Mission Log - March 5, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 6 - Mission Accomplished!

Hola y muy Buenos Saludos, my beloved brothers and sisters, dear friends, family, parents, and fellow missionaries!

Whew!  What a week, what a mission!

This week, we saw many miracles.  Martina whose husband previously didn't let her come to church, came to church this Sunday!  So did Nydia!  She's an investigator, and she decided to come to church because her best friend, who's a less active member, decided to come with her daughter.  And Yoni and Nanci, the Guatemalan bread-makers, who are so busy that we visit them as they make the bread, came to church with their daughter, Ashley!  Those 5 investigators literally doubled the size of our little branch!  It was a miracle.

The second miracle was that for the first time in a long time, there will be baptisms in this area!  Last night, Jordan and Elizabeth, whose sister is a member, agreed to be baptized on April 28th of this year.  It was so powerful, and we are happy for them!  It was extra special for me because that date is also my parent's wedding anniversary.

I must say, this has been the best and also the most challenging 18 months of my life.  As I end my service as a full-time testifying servant of Jesus Christ, I would like to share with you all what I've been sharing with everyone I meet for the past year and a half.

The first thing we share with our spiritual brothers and sisters is the solemn principle of their own Divine Identity.  The core of our message is that God is our loving, personal Heavenly Father.  It's the first thing we teach, even before we teach about the First Vision.  It's incredible how many people don't understand that.  Heavenly Father has prepared a plan of happiness for us, including happiness in this life and the next.  This plan shows us how to align our lives with our Father in Heaven and live with Him forever.

In Sacrament meeting a few Sundays ago, the two speakers both spoke about the Light of Christ.  They shared Elder Uchtdorf's talk about the animals who have an instinct for home.  The Light of Christ means that people can distinguish between spiritual light and darkness - when they feel spiritual light, they feel hope.  They see the light in our eyes and feel the light in our message.  They're drawn to it, usually. :)  Our message brings hope to people who are trapped through their mistakes.  When people feel the light, they want to stop whatever they're doing to step towards it.

We teach them to have faith in Jesus Christ, and in His Atonement.  We testify to them that because of His selflessness and obedience,  He alone could be sinless so that the law of justice had no claim on Him.  I am certain that even before this life, we knew and had faith in Him.  He suffered for our sins so that we don’t have to suffer for the actual sin if we repent.  He did this out of great love for us, and a desire to be obedient to His Father.  Throughout my mission, as I have testified of Him, He has become real to me, for which I am very grateful.

One thing I've learned as I've striven to be exactly obedient is that we have to change our nature if we want to align our will with His.  We have to not only stop sinning, we need to change our hearts so that we don't even want to do evil.  Changing our hearts is often harder than stopping the sin - just like Elder Oaks said in his talk: "It's easier to clean the leaves than it is to strengthen your trunk."  Some may say, "but I like my personality! I don't want to change!"  Isn't eternal life and unimaginable progression worth changing your personality?  I decided that, at least for me, it definitely was.

I've watched several people enter into the waters of baptism.  Something I've noticed is that the Spirit one feels at a baptism is tantamount to the Spirit I personally feel when I partake of the Sacrament each week.  When we are baptized, and each week as we partake of the Sacrament, we show Heavenly Father we really mean it - we really want to leave behind our sins.  The mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation for the Sacrament needs to be more than a casual thought while we sing the Sacrament hymn.  (Although I've been guilty of that.)  It needs to be something we do every day as we review our day’s activities in our nightly prayer.  We need to be thinking, "How would Heavenly Father have me improve this week?" not just, "How do I want to improve this week?" - although that's a good start.  I have tried very hard to do this ever since the MTC, and I've tried to teach it to our investigators.  This is the how we keep repentance on our minds all the time.  It is not something to be dreaded but should be a thing of rejoicing.  It brings great joy to the Savior when we take advantage of His supreme sacrifice, and accept His gift.  (That's also why it's so crucial for them to come to CHURCH!! :)

The other day I was reading in Alma 5 and these questions seemed to speak right to me - How can we know if we are repenting?  Does our countenance reflect Heavenly Father's?  Can people see the change in our eyes?  Do we pray when we don’t have to pray, when we don't feel like it?  Do we have an inclination to be kinder to our companion?  It's not a checklist; it's a change of heart.  We maintain this remission of sins by serving others.  Seriously, before the mission, I always underestimated the power of service.

I know with all my heart and soul that this Gospel is true.  "Gospel" means good news - and isn't it wonderful news?  This is eternal life.

