Hello!
How is everyone? I'm doing good. I find out if I get transferred next Sunday. I can't believe I've made it through 2 transfers here. I wonder if I'll stay or go. Amherst is always fun, the people, the knocking, the everything! Every day is an adventure. You just have to pray hard and go with whatever comes your way.
Monday: I got letters in the mail! Yay! That is always a wonderful part of my day or week. So thank you very much. And after our rather uneventful preparation day we knocked for a bit and then had a lesson with our wonderful member Sarah.
Tuesday: The day itself was good! We had a great district meeting. It strengthened my testimony of prayer. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, even the small ones. In the past couple of days I had been praying for help in receiving guidance from Heavenly Father. How could I find answers? How would I know they are from Him? what did I need to be doing. And as our district meeting came to an end, Elder Collette told us he decided to do the last training on receiving revelation! A direct answer to my prayers. It was amazing.
We ended the day by teaching institute which I really enjoy! As I study the stories of Christ in the Bible I have come to know and love Him even more.
Wednesday: We chalked in the morning, I really enjoy this because you get to put beautiful and inspiring things on the sidewalk for everyone to see! And it helps to get our name out there, so people know who we are, and if they are seeking they can find us.
We volunteered at the Museum which is usually pretty dull if not informative. This time we just help set up the exhibit for the big celebration here. The 125th year of being a town. (I think, 125th of something).
Then we drove up to Tidnish to have supper at a members house, the Haynes. Which was really nice, it was our first time getting out there. It always surprises me of the stories people have. I enjoy getting to know each member of our branch, it helps me to love them even more.
Thursday: Well our plans were changed a bit in the past few days because we had to clean our apartment like crazy. We got a note on the door saying our landlady was having a realtor come show people the house we live in. So, we had to tidy up everything and put away anything personal. (well we probably didn't have to, but I didn't want my journal laying around for a curious eye to catch hold of) and that took some time. But now our apartment is so clean, you could probably eat off the floor. (Which really you just shouldn't. Never mind, I take back that recommendation)
We had our first day of volunteering at the library! That brought me back to my junior high/high school days of volunteering at the Springville Public Library. There really just isn't anything as good as a flipping through the pages of a dusty library book. Yeah. But one has to be careful as they flip that they do not read the material when one is a missionary. So that puts a damper on things. We just help re-shelve which isn't all that bad at all.
To Sackville we went next! Visiting a sweet member Jessica, she has the cutest baby. And she has a really cool home business of making headbands and bows and things. Super fun. But we had to leave to go teach our investigators, sad to leave but you'll not hear complaining from me when investigators are to be taught!
(I'm sorry, I'm pretty tired today so this letter is admittedly more dramatic than I usually would permit. Please excuse the eccentricities and enjoy. Also you should know that as I write I read certain things out loud to my companion which I think are rather witty. Her lack of interest shows me that I should let her e-mail and get better sleep haha.)
So our lesson with our couple investigating went pretty well, we had it at the Veinots home. We all then had supper with them, and proceeded to all go to Games Night at the Church. All in all it was a busy and fun day.
Friday: August 1st! What!!! Welcome to the 8th month of the year. That is pretty crazy to think about. Time really does fly I've decided. We spent this day planning, visiting members, and street contacting. Your typical missionary day.
Saturday: The rock-a-billy festival downtown made it near impossible to find people. Why? Because in a small town of 10,000 people you can bet most of them will be right there. With the rock music and cigarettes, and old cars it wasn't an atmosphere conducive to the spirit. But we tried it out anyways. We actually volunteered with the Artisans Gallery and passed out flyers for it, and ribbons for "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" Which I figure is rather fitting because we definitely do not support drunk driving. Or drunk anything really.
After we gave up on that, (we did talk to quite a few people, but you just couldn't hold a conversation for the electric guitar in the background) we visited an elderly member in Victoria Manor, and then bought some cotton candy on our way back to our car. Yum!
In the evening we decided to travel up to the far town of Springhill. Which is only 30 minutes away. We met some wonderful members who aren't coming out to church regularly. One of them gave us a very hard time about not being able to cook. He instructed us on how to make home made soup. In the end he got offended by me for saying "old missionaries," and looking at him when I said "old" (he was kidding) So I offered to make amends by bringing home made soup the next time we came. To which he firmly was against, because he our confession at not being cooks made the idea undesirable to him. Ha, oh well. We tried.
Sunday: Church was wonderful. Fast and Testimony meeting was pretty great. The members all gave inspiring messages about helping others come back to church, reaching out to those in need and such. I suspect this resulted in large measure from the fact that there were only 17 of us attending. In previous weeks we were upwards to 30 people. I'm not sure where everyone disappeared to this week, but I'd wager (except I can't because I'm a missionary) that people were out visiting family or spending the long weekend away.
We were able to run around to the hospital with the Veinots and visit some people, and then spent the rest of our day trying to contact, and having a lesson with Sarah.
Overall we had a great week! I apologize for the novel, but I hope that it was interesting to read and left nothing waning for descriptions of my exciting missionary life.
Anyways. Many thanks to those of you who write me. I always love to hear the happenings of your lives. And know that my prayers are towards those in need. Love you all.
