Friday, September 28, 2012
That's great! I am so glad that Derek got an interception. It sounds like he is playing great. I wish I could watch him. I can't believe that Kirt called him on a pass interference-that's awesome! I'm glad Kirt could call it even if Derek is his nephew. That's a sign of a great ref. It sounds like Derek's team won. I have a feeling that they are going to win State. I don't know why. I just want them to beat Firth for sure. I REMEMBER how relieved I was when homecoming week was over. It was always so nice! I'm glad Derek had a good time and a good date. I would like to see a picture of her so I can know who she is. Jason and Tayler are coaching together. I bet that's a good team. I know Tayler will make a great coach. You learn so much being on the coaching side than the playing, but they are both fun! Tell Blake he will grow into his teeth and to be nice to those people that are always so mean. I hope Blake has some nice friends. Olivia is doing good. I didn't think I would have to worry about her. I'm glad she is improving at gymnastics and reading. I wish I could hear her read. It sounds like she is learning really fast because she couldn't read when I was home. Dad is a hard worker. Whatever happens it will be ok because Dad is the hardest worker I have ever seen. He is a great example to me of hard work on my mission. Thanks Mom for everything you have done. I'm sorry I always took advantage of those nice things you would do for me. This week has been going really well. Our lessons get bettter every time we teach. The language is so much better. I am to the point where I don't need any cheats in the lesson which is really nice! I need to keep working on rolling my Rs or I'm going to sound like a gringo forever if I can't do that. We baptized one of our investigators on Saturday. His name was Enthony, and he was so much fun to teach. We recieved a new investigator named Rafael. He really wants the gospel in his life. He has friends that are members that have really influenced him. We need to always remember people are always watching us for our example and how we act. We need to be good examples always. Oh, I think I forgot to mention this, but I was appointed district leader a couple weeks ago. It is really hard, but I'm learning so much. Thank you so much. Good luck in this next week.
Love Elder Smith
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week #5-Teaching, The Spirit, and Weight Loss
Friday, September 21, 2012
Hey Mom,
I did get your Dear Elder-it was awesome! Everything has been going good here. We are staying really busy. This week we got one of are investigators to commit to baptism on September 29th. It's so exciting. Our other investigator isn't doing too hot. He said baptism isn't for him. It's amazing how you can still follow the spirit when you teach a pretend investigator. It's amazing. When he was telling us baptism wasn't for him, I had a huge feeling I needed to read Moroni 10:3-5 and bare my testimony on praying and reading the Book of Mormon to find answers. Hopefully it worked. My companion thought it was perfect and perfect timing to do that; it was not even planned. I've been making sure to wake up early and work out hard on the gym time. I have lost three pounds, and all I do is sit and eat, so I'm excited I haven't put on too much weight. Well, I don't have any more time on the computer so I will write a letter. I have to cut it short because I have to go get a hair cut. Sorry. If I can finish the rest of my time later today, I will.
Hey Mom,
I did get your Dear Elder-it was awesome! Everything has been going good here. We are staying really busy. This week we got one of are investigators to commit to baptism on September 29th. It's so exciting. Our other investigator isn't doing too hot. He said baptism isn't for him. It's amazing how you can still follow the spirit when you teach a pretend investigator. It's amazing. When he was telling us baptism wasn't for him, I had a huge feeling I needed to read Moroni 10:3-5 and bare my testimony on praying and reading the Book of Mormon to find answers. Hopefully it worked. My companion thought it was perfect and perfect timing to do that; it was not even planned. I've been making sure to wake up early and work out hard on the gym time. I have lost three pounds, and all I do is sit and eat, so I'm excited I haven't put on too much weight. Well, I don't have any more time on the computer so I will write a letter. I have to cut it short because I have to go get a hair cut. Sorry. If I can finish the rest of my time later today, I will.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Week 4: Mail, Basketball, and "The Work"
Friday, September 14, 2012
Hey,
