It was a week and a half. monday we met with Don and with Bonnie. don fed us supper...candle lit...and classical music playin in the background. classic. what a good man. he had roast beet and spinach and potatoes and icecream and fruit. it was fun to be with him...he talked all about his wife and how he met her and stories about their life. we got on a gospel conversation...naturally..and he said. "listen girls...you're the ones who got me into this situation..and now its a situation that i never want to get out of." He said that he LOVED church and that he feels like he is now part of the family he never thought he'd have another family..but he feels at home.
tuesday sister shoell and i went in to winnipeg for my interview with President Paulson. I am so thankful for President. he is a very inspired man. I know that I was called to be under his direction at this time for specific reasons and I am so thankful for that. We got to stay in Winnipeg for the day..there was a baptism that night that we got to go to for the ysa ward..so i got to see all the good ole ysa kids. thats was fun! then wednesday morning..sister wennerlind and I went back to brandon..sister shoell and sister roper had training meetings and things on wednesday. it was a busy day in brandon. we got back about 10:30 and hit the ground running. lots of people to see...lots of appointments. we had an appointment with Don about fasting which he was excited about...naturally. ben and cherry fixed us chinese supper and we had a lesson with them. we saw a lot of people that day and we were exhausted by the end. it was good to be together again. i really appreciate how we teach together. it was fun to think that we were together the very first day of our missions..and together the very last day of the mission. i finished up my packing and then on thursday morning..we headed back into winnipeg for the farewell fireside and all that good stuff. thursday morning sister poulton called me and told me that my plans had changed...that my parents would no longer be coming and that i was flying out friday morning!!! lots of change! ha.
thursday night was the farwell fireside. it was a neat metting. fred..the gas station man who was there eveyr monday in winnipeg came!! i invited him the last time i was in winnipeg when we fille dup on gas....and he was there :) he said it was a really neat experience and that he was so happy that he came. marson came from regina! eric and kailee came from brandon..the ysa crew from winnipeg was all there...bishop and his wife...so many good familiar faces. it was fun to see everyone again..one last time. it was nice to sit and reflect on my mission and to think about the expereince that i had and the spirit that i felt and the guidance i received. friday morning..we woke up bright and early...and president took all of us that were flying home to the airport.and we said our goodbyes..and headed out. when i hit minnesota..presdients daughter was in the same airport!! she was at the airport when i came to canada...and then i got to see her as i left. tender mercy! our gates were right next to eachother so we sat and chatted during my lay over until she had to board her plane! i was so excited to see her! i did great emotion wise until the plane hit the ground in boise then it alllllll hit me. i am so thankful to be home and to have m family here safe. being released was an emotional experience...hard...but i know that Heavenly Father can use me in other ways that He needs to at this point of my life and I know that He will continue to guide me and help me find my way. He will never leave us alone..He will neve rleave us to find our way or fight our battles without His help. I am more than grateful for the experience and the opportunity i was given to serve the LOrd for 18 months. IT has been truly remarkable. memories, people, experience that have shaped my life and change me forever. I know that the Lord guided His work and was able to use me as His instrument. I am honored to know that He could use me to help His work progress with His children. A true honor.
i love you all. be good. remember who you are. live it. love it.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
June 18, 2012
Craig and I would like to thank each of you for your support of Sis. Smith over the last 18 months. We have felt of your prayers and faith and we know that Jessica has as well. Love to all! Craig and Bev.
June 18, 2012
Bonnie is right on
track doing really well and enjoying every minute of it. The Romero’s are doing
great. They are going to the temple this weekend for baptisms!!! Glenda was so
happy to be holding her recommend. It was very special.
We had a ward picnic
this weekend...Ben and Cherry, Bonnie, Juanita, the Romero’s...they all came!! Some
of the ward members even had friends that came with them. It poured on us...but
it made for good memories. :)
Sister Shoell and I
had some really great opportunities this week in our finding. We had a lot of
people who don't believe in God or who have been turned off of religion because
of various reasons. A lot of them sat and talked to us about it. One lady in
particular...was very very shut off to what we had to say...but she came out to
talk to us. She had lost her baby when he was 2 to cancer...and she just
couldn't see how that could come from a loving Heavenly Father. As we testified
of the love of God and the plan of salvation...you could see in her eyes that
she wanted it...that she needed it...but she wouldn't let it in. it was hard to
see her in so much pain. But it made me very t thankful for my knowledge of the
plan that Heavenly Father has for me and for each of us. We know that we can be
with our loved ones again. We know that this is the Lords will. And even in
hard times...we can choose to draw closer to Him for His help and guidance. We
don't have to go through trials alone. We can have the peace and the comfort of
the atonement in our lives. I am so thankful for that.
