Letter of October 29, 2012

Dear family,

All of upstate New York seems to be on storm watch. President Wirthlin has given us guidelines and we will be prepared for whate'er comes our way (sorry, I just watched the AWESOME new Bible video on lds.org and I'm now in Old English mode). I'm not sure how big the storm will be up here in New Hartford--we'll wait and see. We have food and water and blankets and a flashlight, so we should be okay. :)

Protocol for Halloween is to be inside at 6 pm unless we have an appointment, but with the storm a-coming...again, we'll see.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBERT!!! I hope your sixteenth is most magnificent! And have so much fun with Lindsay at MORP. It'll be a great time. I LOVE YOU! I can't believe you're three days away from being 16. That's weird. Do you remember this, Christie, from when you were in the SDRCM? How strange.

Sister Castaneda and I had such a great week last week! We met a lot of people who seem to be searching to find God and truth, and it's been very neat to just be guided by the Spirit to say the things we needed to and to invite them to do what will most help them. Heavenly Father knows His children perfectly, and He lets His servants know what they need so we can help them! What a marvelous work and calling! We met a young man, for instance, who is getting ready to join the Marine Corps, and it just so happens that he'd like to join a church before that happens. He expressed how upset he gets by the hypocrisy he often sees in different churches and church goers, and that he just wants to know the truth. Hmmm...Hahaha. Needless to say, we talked and told him about the Book of Mormon and all of the goodness of Jesus Christ's church being restored, and that he can find out FOR HIMSELF from God the truth. Then we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and invited him to church. We're hoping to see him again this week.

I've been reading in the end of Helaman and the beginning of 3 Nephi, and what keeps standing out is how sneaky and persistent Satan is. Whenever something good is going to happen to us, he battles with the bad. Of course we know that there needs to be opposition in all things or else we wouldn't know the good (2 Nephi 2), but it's just been so interesting to be reminded that we need to STICK TO OUR FAITH or else we can be battered by the devil's counter attacks. And something the Nephites did in 3 Nephi 3:21 was gather together in the "center of [their] lands" against the incoming attack of the Gadianton robbers. Don't leave room for softness or weakness! The enemy of our soul and happiness doesn't give up, so we can't either. It's so comforting to know that God will not give up either. He is always the perfectly steadfast Captain of our souls. This is probably scrambled, but I've just been thinking a lot about opposition. Elder Andersen said in this most recent General Conference that our challenges can either strengthen or destroy our faith--it's up to us! So...in connection to us this past week, we've had some really, really great times, and we've also had some debilitating lows, but it always ends high and good when we keep going in faith. Likewise, our dear friend who's baptism is coming up experienced some SERIOUS opposition last week and we've been struggling with her to help her through. Good thing we're not alone to cope with all of life's craziness. Everything will work out. One of the reasons I love reading so much, especially the scriptures, is because I can see so clearly how things get better, why they get better, and how they get better. Heavenly Father loves us so much to give us the great comfort of the scriptures, and the Spirit that accompanies reading them.

This area...has hugely blossomed. I'm amazed. It's true, we aren't steadily teaching a large number of "non-members" every week, but those members who've kind of fallen off the path a bit or gotten lost, we get to see them and help them, and the members are starting to respond more, and OH! I wish you could just be here and experience this, too! It's not enough for us to be passive in Jesus Christ's Church or His Gospel--we need to go and rescue others as guided by our loving and ever-patient Father. This life is NOT just about "me, me, me." We are preparing to meet our Father once more, and report back to Him how we did in becoming like Him. How can we become like Him and report well if we don't help His other children, reach out, UNCIRCLE OUR WAGONS? God loves us so He expects us to be better, to do better--even if it's just a little bit more every day--so we can achieve our potential. He can see our potential, but I'm not sure that we always can/do.

