March 2, 2026

From Abby - Now Is The Start

Let me just quote A Fine Frenzy real fast 

Mission veil is fading 

Hey so this is my last email 

How does it feel?

Strange. 

Many many lasts to recount. 

Sorry if I seem somber :) I'm really really really going to try to make it normal.. maybe some stats at the end or something (Prob not)

This is the view of my morning study last Pday 

Ever since I met brother Bretey and he said "You'll know how well you'll study when you go home based on how well you study on Pday"

I have LOVED locking in on Pday studies 

I love draping scriptures over my knees 

We went on a BIG zone hike (*coughs* LEFT the mission again) to bridal veil and tell me why I always underestimate the power of a good walk. 
Biggest win of the day was Sister Hethcote asking me for a hug (Because I forgot to tackle hug her how could I) 

Zone flic 

Born in the O-Zone Bench District and I'll DIE in the O-zone Bench District. One eternal round :)

Then we brought the Sisters to Mo Bettahs and BOPPED at the Halls. 
Sister Dodge and Sister Hethcote are the coolest ever :)

Sister Rhineharts BIRTHDAY this week!! I croaked out Happy Birthday at like 6:37 am which mostly made her laugh 

We (Sister Atwood) made her a french toast breakfast :)
It's the little things 

Tuesday last week I got a text from Sister Brown that started with the sentence "Hello my friend." Which always means something is about to go down to my pleasant surprise she was asking to join on a teaching visit to which we said OF COURSE. So she joined us this Tuesday morning and it was SO weird but SO good. We taught about the fall of Adam and Eve and Sister Brown was so bold and loving with her 

When we walked out of the lesson Sister Brown asked what our plans were (Sister Rhineharts birthday) and we mentioned that we were going to Dave's hot chicken :)) She said "Let me take you to lunch" YAY
Dave's Hot Chicken with Sister Brown, I never could dream this up :)

Us and Griselda :)

We stopped by the Halls (Because Sister Rhinaharts parents dropped off a package for her) and as we were chatting with them at the end of the night somehow we got onto the topic of Brother Hall's chicken noodle soup (Which he LOVES) 

Sister Hall looks at us and mouths "It's not that Good" Her son Leo Hall GASPS and in dramatic shock he declares "You DEVIL WOMAN" 

I'm laughing hard at this point because I think one of the FIRST times I met Brother Hall he fed us chicken noodle soup and he REVERES it... 4 months later the truth comes out. 
They're my favorite people 

Yes I took a film picture of this exact moment 

Laughed at Sister Rhinehart and Sister Atwood trying to film a church promo 

"Not sure where to go? tap on the link and missionaries like us will help you find a church near you :D!" 
They forgot about it until 10:15 #Procrastinate 

Wednesday morning Sister Atwood and I got to go on exchanges with THE Sister Peterson 
I got to go  back to my old area and sitting in the back of the car hanging out with two of my fav companions was so sweet. 

At the end of the morning Sister Peterson goes "Is there anyone that you'd like to stop by" and I go "THE KEMPS" (FAV family from when I served in PG) 
When Sister Kemp opened the door she was SHOCKED and wrapped me in a big hug 

we had a really good chat, and got to hold her baby bunnies :))) 

Got my first priesthood blessing of my mission this week. I'm so grateful for the power of the priesthood, I need to be better about asking for those :)

Sister Rhinehart and Lactose this week was CRIM 

We had a member dinner and Sister Leckie peels back the tray of Chicken Alfredo (Cheese...) and I look over to Sister Rhinehart saying a PRAYER (The prayer emote) and then proceeds to scoop a decent amount onto her plate. 
THEN later that night we're delivering flyers to all our WML's and the 9th ward wml and his wife (The Leggieri's) Welcome us in...

While Sister Rhinehart was in the washroom Brother Leggieri offered us some chocolate zucchini bread and a cup of milk (Of course I wanted milk)
so he brings the plates out one by one, and then AFTER Sister Rhinehart is back and Sits down here comes brother Leggieri with THREE FAT glasses of milk.

