Week 100: Full of Gratitude
I feel so grateful to be able to have reached this point in my life and be able to write you all this letter. It has been an amazing journey. The journey has not been easy but it was the best thing I have done in my entire life. In this marvelous journey, the Lord has let me feel pain and sorrow to better experience the blessings and the happiness. I can truly say that this has been the best experience of my life. I know that Heavenly Father lives. I know that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son and MY Savior. I know that independent of any other person. I could say many things but I hope to see you all in my homecoming where I can be able to see you all and testify of the things I know to be true. I love you all and thank you for all your love, support, and prayers. I have felt the help every single day of my mission.
Elder Smith
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10)
November 11, 2019
Week 95: Thoughts
Hello everyone! I have officially made it to my last transfer in the mission! I cant believe it. I feel happy, grateful, nervous, stressed, all of the above. Truly the mission has been the best and hardest experience of my entire life. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has let me go through amazing experiences but also the more difficult ones so that I could be able to know my Savior more. I feel like I just barely got here! To begin this last transfer, I hope to work as hard as I can until the last moment. "Enduring to the end" can maybe be the hardest part sometimes. This past week, we were able to have 3 baptisms of some youth that we found. They were literally a miracle for us because basically we went to church one day and a Sister in our ward basically told us "Hey Elders I want you to teach my grandchildren so they can get baptized!" Heavenly Father literally blessed us with three baptisms out of no where. It was truly a blessing that was freely given to us from our loving Heavenly Father. I know He is merciful and kind. I know that He hears us and that He cares about us. He lives and do not doubt that He knows EXACTLY where you are, what you think, what you hope for, and what you fear. We are on His side and He wants to help us. I cant express the love I have for Him and His Son. They are REAL beings. Dont forget it. This Church is true. The Gospel is true.
Elder Smith
1. (From left to right) Azul, Dorian, and Kevin.
2. Saying goodbye to one of my best friends in the mission: Elder Torres (he went to a different area so he wont be able to say bye to me when I leave)
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10)
Hello everyone! I have officially made it to my last transfer in the mission! I cant believe it. I feel happy, grateful, nervous, stressed, all of the above. Truly the mission has been the best and hardest experience of my entire life. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has let me go through amazing experiences but also the more difficult ones so that I could be able to know my Savior more. I feel like I just barely got here! To begin this last transfer, I hope to work as hard as I can until the last moment. "Enduring to the end" can maybe be the hardest part sometimes. This past week, we were able to have 3 baptisms of some youth that we found. They were literally a miracle for us because basically we went to church one day and a Sister in our ward basically told us "Hey Elders I want you to teach my grandchildren so they can get baptized!" Heavenly Father literally blessed us with three baptisms out of no where. It was truly a blessing that was freely given to us from our loving Heavenly Father. I know He is merciful and kind. I know that He hears us and that He cares about us. He lives and do not doubt that He knows EXACTLY where you are, what you think, what you hope for, and what you fear. We are on His side and He wants to help us. I cant express the love I have for Him and His Son. They are REAL beings. Dont forget it. This Church is true. The Gospel is true.
Elder Smith
1. (From left to right) Azul, Dorian, and Kevin.
2. Saying goodbye to one of my best friends in the mission: Elder Torres (he went to a different area so he wont be able to say bye to me when I leave)
October 7, 2019
Week 90: How Great Is Our Calling!
This week I learned many things. I feel so thankful for Heavenly Fathers perfection and His perfect love for us. I realize that even when I think that He maybe isnt aware of us or He doesnt care, He has a purpose in all His ways. I believe in His perfection and that is what gives me peace. I know that He loves me in spite of my weaknesses. I am so thankful with Him for letting me see, experience, and learn so many things on my mission. This week was a little difficult. When I was in Puerto Peñasco, we were working pretty hard. When I got here, I was a little disappointed with the lack of work here. It was kind of strange going from working hard to zero. I was struggling a lot and Satan putting a lot of lies into my head. I was getting depressed. But, one thing that helped me this week when I was in our General Conference and Elder Uchtdorf talked about Job. Later that night I went back to our house and read Jobs story. I had forgotten the story a little bit but as I read I slowly started to remember what they had taught me once when I was younger. Job had so many things happened him that Heavenly Father let happen to test his obedience and his love to Him. In spite of all the things that happened him from his flock being killed to recieving sicknesses Job was faithful and did not sin.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
What faithfulness! This story made me think a lot. With an eternal perspecitve and remembering of the Plan of Salvation trusting in Gods perfection, we can move through our problems. I learned an important lesson. And like Job, I gave thanks to God for His perfection and for His desire to make me better. I love Him and I wish to serve Him and I hope He can always trust in me.
1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
I testify that the Lord lets hard things happen to us because He loves us and wants us to be better. Many times we dont understand why He does certain things but His ways are not our ways.
8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Trust in Heavenly Father and trust in His time. Hold on and He wont let you go. He loves you all and so do I.
Elder Smith
This week I learned many things. I feel so thankful for Heavenly Fathers perfection and His perfect love for us. I realize that even when I think that He maybe isnt aware of us or He doesnt care, He has a purpose in all His ways. I believe in His perfection and that is what gives me peace. I know that He loves me in spite of my weaknesses. I am so thankful with Him for letting me see, experience, and learn so many things on my mission. This week was a little difficult. When I was in Puerto Peñasco, we were working pretty hard. When I got here, I was a little disappointed with the lack of work here. It was kind of strange going from working hard to zero. I was struggling a lot and Satan putting a lot of lies into my head. I was getting depressed. But, one thing that helped me this week when I was in our General Conference and Elder Uchtdorf talked about Job. Later that night I went back to our house and read Jobs story. I had forgotten the story a little bit but as I read I slowly started to remember what they had taught me once when I was younger. Job had so many things happened him that Heavenly Father let happen to test his obedience and his love to Him. In spite of all the things that happened him from his flock being killed to recieving sicknesses Job was faithful and did not sin.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
What faithfulness! This story made me think a lot. With an eternal perspecitve and remembering of the Plan of Salvation trusting in Gods perfection, we can move through our problems. I learned an important lesson. And like Job, I gave thanks to God for His perfection and for His desire to make me better. I love Him and I wish to serve Him and I hope He can always trust in me.
