UPDATE : One Transfer to Go!

Hello friends and family, this week was pretty bizarre! I got attacked by a dog and it was kinda scary.... Ask me about it if you want to hear more of the story lol. But it was still a fun week! We finally got a working phone.... Only took 5 weeks! And we also got permission to go to Iowa to visit some members that live over there! So now I have been in 3 different states on my mission! You make think I got called to the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission, but in reality it was the Wisconsin Michigan Iowa mission haha!

Well last Monday elder Mecham caught a massive fish, and we had some fun fishing for most of our p day! We stayed in Dodgeville and it was fun all around!

Tuesday we had our last district council of the transfer, and so that was neat, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Then we went on exchanges after district council so elder Hill came with me back to Prairie du Chien! Gotta love driving an hour to get back to your area! We did some finding that night and were able to meet a couple really cool people! We had high hopes for them, and one of them already told us they weren't interested... So we are supposed to me with Darlene here pretty soon, that will be good! This was also the day the dog attacked...

Wednesday was full of driving back to re exchange and then we did some more walking. We walked around town visiting a lot of the people who have been taught before and it was pretty good! It's a great temperature for this time of year in Wisconsin...  Luckily it hasn't got too hot yet! So we met a few people, but nothing too crazy on Wednesday.

Thursday we had weekly planning and then did some more walking... I haven't walked like this since I didn't have a car on campus! But it's fun to be out in the community. We got bashed on by a guy that didn't know what he was talking about so that was annoying, but hopefully he understands a little better now 😊

Friday we had to drive to Fenimore to get our phone that works, so there went an hour and a half or driving... Then we didn't get to do our studies before we left so we did those and then finally got to do some work in the prime hours of the day and people were nice! We found out there was a big event going on in town so we walked over to see what was happening. Turns out there's a big music festival to raise money for cancer prevention! So that was cool to see but you had to pay to get in so we didn't go! We also had a dinner with the wonderful Fitzners!

Saturday the event was still happening and a lot of people weren't home, but the streets were pretty busy so we did some more walking and street contacted some people! It was fun! We went over to Iowa, cause we have permission now, and tried to meet a part member family but they weren't home! So that was just a fun trip across the Mississippi!

Sunday we had church and a baptism for a 8yr old in the branch! So it was good! Plus we had the high council speakers there so there were a ton of people at church! Even a couple of non members! So we got to talk to them! Then we went to dinner at the Koethers house and it was awesome! They have 4 kids and they all love us and I love it! They probably haven't had missionaries in their home for like 4 or 5 years because the last elders weren't allowed to go to Iowa! So it was great to be there for them and feel the spirit in their home!

So that was pretty much the week! Hope you all have a good one! I'm staying in Prairie du chien for my last 7 weeks! It'll be a good ol time!

Elder Reynolds

Weekly

Well this week was a pretty normal week here in the middle of no where Wisconsin! I couldn't be more happy with where I am right now! Elder Mecham and I are getting along great and having a good ol time in Priaire du Chien!

So Monday we had a good day in Dodgeville! We did some fishing on some lake in Governor Dodge State Park, and then we played some ball at a park! It was super hot outside so it wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't too bad either!

Tuesday we had interviews with President Williams for the last time ever!! So I had a good interview with him, and then we drove back to our area and tried to talk to some people! We met a couple of good people, but no one to teach yet!

Wednesday Thursday and Friday were all filled with service in the morning! We helped a random family move in that aren't members so that was a really good opportunity, and then Wednesday we helped a member move across town. So then Friday we went to Platteville to help with a big service project with a lot of our district!

Saturday we had the day to work. And we had a good time! We walked around the town and met a few people on the street and found some at their doors! The people here are really nice, and we talk to them all about where a good place to fish is cause it seems like a lot of people like to do that! So we had some pretty good conversations and met some nice people!

Sunday was a good day! Church was all about Jesus Christ and His atonement and I really appreciated that. It hit me pretty hard what he has done for me, not the first time I have ever felt the Spirit that strong, but it was fantastic! It's amazing how anywhere, even in a branch of 30 people, the Spirit testifies of the truth! I love that idea, it doesn't matter where you are or who you're with, you'll feel the spirit when you talk about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us!

Well that sums it up, I hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

Elder Reynolds

The Book of Mormon and The Spirit - reasons I would spend two years of my life in this wild state

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty tip top here in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin! We had a decent amount of stuff going on and it kept us busy! We gave talks in church and had exchanges with the Dodgeville elders, all around a good time!

