Reunion Tour

Hello everyone! A lot has happened in the last few days, and as per request, I'll make this one a little longer.

As I mentioned, I was transferred to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and I'm with Elder Campbell again. It's so much fun. I watched a couple of awesome missionaries go home, but I'm grateful I'm still here. We got to go to Bentonville yesterday, so I saw all of my friends.

We are teaching a lot and are going to be baptizing our friend Alfredo on Sunday. He has been coming to church consistently for a month and lives 30 minutes away. His mentality is, "I already came from Mexico, what's 30 more minutes for the true church?"

We taught a guy yesterday from Ecuador. He's been to church for the last couple of weeks and he can't wait to be baptized. His family will be here soon, and they are excited to join the church as well. A year ago, he was kidnapped and held for a ransom of $70,000. He showed us a folder with all the photos and videos of what was happening to him. He was in handcuffs and the men had guns. It was deep and heavy. He talked about how God always delivered him when he least expected it. To hear his simple testimony of the power of God's deliverance touched my heart. Jesus Christ died for us and knows the way out of all our troubles and afflictions. Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son stand ready to lift and carry us out of our darkest moments. I love my mission and I love Jesus Christ.

1 Nephi 20:10 - "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

I love and miss you all dearly,
Elder Smythe








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