20 years already???

Hey Family and Friends!!! 

I cannot believe that I am 20 years old now!! Life seems to go by so fast and I just can't believe it! The work here in Midland is going well and we are moving forward and progressing. We are really trying to change ourselves and the way that we view the work. We are striving to overcome obstacles that seem to keep coming up in the work and we pretty much just keep on keepin' on! It is funny how everyday in missionary work is the same, but then everyday is totally different than the other! That is probably going to be life, at least there is something that will always stay the same in our lives and that is change. Change is good though because repentance is really just another word for change. I have definitely seen a lot of changes in my life which have all been great! It is pretty amazing looking back on the last 6 months and seeing the change that has taken place in my life and how much I keep wanting to improve and to change. Sometimes it is hard looking at myself and realizing how imperfect I am, but then it makes me appreciate my Savior so much more and His atonement. I am always amazed at the plan that Heavenly Father has for all of us! We are all so blessed to know about the amazing plan has been created for all of us. 

Monday: We email people and spent some time chilling at the apartment and wrote some letters to some people. 

Tuesday: Oh man I lost the phone on Tuesday and I was freaking out!!!!! I never knew how important a phone was until I didn't have one! We went back to the place where we knew where it was dropped and it wasn't there! I was so sad and I felt so bad because we were not able to use that time that we were looking for the phone to be looking for people who need the gospel. We also taught an investigator named Courtney Stevenson. He read part of the Book of Mormon and his biggest hold up is Joseph Smith and that there is no proof of him in the Bible when really there is, but your heart has to be open to it so we'll see what happens! 

Wednesday: We found our phone!!!! A member from the 2nd ward had picked it up and found out that it was a missionaries phone. She ended up calling a few missionaries and found the elders serving with Sister Whipple and I. She drove it over to the Elders and they gave it to us at our zone training. Zone Training is awesome! I have great leaders who really know how to teach by the spirit. They were inspired! 

Thursday: Haha funny story! We went over to Dakota's house to have a lesson with her and she wasn't there!!! It was pretty funny. She forgot to text us and tell us that she wouldn't be there. We sadly had to turn around and head back. Thank goodness for back up plans or life would be a lot more difficult! 

Friday: I was on trade offs with Sister Carlson in Midland! We had a pretty good day!! A huge plus was that the sun was shining and it was just so wonderful! We actually met a person who worships Satan which was a bit different.... We kept talking to him though and he was nice. I just thought is was so interesting. He told us at age 16 he sold his soul to the devil which is pretty crazy if you ask me. We asked him what he thinks he will get from serving the devil and well he didn't really have an answer. Missionary work is just so interesting. We also had a lesson with Meagan and Lamont! It went well. They don't have a date yet, but we are hoping to set them soon and also that they will be able to come to church. 

Saturday: We are running out of areas to knock in the Midland city area so now we are knocking doors in the boonies!!! Some of these people have like half mile long driveways and the forests are pretty sketchy. Also we have encountered a lot of massive dogs lately lucky none of them have eaten us. How blessed are we!!! 

Sunday: Something that I have noticed is that when you are fasting it is so much easier getting through the day without eating. It is strange how I can eat breakfast and go to all my meetings then church and by sacrament which starts at 11:30 I am starving, but when I fast all day I am fine!! I know that is a weird thought, but it makes me think about how much the Lord really blesses us as we keep the commandment and live the way that we know we should be living. I love that Heavenly Father is always looking out for us and knows exactly what it is that we need. 

Spiritual Thought: Something that we have been talking about a lot is trials. It is interesting to me that we are given trials to help us learn and grow. None of the trails that we have are the same as any other person so they are specifically for us. Heavenly Father knows us perfectly and He knows what we need in order for us to return to him. It is also really crazy how we have total control over how we react to these trials. We can either learn from them or we can let them take over us. We are so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he has given us agency and a plan! We are so blessed!!!!!!!! 

I love you all so much and I hope that you are enjoying the lovely weather!!!! You are all so wonderful and keep up the amazing work wherever you live!! There are people everywhere who need the gospel and they blessings that we have so go and share them!!!!! You all ROCK!!!!

