The day before the day before I leave...

Oi, Tudo bem?

    I get an opportunity to write home now because I have a mini p-day to write home, do laundry and pack before Monday.   Not much has happened in the past few days since my last email mainly just the last few days have been preparing to leave the MTC.  I have a great testimony of the sanctity of a mission and the way that God prepares us all to do what we are supposed to because of the MTC.  I am excited to leave but anxious of the friends and wonderful memories I will be leaving behind.  However I know it is possible with faith in the Lord because I have already done it.  I have left behind all of you and a wonderful life however I don't regret it.  A mission has done more for me to turn me into the man I want to become in 6 weeks than the past 4 years or more combined. 

     I want you to know I love you all and that you will never be too far from my mind

love,

Elder Sam Smith

So Ends the Part where Elder Smith Lived in the MTC

Tudo Bem familia!

     My six week sojourn is at an end and soon I must depart into the great white north, Monday morning at 3:30 AM,  nevertheless I have one more P-day to write home to you all about the marvelous happenings of the MTC.  It has been a week most long and difficult spent mainly at residency as I have found my self sufficiently weakened by the ailment commonly known as the common cold.  However, I have waxed strong in my resting and meditation and have also succumbed to the lesser known condition of being stir crazy and have once again started venturing forth into the world of the living.  This now being my fourth day in the outside world and I have seen the most wonderful things.  Mainly the abatement of my disease as I have come off the victor and more wondrous feelings and an increase of the spirit as I have continued learning Portuguese and have been attending devotionals and spending a lot of time in the scriptures.  

    Leaving what if I say is a lost art of story telling I feel that I should probably say the rest of my email like regular but please don't change the first paragraph, also I title all these in the subject line and I hope that transitions to the blog.  Any who back to this week,  I was very sick towards the end of last Tuesday and had to go back to residency with a severe fever, migraine, and sore throat.  I spent the next day with my fellow doente (sick person, patient) Elder Mason and we went to the doctor who declared we both had pretty severe colds.  I am all better now after a week of Ibuprofen and pseudafed.  I spent the rest of the week in residency sleeping and reading which has been actually a large benefit.  This week I finished the Book of Mormon again which helped strengthen my testimony as well as received a blessing from Elder Loveland which helped immensely with my illness and recovery.  I also received some revelation which I think Will help some of you at home so look for my package soon it will have some presents.  Also last week I received my flight plans.  I leave monday at 3:30 to the airport.  My first flight leaves at 7:30 to detroit.  I then have a 2 hour layover in detroit before my flight to Toronto.  I will try to call at both however you will have to bear with a 4 in the morning phone call.  i am the only Elder flying to Toronto however I get to spend some time in detroit just like Dad.

    I am super Excited and Love you all see you soon,

Love,

Elder Sam Smith

Jokes...

Editor's note: Today Michael got a snail mail letter from his brother. Michael had a rough week with some medical issues and to cheer him up the Elders sent him these jokes.

There are two whales, the first whale says to the other  *insert whale noise here* and the second whale says to the other whale, "Go home, Phil, you are tired." - Elder Baker 2015

What is Brown and Sticky? A Stick - Elder Mason 2015

What is a tree's favorite soda? Rootbeer - Elder Brown  2015
(Editor's note: This one got a very big belly laugh)

Guy walked into a bar, what did he say? OW! - Elder Brown 2015

How many narcissists does it take to screw in a light bulb? 1 he holds up the light bulb and the world revolves around him to screw it in...
-Elder Mason 2015
(Editor's note: This one took some explaining...)

Why are Elephants so wrinkly? Have you tried to iron an elephant?
-Elder Baker 2015

Added information...just a few more details...

So answering a few questions...I received Medical Care, meaning I just went and talked to the Doctor. I am totally fine and so is Elder Loveland. The doctor actually said his condition is caused because he is just super athletic and his heart is better than all of us.


The Nashville Tribute Band was fantastic. We sang two songs with them. John's Song and I was Born. They also sang a bunch of other songs of theirs and told stories. It was an awesome experience. Two songs I liked as well were The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do and Brother I Would Follow you.

The fourth general Epistle of Elder Smith unto the people of his homeland

Oi, Tudo Bem!

     It has been another great week in the MTC with lots of spiritual things and stuff that I have enjoyed however like everything else in life it was not without its challenges.  In the past week lots of things have happened here and at home and not all of them have been good.  I have learned more this week than before that everything will work itself out in the end and that we should put our trust in the Lord and that he blesses us.  We had a devotional a while back where our mission president shared this quote from President Nelson, "The precise challenge you see as impossible maybe the refinement you need in his eyes.  The eyes of a loving Heavenly Father."  I have come to learn of the truthfulness of this statement as I have faced the trials I have seen this week.  

