Hey there everyone! Mom and Dad I am happy you guys are getting out of
the cold and going to go hang out in Hawaii. We have had some really
good times over there. I agree... A family trip there when I get home
sounds great to me! Dad don't worry, I am not trunky because you guys
are going to paradise! You've got to go spoil mom for her birthday
since she always spoils us! Hey eat a Ruth's Chris steak for me! And
take a bunch of pictures!
Well I am glad everything else is going so great. This week was a
pretty slow week. So to compensate that guess what we did?? Yup you
got it.. Service! :) We ended up having a lot of member lessons to.
We had 7 member lessons and a couple less active lessons. Then we met
with Sister M. It was really funny actually. We were over there
sanding down her front porch because we are going to repaint it. And
as we were doing that a FedEx truck came driving up. I didn't think
anything of it at first, but then I looked closer to the box that the
guy was bringing towards us. It looked just like a box from shipping
that we would use to send out brochures. Then I looked closer and it
said Get Away Today on it. It was really cool! Then Sister M. got it
and she said what is this and I said I think it is from my parents!
She said oh that is so sweet. She thought it was really cool it was
from Ogden UT. Then she had me open it with my knife. She opened it
and saw the cookies and was so happy! Then she read the letter to
herself so I have no idea what it said. What did you guys tell her?
She seemed really happy though. Then later on she feed us some red
beans and rice with corn bread and then for dessert she gave us a
little bit of those cookies. They were really good! So I think it
really made her day. She is such a great lady. She did not attend
church again this week.. She loves us to death, but for some reason
she does not want to go to church.. It breaks my heart.. Every Sunday
I am so excited to see if she comes, but then she doesn't show up.. It
is really tough. But everyone has their agency. SO that was the whole
story with Sister M. We are not giving up on her. Right now we have
been trying to find others to teach. So far we have just been planting
seeds. I know if we keep working hard we will find more people. We did
have 4 dinners this week. It was super nice! It had been a little
while. On Monday we went to Bro N. and he fed us some pizza. Then on
Tuesday we went to the G. and they fed us some red fish with red beans
and rice. Then on Thursday it was one of my favorite little guys
birthday. Sam N. He invited us to come to his birthday party. It was
just us him and his parents. They took us to Chucky Cheese. We ate
pizza and played games with Sam. It was really fun then we went back
to their place and had cake. It was a super fun day!
Alright I had something really cool happen this week. We had district
meeting on Friday and Elder S. asked me if I could come in gym
clothes.. I knew exactly what was coming. Alright so there is this
story about a seminary teacher who asked a kid in his class if he
would come up to the front of the class and do push ups. The kid
talked with the teacher before hand and agreed to do it. So the
seminary teacher went on. He brought in donuts and treats. All the
kids were so excited. Then the teacher went around the room and one by
one started to ask the kids if they wanted a donut. The first one said
yes. The teacher put it on their desk and told the kid up front to do
10 push ups. Then the teacher went on to the next kid and they said
yes and the teacher said 10 more pushups. This happened until about
the 10th kid in. By this time the kid up front doing push ups was
starting to struggle. The teacher offered a donut to the 10th kid and
the kid said no I don't want it. The teacher put in on his desk anyway
and told the kid to do 10 more pushups. The teacher kept going and the
kids were starting to feel really bad. Some even asked if they could
do the pushups for him. Some kids came in late and the whole class
told them not to come in! But the teacher said come on in and have a
donut. By this time the kid up front was sweating and was shaking on
each pushup. He could hardly do it anymore. The kids in the class
started crying and telling the teacher to stop. But the teacher kept
on going. Finally when the teacher had gone around the room and the
kids all had their donuts, most of them untouched, the teacher got up
infront of the class and said this represents the Savior and his
suffering for us. So the kids who ate the donuts partook of the
atonement, but the kids that didn't did not partake of it. Even though
it was sitting on their desk right in front of them. The Savior still
did everything for us. He gave his life so we would be able to return
and live again. So the point of this is we have the atonement and we
need to use it. So the kid in the front of the room doing pushups
represented the Savior. That was my job at District meeting. I did so
many pushups. I went until I couldn't do anymore.. It was a really
neat and spiritual experience. It just goes to show how important the
Atonement is. I know the Atonement is real. It is the power to get us
through our days. And it is always there for us. It is up to us to
reach our hand up and take hold of the Saviors hand because he is
always there for when we fall.
This week has been a good week. It got warmer. The beginning of the
week was in the 20-30s then it got all the way up to 70, but now it is
in the 50s and it is raining really hard. It has been raining all day.
I love the rain here. Except sometimes it becomes too dangerous on our
bikes so we have to be careful. The work here is great. I am really
trying my hardest to be spiritually led. This next week is going to be
super busy. On Friday a member from the 70 is coming to speak to us
then Saturday and Sunday we have stake confrence. So a lot of church
this next week! haha Tonight we are going over to one of my favorite
families houses. The P. She is from Hawaii actually! She will be
jealous when I tell her y'all are heading out today! You guys have fun
and be safe alright?? Hey since it is the 6th week of the transfer and
we find out if we are getting transferred on Monday don't send
anything out until I know for sure alright? I wouldn't want any other
Elders pigging out on those pinneapples and chocolates! I have not
sent out my jacket yet... I will try this week. I will send it to the
office. Sorry it has taken me forever. I will send out more pictures
as well. And with my journal writing... It has not been the best.. I
need to get better. Luckily I have that audio recorder that I use and
I like that a lot. That is sweet you have been going up to Logan so
much. Tell Jason to keep his head up and to kick some trash! I am glad
I played golf too. Everything is just on you. I think that really
helped me for my mission too because you are out here and it is just
like I am playing 18 holes of golf. Right now I am on like the 5th
hole haha. I probably hooked it out of bounds... haha just kidding.
Mom thanks for those quotes. I really loved them. And good job
teaching your class! I knew you would hit it out of the Park! You
always do! Happy early birthday!!! I hope you have a great week over
in Hawaii!! How long will y'all be there? You guys are the best! I
love you, but I am not going to miss you.... Too much haha. Well that
is about it for this week. I am looking forward to this next week and
to tackle it. I have no idea what could happen for transfers. I could
stay here with W. another one or leave or anything. I have no idea.
We will find out soon. Well tell everyone I love them very much! You
guys are the best! And mom Like you always say... Remember who you are
and what you stand for! and Return with Honor and Enjoy the Journey! I
love you guys!
Love Elder Smith
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