January 29, 2018

From Mom - Will Someone Invent a Teleporter, Please?:

Dear Elder Smith,

I would teleport to Zambia, you know, just to be warm again. I’m now in the habit of coming home from anywhere, heating up my wheat bag and crawling into bed, which I won’t leave until I’m de-thawed. We have snow and another cold snap and a few more months of winter. I see your sunburned face and can’t help but feel a little jealous. Wish me luck. (I wish I remembered to take a winter photo.)

This week:

Josh went swimming with the girls and treated them to poutine afterwards.



They also were treated to Boston Pizza for fulfilling a Dad’s Challenge of doing 100 multiplication questions in 5 minutes. This reward seems a little excessive to me but wow, were they motivated. I’ve never seen anyone so enthusiastic to do math in my entire life.




Cody, of course, is still around a lot. He’s so lonely, I think, he comes here just to hear noise. This night we were drinking chamomile tea and laughing about a story Ben was telling. Because Ben is off school between semesters, he’s going to seminary at the Rector’s (Sheena was called to be a teacher). She offered him tea (on account of the cold) and Ben gladly accepted, adding honey to sweeten. He had consumed most of it before Sister Rector asked him if he going to add a tea bag. So the whole time he was drinking hot water and honey. We laughed, I think because he was so expressive as he told it. Lol!




Abby is 13 now. This is the pic I took on her birthday.



Dad and the boys made me this awesome headboard. I just need to stain it, then we can put it up. I’m pretty excited about it and it was super inexpensive to make (which is even better).



The girls insisted we try out our chocolate fountain.



Oh, I was called to be the Primary President and Dad was released as YM President. We’ve switched roles a little. What surprises me (but shouldn’t) is the added inspiration and sudden strokes of insight that comes from a new calling. I have a testimony of this work of bringing souls to Christ, including children. Pretty happy to be involved. It’s a good way to live.

So, how is Lusaka, Sam?

Has the cholera outbreak gotten worse or better?
Has your sunburn started to peel yet?
Any interesting experiences to report? With teaching? Or street contacting?
You sent us a video of what looked like a nightclub with no explanation. What was that?
Am I on your main email list? Can you double check to make sure we’re all on it? Especially  the girls?

We pray for you daily. We love you.

Mom

From Sam:

Reply to Mom:

Lusaka is amazing. Everyone has a phone and most people have a car. I'm having mixed feelings about the heat and I found out it only gets hotter:/ My Sunburns have peeled and repeeled so many times, It's crazy.

While I was teaching an investigator who is really progressing, he told us about when he met us. He's not a very social person but while we were talking to him on the street, he couldn't stop smiling, and before he met us he was walking with his friend and was going to go home one way but ended up going a different way he wasn't used to, then he met us. There has been a couple of times when i'm praying for a lesson, I would say things that popped into my head that weren't there before.

The video about the "night club" is me, Elder Blanchard, Elder Hunter and Elder Christiansen eating out at a restaurant. It was Elder Hunter and Christiansen's last day in Zambia. The next day they flew back to Madagascar. We were at the restaurant at a time when a Soccer game was on and a live band played. It was really cool.

I make sure to have the whole family(except for Steph and Tyler because I don't have their emails) on the email list. If you're not getting the email, I don't know whats going on.

I love you all,

Elder Smith 

General Email

It's been an awesome week. I'm finding lots of people to teach, though only a few are really commited. One investigator we're teaching is named Joshua, He's really progressing, he told us about when he met us. He's not a very social person but while we were talking to him on the street, he couldn't stop smiling, and before he met us he was walking with his friend and was going to go home one way but ended up going a different way he wasn't used to, then he met us. It's amazing how the spirit prepares people. It's also amazing how the spirit acts through me, there has been a couple of times when i'm praying for a lesson, I would say things that popped into my head that weren't there before.

This week I've had lots of days where every appointment we had fell through and we're stuck street contacting in our complex in the hot sun. There are also days where it just rains. That happened today, there were dark clouds on the horizon and I could hear the thunder. About an hour later it just poured. There's a reason here in Zambia that we had 4 foot deep gutters. It's also super cool to be inside when it's raining. Not so much when your outside.

Lusaka is amazing. Everyone here has a phone and most people have a car. I'm having mixed feelings about the heat and I found out it only gets hotter:/ It averages around 25C to 30C. I didn't know that you can get burned so bad. My Sunburns have peeled and repeeled so many times, It's crazy.

