Big News!

Dear Family and Friends,

As stated in my last letter, transfers are this week. I can't believe it. It really feels like it was just yesterday I was emailing about Elder Dite and stressing about taking over the area. Wow. Times flies when you are feeling the Spirit. So yeah the big news.........

THE NHL IS ON LOCK OUT!!!!! THE HOCKEY SEASON IS ON ICE!!! WHAT ARE WE TO DO?!?!?!? Yes you read correctly. We will be without a hockey season unless something happens fast. The Branch was buzzing yesterday it was crazy. Man. Canadians and their hockey. Oh and I'm getting transfered.

Its true. Sad but true. I have really grown to love this area and I feel like I have poured my heart and soul out here. It will be hard to leave. All joking aside, I am terrified. I am being sent to open a new area and train a new missionary. One brand new area + One brand new missionary = One stressed out Elder Smith. If I didn't trust the Lord and His plan before...I will now. Heavenly Father must trust me a whole lot to put me in this situation. After one, very long, sincere, tear-filled prayer and a very sleepless night, I think I have come to terms with the fact that this is real life. I just have to trust that this is what needs to happen. Easier said than done. So yeah. I will be serving in the new Richmond Hill East area. I don't know where it is exactly, what its like, where I'll live, what I'll eat, what I'll do... All I know for sure is that it is in Ontario and is kinda close to Toronto. We'll see.

The work in the Stayner/Midland area is great! I'm sad to leave. We have found three new investigators this week and all of them are pretty solid. Elder Dite is staying here and training his own new missionary. They are going to do so great. Baptisms left and right. ;) John went to church in Midland for all three hours again. This is really great because he usually doesn't attend if we aren't there. I was shocked when he told us. Shocked. Hopefully I will see his name in the email with the list of baptisms soon. :) Everything else is pretty same old, same old. We experienced more opposition this week than I have in my whole mission (all three months;)) We had a couple "I don't give a craps" (with much stronger words) two or three *&^%$ one very vulgar "Get away from me" and a guy on a bike riding as fast as he could at us yelling something we couldn't understand. He was drunk and its a good thing Elder Dite was there because I was going to push him off the bike as he rode past. I'm working on Christ-like love. Its a process. :) 

We were encouraged to share our testimony with our family and loved ones yesterday in sacrament meeting so I'll do that.

I know that the gospel is true. I know that by following these simple things, we come closer to our heavenly Father and we experience more joy. As we are obidient to God's commandements, we are blessed with strength and help through even the most difficult of times. I know that the scriptures are the word of God. We can turn to them in tough times and they will lift us up. The principles taught in the Book of Mormon will help us in our everyday lives and will make the most insurmountable of trials seem small. I know that all things are possible with God and that all we need to do is ask and live worthy of His blessings. We live in a difficult time. The world is in turmoil and the adversary is growing stronger everyday. But we have no need to fear because God is with us and we know who we are. We know the plan and there is nothing that can stop it. As we hold to the rod and keep a firm foundation, we have no need to fear. All things are possible through the grace and love of God and our Savior. I know this to be true. 

I love you all very much and I hope all goes well. Say your prayers, read your scriptures and drive safe! Do good things!

Love,

Elder E. Smith