Sept 24, 2017 - With Great Responsibility

From Mom:

Dear Josh,

First of all, I want you to know that I haven't missed a day of sincere prayer and in-depth personal scripture study since our email two weeks ago. It makes SUCH a difference and so many millions of tiny ways. I went with my Mom to visit Kurri at the beginning of this challenge and I have to say that the Spirit of study and prayer deeply affected the visit in guiding our conversations and increasing my humility. I'm grateful for you and glad for your constant missionary influence. Thanks, Josh. I plan to keep it up until you're home and then I have another missionary son to keep me going. How lucky am I!

So, I have an interesting development for you to consider... 

It sounds like BYU-Idaho will not let you enroll without your ACT. Having said that, they are extremely lenient with the deadlines, meaning as long as you write it before school starts, they'll accept your registration, so I went ahead and started the process. I called the mission office to see if they would allow you to write the ACT while on your mission (apparently some mission presidents do this but President Henry is not one of them). Having said that, there is an ACT exam date on December 9 in Edmonton and your mission president said he would give you an honourable release two weeks early in order for you to be able to take the exam and attend BYU-Idaho. 

Don't freak out ...

When I heard this, I felt like President Henry was inspired. Not because of the ACT ... but because you would be able to see Sam before he leaves for Africa!! And President Henry has no idea about missing your brother by one measly day (does he?). I explained that this was your decision and we would abide by it, but I would get back to them soon with your answer. 

What is your gut instinct on this? Sometimes we know right away what we should do and sometimes it takes thought and prayer. Is it possible for you to take a minute right now, as you're sitting reading this, to close your eyes and send your thoughts heavenward and ask Heavenly Father what you should do?

*********

As a mom, I know Sam would benefit greatly from your experiences, especially if it's face to face. As it stands, you get home on the 19th and Sam leaves on the 19th. Also, there are a few of your acquaintances also attending BYU-I, namely Rebecca Olsen, Christian Burton and Hayley Hunter. Something to think about. 

Just as a funny side note, I was leaving a chiro appointment and a set of missionaries came in. I've never seen them before as it was in Edmonton but I explained that I was Mormon and that my missionary son had a dilemma. I explained the situation and asked them what they would do. One said, "absolutely! I would go home early for my brothers' sake, but I wouldn't for the ACT." Lol! The other said, "I would want to finish my two years to the very end." So, I guess it's really a 50/50 decision, but you're entitled to revelation about it. 

Just let me know ASAP, okay? Please? 

******

In other news... 

this is something I put up on your Facebook, which I find a little ironic considering the choice you have to make with the possibility of coming home early.

And this was a very cool response ...

This response was just confirmation that you are truly doing a worthy and fantastic work on your mission in the San Fernando area. 

The week was busy as usual. Here are the pics...

Flying home from Victoria, I got a fantastic aerial view of Alberta.

Mia got the game of Life for her birthday and Sam condescended to play. Lol!

Maple walnut ice cream. 

Ward Camp service project .... scrubbing water toy equipment at a Scout Camp. 

Sooo, life is pretty good. Today is my birthday (Sunday) and I can't help but feel the peace of a good life resting comfortably on my shoulders. Thank you for being a good son, for working towards what is worthy and right. Dad and I are so proud of you.

Again, let us know ASAP about your decision. We'll support you either way. 

Love you forever,

Mom

With great power comes great responsibility, and with great responsibility comes great power.

Big news! Transfers are here and I have not been transferred! that is a first on my mission... this will be the first area that I have stayed in for six months, I am also training a new missionary and being a district leader as well, I am a little stressed but i know that if God is on our side then we need not worry about a thing. I have learned and related it to a supernal trust test where a lot of things in life seem to be going down hill and when everything seems dark and bleak and its all a struggle then those are the times where we just have to fall backwards and let God catch us in his arms. I have had to do that a lot in this transfer and have also been learning to be less worried over awkward experiences. I have to put aside a lot of my worry and doubt if I am going to be able to share trainings as a district leader and also let this new missionary take the lead, a constant balance.

