I think spring is finally here!!

Hi Ya'll!!!!

    I'm trying to think of what happened this week and things come to my mind, but then I am like hummm.... is that really that important or do I have the desire to write out that entire story. I think it is interesting the long I am on my mission the less I want to write long emails.... don't worry though I will still write them I will just make sure that the stories I write will be like the bomb! You know what I'm saying'? Okay anyways I'm a little tired so don't make fun of me for my strange comments!

Monday: It was raining like crazy here, but it made for a greener week which is nice!

Tuesday: We met with one of our investigators named Bob or Bro. Rusch! He is a pretty neat guy. He is having like a Job moment in his life though which is a bummer but he is willing to read and pray which is great. I know that the gospel would truly help him through his trials more than anything else.

Wednesday: Sister Morrison and I taught our scripture study class! We broke down Mosiah 4 and we found how we could find more peace and happiness in this life. It was actually a pretty good lesson. It is amazing how much you learn when you break down the scriptures and you have a question in mind.

Thursday: We had invited a woman a while ago to the family history center and we were finally able to meet with her there. The best part about this is that she was interested in why we are so involved in family history work and she wants to meet with us and learn more about it! This is one of the goals that we have this transfer which is to baptize someone through the efforts of family history!

Friday: We did a ton of service for our investigator Angie! The Elders were there to help which was great because it was some hard work. We had to dig up rocks then we have to take them to her back yard and empty the container out then go back and do it again. It wouldn't be so bad but we did it for like 2 hours and your arms start to get really tired. Elder Williams said "I'm going to have a heart attack!" and he was a wrestler in high school so the rest of us were beat.

Saturday: We contacted a ton of referrals because we finally had a car! We also ate with the Ruggieris and I just love that family! They also invited their neighbors over which is always great!

Sunday: We actually door knocked into this woman who is so prepared she just doesn't know it!! She was asking all these great questions that the gospel would answer but she wasn't willing to meet with us, but she did say that she might come to church and if she likes it she would meet with us!! We are hoping and praying that she comes to church!

Well I don't have much time left sorry!!!!!

I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week!!!!!!

RETURN WITH HONOR!!!!!!

Love Always,

Sister Smith

New Transfer and New Beginings!

Howdy!!!

   I hope that all the mothers had a wonderful mother's day and that they all got a nice breakfast in bed! Mothers are the best and I want to thank every woman whether they are a mother or not for their influence on the world! It is amazing what one woman can do and it is even more amazing what a lot of righteous woman can do! Thank you for always being loving and caring and for your wonderful examples!

   This week was a little different than most, but it was still a wonderful week!

Monday: I spent my day rearranging the apartment so that we would have a study room. We also bought giant white boards to put on our walls so that we could be more organized! White boards are the best!

Tuesday: I sent Sister Murri off to Bay City! I spent the rest of my Tuesday with the Lansing Sisters and they are hilarious and I loved that I got to spend about 24 hours with them and we had some good adventures. I learned that I can sort of kind of slightly beat box and it is pretty sweet!

Wednesday: I got to go to the airport and pick up my companion Sister Morrison!!!!! It was so cool to be able to go to the airport! I'm pretty sure it was like a once in a life time opportunity! We then spent the rest of the time going over some stuff. We got to go with the assistants to MSU and do some personal contacting there which was really neat. We also got to stay the night at the mission home!

Thursday: We spent half the day in training. Sister Morrison was the only missionary to come out this transfer so it was just she and I who got the training. It was crazy cause I was in trainer training with just President Hess and the assistants! We also got to eat lunch with them which was pretty sweet!

Friday: We got to work!

Saturday: This week we were with out the car and we walked a ton this day! We were able to meet a lot of great people though! It was such a nice day and tons of people were outside doing yard work and it was great because people are just so much happier when it is sunny outside and they are willing to talk unlike during the winter time!

Sunday: We got to call home!!!!

