November 4, 2024

From Abby - I'm actually ... Sister Ellis ;)

October 21st -27th (last week )

Guyssss 

I'm currently composing this email looking down at my 13 pages of journal entries and having a brain malfunction 

I can say with the upmost confidence that this week has swiftly and abruptly ended the quickest of any other week in my entire life. I cannot believe it's been a week since last preparation day and I'm now convinced that I'm running out of time and I'll be home before I can blink or think or fathom 

This will all soon be a fever dream. 

But for now let's not have a crisis 

After calling my Father and sobbing my eyes out to him last Pday I figured that his ever consistent advice to put my shoulder to the wheel and endure with faith and obedience was probably correct :D 

The week started STRONG with a mission wide meeting with the mission president which opened with him saying "time for a large dose of chastisement" and proceeded to drop LINES about involving members in our missionary work. It was nice to receive greater instruction because Utah is so member saturated of course missionary work would be the members!

I saw my sweet Sister Christiansen and she called me her "Dear Canadian" FACTS 

Miss you Sister Christiansennn ;) 

On October 23rd I celebrated ONE MONTH of being a missionary for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, and one whole week in the field I'm a milestone type girl so go me  on that SAME day was Sister Heatons one year of being a missionary  so she's eleven months older than me :) 

Same day I went to a youth activity that was all about family history, I learned that the name Abigail was popular in the 17th century "especially among puritans and noncomformists" (explains a lot) 

Other adventures include walking into the kitchen to see Sister Heaton with a HUGE knife stabbing an even HUGER slab of frozen ground beef XD it's so strange trying to cook the meals you've been eating your whole life but now you don't have a mom to make them for you.. so you just try your best and get royally humbled 

We met with the seven Bishops of Cascade Stake (so seven older men in suits) and we had to tell them about member involvement (give them a large dose of Chastizement) 

Let's just say I DEVOURED and told them that the Gathering of Israel and preparing the world for the second coming of the lord is our prophets plea, therefore it is not calling specific (although we do have callings that help like ward mission leaders) is is member of the church of Jesus christ specific!! Terrifying. It's hard to be bold to a panel of people with more experience with you but they all agreed and we later heard the Stake president describe us as "Enthusiastic, bold but not overbearing" so that's a win for sure. (I think?) 

Friday morning at 5:40 our beautiful Christian youth song alarm enlightened our ears for ️ morning sports ️ with our district.

Basket ball shorts and converse and out the door to Sister Ellis our chauffer and Sister Ortiz our sick beats DJ 

We made a makeshift pickle ball net with chairs and then wacked the ball around somehow I got thrown into a game with 3 elders (humbled lower than the dust of the earth as our dear king Benjamin would say) 

*sigh*.. moving on 

Same day EXCHANGES

NO MORE BIKES (for 24 hours) 

Sister Ellis and I ate those exchanges UP 

it's always humbling and uplifting to work with someone who has your best interest in mind and thinks you're awesome while having SO much more experience 

We went to a Halloween ward party and switched nametags so we were dressed up as each other which we learned is hard when you're introducing yourselves to everyone :D so I just became Sister Ellis XD

After that we had a late night member visit and then a meeting with a ward mission leader right after 

We had such a GOOD visit with these members, they'd both been on a mission recently and the conversation was solid (low-key made us late for the next appointment) so the MOMENT we exited the house Sister Ellis whispers to me "RUN!"

and she starts RUNNING because we were so late. We laughed as we booked it and it was awesome. 

We did arrive late but they were forgiving, they humbly requested that we had a meeting in the yard because the house was a mess which was slay :)

 We learned about this family: They're a married couple with 6 kids just moved in August. He's starting new things in his job and he communicates with us that he has no clue how to fulfill his calling, (to which we say Valid we don't know what we're doing either)

In hand he has a yellow pad of paper and a Clipboard with all his notes, scribbled and jotted down, his wife to the right of us holding a 7 month old baby girl (so cute) 

as they're going through this meeting, I'm  looking at this couple and determining that they are THE example of disciples of Jesus Christ. People of pure faith and testimony striving to fulfill their calling. Above all things. My heart swells with gratitude for saints like these that strive even when circumstances are so unforgiving.

