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! 

Wk 19 - Turkey Bowl!

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

At the temple last week with Herbert and Elaina

and Brother Messer

Hey ya'll! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I know we did in the 614! We woke up and president sent an email out earlier that week saying we can play Turkey Bowl! That was probably just about the best news yet! Haha we got to play right outside of the "shoe" (Ohio states stadium) it was such a beautiful sight and playing on turf again was so nice! It was our whole district and the wards we are in, with the OSU elders who get to stay on campus! We had two games going and it was such a good time!

After that we had district meeting! It was probably one of the best ones yet. We talked a lot about addiction recovery and how much of a change it is for our investigators to completely change their lives for some of them. I couldn't help but think of how much of a stud Herbert was. How he was able to stop within a couple weeks after having that habit for so long! Then to not pick it up again! Someone related it to our missions. We sign up to keep all of these rules for two years. Wake up at 6:30am everyday, follow a set schedule be home by 9 and in bed before 10:30pm. Imagine if in order to be member we had to follow that for the rest of our lives. It would be so hard. We can't really know how hard it must be for someone one but it's a good thing God does.

After that we went and got ready for meal number one! We had a member in the Riverside ward invite us over for dinner and service because we didn't have a dinner yet! The Hesslers are the ones who invited us and they are so awesome! Funny family to be around! The food was so good! I'm so glad Mormons cook the same potatoes everywhere! haha! For service we got to help him build a compost for up to 600 bags of leaves over the winter. He's a professional gardener so he goes and collects all the leaves on everyone's yard and puts them in his back yard. We put in over 80 bags in it the first day! I love doing service!  especially when it's fun.

Meal two at Brother Burchett's! Riverside Elders came with us for this one too. We had much more turkey and pie and pretty much went into a food coma and watched some Mormon videos! It was such a fun day!

 

Friday not much exciting happened, except Brother Burchett went Black Friday shopping for me! haha he got me some Hammocks! They are pretty sweet! So that's been fun! haven't been able to find a place in the apartment but I have tried it out! 

Saturday night we went on our exchanges with the ZLs. I switched elder Penny places and went with Elder Curtis to Westland! Elder Curtis is from Bountiful. He's a stud, I definitely learned a lot that day. We taught one family where it was so hard to stay focused! They had a couple kids who distracted one parent at a time! haha it was kinda funny and a good skill to learn I guess! It was also the OSU VS Michigan game so absolutely nobody would answer. We had to get their oil changed so I now know what its like to have a car as a missionary! haha kinda! I'd have to say the biggest thing I learned was just how to be a better missionary all around. In a day to day aspect. We also got to start a fire for some people in their ward so they could have a pioneer experience and they made scones over the fire! It was nice to start a fire again! 

Eating the scones! They had honey all over them!

Sunday we had church of course. We had an investigator there but turns out he lives in Reynoldsburg like two blocks out of our area so we had a lesson with him after church and had those elders come! It was an awesome experience! After we had dinner at the Yearslies! It's so good, it always feels like home there! 

Monday we had a lesson with an amazing returning inactive member who came to church this last sunday. She's a sweet old lady named Vickie. We had a member from one of Elder Spencer's past areas come by the name of Tim! He's such a great guy! He's been a member for 3 years and is so willing to serve! We got to do some more service with the Hesslers and dinner of course. haha then we had another good BOM class with Herbert teaching! it was so good of course!

Tuesday we got to do some service again at the clothing Distribution center. There is some people that got kicked out for being so rude and they are not welcome back! haha funny how people are so rude when you are just trying to help them! 

Anyways I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful for all the people in my my life! My family and friends and all they do for me! You guys are the best! 

Sure do love you all, thanks for being there for me and being an example to me! 

Love ya'll! 

Love Elder Smoot

Wk 18 - 4 months!

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

Thank-ful Package!
Thank you so much! Made my day and I needed those Socks! Haha the food is gonna come in so handy! Thank you! And the ties are awesome! I got a pic of the package! And the inside are always awesome! I always read the box before I open it!

Alright alright alright, we've been busy today so Idk how long this will be. We've been playing basketball! And biking a lot! I'm pooped! Haha!  But I'll just go for it! 

Last Saturday was such a good day. We went to the temple with Herbert and Elaina! Best part of it was they were way over booked so elder Spencer, brother Messer and I got to do confirmations then witness them being baptized! It was such a blessing to be able to spend some time in the Lord's house!  

Sunday was great. Monday we had our book of mormon class and Herbert is loving teaching that! He definitely spends time preparing and it's so wonderful to see! We had two dinners in a row with brother Burchett and ate the same thing! Haha he cooked a good meal! Haha 

We had a wonderful lesson yesterday with someone who actually lives in our apartment complex!  His name is Matt and he's coming to church Sunday! It was a very wonderful experience! 

Today we played basketball with the riverside and OSU campus missionaries and a recent convert named Joe, who's my boy! Haha it was so fun and we also played pool and ping pong! And skud! It was the best pday!

