Hello everyone

I had a great week. My birthday was good. I am 20 years old. I'm still young, but I'm older too. Nothing really changed. Thanks to all of you who sent me a miracle/testimony message. That was one of the best birthday presents ever!

We found MORE Less active families. I am seeing so many miracles in this area. This week a lot of those we visited came to church. We also found one family with 2 children who havent' been baptized yet, but have been going to church for a long time and waiting for the missionaries to come. Yay!

I am now in the third mile of my mission 5K. (Everything in life relates to running.) Time is flyiiiing. For my birthday and one year I basically just ate lots of icecream. Yep. I haven't changed. 

We had interviews with the mission president. I am so grateful that the Lord has assigned him to my mission. I have been so blessed with the 2 mission presidents I have had. One thing we discussed that I would invite all of you to apply is just really studying the scriptures. A lot of us love the Savior, but we dont' know His words. We don't know His voice. But like it says in the d&c somewhere, we can hear His voice in the scriptures. 

Something I thought about this week is what my life would be like with no Restoration of the Gospel. I realized it would be nothing. Because of the boy who saw the Father and Son personally, because of what they said to Him, and the communication they had with Him, I know who I am. I know who I can be. And all those around me are part of the same plan, the Plan which is perfect, although we aren't. Because of that day in the grove, we have the gospel, the doctrine, the clarity to know How to follow Their plan. The light is back on this Earth. We have a loving Father in Heaven, and His Only Begotten provided a Way. We don't need to be in darkness, because truth is restored once more. I love you all. I hope you feel the love of God today and every day. I hope you know that there is hope and there is peace, and no matter what happens, there's a way back. 

thanks for the support and love!

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

I'm glad you got my letter. I don't remember what it said, but I'm glad. :) I liked the birthday card from all of you and loved the miracles.

(about hitting her year mark) I made it. I didn't know I could. but I did it. It wasn't very long. Which scares me. We had a broadcast today and I cried the whole time because I only have 6ish months. I'm a baby.

Yay. I will keep my eyes peeled. (I'm trying to think of and use english expressions...my english took a turn for the worse this week. I made many mistakes. Like words/pronunciation, but it's okay.)

(about birthday presents) I loved them! I am still pondering the way I want to use the pencil case. I have listened to some of the stories. George Albert Smith/Lucy made me so angry. They were way annoying. Should I say that about a prophet? I guess I realized prophets lives are not perfect haha. Our branch pres said I would come over for dinner and dessert on my birthday, then they cancelled in the afternoon. thanks. haha. but the other sisters got my some food and icecream it was still fun. 

I cried today when we watched this because I just thought of our family and how you are all trying to do missionary work and how I need to do it when I go home... but it's cute. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-06-1031-ill-go-where-you-want-me-to-go?lang=eng

thanks for the birthday message. you're the best mom. You're my best friend too! i think all the time STILL. that I want to text call snapchat grocery shop run whatever with you!

don't worry about a hot water heater. they aren't necessary. but I guess utah has winter. just kidding get one. 

Tell toni I got her christmas card and I love her so much!!!

my interview with pres deyro was really good. the first thing he said was "You are exactly who you need to be." I guess thats what I really needed to know. I'm always searching for my faults I think. and of course I'm not perfect, but maybe right now, I am who i need to be for this moment, and as I continue to improve, of course, I can become who I need to be still. haha. He asked about my testimony and it was a great discussion to see what changed in me in 1 year. Exactly one year before I had that interview in the MTC where they asked about Michael and it was funny that Pres deyro talked about him too. We also talked about school and he said just go with what I started unless I want to do something else. that's simple and true. So as for now, I guess I'll just continue. haha. He's a good mission president. 

Well...I don't have much else. I love you!! You're the best mom. Have a good week. 

To Dad:

Hi daddy. 

I am good. We watched it this morning and it was so awesome. I wish you could watch it. I don't know if there's a way. but it was so good. and I cried a lot. We are cry babies. 