We're having a great time in New Hartford! I love and miss you!! You are bright sunshine for me when I'm too stuck in the muck--thank you! Have a FABULOUS week, and I can't wait to hear from you again next week. :)

Love for always,

Sister Smith

P.S. The picture is of me and Minerva McGonnagal (I'm pretty sure that's spelled incorrectly, but I've been away from my HP for too long) at the Primary Halloween Party

Letter of October 1st

You have had QUITE the week!!  Good grief!  We did too. :)  Shall I address yours first?  Okay, that's more charitable and selfless.  I'm so excited that we have ONE broken bone to our family name now!...No, Christie, that's so sad!  Stinking bones...Take good care of her, familia!  Of course you will.  I love you!

 And Rob's toes?  Ooch!  Well, I can only think of the title of a Carrie Underwood song, "Lessons Learned."  That really stinks, though!  You can do it, Rob!  Power through!  Puuuush! :)  I sure love you.  Do you know that I have your school picture sitting right in front of my study area and every time I see your beautiful, smiling face I smile and my focus turns positive and I'm all of a sudden re-motivated/encouraged?  Thanks for being so wonderful.

Last week was a really great one.  I have a post-it note with some few things I'd like to tell you first off:

I. We had a fairly rough day at the beginning of last week--our appointments fell through and we kind bounced from place to place, trying to follow our back-up plans and find those people that the Lord wanted us to go and visit when we were in the perfect place at the perfect time.  We met two really awesome and nice young women who had just come outside to sit on their front porch, and we were able to bear testimony of the Restoration of Christ's Gospel and teach them about the Book of Mormon and modern prophets and they invited us to come back a few days later.  Of course, after an invitation like that we came back and talked more about the Restoration and asked what they'd read from the Book of Mormon, etc. and it was really neat.  We had not anticipated meeting these two young women, but it's like the prophets teach that we must sometimes walk a few steps into the darkness before the Lord will illuminate the next few steps.  We have to trust Heavenly Father!  Ah...He knows so much better than we do. :)

 II. We met a miniature Australian Shepherd last week named Cody.  He's so cute!  He looked like a miniature Bailey.

 III.Sister Castaneda says that I am her "cleanest companion."  Hahaha.  Apparently I'm a clean person, after all.  All I can say is that I was raised well to keep clean and then my upbringing was supported by Sister Bulloch teaching us about the Spirit residing in clean places.

 IV. I made Swedish pancakes yesterday....!  Yes!  Oh my goodness, I was so excited.  Sister Castaneda told me that she realized something about me...She said, "You're loud in the kitchen."  Hahaha!!!  It was a struggle to make successful swedish pancakes.  The pan kept getting too hot and burning the bottom before the rest was cooked.  Once I got into the rhythm of the awesome cooking, it calmed down a bit and the swedish were tasty good.  I think we probably had...seven or eight successes.  I had two last night and Sister Castaneda had one (I also made mac n cheese at the same time which was part of the problem, because my attention was diverted...could this become a gospel-related analogy? oh yes), and then we saved the rest in the refridgerator.  Woo hoo!  We already have lunch made for today!  Let me tell you, I almost cried from my joy, but instead I laughed and ate and smiled and was ridiculous.  Hence Sister Castaneda's comment.  Oh, and I sometimes yelled at the pancakes when I was making them and they failed. 

V. The GPS holder totally works!  It's great!  Thank you so much!  Now I have an extra one...What should I do with it?

VI. We met a member of the ward yesterday that we'd never met before and he reminded me of Marques Schroeder.  It was kind of fun. :)

 That's all I have written down, but let me see if I can pull out a few more nuggets for you.  Oh, that reminds me of something Sis Castaneda told me.  She said that before she and her German trainer would leave every morning to go "to the Square" her trainer would ask her what the two ckicken nuggets were--Jesus the Christ, and the Restoration of His Gospel.  They later found out that the phrase is "golden nuggets."

