December 19, 2019

Home Coming!!!

December 16, 2019

From Sam - Last Week

Dear friends and family,

I'm coming to the close of my one hundred and fourth week in my mission. The close of my most stressful week yet most rewarding. Yesterday was an amazing Sunday. We had our Christmas devotional after church and had a great time. I had a couple goodbyes and a couple tears shed(Not from me) I got to see a couple members before the end of the day. I left my "Stand a Little Taller" book for a member, before I left, we had an amazing lesson on the pre-earth life. Something she didn't fully understand. I got so excited sharing about it. I get an unusual excitement to teach the gospel when I teach members because I can use all the standard works. It was amazing. 

We had a dinner with the Musonda family and because it was my last Sunday we had a testimony meeting. Something Brother Musonda said to me was to "be more then careful" when I get home. Satan will try me. It was counsel that was amplified by the Spirit. 

I have so much to share and not enough time to share it. I love you all and I'll see most of you on Thursday and the rest of you after. 

Sorry this is a short email. There's 16 missoinaries where I'm emailing from and all of them need to email. 

-Elder Smith

December 8, 2019

From Sam - My Final Weeks

Hello Everyone,

I'm hitting my final weeks. I try not to think about home but I have everyone(My companions) reminding me how many days I have left(10 days) Crazy stuff. I always looked at these days at the start of my mission as something that will never come. But time continues.

I had a couple revelations yesterday at church and at the end of the day. One of them came as I thought about what God needs me to do before I go home. Last week God told me to focus on people. This week he told me to be the same disciple of Jesus Christ as I am now when I'm home. When I sat at sacrament meeting I saw a couple people on social media during the sacrament, a couple of which were returned missionaries. The Spirit hit me hard that it is not acceptable to God that I become that kind of person. I have learned from my mission experience and if I don't apply anything I've learned then what was it for? The second thing the Spirit told me I need to do is to plan my days as if I'm going to be here forever, even though I only have 10 days left. I thought about Alexander Hamilton, how when he went to Aaron Burr for a duel to the death he knew that he was most likely going to die. Even still, he had a 2 o'clock appointment set and confirmed that he knew he wasn't going to be there for, but he still planned. 

It's funny, sometimes I receive spiritual promptings and revelations and I think "Man, this revelation thing makes so much sense." and the next moment I'm sitting here thinking "How does this revelation thing work again?"

This week was crazy busy at the office. From Monday to Thursday I only spent 1 hour in my area, a total of 14 hours in my week. But I'm not too worried. At the end of each day I felt God's approval. I felt that I did some good. That has been my measure of success these days. Not in how many people I taught or contacted. But in how much good I did that day. The hymn "Have I done any good in the world today" At the end it says "If not I have failed indeed" 

It's all about the people. It's all about God's children.

I love you all. I'll see most of you soon, some of you later and a few of you in a long time.

Elder Smith.

December 1, 2019

From Sam - It's All About People

Hello Everyone!!

I'm on the last little bit of my mission. It's hard to believe that I only have 16 days left. Time sure flies. I've been thinking and praying about what I need to be doing in the last part of my mission before I go home. So many times has the Spirit whispered to me that I need to focus on people. I've been listening to the Spirit and I wish I knew what I know now at the start of my mission. It's all about people. God's whole work is about people.  With that in mind my week has been so busy with stuff at the office that I've been so busy with the office. Things that need to be done but are administrative not ministrative. I've been learning the big difference between administering and ministering. Ministering is the higher and holier way to bless God's children. Of course we need to "Administer" the sacrament, that's something that needs to happen. But our focus should be on people. I was able to have 19 hours in my area this whole week. Not a lot of time. A regular companionship will cover that in 2 days. But I've made sure that each hour is spent wisely. There are times that I don't use my time so effectively and those are the times where I can feel it. I can feel that I could do more. The best feelings are when I know that I've done my best and that I've done some good. I know that God will take care of the rest. It's not my work, it's His.

Yesterday was a great day for me. When we sat in our weekly coordination meeting, as we were nearing the end the Elders quorum president, Brother Quero, said "I don't think there will ever be a time in Matero when we will ever have such dedicated missionaries" then he thanked us for our service. It was a very powerful statement. I've felt the trust that the members of Matero ward have given me and my companions. It was great to see that in word form. 

I also gave my last testimony to my ward. I'm going to miss this place. I love Zambia and the people of Zambia. Both Zambia and Malawi. I'm sitting at the last leg. 

I'm sprinting to the finish.

