Hark, hark, hark, tis children's music...

Dear, dear family,

Happy belated Memorial Day!  Robbie has glasses like MINE!!!!  Oooo (squeal)!  I am so happy for you!  Are you wearing them often?  Do you luuuurve them?  I do.  Oh, you mature youth, you.  And you also spoke in Sacrament meeting?  Good grief, you are on a roll!  It sounds like you did a great job on your talk, Rob.  I wish I could've heard it....do you think...maybe...you could send me a copy?  Okay, great, thanks! 

Good thinking about not sending the video, Mom.  No, I don't think I would've watched it, but I would have been sorely tempted and if I yielded then I would have perished (I read Alma 10 this morning--focused especially on verse 25).

That's a great message from President and Cody!  Did I tell you that President Castleton sent me a letter recently?  It was absolutely a very bright spot in my day and has continued to be on my mind since I received it.  We are so blessed to know the Castletons as we do, and to have such incredible home teachers.  I'm thankful for the move to Granite 5th Ward oh so long ago. :)

That's terrible about Sherrie!  But I'm glad to hear she's improving!  Will you send my love along? 

So, the library was closed yesterday, that's why I'm emailing today.  Also, yesterday we helped our former branch mission leader and his wonderful wife move things into their moving truck because they're moving to Iowa.  It was a great time we had--we were glad we could say one more thank you for all they've done.

Last week was a little bit crazy.  Lots of new experiences.  You'll have to wait for a few years until I tell you a few of them (okay, maybe just one of them), but let me tease you by saying that there has never been a time in my life when I have been so put through the refiner's fire as these times.  To be expected, I know, but still I am in awe of the foresight, wisdom, and love of my Heavenly Father who makes all things possible and attainable for me.  Just yesterday when I felt like I was going to really mess things up because I couldn't stay focused, I knelt down and really really prayed for help and kept going with the hope that the Lord would take care of His children that we were visiting, and He did.  Humility--it's absolutely necessary.

Hmmm...I don't know that I have any exciting stories to tell you.  But wait!  We went to Utica for Sister Palmer's Return and Report!  That was incredible.  The APs and President and Sister Bulloch basically trained on the same things they did for my R&R, but I learned so much more and so many different things this time around.  We got to take the elders' car up to Utica (and it was a long drive--2 hours is way long when you're only accustomed to driving a max of 20 minutes in a stretch for P-days) and brought it back to them at the end of the night.  Sharing a car is very interesting.  We realized about 20 minutes into the journey that the gas tank was almost empty so I filled up the gas tank for the first time in who knows how long!  There was a series of things we had to enter into the gas station pump thing before we could actually get gas...it was a significant stop for us on our journey, but we succeeded and all is well.  Now we know what to do when the tank needs to be filled.

We found out that a member in the ward knows our philosophy professor friend!  We chatted on Sunday about the classes he's (the member) attended and the questions he's (the friend) posed to us...hopefully he can start coming with us when we visit our intelligent friend.

Well, family, I don't know that I have any new updates except that humidity and heat are a great combination.  It's really very cool up here in Ithaca, NY.  Our faces stay shiny and clean!  Seriously, though, I love this area.  I am so thankful to be here.  God loves all of His children and He wants each of us to be happy.  Share the love!

I love, love, love you!

Sister Smith

P.S. I think I saw a beaver for the first time in real life.  And I saw a raccoon a few weeks ago.

April 29th Letter

Just a little background…Sister Smith’s trainer was transferred last Wednesday to Syracuse, NY (boo hoo).  But after four months in the mission field, Sister Smith is a new trainer and senior companion to Sister Palmer, fresh from the MTC.

Dear, dear family and friends,

Sister Palmer is incredible!  She's from Preston, ID, and is so sweet, SO enthusiastic about the work, full of love for all of these people in Ithaca and she knows maybe .5 percent of them.  Oh, I just love her!  The Lord knew what He was doing when He called Sister Palmer over here to Ithaca with me.  She is just full of righteous fire!  Yesss.  The day that she got here we had a dinner appointment with a member family, a regular appointment with one of our investigators (the IS guy), and a recent convert.  Had I had time to study that morning before driving to Utica and meeting Sister Palmer?  Negative.  But Heavenly Father blessed us.  Everything was just wonderful.  The Spirit was there in abundance all night, and we were able to say things to the people we saw that we couldn't have planned, wouldn't have anticipated saying.  We have seen many miracles in the past 5 days. 

