God and I Are On Pretty Good Terms Right Now!

Hola Hola!

Stefanie writes the funniest letters ever, jaja! From her point of view it sounds like it was a great week.

I didn't have changes! I'm still here in Villa Vieja with Elder Dalgo. This is the first time I've been through three changes with the same companion. But I'm happy about it because he is a great comp to have. And this is my fourth change in Villa Vieja. The last time I stayed through my fourth change, Elder Arteaga and I baptized six people. We're going to beat that! And today our new president arrives. President Hernandez has finished his mission. I respect that guy a whole lot. Just the spirit that he has, it's impressive. And his wife too, they worked hard. But I am also excited to see in what direction our new president will take the mission in the next year. We're going to see some miracles!

I can't believe that Elder Glassett is home now. I love that guy! He was the best trainer ever. We had good times, and we worked hard. He really has had a huge influence on me as a missionary. That is awesome that you got to go to his homecoming. And it's good to hear that you met Elder Lewis and he is getting better. I never met him, but maybe he will be able to get back out here someday and I will meet him.

What the heck!?!? Kelsey Hancock isn't marrying Alvaro? Jaja, just kidding, I'm really happy for her! And way to go Caleb Rodabough, turning in those mission papers! I hope you get called to Honduras, Tegucigalpa! Best mission in the world.

We had a baptism this week, this little girl named Kimberly. I love her so much! We found her family and they are members, just inactive. So we taught them all, reactivated her parents and she was baptized yesterday. She's eight years old so it didn't count for the mission, but I love them all so much that I don't even care. It was one of my favorites so far, and it counts in my heart.

Dang, I'm sad that I will miss the Smith family reunion... although it will probably suck without me and Maggie, jaja! I will pray for you to have a safe flight! God and I are on pretty good terms right now, he seems to be listening to me so don't worry!

Don't forget to read the scriptures while you're on your vacation! Sometimes little things like that can throw you off your habit for a long time. Don't let it!

The church is true! I love you guys! Thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Elder Smith

It's a Good Thing That the Church is True!

Hola Hola!

I didn't watch the USA game...but I heard about it from a bunch of members...Portugal scored a goal in the 94th minute. Lame! But it's okay, we still have a chance to advance! And I'm glad to hear that my family is at home supporting my country! I'm there in spirit! I was able to see the Honduras game...very sad...the whole country was disappointed...but it's okay, the world keeps on spinning!

This week was interesting. On Sunday at church this lady had her cell phone stolen out of her purse. So the bishop said that the bus wasn't going to leave until her phone was returned to her... he meant well... but it just ended in everyone accusing everyone else... and it got really ugly. One guy told this other lady that he KNEW that it was her son who stole the cell phone because he saw the kid running around outside when he should have been in Young Men. So the mom started swearing at him and screaming how she was never going to come back to church because he had just accused her. The lady whose phone was stolen was crying, everyone was mad because the bus didn't leave for like 45 minutes. It was just a really bad Sunday. The worst part was that we had investigators watching the whole thing. Our investigator Stacy didn't come to church...which now thinking about it might have been a blessing in disguise. We had another investigator get really mad because the teacher of the Gospel Principles class told her that her baptism wasn't done with correct priesthood authority. All in all it was just a mess. It helped me remember that the church is still very new here in Honduras. Still growing. We have a long way to go. It's a good thing that the church is true!!! haha

This week we have changes. I have been here for three changes, which isn't really a whole lot. But I have two with Elder Dalgo. This could be my second to last day here in Villa Vieja! Changes are always exciting!  I'll keep you posted about what happens. But don't hold your breath... I can't write till next Monday, haha!

I'm glad that you guys had a good week. Glad Stefanie had fun at Youth Conference!  I loved all my Youth Conferences. But the best ones were the ones with my sisters!!

You asked about my companion and my district...Elder Dalgo and I are really good friends. He's super obedient and we work hard. We have had good times together! The other companionships in my district have had their challenges but they are great people. I love them a lot!

Well, that's all for today, I love you guys! Thank you for your prayers, they are felt! Good luck with everything you do this week! And GO USA!!

-Elder Smith

World Cup

Hola Hola!

This week has been interesting! It has been awesome because the World Cup is here! Pretty much the whole country is spending all their time watching every game which is awesome because I love the World Cup!  But at the same time it's really dumb because we can't get much done! Usually our attendence at church is around 200, but this Sunday it was about half that, maybe less. Haha, I love this place!  

I COMPLETELY forgot about Fathers Day... haha, but happy Fathers Day, Dad! I hope you had a great day and that you know I love you! It sounds like you guys had a fun time together.

