July 30, 2018

From Dad - Family Week

Dear Sam,

How's my favorite African son? Do you have air conditioning in  your apartment? This week has been fairly mild, but a couple of days have been closer to 30 and I just don't do very well when I'm feeling hot. Harder to move about and get things done. But not really complaining as it is nice to have summer fully here and enjoying being able to get outside and work on the yard and house.

This week has been fun having lots of family here. Josh came home Monday, Steph came in Wednesday and Kurri, Benson and Cody were her till Tuesday. Monday, Campbell came in with his girlfriend and  joined the crew for a trip to the waterpark. It was fun to visit with him. It has been fun to have a full house again. Having Stephanie and Joshua home has been so wonderful and I've felt a strong sense of gratitude for you, our wonderful children. You are truly a blessing in our lives. We're thankful to Tyler for sharing Stephanie with us for a few days. 

A couple of days ago, I experienced an interesting mixture of high and low. I may have mentioned previously that we ordered and received our side garage "man" door recently. I have a weird relationship with construction. I enjoy it in small doses and I love how it feels to build something and manifest something that wasn't there before into reality but I also have a strange mixture of dread and anticipation in approaching a construction or mechanical project I haven't done before. So while I was excited to start putting in the door, I has procrastinating a bit while I wrestled with this project. As with other types of similar projects, I had to kind of inch my way into it. I would do things like clearing out the area one day, measuring and marking the frame the next day etc. On Monday, Joshua showed up just as I was finishing my last call of the day and offered to help with anything I needed. So I told him about the door and together we started to tackle it. We were able to make great progress and get it framed up. 

Over the next few days, step by step, we were able to get it completed and on Thursday, I did the final touches with Ben helping to screw in the final screws and put the deadbolt in. 

Just as we were finishing that off, Josh walked out and let me know that the van had broken down just past the Calmar turnoff.  Wow I thought, how interesting to feel so good about accomplishing something, then be hit by some other issue that brings up stress and worry. So that afternoon and evening, Steph and I went to investigate and discovered that the serpentine belt had broken. We were able to move the van to the Brett Young parking lot and then drive to Leduc to get a new belt. 

That evening, after watching some YouTube videos and sucking up my courage, Josh and I went to tackle the job ourselves. When we got to the van and tried to fit a wrench into the tensioner pulley to get the belt off, we realized that the wrench didn't fit. Luckily I had done some research and knew that there was a special tool I could use and so we drove to Canadian Tire to get it. What a difference the right tool can make! Slipping the tool on and removing the belt and replacing it took under 15 minutes. I think I'll save that idea for a future talk analogy!

So all in all, we ended the day with two victories. It is the hard things and the trials in life that ultimately bring meaning and purpose and joy to our lives. The plan of salvation teaches us this and I'm thankful for the support of family and the Lord as we face the trials together. 

This week in SS, I taught 1 Kings 17-19 about the story of Elijah and the miraculous use of the priesthood he exercised in the promises to the Widow of Zarephath that her oil and meal would not fail during the famine and the contest with the priests. It was interesting to learn that after all these miraculous manifestations, Elijah still had to flee for his life and became discouraged and depressed and wanted to die (1 Kings 19:4). Chapter 19 taught me some interesting lessons on the counsel and method by which the Lord helped him overcome this discouragement. I think the Lord is the ultimate psychologist!

v. 11,12 - Counsel to listen for and receive comfort and revelation from the Holy Ghost

v. 15-16 - Counsel to get to work and build the Kingdom by accepting a calling from the Lord

c. 18 - Counsel and reminder of other faithful who can provide strength and support to us.

The other night, Mia, our guardian of gaming for family unity pulled us all in to play a fun game of Apples to Apples. We all had a fun laugh when it was Stephanie's turn and she drew the green card "Magical" and proceed to recieve cards seemingly tailored to her.

Key Card: Magical

Family Cards turned over in order

• Taking Pictures
• Shooting a Video
• My Mom
• My Imagination
• Narnia (She chose this one)

Mom and Steph are training for a marathon in St. George in November so we've seen an increase in physical activity in our house from P90X to Yoga to Plank competitions and running.

