Miranda's off to Michigan : 2014-08-03

Hey Family and those not sitting on cushions! (hehe)

This week has been pretty great! Sister Morrison and I have grown a lot and have had our testimonies tried a little here and there, but no worries we are still loving the gospel and preaching it two by two.

Monday: Everything went pretty well. We got a lot of time to do whatever it was the we pleased.

Tuesday: We got to meet with our investigator Sandy after a really long time of not seeing her!! Summer is a bummer because you don't get to see your investigators a lot because they are always out of town!!!! People who are learning about the gospel should really just stay in town so they can get fed spiritually. It's okay though because she is moving forward and we are actually hoping to see her this evening!

Wednesday: Our last district meeting!!! It is always a sad moment when you may not ever see those missionaries again. Our district leader is also leaving for home this week so who knows we may never see him again! Its probably likely that we will, but you never know!

Thursday: Well we went and saw a less active and well he was nice, but challenged us on all of our beliefs. He kind of poked fun at the church which isn't always the most pleasant thing because I love this gospel and it's not great when people make fun of something that you love and know is true. This instance though was just the being of a crazy day though.... only as a missionary. Later that evening we door knocked into a woman and she just started talking about how she really hopes that we will see the truth. She really was a nice woman, but she was feeding us anti the entire time. At one point she asked "Does non of this concern you?" "Nope" was our quick reply. It's interesting how someone could beat down a book that they have never read before in their entire life. This church is Christ's church and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to stand up for it and the things I know are true.

Friday: Transfer calls were made!!! I was surprisingly very calm and collected while waiting for the call. Sister Morrison will be staying in Williamston training a new missionary!!! She'll do wonderful I just know it!!!! I have been transferred to labor in Bay City!!!!!! I'll actually be training a new missionary and white washing the area.... it is pretty crazy if you ask me. The Lord must of thought I did a decent job training Sister Morrison or I didn't do that great and He's kind enough to give me a second chance. I'm excited to grow and learn a lot! I'll be working hard and really learning how to rely on the Lord!

Saturday: We met this super sweet 15 year old girl named Alyssa and all she wants to do is follow Jesus Christ! She really is so kind and I feel and know that the gospel would help her so much in her life. He mother passed away when she was younger and she is now living with her grandma and 2 older sisters. She is strong and she is willing to meet with us again and she is going to read the Book of Mormon! I'm super excited to see where this goes!!!

Sunday: My last day in Williamston ward!!! Actually I don't think a lot of people know that I am leaving this area.... oh well they'll know when I'm not there next week. Oh also the relief society sang in sacrament!! It was my first time singing in a choir! I'm actually really enjoying singing. I may not have the best voice, but hymns bring the spirit so strongly and I love them!!!!

Spiritual Thought: I have once again learned that no matter how imperfect you are and how inadiquit you feel the Lord knows you better then you know yourself. He knows your potential and He knows exactly what you need in order to reach that potential. He's going to strech you and make you go outside your comfort zone, but all because he loves you and wants you to become what he know you can be. I know that as we rely on the Lord and trust that He knows what is best for us that we will be strengthened and that we will truly be able to see our "burdens become light" Matthew 11:28-30 and our "weaknesses become strengths" Ether 12:27. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love Always,

Sister Smith

Hey Family!!!

Can you believe that I have been out 13 months!!! I know neither can I!! I only have 5 months left that is just crazy to think about! I can't even begin to think about how fast the time has gone!!! I love my mission so much and I love the person that I am becoming because of the things that I have learned! If you have the opportunity to go on a mission go!!! It will change your life, if you let it!

Here's my crazy week!

Monday: We had a lesson with my investigator in Williamston, Sandy. She is awesome and I love her! I really hope that progresses and will be baptized! I was sad to leave her! It's just sad leaving an area that you love! Also we were with Sister Powell who was heading home the next day! She was a great missionary and I'm sad I only got to know here for a day!