We went to Return and Report for Sis Castaneda on Friday and it was so incredible!  The Assistants to the President trained, Sister Karlinsey trained, Sister Wirthlin trained, and of course President Wirthlin trained as well.  I am pretty sure my favorite part of the day was when Elder Becerill trained us on President Lawrence Corbridge's (doesn't he sound familiar?) talk about the four types of missionaries.  I don't remember if I've told you about this talk before...Basically, he teaches that there are four kinds of missionaries:

--the first is disobedient and either is sent home or asks to go home herself.  She is unhappy as a result.
--the second is also disobedient but is not sent home early...result being unhappiness and feeling unworthy, etc.
--the third is obedient and does a lot of good for a lot of people, but is conflicted with wanting to do what she wants to do, but sacrifices to do what the Lord wants.  Looks forward to the FUTURE. 
--the fourth is the best. :)  She is obedient, but converted to the work and the Lord completely.  She LIVES for this work.  She doesn't sacrifice her will or wants, because they have become the same as the Lord's.  She is the only one of the four missionaries who is actually happy. 

Which would I like to be?  The answer is obvious.  I want to become the fourth missionary.  To forget myself and be in the work.  Elder Becerill helped us understand better what it'll be like by listing a bunch of comparative questions--kind of like "Would you Rather?"  It was really effective in getting me to evaluate how I've been doing.  He also asked us what the biggest insult someone could give us when we return home--that we are just the same as when we left, that we haven't changed a bit.  Heavenly Father is so kind for giving me so many opportunities to become as He is. 

Do you think you could ask Elder Corbridge for a copy of his paper on The Fourth Missionary?... :)  Sis Castaneda and I would greatly appreciate it.  We already asked Elder Becerill for a copy of his powerpoint slides. 

I love being here!  I love this ward!  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ that requires struggle and effort and sweat and tears on our part to be happy.  I am so thankful that Jesus Christ suffered all that we can be as He is.  I loved the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday, especially (what we were able to watch, but also...) Sis Stephens' talk about having a soft heart for change.  It's like she said--Jesus Christ has felt all of my FEAR, my DOUBT, my LONELINESS, and He suffered for all of my terrible and stupid mistakes.  He WILL give me rest, I just need to SEEK Him.  Re-align my desires to be focused on Him.  Consecration of my all and life to Him.  She said that the blessings from on high are worth every sacrifice and effort, and I know that's true.  "Let us pray for His love-inspired correction" says Elder Christofferson, so we may obtain His most glorious blessings.

 I love you, family!  I love you a lot!  Enjoy General Conference this weekend!  Invite everyone you can!  Invite yourselves...Haha.  Come hear a PROPHET'S voice.  What a marvelous invitation.

Love you for always,

Sister Smith

 

Letter of Sept. 18th

Dear family,

Thank you so much for all of the emails and pictures (especially from you, Sarah)! Jordan Wertz is home! Oh hooray! I'm so sad that Nate passed away last week--the few interactions I have had with him were always positive ones. Nate's a nice young man. So much peace for him as he continues to progress in the spirit world! Please let the Shorts know my appreciation for them and for Nate's friendliness.

We didn't have our preparation day yesterday, which is why I'm emailing today. Elder Shane M. Bowen, of the First Quorum of the Seventy, visited our mission and we had a really incredible Zone Conference with him yesterday morning. Sister Castaneda and I actually met him on Sunday when he and Sister Bowen and President Wirthlin came to our apartment to see what kind of housing the missionaries in the NYUM enjoy. We'd magic erasered the walls and baseboards, vacuumed with deep cleaning powder stuff...Oh, we prepared for this visit. Anyway, it was really really neat to talk with them. They care so much and are so put together--a common phrase you heard all of the time in the MTC is "quiet dignity" to invite and keep the Spirit. That's how I felt they acted, quietly dignified. They served as mission president in the Spain Barcelona mission before and they know a lot about missionary work. Something I didn't realize, and something that Sister Castaneda reiterated this morning in companion study, is that members of the Quorum of the Seventy are ordained missionaries, basically. We're set apart, but they are ordained. Luke 10 talks about the original seventy that Jesus Christ called while He was in His earthly ministry. They were commanded to go and teach and perform works in the Lord's name. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the same organization as the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ! Neat. So yes, Elder Bowen trained us yesterday and he focused on how we need to know who we are and where we come from in order to do what we're supposed to do. He specifically taught about the Abrahamic covenant, and how we are participants in that covenant because we are members of Christ's Church and thereby part of the House of Israel, who inherited the Abrahamic covenant. We also inherit the promises and responsibilities, the privileges of Abraham and his seed (because we are his seed). I don't know if this is confusing, but it was a great training. When we can see clearly the goal, the ultimate goal, then it's easier to stay diligent and faithful in accomplishing that goal. We have the incredible opportunity to take knowledge of our Redeemer and His plan to the world! And we have been given tools to help us do that! We've been given help! So what we need to do is...do it! Hahaha. Really, though. When we place "artificial limitations" (as he called them) on ourselves, then we halt the progress of the Lord's work for us. Elder Bowen emphasized that we are more capable than we think we are. The training has helped me to again refocus and determine to be more diligent. The more people we talk to, the better opportunity we'll have of finding those who are ready to act on the gospel they receive.

