January 2, 2023

From Ben - The Sixth Avenger

I've said it once and I'll say it again. 

I'm surrounded by heroes 

The Batcave houses six missionaries, and with a number like that comes many advantages, but many possible disadvantages. 

Of the possible disadvantages is the potential of it  becoming more of a party house, and less of a sacred home. 

However, we have great souls within this building.

The potential and light of each far outweighs and trumps any perceived weakness of theirs I see when I'm searching for motes, ignoring my beams, and seeking to gratify my pride. 

The first to describe is Elder Mercado. My companion, and, oh man, a hero indeed. 

He has contagious optimism and is able to see opportunities to show small (which are actually big) acts of love and kindness. 

He sincerely cares about those around him. 

He absolutely wrecks me playing one on one basketball and keeps me humble. 

He asks me once in a while, looking me in the eye 

"Elder Smith, how are you"

But he asks it in a way that I understand that I'm able to explain and trust him with thoughts and concerns without reproach or inconvenience to him. 

A hero of high caliber. 

We have Elder Pehrson, who is quieter and more somber, but holds a hidden laugh and smile that, when shown, lights the room in a really unique and needed way. 

I've had really genuine and soul-refreshing conversations with this Elder. He's been through a lot and it's a blessing I get to be around him. 

Meek is a good descriptor word for this champion soul.

Elder Halls looks exactly like Superman. 

No word of a lie. 

In both look and stature. It shocks me to this moment. 

It is possible, outside of my sometimes exaggerated description, that Elder Halls is the most genuine and guileless soul I've ever met. 

He is like unto a child in the best definition of the phrase. 

We have Elder Shay, one of the Mandarin Elders. 

He has an energy and enthusiasm that draws from, what it appears to be, a source of limitless energy. 

His work ethic is renowned, and his humor spontaneous. 

We need this Elder here. Few match his drive. 

Then finally, we've got Elder Pendleton. 

I don't understand this Elder yet. 

Elite is simply the best descriptor word for him.

Before his mission he played AAU basketball in California, which is intense and is incredibly competitive. 

He doesn't try to impress anyone, and is reserved in a lot of ways. 

But, without saying a word, you know this Elder holds power, skill, and capacity. It's the wildest thing. 

In one conversation I had with him, the core sentence he said was something along the lines of. 

"Elder Smith, I just like being obedient" 

The way he said it though, with his characteristic half grin and confident aura just made it so cool. 

God knew there were lessons I needed to learn, and gave me five souls with the lessons inside of them to teach me.

Golly. What a gift.

I hold the capacity to stay in the comfort zone for an amazing period of time, and I'm grateful when God nudges me outside of it,.

However, the real change is when I correctly use my agency to follow Christ outside it. 

There isn't much comfort walking the straight and narrow path. 

It's pretty darn inconvenient to the natural man inside of me. 

Convenience is secretly a stronger and heavier chain to my progress then I daily expect it to be. 

I say this because this past week, the most often re-eccuring lie/excuse my brain is accepting, is the assumption that I can stay comfortable and casual in my leadership assignment and area, and the consequences won't be that dire.

Without perfectionism or rationalization there is genuinely more I can accomplish. I gotta learn more completely the road of redemption and that perfect brightness of hope. 

Amen!! 

Presidential Interviews occurred as well. 

President: Elder Smith, how's your testimony compared to a year ago?

Elder Smith: Light and day

President: That's good

Elder Smith: Yep

I'm grateful this giant of a mission president with a slight limp in the leg exists. 

After, I talked with Sister Stacey for a while. 

She's a sneaky one! 

You talk and feel totally at home, but, the whole time, unbeknownst to the oblivious missionary, she's actually seeking to discern how are you are, and if you're alright. 

She's a wizard at it too. I was the last Interviewed, so J asked about the missionaries of the Zone. She gave a thorough run-down for each missionary she felt could use some attention with thoughts and observations. 

Woah. Grandma discernment is for real. 

Beyond these core thoughts, I'm getting progressively better at Volleyball, as it's a solid YSA finding tool. 

Love you each, Happy New Year, eh? 

- Elder Smith

1) Took a quick nap in the prayer pose during a whole shwack of phone calls, Elder Mercado, the sly dog got me on film. 

2) Most of the Oakville district after a service project

3) District Council Pic

4) Same service project

5) Might actually be the same service project, no lie.

6) My study desk, thought to share for context 

From Dad - Christmas Week

Dear Ben,

Though we've talked a couple of times, it's been a couple of weeks since we actually sent a letter. Let's see if we can remedy that.

Lot's has happened in 2 weeks. From Christmas and New Years adventures to another magic broadway romance.

Our family seems to have an inclination to brew romantic feelings between play leads. Abby and Garret are now declaring boyfriend and girlfriend status. We enjoyed having Garret over for Monday night fun and FHE and we were impressed with his respect and standards. Looks like Abby's grad date possibilities are looking better and better! She even found a potential grad dress from the Bectells!

Speaking of the Bectells, our adventure of the holiday happened there. We spent Tuesday night with Grandma Smith and were happy to be able to help her with some projects in her new house. She decorated it beautifully. The next day, we headed to the Bectells for some cousin time and spent a couple of hours out on their back hill tobogganing. Afterwards we went inside for some delicious dinner and games and visited. Around 9 we decided we'd better head back to Cardston only to discover that the keys to the SUV (Derrik) were no longer in my front pocket! Talk about the worst feeling ever!

Everyone pitched in and after some heartfelt prayers we headed out with flashlights and hope. No luck! So we borrowed the Bectell van and headed to Gr. Smith's for the night. I thought I would be worried and unable to sleep but in fact I felt pretty calm and hopeful that we could resolve the problem tomorrow, even after googling that to replace the key we'd have to tow the vehicle to Lethbridge and buy a $400 key! 

The next day we went out after sunrise and combed the hill again. Still no luck! So after multiple calls we found a tow truck and resigned ourselves that we would not find it. "But if not..." was the prayer's result. 

Just as I was leaving with the tow truck, Jeff located a metal detector and Mom and Mia started combing the hill. About 1/2 hour later I got a text outside of Magrath with this picture...

Bitter sweet but still great to find them. I had the Tow truck pull over in Magrath and saved a few kilometers on the price and Mom came and picked me up. She went on to Lethbridge to get a new key programmed anyways so we can avoid this scenario again! 

So prayers answered, just not in the way we expected. I'm grateful for the lessons learned (including putting my keys in a zippered pocket when sledding!) and for the Lord's tender mercies to our family. We had some pretty great discussions over it. Madison made a few insightful comments during and after the "ordeal". As we were waiting to go outside in the morning to look, she faithfully encouraged us all by saying that we should expect to find the keys and that the only reason we would not is if the Lord had a plan for us to learn something. And learn we did. Later, after coming home, she commented that she appreciated the opportunity to observe our family "in crisis". Though it wasn't really a life threatening crisis, she told us we passed the test :)  I'm grateful for my forgiving family!

Next we were on to the Bruce's for Chinese Christmas and a day in the wild at Line Creek in the snow roasting hot dogs and riding snow machines. It was a little sketchy and we had to push a couple of us out of some deeper snow, but I was impressed with Derrik that plowed through with awesome 4 wheel drive.

We took a vote and decided to come home for NY eve this year. At first we thought maybe the YSA's and Youth would head off to dances, but in the end, we were too tired so we picked up some charcuterie food and had a feast and movie night to celebrate 2022 and bring in 2023. 

Life is good!

Dad