Sister Smith
How is everyone? I'm doing good. I find out if I get transferred next Sunday. I can't believe I've made it through 2 transfers here. I wonder if I'll stay or go. Amherst is always fun, the people, the knocking, the everything! Every day is an adventure. You just have to pray hard and go with whatever comes your way.
Monday: I got letters in the mail! Yay! That is always a wonderful part of my day or week. So thank you very much. And after our rather uneventful preparation day we knocked for a bit and then had a lesson with our wonderful member Sarah.
Tuesday: The day itself was good! We had a great district meeting. It strengthened my testimony of prayer. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, even the small ones. In the past couple of days I had been praying for help in receiving guidance from Heavenly Father. How could I find answers? How would I know they are from Him? what did I need to be doing. And as our district meeting came to an end, Elder Collette told us he decided to do the last training on receiving revelation! A direct answer to my prayers. It was amazing.
We ended the day by teaching institute which I really enjoy! As I study the stories of Christ in the Bible I have come to know and love Him even more.
Wednesday: We chalked in the morning, I really enjoy this because you get to put beautiful and inspiring things on the sidewalk for everyone to see! And it helps to get our name out there, so people know who we are, and if they are seeking they can find us.
We volunteered at the Museum which is usually pretty dull if not informative. This time we just help set up the exhibit for the big celebration here. The 125th year of being a town. (I think, 125th of something).
Then we drove up to Tidnish to have supper at a members house, the Haynes. Which was really nice, it was our first time getting out there. It always surprises me of the stories people have. I enjoy getting to know each member of our branch, it helps me to love them even more.
Thursday: Well our plans were changed a bit in the past few days because we had to clean our apartment like crazy. We got a note on the door saying our landlady was having a realtor come show people the house we live in. So, we had to tidy up everything and put away anything personal. (well we probably didn't have to, but I didn't want my journal laying around for a curious eye to catch hold of) and that took some time. But now our apartment is so clean, you could probably eat off the floor. (Which really you just shouldn't. Never mind, I take back that recommendation)
We had our first day of volunteering at the library! That brought me back to my junior high/high school days of volunteering at the Springville Public Library. There really just isn't anything as good as a flipping through the pages of a dusty library book. Yeah. But one has to be careful as they flip that they do not read the material when one is a missionary. So that puts a damper on things. We just help re-shelve which isn't all that bad at all.
To Sackville we went next! Visiting a sweet member Jessica, she has the cutest baby. And she has a really cool home business of making headbands and bows and things. Super fun. But we had to leave to go teach our investigators, sad to leave but you'll not hear complaining from me when investigators are to be taught!
(I'm sorry, I'm pretty tired today so this letter is admittedly more dramatic than I usually would permit. Please excuse the eccentricities and enjoy. Also you should know that as I write I read certain things out loud to my companion which I think are rather witty. Her lack of interest shows me that I should let her e-mail and get better sleep haha.)
So our lesson with our couple investigating went pretty well, we had it at the Veinots home. We all then had supper with them, and proceeded to all go to Games Night at the Church. All in all it was a busy and fun day.
Friday: August 1st! What!!! Welcome to the 8th month of the year. That is pretty crazy to think about. Time really does fly I've decided. We spent this day planning, visiting members, and street contacting. Your typical missionary day.
Saturday: The rock-a-billy festival downtown made it near impossible to find people. Why? Because in a small town of 10,000 people you can bet most of them will be right there. With the rock music and cigarettes, and old cars it wasn't an atmosphere conducive to the spirit. But we tried it out anyways. We actually volunteered with the Artisans Gallery and passed out flyers for it, and ribbons for "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" Which I figure is rather fitting because we definitely do not support drunk driving. Or drunk anything really.
After we gave up on that, (we did talk to quite a few people, but you just couldn't hold a conversation for the electric guitar in the background) we visited an elderly member in Victoria Manor, and then bought some cotton candy on our way back to our car. Yum!
In the evening we decided to travel up to the far town of Springhill. Which is only 30 minutes away. We met some wonderful members who aren't coming out to church regularly. One of them gave us a very hard time about not being able to cook. He instructed us on how to make home made soup. In the end he got offended by me for saying "old missionaries," and looking at him when I said "old" (he was kidding) So I offered to make amends by bringing home made soup the next time we came. To which he firmly was against, because he our confession at not being cooks made the idea undesirable to him. Ha, oh well. We tried.
Sunday: Church was wonderful. Fast and Testimony meeting was pretty great. The members all gave inspiring messages about helping others come back to church, reaching out to those in need and such. I suspect this resulted in large measure from the fact that there were only 17 of us attending. In previous weeks we were upwards to 30 people. I'm not sure where everyone disappeared to this week, but I'd wager (except I can't because I'm a missionary) that people were out visiting family or spending the long weekend away.
We were able to run around to the hospital with the Veinots and visit some people, and then spent the rest of our day trying to contact, and having a lesson with Sarah.
Overall we had a great week! I apologize for the novel, but I hope that it was interesting to read and left nothing waning for descriptions of my exciting missionary life.
Anyways. Many thanks to those of you who write me. I always love to hear the happenings of your lives. And know that my prayers are towards those in need. Love you all.
Sister Smith