El Ultimo.

Mis querida Familia y Amigos,

First off - hope this doesn't get sent off too late, my companion
Sister Fink has been really sick and so I was given permission to
still write all of you all one last time after usual pday hours (so
don't worry I'm being exactly obedient until the very end).

In case you don't know Spanish the title of this week's email is "the
last". Next Wednesday we will be having a worldwide mission broadcast
(so incredible) and so pday will be on Thursday, the day I return
home. So this will be my last email I send to you all while serving as
a full-time missionary and representative of my Savior Jesus Christ. I
can't believe this day has come and that 18 months have passed so
fast. 6 weeks in Mexico and 18 weeks in each of my four areas went by
like a blink of an eye. Yet as I reflect back on that girl who hugged
her parents goodbye and set off on a journey 18 months ago...as I look
at the picture of my first day here in New York....I can hardly
recognize the girl on the other side of the picture. She has changed
and become and grown so much. Words will never be enough to describe
my experience as a missionary. If only this little black nametag that
I hold so dear could record the miracles, the struggles, the tender
moments with complete stranger, and the life of a missionary... But
only the one who walked the entire journey with me could ever know of
its sacred significance.

This week was really amazing. We were blessed as a mission this past
Saturday to have Elder Holland visit. Usually he's known for his
powerful crying of repentance and obedience to missionaries. But our
visit was so sacred, so special. As he shook each of our hands he had
a personal interview with us (via the spirit). He said that he was so
proud of our mission and didn't feel he needed to address any
problems. He spent the next few hours walking amidst us, teaching and
testifying, even joking. It felt so normal to have an apostle of the
Lord in our midst. Yet at the same time the Spirit was so strong, I
can't even begin to describe it. It was such a tender mercy,
especially as a prepare to enter my next "transfer", a new adventure
ahead. As he testified of the love He holds for missionaries, calling
us "apostles with a lower case a" I was overcome with emotion. This
calling I've held for the past 18 months means EVERYTHING to me. I've
given my all, and it's been hard. But as a Elder Holland told us,
salvation isn't cheap and we are in the work of saving SOULS. This is
the dispensation of missionary work both for the living and the dead.
The work is hastening and we can never be the same. Once we have
experienced the things we have, we can't go back to our nets, we must
always move forward. This gospel is one of eternal progression.

I've had a lot of time to ponder and reflect this week. During my exit
interview on Monday and then today having the chance to go to the
temple with the missionaries returning home and President & Sister
Smith. Sitting in the celestial room I came across this scripture in
the Spanish BOM and it was so simple and powerful I chose it for my
ponderize scripture of the week 2 Nephi 4:16 "Behold, my soul
delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth
continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." Afterward we
also were able to participate in sealings (my first time ever). There
have been so many special, sacred experiences that I will forever hold
dear and that I will ponder in my heart continually. I wish I could
explain my feelings more but I just can't. Maybe as I tell you each in
person you can begin to understand a piece of it, but it's okay if
not, it's in my heart.

As President Smith has mentioned in the past - the last week of the
Savior's life was one most recorded and written about, it was full of
miracles and the atonement. Incredible and life changing moments
happened in His final days. As a representative of Jesus Christ I
promise I will try to uphold the standard and make my last week
serving has a missionary full of miracles, and I will put all my
strength in until the very end!! I know I won't be able to write again
of the miracles of my last week, but I hope next time I see each of
you in person I can testify of what has happened.

I love you all dearly. I hope you have the best week ever wherever you
may be in the world. Some of you I will see and hug so soon, others I
promise to continue writing and remember to keep working hard! :) One
of my favorite humans once said "Missionaries are just disciples with
a nametag",  I promise to continue to be a disciple of Christ for the
rest of my life, even after the name tag is gone. I have been changed
for good. I will never go back, I will never be the same

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart

FELIZ NAVIDAD

¡Feliz Navidad!

