May 19, 2025

From Abby - "Do you need to be compelled?"

I don't want to talk about it

This email covers May 12th-18th

The following first couple paragraphs are Abby.. at the start of last Pday..

Hello and good morning!

Its currently 7:20 and i'm uninterested in rushing to finish this email tonight so lets hope and pray its complete in a timely manner 
(*future me* This is Ironic ^)

I just braided my hair and am contemplating the fact that I need a haircut.. Sister Peterson offers me scissors everytime I mention it so now it's become a quiet thought 

Catch me with a bob in a couple weeks

Anywho 

Last Pday the entire morning was riddled with adventures from the mission office, most of our zone showed up around 8:30AM to send off Elder Loesch and wish him well as he departs with his long awaited Visa to mecedonia!

eventually every ZL and STL pulled up to do their typical Pday run, grabbing packages, rummaging the mission offiice, and obviously visiting with other missionaries.. Pretty soon it was CHAOS

Elder Gailey is free from AP 

This is also a prime example of what we should not do <3

Sister Orton had a group departing interview so i stuck to Sister Bravo and Green (Whos comps are also going home) And we chatted it up with the mission office staff while devouring mission office snacks :)

Monday Tuesday and Wednesday Sister Orton was preparing to depart.. Packing, departing interviews with President, saying goodbye to members she's grown to love etc.
It makes me think about the fact that this will be me in 11 months. 
There was a moment this week while sister Orton was in her departing interview with President Brown, I was sitting outside in the church lobby, journaling, of course, It was overcast outside and the light was dimmly slanting across the room 
I thought about how much time has passed, how much time is left, and who I want to become as I prepare to enter the downhill portion of my mission 
Deep thoughts fr
Not sure I found much of a conclusion but thinking about it was an out of body experience.

I wrote:
"Sister Orton (and many others) have informed me that 'It goes fast!' and although the past 7 months have.. they've also felt like an eternity. i'm sure whoever you are you get it. Anyways, I feel like I broken record, forever doodling flowers and marvelling about the same things.

I am, in fact, Just a girl." 

Wednesday morning (right before transfer chaos) President Brown called a MISSION WIDE MEETING. I haven't had a mission wide meeting since my first two weeks in the field.
They went over some lostical things, dress and appearance, departing missionaries, etc
President then goes into LECTURE mode.. he says something along the lines of 

"I don't know how to understand this.. It makes absolutely no sense. I want nothing more then for you to be wise stewards and for us to partake in the higher law.. 
But you don't want the higher law

YOU want the Law of Moses
You want the Law of Moses!!? 
So you'll get the law of moses :)"
All of us are sitting there shaking in our sunday best wondering what this means for all of the monderful pleasantries we've been able to enjoy as utah missionaries.. 
The Law of Moses for this mission looks like losing our privelages and living like every other mission in the world.. Half the things president is taking away or imposing are NORMAL. We've just been given so much liberty.
He brought up D&C 58:26-28
"For he that is compelled in all things the same is a slothful and not a wise servant"
"For the power is in them, wherewith they are agents unto themselves."
That hit. 
The cherry on top is when he said
"DONT COME ALL THIS WAY TO BE MEDIOCRE"

Then commenced the chaos of transfers, sending off departing missionaries, finding new companions, saying wonderful hello's to missionary friends  :) 

SISTER ORTIZ <33

GUYS. WE HAVE A CAR NOW. (Most of the time) we're lowkey sharing with the STLS but we have it for 90% of the time and I'M DD
I feel terrible for Sister Peterson because so far the rep has been criminal 
Curb hit: 2
Check your speed: 5
No driver violation: 3

I promise I'll get better. Its been 7 months have some grace 

First night with Sister Peterson we spontaneously joined this Relief society activity at this charity called 'Stitching Hearts' We walked in and Sister Peterson starts DEVOURING on the sewing machine, I stuck to folding fabric into what they call 'Fat quarters' So they can sell them at strawberry days!!!
I love listening to older Sisters Yap about whatever comes to mind. I wish I knew how to sew, theres something about participating in a dying art :(

When we walked into ZDC this week Elder Lowry declared "We will be out of here in an hour." and We were!! GENUINLY the FASTEST ZDC I've ever been a part of. It felt strange to walk out at 11:20 instead of 12:20 

Slayy post transfers zone

We shared this member message with a young couple and after like 30 minutes of being there and chatting, the guy was like "Wait.. Peterson from Michigan..do you have siblings.. What are there names" Bro proceeds to say "Oh I dated your sister" CRIM, not us sharing a message with her Sisters Ex. 
You just never know where you'll find yourself I suppose 

Had a crim lesson with someone we're teaching. Girl REFUSES to be on date for baptism, in the sense that we're fighting tooth and nail to get her flaky siblings and brother in laws schedules to line up, but our friend doesn't follow up with them. So we're like "Oh heyy, did you talk to yout brother" and she's like "Oh. I kinda forgot." 
King. The chastizement route seems more and more appealing every single day. 

