What a Week

Hi everyone,

What a week! Just kidding that's just how every missionary starts their email. This week has been a good one. We have worked with a couple investigators and have baptisms set for the 10th of October so that will be super duper great!! Things are going good here in Washington.

We had a really cool experience with our Investigator MA. She had us meet her at Dairy Queen for the lesson which was awesome because FREE FOOD, but yeah. So then my comp asked her if she had anything going on and she didn't so we walked to the church like 1/4 mile away and gave her a church tour. "Tours lead to Tisms." A huge saying here. But we gave her a tour and then taught the Plan of Salvation in front of the baptismal font and committed her to being baptized on the 10th! It was such a blessing to have that in front of the font with the spirit there.

This week was our week without the car so I did a lot of walking and carrying heavy books of Mormon in my bag. My back and legs are sore every day. Oh well. (: It is awesome to walk. We rode our bikes two or three times this week but our area has a lot of hills so riding bikes sucks way bad. We make it like a quarter up the hill and just quit and walk. Yes, I'm still very lazy. We knock a lot. One day we had 6 hours of finding time which is where we are out talking to everyone and knocking on doors and things. It's sucky but also really good.

I've almost been gone from home for a month!! The mission is good so far and just keeps getting better. I'm short on time or I would share more. I love you all. I'd love to hear from each of you individually. Let me know how things are going. Letters are great and prayers for our 800!! WE need and want that goal and you can help.

This work is so special and so great. Let me know what I can do to help each of you in any way that is legal and within the mission rules.

Oh, and in our mission we can wear crazy socks anytime so if you see a super sick pair of socks. Send them on up. (: I love cool socks and actually bought a few last week.

Love you all, you really da best!!

Elder Trevor Scott Reynolds

First Week in Washington

Dear Everyone,

This week has been a crazy one. It's crazy to think that just a week ago I was sitting in Provo Utah in the MTC in a classroom full of computers and now I'm sitting in a church house in Poulsbo Washington in the family history center typing this email today. I love Washington. I'm in an area about an hour and a half north of Tacoma I think? Idk I'm still trying to figure out how Poulsbo is first before I extend my realm of understanding. It is a "mini Seattle" as my companion called it the other day. It is rich and lots of people aren't very humble but they are nice to talk to even though they aren't very interested. We had a lady argue with us for half an hour about how we are wrong to worship on Sundays because it isn't the Sabbath. The county I'm in, Kitsap County, is said to be one of, if not the most, atheist counties in the entire country. It is crazy to see how many people have different beliefs! I love it so far though.

We have a car every other week. The other half of the time we are on bikes or walking. We had the car the first week so we'll see how this next week goes. Having a car was really nice because in my area there are a lot of steep hills that on a bike honestly will suck. I'm excited for those days though where I'm dead tired and can just keep pushing and be tested because I feel like it's too easy right now. Our area is huge. Yesterday my companion, who is Elder Piel from South Jordan Utah (which is crazy because he's my second straight companion from South Jordan and they don't know each other) and I went up to a small city called Port Gamble which was super pretty and I experienced my first "Washington rain" and we were totally soaked. It was fun though and soooo pretty. All of Washington has really pretty areas but Port Gamble and the rain is definitely what I pictured Washington to be like.

Here's a little more about Elder R's companion from another email: 

My companion is Elder Piel. He went to Herriman high school and lives at home out by the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I know that isn't exactly how it's spelled but oh well. He is really nice and he pushes me to be better every day. I'm glad he is so smart so when we knock on the door of some crazy people's houses, he knows what to say and how to say it so that I don't look stupid. I love it. 

