How goes it there in
Hawaii?! The Hilburns and the Smiths partying it up as always! That looks like
so much fun! Drink an extra pina colada for me and save me some sand. Tell Matt
to lay off the nachos, you’re still in swim season bro! And poor Hilburns...have
to travel with the Plane Traumatizer...Kathryn Smith! Those are some memories
made right there. I remember that vividly mother, Kathryn sneaks out a small
''I don’t feel very good'' and every one hits the deck! Exaggerating but that’s
how it is! Hope everything goes well and you locos enjoy your vacation!
Well I will just recount
one experience we had this week that was eye opening in many levels! We had an
impromptu family night this week with a less active family and last minute they
invited a nonmember family and a 13 year old that can possibly be baptized this
week.
Lesson #1: There are
always miracles when we work with the members. I have knocked so many doors
thus far and will continue doing so but there is a better way! Every member a missionary.
It was very unplanned so I had to think on my feet a little bit, so I
decided to do a little lesson on repentance and play a little game/example with
them (15 or 16 people). We shared some different scriptures and bore testimony
of the atonement and the repentance process. The spirit was very strong. I
could tell that some people in that room (investigators, converts, less
actives, faithful members) really needed to hear the Good News.
Lesson #2: The Atonement is for EVERYONE because it is
infinite and stretches out to include all of us and every part.
Lesson #3: Talking about
the Atonement always brings the spirit because it is so sacred. It can change
attitudes and thoughts and behaviors and the Spirit of a room. We then
played a game that Elder Palma taught me. Basically we all stood in a circle
and at two opposite ends of a circle were two ties: one red and one white. The
red represents the end of our lives, death. And the white represents
repentance. While the red tie one must throw one loop and with the white one
must do two. After doing the required loops, you pass it to the right and wait
for the other tie. The trick is that at some point, the death will pass to
someone before they had completed the two loops with the white tie. At that point
they have died before they repented! A bit harsh but that is the reality. It
was pretty hilarious because no one wants to die so the kids (and even the
adults) were screaming and causing a ruckus and trying to do the loops as fast
as they could. Eventually a man that only has the use of one arm received the
red tie (totally unplanned...felt bad) and the game stopped. I asked him how he
felt. He said ''mas o menos'' or more or less.
Lesson #4: If this happens
to us, we will feel a bit worse than mas o menos. It will be the gnashing of
teeth that is prophesied in the scriptures.
Lesson #5: The reality
hurts. And there are millions that ignore the pain.
Lesson #6: Parables and games and examples are what people enjoy and will eventually remember. These kind of experiences I will never forget, because in all the fun and noise that existed in that game was a Principle. That we must always repent. And do it fast.
I love my mission so far.
I have learned so much and every day I learn double. There are hard things and
there are hard moments. But as I have tried to thrust in my sickle, I have
found here some of the greatest moments of joy. There is nothing better! We
have interviews tomorrow with President. I am looking forward to that and to be
taught by him! He is so awesome and I love him.
And I love you guys too! I
hope you guys get the chance to relax with the sand in your toes and just
chill! And that Kathryn can hold it in on the plane ride home. Luv ya K (:
Amorosamente (no se si
esta es una palabra)
Elder Smith
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