August 19, 2014

Hey Family!

This week was a pretty good week out here in the city.  This city is so awesome, and I love it tons.  It’s beautiful, unique, and just out there.  The people are crazy and just unique.  We got flashed this week, so that was interesting.  That story will come later.  I found the Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant this week where Breaking Bad was filmed.  It’s actually like 5 minutes from our house.  It was the bomb.  It’s actually called Twisters, but they have left over stuff from the show inside.  They have great burritos.   Our investigators are doing pretty well, but we need to start finding new ones and get a fresh start again.  This area is rad, and it’s been fun to be up here in ABQ.

So yesterday we had to go on an adventure to Alvarado Park for a baptismal interview.  They don't have any Spanish leadership over there, so we had to go out of our zone to do that.  The AP's asked if we could do that.  The area is over by the UNM campus and that area.  We were driving through, and it was a cool drive.  I got to see the UNM stadium and the Isotopes stadium.  It was cool.  We found this cool house, and my companion wanted to take a picture of it.  We hurried and pulled over and got out.  Right as we were finishing and walking back to the car a car drove by and we heard some whistling.  We looked up, and there was a lady inside with her shirt pulled up.  It was a pleasant surprise and a nice welcome to ABQ.  I don't get people, but I was just laughing because it’s totally something that would happen here to missionaries.  I now know not to look up when people are whistling.  It will end bad.  The interview went well, and I got to see one of my old companions, Elder Stewart, so that was cool.  It’s good they are having a baptism.  We also got a burrito from were Walter goes to meet Gus all the time at that restaurant.  It was super cool and an excellent burrito. 

Our investigators are doing really good.  They just don't want to come to church or get married in order to be baptized.  We have one investigator who comes to church ever week and has been coming for like a year.  But she won’t move out or get married to her boyfriend, and he seems like a jerk.  So it’s a bad situation.  Hopefully we can work something out with her.  We had a cool experience this week.  We got a referral from a member for this lady that lives close to her named Dora.  We went in the afternoon on Friday to contact her.  My companion had the address in his planner.  We knocked the door, and this black man answered.  He said she didn't live there, and he wasn't interested.  We looked at the text again, and my companion had written the address down wrong.  It was the house across the street.  But as we were talking to the black guy a car pulled up at the house we were going to.  We got to the house and knocked.  A 19 year old guy answered.  We asked if Dora was there, and she wasn't.  I felt like we needed to talk to him, but I just pushed it aside.  We turned back and started to leave.  He then said, "Are you Mormons?"  We turned and started talking to him.  He was interested and told us that his best friend is serving a mission.  He wanted to see what his friend taught people.  We set up a return appointment, but they ended up not being home when we went by.  So we will keep trying with him.  It was a blessing of the Lord, and it taught me to listen to the Spirit. 

Other than that life has been the same for me.  I love being in ABQ, and it’s a nice change.  It’s green and just wonderful here.  New Mexico is seriously the Land of Enchantment.  That was my week in a nutshell for you.  Sorry this letter is kind of short.  I don't really know what else to write because it’s the same old with me.  I hate getting “old” in the mission.  Once that year passes, it’s just downhill, and I need to make the most of it.  Oh, we also did service this week for a lady.  She is kind of crazy, and she is a member. She needed help chopping wood.  She started swinging the axe with us and was sending pieces of wood flying.  She later told us that she was like 80.  It was crazy.  She was swinging it better than me.  It was a fun service project.

It was good to hear from you guys this week.  It sounds like everything is at one piece at home.  That's sad about Dan.  Hopefully he will pull through.  Also, that's sad about you parents, Mom.  Hopefully they will hang in there, and I know they will.  Tell them that I miss them and love them.  Tyler - keep kicking butt in football.  Mrs. Rowe was there when I went to school.  I hear she is pretty good and fun.  She kind of dresses weird, but I will just let you find out about that.  But she is good.  What other classes are you in, and who are your teachers?  I hope you guys have a great week, and I love you tons!!  You are in my prayers!

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith

August 12, 2014

Hey Family!

