Wedding bells and War!

Ola Familia!

  Well this week has been super interesting.  We have seen some ups and downs as  usual, however this week we have been greatly blessed by the lord.  It has strengthened my testimony immensly that as we are anxiously engaged in a good cause that the little miracles will happen and those will add up to making large differences.  

   This week just started out great with a visit to our recent converts.  There mother is in Russia right now working on some paperwork and getting some treatments done.  It was super cool though because we were able to teach not only them but also their brother who is not a member!  We are now working with the ward to get some more activities for the kids to get them out of the house and active in the day.

  In other news we also were able to go and meet our Mission President this week.  He was so cool and it was so inspiring to meet him.  I loved President Clayton and was quite shocked when he was called however, I know that President Shields is called of God.  He went through the war chapters of the book of mormon with us which are some of my favorites.  It got me so pumped and then in my interview it was so much fun to talk to him and to get his insights on how we can best work with the less active and active YSA in our unit and the blessings that he promised us for doing so. 

  As for the wedding it was happy however it is one of the weirdest experiences of my life.  It was the wedding of one of the returning members in our ward and his wife from Hamilton.  It was a very different experience than any other wedding I had been to.  Sufficeth to say that I am so thankful for the gospel and the ability we have to be sealed for time and all eternity and the spirituality that is present in even the simple things.  

   Questions.

1. What are your p day plans?
We did some shopping for our bake sale on Saturday and are going to go play pool soon.
2. How are your investigators?
Good. We found 5 new ones this week. Most in the Zone the Lord has truly been blessing us. 

3. What service did you complete this week?
We trimmed some trees and did some weeding for my Nona.
4. What's going on with your ESL assignment?
We are Kiling it we have a class of about 5 students and are working on bringing in even more of them.  
5. How is the weather? Did the a/c unit get fixed in your apartment?
Weather is in flux. had some cold days last week. 
6. What are you looking forward to this week?
We are set to meet with most of our investigators again as well as find around 5 more. 
7. Have you met the new president and his wife yet?
yes. 
8. What was the most interesting place you went this week?
Applebees
9. What is Elder Davis' favorite treat?
Chicken Fried Steak.  But he will accept butterfingers as well 
10. Have you had to speak or sing or teach anything in church lately?
Nope. 

Well thats All Folks!

Loves,

Elder Smith

A Clima Ta Doido Aqui!

 the Trees are in historic downtown Newmarket on like Queen Street I think

The bell is on Wellington in Aurora at the Go Station 

Oi familia Tudo Bem?

   Well it has been an interesting week for sure around here with transfers and lots of other just crazy experiences.  Earlier this week we were talking alot about our situation with little success and few investigators and we decide that one thing we needed to work on was the Language of Faith. it has made quite the difference as we have been seeing hearts soften out here in new market.  No major progress yet bu t it is changing.  

  In other news got a new slightly bad confirmation of how god answers prayers.  We were joking  one night about how awesome it would be if a huge spiritual meteor hit Ontario with our District leaders one night.  One of the biggest problems in most of the mission is that people are so focused on themselves and blinded by pride and complacency that they are afraid to change or even try to think about something or someone else.  Therefore we thought a spiritual meteor would be sufficient to humble the people to help them see that others exist.  So we all decided to pray about it and lo and behold this friday there were Tornadoes in Brampton and Warnings in Midland.  Moral of the story don't tempt God, tornadoes happen. 

  Other than that this week was kind of slow.  Talking to a lot of people about the gospel, them saying they aren't interested, us asking if they know anyone who is, them saying guys you are in the wrong town for this line of work.  You know the usual things.  We have found a couple of people that have some potential and we are going to work on building up to actually meeting with them.  One of my favorites this week was when we talked to Rihanna.  She was one lady that we contacted while we were working in the area of some potential investigators.  She was super nice sadly she is a witch though and said she was not interested in learning more with us. She did accept a copy of the Book of Mormon which was good however she didn't really want to mix with Christianity.  All in all a pretty interesting week. 

  Questions.

1. How was your week in New Market?

pretty slow as usual.  Started journaling again after a 5 month hiatus so I have been doing a lot of that.  Helps me find the little fun experiences from the week. 

 2. How are the ESL classes coming?

Good.  We had three new spanish students come this week it was really interesting. 

3. Still working with your 3 investigators? Did you find anyone  new?

We are trying most of them are avoiding us or we can't get in contact and we don't have any new this week. 

4. What was your most memorable experience this week?

Probably the Baptism on Saturday.  Past missionaries came back and it was really exciting. 

5. What are you looking forward to in the coming days?

We have a couple of appointments set up with some solid potential investigators we have been working on meeting with for over a transfer that are finally happening. 

6. What type of service did you participate in this past week?

We helped the bishop move that was about it though.  

