Ice Skating

Hello family!

I am very excited to tell you that Matthew (name changed) was baptized Saturday! It was great -pure happiness! There were over 250 people there and at one point the second counselor in the stake presidency asked for all the youth that were there to support Matthew to stand up and about half the people stood up! It was amazing! The youth give me so much hope. We have two new investigators and they are both 15 years old.  One of them is investigating with her mother. 

On Sunday we went to all 3 wards as usual, and it was fast and testimony meeting, and in every ward there was someone who talked about  Mathew's baptism and how it has influenced them to do more missionary work. In the last sacrament meeting youth after youth got up to bare their testimony.  I didn't feel any prompting to bare my testimony and then when there was 5 minutes left, as fast as lightning, my stomach was on fire.  I responded immediately and walked up and bore my testimony. I didn't really know what I was supposed to say but I knew I was standing up there not for me but for someone else. I personally didn't feel I needed to share anything but I went up there because I felt the Holy Ghost so powerfully so I stood. I was there for a moment and cleared my mind and then opened my mouth. I bore testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the real life and it should be what we live for. I told how when I was a youth I didn't have near the testimony of those youth that  had born that day, and that I hoped to be as they are some day. I was grateful to have the Holy Ghost with me. I was grateful that I have had experiences with the Holy Ghost and know how he speaks to me personally. I believe that if we pray to recognize the Holy Ghost he will prompt us, and as we respond to those prompting we will receive more. I know that as we experience this process over and over again that we develop such a relationship with the Divine Godhead that we will have no more disposition to do evil, and that we will be the instruments God needs. 

I leave the 13th for Temple Square. I think I had what people call an "anxiety attack" last night. I didn't sleep for hours. There are just a lot of things to think about as I head into this final part of my mission. Pray for me. We all know that prayers need to be specific,....and because I have a need I will just tell you what to pray for! Pray that Sister Reynders will know how to use the missionary skills, knowledge, experience, and testimony she has gained while in Washington, in the Utah Temple Square mission. Pray for her to be the instrument the Lord needs her to be on Temple Square for the other Sisters, for the mission, and guests there. Thanks for all your support, I love you all. Life is good.

Hurrah For Israel!

-Sister Reynders

P.S.  I love you Elder Reynders! Do some good. Trust the Lord and open your mouth, and listen to the Holy Ghost. When teaching a lesson keep Preach my Gospel in the back of your mind, but keep asking yourself, "What does the Lord want me to teach/ask/testify?" I know you are a great Elder  because you have a desire to serve God. It's that simple. He loves you, and he's so grateful every time you trust and sacrifice.