April 23, 2018

Week 15: ¡No Manches!

Buenos Tardes todos...

¿Qué hay...Qué hubo...Qué Onda?(Whats up? What's happened and What's cool?)

Today has been a good day. This morning we had a zone activity and we had a water balloon fight! It was sooooo rad. We all got so wet jajaja. We also ate sushi estilo mexicano (mexican style). The sushi here is actually not bad! Today in my email I want to talk about something really simple but amazing. I want to talk about the power of prayer. Prayer is a miracle for me because we are literally talking with God. Before the mission, I had a lot of worries and one of them was about the language. I was so nervous about learning spanish and it seemed literally impossible. When I got into the mission it was pretty hard. Even now it is super hard a times. But, it is literally a miracle that I am learning at the pace I am. I literally never spoke spanish before my mission but I have progressed so much. I am not saying this to brag or say "Hey look at me I am so great" but I just wanted to say that Heavenly Father answered my prayer! It is literally a miracle. At times, I dont understand people and sometimes it is SO hard but it is literally a miracle that I can talk with people. I just wanted to share this experience with you guys because I now that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. He LISTENS because he is our Father. We can talk to him the same. He wants to hear us. The things in our day, the struggles we have, and the joy we feel. I am grateful for prayer and I know he listens. I hope everyone is doing well but like we say in Mexico... Eso es todo amigos......(That's all friends)

April 16, 2018

Week 14: Mucha Muchacha

Whats up everyone? Hope everyone is doing good! I don't have much to say this week but I might as well give you guys some updates about the stuff going here. One thing that is new is that I am the English teacher for our district! Its pretty fun, but a times its hard figuring out what to teach jajaja. As far as the missionary work goes, its ok. We are teaching an older man that isn't a member but, his wife is. His name is Hermano Rascon. We put a baptismal date for him and we are starting to teach him. He is a really good person but its hard at times because he forgots things a lot because of his age. But, we are excited because we will be able to baptize him!


I only have one crazy story this week but its goooooood jjaajajaja. My companion and I use magic a lot to meet people and to get into peoples houses. So my companion was doing a trick (I taught him a couple) and these ladies were TRIPPIN out. Gritando y todo eso (yelling and all that) and one time one lady totally slapped my companion! She was like MUCHACHO CÓMO LO HACE Él ES BUJO WAHHHHHHHHHHH (how did you do that you witch?!) It was so funny. ALSO, my companion told me the other night I spoke in spanish in my sleep! ARE YOU KIDDING ME JAJAJA. He told me that I said something like ".....jajajaja.....no esta bien esta bien.... JAJAJAJA......sí sí...." I was so happy when I heard this jajajaja. Also, at times, I have dreams in spanish and spanglish. I am learning! Flippin crazy jajaja. Today for P day, we bowled again and it was pretty fun! We have some new people in our district that are pretty dang cool. We got to play together and it was super fun. After that, we were able to eat Little Caesers and it was GOOD. Also, hay un (there's a ) Dairy Queen here and its SOOOO GOOD. When I eat it, yo siento como en casa. (I feel like I'm at home)AnnnNNNYyyyWWwwaaaaAAyyyYY here are las fotos de esta semana...




Elder Smith: ¡Vamos a tocar esta casa! (Let's knock this house)
Elder Sosa: Creo que no hay nadie...(I believe there's nobody there)
Elder Smith: ¡Mentiras! (lies!)



¡Boliche! (Bowling!)

¡El Chileno Famoso! (The famous Chilean)

La Famosa Hermana Franco esta lista para ganar

Hermana Gonzalez esta gritando

April 9, 2018

Week 13: Que Hay?


WHAT UP MY GOOD PEOPLE!! 

I hope everyone is doing great. Today is a fantastic day for me! Thanks everyone for your birthday wishes and I am going to try respond to all you jajaja! I literally have felt so much love and support from you guys. I feel so great! My Birthday has been pretty normal but, really great. I played volleyball in the morning with our missionaries and we had a blast. AND I was sick again but I am 86.356% better.. Lately, my stomach has been a nightclub for those amoebas. I am feeling better now though!

 This week we literally had some of the most amazing experiences ever. I only have one funny story but MAN it killed me jajaja. My companion and I were in the street one day sitting on a bench resting for a bit and all of a sudden, this dude walked up to us. The guy was totally fried and definitely was drinking some of "grandpas cough medicine." He came up to me and he had a tomato in his hand. He basically starting yelling at me to eat his tomato. ¡No es una mentira! (It's not a lie) He was totally dead serious. I basically told him that I was good and that I was dying in my stomach (because it was true) and he got SUPER mad (don't drink kids) and basically said in sloppy spanish "TtaAaaKKee IITTT!" After about 3 times of me declining, he took the tomato and threw it super far into the street. It was super weird and hilarious. BUT, I don't have any other funny stories.