The first few days here were crazy. Tuesday morning we had to be at the travel office at 3:30 in the morning. We didn't go to bed on time either cause we were packing and cleaning so honestly...it was a long day Tuesday. We got to Seattle at 10ish and we kinda went sight seeing. We then went to transfer meeting where the entire mission was there. A LOT of missionaries where we did some really crazy things. If i wasn't a member of the church and I walked in...I definitely would think that this is all a cult. hahahahaha it was cool though and the mission has the best culture that fits my personality perfectly. We say the recitation or D&C 4, The Standard of Truth, 3 Nephi 3:15, The missionary purpose, followed by we are the WA-TAC and we baptize. When the entire mission comes together we sing Amazing Grace and we did at transfer meeting and wow...this gospel is so true and having so many people with your same purpose. It is special and I love it so much. (you can see what Elder R is talking about in this YouTube video of the same thing back in November 2014)

We then headed up to Poulsbo even though I didn't even know which area I was going to...but the drive was good. It was cool to drive down the freeway. Many of the new Elders have zone leaders and are in foursomes but it's just me and my companion. I'm in the Poulsbo 2nd Ward in the Silverdale zone of my mission. We have a pretty big area with lots of doors.  We got doubled in. It sucks kinda but leaves open a lot of awesome opportunity because we have no expectations. For those who don't know what being doubled in means...it means that my comp has never been in the area that I'm in now and neither have I so we know absolutely NO ONE. We also had stake Conf this Sunday so we didn't even get the chance to meet anyone from the ward. Which kinda sucks but things are going so great. (:

My companion and I get along well and we really enjoy laughing and things together. The first couple days I wasn't myself but now I am and it is great. I love teaching and talking to people about the gospel. Our mission definitely focuses on Baptism. Please pray for us as a mission to be able to find and have 800 people baptized by the end of 2015!! It is such a special opportunity for people to enter the waters of baptism and feel of their saviors love. We pray about that in EVERY single prayer we offer and it would be awesome if you will do the same because as we invite people to be baptized they will feel of the spirit and be willing to enter the covenants with their father in heaven. I have a testimony he will bless all of us including you as we do this.

Me and my comp have two people on date for baptism in the next three weeks. (: Hopefully they can keep commitments and prepare themselves for that very special day. I love you all, I pray for you every day. I love this gospel. I love the Wa-Tac!! Where we Baptize!

With much love,
Elder T Reynolds

My Address is:

20371 1st Ave NE
Apt. D12
Poulsbo, WA 98370

Hopefully I didn't miss too much even though I missed a lot. I'd love to hear from everyone. Love you all lots!!

Here's a pic with more at this DropBox link

Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Gig Harbor in Tacoma. Prettiest thing ever. I love it!!!













As Elder R mentions, he attended Stake Conference.  Follow this link here are some pictures on the mission blog of all the missionaries in the Stake getting together for an ice cream party.

The real adventure begins

We got a brief email from the Mission President and his wife letting us know Elder Reynolds along with 26 others had arrived safely in Tacoma:

Dear Parents,

Just a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in Tacoma today.

We took the new missionaries to see the Puget Sound (photo attached). From here they will have a great lunch. Then they will be interviewed, given a brief orientation, and meet their first companion, who will also be their trainer. After a wonderfully spiritual meeting where the departing missionaries will share their testimonies, they will be off to their new areas. It will be a full day for them.

We are thrilled to welcome them into our mission. Please feel free to contact either of us if you have questions or concerns. You are also invited to check out the mission blog at: http://www.calledtoservewa-tac.blogspot.com.

May the Lord bless you and your family,

President and Sister Blatter

Almost done in the MTC

Everyone!!!

The MTC has been such a great experience. This week was kind of a rollercoaster. Half of my district and really even half of the MTC probably is sick. One of our elders, Elder Nibley got really super sick and found out today that he has brochiitis and had to go get perscriptions for antibiotics. I got a little bit sick but just a small small cold and I'm doing absolutely fantastic now.

Our district and zone are all really close and know each other really well. Half of the zone left early this morning to go to the Denver, Colorado mission. The rest of us are still here until early tomorrow morning. I leave the MTC at 3:35 tomorrow morning. I don't fly out of the Salt Lake Airport until 8:30 tomorrow morning. I arrive in Washington at 9:32 Washington time so here in Utah it'll be like 10:30. I am so excited. 

The MTC this week was really good. Me and my companion have been teaching two investigators. One of them committed to baptism this week and it was so crazy to see the change in her life. Her name is Nicole. She has a testimony of the bible and really enjoys reading and finding things out for herself. She has started to read the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony of it. The last time we ever get to meet with her was Friday and she prayed for us and it was really cool to see the changes that she has made. The other investigator we never really got anywhere with but his name was Jordan. He had trouble beginning to pray but I think he definitely is learning better.


