CARLOS' DREAM

Man! I loved to hear from all of you! Well almost all! HAHA I loved the pictures as well and hope you had a Happy Birthday Dad! Random fact, T Swift’s bday is the same day as yours, so it was only right that you bought her album! Haha but it sounds like the ward party was a success! Good work! As well, tell Preston CONGRATZ!  I got an announcement from them and I really appreciated it. As well tell Art that I LOVED the email. He always has been a "reminiscing kinda guy" if that’s the right word haha! And Alex, you’re gonna tear it up in B-ball bud! Just stick with it! And I didn't here any news from Romeo, but I hope all is well with Kenzie!

So I have a ton to tell you so listen good :)

First off, Carlos and Margy PASSED THEIR INTERVIEWS! They will be baptized next Sunday!!!! A CHRISTMAS BAPTISM! I am sooooooooooo excited and so proud of them! They are doing so well! It has been an amazing week this last week with them and so many miracles that led up to their interviews. I can’t remember if I told you but they have made huge changes in their lives. The night we taught the Word of Wisdom Margy just walked to her kitchen and took out all the coffee and just QUIT! Like nothing! But we had an amazing experience yesterday. While Margy was in her interview, we were showing Carlos all the pictures on the walls of the temples and explained a little about the temple. Then he noticed a painting of Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. He was just lost in it and wasn't speaking. He started to tear up and said, “After my Mom died, I had a dream of her standing under this tree. In my dream I tried to walk to her but I got lost...then I couldn’t get past these force fields.” And he pointed to the painting at the arches that symbolized baptism, the Holy Ghost, and the temple. He asked what they were and we explained them to him. Then he just looked at us and said, "This is it guys!!!"  It was pretty amazing!

But the bad news is that Elder Porter will be leaving tomorrow and I get a new companion. I have the 1 transfer curse. I haven't been with a companion longer than 1 transfer since my trainer!  But it’s been good. I’ve learned a lot, but will miss Elder Porter. My next companion will be my first native, so I’m excited. He's a big boy and a super good missionary! ELDER SANCHEZ!

So now funny story! So first off there are always police cars and ambulances just buzzing in Robstown! haha But I took another Elder, Elder Quezada, on an exchange for the day and we were on bikes. This cop buzzes his little siren and pulls us over!! He then pulls passed us and into his radio I hear him say, "Two white males on bikes..I’m gonna need backup." And I’m like, FLIP! haha So he pulls over and gets out and asked us to get off our bikes. He then goes on to tell us to put our hands on the front of his car, and as he does this he's explaining that the "backup" is a brand new cop that’s a little bit gung-ho about arresting people and searching people. So he is gonna play a joke on the new guy and have him search us! haha So we were up against the hood of this car and people are like looking at us from their porches and I’m super worried knowing everyone is seeing us thinking we are getting arrested. Then the backup pulls up and jumps out of the car and is freaking out. He says, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??” And the prankster is like, “They got drugs in the backpacks...search them!!” And he's like "NO WAY, THOSE ARE JEHOVAH WITNESSES, MAN!! And I look at him and I was like, “WOW, BACK UP THE TRUCK, MAN!!! WE ARE MORMONS!!” haha and the other cop just busts up laughing!!! haha So, long story short, we escaped, with clean records, and a little bit better sense of humor!

Well we are excited for Christmas!! IT’S coming right up! Will wait to hear from you about the call, but know that I love you all and I pray you all have a great week!!

LOVE YOU BYEE!!!!

Elder Smith

I LOVE BEING HERE AND THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!

SOOO good to hear from all of you and to see the great pictures! I’ve decided that it will take a lot more that a broken tooth to take away the handsome from GPA! What a champ. As well i laughed super hard at the pics of your christmas party mom and all the others. I’m glad to know that Chan is doing well and having fun. Stay in school... haha And I wasn't surprised a bit to hear that Jake was called into the bishopric. He is a stud. Tell him I love him and their whole family. As well, I hope Teegan gets feeling better. He's now part of the broken bone club! Hello to all the Grandparents, Jay and everyone else! I Love you all! I sent a whole pack of Christmas cards, Mom so hopefully you got it and you can hand them out to everyone! THANKS!

So it’s getting COLD down here!!! Nothing like up there, but I’ve turned into a wimp!! I hate the cold haha! I sleep in sweats and a sweatshirt every night! It does feel like Christmas is coming though. Finally! Just no snow. I keep praying though. Everyone is all geared up for Christmas and we have put up a lot of lights. In our apartment and as well for all the people that we catch outside. Seriously we have to go and catch them!

It definitely isn't the valley (McAllen, San Benito, Brownsville) up here. They call it The Great White North, but still the majority of the people are hispanic. The only problem is, they won’t speak Spanish with us. My Spanish is suffering and all I’ve learned since I got up here is the word Y’ALL. It’s already taking over.

I love it up here though. Robstown is quickly becoming HOME to me and I love the people here. It’s a super rough place and hard to see during this time of the year when not many will have the same Christmas experience that you or me usually have. But none the less it’s still in the air.

We are looking forward to some pre Christmas baptisms with Carlos and Margie the family we have been teaching They are doing so well and are feeling super comfortable at church already. Keep them in your prayers. They are a really special family to us. As well Linda, our RC, is already running the ward. I’ve never met such a tender heart and she got her first calling (missionary meals coordinator) Works for us :) She is an angel.

So this week was pretty crazy. We talked to ALOT of unique people this week. A lot of which didn't take a liking to us. We got grilled for going by the name ELDER. This guy knew a ton about the scriptures and totally roasted us for being called Elder. He rudely informed us that he was a TRUE Elder and that you had to be married and old to be and Elder. And all I could say was, "well....we have badges." haha just just kidding. It’s good to get picked on a little bit every once and a while. Just harder to hold back the smart alec remarks. :) Luckily I’ve never had a problem with that, haha!

We even had an old like 80 year old lady sick her dogs on us haha! I had to jump in the back seat as Elder Porter drove away. It was very humbling. The good news is, there’s never a dull moment in Robstown. And we always drive away laughing. I love being here and am so excited for this Christmas season. It really is something even more special when we really use it for what it’s for. And at this time even more that usual, my testimony is strengthened, tested, and strengthened some more, that Jesus is the Christ, and our Savior, and that He loves us. I love you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful week. Be safe and smart and I will talk to you soon!

BYE!!!!!

I KNOW IT'S TRUE. . .AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!

I’ve got a ton too tell you all today haha! So we will see how fast I can type. First off, I LOVE YOU ALL! I loved your emails and appreciated the pictures and stories. Especially about Alex. Man that kid... What a stud!  And Chan and Kenzie... YOU’RE BOTH STUDS:). My plan has come together perfectly haha!! So Mom, I did get my memory card back and I’ll send you the other one for Christmas. As well, I just got your Hawaii package and it was great! THANK YOU sooo much.

