Just DO IT

Hello everyone.

I will start off by saying I actually kindof like chicken intestines. Weird things happen to your taste here.

I don't even know what to share from conference except watch it. and I will apply what I read in Ezra this week. whatever you heard, no matter how hard it sounds, no matter how much you DON'T want to change right now, no matter how "far gone" you are...here's what I have to say:

BE OF GOOD COURAGE AND DO IT.

That's it. Just do it. Okay? Okay.

This week we found lots of new investigators, and some less active members. I really am seeing the vision of missionary work more and more. I am so grateful for this time I have to serve the Lord and my Father in Heaven. 

Last night I was teaching a young single mom about the Atonement and I just felt like although it was simple, I saw wheels turning in her eyes. I knew what to say. I know she's preparing and feeling the spirit. that is a good feeling. 

Well. I don't have much more today. If you want more to read, Please go read general conference. haha. 

I also invite you to do these 4 things. Keys to happiness (thanks Sis. Kaylee Lofthouse)

1. Be obedient

2. repent

3. forgive

4. bring God's children to Him

We can all try a little harder to be a little better. I love you all! 

Update me on your lives. I may not answer, but I do like to know your life events :) 

-- 

Sister Smith

To Mom:

Poor grandma. I feel really bad. I feel like I am not praying good. She always asks me to pray for her and I forget a lot to pray specifically. Well, I will try to do better now. I'm a bad pray-er. 

I'm glad she's okay though. And I guess the prayers I offer probably helped her from getting hurt worse.

Tell her I love her and she's awesome. Find some really high calorie foods to syringe feed her. There has to be something better than 200 calories. 

I'm jealous you went to that conference. I wanted to go to that way bad remember? I have heard meg johnson before. she's really good. 

I can't even express my gratitude for my nearly perfect parents and the fact that I have an imperfect family striving to reach perfection.

You can send me a talk if you want. I'm sure I'll listen to it sometime.  

I LOVED conference. I felt like EVERY talk was my favorite. It's funny because I really feel like Heavenly Father is picking me as a favorite child. there's no way He could be answering His other children if He's answering me so perfectly right? I guess that's the magic of conference. I am still like in shock over how good it was. 

I think one thing I really learned was HOW to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. I am struggled with that on my mission. I feel like I don't know HOW to feel the Spirit. but that was answered in conference. That was a question I didn't ask, but had in my heart. 

My other questions were answered and I feel like I am prepared at least till April. I'm ponderizing Helaman 10:4. That's where my finger hit. 

One thing I am doing that I would like to do with you is memorize the Living Christ. I started earlier this week and I'm about 3 paragraphs in. But already it's making a difference and if you read one of the talks that i forgot the name from the Oct 2014 womens' session she talks about it.

I wanted to ask you and dad if you have any appropriate experiences you could share with me from your patriarchal blessing. I don't know if that's even appropriate, but if it like says anything about me or whatever. I just thought of that the other day and I don't know why.

Well, I really love you. By the way, thanks for buying me a toblerone last week. It was kindof expensive but I said yeah, mom loves me.  (note from mom: just to really catch the humor of this, I did not send her a toblerone... she bought one herself "from me")

I am so grateful for the gospel. I realized I am never really happier than when I am being inspired by the word of God and when I grasp that potential of what we as the sons and daughters of God have in the next life. 

I love you!

Your favorite and one and only,

sister smith

p.s. here are some random pics I would send you if I had snapchat. 

To Dad:

Hey daddy dearest.

I'm glad you are fulfilling your calling well. You are awesome. Thanks for pressing forward. 

I looooooved conference. It was just for me. I loved all the talks-together they just made me see what I can become if I can just let go of my reservations and accept Him. 

One thing that happened yesterday, a dad we are trying to reactivate asked me if it's okay to physically discipline his kids, and I just told him to pray and ask. He's way frustrating because he's not nice to his wife and stuff. I can tell he wants to be the one to baptize his kids next week but he will not do anything like go to church because apparently he has depression. If you have any advice for him, just let me know. You're a good dad. He wants to be one. 

I think the two things they are emphasizing are church and sustaining the prophets. Because those are things we kindof do in public. we better be reading and praying on our own, but like d todd talked about, we NEED church to have support of others. I want to be better at keeping the sabbath day holy on sunday. not playing outside or watching tv or being lame. there are thousands of less actives to visit. plenty of things to do as a family. plenty of things to read. we can even cook together. but I don't want to waste time anymore. especially on sunday.

I love the yoke thing. Remember he is babe the big blue ox and we're like that little mini ox "wippee! look how great we're doing, Jesus!" when He's really doing it. :)

Have you read all of PMG? If not, just so you know many of the talks of gen conf were almost direct quotes. I think that shows that what members and nonmembers need is in that book. I would invite our family to study it. We need a foundation of pure simple doctrine. 