I'll tell you an interesting story from this past week: Sister Palmer and I planned for our lesson with an investigator who was set with a baptismal date, and Sister Palmer was just full of all of these ideas that could help him overcome some addictions he has, and we felt so excited and ready for the appointment!  Then we went to Friday Forum at Cornell and guess what the discussion was on--addictions.  That's right.  And the article that was being discussed was something that had the potential of immeasurably helping this investigator.  Miracles miracles.  The Timothys were able to come with us and so we had their support at the lesson.  The lesson went okay, but I could tell the investigator wasn't really wanting to listen to the lesson because of the content.  It was unsavory to him.  So at the end we invited him to keep the commandment we'd been teaching about, and he said "no."  He said he didn't want to deceive us by saying that he'd keep it and then fall and have to repent.  We tried to explain about repentance and having a goal, but he refused, so we left with a prayer.  Later on that day, probably a few hours after the lesson, he called and told us he wouldn't be coming to church and he didn't need our help--if he does in the future he will give us a call.  Woah.  I was pretty shaken up.  We were dropped just like that, after many miracles in preparation for our appointment with him!  I tried to keep it together for Sister Palmer's sake, but eventually I had to do a little silent crying in the bathroom for a few minutes and pull it together.  Then, the next day, my study in the Book of Mormon was at a chapter in Mosiah that kept drawing me back to the basic and glorious principle that we all have the power to choose and to act on our choices.  We all have agency.  We do all that we can as missionaries in inviting others to Christ, but it's up to them to accept and act on the message.  What a lesson to learn, no?

Anyway, it's starting to get a bit warmer again, after a few crazy days with snow and rain and cold winds, but this weather has been quite a marvel. 

Two awesome stories: we had been following up on a few potential and former investigators while heading to our appointment with a less active member when we stopped and talked to a lady who listened to what we are all about and then proceded to tell us that she hadn't gone to church in a while, but had recently started thinking about finding a church to go to.  She invited us over to her house this upcoming Saturday, telling us that her daughter will be excited to talk with us, but maybe not her 12 year old son. :)  Woo!  Talk about the miracle of finding people!  And the second story:  our branch mission leader called us one night to let us know that one of his colleagues in his program had told him that one of her friends wanted to go to our church and sit down with someone and hear what the LDS church is all about and what we believe and such, and then he told us he'd give us the colleague's number and name on Sunday or Monday if he didn't hear anything more about it by Sunday.  Sunday rolls around and who is with this member couple?  The friend of his colleague.  Yep.  She was there when they went to pick her up and she stayed all 3 hours for church, asked great questions, and set up an appointment with us for Tuesday.  How incredible!  She's graduating and moving to Maryland in a couple of weeks, but....we have until then to help her understand the important message of the Restoration of Christ's Church!  We're really, really excited for this week.

Anyway, it sounds like things are moving forward at home--excellent!  Stand-stills are no good, even if we might sometimes hope for them.  I'm so excited to talk to you in a couple of weeks!!  WOO!  Oh, guess who we're having dinner with in just a few short hours?  Trina Asay and her family (she knows Uncle Tod, she's from N. Ogden).  It'll be fun.

I love you!  Sorry, I'm all out of time, just when I get into writing stride. 

love love love for always,

Sister Smith

Joy in the journey...

Dear family,

I kind of hit a wall in my progression this week, I think. But, I spent a little bit of time one morning to cry it out, and now I'm doing just fine--ready to conquer Satan. I just feel pretty terrible about the added stress it causes Sister Takapu when I'm not doing my best to do this work. It's not fair to her, to the Lord, to these people in Ithaca who need the Gospel, nor to myself. I reread one of my friend's letters the other day and a phrase stuck out that I've been repeating to myself throughout the days: "Start strong and don't let up." I'm sure I could've gotten that message from a scripture or church or even from praying, but I'm sure thankful for that letter that boosted my work ethic, regardless.

