Week 25

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

First off a drink driver hit us Friday in the middle of the
afternoon.  It was a very minor accident.  We were driving in the
middle lane down a road in a school zone, 25mph speed limit and this
guy in his truck was in and out of his lane.  We noticed his truck and
me and my companion were thinking this guy is going to cause an
accident and he did.  He tried to get in in the right lane and pass me
on the right and when he was coming into my lane he hit us with the
middle of his bedside of his truck.  All he did was fold our mirror in
and pushed in our passenger side fender.  He just has a line dent on
the bed of the truck.

Other than that my week was pretty slow besides when Elder Bednar
came.  That was awesome,  as we prepared to see him we studied 4 talks
that were really good.  A lot were about faith and the spirit and how
we have to learn with faith.  Really good passengers in the talks, in
one called "Ask in Faith" it says, "We properly pray for the safety
and success of the full-time missionaries throughout the world. And a
common element in many of our prayers is a request that the
missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared
to receive the message of the Restoration. But ultimately it is my
responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the
missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I
are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should
not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!"  Really
bold but good information for members to help increase member
missionary work.  I got to shake Elder Bednar's hand and he we had a
open discussion/ questions about the talks and other things for about
2 hours.  It was really cool to see how put together his questions
were,  they were all 5 star questions in missionary terms.  He was a
very funny guy and liked to joke around here and there.  Great
apostle, one of my favorite speakers.

This week like I said was pretty slow, we had a lot of lessons
canceled but luckily rescheduled for next week. So next week should be
really good.  We went down the list of part members and called all of
them during weekly planning which helped fill up the week with
lessons.  We have one more week before the end of the transfer.   We
will see if I get transferred.  Pretty good week.

Something I really learned this week is how powerful the spirit is and
how you always need to act on the promptings off it.  God works
through the spirit to have miracles happen.  I know as we do this we
will see miracles in our daily lives.

Week 24

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

My week has been pretty good.  We have still been struggling with
lessons so lot of finding.  We taught a guy named Lamar Rogers last
Monday and we planned on seeing him again Wednesday or Friday or both
but neither worked up out for him so we rescheduled for today but then
he had to reschedule again because he forgot it was MLK day.  Then our
investigator named Brendan Henry dropped us again because it's to hard
for him to keep the word of wisdom.  We have tried everything to help
him and he just doesn't have the desire so he gave up and decided not
to meet with us anymore but we will see if he texts us back for help.
Other than that there is not a whole lot to report, just lots of
knocking on doors and knocking on part member families and unbaptized
children.

We do have Elder Bednar coming to the mission on Saturday so I'm
excited for that, we are preparing by reading some of his talks
President Walker has assigned us to read.  That's the night of my week
is just preparing for him to come.

Something I have been focusing on this week is my studies.  A member
asked us a question and it has changed my studies.  He asked us, "When
is the last revelation you have received in your studies?"  I had to
really think about it and realized I need to do a better job in my
studies so I can receive revelation every morning.  That is my goal
for every study is to receive answers to my questions or for my
investigators.  I know your scripture studies make a difference every
morning.  I know they help you each day of your life.  I know this
church is true and it has changed my life.  So grateful for it!

Week 23

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

My week has been pretty good, we are having trouble finding people to
teach so we are doing a lots of finding activities. For example
visiting part member family's, unbaptized children, and a lot of
potential investigators. The highlight of my week is contacting a
referral named Lamar Rogers, he is a police officer out of duty right
now because his back hurts from a plane accident. We were able to
teach him today but it ended up being a 2 1/2 hour lesson due to his
openness and lots of talking.   Other than the lesson being too long
it was very sad. Jewel. We were able to set up another appointment for
Wednesday hopefully it will be shorter. We were also able to teach Jen
Mujica and Brendan.  Me and Elder Tukuafu are getting along, he is
teaching me a lot about how to be a better teacher and not awkward
when speaking to investigators haha.  I guess I have awkward pauses
that other steward used to do so I start picking it up. Other than
Lamar, Jen, and Brandon's lesson the week was pretty slow.  All we can
do his work harder and rely on the spirit to guide us to find new
investigators. We also have been trying to work with the ward members
more frequently to get referrals to contact.  Missionaries love
referrals! I encourage you guys to be missionary minded and good
example so you may have referrals to give to your missionaries.

