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
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