Week 101

AREA: Safford, AZ

COMPANION: Elder Maloy

Friends and Family,

Monday: Nothing too exciting today... just a regular pday.

Tuesday: Working real hard to find through members. We have been going
through the entire directory and asking everyone for referrals. So far
it has been unsuccessful... I know that it will work though. We just
need to be patient and pray that as we continue to diligently seek for
referrals, we will find someone. Had some active member lessons which
went really well. This evening we helped clean the Gila Valley Temple
which was a great experience. Even though it is a small temple, it is
just as beautiful inside as the others.

Wednesday: Had a very good studies this morning. Had a zone breakout
and set goals for people to be baptized next month. Recently I have
had a feeling there is a family of 5 in our area who is ready to be
taught, we just need to find them somehow. Had some pretty good
lessons this evening. One was with our new investigator Andreas. We
set a baptismal date with him for August 26th. Had a lesson with a
less active this evening who had a ton of questions about the church,
some of which were clearly him trying to disprove the church. Great
thing is we were able to give him an answer he was comfortable with
for every one he asked. Only one he couldn't understand is believing
in something based off of a feeling. That we can't explain... you have
to experience it in order to know what we mean.

Thursday: Had interviews with President Browning this morning which
went very well. Had a good talk with him about my plans about going
home. Helped work on a float for the Pioneer Day parade with the YSA.
It was super cool! Its a robot that stands up! After that we had a
great time with some less actives from the YSA branch this evening. We
had some good moral conversation but for the most part it felt more
like hanging out.

Friday: Had a great weekly planning day. Finished the Book of Mormon
this morning again during studies and it was fantastic! Now I get to
start over:) Super excited:) There is a girl in the YSA branch that
has hypoglycemia and texts us all the time to bring her a pop... Feel
like we are being taken advantage of, except every time we have
brought her one we do have a great talk with her about the church. She
is super weird but hopefully things turn around with her. Stopped by a
new move in tonight and her boyfriend served in the same mission in
Virginia that my roommate in college went to. Heath, that is you:) His
name is Skylar Perkins. Super awesome thing is skylar is driving up to
Salt Lake this week and offered to drive some things up for me! So
happy about that:) After them we visited with the Ungermans briefly
and they seem to be doing well.

Saturday: Did some yard service for a sister in the ward for a few
hours. She had so many weeds and dog poop in the backyard even after 3
hours of working non stop, we didn't have time to clean it all up. The
member has a lot of medical issues and is unable to do yard work. Went
out with a member contacting less actives which was good. Found a
potential YSA investigator with him. Today there was a bunch of
Pioneer celebrations which was fun. There was a parade and fireworks.
After the parade a guy wanted to ask some questions about the
church... he was completely wasted and was driving too. Called the
police on him after talking. Hopefully they caught him... there were a
lot of people walking on the roads.

Sunday: Church we had an awesome turn out of less actives. No
investigators unfortunately:( There were so many though and it made me
very happy. The speakers prepared very good talks too which all had to
do with sacrifices the pioneers made at the beginning of the church
compared to our times. It is amazing what sacrifices were made on
those trails across the country.

Spiritual Thought:

As I am coming to a close of my mission, it gives me an idea of what
Enduring to the End is really like. Except with enduring the end in
life, we dont know when it will end. These past 23 months I have
definitely learned a lot and I look forward to applying it into real
life. I have seen the blessings of applying the principles of the
gospel the best I can. There are times that doing are best can be
difficult and we may fail a few times, but we just need to remember to
get up and try again. This principle applies in all aspects of life
whether it is school, family, friendships, relationships, etc.

2 Nephi 31:19-20---

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait
and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you,
Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ
with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who
is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ,
having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of
Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall
have eternal life.

Have a great week everyone:) Keep pushing forward:) Love ya:)

Love,

Elder Smith

Skylar Perkins, guy who served in the same mission in Virginia  as
my old roommate heath.