"Well a doctor can't baptize a baby anyways..."

Oh heYYYYYYY'all

How's it goin'?

I just... my week was really good. 😶

On Monday we arose early in the mornin' we drove out to the very edge of the United States. We had a splendid beach P-Day. Sister Hart and Staten were the only ones there when we got there so I got to watch the sunrise over the ocean with my best friend for lyfeee. We also found a jelly fish so that's cool. 😎 Then everyone in the zone showed up and I convinced the entire zone to take a High School Musical jumping pic and it worked.... almost. 

THEN we went to the church and Elder Dummer and Goff made breakfast for the entire zone. Bless them. 

THEN WE WENT TO HANGAR 15 (a new trampoline park) AND I GOT TO JUMP ON EURO TRAMPOLINES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13 MONTHS. 

(For those of you who don't know, I was a competitive tumbler/trampolinist before the mission. Euro tramps are the fancy trampolines I used to compete on.)

*passes out from experiencing pure joy*

It was glorious.

Pres. Clark texted the ZLs and told them we can't do flips though. I was a lil bummed but it's okay. He has priesthood keys.

So there was this half pipe thing next to the foam pit. The goal was to run down one side and try to make it all the way up the other side. So there I am standing there thinking "ya know... I could probably make it up to the other side." Pretty soon a bunch of other missionaries were gathered around cheering for me. 

I ran....

Okay so there is this thing called gravity and...

I fell splat on my face. And just smacked into the other side of the half pipe and just slid down a little and then just laid there on my face and was like "well this is embarrassing." 😂😆

It's fine though because I got up and tried again and made it the second time. 😎 Everybody clapped for me.

I also (almost) won an intense game of dodge ball. I was doing pretty good and was the last one standing on my side and then the army threw dodge balls at me and I lost. But I (almost) won...

After my much needed trampoline time I went back to the church and started working on a job application.... much less fun than the trampoline park. Can I just be a missionary for forever?

After PDay we taught Josh. He's the coolest. Then we taught Sister Corron and the Powell family. 

On TUESDAY 

wow... I'm only on Tuesday? Sorry friends... this is going to be a long email...

We went to service at Habitat for Humanity. Then the Vanderslice's picked us up and took us to lunch. They took us to this fun Mexican place and I just had such a swell time. After that we taught Cody. His mom still REALLLLLYYYYYYY doesn't like us. 🙄😐 Then we taught Tammy. I love Tammy. It was the happiest lesson I've ever had with her. Then we taught my faves Brittany, Melody, and Milady with the Thorpe family. We taught the Word of Wisdom. #D&C89MYFRIENDSSSS It was a slam dunk lesson. They are the literal coolest ever. The Thorpe's are pretty cool too and ahh God is so good. 😊 After that we met with Brother and Sister Blazo and had a fun visit with them.

On WEDNESDAY we woke up and found out who is going to be the President so that was exciting... we had District Meeting and I said the invocation. It was Elder Dummer's birthday and I got to eat a cupcake. Happy Birthday Elder Dummer! 🎉🎈THEN WE WENT AND CONTACTED THIS POTENTIAL SISTER SIMPSON AND I HAD MET NAMED KURT AND HE WAS ALL "UH HOW COME YOU NEVER CAME BACK? I'M TOTALLY INTERESTED."

What? 

Then we saw Dillon...

The first time I met Dillon I was with Sis Simpson and he was outside sharpening his ax... 😳😶 he also had no front teeth and wasn't real interested in our message so we peaced out real fast. ✌🏻️ Flash forward several months to this week and HNA Jones and I are driving down the road and we see a guy crouched down collecting acorns. 🐿🐿🐿 

Acorn collectors need the gospel. 

Obviously. 

So we pulled over and guess who it was! TOOTHLESS DILLON! He was telling us about how there were people before the American Indians. Well guess what, we have a record of those people in our purse! WHATTTT?! We need to baptize ax sharpening, acorn collection, toothless Dillon. He's cool.

