Happiest New Year

First I just want to say thank you to everyone that made Christmas so magical! All the letters, emails, and gifts were so thoughtful! 💛 thank you thank you thank you 
We have already been given the beautiful gift of love. The gift of forgiveness. The gift of repentance. And the gift of everlasting life/ eternal families. All the other things were a fun bonus! Love you! 

Ready for the most missionary story ever? This week we were knocking doors in a neighborhood missionaries haven't been at a lot. We were just about to leave. The last door. A man named John answers. He just got divorced. His ex wife and children are in Cuba for the holidays. He has been having a spiritual awakening. He wants to figure out Gods plan for his life. Where can he find peace? Stability? Comfort? Direction? The church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints!!

Who wants to hear something crazy?? We started 2018 with president Monson as our prophet. Woah. What an exciting year it's been!! Really seriously excited for this entire year I get to spend as a missionary!! Earth life, friends, i'm telling ya. It's the best. 😂💛  

A quote from my mission president: 
"The Lord himself has scattered Israel. Today is a day of gathering. (So blessed to be a part of it.) All different kidreds tongues and people are here in Virginia. We are teaching the world and gathering Israel without leaving the mission boundaries." #WDCSM 

I really love this quote. My sister sent it to me and I just had to share it with you all. "Righteousness brings happiness. Wickedness never does. If there was no God, no plan, no law and no divine order, there would be no reason wickedness would not bring happiness. But it never does. The history of civilization is a testament that hedonism, perversion, brutality, corruption and wickedness sow seeds of misery, sorrow and destruction. It is not a quirk of evolution. It is evidence of a divinely appointed plan." (Why I Believe, Desert Book, 2002, 230) 

"When we comprehend His voluntary Atonement, any sense of sacrifice on our part becomes completely overshadowed by a profound sense of gratitude for the privilege of serving Him." -President Nelson (Oct 1996)
"We learn that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. And in the end we realize there was no sacrifice at all."                -President Kimball
That is how my heart feels about serving a mission..but it applies to whatever point of life you are at. 
:)

Happy 2019! 
Much Love, Sister Izzy Smith 


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