(No) Role Modelz

First off Merry Christmas everyone:) I hope you all had the best Christmas ever and thought more of Christ! This week is all over so here you guys go...

 

Week was pretty normal for the most part to begin. We had to go north to Ozark to meet with the missionaries in our zone which is always a highlight. Wednesday night is where things took a turn though... 

 

Thursday we woke up and finally had snow which was an answer to my 500 prayers. Except it came with -6 degree weather and like 15 mph winds. Awesome. We were told not to drive anywhere so we just drove to the church with the other missionaries and I studied Spanish for like 3 hours. 

 

Friday was more of the same except the roads were frozen with ice so I pretty much cleaned my desk, studied for 2 hours, contacted everyone, and then studied Spanish for 3 more hours. Essentially I'm pretty much fluent:) We drove to a lesson at night, and on the way home I slid around 150 yards down a hill. Luckily nobody was in front...

 

Saturday we were finally able to go out and do things and so all of the missionaries went caroling together and it was seriously so fun. We only had the door slammed a few times obviously. We ate dinner with the branch president and his wife and I'm just grateful to have a Christmas dinner. Blessings. 

 

CHRISTMAS DAY was so amazing. 100x better as a missionary. Probably the most spiritual sacrament meeting I have ever been to it was so awesome. Musical numbers do it for me. I actually was in 2 of them which was alarming but they needed numbers so there I was. Dinner was where things got interesting. Me and my companion 100% ate raw turkey and just had it thrown on our plate so we had to keep eating it. I don't think 2 hours on 300° is not enough for a turkey. Regardless, it was one of my favorite Christmas ever. The focus was on Christ and the blessings he's given us, and I am so grateful for what that meant to me. 

 

My spiritual thought is like the email title because that's one of my favorite songs but here yall go:

 

Recently (the last 10 months of my life) I have been reflecting on the people who have stood by me. Truly and faithfully. My role models. True friends. I have been blessed with so many. Best friends serving the lord, my young men's leaders and ward members who I dearly miss, my wonderful parents and amazing family, and the people around me who bring me joy.  I have always known how blessed I am, but I could never comprehend. In, and atop, the list is Jesus Christ. My biggest role model. The person I want to be more alike every day. Celebrating him this year has had such a different meaning to me. I'll never be able to understand the love he has for me, or what he did for me, but I want to be just like him one day. I can honestly say nothing makes me more proud than calling Christ, The Lamb of God, my older brother, and my best friend. 

 

Remember Jesus Christ, always. Look up to him. Choose and strive to be like him. He'll lift you all.

 

I love you guys, hope you had the best Christmas 

Elder Smythe

 

TCU week (sorry mom) 














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