The Time of My Life
Hey hey hey,
I know everyone's getting excited...and so am I! I've done great until yesterday Morning, which was Monday when I started thinking ahead a bit and started to get things organized in my bags. It's definitely hard to stay just as motivated and full of energy thinking you have family to see, and a new adventure to start in just a few days. But irregardless, I have a few things that have helped me stay grounded.
Rather than build up to it, like we tend to when we're teaching, I'll start with the climax and tell you why, this week, has been far better than last week. This, without a doubt, was the best, absolute best week of my mission.
As it now stands, Elder Malan will be training a brand new missionary next week AND we have 4 people projected for baptism. I can't tell you how pleased I was when I found out Elder Malan was training last night. All day he sat in agony wondering if he'd train...or if he'd have to wait for another couple months in despair. President called, and his face lit up. Mine did too. Aside from coming here to baptise, President Moffat's specific commission to me was "Get Elder Malan ready to train, he's a long way from it". Freakin sweet.
Elder Malan and I, since I came, I told him "This transfer, we need to do everything right, we need to do all the stupid little things that are expected of us, we need to do all of the things that we're told are important, we need to be obedient, we need to especially work hard, work smart, and BIND the Lord to his promises to the obedient". We have, and as always, the Lord blesses his missionaries and the righteous.
I can't believe we have 4 people getting baptised. So anyway....like I mentioned, the Brazilian guy, Edson will be baptised next Friday, and last week, it was a cold, dark Friday night, and I said "Why don't we go in?" after we'd tried a few call backs and it was 8:15 and we were a ways from home. Elder Malan said "I've got a feeling we should go to Edson and Jaineys". Malan's the man with the spirit, so I said "Okay" and off we went. We showed up, and Edson was there, along with Jainey. We finally caught both of them in...it was amazing because there schedules are so busy. They invited us in, we sat down, started chatting...and I said "Hey Jainey, you never really got taught about the church right? Think we could tell you for a few minutes what your husband is getting into?" She said Sure. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and it all came together. After 4 and a half weeks of practise, teaching, failing to teach, struggling, "Ummms" and blank stares from Elder Malan, we taught by the spirit, and when we testified of the Celestial Kingdom, and it's blessings for their eternal family Elder Malan projected Jainey for baptism. She looked at her husband, said "When are you getting baptised?" and we coordinated a date a week later for both of them to go, as husband and wife. Saaaaaaaawweeeeet. When I arrived to Hereford, the Bishop, Bishop Bakewell said to me "So what do you want to do while your here?", and I said him, probably a bit cocky, but being serious said, "Find and baptise a family, mother and father". The Lord provided. When we left, Elder Malan and I were just again, on a spiritual high. I was really in awe of the growth that's taken place in this guy, he's really a spiritual monster now...much like Enoch was when he went around in the Pearl of Great Price. So that's Edson and Jainey.
The other two, were, probably who you expected, Amanda Madducks, and her 13 year old son Tyler. We went around this past Friday and taught them with Paul Johnson. I wouldn't really say it was much of a teach...because Paul loves to talk, but we got into things about the church, the youth program, the standards, and explaining to Amanda's husband that she wasn't about to go on a mission and leave the family. It was fun telling him that they were still going to be together...the relief on his face was priceless. We invited them to church, and Amanda said she'd love to, and would bring her hardcore religious son Tyler(who goes to church on his own every week...crazy stuff). Paul picked them up on Sunday, and they came, looking great. Both in church dress, wearing smiles as well. After Priesthood, we met up to go into the usual Gospel Principles class...and as it seemed like, Heavenly Father was just picking on me that day...seeing how much work I could do...the teacher wasn't there. Me and Elder Malan scrambled, we we're huffing and puffing for a minute, then decided we'd do it, and acted as if we'd prepared a lesson. It was entitled "The Gift of the Holy Ghost" from the manual. We had about 6 other members in there. We all talked, and they all testified and shared their own experiences. Even Amanda was very forthright in telling us of the power she felt as we stood at her door and her experiences with the spirit in the past. It was so cool when she said "When they left, I just felt so happy abuot what they had told me". The time was almost spent, the bell rung, and we were just rapping up. I thought for a minute, and said, "I think we ought to finish by reading Mosiah 18", and I looked over at Paul Johnson, who turned to it...and smiled. We all read in a circle, and Amanda it turned out, was reading verse 10. She read aloud, "What do you have against being baptised" and she kind of smiled. She looked up, and I said, "So Amanda, the question is for you, what do you have against being baptised on February 2nd?" "Nothing", she said. What? YEAH?! The members backed things up and testified of how great it would be. 3 projections down...and Elder Malan and Elder Smith, the Hunters, walked out of the room.
