I am a Missionary for my Friend, Jesus Christ in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission

When I received my mission call

Well, this is it. I will be released as a missionary tomorrow. I will no longer be a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ distinguished by a black name tag. This name tag has held so much meaning to me throughout my entire time as a missionary. I know that I will have the opportunity to further the Lord's work just in a different way. As a member missionary!

My first day in the Denver Colorado Mission

My last weeks in the Fort Collins Colorado Mission

This week was SO GOOD! I could not have asked for a better last week as a full-time missionary!
Monday: We met with a somewhat less-active family and taught them the doctrine of Christ! It was so fun and great! They have a daughter who is 7 and her dad asked her why we get baptized. It was so cool to see her answer and struggle with the question but then understand it at the end! Then they invited us over to dinner for Wednesday, SWEET!! We also got to see L, a recent convert and answer questions she has found while reading the Book of Mormon, so that was great! We also got to meet with another less-active who recently was divorced. I know that the gospel will help us, especially in times of need. It is so hard to see people struggling and yet they don't realize that it would be easier to handle if they just turned to our Heavenly Father!

Tuesday: WE GOT 2 NEW INVESTIGATORS!!! Ok, this was a MIRACLE!! We received a referral from a member a couple weeks ago and we were able to set up an appointment with C and A for Tuesday night! It was one of the best first lessons I have had with someone in awhile time! So we show up and C (the mom) lets us in right away! Then we meet the dad, and the brother, and A (who is 10 years old). They were so polite and just very courteous, it was AWESOME!!! And they had a Christmas tree already up (which was like icing on the cake for me, I love Christmas, and Christmas trees)! The brother couldn't join us due to homework and the dad stayed briefly until he had to run off to a meeting :( But WOW, Heavenly Father is preparing this family through the youngest person... the 10 year old daughter). She had so many deep questions and was just searching for truth! They have gone to different churches and looked into different religions. They told us how they stepped out of one and the different views they had. A's questions were gearing towards the Plan of Salvation so we taught her that. A started off with, "Ok who is God? Does He live in heaven? Where is heaven?" It was the CUTEST thing, and also she really wanted to know! After we explained it, while answering her questions throughout she said that this was the happiest religion she has heard about yet! YES IT IS!! It just melted my heart! I love how Jesus Christ can hasten this work through children. They said they were going to come to at least Sacrament meeting on Sunday, WWWOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!! We also heart attacked a recent convert for her birthday! She is from Canada and was feeling a little homesick so it was great that we could do that for her! I LOVE her and her husband!

Wednesday: We had an awesome lesson with C (a recent convert). She is FANTASTIC! Oh, it was her birthday the day before :) She teaches me so much when we visit her! Dinner at the D’s was so great! I was able to talk to her about how she joined the church, it was so cool! I love how Heavenly Father really does have a hand in our lives and guides us to the truth multiple times but let's us use our agency! I know that it does bless our lives and that when we are converted (and continue on conversion process) our lives will change!

Thursday: I had the chance to go to the TEMPLE with President and Sister Brown! It was fantastic! I love being able to go to the temple! It really is the House of the Lord! I know that by making and keeping covenants we are able to return home to our Father in Heaven! I know that the Holy Ghost is real and testifies of truth! I was able to feel the Spirit in the temple and I know that it is where we all need to strive to go! We were able to help a lady in our ward make origami flowers for the Windsor building open house that is in a couple of weeks! It was so nice to help her out because she has to make a LOT of them, and it was a fun service project! We got to meet with S that night! I LOVE S! She is such a cute Young Woman! She has struggled a lot in the past and is coming out of it, it's fantastic to see her!

Friday: D... HE IS AWESOME!!! It is a blessing to work with him! He told us that he hasn't gone out to drink in a while and when his friend invites him, D tells his friend that is won't come and is going to spend time with his family, AAAHHHHHHH!!! It's the best! And he later told us that he is lowering the nicotine level in his vaporizer thingy... YES!!!!!! I am so excited for him to one day get baptized! He knows he needs to and he knows this is true! At first he was like people are brainwashed... but we then were able to talk about testimonies and recognizing the Spirit. He told us that he feels the Spirit when we come over. That was SO COOL to hear! I love teaching D and will miss him and his family.
Saturday: We stopped and talked to this sweet lady walking her dog, I love street contacting and will miss it! We had the chance to visit a family whose mother is really sick and can't get to church. The Young Woman daughter and her father played some hymns for us while we sang, it was so sweet! We got to teach V again which was super cool! She is just such a sweet spirit.

