Wk 66 - Series of Learning Events

Companion: Elder Jaster
Area: Dublin

Exchanges!

  brother Thacker is a sweet ward missionary in that ward!

Elder Webb is the senior missionary in that area

We saw vaughnie from Mansfield

Jimmy Johns! Hot!

Howdy howdy,

Wow I can't believe it's pday again. It feels like it was just yesterday! This week has flown by! We've been so jam packed that it's one thing after another then the days gone and now the weeks gone! But it's been an awesome week!

Wednesday night we stopped by a former and had a sweet talk with her! She asked us a lot of the typical mission questions! Other than that we also had a lesson with Daylon who should be close to getting baptized sometime soon. He's waiting for something but we'll see what it is! Always a good time with him. 

Daylon after church

Thursday we went up to Marion's District council. It was pretty solid. It was all about Christ's atonement, and how much do we really love him? At the end it was sweet, Elder Ballard, the district leader read part of a talk and it talked about letting everything go! He related it to us as missionaries. He had us bring balloons and said I want you to put everything thats stopping you from being a consecrated missionary in this balloon and we're going to go out side and let it go. It was so cool!!! I loved it. 

After that we went on exchanges. I stayed in Marion with Elder Pay and Elder Jaster came back to Dublin with Elder Ballard. Here's where the unfortunate part comes in. Here we were, Elder Pay and I, having a good time on exchanges going about the Lord's work, when we found our selves in the left turn lane getting swiped by a school bus!!! What the heck! Haha Luckily I wasn't driving. But the stupid bus lady was all angry at us like it was our fault and she told the police officers that we went into her lane and hit her even though we were stopped... Hmm weird. All in all we still had a great day and attitude is everything! But who knows what will happen because no witnesses stopped its our word against hers so they have to send it in to see who gets the citation. Elder Pay is a missionary originally from the Cleveland mission and he's been out 15 months as well.

Slowly but surely it's healing. Yes we got the stitches out. But it still wasn't healing. There was a bubble and it wouldn't stop bleeding. They had me go to the Columbus stake president's clinic and he ended up cauterizing the cut. He said the skin that formed would have bled forever and wouldn't heal, so chemically cauterizing it would allow it to for the right skin.
It was pretty crazy. 

Looks nasty!

Friday was a crazy busy day as usual. Again a lot of administrative stuff. Haha That night we went and knocked some apartments when a member texted and told us to meet her at Max and Erma's for dinner. So we went and had some way good burgers! We also got to go over to the Stratford's to finally take my stitches out!! Hallelujah! So we got the rest out and finished the night off strong!

Saturday was a little bit of a drag, we were supposed to give a church tour and the people didn't show up!! We ended up being able to have lunch with Herbert, the man I baptized in my first area, and Tom! Herbert was asked to speak in stake conference which made me so proud! He's such a stud! The rest of our time was spent inviting so many people to church. We probably went through our whole area book trying to contact people! We also had another lesson with Daylon which was even better than the last. 

Dinner with Herbert and Tom Bower!

We had one person come to church this week which was cool, Daylon is 20 and he's a stud! After we had lunch with the Thomas's which is always a party. We had two lessons fall through so we ended up finding and getting some more stuff done that we had to get done.

Miracle Monday!!! Monday was sweet! We had a goal to find three new people and we ended up finding four legit people! It was so sweet! We just had miracle after miracle. One dude was Muslim. There was a mom that's was pretty cool that had four sons. A catholic lady and another one that was probably one of the coolest contacts on my mission! She was sweet and super sincere.

Tuesday, man we ended up making a video for the zone to get pumped but haven't quite finished so well get it done soon! We had to go clear down to London, Ohio about an hour away to the Columbus stake presidents doctors office to check out my wound because it wouldn't stop bleeding. They ended up chemically cauterizing it which was pretty sweet to watch! Haha So hopefully that fixes it! We also had a return appointment with the last lady we found last night which we were stoked for. Then we showed up to the apartments and didn't see her car and she didn't answer! Broke my heart until I figured out why, we needed to meet a man named Zaid from Jordan. He'd recently converted to Christianity which was crazy because you rarely see that, but he was sweet! We gave him a Book of Mormon. This guy was so sensitive to the spirt he started to tear up at one point. Said he'd read it. The only bad part was he might be getting baptized in another church this weekend so we'll just have to get him out of there! Haha But we got to go out with Mitch Thomas again. He was with us all night. He's such a stud. He's gonna be a dope missionary.

London!

Today we just walked around the mall and a couple other stores all day! Not much else. We got the Trunk or treat at the church tonight so that'll be sweet! Free chili! Holla! Every ward out here does a chili cook off I swear! Haha it's so cool though. I'm excited. 

Well everyone, miracles do not, have not, and will not cease. I love this gospel, it's perfect. I love my mission, its truly the best two years! 

Love you all, hope you have a great week! 

Talk to you on Halloween!  

Love Elder Smoot 

The Apartment: 

(couch is being used as a hide a bed--why?
don't you need a couch?
'no because we don't sit!')

(when asked how he gets on that tall bed-
he said 'just run and jump! or step on Elder Jaster's bed!)

