December 17, 2013

Dear Family,

This week was a pretty okay week.  We didn't do as much work as I wanted to, but that's all right.  My companion got sick this week.  He pretty much just shut down, and I didn't really know what to do.  He has been focusing on home a lot lately, but we are still working hard and that is good.  Every day he reminds me of how many days he has left in his mission and how he doesn't really care anymore for some things in the mission.  But he is doing really well, and I enjoy being around him a lot.  He has been my favorite companion so far, and I truly like him.  We are different, but that's okay.  He is a cool guy and we laugh a lot together.  He said he was having stomach cramps and couldn't work so we sat inside for like a half day, and that was okay.  I don't like just sitting in a house for one day, and I kind of go crazy.  Also this week we had a problem with finding people at home.  No matter how hard we tried no one was at home, and that was frustrating.  Our numbers really suffered this week, but that is okay.  It is how missionary life is.  

Before I forget, you probably need to open the package I sent you guys.  There are tortillas in there, and I was hoping that they were going to make it.  I don't know if they did.  They might need a refrigerator, so if you want to open it you can.  If not you can wait till Christmas.  I hope they are still good. 

Our investigators are doing pretty well.  We got to see Jesus this week on Sunday and that was awesome.  He is doing really well - just working away in his garage and fixing up couches and chairs.  He does a really good job.  He was showing us his work, and it’s spectacular.  He makes the couches and chairs look really nice.  I was really impressed.  We need to start teaching him and not just sharing scriptures with him.  Once we start doing that I think he will progress really nicely.  Paul is also doing really well.  We are just having troubles getting him to church again, and I am hoping he does come back someday.  He is a really cool dude, and I like him a lot.  What was super cool is we got our first lesson with a member present in a couple of months.  We were super stoked about that.  Gracie and her son David are doing well.  We got a member present with her this week, and that was a miracle.  She wasn't answering our phone calls on Sunday night to figure out if we could come and see her.  We had the member follow us over there, and the whole time we were praying and hoping that she was there.  We showed up and took the long walk to the door.  She opened up, and we were super happy.  We taught her part of the plan of salvation, and it was good.  Her son wasn't there because he was in Dallas watching the Cowboys game with the Packers.  I am super thrilled they won and that must have been an epic game to watch.  It sounds like the Packers are kicking into gear without Mr. Rodgers.  I hope he comes back this week and kicks some butt.  I miss not watching football on Sundays.  One think I dislike about Texas is that everyone and their dog is a Cowboys fan.  It makes me throw up, and I want to burn every Cowboys flag I see.  I hate the Cowboys.  But back to our investigators.  Cecilia has officially dropped off the face of the earth, and she doesn't really text us back.  So that is a bummer.  Everyone else is doing good.

Also this week we had the ward Christmas party, and it was fun.  There were tons of people there and a lot of food.  I got my first tamale of the season, and it was amazing.  None of our investigators showed up so that was a bummer.  But it’s all good.  We were on exchanges that day with the Zone Leaders and that went well.  We also had our Christmas Zone Conference yesterday and it was really good.  We had Elder Foster, who is a seventy, join us and that was really cool.  I think my favorite talk of the conference was President Miller, who spoke very first.  He talked about how the mission is going to change you and to let it change you.  He talked on how it’s the time the Lord shapes you into the person he wants you to be.  He also talked about how the patterns you establish now are what you going to do for the rest of your life.  It was a really good talk.  He is a really good president.  Elder Foster’s talks were also really good.  The whole thing was really well done.  But that was pretty much my week.

Thanks for the letters this week.  It sounds like everyone is in one piece.  I hope the tortillas are okay in the package.  They should be because tortillas sit on store shelves.  They are my favorite tortillas that I have had, and I wanted you to try them.  I hope you guys like them.  I will look for your Christmas package this week.  Thanks for that.  I miss you guys a lot this Christmas season.  But you guys will be seeing me next week on an i-Pad, I think.  I am not really sure what is going to throw down that day.  You might not get an email from me next week because it is Christmas Eve, but you might get one from me.  You might receive a phone call from me Christmas morning to set up everything, but I am not sure.  I really am in the dark right now about what is going to happen.  If you can respond today before I leave, send me the information for an i-Pad that I can call.  I hope it works!  I am excited to see you!  Thanks for all you do for me.  You guys are always in my prayers, and I know the Lord is watching you guys for me.  I know that this gospel is true without a doubt.  We have a loving Heavenly Father who knows our strengths, weaknesses, and problems.  He sent his son so he could suffer for us.  I know this without a doubt.  I love you guys tons, and have an awesome week!!

Elder Smith

December 10, 2013

Hey Family!!!

 

It was good to get your letters this week.  It sounds like everything is in one piece at home and it also sounds like you had busy week.  I am doing good in the smallest town in Texas - just enjoying the sun when it shines.  It gets into the 50s and 60s in the day but the nights and mornings are freezing.  Deserts truly get cold in the night and it is fun.   This week was a good week.  As I sat down to write I completely forgot my week, but I think it’s coming back to me as I write.

 

This week, like any other week, we have just been scraping for people and trying to find people to teach.  We found out this week or last week, I can't remember, that Daniel Gomez, the guy from Mexico, was still here.  But he left yesterday.  We taught him 2 more times before he took off on Monday.  He is such an amazing guy and has a great heart.  I hope and think he is going to get baptized in Mexico.  He asked in his last prayer with us to make sure the missionaries find him in Mexico.  It was really cool, and the Spirit was really strong in the last lesson.  I hope we stay in touch.  I learned a lot about how to teach and other things from teaching him.  I really enjoyed the time with him that we had, and I know that God placed him in our path for a reason.  We took some photos and said goodbye and he took off on Monday. So that was kind of sad but it happens in missionary work.  Our new investigators, Gracie and her son David, are tough but we are working with it.  They keep on promising us that they will come to church.  Sunday rolls around and, nope, they don’t show up.  They are super promising but we are having a challenge getting them to show up to Church.  We are shooting to get them baptized the 28th of December, so they have to come both weeks before that date in order to get the baptized this month.  We are crossing our fingers that it is going to happen.   I don't know if I have told you about Maria and Jose, an old couple that we are starting to teach.  They use to be investigators, and we stopped by because we wanted to see how they were.  It turned out that we started to teach them again.  They are super cool and nice.  Family means everything to them, and they have this son and his kids that got deported to Mexico.  They are trying to get him back.  It is a challenge but we are helping them through it.  We are praying for them, and hopefully everything turns out and we get to teach them some more.  Paul is doing good - just the usual him.  I love stopping by, but he just doesn't have the desire yet to fully come back.  Our visits mean the world to him, and we are going to continue trying to get the boulder moving with him again.   It is just stuck in between two trees right now on a mountain side, and we are slowly making our way up to cut the trees down.  It is hard, but we are slowly but surely trying to get him back.  Chewy, the wheelchair man, is his same old self.  Just living the life with no worries.  He has maids to help him get cleaned and make sure he is fed.  He just looks at a TV all day.  One day this week we stopped by, and he was watching skiing for the Olympics trials or something.  We watched it for a minute, and then he asked if we could watch it longer with him, and we said “no.”  It made me miss skiing and everything.  Our friendship with him means a lot so it is so worth our visits because he gets lonely.  That’s pretty much all our really golden lessons this week.  The rest of the week was more trying to find people to teach.  I don't know if you guys caught the Christmas Devotional on Sunday.  You were probably celebrating Scott's birthday, which is more important, but it was really good.  All the talks given were really well done.  I enjoyed it, and we watched it at the Stake Center here in the Mt. Franklin Stake.  Oh ya about the skyping thing.... I think I will probably Facetime you on an i-Pad if that will work?  I don't know if you wanted to do it that way, but we can download the skype app and do it that way.   I don't know what time I will be calling you so I will let you know in future letters.  But that’s my week for ya.

