Christmas Week!

I had a wonderful week, especially during Christmas!

Sooooo Monday! Regular stuff for P-day

Tuesday we walked around a busy street handing out candy canes taped to "Joy to World" cards and pass-along cards it was fun because people love getting free stuff haha! Only about 4 people said no thanks but we ended up passing out about 30 of them out of 48. We then went to a members house for some snacks because we had already been invited to dinner by some other members who aren't in out little branch because they go to the Albany building because they have a primary and youth and we don't, but I don't blame them. 

Wednesday was Christmas!! It was a very fun day! When we woke up we opened the gifts from our family and then left to have breakfast at our branch presidents house. We each got a tie and pair of socks from them which was nice! We then watched them open their gifts. Then we got to skype out family which was just great! After that we ate breakfast and played some games. Afterwards we went to the Guldensterns and spent a few hours with them and their kids which was fun. After that we went back to the Receveurs (the branch presidents house) for dinner. They cooked a turkey which president Receveur caught himself. He has this room FULL of animal heads because he loves to hunt, he even travels often to do so. We played more games and had desert then went home.

Thursday we had district meeting and meet with a less active. We then drove to the zone leaders apartment to car pool with other Elders to drive to Utica, Friday morning.

Friday we drove to Utica for special training. It basically was just training for the new missionaries who came out last month. It was fun to see the Elder that were with me at the MTC. We then drove back which took the rest of the day.

Saturday we tracted for about and hour and a half but had no luck. We then met with an investigator and his less active girlfriend. We then went to a members house for dinner and afterward we went to a few people houses and sang some Christmas carols which was fun!

Sunday I gave my talk on faith which went well. We then saw the people we usually see on Sunday. 

I'm so glad to be here in the New York Utica mission and hope to serve the Lord to the best of my ability!

Elder Reyne

The First Week!

Where to begin?? There is so much to talk about so I'll start at the end of the MTC.

The last Sunday at the MTC was awesome! I was called to give the talk in sacrament meeting, everyone needs to prepare one but 2 people (usually a sister and an Elder) get called randomly right before, I had a feeling it would be me too, haha! Monday was good and it went fast. We had to leave the MTC at 3:30 am Tuesday morning so I stayed up with the other Elders because there was no point to sleeping. We flew to Detroit then from there to Syracuse. It was snowing when we got there and it was really cool. We met President Wirthlin and drove to the mission home. We got there, had a brief overview of the mission and then went to bed. We got up and went to the church building for more instruction and transfers. My companions name is Elder Sanders from Spanish Fork Utah. He is cool and we get along great. Then we drove about 3 hours to our area. The area is Hudson but we live in Claverack. The area is the very bottom right corner of the mission.

 Here is my area in a nutshell. The area is basicaly the ghettos, the houses are old, the streets are weird, the town I live in celebrated its 232nd birthday this year, my apartment is small and is one of the oldest buildings in the town, the streetlights hang from wires, the people are somewhat poor, there are bed bugs in this state (thankfully not in my apartment!!) the tap water tastes bad b/c it comes from the Hudson river and it's cold but it's only in the low 40's-30's. Overall, I love this town!! The people are awesome and friendly too.

So for Thanksgiving Elder Sanders and I went to an investigator families house and it was great, after dinner we went back to the aptm. for weekly planning which takes about 3 hours. Afterwards the same investigator family invited us over to help put Christmas ornaments on their tree which was awesome because it's my favorite Christmas tradition. I've only had one sit-down-and-teach lesson to man who has already been taught the lessons but has a hard time remembering so it was great practice. There aren't many new investigators which is why . My branch contains 20 members give or take 0 (not including investigators or visitors), it doesn't have a primary, the youngest person is 17 and it mainly consists of older women. There are 5 men in priest quorum. So basicly it's Priesthood and relief society.  

So far I am really enjoying it here and I hope to teach and bless many lives in Hudson and in the overall mission. I am already beginning to love the people and my companion is a great trainer. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so much and want to share it with everyone! I want to be the best missionary I can to bring the New York His truth!

~Elder Reyne!

The Elders in my zone. The last four on the right were in my district the rest went to Jacksonville Florida

The Sisters and Elders in my district, the girls went to Florida.

My favorite thing to put on!!!

 

The Week Of The Blue Sticker

Hey mom!!! I'm so glad you emailed me before Sunday because I wasn't sure when I would be able to send my first email. So everything is going just great so far. It was definitely a blessing to have Elder Brittner be my host and show around this huge place because it is very easy to get lost.

So the curse is true about the MTC. Time move s  o   o  o  s   l   o   w   l   y. The first day went relatively slow but not bad. The second day, let me tell you, probably THEE longest 16 hours of my life. And by the end of day three it felt like week 3. Sleeping has been rough and i don't know why but its nothing to worry about. The food is pretty mediocre and I don't eat a whole lot ( surprise surprise!) My little district has me and my comp, 2 other Elders and 4 sisters. It's super weird because it feels so much like EFY. My companions name is Elder Kleese, hes from Mesa Arizona and he was a lifeguard as well so we connected really fast. He was here 2 years ago but got sick 10 days in and had to go home. Its a blessing because he knows about things that were similar to his experience 2 years ago and its really helpful. I have been learning a lot and been working hard with planning for the role playing and what-not. But thats pretty much it for these first 4 days. People say to "make it through sunday" so hopefully that goes by quick. 

Im so excited to serve a mission and I know that I will grow tremendously. I love the Gospel so much and want to serve my Father in Heaven to the best of my ability. Its not our mission its His, we are just His instraments. I love you and dad so much and can show or express my appreciation for all you have done for me. One last thing. While I was just walking around the book store yesterday I heard someone call my name and i thought "who could that be, it doesnt sound like any of the sisters in my district" It was sister Golightly!! ( i think thats how you spell it) it was so cool seeing, it was funny because she wasnt sure if I remembered her. So be sure to tell Sister Brittner and Golightly I saw their missionaries. Anyway, ill email as much as I can here and I'll bet you're more excited than a child on Chirstmas eve, that i wrote this much!! =)!

-Love you, Elder Reyne