Didn't C it

So I was on exchanges, and we were going to a member's home whose last name started with a C. We drove right by the house, so we had to flip around. She still didn't know which house it was, but I saw a big C on a door, and so I pointed out that it was probably that one (as we almost drove by it again). We parked, and I said, "I bet you didn't C that one." 

Anyways, another crazy busy week. We had a mission tour on Thursday with Elder Wilson and Elder Wakolo and their wives. It was really awesome. It was long though. We got there at 8am since we had a song practice before (yes, I sang in another musical number). We didn't leave the mission tour until around 5:45pm. It was all really good though. Our main focus was on using The Book of Mormon in missionary work to help others become converted. It made me realize that most missionaries, including me, don't use The Book of Mormon enough to help others become converted. We introduce it, read it a little with them, and then move on. But there is so much more potential for using it. Even in our lives, we often underestimate the power that it can and does have. We also had a meeting just for the sisters after where we talked about how we can't compare ourselves to others and basically we have to keep improving ourselves. We also went around and each of us said something that we have learned on our mission. It kinda felt like girls camp in a way haha But it was definitely a spiritual boost. It was funny though because in the sisters meeting, Sister Wilson was talking about how some people appear to be at the top of the scale and others at the bottom. She was describing one of the people on the top like, "This person was born in the church to the Smith family on side, strong family, they are smart, athletic, funny, musical, etc." I leaned over to Sister Talbot and (half) jokingly said, "oh, I didn't know we were describing me." She laughed. But we went on and discussed the pros and cons of seeming to be on the top and on the bottom.  

We had MLC on Saturday with Elder Wilson and Wakolo as well. It is definitely awesome to be in these meetings because you get to grow even more as a missionary, but there is also a lot of leadership training that can be learned and applied for after the mission as well. 

I also had two more exchanges this past week. One of them was with Sister Drasbek, and it was kinda weird being her companion again, mostly because we were used to being companions in the MTC, and the mission field is a lot different than the MTC. It was also weird because we have both changed in the past year, but it was really cool to also be able to see that change. 

Something awesome that happened this week was that we were teaching a family that has 3 sons who are old enough to be baptized but aren't yet. While teaching the Plan of salvation to them, we got the impression to ask one of the sons (because he was the only one really in the room listening) if he wanted to be baptized. He did, and we put him on date. The mom said, "well, if he is getting baptized on that day, we might as well have the other two sons baptized on that day too." What a miracle! Also, technology is great because we were able to show a video from my iPad onto their TV thanks to Apple TV. Because my iPad was already connected, we were able to draw out the plan of salvation on my ipad, but everyone could see it on the TV. The mom said she liked it, and that she had never had the plan of salvation drawn out like that before. 

Sister Talbot and I also got asked out on a date. We were talking to this guy, and he had met with missionaries in the past, and we asked him if he would want to meet with missionaries again. He said "nah, but if either of you want to go to a movie, I'd be down for that." We kindly restated our purpose, and he rode away on his bike 

I'm sure there were more things that happened this past week, but I can't remember it all.  

Love y'all! 

Sister Smith

Weekly dog pic

Apple TV picture fun

More AppleTV fun

Sisters at the mission tour

You would think that the white stuff on the Christmas tree was decoration,
but it's not. It's actually cat hair 

Sister Drasbek and I after exchanges.
Have we changed (looks wise) in the past year? Haha

Solar Eclipse viewing

I do have this picture where the sun was reflected onto my chin  and I didn't even notice it until after the picture was taken 

Apartment temple pic

Companion temple pic

Sister Talbot and I with Sister Wakolo

Solar eclipse viewing video #nerdlife lol

2 for 1

The other night we were having what our apartment calls "family time"
and we were watching the end of the movie Prince of Egypt, which is
all about Moses and him leading the people out. The ending is them
crossing the Red Sea and the army getting drowned basically by the
water coming down. I said, "You can wave them goodbye." Then I
followed it up with "Sea ya later!"

Anyways, this week was good. I had my first 2 exchanges as an STL,
which was fun. The first one was kinda like a trial run to see how I
needed to do things and learn from it. Hopefully, I keep getting
better at conducting exchanges haha. But this week was super crazy
busy, and this coming week isn't going to be much different.