This week was a pretty good week, kind of crazy but good.   I am just chilling in a library in ABQ typing away right now.   I am up in Albuquerque now just living the dream, and I am loving it.  I am so happy to be serving in ABQ.  It’s super green because the Rio Grande is just right there going through the city.  I am out in the South Valley area of Albuquerque, so I am in the countryside and part of the city.  Our ward is the Rio Grande Ward, and it’s part of the Los Lunes Stake. Our ward boundaries go into downtown, and the Rio Grande North Elders cover that.  We are in Rio Grande South.  They closed the West area this transfer, so we are picking up half of that area, and it’s pretty tight.  We have a big area though, but I like it.  There are just tons and tons of houses out here.  We also have our classy trailer parks the size of Mt. Everest.  They are gnarly.  I have to say it’s my first area that has had tons of houses and trailers.  It’s a big change from the desert to city life and straight green, but it’s awesome. The people are just nuts, and it reminds of Breaking Bad a lot out here.   My new companion is Elder Millet.  He is from Seattle Washington.  I like him, and I think we will get some work done out here.  I have been missing Chappy, but I love the new change.  The handle on one of my suitcases busted on the way up.  I guess I put too much weight in the huge one.  My English scriptures got smashed a little, but they are fine.  It was a crazy drive, but I am safe and sound in ABQ.

This week was pretty good, like I said above.  Monday was crazy.  I was going around saying goodbye to people.  Sadly, the Marrero family wasn't home, so I didn't get to say goodbye to them.  That bummed me out.  I had a cool miracle when we were saying goodbye.  I really wanted to say goodbye to Presidente Ramirez and tell him thanks for everything and our chats in his shop.  I knew he would be out in his shop, so I probably wouldn't be able to say goodbye to him.  I had this strong voice say, "Go See Presidente."  I was like what the heck we will just knock the door if we have too.  So we took off to his house, and he was outside.  It caught me off guard because I was expecting to knock the door and not get a response.  They were having a birthday party, and it was awesome.  We talked to him for a while and then we took a photo.  I love him to death, and I hope he comes back.  It was a cool experience because the Lord knew my desires to say goodbye, and he provided a miracle.  It was a cool thing that happened.  Tuesday rolled around, and I just packed all morning.  We gave a blessing to a member before I left.  Then Cesar Medina gave me a Chaparral license plate and thanked me.  It was cool.  I then drove all day and got to ABQ around 6.  We had a transfer meeting in El Paso at 10 and then at 1 at Cruces.  By the time we got to Albuquerque it was late.  It was a long drive, but it was good.  We then hurried and dropped my bags off at our place and went working that night.  Oh - also we share our house with 2 other elders, and our house is huge.  It’s pretty rad.  My bed sucks, but that's all right.  I am driving my favorite car ever - a silver Nissan Frontier - and I am stoked about that.  It just brings back memories.  I am happy to have that.  This week was kind of slow because I was just trying to get used to the area and the other area that we picked up.  We had this super awkward lesson Sunday night in the area we picked up.  There were Sisters in the West area before they closed it, and they were teaching this 16 year old girl.  We went over there Sunday to introduce ourselves and to get to know her.  It was just weird.  I don't know how to describe it, but it was so awkward.  I was trying not to laugh.  You got these 19 year old dudes meeting with a 16 year old girl trying to teach her.  It almost felt like a date.  It was funny, and she is crazy beyond belief.  So hopefully she will get baptized.  She told us she wants to but she wants to come to church first, so that was cool.  It’s nice to be in area that you can go contacting in the streets.  I am loving that.  We have been meeting some crazy people, but it’s all good.  We went by this inactive member’s house last night, and she told us she wasn't interested in the church anymore.  We kept on pushing to get in the door, but she wouldn't let us come in.  She told us she had a change of mind and didn't want religion anymore.  It kind of hit me, and I thought a lot about it last night.  I realized that you’re giving up on the Savior and his gospel.  You’re not doing the last thing he taught, and that was to endure to the end no matter how you like it.  The Savior endured, and we must endure no matter how hard it is.  I was just thinking about how easy it is to give up, but you can't - no matter how hard it is.  I like the ward as well out here.  It’s the first ward I have served, in so it’s a different change, but I like it.  We have a lot of less-actives, so I guess Chaparral prepared me for that.  I like it a lot out here, and that's my week in a nutshell for ya!

It sounds like everyone is in one piece at home.  That's a cool story about Ella’s dress.  I loved that, and I wish I was at Ella's blessing.  I can't wait to see her.  It sounds like football is in full gear.  Tyler keep being yourself and show your moves out there.  I miss you guys tons, and sorry for the email that jumped around a lot.  I hope Holley doesn't fall more and get cut up.  Thanks for everything you do for me!  I miss you guys tons!  Have a wonderful week, and you’re always in my prayers! 

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith

P.S My New Address

Elder Weston Smith

2015 Gun Club Road SW

Albuquerque, New Mexico
87105

Love ya!

 

August 4, 2014

Hey Family!

