Family!
I'm glad to hear all the stories from home and that everyone is doing well. Mom that is an amazing miracle that you had and I'm so thankful that you are slowly making it through the class for school. Don't give up, The Lord is with us in those hard times. I'm glad to hear Charlie has a tooth coming in, he's growing up so fast! And glad to hear Mason had a fun time breaking your glass cups haha.
Well transfers are today and me and Elder Naranjo are staying together. But I have been called to be a District Leader for a new district in our zone! I couldn't believe when President Black called to tell me but I know it is a call from the Lord, not just him, no doubt about that. And I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and watch over my new district this new transfer. They created a new Zone, The Elkhorn Springs zone, which I am in, and so things are really expanding and changing here with all the new missionaries coming. We get 28 "greenies" today, which is very exciting. Elder Naranjo and I will be living in a house of a older lady who has a 18 year old son with a disability, he is living at home and serving a non- proselyting mission at the same time here at the family history center. Just keep sending mail to the mission home for now. It's an exciting time now for missionary work with all the new missions being created! President Black ends his mission service in July---so we just found out our new mission president will be President Michael Ahlander from Orem Utah, we hate to see President Black go in July, but excited for the new President as well.
Dad I was wondering if you could write to me a little bit about your mission when you were at the same point as I am. Any challenges or successes you were having, any leadership positions? I was just curious and want to know how it was for you. Thanks. I know it will be a little more stressful this transfer but I am going to be the best district leader I can possibly be and pray for the Lords guidance and help. Thanks for all you do for me and all the love and support, I hope everyone has a great, safe week. Love Elder Smith
Monday, February 25, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Dear Family,
I want to thank you all so much for the packages and gifts that I received for Valentine's Day. Thanks Uncle Curt and Aunt Kris for the package, I enjoyed the treats and especially the tie! Thanks Janell for the package and treats, and Mom...I couldn't believe all the things you sent!! I was expecting there to be a puppy in that big of a box you sent haha! But thanks for all the food, I had to give a lot of it to other Elders cause there was so much. I appreciate all you do.
This week has been great! We found a couple people to teach from tracking, one was when I was on exchanges with the district leader, and Elder Jones, and we taught the whole first lesson on her front porch! It was amazing to see how well we taught it even though we hadn't worked together before. We will be following up with her this week along with some other people. We haven't been able to meet with the Culleys and their kids for awhile, they've been really busy and are moving soon, but we have been so blessed with other opportunities and I know it comes from obedience and following the promptings of the Spirit. Thanks Mom for the scripture and thought. One of my favorite scriptures comes from that chapter, Alma 26:12. But relating to the verse you gave, 1Nephi 1:20 states that it will be shown unto us the tender mercies of the Lord, than at the end of the Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3, it says to remember how merciful the Lord has been to the children of men from the creation of Adam. I like the relationship of those scriptures that we always should remember how merciful the Lord really is, and always be looking for those examples throughout the Book of Mormon, because they are everywhere.
We had a awesome P-day today, we went to Red Rock Canyon as a zone. We did a small hike and got some good pictures. The rocks remind me of St George and a little bit of Moab too. Next time I want to go to Mt Charleston where there's snow! Unless it's all melted by now. Anyways thanks again for everything. I love you all and hope you have a good safe week.
Also, transfers are next Monday and we will be living in a members home this week. So send my mail to the mission home, Love Elder Smith
I want to thank you all so much for the packages and gifts that I received for Valentine's Day. Thanks Uncle Curt and Aunt Kris for the package, I enjoyed the treats and especially the tie! Thanks Janell for the package and treats, and Mom...I couldn't believe all the things you sent!! I was expecting there to be a puppy in that big of a box you sent haha! But thanks for all the food, I had to give a lot of it to other Elders cause there was so much. I appreciate all you do.
This week has been great! We found a couple people to teach from tracking, one was when I was on exchanges with the district leader, and Elder Jones, and we taught the whole first lesson on her front porch! It was amazing to see how well we taught it even though we hadn't worked together before. We will be following up with her this week along with some other people. We haven't been able to meet with the Culleys and their kids for awhile, they've been really busy and are moving soon, but we have been so blessed with other opportunities and I know it comes from obedience and following the promptings of the Spirit. Thanks Mom for the scripture and thought. One of my favorite scriptures comes from that chapter, Alma 26:12. But relating to the verse you gave, 1Nephi 1:20 states that it will be shown unto us the tender mercies of the Lord, than at the end of the Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3, it says to remember how merciful the Lord has been to the children of men from the creation of Adam. I like the relationship of those scriptures that we always should remember how merciful the Lord really is, and always be looking for those examples throughout the Book of Mormon, because they are everywhere.
We had a awesome P-day today, we went to Red Rock Canyon as a zone. We did a small hike and got some good pictures. The rocks remind me of St George and a little bit of Moab too. Next time I want to go to Mt Charleston where there's snow! Unless it's all melted by now. Anyways thanks again for everything. I love you all and hope you have a good safe week.
Also, transfers are next Monday and we will be living in a members home this week. So send my mail to the mission home, Love Elder Smith
Monday, February 11, 2013
Hola Familia!
