Good day everyone!
The people around here are saying "Good, Northern Maine is finally acting like itself" The highs this week are predicted to be -5F some days. I've been ignoring the cold and most of the time I forget to grab my coat (on days when we are going from appointment to appointment) but I think I'm finally going to give in and start wearing double the leggings and more layers. I do enjoy the cold, just not when I go to put my hand on the back of the passenger seat to back up and the metal burns my fingers. That's just a little crazy. We have a good time though. I make up songs about the cold and Sister Fenn laughs at my sillyness. I've also tried to figure out how to make smoke rings out of the fog that comes from our breath, but to no avail.
As you are very aware of, we passed from one year to the next this week. I didn't think I would like 2015 because 5 is one of my least favorite letters to write and make look nice. but as I've began a new journal and have been practicing my 5's I'm finding that it's not too bad after all. There are many things I am anticipating this year! Including our baptism on January 24th! We don't have anyone yet. But we have prayed and set the goal of having a baptism, we have fasted and are praying daily for this goal. I would invite you to pray for us as well! The Lord has a marvelous work for us to help with, and we just have to show Him we have a wee bit of faith, and that is enough for Him to work with.
I've also been working on honing my Gaelic accent. One day I aspire to be fluent in Gaelic. Until then I have to remind myself to speak like an American when we are contacting. People call me out every time if I say eh. I've told them I'm from Utah and they say "Are you sure you're not Canadian, you're talking like one." It tickles me pink to hear that.
My wonderful companion Sister Fenn is teaching me many things! Among them have been the art of using a curling iron, (which I never have before in my life) and cooking things such as chicken, or bacon. So yes, I think I'm finally growing up in some ways. Her 20th birthday was on New Years Eve, and we had a wonderful celebration! (there were even fireworks!) I scrapped up all of my courage and made her a cake, which turned out beautifully, and we ate it after our District Meeting on Wednesday.
A little blast from the past when on New Years the entire mission set aside 3 hours to deep clean our apartments. The time was insufficient to complete all of our tasks, but I quite enjoyed going back to my housekeeping days to give my full attention to cleaning. Our apartment is so clean, everything sparkles and when you put your ears to the surfaces there is an audible "aaahhhhhhh" as from the angels.
Best of all, my heart was full this week. Each person we meet is so wonderful. I have learned how to see people not as they are, but as God see's them. Divine, with infinite potential. We met one such man while we were on our way to an appointment with a less active member. We couldn't find her address so I just pulled up to a house and knocked on the garage door. The man who answered, told us of his life, his son who died 18 years ago and how he has no idea about what happens after we die. I gave him my utmost sincerity in expressing the importance of what we teach. How God does have a plan and that he can know it! Nevertheless, he rejected our invitation. I gave him a card to the website and I know one day he will learn the truth of God's plan for himself.
I'm excited for this year! I haven't nailed down all of my resolutions yet. The ideas are sort of floating around in my brain and I just need to sit down and focus and make a plan. I do know that I want to work harder than I ever have, pray harder than I ever have, and grow and learn more than I ever have. 2015 is the year to do it!
I've learned that we can never give up on ourselves. We change all the time, ALL the time, so who's to say we can't change in a good way? In the best way? I love this quote and I will leave you with it.
"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the 'high priest of good things to come'. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep." -Elder Holland
Love,
Sister Smith
The people around here are saying "Good, Northern Maine is finally acting like itself" The highs this week are predicted to be -5F some days. I've been ignoring the cold and most of the time I forget to grab my coat (on days when we are going from appointment to appointment) but I think I'm finally going to give in and start wearing double the leggings and more layers. I do enjoy the cold, just not when I go to put my hand on the back of the passenger seat to back up and the metal burns my fingers. That's just a little crazy. We have a good time though. I make up songs about the cold and Sister Fenn laughs at my sillyness. I've also tried to figure out how to make smoke rings out of the fog that comes from our breath, but to no avail.
As you are very aware of, we passed from one year to the next this week. I didn't think I would like 2015 because 5 is one of my least favorite letters to write and make look nice. but as I've began a new journal and have been practicing my 5's I'm finding that it's not too bad after all. There are many things I am anticipating this year! Including our baptism on January 24th! We don't have anyone yet. But we have prayed and set the goal of having a baptism, we have fasted and are praying daily for this goal. I would invite you to pray for us as well! The Lord has a marvelous work for us to help with, and we just have to show Him we have a wee bit of faith, and that is enough for Him to work with.
I've also been working on honing my Gaelic accent. One day I aspire to be fluent in Gaelic. Until then I have to remind myself to speak like an American when we are contacting. People call me out every time if I say eh. I've told them I'm from Utah and they say "Are you sure you're not Canadian, you're talking like one." It tickles me pink to hear that.
My wonderful companion Sister Fenn is teaching me many things! Among them have been the art of using a curling iron, (which I never have before in my life) and cooking things such as chicken, or bacon. So yes, I think I'm finally growing up in some ways. Her 20th birthday was on New Years Eve, and we had a wonderful celebration! (there were even fireworks!) I scrapped up all of my courage and made her a cake, which turned out beautifully, and we ate it after our District Meeting on Wednesday.
A little blast from the past when on New Years the entire mission set aside 3 hours to deep clean our apartments. The time was insufficient to complete all of our tasks, but I quite enjoyed going back to my housekeeping days to give my full attention to cleaning. Our apartment is so clean, everything sparkles and when you put your ears to the surfaces there is an audible "aaahhhhhhh" as from the angels.
Best of all, my heart was full this week. Each person we meet is so wonderful. I have learned how to see people not as they are, but as God see's them. Divine, with infinite potential. We met one such man while we were on our way to an appointment with a less active member. We couldn't find her address so I just pulled up to a house and knocked on the garage door. The man who answered, told us of his life, his son who died 18 years ago and how he has no idea about what happens after we die. I gave him my utmost sincerity in expressing the importance of what we teach. How God does have a plan and that he can know it! Nevertheless, he rejected our invitation. I gave him a card to the website and I know one day he will learn the truth of God's plan for himself.
I'm excited for this year! I haven't nailed down all of my resolutions yet. The ideas are sort of floating around in my brain and I just need to sit down and focus and make a plan. I do know that I want to work harder than I ever have, pray harder than I ever have, and grow and learn more than I ever have. 2015 is the year to do it!
I've learned that we can never give up on ourselves. We change all the time, ALL the time, so who's to say we can't change in a good way? In the best way? I love this quote and I will leave you with it.
"Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the 'high priest of good things to come'. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep." -Elder Holland
Love,
Sister Smith