Spiritual Thought: I think I am realizing now more than ever that the Lord really does qualify who he calls. I can really feel the Lord help me recognize my weaknesses and help me to strengthen them. The Lord really does know us better than we know ourselves. Remember that if you ever receive a calling you think you can't hold up to remember that the Lord has called you to that calling for a reason and that through Him all things are possible. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and all that he has done for me and all that I am able to do because of Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Always,

Sister Smith

Silly Sisters :)

Transfers!!!!

Hey everyone!!!

This is going to be very short because we have to be somewhere for transfers! This week didn't have a lot going on really. Sister Murri and Sister Flora were pretty sick this week so we had to stay in for a while which is always a bummer for the healthy one. Sister Murri and I did study some deep doctrine though which is always fun! Sister Murri and I were able to go out just me and her because Sister Flora was feeling sick still so that was really cool to be in a duo for the day!

I am staying here in Lansing for this transfer which I am pretty excited about because I don't have to go through the stresses of packing!!! HaHa!!! I do have to organize and clean our apartment though which is kind of a bummer but I am super happy that I will be having a nice clean apartment! I will also be going down to a duo this transfer as well which I am pretty excited about!

Our investigators are pretty sad to see Sister Flora and Sister Murri leave and we got some great pictures with people from the ward and who we are teaching and I will send some of those to you next week!!!

Well I have got to go but thank you all for you prayers and for your missionary efforts wherever you are!!! The Lord loves all of you very much!!!! Have a wonderful week!!!!!!

Love Always,

Sister Smith 

Missions are INTENSE!!!!

Hey Familia and Friends!!!

    So you know how it is almost May well we are still in the 40s sometimes which is kind of a bummer so even when the sun is out you have to wear long sleeves so you can't get your awesome watch tan. :/ We've decided that Michigan would be a wonderful place to live if there was not wind. If wind did not exist in Michigan it would be a wonderful place, well winds above 10 mph cause you still need to fly a kite every once in a while. This week has been an intense week, but in missionary work what week isn't.

Monday: Sister Murri and I spent like all P-Day making Book of Mormon boxes for the Elders we serve with Elder Williams and Elder Ashton. Now these boxes are pretty awesome. We have and ITL holder inside and we put pens in them and they are also used as teaching tools while at door steps because of the pictures on them. The Elders have actually found pretty good success from using them.

Tuesday: We did some service for one of our investigators, Angie. In Lansing there was a huge ice storm and now that all the snow is gone you can actually pick up the massive branches that have fallen from the trees. We also had a lesson with our investigator Laura. Laura is Catholic and I'm pretty sure that she wants to convert us to her religion, but we will see what happens! The spirit was present hopefully she accepted it!

Wednesday: We had district meeting! I love district meetings!!! They are the best-est! We learned about extending commitments and following up with those that we teach! It was really good! Later that evening we also had a scripture study class and the Elders taught it! Elder Raun from my MTC group was on trade offs and they taught so well! It was great to see the growth of a missionary who came out the same time I did.

Thursday: We went door knocking this day and it was pretty crazy. The wind was cold and well I didn't have a jacket. Obviously I wasn't a very good boy scout because I didn't learn the motto "be prepared".

Friday: We helped set up for a genealogy event that was going to take place on Saturday and we door knocked.

Saturday: We got to help out at the genealogy thing! There were like 200 something people there and like 90% were not members! It was really neat actually to see how many people enjoy genealogy! I really am a lot more into family history now since my mission! It is super cool because my Ward Mission Leader printed out my fan chart and like almost all of it is filled out, but now I want to learn about the names on the chart! The church is true because of many things and family history is one of them!

Sunday: I went to a Catholic church along with going to ours. We went to a special Mercy mass thing. It was interesting..... It is nice to know where our investigator is coming from and we were able to ask questions so we can now better understand how to teach her and what her beliefs are.