It sounds like everything is good at home.....I am leaving the land of the desert, and the book is closing out here.  This area is so great, and I have loved my time here.  I am sad to leave, but it’s good.  I am excited to see what there is in store for me.  The Lord knows me the best, and he knows it’s my time to move on.  I am going north - that's all I know.  I could be in Las Cruces, the heart of ABQ, or Santa Fe.  It’s going to be fun to see what the mission is like up north.  I have been down south for a little bit over a year, so I am excited for a change.  But I am going to miss Chappy. 

This area has been hard but good.  I have loved it out here in the ugly but beautiful desert.  It really grows on you, and you start just loving it.  You see bugs and things that you would never see in your life.  It has just been an adventure out here.  The Lord also blessed me and this area by not closing it.  I was happy that is wasn't closed and that they are keeping it open.  It was my goal the whole time never to get it closed, and the Lord helped me accomplished it.   It will be interesting to see where I go tomorrow.  I am hoping I go to ABQ. 

This week was good but hard like always.  We found a new investigator, and that was a miracle.  I think I wrote you about that story last email.  It rained the whole week, so it was nice to have overcast skies and rain.  Chappy flooded, so that was crazy.  Our truck got so dirty because we would have to rally through puddles and mud.  Our truck is just caked with mud, so it is pretty nice.  We are going to get a car wash today, so hopefully that will clean it up.  

We worked hard this week, and we saw a lot of people.  Hector, Denice and the family are all doing good.  That family is a straight-up miracle, and I am happy I was able to be part of their conversion.  If they are my only baptisms, I am happy with that.  I know that she will continue to progress, and so will Alejandro.  They adopted one of Hector's sons from Puerto Rico.  So they will be having him now.  Denice wants him to be baptized, so that will be cool.  Hector will come along eventually, and he will get there.  They are an awesome family, and I am sad I am leaving them.  Not much other than that happened.   We see saw them a lot this week.  We have been strengthening some less-active members who have been coming back.  One is the Gomez family.  We have been pushing really hard with the kids, Chris and Angel.  They are super cool kids, and it’s been fun to be with them and see them start loving the gospel.  Angel is a junior in high school.  He told us the other day that before he thought he just had to be a Mormon, do that, and not be any part of the world.  But he said now he realizes he can live in the world and also be a Mormon, and it’s awesome.  It’s been awesome to see them come back and start going again.  The other family we are working with is a mess, but they are coming.  They were going to an English ward but switched over to the Spanish branch because they ran out of rope at the English ward for food and money.  It was a mess at first, but now we have been cleaning it up.  They are just coming to come to church now.  I was very bitter at first because they were just adding to problems at the branch, and the branch didn't need the problems.  To my surprise they haven't brought any more problems, but they need strengthening and they will be solid.  Their trailer is a mess and is falling apart.  It also smells like crap and just grossness in there, but it is the mission life.  But that was our week in a nutshell for you.  Not much happened more happened, and that's ok.  We worked hard even when it was pouring.

It sounds like everything is going well at home!  It was good to read your letters this week and hear about everything.  I will be letting you know next Tuesday where I landed!  I don't know where I am going, but it’s going to be a good change, and I am excited!  Thanks for all you guys do for me.  Sorry this email is kind of boring this week.  I will make sure it is better next week!  You guys are always in my prayers, and have a wonderful week.  Buena suerte en futbol americano esta semana y tambien en la MCAT!  Sean I hope you get a new job you want, and I know you will!  Have a wonderful week! 

Love,

-Elder Smith

Some pictures of Chapparal

 Chapparal Church

 Members Tow Truck

 Road Runner

 Frog Hunt in Chappy

 My main man Joey Lopez

July 29, 2014

Hey Family!

It seems like I haven't written you forever, and I don't know why.  It was a slow, dragging week but a good one.  I enjoyed it, and we found success with the little things we had going on.  We met a pro MMA fighter this week who is super close to making it in the UFC.  I will write more about him later.  I also think I did the grossest/funnest service this week for Joey.  It was just a trip the whole time.  We also found a new investigator last week.  I have to say, I have never relied on the Lord more in my life than these past 4 weeks.  I kind of felt like Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail.  I have never prayed harder at night, and I felt like sometimes the Lord just left us to see what it was like without his help.  It was a cool experience, and the Lord is amazing.  This is his work and not anyone else’s work.  It was a hard week but always good.