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith 

We are Warming UP!!!

Hey Family and Friends!!! 

This week has been pretty good!! We are so blessed here in Michigan and we are loving serving the Lord! We are excited for this up coming week and we are ready to hit the pavement or ice I should say. The last few days it has been pretty icy, but Sister Whipple and I have come up with a system for us not to fall, we link arms! I know it was a thought given to us by the spirit... seriously it was. We like to think about what it must be like watching us trying to walk across the ice while trying to maintain our missionary haste. Pretty funny I assume. Here is a little glimpse into my last week!!

Monday: We stayed at the church ALL day!! We got to the church and then we got a message saying we were grounded so we couldn't leave and do all our P-Day stuff! Sister Whipple and I worked on our B-ball skills and also our Ballet skills. I know, we are weird but what else do you do in a church for like 5 hours!! 

Tuesday: WE WERE STUCK INSIDE ALL DAY!!!!!! We went crazy!!! I made visuals for the plan of salvation and I also made up a song to the plan of salvation using the song Praise to the Man. Oh yeah Sister Whipple got a video of it, but you won't be able to see it for another year. Bummer I know. You wanted to see my awesome singing skills! 

Wednesday: We are free!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah funny story. Our power went out on Tuesday and the temperature in our apartment was dropping and we didn't know when the power would come back on so we had to call the assistants and figure out what we were to do. Well we were able to go and spend the night at the Midland 2 sisters apartment!! There were 5 of us together!! It was great and we all woke up and worked out together, it was pretty fun.

Thursday: We had a really great district meeting on the gospel of Jesus Christ! We actually had our meeting in the chapel and it was amazing how the spirit was there and how it changed our meeting. It definitely strengthened my testimony about how special the chapel is and how the spirit can really dwell there. We also had a lesson with Meagan and Lamont on the Plan of Salvation. It went well and they are reading the Book of Mormon. We are really just working on getting them to church, that will really help build their testimonies of the restored gospel. 

Friday: DAKOTA WAS BAPTIZED!!!!! It was so great!! The spirit was so strong and I was so happy and excited for her!!! She is a wonderful daughter of God and I have felt so privileged to teach her about the gospel and see her change! Being a missionary is hard, but when you see someone you know and have come to love be baptized it makes every door in your face worth it because you helped bring someone to the knowledge of the restored gospel and all the blessings that come with it!!! 

Saturday: We went finding that day! We didn't find anyone, but that is okay we are sifting through the tares. 

Sunday: We watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration!! I love that movie!!!!! I love that I have a testimony of the Joseph Smith! Oh yeah we watched it with Dakota and Austin and they enjoyed it! Oh and don't get this video mixed up with the other 20 minute restoration video. This one is so much better and longer. I am such a missionary.... haha! 

Oh yeah!!!! A member sang at the pulpit before she started her talk and it totally reminded me of Glenda Armor and I loved it!!!! 

   My spiritual thought: I am totally gaining a testimony of Family Home Evening! I love FHE and I know that it is inspired!! I know that it is a program that will help build unity in a family and that it is an opportunity to talk about the gospel and spend time with the family. There are so many fun things that you can do for FHE! I know that it can be hard to do it, but I also know that the Lord will reward us for our efforts and the desires of our hearts. Family Home Evening is going to be something that I really strive to do in my family because I just feel that it will bring us closer and help us become stronger! I never said it would be easy I just said it would be worth it!! I just love it! Everyone hold a family home evening you will become stronger as a family and more peace will abide in your home! 

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

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith 

Good Ole' Ganderland!

Dear Family and Friends, 

    I want you all to know that I am alive and well! The snow is up to our eyeballs and we are stuck in our apartments, but we will survive. We are doing our best to stay warm in this unfamiliar, strange weather that is going on. We are Michiganaries and the work must go on!!!!!!!! :D An't that just awesome! 

