Hola mi Familia,
Here I am chilling in a library
in Canutillo, Texas. This week has been long but it was a good
week. As I told you in a short letter, I got here on Monday. That
day was long but it was enjoyable. It was probably the only chill day I
really had on my mission. I pretty much just sat around the whole day and
didn't have to worry about doing something. I did have to go knock some
doors with a missionary I was assigned to in Albuquerque and, oh my, that was
an adventure. The missionary turned out to be pretty nice and now he is
in my zone. So as we were tracting we walked by a park and there was a
couple or who knows what making out and doing more than just making out.
He turned to me and said, “That's yours.” I immediately was like, “Are we
are really going to go up to them?” In my head I was thinking these
people are not in the right mindset to receive a message about Christ or the
Gospel right now. He said, “Yep, let’s go teach them.” He was dead
serious. I walked up to them. This
is the first time I have ever tried to teach the gospel, and words just came
out, and I told them that our church was the only true church and stuff.
I immediately looked at the missionary for more help, and he went off, and that
was good. They weren't interested in any short of religion, so that was
fine. We just walked away, and who knows where they went after that. They
don't teach you that in the MTC. Maybe
they should open a course for how to teach people who are making out and not in
the right mindset. That was an adventure. We then walked and
knocked a circle and only one guy answered.
He said he was on the phone and he was busy, so we left him a
card. We walked to the next house and I was noticing that most houses had
a huge gate in front of the house that was locked and then a porch and then the
door. They have doorbells by the gate. I asked him why they have
the gates, and he said ABQ isn’t the safest city in the world and is pretty
dangerous in spots. So that answered my question, and I learned that I am
not in safest city in the world.
After tracking we went back and
just chilled at the mission home. That
was cool. Oh, I forgot. As I was driving
in the van to the mission home when I was picked up, the AP was talking to us
and he was telling us all about the areas he has served. He was a Spanish
speaking missionary. He was telling us about this one area that is an
hour outside of Santa Fe where he served. The city is called Espanola. He was
telling us how it was the narcotic capital of the world. He said you walk
down the streets and they are just covered in needles. He also told us
you teach someone one day and go back, and they are dead cuz they
overdosed. So ya, New Mexico has it all. It will pretty interesting
if I have to go up that way. That night
I had to go with the AP to drop the Hermanas off at the places where they were
sleeping. So I got to see ABQ, and that
was cool. It’s a crazy city and full of differences. I spent the
night at Elder Van Leuwen’s apartment, Tracy and Lori Duckworth’s nephew.
That was way cool that we met up. I got voted for the floor, and I was
fine with that. I slept on the floor, and this other Elder had to sleep
on the floor, and then another Elder got to sleep on a bed. All of my buddies
from the MTC were in the AP apartment, which was a walk away from us, but I was
bummed I wasn't with them.
The next day we had transfers
and, yep, I was one of the three Elders that got to head down south. That
was a cool drive. There wasn’t much to see but desert and more
desert. I got to see the chili fields, and that was cool. We drove
into El Paso and, oh my, the city is nuts. Mexico is so ghetto on the other
side. I could see it. But ya, as you know my area is the Canutillo
area, which is part of Anthony, Texas. It is so different here than
home. It is pretty much trailer homes, shacks, or really nice houses if
you have dough. I spend most of my time in the trailer homes but
sometimes we go into the nice houses. Trailer homes are quite an
experience. It is amazing that people life in that long shaped
thing. My apartment or house is way nice, and I am happy I live
there. It is on First Street and H Street or something in Canutillo.
My trainer is a trainer. He is almost done with his mission. One day
during the week supposedly you can play basketball or sports with less actives
or investigators, but on one day during studies he was like go get ready we are
going to play basketball with this kid who was a member but less active.
So we went to play basketball at this rec center that was pretty far away, and
when we got there the gym was closed. So
we drove to another rec center that was pretty far away, and that one was
closed too. He then drove us and this member back to Canutillo and to get
a basketball, and then he drove us back to the first one. We got done
playing basketball, and then drove back, and then our water was off. So we didn't start teaching till
forever. It made me upset. Later that night after dinner we drove
back home and we sat there for like 45 minutes. I was like, "Hey
when is our next appointment.” He said
not till 8:00, and it was 6:50. I asked if we had any before, and he said
“no” because we used a lot of miles today. That sent me to the roof, and
I was ticked. I was saying so many prayers. It turns out we taught someone before 8:00
after all, and that was cool. I think I have said more prayers than in my
whole life this week, just so we can teach someone and not waste time.
When we teach I love it, and makes me happy. But when you are spending time just sitting it
sends me to the roof. I wasting time and there are people who are just
waiting for the gospel in their life. So that's the only thing that bugs
me. But other than that, he is a pretty
cool dude. He likes to talk a lot, and I don't say much in lessons.
I think I have said like a couple of sentences, and that’s about it.
Our investigators are
cool. We are teaching this one guy named Jorge. He has been
baptized and had the priesthood, but we are getting him so he can get the
priesthood back. His girlfriend that he is going to marry soon is the one
who we are working with to get baptized. Jorge is an ex- gang member, and
he is huge and has tattoos and chains. He has the look that he will kill you.
But he is probably one of the nicest persons I have met. I love
him. They are the only really good investigators right now. All the others are weird but good. We
need to go tracting to get more, so hopefully we will do that this week.
The food has been interesting
but good. You eat jalapenos straight up down here. So I have been
popping chilies straight up, and that's been fun. But everything is good
down here, and I am trying to work hard, but I feel like me and my companion
could do more. I might have to run here really quick, but the rain down
here is nuts. It has been raining so hard during the day and
nights. You should see it. I love the rain down here. It
sounds like everything is going well at home. The concert sounded way
good, and I am bummed I didn't see it. But I was there in spirit.
Tyler hit hard in football and go hard. I am bummed I don't get to see you
play but I will be there for you senior year so get huge for that. But
everything is good here. I love you guys tons and miss you tons.
Keep saying hello to my friends and tell that I miss them tons! Keep it real!
Miss you tons!
Con mucho amor,
-Elder Smith
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