Pictures From Florida

Chipley, Florida Pinewood Derby

Parker found Sleepy Hollow!!!

Parker's Newest Companion, Elder Tialano

Hello Again!

The baptism went super good! Nothing went wrong and it was very spiritual. Probably the worst thing that happened was a boring talk, but that's it. Elder T and I sang the baptism song and it went super well. He was nervous, but afterwards felt great. It's great to see him get baptized, a couple of months ago, I didn't think that I would've been able to see it happen. The Lord is definitely blessing our area! We set 4 BCD's this past week, and the family who we set them for came to the baptism. Everything is working out great. Now I know that something difficult is going to happen soon, something always does! I took many pictures, I'll send them when I send the next card, most likely in two weeks, when transfers happen. The Pres said he is switching companions in a lot of areas so I think that ours will be changed as well. I just hope that I'm not the one leaving, because we set the BCDs for a week after transfers.

That is funny that the swat team came in for bottle bombs, it makes the situation seem so much more serious than it actually was. I know that the bottle bombs are dangerous too, but it just seems funny. That would be scary not knowing what's going on, but I'm glad everyone is safe! I also heard that Bountiful received lots of money for remodeling or something. That's awesome that you are having all these adventures! Utah state doesn't sound too bad, but I'll worry about it later on! :)

So, about Ashton, does he have a fiance, or Carson, and who is it? That's exciting that somebody is getting married! And Ashton is a wuss, jk, he's a smart man for wimping out! :) (Ashton went with his friend and his friend's fiance while they skydived.....Ashton didn't skydive, thank goodness:) Naw, I know it's super expensive to do that stuff. He's awesome for waiting for Carson, I think it will be fun to see them coming down too!

I believe Jameson is cheating for Brook, but that's all I'll say! :) (I told Parker that Jameson goes out to let Brook shave his face and neck every other day at SLCC so that she can count those shaves in her quota to graduate!!) I bet everyone is getting haircuts from her too right? If you find a friend that has talents, you make sure they use them! It says so in the scriptures. :) By the way, Elder Tialino and I gave a talk with our ward mission leader yesterday, it was great. My talk was about the importance of the scriptures that's why it reminded me of it. We also gave a little talk in Primary, and we learned we need to teach Seminary on Wed, and Thur, at seven in the morning! Lots are happening!

Hearing Coree's new profession, (security dispatcher at the new City Creek Mall) it reminds me of somebody in our ward. He works for the post office, and at the family dollar, and sometimes doesn't get home 'til 5 in the morning. What's amazing is that he's ALWAYS at church! He is very impressive. So Coree can't use that excuse! :) Sorry Coree!!

Love you all!

Elder Smith

ps, tell dad thanks for the email, that I will study those verses, and that I'm not a big fan of spaghetti....:)

Heylo

I haven't sent the pictures yet, we have been busy. But I will do it as soon as I get back. We are doing great over here! We have made progress, a member even told us that it's great to see the results of our hard work! It really made me feel good! :) We have been working with a family towards baptism, and we will set their bcd's soon. But this Saturday we are having a baptism, my first! He has been taught for about a year and now has finally decided to have it, he is excited, and nervous, and so am I! I pray all goes well! We are continuing to work mainly on contacting less-actives and referrals, and it is very interesting. We contacted a less-active family who didn't talk that much with us. He said that he wasn't interested, then when we revealed that we knew him, he said to never come back. It was depressing to know that they were baptized into the church but used their free agency to separate themselves from the gospel. What was good though was we ran into their teenage son who was way more nice, and we talked briefly, but we knew that he wasn't against the church. We said we'll see him around the skate park. We have been around there a lot recently, contacting people.

That is awesome that Aunt Kris and Uncle Terry are coming back soon! I most likely won't see them again for a while because they will be on another mission before I get back! They are so awesome, I know that they will have amazing stories to share! Elder Blanchard's friend went to Johannesburg South Africa for his mission. Is that anywhere near theirs?