I'm glad Derek has a good team. I knew they would be good. I can't believe the smoke, that is crazy. I guess I left perfect timing, haha. I did see Spencer a few times, and we talked for a while a few times. I gave him my e mail so hopefully he will tell me how it is in the field. I'm ok with anything on the mail. I really don't care about being the coolest missionary; I just want to be the best missionary I can be. There was a quote from our devotional this Saturday. I don't have my talk book or my journal right now so I forgot who said it and the exact quote, but I will try. He said "Heavenly Father has a plan but how much we harvest is entirely up to you." That's what I'm trying to do-harvest as much as I can and get as much work done that I can in the little time that I do have to teach. I haven't got any pitty mail. I get some mail. I got some from Kayla and Tayler, and I get a letter from Paige every week. She says you have been going to her volleyball games. That really means a lot to her. We leave the MTC on October 23 so anytime around that time. I don't care what bike, I trust dad. Everyone is doing something different so I don't know. That is awesome that Ashlie had her baby. The family is going to be way bigger when I get home. How many people are in your gymnastic class? Everything is going really good here. I have been playing a lot of basketball My game is really starting to come back to me. Yesterday, when we played in a game, I hit 7 three piointers in a row. I haven't done that for a while, it felt nice and my knee is feeling really strong. The languge is coming. I get better every day. I'm to the point where I'm not nervous when I teach now, so that's good. It's nice when you get to the point where you can understand what people are saying. It makes you feel a little more confident, but the teachers are good at taking some of that confidence away so you keep working hard. In the Preach My Gospel chapter 10 it talks about how to teach and the best ways to teach if you want to go that way in your talk. I think a lot of people don't realize some really effective ways of teaching. Another thing to mention is that we don't teach for ourselves or to give ourself a pat on the back but it's for our brothers and sisters to come to the truth. That's the main purpose. One other thing is that the spirit teaches, but we still have to put the work in or be prepared to recieve that help from the spirit. How did it go with Mrs. Gott did she come to dinner? I sent her a letter so can you see if she got it? I'm sending pictures to Kayla so can you let Paige know how she can see them if she wants to? I dont really know what she [Kayla] is doing with them. Is there a lot planned for homecoming? That was always the worst part of homecoming was the planning? Everything is going good here. It's going by so fast, I can't believe I'm already 1/3 the way through the MTC. It's exciting! I'm glad to hear everything is going good. I love you and dad so much. Thanks for everything.
Love your son,
Elder Smith
Hey,
I'm glad Derek has a good team. I knew they would be good. I can't believe the smoke, that is crazy. I guess I left perfect timing, haha. I did see Spencer a few times, and we talked for a while a few times. I gave him my e mail so hopefully he will tell me how it is in the field. I'm ok with anything on the mail. I really don't care about being the coolest missionary; I just want to be the best missionary I can be. There was a quote from our devotional this Saturday. I don't have my talk book or my journal right now so I forgot who said it and the exact quote, but I will try. He said "Heavenly Father has a plan but how much we harvest is entirely up to you." That's what I'm trying to do-harvest as much as I can and get as much work done that I can in the little time that I do have to teach. I haven't got any pitty mail. I get some mail. I got some from Kayla and Tayler, and I get a letter from Paige every week. She says you have been going to her volleyball games. That really means a lot to her. We leave the MTC on October 23 so anytime around that time. I don't care what bike, I trust dad. Everyone is doing something different so I don't know. That is awesome that Ashlie had her baby. The family is going to be way bigger when I get home. How many people are in your gymnastic class? Everything is going really good here. I have been playing a lot of basketball My game is really starting to come back to me. Yesterday, when we played in a game, I hit 7 three piointers in a row. I haven't done that for a while, it felt nice and my knee is feeling really strong. The languge is coming. I get better every day. I'm to the point where I'm not nervous when I teach now, so that's good. It's nice when you get to the point where you can understand what people are saying. It makes you feel a little more confident, but the teachers are good at taking some of that confidence away so you keep working hard. In the Preach My Gospel chapter 10 it talks about how to teach and the best ways to teach if you want to go that way in your talk. I think a lot of people don't realize some really effective ways of teaching. Another thing to mention is that we don't teach for ourselves or to give ourself a pat on the back but it's for our brothers and sisters to come to the truth. That's the main purpose. One other thing is that the spirit teaches, but we still have to put the work in or be prepared to recieve that help from the spirit. How did it go with Mrs. Gott did she come to dinner? I sent her a letter so can you see if she got it? I'm sending pictures to Kayla so can you let Paige know how she can see them if she wants to? I dont really know what she [Kayla] is doing with them. Is there a lot planned for homecoming? That was always the worst part of homecoming was the planning? Everything is going good here. It's going by so fast, I can't believe I'm already 1/3 the way through the MTC. It's exciting! I'm glad to hear everything is going good. I love you and dad so much. Thanks for everything.
Love your son,
Elder Smith
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Week 3: My Companion, Etc.