 

It sounds like everything is in one piece at home.  I miss it there and this time of the season.  I miss the snow falling and having to plow the roads with your car.  I miss the warm house you would walk into after coming in from the freezing cold.  I miss sitting down and watching Uncle Eddy tell Sparky that, "The crapper is full."  You truly see on your mission how family means everything to you and eternal life is going to be quite a blessing with your family.  Just know how much I love you guys, and I miss you guys tons.  I pray about you guys always, and I am excited to talk with you guys in a few weeks.  Have a great week and enjoy the cold for me please.  Also the scripture case for my Jesus the Chirst will be just fine - just something I can keep it protected in.  Love you guys!

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith

December 3, 2013

                       

Hey Guys!

   

It was good to hear from you guys and read your letters.  It sounds like everyone is doing great and having fun.  I am with you guys - I can't believe it is December.  It is really weird to me that 6 months have gone by.  It has been fast, and I have learned a lot from the time I entered the MTC until now.  It is kind of weird sometimes because you always looked up to missionaries and always wanted to be one, but now I am in the shoes of them, and it is strange.  I love the work and how big of a testimony builder it is.  I have learned quite a lot in just 6 months.  My love for the Savior has definitely grown.  He truly loves us, just like our Heavenly Father.  He has atoned for each one of us and dropped drops of blood for us.  He wants the best for each one of us and wants us to do good, to follow his example, and become like him.  I am really grateful for him and you guys.  I miss you guys a lot this Holiday Season.  I see the lights and wish I was celebrating it at home.  But I am out here for a reason, and I am here to help the Lord in his work.  It is tough but you just got to push through it, and when you have tried and tried, God will come and get you and pull you the rest of the way through.  I know he will.

 

This week was a pretty good week.  Better than last week, that’s for sure.  You’re not always going to have blue skies on your mission, and you just work through it.  We found or have a new investigator who is pretty awesome.  I don't know if I told you about the lady who we have been doing service for, her name is Gracie.  We had a lesson with her this week, and it was super awesome.  We taught her Lesson 1, and her son was there listening as well.  It was definitely a spiritual lesson and the spirit was there so strong.  I never really realized how awesome Joseph Smith's First Vision was till the mission.  It is something so beautiful, and always the spirit is there when we share it.  It is also funny what I have been noticing when you’re about ready to share it.  Satan always tries to stop it or make it noisy so it can't be told.  He knows he can't just attack the lesson - he has to go through other means of doing it.  Whenever we share it something noisy or disruptive happens.  When we shared it, since we were outside because we couldn't go inside because of the gender rule, and no members could come out with us, dogs were barking, and it was just nuts.  But it calmed down, and it was super awesome.  She was crying because of it, and it was super neat.  We asked them to be baptized, and they said yes.  Next time we are going to give them a date.  What put a damper on this is that she promised that she and her son would come to church, but they never showed up.  We texted them to remind them, and they said they would come for the second hour, but they never showed up.  It was upsetting but whatever.  We are currently trying to find more people through area booking, and we are trying to see the former investigators. 

 

Oh ya, also my Thanksgiving was pretty good.  Not as good as home, but that’s ok.  We had Thanksgiving with a member, and we had just the usual.  Mashed potatoes (that were not as good as mom’s), turkey with chili salsa on it (which turned out to be really good), bread, jalapeno poppers, and a pumpkin cheesecake.  It was a good Thanksgiving, but I didn't stuff myself like home.  I missed mother’s cooking big time, and it’s going to be a treat when I have it again or any one of her amazing meals. 

 

Jesus Luna is also doing really good as well.  I deeply love that man, and it doesn’t matter if he doesn't get baptized.  I truly want him to, and I think he will, but we have brought him closer to Christ and we are his friend.  I don't care if I only get one baptism, all I care is that I make friendships and bring souls closer to Christ.  It is my goal to get them baptized, but if it doesn't happen you shouldn't get super sad.  You did your part, and they chose which path to ultimately take in their life.  All our other investigators are doing pretty good as well, and that was mostly who we focused on this week.  And that was pretty much my week.

 

It sounds like everything is good at home, and I truly miss it there.  I wish I could be watching the Christmas Vacation or some kind of Christmas movie with you guys right now.  My Spanish isn't the best, and I swear I am not improving at all.  It is really kicking my butt at times, but I just keep my frustrations inside.  My companion is kind of annoying when it comes to my Spanish.  He is the kind of person that reads textbooks and can just get it.  His Spanish is so good because all he has done is memorized verbs and what it says in the book.  I can't do that.  He corrects my Spanish every time I speak a word of Spanish.  People understand me, but he tells me we need to work on it because that’s not how you should say it.  It is how I say it and what makes the most sense to me at the time.  Also when I read scriptures he has to stop me and make sure I say every single word absolutely correct.  It bugs me, and I full understand that every word is important in Spanish, but I am not that good yet.  It gets me frustrated, and I want to say “stop”, but I just keep my cool and tell him “thanks” and correct my mistakes.  It is such a hard language, and any other language besides English (I am not even truly good at English) is super hard for my brain to take in.  I can't just read textbooks and words.  It is not how I learn.  I have told my companion that, and he is just like, “Well - you have to get your brain to do that,” and I am like, “I am trying.”  It is such a hard language, but I know it will come sometime.  I am meant to speak Spanish, and God wouldn't give me a trial if there wasn't a way out of it.  But sorry about my rant.  Thanks for all your letters.  Also could you send me a nice case for my Jesus the Christ?  I love the book and want to keep it in something nice.  Also, maybe a Spanish dictionary with pictures and the word you say for the picture.  Like it would have a table, and it points to it and says it is a mesa.  I don't know if would help me, but I guess I could try it.  Maybe you guys have suggestions for my Spanish.  All of you have all gone through learning a language, and I need some help.  Thanks for all your prayers, and you’re in my prayers.  I hope your week is awesome and Scott’s birthday is sweet!!  Have a great week.  I love you guys tons!

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith

November 26,2013

Hey Guys!!

This week was hard and frustrating, but we worked through it and did the best we could with what we have.  Also transfers calls came this week, and welp I am staying for probably 2 more transfers.  My companion is going home this transfer, and then I would probably have to show my new companion the ropes out here.  I will probably end up staying 5 transfers here or more, depending on what the Lord has in store for me.  So 1/4 of my mission will be in the Anthony Branch.  I love it out here, but after Christmas I think I will be ready to move on and see the rest of the mission.  It has been stressful here and has shown me how hard mission work is.  We are averaging like 8 lessons a week, if you can believe it.  It is rough, but we have to just work with what we have.  We are currently going through the area book and hoping that will bring up promising people, and slowly but surely it has.  I am hoping we have a baptism this month here.  This lady who we have been doing service for finally wanted us to come over and teach her and her son.  She is very prepared and ready for us to teach her.  She heard us talk about prophets when we were working, and she was curious and piped up and asked.  She was so happy when we told here about them.  It was really cool.  Her son is in middle school and super cool.  He plays sports so that is sweet, and I enjoy talking to him about that.  We are going to teach them on Wednesday, and I am excited.  I hope she progresses.

This week was eventful.  We had apartment inspections, 2 exchanges - one with the Zone Leaders and one with our district, my permanent retainer broke on my lower jaw, and we didn't have many people to teach.  It was stressful this week and very frustrating, but you just have to work with what you have.  We also had a ward party for Thanksgiving, and that was fun.  Cecilia came out of hiding, and we got to teach her at the party.  She wants to come over but her life is insane right now with the divorce and her kids.  It is nuts, and we are hoping to see her this week, but she hasn't texted us yet.  Exchanges with the Zone Leaders were good as well.  I went into their area, called Sunland Park.  It is a pretty neat area and is right by the border.  It was interesting and fun to learn from one of the Zone Leaders.  The other exchange was good but stressful because I couldn't think of things to do with a guy in our district.  No one was answering, and it was just nuts.  It was hard but I learned that you never turn your back and just push on even when you’re at the point of giving up.  Also our car's part was recalled, and we had to deal with no car for like 6 hours.  It was bad.  My retainer broke when I bit into a fruit that a member gave us.  It was a fruit I never heard of.  I went to try it, the retainer snapped, and I had to find a dentist to fix it.  I found this member in the Redd Ward that could fix it, and he did it for free.  He was super nice about it.  Also Daniel Gomez has taken off to Mexico unexpectedly, and so we probably won’t be teaching him anymore.  That’s a bummer.  But ya that was my week.  I am sorry it is kind of short today.  We just didn't see many people this week because of how nuts our week was.