So you may or may not be wondering about the subject line. So the people in Michigan are called Ganders and so I am serving in Ganderland. True Ganders have a Michigan accent, meaning they end a lot of their words in s, so Walmart is Walmarts and how are you is Hows are yous. It's pretty great, I love it here. So this week.... 

Monday: We had dinner with a couple from the ward and they took us out to a Japanese Steak House. It is one of those places where they cook food in front of you. I ate sushi everyone!!! I ate it and I liked it!! I know crazy!!! They also gave us a ton of food. It lasted about 3 days. Yummm!!!

Tuesday: This day was so so so cold. There was an awful wind chill and Sister Whipple and I were out in the boonies!!!!! I actually started to get a headache from the cold and that is something that I have never experienced. Also we didn't talk to like anyone cause the drives are like a quarter of a mile long out there!! There was a super nice woman, the very last door we knocked on, who invited us in and gave us hot chocolate. Have you ever had a cup of hot chocolate after being super super cold. It is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Best cup of hot chocolate ever!!!!!!! 

Wednesday: We taught Austin about the priesthood and now he is preparing to receive it!! Oh funny story. We had some young men come and the deacons quorum president was there. He was trying to help Austin understand something and he said "Being a missionary is hard..." it was so funny!! We were like yeah it is!! 

Thursday: We planned Dakota's baptism which will be on Friday night and we are just so stoked!!! We also taught our new investigators Meagan and Lamont. They are awesome and we are so excited to teach them some more!!! They reacted really well to the Book of Mormon!! Also they have like a 5 month old and an almost 3 year old! We are seeing them this week and we are excited!! 

Friday: We ate at the Kim's home. They are Korean and they made awesome Korean food!! Being a missionary I have definitely broaden my horizon!

Saturday: We got Courtney's phone number!!!!!!!! He is an investigator and it is pretty great!!!! 

Sunday: Church is great. I love church. We went and saw Austin and Dakota. I love them, they are great. I am learning a lot when it comes to teaching kids. I still love them and I really want them to understand why learning the gospel is so important. After the lesson Sister Whipple said I am going to be a great mom. I was very grateful for her comment! 

I'm not exactly sure what my special scriptural thought is today..... awk. 

For your enjoyment here is a wonderful poem about being in Michigan. 

It's Winter in Michigan

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour,

At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Michigan

When the snow's up to your butt.

You take a breath of winter air

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful,

So I guess I'll hang around.

I could never leave Michigan

'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

   I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and got to spend time with family and loved ones! I was really cool to spend Christmas at someones home other than my family because I was able to see the different traditions that the families have. I love that we have ward families wherever we go cause it makes Christmas as a missionary a lot better. 

So this week was pretty sweet!!!

Monday: Okay super funny story! Sister Whipple and I were door knocking in an apartment complex and this woman would not open her door. We pretty much talked to this woman while she was looking at us through the peep hole! Sister Whipple was just so funny cause she just could not handle that the woman wouldn't open her door and there I was having a discussion with a door. It was pretty funny if you ask me. How cool would that conversion story be "Yeah the missionaries came and I talked to them through the door, but I really felt something." I think it would be pretty sweet! 

Tuesday: We had a zone training! We talked a lot about teaching and what it means to be a good teacher. You know something great, when you want to be a teacher and you go on a mission you learn so many things on how to be a good teacher, lucky me! That night we went to the Bishop's home along with like 3 other families in the ward and had dinner! It was pretty funny cause we started working on this like 1000 piece puzzle with some of the people there and well that was just fun getting to know the members better. 

Wednesday: It's Christmas!!! I had breakfast at the Nanny's house and that was so much fun! They gave us our own stockings with our names on them!! It was so much fun!!! Oh yeah I almost forgot, I got to talk with my family!!!! That was so great!!! I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did. Something that I really enjoyed was seeing how happy Sister Whipple was when she talked with her family. It was really a neat experience. We also ate dinner at a member's house and that was great! We played this game called Wackee Six and also Spot it! They were super fun and that family is just so awesome! 

Thursday: Something that we run into a lot are no soliciting signs and there was a whole neighborhood that was no soliciting and we sadly got kicked out even though we are technically not solicitors. Lameness...

