The rain in Spain, it stops everything!

April 11, 2016

Dear family,

Wow! How strange another week!  I don't believe it. Anyways it's been a good one here in San Fernando I'll tell you about it:)

So for p day last week it was raining all day. So we started the day watching the last session of conference which was incredible and then we ended up just ordering pizza and staying at the chapel to chill and talk. It was actually super fun.

Then we went out to work, we started by going by to teach Y. It was awesome!  We were teaching her about lesson 3 and she started asking us questions more about lesson one. So we took a step back and taught a little better the restoration. My wonderful companion was so bold in the perfect way telling Y that the authority of God is found only in our church. It was a pretty powerful experience. But because our lesson went a little bit over we ended up needing to run all the way, in the rain, to another cita. You need to know something about rain in Spain. It stops everything!

It's like snow in Alabama. No one goes outside, no one does anything until hours after the sun comes back out.  So we were out in the rain alone;) running to our next cita, and we got there almost an hour late. 

When we got there they asked why on earth we had come?  Didn't we know it was raining? Standing there dripping wet we assured them we did in fact know it was raining. We laughed and taught a awesome first lesson. I am so excited to keep teaching them.

Tuesday afternoon we had an amazing lesson with a new investigator.  First off, there are few parts of the gospel that impact me more than the Atonement of our Lord and Savior.  I have a very deep rooted and personal testimony of the reality of repentance and the truth of forgiveness.  And it is my favorite gospel subject to testify of.  We went to teach this cute young lady who has had an incredibly hard life,  and has had to pass through some very, very hard times. Most of her trials coming because of other people's horrible decisions. This cute mother told us how she feels so lost like she doesn't know where to go.  She wants to go somewhere she can feel safe and surrounded by good people.  But most of all she wants the guilt she feels to be swept away. After she explained all of that to us, we had the privilege of testifying to her of the reality of repentance and the fact that she would not be held responsible for the choices of others. We testified that all the pain she felt could be taken away and that she could find her path with the help of the Savior. It was incredible. I love being
a missionary!

Wednesday morning we got to meet with G. Oh G!  Last time, we met we explained the Book of Mormon to him and told him to read it to know if it was true. This time, he came back with 15 pages (Not kidding) of evidence of why the Book of Mormon was not true. He began reading them off and even though I felt the urge to jump in and give him the reasons for all of the doubts, we just let him keep going. (It was easier for us then our cute member -  she got pretty frustrated;)) I honestly think after a while he could tell just how silly all of it was and he stopped reading this list and told us to defend the book.  Which we actually didn't end up doing. We simply asked him why he was meeting with us. And he told us how as he has begun looking into different churches.  He has found nothing but confusion as to what could be the truth. As we talked, it became evident that behind the show, he really wanted to know if what we were saying was true or not. Then we asked him if he has actually read the Book of Mormon, or only read about the Book of Mormon. He admitted to not having read much of the book for himself. So we simply told him we would talk more when he read the book for himself. It really is something wonderful to have so much confidence in the promise of the Book of Mormon. Knowing that if they read and ask, they will know. Even though we left with major headaches, we know he felt the Spirit.

Then we taught English classes! I came again and gave us both sea shells. Man I love her!  J also brought parts of his test that he took recently so we could help him understand why he had gotten some questions wrong.  Man! That English test was hard! They laughed at us and told us they didn't feel so bad for failing it now. They also got a kick out the word sneaky, we couldn't find a translation for it! V gave us some, but I'm still deciding if I can trust it. Members think it is really funny to give missionaries weird words.

Then we went by to teach who we thought would be J and T. But we got there and poor T was there with her two kids running around trying to do about a billion things. The poor lady works all week and so only has one day a week to do the cooking for a family of 5. It became clear, the best message we could share would be one of love and service. So we started helping her fix the meals for the week.  I ended up peeling skin off raw chicken... And all sorts of adventures! But we got to serve her for just a little and tell her how loved she was.

Then we went to C’s house and found it filled with non member friends! Missionaries dream! So we went in and got to teach them. Turns out they live in Chiclana, but hey!  It was a great experience!

Thursday we taught Y again, but this time we brought M. Oh my!  Perfect.  M walks in and sits down to the lesson and shares the most powerful testimony of the restored gospel I have ever heard! It was like the Spirit smacked all of us in the face, in a gentle, loving Spirit like way.  It was a game changer. Seriously, members testimonies are so powerful when they are able to say, I remember what this was like. This was my answer.

Friday we had zone meeting! It was really good.  We talked about the importance of goals and how they help us make every single day count. On the way over to get food as a zone, Hermana Cole and I were ahead of everyone, Claro, Because food is important. We ran into G - he talked to us for a bit, and then kept walking. It was super funny to see his reaction as he ran into a wall of nearly 30 missionaries right behind us. I guess you can say it's kinda a cool sight to see all of us together.

We had correlation that night with M and D.  I love our missionary team!  As we were talking to D I realized just how much this area has grown in the past couple months. It is always nice to reflect on everything we have done and see that, in fact, we are doing something.

We also taught I that night! It was awesome! We reviewed lesson one trying to resolve any doubts she might have. We found none and when she came to church on Sunday, she started by telling D that she wanted him to be the one to baptize her! Yeah, it was pretty cool.

Saturday morning for workout we ran to the church and played basketball with the elders. We played horse because the ball was flat.  But we wanted to get a good workout so we started running ladders if we missed. Turns out as long as I can throw it like a water polo ball, I've got a pretty good aimI  So I didn't have to run too many ladders;)

Saturday we got to teach S again. Yay!  Then we went back to piso for medio dia and left early so we could open the chapel for a EFY or FSY meeting.  EFY here is huge!  They only get to do it once every other year so when it happens, it is a big deal.

Anyway Saturday night started and we were both drained and tired. We were trying to pass by people but no one was home and we were just done. So we sat down on a bench to re-evaluate our lives. We called our district leader for a 5 second pep talk. He reminded us of the people waiting for us to find them and then told us he would call back in 2 hours and expect to hear a miracle.  So here's what happened...

Miracle one  - We stood up off of that sad lonely bench and got to work.

Miracle two -  as we were walking I casually pointed out to Hermana Cole a home where an investigator lives. She shouted, Yay! Let's go! Grabbed my arm quite forcefully, and dove into the road. Problem -  She forgot to look both ways and didn't see the van who was also planning on using the road. Thankfully their brakes worked very well and we all walked away laughing.

Miracle three -  we both felt like we should go by and try and see R because she is almost never home. We had already tried earlier that morning and she wasn't there, but we decided to try again.  We managed to make it up the stairs and got to the door.  After what felt like ages, which probably translates to about 10 seconds,V throws open the door and welcomes us inside. Man was it nice to see someone happy to see us at their door! Sometimes on the mission there isn't too much of that!  Not only was R home, but also a friend
of V’s was there.  She is German and has been living in London and decided to come back with V for a little while and visit Spain. She is one of the happiest people I have ever met and made the whole experience really fun! We sat down and got to share a quick message, but we did it in English!  Wow!  That was hard. I found myself struggling for words and needing to pause a lot to really think about what I was saying.  But because I have a tendency to rush through everything, I think it was probably better that way. I felt the Spirit, so I know she did.  It was a little awkward at the end of the lesson because I could not for the life of me remember how to close a lesson in English!  I started, "that’s what we wanted to share with you and... And....!" So embarrassing!  V had to help me close. But everyone except me thought that it was pretty funny.