I’m glad to hear that you are all ready for Christmas. Last night we got invited to go to the stake president’s house to watch the devotional and it was amazing. Amazing the things you can learn when you actually listen to those, right? :)  I thought a lot of Dad when President Eyring spoke about the barometer that didn't work. That’s nothing compared to the incidents that we've had haha!!! But our apartment looks pretty festive as well! Too bad we don’t spend much time there haha! We have been soooo busy! We were down in Mcallen on Thursday and Friday for a ZL conference, then a big mission tour with the whole mission and a General Authority from the 70 came. It was super super good. I got to see everyone and hear what’s been going on with all of my families!  On Tuesday and Wednesday I was in a small town called Alice on an exchange and it was super good. I got to work with a super great elder who is really new and he whipped me into shape. I always learn the most from the young missionaries. But it was a pretty crazy week and we didn't have a ton of time to work, but with the time we did have, we found some great people and had some awesome lessons. On the exchange we found a super prepared family and they spoke puro espanol! It was the biggest blessing I received here haha! I LOVE teaching in Spanish.

So the cool story for this week...

Linda was confirmed on Sunday and it was super spiritual. She was in tears, like always haha she is a super spiritual lady. But she went and sat down and testimony meeting starts...next thing I know Linda's up at the pulpit... She gave probably the most powerful testimony I have heard on my mission. She spoke of how she was lost and praying for help, and the Elders randomly knocked on her door, while she was praying. She shared her whole conversion and then said, "And that is why I am here. And so I’m here today to testify that God is our loving father. That Jesus Christ is MY Savior, and that Joseph Smith was his chosen prophet to guide this church. AND I KNOW THAT IT’S TRUE."

I looked at Elder Porter and we both had tears running down our cheeks.  IT rocked my world... and THAT is why I’M here.

There is just WAY too many blessing that come from the gospel. I know I was never too good at math, but counting them almost seems just impossible. I Love this... I love every minute and I love you all too:) 

I hope you have an awesome week and I will talk to you soon!

CON MUCHO AMOR!

Elder Smith

THANKSGIVING WEEK OF MIRACLES

YA BUNCH OF BEACH BUMS!

Looks like ya had a great week in Mexico! So good to see the pictures and know that you are all home safe. I was worried about you being there haha! It’s pretty ugly on this side of Mexico. Looks like Alex took one for the team from a sting ray. OUCH! haha hopefully he didn't cry like me and Chan did.  I’m so glad you had a great Thanksgiving together and that we have such an awesome family to celebrate it with. We had an awesome Thanksgiving here. We ate at like 4 different houses and it wrecked us! Haha By the last house we were both walking so gingerly and we felt like the Grinch in the ‘Chair of Cheer’. Everyone was shoving food into our mouths. Haha Luckily no one threw up and died. We ate with a young family early in the day. The Flores family se llama and the wife is from Utah and the guy is from Tamulipas Mexico, so the live smack dap in the middle. They are an awesome family with a lot of young kids. One 13 year old named Alejandro. Reminds me of my Alejandro! But it was super good. We as well taught a couple great lessons that day which made us feel a little better about not wasting time.

So this was a super great week full of a lot of miracles. First off yesterday Linda got baptized, which was awesome. She is going to be a great member of the church. As well, we found an awesome new couple who came yesterday for the first time and loved church. We had an amazing church tour lesson with them on Saturday and we had them kneel down and ask God if they should be baptized. They both received super strong answers and are super connected. I love them. As well we have been working with the family in a homosexual relationship. Man I love that family. The 2 girls are such good girls. Just so confused. We had some "throw downs" (we call them) this week and we are just praying for a miracle with them. I have never had to be so bold before on my mission. It’s such a tender subject. But please keep them in your prayers.

Another cool experience we had (hopefully I didn't already tell this last week) We were working and it was dark outside. We went by a less active’s and they weren't there so we were walking back to the car and saw this lady out smoking, and I thought "NAH..." and walked right passed. But of course by the time I got in and turned on the car the Spirit had wracked me with guilt haha. So I looked at Elder Porter and he's like, "I know...I feel it too." So we got back out and walked back to her. As we approached her she looked nervous and surprised. But as we talked with her, we realize why God sent us back. Her dad had passed away just 3 days earlier. She had just gotten home from his funeral, and she was pretty scared that God actually sent someone haha... Who knows what will come of it but it’s good to know that our Heavenly Father’s always in control.

So all in all I’m loving my new area. This is the first "on the ball" ward that I have served in. Well actually the first ward period. But it works so well. We have an AWESOME bishop named Bishop Nelson, who reminds me a lot of Dad, just not as studly. But he's great. I got a blessing from him last night and he said just what I needed to hear.

But this week we will be down in Mcallen for a ZL Conference and then something called the mission tour where a General Authority comes to the mission. It will be fun but stressful. We are super excited. But that’s it for this week. I hope you are all in the Christmas Spirit, We definitely are! So don’t be mad if I spend a little dough today on some Christmas lights haha. I can’t go through this time of year without them!

I love you all and hope you know how much I love you! Be SAFE! LES QUIERO!

Elder Smith

OH ROBSTOWN

Hey party animals! You guys gotta stay outta the sun! It seems like that’s all you do anymore!!! haha Just kidding I’m super happy you get to have some relax time from work and school and the strenuous dating schedules some of you are on. HAHA! Thank you all for your emails and the pictures! I’m glad you got to fly the Texas flag for my one year. WE had a fun time here. Thank you to Chan and Kenzie for their emails. You guys are the best! Man, so there is so much to tell you all.

I’ll start with Robstown. Robstown is like the Ghetto Gotham city of Texas haha! A lot of missionaries say its the worst of one of the worst in the whole mission. A lot of.....things of the world around and lots of temptations all over. A tough place to raise kids for sure. It’s a super poor place as well and we cover a lot of country area about 15 to 20 miles each way of Robstown. Our zone is super spread out. Everyone lives like an hour or more away from us, except for one other companionship that lives in our apartment. We are surrounded by fields and I don’t think the sun has shined since I got here. It’s actually been pretty chilly. There’s like no Spanish here and I am always looking for people that speak it. I’m super worried about maintaining it and I may leave hear saying y'all. Its pretty "Texas". This week it has kept me on my toes. I’ll tell you a funny story at the end.

My companion’s name is Elder Porter from Ogden. He is a STUD! haha We have a ton of fun together and it’s a super new thing to be with a companion that knows what’s going on. It’s super cool and we had an awesome week. He's a tall kid. Like 6’ 4” and is hilarious.  I’ll send you a picture soon. But all is well here in Robstown.

