Might as well be on the moon... /Huntsville - E-Mail 2/12/18

Hello!!

Well... I'm going to attempt to catch you up on the last 3 weeks. 

So saying bye to all my Tuscaloosa peeps was pretty bitter sweet. I love them dearly, and will miss them while we're apart!

Sister Denney and I had been in the same district last transfer, and both knew we were being transferred, so we said goodbye to Sisters Womeldorf and Hammond (Denney's last comp), and drove to transfers together. Since we had both been called as STLs we had a pretty good idea that we might be comps, but were still super stoked to have it confirmed once we got to the meeting!

We were both a little overwhelmed when told of our new assignment to open an area, but also so excited for the adventure! (And it certainly has been!!)   

President talked to the two of us and gave us details and encouragement before we left for Huntsville, in a car over-stuffed with the entirety of our mission lives! We were starving and exhausted, so after stopping at Denny's for a breakfast-dinner, we finally arrived in Huntsville, with no where to settle.






We stayed with the Hermanas that first night, and went to a really cool boxing gym the next morning called ROCK STEADY. We volunteer there some mornings, and help seniors battling Parkinson's disease with there work outs. It's so awesome!

We were able to move in to a new apartment by Thursday night. Thank heavens for Elders and the Barfuss' (Senior couple housing coordinators) who came to help us move furniture and everything into the new place. It's actually been really nice to start from scratch. Although in the hustle, we totally forgot to think about buying food for the apartment, so that was a rough 24 hrs LOL.

There have been so many sweet miracles during this last transfer already! One being that we were able to connect with my former Elder Chase Currier and his family! They had us over for dinner, and it was so fun to see him and his cute wife! We got to meet his parents and siblings and all their cute families too, it was so fun. It's been really cool and surreal for me to revisit the beginning of my journey in a way, here at the end of my mission. Being able to talk to Chase about what it was like to teach me as a missionary, and to now be wearing a tag myself, and representing the Lord in the same work that changed my life.. well it's just really special to me.

So my injured ankle was doing really good there for a couple weeks, but it seems to be re-injured, probably due to all the sports we play in the YSA.. Sister Denney also has an injured knee, so we're kind of a wreck. Elder Haar lets us borrow his TENS machine, which helps a bit. We were both icing during studies the other morning, and ended up just laughing at how pathetic we look together.

It's been a lot of finding and getting to know the members in both the Hunstville-Madison YSA Branch and the Capshaw family ward for the last two weeks. Huntsville is a HUGE city compared to what we're used to, so that's been fun and different. It's where the big NASA Center is, and Red Stone Arsenal. We're hoping to be able to do a tour one of these PDays.

Oh, we do service at an animal shelter called The Ark, where we get to play with puppies and cats, and talk to the hilarious workers. They are so kind, and grateful to have us. I love how service softens hearts.

We also do service at this really cool ranch, where we feed the horses and do all sorts of ranch work... never thought I'd be living this country life LOL. It's wild

While back in Hoover last week for MLC (missionary leadership council) I got to visit one of my favorite members, Cheryl and her son Will! Sweet reunion. 

Aaron (most red neck hillbilly friend I've ever had.. funniest guy ever), one of our YSA friends, showed us some really cool old churches in downtown Huntsville this week. I will miss these beautiful Southern sights! 

Well, we're still trying to figure everything out. Balancing time between two wards is a bit difficult, but the challenge is exciting and definitely keeping us busy. It's good to be busy right now. Emotions are all over the place lately, as I'm so ready to be with my family again, but so scared to leave this place and these people. My people.

I have a lot of things to be grateful for today. Most importantly, that we've started meeting with a woman named Melissa. She's 29 with a husband and two kids, and has completely lost her faith. I knew when we first met her that I would connect with her, but as we've continued to meet I have been shown the mercy of the Lord in so many ways. So much of what she says to us mirrors exact fears and worries I expressed to my own missionaries when I was being taught. I can't adequately express the love and gratitude I feel to my Heavenly Father for allowing me the opportunity to serve, teach and love someone the way I was taken care of by instruments of the Lord. Just earlier the day we met her, I had been wondering if I would ever have one of those experiences you sometimes hear people talk about, where they met a certain person they KNEW they were sent on their missions to find. I truly feel that this is one of those experiences. I am filled with such tender feelings when Melissa expresses her frustration and fear that she will ever have the testimony she once had. I can still remember what it felt like to be void of hope. And at the same time, my heart swells with the knowledge that she can and will be able to feel that "perfect brightness of hope" again, and she relearns how to exercise faith in our Savior. I feel the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for Melissa, their unwavering patience and confidence in her ability to overcome this trial she now faces. Yesterday we talked about how sometimes "commitment comes before desire." When we feel we are in our 4th watch, with no sign of help in sight, we must keep holding fast to HOPE. And from that hope we find the faith to act, to keep reading the scriptures even if we don't understand why yet. To keep praying even when we aren't sure anyone if listening. It's in these moments when we are wrestling with ourselves, or with doubt, that we grow stronger. I admire Melissa and her husband (who is still very faithful and patient in helping his wife), for their courage and honesty in this trial. Sister Denney and I could both feel the guidance of the spirit in our conversation. We are going to continue to meet about twice a week. 

Well I love you guys so much, and hope you have a great week. Talk to you soon!

Love Sister Smith

One last adventure - 39 Days Left!!!

