The burden of your neighbor becomes your opportunity the moment you become aware of it.
The service we give is the rent we pay for the space we occupy.
Hell is truth seen too late.
important dates
January
28 Mom died 2013 I miss her every day. But when I miss her, I think about all the happy times we had with her. All the things we learned from her. And the days leading up to her passing. We knew she was going to go, but we were all confused why she didn't pass! Looking back, it was obvious that she was enjoying the party. Everyone gathering-- kids, grandkids, friends, relatives, siblings/spouses. We all know how she loved those gatherings. And she was enjoying this one that lasted day after day. But then, while home, at one point, she started crying. I am absolutely positive that was when Dad showed up to take her. And within a minute, she was gone.
February
3 Melissa Smith
3 Calista Mordecai-Smith 1999 (Angela and Erik)
3 Liam Webber 2003 (Cara and Barry)
3 Madison Smith 2008 (Jared)
busy day, Feb 3rd!
Missionary updates
I have been stalking folks on Facebook--just as I said I would. But it is pretty time consuming so I dont get much info at a time. HOWEVER, I just found that my cousin, Linda Smith Giberson, has a missionary out. So let me update that first.
Katie Giberson is in the Portugal, Lisbon mission. Her mission updates can be found on Facebook--Sister Giberson Mission Log. She is a Sister Missionary Trainer. In reading her updates, she is a super sharp missionary. Check out her Facebook missionary blog! This is from this past week....
This week was excellent! The best thing was the baptisms of Stela and her children - Leandro (10) and Cristiana (19). They are seriously amazing! Our District Leader told us about the interview with Leandro - he asked him the question "Who is Joseph Smith?" Because sometimes people just respond mechanically to the question that they believe the church was restored through him. He said that Leandro started telling him all about the first vision, almost quoting parts of it back word for word. How awesome is that? And Cristiana, right after the baptismal service was over asked us if it was ok if she could already pay her tithing. That just blew me away. I am so grateful for the blessing to work with this wonderful family. Now we just have to help the rest of the family, especially Stela´s husband, receive the blessings of the gospel.
Kieren in Brazil talks of an investigator, Priscila--She has wanted to be baptized for a while but isn´t married to her "esposo" yet. She was pretty firm in her decision to marry at the end of this year when she graduates and has a party and a house, etc etc. We were sad, but glad that she is still going to church and stuff. We were thinking about her and planning and praying and we decided to set a date this week with her for baptism, even if it is way in the future. After we taught her about the Word of Wisdom, we suggested setting a date for baptism, and to our surprise she said that she and Jonathan had been thinking about getting married earlier in paper so that she could get baptised! It was an unexpected and amazing surprise! She said that she wanted to be baptized on her birthday (March 25) so they are preparing everything to be able to be married before then. Yay!!! It has truly been a week of miracles.
Never give up on anyone. Heavenly Father is taking care of all of His children and knows exactly how to help them and in their time and in his own time, they will come around. If we decide to never give up on someone, we will have the privilege of being there when they need us most and being an instrument in the Lord´s hands in helping His beloved children. I don´t remember the chapter, I think it is Matthew 9 or maybe not. Hmm. I forgot to bring my bible. But anyway, remember the story of the man who sat by the pool of water waiting to be healed for 38 YEARS!?!?! That is a long time. And no one was there to help put him down into the water. BUT! Guess what happened? Christ came along and healed him. Just like that. After 38 years of thinking that his only hope was this fantastical pool of water, he comes to find out that the actual solution to his problem can be found in Christ. Christ is always the answer. He has the power to heal us of all our infirmities and the power to help each one of us in our moments of need. Sometimes we have to wait a long time, but help will always come. He will not leave us comfortless. Be that comfort to those who are waiting.
Cameron in California-So this was a fun week.
It started off with a big burger
And then things moved to Eggs. Apparently, some people are not too fond of missionaries and like to egg them from cars going about 35mph, but such is the day in the life right?