I see Sister Rhinehart side-eye me and not ONE word comes out of her mouth??! at this point I'm just thinking "Girl-" 

Silly me didn't say anything thinking that she would simply avoid the milk 

I WAS WRONG 

Before I knew it the cup was downed and I couldn't do anything to help her 

This was the crime scene 

the far right cup is hers..

needless to say she suffered but hey :D

literally no one will ever know that she's Lactose Intolerant..

Love you Sister Rhinehart! 

We had a BUS ZDC this week 

our zone leaders teamed up with one of their unstoppable EQP's and made basically a mini zone conference with multiple stations.

We talked about Spiritual gifts, the process of revelation, and THE PRAYER OF FAITH 

These Elders are in the same Stake that Elder Coromandel was so I think I know where he got it (Iykyk)

Note from my journal 

"Present your plan to the Lord, Promise him that you will do it, and in return ask him for the strength to accomplish his will."

Everything comes back to alignment with him 

EXCHANGES WITH SISTER SECRIST

 
I LOVE Sister Secrist so much. Here are the highlights

-Learned alll about their friend who was being baptized (Jayde!!) Sister Secrist was doing her nails for her baptism. It's my favorite asking people alll about how they ran into the missionaries and chose to come closer to Jesus Christ. More about them later :))) 

• She sacrificed for me by letting me be on my own bike and SUFFERING on Sister Hethcote's bike (She fell down like 3 different times coming off of it) 
• Visited with the most UTAH'N family I've ever experienced. I was minorly terrified the whole time 
• Old lady got mad at us for being late..Valid 
• Had dinner with Gale and Jim Christensen.. My FIRST member dinner. I love them with my whole soul 
• CLEANING INSPECTIONS were wild. If you've ever been in Sister Hethcote and Secrist's apartment it is SPOTLESS, and this exchange was no exception.. Right before they got there (9:30pm) Sister Secrist was still cleaning up a storm sweeping, wiping things down, last minute dishes.. I KID you not when they came (at like 9:40) The cleaning inspection lady walks in with a scowel, doesn't even take two full steps into the house and, STOOPS down with her two pincher fingers picking up ONE CRUMB from the carpet.. I watched Sister Secrist behind her with her mouth on the floor, and then I had to remember to close mine 

It was CRIM. 

She's someone whos constantly squinting.. Yknow? She gives "I'm watching you Mike Wazowski.. 

Always watching..." 

Friday morning was so joyful. 

First I got wrestled to the ground by Sister Hethcote after our LAST morning sports 

Then alll the departing missionaries congregated at the mission office for the departing meeting with prez and for departing interviews at 9:45am

We got to sign the BIG UOM quad and I HAD to do D&C 123:15-17

Then we got to sit down with President and he talked to us about EVERYTHING.. Career, school, dating and marriage, etc.

I wanted to CRY, after he gave all his advice he sat forward and was so serious when he said 

"I need each of you to know, Sister Brown and I are here for you and we're here forever. When we recieved our call president eyering said that we're not just mission leaders for 3 years, we're mission leaders for LIFE for our missionaries. If you ever need anything you give Sister Brown and I a call okay?" 

I felt Gods love through him.

I'm so grateful for my mission leaders 

We then floated around the mission office for our departing interviews, When I saw Sister Hethcote come out of hers and I knew it was my turn I RAN into that office so quick, I LOVE counciling with my mission president.

The biggest take away was ALIGNMENT. To get on my knees every day and pray for alignment to HIS will. We were able to pray kneeling together at the end and oh how grateful I am for prayer 

Sister Hethcote, Christiansen, Peterson and I went to Jersey Mike's for lunch.. Trunkiest group I ever did see :)

Love them <3

Saturday was SOOO GOOD 

I was invited to join Sister Hethcote and Sister Dodge to sing at the baptism, (Yes, Gethsemane) 

Sister Hethcote also asked if we could join their restoration message and I said of COURSE. 

I dont think I realized how much I love teaching 

Highlight of the whole baptism was standing beside Sister Hethcote as she recited the first vision, tears filled her eyes "I saw a pillar of light.." 

