Sam's Mission To Zambia Blog: June 17, 2018

From Dad - Promptings:

Hi Sam,

Hope you had a great week. Our was busy, which isn't unusual. I love my family. You guys bring me so much joy and happiness. I'm grateful for each one of my children. Thank you for coming to our family, Sam. My patriarchal blessing tells me that I was privileged to choose some of those I would be most closely associated with in mortality. You were one of those. We've known each other a lot longer than you think :)

Speaking of patriarchal blessings, Ben is going for his this week. We're excited for him. He is enjoying that school classes are out for the year and just a few exams to close it all out. It will be nice to have him around more often. He just finished reading "Shackleton" and was struck as I remember being by how good we have it as well as the resilience and nobility of the human spirit.

Abby and Mia were able to go rock climbing this week and loved doing that again. Shout out to Tyler and Steph for starting that passion for them.

On Saturday morning, Mom organized another Relief Society 5K run that turned into a 6K run. Your Mom is an amazing example of service to our family.

Our Garden is starting to grow along with the grass. Exciting times for us.

I've had some very defining moments this past week. Last Saturday, Mom and I headed to Viking to celebrate 30 years since my High School reunion. I was excited and nervous but in the end, I loved seeing many of my old class mates. Life has been good for some of them, harder for others, but lots of great catching up and memories that night.

Over the past few weeks, I've been really pondering how I can be a better minister vs. Home teacher to my families in the ward. It's been a subtle but important shift and I've been really struggling to know how I can best serve in this capacity. After some days of pondering and praying I had 2 experiences yesterday that reminded me in a quiet and wonderful way that he is aware of me and my families and that if I'll listen patiently, he will direct my paths.

Yesterday after helping mom with her race, I took Abby into the Stake Center to a YW activity. When I got there, Kylan was there with his Mom and sisters. Can't remember if we mentioned it, but he came home with some anxiety from his mission and is in limbo trying to figure out his next steps. I tried to encourage him but I could see he was a little depressed and not happy to be stuck there waiting for his Mom. So I said my good bye's and started driving home. As I was crossing the bridge to turn onto the Whitemud drive from the Riverbend Stake Center, a strong impression came to me that I should turn around and invite Kylan to come home and hang out with me and Ben while he waited. Of course I had a small wrestle with the spirit about the reasons why not, but then recalled my prayers to minister. So I made a U turn and went back to see him. When I asked him to come, he got up right away and came with me. We had a great talk and renewed our friendship. On the way home, I told him about our truck handle not working, and he offered to fix it. I said go for it. After lunch, he and Ben went to work and 1/2 hour later they came in and declared victory! I was amazed and grateful. Grateful in many ways. Grateful that the Lord trusted me with a small revelation, grateful I hadn't been too stubborn to listen, and grateful to have a working truck door! The Lord truly is aware of us.

That evening, I took Abby into Leduc to a YW camp planning meeting and as I waited, I felt another prompting. Go see Sis. Raymond. Again the small wrestle then the reminder of my prayers and so I went. A 10 min conversation on the door step (remember those with the Raymonds :)), and I was able to reconnect and offer comfort for her as she is going through some family and health challenges. I'm grateful I followed the first prompting, opening the way for me to be ready for another one.

Long story to illustrate my testimony that God is real and that he answers prayers.

Father's day has been great today! I got my favorite meal (sweet and sour meatballs), Taught a fun lesson in SS on David and Goliath, started my new Primary calling helping teach the CTR 6's and got to video call with first Josh and then Steph and Tyler in their new apartment in St. George.

Life is good and challenging and fun. God bless you my son Sam. So grateful to be a Dad.

Love,Dad.

From Sam - Lots to Learn:

Hello all, greetings from Zambia,

This week has been really great. I have been able to have great experiences, sadly for you I can't remember all of them. The good news is that I remember some, one of which is when we were visiting with a baptismal candidate who was supposed to get baptized in January, he asked us questions about why is there suffering and why is there so much wickedness. We explained that is was because the second coming is going to happen and there will be much wickedness in the last days. He then asked what do we need to do to prepare for the second coming, we explained that we need to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He then asked what he needed to do, we said "You need to get baptized". He was quiet for a little bit then said he wanted to get baptized. My first thought was to baptize him next week and have him show his commitment by coming to church this week. Then, as I started talking the spirit took over and I instead said for him to be baptized this week. He agreed and we did the preparations and he got baptized yesterday. Me and my companion walked out of that lesson wondering what the hey just happened. God is aware of all his children. My testimony of that has increased for sure.

After his baptism the Bishop did the closing remarks. As he got ready, so did I. Every time he does closing remarks I learn something new. This time he explained what his mission president taught him. This is what I learned:

"To succeed in life, we all need to be students of the Gospel. But what student do you want to be"

He then gave 4 examples.

1. The Straight "A" Student

-A straight "A" student is someone who goes to class ready and willing to learn with a blank notebook and takes in everything there is to offer and leaves the class with a full notebook.

2. The Keyword Student

-A Keyword student is someone who goes to class and picks out a keyword and only studies about that word

3. The Word Against Word Student

-A word against word student is someone who studies in advance and only comes to class to confirm what he already learned and to question what the teacher says.

4. The DNA. Student (Does Not Apply Student)

-A DNA student is someone who tries to learn but things just are not making sense so he gives up and stops trying. When things don't make sense at first he stops trying because he feels the things being taught "do not apply" to him.

We want to be a student of the Gospel where we take in everything even though it may not make sense at first but to keep on trying.

I love being out here in the mission field. With the spirit of being a missionary I'm super powered in my learning and my teaching. It's awesome.

I love you all,

Elder Smith

Pictures:

-A Bishop made me a homemade mini scripture case. Yay!