March 26, 2018

Week 11: Arre pues

¿Qué onda amigo? (What's going on friend)

Whats a going on follkksssss! I have had a crazy week with crazy things (shocker Elder Smith)! Life in Mexico is great! I think the highlight (spiritually)  I had this week was, last night. We have una investigadora se llama Lilian y Ella es muy buena. (We have an investigator named Lilian and she's really awesome)  Seriously, she has so much faith. She has a sickness that makes her constantly tired and it is pretty sad. But before our lesson, I went to the bathroom to pray that our lesson would go fine. In the prayer, I asked our Heavenly Father something like "Please bless me with the Gift of Tongues and help me speak smoothly." It was a simple and humble prayer but the result was great. I left the bathroom ready to begin the lesson and I felt ok. We only shared two scriptures but when it was time to share my scripture, I spoke clearly (not perfectly) and powerful. I was able to use my spanish and testify with clarity what I wanted to say. This small little blessing was such a big thing for me that night and I was SO happy. I think it is important to know that I DID NOT speak perfectly but, the amazing thing is, Im not the teacher. The Holy Ghost is. Even if she didnt understand me completely, if she has a real desire to know for herself, the spirit can testify the truthfulness of what I said. Anyways, it was a great experience! And now for the crazy stuff............... One day in the street, we were walking and this guy came up to us and really wanted to talk to us. We couldnt understand anything he was saying and was acting really weird. We were like lets bounce! Él no quiere nada ( He doesn't want anything form us or he's not interested) and when we were leaving, he grabbed my arm and started like tickling it OR SOMETHING I DONT KNOW jajajaja!! I thought "What in the world" and so we took off and said NOS VEMOS LOCO. (SEE YOU LATER, CRAZY) It was really strange. But things get CRAZIER. One appointment we had with another lady and I was leaning against the fridge talking to her with my companion (casual talk after the lesson/getting ready to leave kind of stuff). All of a sudden, I felt something on my neck and I casually brsuhed it and kept on talking. When I turned around, THERE WAS A CUCARACHA (COCKROACH) ON THE FRIDGE LIKE 3 INCHES BIG FOLKS. THERE WAS A FLIPPIN CUCARACHA ON MY NECK. At the time I didnt freak out because we were talking with her but, when we left, I unleashed my wiggles en la calle (the street) UGHHHHHHHH NASTY MAN. So crazy. I have almost seen it all. Life here in Mexico is seriously so unpredictable and awesome jajaja. Those things are terrible in the moment but are KILLER stories around the Thanksgiving table in 18 years. Anyways, that is the end of my crazy stories. Today we had a Zone Activity with Volleyball and it was SO FUN. I am finally starting to become good friends with the other missionaries and its great. Anyways, things are great and I have had a great week! I have some fotos bien perronas (really cool) to share with you guys.... Entonces..... ÁNDALE PUES (okay then)

 ¡Hamburguesas con El Obispo! (Hamburgers with the Bishop)

Tiempo para descansar... (time to rest)

Con la Familia Sempual (mi familia favorita)

 (With the family Sempual, my favorite family)

El Gato tiene sueño (The cat is tired)

Giddy Up...

Elder Smith

March 19, 2018

Week 10: Que Onda Guero?



¡Hola Todos! 