Our MLC was good. I love being part of the council. It's cool to just experience the revelations first hand, and to see ideas of others, and I've really liked it. Something I like that they are focusing on, in our MLC and the broadcast is teach repentance and baptize converts. It's so important that we aren't just bringing numbers, but keeping them, and then centering our life on Christ and His gospel.  

It's crazy Laci is home. Lindsey Valentine will be home soon and Halli Bestenlehner. I think when they get home I have 2 transfers left. Ugh. It's so weird. I only have 4 after this...that is so short. 

I agree with Sis Reynolds. I sure haven't succeeded with numbers, but I've seen some amazing little things. 

Sounds like you gave a good talk. 

We are studying things about the atonement for our study plan. I really loved 2 Nephi 2 last week. It is soooo good.

Well. Read mom's email too. I love you! 

I miss you!

Love your favorite daughter. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-06-1031-ill-go-where-you-want-me-to-go?lang=eng

Maligayang kaarawan!!!!!

I (mom) just had to add this photo to celebrate the birthday of this adorable little girl. She's now a beautiful 20 year old woman, and I don't know where the time went!! I was only 2 years older than she is now in the above photo. I miss my little girl, and I'm so glad she is still my best friend. Happy Birthday to my Aubrey Lisanne!

Thanks for the birthday messages! I would love to write each of you back individually, but it might take a few weeks. Just wait :) 

This week was great. We had some fun exchanges and I learned so much from the sisters I was able to work with. 

Some great things happened this week. We went to a new area, where missionaries haven't been for awhile. We honestly were walking a little "aimlessly." But as we walked, we passed a house, with a gate half open. We kept walking, but I turned around and went back. I said "Hi, we just want to introduce ourselves!" and a young girl RAN OUT and almost grabbed us yelling "I'm a member! I was baptized!" and proceeded to explain that 3 or so years ago, when she was 11, she was baptized in another place, but moved back here to Sta Barbara, where she didn't go to church for all that time. She is the only member in her family, and being so young she didn't know what to do. So she prayed for those years that the missionaries and church would find her again. She's one of the cutest things on 2 feet, seriously. She has a STRONG testimony and spirit, and has had the most positive attitude and smile on her face, although her father was killed last month. We are teaching her mother too. :)

We returned to that area a few days later. I was on exchanges with a different sister. We were searching for some names with no luck. Finally we stopped and asked for help at a random house. After they pointed out directions, the mother said "are you Mormon?" and also proceeded to tell us they are members, who stopped going 17 years ago. 

Heavenly Father takes us where He wants us to go. 

This week has taught me a lot and I know that as we try to do our best to do His work, He will help us. Our plans are not as great as His plans, and I am always striving to do it His way, even when I don't understand. 

Here's to the start of my 20th year, and I also want to thank you all for reading this for 1 year. Love ya'll. 

Love Sis Smith

I didn't take any pics this week. so here's throwback to the MTC. 

The following photos are from the Urdaneta Mission Blog. 

I LOVE any photos I can find with Aubrey in them, so I thought I could share with all of you too. :) 

Hi mom.

This will be fast because I spent so much time searching for a quote I realized I have in my stuff at the apartment. I'm smart. This week I realized I am older than you were when you got married. ew. \

you might get a friend request from someone named arlene. she speaks way good english and she is like toni graham. You can be friends. 

I will open my birthday pres later or tomorrow. or whenever. I realized it doesn't really matter. haha. I'm silly.

I loved that RS lesson. Arlene taught it and she is so funny. 

I love yogurt and even though it's kindof expensive it's worth it. I have been blessed with sales.

I don't remember the thanksgiving napkin but I will just say yes I remember my crazy self. I'm glad you got it and he got his stuff too. 

THANKS FOR THE MIRACLES! by the way.

I love Laci's story. How cool. I can't believe she's home. It goes by so fast.

