Hola,
my son, how are you today? How was your week? I hope your
investigators returned home from their Semana Santa vacations and that
you were able to have a successful, productive week as a missionary.
Also, how was Consejo? I'll bet you are glad you live close to the city
so you don't have to take an eight hour round trip bus ride every
month! Excited to hear how it went.
This was an awesome week
for us, it was Spring Break! So we decided to go somewhere we have never
been before...Moab! Rachel and George joined us and we spent the week
hiking through Arches National Park. Oh my goodness, it is spectacular!
You would love it, we will definitely go again when you get home.
Our
favorite hike was to Delicate Arch, or as we call it now..."License
Plate Arch", haha. When you see pictures you don't realize how HUGE it
is, and that it dangles on the edge of a steep cliff, super awesome and
impressive. On our second day we decided to take a long hike to a place
called Devil's Garden. It is over seven miles long round trip, although
it seemed a lot longer than that. It was a serious hike, very rugged,
primitive, steep and scary in some parts. At one point Rachel freaked
out, she was scared to death, refused to scale this narrow ridge on the
edge of a cliff and we all thought we might have to call the authorities
to send in a helicopter to rescue her. Haha, but after a bunch of
drama she finally made it. There are tons of arches, ridges and
fascinating rock shapes and formations. It is a geological wonder! Can't
wait to go again, and take you with us next time.
So that is
all our news for the week. We love and miss you, but most of all we are
proud and grateful to have a great missionary in our family. You are
never far from our thoughts and always in our prayers. We love you!
Love Mom
Happy
Easter, my son! It was pretty cool to have Easter and General
Conference on the same weekend. It really helped us to focus on the
Savior. Conference was great, so many outstanding talks, were you able
to watch them all? Where did you watch them? Did you have any
investigators with you? Here is a quick recap of my favorite
talks...can't wait to read and listen to them again!
President Eyring..."The
Lord has given us something that we each can do to serve others. It is a
commandment so simple that a child can understand it. It is a
commandment with a wonderful promise for those in need and for us. It is
the law of the fast."
Elder Perry..."We believe
that strong, traditional families are the basic units of a stable
society, a stable economy and a stable culture of values. They are also
the basic units of eternity and of the kingdom and government of God."
Elder Bednar..."The
peace Christ gives helps us maintain a consistent focus on our goals.
Thus, we can be blessed to hush our fears because His doctrine provides
purpose and direction in all aspect of our lives.
Elder Dale G. Renlund..."God
cares a lot more about who we are and who we are becoming than about
who we once were. He cares that we keep on trying."
Elder Cook..."If
the grim realities you are facing at this time seem dark and heavy,
follow His lIght. Following His light will bring us joy, happiness and
peace."
President Monson..."As we enter the temple
we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world. Inside
this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our
souls and respite from the cares of our lives. As we go to the temple we
will be better able to over come our temptations and bear our trials."
Elder Holland..."Today
we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever
experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we
have ever had, every fear we have ever faced. That victory is available
to us because of events that transpired on a weekend like this more
than two millenia ago in Jerusalem."
Neil L. Anderson:
We live in the days preceding the Lord's second coming, a time long
anticipated by believers throughout the ages. We rejoice in these days,
and pray that we will be able to courageously face our struggles and
uncertainties."
Russell M. Nelson..."The fullness
of the earth is promised to those who keep the Sabbath Day holy. The
Lord has asked His followers to keep and hallow the Sabbath Day. A
sacred Sabbath truly is a delight."
What were your favorite Conference talks?
In
other news, it is official, you have accepted the offer and scholarship
to play soccer at Western Wyoming! We signed, sealed and delivered your
"National Letter of Intent" this week. I will attach a few pictures of
the big signing event. So exciting! I posted an announcement on
Facebook, and there will be a press release from WWCC soon. The word is
out, everyone is excited for you!
Ok, one last piece of news I
think you will like...your cousin Carter received his mission call this
week, he is going to San Antonio, Texas! He will report to the Provo MTC
on June 24th. You will miss him by only a couple of weeks! But for
those two weeks we will have four full time missionary cousins serving
from the Smith family. So cool!
That
is all for this week, it has been a good week. We love you, we pray for
you every day. I am going to the temple this week, are there any names
you would like me to put on the prayer roll? What should we include in
our prayers this week? Keep working hard, we are so proud of you.
Love, Mom