We're getting pumped for turkey bowl! We actually get to play tomorrow! 

We're so happy for the holidays! And I hope ya'll are too! 

Sure love you guys! Have a wonderful turkey day! 

Love you! Have a good week! 

Love Elder Smoot 

Wk 17 - Another week in Ohio!

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

We went to b dubs baby! Haha best meal yet

Mowed Elaina's lawn! 

     

Yeah round two two weeks in a row for elder Spencer in the dentist.
This week he got a hole in his tooth. 

Well first off sorry for the false alarm! We got the schedule switched for our zone conference which is now tomorrow! Anyways on to the rest of the week!

Well last week was a pretty solid week full of service! 

Wednesday after pday we had ward Coordination and went to do family history with Herbert and Elaina! That was such an amazing experience! They are both so excited about it! They both have recommends for the temple and we're planning on going this week and next!

 

Thursday we had service in the morning doing the clothing Distribution Center! Always a party! 

Friday we had interviews! Probably the best day so far, President and sister Stratford know how much I love and miss my animals. Their son just brought their dog out and they told us but said it was gonna go back with their son. They ended up surprising me with their dog Biscuit at interviews! It was so good! Then of course we went and got monsters shakes at Handel's after! The kind of shake that you get and love the first few bites then instantly regret because it's humongous but you always do it for tradition anyways.

Saturday we went and Mowed Elaina's lawn!Sunday we went finding all day after church. 

And Monday morning we did some service for a ward member! The Simmons had us plant some tulips and fed us some way good biscuits and gravy! Best part of the week was on Monday night at our Book of Mormon class. We asked Herbert to teach kinda as a joke and his reply was yes! I would love too! It was so awesome! He taught that night and we had six people there. He did such a great job! It was awesome to see how far he truly has come. He has such a great spirit about him and he's always happy! Herbert found  out our church headquarters are in Utah and we're all from there I showed him pictures of the Mountains and he's like I have to move there. He already has two interviews up at the U. haha it was crazy! I hope you don't care but I told him if he needed help you guys are there. I figured you wouldn't care because he's an amazing guy! He just wants Dad to take him for a horse ride really bad! he added dad on facebook I think. 

Tuesday we went on exchanges. In the morning both us and riverside went to help an elderly lady with her yard! We trimmed some trees, rakes some leaves, moved some wood and took nails out of all of them. Removed some chicken wire and rolled it up. Finished the day with some great exchanges with elder Hopper in Marble Cliff! We had a great time!

Today for pday we went to dfwh which is discount fashion warehouse, Wendy's, save a lot and church to play some ball with Riverside all day! We always have such a great time together whether we're doing the work or going to the grocery store! Haha 

Yes sorry I've kinda been slacking on my letters and Mom, thanks for making sure I knew that! Haha! But on a spiritual note, thanks to her she reminded me of one of the most important things in life. Whenever we find ourselves just getting tired or feeling lost we can always look up in life, her example was hiking. We hike, we sweat, we work hard just to get up a hill. Doesn't sound fun, but when we take time to look up and see the beauty all around we remember our purpose of hiking. As we go throughout our lives when it gets hard just slow down enjoy the view, count your many blessing, remember all that God has given you and keep on going because it only gets better!

(this is the hike Tayton is referring to- Alan and I went to Hawaii and this
is one of our hikes to see the Napali coast on Kauai- it was very hot, humid,
rocky, steep, muddy and slippery! But look at the view!)

Sure do love you guys thanks for all the love and support. Hope you have a great week and happy Turkey day! 

Love yall! 

Love Elder Smoot 

Wk 16 - Solid Week

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

SERVICE!

My comp making fun of me! haha!

A march downtown! Haha idk what for.

 Well this was a pretty solid week! Not much excitement going on down town. A few exciting things though. We ate some green and some red pancakes that were pretty decent! Herbert couldn't stop laughing during sacrament meeting, no one showed showed up to our book of mormon class. Pretty crazy I know! haha

We had a member come and take us to breakfast! He took us to this restaurant close to the apartment that I thought was chinese but apparently not! It was like an animation restaurant it was pretty cool! I got the hulk it was awesome! 

Alright this Sunday in the middle of testimony meeting, Herbert decided that everything was absolutely hilarious. He literally could not stop laughing his head off and it was pretty embarrassing to say the least! We ended up having to leave! 

This Saturday we started moving a sister in our ward who is from the DR congo. We came back Monday to finish it up. We came with the Riverside elders and she gave us all African shirts! And fufu! But we haven't found time to eat it yet! But the shirts are sure awesome! Its like it was Taylor Made! Haha 

Anyways we also got a wonderful new elder in the riverside area named elder barnes from south Carolina! 

Oh and we drove about an hour to go to the dentist for Elder Spencer! We got to go with Elder Robison from Az and Elder Goode from utah who does rodeos so we got a lot to talk about!haha it was a good road trip!

Today i also went to get a rope! Bought a kid rope as in a mini lasso! Hot pink and i love it!  We played some ball after! It was awesome!

