Thank you so much for sending a package. We really enjoyed it.
This week has been really good, we had zone conference which I will write later about, and on Wednesday we get to go to the temple, I'm really excited about that! And also last night we had a missionary musical fireside that we put together with 2 other zones. It was something to invite all of our investigators to and something that we are trying to do every month. It was really good, we had some families sing and some missionaries sang as well (all the Polynesians in our zone from Hawaii) so it was really cool. But the thing that has made the last part of our week really good is we decided we needed to rely upon the Lord and try to follow the Spirit throughout the day even more than we had before. When we decided to do that, we took the map and tried to feel which house we needed to go to at that time. Elder Barton choose a couple and I choose a couple and we were off. We were able to talk to a lot of people that accepted our message or a return appointment. At one point we were walking down a street an saw this lady sitting in her garage so we started to talk to her. We found that she had a crazy amount of kids, probably around 8-10, with no husband or father for any of them at the time. She eventually started to open up to us and expressed how she is really struggling and she is trying to quit drinking and cussing. So we told her how we can help her with those things and we can teach her what to do to improve her life. She also mentioned how she wants all her kids baptized. So we are looking forward to meeting with her tomorrow to start to teach her. Another guy we met let us in and fed us cake and we gave him a Book of Mormon and he was excited to learn more about it. Just a few experiences that we had that proved to us that if we listen to the Spirit the best we can and be the most consecrated missionary's we can be, we will be led to those people who will accept Christ's Gospel. I'm so grateful for this time I have to be here as the Lords Servant. Love Elder Smith
Monday, February 24, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Hey!
Thanks for the Valentine package. Elder Barton and I enjoyed it and appreciate it. To answer a question Mom, I know I might look pretty skinny, but I have been eating so much lately! It seems like every dinner we go to I just get so full. And I've been working out, so I have com to the conclusion that my metabolism has sped up even more and there's nothing I can do about it! Pretty unique problem that I have, right! haha. But its fine with me. And while on that subject, one of my past companions, Elder White, txted me last night and said he was craving some huckleberry cordials and would do anything for them! So Mom do you think you could send a few to me?
I want to share a couple short thoughts on what we've been doing this month. This month for district and zone meetings we are studying Christlike attributes, chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel, and tomorrow we will have zone conference about it as well. I love studying about this topic because it is what truly changes us. All the attributes that Christ has are things we need to try to emulate to become better people. Not only better followers of Him, but better husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, kids, etc. Trying to become Christlike can be, and will be a painful process because we have to change our thoughts, behaviors, and actions. But we shouldn't just change our behavior, we need to change out nature. If we are able to change the way we think about things, and be more loving, more patient, more humble, that's what will change the world. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us, and I'm so grateful for that. This is a Gospel of change, it will force you to become a better person, not because someone else wants you to become better, but you will want to become better on your own. And in turn, we are promised comfort, joy, peace, love and eventually eternal life. Why wouldn't somebody want that? I love this work and I love teaching this to people. May we always remember what God does for us.
Thanks again for everything, I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Thanks for the Valentine package. Elder Barton and I enjoyed it and appreciate it. To answer a question Mom, I know I might look pretty skinny, but I have been eating so much lately! It seems like every dinner we go to I just get so full. And I've been working out, so I have com to the conclusion that my metabolism has sped up even more and there's nothing I can do about it! Pretty unique problem that I have, right! haha. But its fine with me. And while on that subject, one of my past companions, Elder White, txted me last night and said he was craving some huckleberry cordials and would do anything for them! So Mom do you think you could send a few to me?