7. What are some of your favorite things, people, places in the New Market area?

Mainly people.  The Newmarket ward is awesome and full of just some really quirky and awesome people. 

8. How has the weather been?

It is either death by fire or death by water it is pretty bad however we are surviving.  Went and bought a water bottle so that I can stay hydrated better. 

9. What are your pday plans?

Elder Davis needs a haircut and I need pants.  I split three pairs of mine and now I only have like one left.  I am getting them repaired by the personal seamstress of three different queens of England however I want to be better prepared should this happen again in the future.  

10. What is your favorite Pokemon?

Mega-Sableye

  Well that is all I guess. 

Loves,

Elder Smith

PS

 The old British seamstress was lecturing Elder Davis about how he is making it so that I am losing muscle and gaining fat so it is his fault.  Baptism of RK he was one of the sister's investigators.  Yeah tornadoes at least that is what we were told.  

Round 2

OI Familia!

   Well it is that time of the month again.  And we got our transfer news last night.  We are staying together but Elder davis is once again no longer a District leader.  So it seems I will be weathering another transfer in English work but apparently there are still things for us to do I Newmarket.  I look forward to the miracles that we will be seeing as we partner with the members.  It reminds me of the scripture where you see the miracles only after the trial of your faith.  Well hopefully we have had our trial and we will now see the miracles.  

    Anywho It has been a pretty normal week we found one new investigator and we moved four different families for 5 days of the week.  It is crazy the amount of service that we do here in Newmarket.  It is a lot of fun though and it is great to see all of the people's faces as we are able to help them with these things that can be so stressful at times.  It also almost always results in alot of food as well so that is pretty awesome.  

     AS for Questions. 

So on to questions...

1. Transfers any predictions or news?

Staying

2. Have you met President and Sister Shields?

No

3.What did you do for Canada Day?

Sat inside and made calls and worked on a dot map of our area because it rained all day and was very unpatriotic weather. 

4. Any big independence day plans?

We are having a Zone Barbecue and journal signing.  

5.What was your best experience this week?

We went contacting with the Bishop and it was a lot of fun.  He is such an amazing man and it was so cool to be able to work with him in meeting his neighbors and the needs of the ward.  

6. What are you looking forward to in the coming week?

Well not much really that is what comes with rebuilding an area is we don't have a lot to look forward too. 

7. What are the plans for your ESL group, did you have graduation already?

No graduation is probably this week and then we are going to see.  I still have to meet the new teachers and have a little meeting.  

8. What are you doing to try and meet new people in your area?

What ever we can.  Usually we just try to talk to everyone that we can we have been seeing more success lately with talking about family history. 

9. How are your investigators, do you still have two of them?

Nope now we have three and none of them are talking to us.  

10. What is your favorite Independence Day tradition, food, or memory?

I always just liked that we were all together and that we would meet for a bunch of just good family bonding time.  It always reminded me that family is the most important and that we will be happy if we can just remember that.  

 Well loves,

Elder Sam Smith

SADNESS and so much revelation

Saying goodbye to President and Sister Clayton at their final Zone conference June 23, 2016

Beleza!  Come ta familia?
   Espero que voces sao passando bom e que Deus sempre os abençõe!  Para mim esta semana era muito triste porque nosso presedente de missião ta voltando já pra casa e pra ser uma setenta!  Ta diodo mas não tenho nada pra fazer sem acaitar e faze o que ele queria que e pra servir dilligentimente.  Também esta semana tivemos nosso confereçia de Zona onde era eu, Elder Paul, Elder Goméz, e Elder Feth e muitos dos meus outros amigos. Era Legal demais!
  Well that is probably enough Portuguese it was good to see my friends again though and a lot of things have changed down in Toronto it is about ready for my triumphant return.  It was a very sad day with president's farewell and he gave us all the advice that he wants for us to have to have a productive life.  It was sick!!!!!!!  other than that it was a lot of super good revelation of how we need to partner with the members and reach out to help our investigators have friends and to help them become welcome members of the ward.  Because that is the secret of missionary work.  It is fun for missionaries to go and to have the door slammed in your face talking to a whole bunch of people however conversion happens best when it is through the member friends we all have.  
   Other than that our week was pretty good.  Still a little slow here.  however we found an investigator!  We were dropping by a Part Member Family on Thursday and they let us right in and gave us tacos! We were able to simply teach the restoration and now we are going back this Thursday again!  It was so good to actually accomplish something again and to see something come of our hard work. 
   Some Questions now.
1. What was the funniest experience you had this past week?
Probably when Elder Davis Threw up at FHE when we had a couple of new Returning members there.
2. What are you looking forward to in the coming week?
Finding new investigators.
3. What are you doing for exercise?
Doctor mandated back stretches. 
4. How are your investigators?
Well we have two now and they are doing well.  Being a little difficult but we will find some new ones. 
5. What's going on in ESL?
we got another new student and are planning a graduation party. 
6. What are your pday plans?
we are getting a watch fixed and baking cookies.  
7. What lesson did you learn this week that you would share with us all?
Now is the time to reach upwards from your foundation that is in Christ and keep moving closer to him.  As you do this your foundation will grow and you will be able to see the promise in Helaman 5:125:12 be fulfilled.  If you build upon a foundation in Christ you can not fall.
8. Do you have a favorite place to eat out in your new area?
Menchies or maybe Quesada
9. Have you been doing much cooking? (If yes, what do you cook?)
yes, usually leftovers.  We have like three different containers of chinese food from our chinese members.
10. Who is your favorite SUPER Villian? (From Michael)
Joker.
  Well just want to end with a part from my letter to President Clayton.  He asked us to give him a state of our mission address.  
"Well it is sad to see this day come to pass however I am glad for the opportunity that I have had to know you and sister Clayton and the examples you have been and the counsel you have given. I just wanted to say thank you. I remember my first day I came out and I was just ready to serve and I was so excited to meet everyone and to show my love to the world. It was definitely not what I expected at all once I got out here. Missionary work was much harder than I thought it would be and I often found myself discouraged and frustrated as I was not used to having to work hard for anything. However through your love and the wonderful companions, and most importantly the atoning sacrifice of our Saviour I have changed. My battle is still real and It is a constant fight against inside and out. I would not say that anything has changed on the outside, missions are hard, people are resistant to change, talking with everyone is still a little awkward, however I have changed. Like the people of Alma in Mosiah chapter 24:15. I am not perfect and my mission is not easy but I am much better equipped to deal with the loads and challenges that come our way. It really works like you said way back in the beginning of my mission. As we lose ourself the lord will find us. And president I have never enjoyed being lost more."

