Well because it was Thanksgiving this week, and I am on UVA campus...pretty much nobody was here this week. But it was still great!
So both Monday there was a normal amount of people on grounds(campus) but still not tons so we were contacting there for a bit. Then at 7:00 Cai Zhanglao(Elder Richter my companion) went with the Zone Leaders(Elder Campbell and Elder Wheeler) to a Chi Alpha(Christian fellowship at UVA) event because one of the Zone leaders investigators was invited them and we were all interested to see what it was like. So we go and it is in a small auditorium and when walk in there is a band at the front playing some soft music, so we wait a little bit. And fairly suddenly the music starts to pick up and then it basically turns into a concert....they band started jamming out and the whole crowd is singing along, and it was really loud....and people were dancing and stuff....yeah it was definitely a different experience...and us four missionaries just stood in the back and weren't really sure what to do....but that went on for a good while, then they welcomed everyone talked about some Chi Alpha business. And then some guy started giving a talk of some sort, I don't really remember what it was about...but we had to leave early. But in all it was definitely a unique experience. Also I got a free candy and a Bible from it!(which has a weird summary on the back...I'll send a picture next week).
Then Tuesday there was even less people on grounds and they were all for the most part headed home so none really wanted to talk to us. Then Wednesday we had interviews with the Mission President in the Afternoon, but in the evening went to grounds....and it was pretty much a ghost town...I think for the 3 hours we were there we maybe saw 6 people. Which made it easy to talk to everyone! But yeah it was very barren...(and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!)
THANKSGIVING!!!! So the morning of Thanksgiving most of the Elders in our Zone went to help out with a community 5k race, and help organize all of that and stuff, which was quite fun actually, I got to use a magic wand and zap all the people that crossed the finish line! Also got a free T-Shirt! And a bunch of free food(mostly cut up bagels[which is the common free food I get...]) so that was good and fun. But after that we returned home, and then because we are in a YSA ward most of the college students headed home for the break, and the ones that stayed aren't really able to feed us a Thanksgiving meal...so...THE CES MISSIONARIES FED US!! So what happened it was kind of a ward activity anyone in the ward that stayed in town was invited to the church where the CES Missionaries(The Binghams) helped prepare a meal for us. So some of the ward members came, as well as the three sets of missionaries in the YSA ward(us, the Zone Leaders, and set of Sisters) and the missionaries also invited some of our investigators....but none of them ended up coming....but it was still a really good meal and I got quite stuffed....well really stuffed actually I almost didn't finish my pie..but I did, and it was very delicious. Also apparently I don't know my Thanksgiving foods very well....because I thought that I saw some beets....but it was cranberry sauce(the can form) so I kind of ate plain cranberry sauce....haha oh well...it was still very good!
Anyways that night we went with the Zone Leaders to grounds....and I think we maybe saw 4 people the 3 hours we were there...and they were older people just walking around on grounds. So we played a little football...it was quite enjoyable despite the fact that it was nightime and we couldn't see the ball....but it was still good!.
And Friday kind of had the same result of hardly any people on grounds...then Saturday we had this thing called return and report where all the Trainers/Trainees go to Richmond with President Wilson and learn some things how to improve, and for two hours we street contacted in downtown Richmond....and wow...I definitely do not like the city, what I learned from Return and Report is that I'm grateful to be in C'Ville(Charlotsville) but it was a good experience still.
And now for some actual inspiring things....So Friday we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and Elder Richter and Elder Campbell met with this Chinese guy name Gan Wei who Elder Richter met awhile ago but haven't really taught him much. But they went to dinner with him, and ended up inviting him to Church! And he said yeah! So then on Sunday at first he isn't responding to his phone....but we find out that he just slept in...so he comes to church with us which is super cool.(and he speaks pretty good english, but we also speak lots of Chinese to him...well Elder Richter does, I mostly just listen). But Church was good, and he seemed to get a along with lots of the members well, and I hope he really enjoyed it. And because it was fast Sunday the YSA ward has this thing called 'Break The Fast" where the ward kind of breaks their fast together. And we took him to that which he enjoyed(he kind of really enjoys eating food, like me!) but it was good. And then we dropped him off. And yeah...1ST CHINESE INVESTIGATOR WHO CAME TO CHURCH WITH US!!!! It's quite exciting.