We have been able to pick an investigator that we previously had to drop because he was in NYC for a little while, so it was an exciting week for that reason. There are many more reasons it was a fabulous and exciting week, though, depsite my moments of egocentricity. We had time to be there for a recent convert when she needed company. And her faith is definitely growing! It's incredible to see! And the Burmese family we're teaching fed us a traditional Karen meal--they are becoming more and more open--it's wonderful! And we have an investigator who has struggled with an addiction since his childhood, and after our meeting last week he followed up on the commitment he made to throw out all of the material he has! He called us as he was walking to the dumpster and said that it was done--no more. It's so wonderful to see the Atonement of Christ working in people as they exercise faith enough to repent and want to make covenants with their Heavenly Father.

Oh, and one more thing: at District Meeting last week we made a prayer list of 2 people in each area that we should all pray for, and one of our people has responded to our contacts this week, which she hasn't done for a couple of weeks! It's a miracle.

Sorry this is short--we're unexpectedly going to Toughannock Falls with a member family in about one minute, so...I love you! I'll write a letter later on. :) HOORAY FOR KATIE AND KARLEE!!

lovelovelove,

Sister Smith

P.S. I got bangs and met my clone. You can call her Mini Me. She's the oldest daughter of a family in the ward. :)

He is Risen, He is Risen

Dear family and friends,

It was such a blessing to focus on the Savior this week during my study time. I read about the Resurrection in the Bible Dictionary, the accounts in Mark and John about Christ's last days on earth, watched "The Lamb of God" over and over again (actually, we only watched it in our appointments, but we really did watch it over and over again), the revelation Joseph F. Smith received in D&C 138 about our Savior ministering to the righteous souls in the spirit world before He was resurrected...What a great opportunity it is to be able to learn more about our Savior's life, His character, His Gospel, His truths. I feel ashamed for not focusing more on the Savior's life in studying the scriptures before now. It's pretty inexcusable considering I've been going to church my whole life and Seminary for 4 years in high school, reading the scriptures on my own for 7 or 8 years, taking religion classes in which the study is focused on the scriptures for 2 years....It's just sad. The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price...All of these precious tools are given to us to learn more of our Lord and Redeemer, our Savior Jesus Christ, and how often do we focus strictly on Him? True, sometimes it's important to focus on principles and attributes that will help you grow as you study, but it's been an incredible experience to focus more on the Savior and His mercy, because He is "the light, and the life, and the truth" (Ether 4:12). He is the only way to eternal, lasting joy, to being clean, to becoming perfect. He provided everything for each of us. Wow.

It sounds like you had a fabulous time in South Carolina! Boy, it must have been great. What a beautiful place to spend a week for Spring Break and Easter! It's too bad you weren't able to attend church on Sunday! Sister Takapu and I participated in the branch choir for the Easter program on Sunday--one of the sisters in the branch has a very musically talented father who arranged a rendition of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and she tweaked it a little bit and conducted us in the singing of it. :) It is absolutely beautiful. So many parts, so much blending, so much goodness, oh boy. It was a great song to be singing on Easter when we celebrate what we know--that Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, lives. A couple of people came to church yesterday who aren't members of the Church and so we were able to meet them, and hopefully we'll be able to answer questions they have and talk to them more about what we believe, and impart the importance of it to them. Member referrals are so great! We can't talk to everyone, even though we try, so it's wonderful when members of the Church introduce us to people that they know who are interested in learning more. I firmly believe that we all know people who are more prepared and receptive to the messages we teach simply because they know us and that we believe. If it's nothing more than curiosity, it's enough. We had dinner yesterday with a family from the ward who have 4 cute, intelligent, red-headed kiddies, and we discussed how we (members of Christ's restored Church) are a very small percentage of the world's population. And of the members of the church that make up that percentage, a smaller amount and percent is active in the Church. And of THAT smaller percent, how many members are full-time missionaries? The work I am doing as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is great, because every soul is of great worth (D&C 18:10), but it's not enough, as President Hinckley said. We're trying to enlist the help of all of the members here in Ithaca, but this is only one little place. This Gospel needs to be taken to all of the world--NO ONE IS OUT OF THE REACH OF OUR SAVIOR'S ATONEMENT. So we just need to expand our reach. :)