Loves,

Elder Smith

I'm Melting!!!!!!

Oi Familia beleza?

   Well it turns out that Michael is a psychic.  All he would ever say about my mission is that I was going to burn to death in a third floor apartment and it is coming to pass in front of my very eyes.  For the first time on my mission I am on the Third floor and little known fact Ontario is blazing hot during the summer and super humid.  Who would have thunk eh?  Anywho, we are going to buy some popsicles and stuff today to try and survive the very warm weather we have been having.  Other than that the week was pretty slow.  It would seem to me that the life back home is full of many more fast paced changes and drastic moves, (now that I am gone we decide to get a pool)  But that is okay.  This week we were able to watch one of the YSA Reps open their mission call, we went to the ward picnic out on a horse farm which was awesome, and we also were able to crash the Bishop's pool party which is super interesting.  FYI Pool parties are a lot less fun as a missionary than they are back at home.  The whole no swimming rule is one that doesn't really bother you until it becomes a temptation and then it is a nightmare.  

Anyways, that was about it for this week.  Other than that it was just working with a few less active members and doing a lot of service.

  So Time for Questions.

1 What was your most awesome adventure this week?

Probably the Ward Barbecue.  We had about 7 or 8 potential investigators there and we met our New Convert's son who was super cool.  

2. What did you see this week that you wouldn't expect to see in Bountiful, Utah?

Well there is not a lot to see here in New Market.  There was a super cool old car show the other day.

3. Where do you do your laundry?

on the main floor of our apartment building. 

4. What are you doing for your ESL calling this week?

Blitzing flyers and trying to get more students. 

5. What was your biggest success this past week?

I don't really know nothing much has been going as planned as of late.  Maybe the Barbecue.  

6. What goals have you set for the new week?

Lots of them.  Mainly finding people and getting investigators to progress. 

7. What are your pday plans?

We have dinner with a member of the bishopric and we are trying to do some grocery shopping as well today.  I am buying socks.  And Elder Davis is getting his watch fixed.  

8. How is the Canadian weather treating you?

Terrible.

9. How is C progressing? Any new investigators?

We haven't been able to meet with her and no new investigators.  

10. What was your favorite YTU elective?

Shakespeare electives.  I did two different ones and they were great.  That or Improv.  

Anywho I gues that is all for this week thanks for the love and support!

Loves,

Elder Smith.

Elder Smith and Elder Davis emailing home from the Family history center.

Elder Davis

BRRR!

Elder Smith, Elder Davis, Elder Taylor, Sister Leishman, Sister Clifton, Sister Paxman, Sister Roehner

Elder Nathan Davis

Ferrari 1 of 4 spotted this week in the mission.

Ferrari 2 of 4 spotted this week in the mission.

Oi familia!