Then we visited the Upfold's. Brother Upfold is this little old man that was in a car accident recently and has broken ribs. Brother Upfold told us his WHOOOOLLLLEEEEE conversion story. It was actually a really good story. Then he whipped out his guitar and this little old man with broken ribs starts playing the guitar like there's no tomorrow. I tell you this guy belongs in Nashville. 

I sang some country music with him for a bit.

Then we had dinner with the Wells. I looooooovvvvvvveeeeee them. Brother Wells promised me that when I come back to visit he'll take me in his private airplane and take me flying in the Florida Heavens. Oh how glorious! ✈️✈️✈️

Then we drove to Bunnell and I got to exchange with Sister a Yance who is a literal SAINT. I just love her. 😃

On THURSDAY we got up and went to teach their investigator named Amanda the Word of Wisdom. 🍺🍷☕️🚬🙅🏼🙅🏼‍♂️ Then we went to Habitat for Humanity and organized some Christmas stuff. Elder Honda gave me a dirty socks flavored jelly bean and my mouth will never be the same. Thanks Elder Honda. Then we ran over to and taught Billy and then we taught Ben! Last time I was on exchanges was the day they met Ben and now he is getting baptized on December 3rd! 🎉🙏🏼🤘🏼He is so great. When they give him pamphlets he goes to town studying them and he was showing me the chastity pamphlet and how frustrated he was that there weren't any lines by the additional study questions so he could take notes. 😂 We taught him the Law of Chastity and it was a wonderful lesson! 

After Ben's lesson we went and contacted a referral and all of their neighbors. I don't know if you know this, but in Florida all of the fire hydrants are different colors. In Bunnell they are blue with white tops and they look like smurfs so I took a picture with one. Then we had dinner with the McMillan's. Then we went and visited the Bristols who I met last time I was in Bunnell. They were fun. 

The Bristols gave us fruit and when we left they gave us a bowl of fruit with these shawer cap looking cover things on them. So when we got in the car we decided to try them on... obviously. Then we went and took a picture with a giant manatee statue. Then we got frosted lemonades at chick-fil-a and car contacted people at stoplights. I swear I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Thanks Sister Yance! I love you lots!

Then we exchanged back and I got HNA Jones back!

(I'm seriously so sorry for how long this email is...)

On FRIDAY we weekly planned. Then we taught Milady the Word of Wisdom and she drew a really cute picture of me. Then we taught Warren who is a new investigator that is a COP! 👮🏼He was all "if y'all ever run into any trouble call me and I'll get ya help faster than 911 will." Thanks Warren! Oh man he is SO COOL! He also told me I need to buy pepper spray. Then we went and exchanged with the Daytona sisters and Sister Badal (Bad Al) came to partayyy with me in Port Orange.

➡️ Side note: THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of our veterans out there. We appreciate your service. Thank you for keeping this country free and safe.

On SATURDAY we went and had a splendid lesson with Brother Harper. Then we did some finding on the Inlet and I GOT TO SEE THE LIGHTHOUSE! I've been talking about how I want to go see it for the last fifteen weeks... I FINALLY GOT TO SEE IT AND IT WAS GLORIOUS! We also found a cute little ice cream shop down there by the lighthouse and I got pumpkin ice cream to celebrate fall (because in Florida you celebrate fall with Icecream...) and then I contacted the owners and told them about how cool it is to be Mormon. We found some less actives and part-member families on the inlet and it was great! Then we came back up to the main land and taught the Orbans. Love them. Then we taught Junior. The kid is getting baptized real soon and I'm so pumped. Then we had dinner with the Wrens. Brother Wren IS SANTA. 🎅🏻 They are so cool. Then we went and taught Rod. ROD IS MY FAVORITE! Haha 

Then we exchanged back and Sister Carter and Sister Jones were talking so Sister Badal and I decided to go wash off our thick layers of bug spray #NOZIKA so we were both standing in the bath tub in our dresses splashing each other with water. Then they didn't have any towels so we were all "I guess we should go roll around on the carpet for a bit." Hahahaha I always have a grand time with Sister Badal. 😂😂

SUNDAY we went to our mornin' meetings and then went to church. ROD CAME TO CHURCH. I don't know if you understand the significance of this... he was baptized last March and hasn't been to church since his baptism. I've been working with him since I got to the area. Seeing him walk into the chapel brought tears to my eyes. God is good my friends. God is good. The primary program was this week so we listened to cute kids. TWO of our little investigators participated and Josh gave a talk! Ahhhh my heart was oh so happy. After church we had choir and then went and taught Josh about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. Your body is a temple my friends.

