so, i don't know if anyone ever checks this blog, but i just realized that i never did an ending post, and some people might be wondering what happened. a lot has happened in the past 3-4 months... and i thought that i should bring y'all up to date on what's happening with my mission.
in February (about one month after getting back in the field from being home for 2 months) i got into a car accident and hurt my arm. after lots of dr appointments, x-rays and an mri (3 months after the accident) it was decided that i needed to have surgery on my arm. a lot of tender mercies had happened and i was in an area with a arm specialist 5 minutes away. i figured that i'd have surgery and just continue to be about the Lord's work. but that wasn't God's plan. my mission president told me that they'd have to send me home for surgery... that was definitely something i didn't want to hear! i shed a lot of tears and came home the end of may.
the dr here just did surgery about six weeks ago, and i have a beautiful brace once again. it's amazing to me to see how God works. the whole ordeal has been a huge lesson in patience. i've missed my arm so much... not being able to do anything with it for 7 months is not my idea of a picnic. but i've learned a lot in the past few months... lessons that i wouldn't give up for anything.
and finally - i've decided to not go back to indiana. this wasn't an easy decision... but one that i feel so good about. i know that staying home is the Lord's plan for me right now. i decided to stay after much prayer and fasting - the only way to make decisions. i don't know why i need to stay home... i'm still waiting to find that out, but i know it's what i'm supposed to do and i'm excited to see what the next phase of my life has in store.
thanks to everyone for their love, letters, prayers and support. i appreciate it so much. serving the Lord as a missionary was a dream come true... and i'm so glad i had the chance to serve the Lord. i think about my mission everyday and i love the people in indiana so much. my mission changed my life. it's a decision i'll never regret.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
HEY HEY!
Email from May 18, 2010
DISCLAIMER:
THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A TEMPORARILY ONE ARMED PERSON... PLEASE EXCUSE ANY ERRORS OR MISTAKES... THANK U!
DEAR FAMILY,
THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SHORT BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF TYPING WITH ONE HAND... MY ARM IS HURTING PRETTY BAD TODAY!!
OH BOY... WHAT A WEEK!! SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE...
AN ANTI LESSON!! THESE PEOPLE WERE "CONCERNED FOR OUR SALVATION", AND TRIED TO SHOW US THAT THE BOM IS FALSE AND THAT GOD DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK TO US TODAY... WELL BUDDY... I HATE TO TURN THE TABLES... BUT I'M CONCERNED FOR YOUR SALVATION!!!!!! THEY BROUGHT UP SOME INTERESTING POINTS... MOST I'D HEARD BEFORE... SO I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A COME-BACK! we didn't exactly GET TO THE POINT OF BIBLE BASHING... BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY... WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!!
THE UNWRITTEN RULES... NOW WRITTEN!! WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF NEW RULES FROM PRESIDENT IN PREPARATION FOR PRES COLLINS... RULES ARE FUN FUN FUN!!
TRACTING! WE HAD 42 LESSONS LAST WEEK... AND 39 THIS WEEK. THAT MEANS MEETING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE!! LOTS OF ATHEISTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER "NOT INTERESTED" OR "COMFORTABLE" (BTW... THAT'S A BAD SPOT TO BE IN!!)
PENTECOSTALS.... WHAT INTERESTING PEOPLE!! THIS ONE GUY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE HEARS THE DEMONS WALKING HIS STREET... AND THAT HE SAW THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES... AND ONE TIME HE MADE THEM MAD... AND THEY RAN ON HIS ROOF AND PUNCHED SOME HOLES IN IT!!
WELL... THAT'S WEEK IN A NUTSHELL!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK FAMILY!! AND REMEMBER I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
LOVE,
SISTER ALEX SMITH
THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!!