Friday: Oh my goodness this day was just crazy! Sister Whipple and I were door knocking this street and no one was receptive! It was like the scripture Alma 26: 27. Shortly we found a man named Tom and he is looking for more purpose in life! We are hoping to meet with him soon! 

Saturday: We met this man named Courtney and he is awesome! He is really into his baptist church though but! he is willing to read the Book of Mormon which like never happens! He read some of 3 Nephi 11 with us on the door step and the spirit was so strong! 

Sunday: We had this really fun Family Home Evening with a family we door knocked into like 3 months ago! It was so great! I don't know exactly how interested they are, but their kids want to come to activities and they also said they would come to church!! It was pretty great and I now have even more of a love for FHE!!!!! Families are Forever!! :D 

Oh yeah by the way I am not being transfer and I am staying with Sister Whipple. Nothing is really changing, well everyone else is changing in our district, but us. Also Sister Hunt is still my Sister Training Leader. :D 

So for my spiritual thought I would love you all to read either Matthew 5:14-16 or Moroni 10: 3-5! They are both great oh and 2 Nephi 25: 26!!! These are all great scriptures and help me a lot when teaching and knocking on doors!! 

Also something really cool that I did on Christmas was make a goal to do something for Christ. It is a little twist on a New Years resolution, it is what are you going to give Christ this year. It was really great because it helped me look at where I am now and where I want to be at the end of next year spiritually. I recommend that you all take the time to do this and write it down and keep it some where where you can see it! 

I love you all!!

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hey Everyone!!! 

   I hope that you are all doing well today!! I hope that you are all able to enjoy this holiday season because it is a wonderful time to be with family and remember the importance of our Savior, Jesus Christ! This season really is great when you get the opportunity to remember the true meaning!! It was crazy cause we were shopping this morning and it was packed at the grocery store and all I could think about was how crazy this wonderful holiday season has gotten! I was standing in line buying my things and all I wanted to do was say it doesn't have to be this way!! I didn't, but I did start singing a Christmas hymn and well I wanted to sing that a little louder also, but I didn't. I really hope that you remember the importance of this holiday and why we have it. It really is a wonderful time of year! 

Well this is what happened to me this week!!! 

Monday- We had a totally crazy P-day meaning we were super busy trying to get everything to fit with our time. It amazes me how even on our P-Day I still am running around trying to get things ready for the week. No time to rest, oh well! 

Tuesday- We met a young family!!! It was sweet! They let us in and they talked with us for a while. We talked a lot about church and what we do at church. I just have a love for church since I have gone on my mission and it is so wonderful and I just love it!! We are hoping that we will be able to teach them. As of now they are a potential, but at least they have potential!!!! And it is a family!!! 

Wednesday- We had a really awesome District Meeting about prayer!! We talked a lot about how we need to help our investigators understand how important it is to pray. We also talked about how they can receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true. It was really great because I was able to look at what we I need to do to better help our investigators so that they can come closer to Christ. I love that we have this gospel and that we get the opportunity to strive everyday to make ourselves better at sharing it with others!! I also get to learn so much on the way which is really amazing!! 

Thursday- Something I love about the Midland Ward is that they are so missionary oriented! They love missionary work and they are always looking for ways to share the gospel! We had dinner with the Jones family and they were telling us about all the ways they are trying to share the gospel!!! The thing is though not a lot of people are receptive, but they still keep trying and praying for opportunities to share which I just love and appreciate so much! They are wonderful examples to me of what I want to do when I get home from my mission. 