We have a bunch of great peeps that we are working with, one of which is getting baptized next sunday. As well we are teaching a family of 4, but the problem is, there’s 2 moms. They are both sooo sweet and we are working hard to help them be baptized. As well, we found a "great" lady on Thursday that was so sweet and we set BD’s with her and her 2 kids. The next day we came and she had bought us doughnuts and was just loving us, at first. We had brought a young couple with us and we prepped them for the lesson. But I guess we didn't realize how strong Catholic this investigator was, because we started teaching about how we shouldn't pray to saints and she got pretty upset. And the member would not leave it alone. He just kept harping on it and she began to raise her voice and the member raised his as well. He was just trying to relate to her, but she felt pretty offended. We kept jumping in but they were going at it and the wife of the member (who hadn't said a word the whole time) just shot Elder Porter the "Holy Crap" look and the investigator saw it and freaked. She asked "IS SOMETHING FUNNY?" And the sweet little member’s like “no...” and then the investigator just starts screaming "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?? GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!! And just flies off the handle. There was screaming and crying and me and Elder Porter are trying to hold it together but it got bad. She screamed at them until they left and they she kept telling us to leave. We stayed by the door and tried to apologize, but it didn't work to well. She wasn't mad at us, but was furious at the member. It was crazy. We felt soo bad and apologized to the members and she was just out in the car bawling. She is just a super innocent, sweet lady and it broke her heart. We felt super bad.

And all Elder Porter could say was, “WELCOME TO ROBSTOWN” haha. It has been a wild week but I love it here. It’s keeping me busy and on my toes. But as well there hasn't been much time where we haven't been smiling. It’s funny how happy you can be in such a sad place. We've seen it in the members as well. The gospel just makes us happy. What a blessing.

Well I hope you have fun in Mexico. Don’t get stung by stingrays of scammed by the beach venders. They’re sly as a fox. Haha I love you all! Be SAFE and have fun!! BYEEE!

Elder Smith

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE COMFORT ZONE AND NO COMFORT IN THE CHANGE ZONE!

Sounds like a lot of fun this week! I’m so glad that you guys had fun in Hawaii, you bums! haha I hope you got to enjoy your birthday Mom and I have birthday letters that should be there by now! Hope you get/like them! It’s all I could find! And Chan, I’m glad you had a great week of shinanigans! Sounds like a lot of fun. Kenz is an AWESOME girl! And I am glad that the kids got to send a week with the Rammell’s and the Young Republicans! haha! You can imagine how much I have to hold my tongue around all these Utah boys since the election haha! Dad ingrained more in me than I even realized! Or corrupted me (however you wanna look at it haha!)

So, pretty crazy week! Super humbling week, too. We spent Tuesday through Thursday in McAllen for leadership training, which was so good. I love being able to spend time with the Trayners and we always go home with sore stomaches because President always keeps us laughing. At the end of training I was informed that once again I would be taken away from my child in training. I’m being transferred once again. My stay seemed so short here in San Benito. But I was super humbled because President told be I would be heading up to Robstown to be a Zone Leader. You can search it on a map, but I guess it’s up above Corpus. So I’m saying my farewells to Spanish, at least for now.  I always feel like right when you feel like you kinda got ahold of one thing, things get changed. And it seems that you always feel insignificant or not up to the task. But I think the Lord enjoys keeping us in that change zone. There’s not change in the comfort zone and no comfort in the change zone. So tomorrow morning I’ll be taking a group of "youngies" in the transfer van up to the great north. So wish me luck haha! I’m super excited!

So the bad news for this week is that Dulce fell through yesterday on the day of her interview. And it broke my heart. She had such a strong testimony, but just fell back into the things of the world. And it’s super hard to understand how people can receive answers from God and go against them. But I’m sure the Lord would ask me the same question. But it hurt to see her fall off. It was pretty amazing though because her brother and sister in law, who I taught, told me that in January they would be able to get baptized and told me that one day they will go to the temple and want me to be there. That would mean the world to me. But it always is such a testimony builder when you get to hear their testimony. They are the best.  So that’s about it for this week; Ups and Downs always. But it just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have them. Haha I love being here and I am so scared of time now. I pray that it slows down, and that you all stop praying for it to speed up! You can’t afford it either! I love you all and hope you have a great week! And Mom....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! TE QUIERO Y ESPERO QUE SEPAS QUE SIEMPRE ESTOY PENSANDO EN TI! LOVE YOU!!

BYEEE!!!!

"WHAT I NEED IS DISCIPLES...FOREVER...SOMEONE TO DEFEND MY FAITH"

HELLO EVERYONE!!

So great to hear from you all and see pictures of the family!(and Kenzie) haha Looks like a blast up in Yellowstone! Glad you got to go up there and I’m glad Bart’s in hunting school. Now when are Dad and the boys gonna learn? haha jk! You can take the old Remington pump. She’s got the dried blood of some Osgood rabbits on her. It looks like the weather is really changing there and suprisingly, it is a little bit here too. The mornings are a little chillier and you can feel that change in the air. I’m just looking forward to Christmas so all the Mamas can break out tamales. I love tamales.

So, I haven’t asked in awhile how is Addi’s arm doing? How are Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy? Tell them thank you so much for the letters. As well, Uncle Paul and Aunt Nene. I hope they are doing well. And JAY as well! I hope he got the mowers winterized!!! haha So good to hear from all of you.

So I’ll write short so I can write Chan. Sorry if this is too short!!

This week has gone by way too fast. Yesterday Joey got confirmed and is on his way to the Priesthood at the end of this month. He is so great, I love his family. They are super country and Sister Montez always prides herself on being redneck. I LOVE THEM! Yesterday she leaned over and began to hassle me about bearing my testimony in Sacrament so I got up and took a  few minutes. She followed right after me and bore such a sweet testimony. At one point she said, "Since I was baptized, I have had the hardest year of my life, full of problems, sicknesses, and surgeries...but I would not take back this new life I have for anything!" She carries the whole family on her back and she is such a great mom. And I hope that even when things get really tough, we can be steadfast and immovable like Sister Montez. And I hope you meet them someday soon. And they’re like our only members that you can talk to because everyone else speaks Spanish haha!!

So Dulce is doing well. She got her interview put back because she still has some doubts, but we pray that she will be ready this Sunday. Please keep her in your prayers.

This week I’ve been thinking a lot on the talk that Elder Holland gave in conference. Hit me pretty hard and I hope you have been able to watch it again on the website. He spoke of the remaining 11 apostles after Christ’s death and resurrection. How after their time with the Savior during his ministry, after seeing all those miracles, and being a personal witness of Christ, they could return to their "former lives" and things of the world. And the question that Christ asks in Elder Holland’s words is "Did my life not touch you more deeply than this?" That’s the question I have had on my mind. Did his life not touch us more. Did the life he freely gave for us really CHANGE us? And I’ve thought of the changes he has made in my life and in the lives of our family. I know that the Savior has touched us deeply. And it does everyday. So i would echo the words of Elder Holland who echoed those of Christ: "WHAT I NEED IS DISCIPLES... FOREVER... SOMEONE TO DEFEND MY FAITH.” So I thank you all for showing me how to be a disciple of our Savior. And I would say, “Just keep on keepin’ on family:)”

I love you all so much and I miss you and enjoy hearing from you every week. I hope all is well and you have a wonderful week. Take care and be good!!!!

JOEY GETS BAPTIZED!

Hey everyone! 

So good to hear from you this week! I loved your emails and your pictures. Especially the one of Jake and Brit in their Halloween costumes. HAHA, made me laugh pretty good. I’m guessing that Jake came up with that?? haha.

