Let Your Faith Show

July 6, 2015

Hermano's y Hermana's,

I'd like to start off this letter with a joke to liven it up a bit. What do you call a cow walking through a tall field of grass? Answer: Utterly Tickled. What do you call a cow jumping over a barbed wire fence? Answer: Utter Destruction. What do you call a cow without legs? Answer: Ground Beef. What do you call a cow with 3 legs? Answer: Tri-Tip. Well that's enough of the cow jokes, I hope all of you wonderful and beautiful people had a fantastic week! Summer is an excellent time to be with family and do service for others. If you have some free time as you read this, I want you to play your favorite song of all time. When the song starts playing I would as that you close your eyes and dance your heart out while pondering how great life is. I'm not exactly sure what prompted me to ask you to do this, but please just dance.

This week will go down as one of the greatest and most memorable weeks of my life. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet President and Sister Lewis. It was a unique experience because we got to watch them take their first steps on Yakima, Washington soil. After seeing the smile on his face as he got out of the car you just knew that this new mission needed someone like President Lewis to lead and guide us missionaries under the Lord's direction. We have had the blessing of meeting with him every single day since and coming to the conclusion that he is a great leader. Sister Lewis is a humanitarian! She has spent most of her life either in Africa or providing young girls in Africa with feminine hygiene kits. Sister Lewis is a charitable giant.  If I was to use 5 words to describe President and Sister Lewis they would be Loving, Energetic, Fun, Spiritual, and Humble. 

This week I have gained a stronger testimony about the power of humility in this work. Humility is the source of success. When we give all the credit to the Lord and take no credit ourselves for the miracles he performs, the spirit can dwell within us. "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things," states D&C 59:7. We have this amazing opportunity to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice and give it to the Savior. We will not only recognize our blessings when we exert humility, but the windows of heaven will be opened. I love this gospel and I know it is true. I'm thankful for a loving Savior whose arms are always outstretched towards each one of his children. "Be of good cheer, your future is as bright as your faith," said President Monson.

Love you All,

Elder Smith