AH! No time!!!

Hello!

So once upon a time, Elder Paul V. Johnson from the Quorum of the Seventy is touring our mission! Yay! Which means we got to receive training and instruction and all sorts of wonderful stuff from a servant of God! Yay! They didn't ask me to sing this time so someone else finally got the chance! Yay! That all happened yesterday so today is Preparation Day! Yay! Which means that our family history library where we normally do our emails is open to the public and thus we can't use it....not yay. Luckily we still have the regular old Library but they only give us one hour....Super not yeah. I have a hard enough time already. Sigh. Such is life. 

The week was really great and things are finally picking up. Contrary to my assumptions, the semester ending did not bring back our investigators. They are all going home for the summer. Well not all but most. The missionaries here in the Fall will be happy with us. You're welcome. But at the rate I am getting transferred I might still be here. I am alright with that. I love it here in Windsor and I left our Zone Conference ready to start the work with new energy and ideas. That's always nice. Good things to come here in Windsor. 

As stated above, the week was great. Super, super stressful but really great. We'll start with the bad news and then work our way to the good stuff. :)
So, in my assignment as District Leader, I am "in charge" of a group of missionaries and I am responsible for their welfare. Without going into any details really, there was some serious disobedience that occurred within my district and so much of my time and energy went into working that out. Not a fun experience at all. We got it mostly sorted out and improvements are being made which is really great. I love these missionaries and when stuff like this happens it just breaks my heart. To all those serving, about to serve or thinking about it: Please, please, please be obedient. I promise you that it is NOT worth it. Moving on :)    

Now to the good stuff. We found two new investigators this week:Valerie and Wayne. Valerie is in her 20's and is really searching for truth. She had a conversation about the church with one of the YSA members working at the hospital and it peaked her interest. She tried to come to church on GC weekend but left because she was two hours early. We finally got a meeting set up with her and she is doing great. She came to church Sunday, really enjoyed it and wants to come back. I am so grateful for this member who was willing to share the gospel. I think we shy away from it too much. We have a glorious blessing and we should want to share it with everyone. Share the Gospel!!          

Wayne was a referral from a member in Detroit. He is in his late 60's/early 70's and he is sweet. His brother was a Catholic Monk who found a Book of Mormon, read it four time and then called the missionaries to baptize him about ten years ago. He (the brother) is very intent on getting his whole family into the church. When we met with Wayne he told us that he's "not a Mormon..yet. We'll see what you can do." :) He is great and we expect good thing from him. 

I think I mentioned this last week but Linda is getting achingly close to the font. Mark has decided its time and we took them on a church tour on Saturday and it went very well and they said they would come to church. That morning we called them to remind them and to see if they were coming and Mark said that they'd come if it didn't rain because they ride the bus and didn't want to get wet and then sick. As soon as I hung up the phone I started praying that it wouldn't rain and didn't stop until Ward Council and then picked right back up while we waited for Sacrament to start. It rained. They didn't come. Sigh.  
But! Valerie and Albert (Shawna's little brother) and Khosi showed up!! It was great. I feel like we hadn't had an investigator at sacrament in ages. Khosi came out of no where. Missionaries have been working with him and his Less-Active mom for about a year now and they just showed up this week. Miracles happen. Just not the ones we expect. 

The conference yesterday was super inspiring and great and I wish I could say everything that was great but highlights are:
"We aren't after baptisms, we're after conversions."
"Don't be weird! You're here to build character, not be a character."- On how to be a good missionary and get referrals from members. 
"That's dumb!"-On thinking you won't make it to the Celestial Kingdom or aren't good enough.
It was great and that is all I can think of off the top of my head. I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week and kill your exams! Work hard, study hard, pray hard! Do the best things!
Love,
Elder Smith
PS Last week we went out for Sushi with the other Elders in Windsor and it was SOOOOO good. I never thought that I would like it but it was super awesome.     

Greetings!

Hello!

This week has been...ummmm....slow is the only word that I can think of to describe it. We keep setting appointments only to have them cancel last second or just not answer the door. It hurts. This week, more than ever, the rejection as felt very personal. Like they are rejecting me and not just my message. I keep telling Elder Warner, "This is what separates the boys from the men." I just hope I turn out to be man enough to continue on. But as always there are rays of hope that keep us going. 