The happiest time of the year and also the busiest! Sorry if this
email appears to be scattered. Pdays are always a little hectic. Add
some downpouring rain (we're having a wet Christmas instead of a white
Christmas this year), busy grocery stores, a Christmas zone activity
(pretty awesome white elephant exchange), horrid traffic ..... ya tu
sabe. Christmas time tends to make the world a little crazy. I love as
missionaries we are able to simply so much and focus in just on the
real purpose - The Savior's birth. I've been thinking this week about
the end of the "A Savior is Born" video and how they say over and over
REJOICE and REJOICE GREATLY. That theme has kept popping up in my
studies too how we really have reason to be so happy and optimistic. A
Savior was Born! Reflecting on that I choice Philippians 4:4 for my
ponderize scripture of the week "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again
I say, Rejoice"

Last week after pday ended we set out to lookup Johanna because we
haven't seen her in a few weeks. She wasn't home but her mom, a former
investigator, let us in. We ended up having a really good lesson about
the Book of Mormon and even showed her the Christmas video. The
classic question of  "there's only one God" came up and we were able
to testify while that is technically true, we can't just listen to
anything that speaks of God. We have to act and make promises with
God. And we can't just sit and listen to the word of God we have to
follow the one path that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't know
if it sinked in completely....I've tried to find a good answer that
question my entire mission. So if you have any suggestions let me know
I'm sure that will come up again tomorrow and the day after that ;)

Our weekend was pack full of Christmas festivities!

Friday was the long awaited MISSION CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL. After months
of pday practices (and Sister Smith's months of preparing and
directing) it finally came and it was all worth it! The spirit was
definitely felt during the program and the lunch (Christmas dinner
style) was yummy. William made a special appearance dressed as Santa.
And it's always just a special blessing to come together as a mission
and talk to all the missionary friends you've made and hear about past
areas. It was crazy for me because a lot of the senior missionaries
¡Feliz Navidad!

The happiest time of the year and also the busiest! Sorry if this
email appears to be scattered. Pdays are always a little hectic. Add
some downpouring rain (we're having a wet Christmas instead of a white
Christmas this year), busy grocery stores, a Christmas zone activity
(pretty awesome white elephant exchange), horrid traffic ..... ya tu
sabe. Christmas time tends to make the world a little crazy. I love as
missionaries we are able to simply so much and focus in just on the
real purpose - The Savior's birth. I've been thinking this week about
the end of the "A Savior is Born" video and how they say over and over
REJOICE and REJOICE GREATLY. That theme has kept popping up in my
studies too how we really have reason to be so happy and optimistic. A
Savior was Born! Reflecting on that I choice Philippians 4:4 for my
ponderize scripture of the week "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again
I say, Rejoice"

Last week after pday ended we set out to lookup Johanna because we
haven't seen her in a few weeks. She wasn't home but her mom, a former
investigator, let us in. We ended up having a really good lesson about
the Book of Mormon and even showed her the Christmas video. The
classic question of  "there's only one God" came up and we were able
to testify while that is technically true, we can't just listen to
anything that speaks of God. We have to act and make promises with
God. And we can't just sit and listen to the word of God we have to
follow the one path that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't know
if it sinked in completely....I've tried to find a good answer that
question my entire mission. So if you have any suggestions let me know
I'm sure that will come up again tomorrow and the day after that ;)

Our weekend was pack full of Christmas festivities!

Friday was the long awaited MISSION CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL. After months
of pday practices (and Sister Smith's months of preparing and
directing) it finally came and it was all worth it! The spirit was
definitely felt during the program and the lunch (Christmas dinner
style) was yummy. William made a special appearance dressed as Santa.
And it's always just a special blessing to come together as a mission
and talk to all the missionary friends you've made and hear about past
areas. It was crazy for me because a lot of the senior missionaries
this was the last time I will see them before I return home. All in
all it was amazing and we took plenty of pictures that I will send
with this email. Needless to say we were pretty exhausted by the time
we got back from Ossining, but it was all worth it.

Saturday FIESTA DE LA NAVIDAD con Nuestra Barrio. It was a huge
success. The Nativity went well (all the practices paid off). Me and
Sister Fink were shepherds...mostly herding all the children and their
sheep but it was so adorable. We got to eat dinner next to our less
active, Carmen. And then as we went around greeting people we met so
many friends of members! We ended up setting at least 4 appointments
to meet with people. I don't think I'll ever look at Ward parties the
same way, they are such incredible opportunities for finding new
investigators!