This week has been a constant blur something I continue and love still is centering myself every morning on the word of God when I stop everything in the morning and read at least one chapter in The Book of Mormon I am filled with more confidence and surety and then I can move forward being able to know that what I do from then on can be more centered on Christ. 

We went on exchanges mid way through the week and we were knocking in an interesting area and we ran into an israelite... let me explain, we knocked and a black man answered and he asked us if we believed in Christ we told him we did and he said that as long as we believed on the christ of the bible, and we told him we did, he continued to say that if we believed in the White Jesus then we had the wrong Jesus, because Jesus was "obviously" black, and he only taught his people, (meaning black people) and that only those of that decent were israelites, Elder Johnson (The Elder we were on exchanges with) said "its a good thing that we are from a tribe of Israel too" 

"you might believe that because you are of a heathen nation" was his response. after going back and forth for a little bit, it was all I could to not react and we forced ourselves to walk away, especially since he told us that he had managed to confound every mormon missionary that came his way... the reason was that he was beyond reason, nothing we said really had any influence on him. So the only way to deal with people so hard hearted is to walk away. 

I am loving life, I am sort of sad to say goodbye to my companions but I am also excited to this next transfer and for what it holds. For one I will be able to be a part of a few baptisms that I have worked with for a while so it is super exciting for me to see these people come and feel of the blessing of being a member of Gods church, I am hoping to be able to accomplish all that God has for me to accomplish in this area, I have come so far and have changed so much on my mission, my goal is to finish out strong and come home having no regrets.

I am super grateful for you all and love being able to give you updates on my life.

I am in good health... a little sick honestly (Common cold) nothing to worry about... I am eating more vegetables and exercising daily, going back to training life is going to be an adventure, developing new relationships and changing lives is in my future! 

Love you all

Josh

-Us with our investigator and her mother (our investigator is the one in the pink shirt)

-Pictures with some of the members daughters

-the Companionship.

-Me in glasses. 

September 17, 2017 - Sam's Mission Call

From: Dad

Hi Josh,

Biggest news this week is Sam's Mission call. I'm hoping he gives you a detailed account, but I'll give you some of my perspective.

It turns out that the Church Mission office accidentally mistyped a part of our mailing address and Sam's mission call ended up not getting delivered. Last week, the Bishop called me after 4 weeks had gone by and asked if we'd got the call yet. When he learned that we hadn't he suggested he give the mission office a call. He did, and he learned that the call had been sent 3 weeks before! After checking the address and realizing the mistake, he was going to have them send the call again, when he had the idea to check the post office.

After some rummaging around, the post mistress found a large letter in the out basket being returned back to Salt Lake. Bishop gave that to Sam and we arranged to open it on Thursday. Matthew Wright came over and Cody was here as we started a Google hangout and a Facebook live feed. Sam opened the letter and started reading. From the start, something seemed a little off. It started of talking about welcoming him to the South Africa MTC, then started talking about Visa application forms. So we thought that they forgot to send the cover letter! At first all we knew was that he was going to Africa!!!

After a bit more searching we were able to determine that Sam will be serving in the Zambia, Lusaka mission... in AFRICA!!

And guess when his departure date is?  December 20, 2017... which if we're not mistaken is the same day you come home. So, what that means is that unless something changes, you and Sam won't see each other for 4 years!  Sam is very philosophical about it and says he will miss you but is happy to sacrifice to serve the Lord. I'm sure you feel the same way, but we were sure hoping that you could somehow see each other however briefly. 

Of course, we are just super excited for him to have his call and know you will be too. You are a great example to your brothers and sisters. Thank you for choosing to serve and serve faithfully!

Grandma and Grandpa Bruce are up this week for a bit to help with wiring the garage. Mom and Grandma took a trip to Vancouver island to have a nice visit with Kurri. Benson is living there now and Kurri is happy about that. Cody is staying with Uncle Tad at the cabin down the road. He's alone a lot of the time, so he spends lots of time here and Ben goes there often as well.

Have a great week. We love you and miss you and wouldn't have you be any other place.