This week I have been focusing on the Atonement and the Sacrament.
The Atonement is so special we have the opportunity use it in our
everyday lives.  It can help you with not only repenting from sins but
when you are in tough situations in life.  I know Jesus Christ
suffered for us and he loves us more than we can comprehend. I know he
lives and that we can get help from him.  We just have to read our
scriptures and pray sincerely.  I know what I'm doing out here is what
God wants for me.  It's what I want for myself.  I wouldn't be out
here if I don't know that this church is true.  It's truly a sacrifice
to be out here, and it can be hard sometimes but I always need to
remember to think about why I'm truly here.  I'm here for the people I
teach and the people I help come to Christ.  It's a wonderful
opportunity to be here and I'm not going to waste my time, I'm going
to get my money's worth.

Love you guys!

Week 22

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

My week has been pretty good.  We had a new investigator named
Skylar Dworin and she was golden.  She was so excited to have us come
over and teach her the first discussion.  We asked her to be baptized
the the 21st of January.  We tried to schedule another lesson and she
responded after two days saying she has moved to Louisiana.  So that
sucked, we referred her over to the Louisiana missionaries for her
area.  Whoever those missionaries might be, they are lucky to get her
to teach.  That was the biggest thing that happened this week.  Right
now we are just trying to clean our area book (all of our potential
investigators and plans to find people).  Our investigator Joe Downing
moved out of our area so we will refer him over to the missionaries in
his new area.  We will be doing a lot of finding activities to find
some more people to teach.

We also were able to go to Mount Charleston to see snow and play
around in it.  Both my companion, Elder Tukuafu, and Elder Talani have
never seen snow.  So that was a life changing experience for them.  It
was really fun, my hand were really cold since I didn't have gloves.
We sledded and made a snowman.  Fun stuff.

This week I have really been focusing on trying to be a good example.
Being a good example will not only change your life it will change
others.  I want everyone to be a good example in life and you will
change for the better.  It will bless your life to not be a follower
of things that are bad and set a good example.

Kenny's baptism from Elder Tukuafu's old area.  He baptized him, it
was a huge baptism.  Elder Steward was there.

Week 21

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

There was no email this week...only pictures. Probably because we had just gotten to skype with him the day before! He said that they went up to Mount Charleston for their P-Day, so that's what many of these pictures are from.

Kevin and his comp made cinnamon rolls and orange rolls on Christmas morning, as if tradition in the Smith family.

New sweater

Such a pure, cute picture of Kevin

I'm guessing presents from Mom

Week 20

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)        
COMPANION: Elder Tukuwafu

This has been a lot of fun, my companion is a lot of fun.  Elder
Steward was a pretty serious guy and Elder Tukuafu jokes around a lot.
We are a great companionship and teach well together.  We get things
done and have fun at the same time. We have been able to teach a few
times this week together. We had a lot of lessons scheduled but almost
half of more fell through. We have been trying hard to find lessons.
We had a miracle happen on Tuesday, we came out of a lesson and we're
off to dinner and We accidentally walked the wrong way for 5 mins away
from dinner and we ran into 3 people and got return appointments for
all of them. It was amazing to see how the Lord works in mysterious
and funny ways. It was mind blowing because the average amount of
contacts we get where we get a return appointment is probably 10% and
we got 3/3. Other than that are week was pretty normal. We found 2 new
investigators so that was awesome. I'm excited for the coming weeks.

Can't wait to talk to you family! Love you!

We are the best ever! We were thinking of starting a band!