Sunday during Sacrament meeting we sang as the Ward choir. Herm Smith
ended up playing the Piano and Herm Fink directed. Then after church
me and Herm Smith and Sister Green (another missionary in our zone)
headed to Scarsdale for the second performance of the Christmas
devotional. This one was all focused on getting less actives and
investigators come, and we ended up filling the chapel. Some of the
members and recent converts from the Stamford Ward came (Sonia came
too!) and there were a lot of nonmembers there. The spirit was felt.
It's just amazing how much of an impact music can make. Also
afterwards we were cleaning up and greeting various people and I meet
eye contact with a Spanish member I don't know that had come. We then
realized that we knew each other! She had been at Jordan Passey's
wedding reception a few weeks before I left on my mission. I didn't
know any Spanish then, but she told me she was in the Newburgh Ward
and to come find me someday! I even ended up serving in the Newburgh
zone but never crossed paths with her again...but somehow she came to
Scarsdale for a Christmas devotional a few weeks before I return home
and it was just the happiest of moments. We took pictures. And I
barely had words, it was just so special. The Lord's hand really is in
his work!!

We also went tracting this week. Not just any kind of tracting. We had
to knock and ask all our neighbor's if they had baking soda we could
borrow. It was hilarious and so ironic.

Anyway I'm nearly out of time but I'll talk to some of you so soon and
I can't wait to tell you of Christmas miracles next week. It's such a
special time of year. As a mission we finished the Book of Mormon
again this past week and I'm just reminded again and again how much
joy comes in to our lives as we focus on our Savior Jesus Christ.

LOVE YOU ALL & MERRY CHRISTMAS

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart

Good Tidings of Great Joy

Luke 2:10 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Thought I'd begin my email this week with my ponderize scripture! Such a classic Christmas scripture, but I've just been thinking how as missionaries we are also bringing the GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY. Sometimes I just want to shout to the whole world that we have such happy news. That a Savior was born for each one of us!  And that we have His church here again on the earth. As a mission this Christmas during the "A Savior is Born" initiative we have set a goal to get 1000 new investigators - kind of seems like a lot! But as we break it down by companionship it's only 3 new investigators per week (aka our standard of excellence) and it's so doable! We've been seeing so many miracles come from this goal. Last week we found 4 new investigators (3 we ended up passing off to other areas). And already this week on Monday Sister Fink found 3 investigators (she was on a split while me and Sis Smith went to a returning missionaries meeting) - SO AWESOME. There is a special spirit that comes to missionary work during Christmas!  So this week we spent a good amount of our time tracting and finding to reach our goal, but there was also other good things too! One of the new investigators we found was a referral from the Lopez familia (the adorable children from last week's pictures). Her name is Lily and we had our first ever lesson with her on Thursday. She even accepted a baptismal commitment if she comes to know the things we teach to be true. Member referrals are the best! Thursday was also a day of service. We started out by helping with the food pantry here in Stamford. Missionaries have been helping for years. It's connected to an African American church and they are just the greatest. Always something exciting happening, this week we almost had a huge fight break out and nearly ran out of bags. We also got to help one of our Ward members edit an English paper she wrote. Even the simplest service just brightens your day! Saturday was one of those days as a missionary when you realize how weird and crazy New York and Connecticut and missionary work truly is. We started off pretty normal, we went with the Ward to sing Christmas songs and give out little gifts at a nursing home. They were all so happy (and you know me and old people- I love them) needless to say it was a highlight of the day/week. But then later on that day we were trying to coordinate the devotional we're having next Sunday (missionaries are doing a second performance for instigators and members) and had to try and figure out if we could still do it because another Ward was having a musical program - in Spanish. For deaf people & English people....and they aren't really doing church approved hymns either. So that was pretty funny to us and then we walk into the church for the Ward nativity practice and the elders are in the kitchen cutting Hermano Chinchay's hair...while the English Ward party is going on....and then we proceed to practice the nativity which is always just so funny (I'm a shepherd with Sister Fink now) and then as we were leaving the church we had to help jump Hermano Chinchay's car. I know it probably doesn't make quite as much sense to you, but just the entire day was the oddest combination of strange things happening to us. Sunday was a really good day!         First we had a miracle because Marie Carmen (the investigator of like over 8 years) came to church AND THE CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL. The Yorktown stake hosted a Christmas devotional/concert and so we went early to help Hermana Garcia set up refreshments and then we were planning on leaving to go do some finding because we didn't have any investigators show up. But then Marie Carmen came with her good friend (another member) and even helped with refreshments, it was awesome. And the music was really incredible. There is some really incredible talent in this stake.         Carmen Chica also came to part of church this week which is really good. We were able to see her two more times after originally refinding/meeting with her. And then she came to church! So happy.         Before the concert we were on our way to see magnolia....but she canceled while we were in the parking lot. So we decided to go to still go to Henry street (where she lives), just planning on going tracting but then we decided to lookup Lubia AND yet again she was a "magical referral box". Her son and we started off by showing them the Christmas video and then started to talk about the Book of Mormon, he was really smart and stubborn - BUT he was interested in learning more so we set up an appointment for the elders to meet with him! Well that was our week, so crazy to think that Christmas is NEXT WEEK. I hope everyone is getting in the true Christmas spirit and has such a fun happy week! I love you all! Con Amor, Hermana Smart