Monday started off better than normal! We decided not to go all the way to Madison, but we just hung out in Dodgeville for the day and had a really good time! We played some basketball, tennis, soccer, and then just relaxed a little! We also went up to devils lake state park and went on a hike! That was a real good time!

Tuesday we had district council and then we had to drive to Madison to get a phone that was supposed to work out here... But it doesn't so we still can't call anyone lol. One day we will be on the grid! But that took a HUGE chunk out of our day and we didn't get home until almost 7 pm..  So not much else on Tuesday other than driving for hours on end!

Wednesday we had a normal day to work in our area, and it was pretty fun! We talked to some people down next to the river, and met a really cool fisherman who was really nice and open to the gospel! We will see if it goes anywhere! Then later on we had a nice chicken dinner at home and started to prepare our talks! I write my talks pretty quickly, and I feel like it is almost too quick, but Elder Mecham helped me to think about it a lot and it turned out very well!

Thursday we had a fun day as well! We were just going all over the place trying to meet members and formers. We did some walking and talked to a few people on the street, everyone in this town is so nice!!!! But we had a meeting with Bro Rice, our branch mission leader, and he is a super cool guy that gave us some fish to eat! Trout to be more specific, and if you know me, you know I don't like fish a whole lot. But we(Elder Mecham) cooked it anyway and I actually really enjoyed it! I was impressed!

Friday I was in Dodgeville for the day working with our district leader Elder Stitch! He is a super nice guy and loves to laugh so we had a good time together! We did some driving while I was there too... The dinner appointment was like 30 minutes away. So I am pretty sick of being in a car at this point, because right after that we had to take the hour drive back to Prairie so I could get home! I have been in a car way too much this week!

Saturday we spent a lot of time preparing our talks, and we still had to weekly plan for this week as well, so most of the day was spent doing that type of stuff. But we did go out and try to talk to some people as well! We actually ran into a member from one of the stakes over in Iowa and he was a super nice guy! Then we came back and finished our talks and our planning, had some dinner and that was pretty much the day!

Sunday we had church... There were 20 people there! It was a bit of a slow week for the branch. We were missing a couple of the families who are usually there and it changed the feeling in the building that's for sure! Elder Mecham counted at the beginning of sacrament 17 people in the room... So hopefully we can help that grow 😊 but we gave our talks, and the youth Sunday school teachers were out of town so we ended up teaching the youth as well! So that was an exciting 2 hours for us! But it was pretty fun!

Well that was my week! My talk was about the Book of Mormon as a missionary tool! And I was thinking about it, missionary work has changed a lot, especially recently with phones and calling home and all that fun stuff. But there is at least 2 constants that have never changed since it started in 1830, and that is the Book of Mormon AND the spirit. Without them missionary work is almost entirely useless. That is what we have that others don't, that's the only reason I would spend 2 years of my life in this wild state. To share something sacred with those who are willing to read it!

Love you all, have a great week!

Elder Reynolds

Sick days......

Well this week was pretty long! Elder Mecham and I both ended up being sick on Wednesday and Thursday, so not a whole lot got done, which was a terrible way to start up the new area... But we are feeling better now so it's all good! So Monday we had a fun p day playing basketball in Madison.

Then on Tuesday we were in Madison for zone conference and this was president Williams last time! It's pretty wild to think that he has been here for 3 years and goes home at the end of the month, it will be fun to have a new mission president! But it was a great zone conference all around.

So Wednesday and Thursday we were sick so there isn't a whole lot to say about those days... We just slept a lot and struggled to find something to do inside an apartment with no TV or anything else... But it felt really good to go outside again on Friday!

So Friday, Elder Mecham was still feeling not so good, so we had a pretty relaxed day ,but we still got to do stuff. We basically put a bunch of stuff on our area book app and visited a few people!

Saturday we tried to go to a carnival thing that sounded like it would kinda be like a peach days type feel... But there were about 50 people there so we had to go to some back up plans and try to call some people but work was slow... But then we had dinner with a family of the branch and the senior couple that we get to work with and it was FANTASTIC! Life is great!

Sunday we had a good day and we actually invited the senior couple who does so much for us over for dinner and that was super fun! Then we got out and tried to visit a few different people but no one seemed to be home.. So that was annoying, but it was still a great day! Church here is interesting because there are only like 20 people in the branch. So it is pretty fun to go to church and already know everyone! It's fun!

Well that's a wrap from Wisconsin this week, hope y'all are doing well! Have a good week!

Elder Reynolds 😎

Elder Karratti, Elder Mecham and Elder Reynolds