January 26, 2026

From Abby - Atwood

This week was SO GOOD 

Last monday I was convinced to go bowling as a district (I didn't participate sue me) 

We actually went to nickel city first and then realized it was Martin Luther King Jr Day and that EVERY soul was at nickel city.. Crim.

Therefore we quickly redirected things and it was awesome.

Best part was running in and out of a photo booth to get a picture with each companionship. 
District activities are SO fun, I'm going to miss them. 

We also added base to sealed to you.. My favorite thing is sitting beside Sister Hethcote and watching Sister Dodge Jam out. 
Sister Hethcote got CONCUSSED last week and brother Hall made her get on the drums to play around and It was SO funny to watch her battle her head while keeping a beat. 

At one point when we were sitting on the floor I pulled out a book from their shelf "Seven Habits for Highly Effective People" And we were looking through the pictures: One of them was two pictures in one (You can see a young women, or an old women depending on your perspective) and she looks at it and says "Look, its the woman from seven dalmatians!" 

Gir- 

def concussed.

Monday night we were with our Beloved Leah to talk her through some things for her stake conference talk which was sweet. 

At the end of the visit she gave each of us a rose, we were standing around the dim light of her kitchen just talking fidgeting with our flowers, and Leah looks at me with a big squinty eye smile and says 

"Oh Sister Smith, I just know you're going to get married soon."
GIRLLL. We all laughed together at such a ridiculous idea :) 

We LOVE our sweet Leah. 

TRANSFER DAY 

Tuesday was transfer day. 

We had a lesson in the morning #Grindneverstops and then it was a HUGE stress ball packing, planning, trying to get everything done before we had to be at the PG west stake center..

Sister Williams was a TROUPER speed packer and even though things were stressful we were able to say "Hey in 10 years this will be hilarious.." 

The transfer meeting was a blur of hello's, and goodbyes, and tears, and ribbon Leis and in an instant, all of the departing missionaries were GONE. And suddenly I'm the next departing missionary. HUH. 

Look at my sweet companions 

We sorted out luggage, Sister Williams STOLE the keys with her when she left, and after a meek 3 hours of proselyting we were at the mission office at 10:00 pm to grab them from her... Bro forgot the keys until the LAST moment. 

Having Sister Atwood back as a companion has probably been one of the SWEETEST experiences of my life. I think something she said this week was 

"I'm not you're lil rat trainee anymore, I'm just your little rat."

I thought that was pretty accurate. 

This whole week has been FILLED with sweet moments where we're sitting together reviewing this past WHOLE year as missionaries, how much we've grown, what we've learned from past companions, reviewing our own companionship, and making so many plans for the future (Like me being the backpack on her moter bike.) 

Best view:

We got to lead out a YW activity where we taught them about preach my gospel and then got them to roleplay! 

Roleplays are SO fun because they turn into actual real life lessons.

My group got onto the deep doc path a bit and they really started testing my missionary knowledge XD They asked "Why did Jesus Christ walk this earth at that specific time" and "What does Only Begotten Son actually mean?" 

It was sweet to speak with them and hopefully spark an interest in also serving the Lord :) 

Thursday (Jan 22) Was probably one of my most FAVORITE days as a missionary, simply because it felt SO missionary, and SO miraculous. 

We started out the day at ZDC, I got to lead out roleplays about extending church invitations 

anytime I do anything that's remotely STL I have a whole "No way this is my life" moment.. 

It was fun to make the greenie real play with the AP

one thing an elder said was 

"The sacrament is a blessing, and a promise"

SO GOOD 

We're currently teaching our friend Frantz with Provo elders (It's a weird situation) Frantz wants to attend the English ward but very clearly understand the Gospel better in his language.. So we crowd all six of us into Frantz's cute lil living room and attempt to teach the gospel. 

We were able to teach the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and we found a better balance then previous lessons XD

Their dynamic is fun. 

Elder Larson (Far left) has been out for 21 months but he's NEVER served in Hatian speaking XD, Elder Jeune has been out for 23 months and this is also his last transfer, He's fluent in Hatian Creole. (Middle) and Elder Killpack has been out for 4 months and was originally called French speaking, but here he is in Hatian! (Right) 

Here are the legends  

Its SO strange. Because they're Provo missionaries their rules are different. For example, Sister Atwood went to give one of the Elders a high five, and he just stands there with his hand extended implying a handshake, and they both just stood there waiting for the other to adjust their hand

after too much silence I go "Is this some mission rule" and they were like "Yuh" 

The lack of communication went cray. 

I LOVE the UOM. I LOVE president Brown :)

High fives are literally less contact then a handshake, someone explain to me. 

