Sister Ellie Smith England, Manchester Mission

HEYO turkeys!!!! It's almost 2025??? That's amazing and flippin weird. Happy new year everyone. So stoked to have a new year and set some new goals. Let me know some of yours!  Saturday was one of the most incredible days on my mission so far. God astonished us ALL day. We walked around with huge smiles and were so grateful for the opportunities Heavenly Father provided for us. We met SO many people. Lots of them came from knocking on member dots. 3 different times it led us to other people who were interested in building their faith in Christ. The last door we knocked happened because a lesson fell through so we knocked on a dot nearby. It wasn't the member we thought but a woman named Madi. We chatted with her and she let us in! She was the nicest lady and had the biggest smile the whole time. She is from Bangladesh and we were able to teach her a lesson and are going back on Thursday! We also decided last minute to talk to this other lady who was walking into her door. W...

How annoying was that title? That's how I feel though. Merry Merry Christmas to everyone!! It's the best time of the flippin year.  Been doing so great over here. There's been so many Christmas acitivites and it's been a blast. I'll add some photos. I love love love the birth of Christ it's such a special time. Its been such an amazing time to reflect of what the Lord has done for me. An experience this week when the Lord assisted us was on Wednesday. Sister Hanks and I emphasised the importance of alignment prayers and were saying them consistently throughout the day. Prayers of gratitude, strength, and forgiveness after EVERY little thing we did. We went to visit a random member dot family that we have never heard of. We felt prompted to go and knock on their door. They didn't answer so what did we do? Alignment prayer! In the middle of the prayer the mom called us and said please please come back on Saturday! She sounded so happy and so excited. Then we s...

This week was full of hard work and joy! We were able to see the Lord magnify our efforts for being diligent and working hard.  Saturday was brilliant. We were able to follow the spirit and accomplish things that the Lord wanted us to. We had to decide either to walk or bus to the chapel for the ward Christmas party. We said a prayer and felt that we needed to take the bus. So we did! This transfer, we have been envisioning an African family with 3 kids to bring into this ward. As soon as the bus drove up, I saw this couple and said, "Ohhh we are definitely sitting by that amazing couple." So we immediately sat next to them and started a conversation. They are from Nigeria and moved here with their family. With THREE kids!!! Sister Hanks and I were beaming with a smile. We started getting to know them and they are strong believers in Christ. We met with their beliefs and introduced the Book of Mormon. They grabbed it immediately and started flipping through the pages. We gave...

  Hellooooo everyone.  CRAZIEST past 2 weeks ever. We have be running around like headless chickens with no pday. But man we've worked hard!  Here in Oldham now with the awesome Sister Hanks. We have been having a blast and she is the most incredible missionary I've ever seen. So lucky that the Lord placed me with her. Lots and lots of things been going on!! Christmas is coming. Sang in the missionary chior and somehow got in the small group. Don't know how but it was great! Very special to share our testimony of Christ through music. Christmas season is the BEST and there is such a special spirit.  Have to be quick because it's been SOO busy and gotta go already. But just wanted to say there is absolute nothing better than serving the Lord. I feel so lucky to be spending my time here in England for my Savior, especially during this Christmas season. There is no greater feeling than knowing how much he loves me and all of the people we are teaching. He is so awa...

I'm leaving AGAAAAAIN. See ya. So crazy I feel like I just got to Chester but I'm outta here! I am moving to Oldham and so stoked but also sad to leave. It's a weird mix always.  This week was good. It was definitely hard but good. Shocker. But I'm so excited for Christmas!!! It's coming! It's time to light the world! This has probably been one of the hardest transfers yet but I am so grateful for all the things I've learned. The biggest thing I've learned and probably said a million times is that I seriously cannot do any of this without the Savior. I'm going to be completely honest, no matter how many times I tried to remind myself, I did not rely on Jesus Christ as much as I needed to. We really need him in this life. Mosiah 4:27 will always be my favorite scripture and something I will always need to apply. We cannot run faster than we have strength!! We can. Not. God has his own order and timing and we need to follow it.  Really amazing news. On...