The next morning we made pancakes: first of all I walked out and Sister Ellis was mixing sad soupy pancakes,looks at me and sadly says "I was trying to multi task" GURL 

it was fine we just poured half the liquid out and added TONS of powder to enjoy lovely pancake breakfast 

But wait there's more

After being aptly FILLED with pancakes we went to a ward mission leaders home and they welcomed us in with a wonderful breakfast of.. ️ pancakes️. Best believe we filled up our plates and added some hashbrowns too :D (SO full) 

The week ended with a lovely Sunday, the highlights of this day Include the primary presentation, one boy (a wee lad in the front) sang I will GO I will DO THE THINGS THE LORD COMMANDS" his little voice absolutely soaring over every other attempt from reverent little voices, and with every power word he would pump his fist in the air and scrunch his face with determination... the congregation as a whole was giggling at his determined proclamation :)  I think something can be learned from this   

 I love children. 

And with that stay tuned for email number two because I cannot bear the thought of a week missed. 

This is my joy and my weakness to document with fervent diligence, and hope those who are recieveing are glad to hear of my extensive rants and never ending thoughts 

Love you alll 

Sister Smith 

From Mom - Heavenly Magic

Dear Abby,

I'm writing this email on the laptop we bought for my university classes that you got to use first for at-home MTC. I have to say, I'm a fan of the keyboard and the large screen! I've been managing with my phone and tablet so far but I'm going to like this upgrade. It certainly helps to have good tools to get a job done. 

Speaking of tools, I've finally started using the little 12 inch chain saw Dad bought me for Mother's Day two years ago. It's the cutest little thing and runs about 30 minutes on the battery, which gives me enough time to cut down 3 small trees and to section them. OR to clear some deadfall obscuring the continued path through the forest. Bowie will have lots of little places to build her fairy houses (if she's still into that sort of thing when they come next summer). I'll keep working as long as the weather permits but my goal is to have an extra long meandering path all the way to the edge of our property to the north which loops back to the house. It's good exercise in any case and it's nice to work outside. (To be honest, this is all wishful thinking as I work almost every day this month and Dad is in Portugal this week. Daylight savings time ended, which means darkness sets in around 5 p.m. now. By the time I get home, there will be no daylight to work in, but a girl can dream:. Plus, it should snow anytime now, although we said that last year and it was a brown Christmas :)

Speaking of Christmas, Madison and I made a plan to upgrade our decorations. At the very least, we're going to meet for a girl's evening out this week and try to spend some hard earned money to create a little more magic this year. Why? Because we want to. This makes me happy because with all my girls gone now, I wondered who would motivate me to decorate for the holidays? Enter favourite daughter-in-law.   Don't worry, we're keeping all the old stuff but we might find a fun way to spruce up the entrance and I'm not sure it's possible to have too many twinkle lights, haha. Our thoughts always turn to the magic of Christmas when the weather turns cold.

Speaking of magic, let me tell you about the highlight of my week. On Thursday, (Halloween), I was scheduled to work so Dad decided he would turn all the lights off at the house and go to the temple. He called me at work to ask if I drove the Pea Pod because I couldn't find Rudy's keys. (the answer was yes) and did I know where the keys were? (No, I didn’t. It’s bad, we are losing them more than ever and we can't even blame any of our children!) and I was happy to tell him that I was off early and I could actually go with him to the temple (if he found the keys). He picked me up (the keys were already in Rudy) and I got to go on an unexpected trip to the temple. This is a good thing in itself but the best part was when I went through the veil and it was Sam on the other side! It felt like a little bit of heaven. I might have almost shed a tear. The words of eternity mean so much more when a loved family member is involved. And, of course, we went out for dinner after, which is also heavenly.

