Smythe, Jackson PT

My P-day was changed to Wednesday this week because we have transfers this Friday. I am staying here in Springfield and am so excited for another 6 weeks here. Elder Bednar is also coming next week to speak to us. On Saturday, we had Marvalous' baptism. It was such a special moment to watch her husband baptize her and watch them take the step together. We are going to the temple with them in a couple of weeks, and they can't wait to be sealed there in a year. We have been teaching this man named Kirk. A couple of weeks ago, we had a long day, and it was 90+ degrees. It was 7:45 pm on a Saturday, and we decided to go knock on an apartment complex. The 4th door that we knocked was Kirk's. I was immediately engulfed in flames and smoke from all of his cigarettes, and as guilty as I feel now, I originally thought that there was no way he would be interested. He told us he usually goes to church with his neighbor but would like a ride, and that he would be ready at 8:30 for us t...

Life is going so well here. I have never felt so much joy in my life. I have had so many amazing experiences with helping people progress towards their Savior.  Our stake presidency was reorganized. Two general authorities came to do it. One of which was Elder Matthew Holland. Son of Jeffrey. Getting to meet with and talk with him was such a special experience. I will not soon forget it. He spoke magnificently at both of the sessions. We had 25 people come to church this week, and he closed his talk with an invitation to baptism. It was profound.  I know that the last time I wrote, I mentioned Duncan and his story. As well as his wife. After she accepted to be baptized, we warned her of the adversary's power. She faced it, at full force. They had us over for dinner later in the week, and they shared a story that they had. After we originally shared the Restoration of the Gospel with them, she told us that she started sobbing the moment that we left. She remembered those feelin...

This week was so amazing. We were able to put 9 people on date for baptism, including two amazing families. We had a P-day change because we had zone conference yesterday. We had the opportunity to hear from Elder Vern P. Stanfill. He spoke in the most recent general conference and gave an amazing talk about the "Imperfect Harvest." Go and listen to it if you haven't already. There are two special experiences that I want to share. 7 weeks ago, this man named Duncan Dabbs walked into a nearby LDS chapel in Springfield, and said to himself "I'm back. Let's do this." He grew up in the church, and by the time he was 15, he was completely inactive, with no belief in God. After 11 years of inactivity, he walked back into the building and said he was ready. He reached out to us, and we are working with him to get his patriarchal blessing. He invited us over, and informed us that he has a wife who is not a member. On our second lesson with her, I asked her to be...

This week was so amazing. Moments I will never forget. We had transfers, and I received Elder Holt and couldn't be more excited about it. It is going to be a fun transfer. We had 2 baptisms this Saturday of that family that I knew in Branson. Ordaining Cisco as a priest last week was special, and watching him baptize his wife and daughter was even more touching. There were so many people there we moved into the chapel. All of the branch in Branson came which made for some happy reunions.  We had 10 of our friends come to church yesterday which was a huge miracle. I am so blessed to be here, and to have the opportunity to serve a mission right now. The Lord is preparing people in a special way.  I studied the final few chapters of Matthew this week. The descriptions of Christ suffering, Judas' betrayal, and Peter's denial makes me wonder how Christ continues to love us so much. I feel as if we may all be a little too alike Peter. When moments mean the most, and the most is o...