1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
I testify that the Lord lets hard things happen to us because He loves us and wants us to be better. Many times we dont understand why He does certain things but His ways are not our ways.
8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Trust in Heavenly Father and trust in His time. Hold on and He wont let you go. He loves you all and so do I.
Elder Smith
October 1, 2019
Week 89: Villa de Seris
Hello everyone! This week I am writing you from Villa de Seris in Hermosillo! We had transfers and now I am Hermosillo! It feels great to be here. About one year ago I was serving here in Hermosillo. Every area that I have been in has a special feeling and I remember many things. Hermosillo has that feeling. It seems like just yesterday that I was here. This last week many great things happened. We were able to have some good lessons and I feel satisfied with the work I did in Puerto Peñasco. It was very hard to say goodbye to our converts there but I am truly so grateful for the opportunity that we had to be instruments in our Heavenly Fathers hands and to help them be baptized. Puerto Peñasco is being very blessed with success. When I left Puerto Peñasco that last day, some amazing things happened. As I hugged Benjamin (our recent baptism) and said bye to him he said "You will always be remembered here." That was something very special to hear. After that, I went to say bye to a family that we had been teaching and the dads name was Jesus Gabriel. He also said something similar to me that night. I literally saw a part of my Patriachal Blessing be fulfilled. It says that "many will come to the waters of baptism" and that "they will remember and be thankful for me." I was grateful to know and feel the Lords kindness with me and his children. It was hard to leave but the Lord needs me here now. I dont know why but He has something prepared for me and my companion. I love Him and I am trying me best to be better every day and to trust in Him. I love you all and I would invite you to do the same.
Hello everyone! This week I am writing you from Villa de Seris in Hermosillo! We had transfers and now I am Hermosillo! It feels great to be here. About one year ago I was serving here in Hermosillo. Every area that I have been in has a special feeling and I remember many things. Hermosillo has that feeling. It seems like just yesterday that I was here. This last week many great things happened. We were able to have some good lessons and I feel satisfied with the work I did in Puerto Peñasco. It was very hard to say goodbye to our converts there but I am truly so grateful for the opportunity that we had to be instruments in our Heavenly Fathers hands and to help them be baptized. Puerto Peñasco is being very blessed with success. When I left Puerto Peñasco that last day, some amazing things happened. As I hugged Benjamin (our recent baptism) and said bye to him he said "You will always be remembered here." That was something very special to hear. After that, I went to say bye to a family that we had been teaching and the dads name was Jesus Gabriel. He also said something similar to me that night. I literally saw a part of my Patriachal Blessing be fulfilled. It says that "many will come to the waters of baptism" and that "they will remember and be thankful for me." I was grateful to know and feel the Lords kindness with me and his children. It was hard to leave but the Lord needs me here now. I dont know why but He has something prepared for me and my companion. I love Him and I am trying me best to be better every day and to trust in Him. I love you all and I would invite you to do the same.
Elder Smith
My new zone in Hermosillo
September 23, 2019
Week 88: Miracles
What a week! I feel so grateful for what has happened this week. The work is great here in rocky point and my companion and I are truly seeing the blessings of our Heavenly Father. I literally feel so blessed to wear Christs name over my chest and teach his Gospel. This week we had two baptisms! Their names are Benjamin and Guadalupe. They are literally miracles. One day a couple months ago when I was with my past companion, as we were walking down the street, I felt impressed to knock on a door that was on the corner of a street. When we knocked, we found Guadalupe and her son Mateo outside. We walked in an started teaching the entire family. A couple weeks later, the family is baptized. I feel so grateful that God trusted us with His Spirit so we could find them that day. Their lives have never been the same. They have gone to church every sunday and if no one passes by for them, they walk. I testify of the reality of missionary work. I truly believe that God was aware of our circumstances and theirs. I love them and I love this work and I love all of you!
1. The baptism of Guadalupe and Benjamin
2. Mexican Independence Day
3. Guadalupe and Benjamin walking to our building to attend church. They are so dedicated
What a week! I feel so grateful for what has happened this week. The work is great here in rocky point and my companion and I are truly seeing the blessings of our Heavenly Father. I literally feel so blessed to wear Christs name over my chest and teach his Gospel. This week we had two baptisms! Their names are Benjamin and Guadalupe. They are literally miracles. One day a couple months ago when I was with my past companion, as we were walking down the street, I felt impressed to knock on a door that was on the corner of a street. When we knocked, we found Guadalupe and her son Mateo outside. We walked in an started teaching the entire family. A couple weeks later, the family is baptized. I feel so grateful that God trusted us with His Spirit so we could find them that day. Their lives have never been the same. They have gone to church every sunday and if no one passes by for them, they walk. I testify of the reality of missionary work. I truly believe that God was aware of our circumstances and theirs. I love them and I love this work and I love all of you!
1. The baptism of Guadalupe and Benjamin
2. Mexican Independence Day
3. Guadalupe and Benjamin walking to our building to attend church. They are so dedicated
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)