Always Next Year

Hey everyone! I hope you all had the best week! Definitely one of the harder ones (Spanish is hard and I saw another team of mine blow it, which made the title of this) but it was also one of my favorites so I'll take it. 

One day this week we were by some of the English Elders' people and we offered to stop by. By the time we turned around we saw their investigator 300+ yards away turning a corner so we hurried and went flying through dirt roads to chase them down and cut them off, setting up an appointment. Hopefully I don't get my driving privileges taken:) 3 years prepared me for that moment. 

We met a family a few weeks ago and we taught them a really awesome lesson, but had kind of struggled to get in contact for a few weeks. We went over one night after zone conference, and they all let us in. One of the moms that was there was new, and we found out she recently went through a divorce. Basically, we taught them one of the most spiritual lessons, if not the most, that I've had on my mission so far. They kept asking questions about the Book of Mormon, where it came from, and what it was. Sharing the First Vision always brings the spirit like nothing else. The room was completely silent. Complete peace. Peace is all that people, and myself, desire in life. We finished the lesson, and as we went to leave, we went to get this other woman's phone number. We typed it in, and somehow we already had it. Asking her about this, she told us that years ago she had given it to the Elders, but had completely forgotten. Every one of them in that little house said "You guys are here in this moment for a reason. Please come back."

The message of this story is that the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, does everything for a reason. He is in the details of everything we do. I've spent a year of my life going through more change than I thought would ever come. I lost so much, if not everything, of what I cared about, but gained more than I ever could have hoped for. This is typically how things work. Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son often give us trials, and moments of change, to help us remember them. They did it to the Nephites countless times, they did it to Joseph Smith, and they've done it to me, and to you. Never forget that hope, peace, and happiness lie in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you think life is hard, that change is too much, or that there is no hope, always remember. Their plan is above ours. Always. Hope is in Jesus Christ. Find him. 

Love you guys,
Elder Smythe 











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