 It sounds like everything is good at home.  I am going to miss not having mom's thanksgiving dinner this year.  No one can compete with yours.  We have this family I think is going to feed us.  She has two boys on missions, and she is a good cook.  I love the family.  But other than that it is probably going to be us trying to find people on that day.  But I hope your week is awesome, and I miss you guys tons!   Love you guys!

 Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith

P.S. I forgot to tell you that it snowed this week.  I thought that would never happen on my mission and I wouldn't be seeing snow for two years.  It was nuts

 

November 19, 2013

Hey Guys!!

 

It was good to hear that your trip to Oregon was fun, and I am bummed that I missed it.  It looked spectacular up there and very green.  I wish I had more green down here.  The greenest it gets is the pecan farms, chili fields, and cotton fields in my area.  Everything else is desert and brown.  This week was a pretty good week.  It has been really frustrating lately because all our appointments fall through, and we can't find anyone even as hard as we our trying.  Mission life is hard work, and you definitely have to rely on the Lord to pull your through a slump.  I love this area and the people here.  I love being outside of the city away in the countryside.  It’s nice and peaceful out here in my corner of the mission.  If you can believe it my area has more shootings than El Paso.  It’s an awesome area. 

 

So this week started off eventful.  Wednesday morning we were just waking up and around 7:00 there was pounding on our door.  We were like, “What the heck is going on?”  Both of us were in our undershirts and so I threw a sweatshirt on.  My companion looked through the blinds and booked it to the bathroom.  I had no clue what was going on.  I opened the door and there were FBI and DEA agents outside our front door.  I was in a real life Breaking Bad situation.  I thought Hank was going to poke his head out and start talking.  One of the DEA agents was full-on masked and everything, holding a M16 ready to fire.  It was nuts.  They politely told us, "Oh wrong door, sorry," and the moved on to our neighbors’ behind.  We had no clue what was going on.  They were questioning this lady in the back that lives in this house complex that we live in.  They questioned her for like 15 minutes and shining flashlights into a house right next to us where it seemed no one was home.  They took off after about 20 minutes and drove down our street in full-on blacked out cars.  It was epic.  So now we are pretty sure one of our neighbors is doing or selling drugs or something that is big.  We don't really know why the showed up.  They haven't come back since, so we will wait and see.  So I will keep you posted on what happens with that situation.  It wouldn't surprise us if one of them is a drug cartel head duder because our area is known to have a lot of drug cartel people.  There our houses in the boondocks that are so big you wonder how they got money, and it is most likely a drug cartel house.  It is pretty fun. But ya, that was the start of our week. 

 

The rest of the week seemed to just drag on, and it was hard.  We weren’t having any lessons because everyone was canceling on us, and we were just having bad luck.  We then thought to start going through the area book person by person to contact them.  We are hoping we find new investigators out of this idea of ours.  We have been contacting some of them, and we have got some promising people out of them.  So that is sweet.  Jesus is awesome, and he is slowly but surely progressing.  This was the first time we ever sat down and just talked with him.  It has usually been a pass by to see how he is, but this time he asked if we wanted to sit down and talk.  We were chilling in his garage and watching the rain pour down.  It was awesome.  By the way, it rained super hard this week and that was sweet.  But ya Jesus is starting to open up to us, and I am excited to see where it goes.  Daniel Gomez is doing good as well.  He takes off to Mexico again soon, so we probably won’t be baptizing him.  We are bummed about that.  I love him.  Cecilia is now not texting back, and that is a bummer.  We are upset about that.  She never has time for us I guess.  She told us she would come to church this week and she never showed up.  We texted her after, and she never texted us back.  It was stupid.  The rapper, David, is moving to downtown El Paso, so we won’t be seeing him again.  We will be passing him on.  He has been in the hospital a lot for some reason, we have no clue why, so we have only seen him that one time.  Paul and Chewy are doing good as well, and I always love visiting them because they love our visits.  They always cheer me up.  That was my week for you - Hank busting our neighbors, people canceling on us, and us going on adventure to find everyone in our area book. 

 

I am jealous of your trip.  It looked amazing.  I don't think I need that much for Christmas.  Maybe a sweater and some Packers gear.  All I really want is to talk with you guys.  If you can believe it I still have the 5 pearly white shirts in my suit case that I haven't broken out yet.  Haha.  But Packers gear and a sweater should be great.  You don't have to get me that much - a phone call will do.  But I hope you guys have a great week ahead of you, and know that you’re always in my prayers.  It sounds like everything is good at home, and I miss it.  I love you guys tons.  Oh - also you might not get an email from me next week because it is transfers so I might get the boot.  So just a heads up!  Love you guys tons!

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith 

 

November 12, 2013

Hey Family!

 

Sorry you didn't get an email from me yesterday.  The mission changed a lot on Friday at Zone Training.  President Miller came out with some new rules and everything.  He changed P-Day from Monday to Tuesday and our weekly planning from Thursday to Monday.  A lot of libraries are closed on Monday up in ABQ so he gave it a little switch-a-roo.  So you now will be receiving a letter from me on Tuesday.  President Miller is also pushing us big time to get a baptism a week.  He wants to make this a really good baptizing mission, and he is definitely putting things in place to make it an awesome mission.  So that was the big change on Friday.  He also he came out with some new small rules about board games and the cell phone we have.  But that's why you didn't get one from me yesterday.

 

This week was a pretty good week.  We worked hard and it was a hard week.  My companion was sick for one of the days so we had to sit inside all day.  It was bad.  We aren't teaching that many people so that is frustrating too.  Everyone gives us the shaft like an hour to half an hour before we have an appointment with them.  It sucks and it’s hard sometimes, but you work through it and walk around to try and find new people.  This week we taught Daniel Gomez who is the super cool dude who is 21.  He is definitely progressing and is the only one we have progressing right now.  He is super awesome, and every time we teach him he always is super receptive to our message.  I can notice in him that he knows this gospel is true and he loves it.  The only downside to him is that he taking off to Mexico in December to go home.  We probably won’t be able to baptize him here, but I hope he does in Mexico.  I love him a lot.  Jesus is a stud and he showed up to church this week if you can believe it.  We went to visit him this week, and we talked to him for a bit in his garage why he was working on some chairs.  I felt impressed to ask him to come to church this week.  I did, and he told us he would love to come.  So he walked in on Sunday, and I was doing backflips because he showed up!  He is awesome, and I know he has come closer to Christ through this whole thing.  I hope he gets baptized, but if not, I know he knows that God loves him, and I am so grateful that I got to meet him because he is always so happy, and I love that.  Cecilia went out of town this week so we couldn't meet with her this week, and that is a bummer.  I wish we could have met with her, and I hope this week we get to talk with her.  We are trying to get a large teaching pool so we get more lessons in, but it isn't working.  Paul is doing good - just still doesn't want to come back to church yet.  I definitely learn a lot from the Spirit during his lessons.  You have to teach him simply, and through that the spirit shows me something I would not every really think about.  So he is doing good.  That was pretty much our week.  We had a better week then in the past, and we are getting more and more lessons each week.  So I am happy that we are progressing with more lessons.  I hope President knows that we are working hard out here, and I hope I stay here one more transfer through Christmas.  I love it out here.  You’re away from the city and have the farms and everything on one side and then the super ghetto trailers and stuff on the other.  It is always an adventure out here.  Also this week I had the lovely experience of eating Barbacoa.  No, this isn't just where you walk up and order your burrito and you’re good.  This is where they take the cheek and tongue of an animal, put it through a meat grinder, and serve it up hot.  We walked into our dinner appointment and sat down.  I learned that we were going to be eating that, and I just got ready for a battle.  I was saying tons of prayers.  I got my plate and this lovely, most unpleasant smell just coming up from it.  I then was informed by the man of the house that it was goat and that he killed it just barely.  I was so grossed out.  That's when I was praying super hard that I would be able to tackle this madness.  To top it off she gave us super hard stale tortillas so that wouldn't help in the process of eating this thing.  It was hard to get down, but I handled it.  I can now say I had a tongue of a goat that was probably walking 4 hours before.  It was an experience, and we were all feeling a little weird afterwards.  But that was my week for you - a lot of walking and trying to teach people.

