February 4

(I wrote to Ruth telling her that Elijah didn't like her new look with fringe/bangs)
haha Elijah's reaction sounds just how I feel when I catch glimpses of you all growing up. I'm afraid I won't know you when I get home. But tell Elijah not to worry. I'm still Ruth, no matter how I do my hair. He can still run from my hugs and I'll still take him to ME crepes when I get home :) and he's still one of my heroes.
There's a lot to say, but I'm almost out of time.
This has been a pretty diverse week. I enjoyed my time in Orpington. Sister Santo is amazing and so sweet. We got to do some knocking in the rain and met a cool guy named Roger who will hopefully meet with the missionaries again. Walking everywhere again was exhausting, but we also had fun. I remembered how dark this world really is. I get to live in a nice bubble at the visitors' centre. I admire so much those missionaries that are just the two of them in a city full of darkness that they are bringing light to. That can be so hard and feel so lonely, but I know we are not alone and that we will succeed because this isn't our work, it's the Lord's.
I was back on Wednesday and spent some time with Sister Cabrera before she left. I have missed her so much. and it's been a bit rough transitioning, but the new sister, Sister Phermsin, is awesome and I think we will have fun as we serve together.
Yesterday I played the piano in primary again. I love the primary. They remind me of being a big sister. These kids are coming to know me and I love being their friend.
Being a missionary is still one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I am surviving and learning lots along the way.
sorry i don't have time for more.
Love you all lots and lots!!!!
have a wonderful week!

January 28

How fun to hear about all those missionaries!!!! Jakob and Ali are going to be awesome. So many changes in the family. I can hardly stand it. But that's okay, because I've changed too--I have a fringe, I speak British, I like Mayonnaise, I drive on the left side of the road, and I drink tea. Missions are pretty amazing! :)
We got to watch one of the men in our ward open his mission call this week. His name is Jason and he got baptized less than a year ago and he is going to preach the gospel in GREECE!!!! How crazy is that?! And a couple in this ward just got back from being the mission president there, so they'll be able to tell him all about it. Apparently, he'll get thrown in jail a few times and there are only 30 missionaries and no Americans are allowed. It sounds pretty crazy and exciting. Another young man recently got his call to Australia Brisbane. So the missionary enthusiasm is spreading here, too! These guys are like celebrities in the ward. It's kind of funny.
When does Eliza get home? Won't she be home before Alison goes out? I sure hope she doesn't get married before I get home..... I'd be so upset.
One of my biggest adventures this week was driving to London! Well, kind of driving to London. When we first got started, we followed the signs pointing to London, so I was driving to London, but technically we actually went to Guildford. Sister Cabrera had a doctor appointment there and we got permission for me to take her. Fortunately, she's a great co-pilot and our satnav is trusty. But those motorways are so big!!! It was like intense freeway driving. It was cool, but I prefer small, twisty, country roads. The motorway is rather boring.
By the way, I'm in Orpington. Surprise! But only for a couple days. We got a new visitors' centre sister on Tuesday. She is half Thai/half Swedish and from Finland. Sister Maughan is training her, and after Sister Cabrera leaves I'll be in a tri with them till the end of February when we are getting another sister mid-transfer so I'll have to go back to the field. At least, that's the tentative plan. And I've learned these 'plans' are always tentative. Sometimes God likes to wait till the last moment to tell us where we're going. But one of the sisters from Orpington is also going home this transfer and they spend the last few days at the temple, so her companion is on her own till Wednesday. But obviously that's against the rules and she needs a companion soooo last night they came to the visitors' centre and we had a little farewell party for Sister Cabrera and Sister Corbett. Then I came back to Orpington with Sister Santo and I'll be here till Wednesday. It's a cute area. Very posh. And it's the closest I've been to London! And the next two days will be full of finding. woot woot. I was worried that I've forgotten how to be a non-visitors' centre missionary, but hopefully it comes back. Sister Santo just finished her training with Sister Corbett, so I guess I'm the 'old' missionary in this companionship which is so weird. I'm still a child on the inside. I still have insecurities and I'm not perfect. WHAT?!?!?! I thought for sure by 10 months I'd be a pro. Guess I'll just have to keep growing....
Well, I can't think of any other interesting or exciting things to tell you. We visit people, we teach people, we study, we make mistakes, we repent, I drive around, I sing, and we learn a bit more every day. I met a couple little girls named Emma this week. They were both very adorable. There were sooooo many children at the visitors' centre on Saturday. It was like primary/a playground. They were kind of crazy.
The snow has melted and today Orpington is sunny, clear, and cold. It's beautiful. I like it here.
Well, out of time. I hope you enjoyed another random, rambling email from Sister Reneer.
Love you all!!!
-Sister Reneer
P.S. I got a letter from Larisa this week which was simply delightful. She is so wonderful.

