I Have Work Enough To Do

I don't even know where to begin...

I am in a new area. Back to Little Rock, except a different ward from where I started my mission. It's great to be back in my birth city. I FINALLY heard the word "finna" used in a sentence (i.e. I'm finna get my hair done). It is the more uneducated way to say "fixin' to", which means basically "getting ready to" or "going to".

I finally had expressed how much I loved my area in Cabot. I LOVED it, so so so much. I loved the area, all the camo and beards, the members, my companion, and the few investigators and potentials that we had. My goodness... The members. They truly were the best. And now, I left it, and I left them.

It is hard to get situated in my new area. Mainly because it's a two person apartment and now there are three people here. There's no place for all my things. I am still living out of my suitcase. That adds to feeling as though I'm not really in this area. I got added to a companionship that already has there things set and work together, and then there's me that knows nothing about the area. Heck, they hardly even know the members (including the active ones). So it's definitely been a struggle.

I don't know why I was yanked from the place that I loved, in the middle of the transfer. But, I know that President Wakolo is called of God and that I am needed here with the Otter Creek sisters. There is one plus side to this whole ordeal... The Little Rock ward (which is my ward) is the same as the ASL sisters. Which means... We have Deaf members!!! I am way stoked to meet them! I know a couple of them already from last year. I will actually be interpreting for different meetings and such. A member from the ward that interprets was excited to hear that I know sign because then she won't have to interpret entire meetings. The ASL sisters interpret for Priesthood, but she would be the one that would sign for Relief Society always.

This lady (the interpreter), Sister Loken is super great. She has five boys: Peter Andrew - 16; John Hyrum - 14; Phillip Isaac - 12; Joseph Timothy - 10; and Daniel Bjorn - 7. They are the craziest family, ever...especially being a household of all boys. We had dinner at their house and I was just eating it up! Being there simply made me realize how even more stoked I am to have my own family. Surprisingly, now I am looking forward to having boys, too. Which I have never really been wanting. But they were just the cutest. Gahhh. I love children. #ChildStealer 

Oh! And I may have made it so Phillip and Daniel have a slight crush on me. It's simply wonderful! They are just so adorable.

I'm continuing with my best efforts to keep a smile on my face and a joy in my step. Change is tough, but I know that I'm where the Lord needs me. So, I will continue to serve with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength!

Sister Jessica Ann Smith

(Elder Butler and Clark thought to try on Sister Eckley's jacket that we just bought from Walmart (I have the same one... Love that camo!). It's a size XL in kids... They thought they were cool.)

Come, Let Us Anew

This week definitely was a trying one, to say the least.

(Pomeranian/Shih Tzu. She reminded me 
a lot of Angel (my dog back home).)

I finally was able to meet Carolyn (the Deaf lady)! We went in just planning to introduce ourselves and basically do "How To Begin Teaching" with her, however, it definitely went a different way. She was soooo very interested and was wanting more. She simply was not satisfied with the little that we shared. So basically, I went into signing the Restoration for her (which I had never done before, so it was pretty rough). She LOVED it and was anxious to meet again. I am so excited to teach her and to have her come to church. It will be great, once I actually learn how to do the discussions more clearly in sign language. I've been taking some time to do language study, which has been beneficial. Especially since the Elders also gave us a referral to another Deaf lady. Whoooo!

Happy New Year!!!! Our New Year's Eve was spent like this.... We were at the church for basketball, left because it was over and went home to change and get ready to go to our dinner appointment. Our District Leader texted us and told us to go back to the church. We had dinner in a half hour. He said change of plans and to meet them at their house in Jacksonville, which was about a 20-30min drive from us. Basically, we had to completely postpone our dinner appointment. We arrived in Jville and they told us we were to go on exchanges with their sisters. Which meant, pretty much cancelling our dinner appointment. So, we drove back to Cabot, Sis Eckley got her things, and we drove back to the church (in Jville) to exchange with them.