I love you.
I'm really happy. I can't believe I'm almost halfway through. Time flies. I'm learning a lot. You're awesome. Love your Princess Petunia. 

Become His Friend

Hi everyone. I hope you enjoyed conference! I have not enjoyed it yet since it's a week late here. Well I really enjoyed the women's session. It was amazing.

This week started off with our mission president coming to one of our investigator/less active family's house for a family home evening. It was a neat experience for their family and a lot of fun to spend time with all of them. 

Sis Smith and I tried the creepiest weird face masks. It was like a spa night gone creepy criminal. but we had good laughs.

One great thing that happened this week. As we planned for our week we realized we really want to find the less actives. Especially the ones who have been forgotten or given up on. We prayed and discussed how, and decided to bring the list of members with us. Well it worked like magic. That night we had multiple people coming up to us on the street, asking who the bishop is now, asking about coming back. One especially good experience was seeing someone almost cry in humility but still admitting to have a desire to come back. It was crazy. 

We had sis Smith's first exchanges this week. I worked with a girl from Utah who is in Sis smith's batch. It was funny because she brought up restaurants I had almost forgotten. I'm craving some foods now. But I realized the mcdo cheeseburgers taste the same here. I didn't really like them at home but they are the first orange cheese I've seen in a long time.

As I said, the general women's broadcast was great. If you missed it, go watch it. If you didn't know about it, go to lds.org/conference and find it. Do you know who you are? Go find out.

I did my 3 words this week. It is a project they do in our mission. The question was How do I do His work in His way by His power. Look up the scripture on my poster :)

I'm nervous since this week is transfer week but I know His plan is great. We'll see what happens. 

I love this gospel. I love the Book of Mormon. this morning I was pondering how the Book of Mormon helped me have a testimony of the Savior. I just thought about the understanding I have because of the Book of Mormon and I am so grateful. 

On another note, this week i started learning Ilokano. It's rough, but I thought why not.

I am really grateful for the miracles I see each day. I see them inside me and I see them around me. His hand is always at work. I love you all! Enjoy your fall weather. :)

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

I love you more. 

I loved the women's session. It really reminded me how much potential we all have. Even though we aren't perfect, we just need to try. 

I bought a few new shirts so I have about 8 not tshirts, we also had to buy these zone souvenir jerseys, I got some shoes (that don't work still) and yeah. So that's where money is going. I am trying to be careful. but just thought I'd let you know. I might take a little more out to have an emergency fund. 

I bought a new study journal too and it's cool. I'll probably have to leave everything and just take study journals home at the end of my mission. 

Do you think I could somehow get the Mark Mabry videos about Christ? Sometimes we want to show videos to our investigators but most of the church ones are long or in english. I think those don't have any talking, just music, which could be really neat. Maybe ask gma lynda about that. If they could just be sent on dvds or something. 

I have been frustrated lately because I know you want your scriptures covered with cool leather and they do that here. I think it would be way cool but theres no way to do it for you. haha. I wanted to do it for myself too but maybe before I go home I will have them make a case. anyway that's way unimportant stuff to say. 

that's nice of susan. say hi to aubrey's baby and to lindsey when she gets home. 

Sister smith is great! She's the best. I need to go to Am Samoa sometime.

I think you are growing and changing a lot. Don't worry. It will happen if you turn it over to Him. Remember wood can't carve itself.

(that was inspirational right?)

I want to become a happy positive nice person too. I'm way baby. but I can change.

I'm way grateful for my mission. It's a miracle! Because I hated it for  along time. but now, even though I miss stuff, it's way important to me. Mom, there was a time I thought I wanted to come home and not even go to church any more. Satan is strong. But I am grateful for the strength Heavenly Father has given me and I hope I can find the reason He gave me that strength to change and live for it. 

I am fighting for the Cause of Christ.

Lov eyouuuu! Can't wait to see you in less than 300 days. 

Bye!

To Dad:

I'm so excited. I love conference. Reading those names, it's like I knew they would be called as apostles. I think Gary E Stevensen may have come to the MTC...probaly not but if so I saw an apostle there! Those are 3 great guys. i remember their last talks.

I am glad you had a good time in Salt Lake. Hey, next october you can take me to get filipino food and I can talk to them in tagalog!

I loveeee my mission. It's way hard but somehow we keep going and we like it. 

I am sorry I didn't really have a lot to share this week. I am out of time. I will try to finish letters to the family later. we had a zone activity earlier so that threw off my groove and took all my time haha. 

I'm still with sis smith, but afraid that might change. 

