January 3, 2022

From Ben - Calm Suggestions

It's always unexpected. 

I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am, what new lessons and experiences the mission life can offer. 

You'd think that all of a sudden I'd know it all, that there wouldn't be any need to grow or learn anymore! :)

It is fortunately the case, that there is more to learn.

It's like in a video game. It's really fun and rewarding to "level up"

To get our next ability. 

But it still hurts sometimes 

We don't always win the boss fight, but we sure improve and learn after we have respawned and choose to challenge him again. 

There were two key moments of growth this week.

Both involved a bit of courage and some hard conversations. 

The first time was spirit led. 

You know that feeling you get in Fast and Testimony meeting? The pulpit is empty, and you wonder if you should go up. 

Then the gitters begin, and a calm warmth kindly suggests you should go for it. 

Same gig. 

I'd been thinking about this 'thing' for a bit, so I offered a prayer, curious how I should approach it.

Then the gitters and calm warmth encouraging action began.  

So I had to do my part. 

I mustered up my courage, hesitated for a bit, mustered some more courage, then went for it. 

Even though it was a spirit suggested course of action, I still stumbled my way through the execution. 

There came a choice, midway through this event, and so I offered a second plea of help, and got a confirming thought. 

Mustered up my courage, then made the second choice. 

It needed to happen, and it was a moment in my life where I recognized the Spirit for what it was. Without tha doubt of whether or not it was just my own thought or not. 

The second moment of growth was similar. 

However, it didn't need an initial spirit led moment. 

I knew it was the right thing to do. 

So I did it.

Still wasn't easy though  (never really is) 

Learning to overcome fear has been a reoccurring question not just on my mission, but throughout my entire life. 

It'll probably still continue after my mission honestly. 

But anyways, I've found that there are two tactics to address fear. Both are valid and needed  

The first is called the "full send"

The fear remains, but you choose to embrace 20 seconds of courage, and just jump. 

We definitely need this method, it has an important role.

The second is by changing our motives.

Perfect love "casteth out" all fear kind of thing. 

We conquer our fear by seeing, or feeling things in a different light. 

The fear no longer applies, or simply holds no power because another, more powerful motivation supersedes it. 

Whether that be a pure love that grants the courage to have a hard conversation though you may be scared of creating tension in a relationship, or the courage to try something new and scary because you love to learn even though you may look foolish in front of others; choosing to let the higher motivation take place makes so many issues non-issues. 

Fear is painfully paralyzing, and leads to an unfortunate reality called regret. 

Beautifully enough, Christ invites and encourages us to give him even the silliest fears and the most terrible uncertainties. 

Unfailingly, He will always provide the strength to overcome them in a way that we will understand.

It's not always easy, holy moly.

But regardless, we have the right to a perfect brightness of hope because of His perfect power. 

There was almost nobody at church this week. 

Covid is showing its familier face and nobody's cars are starting 

Oh yes. -30° with the wind chill is absolutely brutal.

Canadians are like onions, we wear layers. 

I live by that. 

We're helping two of our friends get closer to baptism and it's both hard to see and interesting to observe how real the adversaries' efforts are. 

It is absolutely wild how many unexpected challenges started showing up as soon as both of them got on date.

We're still working through some of these challenges, and we're confident things will work out, I just might not be here to see it. 

Transfers are coming up next Thursday and I may be leaving (you can never really predict what's going to happen) 

But me and Elder Hartman will be separating. 

I've been with him for 12 weeks. 

I am going to miss him. I love the guy. 

Everyone, Happy New Year! 

Love you all! 

- Elder Smith

1) Our 8:45 New Years with Mémere

2) Elder Hartman heave hoeing some woodchips in a bag for a member we helped out.

3) Awkward selfies while Elder Hartman and Heggie are heave hoeing wood chips

4) District Council picture

5) After some basketball for a District P-Day that was probably competitive enough that we broke some rules

6) A Zone Conference picture that I forgot to include last week

7) A nice compliment some random guy offered that made my day better.

8) Just a picture with member Gisele after we read some of the Book of Mormon with her.

From Dad - Happy New Year

Dear Benjamin,

We sure appreciated the opportunity to talk  with you twice for Christmas and P-day. You are a joy to all of us. 

Monday afternoon we made our annual trek to a mall (West Edmonton Mall this time). We split up. The two girls, me and Mom, and Hunter met Sam. We wandered around Babylon for a few hours and managed spend some money.  We met again for classic food court supper and went to see Spider-Man “No way home”. I was oblivious to the drama at the end of the row but Mia and Abby almost fell off of their chairs when they saw Sam and Hunter holding hands. So all of a sudden both Sam and Josh have steady girlfriends. It’s fun. 

It was super cold and we decided to take the van to the mall as a test run to see if it could work to drive south. Turns out that while it made it home, it was touch and go and no heat! So no go for the van. 

Wednesday we headed to the Bectell’s and celebrated Grandmas birthday. It was a fun night for her as we had an impromptu talent show and did a spotlight round with everyone sharing what they love about her. She is an amazing woman. I’m grateful for her example of faith. 

The next day I went on a road trip to gather in my non-driving siblings. In the end I was only able to pick up Aunt Carol. I really enjoyed visiting with her after a few years. She is resilient. She and her family have been without heat and had frozen pipes for a week in -20 and lower temperatures. Blew my mind!

Aunt Angie and uncle Mike came out (they’re back together) and we had a nice meal together. 

The rest of the trip we spent in Sparwood at G&G and different  uncles houses. Traditional Chinese Christmas and lots of good food and visiting. 

To kick off the new year, we had Madison and Hunter over for Sunday dinner. It was a fun time doing Come follow me and playing the flour game together. 

Who knows what this year May bring. May be lots of changes by the time you come home :)

Mom and I enjoyed a morning video visit with Steph and Bowie yesterday. Bowie loved their New Years party.  

So there’s the travel log highlights. Hope you had a good New Years celebration in some form. 2022 can be a great year if we  choose to make it that way. I’ve made a long list of goals I can try not to procrastinate on. Hopefully I can align them with President Nelson’s recommendations to be kinder, more steadfast and build a more sure foundation in my own life and help where I can in the lives of our family near and far. 

Love you lots,

Dad.