Spiritual Thought:  Something that I learned this week is that sin destroys families. It is so important for us to strive to live the commandments and to teach our children to do the same. Satan is after the family in so many ways and I have been able to see that this week. Families are so important to our Heavenly Father and Satan knows that is where growth and development take place. Why do we find it so hard to keep the commandments? The natural man truly is an enemy to God. If there is anything that I can say to you all right now it is do everything in your power to follow the commandments and raise your families in the ways of the Lord. Sin is real, but the power of God triumphs over all things and sin is one of them. If you have sinned repent and feel renewed! The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and it can heal you fully if you let it! I know that we can over come all things through Jesus Christ and we can have the strength to overcome the sins of the world. I love you all so much and I want you to know this, you are all loved greatly by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love Always,

Sister Miranda Smith 

SPRING IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey-O!!!!

    I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and that you took the time to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and his resurrection and all that we are able to accomplish because of Him!

    So spring has finally arrived in Michigan and I am only that happiest little Michiganary ever!!! Everyone is a lot more friendly and not to mention our conversations are longer because frost bite isn't an issue anymore. I am able to wear short sleeves and no tights, high 60s has never felt so good!!!! I still walk outside sometimes and think that the cold wind is going to hit, but to my delightful surprise my skin takes in a nice ray of sunshine and the cool breeze is just oh so sweet! I am finally able to get a tan! Also the trees are starting to bud which mean the green is going to come back soon!!! Awww spring is a wonderful time of the year!

This is a report of my last week:

Monday- We went to the YMCA which was super fun! We enjoyed a nice friendly game of smack the Raquet ball as hard as you can and make sure it doesn't hit you! There was a lot of laughs!

Tuesday- Oddly enough it snowed on Tuesday..... I know the weather is just crazy here. We were also on trade offs so one of my Sister Training Leaders came to our area with Sister Flora and I, while Sister Murri went to MSU. While we were out door knocking a dog got loose and we had to chase it down.... oh the joys of missionary work!

Wednesday- We had interviews!!!!!!!!! I love interviews with my mission president! I just love President and Sister Hess! It was actually pretty sad because these were the last interviews that we will have with President Hess before he is released as our mission president. It just pulls at my heart strings knowing that they will be released soon, but I know that President Jacobsen will be great!

Thursday- We went door knocking a lot which was nice because the weather is nicer so we are a lot more excited to get out an work.

Friday- It is interesting how on Good Friday a lot of people didn't want to talk about their Savior. We talked with a lot of people who did not want to hear about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel which is actually really sad. It is sad when people don't want to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ with us.

Saturday- We went and saw one of our investigators Sarah. She is from Iraq and came to the USA a  few years ago. She is married and has 5 kids. We didn't know what to do so we knelt down and prayed. When we prayed I received the prompting to go to Sarah's because she needed our help. We decided to go and when we got there and started talking to her she said that she was so grateful we came! When we are there she says it feels different and she was having a busy day and we helped her by coming over! It was so amazing to see the Lord, put us exactly where we needed to be!

Sunday- I thought going contacting on Easter would not be so great but actually it wasn't bad at all! We met some really wonderful people and we had some really good conversations with people. None of the people we talked to were interested, but we were able to talk with people and explain more about the restored gospel!

Spiritual Thought- So this morning in my studies I was reading in 2 Nephi 1: 20. It talks about how if we keep the commandments we will prosper in the land and if we don't keep the commandments we will be cut off from the Lord's presence. This verse lead me to think that if we know that keeping the commandments will help us then why would we ever break them? That lead me to think "Why do we keep the commandments?" The scripture John 14:15 came to my mind "If ye love me keep my commandments" We keep the commandments because we love God, but that isn't all. We also have a hope that he will keep his promises that he has given us if we keep ours. Having hope leads us to having a greater faith. It is a cycle and charity is in the middle! Without Faith, hope and charity we really are nothing because we won't keep the commandments which means we will be cut off from the presence of God! What do we need in order to keep the commandments? Faith, Hope and Charity and if we have these attributes of Christ we will have a desire to keep the commandments which will ultimitly bring us more happiness and joy into our lives than we could ever imagine! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Always,

Sister M. Smith 

We have FEASTED!!!!!

Howdy Family and Friends!