I am teaching and learning always. I am working to get healthy again. I am happy! Be safe. I love you. I hope your letters come this week. 

You are the best dad. I'm sorry this is short. 

I will try to find a violin. and learn to play again. 

Thanks for being the best. I got your letter this week about like the temple and garners and stuff. it was cool. I could use more faith and harder work with the language too.

your daughter. who loves you,

sis smith.

I Feel My Savior's Love

Some weeks you walk a lot, and a lot doesn't go as planned, but He is always there! 

This week was a hard week in some ways. We had a lot of great intentions and plans, but we are learning to trust that His plans are better. We saw a lot of miracles!

Rose is still doing great. I've never had an investigator love Lehi's family so much.

Marjorie is the cutest mom. I've seen her countenance change the past couple months. His gospel penetrates her heart. I can't wait to see her grow and progress more. 

We taught Joanna for the second time. She said during the plan of salvation basically that it just makes sense. I will testify to you all the plan of salvation has been engraved in our souls before this life. We chose that plan and right now we are living a small crucial part of it. and we can do it!

We taught the grandpa of one of our members whose grandson left on a mission this week. He was so cute. His wife recently died and his grandson was his favorite so he's been kindof sad. But even though he teared up a little, we saw his joy at learning. As we talked about Joseph Smith he held the pamphlet and he just touched God, then Christ, back and forth. It was sweet. No one is too old or too sad to hear these truths!

This week I had a moment where I felt really guilty but really glad I followed the spirit. We were walking past a teenager who was pregnant and kindof shy. At first I almost kept walking. But I felt like I wanted to talk to her, and so I did. She was very sweet. She's due in December, she's my age, she's actually married which isn't super common here. She said "You can meet my husband Brian too!" We haven't been able to find her real house yet but I felt that day that she needed that. So I know that He guides the people to us and us to the people. And He does it in your life too. Never forget to let Christ be the judge. 

I also dropped my wallet this week. A few minutes later some people I don't know drove past and said "Sis Smith! Your wallet is way back there with Sister Salmasan!" I was like Thanks God. I didn't even realize it was gone, but it ended up in a member's hands.

I love a quote I read this week by Heber J Grant. He basically said our salvation isn't to be found in marvelous manifestations, in knowing of Christ, or even our testimony. But that we will be saved by LIVING the life of a latter day saint, or by doing His gospel. Sometimes I know it is hard to act when you don't know or trust that it is true. But seeing an angel won't change your heart. Humbling yourself before the Father and trying out His will will change you. It's changed me.

I love you all. Enjoy your week. :)

--

Sister Smith

To Mom: 

Hello my favorite mom. You are the coolest on the planet. 

People still think I'm an alien. I get stared down a lot. It's way funny.

I was singing with a group of people. But I think around Christmas time we will have a small group singing on TV here in the Philippines. Don't tell people in case that's a secret. haha. but yeah. I was invited to do that. 

I heard Richard G. Scott died. I can't believe there are THREE to be called. I'm excited for conference, although I will know next week since all of you get to watch it first. I'm so excited for saturday for the women's session!

That's funny I have been focusing a lot on the loving and making people happy. I'm ahead of the game ;) No, I was studying your letter you sent about asking if things make you happy and I realized that is a way good tactic for our whole life. When you're tempted, when youre sad. Does this make me feel joy or peace or whatever? No. Then let it go. 

Yay! I love letters!

Yeah I am doing my best to wear my shirts i hate. Just kidding. I am used to it now.

I love you too. I did eat icecream and I found a little shop where a cute lady names susan makes muffins. I went there and asked if she knew how to make choco chip cookies. she said yes. then after a few days she saw me and gave me some! They weren't good. I have yet to eat a real choc cookie here. but THEN I kept asking if we could teach her. She said on friday night, "tomorrow I will make you a loaf of banana bread to give to you! and  you can come teach my kids!" so I will get her. SHe is softening up. and I am too from all the muffins. :) 

my toes are way pangit. you can look that up. basically I am trying to not die. just kidding. I only have to make 10 more months with this walking stuff.

I can't believe it's been one year! one year ago I watched the women's session and KNEW I needed to go to the temple. Then I decided yeah, I'm going to go on a mission to do that. then we had conference and then I met michael. and look at that. here I am. I may not have done the easy or best or smartest things but Heavenly Father has forgiven me for my pride or wrong desires and now I'm being His missionary. 

I realized last week that the ingredients for no bake cookies are here. #yes #Imadethem

I was still feeling bummed about sis Untong. Then I prayed about it. and studied a little. then after a couple days I knew I needed to let it go and just put it behind me. then I got pouch from her. she's cute. she apologized and said "sorry I'm way prideful and dumb. please remember our good times." i was like glad. because I think we both needed to step back and realize our faults and grow from it. 