I agree that I can't believe it's been another week, they go by so fast here! And I cannot believe Sister Bridgewater is already home from her mission! I thought she just left before me but I guess I was wrong. It sounds like an exciting time at the house right now with everything torn apart haha, but I'm excited to see all the new things! Sounds like I won't recognize the place. Dad I wish I could be there helping, I love helping with those things and should have helped you more with your projects the past couple years. And no my companion doesn't have any sort of learners permit to drive, he just wanted to learn! He wants to go to BYUI when he gets home and wants to live with me haha. Unfortunately I probably won't be going there but who knows. I'm glad to hear Ryan's doing well. He sent me some pictures the other day, they were so funny. I hope Aaron gets into BYUI and that his job goes well.
This week has been good, we taught the Culley family again, with 3 kids that love to learn, and are teaching them again on Wednesday, they went to scouts and absolutely loved it! We just need to work on getting them to church. I don't think I mentioned that the father is a member but hasn't been since 6th grade, so he wants to go back. We're still working with a few less active members, last night I had an awesome experience. We got out of an appointment with the Smith family and we're wondering what we should do next. So I opened the binder that we call the traveling area book and looked through the list of people we had already tried before. This one name just stuck out to me and without thinking I started driving to the house of this former investigator. It was completely dark inside, as it had been the past two times we drove by, but I just had a feeling to knock anyways. Well he was home and answered the door a little confused but happy to see us even though we had woken him up haha. Talked to him for a bit, gave him our number and left. I didn't thing anything would come from it, but not 15 minutes later he sent a text saying, ''God really does work in crazy ways, when we talk you'll see why, thanks for stopping by, I needed it". I know without a doubt that the Spirit led us to that house and I'm so grateful for that. This is just one of many experiences I've had with the Spirit guiding us. This is real, this gospel is true, and God has his hand in all that we do.
Thanks for everything you do for me, I love you all and wish you all a happy Valentines's day. Elder Smith
I agree that I can't believe it's been another week, they go by so fast here! And I cannot believe Sister Bridgewater is already home from her mission! I thought she just left before me but I guess I was wrong. It sounds like an exciting time at the house right now with everything torn apart haha, but I'm excited to see all the new things! Sounds like I won't recognize the place. Dad I wish I could be there helping, I love helping with those things and should have helped you more with your projects the past couple years. And no my companion doesn't have any sort of learners permit to drive, he just wanted to learn! He wants to go to BYUI when he gets home and wants to live with me haha. Unfortunately I probably won't be going there but who knows. I'm glad to hear Ryan's doing well. He sent me some pictures the other day, they were so funny. I hope Aaron gets into BYUI and that his job goes well.
This week has been good, we taught the Culley family again, with 3 kids that love to learn, and are teaching them again on Wednesday, they went to scouts and absolutely loved it! We just need to work on getting them to church. I don't think I mentioned that the father is a member but hasn't been since 6th grade, so he wants to go back. We're still working with a few less active members, last night I had an awesome experience. We got out of an appointment with the Smith family and we're wondering what we should do next. So I opened the binder that we call the traveling area book and looked through the list of people we had already tried before. This one name just stuck out to me and without thinking I started driving to the house of this former investigator. It was completely dark inside, as it had been the past two times we drove by, but I just had a feeling to knock anyways. Well he was home and answered the door a little confused but happy to see us even though we had woken him up haha. Talked to him for a bit, gave him our number and left. I didn't thing anything would come from it, but not 15 minutes later he sent a text saying, ''God really does work in crazy ways, when we talk you'll see why, thanks for stopping by, I needed it". I know without a doubt that the Spirit led us to that house and I'm so grateful for that. This is just one of many experiences I've had with the Spirit guiding us. This is real, this gospel is true, and God has his hand in all that we do.
Thanks for everything you do for me, I love you all and wish you all a happy Valentines's day. Elder Smith
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
It has been yet another great trip to the temple today! I forgot to email everyone about that last week so I apologize for not letting you know I wouldn't email on Monday. I thought it was so funny that you stuffed the missionaries full at dinner the other day Mom, haha. I have had a couple of those days so far where we just have to go lay down at home because we eat so much food! It's nice to hear the mission there is growing as well, next transfer we are getting 30 new missionaries and this transfer we got about 24 with nobody going home, so we will be at 250 in no time for the mission. Crazy to think there were only about 100 when I came here in August. And thanks for the pictures of the snow and the new bathroom, it looks so nice! Completely different then before! I'm missing the snow but not missing the cold weather all the time. Well as for the work here, it's going great. Elder Naranjo and I have been working so hard the past couple weeks and its definitely bringing blessings. We have had a lot of unexpected opportunities to teach the gospel which I'm extremely grateful for. We are teaching a family with 3 kids tonight that we found, I don't know how willing the parents are to change but the kids love learning. We are hoping things will work out and that they feel the spirit as we teach them. I'm enjoying being senior companion, Elder Naranjo's English is good but his grammar is pretty bad sometimes! So I enjoy helping him with that. And to tell the truth he's a pretty horrible driver haha, so I only let him drive once in awhile and at night when there's no cars on the road. I'm so grateful for the time I have to be here, Mom thanks for the words of encouragement from Elder Eyring. I strive my best to become a better teacher and instrument in the Lords hands. I try talking to everyone I see on the street or working in their yards and it always brings a sense of joy and comfort knowing you didn't just walk by them. We have the truth and everyone needs to know about it to decide for themselves if they accept it or not. All we have to do is be bold and open our mouths at every opportunity we have. I'm grateful for the help the Lord has given me as I have done this. Thanks for all your love and support, I hope everyone has a great week. Love Elder Smith
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