Level 120

This week was a good week. VERY challenging. Sometimes I feel like I am in a game and my character just gets everything happening at once and has to fight all of it. It's pretty hard. It's like level 120. But thats good. I've passed lots of levels and I will keep passing them till there's no more ;)

This week I had a sick day, but not a rest day! I only felt good when I was out working. Heavenly Father needs His missionaries. 

We had a "Blitz" in our area which means our district came and did some finding in our area. That was a good day because we achieved a lot together. It is fun to see what happens when you work hard and you believe that everyone has potential.

Birthday Shoutouts to my Anak, Sister Smith 2 and to my Daddy! and everyone else who has birthdays!

We found an elect guy named Jimmy. He's chubby with a ponytail and he wants to do things so that he'll know the truth. Jimmy is a nice guy and takes care of his old lady mom. He is honest. It is fun to teach people like that who really want to do what's right and find that truth. 

I read some conference talks this week, and also just in the things I'm studying I'm amazed at how many new things I can learn. Sometimes I find myself in awe at the gospel and at the beauty of His plan. 

I hope you are all well and happy. Mahal ko kayo!

--

Sister Smith

To Dad:

I am okay. I am healthy, although I spent one day with everything going out of me. but I'm better now.

I told you who my companion is. haha. But I am in Mapandan with Sis. Apolinario. My new area is pretty good. It is expensive travel, but it's pretty and I like the people. The ward is nice. Very loving and funny. It's a verrrry small town, smaller than Sta B. We have quite a bit of work, although we're still figuring out scheduling and stuff.  

I'm glad you had a good trek and meeting. That's fun. I'm glad that coop is gaining strength. 

Thanks for the encouragement dad. Sometimes it's really hard to have so much going on. Not only am I trying to give my all to the work and prepare to go home, but I'm also being tested and challenged. I love you and I am so grateful you're my dad. You make me want to be a better person always. I am so glad I had such a good upbringing. :) 

I love the talk Be Thou Humble too. I finally got around to really reading it. I know I needed it. I know my companion is not always the one in the wrong because sometimes I lose patience. But I am getting better every day. 

Well, keep the prayers coming, and I will keep striving to fulfill them.

Lovey ou!

Hi mommy!

Tyler is awesome. I'm glad he is always having a good attitude and learning from everything!

I'm glad you finally got to be a ma!

I can't wait one day more so I really hope it's August 3 still. i haven't gotten anything yet but I think you might get it the first week of july or so. I just pulled that date out of nowhere so I have no clue to be honest. 

I'm getting excited for school!!!

Oh yeah, grabe, I have forgotten this for more than a month. Could you make me a thing, kindof like the picture I am sending, but actually nice and cute, that I can give to people here? Thanks. Just use one of the pictures I've sent home and design the layout or whatever so it looks cool. Thanks!

someone gave us this home made ice stuff this week...it was made of mangoes and easy cheese. why would you kill mangoes like that?

I saw a tindahan called TJ Mac's. I laughed! 

My bishops daughter looked me up on facebook. They all said "Wow you look beautiful here. But now you got fat." Thanks everyone! I feel great! haha. 

Well... things are good. 

Well. love you!!! Thanks for being the best mom. See you in 7! 

June na naman!

Whew. It's June. It sounds like it's hot there. It's also hot here. But I'm still alive. And soon they might have us wear some pants. Woohoo..

This week was pretty good. I have a new companion and area! I am finishing the training of my apo (grandchild) in the mission. It has been a fun switch to go from the crazy life of exchanges and travel to training and learning from a new crazy missionary. Sister Apolinario is so funny and nice. I feel bad sometimes because I'm nice, but not like the lovey dovey type so I hope she knows I love her anyway. :)

One thing I liked this week was just getting to know a new area. There's something that just pushes you in a new area. You have no preconceived ideas or experiences and it makes it easy to just do your best. I have learned in my mission to love where you are and do what you're supposed to do. Whatever the trial, just keep going. There's always something we can do more or better. I liked in Ether 3 this week, I thought about the pattern Ether used to solve his problem and thought about that process specifically with overcoming weaknesses or sins or bad habits. We need to let the Lord know we need help. Think of things we can and will do. Bring the idea and work to Him. Allow Him to touch our lives and be willing to do His will.

Last monday there were some crazy new things happening and some adversity all that came down in one day and I just prayed for peace and eyes to see that everything would be good with my family and my mission and we went out to work to a pretty sunset behind us and a big rainbow-symbol of peace before us. God is good.

We were on a jeep earlier this week and a lady said "Where's your little companion?" I was like thinking..I've had a lot of those. and she said "In Tambac?" That was my first area! This was a lady I had thought of last week, wondering whatever happened to her. We had taught her twice, and then she just was busy and everything. But it reminded me that people remember the missionaries. She had lost a child last year, and I remember teaching her the plan of salvation and just hoping she got it. I encouraged her to listen to the missionaries again. It's just funny that she recognized me after more than a year!

