COLORADO hash tags: #superhero #dorkybishopswife

Obedience is the Price, Faith is the Power, Love is the Motive, Spirit is the Key, and Christ is the Reason. Just remember this, always!

OK, about my title, my bishop’s wife actually used those hashtags to describe herself!  See Tuesday for more details.

Monday: P-day. Talked to a less-active who served a mission. She is going to get us a copy of the Plan of Salvation template thing she used on her mission, sweet!

Tuesday: Service at one of our Just Serve projects was super fun! I always like Tuesday mornings when we do service there!! We pretty much work hard and get to hang out with a bunch of other missionaries, best of both worlds!! We had dinner with the Bishop and his wife and daughter. We somehow got to the topic of my birthday, so obviously I had to tell them that I got a SUPER cool present (a matching costumes from a my mom) and Sister J was SO EXCITED!!! She wanted me to wear it and go out and visit people with her, like members in the ward. Well, as we were leaving she was like, "Hey let me know when you are free so we can wear those outfits and visit people." At that moment I was like "wait, YOU and I will wear them?" "Yeah!" OK now she is one of the COOLEST PEOPLE IN MY WARD!!!

I got to talk to one of my Sisters that night and it was just so good to be there for her. She has been struggling a bit and just needed someone to talk to. If you ever need anything, just come talk to Sister Smith and I will be there for you, and will probably even give you a hug! Oh, did I mention that two lessons canceled and then our backup couldn't meet because her daughter got MONO!!! WHAT?! Thus began the attack of Satan on our people this week... MONO, like for reals! We can't meet with one of our investigators for like a month now, NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday: Cut meat for 2 hours! Ok, I probably cut more meat in those two hours than I have in MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! Sister D and I just got to talk and cut meat, yeah for service!!! We found this cool statistic while eating lunch at Sister D and Sister C's house: There are 13,100 hours in a Sister's mission. once you take out MTC time, sleep, P-days, meals, study and travel hours, we only have 4,600 hours to proselyte. OK, add on the fact that I am in a Just Serve mission, ok that's even LESS time to proselyte! I have about 1,800 hours left to proselyte on my mission... ARE YOU FOR REALS?!!! That's not enough time!! Especially with cancelled appointments happening all the time this week!!! Went to Mutual and what happened?! Sister J and I wore the Mighty Missionary outfits! Young Women brought out their iPads and what not to take pictures -- it was awesome!!

Thursday: ZONE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!! Totally spiritually uplifting and inspiring! I love being edified and getting pumped for missionary work!! Goal: in every lesson let the people I am with understand that this is Christ's work. Let them understand that I don't matter, that what I say is not me, it is Jesus Christ! Let everyone feel as if Jesus Christ is in the room talking to them and wanting them to change to become more like Him! Had a lesson with S and J and it was chill lesson. I was so excited to hear that J got a new job so he doesn't have to work nights and he asked for every Sunday off, SWEET!!!!! At his new job he reads the Book of Mormon while waiting for people to come into the warehouse, ok SWEETNESS!!!! Before we had a lesson with S and J (well we were just going to drop by) I purposely parked near where a man and his son where playing with a remote control car in the parking lot. So what do we do after parking and getting out? Oh you know, just give him a Book of Mormon!!! I loved it! All you have to do is start a conversation and Heavenly Father does the rest.Ddo we have an appointment with him?  No. Do we know where he lives?  No. Did we do our part? YES!!! Loved it!!! Got to have a lesson with G,it was fun because it turned into G and President C roll playing home teaching to us -- awesome!! I got to talk about my testimony of the Book of Mormon when G asked me questions, it was nice to have a change of routine!

Friday: Making a vision board for next transfer!! It was SO AWESOME!! I was getting pumped and hopefully my companion is too... but our main goal and the other ones are there to support it... One FAMILY BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went street contacting and guess what? We met a couple who had been to Temple Square and they aren't interested, but they love Temple Square! I hope that someday they will accept the gospel!!

Saturday: Got to help paint a lady’s house. not only a random lady but a potential investigator!!! She currently lives in a different ward, but will be moving to ours soon!! And guess what, THIS COULD BE OUR FAMILY THAT WE SET A GOAL FOR THE DAY BEFORE!!!!!!   MIRACLE, I TELL YOU!!!!!!!!!! Oh transfer calls came in that night... I'm staying with Sister L here in the same ward.