Okay. I love you. keep being cool. I hope time flies so I can see you again but I also hope it lasts because my mission is like almost done. LIndsey rust comes home next week. She was at my point in the mission when Aubrey got married. D:

bye!

To Dad:

Thanks for writing letters. I am excited to get them. You're the best. 

This has been a hard week but I know that I'm trying and each day I can try to be a little better. I'm sorry the oil field sucks. I bet the work there is still better than it is here. I can't believe about all the apostles. It really feels like the world and church are being prepared for stuff right? Like Heavenly Father needs those apostles for some other work.

That will be be fun to go to the conference center. 

I love tyler too. and cooper. I always think about them and I can't remember negative things. I just love them.

I am thankful for our family. I am so lucky to have such faithful families and that I know what I want in my husband. My companion has a boyfriend at home who's not a member and she even thinks of marrying him if he doesn't get baptized. I'm just grateful that I know I will never make that choice that I can see the blessings of temple marriage. She grew up without a dad so I don't blame her. but I bear simple testimony as I talk about you and stuff.

I have started getting addicted to coke and rc cola. I just want soda a lot and it's way cheap and available here...but I am doing my best to stop. Don't tell mom. haha.

I found out it's a tradition in the Philippines to listen to American Country music on sunday. I really like that.

I'm learning a lot dad. I'm way glad I'm here. Even though it's still hard. I can't believe it was almost a year ago I told you I was going for sure. What a crazy and hard year. I've experienced enough in this year that it almost feels unreal. But it's happening. and it's too fast. 

Thanks for saying I'm a good person even though you know my faults. I guess that's how Heavenly Father is too. I read a talk from when I was in the MTC that one of the presidency there gave. He just said our Heavenly Father will always focus on the good we do basically. That when we repent, He remembers them no more, and we don't need to focus on if we were a bad dad one day, he looks at all the good we did. I don't need to dwell on things I did, but who I am.

Take care of yourself. Be good too. Be happy too. Smile and laugh too. and make some friends. and memories. Eat some pizza and cafe rio and bascially anything that has cheese. Youre the best dad ever. 

Love your daughter.

Aubrey L. Smith

Oh yeah. We prayed to know how to help the ward and stuff. Maybe you need help with that too. We found really good answers in Alma 7.

Lots of Pics!

Pictures of us walking home in a rainstorm, aka showering. Pictures with members. Me PRETENDING to sleep. that time. Other random pictures with me, Sis Smith, Sis Talaroc-Kaniho and Sis Arnonobal

Hello everyone. Another week has come and gone. It has been great. Very hard at times but also very rewarding!

Some great moments:

We were singing and  harmonizing before district meeting on tuesday. I miss singing! It was fun.

Marjorie (one that came to church last week) said she really loved it. and wants to come back and stay 3 hours! She also said "I am getting the truth little by little. I realize it more in what is changing in me. Even my husband notices it! He said "You aren't swearing anymore!" (We've never talked about swearing) and I am really happy." Yeah! That's the Spirit! Sometimes we wait for answers...but we don't look at ourselves. We don't see what the gospel is doing for us. Changes inside our heart are the best evidence of the atoning sacrifice of Christ!

Rose came to church again. She's so cute. She thinks Laman and Lemuel are way silly for not even listening to angels. She's like "Heavenly Father is always there! I even posted that on facebook. A guy messaged me and asked how I knew and I taught him to pray!" She's ASTIG. She also told us that she loves the book of mormon because it relates to her life. She said "Just like Lehi and his family had to leave all their possessions, I need to give my whole heart to God." 

It is so true. Lehi and his family gave up a lot for the gospel. Are we willing?

We had a member workshop this week. I loved some videos that were shared. 

Missionary Work and the Atonement

Also everyone check out everydaymissionaries.org I think that's what it is. There's some videos about how to share the light of Christ in your every day life.

Sis Smith and I gave a workshop about sharing your testimony. We came up with an acronym.

S-sincere. if you are sincere, they will feel your love.

H-honest. don't give weird untrue stories but share simple doctrine

A-applicable. help them apply-invite them to pray

R-review. review things they have learned, especially from missionary lessons.

E-encourage. be a friend! love them!

I hope you all feel Christ's love as you SHARE your testimony with those around you. 

I also really enjoyed Matt 11:28-30. I have been really tired lately. The work is great, but sometimes I do need to take a step back and remember I can be yoked with the strongest, most loving, kindest, best friend and Redeemer. Don't forget He's there. This life is hard, but his yoke is easy and His burden light. He will help you!

I love icecream.

I love banana muffins.

It definitely feels like summer.

