Sam's Mission To Zambia Blog: June 11, 2018

From Mom - Prophet

Dear Elder Smith,

Well, the biggest news is that Russell M. Nelson came and had a devotional with us in Edmonton along with Ronald A. Rasband of the Twelve. I have to say that I understand these men are really just regular people striving to follow the direction of the Lord and I’m pretty sure I don’t fall into the category of putting them higher in my mind than they should be, but I have to say my respect for the role of our prophet and apostles grew, surprisingly, especially since I’m a self admitted cynic. Haha. Anyway, Abby and Ben sang in the choir and sat behind him. Pres. Nelson turned right around in his chair to listen and at one point, actually kneeling down to get the full experience. Pretty cool. He talked to us about “keeping the covenant path.” In a following training the next morning the newest general authority seventy from Japan (I can’t remember his name) said: “Keeping the covenant path opens the floodgates of spiritual direction.”

I so enjoyed your zone conference notes, here are my notes from this Leadership training.

LEADERSHIP MEETING- June 9, 2018

(Ronald A. Rasband)

Pay attention to names that come into your mind in this era of ministering. What matters now are the names of individuals ... people.

Pres. Nelson keeps as pad of paper beside his bed. Why? To record spiritual direction in the middle of the night.

All of us have different patterns of receiving revelation.

Good information precedes good inspiration which leads to revelation.

“I’m just a regular guy. My dad was a truck driver. I grew up in the poor side of Salt Lake. Sometimes we ask ourselves, ‘Why me? Why now?’ But I’m here to tell you that there is a purpose. You, and only you, have things to do.”

“.... but I was born with believing blood.”

(Elder Anderson)

More water. Less sand.

Less temporal. More spiritual.

Less external pressure. More internal pressure.

Less business structure. More Zion structure.

Less teaching lessons. More teaching people.

Less formality. More understanding.

More scriptures.

More temple.

for personal direction. To give power to those under our care. To receive revelation. If we want or know what we should do, go to the temple to seek the Lord’s will, then go the the scriptures for revelation.

(Newest general authority, from Japan.)

Keeping the covenant path opens up the floodgates of spiritual direction.

There was a little boy (his son) in Japan who wanted to get baptized but he felt really bad about a candy he had stolen a long time ago from a convenience store run by an old lady. He told his Dad about it and the Dad agreed to go with him but it was up to the boy to talk. The father went with the boy and could see him trembling and shaking, but he built up his courage and admitted to the woman that he has stolen a candy.

What do you think she did?

She laughed! She said, “I know boys come and steal candy but you are the first to come to me and admit it. Would you like to have some more candy?”

What do you think he said?

He said, “ No, I don’t want candy anymore.”

The desire for candy had been replaced with the desire for peace and worthiness.

God can replace our natural desires with holier ones.

INSPIRED MINISTERING

Ask inspired questions. Questions bring out feelings and thoughts and open the way for teaching and discussion.

Listen with your heart and spirit.

Ponder the visit

Seek and pray for direction.

“Sometimes we say we want the water to get to the end of the row but with the ministering program we want it to rain everywhere.” -Rasband

Testimonies...

We need to develop a society that can receive the Saviour when he comes.

We need to work towards being a Zion people.

Days of miracles have not ceased.

Failure happens only when moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas, all of us, stop trying. So never give up. Or, in other words, you are never a failure if you keep trying.

I was so grateful for this direction. It was truly like a spiritual feast sitting at the feet of the Lord’s anointed leaders. My testimony was strengthened and I would say, took a little leap. It felt good. Also, scriptures Russell M. Nelson challenged us to study in our families:

Book of Mormon title page

Abraham 2:11

Ether 13

D&C 132:28

D&C 110

3 Nephi 20

D&C 101

D&C 86:8

We haven’t done it yet, but the point is to understand the importance of the gathering of Israel and our Latter-Day role in creating a Zion-like people ready to receive the Savior. Pretty powerful to hear it in person and to feel the energy of these men. I actually (surprisingly) loved it.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the week:

Girls playing Life with their stuffies. I love this picture because these “pretending” days are numbered.

Garage door is up! Whoop! Whoop!

Rainy day.

Ben, having a snack of Corn Pops, which lasted less than 24 hours after purchase. Ha!

The lilacs are blooming on almost all our 100 trees. It’s so pretty and a butterfly haven.

Dad and I went to his 30 year Highschool reunion this past weekend. It was fun for me to see him connect with old friends and reminisce about high school days.

Life is good, my boy. Everyone is where they should be ... Steph and Tyler moving to St. George, Utah, where Tyler will be opening an architecture office for the company he works for and Steph will figure out her next steps in life. Josh is at BYU-I figuring out formal education and loving the process even though there are ups and downs (I feel confidant Josh will nail it.) You are loving your mission. Ben is winding up school and planning on going to the Island with Cosy at the end of June. And the rest of us are humming along at home as usual. Everyone is where they should be, moving along their life’s path at a pretty good clip as far as I can tell.

We all love you a million times over. We’re proud of you. We pray for you. Keep a goin’.

Love forever,

Mom

From Sam - A week of Funny and Food

This week has been great.I realized today that all my pictures are of the food I have been eating. There is basically nothing else for my pictures. I've had fun.

One thing everyone should be praying for is to be stripped of pride so that we will be humble. Just be ready to be humbled. This is something I did this week and I was humbled. I gave a presentation and it went the completely the opposite way I thought it was going to go. It hit me hard that I'm not perfect(It was really shocking) and that I have so much to work for. It just reminds me about Ether 12 verse 27, telling us that we need to turn to God and he will make us strong.

I want everyone to look up 2 Nephi chapter 32 verse 9.

This is something I have really taken to heart. For almost everything I do I pray for help and strength and guidance, and I honestly have a sincere testimony of prayer and the power it has in my life. Especially as a missionary.

I found out some more words in the local language(Nyanja)

Zakyumanya = I'll beat you

Azungu bele = White man is here

Quapia quambili = It's so Hot

Oyopa mazungu? = Are you scared of the white man?

It's so much fun to learn a new language. I read a quote today, it said "When you speak a language a man understands, you speak to his mind. But when you speak in that mans language, you speak to the heart".

Yesterday I was able to baptize Destiny, he is someone the other sisters taught and when I did his interview I asked who he wants to baptize him, he said he wanted me. So, that's what I did. In contrast to last weeks baptism, I would rather have the font too full than not as full.

I also found out this week that one of my recent converts has been praying that me and my companion will become Apostles when we grow up. I don't know how I feel about that. I have to get though my mission first before I have any other calling.

One other thing is that I'm getting used to the Zambian heat, Yay! The sad part is that I'm not used to the Zambian cold. Because i have the Canadian blood I'm sort of immune, but 13 degrees is cold in Zambia and my body thinks it's cold as well. It sucks. I know that it is not cold, but I feel cold. I even have two blankets so that I'm not cold in the night. I'm going to die when I get home in the middle of winter. But, that's two years from now.

I love you all, pray always, and be awesome,

-Elder Smith

Pictures:

-Poutine night