A MOUSE WE CAUGHT
ME AND MY COMP AT THE WYLIE HOUSE MUSEUM
MY BEAUTIFUL SPLINT
ME CHANGING A LIGHTBULB
ME DRYING MY HANDS WITH A NEW TOWEL
DISCLAIMER:
THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A TEMPORARILY ONE ARMED PERSON... PLEASE EXCUSE ANY ERRORS OR MISTAKES... THANK U!
DEAR FAMILY,
THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SHORT BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF TYPING WITH ONE HAND... MY ARM IS HURTING PRETTY BAD TODAY!!
OH BOY... WHAT A WEEK!! SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WERE...
AN ANTI LESSON!! THESE PEOPLE WERE "CONCERNED FOR OUR SALVATION", AND TRIED TO SHOW US THAT THE BOM IS FALSE AND THAT GOD DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK TO US TODAY... WELL BUDDY... I HATE TO TURN THE TABLES... BUT I'M CONCERNED FOR YOUR SALVATION!!!!!! THEY BROUGHT UP SOME INTERESTING POINTS... MOST I'D HEARD BEFORE... SO I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A COME-BACK! we didn't exactly GET TO THE POINT OF BIBLE BASHING... BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY... WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!!
THE UNWRITTEN RULES... NOW WRITTEN!! WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF NEW RULES FROM PRESIDENT IN PREPARATION FOR PRES COLLINS... RULES ARE FUN FUN FUN!!
TRACTING! WE HAD 42 LESSONS LAST WEEK... AND 39 THIS WEEK. THAT MEANS MEETING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE!! LOTS OF ATHEISTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER "NOT INTERESTED" OR "COMFORTABLE" (BTW... THAT'S A BAD SPOT TO BE IN!!)
PENTECOSTALS.... WHAT INTERESTING PEOPLE!! THIS ONE GUY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE HEARS THE DEMONS WALKING HIS STREET... AND THAT HE SAW THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES... AND ONE TIME HE MADE THEM MAD... AND THEY RAN ON HIS ROOF AND PUNCHED SOME HOLES IN IT!!
WELL... THAT'S WEEK IN A NUTSHELL!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK FAMILY!! AND REMEMBER I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
LOVE,
SISTER ALEX SMITH
THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!!
A MOUSE WE CAUGHT
ME AND MY COMP AT THE WYLIE HOUSE MUSEUM
MY BEAUTIFUL SPLINT
ME CHANGING A LIGHTBULB
ME DRYING MY HANDS WITH A NEW TOWEL
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11, 2010 email
Week one in Bloomington!
HELLO FROM BLOOMINGTON INDIANA!!!!
I don't actually have that much to say since I just talked to you!!! Wasn't that a treat?? I wish I could talk to you all the time... but I understand why they don't let us... it's distracting and I miss you so much more since I talked to you'ns (pronounced u-in-zz). But it's been a good week and I'm definitely growing a lot!!! My new companion (Sis. Bernard) and I have been getting along great...I'm getting happier everyday, but I've also been learning a lot that I really just made the choice to be grouchy!! Yes my companions and I had issues.. but if I would've dealt with those problems with a smile... they wouldn't have seemed so big!!! It's hard to smile when you feel like crying, but it definitely works!!! I've been thinking a lot about "get on your knees and plead for help, then get on your feet and get to work!!" I've been doing a lot of praying this week... I miss White River and my companions and all the elders up there SO much!!! That's been a really hard adjustment for me... but I'm managing!! President Corey committed us to make this new area and companion the best of our whole mission... and Sister Bernard and I have decided that we're going to set this area on fire!!! :D It's going to be an awesome transfer!!! We really don't have many investigators... but we're working on building relationships of trust with the ward so they'll give us referrals, and we've been doing a lot of tracting and found some sweet new people!! Yesterday we tracted into a Pentecostal preacher and learned a lot about their beliefs... we're going to go to his church soon... :) It will be awesome!!!