Sunday: I LOVE GOING TO CHURCH, BEST THING of MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!! Miracle number #1 of the day happened right before church. I walked in to the chapel and Bro. Rl was there EARLY and helping set up chairs, WHAT? Mind BLOWN that he was there EARLY and eager to be there. It has been a HUGE miracle watching him progress!!! He stayed for all three hours too, WHAT?! CRAZY!!!! Then we had a lesson with S and J after church at the stake president’s, and what do they tell us right before we say an opening prayer?! J:" So, we are getting married on April 6th" AAAAAAAAHHHHH, did I just hear that correctly?! YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED IN THREE WEEKS?!!!  Yes, I heard that correctly, MIRACLE #2 for the day!! S could get baptized this transfer, then, because she will be living the law of chastity in three weeks!!!! STOKED!!!

Got to have a lesson with D.   D is awesome and has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we just need to use that and help her understand that she needs to get baptized!! We are going to talk about the temple next week with her.

I noticed something in myself this week... my determination to do missionary work like SKYROCKETED!!! I can't tell you why, because I have no idea, Well I do. Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father blessed me with an increased motivation to WORK HARD!!! I can't wait to see what this week brings and man even if I have to drag my companion around, whatever, because this is going to be legit and MIRACLES are just waiting to happen, like they are so close!  I am SO GRATEFUL Heavenly Father let me stay another transfer so I can SEE these MIRACLES!!!! The Celestial Kingdom is going to be a PARTY so INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!! If you don't invite them here on earth, well I will just go out and find them. Even if that means tracting and street contacting EVERY SINGLE DAY to find the family that is just WAITING to hear the gospel and get BAPTIZED this transfer!!! Yeah, we set a goal to have a FAMILY BAPTISM this transfer!! Let's hope it happens, faith brings miracles!!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a missionary. It really is the hardest thing I have ever done, but to be a part of miracles is the BEST THING EVER!!!

This is not my work, but the Lord's. I just get to be an instrument in His hands!

Love you all,
Sister Kelly Smith

You only turn 21 in COLORADO once!!!!

Obedience is the Price, Faith is the Power, Love is the Motive, Spirit is the Key, and Christ is the Reason. Just remember this, always!

Monday: ONLY THE COOLEST P-DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my favorite people from Laramie, WYOMING came down to see me for my birthday!! I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED seeing her and being able to just relax!! Started an exchange with Hermana S (my old companion)!!!

Tuesday: Well we went to go visit a less-active since they speak English as well as Spanish (Hna. S did that for my sake). We got to their house and they let us in. Then they began telling us about their day. Two different sets of Jehovah Witnesses had come to their house that day, and a Christian! So we made the 4th religious visit they received that day! The husband made a comment about how they only needed a Muslim come by... a few minutes later two women knocked on the door. Nope not a Muslim, but a saleswoman! This experience made me so grateful that we go door to door with something true, free, and will bless EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S LIFE!!! So there we sat for an hour watching someone on their first day demonstrate a VACCUUM!!! For reals, a vacuum.  It was so nice to recognize that when a new missionary comes out they have a trainer! This girl was all on her own and using the cheat sheet.  I felt bad for her but Hna S and I were just like “is this really happening?”  I was so determined to talk to this saleswoman about the gospel before we left. So we did! I gave her a Restoration pamphlet, too, as we were leaving! I don't know if anything will ever come from it, but if it does, it will be sweet!! Later that night we had a lesson with one of Hna S’s investigators. Ok, something you have to know about when I go on exchanges with Hna S is that she usually makes me say the closing prayer in Spanish with her people!  Ever since that time in Laramie together she makes me pray in Spanish! So we were in this lesson and she was talking about the Plan of Salvation, and baptism was definitely part of the conversation. Ok, I understand some Spanish, but I don't really know how to communicate back... so then what happens?  The Holy Ghost starts working on me and prepares me to know when to jump in and bear my testimony. I knew I had to bear my testimony to these children of God, but not in English! They don't know Enlgish.  My heart starts pounding and I quickly say "I don't really know how to speak in Spanish but... Yo se que la Plan de Salvaicion ed verdadero, y yo se que Jesu Christo es mi Salvador."  Yup, that's all I said (and that Spanish grammar is probably wrong). It was terrifying! Then I ended that lesson with a prayer in Spanish! Well, if Hna S and I were companions to help me learn Spanish only for that reason – done.  It was awesome!!! I love testifying to people but in another language when you have to solely rely on the Spirit is really powerful, and really hard!! Props to ANYONE who has to learn a new language on their mission!! I LOVE BEING STATESIDE ENGLISH SPEAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday: MY BIRTHDAY!!! It was such a fun day!!! I loved it!! Thanks for everyone who made it so special :) We dropped by one of our investigator’s homes really quickly to give her the poster I made... I LOVE her!! I cannot express to ANYONE how much love I felt for her in those 10 minutes or so we talked to her! I shared Alma 31:35 with her and the reason that I am here! I am here to help save her soul and it was awesome!! I love being able to get just a glimpse of how much love Heavenly Father has for His children. How much love Jesus Christ has for each of us!