Sister Hyer and I were together in Cabot and we went to our dinner appointment at 7:30pm (originally set for 6pm). The Elders decided to take it from us, and so when we arrived, they had finished dinner. The meal wasn't quite appetizing either........ It was chicken kabobs. But, the chicken was a chicken that Elder Phillips had killed from their house. And Elder Butler has the chicken foot (hanging from their car rear view mirror). That was hard to stomach. Oh! And two nights in a row, I had pot roast... I am leaning more and more towards fully being vegetarian. I am not a fan of all this meat... Anyways, after dinner, they had a bonfire with hot chocolate. We couldn't stay too long because of curfew, but it was great. So, my New Year's Eve was me in my apartment, going to sleep at 10:30pm. Happy 2016!!

We had interviews with President Wakolo this week, too. Which was super great. Man, he is definitely called of God. I truly feel so blessed to have such a wonderful Mission President who cares so deeply.

I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have that I am never alone. In life, we all go through some hard times, but it's a comfort to know that the Lord is with us. This year, I am looking forward to noticing His hand in my life more abundantly. He truly is there with me every step of the way, and I plan to recognize Him and show forth gratitude for all that my loving Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ do for me each and every day. I invite y'all to do the same! When we realize all those tender mercies and acknowledge Him in our day to day lives, we can see and feel His love for us so much more deeply. When we show gratitude towards Him, He is more willing to bless us in even greater amounts.

So say goodbye to the selfish and ungrateful person of 2015, and say hello to the selfless and full of gratitude you of 2016! (:

Sister Jessica Ann Smith

P.S. Sister Eckley and I are being Emergency Transferred (ET). They are closing Cabot 2, sadly. So no more sisters. I have just started to know all the members here, and now I'm leaving. But I know that it's the Lord's will. I am leaving tonight to Otter Creek (in Little Rock), and Sister Eckley is going right next door to Jacksonville. We both will be in trios. Since no missionaries are taking our place, there is A LOT of packing and cleaning to get done today....

(Well, that's the South for you, I guess. Pastors that are on fire.
Don't worry. Sister Eckley and I are now official firefighters! (:)

Joy to the World!

(Christmas Brunch at the Duncan's home)

I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas!!

My gift of Christmas to my Savior this year is my heart. I love my Savior. He has given me everything. I am giving Him these 18 months. This is my gift to Him. This is all I have to offer. It was great this year because it wasn't all about presents, but it was about what I could give to others.

I was able to go to a member's house for Christmas Eve. It was quite eventful. All the food did not get heated up all the way. We think the oven is broken... So, we finished heating up the ham (it was pre-cooked...thank goodness) and the funeral potatoes (the family, obviously, is from Utah) in the microwave. I don't think I ever fully appreciated Grandpa's skills in the kitchen where he manages to get everything done all at the same time. Thank you, Grandpa! It was a great meal, except I was missing my olives.

We were able to Skype home, and that was an eventful time, as well. None of the computers were working for Skype and my password was being bonkers, too. Finally, I was able to get on using their iPad. I had a great visit with my family that was all at my Grandparents' house for Christmas Eve dinner. I was able to talk with my parents and brother, grandparents, and my aunt and uncle and their family. It was great. I love you and miss you all!

Christmas Day was quite great, as well! We had brunch at the Duncan's (Ward Mission Leader) and then dinner at President Busbea's (Counselor in the ALRM Presidency). If I knew a southern Christmas family dinner, then this was it! The Busbea's had family over from both sides (his and hers). There was shooting, camo, singing, loud-talkin, cowboy boots, and unshaven faces. The Busbea's were born and raised in Arkansas so they are the purest of the pure Arkansan southern people I've met thus far.

Sister Eckley and I remained on the outside watching everyone's interactions. It was pretty great. For a good couple hours, we talked with President Busbea about the work in Cabot and how it is nonexistent. He had some suggestions for us. Apparently, they were going to CLOSE Cabot 2 (our area) and only leave Cabot 1 (we have two sets of missionaries in the Cabot Ward). However, they obviously didn't close it and decided to put me and Sister Eckley here. We are unsure as to why this happened. But, we are continuing to do all that we can to get the work alive! Our focus right now is on the members and trying to get them excited about missionary work!

GUESS WHAT!!! We FINALLY had our first lesson!!! President Busbea's son, Jon is engaged to a lovely gal named Halle. Get this... They are both in high school still. That's how they do it in the south! Anyways, they just got engaged Christmas morning. As we were there for dinner, President was telling us about her and how she already has a desire to be baptized because she wants what their family has. Once all the family had left, we were able to have a lesson with Halle. We introduced her more properly to the Book of Mormon, encouraged her to read, and to pray. We have another lesson with her this coming week!

