Simple and humble

Well everyone, it was a pretty good week. Hope yours was splendid.
One event sticks out in my mind for the week. We were going to meet
with a recent convert who I will call Jane. Her son Kyle who is 12
hasn't been baptized and she was baptized in August. We were planning
on talking about faith with Kyle and why that is important. As we went
we taught, and then we asked a question to Kyle, he responded, then
instead of us following up with teaching his Mom further explained the
principle in very simple and wonderful terms. She was very humble, and
simple, but it went really well.

This taught me a few things, one that we over complicate the Gospel of
Jesus Christ too often(at least I do). It isn't meant to e something
only the most knowledgeable people should understand, but all. Prior
to the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there was a lack of
information regarding the teachings of Jesus Christ, which led to lots
of confusion and contention. Nowadays, it is somewhat the opposite,
there is an immense amount of information in the world. This vast
amount of information can distract us from that which is most
important. Elder Faust counseled that we need to filter out the static
generated by Satan. As we have a bedrock understanding of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ(Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the
Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) we will be able too withstand the
trials, and tests that will come to us in life.(President Nelson)
Second is that Gospel of Jesus Christ is best taught within the home.
For those that understand the Gospel of Jesus Chris, seek to see it
more in your life. For those that feel they are lacking, turn to the
scriptures, primarily the Book of Mormon and as you learn and live the
Gospel of Jesus Christ you will find peace in this life and eternal
life in the world to come.

No crashes this week which was good to report. Hope things are going
well for each of your where ever each of you are. Your Heavenly Father
is looking over you, look for his hand in your life.
Love
Elder Smith

Does a sleeping member still count for a member present

Happy Christmas sock day! We also had district meeting, which in preparation for...I learned a lot about Accountability and what it is really about. That was definitely good to learn...it was a little different of district meetings...but I think it went good. Everyone is good at participating, which I am grateful for. After that we planned the day and it was kind of hard because Elder Davis couldn't really ride his bike because of his leg hurting. We also got Shun Xing for lunch...and I think they are from Hong Kong there...because the characters are traditional, and they were speaking...and it sounded like Cantonese...but I still need to ask. Regardless I got GongBaoJiDing it was really good(thanks for the Halloween treat mom =))

That afternoon we were able to go out with Brother Heck, tried to visit the Cunninghams, they weren't there. So we went to visit Cynthia...we were a bit early...but it was a weird lesson. Started with Brother Heck describing living in an 1832 house...and then saying how it was haunted by little girl ghost...and they discussed that for a bit...which was weird. However, we eventually got into the lesson. Which was really good, focused on faith and the Word of Wisdom, and Cynthia(without us really pressuring her) has been decreasing the amount of her coffee intake...and she sees in the future never drinking it again. Which it pretty cool. We discussed how to be obedient, and know when we are off the right path. We then showed the Patterns of Light video part II. She really really liked that, it touched her when it talked about thoughts of her mom or grandma telling her when she is going astray...it was quite special...she is really great and a special person.

We were able to talk a bit about her daughters and bringing them to the trunk or treat, and she is willing to do that so hopefully that will help them. Oh also...in the middle somewhere...Brother Heck fell asleep for a good amount of time...and I wasn't really sure what to do...but he woke up and things worked out. We returned home, Brother Heck shared some taxi driving stories that were kind of crazy and funny...he definitely has an interesting life...a great man though.
-Elder DoesASleepingMemberStillCountForAMemberPresent?

Well, it was an exciting week. However, the only thing that everyone
reading this probably wants to read goes as follows.
(Sorry if it sounds weird... wanted to make it sound kind of
exciting...but it might sound a bit weird.)

This was Friday
After that we returned home, finished up weekly planning, and then planned to bike over to the church. From trying to fix our bikes yesterday...it didn't work too well...but we were on our way. We got to the light before Route 1 I was in 1 and 7...and realized I would have to pedal pretty hard. So we start going Elder Davis is in front...soon before the grassy part that we get to...well I was pedaling pretty hard and really don't remember the events preceding it. Something happened, whether the bike seized up or I was clipped by a car I'm not sure. My bike and body twist as the ground leaps up towards my body. Then I am sliding backwards on my shoulder, the bike clenched between my legs suspended in the air. Realizing I am on the ground, throw my arms and legs in the air so that I don't get run over. I gather that I am safe to go, and grab the bike and run onto the median and stand there shouting a faint "Elder Davis" as he pedals away. Standing there on the median cars with their windows down start shouting "Was it the green car?"-"Are you ok?"-"Was it the green car?"-"Your water bottle is in the road"...I go grab that..."Are you ok? Are you dizzy?"-"Was it the green car?" This was coming from both sides of the road I really didn't know what to do...some of the cars stood there for awhile. I remember the guy that kept asking if it was the green car...he asked that so many times...and the nice lady that informed me of my water bottle. Elder Davis eventually came back, realized I was decent...we ran across the road over to Weis pedaled back to the apartment...which I wasn't feeling too bad at that moment...and there wasn't any blood...which was surprising...I could tell my shoulder on my shirt was beat up pretty bad...other than that though I couldn't tell of any immediate wounds.

I actually came out if it very well off. My shirt isn't usable anymore, but other than that all my other clothing is basically fine. My right hip hurt a little bit, but nothing major.
After this we went to the trunk or treat for our ward.

