Hey everyone!
sorry my emails haven't been great lately. I will tell you all a little about my area and life. My companion is Sister Paningbatan. She is from the Quezon Province which is the San Pablo mission. She is small and cute. We are in the Dagupan zone. It is so far a great place. We have learned so much. We are opening an area so some days are rough. It is a beautiful place. We usually are walking through little alleys but when we get to walk down the road there are fish ponds and more green. The sky is pretty.
We are teaching some really funny people. 2 71 year old men, some older ladies, a teenage girl, and we got into a situation with a scary guy. He was really nice at first, but as soon as we sat down he started saying all these mean things and wanted to bible bash and he started talking about his beliefs about Satan and it was in Tagalog so I didn't know what was going on. So I just said we had to go, but he could read the pamphlet and attend church if he wanted more information and we left. So that was fun. I was glad we didn't try to teach him for very long. Later in the week he saw us again and just started talking about how I had the same name as the founder of our church. He is a frustrating person because he read the Book of Mormon about 30 years ago and he has definitely researched the church but he doesn't know the pure and simple truths. It makes me glad for the simple act of prayer. That if we want to know truth we don't have to fight with people or argue or research, we can just ask God.
We have been meeting a lot of people, but it is really hard to get them committed. We only had one investigator attend church, and it is hard to get the members involved. If you are a member of the church, be a missionary. I would extend a challenge to all of you to work with the full time missionaries ONE TIME in the next month. They need your help! If you are not a member of the church, I would extend a challenge to ask one of your friends who is to meet with you and the full time missionaries, even just one time. :) Our message is about our Savior and God's plan for happiness.
I haven't eaten anything very exciting yet. We usually eat rice and vegetables and meat for one meal a day, noodles or eggs another meal, and maybe milo (hot chocolate...yeah it's so weird.) and crackers or bread or something. I finished off my american candy...but they have really good snack foods here. :) and they have peanut butter. so I'm set.
I finished the Book of Mormon yesterday. It is amazing. It is a different book every time I read it. It always meets my needs. I am grateful for it. I am also grateful for our prophet, Thomas S Monson. I read yesterday a quote by him. He said "Pray not for tasks that meet your abilities but abilities that meet your tasks. Then what you do won't be the miracle, You will be the miracle." That isn't exact, but it was a really good thing for me to remember. We need to all remember not to try to escape our situations but become somebody through our situations. \
I also read in Ether and in 1 Nephi, that God prepares US and THE WAY BEFORE US. We never have to worry if we can handle something if we are relying on Him. Ether 2:25. We cannot cross the deep, or make it through hard times, without Him preparing us.
Thank you all for your support! I love you all! The computer doesn't let me send very many pictures, so hopefully soon I can send my SD card home and my mom can share pictures with all of you.
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Sister Smith
Hi, I miss you guys. I wish I had more time on here. but I don't. And we aren't allowed to email chat I guess so I just get to email you once. Everything reminds me of home. but I am learning to think "this is nice that it is the same here as at home. so I can adjust easier. Instead of missing home.
I am trying to focus on the enabling power of the atonement. I read "the atonement and our journey of mortality" by bednar. read it. We listen to Vocal Point (Lead thou me on) a lot. My usb doesn't work great for music, the CD is easier. but It is helping me get through. All the songs are my favorite.
Well bye! I love you so much. I can't wait to see you all again. Keep becoming who you can be. Read the book of mormon. I am going to read the New Testament next I think. I don't know. We'll see. I love you I love you I love you! Bye
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Sister Smith
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