They asked us to stay for dinner, it was 9:45 PS so normal Spanish dinner time, but we were fasting so V gave us some snacks to keep in our bags. Someone served a mission and knows what's up. If you ever have the missionaries over, give them something to go. They are life savers!

On the way home a man saw our Book of Mormon that we literally always carry rain or shine and stopped us and asked if he could meet with us and learn more about it.  Let's just say Elder Mitchell our DL) got a list full
of miracles. Funny what God can do if you will just get up off the bench.

So Sunday. Wow! Okay. You should know we were planning on having 6 of our friends come to church.  3 of them were supposed to come walking and we were gonna go pick them up. Well then it rained.  Remember about rain in Spain? We were sitting in consejo [council meeting] and heard it start and I just put my face in my hands and wanted to die.  But P, who is one of my favorite humans, offered to bring his girlfriend and take us to all of our investigators and pick them up.  We passed by, and one excuse after another, none of them came. (Except I, who came with C, two of my other favorite humans) but Hermana Cole and I got to sacrament meeting late and sat down pretty discouraged.  D was sitting up on the stand and saw our faces and our lack of investigators and guess what had happened?  It was fast and testimony meeting and D stood up as soon as he could and started talking about missionary work.  Normal. Everyone here knows D loves missionary work.  But then he started talked about Hermana Cole and I, specifically telling the ward how much he loved working with us and all the work he sees us doing.  He looked right at us and told us we were incredible missionaries and that it was a privilege to work with us.  All during this time different members leaned over and started telling us similar things. My personal favorites where C leaning over and saying, "it's all lies, you aren't that cool" in a nice joking way, “I promise.” P turned back and shook his head and finger at us for laughing. Then M C leaned forward and whispered, " I completely agree with my son for the record."  Both Hermana Cole and I were so touched by that we forgot about the let downs from earlier. This is an incredible ward.

Sunday night we had Elder Mitchell and Yates and D come to our piso and re-dedicate it as a place of learning and where the Spirit could be. It was a really cool experience.  Also it made us clean the piso a ton during the week, so now it's like a whole new place that I love!

That night we met with J. Oh my!  J didn't come to church today and we ended up just getting real with him about his baptism. His mom told us she thought we should push it back again until May.  And I had a pounding headache and could feel myself getting angry.  So we stopped everything and said a prayer.  My headache disappeared and I explained to J that since I have been here, we have been doing that - pushing it back again and again.  And that frankly, I didn't think that was going to help him get his answer.  He needed to really commit personally to look for this answer.  We talked about a lot of different things but in the end, he agreed and we are going to push forward. I was so glad that we listened to the Spirit and that I didn't let my temper get the best of me.

Man the mission is flying by. And I love every second of it. Thanks for encouraging me to come and respecting that it needed to come from me.  I know that if I didn't know God wanted me here, I would have given up a long time ago. But here I am because it's true and the best work on the earth.

Love you,

Hermana Smalley

After feeling for so long we were not making any difference, God gave us miracles

April 4, 2016

Dearest family,

What an incredible week it has been to be a servant of the Lord here in Spain. What a blessing, it will never stop amazing me.

With all the craziness from Semana Santa, Easter was really different. The last day of Semana Santa is Easter, and celebrates the resurrection so we celebrated Christ's resurrection without the bunny and all that jazz. It was way better.

Monday night we received a text 10 min before lights out. Hermana Cole and I were already in bed ready to sleep. So with my sass, I grabbed the phone and said it better be someone important! It was President Anderson … humbled! He asked if we could switch our interview times so we could open the church. So Tuesday morning we headed to the church and did our interviews. I had the chance to talk with Hermana Anderson before my interview with President which is always a special time for me. Then I got to talk to President.

Wow it was exactly what I needed. Although the details of this interview are not something I feel should be shared there are a few topics I would like to share with all of you. We began by talking about my training with Hermana Cole. I expressed to him my concern that in my excitement to teach I sometimes forget to create opportunities for my new companion to speak and feel how powerful and important her witness is. I have a habit of dominating lessons, which I have tried to subdue almost my whole mission. President Anderson said something to me that changed my perspective. He said "Hermana I'm going to share with you something my mission president shared with me: It is easier to reign back an over eager horse than to deal with a horse who won't move no matter how hard you whip it, isn't it funny Hermana that your biggest problem seems to be loving to much, or being too good at what you do. We can work with that". It made me realize over again that as long as we give God our energy - all our “animo” and love he can work with our imperfect results. But there will never be an excuse for just laying back and doing nothing. God can't work with us unless we give him something to work with.

Also because time did not allow I didn't have time to bring up something that was weighing on my heart. As I opened my mouth to bring it up president stopped me and said, "To finish Hermana Smalley, I feel impressed to share something with you." He then told me that he has prayed to be able to see each of us through the eyes of our Savior and our Father in Heaven”. He told me that to see me and my work here brings nothing short of a smile to both of their faces and that they love me and are here to work with me. That all of my actions, even with my inadequacy and failures are sufficient for them. Tears came to my eyes as what was in my heart melted away and I was filled with the spirit. He also told me that in order to see the love God has for others, we must see and know the love he feels for us. I realized how often with the pretense of humility we shove away the thoughts Heavenly Father sends affirming our own beauty and worth in his eyes. Doing it is just a manifestation of our own pride. How clever of the adversary to stoke our pride by making us think we are humble. I testify that the ministering of angels is real, and that in His love and mercy God allows us at times to be His hands and ease the fears and pain of others. Hermana Cole taught me this week, that any time we have comforted or helped another, we ease the pain Christ felt in the garden. How incredible that power each of us have.

It was also one of the most amazing experiences to sit down with my mission president and hear him pray specifically for me, and all of you. I felt the spirit come into the room in ways I had only felt in the temple. We are all so loved!

Later we hopped on a train and headed to Cadiz for district meeting. As always, it was wonderful. We took some crazy pictures and actually got to get to know the members of our district a little. Because the rest of the district are all in the same ward, and we are in a different city, we sometimes feel a little bit the outsiders. But hey we like it ;)

That afternoon we met up with David and taught J. When we got to their building the whole front

wall was missing. We all stood out there wondering what to do. Then U popped her head out and told us to come in. As we sat down and started lesson, construction started and made it impossible to hear a word being said. We all moved into a smaller room and managed to teach a lesson that was super good and we are trying so so hard to keep J’s spirits up about his baptism. Then we ran across town to meet with MA & E to teach English to them. Turns out they had been so impressed with us last time they began looking things up about the church and were full of questions when we got there. It was awesome! Then we finished the day talking with our bishop about our investigators and making some plans.

Wednesday morning we came to the church and opened it for interviews again and did studies in the chapel. We then met with Yolanda who taught us about the family history center so we can use it better in missionary work. Spaniards have a deep love for their families that extends generations. It is really going to be such a powerful tool for us. Man I love the people here.

Then we went and taught M and his cute family again. We talked to them about eternal families. We told them of the sealing ordinance and that this was the reason we were such pests about baptism for the whole family. His wife told us she could never get there because she was trapped in her addiction to smoking and drinking.  It saddened me to see that despite our best efforts to help her she refused to believe she could change to be with her family forever. In the end she agreed to try with us.

