99 Bottles of Pop on the Wall

Just kidding, I really have 99 days on the mission to go. What? How did that happen? Again, I am not counting down even though every week I mention it. Sorry. I love my mission!!

This week the worst thing that happened to me was I lost my new umbrella. I actually got really angry at myself. but I have convinced myself there is some other force in there because it is not possible for my to naturally lose or break this many umbrellas. 

This week we spent about 10 minutes one day trying to teach our investigator Tatay Celinong (he's old) how to say "success!" He kept asking, "Do you mean sexy?" It was very funny. but he got it and he understands it now, that that was success. He is awesome too because he always comes to church and he loves to learn.

Beth is also progressing and excited for her baptismal interview this week. 

Alex surprised us yesterday by telling us his wife (or live in partner of 25 years) FINALLY said yes to his countless proposals. He's been asking her daily since we taught Law of Chastity so that was exciting. 

I didn't wear makeup one day and people said "you look so tired, like you're not in the mood." So I guess I'm not as beautiful like a movie star like I thought ;)

I ate goat. It was alright... 

It finally RAINED! It was a fun adventure, since I didn't have an umbrella. But it was the kind of rain that beats umbrellas anyway :)

I also read Jacob 5 this week and it became one of my favorite chapters about Christ's love for us and His atonement, the power of missionary work, and trusting the Lord of the Vineyard. I think one of the verses that stood out was verse 22, that said "Counsel me not." I realized that focusing on things I do wrong, or others, is in a way counseling the Lord, and He KNOWS when there's a poor spot of ground. All of us are "poor spots of ground" in a way, but He chooses to dig and prune and fertilize and challenge us until we can bring forth good fruit. 

Well, everyone, I love you all and appreciate the prayers. Keep them going. I know that this gospel is true and that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love us and prepare the way ahead of us. 

Love, Sis Smith

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

Hello mommy girl!

I'm glad you got my letter! I haven't gotten any letters recently, maybe later this week on friday. 

Yay you got a car! Yay i have something to drive when I get home! Yay! You should send me pictures more. So I can see stuff! 

I can't believe Halli is home. It will come quickly for me. Ew. haha. I realized the other day I have less than the time from when I started my papers to when I left, and that time seemed pretty fast. 

I seriously love the Deyros. I feel like Pres Deyro is one of my best friends. Because he gets me and I never feel like he judges me. I'm sure tyler's will be just for him too. Yesterday pres deyro said "I was looking at pictures from you earlier in your mission. You had baby fat." I said "really? I'm pretty sure i've gained weight," and he said "Yeah, but it's like mature now." I'm not sure if that conversation was supposed to be a compliment or not. But oh well :) haha. 

I honestly would be happy never getting into sign language but I guess it has to be done. ahah. 

I'm planning on trying to get the tagalog BOM read in the next 100 days. We'll see. It's hard becase it's like 750 pages. 

Something random. Last night I was reading the letter you sent where you quoted your Patriarchal blessing and I realized that yours says mate of your chose and mine says choose your mate and I just thought that was funny because I haven't really met anyone I know of that says "mate." 

Oh yeah another one, sexy here means skinny only, not anything sexual (it's weird) and yesterday our Branch Pres said I was getting sexier. and I was like...Only in the Philippines. EW. 

Do you like all the ews? 

Okay , Il ove you bye!

Oh yeah, skype. I'll skype you Your time, around 9 or 10 p.m. on mother's day. I'll let you know for sure next week.

also, I should have told you sooner but I only have like 10 pages left in my journal and I realized i'm kindof OCD to buy another one, because it would n't match my other two.

But yeah, whateever. If it's a hassle, don't worry, I still have that tiny cork like one you sent and Icould make that work. bye!

To Dad:

daddy! I almost forgot to email you! flip! 

I love you! 

I like your email, and I will do my best to be more humble too. I am having to be very humble lately. \because alllllll the weaknesses and stuff are coming out. :)

I love and miss you. 

I wish I could see baby Addie! Tell everyone hi for me!

Dad, you're the best! and I'm sorry for this short email. I love the BOM. Also Psalm 23 (the last half) answered a prayer this week! 

I love you!

We worked hard. We sweated a lot.

Hey everyone!

This was a great week. We worked hard. We sweated a lot. it is really hot. There have been days over 100 which with humidity feels much hotter. but it's fun! 

This week I listened to the Priesthood session! It was really good. I LOVE OUR LEADERS. We are so lucky to have prophets and apostles to guide us through everything.

This week I looked up on a jeep and a lady was very obviously with no shame taking pictures of me. This morning I was riding on the outside of the trike and all these construction workers and traffic guys were smiling and waving. I dont' know what movie it's from but I just thought "just smile and wave boys, smile and wave." AND I think I got called "Hey Joe!" about 300 times this week.  It will feel weird when I am not famous anymore!

I have been loving the green mangoes. I wish we had them in america. I eat so many of them. That's one of my food obsessions right now. I am also sending one of the lunches I made this week. 

