I am really excited for this new year. I have some goals I really want to accomplish. I think of the New Year as a fresh start. I am starting over and anything I felt like I didn't do as well as I should have last year I can do it this year. I kind of liken that to the Atonement. Whenever we come up short that does not mean we give up. It just means that we work harder the next time. So by the time I am 100 I hope I have perfected it! haha One of my goals is to lose myself completely in the work. It has been a pretty tough past couple of weeks. The work has been slower than ever. It is freezing outside. Like today it is 34 outside with humidity. That may not sound cold, but with only a little sweater on it just cuts right through you. We have had a lot of people decide they don't want anything to do with the Gospel anymore. We had one of our investigators named T. just dropped us. He said I really love what you guys are doing, but I am never going to change. I wanted to just smack him and set him straight! haha (I would never do that though don't you worry mom!) I have learned a lot this year that everyone has their own agency. You cannot force your believes on them, but you can help them along the way. Heavenly Father has a plan for us. It is just up to us to follow it. The biggest thing I have learned out here is Obedience brings blessings. It is so true. Even in the simplest ways I can see it. Just the other day I was on exchanges with my district leader. We were helping someone out in the branch with their bike. She got a flat and didn't have a spare. So I told Elder S. we should go to Dicks sporting goods and get her one. But before we left I felt like we should walk. I had no idea why I felt like that, but I acted on it. At first I thought why are we doing this. It is cold outside and it is pretty far away. But then when we were walking I noticed we were coming up to an older man that was walking by himself. Then we were right behind him and I saw he had on a retired veterans hat. I then just said Hey I like your hat! He turned around and said oh why thank you. Then I was able to start talking to him about what he did. He was in the Marines. He was stationed in a lot of different areas. He then just asked hey are you both Mormons? And we said yes! Are you familiar with our church? He said yes I am. I actually had one of your books. He said he lost it when Katrina hit. So we were able to talk to him about it a little bit. He then just asked us some questions. He was a super awesome guy. Then when we were about to part ways I asked if he wanted another book of Mormon. He said no.... I asked well why not? (Me trying to be bold...) haha He then went on to say how he was a member of a different church and he wasn't about to change his beliefs. So I asked if I could give him a pass along card. He accepted and told us he was going to check out the website. Then we both parted ways but while we were walking away he said thank you very much. Y'all made my day.. I have no idea what he might have been going through, but who knows maybe he prayed or something to receive some help or comfort. And Heavenly Father knew that and prompted me to just walk instead of ride our bikes. We planted another seed and helped someone out. So no matter what the prompting is you have got to act on it. That is another one of my goals is to act on the prompting of the Holy Ghost the first time. Not to be reminded.
Alright so the reason I titled this letter service, service, service is because we did more service this week than any other week. We had 31 hours of service. That is over a full day’s work of service. So what we did that required that much service was on Thursday we did our usual visits to 3 houses and helped them out. Then after that I received a call from our branch President. He told us a new member was moving in and was needing help moving in. So I rounded up the troops and we had 6 missionaries there to help move this lady in. She had a lot of stuff to go into a small house. It was a lot of fun though. She just got a new dog. It was a baby German Shepard.... I want one now... The mission has settled it... Once I get home I am getting a dog no matter what! haha Then on Friday we had exchanges and my district leader came over to Algiers. We worked our tails off. We had 7 lessons in 1 day! With 2 member present lessons. That never happens for us. There are just no members to come with us. So it was awesome. Then we got that call about the lady having a flat tire. So that took up about 2 hours because she didn't have a tool to get her bike tire off. That was pretty much all the service for that day. Then Saturday we got picked up early in the morning and went to downtown to help out the man who walked into the church last week. We went and helped him with his dad’s storage unit. It took us forever and it was hard work. There were a lot of things in there. Then we finished and they fed us a bunch of pizza and king cake. It was a great week. We had a lot of lessons and great finding opportunities and a lot of service and showing love to people. Then on Sunday the W. had us all over for Crawfish attufia. It was really good. Then had a really spiritual night. It was just a great week. Elder Willis and I have been getting along great as usual. We are working hard. And we are having fun while we do it. We are seeing the work move forward. We may not be harvesting yet, but we are for sure planting those seeds for later. I know they will harvest. It is just a matter of time.
Well I am glad Merlene’s funeral was beautiful. I thought about her a lot this week. It was pretty tough I won’t lie. I loved her. That is really cool that she had a picture of me sitting on her desk. Now I wish I had a picture of her to put on my desk. She is in a better place now. She is in no more pain. I love the fact that we are able to be with our families forever. That is what makes our Gospel so great. At least to me because you guys know how much I love you. You guys are my heroes.
That is awesome about the little boys coming up more! I miss those little guys and all my nieces. They are getting big that's for sure. I am proud of Dan too. That is so good. I bet he feels so much better. I am glad Ryan is doing great. That is funny about Scott I could just see him doing that! haha You've got to love our family. We sure know how to embarrass people! :) Especially my nieces!! I am glad Jason is playing well. I am stoked to be able to watch him play his senior year. And that is funny about Bryson coming to pick up Jane. I am glad he finally came up and saw you guys.
That is awesome you fasted for Sister M. Thanks you guys. She is struggling right now. I am excited to see her this week because I have got a good feeling about it. Even if she doesn't I still love her and I will not give up on her. She is awesome and I know she will come back. The people down here are great. I think it is funny. Whenever we start talking to people a lot of the times they will say "I am Catholic" thinking that we will just walk away. One thing I have been trying to do is show love no matter what. So when they say that I say Oh I love Catholics! Haha people think we look down on other religions. We are not here to destroy other religions, but simply build upon what they already have. We love everyone!! So that has been fun! :)
Mom you are too funny. You stress too much! You already are the BEST missionary mom a kid could ask for! Thanks for that mom. I really liked that passage you wrote from the missionary book you are reading. I like the quote “Be the kind of missionary your parents think you are”. Well I am not the best missionary in the world. No one is. I strive to be the best I can be. But the best missionary of all is the Holy Ghost. So while I am out here I have to strive to be as obedient as I can so I can have the Spirit with me to teach through me! It is just like what D&C says. 33:7-10. Open your mouths and they shall be filled. It is so true. I sometimes have no idea what to say, but I just trust the Spirit and start to testify. Half the time I don't remember what I even say. Oh another cool thing that happened this week. I was asked my Bro. N. if I could give him a Priesthood Blessing. He and his wife have been trying to have more kids. So I started and I honestly don't remember anything I said. But afterwards he was crying a little bit and gave me a big hug and whispered “that was exactly what I needed to hear”. He said thank you, but I told him don't thank me.. It wasn't me. It was Our Heavenly Father. It was so cool and I could feel the Spirit so close to me. I feel the Spirit so strongly out here. I was talking to Ryan about that. It is so true how close I am to the Spirit. I am dreading the day I get released because I hear you just notice something is not as strong. I want to always have this Spirit with me. It is so amazing and we all can have it, just by doing the simple things. Reading the Scriptures. Praying and attending church. I have such a strong testimony of this.
Well Family I hope you all have a great day! And a great week! I love you all so much. You are the Best family ever. Thanks for all the love and support! I love y’all, but I am not going to miss ya!! :) I love you guys!! I love you mom and dad!
Love Elder Smith AKA Nickalaka!
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