Sunday: My last Sunday as a missionary :( I thought it would be hard, and that I would just bawl my eyes out, nope! Heavenly Father helped me out with that one! Instead of being sad He replaced it with such a strong Spirit! I just felt so much joy during sacrament meeting! It was the BEST THING EVER! I know that my mission is about to end, but my life as a disciple of Christ is beginning. I know that taking the sacrament really is a renewal for the soul! The rest of the day went so well! I loved being in mission prep and being an example for the youth! We role played but it was super fun. At the end our Ward Mission Leader asked Elder B to stand up and give a bad example of how we are the message, and give a door approach. He just stared at his feet and shuffled around, looking bummed that he needed to share the gospel. I wouldn't want to listen to him and neither did the youth. Then I got to stand up and show them how smiling and being excited really makes a difference. As we stand confidently, we will sound confident and our word choice changes. I got to talk to a Young Man and just say, "Hi, I am Sister Smith. I'm a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves you! There is a plan for you! I know that you can read the Book of Mormon and as you do you will come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Will you read the Book of Mormon?" He said yes! Even though this was a role play, it felt so good! The Young Men afterward said, "WOAH!" We are the message! As people pass all around us they will be able to tell that we have something different! We have the Holy Ghost! I know we do and as we present ourselves with dignity, having confidence in who we are, miracles will happen! People will want to know why we are so happy and excited! It is because we know that Christ lives and that the church He established while He was on the earth has been restored again!

This week was a fantastic week! I am sad to finish my full-time missionary service, but adventures lie ahead! I just wanted to leave you with my testimony!

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Friend. I know that through Him everything is possible. There have been a couple of occasions on my mission where I have felt completely and utterly alone. I now know that I am never alone. Jesus Christ is always by my side. It is just up to me to recognize that He is always there for me. I have felt of His love wrapped around me. He loves me. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of each and every one of us and wants us to be happy, but to also improve. He really has blessed my life! I know that He knows exactly who I am, and what I am going through. I know that He knows of those that I am around. He loves them. I know that the people I pass on the street are also His children, making them my brothers and sisters. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of my loving Father in Heaven. I know that prayer works. I know that as I pray, I will be able to feel of His love more and understand what He would have me learn step by step. I know that as I pray and then read the Book of Mormon answers are given. Or better yet, I am able to recognize the answers our Father is giving me. I know that the Spirit really works through our thoughts and hearts. The Holy Ghost has brought things to my mind to teach or to say that have helped change lives. I am more sensitive to those thoughts now than I was before. Sometimes I might wonder if it is just a thought, or really from God. As I act on those thoughts, I will know. Every good thing comes from God, just like it states in Moroni 7:13, "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, everything which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." I know that the Holy Ghost really can work through us as we are living worthily. I haven't been the most consecrated missionary at times, but when I have, I have felt the presence of the Holy Ghost more in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity it has been to work on striving to feel the Spirit more. I know that I will still be able to feel the influence of the Spirit once I return home from my mission. The Book of Mormon is real and true. There really is a special spirit and power that comes from the Book of Mormon. This is only possible because it is the word of God. I know that it brings me much comfort and joy as I really study it, and let it change my life. I know that when I am down or even happy and excited, I can turn to this glorious book and feel of the love our Father in Heaven and Savior have for me! I know that it is true based on how I feel when I read it. Not every time is a mind blowing, huge spiritual experience, and that is my fault. You get out what you put in to it. I know that when I study hard, and put my mind to it, with help from on high, my faith will increase! I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the Plan of Salvation is true. I know that this is a plan of mercy! Heavenly Father has given us multiple chances to return to live with Him, but this time in the Celestial Kingdom. He loves all of us and wants us to return to live with Him. As a father, it must break His heart every time one of us does something that turns us away from Him. Through Christ I know that we will keep having those chances to turn back to our Father and continually reach out to His arms that are always extended. There are many aspects of the Atonement that bless my life. I love the phrasing in Alma 7:11-12. He is there for us much more than just repentance (although that is huge and I am blessed countless times because of it). Christ performed the Atonement for us to always be there for us. He knows what it is like because He has been there before. We can put our burdens on to Him. I am still working on grasping that concept, but I believe that it is true. We will have to work through things and learn as we go through trials, but He is right there with us and for us, rooting us on. It is always easier to take on a burden when you have gone through it before. I realized in a small way how the Atonement works when I was struggling part way through my mission. As I struggled, prayed for charity, leaned on the Lord, fasted and read the Book of Mormon, it all worked out in the end. When I saw someone struggling later on in her mission, I willingly jumped at the chance to be with her again. Knowing that it was hard, I knew I could do it again. I feel like this is like our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He has already taken on the burdens of our lives, and hurts when He sees us struggling. It helps us and Him when we look to Him for support and comfort. I know that He is always there. I take comfort in knowing that our Father is always there, we just need to turn to Him in prayer. This gospel is true. I continue to know it is true as I strive to live it. The Holy Ghost has confirmed to me that this is true many times throughout my life and my mission. The peace I feel confirms to me that this is true and from God. I know that He loves me and you!

