Dear Sammy Sam,
I am happy to report I got my first sunburn of the year. Kurri and Elli flew in on Wednesday and we went to visit Arja Patrick. She was sitting on her back deck overlooking Wizard Lake and the sun was beating down. Part of that heat was the sun reflecting off the snow, which isn't going to last much longer. Spring has finally arrived.
It's been so nice having Kurri here! We've walked outside, shopped, attended the temple, visited, cleaned, geocached and generally enjoyed each other's company. She'll be here for a week. Unfortunately the purpose of their visit is to testify in court against a man who tried to pull Elli's bathing suit down when they were at the Waterpark nine months ago. Abby saw it and the security guard saw it and the man was apprehended and put in jail. It's generally been an uncomfortable experience for everyone involved. We go to court on Tuesday and the girls will have to sit up in the box near the judge and rehash everything as well as being cross examined by the defense lawyer. More about that next week. It will definitely be a learning experience at the very least.
Life does have these unexpected twists and turns, doesn't it? We always have the choice to learn from it, if we want to. We were chatting last night about how turning to the Lord has this strangely miraculous way of giving us peace, restoring perspective and adding strength. I'm grateful for that knowledge and personal experience.
You'll never believe it, but having Elli here (she's 16) has inspired a group date with Ben deVries, our Ben, Tatyanna Francis and Elli. I think they've invited others but I think those are the four who have confirmed. Elli also went to the dance on Friday and I was super grateful to Anna Driessen and Callie Rector who took her under their wing. It's nice to have good people around to make life that much better.
I hope Abby tells you about the opportunities she's has this week to be a musical theatre person. The Music School asked her to be a back up Dorothy for their Wizard of Oz play, and Tatyanna has asked her to be an extra in the play they are involved in. She's a wanted person. Haha.
Mia is continuing to take over your role as baker in the family; mostly cakes and cupcakes, although Cody made a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies last night.
Ben is on spring break and it came just at the perfect time. Having four core classes (Chemistry, Physics, Math and English) is a lot and he spends much of his time on homework (although he also manages to squeak in time to read books by Brandon Sanderson, who is the new favourite author in the house).
And I hope Josh tells you details about his trip to Rexburg. He drove down by himself to connect with roommates before they move on to greener pastures. I was checking on him yesterday and he texted back that the trip was good and it was much needed. Again, so grateful for good people who brighten our lives. I came home from Relief Society on Tuesday to find Josh detailing his car for the trip.
We hope all is well with you, Elder Smith. Keep on the path and do the things you are supposed to even if it seems like you are the only one. Remember that with God nothing is impossible. I believe it. It is the the foundation of my life and gives me hope and courage.
I love you. We all love you.
Mom
From Sam - Consider the Lilies of the Field
Hello Everyone,
This week has been pretty amazing. I've been receiving revelation on so many things in the scriptures and many miracles have happened. One of the coolest revelations of the week was from the scripture Matthew 6:28/3 Nephi 13:28. I says:"...Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." I also really enjoy the Tabernacle Choir singing this song. I was really thinking about it. One morning, after 4 days of thinking about this scripture, I decided to spend 20 - 30 minutes to truly understand this scripture. In context of the scripture Jesus is speaking to his Apostles sending them to do missionary work. The revelation I received is that as long as you are doing your best in what God needs you to do, then you don't have to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will come and go, so will today, and pretty soon it will all be yesterday, last week, last month, last year. As a missionary it applies perfectly. I don't need to worry about how much time I have left before I go home, or what I will do when I get home. All the music, movies, games, family, friends and so forth, will still be there when I get home. If I waste my time and don't work hard because of what the future holds, then my future won't really happen. But if I work hard for today and do all I can for that day, then God will provide for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and for the rest of my life. That's as a missionary. But this also applies for everyone. The prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said "Today will never come again" Let that sink in a little bit. What are you doing to make today a day instead of a waste? That was one of my powerful revelations this week.
I love the principle of revelation. I don't know where I would be without it.
The miracle of the week happened without me. On Wednesday I went on exchanges with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Spilker to his area and his companion, Elder Chipfuwamiti, went with my companion, Elder Mbile, in my area. While they went to check up on a person, that person wasn't home, but her brother was. He said that he was waiting for them, He has been praying to know what he should do right now in his life and he received an answer that he needed to be taught my us, the missionaries. So now, we're teaching him. It is a powerful witness to me that God is preparing people. whether I'm the one to help them or not, God is watchful for all people and for their individual concerns.
That's the run of my week. Oh yeah, We're teaching an amazing family from the Congo the speaks French and Swahili, And me and my companion are going almost daily to teach them English. The children can speak some English, but the mother doesn't speak any. So we are helping them with the language. Because we are doing it for free(service) they are always feeding us. They want to feed us everyday, But we are trying to get them to feed us 2 or 3 times a week instead so we have time for the other people we are teaching. I am really enjoying my area, 6 weeks of hard work are starting to pay off.
Lots of love,
-Elder Smith
Pictures:
-Outside the internet cafe
-Pictures of the French Family(The Chibuabua family)
-Fun pictures with the kids
-Working under the watchful care of a faithful rainbow
-Hungry Lion during exchanges(That's Elder Spilker)
-In a bus on the way to town for an interview
-Me working on the shelves of the house
-My first Wildcat on mission
-L/R Syndrome
Video