Wednesday night we had English class and the Elders taught about the words needed to build a home. They said, "Okay we have a family and they want to build a house, what do they need to do?" J raised his hand and said "get married"! That brought a chorus of cheers form Hermana Cole and I! Then we had a Noche de Hogar with the JAS [young single adults] after that was super fun. We taught about the Book of Mormon. Then we played pictionary and charades. Which Hermana Cole and I are both rubbish at in Spanish but it was super fun and our investigators had a great time!

Friday we ate with P&A again. I had never had so much food given to me in my life. But S&L came so it became a competition between me and S. So one heaping bowl of pallea, a huge plate of baked potatoes with tomatoes and peppers and a brownie later I won, then proceeded to cry on the way home it hurt so bad!

That night we were supposed to teach J again but he wasn't there, so we went with David to teach M (different one) and we had a really good lesson. When J wasn't there David yelled at the building, "rubbish! This is rubbish!" Super funny then as we were walking we started talking about transfers and stuff. Truth be told I'm probably in my last weeks here in San Fernando. I desperately hope not but probably. On the way out of the lesson David got super excited about missionary work and started ringing random doorbells as we walked away. It was an adventure.

Now the miracles. As we were walking to our morning plan, a member called wanting us pick up her son’s girlfriend and teach her. So we did and brought her to conference! She is super cute and we are so excited to continue teaching her. But as soon as we got off that call, another member called us. She told us that her friend is at her house and we should come now and teach her. So we did. She is incredible. We are so excited to teach her! 

Then Sunday Morning they had priesthood session and of course we don't go to that. Our leaders told us we could do what we want. We decided we wanted to work. We made plans but that morning, we didn't feel good about our plans. Before leaving we prayed and asked that if our plans weren't right, that we would know what to do. Well our plans did fall through. As we walked away, another member called. A friend of hers had taken the lessons some time ago. The friend’s daughter was baptized but not her friend. Her friend had just called her telling her she wanted to learn more about the church. The member gave us her number and we called right away. This lady said we could come over that moment, and  we did. She sat down and said that she wanted to know if all of this was true. She wanted to be baptized and she wanted us to help her.

After so long here in San Fernando, working so hard, feeling as if we were just beating our heads against a wall not making any difference, God comes in and gives us a miracle. I almost broke down crying. God is preparing people. We just need to be worthy and ready. Those words were the most beautiful I have ever heard. We asked her what baptism would mean for her and she said, “a new start. Being free from this burden that I have inside of me and being filled with the love of God.”

Odds are she will not be baptized while I am here. But what does that matter. What a miracle. Seeing this area change and grow under my care (well not mine at all), under the Father’s care has been one of the biggest miracles of my mission.

Conference was incredible. I am so happy we had the chance to feel of the love of the brethren. President Uchtdorf’s talk was incredible. I have such a love for obedience. I truly feel that when we embrace obedience as the best way to do things rather than restrictions we are made free.

I love you all so much. You are such a strength to me!

Hermana Smalley

We just decided this whole being sick thing wasn't working for us, and we were done

March 28, 2016

Dearest family,

Well this week was Semana Santa here in Spain. I think all I should say here is just look it up. Look up pictures of Semana Santa. It has been really culturally interesting, but as far as religiously it makes me just a little sad. When in everything God has done he has kept it small and simple, why would he ask something so extravagant. I'm sorry if that came out more negative than I meant it to. It certainly was interesting.

Anyway another lesson learned by Hermana Smalley comes from my sweet companion Hermana Cole. I mentioned this last letter that we were sick, Well that continued on into this week and it became obviously that we needed to rest and take it easy. But I was being stubborn. Hermana Cole pointed out that when Moses was called as a prophet he tried to tell God that he couldn't because he was slow of speech. But he forgot something. God made his mouth and so he knew what Moses was capable of. And he provided a way for him to accomplish the work that he needed to. Likewise God made my body. He knows what he needs from me, but I am not showing respect for a gift from God if I don't take care of this gift. Wow I hope that made sense but moral of the story: We had to take it easy this week and it was a good thing.  During Semana Santa missionary work can be a little difficult because no one is home so it was good that we had this week to get better.

Monday we rested all day just trying to get better, then Tuesday morning we had district meeting.

Half way through the JAS came in and kicked us out because they were watching the face to face with Elder Holland. When Carlos walked in he just yelled, "Hermana Smalley! Get out, we just can't get away from you!" It made me feel pretty good about myself ;) it was a pretty funny district meeting actually then after we headed back to San Fernando and worked that night.

Because of Semana Santa we got trapped in our area. It was kinda funny because every time we tried to cut up a street there were people in robes and pointy hats with candles walking. There were so many people on the streets we would squirm our way up to the street only to run right into a procession. I won't lie. It was kinda terrifying. All the people were laughing at us two little girls running up and down in the streets lost and confused. We liked it.

Wednesday morning we had to stay in and rest some more, then we worked that night. Not much to report. More running away from processions and then taught English classes. It was actually super cool because we found out two of our students who had not been interested in the church before, want to receive the lessons. We were so excited! On the way home we ran into David and had a correlation on the way home. He made fun of us because we knew where all of the crosswalks were because he never uses them. It was actually really nice to talk to him because he kept telling us that we were doing great work and not bad missionaries from staying in and resting. So, we have officially included David in the club of our friends.

Thursday night we taught U&J, and set a baptismal date for J. We were so excited! Then that night we got to teach J&T as well.  Friday we managed to work the morning but I was just feeling super sick so we went home and rested. Bleh. The Elders brought us some food and gave us blessings and just told us to take care of ourselves. So we did. The SHEs called us to see how we were doing, then David called us from Madrid and asked if we were doing better. Because he served his mission in England he was talking to us in English and when he found out we weren't feeling good he said, "Hermanas! I command you to go home! You have to go home!" I said, “David I have 8 more months left on my mission I won't go home!” And he said, " What!? No no no no no. Not home. The flat! Go to the flat and rest! If you need anything tell me! I'm in Madrid but I know people. I'll call them."

Everyone and their dog called us this week asking how they could help us feel better. It made us feel pretty loved.

Saturday we just decided this whole being sick thing wasn't working out for us, and we were done. And we went out and worked and we got better! I mean not perfectly but we did work all day and we were so happy.

Then we had church. I love church. It was so fun! Carlos brought Iris and we just had a great time. I am so sorry this week just was not the most eventful. But we are better now!

Today we had a huge BBQ for all the Hermanas in Chiclana. It has been so fun to just be with everyone laughing and eating food.

I love the mission. I'm so glad that Heavenly Father has put me here to learn and grow and that every day I learn more.

Hermana Smalley

Apparently everyone in the mission now knows how stubborn I am

March 21, 2016

Dear family,

I'm hoping you will understand the title as this email goes on, but this week we put together the missionary task force for our ward, thankfully all the RMs (returned missionaries) in our ward decided to let us on it. But it has been quite the adventure but so much fun!

I should probably start by apologizing in advance for this email, it might not make too much sense. Hermana Cole and I have been under the weather since last Sunday and finally have decided to take it a little easy. But my brain is a bit shot at the moment. So hopefully you will be able to make some sense of everything that has happened this week.

