Week 65- Hakuna Matata

 Hi!!!! 

I felt so much strength from the Lord this past week. I have really focused more on my personal connection with my Heavenly Father and reminded myself of his great love and plan for me. I felt strongly that he knows the deep desires of my heart, which is such a comforting thing.

First resonders is STRESSFUL but God is just tooooo good too us. 

I had a very special experience calling a referral this week and I don't think I will ever forget it. His name is Richard Clarke. I decided to call him during my lunch time. This was my last contact with him before sending him to Preston. I started talking to him and he sounded very nervous and distraught. Turns out he is a less active member. He has a disorder and half of his brain doesn't work properly. He expressed to me the pain he has felt as he lost his best friend (his mom) due to cancer a few years ago. He told me about stories of past missionaries coming over, him becoming a deacon, recieving a patriarchal blessing, and so on. I sat on that call and listened to him for 25 minutes and felt the spirit one of the strongest times ever. In the middle of the call I remembered my goal that morning: Focus on listening to people as the Savior would so I can stay close to the spirit. I recognized that I only talked about 4 times the whole call and each time I did it was me tesitfying of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I reassured him that one day he would be in a perfected form and see his mom again. At the end of the call he said "Thank you so much Sister Smith, I am so grateful we got to talk." Its been hard calling hundreds of people and then immediately sending them all. But this was a moment when Heavenly Father told me that there IS a reason I am the first contact, to help me stay firm in my testimony. There is so much power in ministring to the one. All of the doubts, stress, frustration, etc. vanished after that moment. I am so grateful for God and the specific angels he sends to me to keep me close to Him and the spirit. And we hit our goal this week yay!!!!!! 81 new friends 

Also conference has been SO. Good. Our mission leaders invited us over. BLESS THEM I love them so much. It boggles my mind everytime how it always answers my many questions. Literally the first few talks answered so many things for me. Cause the future is scary but what a great thing to know that God has a perfect plan for everyone. 

Love you all!!! Keep rockin it

Cheeeers 

Sister Smith