Well... I better run!!! It was so great to hear all of your wonderful voices on Sunday!! I love you all so much!!! Can you believe that my mission is almost 1/2 way over!!! It's gone by fast... but at the same time... I can't believe that I still have almost 10 months left!!! But I'm sure it will fly and I'll be home before I know it!!! Have a great week!! I know I'm going to!!!
Love Sister Alex Smith
P.S. Sorry this email is so short!!! I'll do better next week!! :)
HELLO FROM BLOOMINGTON INDIANA!!!!
I don't actually have that much to say since I just talked to you!!! Wasn't that a treat?? I wish I could talk to you all the time... but I understand why they don't let us... it's distracting and I miss you so much more since I talked to you'ns (pronounced u-in-zz). But it's been a good week and I'm definitely growing a lot!!! My new companion (Sis. Bernard) and I have been getting along great...I'm getting happier everyday, but I've also been learning a lot that I really just made the choice to be grouchy!! Yes my companions and I had issues.. but if I would've dealt with those problems with a smile... they wouldn't have seemed so big!!! It's hard to smile when you feel like crying, but it definitely works!!! I've been thinking a lot about "get on your knees and plead for help, then get on your feet and get to work!!" I've been doing a lot of praying this week... I miss White River and my companions and all the elders up there SO much!!! That's been a really hard adjustment for me... but I'm managing!! President Corey committed us to make this new area and companion the best of our whole mission... and Sister Bernard and I have decided that we're going to set this area on fire!!! :D It's going to be an awesome transfer!!! We really don't have many investigators... but we're working on building relationships of trust with the ward so they'll give us referrals, and we've been doing a lot of tracting and found some sweet new people!! Yesterday we tracted into a Pentecostal preacher and learned a lot about their beliefs... we're going to go to his church soon... :) It will be awesome!!!
Well... I better run!!! It was so great to hear all of your wonderful voices on Sunday!! I love you all so much!!! Can you believe that my mission is almost 1/2 way over!!! It's gone by fast... but at the same time... I can't believe that I still have almost 10 months left!!! But I'm sure it will fly and I'll be home before I know it!!! Have a great week!! I know I'm going to!!!
Love Sister Alex Smith
P.S. Sorry this email is so short!!! I'll do better next week!! :)
May 4, 2010 email
The b-awesome week!!
Dear family...I love you so much!!! I hope that you know that!!! :) I've been realizing that I was probably a bear to get along with... (I know you're all just nodding your heads!).. Even if I was a quiet bear... so sorry about all of that!!! :) I'll be a changed person when I get home!!!!! Corrupted actually... my zone is doing a good job of that.... you'll not recognize me... just kidding...I'll still be the same Sister Smith!!! Except hopefully I'll have grown spiritually.... growing is good as long as it's not OUT!!! Ha ha...I'm working on that!!! :)
Anyways... this week has been awesome!! Actually it was b-sweet if "ya know what I'm talking 'bout!" I'm pretty sure I'm going to come home talking like more of a hick then when I left... and apparently I have a pretty strong Utah accent... my comps love making fun of me... but it's better to laugh them cry right??
So guess how many people we had at church on Sunday?? SEVEN!!!! That's one of the things that made this week b-sweet!! Beyond sweet for those of you who don't know what in the world I'm talking about... you may not be "picking up what I'm putting down!!!" Another Hoosier phrase... aw...I'm going to miss this beautiful inner city ward!!! :( But as a lot of people have said to me... I've got people who I need to work with in my next area.... and I guess that my work is done here!! I've been here for almost 6 months all together... I'm just saying 6 months... it takes up less breath than saying five and a half... gotta save that breath for... preaching the gospel!!
