September 20, 2021

 From Mom - Happy Birthday!:

Dear Elder Smith,

Your birthday package IS in the mail so I’m actually quite proud of myself. It’ll arrive at the mission office on Tuesday or Wednesday then who know how long it will take to get to you? Maybe we should start thinking about your Christmas package now. Haha. 

But I AM so so glad you were born and it is a day worth celebrating. So here it goes… 

20 Things/Memories I Love About Ben.

1) As long as I live, I will never forget your first wonder-eyed stare as a minutes-old-newborn. Most babies fall asleep immediately (it’s hard work being born) but you certainly did not. You stared into our souls with your blue eyes. One day I’ll get to ask God what you were thinking in that moment but if I had to guess, I think you were just curious because you’ve always been like that.

2) Your fetish with your Winnie-the-Pooh sippy cup. You carried it everywhere and lost it daily, but you actually got over it pretty fast on the day it was finally lost forever. And you are really still quite accepting of circumstances.

3) The day you got your glasses and the world opened up for you. You followed an ant around with your finger for 45 minutes as soon as we got home. Your glasses are so much a part of you. 

4) How quickly you fall asleep. Makes me smile.

5) When you were 8, singing. 

Sam: “Ben can you stop singing? It’s bugging me.

You, shocked: “But Sam! Music is the spice of life!”

Sam, thinking: “But it still bugs me.” 

Hahaha

LOVE your love of music. Even if it bugs. 

6) Your tenacity. You just never give up. And you do it with a smile. 

7) How you only ever wore one pair of shoes. How are you adjusting to two sets, btw? 

8) Do you remember Mini-Boss? And how you used to get out of kitchen jobs if you played with the girls? … Well played. 

9) The day I dropped you off at the rec center but then afterwards realized I had no way to pick you back up, and no way to contact you. My stress levels sky-rocketed until, hours later, I see you come around the back of the garage, walking home and figuring it out. I wanted to hug you and hug you. And you frankly forgave me. 

10) I have always appreciated your enthusiasm. Once you decide something, you’re all in. 

11) You take failure like a champ by acknowledging the hard parts then doing better next time. (Bach)

12) You lift those around you by being a good listener and being present in peoples’ lives. You are a gift to anyone who knows you. Truly.

13) How you chuck your phone across the room whenever you realize you’ve been spending too much time on it. 

14) How you read and read and read … even if it makes you tired and you have to nap after an especially difficult passage. 

15) How you ask for my advice in your decision-making process. I feel valued and loved. 

16) Sitting with you in the back seat of the car while dad brought us to the Stollery to get your chin sewed up. You never cried but you accepted a long cuddle from your mom when you were in distress. 

17) How you’re always willing to help your dad with no hesitation, even if you detest the job. 

18) You think about the hard questions and hammer away until you get to the place where you can confidently move forward. I love that about you. 

19) I love how you got to be roommates with your brothers and how important it was for you to spend time with them, even delaying your mission for a little while to do so. And I love watching you all together. Such a happy maker.

20) Honestly, you’re just a bright light. The world is a better place because you’re in it. I’m so glad you were born, Ben. You’re a gift to all of us. 

Happy 20th, baby boy. 

Forever,

Mom

From Ben - "Please Don't Lick Elder Peterson!"

Every time I come to write this weekly email, I sit there and think "Dang, nothing terribly exciting or worthy of note happened this week..." 

Then I actually try to remember, and the unique moments and thoughts that got lost in the blend of a busy week, resurface and show their shine. 

So, you're not going to believe it, but every story in this email I had to consciously acknowledge and remember as special and worthy of note. 

First off. We had the opportunity to teach the Trenton Branch President and his family. They had four little children, and my goodness. These kids were on a whole different level. One child was attempting to show us his Bey-Blade set, while another was running around with its pants down, the third was climbing in between us Elders and hoping to get a seat between us; All this while the youngest child, the baby, was just staring into all of our souls, dissecting our thoughts and feelings with its piercing eyes. 

