Sister Ellie Smith England, Manchester Mission

Time just seems to be flying. I can't believe it's already been another week! This week was a very good week. I have been praying and seeking miracles and God showed them to me!! It was awesome. One of my highlights this week was having a day with Sister Mund. We went on swaps together and it was so much fun. I love Sister Christensen so much but it's always nice to be with a missionary that is a bit more experienced for a day. Sister Christensen and I have been DYING for a new friend. All we wanted more than anything is just to have a new friend here in Chorley. It is so hard! Mostly it is just so hard to find time. But God astonished me that day. We envisioned an African wearing red and black and the first person we talked to was BOOM. Amanda. Wearing red and black. I've never seen more Africans in one day in Chorley than on Thursday  we talked to so many people who were in the right place at the right time. God really was looking out for us. We got to extend and prac...

This was a week of gosh dangs. Poor Sister C has been super sick so we have been partying in the flat!! She's such a trooper though and I am so grateful for her strength. I'm so lucky to have her!! To be quite honest I don't have much to say at all this week  butttttt I still LOVE ENGLAND. Gosh dang! So that's good. Recently I have just been overfilled with gratitude for my mission. It's genuinely so hard to describe how much I love it and the friends I have made along the way. The spirit has been super strong with me these past few weeks its AWESOME. I am just so grateful for the spirit and the things that just remind me that God is there!! He is too good.  Excited for a new week, 2 months left??? What the heck. No idea where time went.  Listen to "New Beginnings" by Patrick Kearon from this past conference because it ROCKS and it's my favorite.  I love you all!! Sorry but also not sorry for this short email. PEACE Cheeeeeeers Sister Smith 

HELLO!! I had a lot of spiritual highlights this week. Here are 2. First, THE TEMPLE. Sister Christensen was sick this week so it was the first time on my mission where I had to stay in the flat all day. It was tough but I'm grateful because that meant we got to go to the temple, just the two of us on Friday. It was probably the most special experience I had in the temple ever. The spirit was so strong and everything resonated with me. I read the scripture in D&C where it says that after we leave the temple, we are armed with power. That's exactly how I felt. There was so much this transfer that I could've done better and it was weighing on me so heavily, but when I was in the celestial room I got the strongest feeling that I have been forgiven and still a faithful servant of the Lord. It became another day of recommitment and since that day I have felt so much peace. I have felt a fresh new start and I am so excited to continue this next transfer.  The second experienc...

 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...

This is what I've been saying every 5 seconds recently..  No worries! Or alllll is well!! Or it's okay everything with be fine! Or we just have to keep going! It's been a stressful week... but it has really helped me ponder on the definition of hope and faith.  HOPE. Is my favorite thing. Hope is something that I cherish and feel very grateful for because I've developed it a lot throughout my life. It's natural for me to just keep saying "this sucks BUT everything will be okay eventually" as you can tell by a lot of my emails I'm sure. It's one of my favorite sentences actually. But it can still be hard in that in between stage where you're waiting for that "good ending." It can be hard to stay strong 24/7. Sometimes we crash and sometimes that's what we need. I've experienced this a lot this week but I've learned one of the most important things. Everytime I crash, that is where I find the Savior. To pick me up and remind...

Hellllooooo family and fabulous friends. Thanks for the all the prayers I could really feel them this week. This week was full of stress but BOOM. MIRACLES TOO because God is too good and will never slow down his work. We have started a new program called first responders in my district. Still haven't escaped from social media yet but hey! It's brought me so close to Jesus Christ so I won't complain. Basically we are responding and teaching online referrals allllll day. You know when you stare at your screen for so long your brain begins to rot? Feeling that a bit recently but all is well. I've talked to some of the coolest people. It's beautiful to see the prepared souls that are just ready to soak in the gospel and change their heart. There are so many people out there, especially right now in the world! Sometimes all we need to do is invite them....  Went to freshers this week to find all new Uni students in Liverpool and that was FIIIIIRE. Saw some of my favorit...

What a wild first 2 weeks for Sister Christensen!  We have had the weirdest things happen to us. Here are a few.... 1. Saw a guy screaming at the top of his lungs in the air while flipping off nothing. It was spectacular and terrifying. Thought that was gonna be the last day of our lives 2. Taught our first lesson to Sabir at the chapel.... he had absolutely no interest in the church and tried to convert us to be muslim. Then walked around the temple grounds, smoking a cig yesssssssss 3. A bird flew into the chapel, smashed into the window, and BOOM DIED. Crazy 4. Everyone in the whole Chorley 3 ward is getting engaged and Bishop said we are next so be careful.... This week was AWESOME. I learned so much more about God's plan for me and continue to find different ways he is helping me learn different things. Most of the time it is through hard times and challenges but hey! What's new, I feel like I am used to it by now. I kinda love challenges now? I don't know. It i...

Howwwwwzit. Back with another week. Here in CHOOOORLEY. Crazy.  I guessed it...I am officially a trainer. Got a daughter yeeeeeayyyy! Sister Christensen is so amazing. It is such a blessing to serve with her! She's gonna rock it.  Gonna make this quick but HUGE miracle. Our mission leaders announced that England is just doing incredible. Apparently it hasn't had this much succes like actually ever before. I immediately wanted to cry. There is no other feeling than participating in this work and seeing the Lord magnify your efforts. The EMM has changed my life forever and it was so special to hear that the Lord really is carrying and prospering this mission.  Miss you all and looooove ya dearly. Keep my comp in your prayers. Being a new missionary is tough! She is killing it. PEACE. Go crazy says PG Cheeeeeeeers Sister Smith 

Quickest update ever..... I must smell too much because God never wants me in Chester for more than 6 weeks BYEEEEE! I am going to Chorley and training a brand new missionary! Hope she loves me!!!! This transfer has been a rollercoaster ride. I have never been more refined in my life. But wow God is just too good to let you fail. I can see how he slowly works with me to help me become more like Jesus Christ. I loved every second serving here and being with the amazing sisters in my flat. Especially Sister Crowton!!! She is just a powerhouse. I am so proud of the missionary she is and continues to become. I would've died without her. I'm grateful for all the amazing members and people I taught and it really breaks my heart to leave but what a comforting thought that the Lord is always with them.  I love you all!!!! Hope you're doing well  Miss you Nosuyi! Cheeeeeeers  Sister Smith

Hi!! Back at it! Ready for the quickest update ever? I am about to fall asleep. AMI GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK! YAYY! It was such a special day for her. She felt so much love and joy and said she couldn't even sleep that night YEEEWHOOO! We are so happy for her. She is such a strong member and has always just fit right in. God was so aware of her that day, the ward made her baptism SO special. I love Ami so much. The Lord is blessing Chester in many ways and I am so grateful that He is in control. It makes my heart hurt to think that there will be an end to my mission, and I have been trying not to think about it, but God has really helped me feel excited this week about being able to apply all the life lessons here when I get home. And.... I got into BYU Hawaii so I am grateful for that miracle this week and I am excited to go back and live there YEEEAZZZZ so if you are still there lmk  Also I am turning hungarian because the food is so good I love it. Judit is the BEST and keeps maki...