Letter of March 4, 2013

We did have another interesting and exciting week! As Sister Wilson, Sister Adkins, and I continue to set goals and follow the plans that the Lord inspires, we are seeing improvement in our opportunities to teach, not just to knock. :)

There are loads of new areas opening up next transfer for all of the loads of missionaries coming!!! It's so exciting! Every time I think about it I become giddy! I'm so thankful to be a missionary right now, with the critical and impressive growth in missionary work all over the world, especially in the NYUM. I'm pretty sure that I came to earth when I did to be here when I am.

While I went to a meeting for like...6.5 hours on Friday, Sisters Adkins and Wilson "blitzed" New Hartford--the other sisters who were in the meeting with me obviously have companions, and those two companions split up with my companions to work in different parts of this area. A lot of work even though one New Hartford sister wasn't there. A planned miracle.

We visited with a woman this past week who really impressed us all by her closeness to the Spirit. She's a woman who joined the Church in the '70s and has been faithful in her conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ since then. This is a woman who had to raise 5 children on her own after her husband left, and who has severe anxiety. She had to "hide" behind her children to feel comfortable going to church even though she LOVES church. And now her children are grown and moved away, so she is left with her anxiety. What impressed me the most is that she is so committed to doing all she can to serve the Lord and show her love for Him and for others. She can notice very intricate changes in her body when she eats and drinks different things, so much so that she has received personal revelation about the Word of Wisdom to be applied to her lifestyles--kind of making her observance of it more strict than is specified in the revelation itself. But when she told us about it, I was reminded of what President Wirthlin had just taught us in a meeting--that when we are strict to obey exactly the commandments and standards of the Lord (especially those pertinent to missionary work), then we'll receive greater guidance to know the finer, more minute things that are acceptable of the Lord. When we seek to obey not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law, then we receive the blessing of greater understanding. So that's what struck me about this sister--she understands the spirit of the law, so she's been able to better keep her body, her temple of the Holy Ghost, clean from bad influences for her.

Tanner is home! Woah. I loved the pictures, thank you! He looks so...mature. I love missions! I love being a missionary! That reminds me--I asked President to extend my full-time service, and he said that he'd already tried with "the Brethren" to extend some other missionaries recently and the answer's always no. Sigh.

I had sushi this week. Well...the pieces I had were from a California roll, so maybe that doesn't count. But I liked it! Sister Wilson LOVES sushi.

Sister Wilson's parents were called to preside over a new mission in Africa!! We KNEW she's more pure and of a good crop. :) She's really, really happy.

I'm trying to learn to laugh and use humor through stressful times and situations. Sister Wilson and Sister Adkins are pretty good at it, so I'm picking up tips.

Well, well, I have got to go finish my laundry!

I love you for always!!!

Sister Smith

Letter from Feb 25, 2013

First of all--I can't believe Tanner comes home this week. I hope he can get right into some sort of work and keep on keeping on! He will. :) Please give him a big hug from me! And all the Schroeders.