 

I am bummed to hear that Tyler's and Scott's team lost, in part because of a ref.  I am happy he got a ball chucked at him and also giving the flag back at him.  That is the way to go out.  I wish I was there to see that.  It would have made my day.  I am happy, mom, you had a good birthday.  I wish I was there for it.  It sounds like everything is good at home.  I am doing good.  I am bummed to hear that Mr. Rodgers is out for maybe the season.  The Pack could have competed for the super bowl this season, but maybe that isn't an option now.  If they don't make it I think they will come out with fire next year.  I am still stunned that it has been 5 months since I took off.  I am excited to talk with you guys on Christmas.  That's going to be a nice Christmas present and probably the best one I will ever receive in my lifetime.  A mission teaches a lot about how great it is to have a family for an eternity and shows you how it would suck if you didn't.  I miss you dudes.  I hope you guys have an awesome week, and I miss you tons.  I hope you guys have fun in Oregon and maybe bring something back for me!  I love you guys!

                                                                                                         

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Stinny

November 4, 2013

Hey Everyone!

 

This week was pretty good!  Not much happened because most of our appointments would fall through because all of our investigators would reschedule for this week.  So hopefully this week will be good, and we will get a lot done.  Halloween kind of sucks as a missionary.  I am not going to lie.  People are out having fun watching scary movies, and you’re inside just sitting around because you can't knock doors or you'll just get candy stuffed in your face before you can talk, and most people don't want to schedule because they have things going on.  It will be nice when I will have an enjoyable Halloween again because it is by far one of my most favorite holidays.  Our numbers have been sucking lately because everyone is rescheduling for another week.  I am just hoping they go up this week.  I feel bad every Sunday adding up all our numbers and they are terrible, but we work hard the whole week.  But it is okay - we are working hard, and I know we are.

 

We got some new investigators this week, and that was awesome.  One is super solid, and it is awesome.  His name is Daniel Gomez.  He is 21 and from Mexico but is living with his aunt while he is here in the United States.  He is here till only January, so we are hoping he gets baptized before he takes off again.  We have a feeling he will.  He was a member referral. The member works with him, and the member is helping us along with him.  This week we extended the baptismal invite, and he took it well and said “yes”, if all these things I know are true.  He is very scientific and he sees the flaws of the Catholic church.  So he is looking into our church.  He is a way cool dude.  We also have this new dude named David.  He just barely got out of jail, his trailer smells like smoke, he raps about God, and he told us he is currently making a record.  I am kind of tempted to ask him for one.  He also told us he found Jesus in jail.  He is a very interesting fellow, and it is going to be an adventure teaching him.  He also is covered in tattoos, and he lived in Chicago for a while.  He also is addicted to alcohol.  He wants to change really bad, so we are hoping he can pull himself together and change.  We have a lesson tonight with him, so that might be interesting.  Those are our new investigators.  This week was also really hard because Cecilia has not responded to any of our texts and won’t schedule any lessons with us.  I was really frustrated because she went from super solid to bad in 3 weeks.  I have been praying really hard to know what to do with her, and Friday I woke up with the impression to text her to invite her to the ward party.  I acted upon it and invited her to the party.  Immediately after I sent my text she texted back and was super happy we texted her and invited her to the party.  She also explained to us why she had not texted back.  Her past weeks were super crazy with the divorce and her kids.  It was really cool to me because I knew that prompting was from God and came through his Holy Messenger, the Holy Ghost.  This gospel is so true it is crazy.  Just being out here shows me that.  There is truly a God in Heaven that loves us and is our Father.  We are all created after him and in the way he intended us to be.  We aren't all the same - we are created with talents and struggles that will help us grow.  It was a way cool experience.  She came to the party and we talked with her for a while.  We are seeing her this week!  We are super happy!  The ward party was on Friday, and it was really good.  It was more of a get together with activities.  The final event of the night was when they brought out a huge Spongebob pinata that was filled to the brim with candy.  It was probably one of the most funny things I have seen when they were attacking it and finally they were able to break it open.  There was the biggest dog pile on the ground.  It was super funny.  A kid also managed to get inside of the pinata for candy.  But that was my week for you.  Jesus is also doing really good and so is Paul.
 

      It sounded like everything is good at home.  I definitely miss it at home, but this mission has already shown me how great it is going to be to be with you family for eternity and how it would suck if you weren't.  I am excited to hear about Tyler and Scott's epic football adventure, and I wish I was home to see the last game.  Hopefully they kick butt this week.  Mom, I am going to send you an email also, but Happy Birthday this week.  You’re the best!  Hopefully the Packers kick butt tonight and win!  I love you guys tons, and you’re always in my prayers!  I hope your week is awesome!

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith

October 28, 2013

Hey Family!!!

 

This week was pretty good.  We are still trying to find people and get our teaching pool bigger so we can have solid lessons every week.  It is been hard to turn this area around, and we have been working our tail ends off.  The funny thing is that we haven't knocked one door and we have received 10 referrals in 2 weeks.  The Lord is blessing us a lot, and it has showed me that when you put in effort and work hard the Lord will be right there helping and pushing you along.  Most of the referrals scheduled appointments this week so hopefully our teaching numbers go up, and we kick some butt again like we have in the past.  But I am doing good here - just loving life and missing not seeing the witch on Halloween. 

 

This week we mostly walked around and tried to save miles on the car.  We have been visiting people, but we haven't had too many lessons because we have been just trying to find new people and get a fresh new start to this area.  This area is an area where missionaries use to just come and party and break rules.  It wasn't the best area, but we are now in the process of changing that and trying to make it the best area in the mission.  I love it down here.  It is just like Mexico and fun. 

 

We went to go contact one of our referrals this week.  It was from the Relief Society president in the ward.  She told us that her aunt might be interested in hearing the gospel.  We showed up the next day and she supposedly, "Wasn't Home." They didn't say not to come back, so we went another time and supposedly she wasn't there again.  We told them that we would come back another day, and so we did.  We pulled up mid-day and there were a bunch of men stripping parts from a car.  I guess they do that for a living, and it is done right there in the front yard.  We asked if she was home and they were like, "Yep she is home,” and they told the little kid to direct us in the house.  So on the way up to the door the little kid was jumping around saying, "She is here, she is here!"  So we walked to the side door, and it led into the laundry room where there was another door into the house.  It was closed for some reason, so we waited till the kid opened the door.  We walked into the house and waited till the lady came out from wherever she was.  It was weird because there was food cooking that was just left there, but nobody was cooking it.  This other lady came out from a room and said, "Oh she isn't here, come back later."  The little boy was like, "No she is here."  So the boy took off running around the house trying to find this lady, his grandma.  The other lady who probably was the mom of the little boy did too.  We were standing in the kitchen just watching this all unfold.  All of a sudden a hand grabbed this little boy from behind the staircase.  It got silent for a minute, and me and my companion were just wondering what the heck was going on.  All of a sudden the boy and the mom come out from behind the stairs and the little boy was like, “Nope she isn't here,” but then he sprinted to the pantry door and tried to rip it open.  There was a person hiding behind the door, and it was the lady who we were looking for.  The little boy tried with all his might to get the door opened, but he couldn't.  We slowly backed out of the house, and we then heard him say, "Grandma you can come out now, they are gone."  So the grandma who we were looking for was cooking food, heard that we were coming, bolted for the pantry door, and hid herself in that.  It was pretty funny.  So she completely ignored us, so we are going to go back this week to try and contact her.