I loved reading Alma this week. I was thinking about and almost crying about the war chapters. I had just finished listening to the priesthood session and conference and stuff and there was a lot about protecting and saving our families. Well, the war chapters of Alma that I sometimes skim over had so much about how we need to fight for our families and prepare and fortify. We can always relate the Book of Mormon to our life today. 

We had zone interviews which was really fun. President Deyro is so funny and inspiring, and he brings the Spirit with a smile.

We have some great investigators right now. Our area is doing well. Beth and Celinong are the next baptisms. I sent pictures of Celinong and one of Sis. Rachelle. 

I sent a picture as well of the food at a big birthday party of a member's kid, where I had to give the opening prayer to like 200 people. woohoo! 

Well, I hope you're all doing well. Lots of love, Mahal ko kayo!

--

Sister Smith

To Dad:

Hi! I'm good. I've been trying to download some of the pictures you've sent me so that I can maybe print them. because I miss you. 

yay cars! I don't think you're too worldly. 

I've been listening to conference again. My companion keeps listening to Dieter F Uchtdorf's from the priesthood session. she might be getting trunky.

I had a great interview with president deyro this week. He also told me he might give me a challenge companion for the last transfer..that will be interesting. But I love him. He has helped me find myself and find joy in my life so much.

I misss the cold. 

I'm excited for those classes. THanks for picking them :)

I'm happy! I'm working to be humble! and I'm fun. Of course ;) 

Okay, well I have 3 minutes to write 4 emails so I will sign off.

YOU'RE THE BEST. I read some of your letters to me this week and they made me laugh and cry. you're a great dad. 

love petunia

To Mom:

MOMMY!

Hi, I love you , i miss you, I will see you in like 106 days (I"m not counting, Sis. Vaivai is, and it is easy to add 42 days to whatever she says!)

I can't believe how much we are all growing.

Sis Wittwer and I are so alike. She's like "our moms would be good friends. My mom likes yoga and running, etc." 

My toes are dumb but Sister Deyro said it's just my thorn in the flesh and President said that all great missionaries have to have a thorn in the flesh, so I was like Okay, I will endure. :) haha. 

Good luck with the classes. If you need me to log in or do something just let me know. but it sounds like you probably know how to do it better than I do and I'm not even sure I know how at all. I'm glad you have darcie and michael. 

don't worry about talking about me going home. I think about it by myself. You have to  alittle bit. 

I hope cooper's birthday is good and I am really scared at the thought of him driving. Ugh. 15 is so little. 

where i live, it's hot. I've eaten tons of mangoes. Literally. they're so good. I love it here. I love the tiny houses and I love the food and tagalog and I'm sure I will even love the weather, once it is winter in utah. 

That's cool that you got to do the sacrament there. 

Well, sorry this is short. I love you. I can't believe how close it is getting, yet so far! go running for me and thanks for all you are doing to get college ready and stuff.

love arby 

Helloooo

Hello everyone! I love my life and my mission. I am so grateful for this church, this gospel and for Heavenly Father's plan.

I loved general conference. I wanted to share with you some things I liked, but I can't say it better than them. So I invite all of you to watch or read or listen to the talks coming from a prophet and apostles. Even just one a day. It will make a difference in your life.

I got my trunky letter. That is the travel questionairre that means I'm going home in the nearish future. But don't worry, I'm not trunky.

I love the BOM. I've been studying more in it and about it lately. It is the key to resolving objections and concerns in our life. I know that if we each read it and feast upon it, our fears and worries, doubts, and pains, will be filled with joy and peace and knowledge. 

Yesterday we had 4 investigators come to the other city to listen to general conference. That is so rare here. It's hard to get them to just come close to home. One of them is a cute grandpa, Celinong. He came all the way there, by himself. and sat there and listened, even though he didnt' understand one word. He is so cute and he is learning, because we as people can't reach his heart but the spirit does. 

I love you all. I hope you are enjoying spring and ice cream and things like that. I wish you could all experience the Philippines. You're missing out, because here I have learned love and tolerance, I've learned to be very low maintenance and grateful for the small things. I've learned to laugh and to ride trikes and speak a crazy language. It's the best. Heavenly Father loves us! Good bye! enjoy some selfies.

-- 

Sister Smith

To Mom:

I wrote Cooper. I don't know what happened last week, I thought I already wrote him, then after I got off I realized I didn't. But I wrote you all letters

I really will come home. It's getting close. 

I'm glad you made a new friend. That is a neat story. and a cute story. and it si strue. 

I love Sister Wittwer. Have you met her mom on facebook yet? Sis. Wittwer's first name is Ivie, cute right? She is from St. George, and I am so glad she's in our house with us. I needed an american around. She also wants to eat healthy, so just having her support helps a lot. she ALSO wants to exercise. So now i'm not lonely. It's fun. 

My toes are stupid. I think one of the most exciting things about coming home is that I can try to figure that out or whatever. 

