Changes!

Hola Hola!

Changes! I am no longer in Lemón.... I am going to miss that place like crazy. We spent Tuesday saying goodbye to everyone who I have come to know and love there. It was really hard. That night we got the call. I have a new companion, Elder Sorenson. He's from Kearns, Utah and I am officially in Villa Vieja, in Zona Uyuca.

I am also now a District Leader! Elder Henry is in my district! And also Elder Christianson, the guy we met in the airport!

From what I have seen so far, this area is awesome!!! It is straight up a mountain! I hike up and down in between two different mountains all day long.

One is called Brisas de Oriente, and the other is Tierra Blanca. It is a lot of work hiking all day, but it's pretty amazing at the same time! It is situated between three other areas: Los Pinos, Villa Real, And Villa Nueva, and those are three of like the five areas in the mission where Gringos are not allowed to go because it is so dangerous...so my area is apparently pretty sketchy. But Elder Sorenson said nothing ever happens really. But, IT IS SOOO COLD HERE AT NIGHT! and the showers here are so freezing! I hate the cold! haha I had gotten way to used to the heat in Choluteca!

This Sunday was pretty interesting. We went to pick up this lady who got baptized like two weeks ago, but never was confirmed. But she didn't want to go. She was swearing and screaming!  So we left her house and said a prayer asking for a little bit of help. Then out of nowhere, the elder who was here last change called her because he felt like he needed to. He convinced her that she needed to go. And she was confirmed! I actually was part of the circle to confirm her, first time I have ever done that. God hears prayers!

You guys had an Apostle at Stake Conference!?!?!? Dang it! Why does that have to happen while I'm away on the mission? haha He could have waited like two years... but that is really cool! I'm glad you got that opportunity! That is really interesting that he spoke about his experience with assigning missionaries. I'm sure I will someday figure out the reason for me being here in Honduras. I'm just going to work hard until that happens!

I believe this church is true! I hope all of you out there can REALLY say that for yourselves. It is easy to say "I know the church is true" because it's easy to know something...I know 2+2=4, so I never have to think about that ever again. But to really believe in something is hard. It takes commitment, dedication, and mental exertion. Maybe its time for us to evaluate where we are really at in this moment. Alma 5:26.

I'm glad you are all doing OK! I hope you have a great time skiing today, skipping school! You planchers! haha

Love, Elder Smith

I Really Believe that the Lord is Leading This Work

Hola hola!!!

Happy Valentine's Day! A little late but it still counts. Here in Honduras it is called "La Día De Amor Y Amistad" (The Day of Love and Friendship) and it is way less of a deal. But I still hope it was a great day for all of you love birds back there in the States!

Today we went again to the Peña.

I was the only person left in the zone from the first group so it was the second time for me, but the first time for everyone else. It is crazy how fast everything changes! But it is awesome. I really love my zone! I'm sad that I am probably leaving. But at the same time I feel like its time for me to go. We'll find out for sure tomorrow.

If I go or if I stay, it doesn't really matter. I was a little bit hoping for a change last time. However, I am really grateful that I was able to stay here because I have really seen the fruits of all our hard work pay off! We have had baptisms each of the past three Saturdays. This Saturday we baptized Rixi and Oscar!

It was really awesome because Oscar's dad is a member, but really inactive. But when he saw his son get baptized I think something clicked in his head. I hope he is going to find his way back! I really believe that the Lord is leading this work. It's easy to see that He has helped me out personally a ton!

I'm glad to hear that life is good back home! Stefanie is a beast! Dad, I'm sorry that the season wasn't the best, but I know the effect you have had on your players will last much longer. I still remember my times out on the field, course and court!  Plus your JV team kicked butt anyway! Mom, I love the story about your romantic "date" with Dad, Stefanie, Rachel and George, haha that's awesome!

Go USA! I still haven't watched a single Olympic event yet! I probably won't. Snow sports seem kinda like a fantasy here because its so dang hot all the time! I'm SOO sunburned right now! But I still have a lot of patriotism.

One story.  Yesterday we decided to look for new investigators. We were walking to the area that we wanted to contact, and we passed a couple of kids that I had never seen before, which is weird because I've seen everyone in my area. So we knocked on a couple doors but nothing really too promising. Elder Arteaga gets frustrated pretty fast sometimes when contacting (with reason, its hard!) so we decided just to talk to people in the street. We saw this other girl that I had never seen before.  So we talked to her, her name was Gabriela. I asked her if she knew of anyone who would be interested in learning about Jesus Chirst. And she said, "Yeah, my dad!"  So she took us to her house, and there were the kids we had passed earlier! They were her little brothers and sisters! So we talked to the dad for awhile and he really wants to change his life and get away from some of the things that he has been doing! The only thing I can think is that God placed that man's children in our path yesterday so that we could help him come unto Christ!