 

Not much happened with our investigators.  Jesus is still battling cancer, and I love that man to death.  Cecilia is now not really able to talk with us.  She always gives us days when she is not busy, and she texts us later and tells us she is busy.  We can't figure her out.  We don't know if she is just avoiding us or just forgetting what days she is busy.  She hasn't been to church in two week, so that is kind of bad.  We found this new guy named Daniel Gomez.  He is 21 and just has a lot of questions and stuff.  He is pretty solid, and he is a really cool dude.  He is super skinny and has a deep voice that is kind of cool.  Hopefully he gets baptized.  We have an appointment with this other referral who supposedly has tattoos all over his body and just wants to completely turn his life around.  Hopefully he turns out to be sweet.  He sounded dope. 

 

I almost got attacked by a dog this week.  We were walking around at night.  We were walking down this path that was kind of dark and passed this house with a gate that was opened.  All of a sudden we heard barking, and I saw two glowing eyes coming at us.  It was scary, and luckily they didn't attack us.  They stopped halfway and didn't come at us.  But I did get bit by a small dog this week.  It grabbed my pants, and lucky it didn't grab my leg.  So ya, that was pretty much my week.

 

It sounds like everything is going good at home.  I am doing good down here.  Thanks for the package you sent me.  I love it.  Grandma and Grandpa Smith sent me one and so did the Metcalfs.  So I have more candy than I could imagine but I love it.  We are working hard and I can't complain.  Oh, my companion is from the Cache Valley area.  He picks and eats his dandruff from his hair.  It grosses me out, but whatever.  That is good Mr. Rodgers pulled it out for the Packers.  I miss football and watching Tyler play.  I hope you have a great week and a Happy Halloween!  That's sweet Sean and Andrea are having a kid!  Its birthday might be 3 days before mine or on it!  It better be named after me!  Haha, jk jk!  I miss you guys tons and love you lots!  You’re always in my prayers!

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith   

 

October 21. 2013

October 21, 2013

Hey guys!

Welp the Alaskan boy is long gone.  Now I am stuck with a complete nerd, to say the least.  I don't know how to describe him to you.  I don't think I have ever heard more about video games, Dungeons and Dragons, and just weird things in my life.  The one thing I am grateful for is that we work hard, and you know you can just get past the weirdness for the hard work.  He is strange, but we work hard and that is good.  I am now surrounded by 3 nerds, and I am just the kid in the corner whose mind is being blown because of the things they talk about and how weird they are.  I enjoy lacrosse, NFL, and that stuff, and they enjoy the nerd weird stuff that I have tried so hard to stay away from.  But we are working hard, and that is important.  

This week was definitely hard.  We have been trying to get new investigators this whole week, and we had no luck till yesterday.  We have been walking a lot lately because we don't have that many miles left on our car for the month.  We even had to walk to Anthony this week to save us some miles and, oh my, it was a trek but we made it.  We tried to contact people on the way but it end up there was no one on the trail that we were talking to Anthony.  So we were bummed that we didn't see anyone.  But yesterday we found 4 new investigators, and we were really happy because our hard work paid off.  We talked to this new Margarita, and she has 2 kids that listened to our lesson as well.  We also found this old investigator whose name is Rodrigo Rodriguez.  He is a pretty cool dude.  He is younger, like in his 20’s.  The missionaries stopped talking to him, so we picked him back up, and he is super cool and fun to talk too.  Jesus is doing good as well.  He always beams with excitement when we stop by and always tells us to never forget him.  I was going to count that small little chat with him as a lesson because we talk to him, saw how he was doing, and closed with a prayer but, nope, my companion shot back at me and told me why we couldn't count that as a lesson and gave me a super detailed long description why.  I just tuned him out and just let him win the argument.  I have been kind of doing that a lot lately.  I sometimes tune him out because he starts talking about something I don't really want to hear, but I just look like I am listening to show him I care, but I think of other things.  It is also hard too sometimes because he always listens to music.  When there is a dull moment in the day he blasts music.  The first thing he does when we wake up is blast music, and the thing he does when we get home is blast music.  I sometime just want quiet time to think, and I don't get that anymore.  Pretty much my quiet time is in the shower.   I am now staying there for a while because I don't want to go out and listen to more music.  It is what it is.  Cecilia is doing good as well.  We didn't see her this week so it was weird ,and she didn't come to church so that bummed me out.  My companion didn't count her as progressing, but she is.  I didn't want to argue with him so I just let him have his way.  He always goes into detail when he argues something.  He is also the district leader, and it is the first time in his mission when he has been the senior companion.  It is kind of getting to his head, and he thinks he has all this power.  Every time he answers the phone, and it is missionaries on the line, he says , "This is district leader Elder Lamunyon.”  It is super annoying, and he thinks he is baking in power.  But that was pretty much my week for you.  We didn't teach much because we were finding. 

I don' think I need much - maybe some shampoo if that is ok?  I am happy the Packers won this week and Tyler and Scott pulled off the "W".  That is good the Titans are kicking butt.  The school needs that, and it is probably way fun.  I kind of regretted not playing football.  I wonder sometime what would have happened if I played and I should have given it a second chance.  But I am happy I did my own thing and played lacrosse.  I miss not being as active.  I am just hoping I don't gain weight on my mission because they feed us so much at dinner, and it is not healthy.  But I am doing good, and I miss you guys tons and think about you always.  You guys will have to see this place sometime and see how ghetto the ABQ is.  It is more dangerous than El Paso but I can't complain because it is an awesome city.  I hope you guys have an awesome week, and I miss you guys tons.  Just know how much I love you and you’re in my prayers!

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith          

 

October 14, 2013

Hey Family!!

 

We didn't teach much this week because my companion has mostly been getting ready to leave.  We had a baptism yesterday for Gina, and I am going to try and send you some pictures of it.  It was a neat experience, and we were happy that she got baptized.  Cecilia is doing good, just trying to get through her divorce and take care of her kids.  She tells us that she feels the Spirit every time that we come over there, so that is awesome.  We invited her to be baptized, and she said in the future and that she still has to figure out this whole Mormon thing and the church.  So that was neat, and she is an awesome lady.  That was pretty much they only true lesson we had this week.  Transfers are tomorrow, and I am nervous.  We will have to see what the Lord has in store for me.  But that was my week for you.

It sounds like everything is good at home and everyone is in one piece.  The football news was awesome, and I loved reading about it.  Have an awesome week and know you guys are always in my prayers!  I love you guys tons!

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith 

 

October 8, 2013

Hey Family!!!,

Sorry you didn't get an email from me yesterday, I was up in ABQ at the temple.  I forgot to tell you guys last week that I was going to the temple this week.  We go every 6 months after conference.  It was a wonderful day yesterday.  You could feel the spirit so strong in the temple, and they had a new temple video and it was pretty epic.  Have you guys seen it yet?  The drive was wonderful too.   It is weird that I say that because it is 4 hours but I enjoyed it.  I thought about Breaking Bad as I pulled into ABQ.  The drive was beautiful and pretty much there is desert, farms and mountains.  You have to go through border check to get through the New Mexico border.  So we had all are windows down, and they asked each one of us if we were a US citizen.  It was pretty nuts and fun.  The ABQ temple is stunning.  It is pretty small but so sweet.  We had so many people in the session that they had to pull more chairs from who knows where.  It is something I will remember for a long time.  We can't drive going up so we had this dad and daughter in our ward take us.  The dad is like 90 and went through the temple with us, and the daughter went shopping because see is less active and hasn't been through the temple.  We will have to go through the ABQ temple sometime in the future.  The temple is a pinkish color that matches the mountains that are behind it when the sun goes down.  It’s way sweet.  President Miller pulled us into a sealing room after and talked with us.  I love him and his wife so much.  They are seriously so awesome.  We got back around 9 last night and went straight to bed after because we were shot.  But everything was so great yesterday.