Anyways that was my week...quite different Thanksgiving than normal, but still really great.
Scripture of the Week 2 Nephi 7:7 Trust in the Lord, and be not ashamed of what you believe. I've found that really knowing what you believe and sharing that or standing up for it is a great way to strengthen your roots in the Gospel.
Thank you all for the love and support!!!
Elder Smith =D
Monday, November 30, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
三個星期！(Week three) Elder Smith
Well this week was quite great I could say...so one of the main
highlights was on Friday, Elder Richter and I were planning to meet
this girl from China and we were quite excited because when we first
met her, all we spoke was Chinese, it wasn't a long lesson, but we
were pretty excited to to teach her. So we are waiting outside the
library(also it got super cold super fast despite how warm it was in
the afternoon) so I didn't have a jacket and was quite cold, but she
eventually comes, and we(in Chinese) ask a few simple questions, and
then we get into the lesson(still speaking Chinese) and teach all
about the Restoration and ask her some questions and we keep speaking
Chinese, and yeah....it was super crazy...BECAUSE IT WAS ALL IN
CHINESE!!!!(also it was SOOOOOOOOO COLD OUTSIDE!!!!! And super hard to
focus! But it was cool because I think I was blessed to still be able
to understand and teach the lesson despite the arctic temperature it
was) And I understood it all for the most part. Yeah that was super
crazy and awesome and she is willing to meet again and seems quite
interested....super great. Gift of Tongues is real...end of story.
Another highlight was yesterday the Zone Leaders had a baptism, and so
we went to that, and then last minute found out one of our
investigators could come! So he came to the baptism which was really
awesome, and He enjoyed it and hopefully is looking forward to doing
that.
And now for a funny story/still inspiring so Elder Tanner(Elder in our
District) and I were on exchanges in my area(and we are both super
new, like he has only been in the field one transfer which is crazy),
but we were on UVA grounds contacting people, and it was quite fun
because neither of us know exactly what we are doing....but we are
walking when three people stop us and talk to us and ask us what we
are doing, so we explain, and he(only one of the three actually talked
to us) says he is doing a similar thing or something. But then starts
asking us a lot of controversial questions and is sort of "Bible
Bashing" but he was very kind about it....so we answer his questions
and some of them were a little funny because he said the gold
tablets(that's what he called the gold plates) were 800 pounds and
there would be no way John Smith(that's what he called Joseph Smith)
could have carried those under his arm......which is in no way true,
because they wouldn't be that heavy, but that was kind of whatever but
we answer his questions some more, and stood up for what we
believed.(he also called Joseph Smith a false prophet so he wasn't
super nice about everything) but what was really special to me about
this experience is that there was a point where he said something like
"if something came out, or you received some kind of revelation that
this wasn't true would you change your beliefs?"
highlights was on Friday, Elder Richter and I were planning to meet
this girl from China and we were quite excited because when we first
met her, all we spoke was Chinese, it wasn't a long lesson, but we
were pretty excited to to teach her. So we are waiting outside the
library(also it got super cold super fast despite how warm it was in
the afternoon) so I didn't have a jacket and was quite cold, but she
eventually comes, and we(in Chinese) ask a few simple questions, and
then we get into the lesson(still speaking Chinese) and teach all
about the Restoration and ask her some questions and we keep speaking
Chinese, and yeah....it was super crazy...BECAUSE IT WAS ALL IN
CHINESE!!!!(also it was SOOOOOOOOO COLD OUTSIDE!!!!! And super hard to
focus! But it was cool because I think I was blessed to still be able
to understand and teach the lesson despite the arctic temperature it
was) And I understood it all for the most part. Yeah that was super
crazy and awesome and she is willing to meet again and seems quite
interested....super great. Gift of Tongues is real...end of story.
Another highlight was yesterday the Zone Leaders had a baptism, and so
we went to that, and then last minute found out one of our
investigators could come! So he came to the baptism which was really
awesome, and He enjoyed it and hopefully is looking forward to doing
that.