So first off Chan, YOU GOTTA RISK IT TO GET THE BISCUIT BOY! Do not procrastinate the day of repentance or it will be TOO LATE! We are all praying for you here haha! So it sounds like Dad is adjusting well to his double life as Bishop Lawyer Smith. I knew you would Dad. Proud of you!  And I can’t believe you guys are going to Hawaii! That’s awesome!

So we had a pretty up and down week. BAPTISM weeks are always pretty crazy! So first off, this week we could not find a single soul to teach. We literally talked to soooo many people this week and taught not a single one. Pretty rough.

But the great news was that yesterday Joey was baptized. He was SOO ready and it meant the world to his Mom. The sad part is that the mission is really struggling right now. Not many baptisms at all. So we were VERY blessed to have been able to have taught Joey. My little boy, Elder Hobbs, got to get in the water for the first time and I was so proud of both of them. They did great. The thing that touched my heart was after the baptism our branch President got up (President Goodman) who is a STUD-MUFFIN, and started asking Joey questions in front of everyone. He said, “This is all great Joey, but WHY? What does this even mean??? Why did you do this?? What does all this even lead to?”

 Oh man pressures on.

Joey just looked at him and said, "I did it to be cleansed of my sins and get the Holy Ghost."

Phew!

Then Pres. Goodman asks again, “WHERE DOES THAT LEAD?”

Again I was trying to remember if we had gotten that far with him haha!

“TO THE PRIESTHOOD.” Joey says.

2 FOR 2!!

“And then what?” President Goodman asks.

And Joey looks at him and says without hesitation, "I’m going to be a missionary!"

TOUCHDOWN!! haha!

And I realized really how great his faith really is. And how he's willing to follow God the rest of his life. I hope we can have the faith of Joey to let the gospel change our lives. . I know it has and is changing mine. 

I am so blessed to be here and so happy to finally break that “Sanny B - Baptism Barrier” that I’ve been facing since I’ve been here. The Lord really blessed us with Joey. And we are so blessed to have witnessed the Spirit work in his life and to have been a part of the change that the Lord is making in him.

Well that’s all the time I have for today. Sorry for the short email but I hope you all know how much I love you!! You’re the best!!! And I pray that you have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! We will be studying Spanish and handing out candy on Wednesday night! I’ll think of all of you!! BYE!!!!

ALL IS WELL IN THE SLUMS OF SAN BENITO

Man, thank you for all your emails. So good. Sounds like a great week for everyone. . . except Bart, haha. I remembered my favorite line from Marley and Me. I’ll let you decide which part it is haha! Sounds like an amazing week for all of you. Dad, I’m super proud of you and so grateful for your example. You are going to do so well. Those kids are super lucky to have you as their Bishop. Man those pictures you sent of me are out of control! That one of my wisdom teeth brought back a lot of memories. haha Super funny. As well, some evidence of all the times I goofed around while Dad did all the work. I’m sorry Dad haha!

So first off, Rose and Addi need to stop growing up! That picture makes me sick haha! I can’t even believe how old they look. And Chan, I hope you can land one of these girls. I feel as if you’ve been doing the old "Uncle Kelvin touch and go" haha! Whether it’s on purpose or the landing just didn’t feel quite right, we no not. But keep trying!! haha!

So this was a pretty crazy week! It went by way too fast. I feel like I just emailed yesterday and my fingers haven’t even recuperated. We had a great week here. I feel like we are on that up hill after a downhill of trials. J. Montez passed his baptismal interview and will be baptized this Sunday!! I’m so proud of that kid. He is soo excited. It really has touched me because his Mom was the only one that joined the church and the dad was soo mad. He didn't support her at all and when the first kid wanted to get baptized the dad wouldn't let him. But Sister Montez just stayed active and kept praying and finally her husband softened his heart. So Joey will be her second son of age to be baptized. Now there’s just one more!! But it’s amazing to see her loving prayers for her family being answered. She is sooooo happy.

As well, to update on Dulce, she is coming to church and still progressing for the 11th. But had a little bit of a bad experience at church. Someone had said something inappropriate (one of the teenagers) and she was really offended and at the end of church she ask me a question that just broke my heart. She said, "Don’t they teach the children here how to respect their parents?" It really hurt me. I thought of all the times that I haven't respected my parents. Even though I knew that I should. But it really made me sad to know that someone felt that way at church. It really made me realize how careful we need to be with the things we say. People expect a lot from even the least of us. But we have a FHE with her tonight, so hopefully all will be well.

I feel the Lord is really blessing us and I am so grateful for those blessing. My Verdecito is doing great. He is getting better at the Spanish and I’ve been trying to help him talk more. I’ve developed the bad habit of talking a lot. That’s kinda how people are down here, haha, but for some reason in Spanish I just talk way too much. But I’m working on it and he's doing great. He's a great missionary and I’ve got high hopes for him. He comes from great stock haha! (Elder Stevens) But all is well here in the slums of San Benito. We are happy, healthy, and very blessed and I love you all so much. Take care and have a great week!!!

Love Elder Smith

HOPE I CAN STAY HERE IN LITTLE MEXICO A LOT LONGER!

Man, Jay is so right! We do have blessed lives. I was so happy to see all those pictures! Especially those of my little playboy brother (haha, just kidding Chan)! It sounds like things are going so great. That picture of the dogs made me smile as well. I’m so happy to see that Blake is doing well and Bart, tambien. I love that girl haha and it looks like she’s already got her winter fat thing going on. That’s my girl! How is Addi girl’s arm? I’ve been worried about her. It looks like things are cooling off up there. The only thing that changes here is the decorations, haha. It’s still pretty hot. But you can just feel it in the air. Such a pretty time of year. I wanted to say hello to all the family, the grandparents and Jay. And as well, thank the Jones again for the package. I’ve got a letter headed their way.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would talk about this week. Not too much happened. Joey is looking super great for the 28. He is LOVING the Book of Mormon! We set up his army guys to play out the story of Nephi and Laban, haha. Got a little too into it and tore of the head of the bazooka guy. But we are super proud of him. Minerva and Ramiro talked to our Branch President this week and found out they won’t be able to get married without serious problems. So it’s not looking too good for them. At least not while I’m here. It’s hard sometimes when the Lord sends you to these people and you just fall in love with them. And then the world can be such a road block. But my perspective really changed with this family. Before I would get so frustrated because I would only think of myself but now I just want them to make it..someday. I feel super strongly that this family will be to the temple someday. Some of the strongest testimonies and biggest changes I’ve seen on my mission. They are really great. And they have super cute but crazy kids, too haha. Then Sister Dulce still has a date for November 11th and she is doing super well. We are still very excited about her. So keep her in your prayers. These people mean so much to me,.

Things have been pretty crazy since Elder Hobbs got here. Our area is pretty much all Spanish and so it’s been a test for him. And for me! I’ve had to really show faith and give him the opportunity to talk and teach and testify. But he is learning a lot.  I always say I wish we were in Mexico. haha I get super frustrated when people speak English to us. It’s weird, but I get pretty intimidated by English speakers after teaching in all Spanish. So hopefully I can stay here in Little Mexico for a lot longer. I really do love it. 

But I am also so grateful for the trials that the Lord gives us to help us grow.