EXCHANGES WITH HETHCOTE

We had exchanges that night. Sister Hethcote came with Sister Rhinehart and I while Sister Atwood went with Sister Secrist and MY we had a BLAST

The first thing we do is drive to the Boulevard and while we're sitting in the parking lot we call Louise to see if we can come by.. She said yes! Before we drove there I felt like we should knock ONE door. So we said a big mighty prayer of faith.. While we were praying I had the sentence "Top floor" and the number 2 come to my mind. After we got out of the car and were walking I told my companions and then asked "I don't know which building" they both respond at the same time "Building C" so we RUN up to the top floor of building C and searching for the number 2.

Sister Hethcote sang super epic theme music while she ran and we all were winded by the top and oh so joyful.

We go to knock on the first door with a 2 "C402" and as I extend my arm to knock the door swings open to reveal a middle aged man with a slight scowl..

We told him that God lead us there through prayer which opened a conversation about his experiences with the church.. The first thing he said was:

"I stopped going to church when they changed the articles of faith" and then went on a ramble on Article of faith number 11 specifically the phrase "Let every man worship how where or what they may"  and how the church closed down church buildings during that time.. (Implying that they weren't living in line with the articles of faith). As we conversed with him as to why he wasn't going now that the meeting houses were open again I saw Sister Hethcote take out her tiny little Doctrine and Covenants book, flip open to the articles of faith, and after a bit of reading she quietly piped up (Speaking with a still small as it were) and said "You referenced article of faith #11 right? Well its interesting, the very next one #12 says "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents... In obeying, honoring and sustaining the Law" She looks up at him expectantly and he goes "Oh I don't like that one either" ALL i could think was GOTTEM.

I adore her 

Later that night we had a lesson with our sweet Lexi-mae. She sat on the floor so we all joined her, we were able to teach about our life on earth, and all the sweet answers that the plan of Salvation provides for us. 

Near the end of the lesson Lexi opened up about how hard it was to live the gospel at home, in circumstances that are less than ideal.. I saw tears come into her eyes and trip down her cheeks, my heart was PANGED with the yearning to make things right and in this moment we were given the sweet opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ.

After Sister Rhinehart and I spoke we turned to Sister Hethcote and GUYS. I swear it was like Abinidi.. Her mouth was filled with the spirit, and her countenance was bright, she spoke with authority and said something so pure and simple like

"Lexi, I see myself in you, there are so many things I could share, so many hard things and experiences.. But all I can say as someone who used to be in your shoes.. Its worth it, Its so worth it. It doesn't matter what you lose.. What you will gain through Christ is worth it."

There was NOTHING sweeter then watching tears slip down Lexis cheeks while nodding along to what Sister Hethcote was saying, feeling the spirit fill the room.

ANYWAYS I'm just in love with her actually 

Morning sports with Sister Hethcote: 

Her eyes are my favorite. 

This week was also SO sweet because of all the time Sister Atwood and I have gotten to talk about EVERYTHING. I actually missed her sooo so machh. In our spare moments we sit and laugh together, pat each others knees, give big hugs, compare our scripturesss AH I actually just adore her soooo so much. 

We realized we had basically the same sticky note while analyzing each others scriptures and AH its so cute 

We also went on exchanges with sister Tipasa and Sister Hutchinson and Sister Tipasa is SOO cute. I love her and her beautiful face. 

On sunday night we got permission to teach one of our friends at a Hotel outside of our area (Because their house BURNT down).  Bless AP Cease and his patience. 

The lesson was sweet, we spoke of prayer and our little recent convert friend Marlee was basically teaching with us to her friend that joined.. The spirit is WITH Marlee oh how I love her. After the lesson Sister Rhinehart was like "Guy's i'm GOING to faint." Sister Atwood grabbed her arm and supported her all the way to the car so that we could drive to a chapel for our DL to give her a blessing

We got to the chapel without incident and almost to the primary room when Sister Rhinehart in the quietest voice goes "Sister Atwood" and then CAREENS to the floor... Sister Atwood broke her fall like 20% and we're lucky she didn't get concussed. Our DL was setting a chair up and got to turn around to Sister Rhinehart on the floor XD

Everything worked out in the end and we were able to witness a sweet Priesthood blessing..

#Faintingcompsforthewin 

I'm also soooo so in love with Utah 

God is SO SO SOOO good. 

This is the scripture of my week 

I've started re reading doctrine and covenants again and i forgot how sweet and wonderful it is 

D&C 35:13-14

13 Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;

14 And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them.

Jesus Christ is MY shield 

Is he yours? 