I love you all! Thank you for everything! I promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that peace will come as you seek Him! Come Unto Christ, and be perfected in Him! I know that we can all do this, and as we do, we will be blessed!

Love,
Sister Smith

My email will be kelly.smith.2011@gmail.com starting tomorrow.

The Power of a COLORADO Testimony

This week I learned many lessons. Life lessons, gospel lessons, and how to be a better missionary lessons. I really want to share with you the lessons that I learned... I guess the next week will be the same, because the next email I will write will be the LAST ONE I write as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, assigned to labor in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission (aka the best mission for me)! I'm still in shock that this is my last week as a full-time missionary :(

Monday: We got to have dinner at our Ward Mission Leader's home with the M family! D was TOTALLY listening as we talked about the Holy Ghost! Our WML was testifying about how important having the Spirit with us is. He was able to relate it to work and how much he relies on the Holy Ghost! It was awesome!!

Tuesday: We got to teach the Cs (our less-active family that we are really trying to help)! It is great, but hard to teach them because Sister C really likes to chat. Well, it was a MIRACLE that we got to teach almost the entire Plan of Salvation! Sister C is more active and just wants to get sealed in the temple, but more pressing, wants her husband to bless their baby (she is pregnant)! I want them to go to the temple so badly! They will be so blessed! It ended up being a fantastic lesson and hopefully Bro. C will pray soon... we asked him if he had prayed this week, and he hadn't :( I know that prayer really will change our lives! We had dinner with a less-active couple, the E's. It breaks my heart to see that Sis. E wants to change and come back, but is worried about her husband. He does not really want to change at all right now, which is so hard!! We met with a couple of Young Women as well. One is really struggling, and one wants to prepare to serve a mission, YEAH!!!! It was fantastic being with both of them on a cold winter snowy day! It was really interesting seeing the differences in the two. One who is struggling and just needs the help of the Lord, but by first doing her part; versus the other who has excitement and loves talking about experiences she has had with feeling the Spirit! There really is a difference and it was hard seeing that, but also a cool realization. The Holy Ghost does impact us and as we want to change, we will!

Wednesday: I got to be at home all day. My companion was sick, poor thing. I got to study for a longer time and got some things done that I needed to, so it worked out. It was hard to just be in, but that's how life goes. Sometimes it is nice to take a break, but we usually feel the happiest when we are out and about, helping those around us!

Thursday: I had the privilege of hearing from, drum roll please, Elder David S. Baxter of the Quorum of the Seventy! He came to visit our mission, and it was awesome! We didn't get to have a mission conference, but he did a mission tour (so we met with only 3 zones together instead of the entire mission).

