February 25, 2014

Hey Guys!

   

I am just chilling in this college library writing away.  It’s like 15 miles away from where I am assigned now.  I got moved to a new area called Chaparral, NM.  It’s so far from anything, and it’s just desert and dirt.  There is nothing but falling apart shacks, houses, or trailers, some crazy dogs, and the warm sun.  It is an adventure, that's all I can say.  People are super spread out, so it’s fun.  We drive a truck, and I drive.  It reminds me of the Frontier, and it is fun.  I think it is a Chevy Colorado or something.  I prefer the Asian trucks, but it works.  My companion is Elder Stewart from Victorville, California. He just got done training, and now I am his 2nd comp.  I am the Senior Companion, and it is stressing me a tad.  My Spanish is not up to par one bit, and I know this is going to help me grow.  It’s hard because most of the time I don't understand people, and my comp doesn't either, so I feel like an idiot for not catching it.  His Spanish is really good and I think his might be better than mine.  It is such a struggle for me, but I just make it work and don’t complain.  I am also stressing about finding people.  It’s super hard to find people here.  This area has been up and running since the 2000's.  It has been one of those areas in the past that if the mission present had problems with a missionary he sent him there because it is away from the world.  The place has been tracked out countless times, and this week showed me that.  We tried knocking for part of the week, and it turned up nothing.  Everyone is rude or simply has their religion and doesn't want to change.  So I realized fast that's not how we do it here.  There are a lot of part-member families we work with out here and a lot, I mean a lot, of less-actives.  Most of the people here are Hilly Billies and rednecks.  Chaparral is also one of these towns that all the convicts go too.  It’s like that place where they all hide, and they don't bother anybody.  It’s a town where there are cops but they don't do much at all.  It is fun.  I have to say I have met some interesting peps out here.

 

The Branch is tiny here.  The average number of people that come each week is 40.  They just got a new building because it used to be hooked on to the Anthony Branch, the old branch I used to be in.  The Presidente is an assigned person from the Anthony Branch because the branch kind of fell apart and the stake had to step in and fix it.  So it’s in the rebuilding stages and it’s all good.  The Presidente is an awesome man.  I know him pretty well from Anthony, so it wasn't a big change.  His name is Presidente Portillo.  Sunday I had to stand up and introduce myself.  It went well.  The members are awesome and fun to talk too.  They are just a different type of people, and you would only meet them if you came on a mission or moved out to the boonies.  They are very missionary-oriented because most of them are converts, so it’s cool.  I live in a trailer in the desert behind two members.  It is fun, and I never thought I would ever live in one, but I am.  I don't know how good this address is.  This is the one missionary have used, but I don't know if it works because we don't have a mailbox.  Its 111-3 Tornillo Flats Chaparral, New Mexico 88021.  You might want to send a letter first, and I can tell you if it works before you start sending packages.  If it doesn't you could use the mission office address, and I would get it at the start of the month because of zone training.  That's the only thing I haven't figured out yet is the mail system out here.

Our investigators are doing good.  I am still trying to learn about them all, so I will give a report of them next week.  We have one named Joey Lopez.  He is a super cool guy but has to go to prison first because he bounced on parole too soon and got involved with theft.  That's like the only one I have really figured out.

I am doing good, and it is fun up here.  I miss Canutillo at times and wish I could go back, but I am here, and I need to be here.  I talked to Elder Folsom once, and it sounds like everyone we were working with over there are falling apart.  It been a fun first week, and I love it.  It sounds like you guys are in one piece, and that's good.  Thanks for the letters and the updates.  Hopefully Tyler heals up fast.  I hope you guys have an awesome week and you’re in my prayers!  Love ya!

The sunset from my neck of the woods!

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith

February 17, 2014

Hey Duders!

It sounds like everyone is in one piece at home. I am doing good here in Canutillo.  My adventure in Canutillo is coming to a close.  I get the boot tomorrow.  Elder Folsom is training again.  He trained a missionary before me and now he is training again.  He is a stud missionary and one of a kind.  I love him to death, and I am going to miss him a lot.  I am leaving Canutillo after 7 months.  It’s been a ride here, and it’s been super hard, but I know I was called here for a reason.  I am grateful for the chance I got to serve here and thankful the Lord called me here for my first area.  It’s a rad area, and I will definitely come back here sometime.  All I know is that I am staying south.  I don't know if I will go into the deeper south or stay in this area. They are splitting our zone so this zone I am in right now will be 2 zones.  Right now my best bets for areas that have changes are Chaparral, El Centro, and Anthony.  So we will see what will happen tomorrow.  I will let you know next week.  I also bought some boots and they cost 90 bucks.  I hope that's alright.  I like them a lot.