I want to share a couple short thoughts on what we've been doing this month. This month for district and zone meetings we are studying Christlike attributes, chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel, and tomorrow we will have zone conference about it as well. I love studying about this topic because it is what truly changes us. All the attributes that Christ has are things we need to try to emulate to become better people. Not only better followers of Him, but better husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, kids, etc. Trying to become Christlike can be, and will be a painful process because we have to change our thoughts, behaviors, and actions. But we shouldn't just change our behavior, we need to change out nature. If we are able to change the way we think about things, and be more loving, more patient, more humble, that's what will change the world. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us, and I'm so grateful for that. This is a Gospel of change, it will force you to become a better person, not because someone else wants you to become better, but you will want to become better on your own. And in turn, we are promised comfort, joy, peace, love and eventually eternal life. Why wouldn't somebody want that? I love this work and I love teaching this to people. May we always remember what God does for us.
Thanks again for everything, I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Hey! Thanks for the emails, it's good to hear everything is going well for you this week.
So Saturday morning was such a cool experience we had with Kaumaka's baptism. I was privileged to baptize him, but he is a big kid, 14 and almost as tall as me, well I didn't have the best hold on him so I almost dropped him in the water, but I didn't, so it worked out! haha That would have been embarrassing! Most of his immediate family was there to watch the baptism and that was a good experience for them. His father is not a member, but he really enjoyed the ordinance. Kaumaka will be the light in that family to help strengthen them and bring them closer to the Savior and I'm grateful for that.
Elder Barton is a great missionary and I really look up to him. I would love to stay with him for awhile longer, but I've already been in the area for awhile, so I have no idea what will happen at transfers, but that's still 4 weeks away so no need to worry about it now! Today has been a little hectic already, we had some changes in the mission and the zone. We drove to the mission home to pick up a new elder for the exchanges, and then back to email, then lunch, and shopping before we go play some football! And had to plan for tomorrow where we will be giving a training at Zone Training meeting, a once a month occurrence. We were able to give a training at Leadership Council with the President and all the Zone leaders too, and that went really well. Next week is Zone Conference where Elder Barton and I will be able to conduct the meeting, so we are excited about that too. I'm so grateful for all the experience and training I'm receiving that will help me throughout life, it's a great opportunity that we have to serve!
Well, have a safe week, and congrats to Jordan and Brittney on the date of their marriage.
I love you all, Elder Smith
So Saturday morning was such a cool experience we had with Kaumaka's baptism. I was privileged to baptize him, but he is a big kid, 14 and almost as tall as me, well I didn't have the best hold on him so I almost dropped him in the water, but I didn't, so it worked out! haha That would have been embarrassing! Most of his immediate family was there to watch the baptism and that was a good experience for them. His father is not a member, but he really enjoyed the ordinance. Kaumaka will be the light in that family to help strengthen them and bring them closer to the Savior and I'm grateful for that.
Elder Barton is a great missionary and I really look up to him. I would love to stay with him for awhile longer, but I've already been in the area for awhile, so I have no idea what will happen at transfers, but that's still 4 weeks away so no need to worry about it now! Today has been a little hectic already, we had some changes in the mission and the zone. We drove to the mission home to pick up a new elder for the exchanges, and then back to email, then lunch, and shopping before we go play some football! And had to plan for tomorrow where we will be giving a training at Zone Training meeting, a once a month occurrence. We were able to give a training at Leadership Council with the President and all the Zone leaders too, and that went really well. Next week is Zone Conference where Elder Barton and I will be able to conduct the meeting, so we are excited about that too. I'm so grateful for all the experience and training I'm receiving that will help me throughout life, it's a great opportunity that we have to serve!
Well, have a safe week, and congrats to Jordan and Brittney on the date of their marriage.
I love you all, Elder Smith
Monday, February 3, 2014
Hey ya'll!
Thanks a lot for the news from home and the letters sent to me. You all are awesome!
