Dear Family,
I have not received a package, but I did receive the letter with all the notes from Memorial Day Weekend. Thank you! I’m sorry I haven’t gotten a letter to you guys yet! I promise one is on the way next week! I’m getting transferred this week! It’s been a hard experience for me. Elder Robe and I opened this area from scratch and have worked so hard this transfer.
We’ve had 4 people we found and marked for baptism that fell out on us. This month we will have at least 7. All are firm and going to church. Including 2 families. It was hard realizing that I had a part in finding, teaching, and guiding these people, only to be transferred right when the fruit of our labors was about to be realized. Elder Robe promised to send me pictures but it was still hard. The only way I can describe it is if you planted a seed, watered and fed the tree, pruned and prepared it to bear fruit, then right when you were about to get the fruit, you lose your house and have to leave.
The worst part was the secretary called right in the middle of a lesson with one of the families. When we told them I was going to be transferred, the mom started crying. She and her husband are members but she smokes and her children are not members. They had been in active for 10 years. They had refused visits from missionaries the whole 10 years, but for some reason, that night they let us in. Now their children will be baptized later this month and she is beginning to quit smoking. I have no doubt they will be sealed in the temple in a years time. I know I had nothing to do with their reactivation and that it was purely the Lord's timing that they decided to accept us, put I can't help but feel a sense of ownership towards them. As though they were my family. It’s hard to be leaving just as they are entering into what (in their own words have described) as the happiest time of their life.
Also the ward here is amazing. My first week we only had one lesson with a member. NO ONE wanted to go out with the elders. Now we have a calendar and priesthood holders signed up and we have a member with us almost every night. This was such a great ward; I was blessed to serve here. Elder Robe says it’s the best ward he’s ever served in.....and he only has 3 months left.
But I guess this is part of mission life. I’m sure my next area I will find people who are prepared by the Lord and who are waiting for me, just as there were people here. I also have learned a lot about the joy that comes in planting the seeds and much as there is reaping the rewards. I think I would rather go through an entire process of finding and teaching again. I think it is more important then being in the baptismal photo.
Next email I will be in a new area with a new ward and a new companion. Should be lots of interesting news.
Love,
Elder Smith
I have not received a package, but I did receive the letter with all the notes from Memorial Day Weekend. Thank you! I’m sorry I haven’t gotten a letter to you guys yet! I promise one is on the way next week! I’m getting transferred this week! It’s been a hard experience for me. Elder Robe and I opened this area from scratch and have worked so hard this transfer.
We’ve had 4 people we found and marked for baptism that fell out on us. This month we will have at least 7. All are firm and going to church. Including 2 families. It was hard realizing that I had a part in finding, teaching, and guiding these people, only to be transferred right when the fruit of our labors was about to be realized. Elder Robe promised to send me pictures but it was still hard. The only way I can describe it is if you planted a seed, watered and fed the tree, pruned and prepared it to bear fruit, then right when you were about to get the fruit, you lose your house and have to leave.
The worst part was the secretary called right in the middle of a lesson with one of the families. When we told them I was going to be transferred, the mom started crying. She and her husband are members but she smokes and her children are not members. They had been in active for 10 years. They had refused visits from missionaries the whole 10 years, but for some reason, that night they let us in. Now their children will be baptized later this month and she is beginning to quit smoking. I have no doubt they will be sealed in the temple in a years time. I know I had nothing to do with their reactivation and that it was purely the Lord's timing that they decided to accept us, put I can't help but feel a sense of ownership towards them. As though they were my family. It’s hard to be leaving just as they are entering into what (in their own words have described) as the happiest time of their life.
Also the ward here is amazing. My first week we only had one lesson with a member. NO ONE wanted to go out with the elders. Now we have a calendar and priesthood holders signed up and we have a member with us almost every night. This was such a great ward; I was blessed to serve here. Elder Robe says it’s the best ward he’s ever served in.....and he only has 3 months left.
But I guess this is part of mission life. I’m sure my next area I will find people who are prepared by the Lord and who are waiting for me, just as there were people here. I also have learned a lot about the joy that comes in planting the seeds and much as there is reaping the rewards. I think I would rather go through an entire process of finding and teaching again. I think it is more important then being in the baptismal photo.
Next email I will be in a new area with a new ward and a new companion. Should be lots of interesting news.
Love,
Elder Smith
RSS Feed