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
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