Hermana Wood In The Hood

Well 4 score and 7 months later in still in Bell Gardens! I am still loving it here and am thinking about just moving my records here🙂
It’s now to the point that the homeless people all know me and yell “GUERRAAAAA!!!!” (white girl) it’s a pretty good time ha! But yeah other than an occasional run in with the law life here has been pretty smooth!
Just kidding but we have definitely been seeing some miracles here! It was so crazy because last week we were about to go home but we had wanted to make one more stop. When we went to try and get to the house of our member there had been a REALLY bad accident in between us and where we needed to go. We didnt think we would be able to make it to her house but we decided to push through the crowds and EMTs and went to knock on her door. When she opened the door she looked so scared but then let us in. As we sat down she burst into tears and told us how she has a son who is a heavy alcoholic, with out papers who often drives to her house drunk. When she heard the crash and then the sirens she tried to get ahold of him but expected the worst and had just gone to the bedroom sobbing. She said that she started to pray and just asked God for help, for anything, and then we knocked on the door.
More recently, all the Spanish speaking missionaries were asked to sing “Grand Eres Tu” ( How Great Thou Art) for a Spanish fireside. This song-in spanish has become my absolute very favorite because the words are so special to me. Well when we went to go sing I went straight for the back wall in between some other sisters who stand over a good 6 ft tall haha. Once I was carefully hidden in the back and the music started, I sat there with other missionaries singing about how Great Our God is, I realized how small I really was. Idk, maybe it was because I was surrounded by “sum biggin’s” as grandpa would say😂 but I really for a split second just felt so small. I felt so individual singing about something-someone- SO BIG. And idk for just one split second I felt so loved. I just felt like God let me know that yes I am small, yes I am just one of the missionaries, but he let me know that knew me. And it was so special.
I swear it wasnt any more than maybe 2 seconds but I got to thinking that sometimes God speaks to us in these grand ways, like sending to missionaries to the door in a time of crisis. But a lot of times it’s just those 2 seconds of pure wonder. The Come Follow Me this week had a quote that I loved so much which said, “Heavenly Father is more boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive”
HOW COOL!?

I’m so grateful for my mission
I am so so grateful to be here, to have the people I have in my life!
Sorry not much funny or exciting I’ll write one next week!😂… maybe lol
Love Ryenne

Hi everyone!
Sorry I couldn’t write last night, I was still in dressed in black and shut up in the house mourning LA’s loss….
Jkjk but on the real Kobe’s death hit the press sunday morning-right smack in the middle of our sweet stake presidents talk- and on behalf of everyone there I can tell you that hearts were moved but not because of the message he gave lol. On the bright side, a lot more people here are interested in the plan of salvation 🙂

This week we’ve been hearing lots of fireworks going off ha! Well to be honest I’m not even sure the were fireworks or not hahaha! it’s super funny because no matter who we visit if theres a few loud pops we all just look at each other and everyone says “fireworks?…yeah fireworks!!” Haha …. yikes love it!
Anyway the other Friday night we traded our bikes for the elders car for a bit, so of course when we switched back that night something was broked Haha. So ya know theres this clamp that is tightened with a screw to connects the handle bars to the frame, but when we got them back that screw in my bike had become very loose Haha so much so that the handle bars were completely uncontrollable Haha they would flip in circles and wobble the whole bike but because we still had one more lesson I decided I’d try out my circus skills and do my best riding it. Well I made it to the apt with no major difficulties but on the way back theres this one part where the sidewalk gets a but narrower because this giant shrub is sticking out. Well as we were heading home we went past that part and all the sudden my handle bars started wobbling super bad and then one caught in the shrub and over the handle bars I went hahahaha I didnt hurt anything so we’re good! Tbh idk how I didnt but yeah it was pretty funny 😂this bike is gonna kill me!
As for a thought, this week has definitely been super cool because I feel like I have really seen my testimony grow when it comes to change! I hated change for so long but now I cant help but love it! I love the Prophet and I love being obedient to all the changes; and as I do so, seeing the blessings! I have definitely learned that life is SO SO SO much easier when we are humble and also faithful enough to listen to others. I love the prophet. I LOVE MY MISSION. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE JESUS. I cant describe like some missionaries can, just dont have the words I guess ha, but in my heart there is a big glow that comes from knowing what I have come to know. It’s the best:)
Hope you call can find that too❤
Love Ryenne

Oh my okay to everyone who sent out hump day videos! I LOVED THEM SO MUCH!! definitely will be watching those for a while! I am honestly and truly the luckiest missionary in the world! I love you all so much!

