SISTER SMART ON A MISSION: March 2015

MLC - DLC - AP - DL & ZL Etc!!!

You Need Degree In Abreviations For This One

“

Hello Hello!!

So even though it's only been 5 days since I emailed you last I have so much to say so I hope I can get it all in!!

P'Day last week was so much fun! Some how we managed to do all of the things we needed to do as well as have lots of fun! We came to the library to email in the afternoon to find that the library closes at 1pm on Wednesdays! What a disaster! Fortunately the library in Bexhil was open so we got the train there and back without hiccup!!

On Thursday evening we had to travel to Orpington as we were staying the night with the Sisters there... We live too far from Staines to get to Mission Leadership Council on time Friday morning. Elder Idso (AP) called as we were traveling and my heart sank! They only really call if they are giving you an assignment! An assignment it was... Pray for a blessing over the lunch at MLC. Could have been a lot worse so I was relieved!

MLC really was amazing!! The Mission Training Plan this transfer is Finding, Teaching and Prayer. A LOT of my prayers were answered as finding is something we are struggling with at the minute. President told us that we could come back early from lunch to watch the new Bible Video about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of course we did and it was a really spiritual moment. Elder Idso then informed us that we had some spare time before we were due to continue the meeting. He asked all of the departing Dissionaries to bear their testimonies. WHAT?!?!?! Sister Longin had asked me about departing Missionary testimonies just the other day and I explained that we didn't really do them in this Mission... Apparently we do now!! It was a really nice experience but awful at the same time! It became very real to me that I will be home so soon. I really did love listening to each of the testimonies though. After that we had a musical number by Elder Jackman and Elder Trowbridge... I Need Thee Every Hour. One of my favorite hynms!! Crying through 7 testimonies and a hymn has got to make you dehydrated!

Traveling home from MLC was an adventure! Our Zone Leaders (Elder Preece and Elder Morales) drove us to Orpington where Sister Longin stayed for the day then we got to train back to Hastings! Traffic was so bad that we ended up getting the train two hours later than we had planned! We had to cancel the appointment we had but that we okay as we rescheduled for the next day. Tender Mercy... There was a bus from the train station to our home 5 minutes after the train arrived to Hastings. Miracle... The bus driver was a less-active who we had never met before. As we were getting off the bus he asked us to pray for his Step-Mother as she is having surgery on Thursday. I know that we were meant to see him that evening so he could have peace of mind/heart knowing that the Missionaries were praying for his Step-Mother. Heavenly Father really does know each of us and he shows his love for us daily! "But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea,and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." - Alma 30:44.

When we got home a letter had arrived from the Mission Office. It was a letter from President Millar thanking me for my service! It was so weird! I was reminded so many times in one day that I was going home. 5 weeks yet... Don't wish me away!!!! :)

Yesterday we were preparing to account with Elder Moore (District Leader) like we do each Sunday when we received a call from Elder Preece (Zone Leader). At MLC we had a council about weather or not the Sister Training Leaders should attend DLC (Dictrict Leader Council) and it was decided that we would! It's a meeting where all of the DLs from the Zone get together with the ZLs and discuss what was discussed at MLC and then decide how they will present that to the Zone. Elder Preece asked me to do a 10 minute presentation on finding... FINDING?!?!?! I thought for a second that we was joking but he really wasn't. I am really struggling to find so and I know that that is why I have been given the assignment. Heavenly Father know's me so well!! He knows that I will learn from this. Some how President found out about my assignment and he called to encourage me and told me that I will do great! His advice... Just picture them all naked!! Or maybe with their underwear on!!! HAHAHAHA... I love that man so much!!

Next week is Easter!!!!! You have to watch this video... It's just been released. Because He Lives!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZqTRSVA1YA

General Conference this coming weekend... I am so excited!!! Such a special time of year! General Conference and Easter!

Oh and next Monday is a BH so the library will be closed... Not sure when I will be able to email but I will at some point! BH's are really the only time we get to go to the temple so we are hoping to do that!!!! :)

I love you all!!!

I hope and pray that you will have a lovely week!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

Sister Jacobson and I! I love these missionaries so much!!

I got a trunky letter the other day... From President Millar thanking me for my service! It's not over yet!!!!!

This is just a few of the missionaries I'm going home with from MLC.

And again!!! Losers!!! Sister Steffensen, Me, Elder Day, Elder Blair, Elder Idso, Elder Travers, Elder Johnson.

Sister Barnes and I! She is so sweet!

