Coming Home

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, I have to admit I feel a little silly and dramatic but my heart is hurting just a little bit right now and I my eyes are tearing up....I am trying to act normal, but I feel sad this has to end. I've got to keep it together so the other Sisters don't see me over here crying..haha...

Don't get me wrong. I am excited to see family and turn a new chapter, but it doesn't mean it's an easy page turn. I would say the feelings in my heart are "heart wrenching". Once again I got a very minimum amount of sleep last night. I do have faith. It is not fear that is in my heart....but who ever said faith and anxiety couldn't coexist? :)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a group of Sisters around from the MTC  that will be coming to temple square on June 12th. They do this with all Visitor Center Sisters so they can have an opportunity to see how a Visitor Center works. Anyways, I tried not to overwhelm them with every ounce of knowledge and experience that I have gained on my mission for fear of drowning them. But it was a good opportunity to help these sisters get a solid foot planted before they get here.

While moving from one location to another one of the Sisters asked me, "So what is your favorite part about missionary work?".....It seems like a common question but I actually hadn't really answered that question very often.  My response was, "Helping someone feel happy."  I went further to explain that it is via the gospel that happiness is brought.  I told her, "Honestly, if I can help every person I come in contact with feel a little bit happier then I have done what God has asked of me."  A missionary's purpose (and really all disciples of Jesus Christ) is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement through repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It is this that brings true happiness. As I have been thinking about my response to that Sister yesterday, my purpose really will not be any different after the mission. Honestly if I can go through everyday helping someone feel happy and helping someone see that they are important and loved then I am keeping an eye single to our Heavenly Father's glory.

I want to share a little (well...it was big for me) experience I had the other night. I couldn't sleep, once again....and so I got out of bed and went out to the dark living room to have an experience with prayer. I told our Father of the anxieties I was having upon returning home. I told him of the doubts I had in myself and of my fear of being able to sustain relationships and friendships with people, my desires to stay faithful.....and then I had something happen that is uncommon for me. I usually always receive answers by means of other people, but this night a message came to me in my mind, and it was via the Holy Ghost.  He said, "I promise you Janet, that as you read the Book of Mormon daily I will keep you safe from Satan's temptations". I know that God is aware of all his children. Not just me. This promise is not just given to little ol' Jan but all his children. This gave me the faith to endure. I know as William Clayton knew that "All is Well! All is Well!"....I am grateful to know of my Father and it is my desire to do his will. This letter is getting lengthy but I am seizing this opportune moment to get my feelings off my chest:)

This week we have accepted as many tours as possible. It's a little different than another mission. In another mission I could pack my day full so I could feel like the hardest working missionary in the world. But here we can only take the tours that come our way. Luckily we have had a lot to keep us busy and plus there is always someone to contact. It's sometimes hard to see people feel the spirit and accept to learn more and then you never hear them again because they won't pick up their phone! We just turn it over to the Lord. It has been fun to be a missionary...I love it.  I don't think this is the end for me. I feel I will be training other missionaries one way or another throughout the rest of my life.

This week I have tried to use my music talents a lot.  I think I have sang in at least 1 tour a day:) It is a fast way to bring the spirit.

Sweet Sister Ordonez is doing well! I love her! I have been so blessed to have her by my side! I learn from her and she has yet to speak a harsh word to me.

I am excited to be with family for a few days this next week, but I do ask for your prayers as I move up to Provo just 4 days upon returning and living alone in a place where I know nothing:)....

I love my Savior and He is why I am who I am. I am nothing without Him. He is my Best friend and he will be my companion forever! There's no transfer there! :)

Hope you are doing Well!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

--Cheerfully do...then stand still

-Sister Reynders

Every Day is a Happy Day

Mom, I only have one more prep-day to write, you miscalculated! Wow it looks like summer fun has hit! The race looked like so much fun and I am excited to be running when I get back! What a blessing to have a working body!  I still run 3 miles every morning and it hurts.

Ok, did you know it is possible for it to rain when there are no clouds in the sky? I didn't. But it happened and it was real crazy.

Every day is a happy day! I am happy, my companion is happy, the work is happy.

This week we contacted a family from Argentina that is now living in Provo. I talked to the family in English while Sister Ordonez talked with the Grandma in Spanish. When I was talking with them I invited them to come to Church and they said no. After we took them up to watch "God's Plan" everything changed. They said yes to meeting with missionaries, and they want to go to church! I didn't really write this story well, but it was a very special experience to see this wonderful family feel the spirit and act. We will of course be following up with their experience at church and with missionaries.

This week we taught Daniel twice with the elders. They came to temple square. I am bummed because he is getting baptized the 15th and I don't head back up to UT until the 16! So sad! I want to be there so badly.

Also this last week we went to Kelli's Baptism, we have been teaching her with the Elders as well. She is in a young single adult ward. She is so cute!

We have been taking a lot more Motor-coaches (aka, Large Group tours) Its expected this summer is going to be even crazier than last summer. I wonder how many random tourist pictures I am in on the internet.