 But in all seriousness, I like to joke and all, because I am crazy but, I had one of the most sacred experiences of my life on Sunday. I would love to share with you because of how special and beautiful it was for me. As you guys know, I was very, very sick. I was reading in the bible (2 days before sunday) when Jesus was with his disciples on the beach and he asked Peter "Lovest thou me?" When Peter answered yes, Jesus replied "Feed my sheep." This hit me so hard. A times in the mission, I get bored with the same routine and unfocused at times but, I felt like the Savior was talking to me as Peter: Braedon, do you love me? Feeling as Peter, I thought of course! The thought of the answer of the Savior came immediatley into my brain. Braedon, if you love me, feed my sheep. I cannot express in words how much love I have in my heart for Jesus Christ. This was part one of my experience. 

The second part was when we were taking the sacrament. I was feeling really sick but I was happy to be in church and also to have an investigator with us. I was taking the sacrament and IMMEDIATLEY after I drank the water, I felt completely fine like nothing was wrong in my stomach. It literally felt like I was lifted up a little. It was such a great experience for me. As soon as we started to bear testimonies I jumped up to share my experience. I have never experienced the atonement like this ever in my life. I just would like to say, the atonement is real and it is not just for our sins. Jesus felt everything we felt and he is able to heal us of our sicknesses. I didn't feel perfect for the whole day (or now) but, I felt my burden lightened. As if for a moment he was there with me saying, Braedon, everything is going to be ok. I cannot express in words how much I love our Savior. He is my brother, my friend, and the perfect example for me to follow. Trust me, I like to be macho macho and all manly but I am struggling to contain myself while writing this. Jesus Christ is the perfect example and our Savior. He loves us and is there with us every step of the way. I just wanted to share this experience with you guys and hope it is spiritually uplifting for guys in any way. OKKKK enough with the sentimental enough sheesh. I got fotos for ya gente...

Giddy up...

Elder Smith

***Here are the birthday photos that were sent to Elder Smith on his birthday!

April 2, 2018

Week 12: ¡A otro perro con ese hueso! (means "nonsense!" or "Thats ridiculous!")



Hey Everyone!

This week was good as well! I have three spiritual experiences I would like to share in this email....Ándale pues.... The first was when my companion and I were contacting in the street. We were having trouble finding people and we didnt really know what to do. We decided that we needed to pray. We went around the corner in a more private area and offered a simple prayer to find new people. We then decided to start working. We were able to find 6 new people that day. Nothing crazy amazing happened and we didnt baptize anyone on the first visit or anything but it was another testimony builder for me. Also, we had a lesson with a family and the Mother of the family is a convert and she was telling us all these questions and concerns she had about the church. She was talking about many things but I felt the spirit tell me that I needed to share my testimony. I basically told her that I had a similar experience in the past with some doubts about the church. I told her that I think it is so interesting that the first principle of the gospel is faith. I told her, I KNOW this church is true and I dont need to know everything to know it is true. I am not going to let my doubts take over what I already know is true. In fact, we CANT know everything all the time. I would like to think that it is necessary to have faith in this Gospel and have a part in God´s plan to not know all the answers all at one time. I also told her, and even in this moment, in THIS day, I STILL dont have answer to my question! I told her, it is something that I am going to have to ask God after this life BUT it is not keeping me from my knowledge of this Gospel and the testimony I already have. I guess what I would like to say is WE ALL have doubts. But we shouldnt let these questions take over our lives and our faith. It is HEALTHY to have questions. If we didnt have questions, we wouldnt have the desire to learn, and we wouldnt progress and learn of our Heavenly Father. But, we NEED to have faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. Our answers to our questions will be answered in the lords timing. The last experience is about General Conference. The truth is I did not understand a lot of what was said because we watched it in spanish. I did pick up a little but I am embarrassed to say I dont know what my favorite talk is. But, I did have a great experience. When the speakers were talking and especially when when we were sustaining our leaders, I felt the spirit strong. I guess I would like to say that even when we cant understand, we all understand one language. We all can feel and understand the language of the spirit and feel the truthfulness of things. I am grateful for every opportunity I can feel the spirit. Never forget how important this gift is and the amazing things it does for us like warning, comforting, and confirming the truthfulness of doctrine. All in all, a great week! EnntttoOOnnnNNCCceeEEssss.... tiempo para las fotos ARRE PUES

¡Escuchame!

La ultima vez para ver a mi hermano "Elder Dop" antes de su salida

¡Caras locas!