Trio para Siempre

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

I hope y'all are getting so excited for Christmas and have watched all
the incredible videos on Christmas.mormon.org. Especially the one with
Lindsey Stirling (#NYNYNM), we watched it today at transfer meeting
and wow it was so touching. I just love Christmas and the spirit it
brings. Being a missionary during christmastime is just so magical and
I love it! And the overwhelming invitation to DISCOVER WHY a savior
was born for each one of us. Going along with that invitation my
ponderize scripture for the week is in John 18:37 "Pilate therefore
said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into
the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that
is of the truth heareth my voice."

This week was a busy week for us! We dropped Herm Vicino off at the
mission home this morning, she goes home tomorrow - and the last week
with any missionary tends to be a little crazy. Add in a split and an
incredible MLC....it was a busy week but it was also really good and
happy! OH so transfers. Me and Sister Smith are staying here and we're
getting Sister Fink (since sister smith goes home mid cycle a trio is
needed) Yay for more trios :) I'm really excited (Sister Fink is like
6'3", blonde, and from California.) It's going to be an awesome cycle!

Friday we finally decided to randomly stop in on one of our less
actives, Angela. Who we used to go help clean and different things but
we haven't been able to contact her for weeks. And she was home! We
were able to share the A Savior is Born video which helped her to open
up about a lot and it was just incredible. Christmas really brings
miracles and open hearts!

Saturday we went on split and Sister Dunford came to be with me and
Sister Smith, it was a really good day and we were able to see a lot
of our people which was awesome! We had some pretty fun adventures
showing sister Dunford the spanish program....like accidentally
tracting into Hermano Chinchay (which is the most hilarious but
awesome member/high priest leader....haha oops) Also our Ward made the
decision that the missionaries would be the actors in the nativity for
the Ward party.... So that was hilarious trying to play all the parts
and being directed what to do in Spanish....kind of hard to explain
but just imagine all us gringo missionaries trying to figure out
what's going on in a nativity play. Too good.

We had two miracles with less actives this week that I want to share -
Monday night we had about an hour in between two member appointments
so we went to look up Carmen, someone we've looked up before but
haven't been able to get a hold off. BUT this time she was home and it
was just perfect timing. After showing her the Christmas video we felt
like we needed to talk about the Book of Mormon. So we did, and she
opened up about a lot of doubts she has and how she's come across so
much anti literature. We were able to bear testimony and we're going
to start going over almost everyday to read the Book of Mormon with
her! Also. Tuesday morning we got to go see Crisitina (a recent
convert/less active) she randomly texted us and told us to come over
we were able to talk with her about the 3 basic things that will help
her (read, pray, church) she's struggled with change but we just
testified of working in baby steps. So we're starting with the Book of
Mormon and hopefully we'll help her to start reading every night!
We're seeing so many blessings from focusing on the Book of Mormon -
it just goes hand in hand with the Christmas message and discovering
why our Savior was born!

Well I'm sure more happened this week but mostly just know that we had
an awesome week and I love this area so much. We got to see a lot of
members this week because of Herm Vicino going home and they're all
just so incredible and loving. We even went tracting with a girl in
our Ward preparing to go on a mission and it was so fun! She's so
ready and it will be exciting to hear where she goes. Sunday night we
also went over to Hermana Garcia/our WML's house for dinner and ended
up getting to watch most of the Christmas devotional in Spanish. Such
a special moment. Our Ward mission leader and his wife are just
amazing people. Words can't even express my gratitude to them both!

I hope you all have an awesome week and continue to enjoy this
wonderful christmastimes!