Do you guys remember Sister Orton? While she's DANIELLE now, we keep seeing her because she's been back for her freezer stuff, her bike, and a dinner with our landlords XD (They demanded she come) 

The lack of name tag is scary.. and the VANS

^Yes I used her BeReal 
Perks of having a companion live in the mission :)
Having dinner with the landlords was SO fun as well, they apologized for their screaming children, and we apologized for our way too loud music way to early in the morning.

I brought Sister Peterson to the Cottages and introduced her to some of the people we know and love that are there.. We knock on Ambers door (Semi kookie lady that we LOVE) she answers and she's on the phone but we chat with her for a bit and she says out of the blue "Looks like you need bananas!" *pulls out two bananas from behind the door* She hands them to us and then laughs maniacly. It was EPIC. I never know what to get with amber XD

We had a meeting this week with our EQP and RSP of the Pleasant Grove 7th ward and when we walked into the meeting room on the table was Taco Amigo fries and milkshakes XD I love brother Loosli and Sister Bulkley they're the best. 

When we walked out Sister Peterson said "I think that was the most fun, and unproductive meeting i've ever had" 
Food is distracting 
Something I love that brother Loosli said was 
"I would give you people to go visit but I just want to keep them for myself and go visiting WITH you" 
We couldn't be mad at that. 

That same day we had a SUPER good member meal with an older sister in the Thornberry Branch, she told us a wonderful conversion story about her experience with the missionaries, she said when she opened the door there was light all around them, and then she felt a DARK SPIRIT enter her, and stop her from speaking!? She said she relates more than she would like to the Joseph smith story :o
(Surrounded by darkness before seeing god the father and the son)
She also convinced us to go hiking with her non member friend! Who's very opinionated! Exciting. 

We quickly joined the saturday evening session of stake conference to welcome people before running to a lesson, as we're walking out this older gentleman stops us and says "Sisters, I think I have someone for you to teach" We're like "Oh!? tell us more you absolute legend" 

he goes on to tell us that he's been dating this lady online.. That she finally told him that she loves him and might be moving here. As we continue to chat, Sister Peterson and I are SIDE EYEING eachother, we learn that there is a Significant age gap, and he assured us hes already mentioned eternal marriage with her.. Lets just say it was a wee bit sketch.. 
After saying goodbye we get in the car (Yayy car) and go to report the conversation. In this mans timeline we find almost the EXACT same interaction with different Sisters only 3 months ago, totally different girl, whos from a totally different place, same conversation. 
WEIRD moment thats for sure.

POST member meal and wack interaction we run over to our wonderful Brenda Tillman!!

Because of some crazy family circumstances we're actually Co teaching her three grandkids WITH the Trio (Cease, Lowry, and Sonboul) 
which is really exciting! (And terrifying) after we visit for a bit Miss Tillman beckons us over and starts dishing us these MASSIVE plates of food :D Sister Peterson and I just look at eachother as we listen to Miss Tillman "I've been cookin all day just for ya'll" each of us comment on how delicious everything looked and then STUFFED ourselfs beyond probably what was safe..
We couldn't not. Anything for Miss Tillman 
-We put the three grandkids on DATE for baptism!! Its the Elders numbers because the kids are going to church in their area (Not salty..), but they relate to the kids sooo well. They were playing shadow box at the beginning and all the kids were DYING laughing, giggling and wanting to try etc. It was also really good to watch them teach
Humbled daily :)
and although its humbling.. Nothing makes me happier than a really good companionship of Elders who really care about the work :) 

We were sent home with a meal fromt he previous dinner and a whole plate of watermelon from Miss Tillman 

^Yay for fun backing pictures.. 

