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