January 21

I just sent you a bunch of pictures. We've gone a little picture happy lately with all the                             SSSNNNNNOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW
I'm pretty sure this is more snow than we got in Utah last year. It's pretty magical. I was kind of sad we didn't get this for Christmas, but then my companions and I decided it's probably best because the combination probably would have killed me. I was excited enough about Christmas as it was. I don't think any of us could have handled me being more excited.
Isn't England beautiful in the snow? And the roads haven't been bad at all. One of those pictures is us stuck in traffic on that first day. and did you know, snow days actually exist in England?! They actually get let out of school when it snows!!!! I always thought that was just a myth.... And a few wards cancelled church, but ours didn't.  Today the Horsleys are taking us to visit an old church. I'm excited. the snow is going to make it even more magical.
Sister Cabrera cut my fringe (aka bangs) a couple weeks ago!!! She's pretty cool.  This is her last week. She goes home next Wednesday. Back to Chili where she belongs. She is Chilean through and through!!! I am going to miss her so much. I'm kind of scared for when she leaves. We're all (except her) praying that this snow will continue and all flights will be cancelled next Wednesday so she can't leave :) that'd be pretty cool.
We have a new visitors' centre sister coming tomorrow that Sister Maughan will train, but I'm still not sure what will happen to me next week. I might stay in a tri with Sister Maughan and the new sister, or they might kick me back into the field. Or I might ask to be transferred to Chili. Just for fun.
My companions are pretty great. We probably have too much fun.
The temple in the SNOWWWWWWWW its soooo beautiful!
i'm out of time.
love you all!!!!!
sister reneer

Hello Hello!
Yes, I enjoyed my birthday. It was fairly unique from the viewpoint of a missionary. I had five different companions throughout the day and no single companion that was with me the whole day. wierd. Basically this whole week was a bit strange, but it's been a good week and I don't know that I've ever felt happier. It's exhausting, but I've really been giving as much as I can to doing what the Lord wants me to do throughout each day--which doesn't always mean contacting and teaching. Sometimes it means spending time with a sick companion. But being in a tri and having so many senior couples nearby has made it possible for me to leave the flat quite a bit this week. But I've also loved the time I've spent in the flat with either one or both of my companions. They are the best. Sister Cabrera goes home the end of January. Yeah right. She can't be leaving. England might explode if she leaves.
On my birthday, I went to district meeting with the other visitors' centre sisters and the Elders made me no-bake cookies. Then we ate cheesecake at the visitors' centre and Sister Carpenter drove me home for a couple hours. That's when I opened my wonderful presents from home. That was probably my favorite part of the day. Just being with Sister Cabrera. Then I got to drive with Sister Carpenter to pick up Sister Maughan from Hastings. It was a fun little adventure. And it was so interesting being back in Hastings. It gave me cause to reflect--which I'm basically always doing anyway. But it was interesting how familiar everything looked and how the smells and sights of the flat brought everything back and I could feel those same emotions that had enveloped me those first three months. But I felt them in an impersonal way, just as a memory, not as feelings I couldn't shake away. I've come so far. And I've made huge leaps and bounds since arriving in East Grinstead. I'm a completely different missionary--which means I'm a different person too. I hope you like me when I get home! But if there's anything you don't like, it's God's fault. He's molding me into who He wants me to be. I can feel that every day. Sometimes that molding reallllly hurts, but it also brings great joy. So whoever I am when I get home, it will all be thanks to God (and I guess me too since I do have a special thing called agency....)
We bought Dominoes pizza before leaving Hastings and of course had Texas bbq--which was only fitting for my birthday. So it was an interesting and good day. I've been in the best area for these holiday times. I love love love being here.
This weekend I remembered that serving at the visitors' centre really is "my seaside" as Sister Rodrigues would say when I first got here. I love this job so much. It's similar to working at the MOA but sooo much better. Because I don't have to worry about school on the side and the 'staff' is smaller so I know everyone real well and everything we do can be led by the spirit! That's the best part. Being an instrument in the Lord's hands and saying the things you know He wants you to say is one of the best things I've ever experienced. I'm so grateful that He can use me to reach out and bless His children and to remind them of His love for them.
I enjoyed your report on the English dinner. Sausage rolls are not my favorite either. Mostly the veggies, definitely the potatoes, and the yorkshire pudding is good too. And did you put gravy on everything??? That's what makes it truly British---and also very good.
That's so cool that you're doing a sister missionary prep thing. We did a little mission prep training fireside thing last night at the visitors' centre which was lots of fun.
love to you allllll!!!!!! write me letters :) and have a lovely lovely week.
Enjoy the snow.

