March 14, 2022

From Ben - A Master Gringo

I am surrounded by heroes. 

19-21 year olds. 

Each of which with their own challenges, weaknesses and issues. 

Each of which fighting to conquer their weaknesses so they can help others find genuine peace and joy. 

On Thursday I got to go on an exchange with an Elder Christensen. 

He is 6'0, blonde, has a trained smile, speaks Spanish, charismatic, is a Zone Leader and works hard. 

Basically what any outside individual would consider a successful missionary, or just, successful. 

But what makes him a difference maker, is that he is kind. 

He offered to put on my coat for me! It was SO SMALL of an act. 

But I almost couldn't believe it. 

The phrase 'by small and simple things are great things brought to pass' is becoming less and less of a mystery. 

That is EXACTLY how it's supposed to go. 

Putting my own coat on means basically nothing to me. 

It's so easy. 

So easy that I haven't even considered it an actual task for years. 

But Elder Christensen cared about me, so he helped me to succeed in a task I could have succeeded in doing alone, and succeeded in doing without a second thought.

 

Whenever someone says 

"It's the thought that counts" 

I always think it's a tad cheezy. 

But the thought that someone cared enough about something so tiny so as to serve me changed my day, and really changed the way I've started to think about how I can better bless the lives of others. 

That is exactly how the Savior works. 

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"

That thought brings me unbelievable gratitude and joy. 

Anyways, the exchange was a hoot. He does Spanish works and I don't, so whenever I started talking to someone who didn't speak Spanish, he'd slide in and carry the conversation.

He taught me a phrase in Spanish that says 

"Will you allow me to get you in contact with missionaries that speak Spanish?" 

And I love using it. 

When I use it on a Hispanic individual, they immediately start rapping at incredible speeds in Spanish, and by the means and method of charades and BSL (Ben's Sign Language) I communicate that I cannot verbally communicate. 

I've become a Master Gringo. 

"Como estas" has become the phrase I use to communicate 

'hello' 

'goodbye' 

'goodmorning' 

'goodnight' 

And with only a medium amount of exaggeration, anything I need it to be 

I only get roasted by everyone I talk to, but I'll usually get a number out of these wonderful Spanish people to give to the Spanish Elders. 

Elder Christensen shared with me his goal of becoming best friends with every one of his companions. 

With the full intention of meeting up with them after the mission, and holding himself accountable (to the extent that he can) for their Spiritual well being after the mission. 

I thought it was cool.

Leadership is a question that absolutely thrills me. 

Trying to unlock the latent genius and divine potential in others. 

I've concluded that part of the secret is through asking an incredible amount of intentional questions. 

It's a cool learning experience, and I need to consistently curb my desire to be tyrannical, to do things for the clout. 

One day I'll look back and consider my missionary days the good old days.

So that means that the good old days are happening right now. 

And that also means that after my mission, in university, they too will be the good old days one day

Which probably means I should consider today just a good day. 

And love it with everything I've got. 

Elder Durant is also epic. 

I don't mention him enough. 

He has a way of analyzing things that I've never experienced before. 

He's got a rocking sense of humor, and a real love for his family. 

I look up to him. I've learned much from my experience with him and am excited for another three weeks with him.

(The odds of him leaving are way higher than me leaving, but we'll see. Transfers are randomly difficult to predict)

Love you!

- Elder Smith

1) Elder Durants incredible photo editing skills pulled out this beauty.

2) Just another look at a missionary schedule

3) A picture with our dear Ecuadorian friend, Nelson at the Church stair case. (It's a gnarly church building)

4) A place of Peace

5) After a discussion in a Zone Council. 

The subject was how we could better teach Dispensations and Apostasy, and Christ's earthly ministry in PmG.

6) A picture with some super heroes.

7) Elder Christensen shoveling the Church sidewalk

8) Celestial food. Crackers cheese and jam. 

From Dad - Dealing with disappointment

Dear Ben,

We're just winding down a wonderful Sunday. Friday night, Mom got a call from George Pomerleau asking if she could talk at the last minute in Church today. Being the faithful woman she is she graciously said yes despite having a University assignment due and a YW

lesson to prepare. She vowed to all who would listen that she was not leaving the house Saturday and she kept that vow! 

Amelia also prepared a talk for today so we got a double whammy of Smith revelation and insight on the topic of prayer today. Abby took advantage of the opportunity to invite her friend Kadence to come to church to listen. She said yes! We were more than happy to swing by Leduc to pick her up before Church. It was a wonderful experience. Both Mia and Mom gave incredible talks and I was inspired by their insights and ideas on how to more fully connect with our Heavenly Father in faith and develop our relationship with Him. Talking with Kadence on the way home from Church she enjoyed it and we had a good discussion about why the young boys were passing and blessing the sacrament. We closed our day by discussing the Children and Youth program and President Nelson's invitation to gather Israel by helping those around us on both sides of the veil to make and keep covenants and come unto Christ. I felt like we as a family did some Israel gathering today in a few small and simple ways.We are really hoping to help rejuvenate the youth program now that Covid is retreating.

It's also been a week for dealing with disappointment. Both Abby and Mia did some serious studying this last week but still struggled with some disappointing school test results. Amelia and I had a good talk about it on a daddy-daughter date on Thursday. We were invited by Don Steenwinkle to be part of the Community choir he leads. I see it as a good opportunity to get to know others in the community and to develop a talent I haven't used for a while. Mia was kind enough to accompany me as Abby wasn't feeling well. Not sure if the girls will stick with it, but I really enjoyed spending time with Mia and singing in a choir again. On the drive, we talked about how even after praying and fasting for something we want doesn't always immediately yield results when we think it should. Sometimes the Lord lets us learn through patience and long suffering. 

The final blow on the disappointment front came Friday night when Emma cancelled her and Mia's ski date to rabbit hill. The tear ducts burst and it took all of Saturday to recover. On the other hand, Friday was a PD day and Abby and Mia ended up spending the whole day with friends watching Sister Act together in their hoodies, hot tubbing  and having a fun time together. Abby commented on how grateful she is that she has been able to find good and supportive friends in high school, "which thing she never had supposed" would happen. Good friends can make a tremendous difference in our lives. 

While the girls were gone on Friday, we had a fun night watching cheesy movies. We watched "The Adam Project', a new Netflix movie with Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy) and Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk). It wasn't too bad, but then somehow we found ourselves watching "She's all that", a cult classic from 1999, then it's counterpart from 2021 "He's all that". Basically a take on "My Fair Lady" theme of a bet where popular kids try and transform a nerdy kid in Highschool to be prom queen or king. So cheesy, but fun to spend time with your Mom.

My small and simple improvement this week on the house was to frame in the remaining duct work in the basement. We are hoping to finish all the dry wall activities in the house once and for all by summer.

Mom has taken to visiting Joshua after her University class on Mondays and Wednesdays. Their kitchen has never been so clean :) I'm pretty proud of her for going back to school. 

Things are starting to melt around her finally and we are starting to take stock of all the things we want to do and accomplish this summer. It's already shaping up super busy with FSY, the girls going to Sweden, LYR, trip to Vancouver etc. etc. YOLO right?

Sure love you son. Have a great week.

Dad.