July 7, 2025

God bless America !

And hello from France !

I just hit my one year, I was set apart 1 year ago, crazy! Don't blink!

We're still alive and kicking it in Saint-Quentin. We had the wildest week for weather of all time. On Wednesday it was a little over 100 degrees hot. Then yesterday there was a big rain storm and it's currently raining right now. 

At the beginning of this week we had an exchange here in Saint-Quentin. I was with Elder Swenson, low key an amazing exchange. We were able to go to our member's pizza place and get some amazing pizza. The rest of the week was pretty simple, lots of finding. We were able to talk to a lot of very interesting people.
We also paid a visit to some of my favorite people Antonio and Maria Pires. They are an older couple. They are from Portugal. There is a photo in my google photo. She is so sweet and so short and the most passionate person I have met. She is soo chatty and I can confidently say that her faith is still there and better than most. If we go visit her we won't leave for 2 hours and we will maybe say 5 words. Very chatty but so awesome. She also gave us this massive orange from Portugal which was delicious. 

This week is going to be crazy. We have in person district counsel and right after that we have an exchange in Saint-Quentin. Then we have interviews on Thursday. On the 11th we're going to Paris to get a time de sejour for Elder Butler, then we're helping a member move on the 12th. Full week! 


Spiritual thought: 
We all get put in certain circumstances for a reason. I love the phrase "the refiners fire" everyone goes through this. The original apostles definitely did! One thing that I listened to this week was Jeffery R Holland. He was asked a very normal question: why do trials and tribulations happen to people who are close to the Savior? He said holding up the bible "I can't think of anyone outside of Christ who suffered more in the name of Christ than the original apostles." This grew my testimony that we are all on this earth for a reason and it's our job to try. 

Have a great week,
Elder Smith



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