I am practicing tough love with Elder Warner. He is super shy and so I am breaking down his shell. For the first week, when he would turn to me with the deer in the headlights look, the fear obviously evident on his face, I would step in and help him out. This week, as heart breaking as it is, I have been throwing him quite abruptly into the deep end. It reminds me of Dad teaching us how to swim. We would spend a day or so learning how to doggy paddle and tread water, learning the basics and then he would lead us, like lambs to the slaughter, to the deep end to "see what it looks like." Ha. Then he would throw us in. It wasn't the gentlest of means but I'll tell you what, you learn to swim pretty quick. I've been doing it with Elder Warner and it has worked. We went tracting on Saturday and there were a couple doors that were pretty rough and I almost stepped in but didn't. After two particularly trying doors I was about to give him a break but told him to do one more. He knocked on the door, gave his approach and.........the lady was super nice, let us in, and we are going back next week! It was a relief to see that his work paid off. What a champ. I have nick-named him Elder "Can't Be Stopped" Warner. I don't use it because we aren't supposed to use nick-names but I think its pretty great. I called Elder Binford: Pokey. I'm a nick name wizard. :)

The rest of the week was pretty slow but we did make some progress with Linda! Mark has decided that it is time to get married and that he won't stand in the way. This has been the problem since day one. We had a plan to teach about prophets and some other commandments but I felt inspired to teach the Plan of Salvation. As we taught, I think the reality of the plan sunk in for Mark. That Linda couldn't get baptized until they were married and that if she isn't baptized she can't progress in this life. He stopped us mid lesson, out of the blue and said "You know what boys, I'm ready. I'm not going to stand in the way anymore. Linda, I will marry you."
            I was shocked. Ladies and Gentlemen. Miracles happen. 

I am doing well, loving mission life and really enjoying my studies. I recently finished the Book of Mormon and decided that this time as I read through that I would really study it. I have been reading a chapter a day and I have been astounded at the amount of things I am learning. There are stories and principles in the first five chapters I swear weren't there before. They have taught me a ton about leadership and how to help others to be obedient. It has been great. My favorite has been 1 Nephi 2:16-18. Nephi prays to know if what the prophet (his father) said is true. He gains a witness and the FIRST thing he does is tell his family. Sam believes his words and Laman and Lemuel don't. He rejoices with Sam and prays for Laman and Lemuel. It is a perfect type of member missionary work especially recent converts. I truly love the Book of Mormon and my testimony grows everyday that it was written for our time. I would urge all of you to read and I promise that you will find counsel and for your life. The answers are in the book. :)

Love you all. Work hard and do good things!!

Love,

Elder Smith

P.S. Feel free to email me! easton.smith@myldsmail.net I would love to hear from anyone and everyone!

Luvs!

Hello Family and Friends!

Hello (Canadian for Hello)

I hope you are having a wonderful week! Remember that you are all children of God and that He loves and cares for you! There are so many people in this world who don't know or understand this simple truth. Hold this dear to your hearts and never, ever forget. We are his children and He loves us. What a blessing this knowledge is!

This week was good. The hastening of God's work has slowed down a bit which is good because I felt like I couldn't keep up for a while there. But the work moves forward and the truth is marching on. It is a great time to be a missionary! Good news! While I was in Brampton picking up my new companion I got a chance to talk to the senior couple who replaced me in Midland. I had a freak out session as we talked about the success in the branch. Over the past few months they have had probably like 6 or 7 baptisms and I was excited to ask them who. Turns out that I had a hand in all of them. Marguerite, who got baptized right before I left, is doing great. She has since brought her mother and her daughter into the church and her husband and son in law are well on their way. They also baptized a family that we tried for ages to contact and were never able to teach. It was so nice to see them and to talk about how things are going. I expressed thanks to them for taking care of the branch and they expressed thanks to me for "laying the foundation." It was very nice to hear that my work was appreciated. Not necessary, but very welcome.