Funniest thing that happened that day... that was totally unexpected and FANTASTIC!!! (Oh, I made chocolate cake waffles after district meeting which was fun, and got to wear a tiara (and yeah I wore it to one of our lessons, and at dinner)! Everyone is a prince or princess!!! I just happened to have a tiara to show it!) Anyway crazy thing that made my day: So here we are at dinner just eating chocolate cake after the members sang Happy Birthday to me, and I blew out candles, S (14 year old boy) just got up, looked at the home phone and said, "California" in a weird, quizzical tone! I automatically fist pumped and was like "yeah California!" Then he said the area code and my face just was in complete shock and I said,not talk to my mom! The members talked to her while on speaker phone so I got to hear her tell me happy birthday and talk to the members for a bit.  BEST THING EVER!!! Totally unexpected and I LOVED IT!!! After dinner we went to another member’s house and watched The Testaments with our recent convert. It was really powerful for him and so great!
"Oh my goodness, that's my mom!" So then what happens? They call my mom back! BEST THING EVER!! Now, let's make this clear... I did

Thursday: Taught seminary -- so fun!  The lesson was COMPLETELY guided by the Spirit and it was AWESOME!!! I loved waking up early (ok not really) but teaching the youth that I love was INCREDIBLE!!!!! We talked about a lot of things and got to role play with them about missionary work and I realized that one of my favorite experiences that I ever had in high school was talking to one of my friends about Joseph Smith and then giving him a Book of Mormon. One of the most awkward and scariest things I have ever done, but seriously the most INCREDIBLE!!! Prepped me for life and for my mission!!! We got a new investigator this week and I am STOKED!!! She just moved here, and is looking for a new church! PERFECT, we can definitely help her with that :) She is just so cool! We got to sit on the ground in her house surrounded by packing boxes, loved it.

Friday: Mission Leadership Council. I loved being edified by the Spirit and testify to other leaders in the mission! It was so great!! I love meetings :) It lasted pretty much all day. I got to see the temple lot again and loved it! THE FORT COLLINS TEMPLE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!!!!! There are tractors and holes being dug, and WORK! Aaaaahhhh, greatest thing!  I love  to continue seeing it progress!!!

Saturday: While in a lesson, one of the sisters I am over called me twice and sent me a text that said "Please call me as soon as possible. Bacon." Ok, ‘bacon’ is a huge code word for “I NEED HELP!!” Hna S would not send that word unless it was SERIOUS!! So I excused myself form the lesson and called her. She was getting emergency transferred that night!!!! I was in complete shock! But wherever Heavenly Father needs us to go at any point, we go! I believe this was the first sister emergency transfer too... I was so sad! But we kept going and then that night I helped her get ready and I said my goodbye to her (again). But it was just a “see ya later!” So far I have followed her wherever she gets transferred... so maybe that means I am headed to Greely next transfer :) Next week?!

My friend from Laramie brought me this! COOL!

Sunday: Really relaxing day... except not one of our investigators came to church.  People, get to church! You feel the Spirit and can learn of the importance of taking the Sacrament!! Ok, yeah, but it was really a good day anyway!