I love you all sincerely. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Con todo mi corazon,
Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - February 26, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 5 - Humble Advice to Potential Missionaries

Buenos Dias from Albuquerque!

This Sunday, we were asked to present the Sunday School lesson on the "gifts of the Spirit."  So we found all these gift bags in the closet and put slips of paper in them with the "gifts" and the coordinating scriptures! 😄

For my second-to-last email, I would like to offer my humble advice to potential full-time missionaries of all ages based on what I have learned during the course of my mission:

1. Love your companions.  To grit one's teeth and say, "I'll just 'endure to the end' of this companionship," is a recipe for misery and a great stumbling block to the work.  Just be happy - the happiest times of my mission were not the easiest; they were the times I tried my hardest to treat my companion with respect and humility.
2. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."  Yes, you'll have companions or you'll see other missionaries being less than obedient.  Before breathing out fire and damnation upon them, remember the golden rule, give them the benefit of the doubt and, in a Spirit of love, talk to them in private to address the issue.  Love is the key.
3. It'll be hard.  This is not a 1.5 or 2-year EFY.  You won't be spiritually pumped 24/7.  Expect hard days, and embrace the opportunity to be rejected, for you represent the Savior.  If He asked, you would be willing to do anything, not so?
4. LEAVE ROOM in your suitcase!  Especially if serving state-side.  Trust me, you will collect a ton of stuff, and it's simpler not to have to weed out possessions all in a panic when you receive a call saying you're being transferred and you have 2-3 days to pack.
5. Understand how food works if you go foreign.  It took me just a few weeks to figure out that Hispanic food doesn't cook in the flavor, like the food I grew up with.  They use salt, chile, limon, and fresh vegetables to garnish and liven up their meals.  In other countries, it may be different.  Learn how the people you serve eat, and you'll have less trouble adjusting to the cuisine.
6. JOURNAL AS YOU GO.  Back writing is so time-consuming - if writing a page in a literal journal is going to be impossible for you, figure something out that works for you.  For example, take a voice recorder or a video camera and record yourself every night.  Or purchase a rather large calendar and write a little something on each square.  Or save a section on your daily planning page to jot down the tender mercies.  Or take copious pictures.  Just make sure it gets done!
7. First impressions are important.  Remember that as you knock doors, this could be that person's first impression of the Church.  Remember who you represent - stand up straight, smile, and leave people with the impression that this message will change their life because it will!
8. Be brave.  Talking to strangers (especially after chasing them down) can be hard!  But after the first 15 seconds, it gets way easier.  Remember the Lord promised: "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  Why fear rejection when such a blessing is promised to us?
9. Pray like you mean it.  The morning and nights of my mission have become my personal interview time with Heavenly Father.  If you can't focus early in the morning or late at night, this might help: Take 5 deep breaths, counting them on your fingers, then imagine entering a huge throne room and imagine Heavenly Father sitting there and saying something like, "My daughter, I've been waiting for you.  What do you have to tell me?"

Anywho. Hope you all enjoy!

Lots of Love,
Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - February 19, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 4 - New Investigators and More Miracles

Happy late Valentines Day, Everyone!!

So, the heart-attacking did not cease with the less-actives and investigators - this week, I successfully and sneakily heart-attacked my companion!!

 

Whew!  What a week, what a week.  We have been working hard and have been blessed to find new investigators this week.

Last Monday, the Coronado branch had a Noche de Hogar (a family home evening) in which we celebrated the birthdays of Abuelita Quispe and her daughter.  We had 10 less active members, 1 investigator, Irene, and 4 potential investigators come!  We actually found out at the party that we were confused about where the investigator and potentials live: they live in the other branch that we cover, Bosque. :)  The "birthday girls" were first to have some cake.  In Mexico, there is a tradition called "mordida," or "little bite," the literal translation being "bitten."  The birthday person leans toward the cake to take a bite, then someone shoves their face into the cake!  In this instance, my companion did the honors. :)

The next day we had a service opportunity and helped a lady named Danni move.  She's a retired FBI agent.  She let us have her sunflower lights -- my companion was very insightful and wanted to give them to a less active member who loves sunflowers.  We went later in the week and gave the less active member her lights and set up a dinner.  She was very grateful!  We then asked her for referrals, a skill we have recently been honing.  Now my companion and I pray not only that people will be open to hearing the gospel, but also that people will be willing to share the gospel!