After this experience and pondering it, I was very grateful for the Lord's protection. Which comes a lot as we are obedient to the Lord's commandments and our covenants. I know that I was protected that day because I am striving to be obedient and keep my covenants.

“The discipline contained in daily obedience and clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality.”–Elder L. Tom Perry

Love

Elder Smith

It was a good, somewhat interesting day. In the morning we went and did service moving stuff out of the Johnsons crawl space. That went well. After that we finished studies which were pretty good as well. After all of that, we got to go and work. We tried visiting some potentials in the area...as well were able to talk to some people that were out and about...it was definitely scary....but I have learned after you start...it doesn't feel too weird...typically. Which is a blessing I am grateful for.  

After that, we tried getting to the church...took a wrong turn or two...and wow...biking was really hard today especially after working out our legs most of the week and starting biking after not doing it for such a long time. It was good though. We got to the church, met with Brother England and he took us to his house for dinner. It was really good.  We had pulled pork and chicken salad sandwiches...both really tasty. As well their kids are pretty funny. We talked about some pretty cool things with Church history, Brother England knows quite a lot...it was cool to hear from him. They also are inviting people to the trunk or treat which will be cool. He helped me invite boldly and directly. Then we shared an interesting spiritual thought...after he gave us one....but it went kind of well..a little interesting though. He explained some cool thing about things that are passed through DNA to posterity because of certain events, which he related to our Heavenly Father which was cool. 

After that we went back to the church for our bikes and...We went to Fountain drive, we were both a little hesitant...but went regardless. The first two people were confused why we were knocking so late...we kept going while saying "4th floor last door!" was a little freaked out by the halloween decorations on some places...anyway. We met Marshall Tucker who was really nice and said he could read the Book of Mormon and compare and contrast it to the Bible. Which always reminds me of the story that I believe a general authority shared where he would read a chapter of the Bible for every chapter of the Book of Mormon....and was converted. After that the Spanish Elders picked us up, mainly because it is a little frightening riding our bikes on route 1 when it is so dark. It was definitely an interesting day...but good. Elder Davis says that I am always happy which is definitely not true...but I try to be.


One thing I learned, is that over the past week the idea and principle of family/group prayer has been reiterated throughout this week. As I tried to apply it this evening, it really helped me feel lots of Charity for the people...even if I don't know them very much. Grateful for that blessing.
-Elder GladForTVSubwayNightsWithDad
Elder Smith

Elder Davis and Elder Smith and their new trusty steeds

Hello all!

I will start with a phone call we had last Monday around 9:00 just getting home for the evening when the Sister in our ward called.  

Them: "Hi Elders"
Us "Hello, how are you"
Them: "So...we are coming tomorrow morning at 8:00...and we are taking your car to Richmond to give to another area."
Us "Oh..."
So just like that we didn't have a car! We since have learned more, obtained bikes from very kind members of the ward. However it as a very different week due to the largeness and geography of our area.
With the transition, as well as actually getting bikes, the week has been slower than most, there is one event that sticks out to me. We met a woman named Maame, she is from Ghana, and has heard many many weird and false things about our church, however she is really interested and wants to know which church is true. The next week we stopped by, she had read the Book of Mormon each night, and was a good ways into it. Then she flew to Canada for her mom who was sick, then we recently got back in contact with her. This week when we stopped by we met her husband, Johnny, who twenty or so years ago met with Sister Missionaries, read the Book of Mormon, went to church, and hasn't drank coffee since! It was really surprising, but also really cool. However, he is an Elder in his church in Africa, so that is more of a struggle. Later in the week we gave Maame a call, and we set up a church tour this Tuesday with her, so needless to say I am both grateful and excited for that.

Back to the bike situation, the story that I probably learned most was it was Saturday, we wanted to try to get to some of the farther parts of our area. The way our area is, there is a road(Route 1) which is the main highway, and the residential areas all connect to Route 1, but not to each other, so we have to take Route 1 to get to anywhere. However, Route 1 isn't bike friendly, there is very little shoulder, and so, the only way we felt safe is walking our bikes on the side of the road, walking through small brush and dirt, ditches, and trying to not be hit by cars. We almost got to where we wanted to go, however the side of the road got impassable, so we turned around and decided to go to a different neighborhood. It had been about an hour since we left the apartment when we turned around to go to the other neighborhood. Then Elder Davis's tire starts leaking air...and the Spanish Elder recently passed us, so we were able to call them and get a ride. Regardless, through the whole experience of walking for a long time on the side of a major highway, just to turn back and get where we started. It reminded me of two Mormon messages which you may have seen "The Will of God" as well as "Good Things to Come". It was an up close and personal experience with that. I learned many lessons taught in those two videos, however this letter is already quite long so I won't go into more detail. However everyone should watch those two videos! They teach very important lessons. Then when you watch them, you can think of me instead of the people in the video ;) It has been a different experience though.

I do know the Lord teaches us through our experiences, for good or for bad. The trick is being Humble and teachable. You can have joy in life as our focus is on Christ. That is one of the purposes of us being here!(2 Nephi 2:25, "Happiness is the object and being of our existence"-Joseph Smith).

Focus on Christ, find joy, learn from experiences for easy or hard. Then seek correction to learn more.

Sorry if the letter is long. However, another cool thing the day I explained with the bikes that was the day we called Maame and found she had continued reading the Book of Mormon and set up a church tour. Another lesson as taught in Ether 12:6.

Love

Elder Smith

Missionaries of Stafford County