I've ever been. That's up on the 54th parallel (latitude). For reference, my church in Houston, Texas is on the 30th. Bad news is, I don't have the pictures with me...


Other bad news is we got back into town late, so we're running behind today, so gotta go! Expect pictures and poems next week!


-Elder Reynolds