We finally met with Claudia Aguilar!  It's been a few weeks, but she has been so busy, we've only been able to heart-attack her.  She expressed that she noticed a difference between LDS teenagers and every other teenager.  She has a young son who's 12, and she told us she was interested in becoming a better mother.  We taught about the Book of Mormon and showed her the new President Uchtdorf video about finding truth using the analogy of the 6 blind men who went to see the elephant.  She is wonderful and we're excited to see her this next week!

We also finally met with Manuel, the man with gold crosses on his teeth.  We went with one of our ward missionaries, Hermana Loya.  She is awesome and it was a very good lesson!  We mainly focused on prayer and taught him that God is his Loving Heavenly Father.  He is interested, but he definitely speaks English better so we passed him off to the English elders. :)

One of the miracles we had this week was that a less active member named Carlos who is 18 years old and wants to go on a mission went out with us!   We were able to find a new investigator with Carlos there.  We were trying by a Hermana Loya's neighbor, who wasn't home, then took a moment to admire their chickens and their peacock.  Carlos noticed a trailer next to the house; we knocked, and met a man named Jesus.  He is a ranchero/vaquero (rancher, cowboy) and he was very receptive!  We taught him the restoration and Carlos shared his testimony - it was powerful. :)

One of our new investigators, a lady named Emma, expressed her passion for sewing.  She even went to sewing school in Mexico!  She was very kind, and interested in the message.  Her husband's name is Lazaro, who is also a ranchero/vaquero.  They are very humble and we're excited to work with them!

We also found two undocumented former investigators named Ana and Veronica.  They love their ancestors and we know they will love the temple!  They told us that every Sunday they go and have a picnic near their mother's grave to honor her.  We have a temple service opportunity this Wednesday, to care for the grounds, so we plan to invite them. :)

We saw many other miracles and had a great lesson with Nydia again!  When we challenged her to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, she told us, "Well, sisters, I think it's true and all, but that's not really my question."  Surprised, we asked, "So, what is your question?" "What is my purpose in life?" she asked.  We directed her to Alma 34 and promised that Heavenly Father was ready to answer that question, too! :)

The work of God continues here among the Spanish-speaking community of Albuquerque. I love you all very much!

Love, 

Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - February 12, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 3 - Lots of Miracles Happening

Dearest Family and Friends
​
Whew! What a week, what a week.

The above (omitted) video is of a man named Steve Ortiz.  When we knocked on his door, only he was home, so we told him we couldn't come in.  He pulled up a chair to the doorway and proceeded to share his amazing guitar skills with us.  These are the lyrics of his little song: "What's the matter with ya, girls? Don't you want to come in?  I am not a mean guy;  I will not beat you up!" :)  He was right, but a rule is a rule.

On Saturday, many crazy miracles happened!  We found 3 investigators that day and 2 potentials who became investigators the next day and then 1 more potential who will be an investigator this Friday.  So all of the people we met that day unexpectedly became investigators!

One of the ladies, Nydia, we met with at McDonald's. 😲  It reminded me of my days working there.  Nydia is from Costa Rica and then she lived in New York so she as a New Yorker accent! :)  We spoke about the Plan of Salvation, and compared it to how the same way she wants to retire in Costa Rica one day, we all want to return to live with Heavenly Father as we once did.  She is awesome; we are meeting with her again this Saturday.

Another lady we met when we were "heart attacking" a less active.  The less-active member caught us in the act and happened to have a bunch of relatives over!  One of them, Yazmin, wanted to listen to our message.  As we talked about the first vision, we told her that we knew she was a special daughter of God she started crying and excused herself.  When she returned, she told us she was raised Jehovah's Witness, but she wants her and her 11 year old son Xavier to learn more.  The dad, Jesse, is a less active member who was the nephew of the less active member we were visiting.

We then met the cutest viejita (old lady), Irene, when we had an appointment with our other investigators.  Those investigators weren't there, but she was!  She wanted us to come over the next day and teach her great-grandsons as well!  When we came back the next day we taught her and her great-grandsons.  As we were walking up to her house my companion told her she liked her skirt.  In true Mexican fashion, she went and changed and gave her the skirt despite Hermana Mckay's protests. :)

We also started teaching Ramon Crespos, a Minister in his own Church.  He told us within the first 10 minutes that he knew the Book of Mormon was true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet!  His only fear is he worries what would happen to his congregation if he was baptized.

Lots happening! I know it's all led by the Lord.

More miracles next week!

Love,
Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - February 5, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 2 - Emotional Bank Accounts

Hola, brothers and sisters, dear friends!

Whew!  What a week, what a week!  The days feel like weeks, and the weeks feel like days!