I invite you to consider if you ever feel unearned and despised, and what THAT could mean for you if you turn to the Savior of the world, and let his power bear you up. 

Love always! 

-Sister Smith 

From Mom - Happy Birthday!

Dear Sister Smith,

You can say with confidence that you were "Sister Smith" for two birthdays of your life! How cool is that? I still believe that time is the ultimate trickster especially considering I can clearly remember holding my chubby, red-haired baby in my arms. One memory comes to mind; we were walking along the cobble-stoned streets of old Quebec City when you were eight months old. The humidity caused your baby-long hair to curl in a mass of loose ringlettes on the top of your head. Josh and Steph were taking turns pushing you over the bumpy surface and you were giggling. Almost every person we passed either took long glances or stopped and commented. Of course, it was all in French so I couldn't catch the gist of it but one English couple said in passing, "Look at that beautiful baby!" Then stopping to look at the small crowd of Smiths ... "What a beautiful family!" I can only assume they thought WE were French because they were speaking loudly among themselves. Eventually the cobble-stone-game got old and I had to scoop you up in my arms and carry you, which I was happy to do. We love you forever and will always be happy you came to our family!

Living in the Technological and Information Age certainly does have its perks, but my most recent discovery was discovering a kindred soul who is more obsessed with old literature than I am. Her podcast takes a scholarly approach to the oldest known written word, (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Sumerian and tribal oral histories), and she finds patterns and commonalities between them. What shocked the academic community (but not me), is that these stories have One. Single. Origen. But how can this be when we think of the diversity of our world? That's what the podcast delves into and I love it. And although it is easy and even magnetic to get caught in the weeds of social media, fake news and misinformation, I delight in the reality of being able to choose. The older I get, the more I lean towards information that gives me knowledge but also peace ... and what we focus on, GROWS. And I want that growth to matter especially considering I only have forty more years to do stuff!

Lately I've been dividing my time between work (although I seem to be working less and less, which is okay by me as long as I keep the job), school (I finally caved and took English Analytics, a prerequisite I feel like I shouldn't have to take, but it's actually been a fantastic review so far), and painting. I've learned I have the aptitude for watercolour painting but not really the skill so I'm trying to fast-pace the skill part of it for Siobhan's sake, who is still trying to publish her third poetry book (third year running, poor girl). It's a good life and I love it.

Your dad continues to be my favourite. He's working on a journal app, which is so fun. Yesterday Mia asked me what year she was in voice lessons and I guessed 2014-15. Dad typed in some key words into his journal app and discovered it was 2017! Of course, we know our memories are not entirely 100% so for those who love to document their lives, this app could be a good thing! Last night we had the rare occasion to be home together ... alone. Typically, I'm not home OR we have company. But to be home alone with no other responsibilities tugging at us, we looked at each other and wondered what to do! Haha. He indulged me by watching the last 20 minutes of an Asian drama episode, we planned our meals for the week, then we pulled out a game (Rummikub, and let it be known that I won!), then went to bed early. We decided we need some new-things-to-do so we don't get bored. I'm looking forward to the second-half of our marriage! Dad gave an excellent talk in church and when he was done, the visiting High Counselor leaned over to me and whispered, "You picked a good one!" I just nodded and smiled. Not only is he a "good one," he's also a kind man. Over the week-end, a down-and-out girl knocked on the door looking for water. She had an empty jug in her hand. She's living in a trailer nearby with no electricity and heated with a wood stove. Dad filled up her container but offered for her to come back later and eat supper with us and maybe take a shower. She teared up at his kindness but didn't come back. The truth is, there are people all around us that could really use some human kindness and I'm so glad you have a dad with a kind heart.

In our family news, I can say that Josh is back to work after a month of his appendix rupturing. We will count it unbelievably lucky and maybe a miracle because it could have been so much worse! Steph is an absolute gem and video calls in regularly so Margo can learn to say "grandma." It's always the highlight of any day. Sam is approved to go to Australia for two years of Physio and will come home with a Doctorate. He will have to pay a price but we think it will be a worthy investment. Ben is taking Mathematics classes and when he talks about them I have no clue what he's saying, as well as serving in the bishopric in his ward. And Mia continues to be our favourite child as she comes home every week-end and bakes us cookies, haha.

We are looking forward to being ALL together soon! Plan on taking a family picture in about six weeks since our current picture does not have Margo in it yet! Because we have a beautiful family as all the French people (and that one English one) witnessed all those years ago, we need to document! 

Keep on keeping on, baby girl! It's going to continue to go so fast so make your days matter and work hard until the end. Love you to the moon and back a gazillion times over.

-Mom