One Week More

Man what a week! Training is good but also weird. I like it and am
growing a lot but it can be kinda stressful! One thing I really like
about Elder Barlow is that he really wants to be a good missionary! It
makes my life a lot easier because I don't have to like try and force
him to do things. He has a great desire and so we're going to keep
trying to work on the knowledge and that desire is really going to pay
off! I am excited to see that!
We had a good week and have been really focused on getting people
ready for baptism and setting dates with them. And if they aren't
willing really to work on that then we are kinda just moving on. One
thing I have really noticed is that if people don't really have that
desire to change than we cannot do a thing for them. That's hard to
accept sometimes. Because I have obviously seen how the Gospel can
change people. The word "can" is a big word though. If they aren't
going to be willing to change and aren't willing to let it happen then
it isn't going to.
We have been teaching a girl named Shondelle and she is sweet! She is
about thirty and has an adorable 1 year old kid! He reminds me of
Korver when he was younger. But anyway it was really neat as we taught
her the restoration to be able to almost see her light up! What D&C
says is so true, there are so many people who are kept from the truth,
only because they know not where to find it! I have seen that! The
Gospel fills holes in peoples and families lives! It is a key and
people need it! So we are excited for Shondelle to prepare for her
date on Sept. 7.
We are also teaching a guy named Adrian. He is a boss! He has had a
really rough past but the desire he has is so great! I am excited for
him! I love it here in Barbados and I expect a lot of great things
soon!
So going back to what I was talking about earlier something that Bro.
Mayers said really hit me. He said, "This church shows you how good
you can be." Now i've been pondering on that and it is so true. As you
live gospel standards you will be able to reach that full potential
that your Heavenly Father has for you. So follow your Savior and you
will be able to see "How good you can be." I love you guys! The church
is true and our Heavenly Father loves us!
Love,
Elder Smith





Me and Elder Barlow after planning!

Training

Well this week has been really good. It was weird saying goodbye to Elder Bechan this week. I miss that guy a lot. Elder Bechan helped me to really truly love being a missionary. He was such a great influence on me and my mission and I am so glad that I was able to serve with him. 

Elder Barlow is really just excited to share the gospel so that is always nice to have in a trainee. It is kinda weird going from someone really experienced like Elder Bechan to training but things will work out! I am really excited for this transfer.

Our boy K'lil is doing great! He is now starting to share the gospel with his family and friends. He has no fear and I love it! Get this, He set up an appointment for us to meet with his mom. He set it up! Ha nobody does that! I am so proud of that kid! He is doing great and is now preparing to go on a mission in about 5 years!

The Phagu's are doing well! We went over on Monday to have a birthday party for their daughter Mikayla and that was real fun. Me and Elder Bechan got her a Cookies and Cream Chocolate bar for a gift so we're basically the favorites! Ha but it was just great! They are becoming my family here in Barbados and I am just loving it! They are sweet!

But yeah that's really about it for this week. We have just been working hard and going at it! We should have more to talk about next week. Hopefully! 

So this week a scripture that has just got me pumped is found in DC 58:31. I love this scripture! It talks about the Lord's promises and it just got me thinking about how so many people blame the Lord for things and they miss out on blessings because they aren't reading scriptures or going to church or just doing the little things. The Lord is always going to give us what we TRULY desire. If you want peace in this life then do what you need to do in order to get it. Like those little things we talked about before. I know that the Lord's promises are always fulfilled. I have seen that this last little bit. I know it. I love you guys! Trust in Him and He will always come through!

Love,

Elder Smith

"Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?"

DC 58:31

 Roti with Sis. Alleyne

 Mikayla's Party

Elder Beck made a year mark planner cover and was rubbing it in because I go home later now. Ha love that guy!