Your friends are funny. 

I also love how you are using your talents. Sometimes I wonder if I really have any. But I sometimes notice that I can do stuff. So maybe. 

I'm grateful for you! I wouldn't have a birthday if it werent for you! Thanks for being my mom. Get a talent doing family history. 

YOURE THE BEST. 

loove abbey. 

To Dad:

It was a very fast 20 years. Do you still like taking me places and showing me to people? I don't know. Hopefully. I'm kindof chubby and weird lookingbut I'm still pretty cool. 

I'm excited to give my homecoming talk to you. hahaha.

Change is hard. But I've realized it is one of the major oppositions in our lives and we just need to realize that is what makes us able to live and become like Heavenly Father. 

Well. I love you. Go out and rescue. 

Sorry this is short. Life is hard when you only have an hour. 

Love , aubrey

Hellllllllo

Hello everyone. First things first, feel free to share this email with any mutual friends we have that may be missing this weekly update. My email is really annoying and so I find it difficult really to remember who it isn't emailing to... but share things you like on facebook or whatever. Or not.

I am doing great! I had a great week! I think I walked 1000 miles! Just kidding. But I walked a lot. Which was good. It's not always great to be walking a lot, because that sometimes means appointments are falling through, or you don't know what to do, but I feel we were led by the Spirit to know WHERE to walk this week, and although it didn't make sense always, looking back I see a lot of wonderful things that happened while we were walking. I think sometimes in life we are just seeing our plans fail or our hopes falling through and sometimes we feel as if we are walking aimlessly. But as long as we are doing best we can to live as we should, we will look back and see that He was always leading us. Whether you're walking through the heat of a trial or the cold of a loss, just like the seasons, those times will end. (Unless you are here. In that case. It is always hot.)

Other things that happened this week...I get so many compliments on this area about my tagalog. Not always that it is great tagalog but that I can joke in tagalog like a Filipina. I will take that. It's not me, it's the spirit :)

Earlier this week, I experienced a cool miracle. We were walking, and we saw a family. They were cute. But walking so fast. So they just passed us with a short reply to our good morning. After we passed, I just kept saying, "I love that family...I wish we talked to them. Why were they RUSHING?" but we kindof just moved on. We started walking to a different person's house, and you know what? We passed them again! It was exciting because we had a good little conversation, and they said we could come to their house. So we went the next day, and had a wonderful lesson. As we taught them, they told us how their son had been pointing at our church when they drove past (although they've never been there) and also during the part where we talked about Joseph Smith's experience their crazy two year old stopped playing and screaming, looked at the picture and was quieter than I've ever seen a 2 year old be. I know that Joseph saw the Father and the Son and I hope you will strive to know too. 

That's all I have to share right now, I love you all and keep moving forward!

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

I'm excited you are starting to do more violin again. That will be fun. You can change lots of lives doing violin I think.

I wish I could go to the temple two times before my birthday! Haha. but have fun. I studied today about the temple a little. We had an area broadcast about the goals for the philippines this year, and they put 3 words as the focus. Obedience, Covenants, and Establish. This is what I said to pres. Deyro about it. haha. Lazy... I learned from that and from my studies the importance of doing things in the right order. Many missionaries seek to establish the church. They convince someone of the benefits, help them make covenants, and then expect that person to learn to obey. But we must teach obedience, or repentance first, and then help them make covenants, which establishes the church with converted members. This is also something we should apply in our own lives, to obey first, become worthy and keep covenants, then become established as a person.  I really loved the broadcast though because they talked about it in the context of Adam and Eve. I read a little in Moses today, that was really good. 

Something great-I found granola here...and yogurt was on sale. That was a blessing. So good. 

It's been so cold at night. I turned off my fan last night because I was cold but sad story someone left the windows of our house open so I got eaten by mosquitos since my fan was off and I couldn't sleep because my feet and ankles itched. But I'll survive. I love your blankie!!!!!