Tuesday morning we had district meeting. It was actually the saddest district meeting I have ever been to. Hermana Cole and I were sick, as well as elder Mitchell and Hermana Sanchez. So out of our 6 person district 4 were a little out of it. But that didn't keep us from learning together and having a good time. We all laughed about it in the end. After district meeting Hermana Cole and I had an eating cita with P and A. We're were kinda nervous just because eating had been a little hard for us, but we went and when we got there A answered the door and said, "Hermanas what are you doing? We don't have a cita” (appointment). Slightly embarrassed but so grateful we apologized and went home.

That night we had a cita with some awesome people who asked if we could come over to teach English. We had a great time getting to know them and then of course offered to share a little of our message. I know they got more than they bargained for, we got to establish an awesome foundation with them and I am really excited to see where it goes from there.

Wednesday morning we didn't get to teach anyone, but that didn't stop us from trying. We got to our door with 2 min to spare before mediodia, so we went to go find one more person to talk to. We contacted this man who wasn't very interested and ended up walking away midway through the contact. Awkward but normal. So we laughed it off and turned around only to see Victor sitting on his moto laughing at us. He had seen us contacting so pulled over to talk to us just in time to see the contact go south. We had a good laugh about it.

Wednesday night was actually such a good night. We taught English classes and some of my favorite students came again and we convinced them to stay for the noche de Hogar afterwards. So Iri is one of those students. She is a JAS [young adult] aged girl who knows the church because the Elders helped her father quit smoking. We haven't been able to teach her because she made it clear she wasn't interested. But we told her she could practice English with some of the JAS. So she stayed. In the end she had such a good time she forgot completely about English! So Ir also came to the noche de Hogar which was such a miracle because she has such little time.  So it started out us 4 girls. Then in walks  D, N, Ch, V, Ca, DM, and the Elders. It was then that I realized that we have an excess of JAS males in this ward. Interesting dynamic when all the investigators are girls. But finally E came in and saved the day. We had a super good time and it was the first real act of the missionary task force in San Fernando. Because afterwards E grabbed Isa's hand and starts showing her the chapel and explaining everything and Ir asked DM for a blessing. It was one of the most spiritual blessings I've ever heard and an amazing experience for Ir. Then we walked Ir home and Ca offered to walk with us talking about his conversion with Ir. The whole evening was just so perfect and both of our investigators had such a good time.

Thursday we got to teach Y again. It was so good she has officially made it three chapters into the Book of Mormon and told us she believes it comes from God. Hermana Cole and I were ecstatic. We tried to re-explain what that would really mean for her and her family, but for some reason I'm not sure she really understood what we were trying to explain. But we will just be clearer and bolder and eventually with the help of the spirit I know she will understand and see the need to be baptized. Later we went and taught ML and family with D. It was super funny because we were waiting outside for D who was running late and ML sees us standing outside her house and was like, what are you waiting for? We explained and it turned into the whole family waiting on the balcony for David and yelling at him for being late when he got there. We got to teach a fun lesson on the true church. What that phrase really means. I have realized that often we throw that phrase around like it is nothing. But what does it really mean that this is the true church of Christ.

To prepare for the lesson Hermana Cole And I spent a lot of time reading the talk by Elder Christofferson one of my favorite parts was when he talked about how God’s ultimate purpose is our progression and he chooses to use a church to help us learn and grow, how the church is about more than just feeling spiritual, it's about serving and becoming.

We finished by testifying of what it means to say this is the true church. I'd like to share with you my thoughts. I know that this is the true church of Christ. And that means that he is at the head. The counsel and guidance we receive from living prophets comes from a god in heaven who loves me just as much as he loved those in ancient times. His authority is found here and through following the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become all that He knows we can. The church is here to help us follow that path. There really is such power in that simple statement. I hope we never take it for granted.

After that lesson we had to run across town to meet up with V to go to another lesson. We scheduled this lesson earlier in the week with an Antiguo investigator but after reading his registro I was a little concerned because it seemed like he just liked to argue rather than listen. So naturally we were a little nervous to have a member with us, because I have been massacred in front of members before and I really wasn't looking forward to it again. But when we got there V asked if we could offer a prayer and he simply asked that the spirit could be with us and that we would be able to teach. And it was the coolest lesson ever.

I have always wondered how Elders teach, and I got to see just a little bit of it with V. And anytime M got carried away talking, V would just cut in and turn the time back over to us. We got to establish a relationship and invite him to be baptized. It was just super cool. On the walk home V started asking us about how the members could help us better in missionary work. We had an awesome conversation. I promise that there is a point to me sharing so much of this, but he told us he was sorry that all of his friends currently live in Cadiz so he didn't have people we could teach but he also told us he had signed up for all sorts of activities trying to make friends here. It was really nice to hear how much faith he had in the converting power of the gospel. Often we hear so much from members, o but I've already talked to all my friends they don't want anything. But Victor was like, that's no excuse, make new friends!

He also said something that kinda shocked me a little, he laughed and said, "oh sisters, missionary work is just so easy!" Dead tired sick Hermana Smalley and Cole tried really hard not to get angry. Because sometimes it just isn't. But I realized later what he was saying, sharing the gospel is easy. It is the most beautiful message anyone could hear.  It is truly the good news that needs to fill the earth. And opening our mouths to share it is so easy! If we let the joy the gospel brings fill us. I realized after talking to Victor that my faith took a little bit of a hit last transfer when everything fell apart. I stopped expecting baptisms. I stopped expecting investigators in church. I went through the motions without the hope that they would bring results.

I wish each of you could have a chat with Victor about missionary work and how easy it can be. But because you can't I want to encourage you to remember the joy the gospel brings to your life. Remember the experience of your mission. And allow that to encourage you to move forward and share it! President Morales said something that has really stuck with me, at if we aren't doing what we can to share this gospel we aren't living up to our covenants. And it is true! There are opportunities all around if we are praying and listening to the spirit. Please take advantage of them. I want to share some scriptures with you that really impacted me.

D&C 123 11 And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart-

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven--

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

It is our duty and a cause that we can wear out our lives for. Sharing this good news with everyone.

Anyway. Friday morning we got to teach G again and it went well, he, as always had a million questions. But he told us that as he has been looking for God he has found himself happier and he feels the closest to God when he is with us. That night we got to teach cute Ir again and then the Elders gave us some blessings to help us keep going. Just because we still weren't feeling awesome and Satan was making us feel like bad missionaries for it.

Saturday morning Hermana Cole called the SHEs on me because I literally was miserable but didn't want to stop working. I talked it over with them and then we still went out and worked that morning. But I was so out of it I got us hopelessly lost and the Elders found us. Turns out we were in their area. That explains why I was so lost! We had an eating cita with Victor and his mom during mediodia. It was pretty funny because we were both so done. Stomachs killing us, and we get to victors house and he is like. I hope you guys like spicy food because I made some super spicy curry! I almost died on the spot. But Carlos came over to eat with us and he made such a fuss about the spice that no one paid too much attention to Hermana Cole and I slowly dying ;) nah it wasn't that bad it was actually super good. We got to teach R lesson 2 on the plan of salvation. It was a really interesting dynamic to be teaching with Victor but the investigator being his mom. But he bore amazing testimony of the plan and it was super good. Second act of the missionary task force was the tag team efforts of Carlos and Victor during that lesson.

