Aloha!
This week has been pretty busy, which is awesome. The worst thing that can happen to a missionary is that you are not busy. I had 2 exchanges and we had a big event down in town called the Starlighting. [They pack 20000 people in a town that can reasonably hold 5000 people. Then we watch an electric star light up and some fireworks.] Wednesday and Thursday I had exchanges. Since I stayed in my area for both of them I was essentially the Senior Companion for both of them. It was kind of nerve racking but by the second day, I felt like I had leaned on the Lord enough to get through it. That is the funny thing about right now, the more that I recognize that I am totally not capable on my own to do this work and lean on the Spirit for everything, the stronger and more confident I become.
We volunteer at a local thrift store/food bank every week. On one of the days that I was in charge, we went down to serve for a little bit because they had told me the day before that they might need some help. Because it wasn't the day we normally went there, we met some people that we didn't often see. Cool thing about this visit is that one of the people that we saw and talked to while we were there wanted to talk more to us! We didn't have time to set up an appointment with her at that moment but she said that the next time we meet she wants to talk. Service is an amazing finding opportunity. Almost all of the lessons and new Investigators that we have had have come from service and Members. After this cool experience we offered to work at their booth at the local holiday/event that they call the Starlighting.
The Starlighting is an event that they have here that is really big. The town just gets packed. We spent most of the event at the thrift store booth giving people rubber bracelets. Also at the booth we started talking to the other 2 ladies that were there with us and we got on the subject of family history. We talked for a long time and gave them a pass along card about where to to family history (familysearch.org) and we're gonna follow up with them probably the next time we are volunteering. After the actually lighting of the star and the obligatory fireworks we had dinner with a new member and had a really good minilesson where I was able to be much more helpful in the discussion that before.
There is just so much that happens in a week that I can only cover like 1/100 of it. I guess if you guys REALLY want to know what happens during the week you're just going to wait until I get back and read my journal :P. I hope you guys continue to be an amazing example to your friends. Remember that the gospel is the most important thing you can be a part of. I love you guys and will see ya later... much later. :)
E. Garrett Darren Smith
This week has been pretty busy, which is awesome. The worst thing that can happen to a missionary is that you are not busy. I had 2 exchanges and we had a big event down in town called the Starlighting. [They pack 20000 people in a town that can reasonably hold 5000 people. Then we watch an electric star light up and some fireworks.] Wednesday and Thursday I had exchanges. Since I stayed in my area for both of them I was essentially the Senior Companion for both of them. It was kind of nerve racking but by the second day, I felt like I had leaned on the Lord enough to get through it. That is the funny thing about right now, the more that I recognize that I am totally not capable on my own to do this work and lean on the Spirit for everything, the stronger and more confident I become.
We volunteer at a local thrift store/food bank every week. On one of the days that I was in charge, we went down to serve for a little bit because they had told me the day before that they might need some help. Because it wasn't the day we normally went there, we met some people that we didn't often see. Cool thing about this visit is that one of the people that we saw and talked to while we were there wanted to talk more to us! We didn't have time to set up an appointment with her at that moment but she said that the next time we meet she wants to talk. Service is an amazing finding opportunity. Almost all of the lessons and new Investigators that we have had have come from service and Members. After this cool experience we offered to work at their booth at the local holiday/event that they call the Starlighting.
The Starlighting is an event that they have here that is really big. The town just gets packed. We spent most of the event at the thrift store booth giving people rubber bracelets. Also at the booth we started talking to the other 2 ladies that were there with us and we got on the subject of family history. We talked for a long time and gave them a pass along card about where to to family history (familysearch.org) and we're gonna follow up with them probably the next time we are volunteering. After the actually lighting of the star and the obligatory fireworks we had dinner with a new member and had a really good minilesson where I was able to be much more helpful in the discussion that before.
There is just so much that happens in a week that I can only cover like 1/100 of it. I guess if you guys REALLY want to know what happens during the week you're just going to wait until I get back and read my journal :P. I hope you guys continue to be an amazing example to your friends. Remember that the gospel is the most important thing you can be a part of. I love you guys and will see ya later... much later. :)
E. Garrett Darren Smith