Smith's Situation: PING PONG and OTHER PURSUITS

How many of you, out there in the blog-osphere, would agree with us that this life is for learning???
Success isn't accidental, and it certainly doesn't come solely from natural ability. (although, many times that factors into the equation) Success comes from developing the habit of hard work. Take our missionaries, for example. They love to get together on p-day and play PING PONG.

Some came to this famed ping pong table with experience under their belt..............

.....others, not as much, but are willing to work at the game. There are things to overcome, progress to be made........... just as it is in the pursuit of excellence in our lives. This pursuit requires our best effort over a lifetime.

Our lives are a result of the way we live. Do we respect ourselves and others, allowing for progress?

Mattew 5:48 instructs us to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Jesus asks us to strive for excellence in all that we do......to develop the talents and abilities with which we have been blessed. This should be a constant effort in our lives.

Keep learning, progressing and serving.......

Dieter F. Uchtdorf said "whatever our circumstances in life, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do."

"Those who are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and lose themselves in the pursuit of worthwhile goals are a blessing to their families, communities, nations and to the church."

Elder J. Richard Clark said that "Work is a blessing from God. It is a fundamental principle of salvation, both spiritual and temporal. When Adam was driven from his garden home, he was told that his bread must be produced by his physical toil, by the sweat of his brow."

"Cursed shall be the ground for thy sake" ( Moses 4:23) "This was for his good or benefit. It would not be easy to master the earth; but that was his challenge and his blessing, as it is ours."

President Spencer W. Kimball was the perfect example of obedience to the divine law of work. On one occasion, when his doctor was concerned about Pres. Kimball's health and the increasing demands he was making on his body, Pres. Kimball responded very kindly "Your job is to keep me going at the pace I am going to go." Pres. Kimball had a philosophy that was written and clearly displayed on his desk. It simply said...........

"DO IT"!!!!!!!!!

In the 1976 General Conference William H. Bennett said: "No one is perfect, but everyone should be striving for perfection. If we should stumble and fall as we travel life's highway, let us apply the counsel given to us by Cliff Cushman, a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team. He won the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles and was a top candidate for the Gold medal in the 1964 Olympics; but in the American trials, he hit and tripped over a hurdle and was eliminated. In a letter to the youth in his hometown he wrote, in part, ' I tried! I would much rather fail knowing I had put forth an honest effort than never to have tried at all.' He went on to talk about going to another Olympics. He said 'The odds are against me, but I have something in my favor------desire and faith....at least I am going to try. How about you?....Unless your reach exceeds your grasp, how can you be sure what you can attain? I dare you to look up to the stars, not down at the mud.......I DARE YOU!'"

And here's more of what's happening in the pursuit of excellence in our lives

Sisters Bennie and Kime have been teaching these little gals Primary songs. They are darling! Lives are being touched in ways that these girls will remember all of their lives. We are pretty sure this is an excellent thing to do!

Kent went iguana hunting with "THE BOYS". He learned many new and excellent things. Not only did he enjoy the hunt, but he learned that this is a way of life for many of these people. Fish and iguana are a main source of protein. They live off the land. Kent loved his day with them.

We found these guys on our drive home from Gouyave. Excellence??? Don't know, but they were entertaining to watch for a minute. Not quite sure what they represent.

In the pursuit of finding excellent food for our extraordinary friends, the Wrights. Happy Birthday, Lizzy! May you be 29 forever!!!!!!

This gentleman is out walking his goats. They all have a leash.

Heston and Simone Cummings at the church with a coconut tree to plant. They keep our church grounds looking excellent!

Kent is really excited to plant these trees, then come back in a few years and see how big they have grown. The pursuit of excellence for our churchgrounds in Grenada!

Sister Bennie and Akim Baptiste at Family Fun Night

Family Fun Night photos

Roger and Elder Smith making certain that our church looks excellent for Sunday Services

Elders Loewen and Smith with Angelique Abraham. Angelique was baptised Saturday, March 15th.

She is on a pathway to excellence. She saw the missionaries out walking on the street in Grenville and called out to them, wanting to know more about the church. A month later, she was baptised. She is incredible!!!!