We did our best to give a lesson on Faith and make it interesting enough for these children, but, unfortunately, ours and the parents' best efforts were to nought. In the midst of our chaotic lesson, the one child that wanted a seat between us all, went for the kill. We didn't see anything, but all of a sudden the mom said, "Hey! Do NOT lick Elder Peterson" the abashed culprit, with his head bowed, had to sit on his Dad's lap for the remainder of the lesson. 

Thanks Mom and Dad. For holding strong with us, your six children  I got a glimpse of how exhausting parenting can be (especially when you want peace and stillness) and I'm eternally grateful to you guys. 

Our Heavenly Father, the ultimate parent, with perfect patience, will lovingly walk beside us - His toddling, completely imperfect children. Of course he's gonna ask us to shape up, of course he's going to give us some chores to do, and of course he's going to ask us to say sorry to our brothers and sisters. Because, of course, he knows perfectly the things that will help us grow, and become the Men and Women that he knows we can become. His "work and his glory, is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life" of us, His Children. I completely believe that he stresses, frets, is concerned about, and is anxiously aware of our situations, and the choices we make. 

Quite the comforting doctrine, no? 

And oh boy. One of the hardest moments of this entire week was having to apologize to one of my companions. 

Don't stress too much about the details, but needless to say, it needed to happen. 

I've been looking for opportunities to choose to be humble, and here it was. My pride was like 

"You don't need to apologize because it's awkward" 

"your intentions were fine! Just let it be!"

"If you just give it a couple days, I'm sure neither of you will even care" 

But that wonderful Spirit, that soft, still small voice offered an alternate feeling. 

"It doesn't matter who was right or who was wrong, because if you don't apologize and work this out, I can't stay" 

It was so hard.

I had to stew about it for 15 minutes before my reserves of courage and logic conquered my pride. Then finally, I, with that awkward feeling completely present, apologized for my error. 

I didn't even apologize perfectly. But things came together, and the consequences of the conversation that resulted afterwards has impacted the entirety of this week (for the better, no stress ) 

Unity within a companionship, similar to that in marriage I'd imagine, takes a bunch of prayer and solid work. I wish it came easier, no lie. 

That natural man is a mighty dragon, my goodness. 

The "enticings of the Holy Ghost" however, can be the perfect Hiccup for our Toothless.

I had my first lesson with a not completely sober person too! He even smoked a joint while we were talking about the fall of Adam and Eve. It wasn't too bad, he really did understand what we were talking about, he'd just unexpectedly go off on wild tangents about anything and everything.

This guy, Sean, is super optimistic about everything, he chooses to be happy and look on the bright side. 

But he's completely depressed. 

Turns out happiness isn't JUST a choice, in a "today, I choose to be happy" kind of way. (I'm confident this isn't new to anyone, I've just never really experienced it first hand) it's THE choice to do things that encourage happiness a.k.a the Laws of Happiness, or, the Laws of God.  Now, choosing to have a positive outlook is still important, and still holds great power. But without the foundation of choosing to follow certain unalterable principles and ideals, it is ultimately unsustainable or realistic. (So says I, Elder Smith) 

We're really hoping to help Sean 'arise from the dust' 

Because he knows he's hit rock bottom, and he is willing to try to climb. The Word of Wisdom is a tricky one, but it'll happen. 

Then finally, when reaching out to people on Instagram I started up one conversation with a guy. 

Long story short, he misinterpreted a joke I attempted to make (gotta love how tone of voice doesn't translate well over text), and the final text he sent of said conversation was.

"I'm handing this over to the police, mate" 

...

Turns out he didn't, because they didn't come to find me 

So our thought was that he just didn't want to talk anymore.

(I'm definitely leaving this one vague, fill in the gaps as you so please).

And now I'm 20! Wow! Bizarre is the best description I can offer. 

Church is still true, mission's still hard, mission's still great, and I love you all.

Have a great week!

- Elder Smith

1) Cool picture on top of Mt. Pelion, a hill in Trenton

2) Elder Geisbrecht's delicious Pad Thai.