Sister Ellie Smith England, Manchester Mission

Back at it. I feel like I just wrote an email but hellooooo I'm back. Wowee God loves me and he showed me that these past few days! I got my second transfer sickness and have had 2 snot bubble experiences.BUT OH WELL! The work goes on and somehow I still get blessed with amazing experiences. Ew sorry that was kinda gross I said that. But anyyyway it was a good week!!!  Here's the story for the title. Yesterday at church it was the primary program which was amazing. We had our friend Deo there with us and I saw him wipe a tear. God is good. Don't worry we're baptizing him soon. Anyway we sat next to  new member names CJ. And oh my goodness I'm laughing while I'm writing this. We were singing the hymns and he was singing at the highest note he possibly could hahahah. He was trying to match our voice ohhh bless him. Sister Nielson started dying laughing and I exploded. We are praying he didn't notice. No one follow our example that was so awful of us but it wa...

Howzzzittt. I love being a missionary goodness gracious! Who knew spreading the gospel could bring so much joy??  Today was temple pday Yeeaayy! I love going to the temple and being able to just sit there in peace. I feel so blessed to be able to go!!  This week was incredible but also again full of some ups and downs. Anytime we felt something was going on we would sing "alllll is wellll, allll is wellll" because it is! God definitely tested me this week with my personal patience and knowledge. We had to teach come follow me to the whole mission and do district council training this week...awesome. I guess they really trusted us. Definitely was a stretching experience but booom did it and I learned so much! The spirit truly does put words in your mouth. That's a promised blessing right there. We talked a lot about our power and authority as missionaries and our divine worth. Everyone listen up. I want you to all know and remember that GOD LOVES US SOOO MUCH and everyone ...

Theme word of the week right there!!!! Everyone determination is a GAME CHANGER.  I got a new companion!! Sister Nielson is the absolute best!  I couldn't have asked for a better follow up trainer. I wanna go back and tell myself to CHILL out and not be so scared because she's exactly what I needed! I feel like a different missionary... idk what's happening to me. My fear flew out the window this week. Our favorite word was determination and we worked sooooo hard this week. We're building up Crewe! It's the best feeling and I know for a fact it's because the Savior is walking right next to us. Saw a crazy amount of miracles and found so so much joy in this work! Everyone keeps saying they forget I'm new and I'm a natural teacher which is ridiculous to hear but makes me feel so good. I guess I'm improving! What a blessing it is to not only recognize so much growth, but feel my heart literally expand full of love for this work and the people around me....

HI. My freaking Sister Taala got transfered to Stockport and I'm staying here in Crewe!!! CANNOT believe my first transfer is over. Was such a shock we almost started crying but I know she's going to have such a good time in Stockport. Sister Nielson is coming my way!!! Can't wait to serve with her.  This week was wayyyyy awesome. Spoke to everyone all day which helped us be productive and move the work foward! We opened a new area so its been very slow and hard for people to progress so it really has stretched me to know that my efforts are enough. Some wise words from dad in his talk yesterday helped me so much: “He does not expect us to be perfect right now, he just expects us to keep trying, keep persevering. Even when you feel like you’re not doing enough, your small efforts add up and become something great” Perfectly said dad!!!! I'm learning and growing in every way possible every single day. This has been the toughest time of my life but I would never take it a...

  Being a missionary is so hard!!!!!!!!!!! Kinda wanna leave it at that but no. I can't because it's also so awesome. Very 50/50 feeling right now lol. This week was full of ups and downs once again but guess what? The Lord was with me the whole time so no need to fret.  I went on an exchange on Saturday with Sister Ware and being slow does not exist to her. With her brain and her feet. But oh boy I learned sooooo much it was incredible. We talked to every single person in Crewe. I swear. I learned the importance of talking to everyone and expanding my vision to find. Mosiah 28:3 explains it perfectly "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."  If you skipped over that verse go back and read it again (especially if you are a missionary) EVERYONE deserves to hear the go...

