October 1, 2018

From Sam - A Week of Learning and Humility

Hello all,

This week has been a rush of learning and revelation. These past two weeks I don't think I have had the same lesson or conversation. I'm really loving the spirit and all of it's guidance. My companion, Elder Williams, is a genius when it comes to following the spirit. I've learned so much from him. 

Something my companion says to the people we teach is that his 3 favorite things of the week are 3. Bedtime. 2. Lunchtime. 1. The Sacrament. It's kind of funny but it's also true. I love sleep, I love food and I love the Gospel. I can say my testimony has grown so much in just a small time. I have also faced lots of trials as well. I read that Satin puts lots more effort in missionaries because we are directly opposing his work. I also read that if we try to live the Gospel without offending Satin, Then you are being hypocritical. You can't serve two masters. If you live the gospel you have to sometimes literally fight against Satin and his Angels. It's a conscious battle. There can be no passiveness.

One thing my companion taught me is if you wake up before the sun, you are more prone to receive revelation. Just as long as your bodies and minds are invigorated(D&C 88:124) I've been waking up at 5:30am everyday and at first it has been hard but now i'm in the habit and It's pretty awesome. 

One funny thing about Malawi is there are so many people who have the L/R Syndrome. Meaning the switch their R's and L's around. Making this last sentence say: One funny thing about Marawi is thele ale so many peopre who have the L/R Syndlome. Meaning the switch their R's and L's alound. I would ask if someone prays often and they will say "I play all the time". I just have an inside laugh going on inside me.

One thing my companion and I have been talking about is strict obedience. There are so many blessings that come from strict obedience but the thing is, Sometimes the blessing don't come right away and if we give up we will never now those blessings ever. If we are sort of obedient we sort of get blessing and if we are strictly obedient and get specific blessing(Miracles) But if we aren't strictly obedient, we will never understand or now of those blessing. The only way to know if God can do miracles directly in your life is to be strictly obedient. "The difference between a great missionary and an outstanding missionary is in the details."  

I love you all. Stay awesome,

-Elder Smith

Pictures:

-Me and Lyon. Member's brother

-Tree

-Area picture

-Running errands 

-Elder Ellsworth took apart my Rubiks cube and we're putting it back together

-Obama gum

-Missionary swim time.(Just the legs)

 

-Testing out the toaster 

-African sunset

-Zambia Lusaka Mission pin

-Amazing brownie recipe

-Some more area pictures

Video

-The Elder Ellsworth kill cam

From Dad - Busy Week

Dear Sam,

It's been a busy week around our place. On Sunday, I left for Albany NY on a business trip to attend and present a workshop at a "Edge Control's Symposium". Essentially it is a conference where different businesses include GE  businesses get together and demonstrate, discuss and look forward to advancement in the machines that interface with the real world. Includes things like auto-piloting drones to inspect pipelines, advancing robotics and automation to help pilots fly planes more safely, security etc. I really enjoyed it and was over my head in some of the talks and classes. If you ever feel like people never use math in real life, you need to attend a conference like this one.

I also really enjoyed opportunities to make new relationships and strengthen existing ones. On the plane to New York, I sat by a Christian Reformed minister who consults Churches on how to revitalize their congregations and deal with the dwindling numbers of people attending church. We had a great conversation and he was intensely interested in how our church managed to run without a payed clergy. I really enjoyed that conversation. During the conference, I spent most of my time with a colleague, Doug Stewart. We were able to get to know each other very well as we worked together, ,presented together and attended the various activities the conference put on we were able to talk at a personal level. He asked me about the recent emphasis on the Church's name and it opened up a great conversation about my beliefs and importance of families. He also invited me out to his Acreage for dinner the night before I left and I was able to wear a bee suit and crack open a bee hive. Enjoyed meeting his wife Susan and we had a great conversation over home made pizza.