Hola Everyone!
I'm so jealous of you guys and I'm putting in in my calendar and journal that I was promised a trip to Kirtland. I hope that everyone was able to feel the difference in spirit of the places that you guys went to. I've been able to feel the spirit in some of the strangest places. I can tell you that some of the most spiritual and fulfilling experiences that I have had have happened in places where I left smelling strongly of cigarettes. Speaking of spiritual experiences I should probably explain the subject line of this email so you guys don't start thinking that I'm feeling lost. This week has been one thing after another and I couldn't hope for anything better.
It started on Wednesday. We got a text referral on our phone as we got in the car to start the day. A guy named Sean wanted to talk to us, so we called and set up an appointment for the following day. Thought nothing of it and kept our hopes in check till the next day. So Wednesday ends and Thursday begins and I'll skip to 2 when our appointment happens with Sean. First of all I should explain where he lives. There is a motel in the middle of town that apparently people live in. There is one guy that has lived there for 8 years! It's kinda like a 1 square block of crazy. But everyone there has been really nice to us so far. But back to Sean, he lived on the second floor of this motel and he invited us in. Sean is a 24 year old kid and we start just talking to him and getting to know him. After the niceties we got into the lesson and as we went through I had a really cool experience where for just a few minutes I felt a part of the love that our Heavenly Father had for him and It was almost overwhelming. Towards the end of the lesson we offered to give him a priesthood blessing of comfort and set a date for baptism with him that we will see if is possible. He accepted both of them and I gave the blessing. It was a really cool experience and I hope that things continue to go well and he is able to get through the things that he is struggling with.
Now for Bonnie and Will. We met with Sean the next 2 days as well and on Saturday as we were going up to Sean's room to teach him again, we ran into some people in the parking lot and started talking to them and they invited us into their room and we had a good visit with them for about 25 minutes and set up a time to come by the next day on Sunday. After that we had a good lesson with Sean. That Sunday we confirmed out appointment with Bonnie and William. Then we went to church.
This was a fifth Sunday and also Fast Sunday. I decided to give my testimony because I haven't done that since I came to this area. I was shaking like a rag doll when I got back to my seat, apparently I will always be afraid of public speaking. :/ But that's not the surprising and cool part of the day. During third hour a family came into the church trying to see if they could get some food and wanted to talk to the bishop. The bishop said that he couldn't do anything (what is the church policy for something like this anyways, I didn't like sending them away with nothing but I couldn't do anything). But after this we were able to get them to agree to listen to our message. We had a good lesson on the restoration with them (I want to teach all of the lesson in the church, it was so easy to feel the spirit in there) and we set up another appointment with them for later in the week. Then we had a lesson with Bonnie and William and they were both very interested in what we were talking about and agreed with a lot of stuff that we were talking and were able to clear up some questions that they had. At the end William was very excited to read the Book of Mormon and we were able to get them the app so that they could listen to it because Bonnie and him both have bad eyes. What a week
This week has a just been a whirlwind of awesome. And It's really cool to see that that it wasn't just me that had a cool week. It's the best part of my week seeing that you guys are continuing to grow and do things. Even if they are without me (We all know that I'm, like, the most important person evarrrr) :). What I've learned this week is that the phrase "God loves all of his children equally, he just doesn't trust all of his children equally." is true. When I was willing to work and had the spirit with me, I had people put in my way that were willing to listen. I hope that I can always be someone that God can trust to do his will. I hope the same for you guys too. :)
It was nice to see a picture of Alex smiling this time :P. I hope his prom goes well, also don't do what I did with my hair. That's probably one of my biggest regrets was my hair during prom. Well, one of many :). Love you guys and I'm praying for you guys and want you to know that I know that God is our Heavenly Father and Loves us all and know our names. I know how powerful the Atonement is in people's lives and in mine specifically. I wouldn't be able to do almost any (except sleeping, don't need any help with that) of the things that I am doing out here without the support of the atonement and the spirit every day. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Thomas S Monson is a prophet in these latter days. ITNOJCA.
Remember that Conference is this weekend. IT"S GOING TO BE THE BEST THING THAT YOU WATCH FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS SO BE SURE TO PAY ATTENTION. Lol, Love you guys tons.
Love,
Elder Garrett Darren Smith
P.S. I don't really have anything else I just felt like I shouldn't break my pattern
P.P.S Actually I just remembered something to say, Don't worry about the people that I'm living with, we are moving next week even if I don't get transferred next week. Also, I decided to just love them for who they are and only worry about if I'm doing my best.
