WOOHOO! Man, This is an Awesome Experience!

 September 22,2014

LOVED ONES,

Happy Fall! What in the world is happening to time? I'm really not a huge fan of there only being 24 hours in the day and 7 days in the week. However, the temperature is continually staying warm.  I'm not going to complain:) 

I always get so excited when I hear that my loved family and friends are doing well at home.  We are all having our memorable experiences in different parts of the world and truly living life to the fullest. 

My week in Warden, Washington has been nothing less than spectacular. The experiences you have and people you meet on the mission are indescribable. Through these memories, I have the opportunity to grow with those that I am teaching. Therefore, in a sense, we are both teaching eachother and coming closer to the light of Christ together.  I've truly gained a testimony that as Brother's and Sister's we share an important responsibility.  We obtain a power to change others, but it requires humilty and a true desire to give service.  Love, is the very essence of this gospel.  I have felt that love by other's on my mission and feel immensely blessed for the friends I have met on this journey.  

This week the Lord taught Elder Johnson and I through the experiences we encountered.  Unfortunately, one of our investigators which was going to be baptized this coming week got in some trouble with the law and will be unable to continue being taught at this point in time. It was pretty heartbreaking to see this man grow in the gospel, then let it quickly slip away. However, we know that we planted a seed in his heart and realize that faith in the Lord requires faith in his timing.  Through this experience, I've given a lot of thought to the way our Heavenly Father has us learn things. He has helped and guided Elder Johnson and I to approach this as an opportunity to grow as missionaries.  The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways and I am grateful that he seeks to help every one of his children on earth to grow individually. He loves us, he looks after us, and he never leaves us. I know that as we seek for him, he will manifest himself unto us.

Another thing that caught my attention this week was the strait and narrow path described in the Book of Mormon.  I thought to myself, what makes the path so narrow. Suddenly, I realized that the path at times may be hard to enter, but once you feel the overwhelming joy on the path, it is hard to go astray.  Also, to enter the path the Lord is telling us we need to leave some "cargo" behind to squeeze in that path of righteousness.  I thought to myself the cargo I need to leave behind to become a more effective missionary and servant of the Lord.  I would invite everyone reading this to consider the cargo they need to leave behind, in order to take that leap of faith onto the straight and narrow path. I know that as you do so, you will feel a change within yourself. You must give yourself to Him, for him to change YOUR nature.  Give him your desire and will.

I love you all so much and hope your week is incredible!:)

 

Love Always,

Elder Smith

 

 

The Mission- Nothing Quite Like It

September 15, 2014 

Hello loved ones,
    How are all of my favorite people in the world doing?  I love you all so much and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my loved ones.  I feel immensely grateful for all the support and love I have been given throughout my life, I am truly blessed.  I hope everyone is adjusting to their new schedule of going back to school, work, etc. I've heard that the weather has been quite hot in California which surprises me because Washington has been fairly cool.  Well stay out of the heat and hit the beach!
Throughout the course of this week I have been spiritually fed and uplifted. Elder Johnson and I are so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve in Warden, Washington and are excited for things to come in the near future. We know that as we align our will with our Father in Heaven's, we will notice his hand guide and direct us. The Lord allows us to feel his light in our life, we just have to stand in holy places, demonstrate humility, and recognize the promptings we receive.  There is nothing quite like feeling the Lord's personalized love for each and everyone of us!
This week we also had the opportunity to witness the baptism of Mario and Mariana.  We have taught these two lovely kids and watched them move forward to the path of baptism.  The mother is a member of the church, but the father is not.  However, it was amazing to see the father's eyes light up as he witnessed his two children step into the baptismal font.  After their baptism, the two children demonstrated both how happy they felt and the peace they received.  It's truly a miracle that Jesus Christ has set this example for all of us to be baptized.  It's through the Savior's example that several notice the Light of Christ illuminate within them.  He was the ultimate example of service, humility, and love.  How important it is for us to strive to follow this example as closely as possible.
    Also this week my companion and I were given the chance to speak in Stake Conference.  When we were notified the night before that our Mission President wanted us to speak it was pretty intimidating.  We were going to have to speak in front of 1,000 people, our Mission President, and a General Authority of the church.  Nerves definitely kicked in a little bit.  However, we hardly prepared and decided we would just follow the spirit.  It's amazing how preparation is not needed when you rely COMPLETELY on the spirit.  This applies to all aspects of our life.  Luckily, the talk went well.
I hope everyone has an amazing week and takes a leap of faith in some sort of way. I love you all.

