November 7, 2022
From Ben - The Greater Miracle
We got another call from a friend of ours we had dropped sometime last transfer.
We'd explained in stark colours the misery and hopelessness of the life he was currently living, but he explained that he really wasn't interested in changing.
Fast forward to this last Friday and we get a call from him.
Not doing too hot.
"On March 17th, when it is legal, I will walk into the hospital, and undergo medically assisted suicide, you guys are kind of my last resort" was the kicker sentence.
Our conversation on the phone shows that he is without hope, joy, or purpose.
We set up a time to visit him the next day.
We taught him about the nature of God and his own relationship as a literal child of Him.
There was an almost noticeable change in this man's demeanor.
As we explained the why of repentance, and the point of prayer, a different light entered his eyes.
We visit him a day later, and talk about the Restoration of the Gospel.
The Spirit helped us out so much.
In four months, this man is not going to take his own life. He will be a different person, filled with light, purpose and enthusiasm.
Family, thanks for existing
Mom and Dad, Steph, Tyler, Bowie, Josh, Sam, Abby and Mia, cousins, grandparents. Thanks for being people that have loved me.
Sudbury has many homeless, stemming from mental health and addiction challenges.
It appears, from my 21 year old perspective, that every single one of these individuals's circumstances has been off-kilter and twisted because of a failure in the family during their upbringing.
The family proclamation describes it as such.
"...we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets"
On a mass scale, children are being raised in households neglecting principles of security, growth and joy.
The issue is complex, with many variables and different challenges.
However, the solution must always result in an individual seeking repentance and a turning toward the Laws and Lifestyle that allow relationships to thrive, and weaknesses and wounds to heal.
The Gospel of the living Jesus Christ.
It isn't just a theology.
It isn't just some rules.
It isn't just an arbitrarily chosen belief system.
It is instruction and information on the laws of reality that constitute real, or, eternal, joy and progression.
It is the steps towards freedom that is invincible from any circumstance.
It is a relationship with pure light, pure love, and an eternal advocate.
So thanks for raising us with this in our lives, Mom and Dad.
That, in and of itself, is a miracle more monumental then mountains moving, or planet's being organized.
The transfer begins anew! Full of new faces and new challenges.
It almost feels like I'm just starting to understand this leadership thing.
Elder Surdu and I are trying to repent of some of the holes in our leadership from last transfer, so there are things to be done.
I get stuck on the whole Zone Leader thing.
The process becomes so much easier when it's viewed from the lens of individual ministering.
The challenges we face are rarely the Zone's challenges, (exempting the neglect of the leadership who represent the Zone) it is the challenges of individuals within the Zone.
It's so much easier to analyze and measure service, when trying to serve one by one, and not punch the Zone's challenges in a single go.
If we only had to be stewards over a single companionship, how would we treat them?
Now, we just show that same level and care for each of our five companionships.
We bless one companionship, in five different parts of the Zone.
You see what I'm seeing?
One of our friends who had been recently baptized, Geramie, shared an incredible Sacrament Meeting testimony.
Him, 23, in his frazzled black hair, his dark leather jacket, blue jeans and unkempt beard walked up to the stand and shared his genuine conviction on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It's changing power, and how it allows us to love others with greater abundance.
Oh man, it was a beautiful thing. I was pretty happy.
I'm doing well
The Lord is kind enough to keep me humble.
Whenever I take the time to think about it, I cannot begin to list the blessings I've recieved from Him.
Thanks for reading some of my circulating thoughts!
Love you each.
Thanks for loving in the way you do.
- Elder Smith
2) Just a fun start of a convo I had
3) The Miracle of the Bananas. The Lord provided us some bananas in a fun way when we didn't have time for dinner..
4) Some study notes about PmG and leadership.
5) We're trying a new way of transfer goals the system ain't perfect yet, but hey.
6) Zone FHE. Figuring out how to make these more effective as well..
7) Just a to-do list.
8) A majority of Elders in the Zone.
9) A peak into the Book
From Mom - Sometimes Life is Weird
Dear Elder Smith,
Winter hit us full force since we talked to you last. We had the most beautiful, mild fall weather for all of October and the warmest Halloween we can remember. No one even got sick! Then suddenly in one day the temperature plummeted and snow started to fall and it’s still falling. Coco barks at the door to be let out and we open it but that cold air hits her and she slowly backs away. I’m not sure if she’s done any of her dog business since Wednesday. It was beautiful autumn one day and full blizzard the next. Weird.
It seems with the cold air, everything starts to fall apart. Dad was forced to unexpectedly fix the brakes in the car as well as get winter tires on. Our fireplace started getting spotty and he took that all apart and cleaned it (it seems to be working fine now … keep your fingers crossed). Also, the doctor called to report on some blood work and I’m anemic again …. booooo! It’s my own fault, really, because I’m not consistent with the iron supplements I know work. I’m going to have to cave and purchase one of those old-people pill-popping containers that map out the pills. Haha. I can add Vit. C and D to it too! (It’s kind of weird adopting habits I’d always associated with old age.)
Because of the anemia, I unconsciously start prioritizing the basics and everything else starts to slide because I just don’t have the energy to do it all. (That will change shortly, but last week was a challenging one.) I felt like I was failing at everything and getting pretty down about it. In one of my morning prayers, I pleaded with Heavenly Father to help me see my own worth and maybe get some outside validation, just to get me through until the iron kicks in again. My prayer was answered in a way that still makes me giggle a little bit.
We were short-staffed at work so I was going in for more hours than was typical. On our first snow day, I drove the girls into school because the roads were bad and arrived at work a little later than usual. Trish (one of the massage therapists) was there and she she says this, while handing me a hot, disposable Starbucks coffee cup, “Jen! I’m so glad you drove safely! I was worried about you! I want you to know how much I appreciate you. Thanks for always showing up and doing what you say you’re going to do. Everything is better at the clinic ever since you started working here. We feel taken care of now, so I bought you a Matcha Green Tea Latté to try.” For a brief moment, two things happened:
1) I wanted to cry at her kindness.
2) I shot a prayer upwards asking if this was a time to share my belief system or a time to zip it.
I had the distinct impression that this was the answer to my morning prayer and to zip it. It was Trish’s way to express appreciation and I needed it! And I drank that latté. The first and last one I’ll ever have. I told her that it was something that I’d never tried and it was worth a shot but that I’d probably never order it again … then I introduced her to the world of Steamers. Hahaha. The day was so weird with snow drifting in front of the door and me shoveling every fifteen minutes and people canceling their appointments. But Trish and I had a good moment and maybe one day I’ll tell her she was an unorthodox answer to my prayers.
And right now I’m on a flight to Las Vegas in an airplane full of disgruntled party-goers. The plane left two hours past schedule due to being short-staffed! (We found out later) And Steph, Tyler and Bowie are sitting in Las Vegas waiting and waiting. I feel bad about it but there’s nothing we can do, so it is what it is. Sometimes we forget about the miracle of air travel when we’re two hours behind! But even so, I’m pretty excited to see the Froelichs. It’s been three years! I can’t even believe the weirdness of the Covid bubble and how it affected our perception of time.
Later …
It’s 1:15 a.m. and I’ve arrived. Steph and Tyler have renovated their home tastefully since the last time i was here. Bowie chattered contentedly for about 30 minutes then fell into a deep sleep for the rest of the two hour drive. It’s nice to be together.
I love my family! Sniff.
And I love you, my boy.
Keep striving.
Keep smiling.
Forever,
Mom
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