This week has been so good, really long, but good. The first of the transfer with a new companion always seems like it takes forever, but we have got some really good work done. Elder Barton is great, I love him already. Elder Parker is in Redrock stake and he's on bike, and his new companion is someone I lived with for 4 months while I was in South stake, Elder Jarman, so they will do good together. But like I said, Elder Barton is from Baton Rouge Louisiana, yes, good ole southern boy haha! He has a pretty amazing story. He was baptized about 5 years ago after getting fellowshipped by friends in the church, and he is still the only member in his family. He has 1 brother and 1 sister and his mom, who are supportive of him but are not interested in the Gospel. It's inspiring to hear about people like him that have such a strong testimony and are the pioneers in their family to lead and do what they believe is true, even without too much support. I look up to him a lot. This week we had a cool experience, we were trying to think of who we could go see, sitting in the car thinking. And he suggested these people that Elder Parker had talked to briefly before and written on a paper. So we drove to their neighborhood and I parked down the street. I had a feeling that we shouldn't go there at that specific time, so I just told him what I felt, pulled out the map and pointed at a street in the next neighborhood that we could go tract. Immediately we went and started knocking. Well the first door we knocked on was Crystal, a member of the church that we didn't know lived there and she hadn't been to church for 7 years. She stopped going because her dad passed away and was mad at God for taking her father. We stood on the porch for 30 minutes while she cried and told us her feelings. We talked about how the Gospel can help her and expressed that we wanted to help her and teach her family. We have a return appointment for this week and we are looking forward to it. This was another experience for me, out of many, that lets me know that the spirit is real and can guide us to where we need to be. I am so grateful for that and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us comfort and joy in life so we don't have to hold on to feelings of regret and pain like she has been doing. We also spent a couple days on bike in our area so we could talk to more people on the street and that was very productive too. We had one day where we set up 5 return appointments just from street contacts and visiting less active members. I've grown to love talking to people on the street and learning about who they are and how we can help them, its very rewarding.
So Kaumakas baptism is this Saturday and I will have the privilege of baptizing him. He is a great kid and I'm excited for him. It will be a great experience for him and his family. Thanks again for all you do, I love you all and hope you have a great week!!
Love Elder Smith
Thanks a lot for the news from home and the letters sent to me. You all are awesome!
This week has been so good, really long, but good. The first of the transfer with a new companion always seems like it takes forever, but we have got some really good work done. Elder Barton is great, I love him already. Elder Parker is in Redrock stake and he's on bike, and his new companion is someone I lived with for 4 months while I was in South stake, Elder Jarman, so they will do good together. But like I said, Elder Barton is from Baton Rouge Louisiana, yes, good ole southern boy haha! He has a pretty amazing story. He was baptized about 5 years ago after getting fellowshipped by friends in the church, and he is still the only member in his family. He has 1 brother and 1 sister and his mom, who are supportive of him but are not interested in the Gospel. It's inspiring to hear about people like him that have such a strong testimony and are the pioneers in their family to lead and do what they believe is true, even without too much support. I look up to him a lot. This week we had a cool experience, we were trying to think of who we could go see, sitting in the car thinking. And he suggested these people that Elder Parker had talked to briefly before and written on a paper. So we drove to their neighborhood and I parked down the street. I had a feeling that we shouldn't go there at that specific time, so I just told him what I felt, pulled out the map and pointed at a street in the next neighborhood that we could go tract. Immediately we went and started knocking. Well the first door we knocked on was Crystal, a member of the church that we didn't know lived there and she hadn't been to church for 7 years. She stopped going because her dad passed away and was mad at God for taking her father. We stood on the porch for 30 minutes while she cried and told us her feelings. We talked about how the Gospel can help her and expressed that we wanted to help her and teach her family. We have a return appointment for this week and we are looking forward to it. This was another experience for me, out of many, that lets me know that the spirit is real and can guide us to where we need to be. I am so grateful for that and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us comfort and joy in life so we don't have to hold on to feelings of regret and pain like she has been doing. We also spent a couple days on bike in our area so we could talk to more people on the street and that was very productive too. We had one day where we set up 5 return appointments just from street contacts and visiting less active members. I've grown to love talking to people on the street and learning about who they are and how we can help them, its very rewarding.
So Kaumakas baptism is this Saturday and I will have the privilege of baptizing him. He is a great kid and I'm excited for him. It will be a great experience for him and his family. Thanks again for all you do, I love you all and hope you have a great week!!
Love Elder Smith
Another Day At Red Rock
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