Oh man, oh MAN did I have a crazy week! Mostly the good kind of crazy though.
So Monday was the usual P-Day routine, but then we started a Fast as a Mission at 6pm. We were fasting for Mission Goals that would help us be more effective in our service. Tuesday was the day where we did the most work this week, or at least tried to. A lot of things fell through, but we broke our fast at 6pm after 24 hours. That soup tasted really, REALLY good!
Then Wednesday, this is where a large part of the crazy comes in. We wake up early, carpool with some Elders up to the Mission Office, and meet up with ALL the Missionaries in the Houston Mission. English AND Spanish, we filled the gym! We were all there for Mission P-Day. We started with a song, prayer, some Testimonies and Talks, then we broke into three groups to give a couple hours of service. My group went to a GoodWill kind of store to do whatever they needed. It was really fun, except for the part where I sliced open my arm on a screw that was sticking out of a wooden pole. Owies. They didn't have bandaids so I got a big patch of gauze taped to my arm. It was funny seeing people's faces when I told them I'd been attacked by some wild animal, haha!
We returned to the Hafer Chapel next to the Mission Office for lunch, then it was off to cycle between playing Ultimate Frisbee, building Gingerbread Creations, and thowing "cow pies" (a.k.a. frozen beef pot pies). My favorite part was the gingerbread, which was actually graham crackers. My companion and I made a replica of the Last Supper and many people agreed that we should have won. I am also in that opinion, I was beat out by a cheap baptismal font! *shake fist* Ah well, it was fun eating our creation afterwards. I walked around asking friends "Would you like to eat an Apostle?"
After that we changed to look nice and took a Mission Picture all together, another chunk of craziness. Then it was dinner, followed by a very good Christmas Devotional with a lot of beautiful Musical Numbers. I was sooooooo tiiiired after it was all done!
Then Thursday we had the chance to go to the Temple and had some lessons in the evening when we were back. Friday was CRAZY, Hispanics celebrate New Years Eve, usually staying up until Midnight to open their presents and going to sleep like 2-4am. We couldn't stay out that late, but we did have dinner appointments every two hours.... uuurgh... Well the first one was Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon, Mmmmm. THAT was nummy. The following meals were also nice, but I was so full I could not properly enjoy them I'm afraid. We followed the Spanish Tradition and opened our presents Friday Night before going to sleep.
On Saturday we went and had a breakfast of Pasole at an Investigator's house, then we basically chilled out for the rest of the day since we were not allowed to Proselyte at all. So we hung out with some Elders in the Chapel, playing basketball, piano, frisbee, nerf guns, watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas, ate stuffed French Toast, aaaand at some point in there I passed out on a pew because I'm sick. It was a good day :)
Yesterday despite all odds we had a Baptism! Of someone who had been Investigating for like nine months! It was so awesome! He was really happy too so that was the best part to see.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well, and will have a Safe and Happy New Year!!
Love and Good Wishes,
~ Hermana Smart
Monday, December 27, 2010
Merry Christmas
It's already that week! Wow! My parents sent me one of those 'Pop open a tab every day count-down to Christmas' things and I was so antsy to start it, but now? Man, I do NOT feel like it's been 20 days. Maybe seven, but I vividly remember thinking that it was going to take forever and BAM Christmas is almost here! Trippy...
I hope everyone has fun plans for thise weekend, even if your definition of 'fun' is taking a nap and laying low. My Companion and I have several invites for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, including an Investigator family that invited us to eat Pasole at 9:30 am! There may or may not be tamales involved (and if you know the time and effort that goes into making those, that's a sure sign they like us!!). The work is moving forward because the Lord is behind our efforts and rewards us for Obedience.
In other news I find myself shaking my head a lot while walking outside because even less than a week before Christmas, there are STILL Icecream Trucks trundling around blasting a cheery rendition of "El Cucaracha". I always wanted to run up to an icecream truck and buy something, but we don't carry cash and they don't accept cards so I'll just have to wait.
In three more weeks I'll have been in the area of Bear Creek for Six Months. Half a year in this one area, and third of my Mission. Whoa. Kinda crazy to think about once I realized it. For that reason, and the fact that my Companion will only have two Transfers left in her Mission, it is highly likely that I'll be the one to be moved this Transfer. I don't know where I'll be going, I'm not good at playing the Transfer Game. But I may be changing locations in three weeks. From what has been explained to me I want to go to the Hafer area with Hermana Rodriguez, I know her from my first District and she's a Native Speaker so my Spanish should improve dramatically. I also think it would be funny to be sent back to my Baby Area Gulfbank and impress everyone with my conversational Skills. They knew me from when I first came out and could hardly introduce myself without messing up!