At Friday Forum (for the LDSSA at Cornell where we have a discussion about gospel-related topics and an article, and free, delicious lunch) last week a friend of one of the branch members came (he comes quite often, actually, and is very Christian) and I was reminded by him that I shouldn't let my weaknesses become an excuse for me not excelling or achieving the expectations I have for myself and our Heavenly Father has for me. I don't want to be someone that only coasts along, as I've been wont to do so often in my life. Haha. This life is precious and is a gift for me--for all of us--to learn and become more like Christ, more like our Father. How long does this life last? About 90 years if we're blessed with that amount of time? It's not eternally "worth it" to give in to laziness now, to satisfy my fatigue or selfishness or pride or whatever, because the benefits of living righteously and sacrificing my own selfish wants FAR OUTWEIGH the costs of those sacrifices. I just have to remember the end goal, here--eternal life, living with my family forever, living with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever, obtaining a celestial body, inheriting the kingdom of God, joy, peace, EVERYTHING is to be gained. So I must "pray always" (D&C 10:5--this is a really good one, by the way).

We helped one of the ladies who was recently baptized organize her jewelry this week--it was great! Remember how much I like to look at your jewelry, Mom? Well, this sister has a lot of cool jewelry, too--earrings, bracelets (I learned that tennis bracelets are not just athletic sweat bands), necklaces, watches, rings, brooches (is that right?), you name it. She even gave me a REALLY awesome pair of Merlin earrings, with little men holding a crystal ball! I can't wait to wear them in 1 & 1/2 years!

Our little teaching pool has receded like the rivers running through the Ithaca gorges, because a few people have kind of faded out of communication, so we've been trying to find some more people who are searching for the truth. And within the past...3 days we have heard of many different people who possibly want to learn more. The Lord is so aware of the people here. Yes, many of them are very intelligent and might be prone to discount God's hand in their lives, but there are also many who are ready to accept the truth of His love, His guidance, His visible (though not literally visible) hand.

Well, I love you! I'm glad to hear that the trip was so SWEET! Until next week, my beloveds.

Love for always,

Sister Smith

P.S. We found an AWESOME waterfall this weekend! It's smaller than others, and it's kind of hidden away from the road, but...oh man...when we ventured in (not into the water, but down the path that wasn't really a "path") and saw all of the beauty...It was an incredible blessing to remember the "beauty of the earth" and the Lord's hand in providing it for us. Maybe I'll send pictures next week in the email; I can't this week, because I forgot the cord at home. :) Just wait 'til you see it.

Spring seems to have sprung!

Sigh. My Danskos...oh, they're bad. I wore them for the first time in NY, Mother, and after about 10 minutes the strap of the left shoe broke! Well, more accurately, the little stud that keeps the strap on popped off. I walked around for two hours while we were talking to people on the street, trying to keep my shoe on, and compensating for the awkwardness of the left foot by walking more heavily with my right foot. Anyway, my feet became blistered (only the first blisters, foot troubles, in 4 months!) and I'm wearing my Eccos every day. I'm thinking I'll send them home to you. I don't really know what to do with them. Get them repaired? Is it even worth it? I really like wearing the Eccos...maybe I could send in a request for a pair of black shoes that aren't Danskos? It turns out I prefer the lighter shoes when speed walking, anyway. I just don't know what to do in this matter. Any suggestions?

So. Helaman 10:16-17...Disapparation? I thought so, too. Bits of truth are found many places...But they are kept together in their fulness within Christ's Church, His scriptures, and His prophets. :)

Sister Hale left on Wednesday morning to go to Glenville, NY, and after she left Sister Takapu and I just kind of sat in our apartment for about 5 minutes, sort of depressed. It's weird to be in a trio and then have one of you taken away. The apartment felt kind of empty. Then we rearranged a few things, went on with our day, and it turned out to be a great day! The first appointment of the day was at an apartment complex just down the street from where we live, and right behind the bus stop we go to for our bus to district meetings on Wednesdays. Anyway, we met the property manager there and she showed us a one bedroom apartment for approximately what we're paying right now for the apartment! Woo! A great location, new carpet (it smelled really nice in there), and cheaper laundry WITH the machines IN THE BUILDING! In fact, there are washers and dryers in every building in the room right next to the apartment we'll be moving in to! Win. Big win. The Lord really, really blessed us to find a new place. We'd thought it was hopeless looking for a new apartment in downtown Ithaca, and an inexpensive one at that. Okay, maybe not hopeless, because we did look, and we knew we'd find a place, but it did seem like a big task. Not so, my family, not so! It's a great apartment. It's kind of older, but it's clean and well taken care of inside, and there are lots of windows! And all of the aforementioned pros. We're REALLY excited to move...Call us crazy. Hopefully we'll start moving things this week and next week. :) The whole experience has felt kind of whirlwindish--we found out we needed to move, and found a perfect place to move, and got the OKAY to move in about...3 weeks. Incredible! So, part of the reason we're so excited is that we've seen so many blessings in just this, seemingly unrelated to missionary work, experience.

