Week 86

AREA: Tucson—Midvale

COMPANION: Elder Edward

Friends and Family,

Monday: Today was a pretty fun pday, this morning a sister in the ward that I asked if she would be able to let my pants out a little so they fit brought me to JCpenny to buy new pants. She is such a nice Sister:) very grateful for her kindness in doing that for me:) The reason she didn't let out the waist was because if she were to, she would only be able to about an inch which wasn't enough... Other than that, we did pday stuff and ended the evening by going on an exchange. 

Tuesday: Exchanges went well. I was with Elder Clark for the day and he is a pretty cool missionary. We tried to get some stuff done but everywhere we went there was a ton of traffic. Only big thing we were able to do is meet with Sister Cole and Crystall. 

Wednesday: Amazing day!! Most of the day was spent at zone conference which was amazing. There were some very good trainings done that helped me to recognize some things I need to be doing better. After zone conference we practically immediately headed out to Sells, the Indian Reservation for dinner. Dinner was very good and we had a very good lesson with John, the recent convert out there. When we were outside by our truck getting ready to leave a little puppy runs up to us while we were talking. At first we thought the dog belonged to the people who were on a walk and just passed by the house, but it wasn't theirs. We asked John if he knew who's it was, he didn't either. There are so many stray dogs out on the reservation it's ridiculous. The puppy was so cute and all alone so we asked John if we could take him and give him to someone we had in mind and he says, "I didn't see nothing." On the way home we stopped at Petsmart and got him some puppy food, found out he is 8 weeks old, and brought him home for a bath. While giving him a bath, we found probably 20+ wood ticks on him! Most of which were in his ears! There was one the size of a marble in his ear because it was hooked onto him for so long sucking blood! He was so good:) let me take tweezers to all the little things till they were all gone. After getting all cleaned up his tail would not stop wagging. We were going to bring him over to the persons house to surprise them that night but it was too late, so he spent the night with us and did amazing! Didn't cry at all and just slept through the night. I want to keep him! Haha btw... we named him Wesson, got a name tag, with Tyna's contact info on it:)

Thursday: Woke up this morning and rushed over to Sahurita for another exchange. Brought the puppy with us so we could show him off a little:) Exchanges went really well, Elder Bernd and I were able to visit a good amount of people, some of which showed a lot of interest in potentially coming back to church. Exchanged back in the evening and went and picked up the puppy at Crystalls because she was watching him all day, and then we went over to Tyna's to surprise her and Hannah. It was such a great experience  she was so happy, completely speechless haha 

Friday: weekly planning day! Met up with the zone leaders for lunch and then The rest of the day planning except when we went to dinner. Dinner was great and we had a great gospel conversation with Henry.

Saturday: Good day of contacting people with Brother a Collingwood. Went to visit the Whitlocks to try and help them get e drive to come to church. That was a highlight to the day for sure. 

Sunday: had church in a different building today because our building was being used for stake conference by another stake. The building we were in had such a great spirit to it. The chapel was smaller, so everyone had to sit closer together. Such a great spirit🏻 after that meeting we both went out to Sells for sacrament meeting. Had a great lesson with our investigators Michael and Nicholai on the restoration/gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong Michael, the 11 year old appeared to tear up just a little bit. 

I would like to talk about the love that our Heavenly Father has for each and everyone. This past week I was reflecting on what I felt my relationship with my Heavenly Father was like. Sometimes I feel like we as imperfect beings don't always remember that God is a God of miracles and loves every single one of us. Him being a God of miracles has time to help each and everyone of us at the same time. There is no time in the year, month, day, hour, minute, or second... whenever you feel you need guidance from your Father in Heaven, don't be afraid to talk to him. Through prayer and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be made pure. 

Mormon 9:6-10

6 O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day.

7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;

8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.

9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?

10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.

Hope you all have a great week everyone:) Love you all!

,Elder Smith