Well that is just crazy about little Dreydan. That truly is a miracle. That just goes to show how much Heavenly Father loves us. As I read that it made me think about how things happen even when we are doing the right things. Like you and Dad were on your way to the temple. Think if you had decided not to go that day then you would not have been able to put his name in the temple. It just goes to show how Heavenly Father works through us to help improve our faith and our relationship with him. I know that when we go to the temple we are blessed. It is kind of cool too because I was able to go to the temple last Saturday and I put everyone’s names in. I am glad everything was okay and that he is happy and well. And it is also cool how Heavenly Father watches over your family while you are serving him. That has been one of the biggest things I have worried about while I have been out here. I pray every day for y’alls safety and that we will be able to see each other again. He has helped me so much and comforted me through this journey.
I am glad you guys were able to go to Bryson’s farewell. He has been the best friend to me and like my brother. We have been writing and right now we would be going to the boat show and getting so excited to go out boating. We told each other no matter what we are doing we are going to go boating when we get back. I am so excited for that! He is the man. He is going to be such a great missionary! I wish he was coming to Louisiana though! That would be crazy. Hopefully you can send me over his farewell video. I want to see it. And that is awesome about all of the kids who have received their calls. I sure am glad I left when I did. I am very glad we were able to start this journey in the summer and not now. It is crazy how fast time has been flying though. I can't believe I hit 7 months this month. It has just flown by. I have really enjoyed training. Especially this early in the mission. I like being older than my companion. And that I have already experienced what he is going through. It just makes it feel like time goes by even a little faster because I have been through everything he is now going through. He has been doing so well though. He is staying positive. One thing we have been trying to do is to do one fun thing every day. So what we have started to do is during our lunch break we go outside and throw the football for a little bit. It reminds me of doing that with Dan and Ryan. It is so much fun. I showed him the game where we throw the ball behind our backs and catch it and do that again. It is so much fun. We get along so well. We have been working our Butts off. Pardon my French... It has been really hard this week with the cold weather.
Oh yeah.... I have some bad news... This week was the first time in 6 months that I crashed on my bike..... So we were coming home from seeing a referral, investigator, and member. It was 8:45pm and it was a 20 minute bike ride home. It was freezing outside and had been raining. So there were puddles everywhere. We were riding on this road called Tullis. It is a long road with no sidewalks so we were riding on the road. Then I noticed there were 2 huge puddles in front of me and a car behind me so I couldn't cut out into the road so I decided to go up on the grass. I was flyin too. Then when the car passed I tried to cut back into the road and dodge the second puddle. That’s when I hit mud about a foot before the curb. My tire sunk in and then I hit the curb and it slung shot me off my bike right into the middle of the road. I was blessed that there were no cars coming and that I was wearing my helmet. So I wrecked up my knee and my hands pretty good. And the worst part about it was I landed right in the puddle... It was like 30 degrees outside with humidity so that was just the cherry on top... It was the coldest bike ride home by far. Luckily I didn't get hurt or break anything. So I jumped right up, said I am an idiot, and then got right back on my bike and started going again! haha. That is kind of like life. When we get knocked down we have 2 choices. 1. Stay down and quit and stop pushing forward. Or you can do what I did and get up laugh it off even though it hurt like crazy, jump back on that bike and get going again. It was pretty sweet! I felt so dumb though because my companion was in front of me like a mile and he looked back and was wondering what I was doing. I didn't tell him until we got home. I have been trying to let him take the lead so he can get the area down. He is doing really well.
This week we were able to teach sister M. again and it went great. We walked her dogs 3 times and just talked with her. She was sick on Saturday though so that wasn't too much fun. We have plans to have a family home evening tonight with her and the sister missionaries are going to come with us. We are going to teach her the Plan of Salvation. So wish us luck! :) Mom I really loved that desire quote you sent me. It is so true. I am going to send that to my mission president for my email today so thanks for helping me out! :) We went out with Brother N. this week and saw some people. We are trying to get the members involved as much as we can. Then this week we are going to the World War 2 museum with him. We are going to do that for our P-Day. I am very excited.
This week I have been trying to eat really healthy and exercise every day. I am great at exercising, but eating healthy I am not too great at. I just don't know what to cook. I have made some great things though. One thing I am most proud of is a spinach salad with shredded chicken and grapes with a strawberry vinegar dressing! It is amazing!! So maybe y’all could help me out with ideas and recipes to eat more healthy? I am wanting to come home just ripped out of my mind so when we go boating I can look as good as Bryson! haha. It has been good. It helps relieve me of all the stress that we encounter. Oh and the other thing I have really been thinking about lately is golf. I have still not been able to go out because it has been too cold, but I am trying to go out really soon. I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do when I get back and that is one thing I am really wanting to do.
Well I had a great week. We stayed really busy and mom I really have been thinking about that quote you sent me a few weeks back. "Be the kind of missionary that your parents think you are" That is such a great way to be! I am striving my very best to be the Best missionary and son I can be! Thanks for everything you have done for me. You and dad have been the best parents a kid could ask for. Missionaries out here sometimes don't have the support of their family. That would be the hardest thing ever. So thank you!
Well my testimony of the Scriptures this week has really grown. I was reading the first few chapters in Alma yesterday and they hit me so hard. Today I read the chapter my missionary scripture is in. Alma Chapter 7:23-24. I love 24. We will always be abounding in good works when we are doing what is right. I also found a great quote that I love. "If you are not making someone else’s life better then you are wasting yours." I just hope we all can have charity towards other and help everyone out. I love the people down here and I love my family at home. Thank you guys for all you do. Have an amazing week and I can’t wait for next week!
Love, Elder Smith (Nick)
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