OH yeah. We have a way nice house. It's cute. 

Well, bye! Love you all!

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

THanks for the letter you sent. 

Speaking of me coming home, someone submitted their paperwork late in my group so we got crappy flights. I should get home At like 9 p.m. I"m not sure if it will be Aug 2 or 3 or something like that. We'll work that out when it's sooner. But just so you can start thinking about it all maybe. We could maybe just stay in SLC or something that night at a hotel and just chat or eat or sleep or whatever then go home in the morning. I"m getting so trunky it's so bad. 8 weeks to go ;)

And by trunky, I mean all I want to do is missionary work because there's not much time left!!!

I read some good talks:

Adverstity and Prayer

For thy Good.

Look them up! :)

My new companion is super touchy which most americans aren't a fan of and i"m really not a fan haha. But she's cute. I've been so mean to her I feel. LIke strict, but she just loves me! So I'm working to make the rest of her training really good. So she becomes obedient and understands what we are doing. It's fun to train and not have to do so much extra stuff. 

OH yeah, she calls me Mamila. it's cute- a mix between Mommy (because I"m training her) and Lola (grandma). ;)

I don't know what to do about jobs. Ugh.
I still have one sem of scholarship, I think they will do it automatically.

Well, I better reply to like 8 emails in the next 8 minutes. 

i Love you so much and I'm getting so excited to see you. its killing me. have a good week!

bye! our house is mint and gray! it's perfect for me! 

To Dad:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I know it's early. But I love you and I will celebrate with you in August :)

You're the best dad in the whole world really.

Love you lots!!! See you in 8 weeks. :) maybe by that time you will be able to eat one bite of icecream. 

bye!

I just have a few things to say...

Good evening everyone! 

I just have a few things to say...

This week was good.

Sis Ramos is AWESOME.

Always listen to the Spirit. If you think something or feel something over and over, JUST ACT. Trust it, try it, and reap good consequences. 

My little brother is one of my heroes!

The mission is great.

Life's a bunch of learning.

I found Root beer milk from Gossner's (Logan Utah) in the Philippines.

That's all. 

Love you all!

--

Sister Smith

Hey mom,

I know Sandon, and his older brother and stuff. They are cousins of the Gross family I think. That is so sad. Life seems to be full of trials and tragedies. I have experienced some things this week that just make me want to give up. Luckily I have good support here on the mission. I know that Satan doesn't want Tyler to start things off strong, and he doesn't want me to come home strong. It's a fight. It's real. But we can all do it. 

Things seem so fast and so slow. Its crazy. My toe is pretty bad but I'm trying to just make it till i get home so I can have real doctors. 

This week I looked at some cookbooks that Sis Wittwer had bought. One of them was really cute. The guy has a blog too, I think it's called Burnt Lumpia. You'll have to check it out. 

Some random facts..Filipinos hate the smell of rain. What? 

Also, they fold their laundry soooo nice here. I'll show you when I get home. 

Well. I will close with a thought I had while reading 3 Ne 11... The GOSPEL= ATONEMENT + Using the Atonement

I love you! I will try to see if I can figure out the financial aid stuff. Bye!

To Dad:

This week was okay. I feel like I am improving at the missionary stuff. Finding, teaching, loving others, etc. Sometimes we make dumb errors, but so did Joseph Smith, and lots of other prophets and people and all people, and Heavenly Father will help me keep going. 

Well, I have to do my financial aid apparently. I love you. Getting excited to come home. Keep praying for us!

--

Sister Smith

Sweet 16

Hello everyone! I gotta keep this short and sweet, but I hope you're all doing well. This was one of the best weeks of my whole mission! A combination of cool thunderstorms and lots of new people and an awesome companion just was the best! Oh yeah, and hershey's salted caramel kiss ice cream. 

First things first, shout out to my little brother in the MTC! I'm so proud of him. 

This week was also lot of parties. Sister Wittwer hit halfway, Sister Ramos 1 year, me 16 months, and Sis DelaAustria's birthday. It's fun to celebrate. 

Something else I have been having fun with is thinking about having a light heart and being cheerful as a Christlike attribute. I think it is. I have been seeking for examples, and also as i have pondered this I have found many of the most Christlike people in my life have mastered this attribute. I know that attitude is everything. Although we can't expect every setback, or mistake, or even bad hair day, by the power of the Holy Ghost, we can feel happy. Because the Atonement covers it all, and men are that they might have joy. I am joyous because I am here in the Philippines. I love it all. I know the gospel is restored and the Book of Mormon is His word. We are blessed when we obey the counsel of the prophets. It's up to us to apply. 

I love you all! Thanks for the love! 

sorry. no pictures. well,, one.