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am feeling better and I am not sick anymore! I am doing a lot better. This week was pretty normal but great as always. This place is literally paradise. I had an experience on the bus that was seriously amazing. My companion and I were on our way to Noche de Hogar (family home evening with the ward) and I was sitting on this DUMPY bus going down this dirt road and I was thinking "I flippin love this place." I felt so much love and gratitude in my heart for this random place in Mexico I didnt even know existed before my mission. It is serioulsy so great here. The way I would describe every day "Torture Paradise." Everyday, we are working like machines, eating some weird food, and fighting off cucarachas in our apartment but I seriously love it here. The mexican culture is so beautiful! I cant put into words the love I have for this place. It probably isnt the safest place and I am for SURE the only white dude in my barrio but its KILLER. My spiritual thought I would like to share is about Jesus Christ. I had the opportunity to watch "The Testaments" (una pelicula sobre historias en El Libro de Mormon) and I was seriously speechless. I loved watching The Testaments growing up and is a KILLER movie made by the church. Anyways, I hadnt watched it for a while and it was in our apartment so one day I decided to watch it. One scene I had forgotten about was the end when Jesus Christ appears to the people. WOW. I had forgotten how much I love this scene. After watching this scene, I was seriously so choked up. Jesus Christ is so amazing to me and is the perfect example for us. I think it is interesting that in almost EVERY picture of Jesus Christ, his hands are outstretched and inviting us to come to him. That is what we are doing here. Our purpose is "Invite others to come unto Christ." We have the amazing opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ and help others as he did. I think many times during lessons "This is just as if the savior came to this persons house." I am in NO WAY saying that we are anything close to our savior but I think it is amazing that we get to be like him everyday. My invitation this week is to remember Christ in all you do and watch the end clip of The Testaments because is amazing. I promise you that you feel the spirit because I have! Thanks everyone for your love and support!





Here are some fotos...

¡Estamos locos!

¡Estamos locos con caras serias!

Una foto con Señor Dogo...

¿Qué cree? Estoy Loco

¡Boliche!

Otra foto...

March 12, 2018

Week 9: Chilaquiles


Yo Yo YO! 

Whats up my good people. Crazy week as usual. Correction folks, we had one baptism because our investigator couldnt make that date. Its ok she has a date for the 7th of April so it will be just before my birthday. The one baptism with our investigator named Iran was really good. Iran tiene 9 años and he is mi mejor amigo. I was so nervous because I had to memorize the baptism ordinance in spanish but I said it with no problem! This week we got to go to the templo in Hermosillo which was awesome! We got up at 2 in the morning to take the bus ride of 4 hours. It was great! We were able to do initiatories and it was very peaceful. Anyways I didnt sleep at all and I felt thrashed but it was worth it. We had the opportunity to go with a recent convert name Cuate and we saw him get baptised. It was literally cool because he has the strongest testimony. Ok the last story is the best and I have saved it last for a reason. Last night, we had the opportunity to eat cena with one of our investigators at her work. She works at the Fiesta Hotel in Ciudad Obregon (a super nice ritzy hotel in Mexico). We got permission from our Mission President and everything was approved. Me and Elder Sosa were STOKED. When we got to the Hotel we were STOKED. We got a tour of the place and everything. When it was time to eat, I got tacos de pollo because porque no? BIG MISTAKE. I was eating it and all the sudden, it tasted a little off... About 38 minutos later, it felt like el diablo was having a fiesta in my stomach. When we took our ride back I was literally riding with my head out la ventana como un perro. I was literally praying I would not throw up in this ladys nice uber. When we got home. I ran into the backyard to ralf. Nothing came and then BOOM I was like a firebreathing dragon. I was ralfing the entire night the tacos de pollito the entire night. I felt like my insides wanted to be on my outsides. I am dizzy and pretty tired but I think I killed the bug in my stomach. This morning, I took a shower with a chair in the shower because I cant stand up for a while. I am going to fine though jajajaja. Anways I am pretty tired and If I cant email you back today I will for sure email you back next week (nothing personal jajaja). Here are some photos from the week!

¡Mi Primer Bautismo! 

The after party! K LOOK AT MY FACE I DONT KNOW WHY I LOOK SO MUCH LIKE A DORK JAJAJA

Tiempo por el Templo

Me and Cuate (the recent convert) ok this picture was taken randomly by Elder Sosa but it literally looks so cool like we are in a band. This is like our promo photo for our concert poster or something. Our band name is called "Piel Canela"

My camera has so many cool effects it is unreal jajajaja

Giddy Up folks...