Things are going well, and I am grateful for all your love and support and prayers. Keep it up!
Love and Holiday Cheer
~ Hermana Smart
I hope everyone has fun plans for thise weekend, even if your definition of 'fun' is taking a nap and laying low. My Companion and I have several invites for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, including an Investigator family that invited us to eat Pasole at 9:30 am! There may or may not be tamales involved (and if you know the time and effort that goes into making those, that's a sure sign they like us!!). The work is moving forward because the Lord is behind our efforts and rewards us for Obedience.
In other news I find myself shaking my head a lot while walking outside because even less than a week before Christmas, there are STILL Icecream Trucks trundling around blasting a cheery rendition of "El Cucaracha". I always wanted to run up to an icecream truck and buy something, but we don't carry cash and they don't accept cards so I'll just have to wait.
In three more weeks I'll have been in the area of Bear Creek for Six Months. Half a year in this one area, and third of my Mission. Whoa. Kinda crazy to think about once I realized it. For that reason, and the fact that my Companion will only have two Transfers left in her Mission, it is highly likely that I'll be the one to be moved this Transfer. I don't know where I'll be going, I'm not good at playing the Transfer Game. But I may be changing locations in three weeks. From what has been explained to me I want to go to the Hafer area with Hermana Rodriguez, I know her from my first District and she's a Native Speaker so my Spanish should improve dramatically. I also think it would be funny to be sent back to my Baby Area Gulfbank and impress everyone with my conversational Skills. They knew me from when I first came out and could hardly introduce myself without messing up!
Things are going well, and I am grateful for all your love and support and prayers. Keep it up!
Love and Holiday Cheer
~ Hermana Smart
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Raindrops on windshields
And dinners with members
Chili con queso y no jalapenos
Packages from mom that our mailman brings
These are a few of our favorite things
Inviting to learn and making appointments
Teaching God's plan to beautiful families
Lots of referrals and they are progressing
These are a few of our favorite things
When the dogs bite, when the bugs sting
When contacts are mad
We just remember our favorite things, and then we don't feel so bad!
(read to the tune of 'Favorite Things' from The Sound of Music)
Made the most of that up with my Trainer, I realized I never shared it with you... and I'm kind of a loss of what to say today sooooo....
Things are going well, we have FIVE investigators in church yesterday! Me and Hermana Wardle were running around showing them where their classes were and sitting with them and explaining things WOW. I was so happy I think I skipped down the hallway! It was super crazy for us, but I hope that it happens every week. That's the kinda stress I wouldn't mind more of.
Families are starting to ask us if we have plan on Christmas. We're not allowed to Proselyte so we can spend the time with families which will be nice! I'm going to make Deviled Eggs for the Ward Christmas Party this Friday. They asked that people make a plate of food that is traditional for their country. I think Deviled Eggs is traditional in the United States, at least it is in my family because I'm asked to make it every year! Haha!
I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas preparations instead of getting stressed out. Remember the reason WHY we have the Christmas Season.
Love you all!
~ Hermana Smart
Chili con queso y no jalapenos
Packages from mom that our mailman brings
These are a few of our favorite things
Inviting to learn and making appointments
Teaching God's plan to beautiful families
Lots of referrals and they are progressing
These are a few of our favorite things
When the dogs bite, when the bugs sting
When contacts are mad
We just remember our favorite things, and then we don't feel so bad!
(read to the tune of 'Favorite Things' from The Sound of Music)
Made the most of that up with my Trainer, I realized I never shared it with you... and I'm kind of a loss of what to say today sooooo....
Things are going well, we have FIVE investigators in church yesterday! Me and Hermana Wardle were running around showing them where their classes were and sitting with them and explaining things WOW. I was so happy I think I skipped down the hallway! It was super crazy for us, but I hope that it happens every week. That's the kinda stress I wouldn't mind more of.
Families are starting to ask us if we have plan on Christmas. We're not allowed to Proselyte so we can spend the time with families which will be nice! I'm going to make Deviled Eggs for the Ward Christmas Party this Friday. They asked that people make a plate of food that is traditional for their country. I think Deviled Eggs is traditional in the United States, at least it is in my family because I'm asked to make it every year! Haha!