One thing to stick in your head and give us some thoughts on is whether to try and register you for some classes in January somewhere in Edmonton. Think NAIT, Grant Mackewan. Probably a good idea to get busy soon after your mission to get your feet moving as you make new and exciting decisions about your future.

Dad.

From Josh:

This week has been crazy busy, we have had so many experiences of stress and so many positive experiences.

What is sad to me is when stress overcomes missionaries. We had a sister in our district who wanted to go home because of self doubt and inadequacy and I totally understood where she was coming from because I had a lot of the same experiences and struggles, Satan does not want us to succeed and will use every tactic to dissuade and annul us of our desire to serve it is not an easy experience to be a missionary, I am pretty grateful for the elimination of the regular stresses of life, but there is a huge burden that is laid on our shoulders that not everyone can take, "Hence many are called and few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? because their hearts are set so much upon the things of the world" It is our call to be set apart from the world. So it is not easy at all to be serving the Lord, Unless your heart is given to him. It has been said that God is only angry when we don't acknowledge his had in all things. I have been able to more fully turn my heart over to God when I have been able to admit that His influence and direction are in every aspect of my life. I am still really struggling to follow him fully, and i am grateful for a companion who leads out when I am feeling unsure. 

The other day we were walking away from talking to one of the potential investigators we had and this guy started approaching us, he was super friendly, extending an open hand much like we would do so we welcomed the change of not having people avoid us and we offered to help him with his yard (he had his entire garage emptied into his yard, which for California is a lot of stuff) he told us he was fine and started having a pleasant conversation with us, we noticed real quick that he truly was taking the role of a missionary by trying to "bring the mormons to the true christ" He used biblical knowledge and what he knew of our beliefs about Christ being the God of the old testament to "give us something to think about" (i.e. tell us we were wrong and to lose faith) We didn't try to argue though I really wanted to, Elder Bergeron my companion just extended his hand and said "thanks for the information have a good day" and we left. It was a negative experience that made me shake with adrenaline and frustration, however every negative experience precedes a positive and that day we did a lot of walking, we were able to talk to and share testamony with 8 people on the street, have really good conversations with pretty much every door contact we knocked into and near the end of the day we sporadically talked to this lady who was just about to carry her groceries in to her house, we offered to help her which she declined and so we just simply jumped into teaching and testifying of the Gospel, we learned that she was Greek orthodox (a sect of christianity that is deeply rooted in tradition and they never change) but after we shared our message we invited her to test it out and to ask God, she said that if God told her this was true she would be baptized into the Mormon church, after the lesson we helped her to carry her groceries in and set up an appointment for today.

Well the next day (this being sunday) we accidentally knocked into a members house and he told us an experience he had the day before. He was driving down the road and he saw this little middle aged woman surrounded by some gang bangers and as he approached ready to spring to her aid he noticed that it was actually three missionaries and that it was us! Guess we have to look a little less conspicuous when in public... kind of hard for a missionary to do... There were many more positive experiences that continued up into today. I love being a missionary and there is nothing i would rather be doing right now then dedicating my life to God, I was super happy to hear about Sam getting his mission call to Africa! A lot of cool experiences that await! A mission is a refiners fire for the Lords servants so be prepared Sam, you will have amazing experiences, and you will have experiences that will test your faith, fortitude and everything you are. Just remember that when you experience trials to fall into them, trials are like a trust test from the Lord, and as you experience trials you can know for sure that when you fall backwards trusting in God he will catch you and make you into what he needs you to become, don't be afraid to pray for humility, to trust in your leaders, remember that everybody on earth is not perfect and that there are three types of trials.

Trial from oneself (temptation, doubt, frustration)

Trial from others (unkind words, negative people, hard companions)

Trial from Circumstance (Trials that come for no other reason then you being in the right place at the right time, trials that God lets you experience to learn)

I love you all so much! 

I have been working hard to eat a lot more greens, this is the last week of the transfer so a lot of anticipation on where I will go or if I will stay, working on not letting my mind think so much about coming home that I neglect my duty here. 

I am grateful for all that you all do for me and for the relationships we can develop together. 

Josh

Holland Quoted this! 