Elder Smith

March 5, 2018

Week 8: Frijoles

¡HOLAAAAAAAAAAAA TODAS LAS PERSONAS EN EL MUNDO!

What are crazy life I am living right now. This week I have done a lot of first timers. This week one of our investigators was sick and me and my companion gave her a blessing. I helped with some of it IN SPANISH. I was so nervous but it was good. Also, this last fast sunday, I bore my testimony in church ALSO IN SPANISH which was so scary. I contemplated going up for a while and I thought "Only my best everyday for Heavenly Father" and then I counted to 10 and forced myself to walk up to the stand. I am so glad I did. Honestly my testimony was terrible in spanish but people understood what I felt in my heart. It would be an insult to my Heavenly Father to keep my thoughts to myself because I know these things and the church are true and people need to hear those thoughts. Anyways, that was probably my highlight of the week. OK THIS WEEK I HAD THE WORST FOOD JAJAJAJA. A lady in our ward name Hermana Bojorquez wanted to feed us.  My companion tells me before we go in "Her food is terrible." I was like "great" (mucho sarcasm) jajaja. We got inside and she had a SUPER watery soup with meatballs, carrots, and onions. Some of the meatballs weren't cooked all the way (Im pretty sure). Also, she gave us the frijoles (beans) that were sooooo bitter for some reason. It was so funny in the middle of the meal my companion got up, ran to the bathroom, and pretended to blow his nose but he was actaully choking. IT was so bad and hilarious. And now for the good news.......................... WE HAVE 2 BAPTISMS THIS WEEK. WOW! One is a little Niño (boy) se llama (named) Iran and a middle aged woman se llama (named) Brenda. I get to baptize Iran! I am so nervous but excited also. This week I gifted Iran a HLJ Anillo (CTR Ring) and he was stoked. Anyways, this Friday, we will be having both baptisms in the same day WOW. Pretty amazing. I have seen small things each day to remind me that Heavenly Father is aware of my service. He loves us so much. For example, TODAY me and my companion were in a store downtown and the THE SMITHS STARTING PLAYING (probably my favorite band of all time) and I was like WOA how crazy is that. Out of all the stores I couldve gone into, out of all the songs that could've played, one of my favorite songs IN ENGLISH, from one of my favorite bands started playing. For me, it was a small little miracle that Heavenly Father is aware of all of us and knows the small things in our lives that make us happy. Also, when me and my companion were teaching a lesson, we needed a video off youtube to teach a family. Before the video started, there was an ad with one of my favorite magicians "Ekaterina." I lost it and the family probably thought I was crazy but seriously WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?!?! Heavenly knows us, loves us, and is CONSTANTLY letting us know he is there. We just need to have an open heart and be willing to look for those milagros (miracles). He is always aware of our sacrifices and our willingness to serve him. Anyways, sorry for that weird rant but I hope that was spiritually uplifting in some way jajaja. I seriously love this place. I sleep in a dumpy bed with stains, have been in houses that are almost falling over, and eaten some strange food but...... I LOVE IT. When you are constantly serving your Heavenly Father and his children, nothing else matters. Speaking from a dude that likes his stuff, gadgets, fancy 50s clothes, etc.... those are great, but do they really matter? In the end, those things dont matter. Always remember the things that matter.  In conclusion, it has been a good week. I have included some pictures of me and my Ciudad Obregon Yaquis baseball cap and my favorite drink: Coca Cola. For those of you who dont know, the Yaquis are Ciudad Obregons baseball team. The Yaquis were Native Americans that inhabited Sonora and is their mascot, I LOVE Baseball and the Coca Cola here. I dont know how much Coca Cola I consume a day but it is probably illegal. For real its insane. My sangre (blood) is Coca Cola jajaja. Anyways, PEACE

Love, Elder Smith

Coca Cola es mi novia (my girlfriend)

My "trying to look like a cool Baseball player from 1949" face 

(dont worry I am actaully happy here jajajaja)

Notice the many bottles of Coca Cola (not from me but past missionaries 

in our apartment)

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