We finally made our way back to piso and found that our door was covered in hearts and sweets. Then the SHEs popped out and surprised us. They had been so worried about us from the globe call earlier that they came to check on us. They ended up staying with us that night to work and I really was so grateful. I don't know that I could have gotten through that night any other way. First we had correlation. Third act of the mission task force. David Victor Carlos and the Hermanas huddled outside for correlation because there wasn't a woman in the chapel. But it was a really good correlation and we talked a lot about what we can do to help our investigators keep commitments (chapter 11). After correlation we went to meet up with the SHEs. After convincing them that we could still work I went with Hermana Watson to J & T’s house. We got to teach an awesome lesson and start teaching J’s brother. It was such a miracle.

Then it was Sunday! We had ward counsel and it was the best one yet! Victor talked with the bishop and made sure we started by talking about missionary work. It changed the whole thing! Everyone finally knew our investigators and how to help them! After Hermana Cole and I went to wait for M who said he would come. Victor came over and asked what we were doing and we told him. He got way excited and said, "sisters come on let's go find him!" And I said "walking out the front door won't help him get here any faster Victor" and Victor walks out the front door and what do you know. There was M. Victor saw my look of shock and said, "Revelation sister." We had a good laugh and then brought him into sacrament meeting. It was a beautiful thing to see our whole ward turn into the mission task force. M had such a good time and the whole ward was so excited to have him there. We loved it. When it came time for the third hour M was going to leave but our bishop walked in threw his arm around M and said. We are waiting for you to start the next part come on! So he stayed. It was so funny and beautifully effective. Then right before we left David's mom came up to us and handed us some food and said I just felt like you might need this!

I almost broke down crying. She had no idea we were out of food, and really hadn't had appetites for days because of our stomachs. It was the simplest act of kindness that just saved us! When the time to work came, we both felt awful. But went out anyway. We managed to work for an hour and a half then I saw my companions face. She literally looked like she was going to die. I realized how selfish I had been! I don't mind pushing my body to the edge but my poor companion doesn't need to suffer for that. We decided to go home and rest for an hour. We got home and the she's called us and confined us to piso for the night. We rested and then this morning got a call from Hermana Anderson who told me that I needed to stop being so stubborn and take it easy. Apparently everyone in the mission now knows how stubborn I am because the district leader, the SHEs, and president now were calling to tell us to slow down. So this p-day (today) we are gonna rest all day and then work tonight and see how it goes. Hermana Anderson said, "now Hermana Smalley, I know your Smalley family scripture and this needs to be a small day of rest so you can bring to pass great things later." We laughed together and I finally gave up and took the hint.

Anyway I don't want you to think that we are completely dead. It's just always been hard for me to know the limit. Especially with such precious time like the mission. But we are taking care of ourselves and seriously had the coolest week!

I also wanted to share one last thing super quick then I'll be done;) this last week McKay wrote me a letter. That I don't think he knows how much he helped me. He encouraged me to work every day a little harder. Trying to be better. He told me that he wished we could be companions for just one day, this week I have thought of that a lot. How cool that would be to go out with my big brother and teach. Then I realized that was exactly what the missionary task force is. Turns out McKay that all of them are your age, none are as cool as you;) and I still would love to teach with you, but for now we are working with them and whenever we do, I just imagine a Spanish speaking McKay and Joel. Anyway random weird fact. But this ward is incredible and takes such good care of us!

You are all wonderful keep your heads up! And wake up every day the way we do, yelling "HOY ES EL DIA!! Y voy a ser mejor"

Hermana Smalley

It was my most awkward fatal contact ever

March 14, 2016

Dearest family,

Can I just say how much I love you all and how dear each of you are to me. Just know that even if I don't have time to respond and share all my love that with each of your letters I laugh and cry and basically make a fool of myself. Elder Jenkins always used to say, "I love reading emails with Hermana Smalley is because it's like I have two families" so just know I annoy everyone but I love reading them ;)

As I said in the title this week seriously just flew by. I really have just come to adore this place and these people. I am so grateful to be here in San Fernando working with these incredible people. I know this transfer just started but the changes lurk on the horizon making me want to work as hard as I can here while I still can! It's been an interesting thing, how here I have worked so much with the members and seen so much desire from them that has made me want to give even more to this work, and yet we still haven't seen much success where as in other areas working on our own we did with not nearly as much effort. But I can tell you that I have learned more here than anywhere else. And here to see someone enter the waters of baptism would be the greatest thing imaginable, funny how when you work for something more it brings more value.

Random, let's get started.

Monday we got to meet with Y again. And she told us how much she has loved what she was reading in the Book of Mormon. It was incredible and we got to teach about the plan of salvation and we just felt the spirit super-duper strong. The more we teach her the more I am convinced that Heavenly Father wants that lady on his team. Because we were walking past her and I felt so strongly we needed to contact her we turned back. I already told you it was my most awkward fatal contact ever. But she let us in and the spirit has just been so strong every lesson. It has left me a little in awe.

Tuesday I missed my first train in Spain. Ugh I was so mad. I've never missed one before and then the train station went and changed the schedule we missed the train by two minutes thinking we were there 10 min early. Livid. All of my companions know that trains stress me out and I always freak out so we won't be late, then it happened. Had to happen sometime I guess.  So anyway we had to wait an hour and were an hour late to district meeting. Poor Elder Mitchell already had to end early because we had an eating cita. So basically we cut his time in half and did district meeting express. So random funny story. Because we missed the train the tickets we bought didn't work, but we double checked with a worker and he said it should be fine. Okay so we trusted. Well to get off the train in Cadiz there is a gate you have to put your ticket through for it to open. Well it rejected our ticket. And there was no one there to help. Next thing I know, Hermana Cole shimmied through the gap in the gate and started walking away. Not wanting to be left alone I did the same. Only to look back and see security cameras... If I come home next week you will know it was Hermana Coles fault. What a great trainer I know ;)

Tuesday night we sat down with our bishop and talked with him about all of our investigators and he was really excited about it, and also forbade us to go back to one of our investigators. If I have learned one thing on my mission it is that I don't like being told not to do something especially with my investigators. But Heavenly Father has helped me so much to be humble enough to accept and follow through on council. Here the members are pretty protective of the Hermanas. They don't want us going certain places for our safety, not realizing that we go there on a daily basis and it's fine. But hey, it's that whole pride thing that I'm kicking in the butt, not to think "yeah I'm a Hermana and I do what I want and go where I want. We can handle it!" But say instead," okay, you know this town better than we do and need all the help we can get"

Wednesday morning we met with our friend G. We taught him in a park just the standard lesson zero. But we met him Friday morning in the chapel with a member. Wow. It was incredible. He curious about us, and had found some anti-Mormon material and has a lot of questions about it. Well turns out, some members there doing family history and were more than happy to sit down and talk with him and us. Spanish people have a way of talking that can be kinda hard if you aren't used to it. Basically talking over people isn't rude at all, so whoever talks loudest and longest gets to talk. Well our members won. And he left "astonished" at all he had learned about our church. Members are so key. And they were so excited after the lesson!