It's raining today. :)

We've been meeting with a couple in the ward who haven't come to church in a long while, and they are so wonderful. They love each other and they want to seal their marriage of 17 years in the temple. We've explained that the blessings of the temple are available to those who are valiant and obedient and that they'd need to become active in their church attendance so they can qualify for those blessings, in addition to the blessings of just coming to church! Namely, happiness and the Spirit... :) So last Monday we brought our ward mission leader with us to meet with them and he offered to give them a ride to church that Sunday, and they came to church! People greeted them, they stayed for all of the meetings, and things are awesome. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the endless opportunities to become better.

It was a good last week. I'm using up my NyQuil, but don't worry, I'll get more today. :) I'm going to be like the stripling warriors--"exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity...true at all times in whatsoever thing [I am] entrusted" (Alma 53:19).

I sure love you. I can't believe it's September 18th! Time is flying.

Well, well, I miss you, love you, and can't wait for Dec. 25!

Love for always,

Sister Smith

Letter from September 3, 2012

There have been some great times over the past week!  One was finding a bug crawling through my hair as Sacrament Meeting began and having to flick it out.  That was fun.  Another was in Gospel Principles, the member who taught the class totally showed us that equation in the subject line and went on about the BLESSING of Adam and Eve choosing to eat the forbidden fruit.  Another was meeting a really cool man from Puerto Rico who has been taught by missionaries a LOT before, and is open to us coming back to answer his questions that he has for basically every set of missionaries who come through.  Another is getting a Philippina companion!!  Who is so sweet and soft spoken and faithful!  Oh man, I love her.  Another was watching the Restoration dvd with our favorite 17 year old and making FAJITAS for the first time!  (Yes, you read correctly, I made fajitas).  Another was playing with little baby chihuahuas and eating Lebanese food.  Another was delving into yard work and helping a woman take control of her weeds.  Another was testifying of the Book of Mormon to people we had never met who were grieving.  Another was testifying of the Restoration of Christ's Church to a group of people belonging to different Christian denominations with the primary speaker within this group being extremely religiously educated and quick-speaking.  Another was me driving through an extremely heavy rainstorm without having driven for a month and a half.  Another was helping Burmese people study and prepare for their American Citizenship exams.  Another was driving to Syracuse with an outbound sister who served with my hero, Sister Takapu.  Oh yes, many good things. 

So I just skimmed the surface, but I feel like that is a pretty good overview of what my week was like.  It was very full, very fulfilling, challenging, enlightening, strengthening...Just a week in the life of a NYUM missionary. :)  It's been pretty strange to "take over" this area with Sister Castaneda (the "n" has one of those spanish squigglies over it, called "enyeh" according to Sis Castaneda, but I don't see how to insert the correct letter in this email, sorry.  Anyway, so you pronounce her name Cah-stah-nyay-dah).  I don't think it hit me really until Sunday when Sis Castaneda needed to be introduced to everyone.  She hasn't been to a regular ward for over a year!  She's been in Temple Square, and all of the sisters there go to Sacrament Meeting together and the Guest Services men bless and pass the sacrament, and there aren't any other church meetings, so this is quite different for her in just THAT aspect.  I've been learning a lot about what it's like to be a sister missionary in the Temple Square mission.  It's pretty exciting!

