Letter home Feb 24

Well this week was an adventure. On Thursday-Friday it snowed a ton! The weather predicted 10-15 inches. I don't know exactly how much it snowed but I bet the forecast was about right. We were not able to drive (of course) so we walked about 1/2 mile in the freezing rain to a member's house to talk to them about fellowshipping some investigators we have. They invited us to stay for dinner. So we got to quickly help make dinner and after dinner the snow was coming down really hard so the members drove us home. People think just because the weather is bad, we just sit around at home, it's weird. Anyway so then we walked to the nearest members the other direction and talked to people who were out. We got to help a member who was getting ready for New Beginnings with her decorations. The snow was crazy, we basically couldn't drive our car for 3 days!
Recently I found out the most AWESOME thing ever...Brother P from Waseca totally got baptized!!!! How cool is that. I was so excited when Sister Hansen told me. Now he and his wife (who has been an active member 30 years) are preparing to be sealed in the temple. :) I love the temple. Seriously people in Utah are spoiled. There is no reason people in Utah should not be able to make it monthly. In Eau Claire it is 2 hours to get to the temple, if the weather is good. and we aren't very far. Think about the people farther in Wisconsin. They are so far away, but no matter how far the temple is worth it! The Endowment is a great blessing, so is the sealing. It's just great! Yeh Eh Na, Sister Smith

Email Feb 24, 2014

man, Morgan being sick on vacation, that's no fun. I would LOVE to feel what 80 degrees and humid feels like. I don't even remember. Last I heard it was cold all over the united states, is Florida not cold?
It sounds like you are all having so much fun! I feel kind of left out that everyone except me is going but I guess I got an even cooler trip to Minnesota that no one else got. I loved the pictures you e-mailed, they are so fun! What kind of pants was Cassidy wearing???!?! haha! I guess that's what's in style now right? I miss Cooper a lot, he is such a cutie. I am missing so much of his little life:(
your other e-mail reminded me, the 1 Nephi 17:41 part, of one of our investigators. She is having extreme money problems right now and we promised her that if she would stop drinking Coffee she would have enough money. and the only excuse she could think of was that she doesn't want to quit. When we were promising that to her it was definitely my mouth but it was not me promising. I have never felt the Spirit talk to someone so clearly through me. I know 100% that if she would live the Word of Wisdom she would be taken care of. But She would not believe that it would work so she didn't even try. It was sad. We had to drop her (stop teaching her) because she was not progressing (she's been learning for 7 years). It is just so devastating how simple the Gospel is and how people refuse to live it.
I've been reading in the end of Alma about the war chapters and how each commander of the Nephite Armies is so inspired of the Lord. They just keep winning time after time because the Lord has got their back. I love Alma 56: 16-17 but specially verse 17. This is one that Sister Clements uses a lot to motivate us. We have to give it everything we have got and be determined to conquer. Also, to give every one we meet "Great hopes and much Joy", to "Scatter Sunshine" etc. (Sister Clements is really into singing, which I love :D). Be safe in Florida, I hope you have/had fun at Sea World:)
With Love, Sister Smith




On Sun, Feb 23, 2014 Christy wrote:

Hi there! How are you? We are good. All is well so far. Except for Morgan, poor thing got so sick Saturday night. Throwing up really bad stomachache.  At least we weren't trying to do a park. It was kind of in between days of the tool fair and moving to the time share. We spent the afternoon at the pool at the Gaylord. It rained on and off all day long. But what better place to be in the rain than in a pool right? The pool was like a bathtub. Water was so warm so it was way nice. The babies loved it. I felt so bad for Morgan. We was puking all night long. Let me tell you how hard it was to get up and go to the park today. He did survive and felt ok, I guess. No incidents to have to clean up. Linds and Cooper are felling pretty good too. It is just so hot here we have to be careful and not get dehydrated. Weird going from so cold, to 80's and humid. My skin is very soft though. We all take turns with the babies so it makes it fun. I rode a triceratops ride today. Just like the dumbo ride at disneyworld. I took Cassidy and dad first, then went back with Cooper, Porter, Lindsey, and Morgan. We also rode on the jeep safari ride. Saw lots of animals. Found chip and dale to pose with, and Rafiki. Tomorrow we are headed to sea world. I'm so excited. Hope my feet and back have time to heal before we have to hit the ground running. All day just kills ya.
I am taking lots of pictures. I did email one of Cooper petting a pig at Rafiki's island. We went to animal kingdom today. One of Cassidy shopping for hats, and one at the salt lake airport of the kids. Cooper is so cute. He loves to grab our hands and just go. Well I am exhausted and going to go read my scriptures and go to bed. Love you tons. Mommy