Nothing beats being a missionary I swear 

We got to see Isaac (the husband) be ordained and right after witnessed Jayde get baptized by authority. TEARS 

We had a combined miracle hour with Sister Hethcote and Secrist 

Mind you they told us to book this in our calendar ONE MONTH AGO. 

We have NO clue what to expect besides snacks.. 

When they opened the door my jaw hit the FLOOR. Let me paint you a picture

The door slowly swings open to reveal first off BALLOONS galore, and then a whole table treats, the whole room rearranged, a photo booth with balloon words saying "Released" and gift bags?? We opened them to reveal SHIRTS? All with Immaculate detail portraying the inside joke of sealed to you 

WILD times. 

Sister Hethcote and I cut an airplane cake together :D 

Its comedic and concerning all at the same time :) 

Sunday was bittersweet 

We spent three and a half hours in ward councils from 7:00am-10:45 

Then I had my last sacrament meetings as a full time representative of Jesus Christ, I bore my testimony in the 3rd ward and I didnt cry, I felt a lot of peace

Ever since I got my blessing ive been feeling so much peace.. God is Good 

We had lunch with the Breteys and downed soo much grilled cheese while also downing soo much advice 

I am more than grateful for my mission 

How can I sum up in words the experience that this was 

I have become someone 

Before my mission I dont think I knew who I was, genuinly.

By learning about this Gospel and about Jesus Christ my purpose is SO clear, do I know the exact details of the future? Who I'll continue to become? Not exactly 

But thats why God gives us line upon line right? 

I... dont want this to be cheesy

The problem is I dont feel like I'm leaving so 

With that I wish you all so well 

I love life dearly 

If theres anything you remember from these please let it be that I love Jesus Christ completely, and I love life entirely. 

How excited I am to hit the ground running at home :) 

God speed 

-Sister Smith 

From Mom - Last Email

Dear Abby,

Honestly, it's unbelievable to be typing out your last email of the mission. Where does the time go? You'll quickly find out in the process of life you will say this phrase over and over again. Yes, time really is the ultimate trickster. And in order to trick life back, we have to understand that each phase is only temporary and we must live it to the fullest to the best of our ability and truly enjoy every moment, good and bad; ride the ups and downs, understanding that it's all for our benefit and learning. Also, each phase builds on the last, and we grow more, getting better and better as the clock winds down. So, this is all to say, you will suffer a little death as a missionary but be reborn into a better version of yourself on the other side, more capable than you were before you became a missionary. And your relationships formed and memories made will always be a part of you and your life's story.

(Okay, enough philosophy, but pretty awesome when you think about it!)

Speaking about little deaths and appreciating my moments, I felt like I was going to die when I accompanied Dad to Houston on a business trip two weeks ago. All was well until I took the rental vehicle to try to find the Rothko Chapel, a recommendation from Steph and Tyler. Those Texan freeway overpasses are six-lanes wide and six stories high and those drivers ain't slowing down for no Canadian girl, let me tell you. With my phone's gps taking it's sweet buffering time, I, in fact, did NOT find the Rothko Chapel and instead followed signs to the museum district to a place called Hermann Park and walked in the sun for three hours taking pictures of every flower and green blade of grass. It was absolute bliss to my starving-for-sunshine winter self and truly relished every moment. Not to fear though, I did find the Rothko Chapel the following day and I got to experience it with Tonia Rice. So it all works out. By the way, this chapel is a non-denominational, meditative space with "black" paintings on the wall, which are actually not black, but just really, really dark. If you ponder them long enough, eventually shapes start to emerge and if a person is pensive enough, can find meaning and peace in it all. I really liked it. Another benefit of this trip was me finding three beautiful dresses in one go. If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is. So it turns out, we must face those dreaded fears in order to find the treasure. In this case, I had to conquer the freeways of doom to find sunshine, friendship and beautiful dresses on the the other side. Worth it.

