Missionary work.... stalking 101

Family and Friends and everyone else not sitting on cushions!

   Let's see.... what cleaver thing do I have for you this lovely Monday morning? You know something that Sister Jordan and I realized the other day. She's been on her mission as long and I have left. That was a scary moment for me!!! Also you know you've lived in Michigan for a year when 53 degrees is nice and you're wearing a long sleeve shirt and no tights! That's right! I'm adjusting to the weather except when it's windy.... the wind is terrible. They call it the lazy wind because it just goes right through you. Haha! Anyways... here's a bit of my week!

Monday: Sister Jordan and I finally were able to carve pumpkins!!! They actually turned out a lot better then I expected and I'm pretty excited about that!

Tuesday: We actually had a lesson with our neighbor across the hall. She is this older woman who grew up Lutheran. She is looking for more happiness in her life! Haha well do we have the recipe for happiness for you!!!

Wednesday: Totally awesome amazingness!!!! We were blessed with the opportunity to watch Meet the Mormons! I must say that is was a great movie! The spirit was really there and it was uplifting and inspiring. I would recommend seeing it because it will brighten your day and give you a sense of  gratitude of having the knowledge that we have as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Go see it, you'll love it! Bring tissues especially if you have a missionary out! ;)

Thursday: We had a lesson with our investigator Sister Rogers! She is really making steps forward. She is doing so much better with not smoking and she is really everyday which is wonderful! We are so excited for her and hope that she will be able to continue to move forward and make it to the waters of baptism!

Friday: We went finding more today then usual and I have got to tell you sometimes I miss door knocking. I think it is great to bear your testimony to your brothers and sisters and I think it is a great challenge! I love it! I also have so many fond memories while door knocking so I just love it!

Saturday: Alright this ties in with the title of the message. Sister Jordan and I were out by the bay and it was dark and we were trying to find less active members but unfortunately it was too dark to see the house numbers which also caused us to drive a lot slower then usual. We then decided that  it would been a good idea to get out and try to find them and that still didn't work out either. I'm just saying that on my mission I've felt more like a stalker then ever. I'm pretty sure I'm going to join the FBI when I get home! :D

Sunday: I say this every week but I can't get enough of church!!! I love it with all my heart! I was so grateful to take the sacrament and to be able to renew my covenants! I'm so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and how much that has helped me in my life and how wonderful and amazing that gift truly is! Through Christ we have the power to do all things that are align in his will.

Spiritual Thought: I love the scriptures and this is a verse I came across while reading this week. "Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—" Alma 19:6 I feel like this is what has happened to me as I have embraced the gospel more fully in my life. The darkness has been cast away and it has been replaced with light and consumes me! I love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! I have been infused with joy and have been carried away in God! I know with all my heart that this is Christ's church. Our Savior lives! We are children of our Heavenly Father who have been divinely designed by our Creator! We have been blessed with the gospel and a rich knowledge. I am grateful for my mission which has strengthened my love for the gospel and my Savior. This really is a gospel of joy and I love, love, love it!!!! I know that as we are
"anxiously engaged in a good cause" (D&C 58:27) we will be "filled with his love, even unto the consuming of [our] flesh." (2 Nephi 4:21) The light of the gospel will come into our lives and the darkness will no longer occupy that space. The power of the atonement is real and it can and will change us as we open our hearts to it and let the light in! In the name of Jesus the Christ, amen.

Love Always,

Sister Smith