--

Sister Smith

mommy!

Thanks for jumping on that and fixing my apartment situation.

The new apartment looks good. It will be nice to try something new. I think that things will work out just fine. It might be a little crazy. But I'm sure there are good plans in His hands. 

I gave the jewelry you sent to sister dla and sister ramos. they loved it!

I'm glad tyler sounds good. I love him! I thought about him so much this week. he's such a trouper. 

make sure I know next week where Alyssa is going!

Okay well I have a gazillion replies to do! I love you! Don't worry about me! See you in like 10 ish weeks!!!!

my hair is beyond ugly poof now.

if you can't read that shirt, it says "I don't care, I'm going home soon." one of my sisters had it made for me. hahaah.

a cute old lady. i forgot to send in my group email. she would only speak english but she just kept laughing her head off and high fiving us. it was great.

Hey dad, I don't really have time. My keyboard sucks so I am just typing so slow.

I read a good devo this week called Knowing, doing and being.

I'm doing really good. thanks for praying for me. I'm going to email tyler! bye! love you sooo much!

The Savior is Looking For Us

I don't have much time! Here are some highlights

-Sister Vaivai transfered away! I love and miss her, but my new companion is so awesome. Her name is Sis. Ramos, and she is from the same place as my trainer in the mission. She is the sweetest, kindest, and humblest missionary. 

I ate crabs. 

I learned more about Christlike attributes this week. 

I spoke in church yesterday. I told a story about one of my little cousins hiding from his mom and then saying "Mom's looking for me, she's crying" when he was finally found (thanks Melissa for the parenting stories. they came in handy.) 

Anyway I related it to how Christ is always looking for us, even when we don't know we are lost or don't know we want to be found. 

Our investigators are doing well. tatay Celinong was kindof sad that he didn't get baptized on schedule, but next month will be his time. 

I love you all. I love this work and I love the Savior! Have a great week!

--

Sister Smith

Daddy 

I miss you too. I want to go to Bettys and to the mountains with you and just talk. But that will happen in August I'm sure. 

I'm blessed to be here too. This is definitely the final quarter, the last lap of a long race. It's when you feel the most excited, most exhausted, every small success from then on feels bigger and bigger because you're nearing the end. It's when the trials come too, the pain of the race. But I'm running hard. Swimming hard. Pushing it. Because like every race, every phase of life, this one is ending. 

I can't believe I have 11 weeks left. Time is so fast. I have the time I was trained, and then it's time for the other life. 

It's hard sometimes to think about what we should have done. I feel like that about a lot of things, high school, college, Jacob lake, even my mission. But something someone said this week that I've been pondering a lot is that Jesus prepared for 30 years for a 3 year ministry. Our life is kindof like that. When we figure it all out, there's not always that much time to apply it. But who we become matters, because we have eternity to live who we've become. And this life will just be a small thing. 

I love you and miss you. I'm getting excited to see you. Have fun with Tyler for the next few days. I'll be home in less than the time he had his call. 

You're the greatest, 

Petunia

To Mom:

I can't believe it has been a week either. This week was pretty long. It was crazy and busy. 

I'm so proud of Tyler! Wish I could have been there. I'm excited to read his talk. 

That is neat about the ancestor from Denmark. :)

I think I have a resume saved on my mac. You can look for it if you want, or just make something up. I can't remember what types of things go on resumes. 

Here is something cool. So this week Sis Ramos, my new companion, and I were going to MLC. She saw my pencil pouch (which she has seen before and LOVED) and was like I just love your pouch! I looked all over for one like it. So I was thinking, "I should have mom send that pink one." Then later that day, I GOT IT! I was so excited, and so was she. You are so awesome! Thanks for the journal as well. :) I love you.

We went running and a random guy was like "work work" in a funny voice. Running is funny here. 

I don't know what else to say. I'm kindof not here right now. I miss you so much and I can't wait to see you. 

Sometimes I can't even think about how great my mission has been because it makes me feel too much emotion. I am so grateful for you and everything you do for me and how much you've supported me and sacraficed for me.

I love you bunches!

If you are awake, you can reply and tell me whatever you want to say... I need mommy love. :)

love arby 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mothers day to my moms. You know who you are :)

I'm so grateful for this day and all the days we have moms, because they are always there behind the scenes, getting it all done. :)

This was a great week. I learned so much, because we had a visit from Elder Shayne Bowen of the Seventy. It was wonderful. I learned more about who I am and why we are here on earth. It is so comforting and inspiring to know that the gospel has the answers. 

This week we had the baptism of Sis. Beth. She is so amazing. She was so happy and said it was the best day of her life. It is. If we decide to follow Heavenly Father today, whether we were baptized today or 20 years ago, it can be the best day of our life.