Friday, September 7, 2012
*Note: The first part of Ryan's email is in response to a missionary experience my mom had during the week. Hopefully, knowing that will help fill in some of the holes. :)
That is awesome! It's a great feeling when you know you are helping people. I got 2 new investigators this week and even though they are already members, you feel the spirit, and it helps you come up with Spanish words you don't know. I hope the best for her and her trials she is going to overcome. They never said it would be easy, but it's always worth it. She will love and become closer to the Lord if she can overcome these trials. I'm realy glad you are doing missionary work. I'm sure you are a great missionary! Preach My Gospel is a very effective tool, and I learn something from it everyday. Try talking. Tell derek to read a page a night after he reads his scriptures, and it will really help him be more prepared. That's awesome that Derek won his first game. How did he play? Did he start? I'm glad you are keeping me posted on the games. The language is really coming, but then some Taiwan missionaries asked if they could bear there testomonies, and I realized I'm very lucky I'm learning Spanish. I feel bad for Tayler-that would be hard. It's nice to know that with the Lord's help you can do anything. That's why I think I am learning so fast. I've learned more in the first week I was here than I did in all 2 years of school. I probably should have listened better. I'm doing really well. I'm really enjoying the MTC. My district is awesome we all get along really well, and they are all really funny. We actually play basketball together every day or sand volleyball. We are a really close district. My companion is a lot different than me. He got a 4.2 gpa (I don't even know how that is possible), and he got like a 33 on his ACT. He is very smart (not saying I'm not smart. haha!). He has a different personality than I do and a different sense of humor than I do, but I love him. For some reason we haven't had any problems, and we get along realy well. It's kind of funny because he does not like sports. haha! He didn't even watch the Super bowl, but he does like track and cross country so the last 10 minutes of gym I'll go run with him. He is from Ohio. Umm, haha, we are the exact same height! For some reason I feel like I'm taller than a lot of people at the MTC, its awesome! We attend the temple every P-day so today will be my second time going. We go in the afternoon. The second time was a lot easier. I'm glad everything is going good, and I can't wait to here about next week. :) How bad are the fires in Salmon? Can you send me a picture of Daisy? Every time I look at that picture of you guys I feel like part of the family is missing. THANKS!!!
Lover Elder Smith
*Note: The first part of Ryan's email is in response to a missionary experience my mom had during the week. Hopefully, knowing that will help fill in some of the holes. :)
That is awesome! It's a great feeling when you know you are helping people. I got 2 new investigators this week and even though they are already members, you feel the spirit, and it helps you come up with Spanish words you don't know. I hope the best for her and her trials she is going to overcome. They never said it would be easy, but it's always worth it. She will love and become closer to the Lord if she can overcome these trials. I'm realy glad you are doing missionary work. I'm sure you are a great missionary! Preach My Gospel is a very effective tool, and I learn something from it everyday. Try talking. Tell derek to read a page a night after he reads his scriptures, and it will really help him be more prepared. That's awesome that Derek won his first game. How did he play? Did he start? I'm glad you are keeping me posted on the games. The language is really coming, but then some Taiwan missionaries asked if they could bear there testomonies, and I realized I'm very lucky I'm learning Spanish. I feel bad for Tayler-that would be hard. It's nice to know that with the Lord's help you can do anything. That's why I think I am learning so fast. I've learned more in the first week I was here than I did in all 2 years of school. I probably should have listened better. I'm doing really well. I'm really enjoying the MTC. My district is awesome we all get along really well, and they are all really funny. We actually play basketball together every day or sand volleyball. We are a really close district. My companion is a lot different than me. He got a 4.2 gpa (I don't even know how that is possible), and he got like a 33 on his ACT. He is very smart (not saying I'm not smart. haha!). He has a different personality than I do and a different sense of humor than I do, but I love him. For some reason we haven't had any problems, and we get along realy well. It's kind of funny because he does not like sports. haha! He didn't even watch the Super bowl, but he does like track and cross country so the last 10 minutes of gym I'll go run with him. He is from Ohio. Umm, haha, we are the exact same height! For some reason I feel like I'm taller than a lot of people at the MTC, its awesome! We attend the temple every P-day so today will be my second time going. We go in the afternoon. The second time was a lot easier. I'm glad everything is going good, and I can't wait to here about next week. :) How bad are the fires in Salmon? Can you send me a picture of Daisy? Every time I look at that picture of you guys I feel like part of the family is missing. THANKS!!!
Lover Elder Smith
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