September 15, 2014 Email

Hey there! As you might know, I'm emailing today because of the meeting with Elder Brent H. Neilson of the Seventy on Monday and he met with the missionaries in the south part of the mission yesterday. The meeting with Elder Neilson was great and long. The meeting started around 9 and went to about 3:30 and didn't get back home 'til about 5 with all the travel from Chico. The meeting was all focused on missionary work and how we can not just improve our teaching through study and prayer, but to grow by acting and by going out there and do the work regardless on how we may feel or how people treat us. That we need to thank God for the trials in our life rather than ask for them to be taken away from us so we could move on with our day. It taught us to trust The Lord regardless of what comes our way. While at the conference, I saw that several missionaries of my MTC District were in the northern part of the mission. All but one was there and a sister who was at the conference were in the picture here.

Like I described in my last email, we had a baptism last Saturday for Diane. She has met with missionaries for a while and her husband is a member who baptized her. She was confirmed Sunday and Elder Briggs and I had he opportunity to be a part of that as well as a new ordained Elder who will be heading on his mission here in a few weeks from now. It was a great experience to be here for and to invite her into the church.

This week we had some good experiences with our investigators showing some interest in quiting smoking and start working toward their baptismal date we have for them.  

It was cool to hear you all are doing well. It's kinda weird to have the eye injury without any cause to it being there though. You are in my prayers and I wish you the best recovery Mom. For the guys, great job in your run last weekend. Hardin isn't an easy course by any means at all, you were just lucky to run it in a bit cooler weather than in the blazing sun. I have to deal with the California heat for I believe another few months before it starts to cool down some what around here. I don't know if you've heard, but in Weed there were some huge fires there that took out about 100 homes. Most of ward is actually in that area to, so it doesn't help many people there. Hopefully winter brings the rain, or it's gonna be brutal next year for California. Hey Parker, keep working in football. I know you might not like sitting on the side lines just as much as I did. Football is a good sport for you and I know you love it, so keep working hard and show all of them that you deserve to be on that field. It's awesome to hear you got into some elk Dad. They are fun and difficult to hunt and always seem to get in the spots where you can't get a good shot in at them. Hope you have better hunting next time and hope you get into them. One other thing Mom, if you could sent out some more contacts that would be great. I love you all and wish you the best of times, even when they seem to be rough. 

Love

Elder Smith