So, with one evening, we received a referral, contacted a referral, taught a lesson with a member present, and have a new investigator! It was all quite exciting!! We've been here six weeks, and now we've taught one lesson! We will invite her to be baptized this next visit. (:

Last thing! Well. A couple last things. We had a tornado this past week. No big deal. As we were driving, we literally were in the middle of the storm and there was less than a second in between the thunder and lightning. It was epic. The rain was dumping hardcore and we could hardly see anything. This happened while we were on exchanges and attempting to get back to our assigned areas. By late afternoon, it had cleared up and all was good. But get this... While we were on exchanges, I was in Searcy and one of the STLs (Sister Training Leaders) was in Cabot with Sister Eckley, they met a DEAF LADY! She wants to come to church and wants to meet with us!!! Her husband (hearing) is not interested in church, and he's her interpreter, and so they never went. When they met her, they told her that I know sign language and could interpret and she was way excited! We tried going back the next day so that I could meet her, but she wasn't home. I am suuuuper stoked to meet her and to potentially interpret for her so that she could come to church. It's gonna be way neat!! (: (:

Much love,
Sister Jessica Ann Smith

Oh! Sweet thing.... This dog decided to chase us for an entire mile (we were in the car). When we realized that it wasn't going home, we turned the car around. The dog was waiting for us to return and it recognized our car and followed us back to its house. It was running 35mph! Holy heck! We were finally able to get it back home safe. It was quite terrifying at times because it ran out in the middle of the road.

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

One thing I have learned that is undeniable.... Arkansans LOVE their camo. And that is an understatement. When we were out knocking, loads of garages were open and we could see in (not creepy at all, right? #TypicalMissionary). Camo was on the couches, fridges, backpacks, walls, etc. Men are dressed in camo head to foot accessorized with a gnarly beard. I don't mean a scruffy, short beard. No. These are straight up Duck Dynasty beards... several inches long paired with long hair that is generally uncombed or pulled into a ponytail. Any combo of beer, cigarettes, and multiple dogs will always be nearby. BUT! Best of all are the toothless happy smiles that welcome us when we knock on their doors. God Bless America! I wouldn't have it any other way!

(We were twinning, so naturally 
we had to take a picture)

Sister Eckley and I were having a VERY boring week (aside from her walking into the men's bathroom at a grocery store and having a moment of insanity, a moment that lasted a while). We've been doing the same thing for the past five weeks-- trying to visit some Less Actives. We weren't seeing much fruits from our labors. We spent quite a few hours in a town with about 2000 people that is in the outskirts of our ward boundary. This place was the epitome of a typical country town here in Arkansas. Streets not painted and very narrow, unmarked streets, ditches right on either side, men on the side of the road comparing rifles and shotguns, streets named after women, warning signs of  "Beware of Verocious Dog" and out comes a little chihuahua, the smell of fire burning stoves, and trucks, trucks everywhere.

We decided to start counting numbers. On Saturday, we knocked on TWENTY doors and guess how many answered? FIVE people answered. Five. Twelve of the doors we knocked on supposedly were Less Actives, and we talked to TWO people who were actually on our list to see. Sometimes, I think they have a phone tree (especially in such a small town) where they call everyone in the neighborhood and tell 'em not to answer their doors because it's some crazy-talkin' white girls in skirts.

(The blackened yard.
#FireFightersInSkirts #NoBigDeal)

Heavenly Father decided to answer our prayers by ending our uneventful day with a pretty intense event... We were out stalking neighborhood for possible potential investigators, you know... the normal thing that missionaries do. Anyways, we were out looking for bikes, toys, and the like. As we were fixin' to return to our car and call it a day, we turned the corner and noticed flames coming out from under a tall wooden fence around someone's side/backyard. In my head, I'm kinda thinking that this can't be real and wondering what is happening. After the reality of the situation hit us, we RAN up to their door and started banging. Their garage door was open, but no one was coming out. We got out the phone and called 911 and reported a grass fire spreading rapidly at some house. And when I say rapidly, that is truly what I mean. The grass was all dried and so it used the dried grass to keep the fire ablazin'! We ran to the back of the yard to see where the fire had started from... There was a rusty old burn barrel in the middle of the yard that somehow must've yielded some flames onto the dry grass. Their entire yard was blackened.

