Hello family!
Such great emails and pictures this week! I loved to see everyone in the pictures and that the fun still goes on without me and Chan! So glad to see the Grandmas and as well the Rammell family! And the pizza looks delicious! I laughed when I read the email about the “Showdown at Sundown” and before I read the results I knew Caroline would win. She always wins! Rain or shine, pregnant or not. But I’m glad that Hailey beat Sean haha!! So great to hear about the fourth and that all was well. Our fourth got pooped on a little bit because we got called in early and had to study from 7 till 930. But we still had fun studying!! But I’m glad all is well and that your still, keeping on!
So this week was kind of a harder week for us here. Andrea had her interview and did perfectly. But our District Leader felt that she just didn’t really understand the Atonement well enough. I was completely behind his decision and so we moved her date back and went back to work with her. She really is the most darling girl and has changed my mission. She has taught me patience, and how to teach simply and powerfully. President told us that teaching a deaf 9 year old is the equivalent of teaching a 6 year old. So it definitely has been a test. I love teaching her and I know she will be baptized soon. Just keep praying for her.
A funny story about the lesson we did to help her understand baptism; I took my bed sheets and wrote baptism in big letters and we hung it up like it was the water. We then took a whole stack of sticky notes and filled out each one with a sin (9 year old appropriate). Then we stuck them all over her sister. (Well we let them stick them, haha!) Then we "baptized” Alejandra behind the baptism blanket to get rid of the sin sticky notes. Haha! It was super ridiculous and extreme but she finally understood it and it got her super excited! Maybe not the most solid idea Elder Smith has had, but she finally got it! But we will get even more creative this week so we can keep her interest and get her to pass that interview.
We had a tough week finding, but another great week at church. And it won’t help to have a couple of crazy days these next 2 or 3 days when we get my “new boy” settled in. But I know we will find and baptize and I’m soo excited to be here in Villa Nueva and I could spend the rest of my mission here!
So to finish my email I was talking to Elder Jackson about the way my mission has changed me and about the 'passions' I have gained on my mission.
1. Mexican Food
2. Soccer
3. Pineapple
All things that I have come to love haha. But the greatest passion I have received on my mission is for the Book of Mormon. I know that Joseph’s words are true when he said that a man could come closer to God by reading it, than by any other book. I know with all my heart, that it is true. I can feel it with every page I read and every time I testify of it. I love the Book of Mormon and it is where I have found my testimony and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. And I know without it, we would be nothing. I would invite all of you to search for a passion of the Book of Mormon. Read it every day. Pray about it. Think about it. Apply it to you. Enjoy it. Its so true :)
I love you all and I pray you have a great week. You are all so great and I’m proud and grateful for all of you. Take care and have a wonderful week!