So, Mom about your question, I am feeling totally fine:) We are all happy and are seeing a lot more success now. We feel as if we are finally getting out of the slump we’ve had and it’s such a blessing to have these great people to teach. All is well.

I’m kinda at a short of words today, but I just want all you to know how grateful I am to be here. I’ve been reflecting a lot because of how fast the time is going. I’m not a young missionary anymore and it makes me sick as the days fly by. This really has changed my life. I would not take it back for anything. But I want you all to know, and especially Alex, because I think about him a lot, that I could never thank the Lord enough for this mission. And I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful family you are. I love you all so much and pray you have a wonderful week.  Love you all! Elder 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM TEXAS ROSE! LOVE YA!

HEISMAN TROPHY FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS!

Thank for your emails! Sorry it took so long to email this week! We had a lot going on haha! Sounds like you guys had a great week and Chan had a good birthday. So glad to hear it. I loved the pictures as well. Looks like Chan has a great group of friends. And I love the cast Addi! Good choice on the color. And alex I’m glad to hear you are doing well! You’re a stud!

So I don’t want any of you to worry. I am fine! I got to take a fun little road trip up to Mcallen to see the Trayners, but it was fine. I didn't want to go to the hospital, but she made me talk to the mission doctor and he said that I should go. But the weird thing is, they don’t know how it happened. They said it was a "deep contusion on my chest wall and ribs" haha Which is just a fancy way to say you got a big bruise on your insides. But the weird things is it was causing a lot of other problems. But everything is figured out and fine. I just don’t know how it just came up because we don’t do anything that could have caused it.  But I sleep sitting up so I can sleep and it reminds me of the old broken arm days and that old red chair I wrecked. haha Sorry Mom! So the funny thing was they gave me a shot of pain medication and I immediately couldn't breath. Me and President Trayner were sitting in there talking about football and all the sudden I was completely out and I remember barely seeing President Trayner sprint out of the room to get the doctor haha! So funny. When we left he said, "I figured the drugs had gotten the best of you when you started telling me how you won the Heisman with the Dallas Cowboys." haha! But we ended up in Walgreens late that night and we contacted this couple with President Trayner and I decided I’m more fearless on pain meds, haha! But ALL IS WELL! I PROMISE!  WE are doing great and I only had to miss like 2 hours of work Sunday night. I haven't had to miss anything else, so we are back to work and healthy.

As far as my new son, his name is Elder Hobbs and he's from Ogden, Utah. Great kid and a lot of fun. Straight from Utah though haha! He is really hard working and a great help and addition to San Benito. Doesn’t speak to much Spanish, but is improving really fast! We also have another greeny in our 4 man district, so we are pretty young but doing great.

This last week was a little rough because the family we have been working with is doing SO Well!! They have such strong testimonies already and have been to church and came to conference and loved it. I love their family so much but we found out they won’t be able to get married, even though they really want to. Down here there is just always problems with that stuff. It’s been kind of a heart breaker, again. But we’ve got the branch Presidency on the case and hopefully there will be something they can do. It seems the Lord has blessed us with a lot of great people. Some of the best, and for one reason or another they just can’t do it. It’s tough on them but it’s definitely a trial of their faith.

And as well, the part member boy we are teaching is doing great and will be baptized the 28! We are super excited for him. His name is Joey Montez and he is a stud. We are super excited for him.

Other then that there is not much to say. I love you all so much and thank you so much for your emails and support and love. Everything is perfectly fine here, so no worries whatsoever! I love you all and I’ll talk to you again real soon!

Love Elder Smith

CROCKETT SISTERS GET BAPTIZED & 2ND BABY BOY ON THE WAY!

Hello family,

Wow, I am so heartbroken to hear about Ethan. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad thing to say about Ethan. He was such a great kid and I really feel for his family and the Moss family. I really love that kid. Please, if you talk to his family or the Moss family, make sure they know how highly I think of him. I’ll keep them in my prayers.

AND HUNNY!!! Be careful!!!! I freaked out when I saw that picture! Man I hope you’re doing ok! Sounds like a pretty cool break story though. A zip line, eh? I Hope you’re feeling better hunny, I love you. And I hope you’re milking it too! Mom and Dad will do anything for their broken bone children, haha! 

So, I wanted to say thank you to the Jones family for the package I got and as well Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy for the letters. You guys do too much. Thank you!

So this week was incredible. So many miracles. But I will start with my favorite. Remember I told you A. Crocket was getting baptized yesterday. And the younger one Kayla decided not to. She was the one that just killed me when I was there because she knew the b.o.m. was true. But I got a call on Saturday from Elder Hill and he said Kayla got interviewed as well, and was going to be baptized on Sunday! And she had asked if I could baptize her. Man, I was so excited and grateful and super humbled. So I got permission from President and made it down to Brownsville with some members from San Benito.

So when I got there Elder Hill was outside talking to a member and it didn’t look like a nice talk. When I got over I kinda got into the conversation cause I knew the member and he knew the Crockett girls. He’s kind of an apostate guy and had taken Kayla out during class and told her she wasn’t ready for baptism. And just fed her a ton of doubts and just freaked her out. And he’s an active member! So, she was super confused and sad and we found out and just tore into this guy. Then the Zone leaders tore into him. It was pretty ugly. So, we went in to see the girls and found out she had doubts about the Plan of Salvation, because she had gone to the Jehovah Witness church before. And she said "I want to learn it right now and pray about it." So like 30 minutes before her baptism, Elder Hill and Nino went in a room and taught them both. And I was dying!!! Haha I wanted to go in and teach them so bad but they weren’t my investigators anymore and so i just sat outside and waited. And they taught for like 45 minutes and the baptismal service had already started and everything. Finally, they came out.

She had received an answer in the room. AND she had the biggest smile on her face. So, we got in our whites real fast as they stalled for us. Snapped some pictures, and we got in and they were both baptized.

I wish you could have seen them after the baptism. haha They were walking to the car, spinning circles saying "I feel sooooooo goood!" Nobody can tell me that those girls weren’t ready for that because I had never seen them so happy. haha Man they are the best. Definitely a big heartache, haha but worth it! Such a great family, and one of the best days of my mission. And it was good to be there with my first born again, Elder Hill.

On Saturday I also got the news that I’ve got a new baby boy on the way, fresh from the MTC. He gets here on Wednesday. I kept thinking of your birthday letter Mom, when you said when I was born, "I don’t know how I could love another as much as the first one!" So we will see if I can. But I am super excited and humbled to get the chance to mess up another one:) haha

Things are just crazy here, but the last of my good news is that we found a great family and got them to church this week, all 7 of them. Lots of little kids, but a great family. A lot of hurdles to jump, but after the Sunday we had I feel like we are getting better and better at making it over them.

I love being a missionary and I thank my Lord everyday for the life I get to live right now. What a blessing. I love you family. Take care!

Love Elder Smith

MOLE & CHOCO FLAN CAKE FOR MY 20TH BIRTHDAY!