I'm so jealous of you guys and I'm putting in in my calendar and journal that I was promised a trip to Kirtland. I hope that everyone was able to feel the difference in spirit of the places that you guys went to. I've been able to feel the spirit in some of the strangest places. I can tell you that some of the most spiritual and fulfilling experiences that I have had have happened in places where I left smelling strongly of cigarettes. Speaking of spiritual experiences I should probably explain the subject line of this email so you guys don't start thinking that I'm feeling lost. This week has been one thing after another and I couldn't hope for anything better.
It started on Wednesday. We got a text referral on our phone as we got in the car to start the day. A guy named Sean wanted to talk to us, so we called and set up an appointment for the following day. Thought nothing of it and kept our hopes in check till the next day. So Wednesday ends and Thursday begins and I'll skip to 2 when our appointment happens with Sean. First of all I should explain where he lives. There is a motel in the middle of town that apparently people live in. There is one guy that has lived there for 8 years! It's kinda like a 1 square block of crazy. But everyone there has been really nice to us so far. But back to Sean, he lived on the second floor of this motel and he invited us in. Sean is a 24 year old kid and we start just talking to him and getting to know him. After the niceties we got into the lesson and as we went through I had a really cool experience where for just a few minutes I felt a part of the love that our Heavenly Father had for him and It was almost overwhelming. Towards the end of the lesson we offered to give him a priesthood blessing of comfort and set a date for baptism with him that we will see if is possible. He accepted both of them and I gave the blessing. It was a really cool experience and I hope that things continue to go well and he is able to get through the things that he is struggling with.
Now for Bonnie and Will. We met with Sean the next 2 days as well and on Saturday as we were going up to Sean's room to teach him again, we ran into some people in the parking lot and started talking to them and they invited us into their room and we had a good visit with them for about 25 minutes and set up a time to come by the next day on Sunday. After that we had a good lesson with Sean. That Sunday we confirmed out appointment with Bonnie and William. Then we went to church.
This was a fifth Sunday and also Fast Sunday. I decided to give my testimony because I haven't done that since I came to this area. I was shaking like a rag doll when I got back to my seat, apparently I will always be afraid of public speaking. :/ But that's not the surprising and cool part of the day. During third hour a family came into the church trying to see if they could get some food and wanted to talk to the bishop. The bishop said that he couldn't do anything (what is the church policy for something like this anyways, I didn't like sending them away with nothing but I couldn't do anything). But after this we were able to get them to agree to listen to our message. We had a good lesson on the restoration with them (I want to teach all of the lesson in the church, it was so easy to feel the spirit in there) and we set up another appointment with them for later in the week. Then we had a lesson with Bonnie and William and they were both very interested in what we were talking about and agreed with a lot of stuff that we were talking and were able to clear up some questions that they had. At the end William was very excited to read the Book of Mormon and we were able to get them the app so that they could listen to it because Bonnie and him both have bad eyes. What a week
This week has a just been a whirlwind of awesome. And It's really cool to see that that it wasn't just me that had a cool week. It's the best part of my week seeing that you guys are continuing to grow and do things. Even if they are without me (We all know that I'm, like, the most important person evarrrr) :). What I've learned this week is that the phrase "God loves all of his children equally, he just doesn't trust all of his children equally." is true. When I was willing to work and had the spirit with me, I had people put in my way that were willing to listen. I hope that I can always be someone that God can trust to do his will. I hope the same for you guys too. :)
It was nice to see a picture of Alex smiling this time :P. I hope his prom goes well, also don't do what I did with my hair. That's probably one of my biggest regrets was my hair during prom. Well, one of many :). Love you guys and I'm praying for you guys and want you to know that I know that God is our Heavenly Father and Loves us all and know our names. I know how powerful the Atonement is in people's lives and in mine specifically. I wouldn't be able to do almost any (except sleeping, don't need any help with that) of the things that I am doing out here without the support of the atonement and the spirit every day. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Thomas S Monson is a prophet in these latter days. ITNOJCA.
Remember that Conference is this weekend. IT"S GOING TO BE THE BEST THING THAT YOU WATCH FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS SO BE SURE TO PAY ATTENTION. Lol, Love you guys tons.
Love,
Elder Garrett Darren Smith
P.S. I don't really have anything else I just felt like I shouldn't break my pattern
P.P.S Actually I just remembered something to say, Don't worry about the people that I'm living with, we are moving next week even if I don't get transferred next week. Also, I decided to just love them for who they are and only worry about if I'm doing my best.