MTC - Counting the Days

Dear Family,

After all is said and done....more is said...than done...Alrighty, Well start on Wednesday.  This week we began Visitor Center Training! I was excited to start but...this quickly left me..haha.  The classes are REAL long and I hate to say it, but a little bit on the dry side..haha.  BUT we did go up to Temple Square on Wednesday and got a tour! That was sooooo fun! It was great to be on my mission grounds! Let me tell you.....I am just ready to get out of the MTC and get to work! Not saying I know everything, but it's about time I start doing the work! Tomorrow we go up again and actually give tours. They will pair us up with a Temple Square sister.

It was soooo fun because yesterday I taught my first potential investigator!!!! He is 15 years-old and I'll keep his name private in case there are creepers.  (SIDE NOTE - You know how you always make fun of me because of my Facebook skills and texting addictions.....well...turns out all those cyber communicating skills are coming to use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO WONDER I GOT CALLED TO TEMPLE SQUARE!!!! I do the chatting line for Mormon.org! Cha Ching!) So this 15 year-old kid gets on and asks me what sin is, so I told him the definition of sin and then he asked how he can know if God is real!! He was so sincere!!! So I told him all about prayer and we talked for like 45 minutes. I got to paste in some scriptures and ask him how he felt, it was just great! And in the end I gave him Alma 32 and committed him to read and pray to know if God loves him.  I also explained how God answers prayers. I got some contact info and we will either give him the next lesson over the phone or set up a chat again on Monday. ISN'T THAT GREAT!!!!!! My first REAL missionary experience since being set apart!  I always took pride in my cell phone texts....and now that talent is coming to use...who would've thought.

My district left on Tuesday to head out to the field....so it's kinda lonely without them, but good thing I still got my gang (Sisters K., Sister E., and Sister B.)!  I miss my teachers though, they were great. Our zone leaders left on Sunday.  It was fun.  We played the "cup passing" game and I won.....woot...ha ha.  Something the gang and I always play is the "8 headed opera singer"....we just pick a song like "Here Comes the Sun" and Sister Kyle leads, and she'll say like,  "Here comes the _______" and then points to someone and they fill in the blank...it gets ridiculous.....we laugh REAL hard:)

So I went ahead and auditioned to sing at one of the meetings for the MTC and Sister Beller is accompanying me, anyways, we made it and we'll be performing on Sunday in the MTC Relief Society Meeting:) YEAH! and I am also singing the musical number in Sacrament meeting too this Sunday!

Before I go I just want to give a Shout out To AUNT MARTHA for doing my blog:) THANKS!!!

Oh and MICHELLE T, IS THE BEST COUSIN-IN-LAW EVER AND WRITES ME GREAT LETTERS......(I hope that's sufficient..hrrmph hrrmph...haha)

Janna B.- Hello. write me.
And special thanks to those who wrote me this last week! It was MUCH a appreciated....really IT WAS!!!! I LOVE LETTERS:)

Mom, please do not die on this cruise of yours.......I heard a cruise ship tipped the other week....just keep a floating will you:)
Bugs, how come you haven't told me about formal yet!
Kate, Thanks for continuing to write me, and keeping me updated on your life:)
Sarah- YES I am receiving your letters and I wrote you back.:)

Whelp Life is GOOD!!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!! I would love to hear How my dear brother Robert is doing.....Paige...?

Dad, I got a letter coming your way with some pics.

Love you!
Sister Reynders

Week 2 at the MTC

January 18, 2012

Dear Family,

The shower is my stage. You could say I long to perform, well not perform necessarily, but just sing!  I MISS SINGING!! So the only opportunity I have to sing at the top of my lungs is the showers.  Well, the showers here are community showers with curtains separating you from the sister next to you. Be this as it may, sometimes you have to listen to Sisters that have been singing opera for the last 15 years of their life,  but because you want to take a shower too, you are required to listen to opera while showering.  Anyway, on Monday I gave in and started singing "Savior Redeemer of my Soul" at the top of my lungs.  When I finished, clapping began and whistling and encores! bwhahaahaha.......  Thus began "The shower is my stage."  I now have concerts every night at approximately 9:45 in the LeGrand Richards Residence Hall, 4th floor bathroom.  Be there or be square!

I have had the opportunity to observe many, many people during  my stay here at the MTC. So, as usual I check out every one's styles.  My fashion tip this week is for Scotty Bugs - WEAR BROWN SHOES with any color suit.......!!!! THE END.  Mother, I have received both your packages! Thanks for the boots - you are the best mom I have ever had!!!!!!!  My clothes are working out alright. There are a lot of sisters that are way more casual than me.

There are about 20 Temple Square VC (Visitor Center) sisters, they are just in different districts. I have 4 sisters in my district (FYI - I can't remember what I said last week...pardon me if I repeat).  My comp S. Beller is from Montana. Then S. Kyle from Canada, and S. Elliot from Germany (She's American...not German). There are all a hoot!! We are seriously laughing ALL the time!!!!!!  S. Kyle and I play off each other's humor very well!! There's this picture of Joseph Smith right outside the cafeteria and when we were walking by one time I stopped and starred...and said, (in my best little Red Riding hood voice) ¨Why Joseph! WHAT LONG HAIR YOU HAVE?!" .Anyways...its probably not funny on here but  we laugh about it every day!!!  Umm,  I speak in a southern accent nonstop and people think it is real!! This girl the other day asked me where I was from. I said, "California" and she looked confused....I said "central California - you know where all the cows are!" I just roll with this accent..it entertains me and entertainment is low around here.