Since we had already called the fire department, we had pondered the idea of leaving. However, that idea was pulled to a halt real quick as we realized that this had happened for a reason. We had decided to take the longer route and so by the time we got to the house, the fire was visible. If we had gone the short distance, we wouldn't have seen it. We happened to cross by its path in the nick of time! We decided to stay.

A neighbor was asking if we had called the cops yet (which we had) and then she struggled to extend her hose to get it over. Finally, our brains started thinking again and we grabbed the hose at their house, as well. Pretty soon, there were about four or five of us spraying water on this quick spreading fire (now all the way up to the house). The home owner finally appeared (once the fire was pretty much dwindled) and said, "Shoot, I only left for a minute!" And that is EXACTLY why you don't leave a blazin' burn bin unattended, buddy!

About 5min after the fire was entirely put out, the fire department decided to show up. Thanks for coming quickly, boys... We should've called Jimmy John's (commercial reference). With our job completed, we grabbed our Book of Mormons and departed on our merry way back to being door-knockin missionaries. Our clothes reeked of smoke and our shoes got stained black from the charred grass, but I'd say we were a Good Samaritan that day and had accomplished our community service for the week!

Much love,
Sister Jessica Ann Smith

PS... Side note... There will no longer be any transfer meetings. Don't ask me how that is gonna work out. Even President doesn't know. So, does that mean that transfers don't happen every 6wks? Will we stay in areas longer and not keep time by saying "I've been out _____ transfers"? No one knows. And ESPECIALLY no one knows how we're gonna get to the other side (the Memphis side) if we are transferred there and aren't meeting together to transfer over. It'll be interesting. Elder Oaks (the new Apostle over the missionary department) told President and five other Mission Presidents this in a meeting last week. They are to enforce it immediately. Other missions get one more transfer. There are gonna be a lot of changes happening. But hey, I can say that I went my whole mission attending every transfer meeting... all three of them!

Have I Done Any Good?

(Sister Missionaries do love 
Christmas and Santa!)

Apparently as Sister Missionaries, we just become part of the family here in the South. Dinner conversations consist of openly discussing bowel movements, monthly cycles, financial problems, chopping heads off bunnies, second marriage honeymoons, womanly health issues, scalping a dog's head, martial struggles, where milking cows/goats/and other animals originated from, and stretch marks, just to name a few. I think my OWN family dinner conversations definitely prepared me in a lot of ways to be here. Welcome to Arkansas! Oh! And literally every family here has a dog and a truck. #OnlyInAR

This week has been a slightly slow one. We were able to go out caroling a couple of times. When we were out, we stopped at one house, and they invited us in for coffee.... Awkward two seconds where we couldn't breathe and didn't know what to say... THEN! They offered hot chocolate. We breathed again. Hahah The group was a Book Club meeting from some Baptist church. They were nice and sweet, asking us questions. And then, BAM! The claws came out! Turns out, one of the people there was the pastor from their church... No big deal. Except it was! He was trying to tongue tie us and trip us with our words. Basically saying that what we believed was blasphemy. Luckily, we had the Elders with us, too. Elder Phillips (DL) and I were switching off between answering all of his questions, as well as asking Pastor Rob questions. Pastor Rob was incredibly confrontational and it was hard to maintain the Spirit, but we did well and kept it as a Spirit-filled Bible Bash. It was great! I've definitely missed those lively conversations! Haven't been involved in one of them in over a year!

We were able to go back over to the house a few days later and visit with the lady and her husband that actually live there. It definitely felt like a date. We were getting mixed signals the whole time. They were hot and cold: not interested, and then kinda interested saying yes, let's hang out, but then saying only when it's convenient, and then invited us back. It was quite like my dating life. However, we were able to leave them with a Book of Mormon and she seemed incredibly interested in reading it. Hopefully she'll contact us to want to meet, after reading some.

(Swag with a giraffe.
Can't get cooler than that.)

