Each Step...

Hey Everyone, This week is a lot better!

So I'm Settled in Derry fine now and I finally got everything sorted out! I finally figured out who we are teaching and who we are! so we only have one investigator so far and his name is Jason. I will tell you about Jason...

Jason

So Jason is about in his late 30's and he said anyone who wants to talk about Jesus Christ I will let them in my home! So we started meet with him and he has told us that he is and alcoholic and that he has been look for help for some time now! We told him we will help him and that we'll set a date for him to be off the drink! so he said he'll stop drinking by today! so we will just be there to help him grow! and to pick him up when he is down! So I like Jason! he's a good guy! He's been trying to read the Book of Mormon but it's hard for him to understand since he is drunk all the time!

THAT IS ALL OUR INVESTIGATORS!!!!

Now we will move one to recent converts!

Raymond & Shiobhon

Raymond (the husband) is doing great he goes to church and still knows it's true! Shiobhon (The Wife) told us she thinks the church isn't true! Only because she has a lot of unanswered question! sadly I didn't get the chance to meet with her! But this week I will meet with her and hopefully enlighten her mind! 

That is really all who we are teaching But I have been doing A LOT of studying and this week I has been Studying the Law of Consecration! That was so much fun to learn about! one of the purposes of the law is to humble the rich and exalt the poor! I love it! 

That is my update! 

I love you all and you guys have a great week! BYEEE!

-Elder Smith

Poisoned...

Hello every one!

I made it threw another week in Derry!

I will tell you about Jason our only investigator

Jason

We taught him just about the Book of Mormon and the power of prayer! The lesson was all over the place! I wasn't really on my "A" games when I was there! Next time when we meet with him it will be better!

That is all the investigators we are teaching! 

No Recent Convert!

Raymond and Shiobhon

These guys are a loving couple! He has a really strong testimony of the church but her's kinda shaking! We taught Sunday school and we went into different groups to talk about the different scriptures and I was in her group! She kept pulling up anti-mormon stuff! So I told her to write down all her question and we will answer them on Friday when we meet with them! It's sad to see her struggle! 

Now my story of the week! 

I decided to make myself some curry and eat a little bit then and then the rest later! Well a week later I ate the left- overs and then I was poisoned by my own food! IT SUCKED! It was a great story to tell all the members and LA and Investigators and missionaries! 

that is my story on the week! 

Yesterday though, we had Zone Development! That is where we gather as a Zone a have a really big P-Day! It was fun! Great stress reliever! 

well that is elder smith for ya! I can tell you this one last thing! this next 4 weeks and going to be a tough one for me! I'm in a really tough area and the ward doesn't like missionaries to much and my companion is not much of a do-er but a follower! So I am ready for this trial, and one of the reason the lord gives you trials is so that when a bigger trial, it does conquer you but you conquer it! 

Well I love you all! 

Keep you head up because I know I will! 

Elder Smith

Derry!

Hello Family and Friends!

So I made it to Derry alright! It was sad to say goodbye to everyone! but it had to be done! now i'm here in Derry! 

It has changed since I last saw it! that's okay! 

So I will tell you about everyone one We are teaching here...

No one! My new companion says we are teaching people but until I see them then we will be teaching them!

We did however teach this one guy the other day but it wasn't really wanting to know more about the church! So we had to drop him mostly because he wouldn't read the Book of Mormon. So poor him he could have known the truth but wasn't humble enough to know!

So also we did teach another person! his name is Jason, he was a referral from the sister and he said he will take anyone in who talks about Jesus! So we taught him restoration and he we have a new investigator! 

but besides that we aren't teaching anyone! that is okay there are people prepared out here somewhere! but hey we have to start somewhere so work with what we have! all I have is my comp and scripture and my testimony! What more do you  need?

My new companion is awesome! Very happy guy just what the area needs! so between both of our talents we will change Derry! 

Sorry this weeks update is a bit lame! It will be better next week!

WellI love you all! 

-Elder Smith

Moves!

HEy everyone so I got moves call yesterday and I'm moving! Guess where I'm going! I'm going to be going to Derry! How fun is that!? I just came from Omagh but Derry in is the same district, and I was there all the time when we exchanged! So it will be wierd going back to basically the same area but it will be fun also! 

So here is the update on our investigators! 

Dave

Sadly, dave couldn't make his date this week but that is okay we had to move it to the day before easter so that will be a hoot! He did make it to church and he did take his family so that is a blessing! but Dave is not taking the gospel seriously! he is on his Xbox when we are there! He is only home 1 hour during the day to see his family but the whole time he is there he plays Xbox! then he is "hanging out with the local drug dealer!" so we think he is dealing drugs! he is not taking it serious and we can tell because he doesn't have the light of Christ in him! so that is dave! 

Angela

She is doing great! She didn't make it to church but we met with her Twice and she did admit to us that she wants to join our church! that is awesome! She is scared to read the book of Mormon but she said she will read it! so that is good! She'll get there! Slowly but surely! 

Thomas

We met with Thomas once this week and he said that he is thinking about moving down to England for that 6 months! So that stinks but We did teach him the atonement! that was fun! Didn't make it to church though!