Wednesday night we had classes de ingles. It was pretty good. We had an awesome turnout and just has a lot of fun teaching about food. Afterwards the JAS [young adults group] had planned a noche de Hogar for all of the investigators to come and the JAS leader Carlos had invited us of course. So we invited Ir and went with her. It was so so fun. We played jungle speed and Hermana Cole and I lost horribly. There was no mercy for us. But the one time Hermana Cole cleanly grabbed the totem she stood up and did a victory dance. It was pretty funny, I got into a fight twice for the totem and had to give in because ... you know, I’m a missionary.

Friday we had correlation with David and got to arrange some stuff for next week. It was pretty exciting! He has been asking us to work on including the members more in the work so it has become a companionship goal for us and it has been working, yay!

We got to teach Ir that night, which was so awesome. She comes in and starts dancing telling us that her mother’s cancer tests came back super low and that everything is coming together incredibly! We all did a happy dance and just cried a little bit. When I saw President Morales the next day he came straight over to us to ask about Ir and he started crying when we told him. He is an incredible man. Anyway we had a super spiritual lesson with Ir. Because we sat down and Hermana Cole and I both felt that we shouldn't teach the lesson we had planned. But that brings up the question: What do we teach? We said an opening prayer and just started talking about faith trying to listen for the spirit. Well what do you know, the spirit told us what she needed to hear and we had an incredible lesson.

Oh yeah. then I turned 20! Strange, to be honest I woke up and just felt strange. Because I didn't know what to do. The day everyone says is about you, and I was still waking up early ;) didn't quite fit. Don't worry, I got up early and did everything, and quickly snapped out of it and realized that the date didn't matter. This day was no more about me than any other day. What an amazing way to spend said day: serving others. Hermana Cole made me breakfast and then off we went. We taught J right off the bat. It was an interesting lesson ;) We then went over to T’s house to help her keep moving in and cleaning. Poor thing, she’s working all the time, her kids just got chicken pox, and she still isn't even moved into the house. Her husband who is less active was there and we got to have some really great conversation with him.

On Monday we bought food for a birthday meal, but V (RM, mom is our investigator) invited us over to eat on Saturday. So we ate a birthday meal on Friday. Well then we called on Friday to confirm it he asked if we could do it next week. And cute Hermana Cole hung up the phone and yelled, "no! No problem at all! You just ruined everything!" (She was a little stressed about the birthday thing ;)) also random funny story. At the beginning of the mission one of the most stressful things is talking to people on the phone. Because you don't speak that well and it's so hard to hear. So figuring Victor would be a safe phone call for Hermana Cole to keep practicing she made the call (a. Member b. Speaks perfect English if Things get crazy) well right at the end of the call Hermana Cole went to hang up thinking it was over. Only to realize he was still talking. So she quickly picked up the phone again not knowing what he had just said and said in the creepiest whisper, "Siempre" which means always. Turns out he had asked us if we needed him for anything. We had a good laugh about that. Hermana Cole was so so embarrassed. Oh the dumb things we say over the phone.

During media dia we ate a revised birthday meal and ate cake on the roof. Here cake is a little weird so we bought a pound cake. It worked out super well :) then that night we had the best birthday present ever stake conference! A. President Morales spoke B. President Anderson was there C. A member of the 70 spoke. So great!

One thing that really struck me during the conference was when the 70 asked all of the people who were baptized after the age of 8 to raise their hands. Ask I looked around I realized almost every hand was raised including those of fellow missionaries. My eyes were drawn to two of our JAS [young Adults] who both recently came home from their missions. To make this easier I'll just throw in some fake names Carl joined the church first and then brought Vince into the church. Both of them are the only converts in their families. Carl's parents told him he couldn't go in a mission until he finished college thinking that would stop him from going, but he finished at 24 and left, same story with Vince. When they came home from their missions their families had no idea of the sacrifices or the experience they had just gone through. Both of them are serving on the high council in the stake. And I was just struck by the strength of these two coming on a Saturday night to hear the word of God. As they were sitting there alone Vince put his arm around Carl, and not to be melodramatic but I realized that these two friends had helped each other through the hard transition it can be into the church being each other’s family. Just another example of how impacted I have been by the testimonies that surround me. I don't know if I could have done all of this without the complete support from my wonderful family. I was looking through the area book and actually found the teaching record for Carl's parents. It was touching to see the love they expressed for their son, but also a little heartbreaking to see that they just didn't understand why he had to go, or what he was really doing. Anyways sorry for the long story. I just sincerely hope you can come and meet these amazing people.

After conference we got to talk to President and Hermana Anderson for a while and arrange a ride to stake conference the next morning in Chiclana, which ride Hermana Brown promptly canceled. She told us we were coming to spend the night in Chiclana and that she had arranged a party for me that night and I was not allowed to miss it. President laughed and said that I'd better just do what Hermana Brown said. So off we went to Chiclana. When we got there, there was still 5 min left of the work night, so Hermana Cole and I bolted out the door and went to find people. Problem. We didn't know the area and there was no one on the road. So we basically climbed up a really steep road and then ran down it together. I love her.

We got back in Piso and after planning ate a birthday dinner and then had all 6 of us sleeping in the main room. It was a party. Then the next morning, off we went to stake conference. We got to a huge hotel and were asked if we could greet everyone coming in. So of course we said yes, but we became greeters turned bouncers until the choir was finished. Everyone thought that was pretty funny to see me and Hermana Cole trying to keep people from coming in. It was so fun to see everyone come in from all over. There is an American military base in our stake so it was a little weird to hear so many "good morning sisters" but it was fun.

The miracle! V comes in and he brought his mom! So we went and sat with them. R was so surprised to see that V was asked to give the opening prayer. I kept putting myself in her perspective seeing her son get up in front of this HUGE group of people and offering a beautiful prayer to the most high. Ugh, so cool. Turns out V was also sustained as a PHigh Priest and a member of the High Council. So it was pretty cool again to think what this must be like for her to see her son have words like "high priest" assigned to him and see a massive congregation of people sustain him. Having investigators in meetings brings whole new meeting to everything.

The most beautiful talks were given and I kept praying the whole time for R that she would feel the beautiful spirit that was there. Only to look over during the meeting and see her crying. It was incredible. After the conference V comes up with a huge grin on his face and says in English, "did you see my mom crying? She will never admit it, but she felt something. We can work with that" it was awesome! On the car ride home R talked about how beautiful President Morales' talk had been. We were pretty happy about it.

Then when we got home we were spiritually and emotionally drained. Ready to just relax for a bit during mediodia, then we get a call from C asking where we were. She had a birthday meal planned for us. So we went and ate with M & C and had an amazing time just talking and laughing. But I will say the way I was feeling it was nothing short of a miracle that we made it through that night.

I love the mission so so much. I don't know if you have had the chance to see the new Easter video called hallelujah but if you haven't. Watch it. When we first saw it Hermana Cole and I were practically screaming the way I used to for 1D we were so excited. In all seriousness. When I think of all that Christ did. All that we can become through him and all that his sacrifice means. All I can gasp out is a whispered hallelujah. And it seems like the most appropriate word for it all.

I love you all so much.

Hermana Smalley

I gave it my best Jersey accent

March 7, 2016

Dearest family,

Wow what a crazy wonderful week. First off I got the best birthday news ever on Saturday. I will be staying here in San Fernando with cute Hermana Cole for another transfer! Making San Fernando and Hermana Cole my longest area/ companion. I am so excited. When I thought of leaving this place I got really uneasy. I just knew my work here wasn't done.