Thanks for the update on Jameson and Ashton! Like I said many times, Brook is awesome! I definitely think they make a great pair, just knowing her from school, and seeing that picture. Tell all of them I said hi back! It's always good to hear hi from your family and friends! :) The pictures you sent look exactly like him! Oh my gosh, Ashton could be him if he just worked out more! :D I'll just tell everyone that he is my brother, and I'll see what they say! There are some big baseball fans out here, so I'm pretty sure they'll know who it is.

Something cool that my companion made up, from his interactions with some gangsters in Fort Walton, is this saying:

From The Mind

From The Muscle

For The Man

Florida Tallahassee Mission!

A man had a hat that said FTM on it, so my companion asked what it meant, because it stood for our mission. He said, From The Muscle. He said it meant the heart, that everything they did was from the heart. It represented family and life itself, without the heart we wouldn't live. My companion took it and made this saying, it fits perfectly, because it's how God communicates to us, from the heart, and we give all of our heart, might, mind, and strength to obeying him. We plan on making a shirt for it. It's going to be awesome! So if Jameson sees any FTM hats make sure he buys a sweet one for me!

I'm glad Grandma and Grandpa are doing well, and MAN do I miss free peanut m&m's! Down here, we've met some pretty awesome members who are old, we call the coolest ones grandma and mama. For example, Mama Watson, and Grandma Kriser. They are two of the coolest people in the ward! There are many other cool grandmas and mamas in the ward too. None are better than you though! :)

A funny experience that happened, we met up with a less-active family in our ward and they were very nice. We got talking about guitars, because they asked if Elder Tialino played. He said a little bit, so they started bringing out the instruments! They told us that they were trying to learn to play them, and also the fiddle. I asked if they had one, and they did! They pulled it out and gave it to me, but it wasn't tuned and I tried to tune it but I couldn't do it quite well. But I really regret not practicing before I came out here, but when I get back, I'll try again. I do remember how to play songs, but I just need a refresher! I know you are thinking... I told him so!.... and I know you did. But Elder T got good pictures of me and the fam, but sadly I didn't think of pictures. I will the next time!

I love y'all so much, keep doing well! And some lady said that something big happened at Bountiful, but everyone I ask hasn't heard anything. Do you know anything about it? (The bomb at Bountiful High:)

Until next time!

Elder Smith

Hey y'all!!

Hey, while you are making changes to the house, get Chriff to build that secret passage we were going to build...:) Anyway, I can't believe how busy it is down there, I still remember when Jameson left and there was no one home. It seems I always miss out on stuff...jk, I feel you guys are missing out on a lot of things here! I love Dwight, he is so funny, I remember when he saw me in Texas and he was so excited he peed on the floor, then he wouldn't get off my leg, so then my pants were drenched in drool. I agree, he is a very cute dog.

It is great to hear that everything continues to go great for you guys, and that Jameson is still free from injury.... I can't believe Ashton is able to take aviation classes, I heard those are expensive! He should get an air traffic job in Missouri, because those people are going to make bank in the Millennium, everybody is going to be flying to Adam-ondi-ahman! I bet that was his plan this whole time. About the sleep walking, yeah they tell me what I say, I'm glad they don't talk to me every night, that would just be mean. Let me know each week who the guys are dating, I want to keep track of their progression! Also how is Daniel? Haven't heard from him lately, like four months...

About the pictures, I will send them tomorrow. There are some good ones here too, but I missed on some good picture opportunities, like when we washed a less-active's dog, which ran away for an hour. I missed taking pictures for Easter day too, which I'm kinda sad about. But that is just more motivation for the future!

