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