Tuesday: This was seriously one of the longest days of my life! It was weird because I was in my old area, but I knew that I would be transferred to my new area in 2 days. It was like I was on middle ground, wanting to be in Williamston but, wanting to be in my new area in Bay City with my new companion. It was strange and I'd rather not have another day like that!

Wednesday: We were with Sister Anson who was also called to train a new missionary so I was in a trio for a little more than a day which was great! She had previously served in Williamston so it was pretty good! She was super happy to be there!

Thursday: I finally got to pick up my new companion!!!! I was so nervous waiting to pick her up and to find out who I'd be with for the new 3 months! My new companion is Sister Jordan! She is from Layton, Utah and boy does she have greenie fire!!! She is great and is training me very much! She will be a big part in helping the work move forward in this part of the vineyard!

Friday: We weekly planned for a good part of the day! Planning when you don't really know the area makes it a little bit more complicated and longer, but we managed! (We are still working on learning the area and the members. We've only been here not even 5 days I think we should probably give ourselves a little break! We really both have a desire to work hard and hasten the work here so it's exciting)!

Saturday: Now this is the best part of the entire week!!! HaHa! We planned to go door knocking til about 1 and then go home and have some lunch. Today was a pretty hot day and decently humid. We were at our 3rd door and this lady named Gloria was going to turn us away but then started talking to us which was awesome! We talked from like 11:30 to about 1:00. While talking we shared scriptures from the Book of Mormon and she practically quoted Helaman 5:12! Anyways, while talking I started to feel hungry and little sick. I hadn't really eating anything since about 7:00 and we were standing on her porch in the hot sun. All these things combined into me getting light headed and well I actually passed out!! I know crazy right! The craziest part is that I passed out off her porch! No worries though (dad) I'm okay! If I wasn't you probably would have gotten a call. So yeah I fainted off a woman's porch. I fell down about 3 steps and hit my head on this plastic turtle. I opened my eyes to Sister Jordan praying over me and all I could think was "Dang it! Did I really just pass out!" They called 911 and the fire department came and the ambulance as well...... haha! They came walking up and I was laughing. I couldn't believe that it had happened and I still don't! They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said "Not really..." only a missionary. Don't worry we called the elders and I got a blessing and everything is all good! Oh the Zone Leaders called and Elder Tuttle said that I was boss and that everyone should work as hard and me and that I was his new favorite missionary. It was pretty funny! Also we had to call the office and they asked how the contact went and I said "Great! We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said that we could come back!" I wouldn't recommend trying it, but hey it's a new door approach and it works! But you have to stay inside the rest of the day so that is a negative of this approach.

Sunday: I love the Bay City Ward!!!! It is super small and practically a branch size but I love it!!! The bishop is wonderful and we are striving to build trust with the members! Also I bore my testimony and the bishop said that he could tell who I was because of it! I'm glad that I bear a testimony that builds trust! Seriously, I am super excited to be here and to work hard and to have been trust with this part of the Lord's vineyard!

Spiritual Thought: I have been thinking about what I want to talk about and I feel like obedience is a great topic of today! I am so grateful for commandments! I have a testimony of keeping them and living them. I know that the Lord gives us commandments to bless us and to make us happy as we live them! Our mission president and past mission president are and were very set on exact obedience and nothing else and I love it!!! As I live the commandments and mission rules I have seen my life be so blessed and my happiness levels exceed anything that I could imagine! One of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 2:41 which talks about the happy state of those who keep the commandments and that they will be blessed temporally and spiritually. I know that it is hard to keep them sometimes, but I know the amazing feels that you get when you do keep them! When we are disobedient we are captive to the devil and when we choose to keep the commandments we are free and will have eternal life! We choose whether or not we want to be happy. Happiness is a choice and so is following the commandments! Life is meant to be joyful!!!! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all!!!

Love Always,

Sister Smith