Hola,

So.. so much has changed this last week, it makes my head hurt. President called me last Tuesday morning and asked me to be a Sister Training Leader. (I was like uhh... are you sure you want me? lol). He then explained that he had a very specific and "unique" assignment for me, and asked if I was up for it. You're probably thinking what I'm thinking.. "The poor dear, that's sweet of President to make her feel special for her last transfer." Lol ANYWAY. He said I'd be opening a new area, and white washing with another STL. The new area basically combines two old ones, so we've got Huntsville-Madison YSA Branch (which covers two stakes), and the Capshaw ward. So stoked to still be working with YSA! There are a ton of Universities in Huntsville, but the main one is University of Alabama at Huntsville. Which is separate from UofA.. but somehow connected. It's confusing. I'm just grateful to still feel somewhat connected to my T-town. Leaving my people there was and still is dang hard. I'm sure it'll get easier once I get to know the students here. The whole vibe here is just different. 

Sister Denney and I were both so excited we almost screamed in the chapel when President said we'd be working together. We've been in the same district for a few months now. I love her dearly and am so happy I get to spend the last few weeks of my mission serving with her! Neither of us have been STLs before, so that's going to be interesting. Exchanges should be fun, we are over three companionships, including Sister Wright and her comp! It'll be fun to spend time with my old comp!

We didn't have an apartment for the first 24 hrs, so we stayed with the Hermanas Smith and Hale. Everything was just really chaotic, but we finally found an apartment, and spent the next day with the Barfuss's and Elders Featherstone, Demaso, Haar and Prestwich moving furniture into the new place, and getting settled. 

We've just been trying to get to know the area, and contact everywhere we go.

We got to play Ultimate Frisbee Saturday morning with some YSA. 

The Elders who were over the Capshaw ward last transfer were super disorganized, and didn't leave us with much to go off of.. It was nice to finally start meeting members at church on Sunday. 

Oh, and just so you know we have 6 HOURS OF CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY. Not including Ward/Branch council meetings. I will never complain about 3 hours of church again.

One really fun and cool thing we did was volunteer at Rock Steady!! It's a boxing gym for people fighting Parkinson's Disease. So awesome. We got to help a bunch of old people box. They were all so hilarious and witty. Most fun I've had in a while.
 One of the coolest things about Huntsville is the NASA space center. We're going to visit one of these P-Days.

This is by far the biggest city I've ever served in, or lived. It's pretty cool. Just really different. 

 Oh!! Little mission miracle! My former Elder Chase Currier and his wife live in Huntsville! We were able to connect, and they invited us to come have dinner at his family's home in Guntersville! (deep in the country.. so cute!)

 It was so good to see him again, and meet his cute wife and parents! Chase is the 9th of 10 kids. His parents have 19 grand-kids, and most everyone was there. Mass chaos, haha, so fun. A lot like home. 

Well, we gotta jet. Pray for us, lol. I love you guys! It's going to be an amazing last adventure.

Love Sis. Smith

New Address:

196 Jeff Rd #1604 

Huntsville, AL 35806

Until in Heaven We Meet

Hey!

So I don't have any time to write today.. Which is really sad, because we had a couple really great experiences. We met two girls on campus this week, who we were totally directed to speak to, and ended up teaching entire Restoration lessons on the spot because they were so prepared. Both accepted a Book of Mormon, and we plan to see again. I cherish those moments of being directed by the spirit. Don't have enough words for it right now. 

We received transfer news last night, and I am being transferred to a new area with a new comp for my last 6 weeks on the mission. I kind of expected it, because I got so much time in the Tuscaloosa YSA, but I did not anticipate how heart broken I would be! These students have become my people, I've met some of my closest friends out here! 

Our meeting with Elder Anderson was incredible. I had a very sweet experience as I prayed for my mind and heart to be open to the direction the Lord had for me, I was surprised by the direction my prayer took. I know it was lead by the spirit. I found myself saying to my Father in Heaven that I had never seen him or my Savior, but that I had faith that they were really there. As I looked around me at so many people that I love, I said to him that though I couldn't see him, I could see these people, and I could hug them and love them, and that the love I have for them feels like a gift from Him. So I would continue to love and serve them, and I would soon go home to love and serve my friends and family there, with hope and faith that by doing so I would gain a firm knowledge of Him and of my Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. Again, this surprised me, because I do feel that I have a testimony of them. But it's true, I haven't seen them. I have felt them, and I have felt what it's like to be used and directed by the Holy Spirit..

One of the most tender experiences followed that prayer, as I listened to an Apostle of the Lord give us direction of how to gain, and maintain a knowledge of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He told us that we were to record the experiences we have, and "seal them in our hearts." Because there WILL come a time in each of our lives when we will have to ask, "Do I know the Savior?" He gave us so much beautiful counsel, and I am so grateful for the confirmation I received through the Spirit, that he is indeed a Living Apostle of God. 

I have so much more to say, but will have to close for now. 

I will let you know as soon as I find out where I'm going. My time here in Tuscaloosa truly has been sacred, and I will seal it in my heart forever.

I love you

Love Teirs

University of Alabama Alma Mater

Alabama, listen, Mother,
To our vows of love,
To thyself and to each other, Faithful friends we'll prove.

Faithful, loyal, firm and true,
Heart bound to heart will beat.
Year by year, the ages through
Until in Heaven we meet.
College days are swiftly fleeting,
Soon we'll leave their halls
Ne'er to join another meeting
'Neath their hallowed walls.



Faithful, loyal, firm and true Heart bound to heart will beat
Year by year, the ages through
Until in Heaven we meet.

So, farewell, dear Alma Mater
May thy name, we pray,
Be rev'renced ever, pure and stainless
As it is today.

Faithful, loyal, firm and true
Heart bound to heart will beat
Year by year, the ages through
Until in Heaven we meet.