Week 7

Alright-o! this week has flown by! I swear yesterday was my last p-day, the count down is starting. I have two weeks until I get a reassignment, Sister Shaha is sure I should be going to Kansas. (Might need to pick up some red shoes, no?)

This week has been really good for me. I've found I hit that plateau and so I've been trying to pick up the slack and work harder. This work is so important; I want to be as prepared as I can be before I get pushed out into the field. This tuesday devotional we were graced with the presence of Elder Jeffery R. Holland, he was here for Thanksgiving, so I didnt think I 'd get the priveldge to hear from him but alas, he came! Nos amos Ele! Sister Randall and I, if we were to have favorite Apostles, would pick Elder Holland. He is just such a powerful speaker. He knows how to pierce our hearts! One of the nifty parts of his talk, he shared how "Preach my Gospel" came to be. President Hinkley, in a meeting with people involved with missionary work, asked what was wrong with the program that so many missionaries who go and serve faithfully come home and go inactive. he was very emotional about it, and made the furrow in the field of change. The focus is for us missionaires to convert ourselves, so that we can be able to fully have to spirit so we can truly teach to the needs of the people. I love the vision of Preach My Gospel and truly feel the weight of my calling. This responsiblity is huge! Elder HOlland told us that "you are the hope of Israel". how humbling, I am just a 21 year old girl, yet Israel depends on me? Well, thankfully I have the Lord to depend on. He knows how to help all His children, far better than I could ever pretend to think I could. I am so grateful for that, for having oracao (prayer) and that direct communuication with the Lord. God is just so awesome! Earlier that day in Large Group meeting, we talked about our Proposito (purpose!) as missionaries. OUr teacher talked alot about how we have to have faith in ourselves that we can do this work. he gave an example of on his mission, he got to the area and had no idea about anything really. In his first meeting the mission presdient said the goal was to contact 7 people a week. qwhen his companion and him were planing that night, his comp. asked, how many contacts should we do, he said, 7. they got seven. the next week at weekly planing, his comp asked again, how many? and he responded, lets try 8. each week they'd do more and more until their next meeting, everyone was like, WHOA ELDER! how do you do it? what do you do? apparently his area had been "known" as a "difficult" area. When we put limits on ourselves, we never can improve. We have to believe that we can do anything, we have to trust in the Lord. I turned to my companion Sister Randall and said, Im thinking we're going to have to set a goal for Cuiaba to be the next city of Enoch. Pretty sure its attainable. :) haha No but seriously; it shouldnt matter where you serve; if you have the right positive mindset, you truly can do anything. Its just like that story of the little train that could. Ya'll know it--well it was my role many times as a kid when I was trying to do something that was hard for me. I'd say I think I can, I think I can. I know I can, I KNOW I CAN.

Everyone, I know you can do whatever you set out to do. Have faith, rely on the Lord and He will bless you abundantly, this I know, as its become increasingly clear everyday that I am in the MTC, everyday I teach a lesson.

Speaking of lessons.....I totally blasphamed yesterday in the TRC. I half blame my lack of portuguese vocabulario. So We were teaching a muslim man about the restoration and everything. I got the clever idea to share the scripture in ezekiel 37 about the stick of joseph and the stick of ephraim, and how it is the bom and biblia--togheter are a complete whole. Well....briliant me.....thought of the Torah instead of the Korahn so Im saying, yeah the book of mormon and biblia, or the koran, go together. my companion was like !!! sister smith!! (after the lesson of course) so yeah, don't be comparing scriptures and tell people to book of mormon and the koran go together! its a lie!

But hey, at least I didnt tell someone they are a message, like sister Ricchio did. :)

My portugese is coming along, I love this language. Its great to see improvement, but I cant help thinking the day I get to brazil that Im going to feel like Im starting over again at day 1. But to be optomistic, I know I will be fluent by next Christmas! (if not i've got some serious issues!!)

Well, I wanted to say something hilarious, but Its not coming to me. Except my Sister Randall and I are tootally pulling a joke on our roomates tonight. We already prepped them last night for it. It is going to be funny and hopefully they dont hate us for it. oh well if they do because its just too funny.