When I get home I will have to be disciplined. I won't have a routine schedule that I will get to stick to. I mean I have flexibility in my daily missionary life, but guess what, there is one focus, not a bazillion like when I get home. My focus now: To invite others to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. Did you know that the focus of The Church is this: Come Unto Christ and be perfected in Him - Moroni 10:32? IT IS!! And it can be broken down to 3 simple words, "COME UNTO CHRIST" yup, that's it. The entire focus of this WORLD WIDE church are 3 simple words, "Come Unto Christ." Everything else stems from that. How great is it that we have the chance to be disciples and followers of the one perfect person who ever lived on this earth? IT IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!!! It was a great conference and I learned a lot. The focus ended up being after our missions, which was awesome since there were a lot of departing missionaries in the group. One of my favorite parts of it was at the very end. I had a very sweet conversation with Hermana L on the last time that I would see her. She thanked me for being her Sister Training Leader. I was only her Sister Training Leader for one transfer and didn't even have the pleasure of going on an exchange with her! I went with her companion, Hermana M. I was surprised at the fact that Hna. L was thanking me for what I had done. I told her that I was proud of her, and how excited I was when they told me that they had finally had a companionship inventory! I had talked to Hna. M about the importance of communication and how it could really bless their companionship, something she already knew but just needed that affirmation. I had no idea about the impact or influence I had had on Hna. L. She was moved to tears as she was thanking me. I truly love her, and it just added to my understanding that we will probably NEVER know the power of our influence! I am so grateful that she thanked me on a cold blustery winter day for the exchange I went on with her companion. You never know the power of your influence. I hope that I will be able to continue to bless lives, even if that is one at a time.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all great days too! Sorry this one is a bit shorter, but I need to get going! I love you all!! Oh, a miracle that happened this weekend was that we contacted a referral and we were able to set up a time to meet. When she texted us her address she thanked us for teaching her and her daughter!! WE HAVEN'T EVEN MET THEM YET and she is already THANKING US!! I am so excited to meet with them!

"When you start to understand the atonement, you will begin to look at others the way someone much greater looks at you, full of potential."

Love you all,
Sister Kelly Smith

Last Colorado Exchange

This week was pretty awesome!! It was hard, don't get me wrong, but there were definitely some great parts! It is really hard to wrap my head around the fact that I only have 15 days left. It's pretty hard not to count down when it is so close. I am excited to come home, but so sad. I looked forward to serving a mission for YEARS, and now it is ending. I know that I will be able to apply what I have learned to the rest of my life, but it's still so sad for me. But this chapter of my life hasn't ended yet! I still have 2 weeks!!! 

Monday: We were able to meet with D briefly with our Elders Quorum President. He told D that we would leave right then (we had only been there for maybe 15 minutes) and that he should use the time we would have spent teaching, that he could spend reading! It was a perfect idea! So we left with a prayer and it was awesome! We stopped by a less active’s house, and she let us in and we were just able to get to know her a bit more. She goes to another church, but hopefully she will want to come back. We were able to talk about priesthood blessings and she realized that she might not have ever received one (except for when she was confirmed a member of the church). That was so sad! I don't know how I would survive without priesthood blessings. I hope that she will accept one soon. 

Tuesday: We did service for M, and then she took us out for lunch. At the end of lunch I asked her if we could come over to talk to her about what we believe/why we did service for her. She said yes!!!! I was stoked!!!!! We had a powerful lesson with a less active couple. They don't come to church and were offended a long time ago. I have made a promise with myself that even if someone offends me, I will still go to church, no matter what! We decided to read 3 Nephi 11:1-17 with them, and it was awesome!!! Bro. T told us that he knows it is true. WHAT?! That's fantastic, now do something about it! A LOT of less actives still know the Book of Mormon is true, which is good, but we need to act upon the things that we know are true. We met with another less active couple and last time we met, we invited them to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, well Sister E totally prayed, WWOOOHHOOO!!!! Yay for prayer and the power of prayer!!! BEST THING EVER!!! 