I love Sister Beller!!! From my observance of companionships here, it seems in most cases they try to pair you up with people that learn in a similar ways as you. She is just so great because we are always on the same page! OH AND SHE PLAYS PIANO!!  We are doing a musical number in Church Sunday.

OK, so on Sunday we heard from Sis. Staples from the General R. S. Board. She was talking about her son who served in Haiti about 10 years ago. . .and I was like uhh..Robert must know this kid!  So I went out and talked with her afterwards and I told her that I think my brother might have served with her son. She took a second look at my name tag and said, "YES! I remember your brother! When we went to go pick up our son he showed us around Haiti! Tell him I say hi!"  SO ROBERT -  SISTER STAPLES SAYS HI!

Well time is almost up, SERIOUSLY Life is SOOOO Good!!!!!  I am known for telling all the sisters "life is good" right before they go to bed:) But I only say it BECAUSE ITS TRUE!! I have the best life ever!!  I am so grateful to be serving the Lord! I only want to do what He would have me do. I am happy all the time -well most of the time.  I have only broken down twice..haha and those have been after lessons that I felt I have messed up big time.  But I'm sure they are fine...just in the moment I get mad at myself.

OH, AND THE BOOK OF MORMON IS THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD!!!  Why have I not gotten more into it before? I mean I have studied in it my whole life, but I don´t know what it is now, but I can't get enough of it!!!

I could share stuff I am learning...but that would be a NOVEL!!! I think I am going to finish my whole notebook before leaving the MTC!!

OK PEOPLE OUT  THERE! WHAT IS WITH NOT WRITING ME?  DEAR ELDER IS THE KEY!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THAT COUNTS FOR YOU TOO SIBLINGS! Use "Dear Elder" because I don't have time to re email. Please write me friends because I need them!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!
Sister Reynders

First Letter

January 11, 2012

Dear Family,

Alright, where to begin! So far I am really liking the MTC!  It is so fun! I love my district and zone.  I feel so blessed to be working with awesome teachers and leaders.  I don't know  if everyone feels this way when they come here, but  my assignment for my siblings or anyone who reads this who has gone on a mission, please tell me if you felt a little bit inadequate your first week here.  Am I the only one who kind of feels they don't know the doctrine and feels they aren't a very eloquent speaker?

Right now I have 3 progressing investigators I'm teaching! Its role play of course. Anyway, I take it very seriously and feel so much for them!

Ok, so worst thing in the MTC so far....drum roll.....THE HEALTH VIDEO WE HAD TO WATCH!!!! bwhaahahaha  It was an hour and a half!!!! I don't think they had it when Kate was here.  All it talked about was don't touch monkeys and make sure your water bottles are bought with sealed caps! As if I am going to Hungary or something! haha It was funny....anyways...other than that I am always learning something applicable.

 I LOVE the Sisters I live with, they are sooooo funny! I feel like the Lord puts us in companionships with people we are on the same learning level with in the MTC. I see that that is my case a lot.

My teachers are the best brethren.  Their word is GOLD. They are the best teachers ever and I love going to class! Oh, I met my mission President  Elder and Sister Gillet.  They are training here in the MTC the same time we are so they scheduled a meeting with us. Russell M. Nelson came last night for devotional! I sang in the MTC choir! It was really fun to sing in a choir again.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LETTERS!!!! "Dear Elder" is a gift from the heavens!!!! Keep sending them!!!

Annie thank you!!!

Kate you are the best!!  I'm praying for you!! Thanks for your letters.

Emily! Congratulations!!!

Scott, don't be depressed that I'm not there!! I love you! be happy! Make music!

Dad!! I  love you!!

Mom, thanks for everything!! You are the best mom ever. I will have to send pictures snail mail. I thought  I could do it over email but I guess not.

 For my plaque I want Alma 29:1:

"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!"

I love Doctrine and Covenants 1:18-23:

"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—

"The  weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—

"But that every man might  speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

"That faith also might increase in the earth;

"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;

"That the fullness of my  gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."

This scripture saved my life this week. I am growing. I am changing. I am trying my best! Love you all.

Sister Reynders

MTC Arrival

Janet arrived in Salt Lake City the day before entering the MTC. She stayed the night with her Uncle and family and they took her on to Provo. They sent this note and pictures to Janet's parents.

Dear Mark and Jo:

What a pleasure it was to have Janet with us last night. And such a privilege it was to take her to the MTC today! Thank you for entrusting her to our care. It was great for Michael and Emma to be able to experience the excitement of her mission and her spirit of service to the Lord. We are looking forward to sharing in Janet's mission experience.

Love you!
Sally and Adam

Sister Reynders at home with the Reynders

Sister Reynders getting a little help entering the MTC.
January 4, 2012