I can hardly believe its half way… blows my mind cause I still feel like a greenie and it just started! I definitely have had some of thee best experiences ever as a missionary and meet more and more people everyday! Some weirdos for sure… but mostly just amazing people!
I have learned a lot about who I am, and especially who I want to be. It monumental how deeply my love has grown for the people in my life and around me. My uncle shawn always says that “People are the most important thing in this life” and how grateful I am for that piece of truth.
So THANKS FOR BEING IN MY LIFE😊

Anyway story of the week, after we had a lesson with this cute family outside and it was pretty dark and I got on my bike to lead out and after about 30 ft I look up and see this down telephone wire draped in front of my face and not being able to stop, I automatically thought to myself “this is it… this is how I will die. I’m going to die” Haha needless to say I got clotheslined pretty good😅 when I got off and turned around I-being known for my calm posture during moments of disaster- looked at my companion and just waited until I would fall over dead. I thought to myself “am I dead? When am I going to die?”
Hahahah needless to say
1. I didnt die
2. I found my beanie
3. The wire that was tied to a near by tree is now hanging down and tied where it will not destroy missionaries
It was actually pretty funny Haha especially when the dad of the family watched the whole thing but couldnt see the wire so thought I just spazed out and almost ran my bike into a parked car hahaha.

So yeah Haha that was great, but since I haven’t given out any “homework” for a while I think maybe I should. 😅 my invitation to you this week is to think about this up coming year and make 4 goals with plans to complete them! I was looking at the youth and primary programs and I think it’s the coolest thing! The areas for the goals are
1. Intellectual
2. Social
3. Physically
4. Spiritual
These are actually so inspired and i know they will help make this year super memorable. I actually haven’t even done it yet but that’s also a goal of mine so we can do it together this week😂 I have such a strong testimony of the Prophet and revelation! I love him❤ love you all lots! Be safe!
Love Ryenne

Hi hi hi so sorry I had like no time last week so I just wanted to write and say an actual thank you to everyone who sent emails, cards or presents. It was so thoughtful and I was so proud to say I know each one of you! Because it’s any true Americans tradition to yape all Christmas cards up on a door somewhere my and my companion did the same and I dont want to brag but half the door is completely jammed with Cards and all but 4 of them are mine. Haha I’m only saying that to show how grateful I am for such a great ward, amazing families all over and the best family in the world. I really am the luckiest girl in the world!

Anyway this week was awesome and we definitely saw the Lords hand in Bell Gardens CA. First off, when I was younger my grandpa great -to any of you Bothwell folk my grandpa Farrell was the best ever😊- but anyway he taught me a number of things. Some of them I’m now learning were maybe just for his enjoyment. One of those things was eating peanuts with the shell on. He told me that’s how you ate them and is probably still laughing cause my whole life thats the only way I’ll eat peanuts!
Well anyway we were at the Familia Reyes and they offered us some peanuts and as I ate mine you would have thought I swore. They all just stared with their mouths wide open and then started making me eat a whole bunch of peanuts just so that they could see how I ate them!

Any whooooooo …
I have other stories but if I tell then you’ll all hate me so it’s cool I’ll just save them till I make a “HOW TO: survive east LA” book.
But this week we had zone conference and President really pushed us to walk around with both a BOM and a Bible in hand so that others can see our witness that BOTH of them are true. I have been actually studying the Book of Mormon for the first time in my life and holy cow I cant explain how happy it makes me. I love love love the stories, examples and Council that it contains. I think it literally looks more like a coloring book that anything because I love it so much. This past week we read Alma 34 with a friend and turns out it was so stinking perfect for him. I think it’s so special that God would give us something as precious as that book. I have a very dear place for it in my heart because of the way I have worked for my testimony of it. I also know you can have that same thing!

