Dear Sam,
Happy Thanksgiving, my boy! We’re in Sparwood making pies
and wishing for ear plugs. It seems to be getting louder every year but we love
it. Today we went around the circle and stated what we were thankful for and
the general consensus was gratitude for the Saviour, for family relationships
and home. Both Auntie Nancy (a convert of only a few years) got teary-eyed
expressing her gratitude for the Atonement and so did Steven, who’s really only
been re-baptized for a few years, too. My mom couldn’t talk for the emotions of
family love she was feeling. The rest was all banter and a general good feeling
of love and acceptance.
Grandpa said the evening prayer and prayed for your
continued safety and success. Everyone is asking about you and wishing you
happy.
Conference hit us with a few changes and a truth bomb or
two but we loved this fall session so much. In January church meetings will be
minimized to 2 hours instead of 3. .... Boom. Happiness reigns supreme since
the emphasis is more on family teaching vs. church teaching. Boom again. Looove
it! Pres. Nelson issued some challenges to the women including a 10-day social
media fast and to read the Book of Mormon before the year is up. No problem. 😉
I’m hoping Dad took a few pictures since I’ve got nada
except these ...
From Sam - burned Skin and Bedbug Bites
Hello everyone,
From the title you all probably think I'm suffering in "Africa" and dying, and you will probably never see me again because I will be performing this work on the other side. But, to calm your fears, I'm not dying and i'm not planning to. I am also loving Malawi and Lilongwe. The people are great and stubborn, the landscape is amazing and the sun is hot and my bed has bedbugs. I can't ask for a better experience that no one at home understands.
You know how some missionaries have a testimony crises part way through their mission? I didn't have one of those so don't worry. I know I have a testimony and I know this gospel is true. But I did have a two day conversion crises. Dad always says that "Desire always beats Discipline". And I was thinking, "Do I really desire missionary work or am I just doing it out of discipline?" Then I started thinking about if God gave me a trial of my faith, would I fail because I don't have desire or would I pass because I have desire I just don't know it. I did a lot if deep conscious thinking. What I decided to do was study the life of Jesus Christ in-depth. I got a hold of a student manual of the Life and Teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. It is so intense. I studied it one morning for like, two and a half hours. After 2-3 days of this "Deep thinking" I'm satisfied with where I am with my conversion. I've taken the counsel of John 7:17. And with Ether 12: 6 and 27 I understand that before I face the "trials of my faith" I have to deal with the ones I already have. I love Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to be his missionary.
I you all,
-Elder Smith
Pictures:
-Swamp bridge
-Landscape
-Secret Government mind-control device
-Shot from inside the truck
-The great and spacious building in the far back
-As a hen gathers its chickens(I was thinking when I took this picture that we are the little chicks and Christ is the chicken and how small we are compared to him and how much we rely on him)
-Road shot(Everywhere I serve in not just bush)
-Tree shots
-The bush shot
-Canada to Malawi
-Me in front of the church.
Sorry for all the landscape pictures but I hope you enjoy
I'm also going to send the rest of the pictures in another email.
Dalitso Baptism
Videos:
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