How are you family? Thank you for your great emails today and all the great thoughts and pictures. It looks like you partied a lot harder there, than we did here haha! So glad you had a  great week! Thank you so much for the wonderful birthday packages, Mom and Dad and Grandpa and Grandma too! I loved the fudge and the wonderful uplifting cards I received haha:) You guys are the best! As well, I got Sister Hart’s birthday card on Saturday night and it made the birthday. She is the best! I hope you gave her a big hug for me. And I hope everyone is doing well. I feel super bad because I just got back from the mail and I bought a watch.... haha but I will take it back when I get Chan’s gift. Love you Chan! And tell Monty and his wife congrats! Sounds like a great day.

So this week was kinda crazy. haha Unfortunately not the most amazing week I’ve had out here. My district struggled a little bit and had some baptisms fall through on Sunday. So we were a little down, but we went to the Leal family’s house for a birthday dinner before we went out to work. They didn’t make menudo, unfortunately. They made Mole, which is super good as well. And a choco flan cake, which was great. I was gonna send a picture, but I lost my camera cord. haha ooops! But then we went out to work. We met with Gaston and found out he won’t be able to get divorced, so we won’t be able to teach him anymore. It’s really hard when you love someone so much and they are doing all they can, but it just can’t get done right now. He has a great testimony and one day will get things done. So we’ve got some rebuilding to do this week, but we are all feeling good today.

So this week went pretty well, besides a couple end of the week let downs. We were able to leave our area to go visit our branch president and start trying to win him over. He’s a tough cookie, but we are working on him. We also had a Zone Conference on Friday and Brownsville came up as well, so I got to see Elder Hill and it was great.There’s something special about a missionary you train. You feel so proud of them, but have that nervous feeling about them being out on there own without you, haha! But he had some good news as well... A. Crocket is getting baptized next Sunday!!!  IT’S CRAZY! I was so excited. I got permission from President to go down so we will see what happens. Those girls do like to mess with the missionaries haha! But I love them and she has been interviewed and is ready to go! It will be so good to see her baptized. I feel like I’ve loved too many people and seen too many people ready, for the amount of baptisms I’ve actually seen. Which sometimes can be a little discouraging but I am so happy that they are making that choice. I’ve thought a lot about things like that and I think it’s so amazing how the Lord gives us our own mission. And it’s different than every one else’s. We serve in the places we serve and we meet the people he wants us to meet, and have our own unique experiences. And sometimes we are tested and tried so we can grow. So, I feel like we’ve been growing big and strong here in San Benito, but we know that the Lord’s got someone waiting for us. He just leaves it up to us to work for them. 

I’m so grateful to be here right now :) But I feel like it’s slaughtering my Spanish. San Benito speaks some dirty tex mex! haha.

 But family, I wanted to say thank you again for everything. I love you all so much and am so grateful for the support. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends and I hope you all know that. The last thing I wanted to ask is that you tell Colter Happy Birthday for me. I wrote a letter, but lost his address. I love that kid and I’m pretty sure he’s on the 19th? haha! I love you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful week! Take care! With much Carino :)

Elder Smith

WE TALKED TO EVERY MEAN PERSON IN SAN BENITO THIS WEEK

Man, what great emails!! Thank you so much for your stories and pictures! Before I forget I have to say that Rose is way to young to be going to prom!!! But I bet she was the prettiest one there! I loved the picture of the marshall kids too! And that you got to go to Coeur d’ Alene. Looks super pretty!

This week was a little bit of a rough week for us though, haha. They happen every once and awhile. Gaston has been doing so well and has read like 60 pages in the Book of Mormon but we found out he is living with someone who isn’t his wife. And he doesn’t think he can move out. So we hit a pretty big road block. We still got him to church but he is hitting those hurtles that always come in the conversion process. All we can do is keep helping him overcome them. He is a great guy and I really love him.

It seemed as if though we talked to every mean person in San Benito this week. Haha we had a pretty good streak of talking to a lot of people who do not like us! haha. And I could tell Elder Merica was a little discouraged. I know I was a little bit haha. Sometimes it’s tough to be so connected with this people and then have to watch them struggle and make bad decisions. It almost feels as if they are your mistakes and sometimes you feel pretty weighed down with them. Especially doing interviews for baptism and things like that. But at the same time, the Lord always just wipes off your plate every day and you go back for some more. I am just very glad we are moving on to a new week and I am so excited that the Lord blesses us with 2 years of this. Cus right now I feel like we are just getting started! haha.

But I want you all to know that I feel so blessed to be here. I hope you are seeing the blessing, because they are so obvious here. I love you all and I’m so proud of you! Especially you Dad! Always am!  And p.s. Alex yes I did have Ms. Harris. haha those art ladies are very unique, but she is awesome! Take care family I love you all. You too, Addi and Chan!

Take care!!! :)

P.S. I know you already sent the package, but I would love if you could send a little picture of the I.F. temple for me :) Thank you!!!

!HOLA!

Man I love you guys! Such great emails!  Addi, you look too stinking old! And so beautiful on your first day of school !:) Alex, you’ve got some sweet shoes man and are looking fresh as always! Chan, you look really happy in all the pictures haha. I can tell you’ve been reenergized by the female interaction up at school. And Mom and Dad you guys are the best! I love reading your emails and it’s a treat to hear from you every week. It sounds like a great week getting back into school and work and all that fun stuff. So glad you are all loving it. And that’s super cool that Elder Stevens saw Brother Traynors brother. Haha man I love Elder Stevens. He is a stud!

So I feel like I just emailed you all yesterday, but here I am again. I wanted to say hello to Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy. I haven’t been so good at writing anyone lately, so I feel bad. And as well, all the family and the Rammells! AND JAY!!! Love you all! Your all so great and I’m sorry I haven’t written! I’ll write soon!!!

So this week was SOOOOO great! We worked our butts of this week. haha This was probably the fastest week of my mission for sure cause we just had so much going on. We are working with the members here a lot and it has been super great. It’s amazing how easy the work gets when you work with willing and loving members. We have focused so much on just getting to know them and their families and now we can’t keep them away! haha. I have met so many amazing families and I feel like that blessing that President Goodman gave me paid off because this week I fell in love with so many of our members. And the referrals and success just naturally came. We met a man through one of my favorite families the Perales family. And we all instantly hit it off with him. After our first 2 days of teaching him he had read like 25 pages in the BOM and he made it to church yesterday, and it’s like we don’t have to do anything but show up and teach haha! Well we do a little more than that...but the Pereles are just taking care of everything else haha and it’s been great. But the Lord has just blessed us so much. I really feel like I’m finally figuring out how this work is supposed to go and that’s when you put it in the members hands and more importantly in the Lord’s hands. I feel like in your mission, right when you figure things out, they change or you get moved.  Haha so pray I stay here! And pray for Gaston! That’s his name! I’ve been singing the song from Beauty and the Beast about how “nobody fights like Gaston” haha!

The elders in my district are all doing so well and the Lord is blessing us a ton. I just feel super blessed to be in this area now. I feel like we are starting to connect with the members and with the branch.

We are all so excited and happy.