I love being in this companionship. I told Sister Adkins and Sister Wilson a couple of days ago that they are going to be leaders in the mission--they already are. They both work so diligently and are always focused on improvement and growth. The Spirit is our first and Senior companion and the work moves onward and upward daily. It's been interesting to see the differences in the work over the past couple of weeks. The first week Sister Wilson was here, for instance, we found someone new to teach and contacted a lot of people. This past week we have worked a lot with members of the church who aren't very active in using the Gospel of Christ. We keep our sights raised high to our goals, because we know Heavenly Father wants them accomplished--He inspired us to set them--and one day all those goals will be met, I'm sure. It's so incredible how prepared these beautiful sisters are. They aren't just learning right now, but they're DOING, they're heeding the Spirit, they're augmenting growth in the area and our companionship because of their diligence and love. I feel so privileged to be serving with them. This morning I was thinking about where I was spiritually before I was set apart as a full-time missionary; the school year before I went home to prepare for the mission I did good things like read my scriptures daily, attended church weekly, participated at church weekly, magnified a calling, prayed daily, studied Preach My Gospel, went to classes...but I can see in retrospect how I was kind of at a stand-still. Hadn't quite flat-lined, but I don't think I was necessarily progressing. I was just doing the same old things I'd done before. Good things, right? But there wasn't a whole lot of growth. Despite my stand-still, Heavenly Father in His mercy, extended to me a calling to labor in His vineyard. Despite my not quite feeling the motivation of my serving a full-time mission even though I knew with my mind the motivation, He in His mercy qualified me to serve. Despite my bad habits and laziness, He allowed me to enter His Holy Temple and make more promises with Him, and He made more promises with me. Despite all my weakness, He in His mercy loves me and helps me become so much more than I can even fathom becoming. I am AMAZED. If I hadn't had the goal and intent to serve a mission for the Lord when I was younger, then I don't know if I would've been in the frame of spirit to apply for full-time missionary service after that sophomore school year. I really don't. And so I'm amazed, amazed, amazed at my Heavenly Father's mercy in getting me here. This is where I need to be. And I have changed--I can't go back, I can't "return," because I know better. And I only know better because of the mercy of my Father. I am so thankful! Rob--now is the time to prepare. Don't just set a goal and get everything ready for you to go. Get your spirit excited and motivated to do the work of the Lord for the right reasons. We cannot use the infinite gift of the Atonement to become more than we now are without God's priesthood. Doctrine & Covenants 84:19-22:

19 And this greater ^apriesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the ^bkey of the ^cmysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the ^dknowledge of God.

20 Therefore, in the ^aordinances thereof, the power of ^bgodliness is manifest.

21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the ^aauthority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is ^bnot manifest unto men in the flesh;

22 For without this no ^aman can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

Likewise, without the priesthood ordinances, people cannot feel the Spirit, be forgiven of their sins...LOVE motivates this work, NOT OBLIGATION. It is a priesthood duty, yes, but what is our Heavenly Father's purupose? (Moses 1:39) He loves with perfect love and He asks His disciples to love as well. Loving our brothers and sisters and understanding how much PEACE and happiness they will have as they live the gospel of Jesus Christ--that should motivate us. If that isn't the motivation now, I am a living example that it can become the motivation. :) I am so so thankful for this opportunity to represent the Lord's Church and the Savior Himself, in bringing my brothers and sisters closer to Him. Every sacrifice is worth it. I've shared this a lot this week--2 Nephi 4:34-35...

34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 Yea, I know that God will give ^aliberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ^bask ^cnot amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the ^drock of my ^erighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

Nothing else in this life is worth our effort or sacrifice, because this whole existence is for us to become like our Heavenly Father so we can obtain His perfect happiness.

I'm sorry, I was just really overwhelmed by this this week, most specifically today. :) I have to tackle my thoughts every day to not be depressed about how much time has passed already. The only way I can do that, though, is just by focusing on the good things my companions are doing and becoming. Down time's frown time. Haha. Really though.

I went on exchange this week with...Sister Palmer!! Yesss! It was AWESOME to work with her again and see how much she's grown. She's training a new sister who came out with Sister Wilson, and they opened up a new area for sisters--Oswego. Right by Lake Ontario. :) So I worked up there for 24 hours, and it was so fun. We met a lot of great people! I'll just share one experience from the exchange. We'd decided to focus a lot on just meeting new people ("finding") for the exchange, so Sister Palmer and I walked all morning on Saturday and knocked on doors. Oswego is much bigger than Ithaca, and there was a LOT of snow and a LOT of slush which soaked my boots and made raisins of my feet, but we talked to lots of nice people. We knocked on one door, expecting to meet someone who'd talked to missionaries in the past, and found a man who'd lived in that house for 25 (?) years. We introduced ourselves and he responded to the introduction by telling us he was Catholic but had left the church. We asked why and he told us that he'd been molested when he was a child. I felt so much love for this man; I testified of our Heavenly Father's love for him and we talked a little bit more. For a man who opened the door and started the conversation with quite a bit of hostility, he became soft and appreciative as we promised to come back in a month to see him. The Spirit was so strong and I know he felt our Father's love for him--he felt something and responded to it. It was so neat!

Well, we have another interesting and amazing week ahead. :) I'll tell you about it next Monday.

I love you for always!