I will tell how it goes later.]

Mom, thanks for the items in the box, got em today. Meu pais sou bom!

Love

sister smith

Week 6

Its been another awesome week here at the MTC. But to be honest I am so ready to get out into the field! We've had a lot of people leave this week from my branch, and Im totally jealous of them. 3 more weeks to go!

We all like to guess where we will be reassigned, I just hope its a warm place. :) The Provo temple has been closed the past two weeks for the holidays so it was AWESOME to get to go today. Sister Randall and I went and did sealings, I've never done one before. That was a great experience. I love the spirit that we feel when we are at the temple, everything is so much simpler, and worries of the world arent present. Believe it or not, a missionary really needs it! With the stress of the week, its so good to be somewhere where I can forget that I am Kristin, Forget that I am Sister Smith, and just be a child of God.

This wednesday was a little crazy. My district had service in the morning and then we got to be Hosts for the incoming Missionaries. THat was a great experience, since I got in late on my arrival, I didnt have a host to show me around. I got to meet two very sweet sisters, very different from each other, but none the less there was that similarity we all have, the spirit and a desire to serve.

This week was a little intense, it was my first time teaching a lesson in Portugese at the TRC (teaching resource center). I definately speak tarzan style portugese, but what is inportant is that I open my boca. (tarzan style portugese means half the time I dont conjugate or use connector words like if, and but also etc) but my language is definately improving and so is my pronounciation. Entao... (so...) back to the TRC. We we supposed to go on thursday, but we got a note when we got back from hosting that we had TRC in an hour. We didnt even have a teacher there! Its been difficult with the scheduling because the man over scheduling has been in singapore for the last few weeks. Lucky for us, one of the teachers for another district in our branch offered to watch us. Irmao Perry was one of our subs during christmas break. He's awesome, I've learned alot from him. anywho, I have to say the lesson went pretty well. If there is anything I can say I have really learned in the last five weeks is PRAY. ALL THE TIME. I Know that when I pray, God will always help me. He's never let me down yet, and everytime my companion and I have sat down and prayed for help before a lesson, the spirit has been significantly more present and we'be taught more clearly than when we hadn't. When I was teaching about Joseph Smith, the spirit was so strong that I couldnt help myself from crying. Its so humbling to be able to have that witness that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ over and over as I teach and testify. itts great. The next day we had TRC again, even though we are only supposed to once a week, but who am I to complain, its more practice that I need! My companion and I really tried to focus on what the needs of the investigator was. As I was teaching about the importance of familys, the thought came that I need to get to know more about his family. so I asked "quantas pessoas em sua family?" how many people are in your family? He told us it was just him and his wife, and his only son died 8 years ago. My companion and I got the chance to talk about eternal families (thats in lesson two, so it was a good push to try and figure out what words to use!) When I got to talking about the savior, I was directed to chapter 7 in Alma, verses 11-12 that talks about how Christ not only suffered for our sins, but for our pains and sorrows etc. After our lesson was over, Sister Randall told me that just before I asked the question about his family, she had the feeling to ask how many people were in his family, but she didnt want to interrupt me while I was talking. What a testimony to us about how important it is to teach with the spirit, to listen, and to teach in unison! so yeah, that was a little experience I had this week.

Thank you Bethany for the pregnant photos! they made me smile. extra wide.

Also, mom, if you havent sent me anything yet, could I get some tights? my legs are freezing and my roommates tell me that I have to shave my legs because its disturbing and not very dignified. I suspect they are correct.

OH! I learned a new years song for brazil! (we made friends with some brazilian elders on their way to the netherlands. they are awesome!)

its goes:

Adaus ano velho

feliz ano novo

muito dinheiro no bolso

saude pra dar e vender!

Happy new year everyone!

Love, Sister Smitche

p.s. here's a reading assignment! Read Ether 12 and Heb 11 and tell me how they are similar.

pps. everyone! thanks for the letters! I really look forward to nightly letter reads!

Week 5 "half point"

Oh my GOSSSHHHHHH!!!

