week 62

You can only Give, what you already Have

Week 62—Sept. 25, 2016

If I want to share my testimony, if I want to teach someone what I know is true, I have to believe it myself.  President Buhrer always says, you learn and understand first.  You read the Book of Mormon and you find answers to your questions.  You understand why we have and keep the commandments and then you share it with others.  Others will believe and feel the spirit if you do first!

This week we had a BAPTISM!!! WOOT WOOT!! Gisliani was baptized!!  A tender mercy from our Father in Heaven this week, because we haven’t been out of our house all week because of Sister´s health.  When the Elder´s asked Gisliani who she wanted to baptize her, she said, “Well, I want Sister Smith to baptize me, but John the Baptist was a man, so that´s not going to work.”  I literally busted out laughing, everyone did!  I love her so much!  We have been teaching her for a month now and she has been looooving everything.  She has just been scared to be baptized because she doesn’t want to mess up after.  We explained that, unfortunately, no one is perfect after baptism. We all sin, make mistakes and do dumb things after we are baptized. We are all human.  If God expected everyone to be perfect after baptism, there´d only be one person ever baptized, and thus entering into his kingdom...Jesus Christ.  That’s why we have the atonement, so we have the opportunity to repent and become better after baptism.  Luckily, we also have something that helps keep us on the straight and narrow path, the Holy Ghost.  He teaches us, testifies, warns, and comforts us.  He makes us stronger.  After explaining this, she was still unsure.  Then I said look, pray about it and ask God if you should be baptized this Saturday.  I called a couple days later and she said, mark my baptism for this Saturday...AHHHH!!  Sister Gonzalez and I were so happy!!  It was such a special baptism, Gislaine was so nervous, she was so cute! haha (:

A miracle happened this week that I HAVE to share.  So as some of you know my companion has been having some health problems and it isn’t looking too good.  It´s been really difficult for me.  I’ve been worried about her, praying for her and talking with Pres. Buhrer.  So this week I didn’t sleep for 3 nights in a row!  That has NEVER happened on my mission.  I usually sleep like a rock out here because we work, walk, talk, and sweat all day everyday in the sun.  I get home at night and die on my bed, its awesome.  But I couldn’t sleep again and I was going on splits the next day and the whole night I wasn’t able to sleep.  I felt sick and couldn’t stop thinking about Sister Gonzales.  I was walking around the house most of the night, it was awful.  The poor Sister I was going on splits with was probably so annoyed because I kept waking her up.  

Anyway, we start our day and I told the Sister I was on splits with that I couldn’t sleep and I was worried about stuff.  She prayed for me throughout the day.  When we said our prayers together that night, we prayed I would sleep good, and not worry, and that everything would work out with my companion.  

You guys...that night I was so worried to sleep because I thought it would be another night of tossing and turning.  I said my prayers and got into bed and I am not lying or exaggerating, but my whole body felt this warmth come over it and this sleepiness...I can’t explain it to you all.  It was not the normal feeling I have had when I’m tired and trying to sleep.  I knew it was God.  I was lying there and my mind started drifting off and I was like, what is this?  This is the best feeling!  I was trying to toss and turn and worry, but this calmness came over my body.  It was like the feeling said, nope, you´re going to sleep.  Then I remembered that Sister had prayed for me and I knew, I KNEW that God heard her prayers.  Heavenly Father answered her prayers and my prayers, and I slept so good that night!  The nights after I never felt that same warmth and comfort come over my body like the first night, but I’ve been able to sleep and be at peace again.  I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  He loves us.  He is aware of our worries, our struggles and our needs.  He is willing to help us if we are willing to pray with faith and ask him.  Miracles happen, God lives and he is so real.  I know He is, and this experience was just another testimony to me, that He is REAL and he is so aware of us.  I love him and I’m so grateful for him.  He is my Father and my hero!! 

I hope you all have an awesome week!!  Thanks for all your support and prayers!!  I’M SO EXCITED FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!

- Sister Smith

p.s. President Buhrer just called, my companion is going home right now.  We will eat lunch with Pres. and then she will go home today. 

Gislianis Baptism!

 Gisliani is 25 years old, but she looks 17!

Treats after the baptism!

I love this member, she is the greatest!!!

Me and my companion!  I adore her! 

Week 61

Charity & Love

Week 61—Sept. 19, 2016

This week was a week full of hospitals, staying in our home, and reading the Book of Mormon, a lot.  We have a rule that we have to read the BOM for 30 minutes everyday.  I am reading it for the 2nd time on my mission in Portuguese and loooove this book.  You guys it’s so true.  Just read it, you´ll love it!  Okay, so my sweet companion isn’t doing too good and we´ll have to see what the future holds for her.  I know that everything is part of Gods plan and he´s in charge and so I’m trusting in him. 