Sister Smith

Thanksgiving letter

Dear Family,

I need to first apologize for not using a correct term in my email last week--THERMOMETERS measure temperature, not barometers...Thanks, Dad.

There's so much to tell you! Sister Castaneda and I had a great week! The highlight was probably going to the training meeting on Thursday, with two men from the Missionary Department in SLC. I learned so much. I felt like the training was what I needed to feel better equipped to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the hearts of the people in this area. Brother Donaldson and Brother Glazier teamed up with President Wirthlin, and I'll just share what my favorite part of the training was. I think it can be best introduced by Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-22 (this section talks about the Melchizedek Priesthood which was given to Adam and all of the prophets since, to bless all mankind):

19 And this greater ^apriesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the ^bkey of the ^cmysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the ^dknowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ^aordinances thereof, the power of ^bgodliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the ^aauthority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is ^bnot manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no ^aman can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
Brother Donaldson's training on this principle, that the PRIESTHOOD is needed to administer the ordinances which are uncompromisingly necessary for our living with God and obtaining His kingdom, His happiness, His life, has totally changed me. The doctrine of Christ, of the "Anointed One," is the plan of how we become like our Father in Heaven (which was His design from the beginning). Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end...this is how we return to the presence of our Father. And it's not possible, cannot be completed, or have a hope of success, without the power of God that He GAVE to man, so that everything would work--the priesthood is the "key of the mysteries of the kingdom"--it's the key to performing lasting and saving and necessary ordinances. More than this training on the priesthood, though, I learned more about the Atonement of Christ, how He suffered and overcame all so that we can be lifted up, cleansed, made ready for the Father's inheritance, receive forgiveness of our many sins...We cannot access that Atonement of Christ without doing those things that He's told us we need to to be fit to receive the blessings He's made available. These people that we talk to every day cannot experience the sanctification and peace and POWER of the Atonement without Christ's doctrine. He's given us a type of equation to get to the solution of the power of His Atonement--that equation is the gospel, the doctrine. I am here to help people come closer to Christ, because I know that all happiness lies with Him and the comfort He has promised us. I feel a greater sense of urgency after the training, to help these children of God in the Utica (ish) area. Jesus Christ overcame the world FOR THE WORLD. The Atonement wasn't made for just a select few--it was made for all, so we have a great responsibility to make it available to all by inviting them to partake of the gospel of Christ. I really feel like my eyes are open--with the focus of my service here now on Christ's Atonement, I feel like everything has changed. Just talking to the people who answer their doors isn't enough. Just working with members on the other side of the country is not enough. "Glory, glory, glory!" (I'm quoting a great song the Tabernacle Choir sings, it may be a hymn...)
Anyway, I wanted to share that with you, because it really has totally changed my week, my month, my transfer, my mission, my life...you name it. So, at the meeting I was reunited for a blissful lunch hour with Sister Palmer. Needless to say, that made my week, too. She's finally leaving Ithaca to serve with.....SISTER HORNE in ALBANY! Isn't that funny? It's the only "transfer prediction" I made and it totally was right. Sister Castaneda and I are staying here for her last transfer in the NYUM--oh, I also predicted that. :)
Thank you for the great box of goodies and gifts for Sonja! We haven't been able to see her yet, because she's so busy with school things, but when we give them to her I'm sure she'll be super excited.
A wonderful, hilarious, most loved member in the ward gave each of us beautiful scarves that we've been wearing kind of non-stop since we got them. And I held more itty bitty baby chihuahuas. We're trying to spread Thanksgiving cheer, and gearing up for Christmas as well. "I wish every day could be like Christmas" (remember that song, Mom?...).
We met a great older man at McDonald's, where we were eating a delicious dinner, and he's a former FBI officer, and now works as a security guard. We were definitely supposed to be at McD's at that time so he could ask us questions and get information about the church in Whitesboro. I'm not kidding. It was a miracle that we were there. Heavenly Father is aware of EVERYONE.
I don't know what else to say other than I am so so thankful for you, my sweet family! I am thankful for the upbringing I had and for the many opportunities I was given (and continue to be given) to develop talents. I am thankful to have been raised with knowledge of God and His Son, His plan, His love. I am thankful for the wonderful people who have influenced who I've become. I am thankful for great friends (inside the family and out) who've helped me stick to God's standards, and the knowledge I have of His expectations. I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for His love and His sacrifice that has made everything possible for me and for all of my loved ones and neighbors. I am thankful for the opportunity I have right now to share full-time this "good news" with others.
I love you to eternity! I love you for always,
Sister Smith

