Week 2 - Huge Adjustments....Major Growth

Oh Mom! I can't tell you how happy I am to hear from you, and that you
found my note :') and that you have been surrounded with love and support.
I think about my family (especially my mom) and pray for you guys everyday.
I have needed you guys' love and simple notes all week, thank you for
loving and writing me. Wow.. thank you for sharing Marshall's message with
me!

Ok so real talk.. Spirit prison in REAL in exists within the walls of the
MTC. Haha.. no joke. I am totally fine, and going to be even better this
next week. But we are living straight up Hunger Games style up in here.
Every night at 10:15 a man's voice come over the loud speaker in our dorms
and tells us it's "quiet time." and then again at 10:30 to say "lights
out." It scares the crap out of me every time, and I half expect them to
announce the names of the tributes who didn't make it... BAHAHA! There are
more rules than there are missionaries, all of which go against my very
being ;) and we spend 9 hours a day in a classroom the size of Ann Frank's
closet... too far? I just keep reminding myself that this is NOT what the
field will be like, and that I am (hopefully) learning things that I'll be
able to draw back on once I leave (forever, cause I'm never coming back
here!Haha)

I really am ok though.. it's just a lot of change all at once. So my
companion is Sister Evans from SEATTLE! And we could not be more
different.. like in any way haha. She is awesome though, and has SO much
knowledge about the Gospel, which I am having to lean on a lot (more than I
wish).

 The companionship that we room with is Sister Cardon (from
Kaysville) and Sister Grayson (from WA as well!) They are both so sweet,
but we are ALL SO DIFFERENT. There have been a lot of struggles, but
luckily we have found some common ground to build on (more like a common
grain of sand.. but it's working). I do have the advantage of being the
oldest though (who'd of thought that would be the advantage right??) and
have found myself feeling more compassion, love and patients than I
previously thought possible under such difficult adjustments. They have all
expressed their gratitude for my sincerity and love in moments that could
have otherwise turned to mass chaos. You guys know me... I must truly be
receiving some divine help, and I couldn't be more grateful to be
contributing the what small way I can. I'm having a hard time being
discouraged by my lack of knowledge, but the blow is softened a bit by the
love and appreciation I feel when I can love or comfort those around me.

I wish I had more time!!! I'd love to give you some more details.. But I'm
going to try to get some pictures for ya. I love you so much more than I
can say Mom. I'll have to get you the names of everyone in the pictures
later. I'm going to send my roomies and our district. Sister Evans have the
short dark hair. Sister Grayson is the beautiful Aftican American girl and
Sister Cardon is the other.

AND please tell Dad how grateful I was to receive his Dear Elder note.. It
came at the perfect time when I was needing some encouragement.. Ok Sister
Evans is staring at me so I guess I better go.. for real, pray for us haha.
 Love you forever Xoxo -Teirs

  

Ok so this is funny, The other Sister in the polka dots is also Sister

Smith, and our companions were both wearing stripes.. And we look related

haha. Everyone calls us the cousins. Pretty great. I still don't know what

everything is called, but we're in the same Zone (I think that's the right

term).

We have some more time right now so I'm emailing you again, sorry about the

five emails today ;) I just want to get as much in as I can! So my feet are

a bit messed up right now because of all the new shoes! The only pair that

doesn't hurt too bad are the black heels, so Sister Evans and I were able

to take a field trip on the shuttle to the shoe store downtown Provo to get

the other three pairs stretched again.. Way annoying, but SO good to have a

break and get outside the prison I MEAN MTC walls. I think I'm ok with

everything else for now.. Most necessities can be bought on campus. I

really wish I would have brought my Toms, and more no show socks. I'll let

you know if I can think of anything I need, I think we can get special

permission to write if it's a necessity mid week.

We're required to email our branch Pres every week while we're here, and
mission Pres every week once we get to the field. So I better get on that.

Week 1 - Mom's first letter from her first Missionary!!!

It seems that both her dad and I had the same promptings, to send our first missionary some love for her first night in the MTC!! Never thinking that I would hear back from her, I didn't even check my email until the next evening, and to my utter excitement, she had been allowed to write me back, the day before!! Here is what she wrote, that made my heart glad:

Mom thank you for having an email waiting for me! That meant the world to me :) They are letting us send a quick email to ease the first night for both the fam and us. The second person I met here was Ann Rosier's other neice!! (Steve's neice) It was super awesome!! My companion's name is Sister Evans and she is from SEATTLE!! Haha another super awesome. My favorite thing so far was a musical number we got to hear sometime during

the madness today. Savior Redeemer with singer violin and piano. Wow.. I will keep doing my best. I love you so much! Love Sister Teirsa Smith

I'm so grateful and excited for this amazing time in our lives, and look forward with great hope, faith and love to what this amazing Sister will do as a servant of Christ.

MTC Drop-off Day!!!

What a whirlwind of a week!! So many emotions, feelings, thoughts, prayers, and virtural hugs!! Thank you everyone, you know who you are, especially if you're reading this blog! We love you!

These were the best, hot, delicious, gooey cinnamon rolls ever!! Every day should start out like this!!

Saying goodbye to the best friend ever is not an easy thing to do....but Charlie's love will go with her also, all the way to Alabama.

Lunch at Chilies, with a suit or dress, is a very common occurence on Wednesday's in Provo.... 

And, the final Countdown begins...

 What's better than one great Dad?

Two great Dads, of Course!!

 

        

It's hardest to say goodbye to Sisters!!

Thank Heavens for Brothers!!!

Did I mention how fantastic Brothers are?!!!

Bitter-Sweet Memory!

Mission Farewell Address - Fantastic Sunday!

On August 14th, Teirsa gave her mission farewell address in her home ward in Kaysville. It was truly a wonderful meeting for all the family and friends that were there to support her. After, we had a Southern Style BBQ, featuring foods from the Top 10 of Alabama:

~Smoked Brisket, Turkey & Chicken (generously donated by our great friends, Smok'n Bones Restaurant of Bountiful, Carol & Greg Wood ~ We LOVE You!)

~Cole Slaw

~Corn Bread (Of Course!!)~Banana Pudding (Who would've thought?!)

~Fresh Fruit and lots and lots and LOTS of Desserts

So many friends and family helped make this day absolutely perfect in every way!