This week was pretty good.  Not much happened.  My companion is on cruise mode big time, and he needs to just go home.  We didn't teach that many people this week and that was bad.  We were in the car one day, and we don't have many investigators, so I was like we need to knock some doors.  He turned to me and said, "That's a funny joke."  He doesn't want to put in any effort, and it is bad.  I am excited for a new one, but I just hope he is good and I don't continue my streak of bad companions.  I swear those are all I get - just people who aren't putting their full heart into the service of God.  But, like I said, not much happened - just the normal teaching and more teaching.  We did service this week and that was fun.  We did it for Chewy and his sister Virginia.  We had to clean up weeds around their house, and it was super infested with weeds.  She likes to save everything that she ever gets, so it is all just piled up in her yard.  We can't throw anything away because she likes everything, even just a piece of sheet metal.  We were moving things around so we could pull weeds, and as we did this we found 4 black widow spiders and tons of cockroaches and stuff.  Mom, I don't think you would like it down here because there are cockroaches everywhere.  When I see one I think of the Chili's in Mexico and our experience there.  But we made a small dent into the weeds.  We have to go back some other time and finish it up. 

   Our investigators are doing good.  Cecilia is progressing slowly but surely.  We found out that her ex-husband was and still is a major problem.   He is crazy, and she keeps on telling us that he needs help.  It is always an adventure going over there, and I always enjoy it.  Jesus is doing pretty good.  He is just battling cancer and stuff.  He is a stud, and I love him.  Our other 2 new investigators, that I told you about last week, fell through on both of their appointments.  We haven't really been able to contact them.  Hopefully this week we will be able to.  But that is pretty much all our investigators right now.  We need to get more.

The weather has changed big time down here.  It gets really cold at night, and it is that crisp fall air, but it still manages to get in the 90s sometimes.  It makes me think a lot of home and the wonderful fall nights at home and Halloween at our house.  Mom, you have officially made me fall in love with Halloween.  I am happy Dad that your birthday went well and it was a good one.  I am sorry I missed it but we will do something when I get back.  I am doing good down here and transfers are next Tuesday, so that will be an adventure.  Thanks for all the updates from home.  It sounds like everything is good there.  I miss it a lot at times but I am doing the right thing.  I hope you guys have an awesome week and I miss you guys tons!  Love ya!!!

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith

September 30, 2013

Hola Mi Familia,

    

This week was really busy with meetings and such.  We had Zone Conference up in Las Cruces and that was good.  I went on splits with the Zone leaders and that was good as well.  It just seemed like a busy week, but that’s mission life, and I cannot complain.  It’s what I signed up for.  Zone Conference, like I said, was good.  It was good to be trained and stuff.  Our ZL's gave a really good training, and I enjoyed that a lot.  The theme of Zone Conference was "Remember This."  It is a subject at the very back of Preach My Gospel.  President Miller picked it, and it turned out to be a really good theme.  All the speakers picked bullet points on the topic and expounded on them.  President Miller of course delivered a great talk.  His wife reminds me a lot of you, Mom.  She is funny and always trying to laugh about something.  It is funny how the Lord works and he puts attributes into you President and his wife that are like your parents.  I love them both so much.  He talked about the story in the bible about Jesus healing the Roman Captain’s servant and talked about the faith behind the Roman Captain.  The funny thing was I just read that in Jesus the Christ and he expanded on it in Zone Conference.   He also said a quote that stuck with me.  He said, "Your chapter of high school is now over.  Your chapter now is a disciple of Jesus Christ."  It stuck with me because you have to mature a lot more lately.  You can't focus on your past life and what is out in the world.  You’re here to serve you Lord and not have fun.  You can have fun along the way, but you’re not just out here to just mess around.  Yesterday we were eating with a family, and the other Elders went somewhere else.  It was just me, my companion, and the father of the home.  They speak English so I could understand luckily.  We started talking about the new mission age and how 18 years olds need to be mature and not just come out.  My companion said something really nice about me.  He told the father of the home, “Elder Smith was ready.  He is mature, and he knows how to work.”  It’s funny how the companion who you don't work hard with you still love to death.  He turns into someone who you have fun with, and you just got to work through the problems.  I thought that was way nice of him to say that about me.   We have been talking a lot lately together that the missionaries that came out to this mission last transfer have been mostly 18 year olds, and they aren't ready, and you got to come out when you’re ready.  I liked a lot what President Miller staid about that.  But ya, that was Zone Conference for you. 

 

I went on exchanges with the ZL's as well.  I went over to their area which is called Sunland Park.  It is a pretty cool area.  You pretty much work in the area by the border.  You can see the patrol cars on the big mountains looking over to Mexico and the long black fence that goes along the border with Mexico.  You pretty much could walk up to the border and touch it.  It is super close.  I was with Elder Taylor, and he is an awesome missionary.  He works super hard, and he is a person who you can just love.  He played lacrosse for Davis High so that is sweet, and we get along.  I wouldn't be surprised if he goes AP next transfer.  On Friday we had no luck.  Every person we went by wasn't home or was too busy.  We had no success till really late at night when we stop by this lady’s house.  She lived in this shack kind of house.  I really don't know what it was.  We came in and it made you humble because of what you have.  See was white but could speak Spanish.  It was weird, and her dad was pure Mexican.  We got there, and her dad has been really sick lately and she has been trying to figure out ways to heal him.  We gave him a blessing so hopefully that will help.  But the way she told us to heal someone cracked me up.  She told us that the preacher told her to go up behind him, imagine Jesus and say, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," and they would heal.  I laughed really hard inside.  We left and it was an interesting lesson.  I found out later that she was a less-active member and has fallen into catholic traditions again.  It was a trip.

 

But other than those things not much has happen this week.  Our investigators are doing pretty well.  We found a new family, which is awesome.  They seem pretty solid. Cecilia is going through a really hard divorce, and we keep promising it will get easier.  She is such a stud and is an awesome lady.  We are going to have a baptism next Sunday, probably for Gina, and Gorge is going to do that.  Jesus is still kicking it, and he is awesome.  He is starting to warm up to us a lot.  He showed us his surgery scar on his side and, oh my goodness, it was huge.  He loves our visits and so do I.  I hope down the road he gets baptized.  If not, I have learned a lot from him.  Not much else has happened down here.  Transfer planning is the end of this week.  Elder Taylor and Elder Mason have mentioned that I might be training.  I don't know if I will but it will be fun if I do, and I think it might be good for me.  My Spanish stinks, but you just have to rely on the Lord a lot.  Without him I wouldn't be speaking Spanish nor be able to cope with the stress that comes with it.  I just always tell myself that it will come, and I just have to laugh about it when I can't speak that well.  But it is all good.  That was pretty much my week.

 

It sounds like everything is going well at home.  I miss Beary and everyone.  It sounds like football is good.  I hope this week goes well for you guys.  Just know how much I love you guys and pray for you guys!  I miss you guys tons, and I love you guys a lot!  Have an awesome week!

 

Con mucho amor,

    -Elder Smith

September 23, 2013

Hola Familia!

 

It was way good to get all your emails and read them!  It sounds like everything is going good at home.  This week was an okay week.  Not much happened because my companion was sick with something.  We had to stay in the house for three days.  I thought he could have just manned up and taught some people, but he didn't.  He sounded like he only had a stuffy nose, but he kept saying he was feeling weak.  Sometimes you have to put your big boy pants on and work.  He also focuses more on himself than on investigators and people.  He worries about his needs more than theirs.  You got to forget yourself out here.  So ya that was most of my week, sitting in the house reading Jesus the Christ and D&C.  If you can believe it I almost have finished Jesus the Christ because of all the time my companion has been wasting.  He doesn't like to do companionship study so I pick it up and read until language study time, and when he doesn't want to work I pick it up and read it some more.  It is a really good book, and I enjoy reading it.  I am excited to get a new companion.  I kind of want to train because I want to do the 12 week packet again and so my Spanish can pick up.  But I am happy with anything that gets thrown my way. 