The hardest part of my mission so far on my mission has been Breakfasts(food in general) and mornings. I rotate from eggs and toast to french toast. Mornings are hard, part of because breakfast but also because I have time to think. I think about home, I think about how little time I spent with Josh before I left and what I could be doing if I wasn't in Africa.  I pray a lot on this subject and read the Book of Mormon trying to find ways to stay motivated on being a missionary. During the day I feel great, I can keep working if I have a plan to follow. I love being a missionary. It's just in the mornings that are hard.

The Gospel is an amazing thing. It's true, there's nothing that can change that. I love you all, keep reading the Book of Mormon. It's full of light and truth. The biggest thing I've learned is that missionary work isn't just a missionaries job. Everyone has to bring everyone to Christ. The missionaries just help. It's the members job to help the missionaries help you. It's a gospel paradox.


Pics:

The video is me trying the pepper

The pictures:

-German Pancakes for supper

-Mashed potatoes for supper

-This is the local food Sheema. It's really good, it's just after one lump the texture gets to me

-The next two are of a giant locust that we found on the side of the road. I'm looking forward to finding more wildlife.

I'm trying to take lots of pictures

Sincerely, Elder Smith.

January 22, 2018

From Dad - A Good Week:

Hi Elder Sam.  

Greetings from the great white north. I just about forgot to write you In time for your time zone. I’m going to have to get used to this. 

It’s been a great week. We are loving having Josh home with us. He is slowly adjusting to being home and went to the YSA ward today. He’s hoping to land a job too to help him keep busy and earn some doe along the way ($1000 to get the silver car fixed up so far. )

Ben is prepping for exam week this week and is writing 3 exams. English, Biology, and Math. 

Abby and Mia have been practicing times tables as I’ve promised to take them out to Boston Pizza is they can do 100 questions in 5 min. Mia did it and now Abby’s turn.

Mom has been tackling sewing this week (mending clothes and hemming curtains, etc. and the girls have been following suite mending all the stuffed animals Coco has torn apart. 

Mom was called as Primary President today and I’m being released as YM President next week. She’ll do great and I’m excited to support her. 

After a goal setting FHE 2 weeks ago, Mia set a goal to do gymnastics again and she’s back at it! Proud of her for that. 

Saturday was a busy day. Cody of course came over and before they could spend all day playing D&D, I had everyone help finishing off basement bathroom improvements. It was fun to be working together. 

Mom and I had a good visit with the Depeels tonight and I remembered how much I enjoy visiting with good people. Relationships are important and help us share and support each other in the gospel. 

Some questions. 

1. Tell us about your companion a little. 

2. What are your greatest triumphs and greatest challenges so far?

3. What is the branch your serving in like?

4. What’s the name of the area your serving in?

5. What is the music policy for your mission?

Have a great week, Sam!

Love you lots. 

Dad. 

From Sam:

It's great to hear about your week!

My companion is from Washington State and was homeschooled most of his life. he's been on his mission for 11 months and is an amazing companion.

The greatest triumphs I've had are how much people we're finding. We're stuck in our complex because our area is closed because of Cholera. The greatest challenges I've faced are how hot it is and how much people say they will do things such  as seeing you for appointments or keeping commitments, but don't do anything or are not home because they don't want to displease you.

The ward I'm serving in is pretty great. We only had a 3 hour church yesterday, last week we were only allowed to do 1 hour because of Cholera. The ward mission leader is so enthusiastic and awesome. I love him.

I was serving in Bauleni North, but when Elder Hunter and Christianson went to reopen the Madagacar mission, we took over their area. Now we have all of Bauleni.

I'm still trying to find out the music policy for the mission. As far as I know, It's pretty relaxed.

I love you lots,

Elder Smith

From Josh - Famous:

You are famous my little brother, I went to institute choir and it was fun to see that I wasn’t referred to as Josh I was referred to as Sam’s brother, which was okay by me, if I could be the brother of someone everyone thought was awesome then I am happy.

How have things been going in Zambia?

Other then just that I went to a performance Shanika’s choir put on at Concordia university. I have a picture which I can send you in a separate email.

I love you Sam, I don’t know how much time you have to email and to motivate me to keep emailing you I will keep my emails short. Me and mom learned that your brain is more applied to tasks that take little to no effort, but as you build upon those tasks you can significantly change yourself.

Stay safe and eat as much as you can.

What do you even eat over there regularly? And how does it compare to food back here?

From Sam:

It makes me happy that people actually thought I was awesome. You don't really know until after you leave.

Zambia is awesome! The people here are amazing! The hardest part is that 99% of people say yes, and less than half actually mean it. I don't actually have a set time to email. I have lots of free time, I'm up at 6, leave the flat at 9, and get back at 7. Everyone here uses army time and a mission goal is "Be out by 9 and be back by 19", because the sun sets at 7 and there are no street lights, so it gets really sketchy at night.