Just after a service opportunity, actually this was a funny experience, we asked this spanish man if he needed a hand, he told us to come back tomorrow and we did we started helping move bricks and shovel dirt, then we looked over and realized that this was actually people working for money and we weren't asked to help serve we were instead hired to work for money! so we did our work for an hour, went and told one guy that we were actually missionaries and we loved serving them and before they could say anything dipped out... that is when I took this picture. 

Trio life shadows.

Training our trainee how to tie a tie! I love training. 

Sept 11, 2017

From Josh - Persecution:

This week was one good week, i loved serving and finding people and teaching the gospel. I would relate that to my scripture reading I have been dedicating myself to my studies in the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon so much because of the great feelings of peace that I get, I have been working on delving into that as well as keeping up my studies of the Doctrine and Covenants and I have been delving currently into the four gospels and learning about the life of Christ, the problem with knowing the New Testament well is that I have been sorely tempted to bash people, because I just don't like it when people are ignorant of everything but a few verses of the bible and then use those verses to attack us... I have been growing my self control though and working on simply testifying. I know that testimony is the most powerful thing, because it isn't I or anyone that can accomplish this work but only the spirit, the Lord is always in the details. 

So down to the heading, I have had such a happy week, and in the midst of some not so happy experiences, there were a few people that yelled us off their property, someone yelled at us and cursed at us while they drove by, we got bashed for 25 minutes by this guy who thought we were going to hell for what we believed, we were told that we weren't christians and argued when we said we were, someone tried to use persuasion and logic to explain that there was no true church on the earth (which wasn't too bad because it was kind of refreshing to see someone else had a testimony of the apostasy) 

It has been a learning experience because I thought that I was immune to some of the bashing techniques out there, but even then I was kind of shaken by one guy who really was adamant that we were wrong, so i have been really praying and searching for the will of God in what is true, and will be doing that for the rest of my life, "Our testimony today is not strong enough for the trials tomorrow" is a quote I heard from another missionary, that is why we need to dedicate ourselves to our studies, at least a portion of the morning, because we need to sharpen our swords and strengthen our shields. 

I have been buying more vegetables to be more healthy, I have been realizing that I have not been having the healthiest food my whole mission, and my companion is a health nut so I am hoping to piggy back off of his healthiness outlook and do better.

One thing I have been enjoying is learning how my trials were for a reason, last year I went through the hardest time of my life, at the beginning of my mission I lost my testimony and went atheist for a little bit, but thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord and those around me I gained a stronger testimony and now I am able to bear it with a stronger conviction. When I first trained I was hit hard with a sense of being overwhelmed, I was so overwhelmed that one Sunday in sacrament meeting I could feel a literal crushing weight in my chest and for a few minutes I couldn't breath, I was nearly lost in doubt and negativity. But i was able to get through it, and now another missionary in the district is training and experiencing exactly the same thing, and I can relate to that and help in ways I couldn't if I hadn't gone through that. Every trial we go through in life is for a reason. Some people struggle to see that. 

We have been teaching this less active girl who struggles with her belief in God and the church, she does not understand why bad things happen to good people and why God would allow bad to happen in the world if he loves us why would he let bad things go on? and we have been trying to explain to her the plan of salvation and agency of man and help her to see this is all for a purpose, and also that compared to our life before and our life after our earth life is nothing, it will start and end in a blip compared to our eternal life, I read somewhere in the scriptures that time is only measured by men and not God. That is why it is so important to maintain an eternal perspective. 

I love the word "Maintain" because it denotes a cultivation, not just a one time thing. 

We have been working a lot with the ward members to help our investigators be fellowshipped into the ward, we are currently teaching one lady that has cerebral palsy in a miner degree and has intense learning issues so we have been slowly working with her and her mom to get ready for baptism on the 23 of September, she struggles to answer the baptismal questions because the way they are worded it is really a struggle for her to comprehend what they are asking. So that is an adventure, the other person we have on date for september 30, her name is Ashleigh Soucy he had brain cancer and can't remember anything we say until the next week, which is a hard problem to work with, the rest of our investigators are not progressing so we need to somehow help them to keep commitments and start coming to church. 

