Christmas in Surrey!

The rest of the song, to the tune of "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer"

We just got rejected on the doorstep

Tracting house to house on Christmas Eve

He can say there's no such thing as Jesus,

But me and my companion, we believe.

We had planned to teach a lesson

But our member didn't show.

The investigator called us,

And said "For the final time, the answer's no!"

Well, our hands are nearly frozen

And there's snow in my right sock.

But we've got to preach the gospel,

So let's go to the next door and try a knock.

We just got rejected on the doorstep

Tracting house to house on Christmas Eve.

He can say there's no such thing as Jesus,

But me and my companion, we believe.

We'll get through this winter weather

With a shiver and a cough.

And my companion's getting trunky,

But he doesn't know his girlfriend wrote him off!

(Wait what?!)(Nothing!)

So we went on to the next house

And gave this woman quite a fright.

I guess she got a little freaked out

By two guys dressed in black jackets late at night.

We just got rejected on the doorstep

Tracting house to house on Christmas Eve.

She can say there's no such thing as Jesus,

But me and my companion, we believe.

But in spite of the rejection

And each scoff and scream and scorn,

We know how we get salvation

For unto you this day, a Savior's born.

Christ descended from His kingdom

To the Earth that Christmas morn,

And we proclaim the gladsome tidings

That unto you this day, a Savior's born.

We just got rejected on the doorstep,

But we'll still rejoice; it's Christmas Eve!

You can say there never was a Savior,

But in the Surrey 1st ward, we believe!

We performed the song this past Saturday at the ward Christmas party, as well as the Tongan song we sang a couple of weeks ago. It was a wonderful Christmas party; we had a great turn out and many investigators in attendance (at least, more than we were expecting), which made Saturday amazing.

Transfer calls have come and gone. Elder Asi and I will be staying in the Surrey 1st Ward for another transfer, and I wouldn't have it any other way. One year ago while serving in Willoughby, I would often go on exchanges to Surrey; I find it such a blessing to be here in December to see all of the decorations I fondly remember from last year. This means I will also be spending Christmas, New Year's, and a 20th Birthday in Surrey this transfer, which I am really looking forward to!

This past week was filled with some amazing spiritual experiences, especially this weekend:

On Friday, we received a text from some distant missionaries about a man named Cody in the ICU at the Surrey Hospital. When we went to visit him, he wasn't looking too good. We talked with him for a bit, and he was pretty out-of-it; he was struggling to even keep his eyes open, was half-asleep, and look overall uncomfortable with the tubes in his veins. Cody was not a member of the church, and as we talked, we explained to him about priesthood blessings. He asked us to give him a blessing; I remember that in the blessing, he was blessed with strength to raise his son in righteousness, that these things would be for his good, and that he would be alright. The Spirit which we all felt was strong, and after we said "amen," we were surprised to find that Cody's eyes were wide open. Suddenly, he was fully attentive, and he expressed great gratitude as we left.

At church on Sunday, Elder Asi and I were honoured to be a part of the confirmation of Dorothy (a recent convert of the Sisters), and then we also gave a baby blessing to her daughter, Sadie, which was the first time I'd ever been a part of that. Again, the Spirit of God was nearly tangible.

After church, we'd received an impression that we needed to call one of the companionships in the zone. In our apartment, we have a whiteboard with the names and faces of each missionary in our stewardship. I stood in front of the whiteboard, said a quick prayer, and instantly knew that we should call the Sisters in the Delta ward. I wasn't really sure why we should call them, so I just shared an insight that I'd learned earlier that day and left it at that. Those Sisters texted us later that day, thanking us for following the Spirit because one of the Sisters really needed to hear that insight at that time. That strengthened my testimony that the Lord does work through us to strengthen the zone.

The insight I shared was regarding pride and humility. I find that there are 3 types of pride:

1) Self-elevating Pride ("I've received all these things, therefore I'm better than others")

2) Self-aspiring Pride ("I deserve to have all the things which that person has; I'm better than that person anyway.")