We decided to spend the day at the church before our Ward Christmas Party. However, we did not think about the fact that we didn't have a key (an no car). So after being dropped off, we told our ride that the Elders can let us in, to not to worry because they will be here soon. They left. We quickly called the Elders asking to let us in, they just didn't know when they could. So yup, we were stranded outside the church in the middle of nowhere in our PJs. The closest things around us are a lingerie store across the highway and then about 5 liquor stores up the street. God answered our awkward pleading prayers within 10 minutes as the 2nd Counselor of the Bishopric arrived with food for the party. Hallelujah! We get to go inside! Moral of the story: when you have to resort to plan Z almost every day you sometimes can lose your mind and forget the big deets, BUT the Lord will always provide a way for his young missionaries!

Not too many exciting things have happened this week. Sister Eckley and I have lasted through the transfer though! We shall remain in Cabot for another 6 weeks (or more, depending on the next transfer changes). Hallelujah! However, we lost one of our Elders. Elder Butler (the one that lives in Enumclaw) will be transferred, so now we will only have two Elders with us. Oh! Also, the group of us got asked to sing in Church on Sunday as part of the Christmas Program. That should be alright. At least we didn't lose our musical Elder (Elder Phillips... He actually went to school for music composition or something like that). Bummed to see Elder Butler go, but it's been a fun ride! There are a lot of changes this transfer, including a new main Office Elder, a new Sister Training Leader, a new Zone Leader, and a new Assistant to the President. It'll be interesting to see all the differences.

That's all for now! Enjoy y'alls week! (:

Sister Jessica Ann Smith

(Our tree isn't so empty 
anymore.... Thanks Mama! (:)

Does The Journey Seem Long?

I love the Christmas season, so, so, so much!!! One night, after we were dropped unexpectedly by one of our investigators, we blasted our Christmas music in our apartment and had a marvelous dance party. It definitely got us cheered up, and incredibly exhausted. But it was well needed, for sure.

We also have started CAROLING!!! Of which, I absolutely love! I LOVE singing, and I love Christmas, and I love remembering my Savior. And so, Sister Eckley and I wrapped some copies of the Book of Mormon in some lovely Christmas/snowflake wrapping paper, tied a ribbon around it, and stuck a "A Savior is Born" pass along card on the outside. The Elders, Sister Eckley, and I then went out caroling. We knocked on doors and sang (naturally..) and then said something along the lines of, "We hope you have a Merry Christmas. Christmas is all about our Savior, Jesus Christ. And we have this gift for you. It is a book that is all about Christ and helps you to grow closer to Him." We invited them also to go to Christmas.Mormon.org (which you should all check out). It was such a great time to be able to remind people of what the true meaning of Christmas is! Also, I love it here in the south because cashiers at stores and everywhere else all say "Merry Christmas". It's just simply beautiful. I love this time of the year. It makes it a lot easier to share our message about the Savior, as well.

We met a spectacular family in our ward and had dinner with them the other night. Oh, how we loved being in their home. The Spirit was so strong and it was simply filled with love. We felt loved. The family asked about us, wanting to know all about our lives. For the first time, I actually willingly shared my entire story pertaining to my mission. I'm not too sure how many people know everything that's gone on. But it was a grand time and Sister Eckley and I truly did not want to leave! We hinted (well, my hints aren't much of hints, I basically boldly said it...) that we didn't have dinner for Christmas Eve yet, and they offered to have us over! Sister Eckley and I are way excited because we just both felt so much at home being there. It definitely made me miss my family, however, at least I get a home away from home, for a time.

This week went by super quick, but also incredibly slowly! I can't believe how little that we did this week! We reported our key indicator numbers yesterday, and they were quite unimpressive. The work here is just moving suuuuper slowly. We are doing all we can, but it's been difficult, for sure!