 

On Friday and Saturday we started teaching so people.  On Friday we stopped by Jesus and he is doing good.  He is slowly recovering and he enjoys our chats from the doorstep.  I hope through this trial his heart is going to soften and he will accept the gospel this time.  We didn't stop by Margarita because we kind of gave her the boot cuz she won’t do anything we tell her to do.  We also taught Jorge and Gina.  They are doing super good.  The got married on Saturday so we went to that.  It was a small wedding, and they didn't want to throw a big party because they want to wait till they get sealed in a year.  I think I will be able to attend that so I am excited.  But the wedding was good but long.  She is now cleared to get baptized in 2 weeks so I am excited for that.  Jorge is going to do it so that will be awesome to see.  Cecilia couldn't find time to meet with us this week but she came to church this week with her daughter.  We are going this Tuesday to teach her and the family.  She told us at church that the divorce keeps on getting worse and worse.  So that’s not good.  We are probably going to invite her to be baptized this Tuesday.  We went to the outlet mall, which is just up our street, and we were going to visit a less-active member who works there and see if we could talk to anyone else.  My companion also wanted to look a basketball shoes because he is obsessed with basketball and stuff.  So we started walking in, and this man stopped us.  He is a member from Sandy, Utah, and he just wanted to talk to us.  He also wanted to take us to lunch on Tuesday.  He is super nice.  He asked where I lived in Utah, and I told him where and gave the address to him.  So if he comes knocking on our door don't be alarmed - he is nice.  His name is Brother Clough and he is now taking us to lunch on Tuesday.  So hopefully that goes well.  But other than that, not much has happened down here.  It is starting to cool down here too, but it is still like 80 down here.  At night it gets super cold because we are in the desert, but my sheets and blanket fight off the cold just fine.  But other than that stuff I am doing good.

  

Hopefully everything at home is good this week, and Charlie doesn't bolt for Tyler’s room again in the night.  That made me laugh!  I hope Bear is doing good and give him a scratch for me!  I am bummed I can't see Breaking Bad.  It sounds super intense.  I hope you guys have a great week, football goes well this week, and the Pack get things turned around this BYE week!  You guys are always in my prayers and I miss you and love you guys tons!

 

Con mucho amor,

-Elder Smith

 

September 16, 2013

Hey Everyone! 

This week was pretty nuts.  It rained here four straight days.  It was crazy.  I'll tell you more about it later.  We also had a ward party this week to celebrate Mexico Independence that's today.  All I can say is that Mexicans go nuts.  They had a full-on DJ table, and they were dancing like there was no tomorrow.  They had good food at it too which was nice.  One of our investigators showed up, and we were happy.  It was Cecilia.  We were super happy she did.  I love her so much.  We were going to teach her yesterday but she had to cancel because she was at her mom’s.  We were super bummed because that's the only day we can really teach her because she is super busy with work and her son's football games.  I think we are going to stop by sometime this week and see how she is.  It is always a highlight of my week and a good way to end it, but it didn't happen this week.   We saw Jesus this week and that was good.  He is doing really well and he told us he just needs time and that he was ready to hear from us again.  He is a stud, and the Priesthood is so real.  I don't know what would have happened if we didn't stop by and give him a blessing.  I can tell that the blessing definitely helped.  I hope it softens his heart and that he is ready for baptism once he is in one piece again.  But we are going to continue on stopping by and helping him out.  Margarita is a head case as I have told you.  She is a nut but I love her for some odd reason.  It is always a trip to go over to her house.  She has this dog that will play with you and he tries to bite your hand when they are on your sides.  He gets such big air it makes me laugh every time and makes me miss Beary the bone eater.  But back to Margarita.  We are probably going to drop her this week because she isn't coming to church, and we think she might hide from us when we go over on Sunday to get her.  Yesterday we stopped by and before we even opened the gate her daughter came running out and said she wasn't there - but her car was definitely there.  So she probably was home, but she didn't want to talk with us.  She also isn't really praying and reading so she is going to get the boot real soon.  We didn't find any new investigators again this week.  I kept on telling my companion we need to, but he was too lazy to knock.  But on Thursday we tried getting new ones by doing service.  So from Wednesday to Saturday it rained, but Thursday was when the storm was at its prime.  It was seriously nuts down her because they don't have good draining methods so the rain just gets stuck in one area.  The rain was so bad that the main highway sections were closed off because there were straight up rivers going through it.  It was awesome.  We have a Chevy Cruze, and I was surprised it was making it through some of the things we were going through.  Before we set off on our adventure we thought maybe we could get new investigators by seeing if house were flooding or people needed help.  We first started by seeing if people in the ward needed help, and then we drove around looking for houses.  My companion was in sweats and a jacket.  I was rocking my rain coat, shorts, and flip flops.  When we stopped by a less-active house we had to go through ankle-deep water to get to the door.  It was epic.  But the bad thing about the whole situation was we didn't find any new investigators.  We were super bummed, but we had fun trying.  Our car pretty much went through a lake.  Water was up to the door but our car somehow managed to get through it.  We had to take back roads because everything was closed.  Even exits on the freeway were closed because there was a river going through the exit.  It was nuts.  I guess on that day a storm from the Gulf of Mexico hit us and another one from the other side hit us too.  We heard that there was a crazy storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and we got part of it.  Part of the church parking lot was flooded.  The rain stopped on Saturday, and I kind of miss it, but I am happy it is gone.  It was an adventure.  My companion situation is ok.  It is definitely hard, but you got to love him.  I am happy we get along and don’t just fight.  He is a really cool dude but just super lazy when it comes to missionary work.  I hope my next companion is good. 

It sounds like everyone is doing good.  That is awesome Tyler had a killer game, and I know Scott and Trent have coaching magic with them.  That’s a bummer that the Utes couldn't pull it off.  That’s good the Aggies won.  I am happy to hear my boy Aaron killed it on Sunday.  It sounds like they are a well-oiled machine when the have everything going good for them.  He is such a good QB.  I hope the Seahaaaaawks kicked the 49ers butts.  I hate them for some odd reason.  Thanks so much for the package.  It definitely lifted my spirits and had just about everything I love in it.  So thanks a million, you always save me.  You guys are not getting old you guys are still kicking it.  Don't worry about your age - you will always be the young parents I know.  You’re not old till you hit 80, and that's a far ways off.  So don't worry.  That’s not good about Holly and Marna.  Hopefully they have a better week this week.  Just know I love you guys tons and you’re always in my prayers! I miss you tons, and can you believe it’s almost October?  I find that crazy!  But I hope your week goes good this week and Football goes good too.  Oh is my lax jersey still in my closet?  I hope it is in there when I get back.  I love that thingy!  Keep it steazy for me! 

Love,

-Elder Smith                 

 

September 9, 2013

Hola Mi Familia!

This week was pretty good.  It wasn't the best, but you just try and work hard in the situation that you’re faced with.  It's hard at times but you just got to have a heart full of love.  You have to love them when they aren't the best companions.  You can't be frustrated or hold anger - it won't get you anywhere.  You have to love them and show them that you do.  I have definitely learned patience and that I can't sit there and be frustrated.  It's difficult, but you have to work through it. 

This week was a pretty good week.  We didn't have great numbers so that was a bummer.  The Anthony Elder's kicked our butt this week and that made me upset because we usually turn out to have better numbers than them.  On Tuesday, Elder Barnes got a new greenie who came from Mexico.  His other companion went up North.  He has a girlfriend.  It’s nuts.  He also has come out and stated that he never wants to be companion with me.  We were driving and all having fun, and I was just being myself and he just came out and said that.  Right now he is being super loud in this library because his parents have the password to his email and they are seeing all the love notes he is sending to his girlfriend.  He is yelling about it in the library as we write.  Elder Mason and I are laughing so hard.  It’s nuts. 