Man, I'm sorry, I just don't know what else to say!  We're emailing in the Mission Office on account of it's being Labor Day...Um...Thanks for the box!!  It was great to get it!  I can't believe I'm past my halfway mark.  Sigh.  I'm pretty sure we just drove to Provo this morning.  Didn't we?  This time is so great, and I'm so thankful for it!  I'm sad to be away from Sis Horne, but I know, once again, that Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need, what Sis Horne needs, what Sis Castaneda needs, what this area needs.  And we move onward and upward!  Oh, more good news--I got a letter from Sister Kamille Shoell--she still lives in Winnepeg. :)

I love you so much!  Keep on keeping on, my lovies!  Life is great!

End of August letter

The news of the week is that I'm staying in Utica!  However, Sister Horne is being forcibly removed to open up an awesome new area (Albany) with Sister Hale (yes, how timely, eh?) and a sister who's been serving at Temple Square (she's from the Phillipines) is coming to Utica with me.  I don't think I know how to handle the change now, quite honestly, except to just keep going like normal.  haha.  Really, though, Sister Horne has been packing like a madwoman and I moved my stuff into her closet so the incoming sister could have the other one (it's in the bedroom, and that is probably the most comfortable, right?).  P-Days are so different in Utica.  I feel like I can accomplish things rather than just been pressured to write unnumbered amounts of letters.  It's a good feeling.  The change isn't the best feeling, but alas, it's the way of things, eh?  It should be a very interesting endeavor.  Oh.  Hahaha!  I got on the email service site between the missionaries and our mission president and noticed a LOT more features than have ever been there.  Most poignantly language study "portals..."  Yeah.  I'm not sure what that's an indication of other than trepidation on my part.  This sister should be able to speak English if she's been in SLC for a year, shouldn't she?  Yeah.  The new features are probably on everyone's.

So, the quote from this week...We went on exchange with the Syracuse (pronounced Saracuse by natives) and Sister Lambert came up here to serve in Utica for a day.  Sis Lambert and I went to a member of the ward's home who had just had the sonic blast on her kidneys and was recovering.  We got there and she was up and moving about with a lot of energy, which was a good sign.  But anyway, she told us a lot of stories (as she is wont to do) and one of them was about her childhood, growing up next to a "crick" (she was hick-ifying "creek") and in their cellar they always had scores of snakes slithering about--even in their laundry baskets.  So, she's nervous to go do laundry in her cellar now because she's living right next to the same crick.  She has PTSD from Snake-nam.  Sis Lambert and I had a pretty great time--she's been in the NYUM for 3 months now and is being transferred up to Lake Placid this Wednesday.  Lots of changes this transfer, too, see?

I had a really unique/terrifying/incredible opportunity last week to help someone repent.  Of course, all we do all day every day is invite people to change and come closer to Christ with those good changes, which is repentance, but this was different and striking.  She did something wrong and she knew it was wrong, felt terrible about it, and first thing the next morning she asked us to come over to help her know how to repent of it.  We didn't need to know details, didn't ask for them, but we counseled with her and helped her understand that Jesus Christ suffered the Atonement that she can become clean.  She's working toward baptism and we reminded her that everything will be washed clean as she's baptized and confirmed by those who hold the authority of God.  Anyway, it was really awesome to gain a firmer testimony that change is absolutely possible because of our Savior.  We were inspired to ask certain questions, share certain scriptures, say the right things at the right points of the conversation.  Heavenly Father loves His children.