Now that Herbert and Elaina are baptized, we are really grinding and working hard to find new investigators, that are ready to accept the gospel. We are also trying to get referrals  from members. We are really trying our best to be guided by the spirit and truly be fishers of men!

Sure love ya'll! Hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for all you do and being an example to me! 

Love ya!

Love Elder Smoot!

Hey well pday is monday because of zone conference next week so talk to ya'll then! 

love ya! 

Wk 15 - week and a half or so

Companion: Elder Spencer
Area: Marble Cliff 2

Current district- yes I'm wearing a scarf 

At District Meeting

random guy at bus stop wanted a pic

trunk or treat for the ward, failed to mention it though 

the last one is the Harris family, cutest baby out here!

Well it feels like its been forever but it really hasn't been, just a lot of stuff has happened! We had district meeting then immediate exchanges, getting locked out of our apartment, baptism, then a Halloween party! As you can tell it's been quite the week!

It all started with a pretty regular week. At district meeting, we decided to do an immediate exchange, because it would work better for our schedule. So we went and got the mirror fixed on the riverside Elder's car that the sisters ruined. haha Got the things we needed, and went on exchanges. I went with Elder Hopper to the riverside area. We taught a couple good lessons,and did some contacting. We had a great night,decorated their trunk for trunk or treat and did studies until exchanges were over. Right as they got over and I got home, Elder Spencer said let's hurry and throw our stuff inside we have an appointment right now! So we ran inside, threw our stuff down, ran out, and before we got to the appointment we realized neither of us had our keys and our doors lock automatically. We went straight to dinner then spent the rest of the night trying to break into our apartment and avoiding a 75 dollar fee! We were so tired of calling people and figuring out how to get in we finally got ahold of the Assistants and they told us to figure it out tomorrow and have Riverside come pick us up and spend the night in their apartment! It was a party! haha jk we only had our proselyting clothes, our tablets and a book of Mormon. We were hoping we could use Elder Hepler's height (6'9") to get in the next day but that didn't work out too well. haha We ended up calling the leasing office and it's only 75 dollars if it's after hours so they let us in for free. Quite the adventure I'd say.

Herbert's baptism

Saturday, we had Herbert's baptism! What a guy! It was so awesome to watch him and help him to grow a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ and to develop that faith. He had enough to quit smoking! I had the privilege of baptizing him! It was such a wonderful experience and I have never seen a brighter smile! At the end he bore his testimony. He told his story of how he came to find out the truth. Before we ever met he had been looking for the true church. Something he could believe in. He had gone to many different religions. He said, right when he gave up looking, he basically told himself that if God wanted him to know the truth he'd show it too him. Right after we came riding down the street and started talking about religion with him! He was like oh okay, I guess this is it! haha It was such a strong testimony and it was very amazing to hear it. 

Yeah we accidently stayed on the bus talking to someone and ended up at the zone leaders area at the casino so we got  a picture 

Happy Halloween!!!! We got  a letter from President saying he wanted us to find a place with a member to be at for the night of Halloween! We got permission to go to a member's house in one of Elder Spencer's old areas and he took us and a buddy from the ysa ward at OSU to get some deep dish pizza and back to his house for the rest of the night! His name is Tom Borrow, he's awesome, when he answers the phone he says "this is Tom it's a party! haha He's been a member for 3 years and he works in the temple. He's a wonderful man!

Anyways, since it's transfers and we found out already, Elder Spencer and I will both be staying so we are pretty excited about that and can't wait for another great transfer! 

Today for Pday we went to the Easton mall with Riverside Elders and looked around in Dicks sporting goods, Field and stream, REI, just some good outdoors and athletic places! We also went to Sloopy's again and for some reason the challenge was a lot harder this time! But we still did it! 

Well love you guys!Hhope everything goes well and you have a great week! 

Love, Elder Smoot

*I asked Tayton what really helped you in wanting to serve a mission? 

Elder Spencer said, "trying to put other people before himself, it talks about in the book of Mormon it talks about the worth of souls, you can't put yourself before others, if you don't serve the Lord you're going against his will.

for me (Tayton) I think what it came down to was that decision I had made initially in primary. but that made me think, do I really want to leave my horses, fishing, family, and really my life behind for two years knowing that it wouldn't be easy. I knew I should. I think my final conclusion was, how selfish would it be for me to not serve for only two years, after all that He has blessed me with and done for me, I knew that wherever I went there was someone waiting to hear the gospel. I want more than anything to give back to Lord as much as I can.

canes with brother Burchett 

pizza with Tom and Joe 

Today! The mall

(We decided to surprise Tayton with a pizza on Halloween! We didn't realize until he called Alan that Tayton's apartment complex was in a gated area and the pizza delivery guy couldn't get in to knock on their door! Luckily- he had a friend that lived there, so he called him and he let him in to deliver the pizza! Tayton said it was very surprising- because noone knocks on their door!)

The best surprise ever here's the legend that delivered it!

surprise brownies

breakfast this morning