Offically been here at the MTC one whole month. As much as I love it here, I HATE IT. hahaha hate it in the way of Im just ready to move onto the next step. those english speakers are lucky, only two weeks in here. But its great, Im learning so much about teaching, portugese, the gospel and myself. I dont know what to say this week, there is so much going....I forgot to bring my journal with the highlights of the week.

okay, so here's one.

Comparing Brazilian Portugese to Portugal Portugese:

Imagine Cary Grant. Thats the Brazil going elder. Now imagine Sean Connery. Thats the elder going to Portugal.

This coming week Eu no falo ingles! On saturday we're doing a half day of speaking onnly portugese, and on monday a full day. I will not be saying much. Wednesday will be our first time teaching a lesson in the TRC in portguese, so pray for us! and from wednesday all out, no more english. Its going to be awesome. Im excited, because it will really force me to think harder (not that I am not thinking hard as it is, there has only been three nights out of this month that I havent gone to bed with a raging headache) but I really need to work on conguagting. Most of the time my sentences consistst of a noun with a couple unconguated verbs. Yeah that will get me real far in the field!

Its such a great opportunity to learn a language with the Aid of the Spirit of God. I know I would be fifty times worse if it werent for His help.

Christmas was definately unique, I participated in the Talent Show and we had Elder Nelson and his wife stay the whole weekend. I got to shake hands with Sister Nelson after Relief Society and her good friend, Sheri Dew. Having so many great women as an example, oh how I am blessed!! Sister Nelson talked to us about making the right priorities, and seeking the spirit in all you do. She taught us the importance of seeking answers to prayers through the Book Of Mormon. Before you pray, she said, have your scriptures in hand and think about what question you need answered. In your prayer Thank God for the scriptures and how they bless your life. Ask to know what to do or wahtever it is that you question. AFter you pray, open your scriptures anywhere and start reading. You wont have to wait long before you will be answered. I can testify this is trus as I have tested it for myself. God wants to help us, all we have to do is exercise a particle of faith. We also had Elder Lowell M. Snow from the Seventy come, one thing he said that really stuck out to me is that a testimony is not enough, you have to be converted. He said a lot of other great things that I wrote in my study journal but I failed to bring with me to share. curses. I got a assignment for the duration of my time here in the MTC, I get to be the music coordinator. yay for me! I was secretly hoping to slide by without any "callings" but alas, I didnt. what was I thinking to particpiate in the talent show? hehe no it will be a good experience, and Im excited to be able to play the piano more often and maybe increase some talents. Its grreat to be able to discover new talents, and to be able to use them to bless others lives. agh 5 mins left! !!

I am so grateful to be here, to have been entrusted with this calling from the Lord. I pray that I can overcome myself to be able to fully give myself over to Him as he needs to do this work. It is so important for us to share what we know, don't let any opportunity slip you by. The doctrines of Christ are simple; they are true. It is through Him and Him only that we can ever return to our Great Father in Heaven. Love you all, Tchau,

Sister Smith.

READ Ether 12! its the best chapter on faith EVER. and moses 6:31, Jermiah 1:7-9, 14-end.

Week 4

I think its week four?

I think it is christmas eve day too?

The days all mesh here, Im so busy but its so good to be so busy too.

OH!! so coolness, I've ran into three people that I knew before the mission, one sister I had a class with last fall, and Kyle Eby who I worked with at Thatcher Brook. He is going to be a great missionary, heck he has already had an experience with contacting this past week on his districts temple walk. He saw this woman and the holy ghost practically yelled at him that he needed to talk to her. apparently she was close to suicide and he and his companion were able to talk to her and they have permission to write letters to her. I got to read one that she wrote and that was really cool to see how missionary work can be done even while in the MTC. Also, Federico Martinez, he was one of my FHE brothers last fall. He is so awesome, it makes my day everytime I run into him.

This week has been a big time of learning and growing for me, I think. My normal teachers are gone for the break so we've had substitutes. One in particular, Irmao Perry is such a great teacher. Not going to lie, I was pprreetty scared of him at first because he tells you how it is, he acts how a real investigator wouulldd. If he's not feeling the spirit in a lesson, he'll ask you to leave. He's super focused onn us learning to teach with the spirit and really cares. I love it.

My companion, Sister Randall is such a help to me. I am so grateful for her, she knows when I need a breather and she knows how to support me. I only hope I can serve her as much as she's served me. As Im learning to teach with the spirit, Im able to speak more clearly and concisely. Now Im trying to invite the spirit more into my life to be with me constantly so that I can attain that gift to express myself well. I am so excited to go to Cuiaba!!!!

Oh myy 'lanta I just cant get there soon enough. Im falling in love with those people down there already. Irmao Perry served part of his mission in Cuiaba and he was filllliinng sister randall and me in about it. So when I said it was hot, I didnt really realize howw hot "HOT" was. Lets try the high being around 117 plus humidity. yeah. its calleedd CONSTANT STREAM OF SWEAT. Im thinking, I'm not going to be using lotion or makeup foorr tthe duration of the time that I am there. He also said that there arent many sister missionaries outside of Brazil called there because it is so hard. People die because its so hot. Not saying im going to die. Going to be drinking alot of water. But I guess in a way what he was saying is that God only sends tough sisters there, so sister Randall and I were talking, are we really that tough? We can handle girl's camping it out. Im actually kinda relliieeved that I can get away with lookking hideous and getting away with it since I won''tt be able to help myself. haha

the language is coming along slowly but surely, I know that It will come. this week in the TRC sister randall and I taught an old couple the second lesson, "riding the bus" with them and talking in portugese. That went pretty well, thhoouugghh we are still working on conguagtion and tenses, we were still able to comminicate and unnddeerrstand each other. so this keyboard has some serious delay and thats why everythiinngg iis like dddddddddddddnnneeeeeeeoeoeoe. fubecca (slacker). aannywho, we were able to teach with the spirit and share things that were helpful for our investigaattors. I love praying. I love how everytime sister randall and I pray before we teachh oour "investigators" that we are blessed with the spirit and our words are right. God is Awesome.

As its Christmas this weekend, I just want to share my testimony of Our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he suffered in gethsamne, and on the cross of calvary for me. I know that He is the son of God, with a divine responsiblity to take upon himself all the pains and sins of the world. I know that he rose again on the third day, concurring physical death. I know he appeared to the Nephites in Bountiful, and that he will live again. Eu se que Jesus Cristo e meu Salvador. Eu se que Joseph Smith foi um profeta de Deus. Em nome de Jesus Cristo, Amem.

much love in Christ,

Sister Smith

Week 3

This week has been awesome. There is so much to learn in so little time but God surely blesses us to be able to do so. How else could we? thirty minutes is never enough time to write everything I want to say! We'll start with a fun thing we did last night during our class study just before dinner. It was a game that totally was an explaination of how an apostacy works, so we it was related to missionary work. So we each got a piece of paper and wrote down a sentence of whatever came into our heads. ie. elder smith falls asleep too much in class, or The alarm clock should be smashed into smithereens with a sledge hammer. (that was mine) and then we would pass on the paper to the next person who would draw what the sentece said. then they would fold it so you can't read the first sentece so the next person would have to write what they thought the sentence was doing. and that went on for a couple of rounds. My favorite one started as I like ice hockey and ended up being Sister Black went on a date with Elder Jensen. story about Elder jensen, he's going to tiawan in a couple of weeks he's not in our district but we've befriended him as he is very dutiful of seeking out esp. sister black to pick up our trays when we've done eating. its actually pretty cool that the elders do that. And its amazing to see how they can sometimes even act like men.
I'm trying to act more like a woman, but ya'll know how being dignified throws off my groove. My district jokes about how I should have gone to some place in africa where they speak click, aka "sister smith's sound effects".
I've been thinking alot about my purpose as a missionary, and truly learning to know what investigators needs are. You really have to show so much love and truly love people in order for them to trust you, to open their hearts to you and you have to be completely open to. Thats where the spirit comes in Handy. :) So the thing that I want to be able to leave here with and say I've learned, is how to truly teach with the spirit.
I have been blessed to have such an amazing companion, we flow together really well in teaching and we possibly do the best job, but that is probably because the other companionships are trios and that is difficult. We still have much to learn and to listen but its good to see that we're progressing. Sister Randall is such an example to me. I just love her. We decided we're going to be friends forevver.
So going back to the idea of seeking the investigators needs, we did a little activity in class yesterday that was very, actually good. I wasnt so sure how I felt about it at first. Our teacher, Irmo Cope had us sit down with him as a group and just ask any question we wanted, to find out what HIS needs were, not as a role play character, but as himself. We were able to use our knowledge and actually really help him in something he was struggling with. And then my district volunteered me to be next. I was nervous because, who really wants to be completely open and honest in front of 8 other people? its scary but I really wanted to give them all the opportunity to have it realistic. I suprised myself when I cried, I truly have come to trust my sisters and elders, else I could have in no way said anything that I told them. I was very grateful that they truly listen to the spirit and said things I needed to hear. Sister Shaha really touched my heart when she shared Jerimah 1:5-10,16-19. I feel like a child, like Moses too. That I can't share the gospel to its full potential due to my lack of words. I read Ether 12 as well. I know that If I but all my faith in the Lord, He WILL put words in my mouth. He has trusted me with the calling and I will not fail Him. I pray for humility. I pray for strength. I pray for power beyond my own. I seek guideance and assistance; for peace and understanding. I know the Lord will provide in His time.
I hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas season and truly taking the time to reflect about the Atonement and Miracles of Christ our Savior. He chose the most humblest of situations; think about his birth, his life, and you will know how much he truly loves each and everyone of us. I am so grateful for the atonement that redeems and enables me each and everyday as I fall and rise again.
Love,
Sister Smith
ps. I'm going to be in the talent show on christmas! also, mom, Im supposed to tell my parents if they are sending packages they must get here before the 22nd else I wont get it until after the chirstmas hollidays.
tchau!