Speaking of family members, Auntie Nancy lost her husband, Ed. He suffered a massive stroke and never recovered. (She might actually be relieved as he was extremely difficult to live with.) Her kids all gathered around her and I think she is glad for that. Hopefully I can have a conversation with her and check in to see how she is doing with it all. She's actually one of my heros and between her and my mom, I don't think I've found any other woman as strong as them.

Speaking of strength, how are you doing? Are you developing super strong leg muscles with all the biking? How are the meals? Any requests for more recipes? Did you get a chance to connect with Megan Day? If not, try FB Messenger. Do you see your consecrated time evolving into something unique? I’m excited to hear the stories you end up with! How is your personal study going? And what are your most recent epiphanies? 

Here’s mine. Maybe you could use it as a study one day when you’re feeling uninspired:

James 4:8 (first sentence only)

 what’s the point of this anyway?

Answer: 3 Nephi 9:13

 but what’s the point of being healed?

Answer: Matt 5:48

•keeping in mind that the translators used “perfect” to convey the Greek word, but “wholeness” could also have been used as well as “fully developed.”

 why do we want this?

•The most complete example is found in Moses 7: 63-64

Can you imagine a unified community of love and acceptance? Where diversity is celebrated and each person valued for their contribution? My epiphany is that through our personal relationship with the Saviour, we are healed of our wounds (physical, mental, spiritual, relational) so we become participants in His Atonement, an enabling power to heal others so we can “walk each other home,” so to speak. That is heaven. And I think we can have it right now. You with your companion as you reach out to those around you. Me with Dad and the people we come in contact with. Each of us with our own circles. The truth is, Jesus Christ heals as we choose Him  gives us greater capacity to shine with our own unique gifts  contributed to the whole and valued. No competition. No one listening to the devil on their shoulder.  No contention. No insecurity. Just shining and partaking in the heavenly gift (4 Nephi 1:3). 

Love you forever,

Mom, who is glad you are part of my heaven

From Abby - MVP Andrew and dates with Karma

Hello alll 

Arent you so lucky two emails this week :)

 (I promise I'll try to prevent this from happening in the future kudos to everyone who reads both :D)

This week has been the absolute strangest week since arriving on the mission (Week two woww) Pday last monday we hiked a mountain (More like a somwhat steep hill) with our district, once the view became absolutely stellar the wind picked up and I spun around living out my Disney princess dreams, i felt gratitude for the world that we live in, autumn is so pretty here and even prettier with the knowledge that in Canada:
"Beautiful Fall is pretty much gone and the earth just looks dead and ready to succumb to the bitter winter." - my dear friend Kadence In her most recent wonderfully descriptive email 

Dont feel too joyous though after monday the weather has rapidly declined and the chilly wind and rain are very much prevelant! Especially on bikes :) 
I finally got a solid rejection: We were going to share a message with a family but got there a bit early, after locking our bikes with our dinky sad bikelock that could easily be cut we saw a family sitting on the stairs of their home laughing and conversing (Of course we're going to awkwardly walk up to them and insert ourselves whattt) There was an older lady who made some small talk but then a younger lady came up and told the older lady "We're ready for desert" and then turns to us and with an icy tone says "Don't come back here again" (Probably wasn't that dramatic) but I was butthurt for 2 minutes so let me have my moment

This week I made two loafs of banana bread because our bananas were looking a little too sketchy, both times I listened to "Of Souls Symbols and Sacraments" by Jeffrey R Holland and I think his chastizement and powerful speaking made it better no lie 
If anything it made me stir with vigor. (we have no whisks or eggbeaters :D)

Tuesday this week we went to a ward Halloween party and munched butternut squash soup while watching the children run about in their various costumes: We decided to finish the night off by actually being out and visiting Members homes (Its like 8:00PM at this point) So we bundled up did a quick fit check and I hopped on my bike with chilly enthusiasm and EMMEDIATLY felt the sad difference and GRINDING noise of flat tire metel on concrete :D Absolutely not. Luckily the Bishop and the first councillor in the stake presidency were still in the church (Literally everyone had left) and we essentially said "Help us" With much more description: The Bishop took the bikes in his truck and Brother Crandel and his wife drove us home! But my bike was still broken and its only Tuesday, so 8:30 PM Sister Heaton and I were out in the darkness trying to find the leak and Sister Heaton decides to call this "Bike Guy" Named Andrew > She calls him and hes like "I'm free right now do you want me to come and help" To which we say "Andrew, please help us we're struggling bless your soul." 
Andrew proceeds to pull up and assess our bike with max professionalism. (Hes like 19) also casually drops the fact that he built an engine for a real life airplain so... kids smart. 