Letter home Feb 17, 2014

La Familia, Hola Amigos! All is well in Wisconsin! Last week I thought it was so cold I might die, but I handled it much better this week. We got to do a lot of service in preparation for Valentines Day, which I loved! We don't really have a ton if investigators right now, but we are building up the teaching pool. We have an investigator who has been learning on and off for 7 years. She has read the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and she is reading the D&C for the second time. But sadly, she is not a fan of the Word of Wisdom. We had to let her go this week. We know the gospel will help her but she just doesn't want to make the changes right now :( I just want to say the longer I'm away from home the more grateful I grow for the family I have. Most families out here are so sad and not very "familyish" I am so glad to have a family I love that loves me. THANK YOU!
This morning while I was blow drying my hair, I was studying the February Ensign and I was so touched by an article by Elder Richard G. Scott called "Living a life of Peace, Joy, and Purpose" It really made me think about what the Lord is preparing us for. I think of that a lot as I study current Ensign articles. The world is going to get a whole lot worse, but we are on the right path. All we have to do is endure! Something specific I liked from the talk was "you really have no idea yet who you are and what you can accomplish in this life. You have great potential far beyond what you can imagine today." We are children of God. We are all capable of being Gods and Goddesses one day, but we have to live the right way now. I just love the Ensign, and the gospel in general. I love you all! With so much love, Sister Smith

My companion

Sister Beeson has been out 9 months today. Hence the nine fingers!!

Emails Feb 17, 2014

Feb 17, 2014  Emily Smith

I sent a letter so one should be coming! P-days on holidays are always weird because Libraries are closed and we have to find somewhere else to e-mail. Things are going great in my new area! We don't have a ton of people to teach right now but we are working on building up the teaching pool and finding new people to teach! is Nic allowed to use Facebook? or did his family just put it on for him? man, no matter what season it is the worst weather ALWAYS happens on exchanges. once I went on exchanges and only had my little flats and one pair of tights and it rained all day long, by the end of the day I was soaked and night did not provide enough time for my shoes to dry so I was left with sopping wet shoes and tights for the next day.
you got five feet of snow? man I was under the impression there was no snow in Utah. You did not tell me Cooper has Croup, what is that?
You are taking the whole family to Florida this year? how fun! take tons of pictures and send them to me! I'm telling you what, the kitchen floor is the best place ever for a melt down. plus that is where you normally were so I just came to you! haha:) the other day I had a small break down and Sister Beeson did a really good job of helping me out and being a good listener, I am in good hands here:D
I use the GPS every day of my life. sometimes the battery is really terrible but I think any technology would have a rough time functioning to its full capacity in this cold. but I do take it in every night, I don't leave it in the car. The maps are good. plus Sister Beeson knows the area really well, so sometimes if the roads are a little off we can usually figure it out quickly.
I love you , Be safe in Florida!
With Love, Sister Smith





Feb 17, 2014  Christy  wrote:

I will be thinking of President Monson today. Not what's his name that supposedly runs our country. haha. The kids are just happy to have a day off school. I really don't like holidays on monday if I haven't got mail yet. I am hoping for a letter from you. How are things going in your new area? Nic put some pictures on fb of him with snow in the background. Braken sent pictures home too. He was out on exchanges and got hit with a snow storm. He didn't have a hat on, only earmuffs. He said his hair was frozen solid! Too funny. The picture of the house isn't the best. I was in a hurry to get photos for the insurance company. It is right across the street from Connie Gleave, (crazy cat lady I think you guys call her?) Dad and Morgan finally got to go snowmobiling up Wolf Creek. Five feet of snow. They were gone all day Saturday and today they are paying for it with sore muscles. haha. We are off to tool fair this week. I sure hope Lindsey and Cooper are able to go. I think i told you Cooper has croup didn't i? Any way his voice is so froggy, it's awful when he cries. He likes to Facetime (like Skype) us so we can see him play. Some days he likes to talk, some days he just wants to play and hear our voices I guess. Dad and Rick are taking a red eye flight wednesday night at midnight. Going thru Atlanta for a quick layover. The weather was awful last week in Atlanta, freezing everything. Tons of flights were cancelled. Hopefully it will be moved out in time for our travels. Me and the rest of the bunch are flying out Friday morning. The tool fair hotels are always so expensive, so we got Cindy to hook us up with one of her timeshares. You pay for them by the week, so I tried to get as much time there as possible. We will get there in time friday night for the big dinner (I hope) and stay one night at the Gaylord, then head to the time share on Saturday and stay til Wednesday. I am so nervous about Morgan missing so much school, but what do you do??? Pray for understanding teachers I guess.
I think I told you about having to teach Relief Society yesterday. The lesson was on strengthening and preserving families. I was so nervous, because there are so many different circumstances with families. I didn't want to offend anyone. There was a suggestion at the end of the lesson about dividing up into groups and reading and then discussing the section. I tried that with my lesson. There were three sections to the lesson and there are pretty much three sections people sit in in the RS room. So I gave them about 10 minutes to read and discuss their assigned section, then teach the class what they learned. I loved to watch the interaction with the people in the groups. I felt like they all talked and shared things within the groups that otherwise they might not have shared. I loved it. I felt the Spirit so strong. Hopefully everyone else did too. Allyson Mckee comes to RS now. It is so funny to listen to her, because she is so new to RS and doesn't really have any experiences with things we mostly talk about. But there is always something to learn, I think. As families, we have to fight to make good quality time for each other. Have good traditions and work hard to keep Satan out. He wants so badly to destroy the family. He can see the eternal importance of families. Allyson shared how she loves her mommy and when she is having a bad day how nice it is to have her mom there to listen. She made me think of you in her dramatic voice and actions of MOMMY! Then just laying on the kitchen floor having a melt down. It was funny.
Me and dad were just talking the other day about the gps. Do you still use it? I am not asking for it back, just wondering if it is working good for you. I tried to update the maps before I sent it and figured you aren't that far away from North St. Paul that the maps should be good. Well I guess I better be off for now. Gonna head to the gym and get a workout in for the day. I love you so much and continue to pray for your safety. Take care of yourself. Love you tons, Mommy xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Week 34. letter home Feb 15

