September 24, 2018

Week 37: Un Cambio Nuevo


Hey guys! Its a new week and we are here in Hermosillo (STILLLLL) jajaja. I recieved a new companion from Bolivia! His name is Elder Coronado. We just finished our first week again together and I am training! Its cool to train a new missionary but sometimes its stressful! I am thankful for the opportunity to train again. We had a pretty interesting week with crazy experiences. One of the most amazing things that I have realized this week is when we do all we can, God puts people in our path. Our area is pretty tough sometimes and it is hard to find people to teach. But, one day, we recieved a call from a young returned missionary and he told us that he had a reference for us. It was pretty cool to see that we received help from Heavenly Father.

I have an experience I would like to share from this week. We have an investigator named Abraham. This story with him is very interesting. He has recieved missionaries for about 4 years and his wife is a member. He invited us to his house to have lunch and it was great! We were going to talk about baptism and invite him to be baptized. When he found out that we were going to talk about baptism, he got a little agitated (we think he's been invited to be baptized before) and we didn't understand why because he is really interested in the church. All of a sudden, he started asking us all these hard questions about the church out of nowhere. He started almost attacking us with questions and the atmosphere was very uncomfortable. I asked myself why is he asking all these questions? I honestly didnt know what to tell him but a talk came to my mind by Jeffrey R Holland named "Safety for the Soul". I didn't know why but I asked if we could watch the video of Elder Holland's talk together. The message is about the Book of Mormon and the importance of having a testimony of it. At the end of this powerful talk, I thought about what we could teach Abraham. It came to my mind that he needed to read the Book of Mormon and wasnt doing it. I bore my testimony to him about the truthfulness of the book.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is the strong base of our religion. The Book of Mormon still stands strong and cannot be pulled down. When a person has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, the doubts seem to be forgotten. I know that a testimony of the Book of Mormon is essencial in this time period that we live in. Read it always! Like the iron rod, it will safely guide us through this confused world. I love you all!

Giddy up!

Elder Smith

September 17, 2018

Week 36: Un Cambio Mas

Hey guys! I am here Hermosillo still! I dont have much time this week but I do have some news! I am going to train again! Elder Rivero went to his new area and I have been called to train a new missionary again! I am very grateful for this sacred opportunity that I have been given to serve and it makes me happy that the Lord trusts in me. My companions name is Elder Coronado and he is from Bolivia. I slept in the asistents home and ate breakfast with the Mission President this morning and then we had a capacitacion. I am grateful for all the things that I am learning that are helping me be a better missionary and person. I have good hopes for this transfer and I know that we will be able to achieve our goals. I love you prayers and appreciate them!

1. Estoy Cansado de estar en sol (I am tired of being in the sun)

2. Homies para siempre

3. Estos locos en mi distrito (These crazies in my district)

4. Elder Coronado

5-6. La noche Mexicana con el barrio (Mexican night with the ward)

September 10, 2018

Week 35: Libros de Mormon

Hey guys! We have had another good week here in Hermosillo! We have had a goal to give away 70 Books of Mormon this week. We decided that we needed more people to teach and we wanted more people to know about the Book of Mormon. We have found a lot of great people and I can feel the soft but powerful spirit testify to me of the work we are doing is right. It is a beautiful thing to share the Book of Mormon with everyone that will recieve us and its amazing to see the its message enter into the lives. I can say that it has been a beautiful and difficult week. It seems like this week has been one of the hottest, sunniest, hardest, and longest week of my mission. I have learned that it is important to push through hard things. The phrase that carries me everyday in the mission and I think it will by the motto for the rest of my life is by Henry B Eyring: "When I find myself drawn away from my priesthood (missionary) duties by others interests and when my body begs for rest, I give myself this rallying cry: "Remember Him." Whenever I am tempted to feel that I have finished some hard task in his service and deserve a rest, the Savior´s example gives me courage to press on." I think about this quote everyday of my mission. I am very imperfect. I dont know many things and there are many missionaries that teach better than me and know more spanish but I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He realizes my service. He blesses my family when I am serving and puts investigators in our path. I try to follow the perfect example of the Savior that was dedicated to serve and do the will of the Father even until the end. I think about the talk Jeffrey R holland gave to the missionaries in the MTC when he talked about Peter following Christ and leaving your nets (the other things that we would rather do at times). "Elders and sisters in this MTC congregation, do you love him? You cannot be what you have to be and you cannot say what you have to say, you cant do it unless you love him. It is the first and great commandment. Now can you understand why you can never come back? It will NEVER be the same. Its over. Its a new hour. A new life. This mission marks that time in your life. You cannot go back. And if you do you will break my heart and the heart of God himself. Its not just 2 years. I stand here 49 years and counting and I pray that its never, never over for me. " I know that God puts tough times in our lives so that we will turn to him and I know he loves us. Things are moving along here but, slow. We have two baptismal dates and we are working with them. Sometimes its tough but the good times ALWAYS come. I just thought that I needed to share these thoughts with you as they are always on my mind. They have become the motto for the rest of my life. Remember the Savior. He loves us. He lives. I love you all!

1. Tacos bien perrones (antes)

2. (Despues) iba a vomitar porque me llené (era mi segundo plato)

3. Otro día cuando comí tacos de papa (bien ricos) 

4. Una foto loco con mi bocina

September 3, 2018

Week 34: Una Semana de Aprendizaje

Hi everyone! This week was awesome. We had a lot of difficulties and miracles and I am thankful for everything that we have passed. The mission is the best university than can anyone can attend and will learn more about spiritual, temporal, and mental things. The mission teaches a little bit of everything. I am thankful for my mission and the hard times that I pass. This week we had two baptisms and they were amazing. Knowing that we had just a small part in the journey and change in their lives makes me happy. Cynthia and Arturo were baptized on Saturday and then comfirmed members of the church on Sunday. They are pretty special people. One thing that I have learned is that when someone is about to do something important in their life like be baptized, Satan works HARD. I also know that they were baptized and pushed through it all. When Brother Carreon (Cynthia's dad) came up to bear his testimony he began to cry and said to his family in spanish "Thank you for giving me this happiness" and Sister Cynthia also said "This was the click I have been searching for in my life." I will never forget their words and the spirit we felt. It was a beautiful fast sunday. I know that our Savior loves us and he wants us to come to him. He NEVER forces us and I have realized that when we accept him and are truly willing to do what he asks us, it is a happiness that the world doesnt give me. Yo testifico que Jesus es el Cristo y nos ama. Nos conoce por nuestros nombres. Él está alli esperando siempre y quiere que seamos felices. Esto es mi testimonio que es escrito en mi corazón y nadie me puede decir que no es cierto.

1. Un día maravilloso (A great Day!)

2. Las Famosos

3. Pte. and Sis Myers saw my new converts and sent me a picture!

4. Llegamos temprano a la iglesia entonces queríamos tomar fotos locas 

5. Elder Smith 1: "Sabes qué me dijo mi hermana? Que yo estaba loco! que grosera..."

Elder Smith 2 "En serio? que mala onda..."

6. Nuestra Capilla (our chapel)

7. Conversos de las Hermanas! Hice las entrevistas para ellos y son muy buenas personas

8. Untitled