Love,

-Elder Smith

From Dad - Trip to Spain

Dear Sam,

It was a busy week for me. I went to Spain this last week for business. I was doing product training for Opel, a car manufacturing company in Zaragoza Spain. It was a lot of plane travel, but it was fun to go to Spain for the first time. I was able to snatch a few moments to see some sights and enjoy some good food. Generally people eat very late over there (supper starts around 8:30 pm), so some late nights with good Spanish food. I tried everything from suckling pig to squid and lots in between. They have a type of eating style called "Tapas" which is really just going from restaurant to restaurant and sharing small portions of different kinds of foods.

I flew into Barcelona and took a 300 km/h train to Zaragoza. It was like seeing the Spain country side in sped up motion.

On our last night in Zaragoza, I jumped in with some of my co-workers and drove back to Barcelona. Driving back took almost 3 times as long as taking the train. Good conversation though, trying to navigate some crazy Italian accents.

That night we went out into "La Rambla", a main street. It was all lit up with lots of vendors, people and crazy museums along the way. We walked all the way down to the port on the  Mediterranean, then went to a nice restaurant on the other side of a very seedy part of town. Had to avert my eyes more than once from some of the signs and stores. Coming back around midnight, La Rambla was quite a bit more seedy, with multiple men selling everything from drugs, beer, and entrance to strip clubs. It was a memorable experience.

Mom and the girls were busy while I was gone. The night I came home, they were on Rabbit hill skiing. The boys showed up Wednesday to help MIa with Math and help Mom with some house chores while I was gone.

Last night before the ward Christmas party, we went to the Devon Christmas in the park and enjoyed a fun festival of lights and experiences (rolling maple syrup suckers, chili, hot chocolate, fires and candle lit walks. Apparently this happens every year in Devon but this was the first we'd heard of it. I think we might do it next year too if Mom has any say. Only downer was not being quite dressed up enough for -18 deg. C. Are you ready for it, Sam :)

Today (Sunday), we had a nice fast and testimony meeting. Mia bore her testimony of how the spirit prompted her to prepare for and get her Patriarchal blessing (we are going on Thursday). We had a little drama coming home from Church as Abby was driving and had a couple of close calls on the corners. It's all learning.

We were surprised and excited to hear that Savanna McClellan was coming home with the boys for Sunday dinner. She is here now and we love having her. She is bright and witty and fun to be around. We had a great dinner to break our fast, followed by treats and hot chocolate and whip cream left over from the ward parties we all attended last night.

Attached a few pictures. from the trip.

Hard to believe its only 3 weeks till we see you. Push till the end!

Love, 

Dad

November 25, 2019

From Sam - I can rest when I go home

Hello Everyone,

I'm sitting at 24 days until I leave Zambia and 25 days until I arrive home. It hit 

me hard this week when I was sitting at Zone Conference and someone told me that this is my last zone conference. I told him that it wasn't, then I thought about it and I realized that it was my last zone conference. I, as well as 3 other missionaries, bore our final testimonies. I still have time but it hit me hard how much time I have left; How much time I don't have and all the things that I want to get done. I always tell people that ask me if I'm getting tired. I tell them "I can rest when I go home". I have two amazing companions that help me work hard and keep me on my toes. Elder Jones and Elder Harrison. I'm training Elder Harrison to replace me in the office when I go home.  So many people are talking about Christmas and then tell me that they wish that I could be here to spend Christmas with them. I tell them I wish the same thing, but I've been waiting 2 years to have a Christmas with my family. I have been able to have a family here in Matero Ward. Both with the members and also with all the missionaries in the mission. I'm going to miss all of them. 

One thing I wish is that I can be able to see all the new missionaries that come into the mission progress into great missionaries. But all they will ever remember is that I was the one in the office. 

The major things that the Spirit has taught me that I need to do with my last days in Zambia is to focus on the problems of the people instead of the problems that I usually face, Or in other words, to worry more about the people instead of worrying about things. It's been easier now that I'm helping Elder Harrison replace me. I have time to worry about other things other than that of the things that happen in the office. The Spirit is so real. Sometimes I ask myself, "How does this revelation thing work?" I'm still learning how to receive revelation But I have been guided by the Spirit more times than I can count.I've also felt/heard the voice of the spirit more than I can remember. This gospel is so true. It changes people. It's changed me. I'm not the same Elder Smith that walked onto the plane to go on my mission. When I go home everyone will see a very different me. The gospel is full of paradoxes and one of them is if you lose yourself for Christ's sake and the gospels, then you will find yourself. I have found that to be so true. God has made more out of me in two years than I could ever have in 20. I'm so grateful for the Gospel.

This work is God's work. It is by definition "The greatest work on earth" be a part of it.

I love you all,

-Elder Smith

P.S,

             I have no more space in my google drive so I can't send anymore pictures.