Wednesday: EXCHANGE, EXCHANGE, EXCHANGE!!!!!! I love exchanges! This was my very last exchange as a missionary :( But you know what, it was FANTASTIC!!! I got to be with Sister W, and she is just SO COOL!!! This is her first transfer being a Sister Training Leader and she is awesome!! I absolutely love her! We ended up laughing pretty much the ENTIRE time we were together. Adventures definitely happened... like finding a vacuum on the side of the road, and getting Mountain Dew from someone (although we didn't drink them; we were already hyper together and no idea what would have happened then). We got to teach C, a recent convert, and I just love her! Tried to contact a few people, no luck. It was just a GREAT day!!

Thursday: Preface - I was supposed to have my exit interview with Pres. Brown on Friday. Thursday morning rolls around and Sister W and I are still together. At 8:09am one of the assistants called (I don't think anything of it now because we are constantly talking to each other regarding the ward and people we visit). Well... it wasn't this time! 

AP: Has Pres. called you?

Me: No, why?

AP: Oh, you’re supposed to be at the stake center RIGHT NOW for your interview. 

Ok, well commence me freaking out a little. We booked it to the stake center and I had an incredible last interview with President Brown. I have truly grown to love that man and will miss him terribly. He has made a huge impact on my life and I will forever be grateful to him. It was weird to have my last interview. A lot of lasts happened. Later that day we had district meeting. This was my LAST district meeting as a missionary so I got to give the training! President Brown came in for part of it and saw my notebook... I had written "District Meeting My Last One." President Brown totally wrote in my notebook underneath that comment and it was awesome! It was hard to give the last training, but it's ok. I know that this is where I am supposed to be with life. We exchanged back after district meeting and we got to teach D that night. It went SO WELL! We know more where D is with the gospel and it will be great! I am stoked to see how far he progresses in the next couple of weeks! 

Friday: We were going to see M, but she left us a note on the door saying she couldn't meet :( I was bummed!

Saturday: GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! She is SO CUTE!!! I love her! We gave her a Book of Mormon and answered a question of hers, it was perfect! She is so great! I am excited to continue teaching her.

Sunday: YEAH FOR CHURCH! Sister C came to church and it was AWESOME!!! We also got to be in Young Women (YW), and I just LOVE YW!!! Later that night we had mission prep, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching mission prep and being there for the youth! We played a fantastic game and related it to asking inspired questions and actively listening, it went SO WELL! I love Sundays and I definitely felt the Spirit in church and it was exactly what I needed! I love feeling the Spirit! We also got to visit a sweet elderly lady. She doesn’t talk and has to just lay in her bed day in and day out at the nursing home. It is so sad. Well we read to her from the Bookof Mormon almost every week and I love it! This time when we prayed at the end with her, she was able to move her hands and then cross them while we prayed, AAAAHHHHHHH. This is HUGE!!!!! Then as we were leaving, she WAVED at us, it was the sweetest thing! I know that she will get baptized, not now, but she will hopefully accept it in the Spirit World! I love her so much and she hasn't said a word to us! 

Have a fantastic week! 

Love you all,

Sister Kelly Smith

COLORADO Mighty Missionaries

This is the weirdest thing ever... reality is really sinking in that I will be home in a matter of weeks. I get home THIS MONTH!! It was really strange to hit the 31st and be like well this is the last day of my full month as a missionary. Yup, I come home THIS MONTH, in NOVEMBER! We are now half way through the transfer.... AAAHHHHH this is hard, but good. I don't know how to describe it. I love my mission with all my heart, despite all the ups and downs and crazy moments. It was worth every single thing! Ok, but I"m not leaving yet so I don't have to think about it!

Monday: We were able to meet with D again. I love this family so much! J (his wife) is a member and just incredible! We are really hoping that she will go to the temple soon to set the example and then D will follow by first getting baptized!  I know that he can do it. We talked to him about stopping smoking and he said he thinks he could try for Nov. 22. OK sweet, well we invited him to be baptized on that date, but he said he doesn't feel it yet. Ok fair enough, I don't want you to do this if you don't know for sure that it is true! At least believe that it is true, then you can get baptized! So at least we know more where he is at and how to help him!