I miss the food from home. I eat a lot of rice and a crap ton of peanut butter sandwiches. Me and my companion go through a regular sized peanut butter jar in a week. The thing I get for snacks are Lemon cookies and Chocolate. I miss all the snacks I get from home.

I find that I miss home a lot in the morning when I have time to think about it. What did you do to stay focused on your mission even though you missed home?

I love you so much,

Pictures from Sam:

                           

Here's me eating a chili pepper from the bush that's behind our flat.

January 15, 2018

From Mom - Opposites:

Dear Elder Smith,

I went for an early morning walk this morning. I wore wool socks, my fleece lined leggings, a long-sleeved shirt layered over with a sweater, a toque, mitts, fur boots and my down filled jacket ... and I was still cold. As I walked quickly up the gravel hill (trying to get the blood circulating), I thought of you in steamy Africa with your short-sleeved shirt and the hot sun beaming down at you. I topped the hill to a beautiful sunrise and considered the sun that was rising here, was about to set where you are. Same sun. It's such a strange thing to think of; when we are waking up, you are ending your day ... our sunrise is your sunset and vice versa. It is cold here and hot there. What other things are you finding that are opposite to Canada?

Here are a list of my questions . . .

*What sorts are precautions are you taking to ensure that you will not contract cholera? We heard of the outbreak through your mission president.
*What are your first impressions of your mission president?
*Tell us a few things about your companion.
*We heard of an American postal service that will make sure any package we send will get to you, but it is minimum $120 for the postage. If we send you a package, it will be through this service but we'll only send things you absolutely need or absolutely want. Peanut butter? :) Just keep an ongoing list and we will accumulate stuff to possibly send you.
*By now, you will have had an opportunity to experience some of the cuisine. Please tell me you will get enough to eat while you are there. What have you eaten? Any foods that are new?
*How are you adjusting so far to the culture? What are some of your first impressions of Zambia and the people?

You are nine hours ahead of us. I actually bought a clock to hang on the wall that will tell us Zambian time. I hung it next to the map (that the Watson's made for you) near the top of the stairs. I find that we are always asking, "What time is it where Sam is?" Everyone I talk to asks how you are doing and I always tell them you are in Zambia safely and that is all I know. I'm looking forward to knowing when your p-days are and hearing everything you have to say about this new world you entered. It's totally okay if you are feeling overwhelmed. Any weird or strange emotion is probably totally normal. Know that we are praying for you everyday ... just like we did for Josh ... except you are in a place which is completely unknown to us so we might be praying in little more earnestly for you.

It is Josh's homecoming talk in church tomorrow. I'm sure you will hear more about this later.

I love you forever, Sam. I'm excited to hear about all the information you have for us. Pretend it's Extreme Writing and type as fast as you can with all the new experiences you've had so far. We can't wait!

Mom

Josh Said to send pictures:

After Sunday dinner ...



Our Zambia wall with Zambia time. At this particular moment it was 4:44 p.m. our time and 1:44 a.m. your time. Hopefully you were fast asleep.



Lots of wind lately sculpting the snow.



The last of the Turtle Cookies. We finally baked the rest of the dough you left. Yes, it was old but totally fine.



From Sam - First week in Zambia:

To answer all Mom's questions:

1. I'm washing my hands everywhere and when i'm not washing my hands i'm putting on Hand Sanitizer. My area is blocked off because of Cholera, so i'm stuck teaching the people in compound area i'm staying in. We can't knock on doors, so we're stuck just street contacting. It's a good thing everyone in my area is very polite and more often then not, we get a return appointment.

2. I love my mission president. When he picked us up from the airport, we jumped into the vehicle and he asked me if I could fix his review mirror. It was completely broken and I sorta fixed it with a key ring and occasionally holding it in place.

3. My companion is from Washington State and was homeschooled most of his life. he loves bee keeping, It's his dream to start bee keeping. Because of that, we always get the best honey. And I'll tell you, It's freaking good honey.

4. The biggest things I want from Canada are Canadian chocolate and some snow. It's so hot here, and i'm not even in the dry season yet. I've never burned so bad in one day than I have in my entire life. Don't worry though, the other elders have lots of Aloe-vera gel.

5. I'm eating lots of eggs and lots of rice. Yesterday we found out that we have a hot chili pepper bush in our back yard. Guess what, I ate one. It was not fun. It was funny...afterwards, and knowing myself, I might do it again. Besides that, I've eaten homemade fries(called chips), Nsheama(Seema) and fish takeout. Nsheama is actually really good. The stuff I had was homemade, but it was good. I'll tell you when I has the real stuff.

