Hey family! Mom and dad
it sounds like the cruise was a blast! I am happy you all are safe and sound.
It is really cold down here in the south so I bet it was freezing on that
cruise. Oh well. At least you were able to hang out with Ry and Kee. That is fun.
It sounds like everything else is going great! Tell Jason good job in his
Basketball and to go kick some trash at State! That is so legit. I hope they go
all the way. Well I hope you all have another great week!
This week has been
crazy busy. I have only been in my area of Pineville on Monday, Tuesday, and
then half of Saturday and Sunday. So it all started Last Monday. We came back
after volleyball and emailing and got ready and headed out the door. We did
some tracting as well as had a few appointments.
Two of them fell
through but our last one we went and saw a less-active lady. She has really
been struggling with why bad things happen to good people. Elder Gosch and I
were super bold with her. The Spirit was there and we know it testified to her.
We pretty much just said that it is Gods will and that he isn't going to give
us this life and make it easy and have it all come to us on a silver platter.
So we have to have Faith in Gods will and everything that he has in store for
us. Then she also wants God to help her when she isn't doing her part. She
isn't coming to church or reading her scriptures. Why would he Help us when we
aren't doing our part you know? That just seems to be a ton of peoples view of
God that he just gives us things without us doing anything. Even when we do the
smallest of things like read a verse a day from the Scriptures he is going to
bless us. Sorry there is my little vent session haha. So the point is that we
need to be obedient to Gods commandments and he will bless us and make it so we
can go through anything. It doesn't mean it is going to be easy, but we are
promised that we will be able to make it through it with the Atonement.
Then on Tuesday we had
District meeting. It was great. Then we saw a bunch of less actives and an
investigator who we have to give to the sisters because she is a single
lady.Then that night was mission prep. It was also this kid in the Alexandria
wards last one before he left on his mission. So that was a good night. Then
Wednesday we started exchanges again. We drove all the way up to Leesville to
go to their district meeting. They have 3 sets of elders, 2 sets of sisters,
and 2 sets of senior couples. It was a good district meeting. They had us
instruct. Then I went with Elder Rush down to Oakdale. It was a way good
exchange. They have a really tough area. It is hard for them to stay busy
because of how small and spread out it is. It reminded me a lot of Algiers of
how it was tough to teach people. We did some tracting and store contacting and
met some cool people. They have 2 Potential Investigators from it. SO that
should be good. Then Thursday night we ended exchanges. Well instead of going
home back to Pineville we had to go down to Baton Rouge to Spend the night
since Friday morning we had MLC. or Mission Leader Council. So the fun part
about us coming down on Thursday night was we got to have a sleep over with the
Ap's and all the zone leaders. It was legit! Elder Andrews and I talked a bunch
and with everyone else too. We all didn't get to bed until pretty late.. haha.
MLC is where all the ZL's and SIster Training Leaders meet with the President
and AP's. We also had Elder Kapishca of the 70 there. It was a great meeting.
We learned a lot. It was a council meeting so all of us put our input in and he
put his in as well. Then right after this 3 hour meeting we had a Multi
Zone Meeting with 4 zones. IT was a great meeting. We went over the things we
talked about in MLC and he asked us if we would instruct and teach everyone what
we learned. No one would volunteer so I decided I would go first. I got up and
instructed on a question I had asked him about how to help missionaries not be
so hard on themselves. It was really good. I was able to go from my memory for
about 10 minutes then he kept me up there for another 10 just asking me
questions. It was a great meeting. He is changing the culture of our mission a
lot to contacting more and finding more. It is going to be really good.
Then since it was so
late again we didn't want to make the 3 hour drive back up to Alexandria so we
stayed the night again. Then Saturday
morning we went to the Temple.. I love the Temple. IT gets me
so pumped up whenever we go. I have some questions that I am excited to ask you
mom and dad when we go when I get back. Hopefully you will be able to answer
them. Then after we drove back home and we were exhausted, but that can't stop
us. We went straight out and started implementing what we learned the day
before about asking for referrals from everyone and tracting like crazy. Then
we received a random call from the Hansen family who was in Gonzales, but moved
up here to Derrider which is an hour away. They asked if they could take us out
to dinner! It was a tender mercy. They are so legit! I mean who drives that far
to take missionaries out to dinner. They must really love us. I really love
them! They put a picture on instagram so you can go on there and check it out.
They are friends with Jacs so go check it out haha.
Then Sunday was a
mellow day. No investigators at church from us, but some people from the ward
invited friends so we were able to teach them all at the church. It was great.
Then we visited some of our investigators and had some people cancel on us
usual and we also had dinner at our ward mission leaders house. It was a great
day!
This week has been so
busy. I am so tired. I need to catch up on some sleep. I am loving it here up
in Pineville. It has been the best so far. I am trying my best to work my
hardest and to talk to everyone. I have really grown my testimony in the work
part of missionary work in this area as well as my last. I love it. Time is
flying by. It won't be long until we will be seeing each other in the SLC
airport. I am excited for that! Well I would like to encourage all of you to
both as families and individuals to read and study the scriptures everyday.
Also ask yourself the question of how your relationship is with the Savior. If
you feel you don't really know him or if it could be better than get down on
your knees and pray like Enos. The Savior is the best! I love him and I know he
is there to help us overcome everything and anything. Well family I love you! I
hope you have a great week! Keep up the good work! Love ya!
Elder Smith
ps we got a new car
this week and guess what it is... It is a red 2013 Toyota Tacoma!! I am loving
my life right now!!
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