This week was a pretty busy week.  We were going to meetings, teaching, and saying goodbye.  All our investigators are doing pretty good.  Jose Fernandez didn't come to church this week because he went to Mexico.  We also think he drinks, and we have caught him, but he hides it every time.  He tells us he doesn't but we kind of know he does.  He is a stud but we are having some struggles with everything.  Luis, the painter, almost got the drop boot but just when we think we need to cool it off with him, he does something to work his way back up the ladder.  This week we weren't able to see him, and it was super frustrating.  We were walking to his house one day, and he was out in a white jump suit with a mask painting his car.  It reminded me of Walter White and it made me laugh.  We scheduled an appointment, and when we went back for it he was not there but left us a note.  Sunday night he texted us, and to our surprise he knows English and was texting us in English.  It was an interesting conversation, but he told us he will go to our church someday and that he was taking off to San Antonio and not to worry the hotel has a gym.  The whole conversation with him got us laughing pretty hard because he knows English and the things he was saying were just crazy.  Margarita, the crazy lady, told us straight up that she has a preacher come over and they study the bible and then do it.  We were stunned.  She is 60 years old and the preacher is like 30.  She is someone I will never forget.  I also got a picture with her that is priceless.  I am going to miss her drama. 

Me and Margarita

  I said goodbye to Chuy and Virginia De La Pena.  I love them to death, and I am going to miss them tons.  I told them I will come by when my mission is over, and Elder Folsom piped in and said “with your family”, and they were super excited.  I love them to death and they are something special.

Me with Virginia, Chuy, and Elder Folsom

  David, the miracle knock, was sad I was taking off, but I know he will get baptized someday.  I love him, and he is one of a kind. 

Edler Folsom, David, and Me

Paul, my man, is doing good.  I got a quick photo with him and then we left.  It was a really good week and a good way to end the transfer.  We found a lot of new contacts that are promising, and I know they will progress.

I loved your letters this week, and thanks for them.  I am off on a new adventure and a new part of my book.  Canutillo was and still is awesome.  I love the life here and the people, and I will miss it.  Thanks for the package.  I loved it and so did everyone.  You guys are one of a kind!  Thanks for everything you do for me and have an awesome week!  You'll hear from me Tuesday in my new area!  Take care, and you’re in my prayers!

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith

P.S Here are some pics! 

February 11, 2014

Hey Dudes!

This week was a pretty good week.  I love Elder Folsom to death, and he is a stud.  We are working hard together and just doing work.  I don't know what is going to happen next week.  We get transfer calls Saturday, and so our p-day is switching to Monday next week.  So I will let you know the news next Monday.  I have a feeling I am getting the boot, and my adventure here is coming to an end.  It makes me sad if I get the boot.  I really love it here.  It has become my home, and it’s a great area.  It’s away from the city and is just out there.  Hna Pavia, a less active lady who loves us, was telling us all about the drug activity that goes around.  It's such a crazy town.  I will be happy with anything that happens.  I am pretty sure Elder Folsom will train again.  He is an amazing missionary, and it kind of feels like the area is being prepared for a greenie.  We will have to see.  I will keep you in touch about everything that is going down here.

All our investigators are doing pretty well.  Luis is still a stud but really lazy.  We think he is kind of scared to step out of what he knows.  He is having trouble coming to church and just everything.  We set up a tour of the church, and he didn't show up.  It was sad.  We drove to his house, which wasted some of our miles, and he was just outside painting and restoring one of his cars.  This week we had something crazy happen while teaching him.  We showed up around 7:00, and his neighbors were hammered drunk.  They are having this fire going.  We went and rang his gate.  He lives in a compound.  It’s pretty nuts.  He came and let us in.  The neighbors started calling him for some odd reason.  The phone kept on going off like every 5 minutes during the lesson.  It was crazy.  We were sitting right by the front door in this area where he has some couches.  Luis was just being polite and silencing the phone each time it went off.  Finally the door swung open, and this man appeared with a huge stick ready to swing.  He was yelling, “LUISSS DONDE ESTA???”   Me and Elder Folsom were like what the heck is happening.  The man pulled out Luis and I guess he called the cops on us.  I guess he thought that we were breaking in or something.  It was a weird situation.  I guess they worked everything out and everything settled down.  It was crazy.  Jose Fernandez is doing pretty good as well.  He was in Mexico for most of the week because someone in his family died.  Fernando and Maria are doing awesome.  They are super prepared for the gospel and they love it when we come over.  They told us that every time we come over we are going to feed them spiritually and they will feed us physically.  They are awesome, but every time you leave the home you smell like smoke and it never goes away.  It’s going to be a struggle to get them to stop smoking.  All our other investigators are doing pretty well too.  Those are the ones that are progressing the most. 

