Families Are Forever

Thanksgiving week really opened up my eyes to how much I have to be grateful for. I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and have been able to see how blessed we all are. 

 

On Tuesday we were going to teach Brian but we got to the members house and they made us wait 15 minutes for the Mexico World Cup game to end...we were nervous about the lesson afterwards but it went well because he called us on Saturday night asking if we could fast with him for his dad's heart to be softened. Such an amazing kid. 

 

Thanksgiving away from family was especially hard this time, but I'm grateful I got to spend it here too. We had two members feed us, one from the English ward and one from our branch. Funnest meals ever. The people here are what makes it all worth it. Nobody I could be more grateful to serve. 

 

On Friday we knocked a ton of doors and we randomly knocked on this door and 5 Hispanic ladies were inside with one of their husbands and they heard our Spanish and welcomed us in and fed and talked to us for a while. They all have families they want us to meet and one of them is actually an inactive member which was so cool. We did meet a witch today which was a fun moment. 

 

Saturday was a miracle filled day which was much needed. People were just nicer to us, even if they weren't interested. We did meet this family from Belize who was SO interested and actually said they understood the importance of the Restoration and proper priesthood authority. It was crazy. We asked them if they'd be interested in being baptized in the future and they said yes! Unfortunately they speak English which is tough. We knocked on the next house (avoiding all "Keep OUT" signs) and 4 seconds later two big dogs came sprinting at us. I've never ran a faster 50 yard dash in my life back to the car. 

 

The title of my email is "Families Are Forever." Most of you who knew me well, knew my grandpa was my very best friend. I had such a special bond and relationship with him. As most of you also might know, my grandpa passed away Wednesday morning. The feelings of sadness I feel are fortunately outweighed by the feelings of hope. Losing grandpa has and will continue to be hard. I will miss every BYU game and every Sunday dinner with him. Ned touched the life of everyone he met. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings a message of hope. I know I will be able to live with and see him, and my family, again. I will FOREVER be grateful for that. 

 

My spiritual thought this week is just to list a few things I'm grateful for. I wrote 100 on a piece of paper this week. I invite all of you to do the same. It will help you see the Hand of the Lord in your life, when you often feel it isn't there. 

 

My list:

- Temples

- Families

- Hope

- The Atonement 

- Dogs (Kobe)

- MICHIGAN FOOTBALL (THEY'RE BACK BABY)

- Book of Mormon

- TRIALS

- Sports/Every memory I have while playing soccer

- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

- Favorite scriptures (D+C 121:7-9 Moroni 7:41 right now

- Friends (happy bday peyt)

 

Those are just a few of my favorites. I'm so grateful for everything I have been given and have had to go through. Trials shape the person we become, for the better. Heavenly Father loves us enough to cut us down. 

 

I love and miss you guys so much, especially this week. Pray for each of you guys

 

Hug your family, 

Elder Smythe:)

 

Go blue:)

















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