So all of you NEED TO GO READ IT AND KNOW WHAT I KNOW!!
I have come to realize that as humans God put this thing in us that makes us love things, and then want to share what we love so others can love it too.

I love this, and so I want you to love it to!!

Be safe love Ryenne

(The corn jello…no you didn’t read that wrong 🙂

December 25, 2019

Okay well I’m the worst and dont have time to actually type up a nice email so I just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!! And a huge huge thank you to everyone who sent me letters or packages or has helped me out during the last year. Aka all of you on here basically. I love you all so much and hope you had a Fun/ safe Christmas!!

December 16, 2019

Well sorry I didnt send an email last week but just to update you I am still fat’n happy here in Downey!!

So many things happened this week but I’m so sorry I am just too lazy to write all this out😂

I think my favorite thing is teaching English classes! Its literally so dang fun! Also english is so dang hard! But I was teaching the last one and as I was finishing up no one had any questions till then someone asks “….how do you say ‘no I will get fat’??” Haha so now our English class goes around saying “no thank you, I weel get faat”
😂

Oh actually okay I do remember a story Haha on Wednesday me and Hna Gowans were talking with some other sisters about serial killers (yeah idk I was just listening that stuff freaks me out😂😂) but Hna Gowans had said “the scariest thing about serial killers is that they act just like normal people!”
Now fast forward to later that night as were leaving a winchells a younger kid with long hair in gray sweats comes up to us and says “hi I dont mean to bother you but can I use your phone? I just barely got out of jail and need to call my friend” I was like haha…suree!!! And as jes dialing he starts telling us how hed been in for 10 years and also been in “the shoe” bunch (if you read any of my past emails you all should know the difference now😉) but we were talking and I thought to myself “dang this guy seems pretty normal!” And like immediately I hear hna Gowans voice in my head “the scariest thing about serial killers is they act just like normal people!” And then I silently freaked out cause I thought we were gonna be murdered right then and there at winchells Haha. But nope! No worries two feathers is actually a pretty nice guy and were good!

You all should read the talk “Give Us this our Daily Bread” by D. Todd Christoffersen cause dang it is so dang good! I especially love how he talks about when Moses and the people just walk in a circle for 40 yrs God gives them just enough food for each day. Not more food than they need and not any less either. Isnt that like life? Sometimes we just have to be grateful for what God HAS given us with out expecting more or a bigger miracle, and other times we have to have faith that He will give us just enough to get through the day.

All I can say is God is too good. Love that guy😋

Have a good week! You’re all the best thanks for all the fun times! Be safe and merry Christmas!
Love Ryenne (shawn would be so proud I have been able to share my talent of dangling a spoon on my nose )

Life out here in the great state of California. All I can say is that it’s a good thing I am a wise person who built her foundation on a rock because man, have the brains came down and the floods come up.
And let me tell you, that makes a big difference when you’re on bike! These past few weeks I have come to realize that when it rains here… it pours. But also every Californians have like a phobia of bad weather.
One morning it was lightly raining and we called and set up an apt with a person we met to go get some pizza and talk about Jesus. He called about a minute later and said that he was sorry but he wasn’t going to make it because of the weather.
And there I sat thinking about me and Emmy jumping around my grandmas bed (sorry grandma Jones:)) a few years ago when we got our first snow day in at least 20 years because of the 10 car pile up and the pipes burst😂
But I guess when your winters are a continuous sunny 60° F then a rain storm really would put a damper on the day…

I hope you are all getting ready for Christmas!! I’m so excited! Especially after the Christmas message from the first Presidency! I love the quote that says “Our joy has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of our lives”. Isnt that so true!? Sometimes we can’t help but feel sad or hurt by what’s going on in our lives but we are promised that we can feel true joy when we put living the gospel as the focus of our lives.
“Like Elder Oaks said “Peace is the product of righteousness…. peace is the promise of the Savior and peace is the goal”. When we are TRYING (because it won’t be perfect) to have faith, repent, keep our promises with God, listen to the prompting of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end we can feel peace at the end of each day. And therefore when we make those things the focus of our day then we will feel real joy and real peace.
My testimony comes from Alma cause I dont think I could say it better
“15. Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.
16. Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.”
Alma 26:15-16
Love you all! Thanks for all the love! Be safe and happy!
Love Ryenne