Love always,
Elder Smith

Can Time Slow Down a Bit Please

 September 1, 2014

Family and Friends,
    As summer comes to a close and the sunny weather begins to fade, we are reminded of the joyful times of the summer and the joyful times to come. What a beautiful world we live in which we can create memorable moments throughout the entire year. I hope you all have had a great week and are absorbing the heat while it is with us.
    My week here in Warden Washington has been nothing less than spectacular, as usual. I wish I didn't have to repeat myself every week, but the mission life is a continual journey of joy. If I were to describe the mission in five words it would be the following: Spiritual, Faith Building, Joyful, Fast, and Fun. Simple words that have so much meaning behind them.  Thus far, I wouldn't have exchanged this experience for anything in the world.  Acting in faith is challenging, but as we embrace the teachings of the gospel, faith will follow. "As we appropriately seek for and receive the spiritual gift of faith in the Redeemer, we then turn to and rely upon the merits, the mercy, and the grace of the Holy Messiah," said Elder David A. Bednar.  I challenge all of you to take a step of faith this week whether it be through prayer, service for others, etc.  Always seek to find faith building and faith promoting situations through striving to stand in holy places. As we do so, we will find a light bloom within ourselves that was previously in-existent.
    Our investigators are doing well and we are still looking forward to the baptism of Mariana and Mario on the 13th of September.  They are just so excited for their baptism which always puts a smile on our face. What a blessing it is to work side by side with Elder Johnson.  I wish I would have been as good of a Trainee for my Trainer as Elder Johnson is to me. We are continually pushing one another and have enjoyed sharing several uplifting experiences. At times I wonder if we're having too much fun and then I realize, missionary work is about having fun too. I'm going to be honest, I'M LOVING LIFE RIGHT NOW! I FEEL MORE PUMPED THAN EVER!!!! WOOOHOOO! LIFE IS GOOD!

Love Always,
Elder Smith

I Love My Mission!

 Aug 25, 2014

Family and Friends,
    How was everyone's week?  Enjoying the last few breaths of the summer air?  How did it pass by so tremendously fast?  It feels as if I just blinked and now here we are wishing summer would last longer. However, I am looking forward to the winter and am hoping we will get some snow fall here in Eastern Washington.  Several people don't believe that this part of Washington is very appealing to the eye, but I absolutely love it and think the several farmlands are relaxing to look at. I've also been hearing a lot about some ice bucket challenge, I'm not too sure what that is all about, but it's apparently the new crave.  It's amazing how many things we're refrained from hearing due to lack of social media.  It's actually very relaxing not having to worry about updating Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook 24/7.  I love having the opportunity to focus on my purpose and continually strive to bring souls to come unto Christ.
    Our week was spiritually up lifting.  Yesterday, we had the amazing opportunity to have 3 investigators attend church with us.  One of them in Mariana.  Mariana now has a date to be baptized on the 13th of September.  Please keep her in your prayers. We also had Michael and Kasey come to church and it was evident that they thoroughly enjoyed Sacrament Meeting.  It's through coming to church that we see investigators progress the most.  There is such a strong spirit present within the walls of the church which is contagious.  Church is the place where I receive energy for the remainder of the week.  Alma 45:19 "Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses." I have such a strong testimony of the necessity of church attendance.
    I've also received great joy this week from this quote and have strived to stress the importance of it unto our investigators.
“Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.
I hope you all have a great week.  I love you so very much!

Love always,
Elder Smith

Last Week of the Transfer!

8/18/14

Family and Friends,
    What an amazing opportunity it is to be a missionary in the Washington Kennewick Mission!  This week has been absolutely fantastic and full of spiritual experiences. A lot of our finding techniques has been tracking therefore we have been soaking it up in the sun this past week.  I feel immensely grateful to have a car because I can hardly walk from door to door without panting!  I've truly grown a deep love for the people here in Warden, Washington.  Through the experiences I've shared with my companion, I have felt my testimony grow and realize the necessity of teaching with the Spirit. It's interesting to see when the spirit is present in the lesson and when it is not. The atmosphere of the room is completely altered when the spirit is next to you providing you with a companion that can testify to your investigators.
    Last night, we had the opportunity to meet with Adan.  Adan is one of our investigators that we found tracking.  We had the opportunity to teach a spiritual lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it could bless him in his life. The spirit was present.  Soon after, Adan's brother walked in and insisted on sharing several biblical verses about why our church is incorrect. The spirit....was instantly drawn from the room. My companion and I shared several verses and testified of the truthfulness of our message in a respectful manner, but this gentleman was quite persistent to say the least.  It allowed me to realize the importance of standing in holy places.  On or off the mission, we always must strive to dwell in places where you can feel comfortable and uplifted.  When we fail to do so, we will notice a light in our life taken away that was present previously.
    We've been blessed with several new investigators here in Warden and we know that as we continue to act in the faith the Lord will continually shower blessings upon us.  We've noticed a way to accomplish this is through the power of prayer.  We have a little 10 year girl investigator named Mariana.  Mariana is in a tough situation because she wants to be baptized, but the dad will not agree to the idea.  We asked the mom (Member) to pray and to approach the father and bare a simple testimony to him this week.  Simple truths are the most powerful.  For this reason my companion and I have been praying on a non-stop basis to soften the heart of the father.
    I know that this church is true. There is no doubt in my mind that with this gospel comes change. Through acting in faith brings about change.  Through Jesus Christ WE WILL be changed. I love you all so much and miss you greatly. Have a great week.