This life is the best.

Love you all!

Sister Smith

To Mom:

No, I don't print my emails because printing takes a while too and I feel like it's a waste of money and paper. I print them if they are way important. Like this one dad wrote about punching satan in the face. 

Before I forget...I don't know if you thought to send it but I am dying to listen to Davie for Christmas. That would be something I would love to listen to allllllllll morning while I exercise. hahaha. I did yoga a few times last week. It was good. I also slept on my yoga mat 2 times when I was tired. it is useful.

I saw some pics that were taken in Roosevelt at a members house. I got homesick. 

I read D & C 76. I loved reading in the institute manual. I feel like I underestand the plan better. It was cool. Lets go to the Celestial Kingdom!

I'm excited for the Christmas boxes. The thing that stinks is I'll probably transfer before Christmas and have to move the boxes but it's fine because I have extra space. 

I like the blue shoes. 

I am jealous you get to play christmas music in the orchestra. I realllly miss when I was little doing the concert every year. time is fast and now it's gone. :(

Yes I think the apostle Paul was a runner too. I have had a post it there for a long time that says "RUN! That ye may obtain." I put it there when I was on xc. haha.

You are a great mom. I never feel neglected or anything. Sometimes I'm embarrassed because I have mail but then I know I really need it and yeah. I don't like to be like "HEY I HAVE MAIL." but I also like to get it. It's hard being popular and having parents that love me? 

I feel way cool to be quoted on the bulletin. Save those. hahaa. :) 

Also I forgot to tell you. They said we can't wear tshirt style/fabric shirts anymore unless we wear a sweater over it. 

that's the angriest I have felt. I almost cried. But I have just been wearing my fancy shirts more. and it's hot. but life goes on. 

Well I love you! You're the best mom everrrrrrrrr. 

I also wanted to tell you to remember you have lots of friends and people you are influencing. I would invite you to think about how you could do missionary work more. If you have questions, ask the missionaries. they can help you. I promise, this work isn't for us. It's for the members. I think they lowered the mission age not to have more missionaries but to have more members that understand or care about missionary work. 

I love you! You're awesome. use your talents to share the gospel. 

Your favorite daughter. 

To Dad:

I guess I forgive you for not writing a letter. Although I want to tell you about your letters. They are not just for me. I have shared them with my companions often. I realized something this week. One thing Heavenly Father has made me realize was your significance and how lucky I am to have you. My first comp- her dad was dead. second-she NEVER talked about her dad. third-he's muslim, never writes her. fourth-her dad left before she knew him. the girls in my house- both their dads aren't members. 

WHY AM I SO LUCKY! but yeah. your daddy letters have to carry on to others whose dads aren't there or aren't like you. If you could I would like you to at least write a letter to my companion right now. Her name is sis smith too so it shouldon't be hard. just remember its her start of her mission and I know the spirit will guide you. 

Your bathroom looks way good. 

I miss grandma and grandpa. We haven't stayed in contact good lately. I love them though. When I get home I will cry when I see them probably more than you. haha. maybe.

I would rather see pics of your outdoor adventure than the bathroom. That's okay though. We'll go there when we get back.

This week I thought of you a lot. One time I was holding our phone and I realized I was waiting for you to text me. It was the weirdest saddest feeling because I knew it wouldn't happen but my mind was still waiting for a second. Emailing is hard. But soon I will sit down with you and tell you all of the experiences I can remember! 

By the way my apartment and I quote you a lot. "freaking punch satan in the face!" 

Life is good. I am glad I'm here. Even though it's hard. Like you said it's good for me. 

Can you believe it's been 8 months today?

Can you believe I'm 19 and 2/3?

Can you believe I ate chicken feet for dinner last night again?

Can you believe I can speak Tagalog?

Can you believe I LOVE YOU???

Bye. 

Chicken Feet

Hello everyone!

This week was great. I wish I could tell you all EVERYTHING! But there is tooo much. 

We had SIX investigators in church. 2 of them were from our farthest area. 

Marjorie brought her baby and 1 year old. She's a rock star. She has a desire to learn. 

Daniel came even though he is way shy!

Rose is so sweet. She sometimes texts us "Gud am po sester!" She is so cute.

Then the 3 kids we are teaching came as well.

We are seeing sooo many miracles. As we teach them we are really seeing changes in them. I almost cried when they came to church. #missionaryjoy

We also taught a girl for the first time. I met her once but never saw her again. Then one night we saw her on the street and she said to come later that night. As we taught her, she was really attentive and sweet. When I got to Joseph Smith, she hit her hands down and said "TELL ME THAT STORY. That is really what I want to know!" I was so surprised...I was like "have you heard of him?" and she said "Yes. I'm sooo curious about this." She was astig. Her name is Joanna and I think she's taller than me. so rare.

