Its A Small, Small World !!!

Especially As A Mormon...

“
Well...For me this week began with MLC on Tuesday. It was a great meeting and I'm so glad that I was able to be there! On Monday evening the Poole Zone Leaders dropped Sister Barnes (Poole STL) and Sister Ramseyer off so we could all get to MLC easily on Tuesday morning.

Sister Barnes is from Star Valley, Wyoming. I told her I had been there and that we had friends there. I explained who they were and she thinks she knows them. Even crazier!!!!! I ask her randomly if she knew Joseph Platt. Joseph is a friend I made in Singapore. He is from Wyoming but not from Star Valley but I thought I'd give it a shot. Turns out that he was the first guy to ask her on a date when she started at Uni in Wyoming. Crazy small Mormon world!!!!

Elder Trowbridge and Elder Cluff drove us to and from MLC. Both of them have been my District Leader in the past so it was nice chatting with them... I convinced them to do the Penguin song together when they dropped me back off at home. I took a video... It's hilarious!!!!!

This week I had the craziest dream EVER!!!!! Elder Rife, Elder Giddons, myself and my companion (not sure who it was) were on the 409 bus travelling to our home. We got off the bus and the Elders came with us as they thought something bad was going to happen. This guy started shouting at Elder Gibbons then started to beat him up... Really badly!!!! We all ran away but I dropped the Ward list on the floor and I though "oh no!!! I have to pick it up as it has personal information on it!". I took 5 steps back to get it and when I stood up I had a gun in my face!!!!!! Then I woke up. Weirdest dream!!! I never dream of home so mixing home, mission and death in one wasn't cool!

At MLC, President gave Sister Stuart and I permission to go on an inter zone exchange as I don't have any Sisters to go on exchange with. I am sooooo excited!!! For those 24 hours we are going to be on fire! Being with an old companion is so cool on exchange!! She is in Brighton so it's really not far for us to travel! :)

On Wednesday we were getting dropped off by a couple of YSA... I fell out of the car onto the rainy floor!!!! It was not cool!!! Josey, one of the YSA took a photograph and it has been seen by most of the YSA and other Missionaries! Not cool!!!

Zone Training was on Friday... It was a good meeting. President and Sister Millar were there! It was very weird being the only set of Sisters in the zone! We were defiantly the odd one out!

After Church yesterday we went to Joey Honour's for lunch with some of the YSA. He lives in halls of residence... I do not miss halls at all!!!!!! It was so weird being with the YSA in that setting. They're great people and I love being with them but I'm so glad I'm not a student any more!

Sister Hopgood was asked last week to prepare a little presentation for the Relief Society lesson on dating and marriage. I helped her a little by finding scriptures that spoke about such things... I found one that I really like!!! "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it" -Ephesians 5:25. Yeah, I know that I'm a Missionary but still! I hope to be married one day! Do you love your wife enough?! Do you love you husband enough?! :) I'll leave you with that!!

I hope that you all have a lovely week!!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

This is Sister Barnes and I.

Doh !!!

Those Pesky Keys Are inside & We're On The Outside...

“
Well... Today is a new day, a new week, a new month, a new transfer and a new year! New beginnings!

We have had an adventurous week... On NYE we had a full day. We left the flat at 11 am after 12 week study and we didn't plan to return until 9pm. As the McCoy's dropped us off I said to Sister Hopgood "Do you have the keys?", she said "No, it's your key day". My heart sank!!!!!!!!! I had left the flat that morning without picking the keys up!!! Not too bad though as the McCoy's have a spare set of keys to our flat. We turned around and 40 minutes later arrived with the spare set to find out that they don't fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are the spare set for the old Chichester flat!!! :(I cried with anger/frustration at myself).
I do not like being out of control and leaving the keys behind shows that I'm not in control. Arrrggghhhhh!!! Sister McCoy keeps telling me that I'm too hard on myself, but I'm not so sure. Anyway... At this point it is 22:15! I called President Millar to apologise and to tell him that we would be staying at the McCoys for the night until we could get a locksmith. President actually laughed at me for crying because it was a mistake. He said "well, at least now I know what lengths you will go to to have a sleep over!". Haha!! After all the faffing we got to bed at 12:10am. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