Well, have an amazing and fabulous week!! Love you all!!

Love, Sister Kelly Smith

Angels, Mormon.org Cards, and a Slide

Moral of the week: Look for how the Lord loves you in your life!! He is ALWAYS there for you and LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!! Help a friend out! You never know when someone needs to talk and just needs someone to listen to them!

Monday: Started an exchange with Hermana J and it was AWESOME!! I love that sister! We had dinner at one of the coolest houses I have ever been to!!!! We got to slide down a curly Q tunnel slide, IN THEIR HOUSE!!! Then we signed a wall for those who have ridden the slide! It was SO COOL! Then we got to climb into this library... yes CLIMB from the stairs, it was LEGIT!!!! We shared a message about missionary work and it turned into talking about the temple. The 9 year old boy was able to go the temple and witness his dad get sealed to another woman and his favorite part was the two mirrors! It was really cool because when I went to the temple for the first time as a kid, that was the part I remembered, and loved it!! Families truly are FOREVER!!!!

Tuesday: Exchange ended!! But then... Miracle for the week!!!! My companion and I were sitting in the car (we had just finished praying before going to visit someone) and all of a sudden Sister L looks out the back driver window and said, "That is really close!" A semi-truck was INCHES away from hitting our car. I thought we could jump out really quickly, but we stayed in the car. I leaned toward the passenger side because the semi was on my side. Then it started to turn and was moving inches and inches away from our car! MIRACLE that we were not hit at all! Angels are real and are around us constantly!! I KNOW that Heavenly Father is watching out for us! Sister L and I definitely have a work to do here in our ward!! Funny story for the week... actually it was funny and then NOT!! We were driving home and we usually just drive up to the mailbox, roll down the window and Sister L leans out the window and grabs the mail... well we drive up to it and NO MAILBOX!!! Like not just no mail (cause that's common) but our mailbox was GONE!!!! We found it later behind our trash can... so yeah, interesting week!!!

Wednesday: Lesson with our newly baptized friend, and used the apostasy cups! One of my favorite visuals!!

Thursday: Exchange with Sister C.  They don't have a car right now so we got to walk.  I loved being able to street contact using Mormon.org cards! It was AWESOME!! To think back over 9 months ago to when I was on foot, passing out Mormon.org cards! I loved it! I really felt like a Sister TRAINING Leader! Not just someone to vent to or fix drama but to TRAIN!!! It was INCREDIBLE!!! To see how much more comfortable I was when passing out the cards, was AWESOEME!!

Friday: Sisters’ Conference, enough said! Almost all 64 of us Sisters in the mission, was INCREIDBLE!! The Spirit was so strong!!!

Saturday: Shoveled snow for people, loved it!! Visited an elder in the hospital because his lung collapsed. It was a great day even though a lesson canceled and we only taught one lesson. Oh I found out that a video Sister P and I did (rapping a missionary rap) was going around the high school. Well a less-active Young Woman (whom I have never met) was showing in to someone else, SO FUNNY!! So maybe the work will pick up because people will see that we are normal people?!  I hope so!!

Sunday: THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!! I TESTIFY TO YOU THAT JESUS CHRIST IS REAL AND LOVES YOU!!! Yes, YOU!!!! It is truly incredible!! Our young investigator brought a friend to church!! SWEETNESS!!! I love this work!

Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Kelly Smith

Did you know that cats run on the cupboards?! I guess they only do in COLORADO!!

Elk in the background!

Ok, so my companion told me that yesterday and I was like... you mean the countertop?! haha she just started laughing, didn't realize what she had said.

Monday: BEST P-DAY IN COLORADO YET!!!! We went up to Estes Park, and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I love being in the mountains!!!

Re-enactment of our jumping mountain picture from the summer!

Tuesday: We met with a referral. The Spanish sisters talked to her while she was walking her dog, so that's how she first met the missionaries. We gave her a Restoration pamphlet and talked about how the Spirit is the real teacher! I also got to go out to dinner with my former roommate’s aunt and cousins! We went out for Thai food and it was so fun! They are super nice!!!

