MTC=SPIRITUAL TWO-A-DAYS!

1/19/12

Que triste! (that sad)

It’s my last MTC email! I can hardly believe that time has gone soo fast! 10 weeks over already and I think I may be more nervous for this than I was to come to the MTC! As far as travel plans, I have to wake up early enough to be at the airport at around 6 AM and my flight is at 8:10. So I will probably call then if I can, but if not I have from 11:55 to 1:40 before my flight from Dallas to McAllen! I hope I’ll be able to find enough time to have a good talk but I’m gonna be tripping out! I seriously do not even know what to expect. There is going to be so much going on that day. I will be staying in one of the missionaries’ apartments Monday night and then I think I get my trainer Tuesday, is what it sounds like. And I’m kinda freaking out about meeting my mission president.  A lot of first impressions! haha. Hopefully it all goes well. You can tell Art that I’m going to start throwing up the Longhorns in every picture now!

So thank you for all the dear elders! They have kept me going and I hope that when I’m in Texas I’ll get a lot of letters from you all. They really can make a whole week! Oh and some other great news, I saw Elder Szypkowski from CANADA! Gave him a big hug! haha He wanted me to tell Chan and the whole family hello! And his older brother just had his first daughter! It’s cool to see so many great kids that I know from random places!

Well, to finish up, I have to share my testimony of the MTC! haha No time in my life have I ever done something so hard. Most people just let the MTC fly under the radar, like it’s no big deal! But it’s KIND OF A BIG DEAL! And all my English Elders, I love you all but there seriously is a huge difference between being here 3 weeks and being here 10 weeks! This place changes from a school to your home. I have watched 3 sets of English Elders next door to me come and go and I seriously feel like an old Grandpa here. The food here, has been my greatest enemy. haha!  The teachers here, have made a huge impact.  And I have made some amazing friends. The Elders in my district are like brothers to me. No time in my life have I ever progressed and changed so much, so rapidly as I have here. I’ve never felt like I have had more responsibility and purpose than I do right now and it makes me so happy. I love being a missionary! If I had to describe the MTC, I would say, “It’s where God stretches you and stretches you, until you’re almost to your limit and you’re just about to snap, until you feel like you just can’t do it anymore. Then he eases the pressure and gives you just a little something to keep you going. He’s stretching us and molding us to be the missionaries we need to be. It’s just our SPIRITUAL TWO-A-DAYS.” 

This truly is an amazing place. I have no doubt that the Lord keeps a close eye on this little campus and I have no doubt that there are not many other places that he would rather be! I am so grateful for my opportunity to be part of this. I am sooo stoked to leave for Texas.  And I’m so stoked to talk to you family! I miss you all like crazy! I hope you know I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and wait for my call! 

Until Monday, Love Elder Smith

FOR THE FIRST TIME, MY SPANISH IS BETTER THAN BOSTON MURDOCH'S!

December 15, 2012

HOLA FAMILIA! 

Man, I loved all the pictures you emailed me! Looks like you had a great Birthday Dad. I really hope you did! And I hope you liked my package, I know it wasn’t much at all but it was all I could get!! I hope you know how much I love ya and how grateful I am for your example. Especially the example you set for your sons by serving a worthy mission. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful example to always look to.

So there is gonna be a Christmas package headed your way hopefully! Oh and looks like the 4 stooges (Chan, Matt, Zack & Jon) are having fun! Haha and I really appreciate the updates and pictures about girls, Chan (sucker)! It’s the closest I can get to being part of your life, haha and I am counting on you to keep me updated with all the dating and friends and everything! 

Ok well, before I get into my email, I have to say my thank you’s:

Thank you for all the dear elders once again, they always make my day!

Thank you to the Stewarts for the package. Thank you to the Ydes for the updates and thank you to Aunt Gloria and the Beazers for the letters! I’m gonna write them today! Oh and before I forget, tell the grandparents and Jay Hello for me and that I love them! And thank you Grandpa for the letter, I LOVED it and am writing you back soon! And tell the Rammels and all the family hi as well! And Colt..I miss that kid and it sounds like he’s doing great!

Well this was a great week! First off, I saw Elder Boston Murdoch and it was amazing to see someone I knew haha! He is doing great and for the first time since our high school Spanish class we had together, I can speak more Spanish then he can! We have ‘English Fast’ days where the whole day we can’t speak any English and we are just forced to learn to speak as best we can! We continue to teach everyday and even though it’s frustrating, it’s coming along slowly, but surely. Spanish is THE hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but it is also the most humbling thing to speak with someone who doesn’t know ANY English and try to share a message with them in their own language. Even if it’s broken. I’ve realized that the Lord doesn’t care how good our Spanish is, he only cares about our message and our ability to allow the Spirit to teach. But man, there is just so much that happens and I always feel bad that you aren’t here to experience it with me. So many ups and downs and goods and bads and experiences that just make you wanna cry and some that make you feel like you can do anything! I guess its all part of the process.

So this week Sister Dalton the General Young Women’s President spoke to us and she did a very good job. She spoke about the gifts God has given us to prepare us and help us on our missions. And about relying on the Lord. The Lord has been preparing us throughout our lives to be missionaries and I know he blesses us with the things that we are going to need to be successful, but we have had so many great speakers and I love hearing their messages.

Ok, well I know this was a shorter email, there is just so much to say and so little time. But family, I want you all to know how much I love you!

Alex, I better hear from you boy, I wanna know about what girls have been checking you out and I wanna hear about school and friends and who you have been whoopin’ up on in Madden!!

Addi Girl, I better hear from you too!! I miss you missy!! I wanna hear about your program and friends and school and everything! And what you and your brother are getting for Christmas!!

Chan, Thank you for being my most faithful dear elder-er. You know as well as anyone how much they mean and how much they help! Keep them coming and live it up with your friends at byui. I’ve met an Elder here that has become a really good friend of mine that already went there for a year and wants to room when we are back, haha. But it’s such a fun exciting thing, so enjoy it and keep me updated.

Mom and Dad, Thank you for all your messages and everything. I had one last favor to ask. I have committed to finish the Book of Mormon before I leave the mtc and I don’t wanna be that naggy missionary that tries to straighten up his family haha but I’ve got a challenge for you! As a family, just read a little bit,, at least once a day whether it’s the morning or at night. Since I’ve been here I’ve really realized how much we benefit from it! It is such a blessing and I have come to love it even more than I did before my mission! 

But thank you for everything everyday I am more and more grateful for the support I have from home. I have THE MOST AMAZING family and I hope you know that! I love and miss you all so much and hope you have a wonderful and exciting week! Take care, be safe family!

Love Elder Smith