We progressed into Sacrament, where me and Elder Malan blessed it, and handed out MOLDY bread...yes, the Deacons brought MOLDY bread. It was gross scrambling to remove the molded over pieces whilst putting the good ones in. So thus far, we've taught Gospel Principles, blessed and passed the Sacrament, and finally, the Bishop asked me to get up and speak for a moment.(Elder Malan called him the previously day while in the bathroom...on the toilet, requesting that I get up for a minute...the cheek) I shared a scripture from Mosiah 4:17 and expressed how important I felt it was to serve a mission, and go from what I was, a boy spiritually, to a man spiritually, while being here. Sacrament was actually pretty amazingly orchestrated. Each talk was about the Holy Ghost. One of the last lessons Amanda had asked, "So what is the Holy Ghost then?"...it was incredible. After all was said and done, sacrament was awesome, and me and Elder Malan grabbed Tyler, well...asked him to follow us, and started a conversation about baptism and Christening. He said he'd been Christened, but then said "I want to be baptised". Okay...fair enough then. We showed him the baptismal font, and said "So, how would you feel about being baptised with your mom next Friday?" He was all smiles and said "Definitely!" and proceeded to tell everyone in church he was getting baptised.
So overall, 4 projections, and hopefully, 4 baptisms. When I came, we had nothing, and it reminded me of a line from Dumb and Dumber when Lloyd sells their dog-mobile, and buys a little scooter from them to drive all the way out to Colorado. He pulls up to Harry, and after explaining where he got the scooter, Harry says...like an idiot..."You go and do something SO STUPID....*long pause* AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF". Now, the relation to Hereford's missionary work and that quote really aren't that strong...but that's how I feel this place is going now. Redeemed, and progressing. I'm pleased, and so is Elder Malan. And no doubt, the Big Guy is as well, which I'm most happy about...helping him.
I could go on and on...like I usually do...but I'll just wrap it up.
When I was called as a missionary to serve in England, I was told 3 specific things:
1) You can't baptise
2) The food is awful
3) The people are not nice
We won't go into the food all that much, because, well, ...well, at least the chocolates good!
I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned here, over and over again, is the idea of a mindset, a preconditioned state of thinking that leads people to underachieve, and have lowered expectations. I've always loved the New Testament as a missionary, when I first read it in Swindon, I fell in love with it. One of my favorite scriptures, comes from Luke, and it says "For with the Lord, nothing is impossible". Bruce Lee, when I read a book from him a couple years ago, said that When we reach plateaus, whether it be physically, intellectually, or spiritually, when we feel as if we can't reach to a higher level...we always can.
I came, I worked, I baptised.
I have to say, I really love England, I love the people, I enjoy the food, and look forward to American, and I've learned more about myself, in every aspect, than ever before. I felt as though when I came here, and over the past 2 years, much like Adam and Eve, I've had my eyes opened to the truth, to become like Mormon in the Book of Mormon, observant(thought maybe not yet quick to observe) and I've come to cherish the things we have and are working towards.
I just want to let you all know, how grateful I am to have been a missionary. I realize that when I come home, moreso than ever, I am a missionary, a disciple of Christ...but wearing the black name tag, with the title Elder on their, has been an honor. It's to me, the greatest thing I've done thus far in my life.
I think the main thing for me, the reason why it's so important, is because of the knowledge I've gained about God, and who he is, and what he has given us the opportunity to become. Though i came here to serve, and to help others come closer to God, it's given me a great chance to do the same. Without serving a mission, there's no way I'd ever have what I have now...and I'll always remember it.