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart

DICEMBRE

Happy December Everyone :) it's still unreal to me that we were able
to start our advents yesterday...but also so happy because Christmas
is my favorite time of year! Especially as a missionary. There is just
a special spirit, magic, in the air and everyone is more open and
receptive. We also have the incredible opportunity to have the church
initiatives. This year's video "A Savior is Born" is so different yet
so powerful. The first time we watched it at the last zone conference
my first thought was that it wasn't super "Christmasy" but then as I
watched it for the second time and have continued to watch it - it is
incredible. The simple message of the Savior's birth coming from the
mouth of children. I love too that even though Jesus Christ has so
many names they focused on Savior. And as you go to
Christmas.mormon.org there is another video talking about what if we
didn't have a Savior? We ALL need the saving grace of our brother
Jesus Christ. Such a special gift we can celebrate every day and
especially during Christmas.

I chose my ponderize scripture for this week to go along with the the
Christmas mood. It's in Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

This week was a pretty normal week of seeing people we usually see,
but as always a few miracles occurred. Also I know I've mentioned it
before but I just love the people here in Stamford so much. Eating
dinner with members like Hermana Arenas or Hermana Garcia just make me
feel so at home and happy. They are just incredible example of
magnifying callings and Christlike love. Also they're incredible
cooks. And we got to help Hermana Garcia with some of her Christmas
decorations which was so so happy. I loved it. Christmas is just the
best.

We also met for the first time with what we call and "Eternigator"
this week. Her name is Marie and she has a lot of member friends and
has been visited by missionaries and been coming to church for the
past 8-10 years but still hasn't been baptized and everything hasn't
really clicked yet. It was and interesting lesson and hopefully we'll
meet with her again and in time she'll be able to come to know the
truthfulness of our message.

Sunday night we had an awesome Noche de Hogar with our Barrio all
about testimonies. It was so good. And after we had some time before
we needed to go home for the night so we went to lookup a less active,
Magnolia, she let us in and told us her sister who isn't a member was
coming over too! So we waited a minute and then were able to teach
both of them. We showed them the new Christmas video and read from El
Libro de Mormon. It was so special, and she seemed sincerely
interested in learning more about her sisters religion so hopefully
they will both be at church this week! Gotta love last minute member
present lessons and new investigators on Sunday night.

Friday night too we were trying to do some lookups and couldn't find
parking, but we got to this one lookup and there was a spot right in
front of house. Perfect! But then they weren't home. So we knocked the
door next to them and Teresa answered! She let us in, we shared last
year's Christmas video and talked about the Book of Mormon. She was so
excited and said she's heard of our church but didn't know anything
and sincerely wanted to read the Book of Mormon. So incredible. I have
such a strong testimony of God's timing.

Also! Do you has remember Stevie and Adelyse in Monticello?? They're
getting baptized on Saturday and even though I won't be there it just
makes me so so so happy. It's such a blessing whenever we get to see
lives change as missionaries, even after we've left areas :)

I hope everyone has the best first week of December, eat a few
chocolates in your advent calendar, and just be happy realizing that
it's CHRISTMAS and a Savior truly was born for each of us.

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart

Grateful.

¡Feliz día de acción de gracias!

Wow. I can't believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving. This week I don't have
much time to write because we had the incredible blessing of going to
see Wicked on Broadway. we are super lucky and blessed to have
cultural experiences in our mission. I am so grateful for the New York
New York North mission :) I truly have been changed for good.

This week I just wanted to express my gratitude for some of the things
in my current area and also some of the miracles we had this week.

I'm grateful that last Wednesday we didn't lose our phone...that as I
left a lookup we were doing I randomly ran over the curb...and that
when we to the church in Stamford and realized we'd lost the phone we
were able to drive back to Norwalk, Praying the whole way there and
avoided all the traffic. We went back to the street we had parked on
and called the phone. By some miracle we heard it ringing and we end
up finding it under a pile of leaves one inch away from a huge jeep
SUV's tire. The same spot that if I hadn't run over the curb I would
have also run over it. Such a miracle we found it and it wasn't
crushed I'm so grateful for small miracles in my life.

I'm so grateful for our recent covert family from Chile that are so
faithful, and their little girl who understands the gospel so deeply.
That they love us, and love the Lord and are so incredible.

I'm so grateful that we were finally able to go back to Waveny this
week. And see all those adorable old people that I love dearly. I'm so
grateful that the window we painted brought them joy during the
holidays (we won cutest window picked by the residents).

I'm so grateful that Friday night we decided to do one last lookup
before going home and we were finally able to meet with a recent
convert, Pia.