There was also the habanero pepper, but that will have to wait till I am
home and you can watch the video... (never again)
We had a wonderful training that touched on some things that I wanted
to work on, and then apply them. Picked up a new investigator and set up
a church tour.
I am becoming different inside, in how I think and treat people. But as I do,
I feel that who I really am does not change, just my potential in being
more fulfilled as I use the help of the lord in all I do.
Easton in Canada--This week was great. I am really enjoying being a missionary. I think I say that every week but its because its true. So so true. I learn new things every single day and I can feel God teaching me as I study. Things will come to mind while I'm reading or when I'm at church and suddenly I'll understand something or I'll get an idea for a lesson. It is incredible to live in the light and truth of the gospel. I understand the scriptures so much more now than I ever thought I could and nothing makes me happier than reading them and discussing them. Seriously. I love just talking about gospel principles and helping others to understand them. I fell so blessed that I get to do it everyday. I am so grateful for this chance to be a missionary.
Family updates-
Cara-Hallie has been involved in her junior high's drama club this year. They had a short play- "Twinderella". She played two parts...Vinnie the chauffeur and the Duke of Earl (not to be confused
with her fellow actor, the Earl of Duke). All I can say is that the whole thing was very junior high-ish. :) Okay, and that Hallie is a string bean. She had a great time. And we enjoyed watching her enjoy herself.
Janae continued her posts from their trip last year. But I realized that I never posted her initial post telling us about her upcoming posts from the trip. (Sam was going there to film more of the church Bible videos) I loved her post, so I will put that here....
When everything fell into place with my trip to Europe, I was trilled. But at the same time, I was also really worried about leaving the kids for an entire month. I was nervous how they’d handle it, especially 10 1/2 month Isaiah. I wanted to go, but I did NOT want to leave them behind. I couldn’t imagine wanting to leave them.
That is until Samuel was gone for three whole weeks before me. Then I realized that he was by far my favorite, and I could definitely leave the kids to go to him.
Love them. LOVE him.
Now to continue to her next travel post....PORTUGAL Joy. I spent almost the entire time holding back happy tears. I served my mission in Portugal exactly ten years earlier, and it was a dream come true to go back with my husband. Inter-European travel is so cheap, and Italy was so close, I just couldn’t be so close to Portugal and not go back!None of this is going to make sense unless you served a mission in Portugal, and even then it is mostly nostalgic for me. We saw downtown Porto, Antas, the train station, and main cathedral. We crossed Ponte Dom Joao I, watched the sunset from the bridge, and dined on bacalhao (cod fish) at a gorgeous port-side restaurant. We passed the cafe where J.K. Rowling started Harry Potter and perused the bookstore that inspired Hogwarts. We ate pasteis de natas, queijadinhas, and francesinhas. We saw Rua da Seara in Rio Tinto, and walked Rua da Belgica in Gaia. And it was the most amazing trip ever. Suddenly I’m feeling desperate to go back to Chile with Sam.
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Katie came out to visit us. It was so fun to have so much of the family together, including the three grandkids. Emmeline and Addie spent half the time having fun with each other, and the other half the time fighting over the littlest things! (like who gets to have their hand on the corner of the table. REALLY??) It snowed while they were here, and the girls went out in the snow.
Katie came out to visit us. It was so fun to have so much of the family together, including the three grandkids. Emmeline and Addie spent half the time having fun with each other, and the other half the time fighting over the littlest things! (like who gets to have their hand on the corner of the table. REALLY??) It snowed while they were here, and the girls went out in the snow.
They also went to the zoo one day. Here is a picture of the two girls and Bryce, all roaring like a lion.
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Cortney posted new pictures of his baby on Facebook.....and since he didnt send me anything, I poached them....
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Our ward had a black and white ball last night. It was pretty fun. Bryce and I went at the beginning then left after about an hour. Natalie and Kenny then came (we tag teamed the babysitting of the kids in bed.) They had pictures taken. Here they are....
Thats all folks! Work hard, study hard, pray hard!
Make it a good week.
Carol
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