We don't have a lot of time today (the preparations for transfers are quite weighty), so I must be off!  I can't believe Rob started high school!!  What?!  Go get 'em.  Learn lots, okay?  Every opportunity we have to learn is such a blessing--we have so much to learn and become!  We need to take advantage of every single one!  Thanks so much for the emails!  Oh, I love you. :)

Sister Smith's August 1st email

There is a little boy in this area who looks like the young Spock on the new "Star Trek" movie.  And this morning I was studying Alma 32 and I stopped (I stop a lot, you know me) at verse 28, which is a typical one for missionaries to use.  This time around, though, I remembered what a member of the Cornell Branch had pointed out when he'd taught Gospel Principles one Sunday.  He emphasized the words "if ye give place."  We can want faith and miracles and change and whatever else until we've filled a googolplex of space, but if we don't GIVE PLACE and YIELD to the growth, nothing is going to come. We can't grow anything on infertile ground.  And we can't nurture something if we neglect it, or even more especially and contrary if we neglect it.  If we toss it out.  We cannot resist the change if we want to change.  We can't excel and become like our Heavenly Father if we won't yield to His growth.  We cannot "prosper" if we won't live long-suffering.  And that's what it says at the end of the chapter:40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the atree of life.

 And then we're reminded of this promise--

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree bspringing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall areap the brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth cfruit unto you.

If I can just yield to the Lord's goodness and the "growing experiences" that He gives me, if I can just patiently hold out and work and change to the end, then I can also "pluck the fruit."  There is so much potential in Utica, I know that; Sister Horne and I are only discovering bits of the Lord's vision here as we go, but the bits add up to a pretty beautiful picture.  So, yes, Spock and his famous words came to mind in my personal study--this sort of occurrence is not uncommon with me.  Everything connects to the Gospel of Christ and God's Plan.  Everything!  It's the most wonderful thing to think about.

 I love the people in this area, they are so different!  I haven't talked to any Puerto Ricans (as far as I can tell), but there are a lot of Polish descendants and refugees from all over Asia in Utica.  We travel many miles to visit with different families and the pace, well, all I can say is that it is VERY different here.  I'm still adjusting, but I think that will continue throughout this entire transfer. 

Sister Horne is AWESOME!  We have to kind of tone down the friendliness sometimes, because we could talk about movies and tv shows until the Millenium and, to understate it, that is distracting.  Okay, so we don't tone down the friendliness, per se, but we do have to be vigilant in staying focused and refocusing.  She can carry on conversations with people with such ease, and I am trying to learn from her in that and many areas.  She loves people and she loves to serve them.  She has so many ideas to help this area grow and we have been doing a LOT of planning and brainstorming and praying to capture the vision that our Father in Heaven has for this area with us here.

 We have been meeting with a family in the ward who is less-active because the mother is an alcoholic and she can't seem to stop. It's heartbreaking! We're trying to be there to support her and her four children and have been praying to know how we can help this family to stabilize, how we can help the mother want to stop the addiction enough to actually do it. I know it's going to take little steps and a process of time. The Atonement of Christ can heal all wounds and I know that the potential for this family is eternal.  Speaking of eternal--I watched an incredible video yesterday with a member of the ward.  It's called "Between Heaven and Earth" and it's all about temples and sacrifice and the central role of our Savior Jesus Christ in everything.  I learned so many things from it about the role anciently of temples and symbolism and Jesus Christ fulfilling the old law enough to restore the full and progressive truth of eternal ordinances in these latter-days.  You should watch it!!  Seriously.  I have found myself asking introspectively why I watched so many fictional tv shows and movies and read so many different books when there is so much knowledge that I need to know still about the Gospel and this life and, oh, so much more.  And something that I hope to always remember that President Bulloch said in his last training with us is that when we go home (it's not for a lifetime, I know, but it's good to be prepared) we should feel confident in upholding standards we've realized as missionaries and leave movies or not participate in different things if we feel it's not in line with those standards and offends the Spirit.  He said the Spirit will leave faster because we know better.  So, if when I am no longer a full-time missionary I act "weird" about things I watched or read before I left, please understand.  And if I am the same when I return and do the same things, please slap my wrist and remind me of this.  Thanks.  "Remember Lot's wife."  Don't look back.