Yeah, after that appointment, we had an excellent day, and our Heavenly Father definitely looked out for us and helped us to have a happy day as we focused on our work and the things we needed to do.

Another example of the Lord providing for us: we've noticed many times when we've had extremely busy days planned and there isn't time to stop for lunch or dinner until the end of the night, and someone will provide us with a meal, so we don't have to worry about that physical need! It's like the scriptures about our Father taking care of those who go without "purse" or "script," and He finds a way to feed and take care of those whom He calls. We are so blessed!

The Owego New York Stake Conference was this weekend and we were only able to attend the Sunday session because of our schedules, but it was incredible! The theme was "Arise and Shine Forth," encouraging us to be examples, and to let the Gospel and our love of our Savior be very apparent in the way we live. We are a "peculiar people," right? :) Anyway, the Bullochs spoke in the meeting, along with others. Sister Bulloch spoke about the many odd things that missionaries do, how she helps us remain in good health, how they've served with many missionaries from all over the world with many, varied names--some as common as Smith and Jones, and others as difficult to pronounce as Goettsche, Moisio, Takapu, etc...Hahaha. The Ithacans really liked that. One branch member said to us last night, after the meeting, that she didn't realize she knew so many missionaries who've served in this mission, and that it's interesting that so many have served in Ithaca. Well, I'm glad to join the ranks of those who've been fortunate enough to serve here. :) Sister Bulloch's talk was so sweet, and so powerful, all about her love of serving in the capacity she is, alongside President Bulloch, and having the opportunity to meet so many treasured people. President Bulloch's talk was fantastic--he's an incredible man. He reminded me (all of the Owego Stake, actually) to FEAST on the words of Christ, not just nibble (2 Nephi 32:3). We are so so blessed to have so many witnesses of Christ--the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, LIVING PROPHETS, and personal revelation. This is truly a great day to live. How often to do receive the words of Christ by studying them, and allowing them to change how we act, how we think, who we are? We cannot be ungrateful! Jacob 4:8 says "despise not the revelations of God." All of those things are revelations. We know nothing except it comes from our Father through revelation. Are our lives reflecting a love and appreciation of those revelations, or impassivity, or even worse, hate? Only those who are proud think the words of repentance are hard to hear--our Savior teaches us to repent to come to Him, to CHANGE to come to Him. It's so hard to let go of your own will, your own belief about how your life should be or go, but it's absolutely necessary and infinitely and eternally worth it when we turn away from ourselves and "Look unto God with firmess of mind" (Jacob 3:1). I'm striving to be more determined in my faith in Christ. If I believe He provides the way to be everlastingly happy, that He can stand with me when I'm going through hardships as difficult as warfare and lift me up, then I need to match my actions to that belief. I don't want to be all talk. I want to "arise and shine forth!" Isn't that a beautiful encouragement?

Can you tell I'm in Jacob in my BOM reading?

We're meeting with a fellow who's married to a member of the Church, and he's studying IS, incidentally, Dad (I mentioned that you'd worked for Deloitte and he asked me about that for a little while). They are AWESOME! I really love them. They have an indoor swing hanging from the ceiling of their apartment. Anyway, many of the principles of the Gospel, and the commandments that have been revealed through prophets make logical sense to him, they appeal to his practical mind. However, he doesn't believe they're necessary for salvation. He doesn't believe that our Heavenly Father plays an active hand in our lives. The truth hasn't entered his heart yet, it's just come to the outside so far. :) I'd never imagined someone so kind and accepting to have a "hard heart." I'd never imagined that a hard heart can exist in someone who doesn't antagonize the Church. Having a hard heart doesn't mean that you're a rude person, though! It doesn't mean you are angry all of the time, or snooty. No, it just means that your heart isn't open to the Spirit. It isn't open yet to receiving the witnesses, the knowledge, the comfort that the Lord wants us to have. So we're praying, and trying to find a way to help soften his heart. I say that as if we're going to be the means of softening...how foolish.

