I'm going on a MISSION!!!!
As you all know I will be serving for the next 18 months in the Arizona Mesa Mission. My mission not only includes proselyting but also the Arizona Temple Visitor's Center. The best part is I get to learn Spanish! I'm so excited for the experiences I will have over these next 18 months. I would love to hear from everyone...seriously! I will write back those who write me so keep those letters coming, I know I am going to need them! Missionary work is tough. Once I leave on June 4th I will most likely not be able to keep up on the blog so I am putting my mom and sister in charge of that. They will post pictures and hopefully any emails I send. So keep updated on my crazy life these next 18 months. I'm so excited to get out and teach the gospel, it is going to be amazing! Thanks to everyone who has influenced my decision to go or who have supported me in my decision. You guys are awesome. I love you all!
Brit
Hola!!!
well i survived another week in mesa...its actually not even really hot yet, even though it was 102 degrees yesterday....CRAZY!! today it actually looks like it will rain...i sure hope so. During the summer months we have monsoon season so when it rains it really really rain and theres tons of wind. Its not so good for bikes...so thankfully i have a car. We havent had any monsoons yet but im looking forward to them.
Nothing too too exciting happened this week. We are just really trying to find people who will keep commitments and prepare for baptism. There is a problem in this area i think because ive been here 6 months and really no change. I guess the Lord is preparing some really good people and this area is just going to explode. We are hanging in and working hard because the Lord will bless us as we do our part.
We are still teaching cesear...he's great!!! he is so prepared and i really feel like he'll be baptized. We met his wife yesterday...she's jehovah's witness...and suprisingly she was really really nice. He's gonna be the example and his whole family will be baptized...wouldnt that be great! We've had to drop a few people this week...that's what happens when people lie to you. But i know we will find new investigators that are ready to act.
We had an interesting experience yesterday. We went to knock a door and this little old lady answered the door. I thought she was a member but i soon found out she was not. She started telling us things like “joseph smith wasnt anything like Jesus Christ” and “the book of mormon was written by a man.” in fact she told me to throw my Book of Mormon in the trash. I couldn't believe that she would say such a hurtful thing to me. But i know that its true and thats why i do what i do everyday. She will never have the opportunity to enjoy the blessings i have if she never tries it. I felt sad for her and for the others who reject this message but im not here to force people im here to invite and if they dont except i cant do anymore.
We taught ivan the jehovah's witness the other day. It was funny he came out in his shirt and tie with his little book to teach us a lesson. What he didnt know is we arent here to be taught but to teach. It was interesting. Sis avelino said you could see it on my face that i was frusterated....he wasnt listening to what we were saying. But again we cant force anyone to believe what we teach. Sis avelino wants to go back...me i would rather not waste our time. We will see what happens.
Francisco blessed the sacrament for the first time on sunday...that is so incredible to see!! that is what makes it worth it. Well i hope you are all doing well.
Remember i love you! Share what you know with those around you...you never know who is ready. Have a great week.
Hermana brittany smith
Hola!!
well another week down...can you believe it? This week went really really fast and i am so exhausted! Its always a good feeling when you get home at night and can barely hold your eyes open to plan. Seriously...its been like that all week. I think it has to do with the fact im back at the VC and since there is so much time to just sit instead of running around all day. Well we did find any new families this week and we are still working with our family of 7...i hope it all works out. We both know that Heavenly Father guided us to them for a reason. We think if we can win the father over the family will follow his lead...because they are catholics and actually go to church. That is really really rare. The little girls love us though and everytime we come over they want to show us tricks and talk to us and show us their baby brother. They are precious! We found a really neat man this week named cesar. He is from puerto rico so of course i like him already. His wife is jehova's witness...that is a little hurdle but he doesnt like the church so its all good. He really wants to know what is true and once he does he will be so strong in the church. This week our little guatamalan investigator came to church. She is so cute...kinda like a little child. She cant read at all because she never went to school before but she is a sweetheart. Francisco went over and picked her up from her house for church...he is such a good guy. Tonight he will pass by tonight for her because we are having a branch FHE watching the Joseph Smith movie. It should be really good. I decided that my recent converts francisco and jenny should get married....that would be a great story to tell. We had an interesting street contact last night. We talked to this christian lady...she obviously didnt like us at all. She asked “why do mormons drink and smoke and swear? You don't see christians doing that.” i almost lost it on her but i kept my cool and explained that we have a commandment called the word of wisdom and that some people just choose not to follow the commandments. She didnt really listen to what we had to say and its just sad. People like that will never know the happiness we enjoy or the blessings they can receive through the gospel of Jesus Christ. But i will just keep sharing with people because i know it is true and there are those who will except. On sunday the talks were about temples. I just love the temple! If i could be anywhere in the world it would be in the temple. It is just so important that we are worthy to enter the house of the Lord. Go to the temple and enjoy the spirit that is there. I know it will help us in our lives and give us physical and spiritual protecion.
Well i love you all so much! Have a great week.