Week 2

Tudo Bem!! thats portuges for, basically, doing good? This week has been amazing. I have already felt myself being stretched by the Lord, if I don't learn patience here, I will never learn it anyway else. It is very difficult for me learning a new language and not get frustrated with myself, but I've been praying for peace and patience and God has granted it to me. He helps me remember, even if its just one word or phrase and I am so gratful for that. All that matters is that I give my 100% and God will make up the rest, through the enabling power of the atonement. I forgot to say in my first letter the coolest part about my companion, we are both going to Cuiaba. Oh and just so ya'll know, I finaly can pronounce my mission right. its like QueAba. stress on that first a. awesome, I know. I had my first time at the TRC on wed, it was supposed to have been thursday but there are so many portugese speaking missionaries here due to the visa hold up that we had to be split up on two days. TRC is the language training center; I get to go and talk with people in my mission language. yeah, so my story about that. My companion is really good at remembering the contacting phrases and prounouncing, I'm good at smiling and saying ola. She was super super nervous about practicing contact with real people (outside of our district I mean by real people) and I wasnt at all. It should have been the other way around. anyway so we were being told how to do everything and after that ended, I was like, what are we doing? I just zoned out for the last ten mins. she was like, WHAT?!! now im even more nervous. Sister Randall, your fine we'll be amazing. You know your stuff. and Im not saying that to make you feel better its the truth. It was funny to me anyway. Yes, Im the oddball in our district with my unique ways of expressing myself that make people think, what? did you really say that? don't think that will ever change. But really I have an awesome group. sister shaha (shayhay) is so strong and fearless. Sis Black and Ricchio are super sweet and always have interesting points to add about the doctrine. Elder Laughenberg (Its spelt different but I forget) is hilarious, him and Elder Thorpe have spilt something on themselves everyday pretty mcuh this week. Elder L. even clipped a bunch of napkins to his shirt and tie and still managed to become a wreck. If anybody finds a very large bib or even a towel, send it! we want to give him one for Christmas. Heck even a poncho would be good. Elder Thorpe is a future elders quoram president, I think. He is so dedicated and out here for the right reasons. Elder Smith is clever and smart, he already knows french and spanish so he's a great asset to everyone in the class. MY companion is "like an angel". She always bears a sweeet testimony. I see all these good things in my district that encourages me to try and do better. I've been thinking alot about Jesus Cristo e seu expiaso (thats jesus christ and his atonement) I am so grateful that he came and died for me, that our Pai Celestial (heavenly father) saw that there would be a need for redemption for mankind, that we would enevitably mess up. I know because I've been there. we've all been there. Satan wants to take us down, to not see our potential and give up. I will not give up ever! People want to know the truth, they are truly searching for it, just they don't, half the time, realize it. I listened to a talk by Elder Holland (voted class favorite by district 54) I believe it was called the miracle of the mission. SO powerful. find it. read it. He is so straightforward and says it how it is. Power comes from righteousness. Power comes from obedience. "astonish people. Bring some thunder into their lives!" He also talked about how everyone's mission will not be easy. people aren't going to be lining up to be baptized and the only thing you have to fear is pnemonia. He talked about the atonement, how it was in no ways easy. it couldnt have been. so why expect the mission to be? It will be the hardest thing. BUT THE BEST THING. have no regrets. Im running out of time for this week, but I just want everyone to know how excited I am to be here, to be serving the Lord. To truly start to know what real humilty, faith, determination, diligence, patience and sacrifice is.
This life is the time to prepare to meet God. Are you preparing?
(sounds like a corny ad line....I know...)
Scripture for the week, read Mark 1:2-3
Love,
Sister Smitche.