This week I had an opportunity to talk to my zone about Charity and love.  I was studying a lot about it and I wanted to share a few things I shared. 

When me and my siblings were little, my mom gave us chores to do around the house to help out.  Sometimes I did them and other times I “forgot.”  Lots of times, I did them with a bad attitude or being super annoyed.  Then when we got a little older my mom decided to pay us some allowance for the chores we did around the house.  Then that stopped and she said, “look, if you love me you´ll do what I say and help around the house, if you obey me, that´s how I know you truly love me.”  As I got older, I saw how busy my moms’ life was and how messy our house was.  I decided I would help her when she asked.  As I got older I started cleaning when she didn’t ask and whenever she walked in the house and the house was clean she´d get so happy and say “Wow, you love me!” 

This can be compared to our Heavenly Father and his commandments.  We can keep the commandments just because its a commandment, or because we want to receive blessings.  Or we can keep the commandments because we love God and know he knows what is best for us and we will do whatever he asks.  That is true love and charity, when we serve him and obey him because we truly love and trust him.  

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Moroni 7:45 & 47 talk about what Charity is, and I’ll give you a quick summary.

- long suffering, kind, doesn’t envy, isn’t prideful, isn’t easily offended, doesn’t think/talk bad about anyone, knows the truth, believes, hopes, and endures all things, etc...

Who is the perfect example of charity?  Jesus Christ.  His entire life was spent serving others, working miracles, teaching, comforting, and loving.  It was never about him.  It was about doing the will of His Father.  Not one moment was it about him and when it was, when someone thanked him or praised him, he always turned it over and gave the glory to Heavenly Father.  He didn’t have a life like you and I have.  Our lives are all about us, what will I study, what will I do better, who will I marry; his life was never about him.  His life was selfless.  When he asked the apostles to stay with him while he suffered in the garden, they slept and he was alone.  He could have reacted all annoyed, angry, yelling why can’t you wait with me for 5 minutes, I’m your Savior?  No, instead he reacted with love, patience, and he forgave them.  When he was on the cross what did he say, forgive them for they know not what they do.  

“When we choose to react annoyed, hold a grudge, shout, get ticked off by a situation, what we are really saying is, I don’t want to be like the Savior today, maybe tomorrow when I can maybe forgive this person.  We need to pray and ask God to not just change our behavior, but our nature.” - Sheri Dew

We need to pray to react like the Savior would, with love and charity.  Ask him to change you, to mold you, then when a situation comes try to remember him.  My whole mission I have been trying to do this and ask God to help me be more humble, teachable, patient.  I wont say that I am perfect, I still have a long way to go, but I am progressing and that is what matters.  That´s why we are here, to progress and to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. 

I love him and I know he lives!  This week pray and ask God to help you become a little better.  He´ll put an opportunity in your way.  React like the Savior would!!

Te amo

Sister Smith

Every P-day I eat this, acai, condenced milk, and bananas...its the best thing.  

 Thank you Aunt Crystal & Claire 

for all your adorable kind letters! 

Love and miss you guys!! 

 Thank you Coral, Greg and Brynn for the awesome letters they made me super happy!!

I decorated my companions planner all cute

  I tried to fix my watch then the other side broke...looks like ill have to buy a new one!! 

Week 60

One Direction & In-N-Out

Week 60—September 12, 2016

I forgot a funny story that happened two weeks ago at Pizza Hut with all the trainers and the new missionaries.  We were all eating pizza and talking and this new Elder says “Hey Sister Smith, do you like One Direction?”  Our mission President was sitting right in front of him when he asked me and I just looked at him and hesitated to respond.  Then President Bührer says, “That´s not a missionary type of question.” Then the elder says “Oh...I mean Do you like Preach my Gospel?”  Then President puts his had on my shoulder and says “the One Direction you´re going in is to read Preach My Gospel.”  I literally busted out laughing; I thought it was the funniest thing ever!!  President is just a crack up and super clever!!  So when we were driving in his car to Pizza Hut we were talking about restaurants he visited when he was in Utah.  President was in Utah because he had a meeting with the apostles and all the new Mission Presidents.  He ate at a lot of restaurants in Utah.  I said which was his favorite, and he said In-N-Out.  I’m like, animal style?  And he´s like “well yeahhh??”  I responded back, “the fry’s animal style too?”  “Yeah,” he said.  Then I predicted, “we´re going to be great friends!”  (Dad, I found you a new best buddy to go to In-N-Out with! Haha)  Then we get talking about all the places he visited in Utah and he said Arches National Park and Zion’s.  I told him how I grew up going to Arches every year with my family, we loooove it there!!  When we got to the restaurant he showed me all his videos and pictures of Arches.  It was awesome!!  I want to go there now!!(: 

President and his family came to our church yesterday, and I was so happy.  He gave a talk and holy cow everyone in the congregation was laughing the entire time.  He is just so animated and funny.  One minute your laughing and the other you are crying. I feel honored to have him as my president.  I’m seriously so blessed. 

