Called to Serve in the Honduras, Tegucigalpa mission. July 2013-July 2015

Called to Serve in the Honduras, Tegucigalpa mission.  July 2013-July 2015
"I love my mission! I am so grateful to be here!." ~Elder Smith

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

La Ciudad de Mexico Temple

!Hola Hola!
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     Today started off a little differently than most P-days! We woke up half an hour early to get to breakfast and then got on a bus that took us halfway across La Cuidad de México to the temple!!! Oh man it was such a good experience! The temple is beautiful. Plus it was fun just to get off campus for once. We did an endowment session in Spanish! It was definitely interesting, and hard to understand at times. But the spirit was so strong! I loved every second of it!

    This week we had some interesting things happen. So on Wednesday Elder Anderson rolled his ankle. It was a little swollen and he said it hurt a lot, so we gave him a blessing. When we woke up in the morning he said it was still hurting. We went to the doctor's office and he asked for a wheel chair.... haha but he was fine. Then at one point during the day, we came to a flight of stairs, and there wasn't a ramp nearby, so Elder Anderson picked up his wheel chair, walked it down the stairs, set it down, walked around it and sat back down!!! It was so funny!!!!

     This week has had some really good things too. We taught an actual investigator on Thursday. It was awesome. That was the first time that I felt the actual don de lenguas, or gift of tongues, in my teaching so far! Everything that I wanted to say was coming out so easily and so smoothly. It was great, and I think it was because I really cared and wanted the investigator to know that the things that I was telling him were true! I have to remember to teach people, not lessons. Another good thing that happened was that the first generation of missionaries left this week. They are all great people with a lot to offer and I know they are going to make big differences out there. But with them leaving, there was a hole to fill as zone leaders. My companion and I were called in on Sunday morning and made the new zone leaders! It is a big job but I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve! I have to give a 10 minute lesson every Sunday, entirely in Spanish!!! But I know as long as I prepare well, the Spirit will help me out.

     Last night we had a really cool opportunity! We went into the auditorium for our usual previously recorded devotional. But we were surprised to find out that that night we were going to be listening to the first ever live broadcast to all the MTCs around the world! Elder Richard G. Scott gave an AMAZING talk on prayer. It was so spiritual! I honestly think that that talk was meant for me specifically.  Earlier in the day Hermano Klabacka, our teacher, had invited us all to do a self evaluation on Christ-like attributes. My lowest score was in the section under prayer. So earlier that day I wrote in my journal, "I need to have more sincere prayers. I feel like a lot of times I'm just going through the motions and not getting anything out of it." And then that very night Elder Scott gives the most powerful talk on how to have sincere, personal, meaningful, heartfelt prayers! I know it was my Father in heaven reaching out to me, trying to strengthen our relationship. And I'm so grateful for that.

Ok, For your questions:
1) How is your Spanish coming along? It is the first question everyone asks when they ask about you!
SPANISH IS HARD!!! But I am definitely improving and starting to use it more. The hard part is that you can say one word with like 15 different endings and it means a different thing. But I am improving. (:
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2)  Have you run into anyone you know at the MTC? 
Yesterday I saw Elder Parker Ballard dragging his suitcase off the bus! I ran over to him and gave him the biggest hug!!! haha He is such a stud. Along with him Elder Jacob, and Elder Gabe Honieky (or however you spell it!) are here, an Elder named Trevor Buck, and this other kid that I know went to my high school but I can't remember his name are all here! Parker also told me that Jordan Peck is coming next week! And then there are some people that I recognize but don´t know very well.  Dad, Tanner Mangnum--the kid from Idaho who is going to play QB for BYU in a couple of years--is in my building! 

3)  Have you spent any money or tried to use your debit card? 
I used it once, they gave us a card right when we got here, and they put 100 pesos on it every week. (which is about 9 dollars.) so I mostly use that! 

     I loved getting mail from you guys! I will try to write back, but its hard to find time! I GOT YOUR COOKIES YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE SOOOO GOOOD!!! I LOVE YOU!!! Oh, and also, will you send me some stamps? I have to buy like 3 from the Tienda to be able to send one letter and that's like 50 pesos!
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     Yo se que La Iglesia De Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ültimos Días is verdadero. Yo se Que Jesucristo es nuestros Salvador, y El es la solo camino podemos volver a Dios. Yo se que con fe, nada es imposible.  
(Translation:  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He is the only way we can return to God.  I know that with faith, nothing is impossible.)


With love,
Elder Smith
This is my district in front of the temple, and a sweet selfie.

Another picture of the temple, and we got some new roommates! 

1 comment:

  1. To Braden or Janeal or whomever will read this. Braden you are a great writer! I love reading your letters. You remind me very much of Steven, confident, funny, spiritual, smart. Anyway, awesome letters. Thank you Janeal for posting and letting us read! Braden you are amazing, keep up the good work!
    Love, Amy

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