July 11, 2022
From Ben - Rough Around the Edges
This week held many colors.
Wednesday was our first Zone Conference with President Stacey. Because of his brilliance in his professional life, and his renowned leadership ability before his call to serve, I was looking really closely to how he taught, led, and encouraged us, as well as the inspired teaching and council he offered, in the hopes to glean some insight from not just what he said, but who he was and how he taught.
The first thing noticed amongst many good and great things was actually his love for Sister Stacey.
It was and is one of my greatest joys to see and hear my mission President express how much he appreciates, values, and trusts in his beloved wife.
President Ensign did it for Sister Ensign, and President Stacey is doing it for Sister Stacey.
Mom and Dad, it will never get old to hear each of you tell how much you love each other behind each others backs. It's so amazing.
It fills my soul with joy and I think it's incredibly classy.
So, to follow suit for my current companion, Elder Blum: he is a hero of a person to serve alongside.
He has this random, champion level ability to listen intently, and ask clarifying questions.
He bares powerful testimony that genuinely changes hearts, and has a well-honed sense of humor.
He's got his weaknesses but is refining them unto strengths on the daily.
I think he's a pretty stellar person. (Will he ever know I've said this? Nope. Heck yah)
The second thing I noticed in intently watching President Stacey, was that he led his entire instruction and teaching through questions.
It was always question, doctrine; or question, testimony.
And it made a difference!
I tried following a similar pattern to one of our friends and the lesson took on a very different, postive tone.
He spent something like and hour and a half going only over the Doctrine of the Pre-mortal life.
Talking our divine heritage, divine worth, divine potential, and the role that God's laws and the Savior played in each.
Throughout this discussion, I felt in my heart, in my mind, and my soul that it was a reality.
Though I had sung it my entire life, that I had heard it in Seminary and Sunday School, It was confirmed to my inner being that I was a child and son of the Almighty God.
A real, truly kind, Father in Heaven.
It felt pretty great, not going to lie.
After lunch at Zone Conference, the departing testimonies were shared of missionaries going home.
Holy Driftin' Moses.
One of the Elders who shared his testimony is one many considered 'rough around the edges'
Even on the mission he had a swearing challenge, and loved to wrestle any who were open for it (almost a couple times in the chapel)
His was the only testimony that brought tears to my eyes.
He stood behind the pulpit and immediately fought to hold his emotion steady.
A jaw set at not wavering, a throat cleared a couple times, a couple of breaths to compose himself, and un-asked for tears.
He shared some of his stories.
About a companion who chose to listen.
About a God who called him exactly for who he was, rough edges, swearing problem, fears and all.
About Savior who changed him.
Like clean cool water for after a long hot day, his testimony quenched my soul. It was pretty great.
Needless to say, not a bad Zone Conference.
The day after Elder Hamilton and I had the chance to go on another exchange together.
Again, I think this Elder is a great missionary.
He teaches with spiritual power, and it is always a pleasure to watch him change and grow from a year ago.
Together we went to the youth activity and I learned how to throw a punch!
This Branch President was a huge fan of Bruce Lee and walked us through some simple footwork and punch techniques.
A Spanish less active member casually showed how he could cripple and even kill me in a couple simple moves which was pretty neat.
He did the classic Master Vs. Padawan move.
He looked at me and said
"Attack me"
I was like. "Umm, what do you mean?"
The Branch President chimed in "Try punching or grabbing him!"
I of course, didn't really try, but I made a simple move to try to grab one of his arms.
And guess what.
Yep, you guessed it.
He pulled the lickety split and did something to my arm that easily showed that if he wanted to, I could become crippled forever.
Needless to say, I would die very fast in any other era that required hand to hand combat.
Beyond these two, eventful and exciting days, we had one day that was randomly difficult, and another that was mildly stressful.
But such is the process
Love you each!
(Good luck in Sweden, Abby and Mia!)
- Elder Smith
1) How many a Facebook conversation goes.
2) A Plan of Salvation Diagram during one of the most incredible lessons to a VERY intelligent questions asker, Kevin.
3) Solving rides for Church attendance and some of our friends way too last minute
4) Osmows Shwarma poutine with the one and only Elder Hamilton who will be spending his last transfer in the District. (Hallelujah)
5) Just one of those days
6) The Barrie Zone.
From Mom - Love All Around
Dear Ben,
It’s so fun whenever she comes into the clinic. She already knows where I keep my stash of candy for kids and goes right to it. She opens the door with a big smile on her face and it’s just so fun. Steph saw a cute house in Calmar and is trying to convince Tyler to purchase it. Hahaha. It probably won’t happen but it’s so nice to fantasize. We’re loving them being around and close. Our most recent enjoyment has been picking wild strawberries and picked enough to add a few to our cornbread this morning.
It was a rare moment tonight where I had 4/6 of my children in the same room (and Madison).
We did pretty normal-type stuff like …
EATING FOOD
Dad set up a pizza bar and rolled out dough for individual pizzas. Tyler got creative and did a bbq elk meat pizza with some leftovers and also a perogie pizza. They were actually pretty good. Also, usually we’re on mozzarella cheese rations but not this time. Somehow Steph, myself and Dad independently bought moz cheese in prep for pizza night. Haha! And then! After all the pizzas were made and we cleaned up a bit, I noticed the oven was still on so I turned it off not realizing Steph was making a cake for Bowie and Madison who have the same birthday (July 14). Somehow Steph rescued it and got the oven back on in time.
PACKING FOR A TRIP
We’re all stressed for Abby and Mia travelling to Sweden tomorrow. They’re pretty cool about it but the rest of us are literally freaking out. Do they have all their documents? Money? (Dad and I somehow independently remembered we had €20 each in our respective wallets. Kind of weird.) Clothes? Shoes? (Steph purchased a pair of classy black runners to wear to grandpa’s funeral and Mia loves them. Guess who is taking those black runners to Sweden with them? ) Emergency kits? (I don’t think it’s possible to leave home without green salve and a few band-aids.) Phones? Cords? Converters? Neck pillows? Extra toothbrushes? It was starting to get a little tense with all of us throwing out possibilities.
AND PRAYING
Josh prayed tonight for you specifically and also that angels would protect the girls. We were all together in a circle and I felt so peaceful and content and loved by each other and also by heaven.
Bowie loves to pray and has somehow taken over the delegation of choosing whose turn it is. Hahaha. We love it, of course, even if she prays five times in a row. And honestly, this entire week is all about Bowie. Check it out …
The kittens are getting well-loved this go around. Bowie is in heaven.
And the girls just spent a week in Calgary and loved their FSY experience. Lots of epiphanies and spiritual experiences and fun Abby says she finally had a good cry after being taught by the spirit that she’s exactly where she needs to be. It brought her comfort. Mia gained some new respect for Joseph Smith in one of the classes and the girls in YW today could not get enough of telling us about their enjoyment.
So a busy week and loving it.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Love forever,
Mom
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