Last missionary lesson to the family. December 25, 2014

Smith, Adams families, Malo Lelei! (Tongan) Merry Christmas!

This is my last letter as a full-time missionary. :/ I am not sure what to think. I'm excited to see you but sad to leave this place I've come to love so much. As I'm preparing to come home, I have been asked to set a lot of foals an reflect on these quotes by prophets and apostles. One of them really stood out to me to share with you. "Our house is to be a house of order...let us provide time for family, time for work, time for study, time for service, time for recreations, time for self-but above ALL, TIME FOR CHRIST" PRESIDENT MONSON

Then ask yourselves, "What are the top 10 priorities in my life?" then "am I living like those are my priorities?" I know our family is on everyone's list of the top 10's, but how do we show it? Are we too busy with wrestling, drill team, work, grandkids, friends, homework, etc to show that our family is what is most important to us?
Linda S. Reeves in a recent conference said: "The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly Family Home Evening."

I know we are all busy, but the most important thing we can do is to make time for our family. To do prayer and family scripture study. If you do no make time for it, you will never have it. And I truly have seen the difference it makes as I go into homes that do family study and prayer an homes that do not. Make it a priority. Even if you need to just start with one daily family prayer. Start with one if you have to but make time for it in your daily life. There is much more love and spirit in a companionship that studies, learns, and prays together. I love you all and I will see you soon!

With love,
Sister Smith

last letter to mom. December 25, 2014

What a crazy few weeks I've had here. Nothing like spending Christmas day packing to go home. Next week will be a district pday and 2 days til I come home so it'd be silly to write then. I'd get there faster than the mail would.
It has been weird weather here too, usually upper 30's. Last winter it was more normal to have -30'. Minnesota is kind of a funny place. There was some snow on the ground, but now it's all gone. (
I can not believe I had a brown Christmas in Minnesota!
What a wonderful 18 months this has been! It was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done, but so worth it. I am much more the person I want to be than I was 18 months ago. And most of all I have gained a testimony and an understanding of the Atonement of Christ and how it affects my life/ It is no longer just this thing I don't understand, but it has meaning to me and I've seen how it changes lives and families. I have learned the things I want to be in my future home, and new ways to be better and to come closer to my Father. What a blessing my mission has been. Thank you for supporting me through it! :)
3 Nephi 5:1313 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

With love, Sister Smith

fun pictures. last week of mission.

 The spirit of Christmas

 this was our big snow!

Until this. We ended up with about 7 inches

New culture. Liberian 12-22-14

So I tried Liberian food this week, it was pretty good but only because she made it with less peppers so that we would be able to eat it:) it is what they call cabbage. but it had other veggies, and fish, and some other meat in it too.

Also a Liberian member taught us how to wrap the headwraps. pretty good for my first time:)

last email before Christmas Dec. 22, 2014

DO NOT SEND ME TREATS.... all we have in our apartment is TREATS and junk and I am so sick of doing the workout I have been doing for 18 months so my exercise is not very good right now. Whenever people do not want their treats at their house they just give it to us and I am so sick of junk food. We have thrown so much away too. You can send real food, but no sweets please:)

You do not eat any more bread at all??? The tree we made was from an oriental trading magazine, so all we did was put it together.



Wow, that is such a cool miracle! I am glad that little boy did not get girl toys and clothes. yeah, Sister Upchurch tried to e-mail it to you but you never got it, so I just had her text it to dad. Good thing Dad never changes his number:) I got into a class I was on a wait list for! Great! I am excited to hear about it! I will talk to you soon!!! 3 days!

With Love,
      Sister Smith

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 Christy wrote: Tender Mercies.
I seem to be having a lot of these lately. I just can't believe how often I am watched out for. I was working on sub for santa today, because Angella and I go shopping today. There were three angels left on the tree at Zions, so I was making my usual list of what we needed to shop for and I noticed that one I said was a girl, wasn't! It was for a boy. Heavenly Father made me notice that today so that little angel will get his proper toys. Also made sure nobody took it off the tree. It just made me so happy. Also dad got a text with the picture of you and your tree, I emailed it to myself. When I went to check it out there was a notice from usu about a class you were on a wait list for and you had to accept it tonight by 12:08 am. I will fill you in on the story of the wait list when we talk, but I just can't believe I saw the email. It is 10:30 at night and I just wanted to get your picture on my computer! I just love my Heavenly Father so much. He really looks out for me. Well for now, I am off to bed. Have an early day tomorrow to finish up Christmas for 60 children. Love you tons, Mommy

Paper Christmas tree. 12-18-14

This was sent from a member who said they just dropped Emily of and they wanted us to know how sweet she is and what a good missionary she is!

Christmas devotional from Emily! December 16, 2014

ALOHA! I love you all! This week to go christmas.mormon.org and watch "He is the Gift" and then find a way you can share it this Christmas! It is the True gift of the season.

Mosiah 14:4-5
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We can be healed and strengthened, through Jesus Christ. Our lives have been tremendously affected by this gift. Your friends and neighbors, and even those around you who you do not know do not know this gift fully. How would you feel if you were them, and no one shared it with you?

#ShareGoodness

With Love,
      Sister Smith