Bonjour!!!

If You'll Pardon The French...

“

Bonjour!!!!!!

This week and a half has been a busy one! Full of teaching and giving service!

The work is finally starting to move forward!! :) Sister Longin described us as a diesel engine... Slow to begin with but when it kicks in it can go forever!! :) She is right!

This past week we met two Mancunians... It was so nice chatting to them! They were both lovely!! It was so nice hearing their accents too!

We went on exchange earlier on last week... I stayed in Hasting with Sister Lacey and Sister Longin went to Orpington with Sister Steffensen. It was a really good exchange! I feel that we both learned a lot so that's good as that's what exchanges are all about!! Sister Lacey is so sweet! She is new like Sister Longin! She is the great great great granddaughter of Ephraim Hanks from Ephraim's Rescue... Claim to fame!! I love being the Sister Training Leader so I can go on exchanges and learn from those around me!

On Saturday we had a wedding!! :D It was just lovely!!!! We were asked to help out a little in setting up, so that was nice. We were sat waiting for the Bride to arrive when Bishop came over and asked for one of us to chorister as the chorister wasn't able to make it. :/!!!! I think I did a terrible job... Especially on the first hymn. I really enjoyed being sat at the front though as I got a really good view of the ceremony. I just like watching people in love... It's such a special thing!

So P'Day is today as it's transfer week. Everyone is staying!! We thought for sure that Elder Moore would move as he has been here for 6 months now but I guess President has other ideas. I must admit... I was a little gutted that he didn't move as I wanted Elder De Wilde to be my last District Leader! He is an amazing Missionary and I know I would have learned a lot from him as DL. I am learning a lot from Elder Moore though, so it's all good!

In general, Hastings Ward is amazing and they look after us so well! The Evans take super good acre of us and I am so thankful for them! We were able to spend our P'Day with them today which was fun! We played Crazy Golf with them and the Elders on the course that the Crazy Golf World Championship is held... Claim to fame, number two!! As we played I got super distracted by a lovely couple that were playing with their disabled daughter... They were quite elderly and I couldn't help but notice the clear love that they had for one another. I am so grateful to know that families can be together forever!

Missionary Leadership Council is this Friday and I am excited about that as usual!! :) I always learn so much from them... I'm so sad that this will be my last one! :/

I'll be back emailing again on Monday... You'll be sick of me soon!!

I love you all so much! I hope and pray that you all have a lovely week!

Love

Sister Smart
#sharegoodness

Sister Lacey and I on exchange! I love exchanges!

Sister Sharon Evans and I... She is amazing!

An action shot of crazy golf!

I dropped the phone yesterday! It happens most days... I'm glad I haven't broken a phone yet!!

Elder Moore looking super creepy!!

The lift going up West Hill!

Inside the lift going up West Hill!

Contemplating life!

Hastings Ward Missionaries! Elder De Wilde, Elder Moore, Sister Longin and myself!

Our band photo shoot! Haha!

Sister Longin! :)

Sister Longin, myself and Sister Sharon Evans!

Group shot with the Evans on West Hill!

We had to walk up this path in skirts... Not the best idea!

Sister Longin... She was so close to getting a hole in one!

Only 6 Weeks To Go!!!

But The Busiest Week Ever...

“

Well... I think this past week has been the busiest week I have had on my entire Mission!

On Monday evening we had a family home evening with Sister Brown... It was a lovely evening! She is Scottish so she made us Scottish stew then we learned about the Europe Area Plan together! She is just lovely!!

On Tuesday we went to the Temple!! It was amazing!! I just love it there! It's so pretty and has such an amazing Spirit!

We had Zone Conference with Elder and Sister Dyches this Wednesday! It was a great meeting but unfortunately I didn't get as much from it as I usually do. We found out that we will be getting iPads soon... We will be receiving training on them mid April... About three weeks before I come home. :/ Haha!! So typical!! Ah well! After Zone Conference we got a lift home from the office Elders. They dropped the Sisters off in Eastbourne, the Elders off in Bexhill and finally us. Elder Foster and Elder Wright. We had such a spiritual conversation and I think I heard everything that I needed at that time! Elder Wright told me about a talk by Elder Maxwell. I was about to write the name down when he said "actually I have a copy in my bag that you can have! I have been studying it since and it really is just what I need!! Heavenly Father works through us! He worked through Elder Wright! The talk is called... Notwithstanding My Weakness.

I just love how bold he is!! Say it as it is Elder Maxwell!