You'd think all would be well but no... A locksmith charged £85 on a bank holiday!! We contacted the emergency number for the letting agent to find out we can get the spare keys but not until the following day (A non bank holiday)!! Oh and Elder McCoys was up all night throwing up... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
We made the decision to stay at the McCoy's another night and wait for the letting agent to be open. As Elder McCoy was sick President Millar gave me permission to drive their car so that was pretty cool! I got to drive a car for two days but I also spent two days without make up! :/ Not cool!!!!
On Friday when we went to get the keys from the letting agent we found that they had attempted to deliver my Christmas package on NYE and they would attempt to deliver it again that day (Friday). Elder McCoy was still sick so both him and Sister McCoy waited at our flat to sign for the package while Sister Hopgood and went to get a spare set of keys made. What an adventure!!!!!

My package arrived... Sister McCoy signed for! We had lunch hour when we got back to the flat so I could open my gifts! Then... we went back to a regular day!!!! Things have been a lot less crazy since then! Start the year off with a bang I guess!!! It was all so surreal!

President called to see how everyone was feeling on new years day as about 25 missionaries had called him to inform him they were ill... Just like Elder McCoy! Not cool!! All meetings were cancelled so MLC was postponed until tomorrow. It was crazy. It wasn't good that everyone was sick but it was good they MLC had been postponed as I would have had to attend without make up on!!!!!!!!!!!! No no no!!!! Haha!!

Zone training is on Friday so most of this week is already accounted for! That means that this week will fly by. Another week gone!! Time is such a scary thing!!! I'm scared!!

I am so excited for this new year!! I have been thinking a lot what this new year is for me and what it will hold! Each time I think about it my thoughts come back to Christ. This life is all about progression and without the enabling power of the Atonement we would be nothing. We are so blessed.

"Fear not‍ to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good‍ ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built‍ upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin‍ no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look‍ unto me in every thought; doubt‍ not, fear not. Behold‍ the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails‍ in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit‍ the kingdom‍ of heaven. Amen." Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-37

I hope that you all have a lovely new year and are able to look unto Christ.

Have a great week and remember who you are!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

We had a treat yesterday... The only way I can get Sister Hopgood to eat fruit!

Num num num!!

Working hard in the area book... This is what happens when you companion has bad knees!!

Me with my package!! It arrived!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm sending a photo where I'm not wearing make-up!! My email will explain why!

No Christmas Cards !!!

But You Can Have a New Years Card...

“
Well... As you know (or at least you should), this week we celebrated Christmas!!! I just love this time of year!! Such a special time of year. It just makes me happy.

On Mondays there is a YSA Family Home Evening... Sometimes one of our recent converts goes and takes his non member friend so we try to go when that's the case. This was the case last week so we went. We played charades and it was so fun! A lot of the investigators there were Chinese but we still managed it! On the way home we got the train with the Elders... I have not laughed like that in a long time!!!! I felt like I was at home with the cousins again! Laughing is so healthy! We should all laugh more!!!! Our district is like a disfunctional family. It's quite odd but I like it. Unfortunately Elder Rife is moving to Christchurch so the disfunctional family may be coming to an end... We think Elder Johnson will bring some sanity.

So a couple weeks back I started writing Christmas Cards but P-Days can be quite short so I didn't end up finishing or posting any that I had finished as I wanted to include a photo. Christmas has been and gone but I think I'm going to send them anyway :) Just look at them as a New Years card! Sorry!!

Christmas Day was fun... Skyping was amazing!!! I miss you all so much but that's okay... I'm here for the right reasons and I love being here. It scares me how quickly the time is going :/!!!!! We had ham and potato salad for lunch then we had Chinese food for dinner... It made me miss Singapore!! Xing (Sing) is a really good cook!! Xing brought his non member friend so it was good to be with them. We played some games and it was real good fun! We laughed lots! The Elders made us some gifts... I took a photo so I'll send that after I've written this. They made me laugh. I think I feel like a Mum feels when her children make something for her at school then don't want to get rid of it. I don't know how I will get it home without destroying it though! :)

Sister Hickman is going home tomorrow!! Crazy! Because she would be home just after Christmas she decided not to Skype home. She asked President if she could call me instead and he said yes. It was sooooo nice speaking to her. I seriously feel like I knew her before this life. We were only together for 6 weeks yet I feel like I've known her my entire life!! She is one special person!