Lots of things have been happening around here. I have definitely seen the Lord's hand in our work. A family who has been preparing for baptism moved into our area from Montana. They are super close to making that step, but have some concerns, but we will help them and they are excited to come to church now. What are the odds? We have also set a BCD for an investigator who has been investigating for a year now, and finally agreed to a date, next week's Saturday, it will be my first, I'm pretty excited. It's great to feel the spirit so much and to help others feel the spirit by teaching with it. An investigator said after a lesson as we were walking out. "I feel like I have a sunburn," but then said, "or like I just walked out of a mass or something." It was kind of strange, but I was eager to reveal that it was the spirit. It was definitely an awesome experience for all of us.

We just barely had our apartment checked by Elders Buchannan and Hamilton, both from Utah and both in our home town! It was fun talking to them. Yes, we did pass, but they told us to get rid of most of the stuff from the previous elders.

Well, good to hear from you guy's again, and I'll be planning on skyping you on Mother's Day, in a couple of weeks, so be ready!

Also, are you putting my emails in my blog back home? Just curious :). And let me know when Dwight eats the hamster, or sits on him...

Love you all!!

Elder Smith

Heya

Thank you for sending me this, I just barely read the chapters of Jarom and Omni, and was wondering exactly that! That is so cool that the word's of Mormon is the lost pages of Martin Harris. I vaguely remember that from somewhere, but I'm glad to sent it to me. I just was thinking about the importance of reading the scriptures for investigators, and about having them read it slow and not skim. As I have been reading the B of M myself, I have found that key points in the Gospel come out in an order, where if someone where to read and sincerely be interested in the gospel, will find those things out precept by precept. There is so many hidden treasures in the scriptures it is so interesting. I am now trying to read them and really try to see why the prophets would write each section the way they did, because there is always a point they want to portray. As I was reading, I thought it was interesting that one of the Kings in the book of Omni wrote that he protected his people, but was a wicked man, yet he still followed the commandments of his fathers, if not of the Lord. I'm still trying to decipher that one, but soon I will get it!

Thank you for sending these emails of knowledge, they really do help me out. I am writing in my journal everyday, and I'm trying to keep the dumb things out of them. It is hard, but after I read about how Nephi wrote only the important spiritual needs, I said that I will do that too. I try not to write everything I have done each day, but I have been writing the spiritual things.

I think it's very interesting that the more I read, the more I see how you raised us kids. I think that it is very impressive that you were able to raise us right, and that we are as knowledgeable in the Gospel. Thank you so much!

I look forward to your next email! Keep up the good work!

Elder Smith

Hello Again!

I'm glad to hear the trip went great! It's tough that the treads ripped off, but at least the air conditioner worked! That is hilarious that Cade locked the doors to the car, and it is pretty amazing that you managed to unlock it with the hanger. I don't know if I told you this already, but Elder Blanchard locked us out of the apartment once, but I tried to card it open, and it worked! It surprised us both when it opened, then it made us think of how easy it is to get into our apartment.... but that is why we keep a picture of Jesus in the window. :)

I LOVE the Howell family too, and I'm glad you trusted me enough to stay with them in Arkansas and Louisiana. It would be awesome if they would send an email or write, but I might get too distracted... but that's good that they are doing well, and that Ashton tried, but it is hard to start a team, you know that. :) Well now Coree is back with her beast of a dog, the rest of the boys too are living in the home, and you and Dad. Your home is just filled to the brim isn't it! You even have a hamster to fill in the gaps! It's a good thing I'm not there, or I would have to sleep on the couch, I will not share a room with anybody. Since I've been out here, my nights have been weird. I've found out that I sleep walk, and I talk more in my sleep, and my dreams are just plain weird. But it's all good!

I heard about the tornadoes and it didn't even click that you were in Texas. It's good that you got out of there when you did. Some people said that we were going to get hit by a huge storm, but it only rained for ten minutes, we even drove the car because of it.

It's very good to hear they are dating again, I was a little worried about them :). I hope that they both get married....and that they do it after I get back, cause I want to be best man for both of them! Now Coree should too, but that's a little more tricky :). Are you thinking about inviting the missionaries over?

