Tis The Season!

Wow I can't believe that it is Christmas already! I am so excited! We are going over to the Senior couples for Christmas dinner today so that is going to be great! 

We had a great week and we met some really cool people! We met this one guy named Lee who has just been through an awful lot! He is originally from England but he lived in San Diego for 26 years and things just kinda took a turn for the worst and now he is kinda stuck here... So we met him and he is super receptive! He came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it! So we'll see where that goes! 

We are working with great people right now and we had 8 investigators at church so the work here is really moving forward! I am so excited about it! We are expecting plenty baptisms coming up so that is going to be fantastic! Time is flying here!

I don't have much else to talk about but we had an amazing week filled with miracles. We met so many amazing people that were put in our path and it's been neat!

This week we have been thinking and teaching about the real meaning of Christmas a lot! It has been really great! Unfortunately we have met some Grinches and a couple people with the last name of "Scrooge" ha but all in all it has been really great to be able to teach about this! It got me thinking about how a lot of the time we exclude the Savior from our lives and most of the time it's not intentional! Now that's sad! So my invitation this week is to focus on Him! Find times in your life that aren't that effective anyway, or it's just down time and fill it with the Savior! I promise that you will see more peace in your life and you will see his hand more often! I know that! I love each one of you and we can all do better and all need to do better with that! I love you and have a Merry Christmas!

With Love,

Elder Smith

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

Neal A Maxwell

Here are some Pics from my last day in the bados and some from this week! 

Yesi!

This week was wonderful! I love Grenada! We had the Christmas party and it was sick! Also we had a Baptism and this morning we went and played American football with some med students! I am terrible now! Ha it was kinda depressing! But it was great to get out and play some ball!

So Christian got baptized and it was so special! His mom was so happy and his Dad came and we was so supportive. Christian is so kind and innocent and he said that he felt good after the baptism. I am so proud of him! Unfortunately Jaheisha's dad withdrew permission at the last second... So we are going to try and work on that! 

This week was so fantastic though! The Christmas party was great and the branch here is so unified and I love it! It really is so incredible! I want our ward back home to become like that!

We had a really neat experience with an investigator named Abieshur. She had kinda dropped off and wasn't progressing and was really hard to meet with. But as we were walking back to our apartment for lunch one day we ran into her and were able to talk with her. We taught her about prayer and the love that Heavenly Father has for us. It was really neat! The spirit was really strong there! She came to the Christmas party and church and she loved it! She has been through so much and I am so happy that she is feeling like she belongs somewhere now! She really needed that! She wants to be baptized at the beginning of January so that will be so neat!

I don't have much more to say but I just want everyone to know that I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know that without a doubt. I know that He loves us and wants to bless us! We just need to let Him. So at this time of year Let Him In! He can heal any wound! I testify of that! I love you all! Have a Merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Smith

“Whatever Jesus lays his hands upon lives. If Jesus lays his hands upon a marriage, it lives. If he is allowed to lay his hands on the family, it lives.”

-Howard W Hunter

Zone Conference

Wow this week was great! So I realized that last week I didn't even let you know about transfer calls I am staying with Elder Leany until he finishes his mission this transfer. I am really excited about that because we have a lot more to accomplish! The work here in Grenada is fantastic! I love it here!

So last week was Zone Conference in the Bados! It was so great to go back there! I loved Barbados so it was really cool to see the missionaries there and to see how the people are doing there! I found out that Everet is getting the Aaronic Priesthood and has been solid ever since I left! That is the best news ever! I am so happy for him! He is sweet!

I also got to sing at Zone Conference with Elder Harding. He is a ZL over in Barbados and a good friend of mine! We started the mish together so that was really cool! We sang Away in a Manger and it was really cool. We just sang Acapella and it was simple but it was neat to be able to sing a Christmas song at Zone Conference!

That was the big news from this week! Christian's baptism got moved because his sister had a baby so it should be this week! Ha so that will be good!

We also will be having a baptism for Jaheisha on Saturday! She is a super smart ten year old girl who is the Daughter of Kecia who is a recent convert! We're loving these part member families! Ha but we are super excited for her! She reads the Book of Mormon a ton and so she will be great!

At Zone Conference I learned a lot! President Mehr taught about covenants and how in a way we build our own mansion in heaven. He was a big time contractor back home and so he compared it to that. He told a story (fictional) about him building a house for someone and how he found tile that was a little bit cheaper than what the person wanted but it looked really similar so he decided he would get that to save a little money. So he put it in and then he took the couple through and the husband saw it and was like, "Marge, look! This isn't what we ordered!" So because he cut the corner he had to tear it up and had to go back and fix it. So he did that and even got something nicer then what they originally wanted. He also threw in some extra things free of charge to make it nicer! So then when he was done he took the couple threw again and they just loved all of the extras and were thrilled! So he handed them the keys and everything was great! Then he walked off and he heard the husband yell, "Dan!" (That's President's name) So he turned around and then the husband tossed him the keys and said, "You just built your own house. Enjoy it!"

President then said that this is what we are doing In this life. And at the end of this life we'll get whatever we put into "Our Mansion". So why would we cut corners? By keeping our covenants we are adding in all of those extra things to make our mansion nicer! Think of what each of you can do to improve your mansion! And if there is something that needs to be taken out because you cut corners, get it out of there and start new! I love each of you! Build up your mansion!

Love,

Elder Smith

"Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places"

Dallin H Oaks

What's Up?

So this week was a good one! My birthday party fell through but it was still a great day! We had a great thanksgiving with some members and it was sweet! Reminded me of home! I love thanksgiving time! 

So this week was interesting! We had Christian's baptism get postponed because his mom Cecelia (recent convert) Had lots of errands to run! Ha when she told me that I was like, "If?" Ha I asked her if she was serious! She was just like, "Yeah I have to go to the supermarket and pay bills and stuff. But I prayed about it and God understands!" Ha that was killing me! I don't know what was going on! But we are having it this week! Jeepers Creepers.... 

Also Linkcy changed her mind so we are going to have to drop her for now since it is just not really going anywhere... 

We are working with some sweet people though! I love this area! We found some really great people and are going to see much success! I am so excited! We are just working to separate the wheat and the tares right now! I am so excited to be here though!

Yesterday we had a cool experience because there is a Grenadian missionary leaving for the Dominican Republic and it was his farewell! He is going to be so great! I am excited for him! 

I don't have much to say but I love you all and the work is great! The field is white here! Thanks for all of your support and B day wishes last week! I love you all and stay cool!

Love,

Elder Smith

 1. With Elder Bingham

 2. Gift from Linkcia

3. Thanksgiving at the Wing's!

4. Me and Ryan (The Elder) (My head hadn't come up yet but it's still a good one) 

5. My head is up!

6. Great grenadian view!