Friday night I got a call from Bro. Purnell inviting me and the boys over to shoot some Skeet with shotguns. We found out that Ben is a natural and we enjoyed doing manly things. Safety, Safety, Safety and Muzzle direction were the rules and I immediately broke it as I carried  a shotgun over to the first spot and passed a loaded shotgun under my own chin as I transferred hands. Thankfully it was a safe and fun activity in the end.

Saturday was a yard day and we got the mower fixed up, mowed all the grass (which is coming along nicely by the way) and the garden weeded. Josh and Ben uncovered a large rock by the garden and we planted a tree in its spot. 

Hope you have a great week, son. We love you lots!

Love,

Dad.

From Sam

This week has been an experience. Though I never know what to put in this email. So I'm sorry if it's not good enough.

This week has been pretty normal. Not a lot of crazy things. One thing is as we were walking and knocking on gates, there were a few kids with bucket lids and I asked for one. Then I started to play Frisbee with them. The video is at the end of the email. I was so much fun. It reminded me about the times when Me, Josh and Ben would play Frisbee in the yard and try to throw further and further away. I think I enjoyed it to much. It was a good reminder of home.

The elections were happening this week for the mayor. And while we went to go the office we got stuck in one spot for 30 - 45 because the mayor and the president of Lusaka were driving around, they stopped all traffic on the roads they were using so they wouldn't get stuck in traffic. So instead of them, we got stuck. 

I know I told you before but member meals are the best thing in the world as a missionary. Yesterday we went to a members house and while we visited I shared with one of the sisters my favorite things about the Book of Mormon. She has only read up to Alma and I shared with her a bunch of stories from the war chapters and I got really excited because I love talking about the Book of Mormon and she got excited because she saw that the Book of Mormon has good stories and is not just a book to read but a story to read and doctrines and principle to learn. They then fed us with baked goods and pineapple drinks. It was amazing. 

The next best thing that happened this week is our investigator Maxwell was Baptized. It has been a great time to watch as the gospel changed his life. I love the power of the Atonement and how it does have the power to change people.

One quote that stuck out to me today: "It's more important to have Character than to be a Character" This is what Liber Youth Retreat taught me in which I am so so grateful for it. It's something that we teach all the time. Salvation is not where you go, it's who you become.

I love you all. 

-Elder Smith

Pictures:

-I found a pine tree

-Maxwell's baptism

  

 

-An old snake picture

-A Handmade Canadian/Zambian tie

-Taking pictures with Noah(The one with the camera) Aaron(The one who was baptized) and Mbita(The one who started it all)

  

-Lunar Eclipse

-The one with Aaron and Mbita leaning over is they are trying to see the man in the moon

     

-"Small and Simple things" The tree is moving the cement wall

-One sleepy Elder

Video: Me playing Frisbee

July 23, 2018

From Mom - Staycation

Dear Sammy Sam,

For the first time in a lot of years, we're just sticking around home for the summer. No travels for us except to Koocanusa and LYR ... but that's still pretty close to home.

There are some benefits ...

1) We are actually around to weed and take care of the garden and it's the best garden we've ever had (which isn't saying much as we haven't had a ton of success in the past). But still. We might get some zucchini for the first time. Carrots, beans, corn, lettuce, peas (actual peas!), beets and a pepper or two. The deer haven't really gotten into it but Sheena Rector saw a black bear in her back yard and there have been a  few sightings around the lake which might be the reason the deer are keeping away.

2) We get to go on day trips. We saw two Shakespeare plays (Hamlet and Comedy of Errors), swam twice at Jubilee Park at Wizard Lake, took in the Calmar spray park and spent time at the river. Today we are going to the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark, mostly because Kurri is visiting with Ellie, Benson and Cody.

3) We get to see the terrific storms that sweep through the area. One night this week, Dad and I were woken up around 1:00 a.m. to the brilliant flashing light of lightening and the crash-boom of thunder. It was so bright and loud, the girls came tumbling into our room and into our bed to cuddle away the fear. Mia thought the house was going to be struck by lightening. Shortly thereafter, Ben joined us saying, "are you guys seeing this?" At that point we all got up and watched the storm and it was one of the biggest ones I've ever seen. The rain came pounding down followed by some angry hail. I watched as it shredded the flowers growing in our planters. It was crazy but made for a memorable night.