I would love it if you would send me that CD! I told you it was a good song! I'm sure there are other good songs on the album too! I'm glad you liked it!

I miss running! I am glad that you guys are keeping that alive in the family! Stefanie, way to go!! But don't give up! That's the hardest part at times, and one thing I've learned in the misión. There are a lot of things that take persistence. Every person we meet tells us that they already belong to a church, or they were already baptized. But with a little work and some help from the spirit, sometimes they change their mind! Keep going even when it gets hard!

This week we also had Zone Conference. It was the last one with Presidente Hernández. It was really spiritual! He shared with us his conversión story and a lot of stuff about his past. It was really interesting to hear all the things that have brought him to where he is today. All of the zones prepared musical numbers and we were singing and people were playing instruments. It was a really cool conference!! It will be sad to see him go. I also got to see Elder Glassett for maybe the last time before he goes home. Crazy!

Apart from that it was a pretty normal week. We worked hard, found a lady that got baptized a long time ago and now has two kids. Stacy, her daughter, is twelve-years-old and wants to get baptized! If you could please pray for her it would help us a lot.

Ok, well I hope you have a great week. Enjoy watching all the games...I am jealous, haha! I will be working hard out here so send an extra prayer or two my way. (:

-Elder Smith

I Love My Mission

Hola Hola!!

This week was STRESSFUL! Setting up a wedding is a lot of work! But it all turned out perfectly. They were married on Friday, the next day Glenda was baptized, and on Sunday she was confirmed! As soon as we sat down after the confirmation I realized how much I really love them. And while we were up there on the stand on Sunday with our hands on Glenda's head, I had about two minutes of pure happiness. I love my mission! I am so grateful to be here.

We also got a cell phone this week! It's one of those brick phones that are ancient in the states now, but to us it's like advanced technology from outer space! Haha, it's crazy to be able to call someone on top of the mountain before walking all the way up there to see if they are home. But we forget it at the house about every other day, we're still getting used to it! I am actually kinda bummed about it. I really liked just leaving the house and having no worries except who we were going to teach until we got home. But it's a good thing to have! 

We have zone conference tomorrow, the last one with Presidente Hernandez. That's crazy! I remember getting here and talking with Elder Glassett about how weird it was going to be for me when he went home and when we got a new president and thinking, "That day will never come." And now here it is! That scares me. Because that's exactly what I think about the day my mission will end. I don't want it to come too fast.

I love you guys, I am glad you had a good week too! Keep me posted about all the fun things you do this summer! Dad, listen to the song "The Work". I bet it will bring back some memories of the mission for you!

Love,
Elder Smith

Picacho

Hola Hola!

This week was really boring compared to last week. No gun shots, no car crashes, just a lot of work. But that's ok, it's better that way! This morning on p-day we actually had to go to work! We went with Glenda and Fernando, her esposo, to get their papers for their wedding that is going to be this Friday!! It's going to happen, everything is set and ready. I am super happy! Thanks for all your prayers! Just a little longer!

Other than that, today we went to this place called Picacho, It is a giant statue of Jesus, kinda like in Brazil, just in Honduras…and it was really cool!  There is also a zoo there and zip lines and just a whole bunch of fun stuff to do. It was a fun p-day!

I can't believe that it's already summer. Holy cow, time goes by so fast! I hope you guys all have the best summer ever! Dang it, I'm sad I am going to miss all the fun stuff that you are going to do on your list this summer. But this is the only summer that I will completely miss! So that's not too bad at all. We are actually just starting winter time here. That means that it is going to rain every day for the next six months! Which is cool because its not quite as hot all the time, but at the same time it sucks because we are wet all the time! And even when it's not raining it's HUMID!!!! So you still feel wet from all the sweat... haha, but it's all good. Elder Glassett goes home this month too! That's going to be weird to see my trainer go home!

The World Cup has taken over down here. It is all anyone talks about, all anyone thinks about. It is on every billboard, in every newspaper, on every t-shirt, it's crazy!!! There is so much excitement going around! It is pretty much going to be impossible to avoid it...although my desire to avoid it isn't super strong… haha.  I am really excited! Plus it's pretty easy to start a conversation with anyone in the streets now…

"Hey, what's your name?"
"Jose."
"Cool, who is going to win the World Cup?"

And there you have it. Jose is now your best friend and you can come to his house whenever you want to eat beans and rice and talk about soccer...and the church! It rocks!!

Well, that's really all for this week. Enjoy your first days of summer! Sleep in, go swimming, watch a movie, stay out late! Just make sure you don't take a vacation from reading the scriptures and saying your prayers!

Love Elder Smith