Tuesday: We met with D (a different D). L came with us again. L has only been a member of the church since the end of August.. Well she is just fantastic! She asked D if she was still interested in meeting with us. D just seemed to let us in, but didn't seem super interested. L could tell and so she asked her about it. SO COOL!!! It was great to see L being such a great missionary, even though she was nervous. Well, sadly we are no longer teaching D :(   She wasn't willing or wanting to change. I really like knowing where people are at and what they expect, because we can use our time elsewhere. I hope D will realize soon that something in her life is missing and that she will find peace through the Book of Mormon! I love the Book of Mormon! We met with S, a YW who is a missionary and life rock star! Her mom passed away somewhat recently from cancer and she is one of the most solid ones in her family when it comes to the gospel. She was having a really hard time and just wanted to meet with us. She needed to feel love and how grateful I am to have been the MISSIONARY to be able to help her feel of God's love for her. As missionaries we truly are set apart to help people feel of His love. I know that He loves S and is completely aware of what is going on in her life. I know that He knows what is going on in each of our lives and how we feel about those trials and hardships. Sometimes it might feel like we are given too much for us to handle, but I know that we are only given what we can accomplish. It might feel like we are drowning a bit, but it will give us strength. And as we rely on the Lord, especially through prayer and scripture study, and church attendance we can make it through and grow from those experiences! 1 Nephi 3:7  That night we had the ward trunk or treat/chili cook off! There were a lot of non-members there, which was great! My companion and I dressed up as Mighty Missionaries. I loved being able to dress up, and people still recognized us as the missionaries... I mean they thought we were Wonder Woman at first, but we helped set them straight! Missionary power for the win!!

We found some other super heroes to help us out with missionary work! One of them is actually the WML's son!

Wednesday: My companion was sick so we were in almost all day. I was able to work on a few things, which was good. She is back to feeling better and that's what is important!

Thursday: We drove to Johnstown in the morning/for lunch to visit with Sister P (one of my old companions) and Sister F. Sister P was leaving the next day to go home and get some medical help. She has had a hard time her entire mission and I'm proud of her for completing HER mission, even if it was a couple months short of the full 18. It was god to see her and say goodbye to her. I love her so much. We got to have district meeting and it was fantastic. The role play was my favorite part! We role played with the Elders in our ward (who are also the Assistants to our mission president). It was the BEST role play I have had in a LONG TIME. One Elder pretended to be D, while we taught, and then we switched and Sister P pretended to be D  (I got to be his wife). While one of the Elders was teaching “D”, I just got hit with revelation on how to help him. Then a few minutes later the Elder starts to ask “D” the VERY QUESTION/SCENARIO I WAS THINKING ABOUT! AAAHHHHH It was the BEST THING EVER!!!!! Revelation, felt the Spirit, and then to have the Elder role playing ask the same thing, I knew it was inspired to have BOTH of us think about it! Sister P and I are SUPER excited to meet with D tonight to apply what we learned and practiced in our role-play! We were able to meet with a less active recent convert. T is really cool and got baptized towards the beginning of this year. She is really struggling, and it's because she isn't doing those small and simple things that we should to keep our lives sane and together! We were able to talk about prayer! GB Relief Society: THANK YOU SO MUCH for the scripture references like when you feel like this, read______. T now has a copy of it and I think it will really help her!

Friday: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Sister P and I just really wanted to meet with D sooner than our next appointment and try to get him to church and apply our role play! Well.... we went over and helped their family with pumpkins so that was fun, but not the fun we wanted. We wanted the joyfull FEEL THE SPIRIT type of fun, but that's ok! We were able to talk to him more and found out that he can lower his nicotine level and soon get off of it, we just need him to gain the desire! So we didn't get to teach, but still able to develop a good relationship with him. We met with D and Z  (he's 4 years old) that morning and talk about the 10 commandments! It was awesome! She isn't active right now, and her husband is taking lessons from the Elders (he isn't a member) so if we can help get her active and by her example he will come more quickly. We contacted some potential investigators that morning and I saw a lady working in her yard, well we came back and talked to her. Sister P made it her goal to not pass anyone up this week, and I had seen her earlier so it was a perfect combo, we needed to talk to her! Well as we started talking, we just offered service and she loved it! So we are meeting with her this week to help her with her yard. We found out that M has met with Sister before and we're excited to see what happens. M is super nice! That night we had to be in early (mission Halloween rules), so Sister P and I dressed up with some of the things the members we live with have!

