June 3, 2014

Family!!

This week was a pretty good week but hard.  This area is definitely a stumbling block sometimes.  I feel like I am not working as hard as I could because we can't find people, and we have no investigators right now.  It's seriously a wrestling match out here, and I don't want Chaparral to win.  Hector and Denise once again didn't make it to church.  I have no clue how to get people baptized, but it’s all good.  I am just trying to plug along and keep happy.  I really don't want this area to close.  I love it too much, and it’s been a great area.  We are just going to try and completely forget ourselves and just got at it for contacting.  There haven't been that many people outside because of the heat.  There are people in the small park, but it’s super awkward to talk to them.  We are just going to take a whack at the tree tonight.  We also had Zone Conference this week, and that went well.  It was very well done.  President and the Assistants did a good job with it. 

June 2014 Zone Conference - Sumac Chapel, El Paso

This week, like I said, was hard and testing.  We didn't have much to do because we didn't have any investigators to really see, and we haven't been finding new contacts.  It’s been staying around 104 degrees this week, so it was hot.  Our trailer also traps the heat because of the metal roof, so at night you’re dripping sweat, but it’s all good.  We have fans and swamp cooler, but they only do so much.  Hector and Denise are scaring me because they have to come to Stake Conference to be baptized by the date we set, and that's all the way on the other side of the mountain.  So hopefully they will make it.  I think we can get them a ride.  She wants to be baptized, but he is a fence sitter, so hopefully we can bring him over.  We did service for them, and they really appreciated it.  We had to bring them dirt for their yard and that was good.  We still have to go back and finish it up.  Our less-actives have kind of gone down the hole.  We have trust with them but none of them really want to progress.  That has been difficult, but we are just going to keep visiting them and trying to get them going.  It’s been hard but good.  I don't think I have been through anything harder in my life, but I love it here, and I am just trying to make it the best.  Zone Conference was probably the highlight of my week.  President Miller had a theme to it, and it was "Get out of the Boat."  He talked about how he lived on the Hyrum Dam, how he would wake up really early with his kids to go water skiing to get the glass, and how the hardest part was getting out of the boat into the super cold water.  But the happiness and enjoyment after made the cold seem like nothing.  He talked about how we can get out of the boat and become the greatest missionaries.  It was awesome.  They also focused on the missionary lessons and how we should just teach the simple doctrine.  It was sweet, and we just need to teach simply and clearly.  It was a really good conference.  That was my week in a nutshell for you.  Sorry for no cool story this week and stuff.  We are just trying to make this area better, and I hope I can.  This area needs a lot of work, but we can make it work.  I love Chaparral.

It sounds like everything is good at home.  I miss not being able to hold Ella in person.  She looks super cute, and I have been thinking about her.  She has some wonderful parents.  I hope you guys have a wonderful week, and know how much I love ya!  Keep it steezy for me, and give Ella a hug, and Charlie and Beary!  Love ya!

Love,

-Elder Smith