So my new companion, Sister Wade, is from Alaska. One of our ward mission leaders, Brother Linford, likes to make puns too, and so he asked Sister Wade, "Do you know why you were sent here?" And then he would say, "Because it's the coolest ward." I wish being in the coolest ward made a difference in the temperature outside though. It's hot.
This week was good though. Sister Wade and I get along really well, and so it's made this past week fun. Brother and Sister Linford deemed us a dynamic duo our second night as companions.
We have our two investigators, Heather and Roger, who were able to go to the Tucson Temple open house on Saturday with some members. They both really enjoyed it, and it was a great opportunity for them. We also had a lesson with our other investigator Jun. We just started with the basics over again, so we taught him how, when, and why to pray.
We went to the VC with a family in one of our wards and watched the 2 new Restoration videos that came out on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. They really are awesome and bring the Spirit so much. It helped make my testimony of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon even stronger.
Also, congrats to my younger brother Jacob for getting his mission call to the Peru Piura Mission.
Love y'all! Sister Smith
Don't see this very often here in Mesa, AZ
Transfer Day
Weekly dog pic
Vote Sister Smith for Zucchini mayor (biggest zucchini I've ever
seen. A member grew it)
It's hot
I broke it (with a law of chastity pamphlet) (only missionaries
So we had a talent show this past week, and so for my talent, I bench pressed Sister Marcos (all 97 pounds of her) 8 times. People weren't expecting it, and some thought it was an illusion at first. Someone else made the joke that with an ironing board you can press your clothes or press your companion (because she laid on an ironing board).
This week was busy and kinda crazy, and this week will be kinda crazy. We taught a fair amount of lessons, and we had another lesson in partial Tagalog. We also met with another investigator who is from China, and we brought a member with us who speaks Mandarin, so we had a lesson in partial Mandarin. We did have some lessons in English though haha. The lesson with Roger (the one in Tagalog) was pretty good. It was kinda interesting and awesome because Sister Marcos extended the baptismal invitation, but it was in Tagalog, but it was really awesome because I knew the moment she started the invitation even though I really had no idea what she was saying in Tagalog. We also were able to meet with one investigator we haven't been able to meet with for a long time! And it was a pretty great lesson.
We also picked like 13 bags of oranges this past week for service, and we juiced about 9 of those bags I think so far. So we have plenty of fresh orange juice (most of which we put in gallon freezer bags and froze). I am definitely not lacking on Vitamin C right now though.
This week was crazy a little bit though because our roommate was called to train this transfer that starts this week and my companion was called to be an STL, so they had meetings on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Sister Colbert joined sister Marcos and I for a bit, and then on Saturday I joined sister Clark and Colbert for a bit. Also, today Sister Clark and I did an exchange so we could go to the store while our companions packed since Sister Colbert is going home, and Sister Marcos is getting transferred (we got permission to do this exchange haha).
Speaking of transfers, we got transfer news on Saturday. I am staying in my area and am getting Sister Wade as my new companion. I will be greenie-breaking her, which means she just got done being trained. I'm really excited to get her as a companion because I feel like her and I will get along really well. And I'm keeping the car.
Nothing much else from this week. Hope y'all all have a great week! Sister Smith
So this week seems like it was really long! But it was fairly good. Monday night we went to some FHEs. One for the empty nesters in one of our wards, and then at the Faasavalus. It is sad because the Faasavalus are moving/have moved out of our ward. Even though at some point I would leave this area anyways, it sad to see them move, and I'm going to miss them. Tuesday, we did some service and had a lesson and did some member visits with a ward missionary to invite people to the ward activity on Saturday.
So Wednesday was really eventful. I was able to have lunch with Coach Fincher (my high school track coach), his wife, and their daughter Abby. It was really fun to see someone from home (although it was kinda weird all at the same time). During lunch, we caught up and talked about sports. After lunch though, we all headed to the Visitors' Center, and I, along with some VC sisters, were able to show him around some and talk about what I do a little more as a missionary and some things we teach about (like The Book of Mormon). But before we did the little tour at the VC, we were talking with the other sisters and Elder Lochhead (who is the director of the VC). Elder Lochhead and Coach Fincher were having their own conversation, and then the rest of us hear Elder Lochhead ask, "So what do you think about the defense?" Mrs. Fincher made a comment about not knowing if that question had to do with football or politics because it could go either way, and we didn't know either, so we all started laughing (it was about politics btw). So yeah, the VC was great, and it was fun seeing them! Later that night, we did visits with a member of the Primary presidency. We had some great visits, especially because the member could add another perspective or insight specific to primary or kids that we couldn't. We did have one really awkward visit, and none of us knew what to do. It was just so awkward, and I think we were all a little shocked by it. After the visits though, Sister Larson (who did the visits with us) took us to Sonic and we got half priced shakes.
Thursday night, we had a lesson that was partially in English, partially in Tagalog because we were teaching a Filipino guy. He has some interesting lights in his home... His home was also 95° inside (no joke!). Hopefully, the next lesson will be at the church or in a member's home.
Saturday morning, we had a ward breakfast party. There was food, a few games, and swimming. Man, I wanted to jump in that pool so bad, but I stayed a solid few feet from it.
Last night, there was a member missionary Fireside. They are always so good, but I love hearing the testimonies of converts, especially recent converts. They always seem to have a simple testimony, but it is so powerful and strong. Also, the music is always fantastic. Nothing is better than feeling the Spirit so strongly through music and testimonies of converts. It always boosts and lifts me up.
Anyways, I hope y'all all have a fantastic week! Sister Smith
Whipped Cream Shenanigans
Lights and Tagalog
I need this pillow
Coach Fincher, his wife, Abby and I! (I wanted to get a pic in
front of the Christus, but it was closed)
Sister Smith or Spider-Man?
Weekly dog pics
Pic with Brother and Sister Faasavalu
Whipped cream fight (really, it was just supposed to be us pie-ing
the other district because we won a competition, but then it turned to that)
My companion said this to me and my response was, "well, we did help at a funeral today..." because we helped in the kitchen with the food for a funeral on Saturday. We also had a member take us out to lunch on Saturday and they asked us what we got for our appetizer, and we got wings. Our member's response, who is 93, responded, "what are you going to do, fly out of here?"
Anyways, this week was kinda slow. But we did have a miracle! We stopped by our investigator Heather's house on Tuesday to confirm our lesson on Wednesday. Long story short, she couldn't meet with us on Wednesday, and we ended up having a lesson then and there. Then, we put her on baptismal date for September 16 (so it's still a little ways off), AND she said the closing prayer (which she often hesitates to pray in front of us) and in that prayer she asked about being baptized in September. Like, y'all don't understand how big of a miracle this really is.
We met with a few other people, but nothing else too exciting.
Also, the Pitcher family is awesome. We always have an amazing dinner when we eat at their home, and they even opened up their home to our zone for a breakfast party we wanted to do. 22 missionaries in their home this morning, using their pots and pans and oven and stove, etc. Just AMAZING! And I know my mom appreciates Sister Pitcher sending her pics home haha
I've also been studying Mosiah, and King Benjamin's dying words are on point Don't forget to serve others! If you are struggling, read his words. If you are doing well, still go back and study his words.