6. The people are so nice. Zambia is so hot. And I'm loving all of it.

I'll include for details in my mass email.

Elder Smith

​It's been crazy getting here to Zambia. I had a 15 hour flight from the Atlanta airport to Johannesburg, when we tried to get onto the flight to Lusaka, we were denied access because we didn't have a return flight. That was shocking. So we called the South Africa MTC and they picked us up from the airport. So we got to stay at the SAMTC for one night. That was pretty fun.

The next morning we jumped onto the next available flight which was at 1:20pm and had a nice ride to Lusaka. The mission president picked us up and we got something to eat as we explained why we were denied access from our flight the day before. After we explained everything, he took us to our companions. When I got to my flat(apartment), I unpacked and we made chips(french fries). I don't know much but I do know those were really good. The next morning we had training with the mission president which lasted three hours longer than I expected. The upside of sitting for that long time was the lunch that was provided. Sister Kupu knows how to provide a great lunch. For the rest of the first day, I got situated into the flat, unpacked more and had lots of time to relax and study.

Because of Cholera, my area is shut down. So for now, I'm stuck street contacting in little community I'm staying in. We're not allowed to know on doors, so we can only street contact. It's been fun, but because of the heat, I've drank more water in one day than I have in my entire life. I'm drinking about 8 cups of water before lunch. I'm so happy that the church provides safe and clean water to its missionaries. I'm staying with three other missionaries. My companions name is Elder Blanchard, and the two other missionaries are Elder Hunter and Elder Christanson, Both of them are missionaries from Madagascar. Josh, what was the name of your companion from Madagascar? One thing they do is mix their sentences with Madagasie, the language of Madagascar. It's fun hearing the language. I know while I'm here, I'm going to pick up some Nienja(I don't think I spelled that right), that's the language most commonly spoken in Lusaka.

I've taught a bunch on lessons. Mostly a quick 3 minute lesson while street contacting, but my favorite lessons are the 45 minute lessons. The people in Zambia are very curios about our religion and have lots of questions. One lesson we gave was the Plan of Salvation to a very smart elderly man named Brother Mumba. After we finished the lesson I invited him to be baptized. He thought about it for a little bit and came to the conclusion that if he wants to make it to the Celestial kingdom, live with Heavenly Father again and feel ultimate happiness, he decided that baptism is for him. It's so awesome to see the happiness in their eyes when people find out for themselves that what we teach is true and choose to follow Jesus Christ and live his gospel.

Yesterday, Elder Blanchard found out that we have a hot chili pepper bush growing in our backyard. He picked one and the other elders and myself convinced me to eat one with my lunch. That was an experience that was awesomely terrible that I might do again against my better judgment.

The best thing about Zambia is that there is so much green. It will all turn brown in the dry season, but coming from winter in Canada and Provo. This is amazing. I've found that you read in the scriptures a lot while on your mission. Today, I read 27 pages in the Book of Mormon this morning and I could have easily read more if I didn't have to eat.
The things I miss most from Canada are Snow, the freedom of music, chocolate and stand up showers.

I know that the gospel is true. If you turn to Jesus Christ though prayer and scripture study, not only will your questions be answered, but you will feel happy. Ever since I've been on my mission, both in the MTC and being out in the field, I feel so happy. 

I love you all.

Sincerely, Elder Smith.

I don't know what order the pictures will be in. You'll just have to make the connections.

- The South Africa MTC

- Lunch at the mission home

- New missionary/mission president photo

- Study Desk

- The church building

- How much green there is in Zambia

- My room

- chili peppers

- Me and my companion

- A yummy protein ball recipe

From Paytie:

Glad to hear you made it!

Some of the pictures aren’t loading for me, but you’re very descriptive so it sounds amazing anyways! I can’t believe you already found someone to baptize! That’s awesome! It’s good to hear that you’re getting fed well and that you have clean drinking water. You’re family is so proud of you Elder Smith! You going to have the best two years! Keep on studying the gospel. I wish I had as much time as you to read my scriptures. 

I’ve got a test on the Book of Mormon in seminary this week... I didn’t keep up with reading my scriptures and I’m pretty far behind, but I’m skipping school to go ice fishing so I hope to study out there.

No snow? Man that’s hard to imagine right now, Canada can’t decide if it wants to be warm or cold, the chinooks here are crazy. Anyways, I gotta go get ready for seminary! It’s so great to hear from you and see how well you’re doing! Have another great week in Zambia! (What’s the town called that you’re in?) 

Love, Paytie