June 24

In Annandale Virginia there is a magical place we now affectionately refer to as Mangalore Drive. Specifically building 4106. If you go into building 4106 & find yourself on the 4th floor this is what you'll discover.. 
Apt 401 we find Brother Kim. There is a very large Korean community in Annandale & all the Korean friends live by Korean culture. We have another friend, on that same street, that once said "If you live in Annandale and you're from Korea and you don't know Brother Kim, it's because you're from North Korea." He has changed through the atonement on Jesus Christ & is looking forward to his baptism! 
Apt 402 is found the SWEETEST Bolivian family. (The Spanish elders are teaching them.)
Apt 403 is our good member friend, Sister Linda Franklin & her non member roommate, Sister Maryann. Maryann has had really bad experiences with missionaries years ago & wouldn't forgive them or the church. Well, through a lot of prayer & love & patience Maryann agreed to let us teach her! Which we did twice this week. Miracles. She knows it's true. 
And finally Apt 404 we have Brother Kevin. Years ago Kevin did not believe in God but went through some things that resulted in his extreme activity at a Christian church in Maryland & becoming well versed in the Bible. This week Brother Kim took us all to a Korean restaurant to give us a chance to teach Kevin the truth. It was very positive. To be continued..
What I love most about 4016 Mangalore Drive is how all these friends look out for each other. When we were with them individually this week each expressed their concern and love for their neighbors. They all want to share what they find most precious. For Brother Kim & Sister Linda Franklin it's the gospel. For Maryann it's her time & talents (she taught us how to cross stitch this week!) For Kevin it's his prayers & genuine, christlike friendship. ðŸ˜Œ Humans are the BEST, did you know?

A thought my companion, Sister Wiscombe, and I have been discussing a lot this week has been "experience". Life isn't necessarily about achieving our goals, if we don't like who we've become once we reach them. Consider Judas Iscariot, he got his 30 pieces of silver but once achieving that goal he hated who he was, so much, & he killed himself. Earth life is all about experience & becoming like our savior in the process, which takes great effort! It takes great effort to have effective prayers, effective study, truly, an effective life! Alma says this perfectly! "And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live." (Alma 37:47) Take what you know, hold tight to the precious word of God, AND LIVE! Be a lifer! My mission has taken GREAT effort, but you get over yourself, & the experience & the way God has molded me through Jesus Christ's atonement is truly irreplaceable & I am forever grateful for the time I've spent serving our king!! The twin truth that Jesus is the Christ & Joseph Smith is His prophet has been branded into my heart this past year. I love this church & I love my savior, he's my best friend! If you know it or not he's your best friend, too! 

Just one happy happy missionary, Sister Izzy Smith 

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