Wednesday: Felt bad, had a cold, I felt like a bum... but taught a lesson anyway. She needs help getting a ride, so we are going to help her with that.  She needs to come to church so she can get baptized.  She is such a great person!  My companion led the lesson and it went well. We taught the Plan of Salvation again -- I love the Plan of Salvation! It was awesome!!!

Thursday: Exchange with Sister DF!! We went tracting for awhile.. yeah not my favorite thing to do, especially in the cold, and wind... but I love my sisters!! We had a fun experience where a lady just let us into her home... come to find out that she is a less-active that told Hermana S and Hermana J that morning that she would be returning to church! That was cool!!! We taught an investigator for the first time, which was also pretty much my first time teaching with Sister DF! I loved talking about the Atonement, and testifying to her. Sister DF invited her to be baptized, SWEETNESS!!!! I am excited to hear how the rest goes for the sisters!

Friday: slept, and rested, yeah I had NO ENERGY!!!!

Saturday: Met with another Young Woman investigator, and her faith in increasing!!! She finished four Faith value experiences in Personal Progress this week, by herself!! It was a huge improvement and so cool to see.! Oh, we had a Relief Society conference in the morning and I love how I can be edified and feel the Spirit! Don't forget to spend some time for yourself so you can be prepared to help others!! For the Strength of You is AWESOME!! Yes, For the Strength of YOU, not youth! But it's the same pamphlet :) Strengthen yourself so you can strengthen others :)

Sunday: One of our investigators came to church! You have to understand that this was a MIRACLE!!! I have NEVER seen him in church and I don't think he had been to church in a LONG TIME!!!!!!! I didn't even talk about our lesson with him last week. For the first time I saw him participate in the lesson, and he told me that he had read the Book of Mormon and was in 2 Nephi 26... the same chapter I was on!!! WOW!!! It was just a HUGE MIRACLE!!! and then at the end of the lesson he was like “I think we might have someone for you to teach,” SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a great day! I loved our last lesson, and then to see him at church was GREAT!!

Have a fabulous week!! Oh, future missionaries... learn how to budget money. You do not have enough money to eat out all the time. Learn to live on your own a little... even if it is at home. Learn some life skills, it will help you on the mission!!

Love,
Sister Kelly Smith

Love Is An Open Door in COLORADO...

Well how to begin? This week was one of the hardest weeks I have EVER worked in my entire mission. Ok maybe it just felt like it... but we killed it!!! I love being able to show our progress record at the end of the week and have 2 pages (no one in this area has ever had that)!! SWEET!! It is all through faith in the Lord and what He wants us to do in this area that MIRACLES are happening!! Ok, so hopefully I remember everything... I forgot my journal, and my planner won't help me because, well, things didn't really go according to the plan we had set each day. I am only giving highlights, we had more lessons than I will talk about. We reached above the mission standard of excellence in total lessons, and it was the most amount of lessons my companion has had on her mission :)

Monday: Got to go out to dinner with sweet elderly ladies in our ward - it was nice!

Tuesday: Lesson with one of our investigators. She is so nice and so sweet! We invited her to the baptism this week and she totally wanted to! Had a lesson with our investigator who is getting baptized. Then we had a dinner appointment and, oh just you know, one of the less actives and one of our investigator at a members home, it was SWEET!!!

Wednesday: Finished the program for our investigator who is getting baptized.. We had a lesson with him and finalized everything :)  Oh, we had zone meeting, and I was asked to give part of the training. So it was me, and the zone leaders who gave the training.  Who drives up as we get out of our car? PRESIDENT BROWN!! Oh, great, now I had to give a training on commitments and specifically setting people with baptismal dates in front of PRESIDENT BROWN, no pressure right?! It went well, by the Spirit, and through Christ all things are possible! I was a little more stiff than usual when giving trainings, but I guess that is to be expected!