I love you all so much, I can't wait to be able to get to know you all... again. Hope that all is well if there is any questions you have send them my way and I will try my best to answer. 

Love 

Josh

1 IT RAINED MID SUMMER!

2 Member from Saugus 3rd ward stopped us when we were walking on the street and gave us sprites 

3 From the top of our area

4 Us at the top of the area. 

From Josh to Mom:


I will definitely takeout up on the prayer and scripture challenge, I have been really working on it this week, I have told myself every morning, 'before I do anything I need to center myself' 

Mom:

I love it. And I love you. 

Having you on your mission has been such a blessing in so many ways. Thank you for your constant striving and fantastic example of loving the Gospel. I hesitate to say it but we are all so excited to see you soon. We're prepping for you and it makes life so vibrant. I have this sure knowledge about God's divine plan that you (and all of you) needed to be part of this family. We're all in this together. 

My scripture study and personal prayers have been taken up a notch since last week and my testimony has been strengthened. Let's keep it up to the end. We just got back from Damon's Farewell. He reports Sept 20 something and will be in Australia sometime in October. He's nervous but happy to start his mission. No call for Sam yet. Soon, I hope. 


This week's pictures ...

September 3, 2017

From Dad: - Still Waiting...

... for Sam's call.

Hard to be patient, but so excited to see if this week brings the telltale envelope in the mail. A new YM named Kylan Rice moved in a month ago and sent in his mission papers on the exact same day as Sam. He got his call last week. He opened it today and found out he is going to Paris, France! And guess when he is leaving? Dec 20... It would be crazy if Sam got the same leave date. Would be a crazy day with you coming home and him leaving! Hoping it is either before or after. but after would be nice to cross over and see each other even for a little bit.

We are fasting and praying for Great Grandma and Grandpa Smith as you probably saw in Grandpa Smith's email. Life's challenges don't end, but they always refine us if we let them. Are you letting your challenges refine you?

This week has been a work week around the acreage. I've really enjoyed working on the garage and was able to get our entrance stairs built so we can go in and out of the garage from inside! 

Our Septic system alarm went off again this week and we've been using the outhouse again while it gets fixed. Yard is all dug up again. Sounds like the pipe got pinched in the last half by the mound and was wearing out the pumps.Hoping this fix is the last time we need to work on it. Painful, but once again we are appreciating how important good drainage is and how nice it is to have indoor plumbing.

Auntie Wendy pulled out today as she has a good job lined up in Atikoken. She came up and finished parging the garage and back entrance. It looks great. Thankful for family.

My office had a fire in the basement after a transformer blew, so I've been enjoying working from home this last week. 

School starts tomorrow, so back to the scheduled days and back to running Ben back and forth to Leduc. We are hoping he get's his license first try so he can start driving himself. He and I have been doing a moderately good job of doing regular P90X workouts, but I'm worried now that he is going back to school that I'm going to lose my work out buddy and fizzle out! Hoping Mom will join me and we can get buff together. Ben is looking forward to school, but has some hard choices to make around extra curricular activities. Can't do everything!

Benson had a going away party this week as he is going to live with Auntie Kurri. We are so happy for them. It's the right thing to do. As much as we disagree with Uncle Tad's choices and lifestyle, this was a good thing for him to do. He is living back at the cabin this year with Cody. Ben is excited. Cody will go to Calmar just because of transportation, but hopes to join Ben at Leduc Comp at some point.

Sam continues to work at Classic and is even driving bobcat on a regular basis. Is it in the genes? We'll see if Ben ends up there or somewhere else to earn his mission money.

Auntie Shannon had her baby last week and Mom and the kids got to see her on Tuesday after joining the uncles and cousins at Calaway park. They named her Holly..

Mom, then Mia bore their testimonies today. Then Mia went back and bugged the boys to do it too. They admitted that they hadn't planned to, but when Mia whispered they should, then they felt the spirit prompt them to go up.

Life is good. We are a great family and you are an amazing part of it!

Love,

Dad.

