Hey!
That snippet of the scripture from 2 Timothy 4:7 almost describes me. Though since I'm still a week from the plane, I'm pulling out all the stops and giving it my best.
This last week, this last full week of proselyting that is, really feels as though we're having immense amounts of success. I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to be working here in Hereford. When I was thinking about the beginnings of the transfer, and now, I was reminded first of how much outlooks are important, and how you need to choose how to react with what your dealt. I've done my best to be positive, but I think initially I questioned President Moffat's motives. Not now.
Me and Elder Malan are in full health and high spirits. Things finally seem to be clicking for us more so than any other week this transfer. The last 7 days have been incredibly full of exciting things taking place, whether it be workovers, Zone Conference, or teaching.
On Sunday, one of the members asked me to get up and give a missionary moment during Sacrament meeting, which of course, I did. One of the mom's, actually the ward mission leaders wife, asked me basically to say "We need some fire and brimstone, tell them they need to be more involved in the missionary work". She further explained that her husband wasn't there today because he had gone out with us the day before to teach and to help, and as a result lost some sleep. I was like DUDE. Well, I did say "Hey, sorry, I don't rebuke from the pulpit. I'm going to express thanks, share a scripture and tell them about the success we're having". She stormed off and was angry about it(Sister Mouncher). Despite that initially small setback, I got up and told the members about our week. I'll just recall it because I think it encapsulates what's been taking place in a relatively brief way.
I started by reading from 2 Nephi, the scripture that tells us that there is opposition in all things and that this week, we'd really felt that, in more than one way. Saturday morning as we went out to do a bit of tracting, the river Wye had basically exploded over it's banks and filled all of the bike paths with water. As a result, we we're being a bit stupid, and thought we'd just ride through...until it turned into 2 feet of water up to the top of our bike tires. Man we're our legs and shoes soaked. We made it through though, had a laugh and tracted for an hour barefoot until our first appointment. Later that day, we were back on our bikes after dinner cruisin through town and into a residential area...I hear from behind me a crash, and my initial thought was "Elder Malan is a TERRIBLE bike rider". Lo, and behold, he's on the ground, bike half way across the road, having just slid off the front of the car indenting it slightly and producing a massive scratch. The car stopped, backed up, and we thought contemplated driving off. A runner, a big BIG guy, came out of nowhere and came to the rescue, helping us make sure we didn't have any problems with the guy. Elder Malan stood up pretty quick, and in shock was like "What do I do?" and we realized he wasn't hurt, no scratches, no blood, just a bruise on his leg. His bike front tire was totally(dad say it with me) DOMINATED! Bent and destroyed. The guy that hit him apologied for coming out too far, expressing he was in a rush, and gave Elder Malan 20 pounds for the bike tire. We decided to not bother with all the insurance bizz, and went off tracting. At this point, the ward was laughing and roaring, slapping Elder Malan on the back. I mentioned those things that took place that day, but more importantly, the opposite, the good thing. We went, we taught, we projected!!! Edson, the guy from Sao Paulo Brazil is getting baptised the day after I leave Hereford...and hopefully his wife as well. I quickly testified of the importance of member work and thanked specific members for their help, and sat down. I really could feel the power as God helped me get the ward excited, and thought "Dang, did I just share my testimony and actually look at peoples faces?...I couldn't do that 2 years ago"
SO! After 4 weeks of tracting, getting flogged, teaching some people that didn't care, and bringing out members with us to teach...we have a projection for baptism. Man were we psyched!! It was incredible. We taught him the Plan of Salvation, and again, he was just enthralled and expressing his agreement and really couldn't believe the things we were saying. At the end, Elder Malan, being WAY nervous, took about 5 minutes to build up the commitment for baptism. A simple "Yes, I will" was the response. Elder Malan had asked almost head in hands, totally unsure that it would happen...it was an awesome confidence builder for him. He said to us, and I can still remember him saying this with a tear in his eye..."I had a vision when I was younger, and it's just scary, I knew that I would become a Mormon, I just knew...I need to get baptised, I need to take that small step". Brother Mouncher, myself and Elder Malan we're just SO happy and excited. He then said "I need to get my wife to be baptised with me as well". Man...a Saturday morning doesn't get better than that. We've got a bit of work ahead of us to get him ready, but we've been praying and preparing lessons to teach him and we'll get him ready. He's the man, humble, smart, hard working, and LOVES his family most of all. As we sat down initially, and opened with prayer, I felt I could see the end result...him accepting baptism. He told us he had read 3 Nephi 11, and when he said "That's where Christ taught to baptise" I knew he was ready. Keep him in your prayers, that's a family!