4) When you stay home, people come visit you! Kurri is here right now, like I said, but we've had quite a few sleep overs with friends and have some plans in the future for firepits. Josh is currently on his way home and Steph is planning to come this summer. At Koocanusa, we decided that the next Bruce family reunion will be here at our place. My brothers and I are currently making plans to do a trail run hopefully nearby in Devon, and if we do that, they'll come and stay with me. Pretty fun. I've started running again in preparation for a half marathon in November with Steph and Shannon. If all goes as planned I'll do a 13 km trail race in Devon in September, then the 21 km half marathon in November. This will help me with my health goals.

5) We get to work on the property and the house. Little by little, we're creating a walking path through the forest. Right now it starts at the top of the yard by the fence, then meanders down through the forest to the tree house. We're hoping to make it go down all the way to the bottom of the acreage and hopefully end up with a lovely long walking trail. We've also got doors on the garage, so slowly, things are improving and looking more settled.

So, all in all, we've had a nice summer so far.

And how are things with you, Elder Smith? What are you learning from being a zone leader? Is the weather sill pretty chilly for you right now? Is that one sweater enough to keep the chill off? It doesn't really make sense for us to send you one unless it's impossible to buy a sweater in Zambia, so you should do that ... spend some of your money and buy a sweater. I just deposited another $170 into your account from a government GST cheque, so you have a little extra in there. How is your humility? Remember you were trying not to be prideful? How is that going? ; )  I'm getting close to finishing the Book of Mormon and currently reading about how quick the people were to forget God in spite of all the miracles they saw and turn back to their prideful ways. Reading about this makes me more aware of my own pride and helps me to turn to the Lord. Here is a perfect example ...

You know how the church changed the home/visiting teaching program to one of "ministering?" The idea is that you truly serve and love without the parameters of once-a-month-with-a-message, prayerfully meeting the needs of those people in whatever way they need. It's about developing relationships and easing burdens and using revelation to do it.  Anyway, Renata Bango was put on my ministering assignment. My partner is Sarah Shin, a Korean lady who wants to join the church but her husband won't give her permission to get baptized, so she is as active as she can in all the ways without becoming a member. Anyway, I thought this would be the easiest ministering assignment in the world. I already visit Renata on a regular basis and know what is going on in her life. I suppose it was a bit of a prideful thought to think I already was good on this one, but in a humble moment, I decided to set up a visit and bring Sarah along. When we got there, I quickly realized that there are forces at work that I don't fully understand. Sarah just moved here from Toronto and the Bangos want to move there so Sarah told them everything they needed to know about Toronto. Then, because she is an early childhood educator, she helped Lili learn some letters and numbers. Renata almost cried with relief because she was so worried Lili didn't know anything English because of her Hungarian language. I watched as Renata fed Sarah and told her about how she used to be against the church and about Renata's miraculous conversion. Ede told Sarah that her husband would come around, just like Renata did. When I dropped Sarah off back at her home, she expressed how grateful and uplifting it was to serve and be served by others. Sarah regards the church as a great miracle in her life because she has never know the love and support that we give each other. I suppose I humbled myself enough to see ministering in action and two peoples' lives improved upon and helped by the other.

Yes, it is better to be humble.

We pray for you everyday. I know it sounds a little trite, but trust me when I say that when you have a son in far away Africa and there is nothing you can do EXCEPT pray that he will be safe, that he will learn important things to build his character, that he will be strong on his own ... those prayers become more meaningful and more faith filled. We love you so much and hope all is well.

Mom

P.S. My phone is currently missing so I can't send you pictures at the moment. Maybe I will get off this little Chrome Book and go looking, then I can send you pictures if I find it. LOVE YOU!!

From Sam - Reply to Mom:

Hello Family,

Thanks for the question Mom, because I don't know exactly what to put in my email so they're helpful. 

1. Zoneleading is fun but hard. I have a few more responsibilities which aren't that bad. The big reason why it's a little harder is usually the ZLs have a truck assigned to them but now the whole South-East Africa missions are going through a process of there having no trucks for the missionaries. So I still have the truck but we don't use it for proselyting. The only time I use it is for Zone leader stuff like exchanges, baptismal interviews and driving missionaries around when we need to.

2. The weather is still a little cold. But today it has started to warm up a little. The sweater, I have I found in the flat I'm staying in and it is good enough for keeping me warm.

