Setting examples

Hey mom! Things are going alright(: It's harder when it's this far in, at least for me. Tornado season isn't actually a season cause they happen all the time (according to the preppers out here xD) but yes it has started(: None yet though! All the dang storms split when they get near Siloam. It's kind of disappointing really. I love the thunderstorms out here!!!! Oh man that sucks about the car door! haha Sounds like an average week in the life of mom(: haha Love ya! I've been trying with the stories. It's hard to come up with em some time xD So much happens, yet so little at the same time. I'm glad Kira's ok! Dang allergies! I know Randy's dying for his picture:P I'm working on getting the little package sent out to ya'll(: I need money so it'll be the beginning of May that I can send it! I can't wait to see ya'll on Mother's Day either! We found a place to Skype at so I'll have to set it all up and send ya the details.. I love you mom!!! You're awesome!

This week's story I guess is from the weekend! (makes it easier to remember xD) haha Anyway so this week was something called the Dogwood Festival here in Siloam. It's HUGE here. The whole freaking county seemed to be in Downtown Siloam, which is tiny. But there were lots of people and we got permission to help out! So we got to go in normal clothes for most of the day(: It made missionary work easier, at least for me anyway. We talked to a lot of people and alot of people asked us questions: "What's with the name tags?" "Where do ya'll work?" "You're a Mormon right? Are ya'll allowed to do stuff like this?" haha they were mostly about being missionaries more than church but it was still awesome(: We talked to a ton of people, and spread the gospel very efficiently by picking up the trash xD Better than all that awesomeness though was the Coburns' baptism!!! It was awesome! Their aunt and uncle flew in from Florida to do it and man it was a cool experience(: My second official one! It's amazing to watch the change that takes place in people as their spirits begin to remember the things they were taught before coming here(: It just rings so true and familiar when people are open, so the change happens so fast, but is very noticable(: I love that family, and we'll have to go visit them in Colorado once they move(: That's it for this week!

Love you bunches mom(: Have an epic week!!!!

-Elder Trey Smith

The car door was when the wind blew it open on me...it was so strong it bent it a little so now it squeaks...lol and Kira had an allergic reaction rash...these are a few of the things that he just responds to....so hopefully that is not as confusing.  But it is in the beginning of tornado season now, and we were reading up on the bad one on Sunday in Arkansas.  But it seems to have passed them by.   And we are very excited to Skype with him this time!!  He wasn't able to last time at Christmas.  I like his stories and I really hope he continues...cause guess what...we found out it was his second baptism just because he had it in the story!!!!  lol

What to do if you are in a car and a tornado hits

In light of the tornado season, and Trey is smack in the middle of it all...Here is an article about what to do if you are in a car.  I thought it was interesting and would share.

While many who found themselves in the paths of the storms took refuge in safe rooms or shelters, others were caught behind the wheel, in a car. If this happens to you, what are you supposed to do?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Weather.com offer similar tips on how to stay as safe as possible. One of the main rules: Don't hide under the embankment of an overpass. While it may seem like a safe move, you're actually increasing your risk of injury or worse, according to Weather.com. You're more likely to be struck by debris, the wind is stronger than at ground level, and the wind will change direction as the vortex passes, according to a 1999 presentation from the National Weather Association.

Other things to remember: Get to shelter if you can, which is the preferable option.

But assuming you're in the middle of nowhere in your car with no other options, the National Weather Service recommends one of the following two actions, depending on specific circumstances.

1. Stay in your car with the seat belt fastened. Slump down below the windows and cover yourself with a blanket. Weather.com advises you to keep the car running so airbags will deploy if necessary.

2. If you think you can safely get lower than the roadway, "exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands," according to NWS. Be sure to get far enough away from the car so debris, or the car if it gets tossed by wind, is less likely to hit you.

Doing what we can

...It's weird how just everything changes, time continues on. I had one of those weird experiences a little bit ago. We went to a funeral for someone in the ward. Their son died in a car crash. We went to support em, and it was just so interesting being somewhat on the outside. It probably also had alot to do with all the death in our family but anyway it was just very interesting. At the same time we were in there though, I thought of everyone on the outside, going on with their lives, dealing with their trials and enjoying their victories and pleasures. Life goes on. The only true fact about time (other than stuff found in the scriptures) is that it passes. So we must move on and do what we can. It's also amazing how even though so much is going on with so many different people at once, it is all divinely engineered. We run into each other for reasons, we experience silly little mistakes so someone else might be able to receive blessings, we stop and help someone because they might have asked God for it, but maybe God already knew and had something greater in mind for them, so they could avoid a bigger problem later on. It's just amazing how God works, and how we still have our free agency, but it does affect a lot more things than we may think. That kind of leads into my story this week.

