Hi there! It's been a really busy month since I last posted a letter from Madelyn. It's not that she hasn't written, but the letters have been for us and not the 'sharing' type. More utilitarian....'Don't forget my 72 hour kit! I'm calling this week! I'm at Temple Square!'.....things like that. She's landed in California, and has been there a whole week! We were able to talk to her last Wednesday (can't believe that was already a week ago!) and she sounds good. Her main issue is a touch of homesickness, and she's at that point in her mission where she's really struggling with the language. I have heard from almost every missionary that has ever served that this is a discouraging time--you're trying so hard to remember and understand, and it's not coming as quickly as you'd like. So she sure could use some words of encouragement from you Returned Missionaries out there! Send her mail to the Mission Home:
Hermana Madelyn Smith
c/o Oakland/San Francisco Mission Home
4945 Lincoln Way
Oakland, CA 94602
Again, thanks so much to everyone who is keeping track of her and who keeps asking about her. I miss her SO MUCH, and am so grateful to anyone who writes her and reaches out to let her know that she really is doing the Lord's work. Those dear friends who aren't members of our Church but are showing your support....THANK YOU! I know that some of the terms and vernacular we use is a bit foreign to you (MTC, PDay, etc etc!!!) and the fact that you wade through those terms means the world to me. :)
Love to all,
Christi
From Hermana Smith:
Hello!!
So, first week in the mission field was a success!!! Unless you measure success in baptisms, then it wasn't really a great week at all... But really, I love the area :) My companion is fantastic and speaks Spanish really well (she also is updating me every 2 minutes as we're e-mailing about what someone in her family said/did, but that's ok.) I get to serve 5-6 days a week in the visitors' center for 6 hours and the other half of the day I'm out proselyting. When I came into the area, my companion had 4 progressing investigators with a baptismal date and about 3 other PI's. We now have 3 others Progressing investigators that we've met since I've been here and one other bap. date. SOOO many referrals and SO many people to teach!! It's extra crazysince we have half of the day at the VC and can't devote the entire day to teaching and following up.
But yeah, my area is in San Leandro, outside of Oakland, and right next to the Ghiradelli chocolate factory!! So every morning we wake up and run to the scent of chocolate and other aromas that you'd expect to smell in Oakland. This morning dropped down to a frigid 50 degrees but usually it's the same weather everyday. 60-70 :) Our mission home and the Temple look out across the Bay and it is so beautiful! Probably the only pleasant spot you'll find out here, though.
Our mission has 10 different languages, but San Leandro is basically Mexico, so I get lots of practice with Spanish. The first couple of days I wasn't even sure if that's what the people were speaking, but my companion reassured me that it was indeed Spanish. And then I got sad. I hope and pray that it will come with time, but for the most part it's really difficult to understand them. The food on the other hand is delicious!! We've had homemade Peruvian, Salvadorian, and Mexican food this week. YUM!
It is a lot of work, and I don't appreciate it when it feels like I'm back in the MTC doing practices and book work, and teaching exercises, but I guess it's necessary. I have never slept better! I wake up in the same exact position that I fall asleep in and usually am out before my companion turns the lights off. As I get to know the people and area more, I am really growing to love the work. So an interesting story for you. Last night, we were at the Visitors' Center and this couple walks in, so we go up and greet them and see if they're here for anything specific. They said no, they just wanted to do the tour and look around. So we sit them in front of the Christus and ask them about themselves, and they seem like nice folks until after we p[lay the Christus narration for them. The guy get so aggressive and starts asking all these random questions (which we were happy to answer) and he kept interrupting us and making fun of my Spanish, and I was getting really uncomfortable. My heart was pounding because he was arguing with my companion and asking how two seemingly normal, learned people could believe all of this. As soon as the Spirit left the conversation (which was really soon into the tour) I just felt sick. So I interrupted him and said"Hermano, you have so many questions, which is great, but unless you are honestly seeking to find the truth, we cannot teach you anything. The Spirit is not here, and therefore we cannot teach. " He was so persnickety and sassy! We showed them a small presentation, handed them pamphlets, and told them to call the elders if they wanted to learn more, and sent them on their way. And Mom knows that I don't do well with those people. So I was very proud that I handled it without telling him to to do something that would get me sent home. So that's what's going on over here! All of my mail needs to be sent to the mission home and I can get it every day I'm at the VC :) I love you all and hope everything is going well!!!
Love, Hermana Smith
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