Wk 65 - Wild Week #2 in Dublin

Companion: Elder Jaster
Area: Dublin

Exchanged!
Elder Winland and Elder Hepler 

Sweet member meals.
Little boy was dying to take some pictures

Elder Stephen's

Howdy Howdy!! 

Holy smokes its been a good week and well my family already knows part of what happened! So basically the Friday before transfers down in Jackson I had a freak accident and hit my own leg with a machete! Well basically I grabbed a machete and hit a limb and well the machete, it was very sharp went straight through the limb and the grip was very horrible and slippery. Stupid cheap plastic grip and It slipped and fell and hit my leg. It really didn't hurt. I walked inside and put shorts on, wiped it up put a tourniquet on it and jumped in the truck to go to the er. Got there quick, they got me back and put stitches in. They seemed to know what they were doing but apparently they didn't do a good job! Haha They told me to come back in ten days and get them taken out. We left and did as they said but I got transferred so I had Sister Stratford as my doctor now and two other doctors in the mission. Elder Nelson from the 20th ward in our stake is one of the doctors! small world. No they didn't put me on prescriptions and it's still bleeding 19 days later and luckily no infection or pus! Just have to wait for it to drain out all the blood bubble the doctors in Jackson left in there. Sister Stratford took 5 stitches out of the top so I still have six stitches in the top holding the spot that won't stop bleeding together. I had originally 14 in! It's been pretty crazy. 

Well here you go. You asked for it...
 it's not as bad as it looks there was just a lot of blood.

I felt bad for Elder Nelson. After it happened he was freaking out
and was getting sick. It was sad but kinda funny
because I was relaxed and laughing the whole time.
We had the doctors dying laughing! 

Thursday we had a great day. The highlights were going to Elder Stephen's district council! That was probably one of the best if not the best district councils I've been too! It was mostly on our love for Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ and why we're here. It was sweet! They also had a video and announced the mission baptismal goal of 138 people to be baptized before the end of the year!! Its going to be sweet!!! I'm so stoked to help the zone hit this goal!! After we had interviews with President and Sister Stratford, My interview consisted of taking 5 of the stitches out and a really good talk with President about life! It's been good! 

Friday full of administrative stuff of course and finding. Not very eventful.

Saturday we had exchanges with the Ap's who are in a trio. I was with Elder Winland and Elder Hepler and let me tell ya, trio life is weird!!! haha But fun regardless! We had some sweet miracles though. Talked to a lot of people! Got cussed out hard core so that was sweet! Made my day. 

Sunday we got home from church and the wound was bleeding worse than usual and the mission doctor in Cleveland made me go to the er to get it checked. Turns out it was fine and it was still draining the blood bubble the Jackson doctors should have cleaned but left so it's still bleeding today and we'll see how long it bleeds! 

Monday we had exchanges again with Marysville Elders and Elder Stephen's came here with me! We found two formers and we had a lesson with one guy that was so sweet! He's a rapper and is a good guy! Used to come to church all the time and Satan has definitely influenced him to stop coming. 

Tuesday was sweet! We decided to blitz all the elders areas in our zone one district at a time! We got to start with the closest district and got to find a few people and even got to teach a lesson in Polaris with a black dude that had sweet dreads! I got to work with Elder Paul in Worthington for a couple hours and he's sweet! Love that guy! 

Today we had a district activity and it was fun! Hard to play basketball with one leg! haha But it was a blast! Life's good! 

Well love you all! Hope you have a good week! 

Love Elder Smoot 

ps. you've probably seen it by now but sorry if your sensitive to blood! 

and now. It's just scabbed over and barely bleeding 

Wk 64 - General Conference, Dublin Week One!!

Companion: Elder Jaster
Area: Dublin

Howdy Howdy!

Well geeze that was a quick week!! Time flies when you're busy!! Dublin has been a blast! Its very weird being in a city for the second time! Lots of rich people here and mansions that blow me away!!! I love Elder Jaster, there seriously hasn't been anything close to a dull moment!! We've probably laughed 24/7! 

Starting with last Wednesday in Jackson! We just ran around saying bye to some of the best and my favorite members of the branch, it's hard cause you don't have time to get to all of them! We got to go say bye to the Pariseaus, Ralph Poetker, Griffiths, Plymales, Cruses, and the Maquindangs! I loved Jackson so much, it'll always have a special place in my heart!

Saying good byes

Thursday woke up early and finalized packing and loaded everything up! We headed up to transfers which was about an hour and a half drive! Then before you know it, I was with Elder Jaster! We got to ride back with some dope members! Sister Thomas and her Son Mitch who is a year younger than us and has his mission call! He was supposed to leave last July but he broke his ankle! Then he was supposed to leave again then broke both wrists! So now if all goes as planned he leaves in December! He's so sweet! Well the first night was kinda rough because I had a raging head ache! But once I got some sleep it was all good!! 

planning and unpacking

Elder Jaster playing with roller blades we found at service for a member! 

Friday was a great planning day! Theres a lot of administrative stuff we had to get done! We got to do some calls with all the District leaders in the zone and talk about some goals and all that good stuff. That night we got some finding in and were supposed to have a lesson but he rescheduled! But not much else happened besides that! 