   Well Canada has done it.  It has some how made even summer cold.  Today I am even wearing a jacket because it is just overcast and windy and kind of cold out side.  It managed to drop to about 13 C on Wednesday and in classic Ontario style it was back up to 29 C on Thursday.  It hasn't only been the weather that has been crazy the Aurora Sisters are also getting another new companion.  This is the 3rd Emergency transfer in our district so far this transfer and this one results in the Portuguese north area being closed for at least the next three weeks until transfers.  We have been having a lot of Missionaries getting sick and injured in the mission lately it seems.  It is sad to see people that you get to know and that become your friends have to leave however we are always glad for the wonderful healing power of the Atonement that allows us to overcome all of the challenges that we face in this life.  Other than that it has been a pretty rough week. All of our investigators either told us they don't want to meet anymore or they disappeared off the face of the earth so that is just peachy. We are working a lot on finding now however no one really wants to talk to us.  It is taking a lot of faith and working with the members and hopefully we will get things to turn around this week.  

   Well on to questions

 1. How was your week? Are you settling into your new area?

Well it was a pretty slow week.  It was pretty hard with what was going on but I am not getting down.  It just means that we need to work even harder.

2. What do you like most about Elder Davis?

He has so much desire and he is so good at just wanting to help.  He also has just a natural and simple discipleship that leads to great leadership. 

3. What are you doing to help get your ESL program up and running?

We are blitzing and asking people to invite their friends and family.  Also trying to get the hermanas to invite the spanish members. 

4. Are you working with any promising investigators?

We have one investigator right now.  Her name is C.  She is actually really solid and we are excited working with her.  

5. How are the members in your new area?

Really good.  We are working really hard to try and find new ways to work with them to help them fulfill their responsibilities and to build a better relationship.

6. How do you go about finding new people to teach?

We usually just plan our day around different people and work in their areas.  We talk to about fifteen people in an area before we leave and also try to do different things to work with referrals. 

7. What are your plans for pday?

We are going to the first counselor in the Bishopric's house for some relaxation and bond building and some shopping Elder Davis needs new shirts.  

8. What are you looking forward to this week?

Dinners!!!!!!

9. How is your spanish?

Muy bien porque?

10. What is your favorite song from NEWSIES?

OOH that is a hard one.  I am the king of new york but my favorite is probably open the gates and seize the day. or maybe Santa Fe

Loves

Elder Smith

I can do HARD THINGS!

Goodbye to Kitchener Portuguese... 

Barrie Zone Conference with President Clayton and his wife

Any guesses?

Elder Nathan Davis

Elder Nathan Davis and Elder Sam Smith at the Family History Center sending emails home

The back of Elder Davis

Oi Familia Beleza?

   It has been a wonderful week full of you guessed it hard things usually in the form of hard manual labor,(ie edging someone's yard by hand or using a pick ax to weed a garden that hasn't been touched in over a year) or trying new things (such as fried eggs and cheese cake)  however it has been wonderful.  We were blessed to see President Clayton as he once again appeared out of no where for our zone council in Barrie, (roughly 2 hours or more away from Brampton where he lives), as well as we had a wonderful opportunity to go on exchanges with the zone leaders!  I learned so much and the lord has helped strengthen my testimony even more that this is his work.  I am so greatful for all the opportunities that he gives us to help his children even if it is like our week this week where we spent 5 of the 6 days doing service for other people we were still able to find a way to find and teach new people.  

 One of the most spiritual experiences of my mission was as we were all together singing "I Believe in Christ" at Zone Council this week. The spirit was so strong and bore testimony to me that, " I believe in Christ; he is my King! With all my heart to him I'll sing."  It was so powerful and I was able to feel as my testimony became solidified that I know that Christ lives and is our redeemer.  I am so grateful for the wonderful musical family,(shout out to Grandma Smith) and friends that I have that have taught me to really appreciate music and the power it has to convey the spirit.  

  Now for what all of you will actually want to read Questions

Questions...

1. How was your week? What was the highlight?

Definitely Thursday which was Zone Council and Exchanges

2. Any new investigators this week?

One however he bombed our follow up appointment so we have to try and track him down.  

3. How is the ESL Building Manager, making a plan to implement in the new area?  Yeah we are working on Blitzing and also finding ways to get the members involved in inviting there friends to come or even some of the members who don't speak very good english.

4. Does Elder Davis speak a second language?

No.

5. What are you looking forward to this coming week?

So Much Dinner!!!!

6. What are your plans for pday?

We are going shopping then we are going to go play Billiards and have dinner with the Bishop.

7. What is your new area famous for? Any tourist attractions or museums or such?

Nothing really there isn't much to do here as much as far as entertainment it is mainly a commuter town and other than that you just go to the lakes or out to nature. Also the church does a nativity which new market is kind of known for.

8. What do you like best about your new companion?

That he has a quiet and gentle leadership and spirituallity.  

9. What do you like best about your new area?

The members and how green everything is.

10. Did you remember to take photos this week? We would all love to see you and your new digs, etc.

a few I should take more.  

Well loves and shout out to the Grads, and the Missionaries!

Have a great week

Love,

Elder Sam Smith