I got my birthday package. I dreamed 2x about opening it early. haha. but I haven't yet, even though what's inside is written on the outside. haha. 

My companion sleep talks. It's cute. but I really love her. She's samoan but from austrailia. she's so nice and funny. I love her! our new house is fine. It's nice. One of the 2 nicest I have lived in I think. My feet are okay. I've kept a couple pairs in case but I even wore just socks to bed (ew) last night and my toes hurt. So I might just buy another pair of sandals and I guess this is my life now. 

Napkin package? I don't even remember what I sent you. But merry Christmas. thanks for sending that to michael.

Yay it's almost our birthdays. 

Well. I have so many replies. I love you. Bye

Also, I am attaching pictures of my ID that they messed up and the new one. My mish pres requested a new pic too becuase my old one is obviously hideous (my hair isn't even even). But isn't it awesome to see how my countenance has changed? :) 

To Dad:

My new area is pretty good. It's my first branch. Being in a branch is different. But we are working to become a ward, and our district is close to becoming a stake. I have learned more about stakes lately too as I study d&c and stuff. We just moved the STL area from Bayambang to here. so that's why it's a new STL area. Before it was just normal missionaries. So now we need to try to make this a model area for the other missionaries. Since we do exchanges and stuff. Did you ever listen to the talk I reccomended to you guys called "the Mortal Christ" by Jack R Christiansen? It's really good. What you said reminded me of that talk.

I love your instights and stuff. IT's cool to see how much callings help us grow. \

I will try to take more pics to send you next week. Here are two pics of my area. Love that scriptures by the way. I just was pondering that this morning. Not that same scripture but the idea of pleasing the Father. LOVE YOU. 

Farewell 2015

I am honestly happy the holidays are over. It feels nice to just settle in to normal life again and be able to find people at their homes, awake, and sober. 

This week I experienced lots of things, from an investigator running away from me with her shirt over her face, to getting pooped on by a bird, to hearing and seeing more fireworks than ever, and also feeling the Savior's love through it all. 

This week Sis. Nolido and I both got transferred, therefore we missed our baptism. But that's okay, because I am so happy for Erlinda and Edlyn. I am now in Sta Barbara branch. (Sta Barbara is where the TV show skype is, right? I know, that's california..but who cares).

 

It is great here! the people are so happy and loving. We moved into a new apartment, and it's been fun. My companion is Sis. Vaivai. She's from Australia, but she's Samoan. I love her! We've had lots of fun already. 

This week I witnessed miracles. We were seriously protected by Heavenly Father. My prayers have been answered. I am taught from on high as I daily read His instructions to me. I hope with this new year, we can all be more committed to come closer to Him. Not only to do the things like church, scriptures and prayer, but to look outside the box. He is showing me my weaknesses and I'm sure He will show you yours. I also loved a story I read yesterday about a girl living 24 hours like the Savior was by her side, and the changes she saw. I know we will be happy and always do the right thing, if we remember He IS by our side, and on our side, always. 

I love you all. I also challenge you to either write your life history or go and ask your grandma to tell you hers. I have been strengthened so much over the past two weeks as I read some stories my grandmother sent to me. 

Keep pressing forward. 

 

Love, Sister Smith

To Mom:

The other companionship got presents. I made sure it wasn't a lame christmas. although it was still probably lame.

I don't know where Tyler should go to college. Lots of people like SUU too. Whatever he wants. It would be good if there is any way he can go and walk around both campuses to see how he feels... and if he prays. 

It's funny how much I hate my clothes yet I am so attached to them.

I liked that new years mormon message. Is that just new this year? It was good though. It helped me. 

It says a lot. I am angry b/c this morning I though I should take pics of my Patriarchal blessing for mom to read, then I didn't. 