Shawna Brown

So when we met with Shawna she was asking really good questions! Mostly about life after death! she said if she is going to join this church that is what she needs to know! she that is what we taughter! 

Sarah

She was busy so we did't get a chance to meet with her! 

That is everyone! 

Now it is time for MEEEE! 

Elder McKay Smith

So I was just reading around the Book of Mormon and I came across the 55th verse in the 5th chapter from the book of Alma! and there it reads, "Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?" And before that verse it talked a lot about sharing the gosple! It made me think how those who are "poor in Spirit" need our spiritual "substance" to survive! So I kept thinking on how if we were poeples "light" in their lifes then we will bring that light into their life then but we won't be turning our backs on then but keeping our covenents we have made to recieve eternal life! 

That was just my thought on the verse! BUt I hope you all are doing well I'll let you all know how derry treats me!

Boy is it cold!

So It's been pretty cold outside this pass week! I all the elders in our flat is torturing me! Let me explain why! So it cold outside and I am out side ALL DAY right? from 10am-8pm I am outside work! (mind an hour for lunch inbetween there! so 9 whole hours of being out in the cold! then I finally finish for hte day and am retiring back to the flat! Then walk in and it's not much warmer then outside! I've been freezing everyday this week! If I touch the heating then Everyone complains that it is too HOT! and so I have this Blanket I use to kep my warm and they hid it from me! Now I am just tict off so I'm going to his all their warm cloths and see what they do! also crack open all the windows! because man I HATE being cold! So yeah that is that!

So not the update on our investigators!

Dave

So dave is doing good! We have been helping him out A lot this week! So the social service came yesterday to check his house to see if it is suitable for children to live there! so we have been cleaning his house like crazy! it's looks good for what we used! He didn't have any rags so we used bed sheets that was fun, But we went over all the comandments with him and how if want to be baptised by the 7th of march then he is going to have to live all the commandments a week before the baptism and forever after! basically he said the hardest ones will be the tea and coffe and the tithing! so we might have to push back his date not unless he thinks he can make it! so hopfully he can! 

Shawna Brown

So we had an appointment with her this week but It turned out the 30 minutes before our appointment her daughter went to the hospital! So we didn't get the chance meet with her but she did make it to church for the first time! that is awesome and her little grand-daughter made a new friend so that is awesome! we do hope that her daughter will be fine though!

Thomas

So this week we met with thomas once andit was just to clean his home! So, we only cleaned one room and not even all the way! Basically, he just has a bunch of paper laying around that he neer threws away! so we took 2 hours of sorting out his paper!  it sould have only taken us 10 minutes! so Yeah next time when we meet with him we are going to give him a list of cleaning stuff to by and then we are going to clean his whole house! but thomas made it to church and had to leave early due to a massive head ache! Thomas also has a baptismal date that is on the 28th of march! 

Sarah

So we finally got back in touch with sarah! We taught her the Plan of Salvation! She loved it! and we got her on a baptismal date! It's the same day as Thomas so the 28th of Mrach! And she came to church but left early due to Thomas's head ache!

Angela

So angela is a new investigator! so me and elder Glasgow talked to her about 2 months ago and she said she is a strong believer in Christ so we don't need to convert her! then this last week we were trying to find some red bush tea for Dave and she saw us and told us how her parents just died and she doesn't understand why they died on the days that they did! Now that is a tough question! because I don't know why god picks the time when poeple dies! I think it just comes down too isaiah 55 8! but shared al lot about our beliefes and she said that she is very interested and wants to learn more! So she is awesome!

That is all our investigators! 

Now it's time for the update that is all about me!

Elder McKay Michael Smith

I find it interesting how act! Have you ever just done people watching before! Poeple do weird stuff a lot of the times! so So we have 4 Elders in our appartment and one of them is flipping Crazy! he Loves pointing out all the wrong in poeple! then when your point out the wrong in him he debates it untill he is right! so he is never wrong! A lot of the times that can get very annoying! it's great how to gosple really helps out in our lives! so I studied love for a couple of days and my definition of love would be selfLESSness! It interesting to see how when we care about ourselfes we don't change we stay the same! but where as when we can for other we change of the better good! and even though this one elder is annoying me and the end of the day i'm hear to help him not help myself! 

That is thoughts for the week I hope you all will have aparty this week and I love you all!

-Elder Smith

In 4 days!!!

In 4 days I hit my year mark! Fantastic! 

Well I heard Grandma died this week! That Is alright! It's kinda like me! I "died" back home to come and serve a mission! I'm still alive you can just only hear from me here and there! Same with Grandma, her influeance is still on this earth! so grandma is not dead she is just serving a mission! If she was dead then how could this be "life eternal"?

Well I will give you an update on our investigators now! 

Sarah

Sarah is doing well! She's been busy all week and so she ouldn't meet with us but she said that she is free tuesday wednesday and thrusday! So that is good! We will meet with her this week for sure! 