On Wednesday we got done with our nightly runs and got home around 9:00.  We started to relax and just chill till 10:15 when we got ready for bed.  I was on the couch, and my companion was on his bed.  He got a text from one of our less-active families that asked if we would pray for the family right then because her sister was yelling and screaming and going nuts in their house right then.  We immediately got down a said a prayer.  We got up and we hoped that everything was alright.  We later got a text asking if we could come over and give a blessing.  They don't like getting help from the ward people so we have to help them out with everything.  We said “yes,” and we called President Miller to see if we could go.  But he didn't answer.  We then called the AP's, and they didn't answer.  We then called the Zone Leaders because no one was answering.  They normally can't give permission to do things after 9:30, but in this situation they could.  They told us to go and send them a text when we returned home.  We set off in the dark in our car to their home, which is a trailer.  We pulled up, and it seriously could have been a scene out of a horror film.  We took this long walk up to the trailer, and all we could hear was screaming.  We knocked on the door, they opened it, and all we heard was screaming, and it was nuts.  We just sat outside because we were like, “What do we do?”  Do we go in or what?  Soon the mom came out, and she walked us away from the trailer.  We talked to her about everything that was going on.  It was all in Spanish so I couldn't pick up a lot of what they were saying.  I picked up that the girl had popped different pain meds, and she was pretty much tripping out in the trailer.  She wanted to trip, so she popped them.  We realized we couldn't give her a blessing because she was being super aggressive, so we said a prayer with the mom and left.  We got home around 10:20, and we were like, “What was going on in that house?”  It was crazy, and the girl who was tripping was my age.  It was nuts.  We later learned she fell asleep around 1 am.  That was an adventure. 
  

Margarita didn't show up to church again this week.  She told us on Sunday that she isn't ready to be baptized and that her date is coming too soon.  We were going to drop her because she isn't putting forth enough effort, but we held on to her for another week.  She doesn't know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and everything so we asked if she would pray, and she said “yes.”  So hopefully she does and still progresses to baptism.  We couldn't get in contact with Jesus this week.  Every time we would go over he wasn't there.  So hopefully this week he is home when we go by.  Cecilia, the lady who is going through a divorce, had an eventful week.  We have been trying to get in contact with her this week to see if we could come over.  She kept telling us she was busy.  We didn't know if she didn’t want us to come over and stuff.  We were trying to figure her out.  On Sunday we got a text that said she was coming to church and hopefully her kids would come too.  We were stoked when we read that text.  We showed up to church, and she didn't come.  We asked her if she was close, and she told us she had to deal with her kids and future ex-husband.  We asked if we could go to her house around 7:30 and she said sure.  So last night we stopped by, and it was such a good lesson.  Elder Mason shared Joseph Smith’s vision experience, and he told her to pay attention to her feelings.  I felt the spirit so strong.  It’s crazy how just a paragraph telling that experience can bring the spirit in.  We continued with the lesson, and she stopped us and asked if she could share what she felt.  We didn't think to ask her and just thought we should carry on with it.  She told us she felt like she was hugged from the back and felt a warming sensation in her arms.  It showed to me that this church is true and the Holy Ghost is truly there.  It was such an awesome experience.  She also told her friends at work that she was sent two angels, and that was us.  She is such a good investigator.  I hope she gets baptized.   It’s awesome.  But that was our week with our investigators.

Oh, I have one more funny story.  On Saturday we were out in the boondocks where all the farms are.  We had to get back to the house of the President of our branch for a party.  We plugged in his address, and we were going where the GPS told us.  It soon told us to go down this dirt road.  We went down it, and at the end of it there was a gate that was locked.  So we were like, “What do we do?”  We were kind of lost, and the GPS wasn't helping.  We soon went off-roading in a Toyota Corolla.  It was epic.  I was laughing my head off.  Elder Barnes, Elder Mason, and I were having so much fun.  We were driving on roads that were nuts, and we were not in a car that could handle it.  The new Elder was tripping and was like, “We should head back!”, but nope, we kept on going.  We were going through farm fields that were empty, driving through small dirt roads, and we even almost had to rally an empty river.  We finally got there, we saved miles on the car, and it was so epic.  It was a lot of fun. 

But that is my week for you.  I haven't received the one package you sent yet, but I got the one that was at the mission home.  We had zone training this week, and they brought all the mail down.  So you timed that right.  I am bummed the Packers lost, but guess what?   I caught a glimpse of the game at our dinner appointment, so I was happy about that.  Mexico plays USA this week, so that is going to be nuts down here.  The Narrows hike sounded so much fun, and I am jealous.  I am going to get the other package today, so thanks for sending it.  You guys are awesome!  Have an awesome week, and just know you guys are always in my prayers!  I can't wait to hear from you again!  Love you tons and miss you!

Con mucho amor,

-Elder Smith  

 

September 3, 2013

Hola Familia!!

 

Sorry I didn't write you a letter yesterday.  No libaries were opened because of Labor Day.  So sorry about that.  It sounds like you’re all doing good at home.  I am jealous you’re all hiking the Narrows together.  Mom, that’s ok you had to use my backpack.  I don't mind, and it’s of no use to me right now.  I had an ok week.  It was stressful, and I have been learning a great deal of patience and how to keep from bursting.  It’s crazy how you learn a lot of life skills on your mission.  You’re going to have people in life like your companion who is lazy and won't do things, and you just have to work around it.  My companion is officially on cruise mode till the end of his mission.  He just wants to go home, and I just want to work my butt off.  My companion is taking up tanning, so he can be bronze when he goes home.  He also bought tanning oil.  I thought only girls really bought that stuff but nope, my companion did.  So I am trying to deal with this situation.  I am just trying to not lose it with him.  I can't wait for a new companion in 6 weeks.  It will be like getting a sweet present on Christmas

 

This week we didn't teach much.  We taught Margieta.  She is always a treat to go talk to because she has something going on.  She didn't show up to church this week again because her son was over.  My companion told her she has to sacrifice for the Lord and he will bless you.  She liked that.  Here 30 year old boyfriend took off to Mexico, and I hope he doesn't come back.  I don't think I told you but Margieta is like 60 and her boyfriend is like 30.  It’s like Flori hooking up with a 30 year old.  She told us they have Bible study time and I was like, “my butt.”  She is an adventure.  So hopefully she comes to church this week so she can get baptized on the 17th of September.  We are still pushing for that.  Jesus is back!!  I was so happy to see him.  We pulled up to his house, and there he was sitting outside with one of his sons.  He told us he just got back and his surgery went well.  We told him we would stop by this week to see him.  I love him to death.  Our other investigator, Sessial, who is going through a divorce, had a really hard week.  She told us at church last week she would call us.  We waited this whole week for a phone call but we got nothing.  We were wondering what was up.  We stopped by on the way to church, and she told us her soon to be ex-husband broke in and stole everything out of there trailer, including toilet paper. She is going to court on Wednesday for everything and hopefully she gets a lot out of it.  She told us she would come to church with her 4 kids and was planning on coming this whole week.  She didn't show up.  We had 0 investigators at church this week.  It’s crazy how hard week pays off and then when you don't work hard nothing goes for you.  That was pretty much my week.  I had some wacky soup this week.  You know that you’re eating some Mexican soup when you pull out a backbone and another bone and the meat is sticking on some fatty substance.  You just got to eat it. I haven't messed my pants yet, so that’s a good sign. 

 

That was my week for you.  I was dealing with companion trouble and investigator adventures.  I love it here in Texas.  It’s hot, but you love it.  I am in my own world down here and I am meant to be here.  You get the Mexican-American feel down here, and I love it.  I hope all is good at home this week.  Hopefully you get some more blowouts in football.  I hope the Narrows were great, and I wish I was there with you guys.  Just know I love you guys a lot.  I can't believe its September, and it has been almost 3 months since I saw you guys.  My summer wasn't a summer.  They felt like months and not the summer you would always look forward to in school.  I miss school also for some odd reason.  I don't need much just a good jump rope and a journal sometime.  They are not needed immediately but in the future.  I love you guys, and I hope you have an awesome week!  I can't wait to hear about it! 

 

Con Mucho Amor,

-Elder Smith