-Sister Reneer

January 7

haha I'm excited for you to celebrate my birthday. Christmas crackers are totally British--at least for Christmas, but they'll work for my birthday too :) You definitely should try to have a traditional English roast dinner, which basically means that everything is roasted. Roast potatoes, roast vegetables (carrots, parsnips, onions), yorkshire pudding (which isn't anything like pudding), and then pour gravy over everything. That's the traditional English Sunday/Christmas dinner and it is sooo good. I will need to get some recipes and things before I go home. And for pudding (which is English for dessert) you could have apple crumble--with custard if you can find that in that British store.

love you all lots!!!!!!

sister reneer

December 31

hello hello!

well, i already told you about my awesome Christmas when I talked to you on Tuesday. It was such a good day. being a missionary on Christmas is the BEST!!!! (granted, it could be the worst if you have no where to go and end up knocking doors all day BUT that didn't happen to us) It was fun to be involved in the ward carol service in the morning and to see all the excited children...and teenagers...and adults. Spending Christmas with our investigators was soooooo wonderful. They prepared a lovely meal and we had Christmas crackers with cheap crowns and silly jokes and we had party poppers and watched a MoTab Christmas concert with Audra McDonald and then we got to talk about the birth of Christ from the Nephites side of the world. What better way to spend Christmas than by serving the Lord by serving his children and talking about his gospel?

After being with them we worked in the visitors' centre for three hours, which wasn't really work, because I got to talk to YOUUUU. That was pretty cool. I can't believe how tall Luke is :( I'll have to sit on his lap when I get home because he'll be too big for mine. How was the rest of your Christmas? I'm glad you had a good rest of the week and didn't feel too sad about it all being over. I was worried about that too, but it's been okay. I was starting to get worn out by all the excitement anyway, so the end came at a perfect time. and it's not like we have any down time to think about it much anyway. There is always more to do and something new to be thinking about and planning for.

After the visitors' centre on Christmas, we went to the Bells (an awesome member family) for some Christmas dinner left-overs. Bishop and his family were there too which was fun because I like their kids. Children make Christmas so magical. When Bishop went home, were were also able to have a lesson type thing with the Bells and it was soooo good. This gospel brings so much joy even in the midst of trials and heartache and imperfection.

I was so exhausted by the time Christmas was over. It was a busy busy full day of constant excitement and it was soooo much fun but so exhausting.

So now that I've written an email that makes it sound like my life is just perfect and awesome, let me just remind you that it's not. Missions are hard. but life is hard. so I guess this is good preparation for the rest of my life. I still worry about the future and each upcoming transfer. which is silly, because it always turns out great. the Lord is in charge and I know his plan is perfect.

thanks for being great and being good.

I hope you have a super last day of 2012 and that your 2013 is just the best year yet.

I love you all lots and lots and lots and lots!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Reneer

December 17

blessings blessings blessings. I'm at the temple for another transfer!!!! There are so many reasons this makes me happy. And I really felt like this would happen even though it didn't completely make sense and I was so scared I'd find out I was leaving, but it feels soooo right to be here. And I also feel quite certain that this will be my last transfer here. Sister Yapi has been shipped off to the other side of the mission to Weston-super-mare and Sister Maughan has returned to the VC from Hastings. So I'm still in a tri with Sister Maughan (who is British) and Sister Cabrera (yay! I get to stick with her to the end!) Sister Howard has gone home which is sad and we have a new visitors centre sister from Finland. And so many fun activities and concerts planned and time is just flyyyyying by. It gets faster each transfer and each transfer I can't imagine it getting any faster and then it does. What the heck?!?!?! perhaps because the second coming is almost here. 21 December, I think? I hope you are all prepared!

This ward has exciting things happening including lots of guys preparing for missions. It's amazing to see how the gospel truly can change someones life. People who didn't even have a testimony and weren't living a For-The-Strength-Of-Youth life just a year ago are now preparing to go out and serve the Lord and preach the gospel and change lives!!! I admire converts so much. They have such a fire and they are amazing missionaries.

We only got a bit of snow one morning and it melted by mid-day :( but hopefully we get more. The frost is amazing, though. It looks like snow. I've never seen such thick frost. The entire world is clothed in a blanket of white. It's so beautiful. And cold. soooo cold. I'm definitely counting my blessings of working inside for the next two months. God's plan is perfect!

I love you all and can't wait to talk to you via skype sooon soon soon.

Happy Christmas!

God bless us everyone!!!!!

-sister ruth reneer