Hmmm... so I should probably stop rambling... and tell you something that happened this week right?? Hm... I've taken a LOT of pictures!!! Oh, I played the piano this week.. shh.. but don't tell anyone!! I strapped my wrist up really tight so it couldn't move... :) So all is well!! I had an MRI and listened to the same cd twice... it was SO long!!! MRI's are such a pain!!! We'll find out on Wednesday what is wrong with my wrist... I have the sweetest tan line!! I'll be sure to take pictures of it!! When I was taking off the brace at the Dr... I said, "I have the sweetest tan line!!" And the doctor was like "It's sweet is it!?" I guess sweet isn't the right word for it... but it'll suffice!!
We finally got some tracting in... 23 lessons for this week!!! Sets a new record for this area... We've been getting something like 4 a week... lame I know.. but even if we're not tracting... we're still preaching the gospel!!! :) And we've had some amazing (I'll refrain from saying sweet!) lessons... I love being a missionary!!! It really is the best work... and I know I say that about every email.. but it's true... :) We also committed 4 people to baptism this week... and should be setting some dates soon!! Woo-hoo... and RIGHT when I get transferred!! Oh well... at least I got to plant some seeds here in White River!!!!
This gospel is so amazing... and the church is true... I love being a member of this church!!! It makes me so happy!!! :)
Well, I better run!! I hope that you have a good week... and I'll talk to you on Sunday!!!! :D
Love Sister Alex Smith <3 (that a heart if you couldn't tell!! :)
Dear family...I love you so much!!! I hope that you know that!!! :) I've been realizing that I was probably a bear to get along with... (I know you're all just nodding your heads!).. Even if I was a quiet bear... so sorry about all of that!!! :) I'll be a changed person when I get home!!!!! Corrupted actually... my zone is doing a good job of that.... you'll not recognize me... just kidding...I'll still be the same Sister Smith!!! Except hopefully I'll have grown spiritually.... growing is good as long as it's not OUT!!! Ha ha...I'm working on that!!! :)
Anyways... this week has been awesome!! Actually it was b-sweet if "ya know what I'm talking 'bout!" I'm pretty sure I'm going to come home talking like more of a hick then when I left... and apparently I have a pretty strong Utah accent... my comps love making fun of me... but it's better to laugh them cry right??
So guess how many people we had at church on Sunday?? SEVEN!!!! That's one of the things that made this week b-sweet!! Beyond sweet for those of you who don't know what in the world I'm talking about... you may not be "picking up what I'm putting down!!!" Another Hoosier phrase... aw...I'm going to miss this beautiful inner city ward!!! :( But as a lot of people have said to me... I've got people who I need to work with in my next area.... and I guess that my work is done here!! I've been here for almost 6 months all together... I'm just saying 6 months... it takes up less breath than saying five and a half... gotta save that breath for... preaching the gospel!!
Hmmm... so I should probably stop rambling... and tell you something that happened this week right?? Hm... I've taken a LOT of pictures!!! Oh, I played the piano this week.. shh.. but don't tell anyone!! I strapped my wrist up really tight so it couldn't move... :) So all is well!! I had an MRI and listened to the same cd twice... it was SO long!!! MRI's are such a pain!!! We'll find out on Wednesday what is wrong with my wrist... I have the sweetest tan line!! I'll be sure to take pictures of it!! When I was taking off the brace at the Dr... I said, "I have the sweetest tan line!!" And the doctor was like "It's sweet is it!?" I guess sweet isn't the right word for it... but it'll suffice!!
We finally got some tracting in... 23 lessons for this week!!! Sets a new record for this area... We've been getting something like 4 a week... lame I know.. but even if we're not tracting... we're still preaching the gospel!!! :) And we've had some amazing (I'll refrain from saying sweet!) lessons... I love being a missionary!!! It really is the best work... and I know I say that about every email.. but it's true... :) We also committed 4 people to baptism this week... and should be setting some dates soon!! Woo-hoo... and RIGHT when I get transferred!! Oh well... at least I got to plant some seeds here in White River!!!!
This gospel is so amazing... and the church is true... I love being a member of this church!!! It makes me so happy!!! :)
Well, I better run!! I hope that you have a good week... and I'll talk to you on Sunday!!!! :D
Love Sister Alex Smith <3 (that a heart if you couldn't tell!! :)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sorry for the delay!