Thursday was a busy busy day then we had to travel in the evening for MLC the following day. We went over to Eastbourne where Sister Longin stayed and Sister Wood (The STL from Crawley Zone) and I headed to Gatwick where the East Grinstead Sisters collected us! I Got to see Sister Engelbrektsson!!!! It was so nice seeing her and catching up! I saw her on Wednesday too but we didn't get to chat as much! It was really nice spending time with Sister Wood too! Her and I were in the Reading Zone together but we didn't really get to know one another. She really is just the sweetest!

MLC was great! I learned a lot! Unfortunately the STL from the Digital Zone was a little unwell so she wasn't able to drive.... That meant that I got to drive to Staines and back for the meeting!! I was sad that she was sick but happy that I got to drive! :) Sister Wood and I got the train back to Eastbourne that evening... That day I got 7 trains in total!!!! I was exhausted!!!!! Haha!

In Sacrament meeting this past week all of the missionaries were asked to talk in our ward! We were able to choose our subjects! President Fletcher send a talk to each of the Missionaries serving from our Stake a couple weeks back and I felt impressed to base my talk on that! The talk was bay Elder Bednar and it's called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them".

It's a really really good talk and my talk went okay because I based it so much on it! Sister Longin, Elder Moore and Elder De Wilde did a really good job! And then.... I got to Skype home!!!! I have to admit!!! It was a little weird... It just made coming home very real! It also made me miss you all A LOT!! But that's okay! It's because I love you!! My time will come to be with you again. But for now I am 100% Sister Smart.

Tomorrow we have District Meeting and exchanges... I am staying in Hastings with Sister Lacey and Sister Longin with be heading to Orpington with Sister Steffensen. It should be fun.. I'm looking forward to it!!

On Saturday we are having a wedding!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!! We are helping out a little with the food and so we get to go... I'm so excited!!

I love you all so much!!

I hope that you have a lovely week... You're in my prayers!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

Sister Longin and I!! :)

Playing "Who do you think you are?" today!! District P-Day!

I was President Gordon B Hinckley! :)

The London Temple!!

Bulgarian cold soup... It's interesting!

We found a beautiful park this week!

Correction To Last Week !!!

No, You Buy New Boots...

“
Well... This week has been an interesting week!!

Last Monday we went food shopping at Aldi... I saw some rain boots for £13 so I bought them!! They don't look as nice as my normal boots so I will wear the holy boots on special days with the plastic bag :)

On Tuesday we had interviews with President Millar! I just love spending time with him and Sister Millar. We chatted a little and he told me that I need to stop being so hard on myself. Just like he tells me pretty much each time he sees me. We discussed this a little in District Meeting on Wednesday as it's something that we can all struggle with from time to time. Yesterday Elder Moore, our District Leader committed me to read the "Adjusting to Missionary Life" booklet again that we all get at the beginning of our Mission... Sounds a little silly as I have been on my Mission now for over 16 months but I think it is going to help! He told me to set two very specific goals, so I am doing as I am told! I have actually set three goals so we'll see how it goes!!

Also at District Meeting this week Sister Longin and I were asked to do a presentation on how to work with the members. Poor Sister Longin!! Her first District meeting and she had a massive assignment! It was nice that we had that topic though as it's something that we both feel good about! We love working with the members!

Last week I had a cold but I got over it quite quickly! Then I started with a sore throat at the beginning of this week! I blamed Elder De Wilde as he was sick with the flu so I thought it was going to turn into that! The sore throat got a little worse and then all of a sudden on Wednesday I couldn't talk properly and by Thursday morning I didn't have a voice at all! Sister Longin had prayed for confidence in speaking English and then when I lost my voice she didn't have the choice! She had to speak!! I couldn't speak for three days!! It started to come back yesterday but I still sound a little weird! Last week I was asked if I could teach the Relief Society lesson this week. Of course I agreed as I didn't anticipate loosing my voice! Sister Longin was a champ and offered to do it for me!! She did really well!!! She doesn't give herself enough credit! No chance could I learn French for 6 vweeks then teach a Relief Society lesson by myself on my second Sunday in the Mission Field!

We have a crazy busy week this coming week! We are heading to the Temple tomorrow to watch "Meet the Mormons" with a couple people we are working with... It will be a nice trip with them and we get to see Sister Engelbrektsson as she will be at the Visitors Centre!

