Happy Monday!
How is everyone? Hopefully everyone is staying warm? I've heard that you've gotten a TON of snow lately and even a couple of snow days thrown in there? I wish that I could day that I know how you all feel, however, California is beautiful everyday. I think my poor companion gets sick of be telling her how beautiful and sunny it is... everyday.
Not only is the weather beautiful, but I'm reminded daily of how much God is preparing people's hearts here in California. We are so blessed to have and to continually be meeting so many people who are receptive to the gospel and who actually are interested in learning more.
For instance, I went on an exchange with an adorable Sister (Sister Saunders) this week. We went to Balboa Island and went contacting on the island. It was an absolute blast and we saw SO many miracles and prepared hearts. We talked to one guy who builds professional sandcastles! It was so cool that I'm seriously considering changing my career path. Haha. Just kidding, but anyways, we talked for a while. He showed us his process for creating sandcastles, and then we had a great discussion on God's love for his Children, and the Plan of Salvation. It was a super special experience and he even volunteered to make a giant sandcastle for us to let people know how cool "the Mormons" are. The Sisters who serve there are going to go back this week.
We also met this way gnarly guy named V. He was visiting Balboa for the week with some buddies from New Jersey! He had an awesome accent and we probably talked for 30 minutes on the street. We taught him parts of the Plan of Salvation and focused on how the atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to "meet our maker" with confidence. V invited us to come over and wants to talk to missionaries in New Jersey. He is Golden and Sister Saunders and I were so excited to see God work miracles through us. That we were able to be the vessels in which God could reach out and touch V.
Also, it was super cool because I also started talking with a way cool guy from Mexico in Spanish. He was doing yard work at one of the houses on the pier and said, "Buenos Dias" to us which started a whole conversation on Jesus Christ and what we as missionaries do. My Spanish was pretty rusty, however, he was impressed that a little "gringa" could speak Spanish. It was way cool!
These are just some of the many miracles that happened in the hour that we were contacting on Balboa Island. Miracles are happening. There are no such thing as coincidences. God is so good. I'm so grateful to be able to be apart of His work in the Irvine California Mission. There is no other place I would rather be. It's privilege to wear Christ's name over my heart everyday and to bear my testimony with strength and conviction to everyone I talk too. The Church is True. The gospel has been restored.
I love you all so very much!
I hope you all have a fantastic week!
Love,
Sister Smith
How is everyone? Hopefully everyone is staying warm? I've heard that you've gotten a TON of snow lately and even a couple of snow days thrown in there? I wish that I could day that I know how you all feel, however, California is beautiful everyday. I think my poor companion gets sick of be telling her how beautiful and sunny it is... everyday.
Not only is the weather beautiful, but I'm reminded daily of how much God is preparing people's hearts here in California. We are so blessed to have and to continually be meeting so many people who are receptive to the gospel and who actually are interested in learning more.
For instance, I went on an exchange with an adorable Sister (Sister Saunders) this week. We went to Balboa Island and went contacting on the island. It was an absolute blast and we saw SO many miracles and prepared hearts. We talked to one guy who builds professional sandcastles! It was so cool that I'm seriously considering changing my career path. Haha. Just kidding, but anyways, we talked for a while. He showed us his process for creating sandcastles, and then we had a great discussion on God's love for his Children, and the Plan of Salvation. It was a super special experience and he even volunteered to make a giant sandcastle for us to let people know how cool "the Mormons" are. The Sisters who serve there are going to go back this week.
We also met this way gnarly guy named V. He was visiting Balboa for the week with some buddies from New Jersey! He had an awesome accent and we probably talked for 30 minutes on the street. We taught him parts of the Plan of Salvation and focused on how the atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to "meet our maker" with confidence. V invited us to come over and wants to talk to missionaries in New Jersey. He is Golden and Sister Saunders and I were so excited to see God work miracles through us. That we were able to be the vessels in which God could reach out and touch V.
Also, it was super cool because I also started talking with a way cool guy from Mexico in Spanish. He was doing yard work at one of the houses on the pier and said, "Buenos Dias" to us which started a whole conversation on Jesus Christ and what we as missionaries do. My Spanish was pretty rusty, however, he was impressed that a little "gringa" could speak Spanish. It was way cool!
These are just some of the many miracles that happened in the hour that we were contacting on Balboa Island. Miracles are happening. There are no such thing as coincidences. God is so good. I'm so grateful to be able to be apart of His work in the Irvine California Mission. There is no other place I would rather be. It's privilege to wear Christ's name over my heart everyday and to bear my testimony with strength and conviction to everyone I talk too. The Church is True. The gospel has been restored.
I love you all so very much!
I hope you all have a fantastic week!
Love,
Sister Smith