Transfer Calls

So this week is the end of the Transfer! It's crazy! It has gone by so
fast! So on saturday morning I got a call from President Mehr and I
found out that I was going to be Training a new missionary! His name
is Elder Barlow and I believe he is from California! So I am really
excited for this! I am going to miss Elder Bechan a lot and have grown
much but I am excited for this new opportunity! I also wonder if Elder
Barlow is like related to Jesse... It makes me wonder because it
always seemed like Jesse was related to lots of people! Ha but I am
real excited! I love it here in the Bados and since I am training it
means I should be here at least 3 more months!
So K'Lil did get baptized! It was sweet Brother Phagu was the one that
baptized him and it just went really well! I am excited for him
because he is already kinda setting his sights on a mission and he is
really looking forward to it! He is only 13 so he will have plenty of
time to prepare!
I also had a really cool experience with our Branch Mission Leader,
Brother Mayers. He is like in his 50's but is super fit and just has a
ton of energy. He kinda reminds me of Coach Funk a little bit. But
anyway we went to talk to him one night and he started asking us
questions on how to give blessings and stuff and we found out that he
hadn't ever given one before. So we decided that I would to have one
and so we asked him to give me one. He got so excited and he was just
beaming! And so I got the be his first Blessing! It was such a
spiritual experience because the spirit really guided that blessing! I
know it! He said things that really helped me! It was so neat! Then
Elder Bechan asked him for one and that was great! Then after that he
was like now I need one! Then I got to give him one! It was such a
spiritual experience as we almost went around in a circle! It was
great!
So I have to put this in here because it explains Bro. Phagu so well!
Last night we were at the church for a meeting and a member named
Michael was supposed to bring something of Elder Bechan's but he
forgot it! So we called Bro. Phagu over and you could tell that he
really wanted to leave and take us to go get it but he was hesitant
becuase he didn't know what his wife would think... Ha so after
talking about it for a little while he finally goes, "Alright, I can
have you there and back in 5 minutes." Ha so we hop in his van and he
is just hauling and we made it to Michael's house, got the thing, and
back to the church in about 5 minutes! Ha it took me back to my high
school days! But we pulled into the parking lot and Bro. Phagu parks
in the same spot and says "I parked in the same spot so it's like I
never left. Melissa will never know!" Ha he is a funny man!
But anyway I love it here! All is well! The church is so true! We just
have to live it and then we will see the blessings! I know it! Always
live worthy of them! I love you!
Love,
Elder Smith

 Teaching!

Baptism!

The Phone Call

So this week I got a phone call from St. Lucia. Which is weird because
we rarely receive calls from off island. But anyway it was Elder Day
and he called and told me that Granny passed away. I was shocked and
obviously pretty sad. She just passed away peacefully is what I
understand so she is definitely in a better place. I sure do love that
lady though.
The rest of my week was really good though. We started teaching a lady
named Shirley and she has been through so many difficult things. I
couldn't even begin to imagine how hard that must have been. But yeah
she is 58 and she just had a stroke a couple months ago and is still
recovering from it. But she was really receptive and wants to be
baptized on august 24th or something like that. But it was just really
neat to see how humble she was and so I am excited about her!
K'Lil is getting baptized on sunday and so we are really excited about
that! We just have to teach him some more things and then we should be
golden! I am pumped! He is a cool kid!
So on saturday we met the Phagu's at the Horse races where they have a
food stand thing. It was way cool! They gave us free food and I got to
try, wait for it, wait for iiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Pig Tail! It was super
weird but what can you do! Ha it was way fun though! They are a sweet
family! Man I love it here! The members are so great!
I love this work! Jeepers I feel so blessed to be a part of it! The
Lord is always there! I know that as we share the gospel that we will
be able to see his hand in our lives even more. I have loved seeing
that on my mission! Share it with everyone and then the blessings will
flow! I love you guys!
Love,
Elder Smith

 Smith and Beck

 Bechan, Beck, and Smith

 Elder Smith and Elder Beck

Elder Smith and Elder Beck

We went to a cave for P-day!