I am so thankful for
the amazing opportunity I have been given to be able to be a Representative of
My Savior Jesus Christ. It is an honor to wear His name over my heart every
single day. I am so humbled to know that I am doing His work here in Canada.
That Heavenly Father has trusted me to help His children in this very very special
way. It has been the most important 18 months of my life. It has changed me and
shaped me and refined me. I have learned so much and have gained so much. My
Savior has become my very best friend. This work is real. It is powerful. This
gospel is what will change the world...one person at a time as they each come
to know their relationship to their Heavenly Father and choose to follow His
son, Jesus Christ. I am continually humbled to be put in the path of those who
are ready to hear the message of the restored gospel. I am continually humbled
to be a part of such an amazing work...the best work. No words can explain the
feelings and the thoughts in my heart. No words can explain how I truly feel
about my Savior, about this gospel, about my Heavenly Father. IT has been a
very, very special 18 months, 18 months that I will never regret, nor forget.
It has meant the world to me. It is hard to say goodbye...hard to stop...but i
know that as I continue to do the Lords will, He can continue to use me as an
instrument in helping other of His children, wherever and however that may be
after i take off my name tag. The Lords timing is perfect. I know this is where
I was supposed to be these past 18 months, I know that He will direct me with
my decisions that I will be making in the next few months...years...and so on.
The gospel is true. I know that my Savior lives.
I love you. Be good. Remember
who you are. Live it and love it.
Monday, June 11, 2012
June 11, 2012
June 11, 2012
Oooooh Brandon is full
of miracles, love love love it. We had a neat experience with Don at the
beginning of this week as he received a blessing. Very strong, powerful
experience for all those that were there for that. He hasn't had a drink of
coffee since last week and is super excited about it. He has been reading every
day...he is in 1 Nephi 20!! :) Roger passed the sacrament on Sunday!! What a
moment!!! He was soooo humbled to be able to do so. It was ward conference this week. The
intermediate hymn was Choose The Right...and their youngest; Yensi just sang it
loud and proud!!! The only words s he knew were choose the right and so she
just repeated it over and over and over again as loud as she could. It was
fantastic!! Sister Olsen and I played a piano duet. It was fun to play with her
again!! On Thursdays we give service at the soup kitchen. There is a man that
goes there from Africa who is one of my favorite people!! Every week he says
OOOH THE MISSIONARIES!!! HIIIIII and gets so excited. He is always asking me
questions about the church and what we do here in Brandon. This week he told me
he was going to come to church! I made him promise....and lo and behold...right
as the opening hymn was being sung...in he walked!!! He was so excited! After
sacrament meeting he was EXTATIC and came up and said. Sister Smith...I'm
getting baptized!!!! This is the church. Did you hear what they said? No other
church talks about that. This is the church. When am I getting baptized?!?!?! Hahaha.
Remarkable. So the elders got his info and are now teaching my friend! So
exciting! :) Miracles happen every day! I love it.
We have a busy week
coming up! Lots of good things happening. Couldn’t be better. This is the Lords
work. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that as we prioritize our
lives and do the important things...the things of the Lord first, and
everything will always...ALWAYS work out. He always keeps His promises.
I hope you all have a
wonderful week. Love you. Be good. Remember who you are. Live it. Love it.
Monday, June 4, 2012
June 4, 2012
June 4, 2012
A week of miracles!! I
tell you what. First of all, Roger’s baptism was fantastic. I love that little
boy so much. His smile was precious the whole time. It was truly a miracle to
watch Roger Sr. use his priesthood to baptize his son. What a remarkable thing
that Heavenly Father has given us to be able to use His power. The priesthood
power is on the earth today. It is real. As I was studying about it this week I
have come to realize that the same priesthood that my dad holds or my brothers
is the same priesthood that the prophet holds or the apostles. Our faith is in
the power, not the man. It was so special to be a part of this special baptism.
