Un ano

¡HOLA!

How are y'all?? I hope everyone had another fantastic week. Seems kind
of crazy that it's already pday again, felt like I was just emailing,
time flies. Speaking of time - tomorrow marks exactly a year since I
left on my mission and entered el CCM en Mexico. Wow. So so so crazy.
Where does time go?! I've learned so much already this year, and truly
have been changed for the better. There definitely aren't even words
to explain it all. But I'm so grateful for all the time I've had to be
a missionary so far - and I can't wait to see where the next 6 months
take me! Sis Smoot hit her 18 month make today so we're going to burn
some stuff at the Murphy's this week to celebrate, and we bought
martinelli's to toast. So it should be a good celebration together! So
many milestones.

 So this week was a little crazy, but good! We had a little bit of car

issues to deal with...when we parked in the Bronx a few weeks ago
someone had tried to break in and cracked our windshield so we finally
got it replaced this Monday and then Tiwi (monitors our driving) fell
off the window yesterday...haha so we have to drive clear to Scarsdale
tomorrow to fix it so that should be fun, but adds to a but more of a
crazy week. And Thursday Sis Smoot had the "dying missionaries" temple
trip with the Smith's so I went on a split with Sis Hubbard in
Middletown since her companion is going home too. We had a pretty good
day, and even spent a few hours helping this family move AND they were
from Honduras so I got to speak some Spanish....even though they know
English perfectly...but it was fun. We were definitely a little sore
after but it was worth it. Service is one of the best parts of
missionary work!

On Friday we got to go back to the mobile home park and tract. The
elders came and helped for a while (kind of like a district APF) and
we got to give a BOM to the cute old couple we found the first time,
the Wilson's. BUT then the last door we knocked on the lady was
pulling up in her car and got really mad at us and told us there was
no soliciting and followed us to our car. It was kind of crazy. I
guess there's opposition in all things!

Saturday was going to be another big service day. So we saw a few
people in the morning (Sis Carol even gave us her George Foreman grill
when we went to see her, gotta love the awesome things people give
missionaries haha) and then we went to help out Sis Gaughan. We ended
up moving a small fridge down some stairs and dusting books, nothing
too big. And then we were going to help Larry paint his deck. But when
we got there I guess it has rained (typical Monticello) so we have to
wait for a dry day! But it still ended up being a good day.

We usually have Branch council about once a month so Sunday we go to
the church early to be on time....and no one is there so we wait, and
wait.....and then come to find out branch council is AFTER church
oops! But hey being an hour early to church just helps us to greet
every single person that comes right? Haha. We have our fair share of
"blonde moments" as a companionship even though neither of us have
blonde hair.

Tender Mercy of the week was Sunday night after we had dinner at the
Hsieh's we decided to walk over and lookup Barbara. It was like 8:00
so we didn't have a ton of time. But she was there and let us in. It
was a definite answer to prayers. The spirit was so strong and we were
able to ask the right questions and really find out her concerns. It
was probably one of the most spiritual lessons I've had in Monticello.
We were able to re-establish expectations and it was just good to know
that she wasn't completely lost. It was mostly that she needs more
consistency and was just thrown off by a few things...So that was
really good! She couldn't meet Monday, but we should go see her this
weekend! So hopefully we're able to pick back up teaching her again.
And we saw her when we went to help at the Food Pantry this week too
so that was good! The Food Pantry was a little crazy.....but we got to
walk her through for her food and had a chance to talk to her a
little. So that's good.

Monday night we had a really fun garden work night (I'm attaching a
few pictures) everything is starting to be ready to harvest. I even
got a few raspberries! AND Bro VanValkenburg killed a rock
chuck(groundhog) and skinned it which was kind of interesting....Not
everyday that you see that! Hahaha. (Definitely not in the city
anymore)

Well to spare this email from being too long for anyone to finish
reading I'll wrap it up! But this week really was good. We had a
really good teaching week and especially with some of our less
actives. I really am so grateful to be serving here in Monticello. The
Lord really does know us and as we are in righteous places and doing
our part, everything works out for our good. I'm learning and growing
so much and I love this crazy place, and I'm excited for what's in
store for the work here!

Well I love you all and hope you have to fantastic weeks!! Haz Lo Justo :-)

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart