Jul 20th

Hey Family,

So every week as I sit down to write my emails in Microsoft Office, the first thing I have to do is to click on the tools button “herramientos” and change the language to English, so that all the words don’t become underlined in red.

I found out transfers. I’m going down south, where it’s very cold, but supposedly very pretty, to an area called Cordon Nacional, or something like that. I’m going to be sr. companion and district leader. So I’m slightly overwhelmed. I’m not sure how it will all work out. But supposedly I’m getting a really good companion, who is about 26 or 27 and is from Los Angeles California.

So I had a really neat experience with prayer this week. I’d been very stressed out with a problem I was dealing with. I didn’t know what to do. It was early in the morning, I hadn’t slept very well the night before. I felt full of fear and uncertainty. I felt as if I was in the middle of a thunderstorm. I picked up the Liahona to try to find some peace.

I began reading the talk by President Uchtdorf about the power of Prayer to lift us above life’s thunder storms. I felt as if it had been written specifically to me. I didn’t really feel like I had the energy to say another prayer. I’d said my nightly and morning prayers asking for help and council, but I didn’t seem to be able to concentrate and really find an answer. I then read a part where president Uchtdorf wrote: “If you ever feel that you cannot pray, that is exactly when you need to pray.”

I decided I’d try it. I began to pray, trying to pray from my heart and not just vain repetitions of what I’d already asked for. And this time the result was different. As I prayed and plead with my Heavenly Father, a peace began to feel me. It was miraculous. I felt exactly like the plane President Uchtdorf mentioned that passed through the storm clouds to the bright blue sky. I was filled with an indescribable peace, and I knew that everything would be alright.

I learned that morning that God does listen to our prayers. He loves us enough to try us, but as He tries us He will help us overcome our trials through the prayer of faith. The help we can receive through prayer is very real and very powerful. I’m grateful that God answered my prayer and gave me the peace I needed, and I think I’m also grateful as well for the trial that brought me to my knees so I could gain this testimony.

I love you Family. Remember to say your prayers! Daily prayer and scripture study really do change everything.

Sincerely,

Elder Reynolds