Ben and Mia held down the fort at home during Reading Week while we were away, keeping Coco alive, catching the mouse in our house and having some much needed rest and relaxation. Success on all counts! We returned home in time to go to Hinton for church, then for Dad to turn around and head back to Austin, Texas and San Diego, California. I was home alone last week but busy with work and school so Coco was really the only one who suffered. She's getting good at hanging out with the cats in the garage and resents them taking over her little bed, which they love apparently. If Coco is going to be alone for longer than six hours, I just don't have the heart to keep her in her crate. But happily, Dad is safely home in spite of a delay in Calgary and everything is back to normal for this week.

And when I say "back to normal" this week, it really will be our authentic normal as our family will be all together again, an event which is getting rarer and rarer as time goes on. Plan on a family picture in the next ten days or so since we need Margo represented on the wall. So excited! (Although I'm not exactly sure how we'll take good picture because the weather is still cold and snowy so mentally prepare yourself for that.)

So here's a spiritual thought to tide you over for the last two days of your mission... 

Let me back up first to say that we are in love with the Edson/Hinton Branch. They are the most authentic, dedicated, kindest people ... not without their problems of course, but just so genuine and faithful. I think almost the entire Edson membership is planning on coming to your homecoming talk, not because they know you but because they want to know you as part of "President Smith's" family. So supportive. Because they're a small branch, they can get away with a Facebook Messenger group and post spiritual thoughts and events so everyone knows what's going on. This past week Kathleen Burrows (you'll know her by her big heart and big laugh) posted an interview with Pres. Holland before he passed away. He shared a little more of his near-death experience and shared that his take-away was that we should be praying more than we are currently praying and sharing our testimonies of Jesus Christ more than we are sharing them. And you know how I love spiritual experiences and watching the outcome, right?

So this week (thanks to Kathleen) I dedicated myself to taking more time for kneeling prayers as well as throughout the day sending my thoughts upward to heaven. As I did this I was (as I always am) taken aback at the reciprocity of the heavenly gift. Somehow my time was better used, I saw opportunities to share my love of God in all sorts of different ways to those who crossed my path, I knew when to rest and recover without feeling guilty about it and found such a lovely balance of emotion that it honestly took my breath away! It's a mystery to me that I have to learn this lesson over and over again. I know that God is real. It's not a figment of my imagination. I just have too many experiences!

Here's one. You know how I minister to Hayley Coleman, who has become a dear friend, right? As I prayed this week, her name continued to pop into my head. It is almost impossible to get together with her, but I started the week with the effort even though it's really hard for me to do anything extra when Dad is away. My first text started with, "Hey, want to do something together?" She did, but she forgets to check her phone, or feels overwhelmed and avoids any commitment or just doesn't have the oomph to get out the door. She is feeling bad about herself and "bed rotting," which is a real problem in our day and age. The unintentional spiral is a reality for so many! In any case, I kept reaching out until Saturday hit. Our tentative plan was for me to pick her up at 3:30. I still didn't know if it was a go until she checked her phone at 3:00 and, in her panic, bumped it to 4:30 as she wasn't near ready. I showed up at 4:30 and she had just gotten out of the shower and was shoveling a quick meal into her mouth since she hadn't eaten a bite all day. I told her there was no rush and I would do some snow removal on her driveway while she was finishing up. 10 minutes later she flies out the door expressing with a laugh how much pressure I put her under. I just laughed back and hugged her and told her all was well.  

I quit the shoveling job halfway and we went into Edmonton and ate some real food, browsed at the bookstore, etc. and on the drive home, it comes out that she's facing a real crisis because her youngest child is graduating and leaving home. She's single and what should she do now? We talked it through and when I finally dropped her off, she expressed that I am the only person in her life that supports her in the way she needs. This blew my mind actually. But her parents have passed away and her four brothers live far away, she doesn't go to church and the friends she does have are busy with their families. She feels alone and afraid. Because of my upward prayer, the words came easily to me the entire night and really, really felt God's love for her and my love for her that created a space to help her work things out. It's the true miracle, honestly. On her way in, she drew a heart in the unshoveled portion of her driveway and waved good-bye with a smile on her face. She was unburdened in that moment and that is the power of ministering.