As I mentioned earlier... This week is transfers. Sister Hopgood and I are both staying in Chichester. I suspect that one of us will move next transfer though... Feb 11th. Lot's of Sisters go home that transfer so I think there will be a lot of changes. President has had to close a couple Sisters areas this transfer as a few Sisters have gone home and not many have come into the mission. The Isle of Wight was one of the areas so now we are the only Sister companionship in the Portsmouth Zone. I thought that I would be released as Sister Training Leader as I haven't got any Sisters to train but when I spoke to President he feels otherwise. Apparently I'm needed. So I am still Sister Training Leader. I'm happy about that as I loved MLC last transfer so I look forward to that this Friday :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!... Watch this! It makes me smile every time I watch it!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=910930409001

New Years Eve we're heading to the McCoys again for dinner... I think that's best. I don't think wandering the streets that evening would be a good idea!

Dan!!! Do you remember me talking about Dan when I was in Eastbourne?! Well... He was baptised on Saturday!!!!!!!! I am soooooo happy for him! He is amazing! The gospel is true!!!!!

Here's to a happy new year!

I truly hope this year brings you joy and peace...

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

My gifts from the Elders!

They were all being really silly and wouldn't have a photo! When they finially did I was fed up :)

This is Xing and our Chinese Christmas Dinner!

This is Elder Rife... After we got off the laughing train! Can you guess what we spoke about that was making me laugh so much?!

A Tough Week !!!

For A Tough Woman...

“
Hello!

This week has possibly been on of the hardest weeks I've ever had on my mission! It's hard to see the benefit of these times when we're in the middle of the experience, but I know that the hard times are for our good. This video says it much better than I...

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3897359657001

District meeting this week was just what I needed... Elder Gibbons based it on a talk by President Monson Many years ago called "Finishers Wanted" it is an amazing talk and just what I needed. before my mission people said... "Being a missionary is the best and hardest time of your life". Being a missionary really is amazing but so flipping hard!!!! I think this talk can help everyone!!!...

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1972/04/finishers-wanted?lang=eng&query=finishers+wanted

Elder Gibbons quoted Elder Kirk (my District Leader from Torquay) in District Meeting "If you're falling off a cliff you might as well try to fly". How true is that?!?!

Oh and also... After District Meeting the Zone Leaders were trying to drive off so I walked like a penguin in front of their car to wind them up!! Elder Van Dongan actually hit me!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha!! I knew it was coming though so I very dramatically fell onto the bonit! Dodgy Elder!!

We went caroling and street contacting as a District this week... We sang with a 92 year old chap. It made my week.

I received a huge package from Ashton 1st ward this week... Thank you so much everyone!!! I am excited for Christmas morning.

This Saturday it was the Chichester Ward Christmas party... It was lots of fun! People were asked to make up a short piece of entertainment. As Missionaries we did a a song wearing Hugh Jackman masks as the activities chair person is obsessed with him!!!! We wore matching Christmas jumpers and flashing Santa hats. It was terrible!!! I made a trifle (for the first time) for the buffet and it was actually okay! That's what you get for having a Mum that's an amazing example!!!

Today the Ward are having a Christmas lunch for some of the members... We have been invited to help and to have lunch. I'm pleased as we wouldn't be having a Christmas lunch if not as we're going to the McCoys on Christmas day to have ham and salad as they're feeding so many at different times.

I can't believe that this is my second Christmas as a missionary and my third Christmas away from home! Time just flies!!!

Remember me telling you about us caroling at the train station after the Temple trip!? Well, Elder Gibbons Dad found it on YouTube. HAHAHA!! I've not watched it obviously so I don't know how terrible we sound but I'm sure it was better in real life :) Here's the links...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpLfHzA5YwM&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqnQQW6y-7A&feature=youtu.be

I truly hope that you all have a lovely Christmas!!

I love you!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

The Game Is On !!!

But She Just Cant Play It...

“
Hello!!

Well... This week has been a tough old week! We have been flogged and dropped a lot!!!

BUT!!!!!!

We were able to got to the Temple on Tuesday... It was amazing! So many answers received!! I got to see Sister Draper as she was there with an investigator... It was so nice to see her!!! And I got to see Elder Christensen even though he has been exiled to Jersey :). We were talking about that poem "footprints" and he pulled a little card with it on out of his handbook... He said "This is for you! I felt like I had to bring this but I didn't know why until now. It's for you!!". It made me cry... PUNK!!!!