Thanks for sending me a package...I will be looking forward to it.  I will for sure let you know what my fate is next week.  I think it’s my time to move on here.  I am really going to miss it here.  It's a great area, and I have been super blessed to be able to work in it.  I know it’s going to be one of my favorite areas, and these 7 months here have been a struggle but a blessing.  I love this time with Elder Folsom.  He is a stud, and if I leave I am going to miss him.  I hope you guys have an awesome week and just know you'll always be in my prayers.  Thanks again for the letters and the package.  You guys are the best!  Have an awesome week!

With Love,

-Elder Smith  

 

February 4, 2014

Hey Guys!

This week was a pretty good week like usual but kind of disappointing.  Luis’ date for his baptism dropped, but that's all good.  He is a funny duckling when it comes to meeting new people.  He gets very quiet when we take members over for lessons and visits.  He is kind of socially awkward, but there is nothing wrong with that.  He is who he is, and God made him for a reason.  We are trying to regroup with him and get him another baptism date.  He is a struggle, but I can’t complain.  That was probably the hardest thing this week - him not showing up to church and realizing that maybe in 7 months here in Canutillo I couldn't pull out a baptism.  I can't complain – it is missionary work!

It sounded like everyone is in one piece at home.  It’s all good!  I am doing good with Elder Folsom.  He is a stud, and I love him to death.  He has by far been my favorite comp.  He knows how to work, and he won’t give up when it’s tough.  We are having a blast together, working our butts off, and just giving it our all.  It’s nice to have a companion who shares the same thoughts as you and who isn’t going home.  It’s tough when they are going home because they only want to do it their way.  I am enjoying my time with Elder Folsom and trying to make this area a great area.

This week was just like our last weeks - hard work and fun.  Luis, like I said, is having some troubles but we are working with him.  Jose Fernandez is a stud, and I love him.  He seriously is so prepared.  We schedule an appointment with him, and when we arrive he is waiting for us with the pamphlets and Book of Mormon right there ready to dive in.  He gave me some construction glasses this week for who knows why.  We are having a problem with his health.  He is having problems with his stomach, and it’s causing him not to go to church sometimes, so that's rough.  I don't know if I have told you about Maria and Fernando.   They are this couple we knocked into just one random night.  She told us she talked to missionaries before and wanted us to come back some other time.  We kind of forgot about them, but not really.  We were walking around one day, and we remembered them, so we went and knocked.  She and her husband wanted us to come in and teach them.  It was really cool.  They told us later that they really liked the old missionaries and have been praying for us to come back.  It was really cool, and they feed us all the time over there.  They have a huge smoking problem, which is a struggle, but that's ok.  Their house smells like a terrible Vegas casino.  It’s a trip.  David, the guy who we knocked into the first night with Elder Folsom, is progressing really nicely, and he will get baptized someday.  That's pretty much a rundown on all our most solid investigators.

 We had a cool experience this week on Sunday.  We were meeting with our president de rama about our ward mission leader.  He was listing off people that weren't at church today.  He said the Hawkins family, which are this older man and this woman who live somewhat in the boonies on a small ranch.  It struck me that we needed to visit them.  I have never really wanted to visit them because they are strange, and I have never truly warmed up to them.  We got out of church, and I told like Elder Folsom we need to visit the Hawkins.  He said he felt the same way - that they need a visit.  We drove clear the heck out there, and it turns out she is having health problems.   The husband is kind of socially awkward and has never given a blessing for the sick in his life.  So we were offered to give her one.  We did it, and it was just a really cool experience.  It reminded me to always listen to the spirit, no matter if you think it’s just your mind or the spirit - just do it.

It sounded like the super bowl was good.  I am sorry I missed it.  I didn't even see it at all.  Thanks for all the updates and things going on at home.  I miss you guys tons, and I hope you have an awesome week! I love you tons, and you’re in my prayers!  Have a great week!

Love,

-Elder Smith

P.S. Could you send me another black journal that I write in and also a small leather one that could be my study journal and note taking thingy? Thanks for all your support!