   I hope all of you enjoyed the wonderful messages that were given to us by our Savior through modern day prophets and apostles! We are so blessed!!!! I just love general conference! I am so sad that it is over though and we have to wait another 6 months till we get it again, but we can always reread or watch them whenever we want! We are so blessed!!!!! It is like Christmas, but only better because you get to be fed spiritually and what you get you can use to gain eternal life which is the greatest of all gifts!!!!

A glance into a missionary's life:

Monday: We did a service activity for a member in the ward and it was fun! We gathered a bunch of branches that fell during a massive ice storm that took place during winter! I also got to through around a football which was fun and now one of the kids calls me Sister Football! haha!

Tuesday: We met a man named Robert while door knocking! It was really cool because he was super open and he really enjoyed talking with us! We were able to set up a time to meet with him again which was great!

Wednesday: We taught a scripture study class that we have and we taught on prophets because of general conference and it went really well which was pretty great! Scriptures studies are great!

Thursday: We met with Robert and he had a lot of really good questions! We think the lesson could have gone better so we are going to have to improve, but he wants to meet with us again which we are so thankful for and we are hoping that he will read the Book of Mormon because we know that is how you gain a testimony of the gospel!

Friday: We did service for 2 hours in the rain and it was actually pretty good! Sadly there was so much to do and not enough time so we had to reschedule for another day to finish up the rest of it and we will pick a warmer sunnier day! At least it wasn't snowing right! We also went and say a less active woman who we have been working with and she is a crack up! It was kind of funny because she was talking about someone and I was defending the person and she looks at me and points her finger and tells me to shut up! It was so funny! I really couldn't contain myself I just turned to Sister Murri and started laughing! I honestly didn't know how to react, but it was pretty funny and she also called all of us liars. She is so funny she really is a sweet lady she gives us ide cream which is really nice! haha!

Saturday: General Conference!!!!!!!! That is all I have to say. Oh also us sister missionaries were invited to get wings with the priesthood of the ward before the priesthood session, we felt very privileged. :D

Sunday: General Conference is the most amazing thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spiritual Thought: I just wanted to give a brief testimony of vocal prayers. This morning during studies I was having the hardest time focusing on what I was studying so I said a silent prayer and nothing worked. I felt like I should go into another room and say a vocal prayer after thinking about it for a bit I did just that. It was so wonderful to pour my heart out to Heavenly Father and talk with him about what I was feeling and what I wanted to do for His children. It was amazing the peace that I felt as I conversed with him. A scripture came to my mind and it was John 14: 27 which brought even more peace into my heart. I know that when we pray our Heavenly Father hears us! I know that when we pray vocally it shows that faith that we have and the knowledge that we have a Father in Heaven who hears and answers our prayers. I am so grateful to have been taught how to pray at such a young age and that I can converse with the most all powerful being ever! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love Always,

Sister Miranda Smith 

Easter is around the corner!

Hey Family and Friends!!!

This email is going to be a little short this week because I don't have too much time right now. I am not really going to talk too much about my week but I want to talk about our Savior Jesus Christ.

Easter is just around the corner and just like every holiday the world takes the true meaning and changes it to get gain. Easter is not about the candy, the eggs or the Easter baskets. We have this day because of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have the knowledge that Christ LIVES and because he broke those bands for us that we may live again! Jesus Christ was born for one purpose and that was to take upon him the sins of all who have ever lived and break the bonds of both spiritual and temporal death! All things are possible because of Him!! We are nothing without our Savior Jesus Christ! We are "unworthy creatures" as it states in Mosiah 4:11 (one of my favorite scriptures). We must remember "his goodness, and long-suffering towards you," (Mosiah 4:11)

I cannot contain how much love, joy and gratitude I have for my Savoir, Jesus Christ. I am able to return to live with my Father in Heaven because of Him! I know he knows each and every one of us and he knows exactly what we are going through better than anyone else!

I know that HE LIVES!

In the name of Jesus The Christ, Amen.

Love Always,

Sister Miranda Smith

P.S long on to Easter.mormon.org and watch the video Because of Him, it is beautiful!