From Josh - A Day Late:

Sorry for emailing a day late! since it was labor day yesterday we had a working P-day and ended up moving p-day to today.

This week has been a week of realization and discovery, I have realized that I have not been as dedicated to many things as I should have been, my personal prayers have been definitely lacking in depth and meaning, and I have not been as faithful in reading from the scriptures as I should be and I have been seeing a lot of the negative effects in my life, I have not been as focused or motivated and I have struggled to communicate clearly the message that we have been trying to share... so near the middle of last week I rededicated myself and almost immediately I witnessed so many blessings, i have more patience with my companions and more excited to go out day by day, I have had my thoughts put together and my mind open to insights and light. I had a cool experience yesterday when I was pretty annoyed at my companion, through no fault of his own and I prayed to receive help to feel happy and positive towards him and it didn't come right away, but when we went to a district leader meeting I was still pretty ticked until mid way through when all of a sudden I felt a hippiness that I couldn't not describe and all those feelings of annoyance and frustration melted away and I was able to see him in a much better light, it can be hard to be attached to someone 24/7 and there are a lot of differences you start seeing even when you are together for three months. Elder Bergeron is a logger and a landscaper a homeschooler that lived cut off from most everything so we don't have too much to talk about or relate to each other very much, he is also a doer, he does things without thinking and just goes for it, usually regretting it after, he is really simple in a lot of his thinking so it can be hard to have deep conversations with him, he likes it that way, so I get so frustrated because of how he acts, and in order to express my frustration I have to tell him bluntly because anything else will go off his shoulders... I love him a ton, its just something i haven't experienced before, I have learned a ton on how to express myself and to be bold with my companion. 

There has been so many experiences this week that have interesting,  recently we went on exchanges with one of our zone leaders and he told of a story of a man who was dubbed by the catholic religion as "defender of the faith" in missionary terms he would be known as "Basher" but through their conversation he stopped and said that there was one thing that he didn't understand, he said "I don't get the mormons, their doctrine is so perverted (in his view) but their works are so holy" 

Jesus Christ said that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit, it is impossible. So, perhaps our works are so good because the doctrine is true, I know that what we share is true, the gospel has been restored, we do have a prophet on the earth and we are receiving direction from God right now!

Another experience that I myself had while on exchanges with a member of my district was when we came across this lady who asked some pointed but sincere questions, mostly about temples and tithing, those were the things that she could not get past, most people struggle with that but we were able to explain a bit how it differs from other christian faiths in that we don't pass around a basket for tithes, we explained out unique message and 40 minutes later she took a pamphlet to read over. She really appreciated the answers we gave. 

Another experience was when we were knocking a guy opened up and we could tell he was  a little drunk, but he gave a standard response that he differed on some key beliefs, and checking that it wasn't multiple wives or some other off doctrine that people still think we believe we asked him what those were, and he told us about the  Godhead vs the trinity, that is something we get dinged on a lot here in such a christian community, but we explained it to him and we were able to testify of the truth of what we shared and it was cool to see him considering our responses, he may have been drunk and he may've been Grace baptist but that didn't stop us from testifying, we should all testify at every opportunity. 

I love you all a ton and hope all is going well in your lives, I can't wait to hear more about your lives, I miss a lot of things but what I think I miss the most is my family. We will see each other sooner then you think. 

Josh

-some returned missionaries came to visit the mission

-It rained mid at the end of august! (that has never happened before in the past 30 years)

-So...Hot! ​

From Mom:

YES! YES! YES! Two things ... 

Yes! Personal prayer and scripture study. So vital! If you do that, you'll be better than fine. No slacking! I'm taking it as a personal challenge. I promise to have meaningful prayers and scriptures every morning if you will! Is it a deal?

And YES! By their fruits ye shall know them. Keep doing good work, my son. The Gospel is true! All of it. I know it. 

Love, Mom

P.S. Did you get my last snail mail?

From Josh:

I didn't but I may get it today. We will see.

From Mom:

Are you going to take me up on the prayer/scripture challenge? We will have to be accountable to each other ...


What do you think?