Amongst the craziness, we were able to find 2 new investigators that
seem super awesome. Like, they are totally willing to come to church
and read the scriptures and everything. It's amazing. We also had a
couple lessons with another investigator who is slowly coming along
who I am learning to love more and more. To go along with the
craziness, last Monday night we got taken out of our mission
boundaries by a part member family because they really wanted to take
us to a restaurant. Luckily, we were able to have them change where we
ended up eating so we didn't have to eat out of the mission.

We had zone conference. I sang in a musical number, so that was fun. I
had to give a training about faith and miracles. I love what the Bible
Dictionary says about miracles—"Miracles should not be regarded as
deviations from the ordinary course of nature." Miracles do happen
daily, we just have to be able to have the faith that they will happen
and then have the Spirit to recognize those miracles.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to be apart of the Tucson Arizona
temple dedication. It was really awesome and the Spirit was so strong.
It also reminded me of how special the temple really is and why I
should always have and be worthy of a temple recommend.
We also had a member Missionary fireside last night, where I was apart
of another musical number. I'm catching up on all the singing I didn't
do when I was growing up haha. But at the fireside, there was an
investigator from another area who came and sat by us since the
missionaries from her area weren't there. In the middle of it, she
wanted to talk to us out in the foyer. She expressed some of her
concerns that she had. It was an interesting and cool experience for
me because even though this was the first time I had met her, I could
really feel God's love for her, therefore I felt an incredible love
for her.

Anyways, I hope y'all have fantastic weeks! Love y'all!
Sister Smith

12 months down

Or 1 year complete, aka, my birthday

When the candle falls...

These shoes used to be black a year ago... they will soon be
retired, especially since they almost have small holes forming  RIP my favorite shoes 

Lydia, an investigator

 Zone Conference

Weekly dog pic

What you have to do with a couch after elders had it...

Ghost Town explorin' today

Hitting it with E's

So Sister Talbot is the music coordinator for the mission and is in
the process of training another missionary to take over that, but we
were looking at songs we could sing for a mission meeting, and there
was one song with a high E. I was just looking at it and said, "That
high E is just so high and it's hard for me to hit. But then there are
some people I know who just hit it with ease." Then, I realized the
pun I had just made was not intended, and we just laughed about it.

Well, this week was long and busy and crazy. Monday night, all of our
plans fell through—typical mission life. Tuesday, we had transfers. It
was crazy because we were trying to finish packing and cleaning since
all 4 of us were moving out. And we played Tetris with all of our
stuff in our car. Luckily, I have learned how to put things in car to
maximize space. It was stressful though. But I got Sister Talbot, put
my stuff in another car, and headed to our apartment. When we got to
our apartment, this was Sister Talbot's description, "It seems like a
tornado came though the apartment and picked up an outhouse on the
way." In other words, it was a disaster, was really dirty, and it
smelled really bad (like wet dog ). But it is all better now because
we took three hours out of Wednesday to clean it with our roommates.
The smell is gone. It is organized. And it is clean.

We were busy this week. Because Sister Talbot is the music coordinator
and we have 3 big mission meetings coming up in the next couple of
weeks, we spent a lot of time at music practice. And because my
companion is in charge, I am singing in at least 2 of the musical
numbers. We also had an STL meeting one morning, so that took up time
from our area as well.

But we were able to meet with some of our investigators this week.
There are some super awesome people in this area! But we have one
investigator who has a strong personality and just has had a lot of
things happen in the past. Sister Talbot warned me that she sometimes
comes off like she is bashing. Luckily, she told me that before
because during the lesson she basically criticized the way I taught
something and the phrases I used. If she hadn't told me beforehand, I
would have been shocked and probably a little upset about it. I still
felt a little criticized though. Then I got over it lol.

I also taught my first skype lesson this past week. It is a little
different, but I am so grateful for technology that allows us to still
be able to teach someone even if we can't meet with them in person for
whatever reasons.