A happy story now, perhaps? haha. We've been very blessed to have our days work in a way that we could NEVER plan. Some of our dinner appointments with members haven fallen through, other people have canceled on us, etc. All of these things happening so we could be where we were supposed to be. It's very humbling to see the Lord's hand in this work--He really does direct it, and if we're doing the right things, doing our best to be obedient, then we'll see the work progress and turn out the way it's supposed to. People may call these instances chance, or good luck, but I know that these incredibly unique experiences are neither. Jesus Christ is at the head of this Church, and He directs the work that we do as His servants and as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Oh, I love you!! GENERAL CONFERENCE IS IN TWO WEEKS!! I am so excited. That's so great that you get to go visit Aunt Debby and Uncle Kenny! The south...what a beautiful place...I hear. Hahaha. Take pictures, yeah?

I love you. I love you. I love you.

Love,

Sister Smith

Email of March 13th

Dear family and friends,

This transfer is over on Wednesday--can you believe it? Our tripanionship is being broken up because the Temple Square sister who's been serving here for a couple of months is heading back to Temple Square, so there'll be an even amount of sister missionaries in NYUM again. Sister Hale is going to Glenville to serve with her MTC companion--cool, huh? Haha. Fortunately, Sister Takapu and I will remain together in Ithaca. So she can teach me more by example. Seriously, though, I feel so blessed to be serving with her, and for so long.

Our lovely lady was baptized on Saturday!!! Oh, the baptism was so nice--the people who participated in the program were so inspired and the Spirit was so strong throughout. It was an hour long, which is unusually long for Ithaca, but the focus was easy to keep with everyone feeling that sweet Spirit of God and supporting Carol. Preparing for Carol's baptism, I was reminded over and over again just how important baptism is. Believing in Christ, having faith, is not enough to return to His presence. Even changing through repentance because of your belief and trust in Christ is not enough. These are well and good, but the ONLY way we can live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ AND our families again, forever, is by accepting the covenant and ordinance of baptism. We are not fully following our Savior if we aren't baptized by proper authority as He was. We aren't fully following the Savior if we aren't committing ourselves to His own, authorized Church. What great responsibility we have once we are members of Christ's Church! He expects more, because we promise more, and His promises equal ours. When we're baptized, we're promised to be forgiven and have His Spirit with us, but we must do what He's asked and we've promised to do in return to receive these blessings. Good grief, we are so blessed to know! And Carol--now she knows! Her knowledge and faith will continue to grow, but she's taken the first, monumental step back to God. You know how you usually can't just buy one of the prizes from a carnival game place (I don't know how to phrase that more eloquently), but you have to play the game and win it? How can we expect Heavenly Father to give us His richest blessings if we do nothing to win them, to be worthy of them? That's what baptism helps us do. Anyway, Carol's been baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. :)

Last Monday we went to the Equestrian Center at Cornell for Sister Hale's birthday! It was awesome. There are probably about 50 horses there, and it was terrifying and glorious to walk amongst them. Really though, they're huge, and so powerful--it is seriously terrifying. I didn't see one named Philip...Awesome P-Day. And today we went to Taughannock Falls!! It's beautiful up there. We hiked around, I put on my jeans for the first time in 3 months, we took some pictures (obviously)...we had a marvelous time.

There are so many people in the world who need the Gospel. Well, really, we all need it, but so many people are just waiting for it. How do we find them all? This is the Lord's work, so I guess He helps quite a bit. :) D&C 18:10...we are all of infinite worth; how can we ignore the plights of others? Please, pray for opportunities to share what you know, and then be willing to speak up or lend a hand when your prayers are answered. The Lord needs us all to do this work. 51,000 missionaries is not enough. It's like that talk I told you about last week--it's good, but it's not enough.

