News, news, news

Hello!

Today's subject: News! First, the only real world news I get is what I hear from members and the tabloids at the grocery store. It is sad but true. (Too bad about Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. I wonder who will get Suri ;) Ha) Also the Olympics! I am so sad that I am missing them! They sound awesome. Its rather funny because that has become a common excuse for not being interested. "Sorry. No time. I'm watching the Olympics. Did you hear that we won gold in the Women's Trampoline?" to which I reply, "No. Is that a sport?" Hahaha. So yeah. Canada is definitely a winter country. I'm still proud to be an American :) 'MERICA! Which, in other news, is not where my companion is from.

That's right folks! I have a new companion! Elder Kenning has been transferred and is now Zone Leader in Brampton. I'm sad to see him go but as always, God knows best. He will do GREAT in Brampton. What a great missionary. :) My new companion is from......*drum roll*.......The Czech Republic! He is AWESOME! His name is Elder Ondrej Dite (Andrew, I am not totally sure how to pronounce Dite. Dee-(somewhere between a t and a ch)-ay. Its awesome.) and he is spiritually on fire. Seriously. He is an incredible missionary and I've already learned a ton and it has barely been a day. There is a bit of a language barrier which only makes him cooler and just makes for more interesting conversation. He has been out two transfers, so we are both pretty young in mission age. He is 23 and tall and rarely stops smiling. I'll send a picture when I find a cord that will work for my camera. (the one I was using went to Brampton with E. Kenning :/)

Transfer day was NUTS. We were up at 5:30 to get ready and drive down to Brampton by 8 am. We got there did the switching and talked with a bunch of other missionaries. 28 missionaries left this transfer so there were a lot of goodbyes and pictures and it was neat to see them all before they left. I don't know a ton of other missionaries but I did see a couple of the ones I came in with and it was great to swap first transfer stories etc and just have the common bond. What a great group of missionaries. Because E. Dite is from Czech Rep. he can't drive. So I am now the driver! Which is equal parts exciting and stressful. My first experience behind the wheel after two months was a little disheartening but I'm over it. There wasn't an accident, we just spent a very long time being lost. Haha. I haven't driven a car in two months, I've been in the city of Brampton a total of about eight hours, I am dead tired and I am supposed to drive to the mission office on hastily given directions. It was awesome. We finally found our way and then got even more lost on the way back to our apartment. We ended up driving about an hour more than we needed to but eventually made it home. I think I may need to invest in a GPS. I do not like being lost. So yeah. Transfers went well and I'm still alive. It's harder now because I am "in charge" of the area simply because I have been here longer. Stressful stuff! But it will be for my benefit and the benefit of the area. God's plan is the best plan.

News about the work: John is doing soooooo good. He is working on praying with real intent and said he would be baptized if he wasn't hung up on the Restoration and the need for it. He is such a great guy and is so close! He needs lots of prayers. Jacqueline is still doing well. She hasn't told her parents yet and that is all we're waiting for. She really needs help and prayers too! The work in Stayner is slow but good. We are still doing a ton of finding with no results yet. There are prepared people out there, we just haven't found them. Tracting and talking to people is getting easier but is still one of the most difficult things we do as missionaries. But, we must have adversity to appreciate the blessings amiright?

Other News: I went on exchanges on Friday with Elder Hyatt in Orillia. It was so great! He is an amazing missionary. He is 27(!) and left EVERYTHING behind to come on a mission. He sold his apartment, cars, furniture, quit his jobs, left his girlfriend and went on a mission. What an inspiration. He taught me a lot about sacrifice and obedience and the nitty gritty of mission work, like paperwork etc. It was a great time in Orillia. I had an interesting experience there that is less than appropriate to share in a public sphere so......yeah. Ask me when I get home ;)

It was a great week! I am tired (surprise surprise) but loving life. More and more each day I realize everything that God does for us. He has his hand in every part of missionary work and every part of our lives. He guides us, helps us, blesses us and sometimes we don't recognize it. My theme scripture of late has been 1 Nephi 3:7. God will provide the way for us accomplish the things that he has commanded. That applies to everything. Serving a mission, keeping the commandments, obtaining an education. Everything. If we put forth the effort, we will accomplish anything we set our hearts, mights and minds to. That means sincere prayer, diligent study, and sacrificing our will for God's will. I know that as we do these things and set aside our will and what we want, God will bless us with the things we need. As we continue to seek to have his will written on our hearts and to do the things He has asked us to do, His will will become our will and we will want for us what He wants for us. That is when we become truly happy and effective instruments in His hands. The way is not always easy, it is a daily struggle and it takes daily decisions to do His will, but the blessings far outweigh the sacrifices. I love you all very much and I hope you are all doing well. Remember to pray and always look for ways to serve. Keep the faith. Remember that you are a child of God. Do good things!

Love,

Elder Smith

P.S. Congrats Vineyard 6th Ward! I am glad I am kind of a part of it! Who is the Bishop? What is Dad's calling? What do the girls/Skyler think? Who are the other missionaries?

P.P.S. I am so bummed I missed the Puckett Family Reunion! It sounds like it was a blast! I am eagerly awaiting my Got PEP? T-shirt.

P.P.P.S. Tell Ryan good luck for me! And let me know ASAP where Dallin is going. They are both going to be AWESOME missionaries.

P.P.P.P.S. I would love to write Ryan and other missionaries. I would appreciate a list of addresses in the next letter. The Stephens, Scott, Caleb. I'll let you know if I think of anyone else. But yeah that would be great!

P^5.S. Megan: I am receiving/have received your letters. As far as I can tell I am not missing any except maybe a post card. Also, I sent my letter this morning due to the transfer madness. So it'll be a day late. Sorry :)

P^6.S. I would love to see pictures of mission central and the garage shelf and the back yard as it gets done. I would also love hard copies of a couple family pictures etc to show people.

Canada Fact of the Week: Someone who is borderline the greatest mind in human history invented a Canadian staple called Poutine. It. Is. Delicious. Also super fattening and probably the worst thing for you ever. Funny how those often go hand in hand. :) Poutine consists of fries, cheese curd, and gravy. Oh my goodness. It is the best. The cheese curd gets all melty and the gravy just covers everything in warm deliciousness and it is.....beyond words. I have a problem. Don't judge me.

Keep reading the Ensign and the scriptures! There is personal revelation waiting for you. All you have to do is read.

..................That's it. These things just get longer and longer don't they?

Luvs!