Keeping it Classy! haha we just found random things and put them together, including a wig :)

Saturday: We had a missionary meeting with the missionaries in our stake and the WML's. Our ward got to role play how to do MCM for the stake, so that was cool! I learned a few things that I want to apply which is always great! Later that day we went out with a member contacting and it was AWESOME! We didn't get to meet with anyone, but I still felt super productive. Missionary work is just the best!!! We saw Bro. C and found out that he hasn't prayed in 15 YEARS! WOW, that would be so hard! I know that prayer helps and that it really does bless our lives!

Sunday: YAY for the Sacrament! We got to watch the CES Devotional for mission prep which was great! #cesdevo "I am building my spiritual foundation by serving a mission." We all have a chance to build our foundations upon Jesus Christ. I know that He is the rock of our salvation and the BEST ROCK we can have! I love Him, and I know that He is always there for us. He is there when no one else is! Rely on Him! It is a life-long process, but a great process.

Love you all, have a fantastic week!
Love,
Sister Kelly Smith

Don't forget to have a missionary moment this week!! Email it to me and let me know how it goes!
Best missionary small moment that I had this week. We stopped and tried to help a lady carry her groceries. She wouldn't let us, but we still walked with her and just talked. What do you know, we found out that she has been to SLC to the Family History library and loves genealogy. We were able to tell her a bit more about WHY we do family history work. Is she interested in learning more, not right now. but we were still doing our part!

Mom, the Car Won't Start

I'm coming home on 11/25/14

What an exciting, yet interesting week! We weren't able to take the sacrament last Sunday due to stake conference and I really noticed the difference it made in my week. WOW! Sister P and I both just weren't as dedicated as we could have been or as motivated. But since taking it yesterday we both have been like YEAH, WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Monday: We were able to meet with L and D, both recent converts, and are just soaking up the gospel -- it's fantastic! I love them! We read a couple chapters in 2 Nephi with them and answered questions.  I love seeing new members just grasp and want to know as much as possible about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. We met with D and talked about the second half of the 10 commandments. Then we started talking about priesthood blessings and how they can really help us receive strength. D told us that he had been thinking about getting a priesthood blessing, ARE YOU FOR REALS? Yeah, yeah, yeah!  Best thing ever! So we contacted our Elders Quorum President and he will be helping D out, LOVE IT! This is the miracle that we need for D. I know that this priesthood blessing will really help him and I can't wait to see what happens.

Tuesday: We went to the Health Care Center in town and I love that place! Who knew I would come to love older people so much on my mission? As we were walking to the activity room we passed an old lady who was looking for a cigarette. She wasn't going to find one but wanted one so badly. We realized that this is what it is going to be like in the Spirit World. People will still have addictions, but won't be able to overcome them as easily as they could here on earth. We taught a man on his porch for 30 minutes and it was fantastic! He had gone to our church 3-4 times in North Dakota YEARS ago, and just wasn't super interested in it. We were able to clear up some of his concerns. I love talking to people on their doorsteps and having a fantastic conversation while teaching them gospel truths! We were also able to meet with D. I was worried that she wouldn't meet with us again, and this time we were bringing L, a new convert. Well D TOTALLY let us in. and she had read the Book of Mormon! We invited her to read the introduction and 3 Nephi 11. Well, guess what?  She read EVEN MORE!!! She also read the Testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses, along with the Testimony of Joseph Smith. AAAHHHHHHH It was so cool to see! D said that she will get baptized once she knows it's true, but didn't want to set a date :( Hopefully she will pray about the Book of Mormon this week and will want to get baptized). L was AWESOME!! She is still really hesitant to teach the gospel, since she did just recently get baptized! If it weren't for L, I don't think we would have another appointment scheduled with D. Bringing L was exactly who we needed to friendship and be there for D!