I know, not from any vision, or light, that God is there, and that he loves me, just as mom and dad has. It's been hard to express that to so many people here, what a Fathers love is like, when they grow up with a single mom, but I know my Heavenly Father is there and watches out for me. I know that Jesus is the Christ. We all say that word, the Christ, but it took me 2 years to really figure what that meant to me, and what it meant for the world. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, his sacrifice for us, is so meaningful, so powerful, that when I think and read of any account of Christ on the cross, or suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, I can only think and be reminded of how great a love he has for us, and cry. Not for pain, but out of a recognition of how great a person he was, how great a brother. The Atonement as well, enabled us to be here, to be redeemed not only spiritually, but physically from the fall. It's so cool how in the Resurrection, we receive a physical body back that is perfect. I love how the Atonement enables us to live together as a family, assuming we are all righteous, back in Heavenly Father's presence, and that's not just for me, and us, but for everyone who is willing to make the sacrifice, take up the cross and follow him. I've loved learning about Joseph Smith, the initial prophet of the Restoration. A boy of only 14, asked the most significant of questions over the past 2000 years, and received the most significant answer from Jesus Christ. He and his wife, lost so many of their children, due to persecution, he was tarred and feathered, shot at, attacked, beaten, whipped, you name it, simply for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I love that man and I love the Book of Mormon that he worked so hard, and bled so much for. For 2 years now, reading the Bible and Book of Mormon together, I've never felt closer to God. At many times I worried about my own selfish things, but when I forgot myself and went to work, the Spirit was with me.
Though when I came to England, I did what a lot of missionaries do, and waited to seriously question God about this church...when I did, when I humbled myself, told him I was willing to listen and follow him, I studied things out, and asked. He told me, specifically, by my feelings of clarity, by the peace that came to me, that this was God's church restored. I can still remember the day in Swindon, sitting in the study room, getting off my knees, and sitting and thinking. It was there, the answer that I would testify to the world about. I knew I felt God's power. I feel it's such a priviledge to know God is there, through that experience, and now to have gone out, and helped him, serve his children.
I love this church, and I love the prospect that one day, we can return to God's presence, not singly, but together, as a family, to live for the eternities, continuing God's work, and most importantly feeling joy.
I can't wait to see all of you on Thursday. I'll do my best not to get sick, or hit by a bus in the mean time. Make sure you all help me adjust, and realize that I might be a bit of a weirdo when I get back...24/7 talking and teaching about God, it might be difficult initially to have a normal conversation about say...baseball...or Taco Bell...but bear with me.
Thanks again for all of your support and love, I think it would have been very hard to come here without all of your help. The letters, emails and packages have been awesome. Some of the missionaries I know, have been disowned by their families because they went on missionaries, or were baptised back in their own countries. So, please don't do that in the next few days...no matter how weird I am!!!
Again, can't wait to see you...in the mean time, Love you all
Elder Scott Smith...
soon to be Scotter again
I know everyone's getting excited...and so am I! I've done great until yesterday Morning, which was Monday when I started thinking ahead a bit and started to get things organized in my bags. It's definitely hard to stay just as motivated and full of energy thinking you have family to see, and a new adventure to start in just a few days. But irregardless, I have a few things that have helped me stay grounded.
Rather than build up to it, like we tend to when we're teaching, I'll start with the climax and tell you why, this week, has been far better than last week. This, without a doubt, was the best, absolute best week of my mission.
As it now stands, Elder Malan will be training a brand new missionary next week AND we have 4 people projected for baptism. I can't tell you how pleased I was when I found out Elder Malan was training last night. All day he sat in agony wondering if he'd train...or if he'd have to wait for another couple months in despair. President called, and his face lit up. Mine did too. Aside from coming here to baptise, President Moffat's specific commission to me was "Get Elder Malan ready to train, he's a long way from it". Freakin sweet.
Elder Malan and I, since I came, I told him "This transfer, we need to do everything right, we need to do all the stupid little things that are expected of us, we need to do all of the things that we're told are important, we need to be obedient, we need to especially work hard, work smart, and BIND the Lord to his promises to the obedient". We have, and as always, the Lord blesses his missionaries and the righteous.
I can't believe we have 4 people getting baptised. So anyway....like I mentioned, the Brazilian guy, Edson will be baptised next Friday, and last week, it was a cold, dark Friday night, and I said "Why don't we go in?" after we'd tried a few call backs and it was 8:15 and we were a ways from home. Elder Malan said "I've got a feeling we should go to Edson and Jaineys". Malan's the man with the spirit, so I said "Okay" and off we went. We showed up, and Edson was there, along with Jainey. We finally caught both of them in...it was amazing because there schedules are so busy. They invited us in, we sat down, started chatting...and I said "Hey Jainey, you never really got taught about the church right? Think we could tell you for a few minutes what your husband is getting into?" She said Sure. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and it all came together. After 4 and a half weeks of practise, teaching, failing to teach, struggling, "Ummms" and blank stares from Elder Malan, we taught by the spirit, and when we testified of the Celestial Kingdom, and it's blessings for their eternal family Elder Malan projected Jainey for baptism. She looked at her husband, said "When are you getting baptised?" and we coordinated a date a week later for both of them to go, as husband and wife. Saaaaaaaawweeeeet. When I arrived to Hereford, the Bishop, Bishop Bakewell said to me "So what do you want to do while your here?", and I said him, probably a bit cocky, but being serious said, "Find and baptise a family, mother and father". The Lord provided. When we left, Elder Malan and I were just again, on a spiritual high. I was really in awe of the growth that's taken place in this guy, he's really a spiritual monster now...much like Enoch was when he went around in the Pearl of Great Price. So that's Edson and Jainey.