This week, I was continually impressed with Hermana McKay.  Last Monday, during preparation day, we cut out a bunch of paper hearts so we could heart-attack less active members during the week.  We also organized a few records into their separate areas, something I've been wanting to do for weeks!  We distributed many of the heart attacks this week, and plan to do more next week!

We then had an AWESOME lesson with our branch president.  He told us of an investigator family that studied before with the Elders and went with us to contact them.  We met the Meridas!!  Yoni, Nanci his wife, and his three kids, John Luca, Ashley, and Yoni Jr., all play soccer!  They showed us their wall lined with medals and all their trophies.  My brothers and sisters all play soccer, too, so I was able to relate!  They're Guatamalan, and Nanci sells Guatamalan bread for a living and Yoni is a soccer coach.  We taught them about the Holy Ghost and how to identify it.  I am certain the Spirit knew we were talking about Him, because He was definitely there!! :)  Walking out of the lesson, Hermana McKay and I both felt strongly that we needed to teach them the law of the tithe next time, and we're seeing them tonight!

Hermana McKay also has a great talent for talking to everyone.  We spoke with 8 people in an hour, just trying by a former investigator!  She really wants to be here for the right reasons and she fears no one!  We even found a new investigator that way – Manuel.  We just pulled over on our way to heart-attack one of our investigators and talked to him!  Turns out his girlfriend, who lives in California, is an active member and has been sharing the Gospel with Manuel for years!  It was a miracle!

We had a 28 hour exchange this week, a little longer than normal to save miles.  It was a very busy exchange!  We had correlaccion with Hermano Bianco, a lesson with our recent convert Norma and President Criddle, and a meeting with the Stake president and all the missionaries in our stake.  We even caught a glimpse at a shooting star!

After the meeting with our Stake President, I was sitting with Sister Guy, a new missionary because she had a headache.  We were just talking, and I mentioned how her trainer and I arrived in the mission field at the same time.  She exclaimed, "You're leaving, too?!"  Yes, I told her, and she was so sad she began to cry!   😖 She's very sweet.

During to course of my mission, I've learned a LOT about companionships.  The best thing I can compare them to is a three-legged race – you can't lay back and expect your companion to carry you, but you can't do it all yourself and drag your companion along behind you, either.  You MUST work TOGETHER - there is no other way.

In harmony with this concept, our Mission President shared with us recently the idea of an Emotional Bank account.  It’s a metaphor for the amount of trust in a relationship – in a companionship, in a family, in a ward, etc.  Basically every interaction you have with another person may be classified as a deposit or withdrawal.  Deposits build and repair trust in a relationship.  Withdrawals lessen trust.

Examples of deposits are: being kind, serving them, keeping promises, being loyal to the other person when they're not there, and apologizing even if you don't feel like it.  I have tried this with different companions and I can testify that it works!

Examples of withdrawals are: being unkind, refusing to serve another when you could, breaking promises, talking about or gossiping about them, pride, or being competitive.

President Guffey challenged us to think of our own Emotion Accounts – if we're under or over balance, and what steps we could take to bring balance to the Force.

The thing is, the only deposits and withdrawals you can control are your own.  To build trust, you have to choose to treat every problem as an opportunity to make a deposit in your companion's emotional bank account.  If you figure that out, you're happier, they're happier, you both work harder, and you find success!  There's only pros and no cons.

He then shared this:
"The writer of Proverbs said it this way: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thing hand to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27).  Try it.  It’s powerful.  Make deposits.  They’re a good thing!"

I can say from experience, that I know these things to be true.  I have tried it – and it works!

I love you all a lot!

Love, Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - January 29, 2018 - The Final Hours, Part 1 - Member Missionary Tips

Dear Lovely people,

Whew!  What a week, what a week!

This week, I got a new companion who brought fire and zeal into this area!  Her name is Hermana McKay, she's from Draper Utah, she's been out 4 months, she got her associates degree at Utah Valley University before she came out, and she's the middle child of 5.  She's an amazing missionary!

We saw many miracles this week!  We went out to Coronado in Rio Rancho on Saturday.  We did some street contacting and found two new investigators that way!  One of them even met with missionaries before in California!  His name is Jeremy and his wife has some medical problems.  He wants to meet with us and is excited about learning more!

I'm excited to work HARD these last six weeks!  I have a feeling it's gonna be great.