Dear Abby,

Honestly, it's unbelievable to be typing out your last email of the mission. Where does the time go? You'll quickly find out in the process of life you will say this phrase over and over again. Yes, time really is the ultimate trickster. And in order to trick life back, we have to understand that each phase is only temporary and we must live it to the fullest to the best of our ability and truly enjoy every moment, good and bad; ride the ups and downs, understanding that it's all for our benefit and learning. Also, each phase builds on the last, and we grow more, getting better and better as the clock winds down. So, this is all to say, you will suffer a little death as a missionary but be reborn into a better version of yourself on the other side, more capable than you were before you became a missionary. And your relationships formed and memories made will always be a part of you and your life's story.

(Okay, enough philosophy, but pretty awesome when you think about it!)

Speaking about little deaths and appreciating my moments, I felt like I was going to die when I accompanied Dad to Houston on a business trip two weeks ago. All was well until I took the rental vehicle to try to find the Rothko Chapel, a recommendation from Steph and Tyler. Those Texan freeway overpasses are six-lanes wide and six stories high and those drivers ain't slowing down for no Canadian girl, let me tell you. With my phone's gps taking it's sweet buffering time, I, in fact, did NOT find the Rothko Chapel and instead followed signs to the museum district to a place called Hermann Park and walked in the sun for three hours taking pictures of every flower and green blade of grass. It was absolute bliss to my starving-for-sunshine winter self and truly relished every moment. Not to fear though, I did find the Rothko Chapel the following day and I got to experience it with Tonia Rice. So it all works out. By the way, this chapel is a non-denominational, meditative space with "black" paintings on the wall, which are actually not black, but just really, really dark. If you ponder them long enough, eventually shapes start to emerge and if a person is pensive enough, can find meaning and peace in it all. I really liked it. Another benefit of this trip was me finding three beautiful dresses in one go. If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is. So it turns out, we must face those dreaded fears in order to find the treasure. In this case, I had to conquer the freeways of doom to find sunshine, friendship and beautiful dresses on the the other side. Worth it.

Ben and Mia held down the fort at home during Reading Week while we were away, keeping Coco alive, catching the mouse in our house and having some much needed rest and relaxation. Success on all counts! We returned home in time to go to Hinton for church, then for Dad to turn around and head back to Austin, Texas and San Diego, California. I was home alone last week but busy with work and school so Coco was really the only one who suffered. She's getting good at hanging out with the cats in the garage and resents them taking over her little bed, which they love apparently. If Coco is going to be alone for longer than six hours, I just don't have the heart to keep her in her crate. But happily, Dad is safely home in spite of a delay in Calgary and everything is back to normal for this week.

And when I say "back to normal" this week, it really will be our authentic normal as our family will be all together again, an event which is getting rarer and rarer as time goes on. Plan on a family picture in the next ten days or so since we need Margo represented on the wall. So excited! (Although I'm not exactly sure how we'll take good picture because the weather is still cold and snowy so mentally prepare yourself for that.)

So here's a spiritual thought to tide you over for the last two days of your mission... 

Let me back up first to say that we are in love with the Edson/Hinton Branch. They are the most authentic, dedicated, kindest people ... not without their problems of course, but just so genuine and faithful. I think almost the entire Edson membership is planning on coming to your homecoming talk, not because they know you but because they want to know you as part of "President Smith's" family. So supportive. Because they're a small branch, they can get away with a Facebook Messenger group and post spiritual thoughts and events so everyone knows what's going on. This past week Kathleen Burrows (you'll know her by her big heart and big laugh) posted an interview with Pres. Holland before he passed away. He shared a little more of his near-death experience and shared that his take-away was that we should be praying more than we are currently praying and sharing our testimonies of Jesus Christ more than we are sharing them. And you know how I love spiritual experiences and watching the outcome, right?