Saturday, holy smokes General conference!! That was incredible! Obviously the big  announcement of only two hours at church but not really! haha Elder Bednar's talk was awesome!! When he said that church was not shortened, it was moved to the home with more responsibility! How cool is it that the Lord is trusting us more and more!! I love it!! We got to watch the first session at the Williams and let me tell ya, they were cool and all, but very interesting to say the least. haha Then the second at the Thomas's and had dinner with them too! They're huge into cross fit and mountain biking so it's a good time there, we have some good talks!

Sunday morning was probably the most legit Sunday morning I've ever had on my mission!!!! We started the morning with one of the sweetest first lessons I've ever had! We went to a lady named Patty. Her daughter referred her. Her daughter goes to byu provo and served a mission. She got converted at 18 so her mom doesn't know much about the church!! But we got her to FaceTime in to the lesson!! She helped out so much! We also brought Mitch! We're helping him get ready to go on his mission! He gave one of the most spiritual first visions it was awesome! He's such a stud!! Then we had a blast at conference! Got to watch the first one at a less active members who live in our apartment complex. They're hilarious and they fed us Burgers! They also have a dope dog I was chillin with! Then the second one we watched again at the Thomas's! We had dinner at the Smiths that night with another member family! It was a good time. The members here are pretty awesome!

Watching Conference at the Nagys!

Monday we had mlc which took most of the day and that was really cool! Filled with the spirit and was pretty motivating!

We saw this guy sitting by his door so we knocked and knocked again because he was right there and he finally looked so we sat there for like 10 minutes and he never opened up!! haha We died laughing after we got in the car!! We couldn't believe it! 

Tuesday we had exchanges with the Mansfield Elders, Winn, who I was with, and Lowery. It was awesome! They're studs and they both came down here. Elder Winn and I found an Indian family who was awesome! Very open to learning more! It was a little hard to communicate but the Spirit was definitely strong! 

Today we went disc golfing and met two guys there and just played a couple games with them!! Never met them before but they were pretty sweet!! Not interested in our message though sadly!! We played some pig and now we're emailing!

Miracles don't cease! Being a missionary is awesome!! 

Love you all so much! Have a wonderful week!

Love Elder Smoot 

Wk 63 - Bye Bye Jackson :(

Companion: Elder Nelson
Area: Jackson

Well this is it for Jackson! My heart is torn.. hate to leave the members that feel like family to me, But I'm also excited for the new area at the same time. Been a long time here and have definitely always loved this place! The members here are amazing and the place is as well! One of my goals for every area is to leave it way better than I found it, I hope that's the case here! Been one of the hardest and best times of my mission here in Jackson!

Elder Neeser and I were out and about and smacked a frog in the truck!
Haha it was pretty funny. It was like land mines everywhere!
And they moved! 

This week was so good! We got to live in a 4 Elder apartment! 3 days with Elder Coon and Burton! That's always a party! Just trying to contact as many people as possible from the Apple Festival. We've contacted a few very awesome people who have some great potential and I could see progressing and some not so interested but things have been good! It's awesome having a reason to knock on a door! The other Elders that came and stayed with us were Elder Johnson and Elder Neeser! Never really worked around either but they're both from Idaho and grew up on ranches! We've had the best time in the world! It's been a party!

We got to have Elder Johnson and elder Neeser down for the last 3 or 4 days to help with referrals! They're both from Idaho and farm boys. They've become some of my best friends!

Duayne Plymales' 8 month old cow! She's a beaut!!

We also got to go out and do some service at the Plymales with them and Brother Plymales loved having handy missionaries on the farm! Haha gotta help him set up for the hunting season and hunt rats in the barn, fix a bunch of stuff and all sorts of that good stuff! It's been awesome! I'm definitely going to miss that place.

Elder Nelson loved this bug! 

If you look close you'll see something Elder Johnson didn't see coming for his stomach! Haha
He jumped pretty bad and it was funny because we got a Pic of the keys.

Sunday we were supposed to have 4 people at church. It was the ten year old who won the big prize and his family but they all came down sick and couldn't come but said they'd come the following week, but it's general conference so we will see how it goes! Speaking of which I've heard general conference will be life changing, even more than the last one! So watch it! It's gonna be sweet! 

Well today we went golfing and it was the longest six and a half hour game ever! Haha but it was a blast! Hit up taco bell after and had a good time! For my last full day here in Jackson it's been a good one.

No idea what I'm gonna do without Elder Nelsons strange purchases!
He bought a unicorn costume for a 3 year old.... All because it was a unicorn!!

Now, in case you were wondering I'm headed back to the city! I'm headed to Dublin, Ohio. It's supposedly a wealthy area so the areas will be completely different! I'm excited for new learning opportunities and the chance to grow as a missionary. I got a call late Tuesday night from President Stratford telling me the Lord has called me to be a Zone Leader. So we'll see how it goes! Life is gonna be crazy! 

Anyway I love you all I'm grateful for ya! Hope you have a good week and talk to ya in the next!

Love Elder Smoot