Thursday: I love doing service! It’s so great! Then we contacted a referral, who has gone to Mutual a couple of times and it was good to meet him finally! I hope that we can teach him soon :) Breakthrough with one of our less actives! She figured out on her own (through the Spirit) that Jesus Christ is Jehovah! She had been stuck on that for a couple of weeks, on how they are not the same person! SO, SO, SO GLAD that she is good with it now!  Then we had a MIRACLE LESSON, and also really strange. So we had another lesson with an investigator, and her daughter joined us this time, SWEET!!! Well we offered them both a Book of Mormon, then the other daughter (who had been sitting in the room right off of the living room) came in and I asked her if she would like one too; she said yes!! She was listening to the lesson the whole time!!! Well, I like to hope so :) they didn't participate much in the lesson, but the daughter prayed at the end, and it was simple but good!! I like hearing people pray for the first time out loud :)

Friday: Love is truly an open door (ok my companion and I can pretty much relate every song from Frozen to this week, but since it was Valentine's Day this one really applies). NO ONE WAS HOME!!! Somehow we still managed to have 4 lessons that day which was a MIRACLE!!! My favorite was with R. We had set an appointment with him, and I guess he was feeling pretty lonely earlier in the day, and was just praying and the thought came to him. "You won't be lonely tonight because the Sisters are coming and you can feel My love for you! They will bring the Spirit into your home." AAAHHH I love being an answer to someone's prayer! Well, we didn't end up getting anyone to come to the lesson with us, so we had a lesson outside at his picnic table -- it was perfect!! Also on Friday, we spent a lot of time making Valentine's and delivering them. Well, we quickly made one in front of another of our contact's home, and went up to put it in her mailbox, but then what do I see? Her TV was on! So we went up and hand delivered it to her, and had a lesson!! It was another miracle that we got into her house! I have only been 2 times since being here! We found out that she had been attending a different ward in the stake, which was awesome! Love is an open door, I love when people open their door for us :)

Saturday: Oh, you know, just HALF WAY DONE WITH MY MISSION!! Is this real life?!! AND one of our investigators got BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for him! Such a fun day!! There were 8 sisters there, and we got to meet in the chapel.  President and Sister Brown were there too :)

Sunday: The man who was baptized yesterday was confirmed.  He is just so funny, such a great guy!! President Brown came to church. I saw a lot of President this week, it was great!  We had several lessons that day; what a great way to spend the Sabbath.

Monday: Headed up to Estes Park today :) STOKED!!!!

Have a great week, and just remember to work hard, and play hard! Remember who you are and don't let it get you down!!

Love,
Sister Kelly Smith

Who Needs Super Woman when you have Sista Power?!

Sista Power is AWESOME!! Especially if President Brown has told you that "you have the power." Yup that's right, sister power! But I changed it to sista power, cuz I like the sound of that better!

Monday: A P-day...

Tuesday: TRANSFER DAY!!! Meaning I pretty much just hung out in Loveland all day long. It was so fun to see so many of my friends, and one of my past companions, Sister G. I loved it! Crazy snow storm, but all is good, I am safe!

Wednesday: Well, all I can say is that this transfer will be different than last... but the work is picking up which is great! We were able to have a lesson with a less-active, and her non-member granddaughter was there, SWEETNESS!!! Hopefully the granddaughter will be there this week when we go by. We talked about faith, and it was awesome! Lesson with one of our other investigators went well! I am pumped for his baptism this weekend!!!!!!

Thursday: Well... we finally, after pretty much 6 weeks of trying to get a lesson with a referral, we DID IT!!! We got to teach her about how God loves each and every one of us, no matter what. I am excited to go back this week and see what happens! She has had a rough life it seems like and has two Young Women aged daughters that live with her. Had a nerf war with a family here, it was great! They even let me walk in the door.  They were reading, and it gave my companion a surprise, definitely wasn't expecting that. But oh well. it was good for me! haha Then we road tripped it up to Fort Collins. My companions GPS died, but I am SO, SO, SO grateful I have a sense of direction and I was able to get us to the other sisters house with limited directions from them, and remembered a few of the turns, it was awesome!! I love talents and spiritual gifts! I was driving the Sister Training Leader there down to our meeting the next day.

Friday: Mission Leadership Council!!! LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! It was AMAZING!!! I found out that someone I know in Laramie, and even began to give the discussions to, is GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried, it was so amazing to hear that! Then during the first part of the meeting I sat hoping and dreaming about how I might have the chance to go to Laramie!! During lunch I asked President if I could go to Laramie, and even take my P-day, to do so... he said no. I CRIED!!!!! I was so sad, it was so hard to hear that!! I figured it would be “no’ since I live over an hour away, but still I wanted to go so badly!! This woman means so much to me, and I am so excited that she and her grandson are getting baptized!!! It will seriously bless their lives so much, and I want to be there on their special day!! I got the Frozen soundtrack (we are allowed to listen to Disney songs...) while getting dinner that night in Fort Collins (dropped off the sister and got my companion back). Ok, Let It Go is my theme song right now! I will so miss being able to see my friends get baptized, and all the amazing people in Laramie, but I just need to let it go.