 It has been going great out here, Elder Tialino is the elder I have been waiting for. He is very spiritual, and can talk to anybody. Yesterday he sang and bore his testimony, it was neat. He wanted us both to sing, but it was too late, but we are planning to do it before we leave the ward, and also in zone conference. It's very interesting being with him, people that didn't open to Blanchard, are opening up to him, and we have been getting way more referrals. But I'm way excited to get back to work!

I am super glad that Javi decided to go on a mission, I was worried about him. That's way funny that he is going to Georgia! Elder T was in Hazlehurst Georgia a couple months ago. I hope he stays strong!

Thank Dad for me, I really like what he sent about the leadership positions. Yesterday, Elder T gave me a sort of run through of hard doctrinal points for investigators. I had to explain and persuade to get him to understand, as if he was the investigator. One of the topics was why women didn't have priesthood, and if men were better because of it. I went the way of priesthood being more of a responsibility than a position of power. Since males have this responsibility, it puts them in the position to act responsibly and to serve others. So we have it to bless other's lives, especially our wives. <-- (I rhymed :] ) That little run through helped me out a lot.

I know that y'all will continue to have great stories, I'm excited to hear all about them! I hope that everything continues to go well, and that our house doesn't burn down or something... but Happy Easter, and I will send you that card soon!

Love y'all so much! Continue to go to church and do the right things! :)

Elder Smith

Awesome (April 2, 2012)

I better have an i-something when I get back, it seems like everyone got something cool when I left! :) But yeah everything is going great right now. I have a new companion, his name is Elder Tialino. He is Samoan, but he grew up in KC Missouri. He is really great at giving lessons, and at being obedient. We have been super busy now that he's here. He really likes to sing, and he tells everyone that I can sing, so now I have sung more than once at people's houses. We are planning on singing in some of our lessons, to bring the spirit more. He has this idea that if we do something unique that makes us stand out from other elders, we might get some old investigators to take lessons again! I think it's a good idea.

I talked to Elder Hamilton at transfers. He said he absolutely loves you, and that he definitely remembers you! You will most likely see him again one day, because you have a full time job at Bountiful! I hope the trip goes extra well! I hope you don't have as many flat tires as we have had already! (3 in 4 days) We are going to buy more tubes at Walmart. Don't forget to say hi to the Howells for me, and also ask about Ashton and the rugby team!

Who is Jake married too? And who is marrying/married Max? That is super weird that they are all getting married! They could have KIDS when I get back!! That's just too weird... But I'm still praying for Jameson and Ashton, AND Coree!! How is Coree doing? And Casey, I haven't heard from him in a while.

Love you guys and I'm excited to hear from you all next week!

Family (March 26, 2012)

Thank you for telling me about Avon, no wonder I couldn't find it! Now I won't get eaten by mosquitoes as much! No we haven't committed her yet, it wasn't the right time yet. We teach her another lesson and she is doing great! How did you end up with a Brazilian family coming to your house, let alone a member of the Seventy? That is very interesting news! That festival sounds really fun also, but people do come out of that spitting weird colors for a couple of days!

I don't think the moving around the house will ever be over! I'm sure that Coree will want to move further downstairs as it gets hotter. Speaking of that, is it hot over there? It is unusually hot here. Locals said that it's thirty degrees hotter than it's supposed to be right now. They also said it's only going to get hotter, I wonder if this is how the Lord is going to burn the wicked with fire... jk! It has been in the eighties these past weeks, but lower a couple of days.

Elder Blanchard gave his farewell testimony yesterday. I found out who my new companion is today, his name is Elder Tialino, I'm not sure if he's Italian, or Polynesian. I do know that he is going to be interesting! He will be coming around 3 Wednesday. It's going to be weird having a new companion.

It's good to hear that resigning went well! And I'm glad people still remember me! It's always good to hear that! I hope that everything continues to go well with you guys, and I pray for it every night.

Love you lots too!!

Elder Smith