So I want you all to know that I love you so much. I’m sorry for such a short email haha. I took a long time emailing President, but I hope all is well. Remember I love you all and that I’m freaked out how fast time is going, so you better not take advantage of it.

Have a wonderful week family and I will hear from you very very soon!!!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANOTHER WEEK IN SAN BENITO

Thank you for your emails! They were all so good! I’m glad everyone is back safely and doing well. Especially you Chan. Good work! I’m super proud of you. Now you gotta go find a wife to spend all that money. Otherwise you won’t know what to do with it! Haha And it looks like a fun trip to the cabin! Glad you had fun. Man Dad that’s crazy that Taysom played! Elder Hill is pretty good friends with him and he said that Taysom is like the most freak athlete on the team and that he wouldn’t be surprised if he started soon. That’s super cool.  It’s crazy that it’s already that time of year again. My favorite time of the year. Football and Fall and Cool evenings. Unfortunately, I won’t have any of those this year haha! It’s stinking hot here! In the middle of my area there is a Jr. high and they have football practice everyday after school, when we drive by. Man, I wouldn’t mind dressing down, haha, even in this heat!

Things have been going pretty well here. I’m feeling more and more at home. It’s sad because the Elders before me never worked with the members, so we are going to meet all of them for the first time. Some missionaries just miss the whole boat that, that’s how the work gets done. But as well, that’s where those great relationships come because I’m already  falling in love with these members here. And word already leaked about my birthday and so some members are making me menudo for my birthday. I’ll let you look up what it is, but let’s just say it’s not very good haha! But as well they are making Idaho potatoes to compensate! haha! I can hardly believe that September came around so fast.. I keep telling the elders that the first quarter of life is already over. How sad haha!! Just kidding, but I have been thinking about Sister Hart.. I feel so bad that I won’t get to visit her this year, but I’m gonna send something good for her!

So we have had a pretty great week but we’ve struggled with flakey people. It’s tough because my area is just soooo poor and either people don’t have a car or they have to work at the Pulga (flea market) on Sundays and so church is tough. There’s a lot of urgency and maybe even anxiety when you just start from nothing and you start going but continue to lose people. But we know there are people here waiting. It’s just all part of the hunt, I guess haha.

But it’s so good to hear from all of you. I love hearing of all my friends that are out serving. I’m so proud of all of them. It just strengthens my testimony to be reminded how big the church really is and really all the support that we have as missionaries. Especially me. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive family. SO thank you all so much!

I just wanted to tell you a pretty cool story real fast. We received a referral for a family that lives clear out in the middle of nowhere. So we headed clear out there on our bikes because we were out of miles. We got to this house and the Dad was just leaving. He was a pretty big, brawny looking guy, haha.  Didn’t really want to talk at all and just wanted us to leave. But we started talking to him and something just clicked. A total change of heart and he let us in and called his whole family. They had a beautiful family. He said he was actually leaving out of town for work right when we pulled up, but felt like he should spare a few minutes to sit with us. Said he didn’t really know why he felt it. So we got to know him and asked questions and they were the sweetest family. Especially the dad, who started asking really good questions. And the more we talked, the more he just had this puzzled look on his face. He kept saying, "I’ve never thought about that, but it makes sense." Everything was just clicking and the Spirit was so strong. Then he looked at me and asked, "Does this make you happy?"  And I was like, well yeah! That’s why I’m here, haha! And he said, “I can just see it in your faces.. I know there’s something different.” Man the Spirit was soo dang strong. He had to leave for work so we didn’t have time for a lesson but we knelt down and left a blessing on his home and family. He was crying after the prayer and we got up to leave. As Elder Merica went to shake his hand, he handed him a big wad of money. And Elder Merica didn’t really know what to say haha...because all this was in Spanish. I told him we couldn’t take the money. And it was alot! haha But we left and Elder Merica was like "Why did he try to give me money?” Haha I was like I don’t, but we gotta do it more often haha!

So many funny, cool experiences that just rock my world and strengthen my testimony.. As I look back, the experiences I’ve had out here are starting to change the way I act and feel towards people and towards myself. It’s crazy how you just get molded, even when you can’t really feel it. But I’m so grateful for those experiences.

Well I better go, but I love you all and pray you have a good week!!! Love YOU!!!

Love Elder Smith 

HERE IN SAN BENITO

Hello Family,

Thank you so much for your emails and pictures. I am super, super impressed with the new hot tub setup. Looks pretty good Mom and Dad! But I’m was super sick looking at that picture and realizing how big Addi is! She is stinkin’ tall!! But I’m so glad to hear that all is well with Aunt Camy. Tell her I’m thinking and praying for her and I love her and her family. As well that’s crazy that Justin is already back. Before you know it, Garrett will be back to! I was just thinking about that the other night, haha. Pretty crazy. So Chan, it sounds like your doing so well. Just finish up this last week and then go home! Haha! I’ll be praying for you, bud. And as well I wanted to tell the grandparents and Jay Hi! Love You!

So San Benito.....San Benito is the neighbor area to my old one. We split the country road that the Hernandez family lives on, but I can’t go see them. We are in the Harlingen Zone, so we don’t ever see anyone from Brownsville. My area is a lot alike to my other one as far as the country area. But in town it’s really, really old and run down. There’s not any "nicer areas" here but I love it cause it seems that people are a little more humble. When I got in they had just had 2 baptisms but didn’t have any other investigators, so this week we began the search and it was a GREAT WEEK! My companions name is even whiter than mine. His name is Elder Merica. He’s from Utah and is literally like a Jonny Merrill in missionary form, haha. Super, super funny kid. I like it because he’s got that same sense of humor and Jordan, Jonny and Tyler and that group. I’m convinced they knew each other in the pre-existence. He’s been out about 4 transfers and he’s a great missionary. Doesn’t speak really any Spanish, but we are working on it! My district is just a four man district and we all live together. We all cover our own Spanish Branch and then all the missionaries in Harlingen cover the English one which is in Harlingen.

It’s been kinda a tough week with leaving my old area and coming in with nobody to teach, but I feel like we have got the ball rolling. After the first 2 days we hadn’t found anyone and we were working hard but just nothing was going. We had a meeting and so we went to Harlingen to meet the Branch President. I asked him for a blessing just to kinda get a relationship with him and start off on the right foot and man, he said exactly what I needed to hear. I had, had those feelings of missing my other area and wondering if I could fall in love with this new one and in the blessing he said, "Elder Smith, the Lord knows that you have loved many people on your mission...But I bless you at this time, with the ability to love these people more than you have loved before." And at that moment I felt like I kinda checked into San Benito for good.

We began to find some great people and get to know more members and I have already received so much love and support from them. I’m so excited to serve with them, especially in the Spanish Branch. I may be kinda biased but I play favorites with Spanish branches. And I already am starting to feel at home. I may search for a Spanish Branch in I.F. when I get home, haha! But I love it because now I get to be part of the Priesthood Exec. meetings in the branch with all the presidents and leaders of the branch. And I would like to bear my testimony that, the church is the same no matter where you go. And no matter what language or area, they are just as random and unfocused as any others, haha!

SO San Benito is really warming up to me and we have a lot of great people now. I just keep praying for our success and for that love, but i feel it coming quickly!!!

It’s such an amazing time in the mission. I feel when the tides change so to speak, and I start looking forward instead of back. When a shirt and tie are called "normal clothes", and I feel more naked without my tag then I did without my cell phone. This is just life. I feel like I don’t know any different, haha. But it’s a pretty good life I’de say.  And such a blessing to be here in San Benito.

I love you all so much and a pray for all of you day and night. I love you all a bunch and I’m so grateful for everything you do! Take care this week. Kids have fun at school. And I will hear from you soon. Take care :)

Love, Elder Smith

NOS VEMOS BROWNTOWN!

Such great emails family! Thank you so much, I appreciated all of your stories and pictures. Chandler.....I’ll let it slide this week :) But just this week! Haha, man I loved Alex’s story about Bart! That’s super funny. It brought back memories of Bailey sleeping out on that Lazy Boy. And I’m glad that Mom and Dad and the Rammells had fun in Sun Valley! I got your post cards and I loved them. Especially Renee’s horse joke. haha We all laughed pretty hard. And Addi’s letter was so sweet! Thanks hunny!

So on Friday we got transfer calls. I was shocked and felt like I got my heart ripped in half when I heard that I would not be finishing training Elder Hill or staying. Tomorrow I am being transferred to San Benito. It’s about 20 minutes north of Brownsville. I couldn’t believe it! We were all shocked because we thought for sure I would be staying. But I guess the Lord has other plans. Even though I feel like the kid that had the fire cracker blow up prematurely in his hand. It has been a tough couple of days. A lot of tears already...and I’m not looking forward to tonight. Tonight the branch is throwing a little party in the church for my going away so it will be tough to say goodbye. Now I know what Chan meant when he said it’s almost worse than leaving home. (I put the "almost" in just for you Mom :)) But I have had a pretty hard time with it. I love this area and these people so much that it won’t be easy. But I’m gonna be positive because I know the Lord has someone else waiting for me. But Brownsville has a big piece of my heart.

So this week was a pretty great week. We found a lot and taught a lot. Probably one of the best weeks here, of course right when I’m about to leave. But there are a lot of great people that will be baptized in September that hopefully I can come back to see. We had quite a freaky incident with the Hernandez family because we went out there for a lesson and Lizbeth had just cut her foot open really bad, and it was pretty gruesome. But there’s no one else that lives out by them because they are in the middle of nowhere so we kinda had to scramble and play doctor and get it closed up. I was pretty woozy by the end because you know I don’t like blood much. But we got it taken care of finally and got Presidente de la Llata out there and a doctor in our branch as well. It was bad enough to go to the hospital but she couldn’t go, so the branch was taking care of her. Luckily we’ve got some doctors in the branch. But that took up almost all of our night being there with her and keeping her calm until we got some help out there. But that night we had half the branch there with my injured recent convert, and I saw how protected she felt and it was just amazing. They couldn’t even fit half that branch in their little house. But I could tell it was the first time that she just felt like they all had her back.

But I kinda realized that night, I reached the pinnacle of just LOVE. Just so much love for all those people there and for the Hernandez family. And realizing how hard it would be to leave haha. And having to write out "I’m leaving" on the white board for Andrea. She just shook her head and said “nope”! That’s what I felt like saying when I was told, but I didn’t! But that family is in such good hands with the branch and with Elder Hill. So I’m not worrying too much.

As well we had a super fun service project on Saturday where we gave out 900 free backpacks and it was super fun. We had all the branches and wards in Brownsville together and it was a huge project and huge success. I put a picture on my email of it. But a great way to end my week here.

But other than that, not too much happened this week. I am just so grateful and humbled to have been able to serve here and I have learned so so much. I hope that you will all be able to be with me for a Sunday in the Casa Linda Branch someday. It’s quite a treat:) haha! So family I hope all is well and that you enjoy these last few weeks of summer. Live it up. Be safe. And remember that I love you! And you can wait for my email from San BENITO Next week! Love you!

Love Elder Smith

"JUST THINK OF THE CHANCE THE LORD TOOK WHEN HE CALLED ME"

Hello Family!

So good to hear from you. Sounds like a great week and I’m glad to hear everyone is happy and safe. My heart just hurt when I heard about Jeremie... It just makes me so sad. I will have his family in my prayers.

So I loved your emails this week. I laughed when Dad’s was labeled "bald guy" haha I knew immediately that it was Alex. What a jokester!  And Mom and Dad, I hope you’re driving safe to Sun Valley. I was actually just thinking about that about a week ago and about bowling with Grandpa and Grandma. Such sweet memories. Have a great time and please be safe.

So, what a week! So I got the news and I can’t remember if I told you, but Brother Pimentel finally received permission from the First Presidency and was baptized! I was sooo excited when I heard and so heartsick that I couldn’t be there to see it. What a great guy.

So this week not much happened. We had training all day from Tuesday to Thursday in Mcallen, so we hardly had any time to work. Which already drove me crazy, but then on Thursday, President told me I had to come Friday too, because he has called me to serve as a District Leader. The words from President Hinckley rang in my ear, "Just think of the chance the Lord took when he called you" haha! But the good news is he told me that he was pretty sure I would finish training Elder Hill so, fingers crossed, I stay in Villa Nueva. I’m way to attached to the people here to leave so soon. But we will find out this weekend what’s going on and if I will be staying here for sure or not.

So this week I have thought a lot about why I am here. We always receive challenges from our leaders and at leadership training there was one challenge and that was to kneel down and figure out between me and God, why I am here. I really thought hard about that. Sometimes we get good at sharing the gospel, teaching, planning, and then doing it all over the next day, without taking thought for why we really are doing it. There are many reasons to serve a mission: Because you want to make up for your mistakes, change your life, for your parents, for you girlfriend (not recommended) and just flat out because you know it’s right. So as I thought about that question, I thought of the reasons that I am here. I’m here because I know that is what God expects of me. I’m here because it’s the least I can do to show my gratitude. I do it because I love the Lord and I love my brothers and sisters. But as I went to church yesterday, I had the answer confirmed. As I saw the Hernandez family there. . . Lizbeth trying to figure out how to fill out a tithing form, and Andrea and Alejandra fighting during Sacrament meeting, and Amanda crushing her Fruit Loops into the carpet of the chapel, and Alejandro sitting backwards and upside down on his chair. And I realized that that’s why I am here! Because I see OUR family haha! And I know that if it makes me THAT happy, I can’t imagine how happy it makes our Father in Heaven to see those families there together. To see the changes they make in their lives and to be willing to be there and be ok with not knowing everything. I just can’t wait till that little family makes it to the temple..... because those are the goals I have for them, and those are the goals that we are going to help them shoot for.

I have been so blessed to have a family like that. A family that has the same goal. And I know it makes our Father in Heaven so happy. I love you all so much and am so grateful for all of you. Chan, Alex, and Addi, I love you all and am grateful for your example. And Mom and Dad, Ya saben :) Thanks for everything.

Until next week,

Love Elder Payton Clark Smith