Previously, I'd always thought that the solution of these two forms of pride was simply to tear oneself down. If I started thinking I was better than others, I could just convince myself that I'm terrible so I could be more humble. However, that leads to the third type of pride:

3) Self-degrading Pride ("I'm way down here because I'm worthless and everybody else is better")

Each form of pride involves perceiving others as being on a different level than us. Humility is found when we begin to see that everybody is on the same level. That does not mean, however, that we pull ourselves down to be on everybody else's level; it means that we need to lift everybody else up to our level. For example, the thought "I'm better than you" would be more productively countered by "We are both great, though perhaps in different ways." That's what made the Savior the ultimate example of humility.

-Elder Reynolds

Patience is a Virtue

(To the tune of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer")

We just got rejected on the doorstep,

Tracting house to house on Christmas Eve.

He can say there's no such thing as Jesus,

But me and my companion, we believe.

We had planned to teach a lesson,

But our member didn't show.

The investigator called us,

And said "for the final time, the answer's no!"

Well, our hands are nearly frozen,

And there's snow in my right sock,

But we've got to preach the gospel,

So let's go to the next door and try a knock.

We just got rejected on the doorstep,

Tracting house to house on Christmas Eve.

He can say there's no such thing as Jesus,

But me and my companion, we believe.

This Saturday is our ward Christmas party, and yesterday we were "volunteered" to sing "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer" during the talent portion of the party. Well, that song isn't as missionary-esque as we would like, so I'm in the process of rewriting it. It isn't finished because I couldn't start until last night, but I'll send the full lyrics once it is done (and possibly the video if it is filmed).

This week, I'd like to briefly touch on the Christlike attribute known as Patience. I've learned a lot about patience this week as I've tried to study it out of Preach My Gospel.

There is a major difference between patience and complacency: To be complacent is to be apathetic, to not care. If something is bothering you, you can choose to be apathetic and accept the situation, not caring enough to try to change it. However, patience is hopeful endurance. Christlike patience is laced with Charity and Diligence. To be patient is still to care, work persistently, to do all that you can, but to avoid frustration, disappointment, and stress with a less-than favourable result. To be patient with cold weather does not mean giving up and staying inside; rather, it is to bundle up and endure.

When it comes to oneself, one can choose to be apathetic to faults and weaknesses, accepting mediocrity, or one can desire improvement and progression while being patient with setbacks and imperfections.

"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

(Mosiah 24:15)

-Elder Reynolds

1 Peter 5‏

My dear Elder, I exhort you
Feed the flock of God among you

The ensample of the flock is you,
The crown of glory given you

If humble, God may exalt you;
Don't worry, He careth for you.

Though Satan would devour you,
Jesus will strengthen, settle you.

The church and I doth salute you
The peace of Christ will go with you.
Amen.

Hello everybody! I apologize for not writing last week; the internet in the Family History Centre went down last week. The above poem was the poem that I wrote for Elder Kelly upon our farewell. He was transferred up to Terrace, which is the northern end of our mission. Just in time for the winter!

I have also been transferred to the Surrey 1st Ward! That is right in the downtown heart of Surrey! There's so many people here, and it's easy to find people to talk to. It's also the sketchy part of Surrey... there are some places to avoid at night. But I am still in the Surrey zone, so I still know many of the same missionaries. My new companion is Elder Asi, whose family hails from Tonga!

Sadly, time is short today. There are results and goals to be reported and things that need to be bought. I'll give more of an update next week. Happy Halloween!


-Elder Reynolds

Mary Had a Little Lamb‏

Mary had a little lamb

Who came down from above.

He came with healing in his wings,

His bosom filled with love.



God gave us a little lamb

His love for us to show.

The Lamb of God slain for the world

Will make us white as snow.



We are each a little lamb

Who's strayed off from the path.

Christ left the ninety and the nine

To give us all He hath.


At our recent zone meeting, we talked about the connections between the Old Testament burnt offerings and weekly planning as outlined in Preach my Gospel. Hence, the lamb-inspired writing.


It's been great week! I often feel spoiled to be serving the the Surrey zone; we have some amazing Elders and Sisters, and we're close enough to the mission office to make emergency trips if necessary. Elder Asi and I pray for the missionaries daily, but we aren't worried about a single one. Each zone meeting is nature changing, and the best ones that I've had on my mission. By the end of this week, our zone will have had 4 baptisms in the month of November!