3. Not having a truck helps with not being prideful. Right now, my companion is just over 19 months so He is helping me learn how to be a better missionary. So that's also helping me stay humble.

Anyway, If there are other questions, please ask them because I'm clueless enough to not know what other people want to hear.

Lots of love,

-Elder Smith

From Sam - Great Week for the Weak

Hello all!

This week has had its ups and downs. But all in all it was great. I received, opened and shared my package that my family sent me. Lots of stuff I miss from home. I found out that Canadian Smarties are way better then South African/Zambian Smarties. 

This week we found two girls who have actual problems. (I'm not saying other people don't have real problems) But they feel guilt, and like God had abandoned them. So It's been nice to not just share the gospel but to apply the gospel to my investigators. It's been fun studying for them.

Also, in my study I found the Book of Mormon Study guide and It has really helped me understand the Book of Mormon better. With the Guide I'm reading 7-10 pages a day, so i'm zooming through the Book of Mormon. It's great.

This last Saturday, the ward i'm serving in(Libala) had an open house where all the members split into the separate groups(YM,YW, Family history, Relief Society, ect) And the missionaries did a missionary work presentation. It was really fun and though there wasn't a lot of people, we did get some members to bring their friends. 

Last night the bishops wife had us over for dinner because we were giving her all of our lemons, and I was giving her some of my Canadian candy. She made us some Indian food, which was so so good. I ate until I almost burst. I love the bishops family. There's a girl named Gabby and she is really funny. I have a video with her and me trying to get her to dance.

This week has been great, I love you all,

Elder Smith

Pictures:

-My old companion with his DNA Character

-Open house picture

-The Kapema Family

-The Kapema Children

-Me

-Food after the open house

-The Plan of Salvation

-In this picture, try to find the mistake

-Aaron practicing with the junior class

-My Lego figure

-Letters from home

-Nsima with the District leader

-Everything from my package.

Video:

Me getting Gabby to dance.

July 15, 2018

From Dad - Kocanusa and girl's camp adventures:

Hi Sam,

The subject basically sums up our week. Monday we packed up the girls and took them to the Church to go to girls camp at Camp Impesa (same place as Heleman’s encampment) and then Mom, Ben and I packed up the tent trailer and headed to Kocanusa. Swimming, boating, wake boarding (Ben tried for the first time and got up after 3 tries) fishing, reading, sleeping etc. We had to replace another tire on the tent trailer. Seems to be par for the course at Kocanusa to replace a tire. Lots of fun around the camp fire including “Joke Offs” where people told jokes to each other, trying not to laugh or smile. Gain a point if you do, lowest points wins. I convinced Ben to try wake boarding. Took 5 tries but he got up for a bit. See video link below.

Here are a few links to videos I made with my new GoPro I got from work for 20 years at GE. I'm still learning how to use the head set and chest versions, but pretty fun for a first time.

Ben Wake Boarding  

Dad Wake boarding

Here's a few photos:

Ben, Cody, Ellie and Ethan chilling on the hammock

Uncle Mark enjoying the young kid years at the beach

Three way birthday cake: Benson, Cody, Shannon

Grandpa passing his lover of fishing to the next generation.

Ben and Cody teaching the cousins D&D… you starting something before you left!

I had a great time cuddling with Holly. She thinks I’m her second Dad I think.

New Kocanusa game – “Spike Ball”

Fishing of course

Uncle Todd is the “Dock Master” with a new improved version this year!

One nice thing about vacation is the chance to catch up on some reading. Lately I've been reading a book Mom ordered called "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan B Peterson. He is a psychologist with some interesting insights into ways we can improve our lives. The first rule is "Stand up Straight with your Shoulders back". Here's a couple of quotes 

"To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life , with eyes wide open. It means deciding to voluntarily transform the chaos of potential into the realities of habitable order…willingly undertaking the sacrifices necessary to generate a productive and meaningful reality. 

To stand up straight with your shoulders back means building the ark that protects the world from the flood, guiding your people through the desert after they have escaped tyranny, making your way away from comfortable home and country, and speaking the prophetic word to those who ignore the widow and children. It means shouldering the cross that marks the X, the place where you and Being intersect so terribly. It means casting dead, rigid and too tyrannical order back into the chaos in which it was generated; it means withstanding the ensuing uncertainty, and establishing, in consequence, a better, more meaningful and productive order."