Wednesday: We had the chance to go to Loveland to have our car checked on, since our brakes were making noise. So we just walked around and it was great! Our car ended up being fine and there was just dirt in the brakes, so that was good. But while we were there we had the opportunity to have lunch with some Sisters serving there. That night we saw two solicitors and we had no idea what they were selling, so what do I want to do? TALK TO THEM! After we drove around to "walk into them,"we did! I just asked them what they were selling and one was joking but said, "LIFE!" I jumped on that one, “Oh that's awesome! We save lives.” It was one of those great funny/fun missionary moments! I don't know if I will ever see them again, but hey, planting seeds is great too!

Thursday: We had district meeting at a member's home! THIS WAS NEW!! Because our district got re-arranged and we are further from a church building we got to meet at a member's house. It was actually better than expected. We might be the first district in the mission to meet at a member's home, so that's cool. We had dinner with a less active couple and it went really well. A couple weeks ago Sister P told me that this family had stuffed animals all around their house. Well I walked in, and there were definitely stuffed animals on the walls.... REAL stuffed animals. I thought she was talking about Beanie Babies, nope! These people like hunting. Too great! We were able to commit them to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, WWOOOHHHOOO!!!

Friday: We raked leaves in the morning for a potential investigator and it went so well. A member came and ended up just talking with her while the Elders and us Sisters raked the leaves.  I love doing service and seeing eyes open to why we are here. Service is the BEST!!!! We got to meet with C and R for dinner. Two super awesome recent converts; it was fantastic!!

I made a leaf angel!

Saturday: We worked on a potential investigator’s house again and this time with a few more members and they talked to her still and one helped us clean up, it was great! We also helped L wash her dogs. I was on the drying end of it, woohoo!!! She has 4 HUGE dogs, including a rottweiler! Yup, a rottweiler! HUGE!!! So that was really helpful for L. After showering because we NEEDED to! We went to the Cs to rake their leaves, it was so fun! We played with their son in the leaves and I made a leaf angel :) It was a day full of service and it was AWESOME!!!!

Sunday: GUESS WHO CAME TO CHURCH? BROTHER C!!! He only stayed for Sacrament meeting, but it was fantastic! I LOVED IT!! I freaked out inside a little bit when my companion saw him in the back, YES, YES, YES!!! I love how we were able to help him out with something he needed to do so that he could come to church! It was so nice to be able to take the Sacrament this week since we missed it the week before! How blessed we are to take it pretty much every week! We get to participate in an ordinance EVERY WEEK!! BEST THING EVER!!! After church we were able to go see an old friend from home, Olivia. We had to get permission to cross into another zone, but that's ok! We got it and it was so good to see her again after YEARS!!! I love her whole family! It will be fun to see her again hopefully at Christmas time. Too fun! Later while we were waiting at our dinner appointment for the food to finish cooking there was a knock at the door and it happened to be from the member that lives across the street.
"There was an accident with your car. It's really bad!"
Well ‘mom, our car won't start’... code for our car was in an accident! Our car actually started, we weren't hurt and the person driving the other car wasn't hurt -- just shaken up that he ran into it. The car was in reverse when he started it. We already have another car to use, which is a miracle! We were prepared to start biking again, but this is great! The night ended with a FANTASTIC mission prep class for the youth! I LOVED every moment of it! We role played with them and WOW those 12-13 year olds can teach! I was thoroughly surprised and just so impressed! I love being able to help them and root them on! But also let them struggle on their own for a bit. It was cool to watch them teach, and then part way through they would begin to teach by the Spirit! LOVED IT!! And then it ended with a great activity :)

The member we lived with wanted us to decorate thier pumpkins with other holidays, DONE! haha Merry Christmas everyone! Oh, I am also super stoked that I can still wear short sleeved shirts in the middle of OCTOBER!! Last year it snowed Oct. 3rd! So this is great that I haven't seen snow yet this fall!

 Love you all, thanks for the continued support!
Love,
Sister Kelly Smith