Wisconsin is SOOOOOOO COLD! I am 100% convinced it is colder here than in Minnesota.

I feel like February just started and it's already the 10th! It is so crazy. I now live in Wisconsin, which is very different than North St Paul. I have no idea how big Eau Claire is yet. I haven't seen much of the city yet. This week was mostly me saying bye to some people in St. Paul, then moving. On Friday we had another meeting in Bloomington, so we have been to Bloomington twice this week. It takes about two hours from Eau Claire. We have a senior couple in our district so they drove us to Bloomington once. They are so cute! I have always wanted to serve with a senior couple. Something fun Sister Beeson and I did was we went to visit a less active family and we got to help the little girl make her Valentines for her class. They were super cute.

This week we were out tracting and we were at some apartment buildings and we were knocking on every door. We came to one that had the screen door propped open and the main door was wide open. There was also really loud music blasting out the door. We didn't know where to knock so we just skipped it. After about 4 steps we knew that was wrong and turned around to knock on the door. Right as we turned the guy stepped out the door, because he saw us and was coming to see what we were doing. So we taught him and he seemed really interested! He has full custody of his 2 kids. He had had multiple near death experiences. We are hoping that we will be able to teach him more. He is going to read some of the Book of Mormon. He also thinks he needs to talk to his mom about it, which makes me nervous. I hope she does not Anti him. Sadly that happens a lot. :( It was a pretty cool miracle to meet him and talk to him though.

One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Nephi 10:20. "We are not cast off!" He still loves us. "We have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land." I have been driven out of Utah even out of Minnesota for a time, but the Lord has prepared me to be here in this land for me to have a better life and to help others have a better life! Love, Sister Smith

Welcome to Eau Claire! 2-10-14

I am doing well! If I ever thought Minnesota was cold I take it back. It is FREEZING in Wisconsin. I have only been warm once since I got here on Wednesday and it was in the Bishop's office. I figured it would be the same but it is not. I guess it is because we are closer to lake Superior that we get more of the winds from off the lake. There is another set of missionaries in my ward and one of them just came from a bike area so he has been biking his whole 10 month mission so far, and now he came here and he does have a car and he got frost bite because it is colder. I am just getting really good at layering on my clothes!
I am glad to hear that it snowed in Utah! Wahoo! Is it going to be extremely dry and fiery during the summer if you don't get more snow?
My new companion came out 1 transfer before me, her name is Sister Beeson. She is from American Fork. She is super funny, she is 19. She looks a lot like Sister Fink, will you send me via. e-mail or snail mail, a picture of Sister Fink so she can see? Sister Beeson has been here for 4 months already, so she knows the area pretty well.
My new area, Eau Claire is sort of a small town, way smaller than St. Paul but bigger than Waseca. I haven't seen a whole lot of it yet but the Ward Mission Leader is from New York/Italy he is crazy, and kind of scary at times. I am just glad to say that the Sisters are on his good side (not so much the Elders though). The ward is super nice, and there is a family here that has strict orders to take care of me (from Brother Thibaudeau the Ward Mission Leader in North St. Paul:) and a lot of people here have actually heard of Duchesne! How cool!?! Anyway I love you! I am doing great, I can't think of anything I need right now. I need to downsize my stuff, you never realize how much stuff you have until you move. . . yikes!
Also did you ever hear anything from a Shara Harper? Let me know!
Yeh Eh Nah Doh Mah!


Sister Smith

Picture of Emily

This week it was so cold that when we threw boiling water in the air it turned into snow instantly.

Getting transferred!

I am being transferred. I am moving to Eau Claire Wisconsin this Wednesday. No more Karen for me:(
I am actually really sad about it but I know it will be good for me to change.


I love you
Sister Smith