➡️Side note: wouldn't it be cool if we had Mormon emojis? Like we need a little temple and a Book of Mormon.... ya?

After that we taught Milady and had dinner with the Doss family. Same old couple that made me drink fancy sparkily French water that didn't taste too good and that put out more knives than I knew what to do with. I still didn't know what to do with the knives, but I had a good time. We also saw the Hewletts in the evening and OH MAN OH MAN IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG. They are my number one forever and always and it was so fun to see them again. 

So there y'all have it. My week in book form. Sorry it was rather lengthy, but so much happens in a missionary's week that I just can't leave anything out. To my missionary friends out there, just remember how sacred this time is. This is the greatest work we will ever do.  I don't want to miss a second of it.

KEEP READING YOUR SCRIPTURES AND SAYING YOUR PRAYERS AND DON'T EVER FORGET HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND HOW MUCH YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN LOVES YOU. ⬅️ That's a fact. He loves you lots!

I love y'all more than Floridians love using their metal detectors on the beach! 🏝

1. HSM jump
2. HANGAR 15 selfie with Grandbaby Staten
3. NO SOUP FOR YOU!
4. Smurf fire hydrant
5. When everybody wants to feed you...
6. Shower caps??
7. Milady drew me
8. How you teach a 9 year old the word of wisdom.
9. Selfie with my faves
10. PONCE INLET LIGHTHOUSE

Sister Whitney Reid

Feelmysunlight.blogspot.com

Citrusfruitsister.blogspot.com

🍍🍋🍍🍋🍍🍋🍍🍋

"My aglets stopped falling off by the time I reached middle school"

Ahh so guess what... it was announced this week that I can wear pants on my mission because THE POST-HURRICANE MOSQUITOES ARE REAL AND I DON'T WANT TO GET ZIKA. what? #PantsInFL

 

Anyways,

Okay so I just left her Beach I'm just swimmin' in joy over here because #BestWeekEver

 

*passes out*

*wakes back up*

 

Okay I'm back and I'm awake and here let me tell y'all about how great mission life is. 

 

On MONDAY it was Halloween. To celebrate Baby Hart and Grandbaby Staten drove up to Port Orange to partayyy with us. We went to the mall. I bought some sunglasses because #TheSunshineState and fancy teal pineapple watch. AND THEN Baby Hart and I found a photo booth and just look....

After P-day we taught Tammy. I love Tammy. Then we taught Rod. ''Twas a good time. Rod is the coolest. #HappyHalloween!

 

On TUESDAY we went to the Habitat for Humanity thrift store and did some service there. Then we contacted a #HurricaneRefurral named Margaret. She was from Canada. Then we read the Book of Mormon with Milady. She's the number one nine year old. Like if there was an Olympic event for being nine... she would have the gold medal. Her prayers sound like this...

 

"Dear Heavenly Father, I'm thankful that these two nice girls, Sister Reid and ?Hermana? Jones, that they come over to teach me about the Book of Mormon, and I love them and I hope they come again tomorrow and that they never go away, I'm thankful for my family and please bless them, and I'm thankful for our food, and for my mom's job, and yes the Book of Mormon IS true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

 

Is that not the cutest? 

 

We also had dinner with the Thorpe family who I LOVE! And we taught the Vaughan family a slam dunk intro to the Book of Mormon lesson. The Book of Mormon is so true you guys. Then we exchanged with the Deltona Spanish sisters and Hermana Mickleson came to party with me in Port Orange.

 

On WEDNESDAY Hermana Mickleson had such a fun day... except for the part where she got a speeding ticket... sorry HNA Mickleson... BUT we did have a wonderful lesson with Stephany #HurricaneMiracle. She was all "I've been stressed about life, but every time I get stressed I open the Book of Mormon and I feel peace."