Love you all!

-Sister Smith

 Hands that help!

We handed these out one morning this week!! It was fun!! 

PRESIDENT AND SISTER BÜHRER...

my 2nd parents!!

Look who visited us my daughter and my other companion Sister Vital and Mendez!! 

 I love Sister Gonzalez! 

 NEW garments = Happy Sister Smith 

Week 59

Coming Full Circle

Week 59--September 5, 2016

What a wonderful week it has been my friends and family!  I love you alll soooo much!  Thank you for all your letters and emails, I love to hear from you guys!!  You all are my rocks and are such good examples to me!  I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!  I am sad to say that my President at the MTC in São Paulo died this week.  President Swenson!  I was literally in shock when I heard!  He was such an amazing and inspirational person!  I’m grateful I got to have him and learn a lot from him in the MTC.  He´s going straight to the Celestial Kingdom, that´s for sure!! 

We had transfers and Sister Ramona said, your going to train.  I was like, I don’t think so, I’ve already trained and it´d be hard because of my calling as Sister Training Leader.  They announced transfers in our zone meeting and they said I’d be staying in Novo Mundo and I’d be training!!!  WOOT! WOOT!  I was shocked but excited!!  I’m going to be a mom again!!  Being a mom is fun, but it’s tons of responsibility!!  My companions name is Sister Gonzalez and she is from Guatemala, (I asked her if Elder Josh Smith baptized her, but she said Elder Brown did.)  She speaks more Spanish than Portuguese right now but is a whole lot better than me when I got to Brazil.  She can speak pretty good because Spanish is similar to Portuguese but she doesn’t understand what people say.  I have had to be super patient and it reminds me of my trainer Sister Amaral.  I´ve remembered all the times when Sister Amaral was patient and taught me and trained me.  I’m trying to do the same with Sister Gonzalez.  She is super shy and calm but has a testimony that glows so bright.  She is so delicate with the things she does, its super cute.  It’s funny because I’m at the exact same spot my trainer was when she was ending her mission.  She was Sister Training Leader and training her first American companion that doesn’t know Portuguese.   It’s helped me remember how much I’ve grown out here and all the things I’ve learned.  Every companion, area, and investigator has helped me and taught me something different.  I’m excited for Sister Gonzalez to start it all too! 

Yesterday was one of the most special Sundays in my mission.  It was Fast Sunday and I being like my mother (Amaral) said to Sister Gonzalez, we are going to bare our testimonies because we are missionaries and we have to.  She was like super scared and nervous and when she got up there she bore the most beautiful humble testimony and was so happy I made her do it after.  I told her that every fast and testimony meeting in the mission she has to bare her testimony because it will help her have more confidence and will strengthen her and other people.  Then when I bore my testimony, I said in D&C 62 it says that every time we share our testimonies we receive forgiveness of our sins....10 seconds after I said that 3 people stood up and walked to the pulpit it was so cool!  Then in one of the members testimonies he said after Sister Smith said that I knew I needed to get up here....it was such a neat experience!!  At church Joana was there and she will be getting baptized on the 17, they announced it in Relief Society and everything...its official!  I’m so excited for her!!  She is the one that had the dream about the fruit!! 

I love you all!  It was a special week!!  Hope you all have an awesome week!  Keep being examples and missionaries to everyone around you!!

-Sister Jessie Smith

Quotes of the week...

“You can have what you want, or something better.”- Elder Holland

“The next time you will grow after your mission, is when you get married.”- Idk

Pictures 1&2:  My new companion Sister Gonzalez

Picture 3:  I love visiting new cities!

Going on splits is fun!  I love visiting other cities!

Look! Sister Ketlin my other daughter (Filha)  

Bye Sisters! Good luck at home!

Yum.....Pizza Hut pizza!!

The trainers eating Pizza Hut with the new-b´s!!!

Sister Gonzalez!!  My new filha!!  She is from Guatemala!!

The mission office....I waited 3 hours to get my new companion because they took a lot of time at the presidents house with testimonies and dinner and stuff. haha

Sister Kendell was in my zone...I forgot to tell you (: it was fun being close to her!

 Our last meeting as a district before transfers!! 

 Our neighbors invited us to lunch last p-day for Pedros birthday!! 

Woot woot! Lots of yummy food!