Week 11: Week Two on the Island!

Hello Everyone! 

Week 2 on island! Wow. That's kind of crazy I've already been here a week! 

Elder Sumsion peeling a pomello (basically like a giant grapefruit).

The food's still great. When I can understand them, I know the people are great too! I don't know. They smile a lot and they seem nice enough. There aren't a lot of mean people. There are just a lot of shy or wary people. They see two white guys in white shirts and ties riding bikes and it looks suspicious I guess. I don't know. 

Elder Sumison and me.

Everyone rides scooters here and we ride bikes so the best way to contact people and see if they're interested is at stop lights. We only have like 30 seconds or less so a lot of times it doesn't really go anywhere but at least they know we're friendly and we exist:) Most people don't really make eye-contact or they wave us away or they sound really flaky when we ask them if they want to meet with us or if we can have their phone number to call them later. Some people are really nice and open though which is awesome! 

Me in front of the chapel.  Nice, huh? 

Not that missionary work is salesmanship or anything like that, but a lot of the same methods are used to get the word out about missionary work such as knocking on doors and street contacting so I really feel for all those guys now. It really makes me wonder to myself what I'd do if I wasn't LDS and two guys approached me or knocked on my door. If I treated them like I treated every other salesman going from door to door or passing out fliers, I'd probably talk with them and be curious but I wonder if I'd let them talk with me. That got me thinking "what's the difference between what I'm telling people about and what every other solicitor or salesman is handing out?" The answer I came to was that everything that people solicit or sell is a supplement to life. Let's be honest. You can live without pretty much anything anyone has ever tried to sell you. What makes the gospel different is that it's true and it's fundamental. It's not(or shouldn't be) a supplement to life. It IS your life. It's truth! It's what makes you you and it's the foundation for everything that exists. If the gospel wasn't true, there would be no God and therefore, we would not exist. That's what makes it so important. And that's why I need to share it with people and shouldn't be bashful about doing so! 

And you all shouldn't either:) I mean, do it in a loving way. Don't belittle someone because they are unwillingly ignorant of the truth, but be an example and look for ways to share the gospel in respectful ways. Work with the missionaries in your ward in finding people. They will be so grateful and you will be so blessed for having done so. 

Me in the family history center.

Thank you all for your prayers and your support! I feel them. I really do. We've seen so many miracles this week. We have 4 new investigators, one investigator who has so much desire to be baptized and if all goes according to plan, that will happen on the 23rd. So exciting! We've also been blessed to meet even more people who are willing to meet with us and will hopefully become other new investigators. We also had people just giving us food left and right. We figured someone must have been praying for us. Anyway. I love you guys. And I know God does too. Rely on him in all things, and he won't forsake you.  

Until next week!

Elder Brendan Smith