Elder Braedon Smith Hermosillo, México Mission

November 12, 2018

Week 44: Recuerda que soy Chino

How is everyone!!!!! Guys so much happens in Mexico every day. Its hard to remember everything! To start, someone stole my bike again. We went to a Stake Conference and I left the bike IN the Chapel next to my companions bike. The funny thing was when we left the conference his bike was there but mine wasnt jajajjaja. Oh well.... We had another pretty funny experience with a lesson we were teaching. We were teaching the Plan of Salvation to some kids with these paper dolls my mom used in her mission (thanks mom I use them all the time) and in the set, there are all the pieces of the Plan of Salvation. There are even 2 bodies to use to represent a man and woman. It was really funny becuase we were playing a game with them and they had to figure out where every piece went. The little girl put the two people in the wrong spot and her sister yelled (it was a pretty competitive plan of salvation game) HEY QUE HACES CON LOS CUERPOS (HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE BODIES). It was so funny because we all understood, but the door was open and I think that everyone in the neighborhood thought we were crazy when she shouted WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE BODIES (Whats going on in that house kind of thing) hahaha.

Also, another funny story.... We went to celebrate the birthday of one of our missionaries named Elder Rufino. We were sitting outside of an OXXO (like a Circle K) and this drunk came up to us and started talking to us. He said a bunch of things and at the end he said GUYSS I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.............(almost falls over)........Remember that I am Chinese AND THEN HE LEFT HAHAHAHHAHAHA. We have some great people we are teaching. Santiago is going to be baptized this Friday!!!!! He is 9 and he knows a TON. We found a family of three that are great. They names are Victor, Vianca, and Adrian. They will probably be baptized too! Also we have Juan Carlos that always READS his Book of Mormon. This area has a lot of potencial. I am always thankful for every person that enters the waters of baptism. Also, Edendira (our convert) went to the TEMPLE. So cool. Lot of good things are happening here. I love you all a ton thanks for all your support and prayers!

Giddy up

Elder Smith

November 5, 2018

Week 43: Rivvverraaa GAAaaaSSSs RRIiiiVVErrrraAA GGGAAaaasss

GUYS SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED THIS WEEK. I have so much to tell you. I forgot to tell you all that 2 weeks ago they stole our bikes. No joke. We have our house and then our outside patio with a giant gate and lock. It was 10 in the morning when it happened. They were outside in that area but everything was safe and locked so we thought everything was alright. In the morning all of this sudden we heard KUNG BOOOM. When we ran outside, they were out of sight. They CUT THE CHAIN THAT WAS OUTSIDE AROUND THE GATE. UGHHHHH. So we had to buy bikes again but its ok because the bike I have now is perrona(awesome).

Another experience happened with my convert Edendira. She is a young girl that is literally so rad. We arrived to her house to take her to church to get confirmed because she couldn't go to church last Sunday. That means if she didn't go to church this Sunday she would have not gone for 2 Sundays after being baptized. We arrived at her house and assumed she was already awake. We got to the house and talked to her Aunt that we there and I asked if Edendira was awake. She told me that she WAS ASLEEP NOOOOOOO. It was 8 45 and we were far from the church and we start at 9! I was like EDENDIRA GET READY WE WILL WAIT OUTSIDE AND ILL CALL A TAXI STEP ON IT! We were moving it to get to church LIKE HAULING. Edendira was able to be confirmed. I was so happy for her receive that ordinance. Ill never forget what she told me. I asked her how she felt after being confirmed and she told me she felt so happy and felt something incredible. That was response was worth all the effort. Something so little made it all worth it. It reminded me of a scripture in 2 Timothy 2 verse 10 which says Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. All that I do in missionary work is by love for the chosen by God so that they can receive saving ordinances and receive the love of our Savior. At the end of the day, the little things that are bugging to me most of the time don't matter. I do it out of love. I have really seen a change in her. The gospel changes lives.

