Hey Family!
Thank you for the amazing emails you all sent! You are all so great! I enjoyed hearing of the fun you all are having and I hope you enjoy this week! It’s spring break here in Calallen/Robstown too, so things are pretty crazy. Everyone takes off for South Padre Island (or north, if you can’t swing the south) but it’s pretty fun here!
Thank you for the updates and I hope all is well with the whole family! Tell the Grandparents all I say hi and that I love them! As well, say hi to Jay, Bishop, and brother Nyborg if they are still around! I thought of him this week! I have thought a lot of all the great examples I have had that helped me prepare to get here! And Alex, I just sent your package so wait for it in the mail! Hope you like it!
So this was an awesome week! But first I will give you transfer updates! Elder Sanchez is actually going to be the ZL in Laredo (lucky dog) haha and I will be getting a brand new Zone leader, Elder Chanel Rodriguez. And yes, he has a girl name, but he is an awesome missionary from what I hear!! hah! And I get another native! I love having native companions! He is from Arizona and will get here tomorrow morning.
I decided that these past 2 transfers have been the biggest test for me. God has a specific mission set for everyone of his missionaries. Each with different people, experiences, and even trials I’ve come to realize. I’m grateful for those trials because they always make us grow!
So I wanted to share the special experiences that I had this week. Almost all happened yesterday, believe it or not. We FINALLY got Brother Limones off work and got him to church. He loved it but got called in half way through. It was a good start though. But as I was running around making sure people introduced themselves and getting him seated with some members, I turned and saw brother Carlos Ysassi seated at the Sacrament table. Oh man! I almost fell apart. I don’t know what it was, but I just got hit with all these crazy emotions. I was SO proud of him. To see him break the bread. . . it meant the world to me. It has been such a blessing to see their progression and I don’t know if I’ve given Bishop Nelson enough praise, but he is my hero. He takes such good care of our converts and is a really great friend of mine. Definitely one of my favorite Texans haha!
After church Sabrina came running down the hall with more exciting news. She was about to get interviewed to get her Patriarchal Blessing! Man I definitely should have brought a handkerchief, because I was having a hard time keeping myself composed. I don’t know what it is that just makes me so proud of them. I guess that must be what parents feel when their kids do these things, but it’s amazing.
But with every proud moment with your kids, I guess there is always the sad ones too. Sister Margie called us out to their house and wanted us to come soon. We had known that she had stomach problems, and kept telling her to go get checked but she wouldn't. Finally, she went and they found out that she has colon cancer. It was a big blow for us as it most definitely was for them. We all cried together and then had an amazing lesson on the Atonement. It just hurts to see those that you love so much going through these trials. But Sister Margie is bound and determined to beat it. And she is just stronger than ever. We really have been through alot with them. I feel like we are just part of their family. But I hope you keep them in your prayers. We gotta get them through this trial of their faith.
But I could never be more grateful for the mission that God has given to me. This is MY mission. It’s unique and so special to me. I’m grateful that you are all apart of it and I thank you all for everything that you do. It means the world to me. I know that this is HIS work.. this is what we live for. I know without a doubt that He loves us and He loves every person here in South Texas as he does in Idaho or anywhere else. We are His children.
And I know he loves you as I do! :)
Take care family!!
Love Elder Smith