Thomas

So we met with Thomas this week, that is good! So background before story! We got a call from Sarah saying how Thomas isn't doing so well and how he is smoking weed and he doesn't feel ready for his baptism date! so we went into the lesson with that in mind! and we talked to thomas and we asked how he was doing with the W.O.W. and he told good just a hard time getting off the tea and coffee! then we asked him if that was all! he told us yep! Thomas left the room and my comp told me that Thomas is lying because there was weed on the coffee table! then I saw it!!!!! THE WEED! it was sad! so next time I'm going ot call him out if I see it again! but he has that we can help him clean his house on saturday! that should be Fun! 

Shawna Brown

Shawna is doing great and she read the Ensign we left for her! She was sick on sunday but she promised that she'll make it to church on this coming up sunday! We taught her about the atonement! it was fun! IT was just a good lesson! 

Gillian and Charley

So they are doing good! Ever since Gillian fell out with her friend she has been progressing! slowly! but progression none the less! she didn't make it to stake conference this week! so we can't do much about that! hopfully church this sunday! 

Dave

I saved the best for last! So Since it was Valentines this week Dave's wife gave him some money to go and get what he wanted! So he turned around and bought her something with it! before meeting with us he would have gotten weed! He read from the Book of Mormon and he said it spake to him! that was cool what he told us! Then we taught him the W.O.W. he said he's can't give up tea or coffee! We'll teach him about agency! or something like that! but that is dave! he's doing the best! 

that is everyone we worked with! 

So now it's about ME! 

Elder McKay Smith

So I was given the reading assignment to read John 3:1-22 I'll tell you my thoughts about it!

-So Nicodemus Is very high with the Jews, and Respected Jesus enought to learn for him! and they a convertasion about being born again! well let's see what is means to be "Born Again"! In verse 3 he says "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." where as in verse 5 he says, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." to SEE heaven is by the power of the Holy Ghost which anyone who is looking for truth can feel, But to ENTER into heaven  you must have the Gift of the Holy Ghost!  that comes after Baptism! so my challenge for you all is to study conscience, light of christ, and the Holy Ghost, in the bible dictionary! 

Well that is me! I'll hear from you next week! 

Love you all BYEEEE! 

-Elder Smith

Welcome!!

Welcome Family and Friends to the once a week update on Elder Smith (also know as McKay)! Just sit back enjoy the email! The Party is about to start in 3... 2... 1...

Hey everyone! Here is my up date on my mission and the sheep (investigators) we are looking after!

Thomas

So we met with Thomas this week and we went over baptism and the promises we make when are are baptised and we asked him if he is willing to do that and so we set a date for him! It is the 28th of March! We put it clear out there well in the futur because he has a slow memory and it is hard for him to remember Stuff and we still have to get him off the Cigz and the Coffee! He hasn't been to church in about 10 weeks so we were going to wait untill he showed up again to give him the date! However, we changed our mind and we felt like if we give him a date then he would come to church! Guess what it worked! He showed up to church this week! so slow progressions, Right?

Sarah

So Sarah is Thomas's friend and she is awesome! We didn't have a chance to meet with her this week due to her starting work up and have to spirit of contention in her life! So that was disappointing! She did, however, come to church with Thomas! That was cool!  She really enjoyed it and she said she understood a lot of what was the talks were about! She had to leave early due to her leg hurting! (for she had a car crash that didn't turn out weel for her leg!) So She took Thomas with her and they bth left early! We'll have to see if we could get them to stay longer next week! 

Shawna Brown

So with Shawna We taught her abut fallowing the prophet and she seemed pretty okay about prophets right! So we gave her an Ensign to read so she can "hear from a Prophet!" we invited her to church and she seemed like she was going to come! But no show! THat is okay! She is still progressing! very Slowly! but progression nonw the less!

Gillian and Charley

So we met with gillian and we taught her about Agency and how there really are only two chioces! To follow God (and be happy) or to follow the devil (and not be happy)! We taught her about that because she hasn't been showing up to church or reading her scriptures! so we thought it way have changed her from not coming! Well she didn't come! so it is pretty dumb! what can you do about it!? not much, just keep teaching her! It's a bit sad I would have to say! 

Dave

So Dave is doing awesome! He said his prayers are doing very well and that his court case is more favoring him for the custody of his childeren! That is good! you can tell that he is progessing very well and that his life is doing a lot better! So we extended a date to him he said that he wouldn't know if he would be in during that week but he'll figure out tuesday and let us know! so hopefully we will hear from him soon! 

So that is all our investgators! We got dropped by William, that sucked! oh well he still has the Book of Mormon!

Now let's talk about me!

Elder Smith 

So this week we Weekly Planned on a lake next to a fire! That was fun! Then we walked on the frozen lake for a bit! that was scary! goog thing the deepest it got was 3ft! Then we did missionary work the erst of the week! By knock some doors! Party ike always! NOT! oh well until the work is done!  I also Learned in my studies this weeek the power behind to God's words! I forgot where the scripture was at about it was a good one! So I'll use my own words! It said how Gods words can distoy and they can creat, and fix and basically do anything! then it made me think how we have teh word of God today here on the earth, and it showed me the power we have with the word! It was a god scripture though! 

Well that is me y'all! Take it easy this week and read your scripture! 

-Elder Smith!