We travelled by train to the Temple... On the way home we were dropped off by the office elders to find 50 other missionaries stranded as the train had been delayed/cancelled due to somebody being ill on board. We sang Christmas carols for an hour until the train arrived... It was amazing!! Some missionaries were chatting to people while others sang. We even got requests! I love being a missionary!!!

On the train home (when we finally got it) the Elder were teaching me how to speak and read Pig Latin as they speak it fluently! I'm not doing too bad... I can read it quite well and I can understand some things, it just takes me a while! Elder Rife has a theory that I don't have dyslexia in Pig Latin... Just in English! Haha!

I can't believe that we are just 10 days away from Christmas... It is crazy!! We are having Christmas lunch at the McCoys so that will be fun! We are then heading into town as a district to give gifts to random people and sing carols. How exciting! Remind everyone what Christmas is all about!

Have you every heard of "The Game"?... I hadn't until I met Elder Rife. The Game is:- if you think about the game you have lost the game. You tell everyone around you that "I have just lost The Game" then they loose the game. It is so STUPID!!!!!! I loose the game about 5 times a day. Every time the Elders call for something I loose the game and every time I try to remember something I remember about the game then loose. It has RUINED my life!! Sister Maddocks says "the only way to win the game is to refuse to play the game" but I just can't do it. The game as won if I do that! Arrrrggggghhhhhhh!

This Saturday it is the Chichester ward party... It should be fun! As Missionaries we have been asked to do a 5-10 minute skit. Thankfully Elder Rife is very creative so that should be fun! I'll try to get a video!

I have been fretting a lot recently trying to figure out if I am a successful Missionary. If I am doing all that I can and should. If I am wasting any of these precious days as a Missionary. I was reading through my notes from Mission Leadership Council and I was "PMG page 10" without an explanation. I looked in Preach My Gospel on page 10 and it was the "A Successful Missionary" section. I studied that until my eyes were square even though I have studied it before... I guess I just forgot it was there. It was very insightful!

I truly love being a missionary. Christ suffered so why should we be comfortable all of the time?! We shouldn't... We are here to learn and grow.

I hope that you all have a lovely week and remember this special time of year for what it really is!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

Christmas jumper!!

Christmas beard!!

Stick pull with Francesca... I won!

Elder Christensen and I at the temple :) I miss this guy!! We're not holding hands... It just looks like it :O DODGE!!

Our MTC group... Elder Johnson, Me, Sister Steffensen, Sister Hopgood.

Elder Wilson and I... He's my mission brother! We were both new in my first district! Then we served together in Salisbury!

First Successful Exchange !!!

Followed By Travel Sickness...

“
Hello!!! What a week!!!

I can't believe it's Monday again... These weeks are flying by!!!!

Where to start?! Our phone broke on Wednesday and I had planned an exchange for Thursday with the Isle of Wight Sisters... That was interesting trying to communicate with them and trying to find our way. We actually got there without any problems and sweet talked the guy we got our tickets from for the Hovercraft to call the Sisters to let them know when we would be on the Isle of Wight :). I was worried about conducting the exchange but it went really well... Everyone feels that they learned something and that's what it's about!! Only downer... I felt travel sick all of Thursday and Friday. I guess that's what 8 hours of travel will do to you.

Sister Hopgood and I are now studying the 12 weeks programme... We normally study it the first 12 weeks in the mission field but as she has been home for a while due to knee surgery we are studying it again. I'm excited to do it all again... To re-learn!

We received a text last week from the mission office with a referral. Somebody referred their self through Mormon.org. We went to teach her this week while on exchange and she is amazing!! She came to church on Sunday and we are going to visit her again on Thursday. She originally came into contact with the church about 5 years ago. It wasn't the right time then but it seems to be now. The church is true and Heavenly Father loves each of us. Never forget that!!

On Friday we went street contacting in Chichester as a District with Joey Honour. It was lots of fun... I never thought I'd be able to talk to as many people as I do. I really hope I'm like Joey when I get home... Well I will make sure that I am!

This week has been full of prayers and answers to prayers!! Heavenly Father really is listening to us. Pray with faith, intent and sincerity and you'll receive what you need.

Tomorrow we get to go to the Temple for Christmas... I am so excited!! We are getting the train at 06:40am :) I really can't wait! The mission has been split into 4 so we're going with about 70 other missionaries. How much fun! I love being with the other missionaries and I love going to the temple... Double win!

