But no pun in ten (minutes) did...

I couldn't really think of any puns or jokes from this week, and I
have been trying to think of one. But no pun in ten (minutes) did...

Anyways, this week was filled with ups and downs. One of the downs was
that Saprina was supposed to be baptized Saturday night. Everything
was set up, we were all there for the baptism, and she and the YSA
missionaries never showed up. Apparently, she had some last minutes
doubts, so they were at her apartment talking through it. We said a
prayer as a group though, and the Spirit was so strong as it was being
said. But I wanted to cry because I was so sad and my heart was a
little broken. But the YSA sisters got it figured out, and it looks
like she will be getting baptized next month.
The other down was that we got a text from the Cannan family saying
that the kids' dad doesn't understand their desire to go to church,
and he doesn't want them going.  another heartbreak from this week.

On a lighter note, our investigator Darla Palmer came to the ward
activity we had on Friday and was able to meet some people from the
ward. And quite a few members came up and introduced themselves to
her, so that was great! We also had some awesome sacrament meetings on
Sunday. One was designed for nonmembers, and the Spirit was so strong
as the simple doctrines and principles of the gospel were taught. One
of these was the Restoration. The member who spoke on this topic did a
great job, and basically said something similar to what almost any
missionary probably would have said if they were asked to speak on it.
As this member spoke, it really made me realize the power that the
message of the Restoration has and the Spirit it can bring into the
room as we testify of it.

Oh, and we got transfer news. I'm staying with Sister Clark in the
same area, but we will be moving to a difference place to live for
this transfer. Only 3 transfers to go 

Anyways, I love y'all.
Sister Smith

Weekly dog pic

District

Look how big the kittens have gotten

These kids got baptized (They were taught by Sister Clark in her

last area. I did teach them one lesson though when I was in a trio

temporarily with Sister Clark)

I think all missionaries could probably use this lol #stressed

Scaring the bageezus out of them

So last night we were reading The Book of Mormon with Larry and Maria
in 1 Nephi 17, and we were reading the part where Nephi shocks his
brothers. Larry made a comment about it scaring the bageezus out of
Laman and Lamuel, to which I quickly remarked that it probably
actually scared the Jesus into them. 😂

Anyways, this week was good, although it seemed like it was pretty
long. We had a great lesson with the Cannan family this week! We got
there, and they just started asking us questions that they had about
what we had taught the time before because there was something they
didn't quite understand and they had a discussion amongst themselves
and didn't know the answer, so they asked us. The daughter Alice was
introduced to the word of wisdom by some people at school, so we had
to also teach that. It's cool to see them learning and wanting to
know, and even discussing what we have taught them!
We also had a less active member we have been working with make
reading/listening to The Book of Mormon a bigger part of her life, and
we were having a Skype lesson with her, and there were some technical
difficulties due to the fact that she was driving, so we thought the
lesson was just going to end, but instead she pulled over just so she
could have this lesson with us! It was a miracle!

We had a Sisters' Conference this week, too. There was a really cool
diagram and explanation of how men and women have different roles when
it comes to us learning and growing and gaining eternal life. I wish I
could explain it via email, but it would be really hard. But it was
explained in a different perspective and way than I have ever heard
and seen before.

A miracle that happened this week was that a few weeks ago, we dropped
a potential investigator named Darla because the place where she lives
has a gate and we didn't know the gate code, and we tried calling her
a couple of times, but we never heard anything back. Well, this week
we got a referral for her, and she had referred herself online. We
called her, and she answered! We then set up a lesson. At the lesson,
she told us that about a month ago, she got calls from some sisters,
but she lost the number. Since she did want to have us come over, she
just requested to have missionaries visit. We had an awesome first
lesson with her. Unfortunately, she didn't make it to church because
she woke up feeling sick, which was a little disappointing... then
again, what's new? Don't all investigators get sick on Sundays so they
can't make it to church? (I've only seen this a few times... and by a
few times, I mean lots of times).
Sunday night, I stumped everyone (a family and my companion) playing 2
truths and a lie as a get to know you game. Granted, my lie was kinda
cheap, but that's okay. I used 1) I try to send home a pic with me and
a dog every week in my email home, 2) My favorite color is lime green,
and 3) I have 3 dogs back home. They all thought one of the first two
was the lie, but really I only have 2 dogs back home. It was kinda
funny though because they have a dog, and I guess after they pray,
they play with their dog with a laser pointer. So we said an opening
prayer, and the dog rushed over to the spot they keep the laser
pointer and started freaking out. At least we know the family prays
often enough for the dog to have a habit and know where to go.

Also, even though yesterday was super long with it being a Monday with
no set plans all afternoon, there were a few small miracles. We were
able to catch 2 people, who were on a list from the ward for us to go
and contact, at home that we have never been able to catch before, one
of which normally would have not been home but happened to be home.
One of these people, I had tried so many times before, and I almost
just gave up, but yesterday was our lucky day with her.

An analogy that was given by a youth at church that I liked was
relating a strong iTunes password to a strong testimony. This youth's
mom iTunes got hacked, and he talked about if you have a strong
password, it is harder to hack. If we have a strong testimony, it is
harder for others to break it down and lead us astray.

Anyways, I love y'all!
Sister Smith

 Sisters' Conference

When the maintenance man uses your colored pencil to write the note...

Weekly dog pic is back!

I am my mother's daughter. This is what happens when you walk down

the Halloween candy aisle...

Mode of transportation

So we had a district meeting at the Mission President's home this past week, and after we were eating lunch. We were talking about biking, and President Townsend asked what Sister Clark did with her bike. She said she locked it on our back porch. He then asked me if I had a bike, and I said no. Sister Young (my old roommate) told me right after I responded no to not having a bike to not use the broom out on the back porch because they had used it to kill some spiders. Knowing her, I knew her train of thought. President Townsend, on the other hand, thought she was telling me not to use the broom to fly around as a way to get around since I didn't have bike. We got a good laugh out of that one. (It was probably funnier if you were there and not just reading it)

Anyways, not much to report from my area this week. The investigators we have been working with are still progressing. No one new really. 

We did get a new area book app--Area Book Planner 2.0. We are... adjusting to it to say the least. Apparently, a lot of missionaries have complained about it since we got an email from the APs saying that we need to be patient in learning how to use it. 

I want to add an experience from this week though. On Thursday morning, I felt a little discouraged about how our day was going to turn out. I had this new area book I was trying to use and trying to plan with, we had a couple lessons already cancelled, we didn't have a dinner set up, and I was on exchanges, so my companion at the time couldn't really help me plan too much. I didn't know what we we going to do for the day. The Lord took this day that I thought was going to be terrible, and He filled it with little miracles to make it a pretty great day. I sent a fb message to an investigator with a scripture, and she responded saying that she needed that right at that moment. We went to contact a referral, who I was pretty sure wasn't going to be home, but I felt like we should try. He wasn't home. But then we saw one of our new investigators, whose lesson fell through the day before, walk around the corner. We were able to go and talk with her for a short time and set up another appointment. We had another good lesson with one of our investigators. We ended up with a dinner. We had a good lesson with a family in the ward. And because one of our lessons fell through, we were able to contact someone else and have a good lesson with them. So all in all, everything worked out, and the Lord helped me and really had everything planned. Then, I was reading in 3 Nephi 13 where Christ tells the disciples He has just called to basically not worry about temporal needs and such, and He will take care of them. He just did that for me! 

On Saturday, we did help out with a triathalon. I waved an orange flag for 2-2.5 hours to try to get drivers attention so that they wouldn't hit the bicyclists. My arm did get a little tired after a bit, but it was fun to help out. And it was fun to see how impatient some people are when driving lol

Yesterday, during one of our testimony meetings, there were some silences. But I looked over at our investigators who were sitting next to us, and they were reading The Book of Mormon! It is always great to see those you are working with reading The Book of Mormon. Also, we had authentic Louisiana gumbo last night for dinner that our investigator Nadia made for us. It was so good (especially after fasting all day)! 

So yeah. I love y'all! Have a great week!

Sister Smith

Kinda slacking on pics the past couple of weeks. And no weekly dog pic again 

Dinner at Nadia's with the lemon blueberry trifle

Dinner at Nadia's with the lemon blueberry trifle

Wake me up when September ends

Well, it is now October. Time sure does fly by, whether we want it to or not.

This week was good. Nothing too exciting.
There was General Conference, which was great as always. I personally
felt like there was a huge emphasis on trusting in the Lord, service,
The Book of Mormon, and following the prophet's counsel. It is always
cool that there seems to be a few topics that are really focused on
each General Conference, and it is always inspired by the Spirit.
Also, I love how we can learn so much from the general authorities in
the church. I was reading in 3 Nephi 1:24-25, and it talks about how
some people misinterpreted the scriptures, but then they came to a
knowledge that they had done that. I think it is fantastic that we can
have the scriptures clarified by listening to and reading conference
talks as well as anything else that is given unto us by the leaders of
the church. We have so many resources to gain knowledge!

Something that was fun and cool this week was that we went to Mutual
for one of our wards. They had a fire, and after eating hot dogs,
different youth and youth leaders were called on to share an
experience that they have had with the scriptures. The Spirit was so
strong as each one testified of the scriptures and the different
experiences they have had finding peace, comfort, and answers through
the scriptures. The scriptures really are true!

On Saturday, I wasn't feeling super great at all. We had a lesson with
Larry and Maria that night, and it is amazing how the Lord provides a
way for us to accomplish His work and purpose because during that
lesson, I didn't really feel sick. I know it was by the power of the
Lord I was able to make it through that lesson.

Anyways, not much else from this week. I hope y'all had a great week!
Love you guys!
Sister Smith

Missionary parking for district meeting

 Quick sunset pic