On Wednesday we are going to Crawley for Zone Conference!! Elder Dyches (Second Councilor, Europe Area Presidency) is doing a Mission tour so that should be fun! Our train leaves at 6.49am on Wednesday morning. The journey takes about 2 hours... Lots of time for language study!!

Then on Friday we are having a second Missionary Leadership Council for the transfer. Elder Dyches will be there so I get the opportunity to be addressed by him twice in one week!

I really do love being a missionary! It's tough on weeks like last week as I was sick and it's going to be tough this coming week as we will hardly have any time to do anything!! BUT!!!! This week will be amazing... A week of spiritual nourishment!!

This coming Sunday is Mother's day!!!!! That means that I get to Skype home!! It's so crazy to think that I will see your faces moving so soon!! Exciting!!

I hope that you all have a great week this coming week!

I love you!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

First selfie on my new camera!

French food! Croque-Monsieur!! It was really good! I'll have to make it for you!

Sister Longin and I!!!

We made a chocolate pie on my sick day... We didn't think it was right so we decided to eat it instead of giving it away...

It was a good idea to not give it away as you can see!

Hastings!!!!!

What Do You Do When Your Boots Let Water In? !!!

Wrap A Carrier Bag Round Your Foot, Of Course...

“
Today it feels like both a million years ago that I emailed last, but like yesterday at the same time!! Time on a mission is soooo weird!!!

P'Day this past week was an amazing day!! Sister E and I went to Sister Sharon Evans for lunch then we played Skip-Bo while chatting about life! She is so lovely!! She served her Mission in Leeds! We are heading over to the Evans for dinner on Wednesday too :). Monday evening we headed to Brother and Sister Lloyd's for a Cottage Evening. There was about 15 of us. Sister E, myself and the Elders sang a hymn and then Sister Lloyd taught us about Angels. It was a lovely evening!

I don't even know what happened on Tuesday... It feels so long ago! Sister Longin arrived on Wednesday afternoon so Sister E headed back to the Visitors Centre. Sister Longin is great!! She is such a great Missionary! You wouldn't think that she had just come from the MTC minus the fact that she struggles a little with her English. She doesn't give herself enough credit for the level of English that she does have though. I pray that I will be a good trainer and I will impact her for good!

We have been working really hard but we unfortunately have not seen very much success. I studied about patience the other day and I read a talk by President Uchtdorf. The talk is called "Continue in Patience." In the talk he said "From that experience, I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen. Patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.", I really liked this and it gave me a little umph! We seem to be struggling to find new investigators. I really don't know what I am doing wrong!!! I have tried to analyse myself to figure out what the root cause is but I can't figure it out! Obviously we can all improve but I feel that it's something bigger that I just can't figure out!

My boots have been coming to an end for a good while now and a hole has developed on the sole of my right foot... It's been raining a lot so I have been getting a very wet and cold foot!! I refuse to buy another pair for the last couple months of my mission so I have resulted in wearing a plastic bag over my socks! Definitely a sign of a Missionary that has been out for a while!

Yesterday was a little odd... Elder De Wilde has had the flu since Thursday so they weren't at Church! The first time ever that I have known Missionaries not be at church! Poor guy!! I think he's getting better now though, thankfully!!

Yesterday we had a wonderful experience as we taught a member family about the Europe Area Plan. When we arrived we told them that we wanted to teach them at the end of dinner about the Europe Area Plan and asked if they would be happy to pray with us so they can receive revelation about where we should go to find new people to teach. They agreed and the Mum offered the prayer. Before she began she said that the faith of each of us was needed. She paused during the prayer to allow the Spirit to direct all of us and the Spirit was so strong!! After the prayer she asked everyone if they had any suggestions. We opened the map and she gave us very specific directions to a shop that her Mother goes to. She feels that the shop owner is ready to hear about the Gospel. It really was an amazing experience for each of us. Her daughter of 15 then said that she felt that we should go contacting in a park close to our home. Heavenly Father really is amazing!! I just love working with the members. It is so special! I love being a Missionary!

Last night Sister Longin taught me how to make real French Crepes!! we Brits do it very wrong!!! We made enough to have some for breakfast this morning! I don't know if this is a good or bad thing!! I have managed to loose 5 pounds the last 2 weeks but now maybe I'll put Crepe weight on!! Haha! Self control Sister Smart, self control!!!

Tomorrow we are heading to Tunbridge Wells for interviews with President Millar... I am excited!! I just love President and Sister Millar so much!!!

I hope and pray that each of you have a lovely week!!

I love you!!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness