Monday, March 23, 2015

Lee's Baptism



This week was one of the greatest weeks of my entire mission! I loved it! We were able to have Lee's baptism and it was so special! I leaked out of my eyes a lot! It was so neat because Sister Williams (One of the members who has taken him in) was there and she is great! She is super funny! But anyway Lee told her that Her mom is like the Mother he never had and that she is like the brother he never had! Ha and she just got up and bore her testimony and it was so powerful! At the end she told him that he was a great big brother. I was crying during hers! Then Lee got up and it was so neat! That man has come so far! I have come to love him so much and I am so grateful for him. But anyway he talked about how it was just time for him to do this. He said he was ready to be forgiven for all of the evil that he has done. (Lee hasn't done anything to crazy) But it was just cool! (I don't have time to write his whole story now but I will send it in the near future!)
Also we got to hear from Elder Cornish of the seventy and there was one part that was really cool! He talked about how the apostles and seventy go by Elder and so do the missionaries! He asked us why we thought that was and then said it us because, "We share our title with you, because we share our calling with you." He then went on to talk about how we are doing the same thing basically! We are to bear witness of the Savior! That was a really neat conference and I really enjoyed hearing from him!
I love my mission! I love it! I have never been a part of something that is as rewarding as this! I am so blessed to have met the people that I've met and to have the experiences that I have been able to have! I'm blessed.
I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior! I know that He loves each one of us and is always wanting us to come to Him. That is the constant call in His teachings! He is very much in each one of our lives. I know that. I love you all! Have a great week!
With Love,
Elder Smith

"Just because God is God, just because Christ is Christ, they cannot do other than care for us and bless us and help us if we will but come unto them, approaching their throne of grace in meekness and lowliness of heart. They can’t help but bless us. They have to. It is their nature.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is his true and living Church. He wishes us to come unto him, to follow him, to be comforted by him. Then he wishes us to give comfort to others. However halting our steps are toward him—though they shouldn't be halting at all—his steps are never halting toward us."
Jeffrey R Holland
ZONE CONFERENCE
 THE HALVERSONS (BATY MORRISON'S MISSION COMPANION)







LEE'S BAPTISM
 CURRIED IGUANA


COMMUNITY TIE????
 BAPTISM BURGER WITH LEE


Monday, March 16, 2015

Baptism Week!

There really isn't anything greater than going into a week looking toward a baptism at the end of it! And that is what this week is like! Lee who is our Englishman who basically got stuck here in Grenada is getting baptized! He is so excited and has basically read the whole Book of Mormon. He has come so far and has really experienced some spiritual healing. It's been amazing to see! We are really excited for him! We are also looking forward to our baptism burger that is going to follow! I think that Lee might be most excited for that! Ha I have really grown to love that man! 
Whenever I think about him and most of these people here I think about Grandpa Smith's story that he told us about how the one family told him as he was leaving New Zealand, "I'll see you in the Celestial Kingdom, Elder Smith!" That's how I feel a lot of the time because I don't know how much I am going to be able to see these people after my mission. And that's if I get to see them at all. It's a hard thought! To be honest it kinda kills me sometimes. But that's part of the work i guess. And that's why Grandpa's story means a lot to me. Because I was able to be blessed enough to bring these people the gospel we will have a joyous reunion in the Celestial Kingdom.
Lately I have also been thinking a lot about my other Grandpa. I love that man a lot as well. Grandpa Hilton was one of the most quietly influential people in my life. For those who knew him they know that Grandpa wasn't much of a talker. What was his saying, "Why use 8 words to get a message across when you can do it in 7." I think that's it! But anyway that sums up Grandpa perfectly. I truly did learn the power of hard work from Grandpa though. I think of him a lot when it's hot outside and I'm just tired. I know that he is not only their in my thoughts but is there with me. That's what D&C talks about when it says, "Angels round about you to bear you up." I know that he is their. They are organized under the Priesthood in familial order is what Ezra Taft Benson teaches. I know that I will see him again. It will all be alright in the end!
I love you all! The church is true! And as Grandpa would say, "You're good kids, we'll see ya later!"
With Love, 
Elder Smith

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Seems Like Yesterday!

Elder Smith had zone conference on Monday, so we had to wait until today for his email!  I am so proud of this kid and love every email and every experience!

Well this week I had the opportunity to go back to Barbados and it was so good! I also got to see Elder Christensen again and that was just great! I found out that Everett hasn't missed a sunday and is just killing it! So I am way excited about that! I love the Bajan people! They will always have a very special place in my heart! 
This week was a great one though! Lee is killing it! He is doing so well! He has almost quit smoking and has quit drinking on his own basically! I have loved working with him! HE is just about finished with the Book of Mormon and read all the way through a copy of True to the Faith that a member gave him. HE has become one of my best friends! He has come so far since we met him! It seems like yesterday Elder Leany and I were introduced to that short little Englishman! Ha he is great though!
I don't have a whole lot to say this week as it was just kind of a typical missionary week. But those are always the best!
Something that I have been noticing a lot lately is the healing power of the Atonement! IT is incredible! And I have never seen it so strongly as I have with Lee. This is a man that has simply been through a lot. I am not going to go into details right now but he has been through a lot! But the amazing thing is that as he reads and learns more he is healed. It is incredible to witness! Through it all Lee has been able to continually learn and see that the Lord is always there and that He heals us! I know this is true because I have continually been healed by the Savior. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and if we turn to Him and we let Him, He will never leave us alone. We can and will be healed.
With Love,
Elder Smith

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path...Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are."
Jeffrey R Holland

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Well, dip me in salt and call me Porky!

I am sure that you are a little bit confused by the subject line today so let me explain! This week was transfers and we had 2 brand new missionaries come in. They are wonderful! Very excited and will do great! But anyway, Elder Bingham and I had to pick them up late thursday night so we decided that we were going to play a little joke. We switched our name tags so I was Elder Bingham for the night. So I was cracking Elder Bingham jokes and he was breaking out Elder Smith jokes but anyway, Elder Bingham is from La Verkin, Utah (Small town next to hurricane, utah) And so I always say that he is from this hick town because you know, I am from the Northern Utah Metropolis of Brigham City. So the entire night I am doing my best Elder Calhoun impersonation! Ha it was great! But anyway the missionaries came out and I was like, (Elder Bingham and I planned this) " Well dip me in salt and call me Porky! My name's Elder Bingham!" But I said ham like the meat. Ha and then I went on about how we're just thrilled to have them here. I also told some stories about wrestling pigs and stuff but it was great. Then we switched back name tags and they were kinda confused but it was great! It was clean fun! Ha we have great missionaries here though! We are really excited!
We had a crazy week but we were able to work some more with Lee and he is really excited for his date! we are going to keep teaching him and he is going to be a great member!
This week was kind of uneventful but we are really excited for another transfer! It is going to be great! 
We have been blessed to get to know a lot of the members at dinner appointments and it has been great! We had Pizza at the Davies last night and it was great! I think I am going to try and set Korver up with their 5 year old daughter! Ha so that's going to be my project a couple of years down the road!
Yesterday one of the new med students who I have gotten to know really well shared a story about how he worked until the very last second on his mission so that he could know that he gave all he could. He then shared with us the scripture that motivated him to do that. It's Enos 1; 26-27 and it says:  "And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.
And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen."
I want to feel this way at the end of my mission and the end of my life. My grave is getting closer and closer as far as my mission life goes and so I am going to do all I can so that I can rejoice in the day that I account to the Lord for my mission and eventually my life. Because I have rejoiced in the gospel above that of the world.
With Love,
Elder Smith