The work here is going well and we are keeping up. My new companion is Elder Warner! He is from Taylorsville, Utah and is 18! He is super great. He reminds me a bit of Ryan Rupper. Similar interests, same shy-ness but the same unconquerable spirit and willingness to do what needs done. It has been a fun past few days. We tried out our bikes. We had one bike that worked for a while but recently acquired a new one from a member who moved. So through a serendipitous series of events we found some helmets and we were off. It is hard stuff. My rear-end is incredibly sore and I am tired but it is fun. Just a little taste of what most missionaries go through. My heart goes out to them. I like my bus. We used the bikes only a little due to weather and a chain issue on one of the bikes. We are getting Elder Warner his bus pass today so we'll use the bikes sparingly.

We are meeting with Shawna's friend and it has been really great. Her name is Kelsey and she has little belief in God. She was raised in a rough home and seeing the gospel change her already is amazing. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and her eyes lit up as we talked. The simple knowledge that we are children of God is a life changing truth. I am excited to see where it goes.

I am loving the work still. I am loving training again. Its selfish but I always learn so much as a trainer and that is one of the reasons I love it so much. :) Good things are happening and it is sweet to see. I will leave you with a spiritual thought that I read this morning in Personal Study.

Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Often, especially as missionaries, we feel that the rules or commandments limit our freedom and restrict us. We feel that God is telling us what to do, holding us back or limiting our rights. This need for freedom and thoughts that we know what we're doing lead us to break the rules and guidelines set for us by our loving Heavenly Father. But when we break these rules we break down the walls that protect us from the adversary and we lose the protection of the Spirit. When we keep the commandments and follow the guidelines we build up walls that protect us from the world and lay up in store the blessings in heaven. We may feel that rules restrict us and take away our freedom but in reality, they set us free from the bonds of sin and the influence of Satan. Listen to God. He knows what he is doing. 

Work hard, study hard, pray hard. Build a good foundation. Feed the right wolf. Do good things!

Love,

Elder E. Smith

I'm Training!....Again!

Dearest Family!

I decided to get right to it and let you know that I am training a new missionary again. I'll pick him up from the mission home tomorrow and we'll tear it up on the buses for the next two transfers. :) I am so excited. Elder Binford is following my footsteps and is leaving Windsor to open a new area.  He'll be in New Market South and will also be training a new missionary. Like father, like son. As much as he hates that. Hahaha. He is probably super happy to leave and he will do a great job. Good times in Windsor with that guy. I am real excited for a new missionary. It is great to train. Good times to come. 

General Conference was so good. The only bad part about the weekend was that I had a miserable cold. Stuffy everything and a foggy mind. The wonderful talks were able to break through the cloud but I didn't enjoy the sessions as much as a would have liked to. There were so many good talks but I can't remember specifics really other than that they were good. Two stuck out. Elder Cardon's talk was fantastic and I am in love with President Monson's talk about obedience. As missionaries, it seems that all we ever talk about is obedience. So obviously this talk was "manna to my taste." I can't wait to go back and read them again and again. 

Things are going slow but well in Windsor. Things finally slowed down and I feel like I can think again. I am, once again, excited to have a new companion and to see more miracles in Windsor. I will now have lived in Windsor longer than I have in any one place for two years. Five months in Logan, a month in Orem, four in Logan again and then all my mission areas until now. I don't know what I'm going to do for another three months. I feel more at home in this ward than I do in my "home ward" It is a very good thing that I like this place.

I am out of time again. I need to work on my time management. :) This week was awesome and this next transfer will be great! Love you all, work hard and do good things!

Love,

Elder E. Smith 

No Time

Hi family.

We have no time this week so this will be strictly highlights. Sorry.

Monday was alright. We met with a long lost member of the church from Hungary. He is pretty sweet. I'll tell you more when I know more.

Tuesday was an adventure. The Zone leaders stayed the night for an exchange and then drove us to district meeting tuesday morning. On our way a brick flew off a truck and smashed the windshield. It was terrifying but we all survived. I'll send a picture. district meeting was awesome. I will also send a picture of my district.

Wednesday is not worth talking about.

Thursday either.

Just know that we worked hard but didn't do anything of note.

Friday was cool. I went on exchanges with the South Elders and also drove to Sarnia to interview a guy for baptism. That was sweet and really good to see someone who had changed so much and was so ready for baptism.

Saturday was slow but good.

Sunday was super slow but still good.

I'll talk about yesterday next week. :)

I am doing great and looking forward to tranfers and especially General Conference. It is a great time to be a missionary! sorry this was short and lame!

Do good things!

Love,

Elder Smith

Happy Easter!