We're meeting with this great guy who studies Electrical Engineering at Cornell--he's great. We brought a member from the branch with us this last week, because he'd studied the same and is now looking for a job in his field, so there are some similarities between them. This member of the branch is a convert of a few years and his powerful testimony super-charged the tenor of this guy's interest in the restored Gospel of Christ. He wants to know for himself that what he's learning is true--well of course he should find out for himself--and he wants to read and read from the Book of Mormon to discover the truth despite his busy schedule. There are people all around the world who are ready to receive the Gospel, but they have to have the chance to receive it in order to actually receive it, right? Right, duh. That was obvious. how can we know if something is right or good or true if we don't even know what "it" is? I am so thankful to be a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's Church once again on the earth, and within it we find all the truths that He teaches, the power and authority of God to do the things we must in order to receive exaltation, the comfort of our belonging to Him. I love the prophets and apostles whom He has called--I know they are righteous men who have been prepared to lead us, and are supported by the Lord to lead us, today. I am so thankful that I have this opportunity to share what I know. Jesus Christ is my Savior--I am nothing without Him. I can do nothing without Him. I will go nowhere without Him. Jesus Christ knows exactly who I am, where I am, where I can go if I rely on Him. He knows who I can become through Him. He knows how to heal my wounds and how to dry my tears. He knows how to support my feeble knees and weak shoulders. I cannot do all, but He can.

I love you so much! I am so thankful to be a part of our family FOREVER! It's a long time, isn't it? Thank the heavens. :) Thank you for all of the wonderful updates! Missionaries coming, missionaries going, work opportunities showing up, brothers becoming giantesque...I love hearing about home. I should have some time to write a few letters today, so I'll try to buckle down and do it so y'all (there are a few Texans and South Carolinians here) can get some personalized letters.

I LOVE YOU!

Sister Smith

P.S. We live near an AWESOME playground. Taughannock Falls is beautiful. :)

P.P.S. We have to move--that will be fun, won't it? :)

P.P.P.S. Lots of smiley faces, no? :) :)

Dear family and friends,

I don't have much time, unfortunately, but I do have some things to share. :)

First, I read a talk given by President Hinckley this week that I absolutely love.  It's called "Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep."  You should read it--it's very inspiring.

Second, one of our awesome investigators had her baptismal interview on Saturday and passed and we went to a chinese restaurant to celebrate.  After lunch I opened my fortune cookie, and what did I read?  "The one waiting for you when you get home will be your friend for life."  Hmmm...Hahahahaha.  I'm not sure who will still be waiting around for me when I get home besides you, my family, but isn't that funny?  I kept the mini paper.

Third, we are preparing the program for this investigator's baptism for this Saturday and we watched "Special Witnesses of Christ" to see if it would be a good addition for the important event.  IT'S INCREDIBLE.  Have you ever watched the dvd?  I'm telling you, the testimonies of the apostles and prophets are so powerful.  You should watch the video one of these days.  

Fourth, in Sunday School and Relief Society this week the subject was the priesthood.  Man.  It was great.  Chapter 5 in the Teachings of George Albert Smith book is so wonderful!  We are so blessed to have the authority of God on the earth within His one church.  We are so blessed to have a living prophet.  We are so blessed to have the knowledge of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Their plan.  It is hard for me to think about the many people who don't know these truths and struggle more for the lack of knowing.  It's even harder to think about those who know and reject it.  Who are approached with it and choose to walk away.  I know that we all have to make the choice to accept or reject the Gospel of Christ, but it still makes me sad that so many choose to reject it.  Our lives are so much easier to handle with faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost!  I am so thankful that I know.

Thanks for the pictures, Mom!  I love seeing my li'l brother in action!  Christie--why did you go whale watching?  Where did you go whale watching?  When did you take a vacation?  I pray for my beloved family every night.  Sarah and Dust are gearing up for HI?  Oh, what's their address, again?  And Sean's address?

Man, I wish I had more time. 

 OH!  We went to the Equestrian Center at Cornell today to surprise Sister Hale for her birthday!!  It was AWESOME!!  I would like to tell you more, but alas, the day runs from me. :)  I took pictures, and hopefully I can let you know more next week.

I LOVE YOU!

Sister Smith