We have had troubles with Elders in our Residence (dorms) staying up really late and a couple i heard got sent home for using silly string and making a mess of buildings that are dedicated. It is so cool how the spirit works so strongly in all of these buildings. We heard a cool fact the other day, that the MTC is the only place on the planet besides a temple that you have to have a temple recommend to get into. So it is so special here.

I have made lots of friends here at the MTC and seen some from here at Box Elder too. There is 8 of us I think here at the MTC right now. (: The new friends are all awesome and we created a group email with our whole MTC zone to stay in touch so hopefully that actually works out for us. Who knows if it will but it was worth a shot!







I had the opportunity on Sunday to bless the sacrament for our ward because me and my companion were called as sacrament coordinators. I forgot if I already shared that. But it was a really cool experience.

I don't know how ready I really am to get out in the field but I have gained a testimony that if I put my trust in the lord and have all of my heart and being in this work then I will be blessed for it and the words will be put in my mouth even though I won't remember what I even said. I love you all and miss you dearly.
Things are great and just getting better. There are struggles and the saying is so true, the days are long but the weeks are short and quick. I love this gospel with all of my heart.

With love,

Elder T Reynolds


Elder Reynolds drops his pictures into a dropbox account. Here is a link to all the pictures he uploaded today. If it asks you to login or create an account, you can just close that window without setting up an account and go to the pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u3tbayiunva692z/AADVCnU1_yBLVK235cMQ4gqja?dl=0

Pictures from the MTC

Elder Reynolds uploaded some pictures from his camera late last week.  Here are a few of the highlights.  We tried to piece together the names from different pictures and Elder Reynolds' letters home.  Hopefully we have them right.

Elder Reynolds and his companion Elder Jordan Devenberg

"Elder Kitchens is our District Leader.  He's the funniest kid ever!"

There are a few pictures of these four.  We assume that they are roommates.  Elder Reynolds, Elder Devenberg, Elder Reyes, Elder Partis

MTC District: Elder Hampton, Elder Stapely, Elder Bird, Elder Kitchens, Elder Nibley, Elder Cooper, Elder Partis, Elder Reyes, Elder Reynolds, Elder Devenberg 

Study Time

a fun shot of the whole district: Elder Stapely, Elder Reynolds, Elder Hampton, Elder Devenberg, Elder Bird, Elder Cooper, Elder Nibley, Elder Partis, Elder Reyes

Elder Reynolds begrudgingly took items his mom kept telling him he would want...some of the growth we have already seen comes in moments like these: "Then my bed where I sleep.  Mom, thanks for sending me with that blanket (:" 

Elder Reynolds has run into 7 other Elders from Box Elder.  Here he takes a picture with Elder Dylan Thompson

The First Week

Hello everyone!!

The MTC is such a crazy experience but I love it. The first day was so weird and I was wondering why everyone was telling me and welcoming us as Elders to the MTC. I now understand their thinking. I am so excited for Wednesday to welcome all the new elders and sisters who are deer in the headlights and it will be the only week that I am here on Wednesday so our whole district decided we are going to welcome everyone with the dork dot to the MTC. hahaha

My companion is Elder Jordan Devenberg he is from South Jordan and we get along really well. He reminds me of Corvin Arveseth but he's a lot more shy than Corvin will ever be. He follows me around more than he leads so if I want to do something I totally can do whatever I want. He is way cool and nice to get along with though. Our district is all going to different missions. Two are going to Vancouver, Washington. Elder Reyes and Partis. Elder Partis is is Grandma Reynolds' ward in New Mexico so small world for sure!! Elder Hampton and Elder Kitchens (Our district leader) are going to Cleveland, Ohio. Elder Nibley and Elder Cooper are going to Fort Collins, Colorado I think?? (: Elder Bird and Elder Stapely are going to Tacoma, Washington as well. They are way different and shy than me and my companion but we all get along so well.

