Sam's Mission To Zambia Blog: August 12, 2019

From Mom - Response to "My New Assignment"

Dear Sam,

I've been thinking about this new assignment of yours over the week and figure the mission president has a lot of trust in you. Obviously, I already think you're capable and know how to work hard, so I think you'll be fantastic once you understand the details of your new responsibilities. You wouldn't want life to be boring now, would you?

The only way I know how to lend you strength is to include you specifically in my prayers, which I do.

Ben asked me today how I access the enabling power of the Atonement. And like most of Ben's questions, I have to think about it for a little while before I can formulate a response! I have a strong belief that Heavenly Father is deeply immersed in the details of our lives. He is made manifest in obvious ways when we willingly turn to Him for help. I've done this many times especially in situations that seem too daunting for my limited abilities. By some miracle when I get to work after asking for help, it seems that my efforts are magnified PLUS some unexpected additional help.

A recent example was agreeing (in June) to help Ebony decorate for her wedding. I'm not good at decorating but I couldn't leave her to do it on her own. I wasn't going to be here during the weeks leading up to the wedding and I was FREAKING OUT, wondering how I was going to get it done. So I said a prayer asking for help and had an immediate impression to text Joanna Nesom, who had two boys married in the spring. She offered a few lanterns. Then I got to work brainstorming with Ebony and she sent me pics of what she wanted. My dad happened to be here with his chainsaw for the family reunion and he cut a bunch of wooden discs for centerpieces and I started pricing out what else we'd need. I asked the RS President if we could borrow their linen tablecloths. My efforts weren't nearly enough to accomplish what we needed and it was very discouraging but I did what I could. Then the Sunday before I flew to help Steph (about a month before the wedding), Joanna came up to me at church and showed me a picture of her niece's recent wedding and it was EXACTLY what Ebony wanted. On August 1, after returning from our holiday, I picked up the stuff, Sheena Rector offered to help and the result was gorgeous. Ebony was married on August 3 and she was so happy with the result. I had to admit there was no way I did it on my own. Miracles attended. Such a simple example, I know, but I felt I had some heavenly intervention plus the enabling power of the Atonement boosting my simple abilities.

So I'm saying that the enabling power of the Atonement is real to me. I know I can ask for help from heaven and get it. And so can you. And so can anyone. God is good that way, offering it free to us all. It brings me a lot of peace, especially when I'm in over my head.

LYR is another example. We had THREE counselors cancel. By last week we still hadn't found anyone after a month of effort and I was finally on my knees praying, asking for help. In 24 hours we had FOUR capable and willing replacements. It was a miracle to me.

And there are so many more examples from my life. So pray and work hard and watch for those tender mercies and miracles. I love you so much, Sammy Boy and I'm so very proud of you.

Love forever,

Mom

Two questions...

1) Did you get our care package?

2) When will we know the details of your flight home?

From Sam - Elder Jones the Younger

Hello everyone,

I got my new companion this week. He got here(to Zambia) on Tuesday but we only became companions on Saturday because I had to wait for Elder Okolo to fly to Blantyre, which happened on Saturday. He is a great missionary and a great person, I'm happy to be with him.

This week honestly went a little slow because I knew my companion was here in Lusaka but I couldn't be with him until my current companion was gone. I learned a lot from Elder Okolo and it was a good thing he was transferred because we were getting along too well.

Since I've been with Elder Jones(Two days) we have worked very well together and we are getting along very well.

Today we were able to do some sports. At first it was just the missionaries, then 4 members came, then to complete it a family the other elders are teaching came. The parents were playing and the youngest, Ellie(Ee-lie), was playing as well. But the two daughters(Chloe and Kassy) were just standing in the shade of the tree. Chloe is 12 and reminds me of Amelia and Kassy is 18. I was throwing the foot ball around with Ellie and when I saw his sisters just watching other people play it felt very wrong. I invited them to play pass with us but they didn't want to, I did all I could to get them involved but it didn't seem to work. They would just tell the other sister to do it but wasn't willing to come and join themselves. It wasn't working until I got them to put down the "Important things" they were holding and told them to hold out their arms and I passed the ball to them. That's how it started. By the time we were finishing up they were both having fun and Kassy started to try Volley ball. I hope they had a good time but I do know that their parents were happy they were involved. I was thinking about Micheal Jackson's song "The Man in the Mirror" and in one line it says "If you want to make the world a better place you need to look at yourself and make that change" Everyone wants things to improve but not enough people are willing to make improvement happen. If you want to be included, include people. If you want to be respected, respect others. Gods glory comes by glorifying others, us, His children. It's by glorifying God that we can be glorified. "True happiness comes by making others happy".

A big shout out to Auntie Kurri and Benson for sending me a "late" birthday letter. I got your juice crystals. I saw when you sent it, it was something like March 29th. I didn't get it until the end of July. Not to condemn anyone but that was the third letter I have received on my mission besides the ones my family sent me in a care package. Thanks Kurri and Benson. I miss you both a lot as well. Only 4 months left.

I love you all,

Stay blessed.

-Elder Smith

Pictures:

-Dinner at the Quero's