Love always,
Elder Smith

Loving the Mission!

August 11, 2014 

Hello Family and Friends,
What an amazing week it's been here in the Washington, Kennewick Mission.  Great things are happening and the weather is absolutely phenomenal.  Like I say continually, I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful time of year and taking the last few moments of summer to relax and spend time with family.  Staying close and loving your family is something that we all need to cherish and keep close to our heart.  Family is what holds us all together and keeps us united.  Family and love are directly intertwined.
Elder Johnson and I tested our faith this week as we spent several hours knocking on doors.  We fortunately found a handful of people that are prepared to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Although we received several rejections, we felt the Lord's hand guide us to the elect. It's amazing to see the two types of responses we recieve from those we contact. Although most people reject us, it is important to look at all of them as Sons and Daughters of Christ.  Only through pure love and charity can missionary work be brought to pass. Striving to achieve a perfect love of God's children can at times require acting in faith, but it's then that we will feel the light of Christ in our lives and theirs.
It has been an amazing opportunity to serve here in Warden, Washington. I love the people and I've come to love missionary work more while serving here.  It's truly been a test of my faith.  I know the Lord sent me here to gain experiences and to allow me to learn several important principals. Sorry for the semi-short letter, but I am getting booted-off.  I love you all so very much and appreciate all the support.

Love Always,
Elder Smith

  

Todavia, Estoy en Warden:)

August 4, 2014 

¿Cómo le va familia y amigos,
Mi semana aquí en Washington ha sido marvilloso, el clima es caliente, como siempre, pero ahora tenemos el aire en nuestro trailer! Es imposible a respirar sin aire en su casa. El tiempo llegó a 107 grados esta semana y estaba caliente! ¿Cómo va todo en Huntington Beach? Ha comenzado la U.S Open? Yo sé que los eventos que vamos a tener cerca de Warden sonuna feria y un rodeo. YEEEEHAAAWWW!
Es divertido oir de todas las cosas interesantes que esta pasando de sus correos electrónicos. Me encanta escuchar acerca de cómo todos estamos encontrando nuestro lugar y seguir creciendo. Si me envies un electrónico, voy a estar muy agradecido.
Esta semana ha estado muy ocupado y lleno de cosas interesantes. Es increíble ver a nuestros bautismos continúan progresando en el Evangelio y permanecer fieles. Además, es increíble ver cómo podemos hacer una diferencia en las vidas de otros. Sin embargo, es Dios y Jesucristo que hace la diferencia. Tuvimos la oportunidad de hablar con Adan anoche. Adan es un investigador que el Señor nos guió a la semana pasada. Cuando lo conocí, él estaba fuera y yo le di una breve introducción al Libro de Mormón. Él dijo que podíamos volver y tuvimos una lección increíble. Era más difícil de hablar español porque enseñamos en mayoría Inglés, pero era muy espiritual. Es bueno tener un altavoz que puede hablar fluentemente a mi lado, Elder Johnson. Adan preguntó cuánto cuesta de tener estas lecciones con él, solo se rió. A veces le extrano a mi casa, pero yo no cambiaría por nada el trabajo misionero.
Tengo un fuerte testimonio de este evangelio. La oportunidad que tenemos todos los días para compartir con nuestros amigos es verdaderamente increíble. Yo sé que mi Salvador vive y lo sé porque lo veo todos los días. Siento su luz en mi vida y me siento el cambio que tengo. Estoy agradecido por la oportunidad que tengo de participar en el Sacramento cada semana. Te amo y te extraño mucho.
PS Espero que puedan traducir este email;)

Con amor,
Elder Smith

*Elder Smith is still loving Warden Washington. He says that there is a carnival and rodeo coming up in the little town! He is grateful for friendship and the friends he has made on his mission so far as well as throughout his life. Elder Smith and his companion have been teaching a man named Adam who seems really interested in the gospel. Adam asked how much it costs to take lessons from the Elders haha. He hopes Adam progresses with wanting to learn the gospel :) Elder Smith loves and misses everyone and would love to receive some e-mails he says.*