I'm grateful that we were able to do service as a Ward this weekend
and wear ridiculous but awesome mormon helping hands vests. I'm also
grateful for the Eagle Scout in another Ward who let us take part in
his service project and deliver food for Thanksgiving to people in our
stake who need it.

I'm incredibly grateful for the priesthood in my life. That we were
able to bring the elders to our lesson with Carmen and they were able
to give her a blessing in preparation for a surgery she's having this
week. She was able to recognize the spirit and her neighbor she'd
invited, Jacqueline, also felt the spirit so strongly. I know they'll
never be able to forget that experience.

I'm grateful for the members in this Ward. That give us snacks after
church, and let us use their bathroom when we've been out doing
lookups all day. And mostly just that they love and trust and adore us
just because we're missionaries. I love them all so much.

I'm so grateful for the split we had on Monday when sister green came
with me and sister Vicino and we were able to see so many split
miracles and have 4 awesome lessons.

I'm grateful for Consuelo and Ryan. That Ryan is starting to really
remember and apply the things that we have taught him.

I'm even grateful for the 3:45 fire alarm that made us exit our
apartment into the cold with the rest of our complex. I'm also
grateful it was just a false alarm and we were able to return to our
warm apartment.

And most of all I'm grateful for each one of you and the huge roles
each of you have played in my life. Each of you have helped me,
comforted me, been examples to me - and I wouldn't be who I am today
without you.

I love you all dearly and hope you have an incredible Thanksgiving and
remember that more than just saying thank you we should be living in
an attitude of gratitude.

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart


PS - my ponderize scripture for this week is D&C 11:12-13. "And now,
verily, verily I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which
leadeth to do good-yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge
righteously; and this is my spirit. "Verily, verily I say unto you, I
will impart unto you of my spirit, which shall enlighten your mind,
which shall fill your soul with joy."

La Obra Misional

Hola todo :)

¿Cómo están? Espero que todo fue increíble este semana para ustedes!
This week was mostly normal and missionary work as usual! But as usual
we did have a few mini miracles that continue to build my testimony
that this is the Lord's work!

First off last Wednesday the other sisters had a baptism....and they
had forgotten towels. They called us just as we were getting out of a
lesson that happened to be two streets away from our house. And we
were on our way to the church for correlation. So the timing was
perfect. The problem was that we only had one spare towel in our
apartment. So we prayed. And when we went to check there were TWO
towels in the closet, such a blessing - small but just another
confirmation that the Lord is watching over His work.

Thursday we were able to meet with a Dominican family that was a
member referral :) I just love the Dominican people so so much! And it
ended up being a really good restoration lesson, Carmen's two boys
were so excited to start reading the Book of Mormon! Friday we had
zone conference which was fantastic as usual and also we had a member
dinner appointment where we had really yummy shrimp.....except we had
to un peel the head and skin off haha. An experience for sure!

Ryan entered the waters of baptism on Saturday and it was so special.
His mom was recently reactivated and even brought another less active.
It was a special day for Ryan! He's a hilarious little 9 year old but
I know there are great things ahead for him!

Yesterday we had a mini split with a Sister Standage, who is serving
in Danbury, while her companion and Hermana Vicino went to a meeting
at the mission home - it was such a fun morning doing lookups and
finding an investigator we haven't gotten to meet in Norwalk yet (she
even accepted a baptism commitment)! We saw so many little blessings -
it's so fun to have a new perspective on an area even just for a short
time :) also yesterday after a meal appointment ALL our plans fell
through....and we tried everyone we could think of... But then we
decided to lookup Myra, who we've tried a few other times this week
but she's never home. BUT miracles happen and she was home. She
apparently has been in Boston for almost a month, but now she's back
and she's prayed and knows the things we've taught so far are true!
And she feels the spirit. We had a really incredible plan of salvation
lesson and it helped to answer a lot of questions she had. It was such
a tender mercy after having al. our plans fall through. Heavenly
Father is so aware of his children and where we as missionaries need
to be to help others!

One thing I've gained a testimony of over and over again is the power
of learning and growing "little by little" it is a principle of the
gospel that we can learn so much from. This week I chose 2 Nephi 28:30
as my ponderize scripture : "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I
will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon
precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who
hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they
shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and
from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken
away even that which they have."

I hope everyone has an incredible week! I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart