Another Week

So this week was tough. We only had one of our investigators at church and Shannon is just struggling now. We set a date with her and she was super excited. Then we came back the next day and she said she wanted to put it off. We were in shock. We didn't know what to say. Then she didn't come to church and we can't get a hold of her. I am so tired of things like this. Jeepers Creepers! Then we had to just drop Jeanette again yesterday for good. She just doesn't get it! Oh my heavens! This area has been a little bit rough lately...

I don't have much to say this week other than Granny is doing better but she just still isn't Granny. Her health has struggled and so unfortunately we just don't know what is going to happen. O'Brian is doing so good! I am so proud of him! He is almost halfway through Alma and just started reading a couple weeks before he got baptized. And he is not a fast reader at all! That guy is my hero. I am so happy that I got to teach and baptize him! 

We did have a little success with O'Brian's Brother's Girlfriend. Ha that is kind of a long chain. Her name is Evelle and she is super cool and pretty prepared. She was the one that came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it. I wish you could have seen Dorothy escorting her everywhere around the church. You could just tell that she was so happy that she was doing missionary work. I love that family! They tell us all the time that Dave and Evelle will be joining the church just now because they are working on them. I love it!

This week I have been reflecting a lot on Hope. Because to be honest that is what we are holding onto right now. You know in the game of monopoly how there is the free parking space in one of the corners? Well we play that game a lot and Elder Glade lands on that spot every time. So he gets all the money that is in the middle that we have had to pay for fees and such. But Elder Glade will run out of money and be in debt and then he will just be like "Free parking is right there I'll just roll a 7 and land on it and pay you then. That work?" Then he lands on it! Now this isn't necessarily about monopoly but Elder Glade has what Nephi refers to as a "Perfect brightness of hope." He knows that there are better times ahead. No matter what is going on now he knows that free parking is just around the corner. And so whatever it is that you are facing right know just know that there are good things to come. Whether it is a hard time for you or a loved one there is help and happiness ahead. And always remember that free parking is just around the corner.

Love,

Elder Smith

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.

-Dieter F Uchtdorf

Granny

So this week was nuts! We had another huge scare with Granny this week. It is getting so crazy. We were at a baptism on saturday at the church and I get a call from Neesa. (Granny's grand-niece who lives with her) She calls us and tells me that Granny is not breathing well and she can't talk. So me and Elder Day just hauled to get to Granny's as soon as we could. We got there and gave her a blessing and helped take her on a stretcher to the ambulance again. We were freaking out. She could not even lift her arm to shake our hands and it was just bad. We thought she was going to slip away right then. So she goes to the Hospital and we were just super thrown off the rest of the night. We went over to see her yesterday and she is doing much better and they just had to get her blood sugar back up but it was just sad. She is doing better though. Oh man it was crazy.

So this week was good but tough. Shannon didn't come to church so we were heartbroken about that. She is so prepared! She told us that she wants an eternal family and she isn't going to settle for anything less! So we are just going to continue to work with her because she has some real divine potential! We also picked Jeanette back up and she is progressing again so that is really good! We have been blessed to have some really spiritually led days that have been great! We have seen blessings as we have been really trying to rely on the spirit lately. I love it!

O'Brian is doing really well still as well as the rest of the fam! His brother Valentine is getting the priesthood next week and in his own words he said, "I've just put it off to long." I loved that! It got me thinking about how a lot of times in life we "Put it off to long." Whether it be living a commandment, or magnifying a calling or just simply doing what we are supposed to be doing! We read in Alma 34 that we shouldn't procrastinate the day of our repentance and Joshua tells us to choose this day who we are going to serve! So why do we "Put it off?" By putting it off we are only hurting ourselves! So whatever it is don't "put it off" any more! Remember the Nike slogan! "Just Do It!" I know that Heavenly Father is just waiting to bless us! So choose NOW to come closer to Him! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Smith

Pictures:

1. I won Monopoly!

2. I was really happy

3. The crew in the ZL's apartment

4. Me and Elder Morrison aka the Jamaican

  

Skyping!

Oh man it was so great to talk to you guys yesterday! Ir was just a boost that I really needed! Not going to lie though... My heart did kinda sink a little at first when I didn't see Kaitlyn. Ha same with Elder Glade's! Ha he told me when he looked in and didn't see her he was really bummed because he wanted to meet her! Ha but they got to meet her and he says he approves! Ha but it was great to talk to you! You guys haven't really changed and I am sure that you saw that I haven't a whole lot. Ha I am still Randon! Oh but I sure love you guys!

This week was kinda tough because we had to drop Jeanette... It absolutely breaks my heart. I really hope that she picks it up so we can go back again! This week was full of drop lessons which is really tough but it was also full of some amazing experiences.

We recently opened up an area in Bocage. We have some sweet people up there! One of them is named Shannon. She is probably about 20 and she has so much desire to know the truth! It is so inspiring! She is going to be baptized soon! I am really excited for her! Another person that we had a lot of success with up there is Sister Agatha. She is kinda crazy but so amazing! I love meeting these humble people that are just so warm and Genuine. But Agatha is married and has a 20 year old daughter and a 10 year old son. And the other day we went by her and after the lesson she told us that her husband wanted to tell us something but he was at work so she was just going to tell us. She went on and told us how her husband had this vision of a man leading this sheep and so he told her that it was time for them to get baptized. Agatha then asked us, "Can you help us with that?" Ha so that should be going down soon! Yes Father led family! Man I am super excited for them! 

Everybody else is doing well! I sure do love this work! I don't really know what else to say because I talked to you last night but just know that I love you a lot! Looking back at things coming home was a huge blessing! For multiple reasons... :) Ha but i got to get a lot closer to you guys and it was a major blessing!

My thought today is on Forever Families. That's something that I am so grateful for! I love my family and I can't wait for my future family! I really am kinda excited... Ha but I know that as long as we do what our Heavenly Father asks and have a Temple Marriage. Notice it's not just a Temple Wedding. But as we have a Temple Marriage and honor those covenants that we make, we make it possible to be with our families forever! How great is that?! I am so grateful for that knowledge! I love you guys and I'm grateful for you!

Love,

Elder Smith

 OCTOPUS STEW

 FISH CAUGHT IN THE OCEAN AND COOKED ON THE BEACH

 O'BRIAN BAPTIZED DOROTHY/DOROTHY'S STORY IN PREVIOUS BLOG POST

 ELDER FIAME AND ELDER SMITH/ELDER FIAME GOT TRANSFERED/RANDON MISSES HIM

"Dewno"

So yes I played dewno last night with Elder Fiame and Elder Morrison and Elder Day! I thought I was going to die! I probably ended up drinking a liter and a half of Sprite and a liter and a half of Coke! (That's the only two liter flavors they had here!) I was so sick though! So I guess you could say that I did not exactly do the smartest thing last night but we had to because we got transfer calls and we found out that Elder Fiame is leaving to Trinidad on Wednesday. Yes I am going to miss that guy! He has become one of my best friends! But he still has about a year left so hopefully I will get to see him again. But me and Elder Day are staying for another transfer! It is weird because it will be my third transfer here. I have never spent that long in an area so it is certainly a new feeling! 

So I know what you are wondering is "Was Dorothy Baptized?" The answer is yes! It was so cool because O'Brian got to baptize her! He was so happy! I love that guy so much! He struggled a little when he was saying the prayer but he was finally able to get her in the water! I was so proud of him! Dorothy is someone that is rarely happy but she was smiling from ear to ear! That made my day! She was so happy and excited! I am so proud of that family! They are now turning their focus to another brother who they want to get baptized! He is a great guy and he was there on Saturday so we will just have to see what happens! 

This week O'Brian also had a beach party thing for us missionaries where he went fishing and then he just cooked the fish right there on the beach! So yeah I have eaten fish that is basically straight out of the ocean! Pretty cool! O'Brian was so happy that we all came and that he could do that for us even though he doesn't have a whole lot himself! That man could definitely live the law of consecration! He "gives it all to da fada!" (His words, not mine!) Ha but he is the best and is one of my heroes! I have loved being able to see him get baptized, receive the priesthood and then exercise it by baptizing his mom! He has really come a long way!

Right now we are having some trouble with some people and so we are going to have to start making some changes in the area and have a grand old time doing some tracting! I am ecstatic! Ha so we will see what this next week is going to bring!

Granny is doing ok but I just don't know how much longer she is going to hang on. She needs a pacemaker but can't afford it so yeah... She just says that she will just go home when she is called. It makes me sad but it has been a real privilege to know her! She has blessed my life so much! I love that lady!

This week I have been thinking a lot about how our Savior wants to forgive us. It is something that brings a lot of peace to me. I have been able to see Dorothy who had smoked for about 50 years go from smoking cigarette after cigarette to not smoking at all! That is all because of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ! I know it! He wants to forgive! No matter who you are and no matter what you've done you can be forgiven and make it back! I know it! So turn to Him and let Him heal you! It may be hard at times but it will ALWAYS be worth it! I love you! Take care!

Love,

Elder Smith

"We are told to “cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.”The Savior commands us to repent and to forgive. And although repentance is not easy, as we strive with all our hearts to obey His gospel, He gives this promise: “Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding [your] sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards [you]. I will not utterly cast [you] off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.” The Savior wants to forgive"

-Craig A Cardon