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!

Birthday and a Baptism!

What a great week! Lindy's baptism was really neat and she invited some non member friends and fam that we are going to teach now! My favorite part was after the baptism her 9 year old daughter Kelsey came up to me and said, "Mommy did it first and I am next!" She said she wanted us to teach her so she could get baptized! Ha so we will be working on that!

Another miracle that happened is do you remember me telling you about Linkcy? She is the one with the twin sister that is a member and she was supposed to get baptized yesterday. Unfortunately she just didn't show much desire and so we had to move it back but the other day she was just like, "I want to do this so me and my sister can support each other!" So she is getting baptized on Dec. 6th! She became really excited all at once so that was cool!

We are going to be baptizing a recent converts son named Christian this week! He picked his own date and is really excited and has been working towards it! That is going to be really cool! He is a sweet nine year old!

All is well here! Things are going so great! We have been finding people and seeing miracles! Our Jimmer Lady, Jenny is going to be getting baptized on the 20th and is really excited! She will probably have some of her children join her so that will be cool! I am just thrilled with the progress!

My health is doing well and I am really grateful for the miracles I've seen and yes mom I finished my antibiotic!

I am really excited for this week! I am going to be having some parties for my birthday and some members will be feeding us on thanksgiving! I am pumped for this week! Things are just going great!

I am so grateful for this gospel and the blessings it brings. One of our recent converts here only has one leg and so he struggles to get food and doesn't have much in general. But everytime you ask him how he is doing he will say, "I'm blessed." He is always thankful for what he has and like President Uchtdorf says, he is grateful in any circumstance. I hope that we can be this way! Especially this week! I love you all and have a great thanksgiving!

With Love,

Elder Smith

The Hospital

So.....Elder Smith thought he had Chickengunya last week.....but nope it was infection in a cut that he got on his leg which turned into a bad infection.....read all about it.  We are thankful he had to go to Trinidad for a leadership conference so that someone could see his leg and tell him it wasn't Chickengunya and get him to the hospital for some quick and powerful antibiotic treatments.  Otherwise he could have been walking around Grenada waiting for it to get better as it got worse.  The Lord blessed him this week, I know that!

Wow what a crazy week! Ha that basically sums it up! I finally get into trinidad and I have to spend a ton of time at the hospital because of some cellulitis thing! Ha it kills me! That basically sums up my entire mission right there! Ha it was still great though! This past week has just been full of amazing spiritual experiences. So to give you an idea my leg is just super swollen and super red! Like unbelievably red! So I had no idea what was going on! So we went to the mission office and I had Sister Francom look at it and she's like, "We need to have a Dr. look at this." Now knowing my history with doctors I was immediately worried! I kinda saw something coming! But anyway we go and the doctor looks at it and tells me I should probably stay there for a couple days so they can give me meds through an IV and ting. So I was immediately like, "You have got to be kidding me!" I was vexed! So Sister Francom made me agree and stuff and then I almost started crying. I was so upset that I finally make it to Trinidad and I am stuck. So luckily we had some Elders there to give me a blessing and they happened to be some of my favorites! I was able to have Elder Grange anoint me with oil and Elder Beck sealed the anointing. It was so powerful! Elder Beck in his blessing said I would be healed according to my faith and I would be able to do what I needed to do. I then know that I would be able to attend at least some of the meeting! So I was skyped in for the fireside on tuesday night and then I received a visit from President and Sister Mehr. That was the best! I love those two. We talked for a little and it was great! Then the next morning I got my IV treatment and I was able to leave for 8 hours until the next one! Elder Beck's blessing had been fulfilled! It was so cool to experience that! When I was finally able to leave the hospital and go to the meeting I felt like I was coming back from injury to save the game or something! Ha so that was pretty cool! I walked in and you should've seen President's face! That was my favorite part! Ha he just gives me this like, "Are you serious?" Then he says, "There has been a resurrection!" Ha so I chilled at the meeting and saw all my boys and it was great! I loved the meeting! My favorite was a story they shared about the district president in Guyana. He had a choice between electricity and having his family sealed. He chose to go to the temple and have his family sealed. Now if that doesn't show how important that is, I don't know what will! What a blessing that is that we can be with our family forever! We need to take advantage of that! That is the essence of the gospel! That's why we are here! It is essential for our exaltation.