 

Well my friend that's cuz the Book of Mormon is SUPPA TRUE.

 

Then we taught Brother Harper who lives out on the inlet, so then we tried to find some other less actives who live on Ponce Inlet, but apparently people who live on the beach don't stay at their houses during the day... probably because they're all at the beach? I don't know. Don't worry. We took some sick picks while we were #BeachSide 

 

 

 

That night we taught Josh Shipkowitz who is the coolest. I gave him a baptismal timeline that looked like a treasure map.  Then we drove back to Deltona and I got HNA Jones back.

 

THURSDAY we had ZTM and I gave a spiritual thought about enjoying the ride. This is one of the most wonderful things we've ever done my friends. #EnjoyTheRide then somehow I ended up being the scribe while the zone leaders gave trainings. ''Twas a wonderful ZTM. Mucho inspiration. Then we contacted some British ladies that were pretty funny. 🇬🇧 Then we went and taught Stephany with Brother Portus. THEN WE FOUND BRANDON. Brandon has the longest dreads I've ever seen. He had a friend pass away recently and we showed up and started talking about the Plan of Salvation and he was all "who sent you...." "GOD DID MY FRIENDDDD. God did." And then he didn't believe us. THE SPIRIT IS SUPPA COOL MY FRIENDS. 

Then we taught Melody and Milady. It was a pretty fun lesson. I love them. Then we taught Brother Schmidt, Judy, and Brother Randolf. All of my favorites.

 

FRIDAY we weekly planned. Then we had dinner with the Cintron's. Somehow we all broke out into song and we quickly became a band and we will be releasing our smash hit single Feliz Navidad next week. You can find it wherever music is sold. Probably. Then we saw Anslee who is YSA. Okay literally Anslee and I are the same person. We have the same favorite color. She's a graphic designer. And she loves Harry Potter. Anslee and I are bffs now. 

 

SATURDAY we literally HELPED BUILD A HOUSE. Our ward helped on a Habitat for Humanity build. I felt like I was on Extreme Home Makeover. Sister Jones and I painted the ceilings and walls. ''Twas SUPPA FUN! 

 

 

Then we ran home and did studies and then we went and sang for Sister Chilkott. Then we visited Sister Gruber and sang for her too. Just call us the Mormon Jukebox. Then we taught Junior and the rest of the Sebastian crew. Then we taught Milady and Brittany and Melody. We taught the Plan of Salvation with Sister Freeze. So... normally they have a really hard time focusing and understanding. But there was this moment when we were describing the three kingdoms of glory and then Melody just got this big grin on her face and was like "I UNDERSTAND! I GET IT!" And I just fist bumped the air because I was just so jazzed about life. 

 

Then we taught Brandon. My dread haired friend. 🏻️ 

 

SUNDAY we went to our meetings. ALL OF MY FRIENDS CAME TO CHURCH. MELODY BROUGHT MILADY AND JEFFERY AND JOSH AND GAVIN CAME AND I JUST LOVE WHEN MY INVESTIGATORS COME TO CHURCH. I sat next to Milady and taught her about church because they were a lil confused. Sister Gruber is an elderly lady in the ward so she can't come to church so she asked me to bear her testimony for her. So I bore a proxy testimony. Then after church we taught Bobby and then Brittany, Melody, and Milady. We read the Book of Mormon and it was the most spiritual lesson. I love them so much I can't even handle it. We took a selfie.

 

Milady also wrote me this letter on the back of a Living Christ and I about died.

TODAY WE WENT TO THE BEACH AND WATCHED THE SUN RISE AND I CONVINCED THE WHOLE ZONE TO TAKE A JUMPING PICTURE AND IT ALMOST WORKED.

 

I also found a jellyfish

 

I love being a missionary. I'm going to do this forever. 

Out of context quotes:

It's like he's a squirrel in a group of wombats.... I mean meerkats.

My aglets stopped falling off by the time I reached middle school

You have a moist tapey aglet 

I love y'all more than I love the sunrise on the beach. And that's my favorite thing so... #FeelTheLove