I really believe that this church is true. I hope you guys all do too. But to believe in something takes work. It is not easy, but it is worth it! I love you all.

Elder Smith

P.S. I also gave a KILLER talk this Sunday! It was a great exclamation mark to my time here!

I Will Remember This Day For the Rest of My Life

Hola, Hola!

This week was an interesting one! Lots of good things, and a couple of bad things too! We´ll start with the bad to get them out of the way.

My camera was stolen!!! I am now cameraless...we are pretty sure we know who took it though, so I still have a little faith of getting it back. But there are a lot of memories in that little thing that mean a lot to me, so I´m praying I will be able to find it! Also, we were threatened at machete point to get out of this guys house! His wife was like, "Elders, come on in!"  But then he was like, "Don't even think about coming in here, you *!#@$%* dang Mormons!"  Haha, we decided to listen to the guy with the sword, so we left. It's kinda sad how strong of a grasp Satan has on the hearts of some people, that they can be so blinded to the truth...but it makes for some good stories sometimes too!

OK, now on to the good! Three of our investigators got baptized and confirmed this week!! I had the opportunity of baptizing two of them! They were my first baptisms, other than when Stefanie, Taelor and I went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. But it was awesome! F******** is amazing and was so happy to be baptized! I will remember this day for the rest of my life.

We have two more baptisms planed for this weekend!  Seeing as how you guys praying for my investigators helped so much this last week, I figured I would ask you to do it again! 

I am seeing and feeling the Lord's help so much lately and I am so grateful for it. I just gotta keep being obedient and working hard! This is probably my last week in my first area, changes are a week from Wednesday. I want to leave this place knowing I did all I could for these people! Changes also means that some missionaries are going home. Elder Reyes and Hermana Estrada are both finishing their missions. Its crazy how little time it takes to become such good friends with people! I really feel like I have known them for my whole life! But after this week I might never see either one of them ever again. Crazy! But that's the mission I guess. 

Thanks for the messages, Dad and Stefanie! It's always good to hear from you guys! Stef, Brother Peck taught at the high school last year! He's a very good seminary teacher, you are lucky to be in his class. Keep working hard in school!  Dad, yeah we're working hard! I hope you start feeling better!

I love you guys! I hope you have a good week. Remember to read the scriptures and say your prayers! It helps a lot. The church is true! I believe that more and more every day. Thank you for your prayers, they really are felt. 

Love, Elder Smith

P.S. I didn't even know the Olympics were going on until today! haha That's kinda depressing...

We Had A Baptism!

Hola Hola!

So, big news! For the first time in my mission, the first two columns of my agenda dats sheet weren't 0 and 0!!! That's right, people! We had a baptism! (: His name is E****, he's eleven-years-old, and he is best friends with a couple of kids from the ward. So one day we started teaching him. We asked him to get baptized for the first time a long time ago, but his dad was really against it because he had already been baptized when he was a baby. But with a lot of prayers and fasting, a little biblical explaining, a bunch of faith and a little help from God, he got permission from his dad to get baptized! Elder Arteaga did it because it is my calling to make him the best missionary ever, and maybe if he gets in the habit of baptizing now it will just kinda stick, haha! I am really happy about it. He's a great kid. I can already see him passing the sacrament, preaching the gospel with a name tag on his chest, and entering in the temple to get sealed for eternity to his wife! Gosh, this church is true!

We have three more baptisms planned for this weekend, a girl named S******, her brother D*****, and an old lady named F*********. I love S****** so much! She reminds me so much of you, Stefanie!  She's a really cute girl and that usually means trouble for girls down here in Honduras. So we're trying to get her away from the ugly things of this world before they ruin her life! Her brother D***** quit drinking coffee the very first time we told him it was bad and hasn't had another sip since! He's so pilas! And F********* is this sixty eight year old widow who has outlived two of her three kids. When we shared with her the message of the Plan of Salvation she started crying because her pastor had told her that she would never see her husband or kids again. I have a ton of love for each one of them and I would really appreciate a few extra prayers for them this week! (:

I also went to Tegus again this week to take out my residency. I am now officially a legal resident of Honduras! (: But the three hour bus ride there and back is not worth it.  But I saw Elder Glassett while I was there, I love that guy! I also got to see almost all of the Elders from my group! I really think there is something special about our little group. My zone leader, Elder Elggren went with me to take out his residency as well, and he gave a Captain Moroni-like speech on the bus ride back! haha He is a great missionary and I hope I can do as much for this country and people as he has!

Ok, that's about it for this week! Gosh dang it, Broncos! Good work on the court, Dad! Stefanie, good luck at nationals! Rachel and George keep being the best newly married couple ever! And Mom, keep being the best Primary president anyone could ask for! You helped me turn out alright, so the more influence you have on those kids the better!

Love, Elder Smith