Hellooo friends and family! Please let me know how you are all doing!! What was the highlight of your week I would love to hear. You win the prize if you tell me.  Just basically wrote an email but I'm still going strong out here! I almost froze into an ice block this week. Not used to this weather but it's kinda awesome. Kinda. Any tips on cold or snow let me know. Saw the Lord's love for me a lot this week! I have the hardest time of being too hard on myself for every little thing but this week I learned a lot about keeping Christ at the center because that's where we get strength. I thought I would have that down by now butttt realized that's a lifelong process and it's hard. But it's so important! It shows God and Christ that you are willing. I've been trying to ask myself in every circumstance, How can I connect with Jesus Christ right now? Although it's hard to find those ways, it's beyond worth it.  This is the last week of the transfer!!!...

  Hello! Long week. But awesome long week.  I saw some really amazing miracles this week aaaand felt LOADS of joy. Also it's almost Christmas! Letsgetit. I just wanted to share a cool story this email. This was one of those moments where I felt that there is nothing greater than this work. Oh man I was full of happiness.  2 lessons learned - If you feel you need to go back. GO BACK. Turn around immediately because it is never ever too late.  Actually no just one lesson. Always follow your spiritual promptings. You will neeeever regret it.  Okay on Sunday Sister Chiong and I were in this small town with an hour to spare before our meal appointment. It was freeeezing and pouring rain. Classic England. We first visited a less active, prayed with him, he's awesome. Then we decided to visit a random member dot. We could not find the house for the life of us. So we ask this random guy on the street to help us. As he was walking away he said, "Are you Latter Day S...

I love the Book of Mormon OKAYYY. Cmon it is so good. I've been studying it a lot this week and why it's so important. And every time I just find how it really was written for OUR day. We are so lucky. It's soooo cool, Nephi legit saw our day!!!! Shocks me every time. The Book of Mormom brings so much power into my day and I know it can do the same for all of us cause we can all relate to it! It's so simple and so goooooood. Elder Bednar gave an amazing talk last conference called, "In the Space of Not Many Years" and WOW. It is amazing. Listen to thus quote, "Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. … If they saw our day, and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon?" AMEN to that.  This week we were able to meet a lot of people placed in our path. We were in Chester and right when we got off of the bus to walk in to this big c...

Myyyy goodness I am confused. Missionary work is the best thing ever but also so so hard. It really just depends on the day. This week I really experienced some of the best moments but also some of the worst. I know my life sometimes looks like unicorns and rainbows but I want you to all know that I am human and although I love this work more than anything it is also very discouraging, tiring, and stressful. I felt that a lot this week.  Something positive first though! ZONE CONFERENCE on Thursday was iiiincredible! President Tunnicliffe dressed up as a giant dog and tackled everyone. Ya. Email me if you have questions hahaha it was hilarious. I felt so much joy seeing everyone too! Love you so much Sister Olson. We learned all about exact obedience and it was really amazing. Something so special that we talked about was exact obedience is when we truly find ourselves and find who Jesus Christ wants and needs us to be. Obedience is far from a burd...

Hello! Ummm I'm in Chester! It's wild. This is the most rich place ever. Butttt wow it's beautiful. Staying in a house with 4 sisters and it's quite a party. I love Sister Good and Sister Ware soooo much, GREAT STLs. Wow This week was probably one of the hardest for me but I really understood what it means to rely on the Lord. Sister Chiong and I came into this area with NO information because there was like a freaking glitch in the system or something. I have never been more stressed ever. We were sitting in this random place in huge Chester trying to figure things out and I went to the bathroom, knelt down on the bathroom floor and just pleaded, crying to the Lord to give me soooomething...anything. We decided to just go out and talk to people and boom. Met 3 of the best people so quickly! God really placed people right in our path and knew we were trying our best. So much joy and relief filled me and I was able to enjoy the rest of the day to the best we could! I was...