The last thing I wanted to share was an experience that we had with a little kid named Santiago. We were sharing the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ with him and I was quoting the first vision of Joseph Smith. When I was saying it, the spirit flooded over us and Santiago seemed to feel it. I could tell that his eyes were getting red and wet. After he began to cry. Shocked we asked how he felt. He told us that he felt Gods love in his heart. He is going to be baptized on the 17th. He felt the truthfulness of the message that we shared. I thought that I had seen something incredible. It is the evidence that every single human being has the right to know. I left in amazement that even a 9 year old kid could receive such a strong impression from our Heavenly Father.

But after, I understood. Everything started with a 14 year old boy that wanted to know too. Thanks to our Heavenly Father that chose that boy, the truth was restored. The only TRUE happiness that we enjoy. Every blessing that we have recieved. It really strikes me that is all started with the trust that God had in a boy that was simple and humble. God choses the meek and humble to do His work. I find that refreshing and amazing knowing that I am imperfect and weak but he will use me in my weaknesses. I am thankful that he gave that spirit in that moment to say the very special words of Joseph Smith. God trusts in the simple and humble and I want to let you all know that. I want to finish with one of my favorite chapters of the 1 Corinthians 2 verses 3,4, and 5.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

I love you all

Giddy Up

Elder Smith

October 29, 2018

Week 42: Otra Semana de cambios

Hey guys! My email isn't going to be very long but I wanted to comment on some things that have happened. I am going to recieve a new companion because we now have transfers again. His name is Elder Castañeda and he is one of my best friends. He is a killer missionary and I am super excited about this transfer. We are going to baptize so many because we have a ton of potential in this area that I am in. We had a baptism this last week. It was super cool because it was a girl that is 15 named Edendira. She is pretty cool. I always love to see people arrive to the first step in salvation which is baptism. I have had some pretty amazing experiences when we are knocking doors. I feel like we have been guided by the spirit in this work. I felt like we needed to knock on one door but no one came out. A neighbor came out and asked us if we wanted water. Without thinking I blurted out YES knowing it was an opportunity to talk with him. He was very awesome and days before my companion felt like we need to knock on another door. We found out that the door that my companion knocked on was his wifes house and then we found him. I know the Lord has something prepared for that man and he needs to hear our message. Other than that, It was a pretty normal week. I would love the prayers and I love you all!

Giddy up!

Elder Smith

1-2. El bautismo de Edendira. Un dia espcial para ella.

October 22, 2018

Week 41: Su Catrin, Elder Smith

Que Rollo pues Soy Elder Smith y he tenido una buena semana aqui en Obregon! Estoy muy emocionado para contarles de todo lo que ha pasado aqui en esta ciudad tan interesante y bonita... (What's going on, I am Elder Smith and I had a great week here in Obregon! Im very happy to tell you all what has happened in this city that is so interesting and pretty)

Hey guys!

I am here in Obregon again and I am excited to write to you all about what has happened. I have a hilarious and cool story that had kind of a sad ending haha. Before we went to knock on doors, we said a prayer to help us find people. I felt the need to go done one street and we did. We went to knock on a door that caught my attention. I didnt know but it was actaully an old investigator and my companion knew her. When she went to bring her palmphlet of the restoration, he told me everything and we knew that we were guided by the spirit. It was pretty cool to know that. We started to teach and my companion was talking about prophets. Out of no where my stomach got super queasy and OH MAN it got bad and I needed a bathroom STAT. I listened to my companion and did the potty dance hoping that he would hurry up. It literally was so hard and I HATE doing this but in the middle of his teaching I asked to use the bathroom. She told us that we could not because her parents would get "mad" because we are members of the church. Basically, we cut the lesson and we ran to find a bathroom JAJAJAJA. We said peace out and we took off. I was so mad after because it was an opportunity to teach and we were totally guided by the spirit but everything has a purpose and maybe God needed us to leave. It was pretty hilarious. Elder Rebolledo "Si hermana Los Profetas son guias que tienen autoridad para hablar con Dios y ellos pueden..." Elder Smith "UGHHHH PERDON NECESITO UN BAÑO LO SIENTO." (Elder Robolledo, "Yes Sister, Prophets are guides that have authority to talk with God"...Elder Smith, "Uggh excuse me I need to use the bathroom, sorry" ) But this week and time I have been here there have been many super special moments. I have felt the spirit testify to me that this is the work of God and he knows us. There have been moments when we are with investigadores and I feel a spirit that I have never felt before. This Gospel is super amazing and it changes lives. I love the quote from Jeffrey R Holland about Missionary work and Christ with Peter: What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world.