And now for a funny story/still inspiring so Elder Tanner(Elder in our
District) and I were on exchanges in my area(and we are both super
new, like he has only been in the field one transfer which is crazy),
but we were on UVA grounds contacting people, and it was quite fun
because neither of us know exactly what we are doing....but we are
walking when three people stop us and talk to us and ask us what we
are doing, so we explain, and he(only one of the three actually talked
to us) says he is doing a similar thing or something. But then starts
asking us a lot of controversial questions and is sort of "Bible
Bashing" but he was very kind about it....so we answer his questions
and some of them were a little funny because he said the gold
tablets(that's what he called the gold plates) were 800 pounds and
there would be no way John Smith(that's what he called Joseph Smith)
could have carried those under his arm......which is in no way true,
because they wouldn't be that heavy, but that was kind of whatever but
we answer his questions some more, and stood up for what we
believed.(he also called Joseph Smith a false prophet so he wasn't
super nice about everything) but what was really special to me about
this experience is that there was a point where he said something like
"if something came out, or you received some kind of revelation that
this wasn't true would you change your beliefs?"
So I considered it,and then told him something like "No, I wouldn't because I have
already received my answer from God that the Book of Mormon is true,
Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints is his church on the earth today, and nothing will
change that because God has given me this knowledge" and I know God
doesn't lie.
And from that experience with that man, I felt so grateful for the
knowledge God has given me of Him and his church, and his Gospel.
So another slightly funny story from the week I would say is....well
can't really think of one right now...but...oh! Uh at institute they
always have a small table of food(institute is in the business school
at UVA and there was a table full of other food and cookies next to
us....so I may have borrowed some of those cookies....but there was no
people around and it looked free, so hopefully I won't be headed to
jail for that...
So yeah that was my week! It's quite great out here although it has
recently become very cold! So we'll see what that turns into!
Love you all and thanks for all the Support!
-斯密長老 Elder Smith
祝你感恩節快樂！ Happy Thanksgiving!
already received my answer from God that the Book of Mormon is true,
Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints is his church on the earth today, and nothing will
change that because God has given me this knowledge" and I know God
doesn't lie.
And from that experience with that man, I felt so grateful for the
knowledge God has given me of Him and his church, and his Gospel.
So another slightly funny story from the week I would say is....well
can't really think of one right now...but...oh! Uh at institute they
always have a small table of food(institute is in the business school
at UVA and there was a table full of other food and cookies next to
us....so I may have borrowed some of those cookies....but there was no
people around and it looked free, so hopefully I won't be headed to
jail for that...
So yeah that was my week! It's quite great out here although it has
recently become very cold! So we'll see what that turns into!
Love you all and thanks for all the Support!
-斯密長老 Elder Smith
祝你感恩節快樂！ Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 16, 2015
Photos
 |
| Working on my Chinese Calligraphy |
 |
| Elder Snow, Elder Smith, Anna an investigator soon to be baptised and Elder Schellenberg and Elder Richter. Elder Richter is Derek's companion. |
Didn't win Calligraphy contest but super week
Well my second week here in the field was really fantastic I would
say. Although nothing super spectacular happened but it was a good
solid all around week. So Wednesday the Assistants to the President
came down to the Mandarin Elders apartment and we all went on half day
exchanges with them. So I went with Elder Walton, and Elder Ritcher
told me that we would really talk to everyone....and we did....it was
like we didn't even walk anywhere. I'm pretty sure I'm fairly sure in
those three hours we were together we talked to more people than I
have my whole time in my field....it was a lot of people. Definitely
learned so much stuff. Hahaha and had my first "Bible Bash" you could
say with some college students who liked using big fancy words and
we're trying to be contentious or something....so I just watched while
Elder Walton handled the situation, it was interesting, and obviously
made no progress, so we left pretty quick.
After that exchange we all got together with the zone leaders and went
to the Virginian which was quite the good restaurant, it was super
good, and had some really good Pepper Jack Cheese Mac and
cheese....then again it was $4 so that wasn't cool...and it definitely
wasn't worth it....oh well.