I MET AN ELDER THAT GOT INJURED, WAS SENT HOME, HOME FOR A TIME, AND RETURNED TO THE MISSION! Holy! Hallelujah! It was no coincidence that we met. He actually returned to the mission the same day that I left the mission (the first time around, back in Sept 2014). We were able to talk quite a bit after Zone Meeting, as well as texting the next day. He helped me A LOT. It was reeeeally great to see someone that experienced the same things as me and has gotten through it. I'm still at the beginning, and sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it was very helpful to hear words of encouragement from someone who has been where I am at currently. He was truly able to empathize and it made me no longer feel so alone. People have tried to uplift me, strengthen me, help me, and tell me that everything will be okay, but often, those feel like empty words because they don't really understand what it feels like. The people trying to encourage me don't know what I've truly gone through. However, to hear someone else say that he felt the same things I felt and am feeling? That was exactly what I needed. He definitely provided me with strength to endure. He reminded me to look upwards with a smile and to rely on my Savior to give me the courage, strength, and comfort that I need. At times I may feel alone, discouraged, disappointed, angry, and frustrated. Those are all common feelings. However, as I remember that my Savior, my Redeemer is there to heal me, I can withstand all that may come my way!

"...Will ye not return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if you will come unto to ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." 3 Nephi 9:13-14

Sister Jessica Ann Smith

(We had Zone Meeting this last week with the Searcy Zone!)

(I was having a rough day and so I became a unicorn (:)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

(I have the most wonderfulest companion.
We are all bundled up for the cold weather!)

Man! This week has been a doozy! Thanksgiving was great! Thank you family for all your emails of love and holiday wishes! We had two meals on Thursday (lunch and dinner) and then a third Thanksgiving meal on Friday. I guess you could say that Sister Eckley and I are pretty stuffed full. On Thursday, we had lunch at about 2:30pm and then our dinner was at 5:30pm. We were feeling very groggy and nauseated after those meals, for sure!

Sister Eckley and I have been getting excited... Christmas is in less than one month!! Too stoked. A couple exciting things that happened this week. One, Sis Eckley drove us into a ditch (well, a culvert, that's what the call it in the south). It was great. Also, I ran straight into a cement pole. That was fun. No big deal. Both of us have been sickly this week, still going out and getting things done, but we had the Elders come over last night to give us a Blessing. That was much needed.

(The Elders in our District are super great, too!)
Elder Phillips (District Leader), Elder Butler (from Enumclaw, WA),
and Elder Lambson (been out 4 weeks)

A lot of the work here in Cabot has to do with reactivation. There aren't too many people that we can find via door knocking. It hasn't proven too successful. Which means, we stick with what the elders have been doing, which is going down the ward member list. We are trying to meet as many people that we don't know and invite them back to church. Some are definitely not interested, but others have invited us back.

Relating to that... I have a story!!! So, this man, let's call him John. He's a less active. He was planning on going on a mission, saved up the money, but then gave the money to his brothers and they went on missions. Therefore, John never went. Anyways, years have passed and he's now in his second marriage. His wife, Jane, is not a member. We met him the first week and invited him back to church. The spirit was so strong and he had a desire to return, but felt as though his wife was against it and didn't want to upset her. He told us to come back so we could meet with the family on another day, however, she wasn't feeling well. So we never went back. Now, fast forward a week... Our Bishop went and visited with him. Long story short, John AND Jane decided to come to church Sunday (yesterday) and Jane agreed to having missionaries over, i.e. us!!! She said that she went a time or two but she felt like the members made fun of her dress or something like that and she quit going. She has loads of questions and we hope we can answer them! We have set up to meet with her later this week! I am so excited for their family!

I'm, for the most part, getting back into the swing of things. With it being Thanksgiving and all, I've had time to reflect on what I am most truly grateful for. A member actually asked me at one of our meals and I got super teary-eyed (thanks, mama!). I am grateful for the love of my Heavenly Father. I know that it's because of His love that I am able to be back here in Arkansas. I know that He loves me, and because of that, He has provided a way for me to do what I love, which is serving Him. There are so many things I would not be doing at this time if it wasn't for His continual arm of love which is stretched out towards me. He's heard my prayers, cries, and desires, and because He loves me so deeply, He has allowed me to be where I am. To which, I am so very grateful. Every time I teach, I am so full of my Savior's love and I feel so much joy and peace. I know that I am supposed to be here and I know that the Lord truly does love His children and is only but a "phone call away". He doesn't pull away from us; we are the ones that move further away from Him. He is waiting to bless us. Seek Him. Find Him. Learn of Him. Follow Him. And pray to Him. He's waiting.

Much love,
Sister Jessica Ann Smith