Sometimes, things can often feel overwhelming because there's so many things that we want to do. We want to be out meeting new people, we really want to help the young men in the ward, we want to plan for successful exchanges, we want to prepare for Zone Conference this week, we want to study, we want to work with the members more, we want to keep in more contact with the Elders and Sisters in the zone, to name a few things. It makes we wonder how stressed President Burt is all the time. I've also thought a lot about how Jesus was able to fulfill all that His Father asked, because He certainly had no easy task.


But this has also proven to be one of the most rewarding times on my mission so far. There's a wonderful Spirit that comes when you get on your knees with an investigator as he asks in prayer, "Am I really your son?" It's been great to see how much these missionaries have changed as well, and closing a Spirit-filled zone meeting is more fulfilling than a final curtain call.


The Church is true.



-Elder Reynolds

Malolelei!‏

This week's poem isn't an original, and is a classic Tongan hymn:


Folofola mai 'a Sisu, Ke mou fou 'iate Au,

Ko ia te ne kumi hala Loi mo e kaka.

Fou 'a i, 'I he folofola,

'A mamahi hono kotoa 'I he folofola.


I can't actually watch the video because we don't have access to Youtube; I just copied the link that a good friend sent me. Elder Asi and I will be singing that song in sacrament meeting this Sunday with a Tongan family in the ward. Perks of having a Tongan companion!


Honestly, I spent a little too much time looking for this song, so time is really short. We had MLC this week, which was amazing! This mission is about to get fired up! We have some amazing missionaries in this zone.


I also found out that yet ANOTHER person I taught in Salmon Arm just got baptized! That makes three since I left. Elder Farris, my "grandson," has been been tearing it up in Salmon Arm, and it's great to see how these people have progressed. Now we just have to ignite the city of Surrey.


Love you all!


-Elder Reynolds

Dinner with the Sloan family

Rally in the trenches

Rally in the trenches!

Rally in the trenches, brethren, gather in thy might!
Our enemy is pressing forward to destroy the light.
We shan't be moved, we cannot fail, our line defends the right,
And though the foe may fearsome seem, he shall be turned to flight
Rally in the trenches, brethren, gather in thy might!
Our Captain is the Lord of Hosts, and victory's in sight!

Summon all your courage, brethren, join in unity.
The message that we carry is of peace and liberty.
Do not despair, hold fast to thy righteous tenacity.
Do not give darkness tolerance; to sin, give no pity.
Summon all your courage brethren, join in unity.
Our hearts and minds will meld as one, just as Enoch's city.

That was one I came up with last night; it is not nearly finished, but I wanted to at least send you something! As the weeks go by, it is becoming more and more difficult to find time to write, but I believe that's a very good thing.

The reason I write you on Tuesday is because President Burt was holding interviews for our zone yesterday. It's always a pleasure to get to talk with that man. Let me just take a second and tell you how inspired he is: President Burt sends out a weekly newsletter to the mission, and he wanted us to have some copies ready for the missionaries when they came for their interviews. However, we had no access to any computer in the church. We sat down near his office, not sure how we could get copies, and just as we sat down, he peeks his head out of his office and says, "It occurred to me that you don't have any way to print the newsletter. Take my keys to open the family history centre and print it off there."

I doubt that was coincidental. AND THEN later that day, we were meeting near his office with the Sister Training Leaders to discuss a new mission Standard which will soon be implemented; we realized that we had a few questions that we were uncertain of; just as we began pondering our questions, President Burt (who was in the middle of an interview with a missionary) opens his door, peeks around the corner and says "I want to talk with you all about the new Standard. Do you have any questions about it?" Our inquires and concerns were then discussed and resolved.

The icing on the cake for an amazing week: the Sloans! You may recall one of my trainers, Elder Sloan. He was released from his mission a couple months ago and is now back with his family in the Surrey 1st Ward (where Elder Asi and I now serve)! They had us over for dinner the other night, and I couldn't pass up a picture with the whole family.

Until Monday! Happy November!
Elder Reynolds

We felt strongly prompted to knock on a certain door as we passed by, and the man that answered had a bird on his hand and a bird on his shoulder. He wasn't interested in learning, but he let us pet and hold his birds.   Also, a picture with Kushal.