Christmas is just over two weeks away... How has it come to this time of year already?! I love this time of year!! So much joy!! Then it's transfers 31/12/14 :O What?! Where does time go!?!?!?!

The past week of so I have learned A LOT!!! And this scripture has been standing out "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come." Doctrine and Covenants 130:19. So true!!!!

I saw this music video the other day and I wanted to share it with you as it brought me so much joy. I just love it!...

http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/595?v=3877082777001#.VIWNOBBTZJ4.email

I hope that you all have a lovely week and are able to remember the true meaning of this special time of year!!!

I love you! Remember who you are!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

Chichester District!

Looking rough on a Hovercraft with Sister Stigant!

Cool view from Gumwaft bus staion in Portsmouth... Christmas is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Helaman's Army !!!

On The Move Again...

“
Well... Say hello to the craziest week!!

Oh my days... Monday night the Sisters from the Isle of Wight came to stay, so it was easier to get to London for the Elder Cook conference on Tuesday. Sister Maddocks and I didn't have enough money to buy both of our tickets to London plus the renewal of my rail card so the Office Elders bought our tickets and gave us a confirmation code to print our tickets off. You know me... I like to do things in advance so we print our tickets out at the station as we collected the Sisters.

Some how the Elders made a mistake and we got about 50 missionaries tickets! As soon as I realised what the machine was doing my heart sunk!!! :( Thankfully they have been able to return the tickets and they have re booked every ones tickets and we got new confirmation codes the morning of the conference. PHEW!!!!!!!! I'm so glad we attempted to get our tickets the night before or they wouldn't have had time to re book all of the tickets for the morning of.

Tuesday was amazing... We travelled to London without any hiccups! About 16 of us walked to the chapel from Victoria station and we were greeted by a couple of smiling faces taking photos of us outside the V and A Museum... He shouted "you are Heleman's Army" and she sang "Called to Serve" to us. They were clearly not English and it made me so happy!!! Elder Reed and I agreed that we could turn around and head back home as it was so uplifting :) The church is true. I'm glad we continued to Hyde Park though as the conference was amazing! I went with questions in my heart and in mind and they were all answered! We all got to shake Elder Cook's hand. So cool! I also got to shake the hand of Elder Toby Nolan!!! :) so good to see him :) He looks so happy!!! Him and a few other Elders did the musical item for the conference. Toby sang a solo!! I didn't even know he sang. It was really good! At the end of the conference Elder Cook pronounced an Apostolic Blessing upon our Missions and all of the Missionaries. It really was amazing!

On Thursday it was Thanks Giving and we had District Meeting. Thanks Giving is so random... It's just Christmas dinner a month early! :) It was good though. It's so interesting being in a new District with a new District Leader... They all do it so differently! The Elders Presented Sister Maddocks and I with decorated planners as a thank you for making them lunch on Tuesday for the Elder Cook Conference. :) It's an interesting planner!

FRIDAY... Sad day!! President called us just after 8am during personal study and you know something is wrong when he calls at that time! He explained that there was a companionship of Sisters that weren't getting on, so we needed to help out and do a swap. I am still here in Chichester and my new companion is Sister Hopgood from Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Her and i were in the MTC together but she had to go home for knee surgery so she has just come back to the mission. Sister Maddocks is now with Sister McKay in Hastings. I was so sad to see her go. 11 day companionship isn't cool... I miss her! Chichester is great though. Only being here for 11 days I don't know the area very well but that's okay... It's an adventure!!!

This Thursday I will be conducting an exchange is the Isle of Wight Sisters... We have to get to Portsmouth then take a Hovercraft. Another adventure!!!!! I'm excited!!

The "He is The Gift" video is now available!!!! Watch it and share it!!! Christmas is amazing... I am excited!!

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

I hope you all have a lovely week! Enjoy this time for year for what it truly is!!

Love, Sister Smart

#sharegoodness

Sister Maddocks and I!

Sister Maddocks and I eating Fish and Chip in the play ground... It was raining!!!

Sister Maddocks playing Mary.

Sister Maddocks... Our last dinner together. Pizza and Salad... Her favourite!!

Chichester District!! Me, Sister Maddocks, Elder Rife, Elder Gibbons!

The true Chichester District!! :)

Sister Hopgood and I!