Everyone sorry for the delay in getting Alex's email posted from last week! We were on our way home from Arizona, we went there for Emily's (our oldest daughter) wedding and right when (that is no lie) we got home three of the children were sick and the other two got sick the next day! So, here you go, finally, last week's email and this week's email, all on the same day!
Have a happy day!
Margaret
Have a happy day!
Margaret
Hope you had as good a time at church as I did!! :)
Hey hey family!! Did you know that in only 12 days or something crazy like that I get to call you??!?!?!?!! Isn't that so exciting!!?!? I'm so excited to talk to you and hear all your wonderful voices!! Be sure to have questions, or things that you want to ask so we can make the best use of our time! :) I'm so excited!! Can you believe that I've been back out for 3 1/2 months!!? It doesn't seem like that long! I just reached my EIGHT month mark on Saturday!!! May 24 is my hump mark!! Yikes!! Time sure flies when you're having a good time... This week has been a hard one for sure. I've finally come to realize that what Heavenly Father needs is ME... not some clone of any other missionary... but ME. I got a blessing from my amazing DL, Elder Magleby, on Friday and in the blessing he said that there are people that I need to touch in this area, and that really hit me... I've been forgetting who I am the past couple of weeks. Trying to figure things out, but I haven't be happy. I've been doing a lot of reflecting about what kind of missionary I am... I've thought a lot about what kind of missionary I was when I first came out in June, and what kind of missionary I was when I came out in January...I was so excited to share the gospel... I taught simply because I didn't know how else to teach... I spoke from the heart because I tried to see the people we taught through the eyes of the Savior... it's definitely true that as a missionary, and as a Disciple of Christ that we need to forget ourselves and focus more on others, but it's important to take the time to notice what we've done well, and to always remember that we are children of God! And that He loves us so much!! I was reading a talk this last week about how a true sense of worth comes from having a close relationship with God.. and that is something I am definitely working on!!
Wow... that was a ramble... but that's a little of what's been on my mind! This week was awesome!! We had SIX... I repeat... SIX investigators at church on Sunday!!!! 2 families!!! The beginning of this transfer I prayed that I would be able to teach a family... and we're teaching two!!! Heavenly Father is so good to me!!! We've had our ups and downs this week... but the best part is seeing myself grow as a missionary as I teach others and help them to come closer to Christ... I've really been working on focusing... and while it's been hard... I know that I'm improving and even though it might be such a small change it's hardly noticeable.. it's a change!!! We haven't been working with any new people... just the same wonderful people that I've grown to love so much, and I'm going to miss if i get transferred!! I've been taking a lot of pictures with people... so I'll be sure to never forget them.. Sorry this email isn't much about what happened this week... but the most exciting thing was having all those people at church. I hope that you have a great week... I love you all so much and I hope that you know that!!!
Love,
Sister Alex Smith :)
Wow... that was a ramble... but that's a little of what's been on my mind! This week was awesome!! We had SIX... I repeat... SIX investigators at church on Sunday!!!! 2 families!!! The beginning of this transfer I prayed that I would be able to teach a family... and we're teaching two!!! Heavenly Father is so good to me!!! We've had our ups and downs this week... but the best part is seeing myself grow as a missionary as I teach others and help them to come closer to Christ... I've really been working on focusing... and while it's been hard... I know that I'm improving and even though it might be such a small change it's hardly noticeable.. it's a change!!! We haven't been working with any new people... just the same wonderful people that I've grown to love so much, and I'm going to miss if i get transferred!! I've been taking a lot of pictures with people... so I'll be sure to never forget them.. Sorry this email isn't much about what happened this week... but the most exciting thing was having all those people at church. I hope that you have a great week... I love you all so much and I hope that you know that!!!
Love,
Sister Alex Smith :)
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