Like I said above we met a pro MMA fighter this week.  That was rad to say the least.  I don't know if you remember me writing about Armando and Esther.  Armando was an investigator, and Esther is a super inactive member.  We were teaching them about 3 transfers back.  We stopped seeing them because it got weird.  One day we showed up, Armando asked to give the prayer, and he was just praying silent for like 3 minutes.  I was just sitting there wondering what was going on.  Then I saw Esther in the back just avoiding us.   I just felt like we shouldn’t be there, so I told Elder Stewart we weren't going back.  This week we were planning, and Elder Berrett said we should go see Esther.  I was like, let’s do it.  Last transfer Elder Stewart and I felt like we needed to go back, but we never did.  So Elder Berrett and I did.  We showed up and knocked.  All of sudden this guy speaking English came rolling out, and I was like what is going on.  He invited us in and told us that his dad, Armando, had a stroke.  We asked how he was doing and everything, and we mostly talked to the son the whole time.  Esther was just being awkward and not talking to us.  The son was named Armando too.  He was a super cool guy, and he was telling us about his fights and showing us him just beating the crap out of people.  It was rad badly.  Armando's nurse showed up, and she was a replacement for the day.  Long story short, she turned out to be a member too but was a less active/inactive member.  I wasn't thinking straight, and I didn't get her address.  Armando Jr, the fighter, also told us, when the nurse told us that she was a member, that he was a member as well but is now Christian.  It was like God just put all these people in our path.  It was a cool experience.  He also pulled out his MMA belt, and we took a picture.  He also trains in Denver, right next to Coors Field.  That's weird dad you wrote about our trip because this week I was thinking about walking into Coors Field and watching a game with ya.  That was an awesome trip dad, and I am never going to forget it.  Thanks a million for doing that with me.  But my companion was just directed by the spirit to go see them.  The fighter is named Armando "Big Chino" Montoya.  You could check him out on you tube if you want.  He said there are some pretty cool fights on there.  He said there is one where he knocked someone out in 7 seconds. He was a tall, skinny, fast dude. It was a cool experience.

Joey’s service was a trip this week to say the least.  He called us up Sunday and was like, "Can you help me install my swamp cooler and pull out the window a/c unit for me?"  So we came rolling over in our shirts and ties just thinking it would be fast, quick, and non-messy.  We showed up and pulled our truck bed up to the trailer so we didn't need a ladder.  Come to find out, the old a/c window unit was crusted with bird crap and it was just straight nasty.  We just buckled down and tried to pull it out.  We couldn't get it out, and we were trying and trying.  We soon found out that it was just sealed with tons of glue.  We tried cutting it, and it was still not coming.  He then told us to pull down.  We were outside, and he was inside next to the unit telling us what to do and trying to help us get it out.  When we pulled down the whole window just shattered, and we were hit by glass.  He was just swearing, and it was making me laugh.  We then finally got the unit out after taking forever.  We got hit by old bird poop as we were doing it.  We got the new one in and got it running.  Joey then tried to wash the old unit and, oh my, when he put water on it, it smelled so bad.   It was just dripping water poop off the sides.  He didn't even wait to let it dry first.  He opened the storage unit, and I helped him put it in there.  My hands were covered with the water poop poison, and my nose was stained with the smell.  I washed my hands, but they still smelled like poop for the whole day.  It was so gross and an adventure. 

Hector and Denice and doing great.  Denice is progressing.  We shared the Joseph Smith Story with them this week, and she just looked at us after and said, "It is so true."   It was awesome, and she has helped my testimony grow.  Hector hopefully will get there.  I love him too.  We had a miracle contact this week.  It was Sunday.  Our car security system sometimes just goes on when we try to start it, and it just won’t start again for like 10 minutes.  That happened, and my companion said we should just walk.  There was no one outside, so I was down with his suggestion.  We walked for a bit, and we were walking up this street.  We saw this guy go into his house but his doors were still opened.  We slowed down and pretty much just waited until he came out.  When he did we talked to him, and he asked us to come back the next day.  So we finally found a new contact, and it was a miracle!  It was cool blessing from the Lord.

It rained super hard last night, so that was good.  But it is still hot out here, and we are just working away.  P-day is next Monday due to transfers.  I don't know what’s going to happen, but whatever does is what the Lord wants.  You will hear from me next Monday!

That's awesome dad got a new calling.  He is going to do great in that!  I wish you were in Priests when I was!  That's awesome!  That's good that everyone is in one piece and doing good!  Tyler keep going hard in football - it will pay off.  I have learned that out here.  Give your 100% and it will work out in the end.   It always will!  I love you guys and hope you have a wonderful week and you have some fun!   Love you tons and miss you!

Con Amor,

-Elder Smith