We were with a member after the family night scripture reading we have with investigators and the family, and he was taking us home. There was a car with it's hazards on pulled over with a major blowout. So we stopped to help, being led by the spirit(: We began helping and she was just overcome with thankfulness and joy and we soon figured out with some conversation that she's a member from Texas coming to bring some stuff to her daughter! It seemed she might not have been to church in awhile because she didn't recognize us and she told us it's been awhile and hard to remember some stuff. But while we were helping we could just see her face light up and that she felt God's love for her. I have no doubt that we were an answer to her prayers, and that Brother Hubler was very in tune with the Spirit to stop and help(: She grabbed her scriptures out of the box in the back of her car and put them next to her as she left, and it seemed that she had a recharged spiritual battery with that experience. She said she would share it with everybody! haha it was pretty cool. And all the cops that showed up were grateful for us too and we got to talk with them a bit and help somewhat light up there night(: So it was awesome!
But it was a cool experience and has alot to do with what we just talked about! And along with my talents! Who knows what God will use em for. The only thing I have to do, is use them! So that's what I'm gonna do dangit! haha Anyway I love you guys and I hope you have a good week(:

It was fun hearing both of those tidbits this week.  We really don't know what Heavenly Father has in plan for us, and we need to be ready to hear His promptings!  I love having my spiritual/mental battery charged every week. We need to be aware of charging our batteries in general with good thoughts and deeds, and whatever else we can find that can lift our spirits.  And Doing what we can, whenever and wherever we can.  :)  -Kammy

The Little Things

Well, our Hump Day Resolution is to keep this blog up and current for the last year of Treys mission!!  We have realized how bad we have been keeping our loved ones up to date!!  So on with the blog!!  Here's an awesome letter that we got this past Monday 4-14-14:

Heeeeeeey mama!

Guess what... hey hey mom.. guess, guess what day it is.... mom guess the day..... HUMP DAAAAAAAY! haha It's coming up quick(: I need that camel shirt, or I need to show you! it's hilarious xD anyway, heres the story of the week! Hope it makes ya laugh and smile!(:

Towards the beginning of my mission Elder Peterson told me a funny story about prayer. He said that one of his companions really wanted to find a four leaf clover, and so he prayed very earnestly to find one. He opened his eyes, and picked up one right there! Then found a 5 leaf, and a 7 leaf, and a few other four leafed ones! Holy crap, right?! So he built up his testimony of prayer. I thought it'd be cool to find one one day in Springfield, and asked for a tad bit of help. I found one, half eaten up, but taped it in my journal. Well there's tons of cloverfields and sturff in Siloam Springs, and I told Elder Howard about the one I found (remember it's half eaten!) And he jokingly said "nah you're making it up!" haha Well, I somewhat wanted to prove my point and asked Heavenly Father to help me find another. I searched every little clover patch we passed for like three days. Then one day, I changed the purpose for me finding them. I asked not to find one just to find another and supposedly build my testimony of prayer, asked to find one to send home, to show you guys even with the littlest of things, he'll help. Well, we went on a walk and stopped on a bench for a bit. I read a few chapters from the Book of Mormon, and then, well we were surrounded by the dang things so I couldn't help but ask for some help looking! So I started, and the whole time with a prayer in my heart that I could find one for you guys. I found 1. Then I thought, well my whole family (Kira included!) needs one! It wouldn't be fair to send home just one! So I asked for that! I looked down and picked out two within a few minutes! Then we began to leave and I still needed that fourth one. So I looked hard for a few minutes and found the fourth. The Lord not only listened to a tiny, seemingly insignificant little thing like help finding lucky clovers, he blessed me for my selfless efforts, and only when I put in my part, too. It helped me think of all the other things we ask for. Is it selfish? Is it selfless? Can I sit back and wait for you to place it in my lap? Should I work for it? I now know the answers to those, and have a greater sense of understanding for the world around me, and the way the Lord will work through me and for me(:

Haha(: Good one right? Well I hope you enjoyed it(: Dad said start sending em for the blog thing xD That'll be a good journal too since I've been slacking so dang bad...... anyway. Soon I'll be sending ya'll your clovers(: I also finished Randy's drawing he wanted so I'll send that with em. It send em with that... anyway(: Love ya mom and hope ya'll have a good week!!!!

-Elder Trey Smith

 

It really is the small things, isn't it?!  It really seems like hes enjoying his mission.  I am sooo grateful we get to hear from him each week.  I really will try and start updating past letters and posts, but I wanted to give you an update each week and actually do it!!  lol  Boyd can share his letters also, and will be on soon!!  Love you guys and thanks for your support and love!   -Kammy