I am doing great here! My leg is healing well and I love the work! Another really cool story from this week was we were contacting late at night and we called into a house and it happened to be a young woman member. She had just barely prayed that she would have someone to talk to and then we showed up! It was crazy! It was really cool to be apart of answering her prayer! I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers and always fulfills his blessings according to our faith! I know that. I love you all! Take care!

Love,

Elder Smith

  

 View from our apartment

 MTC Comps Elder Christensen and Elder Beck! Reunited and it feels so good!

 Me and Elder Glade

 Me and Elder Brown and Elder Glade

 Me and Elder Grange

My leg Wednesday morning

The Chicken Get-Together

The sickness Elder Smith had this past week is actually called Chikungunya, it is transmitted through their mosquitos.  Chikungunya disease is often mistaken for influenza or Dengue fever because of the flu-like symptoms—including headache, fever, swollen glands, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and neck stiffness. Most patients improve within 10 days of infection, although joint pain can linger for weeks or even months.  Sounds fun huh?  Read all about it below!


So this week was quite the week! We were battling sickness all week and then to finish it off, I got chicken gunya... (not sure how that's spelled...) But yeah I am doing better now and I am just dealing with the after effects of it now. So I'm really sore and I have a big rash but my fever is gone and so i'm doing better. Yesterday was really rough though... I actually ended up passing out before church! Ha I was just sitting on a wall outside the church and then people started telling me I didn't look so good and then I said I was alright and then things just started spinning and the next thing I knew I was on the ground surrounded by people. Luckily some of the medical students were there to take care of me! Ha but yeah I was crazy sick yesterday and slept like all through church! But I am doing much better now! So mom don't worry!

This week was good though besides that! We met some really cool people! We met this lady and she was wearing a Sacramento Kings shirt and she turned around and it said "Jimmer" She had a Jimmer Fredette Jersey! I was freaking out! We taught her the restoration and it really clicked with her! I am really excited to continue working with her! 

Another person we are working with is named Ben and he is just really humble and just wants to be baptized! We haven't been able to teach him much but he knows that he wants to be baptized! Ha he is sweet though! Our issue is that we don't know if we'll be able to teach him everything in time for his date on the 22nd. But we'll do our best!

I head to Trinidad tomorrow for the Mission Leadership Conference tomorrow and I am so excited! It is going to be great! I am just excited to go and learn from President and Sister Mehr for a couple days!

Well since I was sick most this week that's about all I have. Things are going great though! I love it here in Grenada! The field is white! Something that President Mehr said really hit me. He said, "The Lord is Hastening His work and we have to keep up with Him." So make sure that you're doing everything you can so that the Lord doesn't have to drag you along! Read your scriptures and do all the little things! 

Love,

Elder Smith

Year-mark? Yesi!‏

This week was a really good one! Elder Leany and I have just really been focusing on teaching baptism and helping people recognize the blessings that come from it. We saw an awful lot of miracles come from it and I am really excited for this transfer!

One girl that we are teaching is named Lindy. She is super prepared and knows that everything we share is true. She is currently trying to overcome a trial but she is going to be baptized on the 22nd of November. So we are really pumped about that! 

Another one is a twin sister of a member. Her name is Linkcy! She is the investigator and Linkcia is the name of her sister. Ha I love West Indian names! They're great! But she also should be getting baptized on the 22nd. She knows everything is true but she is just worried about leaving her other church that she has been going to for about two years. She knows what she needs to do. Now we are just trying to help her do it! Linkcia has been a great help though! Her testimony is powerful and she has seen a lot of great blessings come from it.

So it is crazy that I am hitting a year now. It's nuts! Time is going by so fast that it is scary! I love my mission and it has been such a blessing in my life and has helped me come closer to my Father in Heaven! I have grown to love the scriptures so much. Especially the Book of Mormon! It just brings peace! In all honesty I don't know how else to describe what it does for me! It is a powerful book that really strengthens the testimony that I have of my Savior. Are we reading it as often as we should? Are we using this wonderful tool to help us know our Savior? If not I would invite you to start using it! I know that it is true and that it can bless our lives! We just need to use it! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Smith

Oh also I am going to Trinidad next week for Mission Leadership Conference with all of the Zone Leaders! I am really excited for that! I can't wait to eat some doubles and who knows, I may get to see the Montoutes! That would be so great! I love that family! They changed my life and it will forever be blessed because they were in it! Love ya!

"I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies... I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days."

Jeffrey R Holland