This morning we heard from Sister Rodgers from the General Relief Society Board. She got me pumped to be a faithful member of the RS after the mission!

I have averaged 4 hours of sleep for ...well let's see this has been going on for 2 transfers....my body kind of feels like dying sometimes but God always sustains me. Thank the Heavens! Last night was a night I only slept for 2 hours. Maybe I can get some rest today. 

Pray that our new investigators become progressing!

Hurrah For Israel!

Sister Reynders

P.S. I am really excited to go to Nauvoo!

 

BYU Roommates! Sister Beller and Sister Reynders

                   Happy birthday Elder "Bug's" Reynders

I got a Sunburn!

                Mitt at "Music and the Spoken Word"
 

Yeah its SUMMER! Finally! I don't know what took so long!

It was so good to see you Mother and Father! You are the best! I was a little sad to see you go, but once you were gone I got right back to work. Things are moving along. We are teaching Sarahi from Honduras. She is great! She has a sincere desire to change her life and improve her family relationships! We are also teaching Isaac from CA. He is a YSA and wants to keep free from temptations. We can help him with that!

This week M. Russell Ballard came to speak to our mission. I feel a kinship with that Apostle and I think we could be friends!  Something that touched me while listening to him is that he spoke of the pre earth life and other aspects of the Plan of Salvation with such a surety that it is real.  Another thing that stood out to me was his attitude of, "Do you best to follow the spirit and then stop stressing. Relax!" This is not the first time I have been taught this principle by an Apostle in an informal/casual setting. I remember Elder Neil L. Andersen mentioned the same thing when he came to Nauvoo at Pres. Ludwig's house.  Relaxing is easier said than done.

Sis Ordonez is great and we get along great! I am so grateful to end my mission with a hard working companion, and one that loves me....I gotta feel loved.

Today I was able to bear testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to George. He's a less active we are working with in Salt Lake. We meet him on the Square to teach him. It's something I bear testimony of often, but today was special. I am grateful to have grown up in a home that loved the history of the Church. I testified that at a young age I knew that the life of Joseph Smith was important and that as I have grown I have been able to receive strength from the Book of Mormon. I testify to any person that is reading this, that there is an actual power that comes from the Book of Mormon. If one reads it intending and believing that they can receive power from on high they will. They Book of Mormon has the power to provide you safety and peace during your sojourn on this planet.

Hurrah For Israel!

Cheerfully do, then stand still

Sister Reynders

Monotony, Motherhood, and Miracles

             My new companion from Honduras - Sister Ordonez

Well, it's been a fast week! We have had some great experiences this week. It is so nice to have a normal missionary schedule (as normal as it gets for temple square)! I have on average 3 hours a day to be in the teaching center....and 7 hours on average on the Square.

There have been times when I felt as Margret Judd did as a 17-year-old who crossed the plains with her family. "Oh, the monotony of camp life! How delighted we all were when we started on our journey for good," she lamented. One of the greatest battles I have struggled with is doing the same thing every day on these 35 acres.  But I have found joy as I have been able to focus in on the ONE. By sincerely listening to every soul I have found that I can escape the hum drum of never seeing nature or being in a members home, or just out and about in the outside world.

Although I am not a mother yet M. Russell Ballard gave this counsel to mothers, "There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, MONOTONY, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made...... I hope all of you dear sisters, married or single, never wonder if you have worth in the sight of the Lord and to the leaders of the Church. We love you. We respect you and appreciate your influence in preserving the family and assisting with the growth and the spiritual vitality of the Church." The Lord is preparing me, and I know that I am of worth in the sight of the Lord.  I hope all you mothers feel and know that as well!

Yesterday we had a miracle. We were at the map desk and there was a lady just looking at the map of Jerusalem so I contacted her with the old, "Have you ever been there before?" approach. She said she hadn't.  We ended up finding out she had gone to the Church office building on the 26th floor and some church host had given her and her husband the whole spiel. She asked me if there was a way she could buy one of our Books of Mormon. I of course gladly gave her and her husband a copy. She kept talking about the special feeling she has felt in Salt Lake City. I explained to her that that feeling is the Holy Ghost and the reason it is so prevalent here is because there are some many people here that have truly committed themselves to the Savior Jesus Christ, and how as members of the Church we take the promises we make at baptism seriously. We invited her to look for that same feeling as she reads the Book of Mormon. Missionaries will be visiting her after she returns home and we will be calling her this week. She wanted to see "The Testaments" so we sent her off knowing we would never see her again but satisfied that we had shared our testimonies.

These kind miracles happen every day.  That is what keeps me motivated to open my mouth and help the ONE. Monotony is a small price to pay.

Thanks Mom for being the best Mom I have ever had! You have always made me feel important...I need that! Thanks for listening to me sing to you all that time...and being my fan:) I am so excited to see you and Dad this week! It will be great! Come with Questions!

Hurrah For Israel!

-Sister Reynders

The Planetarium

                                

                                                         My MTC Group.
                             Sister Elliot, Sister Kyle, Sister Beller, and me.