It says that I have talents and i need to pray and know what they are. that I will use them to help build the kingdom of God on earth, things like that. they will bring me joy. and it says to Use my time wisely. We are only given a certain amount of time. Use it for what is best, best for me, best for my family with those I associate, and building the kingdom of God. 

If you ever think something pertains to me in your blessing or dad, feel free to share. 

This week I had the best experience. I was reading Great Grandpa Higginson's history, which I loved. I realized I knew nothing about him and I love him so much now! On the last page he shared about his mission, and he shared about a time on their mission where he wondered if he could really be forgiven of his sins, and how he realized he needed to forgive. as I read that all these things I read this week came to my mind and I knew that's what I needed to learn too. I don't really hold grudges, but I judge or condemn people I feel, not bad, just probably enough to make Heavenly Father wonder why I think I deserve forgiveness haha. He also ADMONISHED his posterity to serve missions. I was just crying. I can't explain why it was so powerful to me, but I want our family to be together forever, and that is something he suggested we could do to acheive that. I will send this to grandma too.

 

Anyway, it's been a good week. I miss you and love you. 

I can't believe Laci's coming home. it's so fast really. Lindsey Valentine will come home in April, and Kaylee lofthouse, and then me in August. It's so weird. 

I hope you get the letters. I'm bummed that it really didn't work out. it seemed like a miracle at the time that you would get them before christmas. oh well. 

I love your dinner pic. that is so cute. I miss you and all your friends. 

Well, keep prayin for me. 

Love you. So much!

Oh yeah I made my cake yesterday to break a really hard fast. Haha it was good. I basicaly just ate it all myself for breakfast too. 

Love you. 

To Dad:

Dear Dad,

the holiday here is crazy. there are fireworks all week. it's quantity here and not quality. I'm glad they are over too.

I'm in a new area and new companion. We are opening a new STL area. So that's fun.

It's cold there. I miss it.

I wan tRockys. I like that video about the LA. It was good. Yay. 5 Stake dance. 

Okay I will ponderize that. I'm feeling better now mostly. I am happy. 

I finished reading Jesus the Christ this week. THere is so much there in the scriptures that I didn't think of. IT's long, but it was good. I learned a lot. 

I don't have a lot more to say. I feel like I"m really being guided in what I study and what I hear and feel to change to be who He wants me to be. I have so many faults and weaknesses but I feel like at the same time, He is taking me as I am and I need to trust that He knows what He is donig with me. 

Well. I love you. Work on family history.

BYE :)

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

Something I forgot to mention-last week was our primary program. a little boy and girl sang a duet and it was like a movie,they were teasing and making angry faces. I laughed so hard. wish I had a recording. 

This week we had an open house for our new chapel. Lots of important people came. And it was successful. A great experience. Our chapel is really pretty.

Christmas Eve was great. We had a party with the other companionship in our house. Sis. Nolido and I opened our Christmas Presents. It was fun. I made everyone read the Christmas story with me and stuff. 

Christmas Day I sang on TV again! I'm grateful for that opportunity and for the miracles and help to the work that I know it will bring.

An elder asked if we knew Alabama Christmas. Shout out. It's funny, it was going through my head a lot through the last few weeks. Oh Thistlehair.

I SKYPED MY FAMILY. I wish I could skype all of you, but that's not how it is.:) Hi to you all anyway.

Erlinda and Edlyn are getting baptized this Saturday! They are a mother and daughter. Edlyn is 12 and gives the best prayers. They are so ready, and we love them and cute baby Tubal. Her husband will be soon to follow :)

I enjoyed a talk someone gave at a stake baptism. They talked about in the 196something olympics in mexico, there was a running race.It was long like 2 days but after 26 hours there was news there was a winner. One african kept running. after the race the reporters asked why he kept running. He said "my country didn't send me to win the race but to finish it." Our Heavenly Father also sent us here to earth and He didn't send us to win or be first but to finish our race, proud and strong. I want to change my attitude more towards always striving to do my best and not be the best. 