That was Saturday, and man, we're we on a high...we were just feeling pscyhed and on cloud nine. Later that afternoon we had another teaching appointment with a member, which ...sadly was flogged again! This old dude Ray came out with us(the stereotypical gross house, but cool old guy) and sacrificed awhile. We walked around, thinking there had to be someone around to talk to ...and ended up with nothing. We spent the next 4 hours tracting. In between the Ray episode, and after dinner, Elder Malan got NAILED by the car. I laughed and giggled, and we kept working. The interesting thing now that I think about it...is that was a pretty significant thing. The decision we made was, keep working. It wasn't, going home and chill. It was, take it, rub it, wipe it off and let's get back to work. It would have been so easy to do that. It's kind of funny, I'm just realizing why that decision was so important that we kept working. So anyway, back to the 4 hours of tracting. Our last half an hour, it's almost 8 o'clock on a Saturday night now..we've hit back to back to back to back negatory's everywhere. We talked to a few people, one of them named Emma for awhile who was quite nice, and then ended the evening with a lady named Amanda. The door opened, her kid answered and she told us Amanda wasn't home. Just at that point, she came up the walk, and tried to dismiss us, telling us she was Church of England. For some reason I said "Why are you CoE?" which got us talking, and I asked her if she believed in Prophets, which she did. I asked her "Why not come to our church" and she said "Hey ..why not" asked for a pamphlet and closed the door. That was the end of it.
Come Monday, and we're out with Andrew Mouncher again, our Ward Mission Leader...we've just taught Emma in her home the Plan of Salvation. It went well, but she hadn't read the pamphlet, and given it all that much thought. We'll see what happens with her later. As we left the house, we were meant to then go teach a guy named Doug...an ex-con who had been in prison for 26 years for murdering a junkie that had assaulted his 10 year old daughter. We had an appointment and everything, but he wasn't there. We looked at our planners, thought about who was around and decided, "Let's go see Amanda". The door opens with a smile, "Come on in" and she says "I read the pamphlet" and there was a pause. I expected her to, like everyone else, say "Interesting, but not for me". BUT, BUT, BUT, she said..."I know it's true".
HOLY...GHOST...She then went on to tell us, that as soon as we left, she read it all, she thought about it, pondered about it, and contemplated it the next few days and literally could NOT sleep realizing how significant it was. She then said "I need to know more, this little thing doesn't give enough information and I need to go to your church. I need to learn everything I need to know to become a Mormon". DUDE SWEET. The energy and electricity was booming, literally like in the song, the Spirit of God was like a fire in that room. She was shaking slightly, and so was I from the excitement. I couldn't believe it! We, nevertheless, slowed it down, explained to her our purpose as missionaries, told her we teach in preparation for joining the church, and that we'd teach her everything she needed to know. Loads of questions we're asked, the Restoration discussion was taught, emphasizing the family and she loved it. She couldn't believe that we cared so much about the family. "I've looked so long for a church that taught principles, about the family, and had Sunday school". She then later on went to say "I feel like when I read about Joseph Smith, I could tell anyone I knew, that it did happen. If they were skeptical, and asked me questions, I would just tell them I know that boy saw God and was a prophet". Taking hold of the moment, I said to her "You realize, that means you need to be baptised right?" She responded with a "Yes". WHOOOOOOOOOOOO. Malan gets hit by a car, we kept on rolling, and we find someone to get baptised. Opposition you got it!
So, my last week as a missionary, is probably, I think and feel, the best of my mission. We're working with the members, sharing spiritual thoughts that are worthwhile and effective, and finding people to teach and baptise. It's been so cool being able to have things happen as a result of hard, diligent work. In addition to the work, we've had some good opportunities to relax and learn this week. Thursday was my last Zone Conference down in Cardiff at Rhiwbina. I had enough people reminding me....The way it goes, is that you, as a departing missionary share your testimony. Most people give a travelogue, and a story-mony, but I kept it short. I got up and said "I was thinking this week about one of the most classic and best movies ever produced; Tommy Boy. In it Chris Farley and David spade have their car completely destroyed by an elk, and at this moment, you expect some negative response, something bad said....Chris Farley simply says: "I've seen a lot of things in my life...but....that...was...awesome". I just said "My mission has been awesome, it's been truly amazing" and shared my testimony and sat down. I haven't felt yet at all like a loss, or emotional breakdown like it seems many due...so hopefully I won't have that yet...but that was kind of a preparation for going home. The Zone Conference as well was awesome! President Moffat continues to teach us doctrine, and specifically spoke for about 40 minutes on the pre-earth life and foreordination, quoting President Kimball expressing to us as members of the church that we were the noble and great ones. Sweet stuff.(if its wrong...don't break my heart just yet)
Overall, this has been a great lead up to a last week as a missionary. I've got 7 working days left, until Wednesday I have to make my way up to the mission office, get interviewed, and prep for the plane. My goal is to walk out of the plane talking / teaching someone...we'll see if I can do it.
Keep me in your prayers, and continue to ask that I, as well as all of you, have good missionary opportunities...it isn't enough to just pray for me, we're all missionaries.
Thanks for your worries, your prayers and your emails. I can't wait to see all of you, and I've told Heavenly Father that this week, I won't die, and I won't give up, until he takes my tag.
Love all of you,
Elder Smith
