Monday, July 27, 2015

Big Week

This week was huge. A ton has happened this past week. First we had Sister Palmer, our Mission President's wife, came out and taught with us in our area. It was awesome! We stopped by the very first A&W, which we eat at just about every week, and she was taking selfies with us in front of the building. It was hilarious. Friday was Pioneer Day, which I have never celebrated before, but it was fun. The Stake had a huge activity and it was cool to learn some history on the Pioneers. There was a pie and cobbler contest...the missionaries got to judge. DELICIOUS! Then on Sunday, all 4 of the missionaries in my ward gave talks. I went first and talked about the Book of Mormon, My companion spoke on the Restoration, Elder Gwynn spoke on Prophets and Revelation, and Elder Hill spoke on the Atonement. All of our talks were super powerful and it was even more spiritual when we all sang a musical number. We sang the EFY Melody "As Sisters in Zion and Army of Helaman." Everyone in the congregation teared up and I felt the spirit so strong when we were singing. AWESOME! Things are awesome here in Modesto. I love it. I have been where American Graffiti was filmed and I constantly drive by the high school where George Lucas went to....FUN FACTS! I hope all of you are well and are having fun. School starts soon. Good luck!


Tuesday, July 7, 2015

What a Week

Woah woah woah. Wow! I love the Modesto Mission! Incredibly different, but we will make it the Mighty Modesto Mission soon enough. The Sacramento missionaries that they combined us with are...different. They were taught different as we were and so there are no rules in our mission. We are building up and being united. So much has happened in the past couple of weeks. First off, funny story. The other day, we ran out of gas and got stranded. We had to push the car off the road and our Bishop came to save us with a gas can haha We also had a baptism this past Saturday and it was awesome! My companion and I sang an a Capella duet and it brought the Spirit so strong. Everyone was in tears. AWESOME! We sang "Come Thou Font." Just beautiful. Our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Palmer, were present. President Palmer even spoke at his baptism. I love them. They are so cool! I will put my new address at the bottom of the email. By the way, I no longer have to run. God loves me! Fourth of July was great by the way. We stayed at Sister Phillips home and played games and ate food....I crushed the Elders in Monopoly. Good times haha Oh, also, President Packer passed away. I am a little bit worried about all of the Apostles passing away. It will be interesting to see who will be picked to be next. I am posting a link about his life in remembrance. Take care and press forward.



4300 Dale Rode
Modesto, CA 95356

Monday, June 15, 2015

BIG NEWS

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

It is Hot in the Summer

I just wanted to title my message that, because oh my does it get hot here and it has only begun. It is very normal to be in triple digits for the low. GAH! I cannot believe this, but I miss the snow! Anyways, we have a miracle baptism happening this Saturday and we had another miracle happen yesterday. God literally directed this girl to church yesterday, by her self, and says she wants to be baptized because she knows it is true and of God. WOOHOO! She is so cool and it's funny because my companion, myself, and her all said that we have met before and know each other, but we never have. Pre-Mortal World? I think so! Transfers are next week so I will find out this weekend what is going to happen. Also, this is the transfer where we are going to find out who is going to be called to the new Modesto Mission. Update: My mission, the CFM, is splitting in half next month (which is not common) and some of us will be reassigned to that mission. Guess we will just wait and see what happens. I love you all and hope that we continue to find miracles. I testify that anything is possible through prayer and I close in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Blessings are in Store

Monday, May 25, 2015

Happy Memorial Day

First off, Happy memorial Day! Go be free and eat some barbecue! Second off, this week we worked really hard.

We are trying to figure out ways that we can find and teach more. We thought that memorial day weekend would be really good for missionary work but it turns out that rich people just go out of town for holiday weekends. We were having trouble finding anyone to talk to members and non-members. We did get 3 new investigators but we found them through our own efforts and they are not very solid yet. We need to find more ways to encourage the members to work with their friends and invite them to learn about the gospel.

Our ward mission leader and his wife go sealed in the temple this week we were not able to go but we are super excited for them! Did I mention that he is doing his own personal 40 day fast? It is scary. He eats one small meal at 5pm. He is on day 35. He is the most righteous man I have ever met and we just helped them move out of Alluvial ward into Woodward park. We get to work with them still! :D

One of the new investigators that we found name is richard. He is very stuck in the 70's and apparently has been working on the same vintage cars for the past 20 years. we invited him to church and he had a lot of questions about if we knew about mormons who came and settled this valley. He asked a lot of weird questions about Mormons and Indians. I am not sure what he was thinking while we were talking haha

also we were knocking on this one door when we looked into their next door neighbors yard and saw the tardis sitting in their front yard. we knocked on that door next. They said they had "all the Jesus they need". But we were welcome to go check out the tardis. Also, their front door looks like a police call box. We took pictures with the Tardis, we are teaching people in other worlds!

This week, we also did a super cool training in our district. I now finally understand Jacob 5, which a super long and confusing chapter in the Book of Mormon. I just had some super cool revelation for that training. Anyways, I love you all so much and I miss the rain haha California is scary dry. The ground is so dry that when it does rain, the ground cannot absorb it to any degree. The retainment ponds are completely dry too.

Sister Smith

Monday, May 4, 2015

Happy International Star Wars Day!

Today is International Star Wars Day (May 4th)! Besides that though, the work is going great here. It is also really hot in California. I am sorry my message last week was abrupt at the end, but I had to get off right then and there. I had yet to tell you that my companion and I caught a live frog haha kind of our thing I suppose.  Mother's Day is coming up and I am so excited to call my mom. It is going to be so nice to see my mother again. Sometimes I just want to call her, but I cannot.

Also, Transfers is this week. DRUM ROLL................Sister West and I will be staying in our area. I love it here. Not to mention my training is over now and I have already been out 3 months. Woahzah! Time is flying by on my side of the mission. I can see myself changing everyday though and I feel happy. I am growing constantly and strengthening my testimony. I love the Gospel and I love how it blesses families. I know that I am doing so much good for not only people here, but also back home. 

Oh, that reminds me of a story. This past weekend was one of our investigators prom. We went over on Friday, shared a lesson, and I may have told them that I am awesome at doing hair...WRONG. I practiced and practiced on my companion do what she wanted, but I could not. We went back the next day to help her with her hair, and share a message, and Sister West did it. We were praying so hard for her to be stunning and it was. POWER! Anyways, it was a really spiritual lesson too. WOOHOO! I love you all so much and hope your day is wonderful. Enjoy the weather and the hand of God that is in our life. I know that you will be able to see tender mercies in your life. I know I do. I say these things in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Smith