Well, sorry I have been bad at emailing my wonderful experiences here
in Virginia...I have committed to being better so I hope you enjoy!
However my emails may be kind of short.

Some background, I am currently in the county of Stafford Virginia(for
some reason there are no cities in Stafford county...just the county.
It is home to many civil war sites, and some other historical things.
It is a really great area.

Recently I have learned about patience. Which simply, is the
ability to wait, without getting upset or frustrated. Which applies to
many things, roller coasters, dinner, toast, television shows, people,
as well as blessings from our Heavenly Father, and other things.
So often in life today it is about the here and now. Many inventions
and technologies are built so that people don't have to wait, so they
can accomplish more during the day. These things are good, but
sometimes in life, we simply have to wait. Keep putting forth the
effort, but wait.

One experience this past week, we planned to visit a woman who we
hadn't seen or been in contact with for awhile, regardless of her initial
warm welcome and great desire to learn more about Jesus Christ. After
many failed attempts to contact her via phone or visits to her house,
over the past two to three weeks. We were standing on her doorstep,
and I thought to myself that maybe we should stop visiting, I guess
she must not be interested. That was until she opened the door, and
once again welcomed us warmly. She had to emergency fly to Canada for
her sick mother, and had been gone the whole time we been trying.
It was a great blessing to see her again.
Be patient, whether or not things may seem rough, keep trying, keep
exercising faith, the promised Heavenly Father gives us are always
fulfilled.

For greater light and insight in this subject, read Elder Uchtdorfs
address in the general women's session, or see Mosiah 24. It will be a
great blessing to you.
Love you all! Hope things are going great.
Love
Elder Smith