Saturday: One of our less-actives... well she was full of questions. We found out that she had never prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true! Well guess what she did when she said the closing prayer?! She prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

Sunday: Another young investigator came to church again! I am racing him in reading the Book of Mormon and two nights this past week he sent us texts asking us questions, it was AWESOME!! Well, we were at the same chapter on Sunday morning... I think he is going to beat me. He told us that reading the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes a day is "prep-fo-life." haha yes, “fo,” not for. I thought it was so funny I just laughed! At our lesson with yet another investigator, we determined her official baptism date is March 22, a week after transfers... well I might want to move that up.  She says she felt peace yesterday and that is what I live to hear!!! THE SPIRIT IS REAL AND TRUE!!!! We had a lesson with two more investigators at President C's home (ok lesson with a member of the stake presidency is kind of intense, but he is really nice)! I love the Cs! We talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy and especially going to Sacrament Meeting.

Well, this week will be awesome! We have a super busy schedule planned, which is the best thing ever as a missionary! I would rather be too busy than not having enough to do :) I don't really want to go tracting, so this is good!! I love you all!! Thanks for everything you do!

So... since my birthday is coming up... the best birthday present you could give to me would be invite one of your friends to church, or invite them to an activity, better yet, invite them to hear the first missionary lesson! Invite them to act!! It will bless your life, and theirs!!

This church is TRUE!! I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us, and that He cares for YOU! Your Savior Jesus Christ is there for you as well! They love you tons, and so do I! Listen to the Holy Ghost, he is the real teacher and can comfort you!

Love,
Sister Kelly Smith

“Do you like Polar Bears?” “I don’t know, I have never talked to one before.” 90 Year Old Man in Colorado

Monday: Well, what happens when you feel super sick and members are totally willing to help you out? You take a nap during your dinner appointment by the fire... no joke it really happened!  The P family was so nice, and our investigator was there... He pulled up the armchair and put it by the fire, and while they had dinner, I slept. I felt a little better, but still not great. Being sick on a mission is no bueno!! But it is a part of life. Getting a priesthood blessing is very comforting, and I love them!!

Tuesday: Well, I slept in and was going to take a chill day to get better (and just go to the lessons we had scheduled)... well Heavenly Father had a different path in mind. I got out of the shower and my companion handed me the phone with two unopened texts on it from one of the sets of Sisters I am over. Oh no... well, all I can say is that I did not have a relaxing day! It went something like this.
Me talking to one sister, then calling the zone leaders that are over the set of sisters, trying to contact my co-sister training leader, and then getting my things together and meeting up with Hna. S, and then road tripping it up to visit these sisters to let them "hash it out." haha Well that's pretty much what we planned, in a way. So we get there, pick them up and then go to the stake center, and we all talk it out. Communication is SO KEY to missionary work, and LIFE!!! If that is the only thing I learn from my mission, well I guess I can go home now because I TRULY, TRULY understand that! haha But nope, Heavenly Father still wants me to learn things because I have 9 months left :) They pretty much worked things out, but I could still tell that they were not happy with us,nor did they want to be together. I really needed to let one of the sisters trust me, because she really wasn't... and pretty much didn't want anything to do with us. So it is life I guess... well since we were in one town we visited another set of sisters! SISTER K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love that girl so much! After we visited these awesome sisters, we went to the mission office to get some things and got to talk to President and Sister Brown for a bit. It was so fun!!! I love that man! I have grown to love him, which is good I was talking to him about transfers and telling him that transfers were inspired, but I mentioned Laramie and he usually jokes around with me when I talk about Laramie because he knows that I love it and miss it so much!!  He brought out a bat, because "I can't bring a gun" (on the mission). HAHAHA   Ok, the gun thing sounds pretty serious, but it was just a joke and he had a smile on his face! He is great! Got home just in time to have a lesson with one of our investigators and taught the 10 Commandments with the hand signals which was fun! Her one month old son is so cute!