Week One

If I was really cool I would have titled this week one in Portugese, but I haven't learned any numbers yet. There is a red timer in the corner of the screen that reminds me of those evil online tests and quizzes from college that makes me nervous. So I obviously made it to the MTC in one piece. Where to start. Well on the plane actually I sat next to an Elder who is going to be serving in Tulusa, Oklahoma. I decided he is perfect for Megan, just her type. His native tounge is Hmung. (I dont know if I spelt it right, but she would say he looks alot like her favorite boy from yuba high) HAHA I thought she'd appreciate that! My district is pretty small, there is 8 of us. The special thing about us though is that the sisters out number the elders. We have 5 sisters. 3 elders. Only set like that in the whole MTC. My companion is Sister Chelsey Randall from St George. (oh by the way you say Randall in portugese is "handoaw" and smith is "smitche") I am so lucky to have her as my companion! We get along very well, and she is good at pronunciation so she helps me alot. We're trying really hard to work together to make the best use of our time here at the MTC.
I am so grateful for the teaching methods here, they are exactly how I felt about missionary work. Its like we've moved passed the dicussions to preach my gospel to a higher level. Of course we talk about the lessons but we're not focusing on just knowing the material. ITs so much about communication. We are constantly asking, What does the investigator need to feel? What are their needs? where are they on their spiritual journey? If we cannot understand the person and show them that we sincerely love them, we will never be able to get through to them. Both of minha professoros are RMs from Brazil missions. so they have a lot to share. The brazilians are awesome!! There is a class down the hall from mine going to somewhere in europe where the elders are from brazil so we try to talk to them. I am finding that I can be a leader, our first day of class we had no teacher so everyone was just sitting there leafing through preach my gospel so I spoke up and said that we should read over the first lesson and then discuss it. After discussing we talked about the scriptures that would best support our teachings for our people. Alot of brazilians are catholic and espistical (spelling?) and so we had a good scripture chase. I see the elders with their mass of enthusiasm and having the frequent devotionals and testimonies help to keep the focus! my scripture of the week is Alma 17:1-3. Ben and Ammon, I suggest you memorize. This, to me, is the key to truly teach people unto conversion. Its so much more about the spirit you bring than the words you speak. At least that is how I feel. I hope everyone is doing well.
Love,
Sister Smith

. . .continued. . .

okay so you can send me emails through dear elder.com
I think you just need my mailbox information. They print them out and then I get mail more than just on P day.
I will need some serious deet for brazil. anything 30% would be great. no rush though.
I dont want to get dangee fever like my teacher did!
also, I had to get tetnus shot. that was it and only 20 so not bad, thank merlee for me the cash it came in handy!
ugh I should have wrote more in my first email but oh well, 30 mins goes by so fast and they keep us so busy
I just cant wait for bed everysingle night!!!
so yeah, dear elder.com would be great, then I wont spend my email time reading emails and not answering.
love you so much,
kristin