Friday- Nothing totally amazing happened this day, but I want to tell a cool story that happened earlier this past week. So we were out finding and we have been really trying to improve on listening to the spirit to tell us what to talk about at door steps. Okay so we knocked on a door and a young man answered ( he is about our age) and I just had this thought to talk about prophets so I did and he was like "I really am interested" and he put shoes on and came outside to talk with us. He was so interested in prophets and that we have one on the earth today. They crazy thing is that a man drove into the drive way and he told us that we needed to leave like right now. I am sorry, but I was not moving, so we stayed. The guy was just really freaked out and really wanted us to leave. The man in the car got out and just walked past us and said nothing. Dillion the guy who answered the door opened the door for him and he went inside to open it and the man from the car slammed the door. Well Dillion was now inside and we didn't really know what to do, but I didn't want to leave so waited a bit and dillion came back out!!! We asked him if he wanted to learn more and come to church. He said that now wasn't a good time, but that he was really interested. I am just still thinking about him and that he just needs this gospel!!! Well that is my story, it's probably a you had to be there moment. 

Saturday- AUSTIN WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!! It was so great!! It was a little stressful cause Sister Whip and I didn't really know how to get a baptism organized, but hey it worked out!! Sister Toronjo and Dakota and a member named Anna all played a special musical number and it was amazing!! It was "When I am Baptized" and the spirit was just so strong! I loved it!! Also their dad who is not a member was there which is wonderful!!! I really hope that he felt the spirit and really felt the love that everyone has for he and his family. It has been so fun seeing him progress into where he is at now! It is such a privilege to teach someone the gospel!!!! 

Sunday- We had an amazing lesson on Joseph Smith, by the way his birthday is today the 23rd. It was wonderful and I know that he was a prophet of God and that he was the instrument in God's hand to bring forth the restoration. I love that fact that God works through imperfect people, but also that we strive so hard to be like our Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love you all and I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas!!! Don't forget to remember Christ!!! 

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith

p.s sorry for the long email. 

It is Austin at his baptism!!!!!!!!! 

BRRRR!!!!!!

My mustache milk picture! 

Thanks Aunt Brandee for the gifts!!! 

Sister Whipple

Some of my two favorite nativities. Did I tell you that there was like 740 nativities and I got to count all of them!!! 

 One is of the Massai tribe in Africa and the other is from Peru and it is totally awesome!!! I loved the nativities. 

Christmas cards!!!!! 

It is Cassie and Kyle!! Cassie was baptized and Kyle is being taught! We found Cassie through Kyle!!

 Elder Hamelin and Sister Hunt!!!! Elder Hamelin goes home in a transfer! Mt. P family!!

Whelp.... I've got nothin'

Dearest family and friends, 

   Hows yous doin's? Everyone from Michigan ends their words in s. It is pretty epics. 

Monday: We went to a concert at a baptist church. This was the first time I have ever been to another church besides my own. It was very interesting. You're probably thinking is that even possible, yes, yes it is. We went with members of our ward to support their friends. We also got a lot of weird looks because of our name tags, but it is pretty awesome. 

Tuesday: Sister Whip and I door knocked a lot this day. We knocked into a lot of more experienced people and it was just really funny because we had like 5 people open the door and say "I only came to the door because I thought you were my company coming." Haha how funny. At least they got to hear just a little bit about our message before closing the door to keep the warm air in their home. Priceless. 

Wednesday: Nothing sticks out too much in my mind for this day. Oh wait! We had dinner with members and they brought one of their friends! She had a ton of questions about missionary work and about the church itself. It was pretty great, we also had a lesson about the Book of Mormon. We challenged her to read it, hopefully she does cause that is truly how we gain our testimonies, by reading the word of God. 

Thursday: I WAS IN MT. PLEASANT!!!!!!! It was so great to go back to Mt. P. I got to see Alison Alpin a less-active that I worked with. I also got to see Robert!!!!!! He is doing great! He is a now a home teacher and he has the priesthood and he is going to bless the sacrament soon!! Isn't that so amazing!!! I also got to see Cassie another recent convert that I was able to teach. She is amazing!! She goes out with the missionaries all the time and helps them teach. She also wants to go on a mission and she loves the gospel and the scriptures. She is an example to me of such strength. I feel so blessed to have been an instrument in the Lord's hand to bring my brother and sister to their Savior and this true gospel!!! 