I loved conference!!!! It was the best. I can't even explain it. Heavenly Father works like magic to meet everyone's needs and questions. Either that, or I'm His favorite child ;)

I hope all goes well with the registration. Let me know what you sign up for, and if it goes bad and you can't get in, but need the full credits still, put me in FCHD intro classes. good luck.  If something goes wrong, Michael offered to help. It will probably work better from vernal, because usually on registration day in logan everyone's internet crashes since there are thousands of students waiting. 

If it goes very wrong, just let me know and Pres deyro will let me work it out here. 

Well, bye. I love you soo much! 

To Dad:

I can't believe everyone is coming home...Soon I'll be coming home. but it's good. I loved conference. It helped me figure out a little more of what He wants me to do. I made a rough draft of my goals;) but it's hard to know still. Things are still rough. Like I feel good and peaceful but it's little things that i still am not sure about. 

Your job stuff sounds fun. I hope you can figure it all out. I guess whatever it is is a blessing. It will either be a blessing now or a blessing later.

I listened to a CES thing by elder Holland. one of my favorite things he said was like by elder wirthlin I think... "Don't take counsel from your fears." 

Well. that makes sense to me. 

I loved how in conference everyone quoted Pres Monson. It was like they were compensating for his lack of health to speak many words. I love him. I hope he's still around next conference.

Well. I still need to email mom. I love you!!!

Thanks for always working so hard to council and interview us and prepare fhe lessons and everything. I haven't forgotten ALL of them. I was thinking about when you looked everywhere to buy swords. You're a good dad. 

Love aubrey

short and sweet

I'm jealous to all of you who have already watched conference. We watched the women's session yesterday and I already am so inspired!

Success of the week.. EIGHT of our investigators came to church. It was such a good feeling to see them come, especially the one family that came as well. We are seeing little by little the Lord change their hearts and it is so fun to be involved in the process. 

Funny stories... a lady from a different religion said, "I've been reading your pamphlets, they're nice. I'm going to use them in our bible study." I'm not sure if she really read them, but I guess if that's what she wants to teach :)

I have an american sister in my apartment! It's funny to talk to her and we enjoy reminiscing about restaurants and stuff. Sis Wittwer is great.

We also had many "awkward american encounters" this week. I never thought I would feel so uncomfortable around white people. 

Life is good. The gospel is perfect, and it works wonderfully.

Love you all. The Savior loves you more. 

--

Sister Smith

Dear dad,

I'm good, no changes. Well, one change in kabahay. Sister Wittwer is with us now. Its fun to be with someone from utah.

This week was back to summer again. it's so hot it makes me feel like crap. and my throat has been swollen and bothering me. but I'm way happy really.

good luck with the job.

I'm happy about Tyler. He's changed a lot. It makes me sad sometimes to imagine coming home and he's not there. but I guess that's life. 

Its true. On a mission you really see how good your parents are.

That's cool you got to go to a session.

Conference is already answering my questions and I only had one session so far!

Well, I love you, I need to get some stuff done here on the computer.

Love you so much, you're the best dad.

Auber

To Mom:
I can't write much either because music is now bawal in our mission so I'm trying to download gen conf talks and stuff to listen to so that I can learn more and feel the spirit while I get ready.

I loved the women's session! It was so great. I have been prompted for like a year and a half and probably longer to be better at serving like the Savior and I finally feel like I'm learning HOW. Of course I love neill f marriott but I loved all the talks. I also loved Henry B Eyring. haha

Errand of Angels a cute movie. But I also found out that was bawal to watch movies like that. I was misinformed in the past. I laughed when I found out..I'm an STL but I still break rules. Oops.

I can't think of what I want in a package. I guess just maybe whatever. Just small stuff and no clothes.

Right now I"ve been trying to read all of the last gen conf before I watch on saturday. 

I'm so sad that again I bought stupid shoes. they were like plastic material and I bought 2 similar ones and then I got very sad blistered raw ankles. so I returned the ones I didn't wear and then they don't give money back  so I had to spend a little more and I got some good sandals. So hopefully that is that till my mission is over. It made me angry but I realized it wasnt worth the stress and 25 american dollars isn't THAT much for shoes. 

I think it's funny about your complaining thing too. I'm the same way. It's hard to become perfect but I guess that's the only thing we need to work on here on earth. 

Well I love you lots. soooo much. I will see you in like 4 months!

Bye! 

March 2016 Zone Conference: Tri-Zone for Bayambang, Calasiao & Dagupan Zones!

from Urdaneta Mission blog

March 2016 Zone Conference: Tri-Zone for Bayambang, Calasiao & Dagupan Zones!

The 3rd day of Zone Conference was held at the Calasiao District Center. Zones from Bayambang, Calasiao and Dagupan came down ready to learn. The conference started right on time and many great workshops were given. Missionaries also had the chance to practice the things they were learning through role-plays and practice teachings.