Everyone I talked to when i first got here didn't say anything but Welcome to the MTC but I plan to scare missionaries Wednesday cause it will just be way funny. The first four days were super jam packed with classes and just working like crazy. It didn't settle down until Saturday and Sunday and then we have P-day today that is so helpful to be able to relax. I definitely have lost my sanity but I have also become more sane and come to know the gospel more clearly and simply than ever before. Everyone around seems to love the MTC but is definitely ready to get out into the field and talk to real people instead of teaching mock lessons and fake investigators who try really hard but just don't seem to make it real enough. We are teaching Staci and Jordan and Staci is really into Christianity and has committed to baptism really easily. Jordan is the total opposite and doesn't even know if God is real. He didn't pray but he said he might this week so hopefully when we meet with him again he will share with us that he has prayed and kept his commitment. It is so cool to see people change.

Me and the district can't ever stop laughing and we have to split ourselves up for study time so that we can actually get something done. We all said we think that we knew each other premortally because we all got along from the first time we met each other which is way super duper cool! Preach My gospel and the other missionary resources are so cool and so important to everything that you do as a missionary and I am learning that. Anyone preparing to serve a mission study it. I wish I would have more before I came but I'm working on it every day.

Yesterday was fast Sunday so we didn't have breakfast or lunch available and for the first time in my life I had no problem fasting which was super cool. I bore my testimony on the ability of helping the people that we can even though we can't help everyone the one's that we do help will feel of our spirit and be converted themselves. I have learned to just get over myself and focus on others because as I do I will find myself as long as I am not looking for myself. The concept shared by Elder Bednar in an MTC devotional on Christmas a couple years ago. Such an amazing talk and changed my entire outlook on my mission. I am so excited for these next two years.

I have seen five other elders from Box Elder here, Jordan Merrill, Dylan Thomson, Jake Glover, Eric Butler, and Taylor Cannon. It was cool to see how much they have changed as they have been here. Dylan leaves today or tomorrow which is way cool for him! The rest of us still have a little longer I think. I don't know about Elder Merrill yet but it is cool to see them.

Send candy and cookies (: Just kidding! I would love to hear from all of you though and hopefully I'll be able to reply. I love and miss you. Feel free to email or mail me anything anytime. I have heard using Dear Elder is a lot better and talk to my parents and I'm sure they'd be willing to help you find me and get things to me. Thanks for all the support.

Love,

Elder Trevor Reynolds

First letter home via the mail 9/5/15

9/2/2015

My first day in the MTC is complete! It's been a day full of crazy emotions and lots of busy classes and just kind of weird stuff. We first got in and I had a missionary take me all the way around. He took me and I got my tag and missionary card that I won't use until I'm in my mission.

We then came to my residence is what they call it and all they other guys suitcases were here. Elder Brown, the missionary that helped me told me to grab my ID card and key to my room and scriptures. I went to my classroom and met my district! We all get along super great and it is so much fun with these guys! My companion is Elder Devenberg and he reminds me sooo much of Corvin Arveseth! They have very similar personalities! We then went to meet the mission president and they all spoke and we sang "We'lll Bring the World His Truth" from the children's songbook and changed the words to "We are now the Lord's missionaries" and I almost started crying. The spirit is sooooo strong!! Everywhere here has such a special spirit.

Then we ate dinner at 4:15!! It was way too early for me!! But the food was pretty decent. After dinner we came back and got unpacked. It wasn't too bad and was pretty easy and stuff. Our room was pretty packed but it was good! Then we went and did this weird investigator thing but the spirit was really strong the whole time. I shared a little thing for part of the investigator lesson. I know it won't make any sense but it is what it is!

Then we went to a little tour and met our zone and zone leaders and they're really cool! I'll tell you more about my district as I learn more. My P-day is Monday so I'll be able to write again then. I'm loving it so much so it is good. I love you ALL so much!

Oh hey mom! Grandma Reynolds called this morning and told me about Carlos Partis and he is my district and he is a cool kid! Call her and let her know I know him when you get this! I love you All!! 

Best wishes from the Provo MTC

With much love,

Elder Trevor Scott Reynolds

Mission setting apart pics

Last wave goodbye video.

Let the adventure begin.  Elder Reynolds on his way in to the MTC.  We hope to hear from him soon.