I love gratitude! I will tell you all, life is more fun when you look to be grateful.

I have been in this pretty country for more than 6 months now! It's awesome to look back and see how much I've grown and how much this place has become my home.

I made adobo this week. It tasted pretty native. Yay!  I can cook. 

I want to share something from our mission pres. He talked about personal revelation. We know the story of the brother of Jared, and how God touched the stones for him to have light. (If you don't know this story go to scriptures.lds.org/ether2 I don't know if that's a real link ;)

Anyway. We see in Ether 2:19 that Mohonri.. has 3 problems. The first two are solved simply. But the last is left to the Bro of Jared (BroJ) So if you follow from 2:17 to Ether 6:7 (footnotes) you see things about the barges he built. Then if you go to the footnotes again to Gen. 6:14-16 about noah's ark, and read in the footnotes about the window, you see that window could be SHINING STONE. So bascially the point is BroJ got his answer from the scriptures. We can search and find almost all of our problems. And our mission president said, you won't get new revelations for yourself unless it's not in the scriptures. I read in preach my gospel and it said that learning the doctrine IS receiving personal revelation. So if you have any problems, don't just pray and wait, search for it! I love the scriptures and know they are true. I am so grateful for this time I have on my mission to learn and grow and share the light. Love you all. 

Pictures are of things I've eaten, places I've been. Yeah. Also, everyone see how tired my cute anak is. She was "studying" :)

--

Sister Smith

Letter to Dad:

Today I have eaten some oatmeal. I loveee oatmeal. And breakfast. I also ate a dutchmill (like a yogurt milk). We will go to a restaurant later. 

My church meetings have been pretty good. My investigators are pretty great. I'll do my group mail after this.  

I've been so exhausted but very happy. 

I hope you write me letters. You said you'd write me a lot but you don't. haha.  

I forgot to put in mom's email they said we can't wear tshirt fabric/ style anymore. I cried. haha. I have to only wear my fancy clothes now.  

I have been focusing on making my prayers more meaninful. I love the talk Priesthood and Personal Prayer by Henry B Eyring.  

Keep praying for my investigators. and for me. 

Okay. I love you. I am happy! I wrote in my journal the other day "I want to squeeze my investigators because I love them" and I also am making memoreies. okay bye! 

Letter to Mom:

hi Mama,

Yeah, I feel like time is just a weird concept. I don't try to understand it anymore.  The other day my anak was like "when it's Christmas, I have just over a year," and I was like....ahhh. When it's Christmas I have like half a year. It's going by fast which is great and way sad.

I'm glad I can inspire you. You inspire me tooo allll the time.

I did finish the infinite atonement. It was really good. I didn't do all the scriptures like you did. But I loved it. I was very addicted.

I'm excited to get the christmas packages. I am waiting to hear christmas music because I heard before that they start it in september here.

Your Saturday sounded fun. 

Was your conference a broadcast? That's awesome. I am jealous ;)

I have been talking to my anak about intent a lot. We have discussed obedience on the mission. Another word I've liked lately is STRIVE. Which is a similar word. because what we are striving for is our intent. 

I am working on the OT now. It's hard for me to love like the BOM.

I got the bug spray! Yay! I loved your letter. The recipes made me laugh and cry. Because there is no cheese or tortillas or salad here. But it gave me good ideas! We will eat hawaiian haystacks.

Okay well I love you. You're the best.

We are Seeing Miracles Every Day

I am sorry about last week. My contacts are all kinds of messed up and I don't know how it happened. I hope everyone is able to read this this week. Mom, post it on the blog and link on facebook if there are problems. 

What a wonderful week! I can't even tell about all the miracles and beautiful things that happened. Because I can not type that fast. But first off, my companion is great. I am learning so much from being a mother in the mission. It makes me excited to learn from my real future children!

She is so happy and so good at talking even when people laugh at her, she brings the spirit. I have learned from her it is more important to open your mouth than to save your pride!

One of the coolest things that happened this week. We read in PMG about finding people. We read a story about how a man in Mexico found the gospel through running into some missionaries unexpectedly. Later that day we went to eat out for lunch. We had no reason really. We just thought maybe we'd go. And when we got there there weren't really seats but a lady said sit here! so we sat by her. After a while we started talking. She said she had been living in New Zealand but couldnt get a visa again after 13 years. So she came back. She was sad to be back and she was lonely. Her husband is gone, and she has a son that she left when he was 3 so he hasn't had real parents his whole life. But as she told us this sad story, here is what came out. She said she had been up in the night thinking she wanted to come about 45 minutes to urdaneta to try to find the movie Heaven is for Real. and when she got here she started walking around and just sat down at that restaurant. then she saw us and just felt like she wanted us with her. She told us she wanted to know God was there today. She said "I've been searching all my life to fill a hole inside me. I've been reading books and the bible and attending all the churches and nothing has met it." but she cried with us and we felt the spirit so strongly. It was no accident. She said she will be listening to the missionaries in her city and can't wait to get a letter from us.