On Friday Elder Richter and I went to a calligraphy activity to talk
to some Chinese people on campus and that was pretty fun, but the old
Chinese lady there got made at me because my calligraphy was terrible
and I couldn't even right a line right....yeah it was terrible.
Then....Elder Ricther agrees to join a competition they did which was
3$ to join....and I cracked and joined as well. Hahaha then I tired to
write my name and ThenChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints....hahah it looked sooooo bad compared to all the other Chinese
people I Was around. It was fairly humiliating, and no I did not win.
Although Elder Richter's was also quite bad, so he also painted a
picture of himself on his along with his name....hahah it was quite
funny.(It was similar to Sokka's painting when he is being trained by
Master P and Dow in Avatar for anyone who understand that.[also
someone quoted Avatar in church! Haha]).
And yeah that was mostly it for interesting things that happened to me
this week, just kept contacting people and enjoying being a
Missionary.
So for a little bit of inspiration check out Mosiah 2:31/2 Nephi
2:29(I think)/Helaman 5:12 super awesome scriptures about how to build
our foundation on Christ, and by so doing we will be delivered from
the bonds of our enemies, and find freedom I living The Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
But yeah that's all for this week! Love the support from all of you
and all you've helped to in the past! This is God's Church and Gospel
on the Earth!
-斯密長老
-Elder Smith
say. Although nothing super spectacular happened but it was a good
solid all around week. So Wednesday the Assistants to the President
came down to the Mandarin Elders apartment and we all went on half day
exchanges with them. So I went with Elder Walton, and Elder Ritcher
told me that we would really talk to everyone....and we did....it was
like we didn't even walk anywhere. I'm pretty sure I'm fairly sure in
those three hours we were together we talked to more people than I
have my whole time in my field....it was a lot of people. Definitely
learned so much stuff. Hahaha and had my first "Bible Bash" you could
say with some college students who liked using big fancy words and
we're trying to be contentious or something....so I just watched while
Elder Walton handled the situation, it was interesting, and obviously
made no progress, so we left pretty quick.
After that exchange we all got together with the zone leaders and went
to the Virginian which was quite the good restaurant, it was super
good, and had some really good Pepper Jack Cheese Mac and
cheese....then again it was $4 so that wasn't cool...and it definitely
wasn't worth it....oh well.
On Friday Elder Richter and I went to a calligraphy activity to talk
to some Chinese people on campus and that was pretty fun, but the old
Chinese lady there got made at me because my calligraphy was terrible
and I couldn't even right a line right....yeah it was terrible.
Then....Elder Ricther agrees to join a competition they did which was
3$ to join....and I cracked and joined as well. Hahaha then I tired to
write my name and ThenChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints....hahah it looked sooooo bad compared to all the other Chinese
people I Was around. It was fairly humiliating, and no I did not win.
Although Elder Richter's was also quite bad, so he also painted a
picture of himself on his along with his name....hahah it was quite
funny.(It was similar to Sokka's painting when he is being trained by
Master P and Dow in Avatar for anyone who understand that.[also
someone quoted Avatar in church! Haha]).
And yeah that was mostly it for interesting things that happened to me
this week, just kept contacting people and enjoying being a
Missionary.
So for a little bit of inspiration check out Mosiah 2:31/2 Nephi
2:29(I think)/Helaman 5:12 super awesome scriptures about how to build
our foundation on Christ, and by so doing we will be delivered from
the bonds of our enemies, and find freedom I living The Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
But yeah that's all for this week! Love the support from all of you
and all you've helped to in the past! This is God's Church and Gospel
on the Earth!
-斯密長老
-Elder Smith
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Welcome to the Richmond Virginia Mission
 |
| Elder Derek Smith with President and Sister Wilson |
 |
| Small world the AP to the Virginia Mission President is a former student of Derek"s Dad Elder Walton. He took the picture sent it to his brother ( who is now a student of Craig) who then brought it to school for Craig. In picture Elder Walton, Elder Smith and Elder Schellenberg Derek's MTC companion and is his mission. |
Monday, November 2, 2015
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