Hey Momma!

 

So this week was pretty awesome.  Starting last Monday after I wrote you.  We ended up playing football and football with about ten elders, and it was seriously the most fun thing ever, and then after, Elder Lewis and I went bowling with the elders serving in Lichfield.  They're kind of our best-mission-friends at the moment.  We love seeing them.  They're Elder Barker, from Hurricane, and Elder Chantry from Sacramento.  They're a pair of awesome guys.  Then we ended up going to our Bishop's house for a barbecue that night.  Which was delicious.

Then Tuesday we went to the doctor and got Elder Lewis checked out and he got a referral to a dermatologist. (sp.?) Then we did some service for the Dowlings, and for Sue. And then taught Sue a little about what was going to happen at her baptism, and told her about the confirmation as well.  She didn't love the idea of getting confirmed in front of everybody, but we assured her that a few big guys would be standing all around her and that everyone should have their eyes closed anyways cause it's a prayer.

Wednesday we did an exchange with Walsall, so I went to Walsall, and Elder Shepherd came to Tamworth.  I was with Elder Eldredge again, because he's in my district now, which is always kind of fun.  He's awesome, we taught one of their investigators, and she's sooo solid.  She'll be getting baptized as soon as she turns eighteen, because her parents want to make her wait, cause.. well, they're evil.  They tried to kick her out, but her Grandma wouldn't have it. But then we found for the rest of the day, which was boring, and uneventful.  But back in Tamworth, miracles were happening.  Elder Shepherd and Elder Lewis contacted the guy that referred himself like a month ago (but he was at Uni, I'm pretty sure I told you about him.) And he's solid.  His name is Joe, and we're going to go by and teach the restoration to him on Friday.  They also contacted another referral given by an Elder that's home now, but was still in contact with an investigator around here.  She wasn't ready when they taught her, but apparently she is now! How amazing is that?  So they went by her, and we have a return appointment on Wednesday, I think we're teaching her the Restoration as well.  So a lot of studying about that this week.

Then Thursday, we had zone meeting in Wylde Green (the mission home), and it went really well.  I really like our new zone leaders.  So we met back up with our companions, and after, I had a package from Laura and Ben, and they're the best!! They sent me a bunch of American stuff, including a way nice flag, some fishing stuff and a really funny picture of Stockton.  It probably cost them a bundle.  I also got a letter with letters from Brooke and Phil.  Their letters were soo dang funny.  Phil decided that I was too busy to read a whole letter, so he condensed his letter into a series of Haikus.  Brooke's letter was longer, but just as funny.  They're awesome, and they sent me some model shots of Remy. 

Then Friday, we ran by Sue, and made sure she was feeling good about her baptism still, and she was, but she was really nervous.  Classic Sue.  She was worried about how cold the water would be, and that I'd drop her.  We told her that neither of those things were going to happen.  Then we went over to Alek and Karen's, and I really meant to get a picture of their horse-dog, but I keep on forgetting.  They're hilarious.

The next day.  Saturday. Was nuts. I got all worried about the baptism in the morning, cause I'm a spaz. So we got to the church really early, and made sure that the water would be hot, like Sue requested.  Everything was going well, Sue got there with the Robbins, and we took some pictures, and we got changed.  Me, into my whites, and Sue into the baggiest white dress of all time. We went down into the water.

Let me just take this time to tell you how ridiculous my life is.  Heavenly Father was rolling laughing while he let this one happen. Dad, too.

So, I baptize Sue.  No problem, right? Wrong. The first time, Sue cranks a leg into the air when she goes back and comes up coughing like she tried to inhale as much water as possible when she went under.  Cool.

The second time I baptize her, her dress billows up near her stomach, I don't see, and Brother Robbins says she went all the way under, so I give her a hand shake and tell her good job.  Wrong.  The two real witnesses, Brother Maughan (bishopric) and Elder Lewis told me that, no. She had to go again.

Third times the charm? Nope. The dress acts up again, even with it tucked into her legs.  At this point, however, Sue had calmed down, and acted like it wasn't even a problem.

So number four.  We decide that the easiest way to baptize her, with out any more mistakes is that she straight up sits on the font floor (the water was like knee-high, that didn't help at first, but it did in the end), so she sits, and I kneel.  And that one was a success.  She's baptized.  All the way.

So my first baptism?  Pretty hilarious.  The good news was that Sue felt really good about it, and the other good news was that we bought eclairs from a bakery before-hand and got to chow on those after.

We ended up eating at the Bishop's again that night (cause they rock!) and it was delicious.  We had some Thai food, and they let us borrow a very small book that we've heard really good things about, Elder Lewis is reading it now, but I'm going to read it this week sometime.  Even without reading it, I'd highly recommend it.  It's called As a Man Thinketh.  Go get it as soon as possible.  It'll take an hour to read, and it will change the way you think.

Anyways, the confirmation went well, and Elder Lewis gave a very good blessing.  Today we're playing basketball in Lichfield.  It should be a blast. 

I'm sorry I don't have time to answer all the questions. I'll do it really fast.

Ange told me about Lexi. Cool.

I haven't gotten a letter from Aaron, he didn't tell me about Produce Manager.  But cool!

Ange is in town.

Don't go on Trek. or do. Whatever you want.

Don't make the babies cry.

Tell everyone I love them.

 

Love, Elder Smart