The other two, were, probably who you expected, Amanda Madducks, and her 13 year old son Tyler. We went around this past Friday and taught them with Paul Johnson. I wouldn't really say it was much of a teach...because Paul loves to talk, but we got into things about the church, the youth program, the standards, and explaining to Amanda's husband that she wasn't about to go on a mission and leave the family. It was fun telling him that they were still going to be together...the relief on his face was priceless. We invited them to church, and Amanda said she'd love to, and would bring her hardcore religious son Tyler(who goes to church on his own every week...crazy stuff). Paul picked them up on Sunday, and they came, looking great. Both in church dress, wearing smiles as well. After Priesthood, we met up to go into the usual Gospel Principles class...and as it seemed like, Heavenly Father was just picking on me that day...seeing how much work I could do...the teacher wasn't there. Me and Elder Malan scrambled, we we're huffing and puffing for a minute, then decided we'd do it, and acted as if we'd prepared a lesson. It was entitled "The Gift of the Holy Ghost" from the manual. We had about 6 other members in there. We all talked, and they all testified and shared their own experiences. Even Amanda was very forthright in telling us of the power she felt as we stood at her door and her experiences with the spirit in the past. It was so cool when she said "When they left, I just felt so happy abuot what they had told me". The time was almost spent, the bell rung, and we were just rapping up. I thought for a minute, and said, "I think we ought to finish by reading Mosiah 18", and I looked over at Paul Johnson, who turned to it...and smiled. We all read in a circle, and Amanda it turned out, was reading verse 10. She read aloud, "What do you have against being baptised" and she kind of smiled. She looked up, and I said, "So Amanda, the question is for you, what do you have against being baptised on February 2nd?" "Nothing", she said. What? YEAH?! The members backed things up and testified of how great it would be. 3 projections down...and Elder Malan and Elder Smith, the Hunters, walked out of the room.
We progressed into Sacrament, where me and Elder Malan blessed it, and handed out MOLDY bread...yes, the Deacons brought MOLDY bread. It was gross scrambling to remove the molded over pieces whilst putting the good ones in. So thus far, we've taught Gospel Principles, blessed and passed the Sacrament, and finally, the Bishop asked me to get up and speak for a moment.(Elder Malan called him the previously day while in the bathroom...on the toilet, requesting that I get up for a minute...the cheek) I shared a scripture from Mosiah 4:17 and expressed how important I felt it was to serve a mission, and go from what I was, a boy spiritually, to a man spiritually, while being here. Sacrament was actually pretty amazingly orchestrated. Each talk was about the Holy Ghost. One of the last lessons Amanda had asked, "So what is the Holy Ghost then?"...it was incredible. After all was said and done, sacrament was awesome, and me and Elder Malan grabbed Tyler, well...asked him to follow us, and started a conversation about baptism and Christening. He said he'd been Christened, but then said "I want to be baptised". Okay...fair enough then. We showed him the baptismal font, and said "So, how would you feel about being baptised with your mom next Friday?" He was all smiles and said "Definitely!" and proceeded to tell everyone in church he was getting baptised.
So overall, 4 projections, and hopefully, 4 baptisms. When I came, we had nothing, and it reminded me of a line from Dumb and Dumber when Lloyd sells their dog-mobile, and buys a little scooter from them to drive all the way out to Colorado. He pulls up to Harry, and after explaining where he got the scooter, Harry says...like an idiot..."You go and do something SO STUPID....*long pause* AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF". Now, the relation to Hereford's missionary work and that quote really aren't that strong...but that's how I feel this place is going now. Redeemed, and progressing. I'm pleased, and so is Elder Malan. And no doubt, the Big Guy is as well, which I'm most happy about...helping him.
I could go on and on...like I usually do...but I'll just wrap it up.
When I was called as a missionary to serve in England, I was told 3 specific things:
1) You can't baptise
2) The food is awful
3) The people are not nice
We won't go into the food all that much, because, well, ...well, at least the chocolates good!