Anyway let's get to it, shall we. Tuesday morning we had the Redds come to our piso to inspect it. They are a new senior couple in the mission to help make sure all the pisos are safe and livable. They came and talked to us about how our living space in essence should be a temple. I had never thought of it in that way. They asked us to do the best we could to clear out all the junk from the dueño and make it a place the spirit can rest. As they were looking through they came to a door that we never open. It’s the door to the "room of requirement" it is literally just full of stuff that isn't ours and the most random things. And I was like, “oh no, we are going to have to clean out this room and it will take all day!” Elder Redd opened the door laughed and then closed it, and told us not to worry about it. He also told us we needed to replace all the lightbulbs in the piso. Which ended up being about 30. And here lightbulbs are like 3 or 4 roes each. But we found them at a chino super cheap. But now we have more light!

Anyway that morning we went and taught C again. He is a man that has seen a lot of trails and is passing through some really rough things. And He really has been struggling with the Book of Mormon. He doesn't believe it to be the word of God, mostly because he hasn't read it, but Hermana Cole shared with him a story and he was like, “wow that's biblical, and beautiful.” It was honestly an amazing lesson. We taught him later in the week and got to testify to him of the atonement and repentance. It was one of those lessons that makes you glad to be a missionary. It was incredible to be a part of and feel the spirit so strong.

That night we got to teach M and his family again. We shared with them the gospel of Jesus Christ. I used a trick Hermana Rocha used to finish the lesson. Talking about how we need to endure to the end, and how if we do we can stay clean. The example is with a bowl of water. You sprinkle pepper over the surface and cover the tip of your finger with dish soap and the pepper spreads away from your finger in every direction. We likened that to them when they are in a world of sin. What living the gospel can do, keep sin from sticking to them. Hermana Cole and I may have used a similar example talking about us and all the people who were to be baptized ;) but No pasa nada.

Wednesday we got to eat with O & R again. Man how I love those two. We laughed and ate food. My favorite. And finished with talking about the gospel. Even better!

Wednesday night was pretty cool, President Morales invited us to come to the stake presidency meeting to talk with them about missionary work. So um. You know my love for that man, and for missionary work. So we were pretty excited. We went there and got to talk about some parts of the world broadcast for missionaries with them. Honestly the spirit was so strong in that meeting as we talked about how we can help the wards incorporate missionary work better. It will never stop amazing me how amazing the leaders are here in Spain, and how much of their time they put into their callings.

We also got to swing in and teach English classes, when I got there poor Elder Meredith was dying and we walked in and Angel yelled, "oh here she is! She talks English very good, talk like a British person now!" It was pretty funny. Elder Meredith was a little offended they didn't like his English. But apparently my accidental British accent is spreading!

Then we went and helped Tatiana move in a little bit more with her home. My. I thought moving into a dorm was stressful moving into a home is the crazies thing I have ever seen! Mind you, I was in California when we moved into the Utah home.

Thursday night was a miracle night we contacted a lady the day before who gave us her address and told us we could come later, and she was there! It was the right address and she let us in! I know it might seem silly, you might be thinking duh Hermana Smalley, that's how it's supposed to go right? Well not here for the past little while. And I need to explain that this contact was probably one of the worst contacts I've ever done. And yet the spirit touched her heart, or maybe she just felt super bad for me ;), jk all the spirit, and we were able to teach her!

Then we went by another investigator who has been sick, and we got to go in and see her and give her a little bit of comfort that she really needed in that moment. It has been a little hard to see her recently because she just lost a baby, and her husband, rightly so, has been super protective of her and didn't really want us bothering her. But that night we got in, and he saw how happy it made her to have us there and his heart was softened just a little.

Then Hermanas Brown and Briggs came because Hermana Cole and Briggs had to go to Malaga for residency. So. That means. HERMANA BROWN AND I WERE COMPANIONS AGAIN! Yeah pretty much a party. Friday morning they left super early with some instructions that I tried to give them, and they somehow made their way across the south of Spain by themselves, it was funny though because they were with another Elder and he kept trying to tell them what to do and Hermana Cole was like, no Hermana Smalley said this. Haha I was one proud companion ;)

Anyway Thursday night Hermana Brown and I stayed up, in bed with the lights off of course, talking about tontarias and it was pretty funny. Then we got up and did studies and headed off for zone meeting. It was a super great one. Hermana Rodriguez asked for our help explaining how we can never lose our faith and can never stop hoping that things will work on the mission. We have two choices. Get discouraged and say we already tried that, or try again but better. It was awesome! She shared some incredible experiences that really helped me. But she also called me a disobedient orange in front of the whole zone (nope not a typo) it was pretty funny.

I was also asked to share an example on charity from my life. I of course talked about mom. How even when she was in pain and going through a hard time herself she focused on what she could do to serve others. Isn't that true charity. Love in action. Looking out past ourselves. There's a saying I love that says "upon seeing the trials of others, to pity is only human, but to act to relieve the burden, that is god-like"

Then I went with Hermana Brown to Chiclana to work for a while. It was really good. I learned a lot from her about including the Lord in our plans. It was fun to go out and contact together again just like old times. We finished the night in San Fernando working :) loved it. Love her. When Elder Alexander saw us together he said, well there's a power companionship if I've ever seen one.

Saturday we had a pretty great correlation with Pablo and David about how we can help the young men share the gospel. We are trying to come up with an activity that will be memorable for them and push them to act. So help. Any scriptures? Activities? Examples you like? I'd love to hear them.

Alright brace yourselves because I want to tell you about one of the best Sunday's of my mission. It started with church. Amazing as always. We also had consejo and after that B invited us over to eat at her home with L, S, C, and V. So we were a group of RMs and missionaries. It was super fun to talk to V a little about his mission, he got home 2 weeks ago, and we are actually teaching his mom. So it was fun! S wanted V to try and guess where we were from and he told me to talk with my best accent so he could guess. So I gave it my best Jersey accent. And V broke out in perfect English saying, "I have absolutely no idea". Pretty funny. But then we started talking about crazy piso stories from missions and Hermana Cole and I had to keep quite because the piso we live in belongs to V. Anyway we had an awesome meal and got to commit all 5 of them to work with us in different ways. Now here is when the crazy starts.

We left and I had had a feeling earlier that we should pass by a member who hadn't been in church. So we did. When we got there she was running around frantically saying that she needed to take her little girl to the hospital and her little girl was on the couch just moaning. She has called her ex-husband to take her because she didn't have a car, (but her ex-husband hates the church and everything to do with it and it is just really hard for her to be with him) so we told her that V and C were around the corner and could give her daughter a blessing.

I thought, they aren't full-time missionaries, so no problem with the husband. But I forgot, they are both recent RMs, and in suits looks like missionaries without chapas. So when they got there, apparently her husband stopped them and asked what they were doing and got mad and left, so this member didn't have a ride to the hospital anymore. So they came up and gave Alicia a blessing and then went and got their car to take her. We went with her the first time because she didn't know C or V and waited with her in the ER for 10 min. When she went in to be seen we got on the phone with the Relief Society President so she could start making plans for the next day when the member had to work and didn't have anyone she could leave her daughter with. Next thing we know the doctors say that they have to go to Cadiz, and we didn't have a ride. So we called V again and he and C dropped everything to take her to Cadiz. We didn't go that time because we had stuff to do. But I will never forget how hopeless this member looked and then having V and C pull up in suits and a black car looking like her own personal body guards. It was amazing to see the ward come together. Once she was there people came to be with her so she wouldn't be alone, and other members brought her home that night. It was crazy, but amazing to see how the Lord allowed us to be there right in the perfect time. I was also so grateful to our ward who only gets really one day to relax who dropped everything to help out this member.