Letter of October 22, 2012

 Dear Family,

Sorry about the short email last week--my mind is going, I tell you. I got the Halloween box! Thank you! Oo, we are excited to eat the candies (the first thing I thought when I looked inside my bag was, "Mom, can we sell our candy?")! We're still waiting to hear what we'll be doing, other than a Zone Conference, on Halloween. Last year Pres. Bulloch counseled the missionaries to stay in unless they had a scheduled appointment, and become more familiar with their area books. We'll see what Pres. Wirthlin will say.

We had exchanges this week with the Syracuse sisters! I stayed up here again, but with Sister Love this time. We had a pretty neat time. All of our appointments for those 24 hours canceled on us except our member meal appointments...So...within about a half hour I'd to look at where we'd be going for our meal appointment that night and see who we'd be able to visit, make calls to make sure we'd be able to see them, etc. etc. But the blessings of the Lord--we had appointments for the rest of the night because of those 30 minutes of planning! It was really a miracle. Exchanges are really cool, because you get an opportunity to learn from another sister that you don't usually serve with, and so you can pick up on different things that you can incorporate into your efforts in your assigned area, and get feedback. This time, with Sister Love, I learned again the value of not giving up when plans fall through, but working to find out what the will of the Lord is in that area for the day since things didn't work out. Elder Becerrill actually mentioned yesterday that he thinks we (generally speaking of missionaries) work harder on exchange--I definitely worked hard to be doing SOMETHING worthwhile when Sis Love was up here. And again, I'll repeat--the blessings of the Lord. I needed to learn, she needed to learn...we needed to work together for the day, so we actually worked and it was great.

We're becoming more of a team again with the elders up here in the Utica Ward! It's a relief. We know the value of being unified, and when you aren't unified there's a lack of power in the work. But after two weekends of General Conference and Stake Conference, when we were away from the regular meetings of the ward, we're back on schedule and we're moving forward. It's exciting! Actually, we're going to be coordinating with the ward to have a ward fast next month to encourage the members to find a less-active member that they can bring back to church. Covenants are meant to be kept, and sometimes we need help from others to keep them. I love it here.

We got to see a family this past weekend that I haven't seen since...probably the first week I got to Utica, which was the end of July. They haven't come to church in a really long time, and we had a great time talking with the mom about the stressful things that are going on in their life and how they WANT to come to church, but their new and stressful schedule makes it nigh to impossible. She had tears and it was so heartbreaking to see how stuck she felt. Conversely, it was very heartwarming to know how deeply she wants to come to church and fully participate in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel really does bless families, and I know their family is going to be picked up and healed as they get back into doing those things that have been commanded by the Lord that they KNOW will bring them greater happiness and peace.

Our P-Days have been pretty chopped up for the past few weeks, because we've been going to help a less-active lady in the ward with different projects during the middle of the day, so we finish up our P-Day at night. Actually, we just asked our Zone Leaders if that's acceptable, or if we need to find a different way to do things. I'm thinking we need to change what we're doing, so that's probably the answer they'll give us. ANYWAY...sorry for the random thought tangent.

Our favorite young woman is getting so antsy for her baptism! :) We talked to her after church yesterday and she was asking us when we can meet so we can start planning her baptismal program. This week. Haha. I'm so excited, too! She is so so ready and defnitely needs to keep her progression going, not just to baptism, but to making more covenants in the temple, and on and on to eternity. Oh...goodness. I love her. She had a rough time this past week, and we were able to help her understand how to receive the guidance she was seeking, recognize her answer, etc. Heavenly Father is so kind and loving and generous to His children. P.S. She recognized her answer.

Things are going great up in the NYUM! Sis Castaneda and I are moving, moving, moving, and it's a wonderful feeling. I love you so much! I hope this week is one full of lots of laughs and much Spirit-seeking! Thank you for being the best family in the universe! :)

Love for always,

Sister Smith

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