Sunday morning (May 18th) I woke up at 6:00 to shower and awkwardly attempt to warm up my voice for the MORNING youth session of stake conference. Literally nothing is more humbling than trying to sing in the morning. NOTHING. And the timid attempts of warming up as I panic in the shower aren't cute either since our land lords have literally commented "We hear someone singing a million dreams the other day.." THEY CAN HEAR ME 
THATS the most humbling thing, when you realize someone was listening to you sing and you didn't know 
So if course I can't go singing loud at 6:00AM.
Therefore the voice was lowkey musty dusty crusty.
Anyways, it all worked out, I just avoided every teenagers eye contact so that my self esteem didn't plummit beyond recovery (Okay this is getting dramatic...) 
above all i'm grateful I was able to help out where help was needed

Sister Peterson and I were tracting and we saw this cray cage in someones back yard, yes we knocked just to discover what it was
We met this super chill YSA named Zander who brought us outback to see what he called his "Catio" (Like a padio.. Haha) he constructed an entire jungle gym for his cats.

Sometimes its weird to be a missionary, I felt torn about how much that interaction really fulfilled my missionary purpose, but at the same time he was so happy to have someone show genuine interest in something he really cares about. 
Is that not doing what Christ would?
But its not necisarrily INVITING him to come unto christ 
So am I being an unproductive missionary?
Probably. IDK

ANYWAYS 
Aren't you so excited for email number two? 

Last thought:
I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon, I'll leave you with this verse comparison 

John 10:14-16 (Bible)
"Other sheep I have which are not of this fold"
3rd Nephi 15:21 (Book of Mormon)
"Ye are they of whome I said: "other sheep I have which are not of this fold." 

The Book of Mormon is a second, clarifying witness. it is the most true of any book. 

It is for me and you right now at this time, in this moment. 
Will you read it? One verse?
Please read it. 
Please!

Okay thats all for this email 
stay tuned :)

-Sister Smith 

From Dad - Everything is growing

Happy May long weekend! Not celebrated in the US, but it's gardening week-end here. The grass (and dandelions) are growing like crazy. Speaking of dandelions, I sprayed the lawn last week to try to keep them in check. On Friday, I borrowed Gerry Week's tractor/cultivator and rototilled the garden. Before I did that I thought I'd be smart and spot spray all the dandelions in the garden a few hours before. Then I tilled them into the garden. Not the smartest move as I would come to find out from your mother. Not only do we not really want sprayed dandelions mixed into our next crop of garden growth, but I didn't tell your mother I'd done it until she'd harvested a bunch of dandelion roots for medicinal purposes. Mom is experimenting with different plants we find on our land after ordering and reading a book on it from Amazon. Long story short, I was in the dog house for that smooth move.

This week was Sam's birthday week. Last Sunday he came over for mother's day. If you remember, Sam was born on Mother's day and so it is a double celebration. On Saturday Ben drove up and Josh, Sam and I went golfing at the Pigeon Lake Golf club. It's not far from us on Mulhurst Bay. Not a bad course for such a small place. It was fun to get out and lose golf balls together. We came back to a delicious taco dinner Madison and Mom and Mia prepared. We enjoyed some spike ball (Madison's favorite sport) and an enjoyable evening of laughs and conversation. 

Sunday Mom and I attended church in Edson and enjoyed a potluck with the wonderful saints there. I had a number of interviews. Some were heartbreaking and tough, others I was able to teach and comfort about the power of the atonement in helping them repent. Others were joyful as I set sisters apart to callings. I also talked with our long-time investigator in Edson, Christian Wood. He has been attending for a few months with his wife (a less active member) and their 4 year old twin girls. This Sunday he asked what he needed to do to become a member of the church. The Sister Missionaries were so excited to be able to start teaching him and his family again. 

We came home to a Birthday dinner of rice and meatballs, thanks to Ben, Madis

Thursday night we took a quick trip down to Calgary to attend Sam Maclennan's Wedding reception. We took Sam and Rex who roomed with Sam M. this last year. It was a pretty posh venu on a golf course. It was so good to see the Maclennan family together. Sidney was there from Germany and the rest of their family and I met Ethan for the first time. We had fun connecting with our old friends Steve and Nikki Johnson (Savannah married their son). We left at 3:30 pm, arrived at 6:30 pm, left around 8:30 pm and got home just before Midnight. Friends are worth the drive.

Mia starts work this week. Praying for her to have a good experience and be able to earn some money for school this year. I love seeing you all progress and becoming such amazing people. 

I spent some time this morning after transferring your photos to browse through your pictures. I love how bright and joyful you look. I think a mission looks good on you, my girl.

Keep up the great work. You are right where you need to be.

Love,

Dad