I love you all. Thanks for your support and love, letters and cards, if you sent me one. Keep walking the daily walk that brings you closer to Him.

Love Sisterrrr Smith. 

Please excuse my crazy hair. It is uncontrollable. :) I LOVE my blankie my mom made me. That cake is good.Instead of frosting it has carmelized sweetened condensed, or yema.

The hope article is something my mission president requested me to write.

Okay bye!

To Mom: 

I miss you a lot too but it gave me a boost and some peace I really needed. 

I LOVE the blanket. its perfect. did you quilt it too?

I especially love the sunrise necklace. it's awesome.

The clothes seem fine to me. I think I might be able to make them all work.I have some other shirts that match the skirts too of course.

The food is good. We've only eaten the candy so far. I'm excited to experiment with the cake. I'm waiting for them to bring us a rice cooker to our apartment.

I did the stockings one for each companionship since I'm in an apt with 2. IT worked great. Sis Nolido was happy about the presents too. SHe had just told her family she didn't really want much since she's going home soon and I think she really loved the journal too. and the wrapping paper.

My stomach still hates me but maybe it's a sign to eat less and better. 

thanks for saying my tagalog is amazingeventhoughyou don't know. sorry the space bar doesn't work always.

I don't know if it's allowed but he could just acceptand defer both. haha. Or just USU.

Oops. about the violin.

I don't know any members that recorded it but I'll ask around. I think Pres Deyro is working on getting them.

I went through some of my clothes on Christmas. Then I looked in my journal from last year, we did it last christmas too. new tradition. haa.

Well. I liked D&C 60 today. It reminded me why I'm here. Why we are here on earth. and it connected to my Patriarchal blessing about timeand talents.

I like you. I love you.

Sorrry I got a lot of thankyou emails to write.

bye. 

MISS YOU.

7 months more.

selfies just for you. I'dhave more pics but peopledidn't emailthem to me.

To Dad:

So this was Christmas, I hope you had fun.

If we make it through December...

Here's part of my email to Pres Deyro. I feel a lot of peace after the skype and from my studies the past couple days. It is answers to prayers and fasting.I finally feel like I'm not waiting for the future. I'm trying to live NOW. anyway this is what I said:

What a wonderful, happy, challenging and testing week. I am happy to say, the challenges I experienced this week helped me to find more peace in my life.I mentioned I was worried about things working out later next year, but I realized Christ never worried about the future, He peacefully prepared. I felt like I wasn't being as successful as I would like to be as a missionary, but I studied PMG and about Christ Himself, and again I was reminded Christ didn't compare to others or to numbers, but He consistently strived to bring His peace to all men. I struggled some with feeling like my time was used wisely, but Christ didn't count hours, He just did the Father's will all day every day until "it was finished." We faced some disappointment and rejection as always, but so did He. I am realizing we don't need to dwell on our problems or the difficulties we face, but instead lift others on top of their problems, therefore bringing us on top as well. I just need to be like Him, and I will feel the love and success and peace that He felt and gave to others.

I have been feeling lame because I don't have lots of baptism and stuff but I know I'm doing everything on page 10 of preach my gospel.I can improve but I know I'm striving,so I should feel and allow myself to feel the peace that comes from that. I'm not perfect.Eventoday, I thought of somethings that have happened in my lifethat I just wishI was smarter. But I thought of Alma30. KOrihor led away the hearts of many. Yetsomewere wise,and didn'tlisten.I may have let my heart be led away from the Savior at times, butnow I feel wise. I feel I better know how to recognize the adversary and the fake stuff.

I likethe goals you said. I am not sure what I want my goals to be.I will maybe tell younext week. I miss you all. I know lots of slang. It's just hard to tell you now.

Thanks for everything. 

You're the best dad. 

I feel lamesometimes but again.Christdidn't listen to that stuff. He just did what He knew he was supposed to do and didn't thinktwice. 

Love you,

your daughter. 

Sister Smith