Wednesday: Had a lesson with our progressing investigator and I asked him if he would be going to Fort Benning. Well guess what? HE IS!!! Guess what? My dad is there RIGHT NOW, for work. He leaves on February 4th and I am so excited that they could possibly MEET, and maybe possibly my dad could baptize him!! Dad, please find him!!!!!! We then had to rush off to our next lesson with two new investigators!! A member of the Spanish group had two referrals for us and met us at the appointment and pretty much led lead the discussion, which was fine, but we watched one of the most cheesiest church movies I have EVER seen!!! So funny, but we taught the Plan of Salvation! I am excited to see them this week :) Then we had a lesson that night with another investigator, and we narrowed down his baptism. February 15th (my 9 month mark) he is getting BAPTIZED!!!! I am so excited!!! We read Mosiah 5, love that chapter! The Book of Mormon is just incredible!!

Thursday: Interviews with President Brown. Ok, so interviews scare me... I wasn't too worried about this one, but oh well. they are over! haha I am fine with me initiating a conversation or if I just want to talk to him or something, but interviews are a different story! I just feel like a horrible missionary every time, and that I have so many things to improve on, but I have noticed the difference between the first interview I had with him and now... He wants to help us get better and improve, and I am really grateful for that!! He truly is incredible and he prayed for me which was really nice and comforting! We received another referral which is great! We have been receiving a lot of referrals recently which has been wonderful!!

Friday: Well, long story short it snowed a lot and we weren't able to drive. so what do we do?  Oh, you know, just walk 6 miles on a country road, shoveled some snow, and luckily got a ride home (since we live in the country, it isn't safe for us to walk home, and it take us HOURS to get places). We didn't have much success that day.

Saturday: Another no-drive day and we got rides into town, so that was nice! Right before we had a lesson, President Brown called us. He asked companion if she would finish the training of a sister. Sister P started crying and to me was like, "I don't want to leave you." So sad, and yet I felt so good. It is nice to know that your companion loves you. We had a lesson with a less-active elderly lady and 2 laurels came with us. They are helping her with Personal Progress and are on the first one! She told us that she didn't really have much faith and asked us some crazy questions. It comes down to the basics. Believe that Heavenly Father loves you. Believe that Jesus is the Christ and YOUR Savior. Dinner was so fun, but full of dairy... luckily Sister M had some essential oil that worked! I felt way better afterward! Met with the Relief Society President, and while we were at her house transfer calls came in... I am staying in the same ward, and my new companion has been out for 3 transfers... I am also the ONLY Sister Training Leader in my zone. Oh and I think my new companion might have a slight case of autism. If you have any conference talks on patience, love, how to communicate with people with disabilities in a close relationship (since I will be with her 24/7) please send them my way!! I have never worked closely with someone who has autism, so I would love some advice and help! I am grateful for the chance to serve with this sister, and it will be a time for me to stretch and grow. Me and Heavenly Father will be pretty close this transfer! I am grateful to know that my Savior is right beside me!! He can be with me constantly!

Sunday: Oh yeah it was the Superbowl... the Denver Broncos lost. haha I am really not into football, but since the Broncos were playing it was pretty big here! It didn't really mess with our schedule which was nice. My companion and I went around saying goodbye to people (because she is leaving).

Well, this week has been kind of crazy, more crazy than I think I can even begin to write about. I know that transfers are inspired, and I know that 90 year old deaf men are really fun to talk to! haha  The man we live with (and his wife) is 90 years old, and as we were having family prayer sometime this week I asked him if he likes Polar Bears because he had a blanket with Polar Bears on it. His response, "I don't know I have never talked to one before."   It was pretty funny! Then he asked me if I liked polar bears, my response, "I don't know, I have never talked to one before." He is a funny guy, and I love him! It is fun and also weird to yell at him so he can hear me. Oh we live with Nancy and Charles... weird because my Grandma and Grandpa are Nancy and Charles! Meant to be :) haha

I love missionary work and I am excited and nervous to see what this transfer brings :)

Love you all,
Sister Kelly Smith