I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas preparations instead of getting stressed out. Remember the reason WHY we have the Christmas Season.
Love you all!
~ Hermana Smart
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Oh man the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night was so awesome! Really everything's better on the Mission. I've loved them before, but this one I was looking forward to the most and I really enjoyed the whole thing! If you missed it, never fear! I have the link right here: http://lds.org/broadcasts/watch/christmas-devotional/2010/12?pid=692245596001&pkey=AQ~~,AAAAjP0hvGE~,N-ZbNsw4qBrw7kwhMdnhxO2ZFGj6dA4f&lang=eng Go an enjoy!
The other thing of greatest note that passed in the week that just left us is that I've completed NINE MONTHS as a Missionary! Know what that means? Hmmmmmm? That's right! I'm half way done. Can you believe it? Man, looking back it doesn't really seem like it's been all that long. But then again I can believe it. I think I've mentioned before how Missionary Time is some kind of funky paradox. Has it felt like Nine Months to you?
It's cold again here, might be getting mighty cold too if a forcast we heard was correct. High in the 50s and low in the 30s. Might even freeze, whooo! (yeah I'm strange for being excited) It was actually funny when we went Grocery Shopping and everyone but us had on long sleeve shirts or jackets, we were just in our blouses. You can really tell the out-of-towners when it's 60 degrees or so, haha!
I hope that everyone's Holiday Season is going well. Don't forget in the hustle and bustle of this time that the Reason for the Season is not Travel, Presents, and days off from School/Work. The real reason we celebrate is because our Savior and Redeemer was born, in the lowliest of conditions, so that he could one day raise us up to live in the Kingdom of our Father.
Love and Good Thoughts,
~ Hermana Smart
The other thing of greatest note that passed in the week that just left us is that I've completed NINE MONTHS as a Missionary! Know what that means? Hmmmmmm? That's right! I'm half way done. Can you believe it? Man, looking back it doesn't really seem like it's been all that long. But then again I can believe it. I think I've mentioned before how Missionary Time is some kind of funky paradox. Has it felt like Nine Months to you?
It's cold again here, might be getting mighty cold too if a forcast we heard was correct. High in the 50s and low in the 30s. Might even freeze, whooo! (yeah I'm strange for being excited) It was actually funny when we went Grocery Shopping and everyone but us had on long sleeve shirts or jackets, we were just in our blouses. You can really tell the out-of-towners when it's 60 degrees or so, haha!
I hope that everyone's Holiday Season is going well. Don't forget in the hustle and bustle of this time that the Reason for the Season is not Travel, Presents, and days off from School/Work. The real reason we celebrate is because our Savior and Redeemer was born, in the lowliest of conditions, so that he could one day raise us up to live in the Kingdom of our Father.
Love and Good Thoughts,
~ Hermana Smart
Transfer number six
I'm on Transfer Number Six! In fact I complete Nine Months as a Missionary this upcoming Friday, the third of December! That's the half-way mark for a Sister Missionary. Has it felt like three-fourths of a year to you since I left? Sometimes it feels shorter, or longer, to me. Being on a Mission is seriously messing with my sense of time, haha!
For this Transfer I am remaining in Bearcreek again, and I get to keep my current companion Hermana Wardle. I am really happy about that, I'm learning so much from her and I'm basically happy all the time. We get along super well. Two Elders are leaving from our District so we'll have two new ones in my Christmas District. It's almost that time! Though in the hustle and bustle of December shopping and vacations I encourage everyone to remember that the True Spirit of Christmas is found by dropping the last sylable. The Spirit of Christ.
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&channelId=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&sourceId=324bfaf90a495210VgnVCM100000176f620a____
Sending love from the field,
~ Hermana Smart
For this Transfer I am remaining in Bearcreek again, and I get to keep my current companion Hermana Wardle. I am really happy about that, I'm learning so much from her and I'm basically happy all the time. We get along super well. Two Elders are leaving from our District so we'll have two new ones in my Christmas District. It's almost that time! Though in the hustle and bustle of December shopping and vacations I encourage everyone to remember that the True Spirit of Christmas is found by dropping the last sylable. The Spirit of Christ.
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&vgnextoid=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&channelId=bd163ca6e9aa3210VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD&sourceId=324bfaf90a495210VgnVCM100000176f620a____
Sending love from the field,
~ Hermana Smart
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