Serving a mission is one great way to stand up straight with your shoulders back..

It's only a month to LYR. I'm preparing to be one of the presenters and I'm nervous but mostly super excited. Mom is busy organizing and confirming counselors. Kylan is going to be one and he's excited about it. Ben and the girls are reading their books and it should be another amazing LYR experience.

Last week Bro. Bonnell came over with his chainsaw and helped me clean up a big tree top that blew off one of the tree house trees and crashed into the tree house. Minor damage luckily.

I hope you saw my email this week about “Gospel Essentialism”. I’ve received some feedback from my sister and Kurri (I think you were included on her email). Here’s a quote from Auntie Liz:

When I was struggling at one point in my life, the spirit taught me that it was all about the Plan of Happiness.  With that as an outline, everything else falls into place and provides a Why for our actions. It gives us the big picture, and helps us to just hang on even if we are tempted by same gender attraction, or worldly ideals, or we just feel tired of the struggle to do what’s right in the confusing world.   I do think, in teaching my own children under my own roof, that there are standards which are in the for the strength of youth that were given by the prophet that may be practices, but are about following the revelation given to the prophets.  Even then though there is the spirit of the law to be taught.  

In talking to Jeff about this, he said that teaching the core principles is so important, so that if someone just has a testimony of not wearing short shorts, that when they reject that they reject everything else, because the testimony was not based on the core doctrine.  He also said he taught his priests on Scout camp that understanding the core helps us to keep trying, even when we don’t understand the current counsel, or we are tired of serving in our calling when others seem to be having so much fun.  I think it helps us to consistently keep doing the small and simple things.  It was good to think about all of these things, and would be a good family home evening lesson to have.

Hope your having a great week. Love you lots and wouldn’t have you anywhere else. Pray for us and we’ll pray for you and we’ll all move forward following this amazing plan of salvation together.

Dad.

From Sam - Ask and you shall Receive:

Hey everyone. Here is Zambia the temperature is averaging out to be perfect. But I know that it will only last a week or so.

Yesterday we baptized an investigator named Aaron. He was introduced to the gospel by our recent convert Noah, and because he was introduced by Noah he excepted the gospel, he ate up the doctrine as we taught it. He is 17 and is so excited to prepare for a mission. He was also baptized by his friend. It was a good experience for both of them.

This week I was on foot almost everyday and our investigators are spread out in a way where if I don't plan well, I'm walking for about an hour. So naturally I'm really hungry all the time. So, being a missionary, I likened the scriptures unto myself. I asked, and I received. When I visit a member I ask for food. And sometimes when we visit an investigator I ask for food, and I receive. 

Don't take it that i'm getting greedy, but I'm being just like the apostles.

One time, when we were knocking on gates, an old SDA Lady welcomed us in. We had a very short lesson with her but I noticed she had a lemon tree, so naturally I asked if I could have some. She said yes and got here worker to start picking while we finished up teaching. When the worker came back, he had picked a whole bags worth and I don't know what I'm going to do with all the lemons I have.

If you haven't tried Shwarma before, I suggest you try it. It's what I have almost everyday for just 15 kwacha(1$50c) it's super cheap here and it tastes awesome. 

The best part of my week was when I went on exchanges. We went to visit a member and she has been a member for just over a year. And she is known for here deep doctrinal questions. And the other missionaries were always nervous about her questions because they don't always have an answer. But she asked a question regarding the temple and I had an answer and I talked about other "Deep Doctrine". It was really nice to teach some of the deeper doctrines to someone who wants to learn. I love those kind of talks and I wouldn't have received this knowledge if I didn't go on a mission. The best part of the visit was she fed us fried rice and chicken. It was so good.

I love you all, Stay awesome,

Elder Smith

Pictures:

-Shwarma and Mountain Dew

-Baptism(We are pointing to the one who is getting baptized) of Aaron

-Food that an investigator cooked for us. It tastes lots like breakfast muffins that Grandma Smith makes.

-Me sitting on a hand chair.

-Dinner before the exchange

-All the lemons that lady gave us

-Not enough water pressure. Bucket Shower!

Video:

With Aaron before he got baptized.