Service in Seattle: Week 6 - Sasquatch Searches = Teaching Opportunities

Hi friends!

Another busy week has come and gone! I have a lot to share but first, let me explain the title. So we've been visiting this less active member at the rehab center and he writes books about Bigfoot. Every time we visit him, he tells us about how he has spoken with "the forest people" and he's apart of this awareness group. We've met many of his friends that come to visit and they all shared their own personal experiences with sasquatches. Sister Morris and I were convinced and we wanted to see one for ourselves. So we've been hiking Mount Peak every morning for exercise time and still no luck....with seeing a sasquatch. We do get lucky with meeting lots of people coming up and down the mountain though. They always ask about our tags and we tell them we are missionaries. They ask us more questions and we get to teach a little. So there you have it: when you search for a sasquatch in the woods, you find new people to teach instead.

God is continuing to bless us with little miracles this week. We were out tracting and knocked on this house at the end of the street. No one was answering and just as we get ready to leave, a car pulls into the driveway. A woman gets out and we talk to her for a bit. We introduce the Book of Mormon and she says she's had a desire to start reading it this week. She was actually hoping missionaries would stop by and give her one! We were in shock. Sister Morris quickly writes our phone number on the first page and we give her the Book of Mormon. It was such a cool experience.

In district council, we talked about increasing the number of people coming to church. We decided to host a giant church tour so everyone could see what we're about. We made fliers and invited EVERYONE. We set up stations with TVs and taught the Restoration as we walked through the church. Mostly less active members and recent converts came. It was cool to see them being taught the Restoration again and to see their testimonies grow. We are definitely hosting another church tour next month so hopefully we can get our investigators there.

I LOVE being a missionary. End of story. Sister Morris and I are constantly amazed at how lucky we are to find so many people to teach. I have no doubt in my heart that this is where I need to be. Heavenly Father truly blesses us each day, we just have to take a minute and look. I have started a gratitude journal and it's made all the difference.

Also...on another note, Sister Morris and I are trying to see how many puzzles we can complete before the transfer ends so send us puzzles if you want haha. Our new favorite thing now is to roll down all the windows and turn up the music (we have already started listening to Christmas music). I just can't get over how lucky I am to live here.

I think about you guys all the time! Remember that happiness is a choice and it's the best choice you can make. This life is so short so make the most of it! If you are wanting to feel inspired, watch the "Because of Him" video (can probably find it on YouTube). It is my new favorite video EVER.

-sister smith