  

   As I have mentioned this week was exciting both at the MTC and at home for our family.  Here I spent three days this week at a hospital.  On Wednesday I was in excruciating pain early in the morning.  We set up a doctor's appointment and went about the rest of our day however I found that as I spent the day reading my scriptures and studying in my room I was blessed as all the pain left me.  I was completely better by the time of my doctors appointment and we were able to return to our regular day.  Two days later though Elder Loveland was afflicted with some pretty severe heat exhaustion and after we got to the ER they found an abnormality in his heart.  They put him through some tests and gave him a heart monitor and after all that they found his only problem was that
he had a slow heartbeat.  These are just a few of the blessings I have seen this week as we have endeavored to put all of our trust in the Lord.  

    

 One last piece of advice for all of you out there.  I would encourage you to read 1Peter 3:15 and take it's advice.  Be the kind of people who let your light and testimony shine forth so that others will ask you about your testimony

Much Love

--

Elder Sam Smith

Photo attached to email of Provo Temple Roses in bloom

Elder Smith and Elder Parsons in the MTC

1 Peter 3:15  "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

Arise and Shine Forth by Sally deFord performed July 19, 2015 at Sam's farewell

Half Way There...

Oi, Tudo Bem Familia e amigos?,

   It has been another great week here at the MTC which is always a blessing.  We were visited by Elder Russel M. Nelson as well as some more great lessons with progressing investigators.  It was a spiritually uplifting week but also a week with some great challenges for me personally and also in our companionship.  I have been able to develop an amazing testimony this week that the Lord answers prayers and also that he will bless those that follow him.  He has this week brought me closer to himself, helped heal my leg, and helped Elder Loveland and I grow closer than ever and resolve just some standard problems that arise in companionships.  Oh and I found my wallet.  I wrote a letter to tell you guys about it but you left town before you got it but I appreciated the prayers that you would send my way and I could feel you blessing my life.

    I have to answer some questions now I guess so that I can clear up some different confusions.  The investigators are just our teachers for the most part role playing as actual people that they know so that they can receive revelation through us as well as we can practice.  Currently we have two investigators, Ricardo (Irmao Sears) and Gustavo (Irmao Machado), who are our two teachers for our stay at the MTC.  All of our lessons have over all been very successful and I am having a lot of spiritual experiences with all of them and the Portuguese is actually getting better.  I have joined the choir and have been singing since the Sunday I got here.  We have sung in two devotionals including the one for President Nelson and we are practicing to sing with the Nashville Tribute Band next week.   I have lots of friends here in all the districts and I can't really name them all right now I am a little rushed for time but I have started playing Beach Volleyball because the gym is closed. 

    But that is about it I love you all so much and I have been blessed so much and am excited to hear how well everything is going back home.

Much Love

--

Elder Sam Smith



NOTE...Today we also received some snail mail dated 8/6/15

Querida Familia,
Oi Tudo e, Eu tentio minha carteria e eu estou muito feliz! For those of you that don't speak Portuguese that means I found my wallet and i am very happy. It is great to hear how much you all have been doing for me to help me find it. I guess I just wasn't supposed to be at the Temple on Tuesday this week. However, You  have been a blessing in more ways than one and my district and other friends were very grateful for the donuts. that very day my district had been complaining that you would send things to Elder Loveland and not them and requested donuts. When I had two boxes of donuts we all thought it had to be a sign that the church is true.
As for the rest of the News at the MTC I should probably catch you up. I have been attending choir twice a week since we got here and it is some of the greatest experiences I have had. This week we performed for the "Special Guest" which just happened to be Elder Russell M. Nelson. He gave a wonderful talk on almost every major gospel principle and I was able to learn so much from him.
On Wednesday, when the new arrivals came I was not able to host, however,  I still managed to see Conner. Elder Parsons looks great and hopefully I will see more of him while he is here.I gave him a big hug and welcomed him to the MTC but they were ushering him off to other activities so I will just have to find him over the next week and talk to him. Today I ran into Elder Kariuki as well, apparently he came in yesterday Ten bem and I gave him a big hug as well. I have been able to see lots of people in the MTC. Elder Hills, Elder Lee, Elder Nixon, Elder Jeong, Elder Numbers, Elder Christiansen and Elder Woodwell. They are all usually busy like I am but I have been able to talk to all of them at least once.
Love you all a whole bunch. Have fun with your adventure.

With Love,
Elder Sam Smith

No photos from our favorite Elder, but we have a few to share.

MJ's "Elder" Bear,Toronto, is our version of Flat Sam. We took him to Bryce Canyon.

We found lots of free Book of Mormon options, even Portuguese. 

MJ and his junior companion also visited Cove Fort this week.

Michael for the win...more Snail mail today

8/2/15
Querido Michael,
Oi tudo Bem? What is the news? How are things back home? I think about you guys and wonder how you are doing.

