Week 76 - My Savior Has Changed Me

Woah, it's my last week ever as a missionary and it's so surreal! I feel like I will still be a full-time missionary forever and I'm never leaving Federal Way. I just want to say that it has been the best experience I have ever had. I have met a few return missionaries who have gone astray. They may not agree with the teachings of Christ's church, but they never say they regret their missions. Why? Because missionaries have the opportunity to witness God's hands working in the most up close and personal way. We literally see the gospel of Jesus Christ bring light to souls who were wandering in the darkness for years. It's amazing and exhausting at the same time. 

I was blessed this week with two new companions: Sister Bowles and Sister Ray. Both are incredible missionaries and are sent to this area for a reason. I feel completely confident in leaving the ward and our friends in their capable hands. Sister Bowles was playing violin in the missionary program for the Bellevue Nativity (the biggest Christmas event of the year here). Members bring nativities from around the world and put them on a huge display. There is live music and other rooms to explore with different activities like the movie room and photo booth. Since I'm in the south half of the mission, we weren't allowed to go this year. However, since Sister Bowles had already agreed to perform, we got to all go and it was beautiful!! I had been to the nativity in Maple Valley, but never the one in Bellevue. Sister Ray and I sang in the missionary choir and I saw many members and friends from when I served in the Bellevue area this summer. It was such a tender mercy!

Yesterday we watched the Christmas devotional with our friend Lizzie at her home. We were running late and I was worried she would forget we were coming over. When we arrived, she was already waiting for us with the Christmas devotional playing on her TV. She had put the LDS media app on her TV and had found the Christmas devotional by herself! She made us cookies as we enjoyed the devotional with her. Christmas is a hard time of the year for her because she experienced a great loss at this time. As the speakers addressed this concern, I looked over and saw her wipes tears from her face. I knew she felt the Spirit and this was an answer to her prayers. It filled my heart with joy and I know she will be a solid member of the Church one day. 

I have loved being a missionary and I wish it could be full-time like this everyday, but there are other things God has in store for me. I have received countless confirmations from the Spirit this week as I pondered about whether I had done enough. The Spirit told me in my heart and mind that this was exactly how it was supposed to happen and Heavenly Father was proud of my efforts. More tears rolled down my cheeks as I felt the Savior's love for me in such a powerful and unique way. I'm thankful for modern revelation and for the Book of Mormon. It keeps me going and fuels my Spirit each day. 

Alma 5:14  
"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren [and sisters] of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

There is a mighty change in my heart and I have received his image in my countenance. We may never understand the experiences we are put through at the moment, but we can always trust a loving Savior to help us overcome our lowest points. It's not until we reach the peak that we see the plan God has laid before us. I have been torn apart by the whirlwinds of life and 


glued back together by Christ's Atonement. Only through Him will we ever reach the top of our mountains. He is truly the light of the world and the only way to eternal life. His gospel brings enduring joy and provides protection. I'm still not a perfect missionary, nor could I ever be. But I'm thankful for Jesus Christ who invested his time in me. He has changed me and I will continue to help Him change others. I love this work and I have loved my mission!

Until we meet again,
sister smith :) 

Week 75 - 3 Thanksgivings, 2 Dozen Sugar Cookies, and 1 Companion Leaving

Wow here comes the final stretch! Sister Cowley reunited with her family yesterday and I'm so happy for her! We had a crazy final week together and I loved every moment of it. ❤

We had a mini zone conference with just our zone on Tuesday. Everyone gave a training on one aspect of missionary work and the departing missionaries shared their testimonies at the end. The Federal Way zone has been by far my favorite. It doesn't matter if missionaries come or go, we always seem to love each other so easily on the first day. This next transfer will be different though. Half of the missionaries in the zone are leaving. It will be soooooo different! 

Thursday was NUTS! We had a sports day with half of the mission. We played ultimate frisbee outside and my fingers were like icicles after! It was freezing! We made banana muffins for some members in the ward and heart attacked their doors after. Then we headed to our 1st Thanksgiving with our ward mission leader and his family. We ate a ton and that was a mistake...

The Bolli family in our ward invited Amuji over for Thanksgiving and wanted us to come share a message after. They just put the food out when we got there and we felt awkward not eating. We were so full so we only ate potatoes and stuffing. Then we stopped by a part member family afterwards. They are from the Congo and their family is so cute! They also put the food out when we got there. Sister Cowley and I looked at each other like "oh no." Jean Paul (the member) said "Sisters, please take a plate. Why aren't you eating?" We both took the tiniest piece of turkey and ate it as slow as possible. Haha. We wanted to both throw up after because we were so full!

On Saturday we took the departing temple trip. All of the missionaries leaving within this month go and we eat at the temple cafeteria after. The temple was such an amazing experience and I remember feeling so much peace about the mission I have served here. God has blessed me immensely this year. That night we had a member dinner and they let us frost sugar cookies after. They gave us over 2 dozen cookies to take home to give to people! So kind of them to do that for us 😊

Sunday was Sister Cowley's last day in the field so it was pretty rough. Lots of tears and goodbyes. We both shared our testimonies in church and spent the day saying goodbye to members and people we are teaching. It was odd for me because I'm not leaving quite yet and I'll have to say goodbye all over again in 2 weeks. Like I said, it was a rough day. We went to the mission home for dinner and the departing devotional. Then the other sisters from our zone came to pick me up while Sister Cowley stayed overnight in the mission home. I've been in a trio with the other sisters since then and I'll get two new companions today! So many changes happening! 

Well that was my crazy week! Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. If you have not already, go watch the new nativity video on comeuntochrist.org. It is POWERFUL! 

love,
sister smith 

cute golden retriever shook my hand

finding weird signs while tracting

mission sports day (final goodbye to my baby sister waldron)😭

mlc

our friend Kevin who we think is a member??

painting with cute Sister Argyle

Sister Woolwine 😚

goodbyes with leilani and Amuji

temple trip

last final sky pic cause why not