I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned here, over and over again, is the idea of a mindset, a preconditioned state of thinking that leads people to underachieve, and have lowered expectations. I've always loved the New Testament as a missionary, when I first read it in Swindon, I fell in love with it. One of my favorite scriptures, comes from Luke, and it says "For with the Lord, nothing is impossible". Bruce Lee, when I read a book from him a couple years ago, said that When we reach plateaus, whether it be physically, intellectually, or spiritually, when we feel as if we can't reach to a higher level...we always can.
I came, I worked, I baptised.
I have to say, I really love England, I love the people, I enjoy the food, and look forward to American, and I've learned more about myself, in every aspect, than ever before. I felt as though when I came here, and over the past 2 years, much like Adam and Eve, I've had my eyes opened to the truth, to become like Mormon in the Book of Mormon, observant(thought maybe not yet quick to observe) and I've come to cherish the things we have and are working towards.
I just want to let you all know, how grateful I am to have been a missionary. I realize that when I come home, moreso than ever, I am a missionary, a disciple of Christ...but wearing the black name tag, with the title Elder on their, has been an honor. It's to me, the greatest thing I've done thus far in my life.
I think the main thing for me, the reason why it's so important, is because of the knowledge I've gained about God, and who he is, and what he has given us the opportunity to become. Though i came here to serve, and to help others come closer to God, it's given me a great chance to do the same. Without serving a mission, there's no way I'd ever have what I have now...and I'll always remember it.
I know, not from any vision, or light, that God is there, and that he loves me, just as mom and dad has. It's been hard to express that to so many people here, what a Fathers love is like, when they grow up with a single mom, but I know my Heavenly Father is there and watches out for me. I know that Jesus is the Christ. We all say that word, the Christ, but it took me 2 years to really figure what that meant to me, and what it meant for the world. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, his sacrifice for us, is so meaningful, so powerful, that when I think and read of any account of Christ on the cross, or suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, I can only think and be reminded of how great a love he has for us, and cry. Not for pain, but out of a recognition of how great a person he was, how great a brother. The Atonement as well, enabled us to be here, to be redeemed not only spiritually, but physically from the fall. It's so cool how in the Resurrection, we receive a physical body back that is perfect. I love how the Atonement enables us to live together as a family, assuming we are all righteous, back in Heavenly Father's presence, and that's not just for me, and us, but for everyone who is willing to make the sacrifice, take up the cross and follow him. I've loved learning about Joseph Smith, the initial prophet of the Restoration. A boy of only 14, asked the most significant of questions over the past 2000 years, and received the most significant answer from Jesus Christ. He and his wife, lost so many of their children, due to persecution, he was tarred and feathered, shot at, attacked, beaten, whipped, you name it, simply for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I love that man and I love the Book of Mormon that he worked so hard, and bled so much for. For 2 years now, reading the Bible and Book of Mormon together, I've never felt closer to God. At many times I worried about my own selfish things, but when I forgot myself and went to work, the Spirit was with me.
Though when I came to England, I did what a lot of missionaries do, and waited to seriously question God about this church...when I did, when I humbled myself, told him I was willing to listen and follow him, I studied things out, and asked. He told me, specifically, by my feelings of clarity, by the peace that came to me, that this was God's church restored. I can still remember the day in Swindon, sitting in the study room, getting off my knees, and sitting and thinking. It was there, the answer that I would testify to the world about. I knew I felt God's power. I feel it's such a priviledge to know God is there, through that experience, and now to have gone out, and helped him, serve his children.
I love this church, and I love the prospect that one day, we can return to God's presence, not singly, but together, as a family, to live for the eternities, continuing God's work, and most importantly feeling joy.
I can't wait to see all of you on Thursday. I'll do my best not to get sick, or hit by a bus in the mean time. Make sure you all help me adjust, and realize that I might be a bit of a weirdo when I get back...24/7 talking and teaching about God, it might be difficult initially to have a normal conversation about say...baseball...or Taco Bell...but bear with me.
Thanks again for all of your support and love, I think it would have been very hard to come here without all of your help. The letters, emails and packages have been awesome. Some of the missionaries I know, have been disowned by their families because they went on missionaries, or were baptised back in their own countries. So, please don't do that in the next few days...no matter how weird I am!!!
Again, can't wait to see you...in the mean time, Love you all
Elder Scott Smith...
soon to be Scotter again
posted by JerzyGrl | 7:23 AM
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