Today we had a great day. I had to teach a lesson but we get to have visits from church leaders. It is also just pretty great to visit the temple and study the Gospel. I like that I am given so much free time.

Just to answer the different questions you have asked. I am good, Elder Loveland is doing great as well. He really likes the letters you are sending him. The food here is really good. I eat very well and really like all the gifts you guys send me. I also love the jokes you keep sending me.

I love you lots it is a great time here in the MTC and I love all of you guys at home. You are my favorite and I think about you alot. I know you are doing the right things. I can't wait until the day that you get to come and serve your own mission. It will be legendary.

Much Love,
Elder Sam Smith


8/2/15
Querido Mai,
Obrigado por a gulseima. Ela e muito boa. It has meant alot to hear from all of you and I really enjoy reading all of your letters. I am super thankful for everything though. I  have had a great time at the MTC and the food hasn't actually been that bad.

Elder Loveland and I have successfully taught our first investigator in Portuguese and starting tomorrow teach two new investigators for the rest of our stay at the MTC. I am pretty excited for that, especially now that we know a fair amount of the language, as far as it pertains to teaching.

Know that I love you all very much and wish you all the best. I hope that all the good things keep happening at home.
How is everybody back home? How was dad's trip to the Windrivers without me?
Love you all so much and can't wait to hear from you!
Your favorite missionary,
Elder Sam Smith

Another one down...

Querido mai,

  This week has been pretty fantastic but also a little bit bad.  Lets do the bad things first because there aren't as many.  This week we lost our zone leaders and sister training leaders who were super cool, Elders Smart, Lewis, and Plogehr and Sisters Dustin and Dickerson.  It was sad to see them go because it was a good majority of the good foursquare players just all gone in one fell swoop.  On top of that we have been having a plague going around the MTC that is making most of us sick.  It is just a regular common cold for most of us but we are taking some medicine so we will be fine.  Probably worst of all though this week is that we are losing one of the better members of our district and my foursquare buddy.  He got super homesick and yesterday the counselors told him that they had to send him home.  We will miss him a lot and all of us were shocked when he took such a drastic turn he was one of the best of us.  On top of that I also lost my wallet and hurt my leg so I am walking with a limp but those will both work out so I am not to worried.

  The positives though are pretty great.  We have been bonding as a district and have been making some pretty great strides in out Portuguese.  I have been making tons of friends and had some pretty great experiences with them while I was here that I have been writing in my journal.  Our investigator from last week is now one of our two teachers and we transition between teaching him and Brother Sears for the rest of our stay.  We also start TRC this week and I am starting to get pretty good at Portuguese.  I am starting to really get into the swing of things here at the MTC and have loved to hear from you guys and really appreciate what you have been doing for me.  I have loved that challenge cube you sent me as well I have only figured out one algorithm for it though and I might need you to send me some hints if you could be so kind.  The spirit at the MTC is amazing and I am learning so much and very rapidly.  Elder Loveland and I taught a lesson this week in priesthood and the things I learned were amazing about the commandment of obedience.

I don't have much else to say we are going through some changes here gaining new districts and losing some good friends to the Brazil MTC.  I am one of the few actual foursquare champions left at the MTC and I am feeling kind of lonely about it.  I don't want to try and do any of  the other sports though or even attempt to run with Elder Loveland, he runs like three or more miles a day.  But I have faith it will all work out in the end.

   Love you all a whole bunch

Elder Sam Smith

MTC roommates

 The district in classes

 More studying

 The Provo Temple and Elder Loveland

The temple gardens

   

The District - photos by Elder Lunsfod

More time in class...

Michael was lucky enough to receive the first snail mail letter from our Elder...

7/25/15
Querido Michael,

 Oi, Tudo bem? That is a common greeting in Portuguese. It means "all is well". Usually you respond with Tudo bem, or muito bem (very good). The MTC is tons of fun but lots of work every day. We spend like 8 hours a day studying Portuguese and the Gospel. We have an investigator. We have had two lessons this second one went tons better then the first.
However, to answer your questions, my favorite food so far has been the ribs we had tonight. Best meal by far, however, they have all been better than I thought they would be. Elder Brown, one of my roommates, has gotten us all writing our favorite food of the day. But the ribs by far have been the best. Minho companniero ese comechar Elder Loveland, (My companion's name is Elder Loveland) and he is really nice. He runs alot and has a great spirit.
Gym is awesome! So far we have only gone twice but it is loads of fun! Usually I play four square (quadro quadrado) which is super intense at the MTC. I am getting pretty good though and making friends with the other missionaries.
I love you all so much! You are the best little brother anyone can ask for and I know that you will be fine. Have fun with the xbox and Mom and Dad.
Love,
Elder Sam Smith