Hello Everyone,
How is everyone doing? It's awesome getting your letters every week! Hope you guys are still progressing and growing. Thats really the only way to live. If you are growing then you are regressing. Kinda harsh sometimes though :/
This week was stake conference for me and it was really good. I don't think I've ever payed as much attention at Stake Conference as I did this time. (And I'm not even in my home ward :P) The speaker were definitely chosen through revelation. It was probably the coolest conference I've ever been to. And I took notes, I don't know what I'm turning into...
We got quite a bit of snow the last 3 days. At it's highest we probably had a little over a foot on the roads. It was fun trying to get throught that. But the good news is, is that we were able to shovel some peoples driveways because of it. I love doing service, it's probably my favorite thing to do. We have been parked for yesterday and today, that's been fun, it's also why this email is coming at an abnormal time. But I love the snow... from inside. It's very pretty. Hope you guys are doing alright with the snow and cold weather that you are getting.
Elder Guerrette is getting transferred and I am staying here. 6 months in my first area, I'm starting to think that I might only be getting at most 4 areas in my whole mission. 6 months at each. But I'm fine with that. My new companion is going to be Elder Perry. I've heard that he is the oldest missionary in the mission. It will be cool.
This week has been awesome despite the snow. We were able to have a second dinner appointment with a guy that we met at the thrift store that we have been setting up regular service at. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and challenged him to read and he said yes. Regular service there give us an excellent opportunity to follow up with him regularly face to face. During one of our member lessons this week we were told that they were so grateful that we were able to be there. The father told us that the spirit that we brought has changed him and has changed his kids. It's so awesome to be able to see the effects that we have when we have the spirit with us as we teach. We don't always get told to our face how the spirit touches people but it was really nice to get a reminder.
The thing that I am realizing about these experiences is that they aren't exclusive to missionaries. We can have the spirit with us every day. When we LYLOL (Live Our Life Out Loud) and aren't afraid to let people know who we are, others can feel the spirit that we bring. But just as necessary we need to make sure that we are doing the small things. I love the Plan of Salvation because it is all about our choices. Heavenly Father wants more than anything for us to come back to us. But he know that more important than what he wants for us is that we have to choose to do it voluntarily. The Gospel brings amazing and wonderful answers for the basic questions of life, but the things we have to do to partake of those blessings aren't big and showy. It's the small things that we choose to do everyday, like praying and reading scriptures. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass". I make invitation all the time, and the invitation that I extend that is more important than most is to choose today to do the small thing. Just one. And then make another small choice for good tomorrow. That is how the Kingdom is Heaven is built in our lives and families, one small choice a day.
I love you guys and I love to see the progress and changes that you have made. Keep being awesome Alex. Keep being awesome Alaycia. Keep being awesome Breana. Keep being awesome Emma. Keep being awesome Mom.Keep being awesome Dad. Keep being awesome all of you guys. This is the best day every, but only if you want it to be. :)
Love,
Elder Garrett Darren Smith
How is everyone doing? It's awesome getting your letters every week! Hope you guys are still progressing and growing. Thats really the only way to live. If you are growing then you are regressing. Kinda harsh sometimes though :/
This week was stake conference for me and it was really good. I don't think I've ever payed as much attention at Stake Conference as I did this time. (And I'm not even in my home ward :P) The speaker were definitely chosen through revelation. It was probably the coolest conference I've ever been to. And I took notes, I don't know what I'm turning into...
We got quite a bit of snow the last 3 days. At it's highest we probably had a little over a foot on the roads. It was fun trying to get throught that. But the good news is, is that we were able to shovel some peoples driveways because of it. I love doing service, it's probably my favorite thing to do. We have been parked for yesterday and today, that's been fun, it's also why this email is coming at an abnormal time. But I love the snow... from inside. It's very pretty. Hope you guys are doing alright with the snow and cold weather that you are getting.
Elder Guerrette is getting transferred and I am staying here. 6 months in my first area, I'm starting to think that I might only be getting at most 4 areas in my whole mission. 6 months at each. But I'm fine with that. My new companion is going to be Elder Perry. I've heard that he is the oldest missionary in the mission. It will be cool.
This week has been awesome despite the snow. We were able to have a second dinner appointment with a guy that we met at the thrift store that we have been setting up regular service at. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and challenged him to read and he said yes. Regular service there give us an excellent opportunity to follow up with him regularly face to face. During one of our member lessons this week we were told that they were so grateful that we were able to be there. The father told us that the spirit that we brought has changed him and has changed his kids. It's so awesome to be able to see the effects that we have when we have the spirit with us as we teach. We don't always get told to our face how the spirit touches people but it was really nice to get a reminder.
The thing that I am realizing about these experiences is that they aren't exclusive to missionaries. We can have the spirit with us every day. When we LYLOL (Live Our Life Out Loud) and aren't afraid to let people know who we are, others can feel the spirit that we bring. But just as necessary we need to make sure that we are doing the small things. I love the Plan of Salvation because it is all about our choices. Heavenly Father wants more than anything for us to come back to us. But he know that more important than what he wants for us is that we have to choose to do it voluntarily. The Gospel brings amazing and wonderful answers for the basic questions of life, but the things we have to do to partake of those blessings aren't big and showy. It's the small things that we choose to do everyday, like praying and reading scriptures. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass". I make invitation all the time, and the invitation that I extend that is more important than most is to choose today to do the small thing. Just one. And then make another small choice for good tomorrow. That is how the Kingdom is Heaven is built in our lives and families, one small choice a day.
I love you guys and I love to see the progress and changes that you have made. Keep being awesome Alex. Keep being awesome Alaycia. Keep being awesome Breana. Keep being awesome Emma. Keep being awesome Mom.Keep being awesome Dad. Keep being awesome all of you guys. This is the best day every, but only if you want it to be. :)
Love,
Elder Garrett Darren Smith