This past week I have been thinking a lot about faith and miracles.
Ultimately, miracles are a result of our faith. If we want something
to happen, we first have to have the faith that it can and will
happen. We also have to have enough faith and trust in the Lord that
if the miracle we are seeking does not happen that it is the will of
the Lord and for whatever reason, it is better that that particular
miracle does not happen.

Love y'all!
Sister Smith

You know it's going to be a good transfer when you see this the first night

Closest thing to my weekly dog pic

Krazy Air crew today

It was pouring rain outside

 Highway signs 

Hay there! I'm moo-ving on

So we went to a farm this morning to see some cows and feed/pet some
horses. Also, we got transfer news Saturday night, and I will be
leaving my area. Sister Wade will be leaving the area as well. I have
actually known that I would be leaving since Wednesday since on
Wednesday I got a call from President Townsend asking me if I would be
a STL (sister training leader). Of course I said yes. Then I had to go
to MLC  on Thursday for the first time. It's basically a meeting with
the mission leaders.

Anyways, as far as transfers are concerned, I will be going to Skyline
Stake serving in the Skyline, Noble, and Mountain Vista wards, and I
will be companions with Sister Talbot. So basically, I keep moving
eastward along Southern Ave here in Mesa while on my mission.

As for this past week in my area, we ended up having to drop Heather
because she just hasn't been progressing, and she isn't willing to
change. At least she knew it was coming and even made a comment, "I
feel like you have almost stuck with me a little too long"... But she
still came to church on Sunday, and we encouraged her to at least
continue to come to church, pray, and read The Book of Mormon. I know
that somewhere down the line she will eventually change those things
she needs to and be baptized. For now, it is just the Lord's timing.

We also have been able to find a few new people to teach in our area
thanks to the Spanish Elders in the area since they found a few people
who speak English and referred them over to us. There is one potential
investigator that the elders referred to us, and we have been trying
to contact him. Last night, we apparently barely missed him. We had
knocked on his door, but there was no answer so we walked back to our
car. I guess as we were walking away, he pulled up in his car, but he
wasn't able to get out fast enough to track us down so that he could
talk to us. He told this to the elders who then told us this.
Hopefully the new missionaries in this area will be able to contact
him and teach him because that experience shows that he at least has
some type of desire!

Also, on Saturday, I sang my first solo ever. It was for a baptism
that our roommates were having. They asked Sister Wade and I if we
could sing a musical number with them. As we were practicing earlier
in the week, they asked if I wanted to sing a solo for part of it. I
gave them a shocked and puzzled look, but I ended up solo-ing a few
lines in the song. Hopefully the Spirit helped improve the quality of
my voice haha. But the baptism was super awesome.

And thanks to modern technology, we have had fun seeing if we are
related to ward members. I found out that I am 8th cousins with one of
the bishops in my current area, Bishop Wright. So that was
interesting, and we had a good laugh about it.

Anyways, I love y'all! Hope all y'all have a fantastic week!
Sister Smith

 Last night of RS volleyball

District

Our goals whiteboard.  Slowly throughout the transfer more goals were added and this was the result. I also used it to find out roughly how much a gallon of water weighs #nerdlife 

BINGO with the Girls (and Raymond)

Grace (one of the patients at the Montecito care center)

Weekly dog pic

Graham family

Cows!

Feeding the horse

I'm as happy as this horse when I get fed too 

Called as a Sister Training Leader

July 28, 2017

Dear Brother and Sister Robert Smith, 

We are pleased to inform you that your daughter, Sister Makenzie Kae Smith, has been called to be a Sister Training Leader in the Arizona Mesa Mission. 

A Sister Training Leader is a relatively new position in the Church.  It is a calling reserved for the most exemplary sister missionaries in the mission. 

As such, Sister Smith and her companion will be responsible for the training and welfare of the sister missionaries assigned to her.  She will go on regular exchanges with them.  She is a member of the Mission Leadership Council, which plays a key role in determining the goals and overall direction of the mission.

Thank you for raising such a fine daughter and for your support of her missionary effort.  Positive and uplifting letters from home that encourage her in her responsibilities will strengthen and inspire her. 

Faithfully yours, 

Lonny E. Townsend

President, Arizona Mesa Mission