 We've decided to make it a goal to see all of the less-active members in our area this transfer, and I'm relieved that we have plans to actually accomplish the goal. Mapping out which members live in which areas and planning which areas we'll be in each day seems to be a good idea that we'll be putting into practice this week. So much of missionary work is effective planning, it's funny that I haven't realized it to the extent I have up to this point. I certainly had to plan effectively in Ithaca without a car, but I also have to in Utica WITH a car. 

I got a hair cut today from a really awesome lady whose immediate family all lives in this area.  She cut off 6 inches!  It feels like heaven.  Sister Horne got a trim.  Oh, I forgot--last week we helped a member of the ward pick 47 pounds worth of blueberries with her children.  You could say it was pretty dern fun.

 I love working with the missionaries in this district--they are good ones.  We had the grand opportunity to teach both Gospel Principles and the 3rd hour 5th Sunday lessons on Sunday--it was great to prepare for those last week and remind myself of who our Heavenly Father is (Gospel Principles chapter 1) and how awesome mormon.org is.  We team taught the 3rd hour with the APs and it was just fabulous to not only introduce myself so early on in such a great way to the members of this ward, but also to help them realize different ways they can fulfill their responsibilities to share what they know (like sharing our worldly riches--Jacob 2:17).  If I may make a plug--mormon.org and the mormonchannel.org are great ways to share videos and inspiration and the Spirit with friends and acquaintances in a non-threatening way.

 Anyway, it was a good week.  I'm learning again that there is no comfort in growth and no growth in comfort.  I'm sure the Lord feels like He is pulling teeth to get me to do His will.  Oh, to be an instrument in His hands...

 The Olympics...I am a little sad we're missing them, especially because they're in London this time, but...we'll just cheer on the USA in our hearts and try to focus the people we meet with on the Gospel of Jesus Christ which will bring them salvation--more lasting than the number of medals our country wins (it's hard to say that, but I know I need to). 

I love you!  I can't believe it's almost August!  I might say that every month from now on.  I've probably been saying it a lot over the months--sorry.  Oh, Sister Horne said she's glad we'll be together when we hit our 9-month mark, but I was thinking...is it coming up?  Haha.  I still don't know.  I can't say I want to.  I choose to NOT do the math when it comes to that subject.  There is so much becoming left to do for me and the NYUM. 

Have a great rest of the week!  Get some sun!  I love you so much.

Love for always,

Sister Smith

Letter of June 25, 2012

Dearest familia,

I've been wearing my contacts all week; want to know why?  It's pretty hot when you're walking around in the sun and humidity.  I'm definitely the sweatiest of the two of us. :)  It's okay, though, I'm staying hydrated and eating loads of food (my decreased appetite must have been a fluke).  The members are taking care of us and I'm also cooking sometimes...it's pretty great.  I've made scrambled eggs...twice in the past two months.  It's my specialty, I guess.  haha.