Hna brittany smith
kimmie- i just want to congratulate you on the wedding this week...i so wish i could be there for your big day. Kimmie you have no idea how excited i am for you!!! you get to go to the temple this week. It seriously was the most amazing experience of my life to enter the celestial room and see many loved ones waiting for me. Enjoy every single second of not only your wedding but your endowment. Its beautiful!! the Lord has so many blessings for us...dont worry you wont remember hardly anything that was said but you will remember your feelings. I love you kimmie. Your in my thoughts this week and always. Tell kevin to take care of my bestie or else. Again i love you and have an incredible week...send me pictures soon. Muah! Britt-any
Hola mi familia y mis amigos!!!
wow this has been the longest/shortest week of my life. I know that makes no sense but thats how i feel. I am so blessed to have an amazing companion, sister avelino. She is so hilarious and a really really good teacher. It kind of intimidates me a little but im learning so much. We are already on week 2 of the transfer and i know it will just fly. She leaves just a transfer before me so we are very close in mission age. The work is going well in our area. The other day we went running and found a #7 magnet so we decided we would find a family of 7 people. Let's keep in mind ive never baptized a family and either has sister avelino. We we've been praying for this family to find them and seriously this is what happened the next day. We were in an apartment complex contacting people and saw 3 little girls in the window so where there is children there are parents right. Well we knocked the door and there was juan who has 4 daughters and 1 son with his wife...that's right God answers prayers we found a FAMILY OF 7 PEOPLE!!!! only 2 can be baptized but its a complete family. It may take a little bit but this family will be baptized and im so excited!!! this week we are looking for a family of 5...the Lord is going to work miracles in this area with lots of hard work. This week ive gotten home and just been so exhausted and then i wake up the next morning and im still tired. Its a good feeling to know ive worked hard even though my body is tired my spirit is strong. Francisco our recent convert came out with us last night to teach. He did incredible!!! we went to the appointment we had and the man started making up excuses. Well francisco bore his testimony and it was incredible!!! the man's whole appearance changed. I know he felt the spirit testifying of the things francisco was saying. He received the priesthood on sunday...i couldnt be happier. He's like luis's twin...such good men so if any of you are looking for a husband i have 2 guys that are single the only thing is you will have to learn spanish:) haha. Well that is basically my week...the mission is an incredible experience and i wouldnt change my life for the world right now. I know time is flying but im working hard and the Lord has richly blessed me.
I love you all...take care...trust the Lord.
Hermana brittany smith
Here are some recent photos that Brittany has sent home.... I know that what she is doing is HARD WORK however, some of these photos look like they are having a bit of fun and being SPOILED along the way.... :0) However, there are great rewards in serving a mission and quite a few "MIRACLES" along the way as Hermana Smith says!!!
Francisco Arus, Hermana Smith (L) & Hermana Bingham on Franciscos baptism day!
"Sometimes you have to beat people up to ge them into the font.... whatever it takes."
I bet you didn't know I tried out for "so you think you can dance?" this year.... unfortunately I was declined due to the fact I couldn't be transfered to L.A....
"I bet you didn't know I had super hero powers such as flying!"
I went on a training with Hermanas Colon & Parkus for my Birthday and look what they gave me..... a bed made from couch cushions, my pillow and a bag of dirty laundry... :0)
These are called Pupusas.... they are from El Salvador and YUMMY!
"What meanth the iron rod..? It was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish, neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindenss, to lead them away to destruction." 1 Nephi 15:23-24
This is Hattie.... She is such a cutie! I wish you could see her 2 missing teeth!
Sister Valentino likes to make cake for us .... it's GOOD!
Sister Valentino didn't want us sleeping in HOT clothes so she bought us all pj's.... (Hermana Smith and Bingham live in an apartment at the Valentino's home!!!) They are truly spoiled there.
I have conquered the WORLD! ......
"Lovest thou me..... Feed my sheep." John 21:17
One day we all must die on the mission.... But I'm still kicking! 6 months to work soooo hard!
"And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men." D&C 24:12
Irrigation football.... the closest thing to swimming I could get. It was dirty and I'm pretty sure we ruined their lawn!!!
L-R Hermana Smith, Sister Smith (English speaking) Sister Beazer, Sister Tomoser and Sister Bird - Irrigation Football..... Looks like alot of FUN!!
irrigation football...it got drity but so FUN!!!
(Brittany (aka Hermana Smith) is second from the left)
Hola!!!
well can you believe it tomorrow starts transfer #8...im sure you're all dying to know what is happening with me. Well i will be staying in my area...thank goodness...and receiving sister avelino. That's right another latino:) im so excited because i will have to speak more spanish. She's from dominican republic. For any of you whose ever talked to a dominican in spanish well you know its a little different from mexican spanish and really similar to puerto rican spanish. It will be a good transfer. She is a really hard worker and will help me to get back into gear after “killing” a sister. If you dont know when you are the last comp of a missionary its called killing them. No violence involved just a little bit of chocolate and tears.
This week has been ok. We didnt teach nearly as much as we should've but we did have a BAPTISM!!! they make me so happy. On saturday francisco was baptized into the only true church on the Earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There were a few bumps along the way but we got there just fine. The branch presidency is already planning on giving him the priesthood next sunday and a calling ASAP. I think they're really excited because he is the first baptism of the branch.
So this is my 4th transfer here and that makes it 6 months here. Im actually quite content to stay. Im determined to have a transfer of miracles. Pretty much every transfer has its miracles but this one will be extra special.
On thursday june 4th i will be celebrating 1-year as a missionary. It is soooooo hard to believe that its been that long. It feels like yesterday i was saying goodbye at the MTC. That means i better work extra hard...this time is so precious and i dont want any regrets. Today is a little sad for me because my comp sister colon will be heading back to puerto rico...i can hardly believe it!!! i dont know what i will do without her laughs and crazy spanish. But the work goes on and i will survive as always.
I forgot to mention i will be back in the VC and Elder Burke couldnt be happier. I talked to him yesterday and the first thing he said was we get you back. I do miss my little VC family but it is nice to have the freedom of doing missionary work all day everyday....i want to be 2 places at once. Anyways...we are still searching for new investigators and its coming slowly but surely.
We talked on sunday which is a little terrifying due to the fact i had to speak in SPANISH...but i did alright. We talked about missionary work so we are hoping little by little the branch will get the fire going and we will just have so much success.
I hope this email finds you well...until next week.
I love you all!
Hna brittany smith