So this week (thanks to Kathleen) I dedicated myself to taking more time for kneeling prayers as well as throughout the day sending my thoughts upward to heaven. As I did this I was (as I always am) taken aback at the reciprocity of the heavenly gift. Somehow my time was better used, I saw opportunities to share my love of God in all sorts of different ways to those who crossed my path, I knew when to rest and recover without feeling guilty about it and found such a lovely balance of emotion that it honestly took my breath away! It's a mystery to me that I have to learn this lesson over and over again. I know that God is real. It's not a figment of my imagination. I just have too many experiences!

Here's one. You know how I minister to Hayley Coleman, who has become a dear friend, right? As I prayed this week, her name continued to pop into my head. It is almost impossible to get together with her, but I started the week with the effort even though it's really hard for me to do anything extra when Dad is away. My first text started with, "Hey, want to do something together?" She did, but she forgets to check her phone, or feels overwhelmed and avoids any commitment or just doesn't have the oomph to get out the door. She is feeling bad about herself and "bed rotting," which is a real problem in our day and age. The unintentional spiral is a reality for so many! In any case, I kept reaching out until Saturday hit. Our tentative plan was for me to pick her up at 3:30. I still didn't know if it was a go until she checked her phone at 3:00 and, in her panic, bumped it to 4:30 as she wasn't near ready. I showed up at 4:30 and she had just gotten out of the shower and was shoveling a quick meal into her mouth since she hadn't eaten a bite all day. I told her there was no rush and I would do some snow removal on her driveway while she was finishing up. 10 minutes later she flies out the door expressing with a laugh how much pressure I put her under. I just laughed back and hugged her and told her all was well.  

I quit the shoveling job halfway and we went into Edmonton and ate some real food, browsed at the bookstore, etc. and on the drive home, it comes out that she's facing a real crisis because her youngest child is graduating and leaving home. She's single and what should she do now? We talked it through and when I finally dropped her off, she expressed that I am the only person in her life that supports her in the way she needs. This blew my mind actually. But her parents have passed away and her four brothers live far away, she doesn't go to church and the friends she does have are busy with their families. She feels alone and afraid. Because of my upward prayer, the words came easily to me the entire night and really, really felt God's love for her and my love for her that created a space to help her work things out. It's the true miracle, honestly. On her way in, she drew a heart in the unshoveled portion of her driveway and waved good-bye with a smile on her face. She was unburdened in that moment and that is the power of ministering.

If I didn't pray, we would still have a good friendship. It's just that God helps me with Timing and Effectiveness. In essence, Heaven helps me to be something greater than I could ever do on my own and creates the heavenly reality on earth in that moment between me and Hayley. 

It creates a magic in my life I could never generate with my own efforts alone. We have Jesus Christ to thank for this. He knows us, he's suffered for us and with us. When we turn to him, he has the capacity and ability to partner with us to bind up the broken-hearted, to lift the hands that hang down and to create joy. It is the best and most happiest of ways to live, I think. I wonder if Elder Jeffrey Holland's message really centers around how short life really is and how much we'll regret wasted time. It's back to "where did the time go?" and making the most of our moments. We actually need heaven's help to find that sweet spot of maximum effectiveness in the use of our time and for doing the most good we can in this world.

So keep that prayer in your heart for the last 48 hours (and honestly, for the rest of your life) so you can curate your time to live the best possible outcome for yourself! This is something I can testify about in full confidence. I'm proud of you for dedicating 18 months of your life to something you believe in. It's not ever easy but it's so so so worth it! Ongoing worth it!

Continue to appreciate every moment! The people, the warm weather, everything! When it's time, appreciate the miracle of air travel and for everyone who is waiting for you on this side of the border. (So many love you and are awaiting your return.) Appreciate the panic of wondering what to do with your life after the mission, haha (but not yet). Plan on relishing the flurry of overstimulation of the first week back. Love it all! Everything will find its place in its own due time. And we'll do it together! So excited to hug you again and hear aaallll the stories. But not yet! You have two days to go so stay focused and don't worry about the rest because the rest will take care of itself.

Love you forever, baby girl! You keep that lightening self super-charged like you always do and never underestimate the power of the last minute!

See you soon!

Mom