From Jen - New Driver

Dear Sam,

Yes, it’s true ... Abby passed her learner’s test and she’s been driving. She decided she wanted to pass the test on the first go so she studied for weeks until she felt ready. One morning she came upstairs and she said, “I think I’m ready to take it today,” and we went in that day and she passed it!  So she took her eye test, had a picture taken for the card and away we went. 

The girls also started skiing this week but I don’t have a picture. They just love whipping down that hill so fast!

As for me, something exciting happened this week. 

I’ve been discouraged over the past two months with feeling really weak and shaky; having trouble getting up and struggling to catch my breath for no reason. So finally, I went on Monday for some blood work and the results came back that I have anemia (low iron and low red blood cells). I’m happy because I can fix it in simple ways (iron supplements) and get my energy back! 

I just want to say a note here about kindness ... The day that I was going for the blood work, I felt the most discouraged. I checked the mail on my way and this was in it ...

Rob Graham (from Ottawa, husband to my good friend, Lesley, and Dad to Christian, Jack and Luke) has been working to make me this hand made, hand-dyed, hand stitched leather purse. I love it. I couldn’t believe such a gift could come to me at such a perfect time. It was very very thoughtful and lifted me in a way that nothing else could. So kind. 

On Sunday morning, Mia asked, “who are we going to be kind to today?” This might be because it was Mia’s job to lead us in Come Follow Me this week. And she’s done a really good job of snatching time when we’re all together to give us a spiritual thought or a reading. 

So this was our kind deed ...

After church we were sitting in the lobby and Giovi Hinman came in asking if anyone owned the red purse she was holding. Someone had left a red purse that had a tablet and a phone in it. We decided it must be Christine Till’s because it was near the spot she was sitting. We offered to take it home to her since it is on our way ... but it wasn’t hers. We quickly realized there was a woman out there who was freaking out about her lost devices. Dad did the smart thing and turned on the tablet where we figured out who owned it. It was an older women who lived alone in Leduc. So we took the long way home to return it to her and we were right ... she was really stressed out about it! The look of relief on her face was well worth the extra long drive home.  It felt good to do something nice for someone. 

And how is our son? Ups and downs, like always, I’m sure. We pray for you daily and know you will figure it out. You always were a fantastic problem solver. 

Love you forever,

Mom

November 18, 2019

From Dad - A Week of Family

Dear Sam,

We have had a real treat this week with Stephanie staying a couple of extra days as she and Bowie recovered from a cough and waited for her green card to arrive in the mail. Though it was a bit stressful for Steph, we were so happy to enjoy being with them for a little longer. Little Bowie has completely captured our hearts!

We had an interesting experience coming home after the week-end in Southern Alberta. As we pulled into the garage on Monday night, Hawk was in labor. One live and one dead birth followed 2 more live kitties within the hour we came home. Of course we had to move them into the house :| but it was fun to watch the process and enjoy another of God's miracles in birth. The girls were all very excited.

Because it was reading week, we enjoyed having Sam and Ben stick around for a while and hang out. We were back up to 8 in the house again and loving it.

Check out the family Facebook page to see some of the videos we shared with Grandma and Grandpa including the grand kids singing Loch Lomond.

This week-end we were privileged to attend Stake Conference meetings. Saturday afternoon I was able to help do some training for the SS presidents in the stake. One thing that struck me was a video explaining why we should practice teaching. In it, a soccer game is under way and a player runs up tugging on his journey and demands the coach let him in the game. The coach looks at him incredulously and refuses on the basis that he has never showed up for any practices. The over eager player runs on the field anyways and ends up scoring on himself. The underlying message is that if we just wing it when we teach the gospel without practicing (e.g. in Teacher council meeting), we can end up creating a negative or at least a non-inspiring experience for our students. Good lesson to learn.

I loved listening to Elder Hathaway, the visiting general authority from Idaho. He was so clear and inspiring. He was a master teacher. A couple of thoughts to share from my notes.

He told a funny story about growing up with a Mom who insisted on having clean toilets in their house. She taught him the 600 item checklist of a clean toilet (exaggerated a bit) and the 37 inspection points she did when she checked up on his cleaning job. He described how later with his children he taught them Grandma Hathaway's toilet cleaning routine so he wouldn't have to do it anymore. He would always first show them how, do it once with the, then let them do it and inspect. Invariably, he said, they would all miss the small space behind the toilet. When he would point it out, they would complain that it was too hard to reach. He would say 

"OK" and dismiss them, and while they were gone, he'd place a $5 bill in that spot. Then he'd call them back and say, 

"Oh ya, one more thing", placing them in a position that one would always say 

"Dad, Dad, there's a $5 bill back there!". 

"Oh really?" he'd feign, "can you grab it for me."

They of course would at which point he would point out 

"Hey, looks like you can reach that spot after all"

His lesson was that in a similar way, with God, nothing he commands us to do is "unreachable" or impossible. It is often the case that when we think we "can't" do it, it is more that we "won't" do it. I hope I can be like Nephi and say when asked to do hard things by the Lord "I will go and do".