The work changes lives. It is available to all and it doesnt cost one cent. I love love love seeing changes in people in this work.
I love you all. Please dont forget what matters most. Please read yours scriptures and say your prayers. Dont forget.

Giddy Up
Elder Smith

October 15, 2018

Week 40: I was TRANSFERRED again!

Heyyyyyy guys! I have some crazy news. I am writing you guys from Obregon! I am not in Hermosillo anymore! I was in the office in Hermosillo the other day and President told me "Hey can we talk for a second?" I was like NOOOO WHAT DID I DO. He later told me that we had cambios especiales (special transfers) and that they needed me in Obregon. He called me to be ZONE LEADER. Guys I havent even been out for a year and he called me to be zone leader. i was so honored for the opportunity but I am dead scared at the same time. I am always having changes in the mission and I would ask you all to continue to pray for me it would help a lot. Well, I am here in Obregon AGAIN and the truth is, it feels good to be back. I started here and I have always like Obregon. My area is called Haciendas and we have BIKES. I have never had bikes in my mission so I am stoked. Well this area is pretty close to where I was before so I am already kind of familiar with my sorroundings. Its super crazy because we have 2 weeks in the transfer left and I was transfered out of no where. The truth is it was very hard to leave from Hermosillo because I loved it a lot. But, if Heavenly Father needs me here, I am completely willing to go. I am pretty nervous because I have been put in a leadership position that is pretty hardcore and I could definitely use the prayers.

Other than that, we had a killer week. i have some crazy experiences to share. One of them was that we played soccer as a zone and when we were leaving, we saw one of our old invesitigators that was walking around the park with his son. He stoppped us and he was super stoked to see us. We set up a time to visit them and we went the next day. We had a very beautiful lesson with them and we invited them to be baptized the 27th of October and they accepted. It was super amazing because they were already ready and spiritually humble. Their names are Armando and Guadualupe. the sad thing is that I was leaving but I was so happy that they had accepted to take that important step in their life.

Another story was a couple weeks ago. My companion and I literally had NO money left. I had to take some mony out of my own pocket to pay the rent and power bills and we literally had a couple coins left. One night we were walking home and we were super hungry. I know God knew that we were hungry that night and he blessed us. We looked in our pocket and we had a total of 6 pesos. Thats about 37 cents folks. Thats how poor we were! We walked into the store and looked for what we could buy for 6 pesos (basically nothing). My companion grabbed a bag a rice that was about the size of my fist. We are talking a bowlful. I was thinking it was going to cost 20 pesos or something and we asked the man at the counter how much it costed. He sat thinking for about 5 seconds about the price he was going to put and he said "6 pesos." We left the store surprised and grateful that Heavenly Father let us eat that night. He thinks even about the little things.

The last experience was really cool. We had a baptism yesterday and this one was a fighter. Literally satan did not want this dude to be baptized. His name is Enrique Fierros. He is one man that is very special. He loves to help others and has his own business helping others in need. He met a member of the church in idaho and gave his name to our President who gave the reference to us. At first he was very interested in how the church helps people with tithing. He was baptized and I know he is going to be a bishop someday. He is SUPER big and super cool. We had a great week. I am so grateful for the opportunity that God gave me to baptize him because i almost didnt. With all these changes, I thought I was going to miss my chance. I thank him for the opportunity. I love you guys and keep doing the little things that matter.

Giddy Up

Elder Braedoñ Smith

1/2. Enrique and family

3. Elder Coronado, Enrique, y yo al templo

(no entramos tuvimos una conferencia de estaca)