Wk 23 - Happy New Year!

Companion: Elder Brumfield
Area: Mansfield

Merry Christmas!

Light the World!

Opening one of the 25 Days!

Our pet lizard! A member gave him to us! 

Blurry but farewell and a good bye to this legend elder hopper!
After I took a bite out of his cookie! 

Our car

Our apartment

Well Christmas was wonderful! It was so good to talk to you! Not much has really happened since but I want to share kind of a cool spiritual experience with all of you! But first off hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I hope you have an even better new year!

On Christmas day we had a wonderful time! We went to the Parr's first, a nice family in our ward who's home makes us feel like it's our own! They're a great family! We got to play some games with them and play air hockey and all the fun stuff but right before we left one of their daughters asked us a question, which was "while being on a mission how have you grown spiritually?" that hit me. I tried to think back to what I was like before compared to now. After studies on studies and prayers and experiencing miracles, how could I not change. My testimony has grown exponentially. I hope and pray it continues to grow! I love this work. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now. I have gained a sure knowledge that the book of Mormon is true and I love it. There are times, looking back, that before my mission would have made me question what I believe. But because I have been able to serve the Lord I have gained a strong testimony that I can not doubt! So for this up coming year, think to your self how much you have grown spiritually this last year and how can I improve and gain a stronger relationship with our Savior? Whether it be through reading the Book of Mormon daily, no matter what, which I would suggest, or morning and night prayers, making it to the temple, or all of them. I promise the joy you will find will make this the best time of your life. Because I love you all that's what I want for you. 

Thank you for all you do! Love you!

Love Elder Smoot 

Wk 22 - Mansfield OH!

Companion: Elder Brumfield

Area: Mansfield

Amish House

Well I don't even know where to begin except I got transferred to Mansfield Ohio! Clear up top of our mission about an hour and a half from my old apartment in Columbus! I absolutely love it here! For many reasons. 

1 I get to drive a car! it's a pretty nice car too! 

2 the apartment! We have a dish washer, washer and dryer, carpet, two floors! It's pretty nice. 

3 I'm out in the open! hahaha no more city! I actually get to see animals! haha. 

4 The ward is awesome! Everyone just makes it feel like home! We get fed just about every night. We even get coupons to go out to eat! 

My new comp! Elder Brumfield! he's a stud. He's from Salem Utah and played baseball! We get along very well and are pretty much the same person some how! haha There hasn't been a dull moment yet and I don't think there will be! haha

There are 3 people on date, we are still meeting all of them and a couple recent converts that we've taught a couple times! But it seems like I've only been in the area for 2 days because I kinda have! haha! We went down to Columbus 4 days in a row and we drove 3 of the times! It gets old! hahaha 

1st day was transfers. 

2nd day was for a big zone conference slash half mission Christmas party! It was so awesome I loved it! 

3rd day, we went to the temple building for Ken's baptism in the Riverside ward who I was able to teach a couple of times! He is awesome! 

4th was for the missionary Christmas devotional! 

These are all day things so I haven't had much time here in Mansfield! But I love it here and I have a good feeling about this area! 

Most important, Merry Christmas!! I've been able to spend a lot of time thinking about how blessed I am to have the family and friends that I have! I wouldn't have it any other way!

I truly do love and appreciate you all. Thank you! 

Merry Christmas!

With Love, Elder Smoot

Wk 21 - Peace out Marble Cliff!!

 Companion: Elder Spencer

Area: marble Cliff 2

Our District

Elder Hopper's last district meeting

Funny magnet at a members home!

We went caroling at a care center

Package from Lana!
Sure love her! 

Well first off, we got news that I am being transferred! I'm headed out to who knows where! Haha! we don't find out for until tomorrow when we leave so I'll let ya'll know next week! I have been packing all day and cleaning and doing hair cuts so I have not had much time to email! 

Anyways it has been a wonderful week! Highlight of my week was getting to go with elder Barnes for exchanges in riverside! We got to have a car! Haha but for reals though it was so awesome! We had a day full of service and one lesson get canceled last minute but he told us he wanted to get baptized over the phone after about 2 or 3 years of investigating! He is on date to be baptized for January 20th! That was a miracle!

The Lord's is honestly the best thing, I love it. Even when it's hard, we miss home, our families, and much more especially around the holiday season. Elder Spencer gave a talk on Sunday that felt like it was for me because I needed a simple reminder of the original reason I really wanted to serve. It makes the work so much better. He talked about all that the Lord did for us. Bled from every pore, suffered, was crucified for me, for all of us individually, and because of what he did for me, giving two years of my life, giving every moment I have when I'm at home towards him is not enough. It will never be. But I know that I will build a stronger relationship with him as I diligently serve him. 

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

I love that scripture and what a better season to remember what he did for us, and to remember to give a little back to our fellow beings and light the world!

Love you guys and I wish you a merry Christmas! 

I hope all is well! I'll let you know how transfers go! 

Love Elder Smoot! 

Mark Austin was in Columbus on a business trip
and guess who he saw?!

Wk 20 - Light the World baby!

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

Train at the Library

Alrighty! Well pretty good week! Highlights of my week! One, light the world! Two, temple time! Other than that not much happened! Except I did sleep in my hammock! Probably the best sleep I've got! 

On Saturday the theme of light the world was about giving water because our savior gave us the living water. So we came up with the idea to give out water bottles downtown with other missionaries! We bought and got over 150 water bottles and walked around with them in a wagon to give both water and the living water/salvation! We also had a white board and asked people "I can help others see Christ's light by..." It was so awesome to see people get so happy even when it was freezing and they had to wait for a bus! It was such a great night!

Today for pday we've had a crazy day as usually. We started out doing laundry then had a member named Tom Bower pick us up to go to the temple for Elder Spencer's 18 month mark! It was such a great experience! I always love the temple and I would definitely recommend making time to go asap! Its always worth it!

A little spiritual thought. This week I was reading through 2 Nephi, where Nephi had to run in the wilderness from his own brothers. His elder brothers were out to kill him. The amount of faith it would take to continue to do what's right when your life is on the line! It makes me think, I know I don't have it that hard so any excuse I make for not doing the right thing is invalid. It's that simple, because of what Christ did for us and the example of our prophets, the Bible, book of Mormon, and today. I know I can do what Christ asks me to do on my mission. Even when it's hard, and when I'm discouraged. So no matter what you are going through remember Christ loves you more than you know, and he will help you through it! 

Love you guys! I'm very excited for this Christmas season! 

Remember to serve! Light the World! Always smile and have a great week! 

Love ya'll! 

Love Elder Smoot!