Well, well, what can I say?  Being a missionary is like being on a very big and expensive rollercoaster.  I don't fear I'll be thrown out of the safety restraints, but when the drops come they're pretty big.  The thing is, you don't anticipate the drops when you're having a grand old time with the rest of the awesome ride--they just kind of appear out of nowhere and surprise you.  This analogy is an old, tried and tested favorite of missionaries far and wide, but I've just been recognizing the truth of it, sorry. :)  I bring this up, because last week was a really awesome rollercoaster.  We had an INCREDIBLE District Meeting with Pres. and Sis. Bulloch and then had to say "see you later."  That was pretty sad, but we had to keep going.  Then we taught a new friend about the plan of salvation and he promised he'd come to church--he actually didn't come, but we'll be seeing him again this week.  We had multiple, really great dinners with members of the ward last week (I even learned more about Pokemon from a few little ones--apparently I'm really behind the times in that arena--get it, arena?).  We were invited over to a nice lady's house and she was there when we knocked, and we got to help her take some mail to the post office before catching a bus--hopefully we get to see her again.  We helped a sick elderly lady in the ward clean her house and completed more projects in the time we had allotted to be there than she imagined we would.  We brought a member to one of our appointments and she made a HUGE difference in the way the conversation went--it was such a tender mercy!  Heavenly Father totally knows His children, and I know He inspired us to invite this sweet member to come with us because He wants to bring all His children into the fold and let them have the happiness He promises.  We got a call from a man we've been trying to meet for a couple of weeks and set up a time TODAY to meet with him.  He's from PA and has talked to missionaries there, so I'm pretty durn excited to talk to him tonight.  We helped our beloved Burmese family learn scriptural language a bit better and are slowly and steadily grounding them in the Book of Mormon.  I love them. :)  We had an incredible lesson with a recent convert who is a very hard worker and also very, very busy.  He had question that went right along with the lesson we'd prepared--honestly, I didn't even look at the lesson plans we'd made and just listened and answered questions when I had answers, and afterward realized that we were talking about (in a roundabout way) the things we'd planned on discussing!  IT WAS GREAT!  The Lord gives us knowledge every minute of every day to bless His children.  Then...Saturday.  We had to kind of rearrange some of our plans so we could visit with our philosophy professor friend.  Our discussion was actually kind of frustrating to me, because we were asked to answer some deep questions that I've honestly and unsurprisingly never even considered.  This should be expected with a philosopher, I know, but this appointment was different than the others...Anyway, we invited him to church and he said he'd like to but he'll have to see what his wife thinks, and....HE CAME TO THE BRANCH SACRAMENT MEETING!!!!!!!  Yes, I was pretty, pretty elated when Sister Palmer nudged my ribs excitedly to point out that he'd walked in to the chapel as we were singing the opening hymn.  Ah.  We'll discuss the experience with him this week before he leaves for basically 6 months.  And wanna know the cherry?  I was asked to speak in that meeting about Daughters in My Kingdom and I'd never read the book before.  Well, I focused mostly on Matt. 22:36-40 and developing the love that God has for us, and the role Relief Society, the Gospel, the Church plays in that lifelong pursuit.  But, yes, I walked up to the stand a few minutes after our friend arrived and spoke, then we enjoyed the rest of the meeting--let me tell you, I felt a lot of pressure.  But I just kept it simple and bore testimony--it's what we do. :)  Anyway, on Saturday we visited our elderly friends at the rest home and they were so happy!  We talked about Ammon, sang hymns...It was marvelous.  And we met a few great people.  Sunday was wonderful.  Oh boy, I'm running out of steam.  Sorry I'm not breaking into paragraphs.  We had great meetings with the ward and branch mission leaders, had a great dinner at a WONDERFUL member family's home, had good laughs, and felt the Spirit in great abundance...We saw a great recent convert who lives in a very secure building, who we haven't been able to see when we've stopped by recently b/c of the security...It was a very good week.

Sister Palmer is such a stalwart example.  I feel extremely privileged to be serving with her.  She works hard, loves, keeps going, strengthens her faith continually, always looks for ways to improve and help others.  I love her, she's great!

Disneyland--I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip!  It seems like it was kind of a whirlwind experience.  Haha.  I hope you took pictures (I'm wearing a stern face).  And SO MANY WEDDINGS!  Oh glory!  The pictures are all beautiful.  Thank you!  Michelle...oh...she's so beautiful.  Two days younger and already married.  Hahaha.  I'm so happy for them.  And Allie and Grant--oo!  They look great!  Such pretty people!  What is it about weddings?... :)

I love you so so much!!  I miss you!  I love being here.  My body is beginning to ache a bit, but I'm glad about it (I'm NOT glad that my left calf keeps cramping while I'm sleeping so I have to stretch it while I'm trying to rest, but hopefully the bananas will help).  Life moves forward.  I'm working on becoming the disciple of Christ I know I need and want to be, but it doesn't happen overnight--that's a "good grief"-esque part about the Gospel.  Let me explain--Sister Palmer asked why people say "good grief" (I say it a lot) and I explained why I do; I try to provide some humor to sticky or unpleasant situations.  "Good grief" seems oxymoronic, doesn't it?  Contradictory?  Eh, no.  Because we know from the teachings of Christ that struggles strengthen us. 

And with that, I bid you adieu til next week. :)  I love you.

Love for always,

Sister Smith