This week I found out that someone I talked to on the street and taught once around 6 months ago is going to be baptized, with his wife. It was so exciting, because I know Heavenly Father is watching over all His children and He has plans for them and His timing is perfect. 

Well, I hope you all have a great day. Enjoy it and remember your mom! 

Love ya'll!

--

Sister Smith

To Mom:

I love talking with you all but this time it made me way too excited to come home.

I got dad's talks and your letter. I loved it. 

I have done bad with sugar. and today I bought lots so I don't feel sad about missing you. haha. 

Things are okay with my companion. I love her, but I'm also excited for change.

I love you a billion too!!!

I am so tired from skyping. I seriously am so excited to see you all again. I can't believe the next time will be the airport.

IT's still far away. I dont know why I"m talking about it.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Dad:

Yeah, that was fun. (Skype)  It would have been more fun if it wasn't so crappy. But its okay, I got to see you all, and it's close now that I will see you in person. I am working on my goals. Just little things daily. I'm getting better and learning a lot.

I think tyler leaving is hurting me worse! I have been pretty sad. But I'd rather he is on a mission of course. It's just sad to know he won't be there. 

I love you! I'm pretty cool but I'll try to be better.

I hope we can eat mangoes and stuff when I come home. I will cook stuff with fish sauce. 

lots of love, 

daughter.

Cecelia came on in the grocery store and I always think of you singing "Petunia, you're breaking my heart!" 

Screenshot from our LAST SKYPE before Sister Smith is home!

MAYYYY!

Hello all, this is going to be short, but just bear with me. I struggle with english and typing... 

This week was good. Beth passed her interview! I would love to send you a picture of her, but next week na lang! I will send a picture of her baby. 

Beth is so sweet. She's almost 40 years old and has 6 boys. She's changed so much and is SO EXCITED for her baptism. And I am in love with her baby, and he loves me too. When I'm over there, he cries if he's not holding my hand. 

We've been teaching Alex for a few weeks but they weren't married yet. His wife finally gave in to his proposals, and now they have plans AND his wife is listening to us AND they both came to church. It's so fun to see them pray together. 

I loved my studies this week of course. It's awesome how if you ask Heavenly Father questions, He ANSWERS :) 

I hope you all enjoy your week. I'm enjoying the crazy weather here, and the funny challenges I get. don't worry about me because I'm fine, but this week my pinky toenail randomly fell off (no pain, no blood, it just fell off) and I got an infection on the back of my leg on a cut I didn't know I had. But alls well that ends well. 

Well havea  great week ya'll!

--

Sister Smith

To Dad:

daddy dearest!

It came too fast, didn't it? We were all little, and thought we were so busy, but look at us now, pretty soon we'll be in 3 different countries. Ugh. Time is so fast. 

I'm so excited to meet the babies and see the family again. 

The time has gone by fast. It feels like he just got his call. But now he's off. When he gets to denmark and starts his first transfer, it will be my last. I think my last transfer starts around June 22ish. I'm not positive. I have 2 transfers and 2 weeks left though. 

Our work is pretty good. Challenging, but fun. We had lots of problems come up, but also lots of successes. We haven't met a family yet that everyone will listen, but we are striving to do our best.

My health was weird. On wednesday there was a little scratch on my leg that looked a little infected, by thursday it was so big and my body hurt so bad, like in my abdomen and stuff, and then I just cleaned the wound really good and started antibiotics and now it's fine. it was weird. but I'm fine. haha. adventures. 

humility is hard. I'm really striving. especially the last week. thanks a lot for challenging my humility. 

I think I will get the letter tomorrow at our MLC with ELDER BOWEN! He's the one who did the reclaimed video, which is one of my favorite ever. He has lots of good talks actually. I'm lucky!

Well, I love you. I tried for a long time to organize my goals, and I think what my biggest goal is to become a happy person. Satisfied and steadfast. I have some specific things that go with it, but it's kindof broad too. I don't know. I'll probably know what I want to do before I go home...when I'm on the airplane. 

love you! don't throw up at my picture!

note from mom: so sorry about posting the leg pic, but I thought it might be something Aubrey would want to remember? Maybe? It's also funny that she sends Brandon that photo, and me the one with a cupcake. :) So grateful for that!

To Mom:

Mommmy!

I can't wait to see the fam!!! Ahhh!!

I think it's like august 3. I"m not sure because I dont' know about planes and stuff.

Basta I leave the 2nd I think from the mission home..

Yay I need that journal soon! :) You're the best

I love you so much too. Good luck eliminating sugar. I really need to lose some weight. 

Don't worry about my infection or anything. It's like better now. I'm just taking two antibiotics. I dont' know if that's necessary, but that's what I was told to do. so woohoo. 

Well I love you so much!!!!! Here's a picture of me and my cupcake. 

I miss you!!!!!! I'll skype you next week between 7:30 and midnight your time ;) haha

bye!!!

arby