Yesterday I wore my hair down at church to try to look nice and one of the brothers said "Your hair is so ugly. You really should just wear it in a ponytail." Okay, thank you for the honesty. haha.

There is a less active family in our ward that the missionaries were teaching back in march but they never came back and even though their kids wanted to be baptized, they couldn't without the parents. We decided to start teaching them again about a month ago and they have started coming to church. The dad has stopped hiding from us, and we met him last night a changed man. He said he wants to baptize his children. We are seeing miracles every day.

We had a conference with President Ardern the area presidency here in the Philippines. It was amazing. I had a funny embarrassing experience. They had some missionaries come up and share what they read in their scriptures in the few minutes before the conference. Then that missionary would choose the next person to share. I knew I would get picked and I was like...I have nothing. But I got picked and went up and shared Ether 2:7. I talked about how God doesn't want us to just go part of the way, to just be baptized, or just go to the temple. He wants us to go all the way to the Celestial Kingdom. After I shared, Pres. Ardern turned and said, 'Can I shake your hand? That was marvelous.' He turned to everyone and said "I was wondering how this missionary would share something from that verse...I never noticed that before. I stumped a general authority ;) 

The conference was great though. So motivating and inspiring. 

Well, that's all I'll share. If you made it this far, congratulations. Thanks for reading :) 

I love you all and hope you're all walking forward towards Him each day.

Love Sister Smith.

To Mom:

I'm so grateful you're my mom. I miss you all the time. It's weird because sometimes I feel like it's just a dream that I haven't seen you for so long. Can you believe a started my papers almost a year ago? It's crazy how fast and slow time goes. 

I love the infinite atonement!!!

You should try lumpia. it's good. filipino food is good. I will make it all for you in one year.

This week is great with Sis Smith. Sh'es a funny cute person. you can write/email her if you want. and if you send any packages or letters send her something. 

Church sounds good! I'm glad you are able to have spiritual time at church. One thing I liked that pres ardern said, we should be renewing our covenants and remembering sacrament daily as members.

My toe's okay usually. I just am used to it. 

I wish I could really go to the temple with you! Soon!!

I finished the book of mormon for the 4th time on my misison (3rd start to finish.) I Love it. I really liked Moroni 7.

Well I love you a lot. I hope tomorow I get mail! You're awesome!!! Thanks for being the best example I could ask for. I can't wait to hug you but for now enjoy the skies. love your daughter. 

To Dad:

I hate the email. I don't know what happened to my group. I don't know how to fix it and I don't have time to mess with it...

My trainee is so awesome. She struggles with the language but she is learning fast because she's not shy to talk even if she doesn't know how to say it. My brain thinks I have to know a whole sentence before I would talk...so she's awesome. I am learning way more from her than she is learning from me. but I am pretty sure I will want to visit american samoa to visit her. 

I think I stink at tagolog but I am holding my own! I realized I know a lot more than I thought I did since I have HAD to speak it. The Filipinos usually take charge, and filipinos like to talk to filipinos so before I think it just naturally happened that my native companion talked more and kindof yeah. so it's nice to see that I CAN talk, because before I was nervous. 

I wish it would snow here. 

I'm glad the bathrooom really will be finished when I get back. 

I'm doing pretty good. I am realizing more and more how much I llike this. I am happy. I am coming to know Them.

I finished the Bom again. I'm still reading the OT. I am so grateful for my ability to read and understand the scriptures. I never knew how rare that was. 

Thanks for talking to P Seitz. I look forward to seeing everyone again, but for now, this is awesome. 

Well. I am going to try to email Brooke and Michael. In 5 minutes. so I love you. bye.

Oh yeah. My comp is awesome. She is samoan. she's funny. she is 24. she likes to eat. I like that. we laugh a lot. I feel like she's my best friend. It's nice to have a foreigner companion. I miss filipinos sometimes, but I am loving learning about samoan culture. She has a strong testimony and she helps me be so happy and grateful. 

k bye!

Hello all

 Hello,

This week was really good. I am learning soooo much and enjoying the Pines. This week was a very crazy busy week, but also very fun. Probably the best thing about my week is that i started training a new missionary. She is from American Samoa and her name is....wait for it...Sister Smith. It is a great joke, and it's true! I knew it would happen though. Haha. I love her so much. She is really training me. I am learning everything from her. This week I also worked with a new missionary named Sis Tanielu. She is from Kuribiti.  She was so adorable, and like my companion, I learned from her. She bore the most simple powerful testimony. I am learning a lot that NOTHING matters more than bringing and sharing the Spirit. 