Long story short (but really.. Short Story long) $17 dollars later a new inner tube was purchased: post bike shop we STRUGGLED to 1. Get the tire back on which Sister Ellis helped with and 2. reattatch the front tire brake?? Best believe we gave our man Andrew a call his response "Send me a picture I'll draw arrows and walk you through it" That we did for in Andrew we trust. He proceeds to give wickedly awesome instructions and it was fixed in a matter of seconds. 

Man. Myth. Legend. Andrew. 
So as of now my bike is perf! 

ZONE CONFERENCE was this week,
One quick quote by Gordon B Hinckley:
"In all of living, have much fun and laughter.
Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured!" 

Random thought insert > We met with an Elders quorum presidency and i've never felt more immersed in MEN: We pull up to this RICH household and discover that they meet in one of their Garages? We walk in (First of all theres a big massive truck in the middle) and towards the back theres a lounge area with an absolutely MASSIVE TV that's probably larger than the bed I sleep on at night. Along with a punching bag and a perfectly organized WALL of tools perfectly displayed. I can now confidently say that ive been in a man cave :D (The meeting was good and super spiritual btw)

Halloween included dressing up as Elders... For some reason sister Heaton and I have an entire closet of left behind suits and slacks in our apartment, of course we had to use them! We pulled up in suits to the sports evening we planned and i'm pretty sure half of them thought we were lameee but thats alright
Proceeded to die in volleyall. Humbled 

Also check out this AWESOME quote 
"This gathering is the greatest challange and the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today! It is a cause the desperately needs women because women shape the future." -President Nelson: Sisters' participation in the gathering if Israel 

Thursday to Friday the sisters had a sleepover and something I said during the night time talks was "I haven't thrown up in YEARS. I Literally can't remember the last time I was that sick"  

I know Karma giggled and the lord was ready to humble me. 

SATURDAY MORNING
I awoke with the most terrible feeling in my stomach, that feeling of threat and torture that can only come from the stomach flu. 6:45 AM I said goodbye to the potato soup I had the night before and proceeded to throw up 7 more times throughout the day. Sister Ortiz and Sister Ellis came over and made us food and took care of me but it was royally uncute. Karma Is real.

Also leaning over a toilet is probably one of the most vial experiences ever. TMI but it's true  

after a 3 hour nap and feeling nasty I came out of my room to a mysterious package, I opened it to be filled with delight upon the discovery of a WIRELESS KEYBOARD?? Brother-In-Law Tyler came through right when I needed an uplift. I mentioned one time how it was hard to type on my phone because I have too much to say (Whatt) and he gave me the glorious gift of being able to type exensively :) (Shoutout Tyler best brother in Law ever) 

Something Sister Ortiz said:
"Sister Smith, its alright, you throw up cutely.. #Cuteprojectilevomit" ️
and Sister Heaton in regards to me still journaling even though I was in pain:
"No toil nor labor fear, Happy day" XD nothing could stop me from journaling 

Spiritual thought to end this email
This week I was studying in Moses 6

The lord commands Enoch to prophesy unto the people repentance, when Enoch hears this he says 

"Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?"
THATS HOW I FEEL: how am I worthy to preach the gospel I am imperfect.

To which the lord says

"Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance"

And

"Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."

So comforting! I can empathize with my guy Enoch and know that the lord feels the same about me for the lord doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called 

And with that this week's rants come to an end. I hope this next week is filled with gratitude. the joy of this life is all around of we look for it :) 

Never ending pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XUXT8gMVvExvkJbJ9 

Have an amazing week 

Don't get the flu  

I love you all with all my heart! 

-Sister Smith