Another memorable LA week! This past friday we had a bunch of lessons and we were running a little behind, so we called one of our sweet friends to ask them if they could come meet us at a near by restaurant to save us some time. Over the phone they agreed and said “yea no worries I’ll drive over in no time!” Me after thinking for a second said “____…..you dont have a car?”
“Yeah I know but I can get one!”
“____ YOU CANT STEAL A CAR?!”
“WHY NOT?”
“What do you mean why not!?!😂”
“What if I told you it’s my friends car?”
“What’s your friends name??
**silence**
DONT STEAL THE CAR!”
“what if I told you it was my sisters car?”
“What if you ask your sister, screen shot the text, and send it to me??”
“DA@%^ GIRL! Why you making it so hard?! I got an itch!!! I gotta scratch the itch!”
Needless to say… there are no missing vehicles and we had a good time learning / teaching the 10 commandments with matching hand signals. I say we “learned” because turns out that all the 10 hand signs also have matching gang signs 😂😂
I love East LA 😎

Also, because I haven’t sent anything spiritual in a while I think I’m due for a bit of soap boxing😂
This week I have constantly been thinking of the phrase used constantly in the Book of Mormon when a prophey says that “by small and simple things are great things brought to past”. I’ve thought about that a lot and how sometimes we just feel so small. And so simple. But that can’t be true, Like honestly if you think about it, in the ancient Americas a bunch of guys kept a journal passed it around, and now we have the Book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ. I KNOW that is a great thing that came to pass from a very simple thing.
I have grown to have such a strong love and care for the Book of Mormon. It is true and there is so much comfort and Council. Reading is small, and its really simple ha, but I promise with all my heart that if you can read every day then you will definitely see great things be brought to pass! So if you dont have one, I promise your neighbors or someone near by does. SO READ please:)
Have a good week and be safe!
Love Ryenne

does this make my ears look bigger mom?

Dont worry Harry!!! I took Care of it!!!!!

Hahaha oh wow this week has been sooooo good! First off, in order for you to understand where I’m coming from you have to understand our living situation! Our apartment is well, idk if any of you watched the Cosby show and remember Saundra and Alvin’s “monster apartment”? That’s where I live:)
To give you a low down, there is permanent mold stains on the bathroom ceiling, a hole from someone punching our bedroom door, the only AC unit is in our bedroom and cant run for more than a few hours our it drips and spits out mold, the carpet and paint has been there since the gold panners first hit CA, if we turn on the hot water in about 56 seconds the whole apt starts grumbling and shaking because of our water heater and our couch…. our poor old couch Haha. Let me just say, if the paint and carpet got here when the gold panners hit …. then the couch proves that dinosaurs arent extinct.
But we love it! It’s just “character” mom.

Lolz anyway for a while we have been thinking of some ways to …um.. how you say.. improve this place. Well as of Friday I can tell you God blesses the weary. We were walking over to the church for some morning exercise and lo and behold what did we find? A new couch!! And let me just say I have seen A LOT of couches dumped on the side of the road and a lot of things happening on the couches dumped on the side of the road but GUYS!!! This was different!
Picture this; 2 piece, brand new, “pleather” (plastic leather), black couch.
It was so nice we couldn’t just leave it there to be stolen!!! So we resuced it
Long story short, after some thorough cleaning, heavy lifting and rearranging we got ourselves a dang nice couch! Talk about a bargain!
Well it doesn’t end there! We re-homed our old couch out in a sunny spot by the road, said a quick good bye and last night as we were coming back from a lesson, there sat comfortably picking his toe jam- a homeless guy! So basically we just gave him a new home.
Win-win- win.
Hope you guys are all as happy as our new friend on the couch! Have a good week and be safe!
Love Ryenne