August 15, 2022

From Ben - Better Motivations

The Sudbury Zone consists of six areas and twelve missionaries. 

Timmins with Elder Morphis and Conrad

Sue St. Marie with Elder McGee and Fletcher

NorthBay with Elder Bennet and Powelslend 

Sudbury Uptown with Elder Ellingson and trainee Conrad

Sudbury Downtown with Elder McNabb and I, 

and Bracebridge with Sister Barton and McMahon. 

Each area is roughly three and a half hours apart from eachother! We are the most unique Zone geographically. 

It's going to be an incredible transfer; made of amazing weeks and enthusiastic days. 

I love Elder McNabb. We're both red-heads.

He has a champion smile and a well-trained work ethic. I'm excited to learn to love him, and work with him. 

The Sudbury area is beautiful. It kinda reminds me of Sparwood, the vibe is similar. When we pulled in to our duplex (the Ice Castle it's called) I stepped outside and literally felt like I was at Grandma and Grandpa Bruce's 

I smiled, my soul smiled, and the adventure began. 

Sudbury has some serious drug challenges, and we see a broad range of economic statuses and circumstances. 

It's interesting to experience both Paul and Mormon's promise that 'perfect love casteth out all fear'. 

Individuals that on a first glance seem rough, tough and mean (and many who actually are) take on a different colour in our eyes. 

We talked with a guy at the bus stop who, by his appearance, told more of his life story then words could express. 

Mistakes, drugs, and probably abuse of various kinds showed on his demeanor. 

We talked with him on Thursday, then miraculously met him again at a different bus stop yesterday, on Sunday. 

In the second conversation Elder McNabb and I cracked open the Book of Mormon and explained to him the healing and redemptive power of Jesus Christ. 

He explained that he did want to change, to get out of certain things, and to right other wrongs. 

We explained as clear as we could that it wasn't going to be easy, that it would be a fight, but that it was completely possible. 

We prayed with him, gave him a hug, then promised that the next meeting (tomorrow) we would go in further detail how these things could be possible. 

It's always a blessing to see, in the slightest part, how God views His children.

I feel invincible whenever I get that motive aligned. Of Christlike love. 

It's actually hilarious to see how much of a difference in spiritual power it makes to be motivated correctly versus incorrectly. 

We had a pretty good run of it this week in finding new people to teach and we'd set a pretty high goal. 

And as we neared the completion of said goal, one that was pretty darn good, for a couple hours, my motive swapped to a less pure one 

People became numbers for a few moments, but it was kind interesting to compare the before and after. 

In one conversation, the person we talked to matters completely. Their words, their story, their fears, all become something you completely care about, and are willing to fight for. 

In the other conversation, their words become intermission till I get to speak again, their facial expression cues for which techniques to employ to have them accept a return appointment. 

In one conversation, I felt inside myself the motive swap from a pure one to a lesser one, and totally lost the ability to connect or be led by the Spirit. 

Elder McNabb came in clutch to save me, but it was a stellar learning experience.

The challenge is to have the pure motive FAR more often the less pure, till the less pure motive never takes control. 

One lady we talked with was in the small corner of a courtyard. 

We hailed her and she said we could share something quick with her. 

She was homeless and was fighting an addiction to fentynal and heroine. 

Our conversation went for thirty minutes, and we promised her of her divinity and divine heritage. 

That there was an ultimate healing power that transcended the deepest abyss. 

We probably won't meet her again, but in the moment of talking with her, there was a real light we all felt. 

Another guy we met was chilling, just taking a smoke break and we hailed him. 

It went something like. 

"Hey! Would you have a short moment? We share a special message that's pretty cool"

"No thanks, I've got some kids inside"

"We'll make it thirty seconds for you?"

"Hmm... alright, I can take a short thirty seconds" 

Those thirty seconds became thirty minutes (by his own accord, no stress, we didn't dupe him or anything) 

In that conversation, he said the two statements that still shock and amaze me whenever they are said. 

1) "You fellas hold a special kind of energy about you, it's a good energy"

and

2) "Last night I was actually praying for guidance, and you guys showed up"

It still amazes me. 

One of the great moments of the week was one the way to Tim Hortons to comp study. 

It's about a 7 minute walk from the Ice Castle, so it's a perfect location. 

In the morning before this great moment, we got to the church and played some pretty solid and intense basketball, all of us were beat, and slightly dehydrated. 

Fast forward to walking to Tim Hortons. 

We had decided to do a joint comp study, all four missionaries of the Castle together.

During our walk, Elder McNabb paired with Elder Ellingson, and I paired up with Elder Conrad. 

This cool looking dude with some earphones in walked down the street, so Elder Conrad and I stopped him and started talking. 

The sun was shining pretty hot, and midway through the conversation, Elder Conrad suddenly said,

"Elder Smith, I think I'm going to pass out" 

To which his body fulfilled his prophecy, and he started sagging. 

I grabbed him by the arm and shoulder and slowly laid him to the pavement in front of the guy we were talking with. 

While Elder Conrad was out cold, I carried on the conversation and got a return appointment with the guy. 

He was randomly chill that my companion for the moment was laying passed out. 

After the conversation was drawing to the close, Elder Conrad regained consciousness and we went back home. 

He got some liquids inside him, and some shade and felt better immediately. 

It was epic, and randomly relaxed the whole time. 

I love it. 

And I love each of you! 

- Elder Smith

1) Daily planning at its finest

2) A goodbye to one of the greats, Elder Blum

3) Though you can't read it, this was some Zone Leader Brainstorming

4) Elder McNabb singlehandedly mowing a friend of ours lawn with a painful push mower. 

5) Transfer days be wild. 

6) The great Ice Castle

7) Farewell to Elder Kirby. The great Zone Leader and Missionary.