Nothing happens in missionary work until we find someone to teach.  You can't teach or baptize if there is no one to do it.  As Full-Time Missionaries, we're ALWAYS finding - asking for referrals, talking to everyone.  That's why Hermana McKay is so effective, I feel like.  The members are the best way to find, because they can support those they refer to the missionaries through the teaching process.  Here's a few thoughts about starting a gospel conversation.

• Don’t force gospel conversations; let them happen naturally.  When you force a gospel conversation because you feel obligated to do missionary work, people will know and that will turn them off.  I noticed that when I was a greenie, and it's been a recurring theme since then. 
• Study the scriptures.  President Eyring said:  “Prepare to share [the gospel] by filling your mind every day with the truths of the gospel.”  I can't even tell you all the times we've shared with someone a scripture we read that same morning during studies.
• Carry gospel materials with you.  I remember a sacrament meeting talk where a sister described how she likes to take a fresh copy of the Book of Mormon on the bus with her so if someone asks about it, she can give it to them.  Missionaries are also willing to share our handy dandy cards with you!
• Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.  Heavenly Father is preparing people like Jeremy all around us.  He will lead them to the Gospel through us if we ask for it!  Pres. Eyring again: “God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel. How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart.”

A few tips and tricks:

• Compliment them!  People want to feel loved, and to feel good about themselves.  Open a gospel conversation by raising the person’s self-esteem.  Smile REAL big.  Example: "Would you be so kind as to tell me your thoughts about the purpose of life?"  With this question you label the person as kind; they'll begin acting that way.  That's something my dad taught me even before the mission!
• Try to notice what's important to them and relate that to a gospel topic.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: “Reach out sincerely.  Ask these friends what matters most to them.  What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear?  And then listen.”  People like talking about things that are important to them - usually their family, their hobby, or their car, at least here in Albuquerque.  Look for clues, like little kid bikes, to help you know how to begin talking with people.  "Hey, you have a big family?!  I love big families!  In fact, here's a picture of MY family!"  Open a gospel conversation based on THEIR interests.
• Just go for it and let the Spirit flow.  Ask things like: “What makes you happy?”  Get curious about them.  Elder Holland otra vez: “When the Lord delivers this person to your view, just chat – about anything.  You can’t miss.  [I like that part]  You don’t have to have a prescribed missionary message.  Your faith, your happiness, the very look on your face is enough to quicken the honest in heart.  People do not join the Church because of what they know.  They join because of what they feel, what they see and want spiritually.  Our spirit of testimony and happiness in that regard will come through to others if we let it.” 

Love you lots! More to come next week!
Hermana Smurthwaite

Mission Log - January 22, 2018 - T11, W6 - Power of Positivity

Dear friends and family,

Whew! What a week!

My companion was called to be a Sister Training Leader for her last transfer!!  It's been an exciting two months, but I am so happy for her!  She'll do great.

​We recently tracted into​ the Finch family and had a chance to brush up on our "Bird" -
"Excuse me, my fine-feathered friend! Tweet-tweet tweet, twitter tweet?" :)

Our mission president has recently been emphasizing positivity.  He shared with us:

"...What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears.  When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: "Critics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve."

Looking at the dark side of things always leads to a spirit of pessimism which so often leads to defeat.  If ever there was a man who rallied a nation in its time of deepest distress it was Winston Churchill.  The Nazi war machine had overrun Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, and was moving into Russia.  Most of Europe was in the grasp of tyranny, and England was to be next.  In that dangerous hour, when the hearts of many were failing, Churchill spoke:

"Do not speak of darker days; let us speak rather of sterner days.  These are not dark days: these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."

Following the terrible catastrophe at Dunkirk, many prophets of doom foretold the end of Britain.  But in that dark and solemn hour this remarkable man said, and I heard him say these words as they were broadcast across America: "We shall not flag or fail...we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

It was this kind of talk, which saw victory distantly through the dark clouds of war, and not the critical faultfinding of cynics, that preserved the people of Britain and saved that nation from catastrophe.

"I have little doubt that many of us are troubled with fears concerning ourselves.  We are in a period of stress across the world.  There are occasionally hard days for each of us.  Do not despair.  Do not give up.  Look for the sunlight through the clouds.  Opportunities will eventually open to you.  Do not let the prophets of gloom endanger your possibilities."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley

Let us all press on in this great work!  There are people praying to find Gospel light.  Others are seeking truth, but they know not where to find it.  Let us be faithful and serve with all of our hearts, mights, minds and strength, that we may be bring salvation to our brothers and sisters!"

I just want to add my testimony of the power of a positive attitude - which stems from faith.  One happy person truly can make a difference in a discouraged group!

Hermana Smurthwaite