Friday: We had half mission training!! I love trainings they are just so amazing. They really are inspired. We also had a Christmas party which was pretty great! President Hess did the oreo challenge where you have to get the oreo into your mouth from your forehead in a minute! It was fantastic!! We also had departing testimonies and they were amazing!!! RMs (even though they aren't yet.) are amazing. Don't tell them to change when they get home, yes they are totally awkward, but they have a very special spirit and I love it! 

Saturday: Sister Toronjo and Dakota Toronjo did a special musical number for Sister Whipple and I for Christmas. Dakota played the violin while Sister Toronjo sang Christmas songs!! It was so great and one of the best Christmas presents ever!! I love the Toronjos!!!!!! 

Sunday: We had a lesson on the Law of Chasity and the Word of Wisdom with Austin and Dakota so a 12 year old and a 14 year old! It was pretty great!! HaHa!! Good thing their mom had already gotten to talking about that. I guess I am just getting practice for my own children! HaHa!!! I love being a missionary!! 

Well that was my week!! I hope that you all have a wonderful week!!! I love you all so so so much!!! 

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith 

We have been so BLESSED!!!!

Hey Everyone!!!

This week has been pretty epic!! We have been just so blessed! Sister Whipple and I had so much fun and we are having a great time! 

Monday- It was Sister Whipple's Birthday and we went out and celebrated at Ruby Tuesdays with the other sisters serving in Midland. 

Tuesday- We picked up a new investigator named Andrea. She is 15 and the daughter of our other investigator Eulene! We are hoping that they will help each other progress in the gospel. 

Wednesday- We met a man named Bob and he was a pretty nice guy. He talked to us for a while and then we talked about the spirit world which is always a great topic because so many people are interested in the after life. We actually gave him a tour of the nativities this morning and we gave him a Book of Mormon. We are not sure exactly where it will go, but we know that he has been offered to learn more about the gospel and that is really what we are here to do as missionaries. 

Thursday- We taught Dakota Toronjo! We just love them! Dakota is progressing so well and she is understanding the gospel so much better! She had not concept of God before we met her and now she is understanding the covenants she will make at baptism and it is just so amazing to see the changes that the gospel can bring into someones life. 

Friday- This day was only the most epic day in the history of epicness!!!! On Thursday we received a media referral from church headquarters which does not happen too often, but we got one. This referral came from someone named Ashley and she lived like way out on the boarders of our ward boundaries, crazy thing though we had planned to go up that direction on Saturday, so what we did was just move it up a day. So we do not have a GPS so we had to use a good ole map to find this place and boy was it fun!! Anyways, they Ashley lives in a little cabin by the lake in the middle of like no where. She just got married to her husband Michael. So we got to their house and we did not know really what to expect, but we started to talk about the church and we gave them the restoration lesson. They were so excited to hear about the Book of Mormon. They have been to a ton of churches and have been searching for the right one. We invited them to be baptized and they said yes!!!!!!!! It was amazing!! These two people are so prepared and Sister Whipple and I just feel so blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to teach them! We are so excited!!! 

Saturday- We taught both Austin and Dakota about tithing! It is always fun teaching them. They are both progressing very well and Austin has his baptism coming up soon! He will be baptized hopefully on December 22!! We love them!!!

Sunday- Ashley and Michael came to church!!!!! It was awesome!! We had 4 investigators at  church and it was just amazing!!! They were also able to go through and see all the nativities. They said that they felt really welcomed and that they truly felt the love of Christ here. I was just so happy to hear that!!! 

      Sister Whipple and I are just so grateful for this week and everything that happened. Thank you all for your prayers and your personal efforts in missionary work!! 

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and that we can all remember the true meaning of Christmas which is Christ. We all have a Savior who loves us and is there for us. Remember to rely upon the Atonement for anything. We truly have been given the greatest gift from our Heavenly Father and we need to share that with others. I know that as we share the gospel with those we love we will be able to remember the true meaning of Christmas and feel the love of our Savior and those around us. 

I love you all so much and once again thank you for all that you do!! Keep Moving Forward!!!! Also something that I love is Do not be at ease in Zion. Remember that there is much work to be done!! 

Love Always, 

Sister Miranda Smith