Elder Ryan Smith's Mission Blog: Week 36

AREA: Central Tucson
COMPANION: Elder Kapele

Monday: Super busy day today... This morning we woke up and did our
normal routine. Went over to Roy's house to do laundry. So glad I
don't have to pay for laundry. While our stuff was being washed we
went shopping and stuff. Got my new suits measured and gunna pick them
up later. After that we went on a hike, sent some pictures of that
last week. After the hike we took care of some other things we had to
do then went back to work after dinner.

Tuesday: today was my 8 month mark. Pretty good day as well, this
morning we did our normal routine and then left for the food bank.
Food bank was a lot of fun as usual. After that we had interviews with
our mission president which was really fun. Learned a little more
about what we can do to help the work in our ward. We then went
through the huge list of potential investigators we have to try to
weed out the people who aren't interested in meeting with us. Sadly
most of the people are not real people. After it was too dark to cold
knock people's houses we stopped by our investigators Jonathan and
Jasmine's house. They were busy so we started to leave and then ran
into a guy from the martial islands named Nakki who said he had met
with the missionaries when he was living there. Scheduled an
appointment to go and visit him the next day.

Wednesday: Good day, district meeting and then we met up with the
Traveling Trainer Elder Judy so he could follow us around for a few
days to show us his ways. Really good missionary and I learned a lot
from him just the first day. While going to visit someone in a complex
we talked with them for awhile at their door and then talked with
someone else who was just sitting on the bench. I've always wanted to
talk with people who were just sitting there but was always afraid
too. Elder Judy knocked it out of us and we met Kat. Going over
tomorrow to share the restoration.

Thursday:Today was pretty amazing to be honest. This morning was
pretty normal, after all the normal stuff we went over to a recent
converts named Jodi to start new member lessons. The lesson went great
and the spirit was strong. I had an appointment with Dr. Johnson so we
drove down to Oro Valley, got some lunch, and then went to the
doctors. Went to go see Kat from yesterday and we couldn't find where
she lived. We think we might have been given the wrong information
sadly. We did a thing today called appointment with the lord which was
a lot of fun and really built my testimony on the power of the spirit.
What you do is set 30 min out of your day where you pray and go where
you feel you're directed to go. We ended up in front of a less actives
house where we went and talked to her and she invited us over that
evening. She brought her son and daughter in laws to listen to the
lesson. The lesson was great and the spirit was strong. We now have a
new investigator because of this experience.

Friday: Today was pretty great:) This morning was Lee's baptismal
interview:) he was found worthy to be baptized and he asked me to
baptize him:) Super excited to baptize my first concert baptism:) We
then had to go to Pep boys to get the brakes changed. That took
forever... We were literally there for about 3 hours. While we were
waiting we weekly planned. Got a lot out of our planning session even
though we didn't finish all the way. Elder Judy had a lot of tips on
how to help things with our investigators and ward. Judy went back to
the AP's apartment for the time being until he goes to another set of
missionaries place.

Saturday: This morning was pretty challenging. I haven't been sleeping
very well the past few days because I have a canker sore the size of
the sun and it hurts like crazy. This morning after studies we
finished the rest of weekly planning. We then went to our Ward mission
leaders house for a meeting which was okay... After that we went to
pick up Joe a recent convert to come out with us so that we could go
though the potential list and cut down how many people are on there.
Finished doing that and then went to dinner. After dinner we went to
go visit a investigator, she wasn't home but we ended up talking to a
guy sitting outside his apartment. Said to stop by anytime.

Sunday: Best day of the week:) Such an amazing day, it me and
Savannah's 1 year anniversary and she got me a present.church was
great as usual, Lee came to church with his two boys. Seems like he is
really starting to fit in with the ward and he's making friends. Some
random guy came into church today, something felt off about him
though... He didn't want to meet with us. Later found out he has been
known for going around to different wards and trying to get money from
the church. Super sad, it was exciting at first. After church we ate
lunch and took a quick nap. Joe the recent convert wasn't at church so
we went to his place to see what was up. He just slept in on accident.
We then asked him to come out with us again. We had a goal of making
it to 3 member presents and we thought we only had 1. We rushed over
to a potentials named Vicente, the guy we talked to outside his
apartment, taught him the restoration and invited him to be baptized.
He will be getting baptized may 28! Super exciting! We then saw that
Esmeralda was home so went up to there apartment and read scriptures
with them and set a return appointment.

Super amazing week and my testimony grew so much. This coming week Lee
will be getting baptized! He is taking a step closer to eternal
salvation. One day he will have the opportunity to be sealed with his
family for time and all eternity. Even in just the 3 weeks I have been
here I have seen the light of Christ come into his life and bring him
happiness he can't even explain. I love the light that this Gospel
brings into our lives. This light the gospel brings is for everyone
and our Heavenly Father has blessed us with it to be happier than we
can even comprehend. In Mosiah 2:41

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed
and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For
behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;
and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into
heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of
never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are
true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Love you all!! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Smith