This week we had a lunch at a member's house and we ate the most giant shrimp. 

We also had exchanges in my last ward and the bishop fed us and his little girl who is 4 would not leave me. she calls me her barbie. I am pretty lucky to be a life size barbie... :)

We had a miracle yesterday! We are teaching some kids whose parents are members, but they are unable to attend church because of money. Well they have been changing. Becoming more willing. I wasn't able to talk to them yesterday to find out how since it was stake conf, but they came to church. I was really excited for them.

I see miracles every day. We met 2 cute old men yesterday who miss their wives and want to know the truth. As we left, we went and talked to another lady. We looked back at them and they had scooted together on the bench and were reading the pamphlet together. As we passed them again they looked at us with big smiles and waves. That's all we have to do. Give a little more joy to those whose heads and hearts hang down. 

I read in the training guidelines to look at every appointment as a sacred privelege and opportunity to learn. I want to do that in my life. God has given us every moment as a privilege to do something. And an opportunity to grow, whether through success or failure. 

yesterday we went through an area that has not seen american for a long time. We had kids and adults stampeding at us. My companion said that is one time she really felt the spirit, because we can share Christ's love with so many people. Today we discussed the story about the Road to Emmaus and I had a realization. Those of us who know Christ can be like Him. Others may not recognize what we have till we offer them "the bread." Also, all of us who are coming to know Him are walking the Road to Emmaus. He is there. We just need to learn to recognize Him. 

Well, I love you all. Have a great week. :) Sister Smith

-- there's pics of me and my fellow missionaries, food, and things like that. enjoy :)

Sister Smith

Letter to Mom: 

Mommmmyyy!

Thanks for the infinite atonement. I looooove it. I have to force myself to not read it my whole day. Just kidding. but I love it.

I have gotten letters, I love them. I got one from all of your family that grandma sent. that was cool.

I like rice and I'm excited to make lots of food for you all when I get back. That will be fun.

I know I sometimes don't take criticism well but I am always trying to improve.

If you think the shoes will be good, send them but I don't know. It's hard to know. It's a little better now. I guess I'll just keep hanging in.

It's okay to send announcements. haha. Even last week I got the news clip you sent of coop and on the back it had a bunch of my friends coming home from missions and marrying. I was like wow thanks haha. but it was fun to know they were coming back from their missions. 

I'm jealous you went camping.

We had stake conference yesterday. THe first hour was great. the second hour eh. I like Larry J Echo Hawk. That's cool you talked to him. 

I love you so much. I think about you too much. Oh yeah I liked reading a talk called Purifying Power of Gethsemane. And also yesterday at stk conf pres deyro talked about connecting matt 5:43 and 48. that we need to work on having perfect LOVE. and that we can even approach people that are hard to deal with and say "righteous!" in our head and then thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity to exercise charity and stuff. 

I love you! I will send you a sunset that I don't know if I sent last week. 

Letter to Dad:

Daddy,
I can't wait to get your letter. I actually had a funny thing happen yesterday. We have some english boms at our apt and one has writing in it that looks like yours. I'll send the pics.

I wish I could go camping. Less than a year. Crazy right? When my anak is finished training I will be more than halfway through my mission.

I randomly found  byu talk and printed it last week. It really summarized so much of what I've learned in the last 9ish months. It's called "Don't Give Up on Your Testimony" I think you'd like it.

We had a LA member tell us this week he knew the church was true because he had the same experience as Joseph Smith. God appeared and said this is my beloved son. I was the only one who understood him...I should have asked why he was less active. haha. People are funny. But he does have strong faith. It sounds like you had a great stake conf.

We will be visited by Pres Ardern in our mission this week. I am excited for that. It will be spiritual for sure. I was just pondering this morning how Jesus is working with us. That's cool. I liked your insights. My road to emmaus insight reminded me of you. Have you read the Infinite Atonement? Mom sent it to me and I like it. 

I LOVE My trainee. She's so great. Dad, I think she will help me be happy and talk to people. first of all, I have no choice now, because I am the only one who can speak the language, but she is such a good example. She lets all her weaknesses become the bridge to the people, when I let them be my shame or fear. 

I'm so grateful for you. I don't appreciate you all enough but you are so important to me. I can't wait to hug you and tell you stories and feed you lots of rice. 

Also I liked "The Lord Needs You Now" in the new liahona. We need to focus on satan's targets today and fight them.

Love you. Your daughter. Princess Petunia