Anyway it doesn't stop there. We went by another member who hasn't been at church who has a friend we have been trying to teach. Member is there with sick baby and sick husband and friend. We sat and talked a while and just helped lift her spirit and then got to teach her friend. It was so incredible. A wonderful night!

I am so grateful to be a missionary and that I get this time to focus on serving the Lord and the people around me. It is truly amazing to wear this name tag and know that I am part of the most amazing work ever. But I realized something, I have a right to receive revelation for my investigators and to know what I need to do to help them, it's a part of my calling. When part of our baptismal covenant is to share the gospel, but maybe we just don't know how, well. I have no doubt that the spirit will tell you, if you ask. Why? Because it's part of your "calling" as a member. You have a right to receive that revelation. So pray about it!

Anyway love you all so much! 

Hermana Smalley

He must increase, but I must decrease

February 29, 2016

Hello beautiful family,

I hope this last week has been the best one yet. We had a pretty great one if I do say so myself. 

Just so you know last week Hermana Cole and I had a pretty great p day. We made brownie batter and watched the restoration twice. We greatly enjoyed ourselves actually. It was kinda fun to just relax in sweats for a while and just unwind. 

After we got to teach Ir in the chapel. We talked to her about Peter walking on water, pulling a little bit from the talks given by the Durrants in the ward a couple weeks ago. We talked to her about how she needs to "jump out of the boat" so that she can witness her miracle - or get her answer. We talked about actions of faith she could possibly take. Then she laughed and said, “Clever, clever Hermana Smalley because the biggest one would be for me to literally jump into the baptismal font. I laughed, and then got all serious and said." And?" I have to apologize in advance, this is the week Hermana Smalley got a little sassy. 

After we got to go eat with the patriarch and his cute family. Funny story, here in Spain, well Europe they are super big on scarves. I have a ton of scarves, but I just don't wear them every day, but any members that see us not wearing  scarves  give us some, and won't take no for an answer or take them back. So I'm developing quite the collection and learning to always wear one. 

Tuesday we had our first district meeting! Hermana Cole's very first one! It's funny that she had a zone meeting and conference before, but off we went to Cadiz and we had an awesome meeting, to get to know everyone one district we asked each other questions and of course the one that came to me was what is your most embarrassing moment. So in Spanish I had to share being locked outside my car without pants on. Fun. After district meeting we hopped on the train to Jerez! For intercambios. It was so fun to be with cute Hermana Garcia and Merrill. We ate cookie dough and worked really hard ;) I am so sad that Hermana Garcia will be leaving us this transfer. She has taught me so much about being genuine with people and just loving to listen. Hermana Merrill and I got to chat about old times and teach my first real lesson zero in a while. It was awesome! 

Wednesday night we got back to our area and got to teach some new people it was wonderful and we ended the night with M our ward missionary tell if us at one of her friends is ready to get baptized and it was basically just awesome! 

Thursday the heavens opened and poured down their fury on San Fernando. There was so much rain and wind I thought the earth was flooding again. It was the kind of storm the rips umbrellas from hands and knocks you over. Pretty cool if I do say so. Out we went. Not a person to be seen on the road. It was funny I was thinking, isn't it so neat that for the rest of my life on days like this I'll be able to stay inside, but for this day I get to go outside and have an adventure. So off we went to teach A and he was so impressed that we had come all the way in the rain to see him he listened to us and accepted our invitations. It was incredible. We are so excited to keep teaching him. On our way home we ran into victor an RM who got home last week from London. With all the rain he laughed and told us it reminded us of London. I realized it could have been much much worse. What if every day were like this. 

Friday we ate with David and his family. It was actually super fun, they started talking about movies and all that jazz. And decided that Americas have no taste in movies because we had no idea what movies they were talking about. We also passed by a member who is going to a different ward right now even though she lives in ours. So we are trying to help her feel more comfortable in the ward. She was so cute and just gave us the boost we needed to go out and keep working. We got to teach J with D which was perfect because their crazy dog who normally attacks us attacked D instead and we got to teach the lesson :) 

Saturday morning we got to help a family who is moving. And it reminded me a lot of when we were leaving New Jersey how the whole ward came to help out. Isn't it such a marvel what we are a part of? Is church besides being the kingdom of God on the earth is a huge family. It amazes me every day how lucky I am to know of it and be a part of it. 

Saturday night we taught M. Yes dad I read your letter to him. He loved it, he thought it was pretty cool you took the time to do that and made me promise to tell you that as long as I am in San Fernando he will be watching our backs and making sure nothing happens to us. And we are working on the second part of the invitation but he really is making progress very slow but definite progress. 

Sunday was honestly a magical day, we had a bunch of investigators come to church and we just felt so full of the spirit. Taking the sacrament is still such a wonder to me, I love every chance I get to take it and then feel like a "perfect" missionary at least in that moment;) then during relief society I was just hit with how wonderful it was that I am here with ease amazing women. As missionaries we are part of the ward but also a little bit on the outside looking in because everyone knows we aren't permanent. And I just am so grateful that I can be here and know see amazing women doing all they can to build Zion here in Spain. Yes I got emotional. 

To be honest this week was a blur, we saw a lot of miracles and a lot of big disappointments. We found news and got dropped by a lot of promising people. But it's all in the Lord’s plan, he knows what is best and what we need. I at least have learned so much in his area about myself I cannot believe it. 

The weeks seem to be slipping by faster than I can accept. This week I realized officially marks my 9 months mark in the mission. I cannot believe the wonderful opportunity that I have to serve the Lord. I cannot believe how patient and understanding he has been of my faults for the past 9 months. The fact that he continues to allow me to represent him is still such a miracle.

This week I was reviewing "becoming a preach my gospel missionary" and something really stood out to me. In John 3:30, John the Baptist talks to his followers about following Jesus rather than himself: 

“He must increase, but I must decrease”

This really hit me. I realized that in this work I must stop thinking of myself, in every word and action I need to be pointing others straight to Christ. That is the goal of every Latter Day Saint no? But how much more necessary in missionary work, as representatives of Him that we completely forget ourselves, and try to do all we can work all day, and hope that for all our efforts people's attention is only pointed to Christ.

A while ago I took the challenge from conference to ask "what lack I yet?" I had been a little discouraged when I felt I hadn't received an answer. But I know now that I must work on this. It surprises me that such a huge problem was staring me in the face and I didn't see it. I came on the mission for love of God. But I really want to give all I have for a similar love, for God and his children. I want to be able to do all I can, give all I have and then just as Christ said at the end of his mission, be able to say "I did what I was called to do, but only through the merits and mercy of Christ, glory be to the father"

I am so grateful for the lessons I am learning and the ways he sent father helps me improve. I have been so grateful for every experience I have had on the mission because I have changed so much from who I was before. I look back on the last 9 months with so much joy and gratitude and so much hope for the next 9 to come. 

Love you all so much!! 

Hermana Smalley