Speaking of that scripture, we watched the face to face for youth today with Elder Gong. That is next year's theme. The girls are so excited by the new program. I love how much they choose to be all in to the gospel. It is the safest, most fun way to live i.e. fully engaged.

The other thing I really liked was a 6 step formula for sharing the gospel. I think I liked it so much because I believe I can turn the steps into a habit. In case you haven't noticed from recent emails, I've been really studying and trying to create good habits in my life. '

Here's the steps:

1. Make a list of all the non members I know in our stake
2. Get to know who they are
3. Identify those who know about the church in some form
4. Ask the Lord what the next normal and natural action he wants me to take to help this person progress by a certain date and time?
5. Invite them to take the step
6. Go back to step 4, remembering that outcomes belong to the Lord. Our job is to invite with kindness and faith.

What habits have you found that you've developed on your mission?

No pictures this week as my internets acting up this morning. I'll send some separate if I can.

Check out the family facebook page if it lets you for videos and pictures from last week-end.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/727838460659946/?ref=bookmarks 

 

Love you lots!

Dad.

From Steph & Tyler on hanglouts

From Sam - Great Two weeks

Hey Family,

I don't have much time. I'm going to give you all the pictures over the last two weeks and leave it up for your interpretation. I'll repent next week.

More to come in another email.

November 11, 2019

From Mom - A Quick One

Dear Sam,

Today is Remembrance Day and we are reminding ourselves of the high cost of freedom. Are we using our freedom and our time in the best way we can? I’ve been thinking about this lately. Personally, I think the secret to this question is knowing how to hear the voice of the Spirit and having the courage to follow it. 

In fact, creating Grandma and Grandpa Smith’s 50th Wedding Anniversary Party was a direct spiritual prompting for me and Liz and I’m so glad we did. It really hit home this weekend of the power and strength of our grandparents abs ask they have done for us. Family is so important. So so important. 

Pictures ...

It is apparently all about Bowie because that is all the pictures I have. Haha. But that makes sense ... because she is symbolic of the rising generation. And we all love her dearly. 

And we love you. We’re so proud of you. Tomorrow is a new day. Eat. Sleep. Pray. Work. Be grateful. Repeat. 

Love,

Mom

From Sam  - Patience vs. Passiveness

Hello everyone,

I'm going to share with you about my preparation day experience. 

I went to immigration in the morning for missionaries to stay legal in Zambia and for missionaries who are going to Malawi to be cleared to leave Zambia. I wasn't the one to wait in line while the other missionaries were inside the immigration building picking up their permits. I was waiting outside and there were two sisters also waiting outside to get their permits as well. I decided to talk to them. Not talk to them for the purpose of giving them a Book of Mormon but to talk to them for the purpose to know who they are. That's the challenge President Whiting gave to all the missionaries, to talk to people to get to know them. So that's what I did. As I did so two amazing things happened. 1). When I listened sincerely to them and wanted to get to know them, I began to really care about them and desired them to be happy. 2). As I spent time getting to know them there came a point where they wanted to know what I did and was doing. I found that by listening to them sincerely they eventually sincerely wanted to listen to me. They both wanted a Book of Mormon and with that I wrote 4 or 5 of my favorite scriptures in both of them. The two girls I contacted were Jenny and Annetta. Jenny is from Botswana and Annetta is from Malawi. She is actually from Lilongwe and I was able to connect with her.

That was all the contacting I did this day.

The rest of the day I spent at the airport. First to drop missionaries going to Malawi off to catch their flight, then to pick up the five others that came from Malawi. 4 of them came through clean. the fifth, Elder Iboi, was Nigerian, and I don't know what's up with Africa but they all don't like Nigerians. We forgot to get Elder Iboi an entrance visa so Immigration wasn't happy with him coming to Zambia. I got to the airport at 1:50pm and I was trying to get him through the immigration for two days so that we can renew his Temporary Permit. I spent 4 hours trying to talk to people and waiting on immigration officers to make a decision. I did a lot of waiting. But, instead of being passive about it(Not doing anything) I decided to be patient. I learned that sometimes patience isn't just being able to wait for something, it's more like making the best out of the situation that you are in while waiting for God's timing in helping the situation become better.

I decided to make friends while I waited. I talked to one of the immigration officers named Mwiia, I got to know someone from Britain named Craud who was also held up with his own problems, the same with a guy from Israel held up. I don't know what else I could have done, but I did make some friends in the process. 

I believe that patience is making due with what you have, doing your best in your situation all while waiting on God's time, understanding that all things are given to us for our experience.

I love you all,

-Elder Smith