Where do I even begin?! A week FULL of miracles. I love serving the Lord.  ELIANA! My girllllll is getting baptised!!! We were able to have the most special experience with her yesterday as we extended an invitation for her to be baptized. It is amazing to see the sweet spirit she contains and how much knowledge she has. She is the cutest person ever. I love her so so so so much. So excited for her so stay tuned!! This past week has been slooooowww. We are in a new area and are constantly trying to find new friends. My companion and I have been SO tired. So many people (even random people on the street) have said we look tired. So that's awesome to hear but as we came into this new week BAM. Miracle after miracle. It is amazing to see the Lord's hand in our work, I know our efforts and hard work pay off because we were able to help Eliana to make this first promise with God and we cannot be more excited for her.  Here's one miracle I want to share. It also happened yester...

WazGOOOD! How in the world is it pday again. Fastest week ever! I'm committed to weekly emails so don't be sick of me yet.  This week was superrrrrr. We had so many amazing miracles and experiences! Most days we would stop and be like "wow this is such a good day! Let's keep the streak goin!!!!" Definitely still hard parts but I ain't gonna focus on those. Stupid adversary.  This week we found a man named Jennings. He is so rad. Met him in the elevator when we were taking a photo, super awkward. Oops! He said sorry I photo bombed!!! And then we started talking. Nailed it. We set up a lesson with him and had it on Saturday. He is Catholic and loves God but is struggling to find that spiritual consistency that sometimes he only feels on Sunday. So we helped him of couuuurse. We gave him a book of mormon and a reading challenge and man he was STOKED. He kept saying how eager he was to read and how eager he was to meet with him again. Pray for Jennings!!! We love ...

Helllloooo! I am still alive. Don't even worry, Sister Smith is still getting it out here.  This week was good good. Feels awesome to be able to say that. Who knew, it gets better!!! Finally getting the hang of things by working my hardest AND in return, I've been able to see so many miracles this week and felt the Savior right by my side. BOOM! How lucky are we! Pshhh so good. Always work your hardest it will pay off my friends.   Had my first zone conference this week ayyyye. It was pretty good but definitely still getting to know everyone. We did our own version of the Olympics and went against each other. OF COURSE I FREAKIN WON BAAABY. That's how we do let's go. But on the real note I have the BEST mission President and was able to learn so much. We talked about how important it is to remember our covenants. We have such a special gift from God. The term for zone conference today was Covenant Conscius. I invite all of you to be covenant conscious this week!! This i...

Wow! Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm in the field. Take me baaaaaack to the MTC!! Haha kidding. Kinda.  Also quick news I am not allowed to have Facebook so if you send me a message I will not see it. But email me! I made it! Time is flying and I can't believe I'm out here in the field. My first area is called Crewe! Look it up if you're curious it is beauuuuutiful. I love it here! Everyone is so so nice which was shocking to me. I was ready for some bold mean English folks but we're chiiiiillin.  My companion is THE GOAT. Sister Taala is Samoan but from Australia. So I am fully immersed with accents all around me all the time. It's amazing. She is the HARDEST worker every she's my idol. And she's so freakin funny oh my gosh. I have been in pain from laughing so hard. She's definitely making this a lot easier!!!! It's the islander blood the best kind. Miss hawaii.   Adjusting to missionary life is REAL. My goodness they weren't lying when they say mission...

What's up!!!! Still in England don't worry.  Can't believe I've been a missionary for 3 weeks already but also can't believe it's only been 3 weeks. The craaaap.   Another awesome week!!! Gonna make this short but awesome okay. This week was full of so many spiritual experiences! I wanted to start off with Sundays. Sundays are the BEST day of the week and especially here at the MTC. They are so spiritual and a great break from classes. In Relief Society us sisters got to talk about our divine identity and read over our patriarchal blessings. It was such an amazing experience reading for the first time as a missionary. The spirit filled that room and I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be!!! If you guys have your patriarchal blessing, GO read it. Right now. We are so blessed with that amazing gift and each of us have are so special to our Heavenly Father. Remember your divine identity!  Yesterday I was sitting in class and staring off into space and lit...