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