Hello Family!
Loved your emails and all the pictures! Looks like Addi loved her dance recital and I’m sure she did so well! And I was proud to see that Texas flag flying, even though sometimes I think the Mexican flag would be more appropriate haha! But I’m glad all is well and thank you for all your emails!
So a pretty crazy week this week! I know you’re all probably interested in knowing where I’m going....and so am I! Haha I still haven’t received a call and instead Elder Pallo got a call, and he is training! So I know for sure I am leaving Laredo, which is tearing me up. And the Zone Leaders and A.P.’s all know what I’m going to be doing but aren’t allowed to tell me because President wants to tell me on Wednesday when we go back down for training. So, they all give me a hard time and it’s making me anxious to know, haha! Everyone knows what they are doing that was at the training, but me haha! But we will see what’s going on this Wednesday and then I’ll be off next Tuesday. So, you will all have to wait until then to know haha!
But I’ve been having a super hard time the last 2 days, since I found out I’m leaving. I just feel like my time here is being cut short, so we’ve just been going like crazy to visit everyone and find new people, so that things are looking great for Elder Pallo and his greenie. I’ve started to tell people that I’m going because before you leave everyone wants you over for dinner, so it will be really good to get to say goodbye to everyone this last week. Yesterday I told the Jimenez family, which is like one of my favorite member families, and so they invited us over for goat meat and drunken beans, which was super good. haha But we had a cry fest because half of them are going out of town and it was the last time I could see them. I actually had a really hard time, but I know that’s what it’s gonna be like my whole mission - tough goodbyes every transfer. I know that they wanna be in contact with you, Mom and Dad, once I leave and the daughter speaks English so they can communicate with ya!
But besides all the leaving stuff, things have been great! We found a super bomb kid last Monday night named Jose who moved here from Honduras and he is just on fire. He is already keeping like all the commandments and came to church yesterday and then stayed for some baptisms and he is just doing great! Super sad I won’t be here to see him baptized, but I really feel like he was someone I was supposed to find here. And as well, Brother Pimentel is still waiting for the O.K. from Salt Lake so he can be baptized so I’m selfishly praying that they come this week because I really wanna be here for it haha! But I know he was definitely one of the big reasons I was supposed to be here as well and I’m so excited for them. And Brother Mercado is doing great and I’m sure his wife and daughter will be baptized within the next few months.
There’s just so many great things going on and so many great people that i just wanna STAY! haha But I know the Lord needs me somewhere else. I’ve been the most blessed missionary in the world to have been able to serve here in Laredo. I feel like I found the few who were waiting for me here and I just have a special place in my heart for Rio Bravo Laredo.
I love you all very much and I am grateful for your love and prayers! You’re the best! And I’m so grateful to be here and I just thank my Father in Heaven everyday for this.
Take care and I’ll talk to you soon! Until next week-
Les quiero,
Elder Smith