Don is doing wonderful. I truly love this man. He is a very very special
person. We taught him on Tuesday before we went to Winnipeg for the week. We
talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to be baptized again.
He said, I already told you...I will. We said what? Don you said you would
think about it. He said...well...I will. I will be baptized on June 30th!! Then
he just leaned back in his comfy recliner and smiled. He was so happy. He
talked about how he feels to know that he has found the Church of Christ. That
this is Christ’s church. When we got back into Brandon and went and taught him
again on Friday...we taught the word of wisdom. Don said that 5 weeks ago he
quit smoking (5 weeks ago is the time we knocked on his door). He did say how
much he loves his coffee and then we asked him if would live the word of wisdom
he said yes. I said what about your coffee. He said. Well by the sounds of it I
drank my last cup an hour ago. He hasn't had a cup since. :) Don is amazing. We
had some very neat experiences in his home this week as he testified to us of
the truth and how he feels about the things we have taught him. He keeps asking
us what persuaded us to ring his bell and he knows that it has been a sign from
God. He calls us his two little angels that Heavenly Father has sent for him. He
didn't show up to church on Sunday so we went to his home to see if he was ok. He
has told us before that he is sick...but we now know he has been down playing
it. When we went to his house he told us he has cancer. He stood there in the
doorway telling us about what is going on and tried to be so tough. I wish I
could explain the feelings in my heart and the spirit that has been felt as we
have been with don. He is a wonderful wonderful man. And I feel honored to be
able to be an instrument for my Heavenly Father in meeting with don.
On Friday night we got
a phone call from a lady who has investigated a while ago here in Brandon. We
answered the phone and she said. Hello. This is Bonnie. I am ready to be
baptized. uhhhhhhhh. :) ok. We went over to meet with her. She is planning on
getting baptized on July 7th!! She came to church on Sunday and bore her
testimony of how she knows this is the true church.
Remarkable. Heavenly
Father has blessed us so much this week!! We have seen miracles and have been a
part of some very very special moments this week. There is nothing like being
an instrument for the Lord and doing His will with His children.
We went to Winnipeg
the middle of the week for specialized training!! It was fun to be with
everyone. We are now being allowed to create our own mormon.org profile!! Missionary
work takes all forms. It is very exciting. There were some neat stories shared
about the effects of the profiles being made in other missions and so we are
all thrilled to get to do it as well.
Well. Another good
week. The work must go on. This is the Lords church. The gospel is true. The
priesthood power is on the earth today.
Love you. Be good. Remember
who you are. Live it. Love it.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
May 28, 2012
May 28, 2012
Hello hello hello.
What a wonderful week
we have had in good ole rainy Brandon Manitoba!! :) Things are wonderful. Little
Roger passed his interview on Saturday and is so excited to be baptized this
coming Saturday!! He was so sad to think it was a week away!! Roger sr. is going
to be baptizing him. Very very special day it will be. The ward is excited, the
family is excited...it will be so wonderful.
Don is the older
gentleman that we are teaching. We had some very neat experiences with him this
week. when we were asking him about the Book of Mormon and how he felt about
it, he told us that we needed to understand that this book is very powerful and
that you have to sit down and take it into your heart...and it has to be a
little at a time because it is so extremely powerful. When we talked about
baptism he said that he had been thinking about baptism since the day we walked
into his house and that he can't sleep at night because it is weighing heavily
on his mind. He is a very special person and it is an honor to be in his home
and teach him.
We had a stake
conference this weekend...broadcasted from SLC, Canada wide. The first talk was
all about the temples and the Romero’s were soaking it in. they talked a lot
about the responsibility of being members and how we need to continually work
on it. Elder Packer said that the people in Canada are the most spiritual and
that years ago the weaklings moved back to Idaho and Utah. Mean while, Sister Shoell
and I were sitting in the back of the chapel...the whole congregation turned and
looked at us. Ha-ha. It was a classic moment. We got lots of comments about it
afterwards. It was funny.
We have been focusing
a lot on teaching during finding and have had some really great experiences. It
isn't just an approach and stating who we are...we talk to them...ask them
questions...teach them right there and then. It is amazing to see how the
spirit works during finding and how much we are able to share with those that
we meet.
We are going to Winnipeg
this week for specialized training. Lots of good things to apply and to learn.
Hope you all had a
great week! Love you!! Be good. Remember who you are. Live it. Love it.
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