YA BUNCH OF BEACH BUMS!
Looks like ya had a great week in Mexico! So good to see the pictures and know that you are all home safe. I was worried about you being there haha! It’s pretty ugly on this side of Mexico. Looks like Alex took one for the team from a sting ray. OUCH! haha hopefully he didn't cry like me and Chan did. I’m so glad you had a great Thanksgiving together and that we have such an awesome family to celebrate it with. We had an awesome Thanksgiving here. We ate at like 4 different houses and it wrecked us! Haha By the last house we were both walking so gingerly and we felt like the Grinch in the ‘Chair of Cheer’. Everyone was shoving food into our mouths. Haha Luckily no one threw up and died. We ate with a young family early in the day. The Flores family se llama and the wife is from Utah and the guy is from Tamulipas Mexico, so the live smack dap in the middle. They are an awesome family with a lot of young kids. One 13 year old named Alejandro. Reminds me of my Alejandro! But it was super good. We as well taught a couple great lessons that day which made us feel a little better about not wasting time.
So this was a super great week full of a lot of miracles. First off yesterday Linda got baptized, which was awesome. She is going to be a great member of the church. As well, we found an awesome new couple who came yesterday for the first time and loved church. We had an amazing church tour lesson with them on Saturday and we had them kneel down and ask God if they should be baptized. They both received super strong answers and are super connected. I love them. As well we have been working with the family in a homosexual relationship. Man I love that family. The 2 girls are such good girls. Just so confused. We had some "throw downs" (we call them) this week and we are just praying for a miracle with them. I have never had to be so bold before on my mission. It’s such a tender subject. But please keep them in your prayers.
Another cool experience we had (hopefully I didn't already tell this last week) We were working and it was dark outside. We went by a less active’s and they weren't there so we were walking back to the car and saw this lady out smoking, and I thought "NAH..." and walked right passed. But of course by the time I got in and turned on the car the Spirit had wracked me with guilt haha. So I looked at Elder Porter and he's like, "I know...I feel it too." So we got back out and walked back to her. As we approached her she looked nervous and surprised. But as we talked with her, we realize why God sent us back. Her dad had passed away just 3 days earlier. She had just gotten home from his funeral, and she was pretty scared that God actually sent someone haha... Who knows what will come of it but it’s good to know that our Heavenly Father’s always in control.
So all in all I’m loving my new area. This is the first "on the ball" ward that I have served in. Well actually the first ward period. But it works so well. We have an AWESOME bishop named Bishop Nelson, who reminds me a lot of Dad, just not as studly. But he's great. I got a blessing from him last night and he said just what I needed to hear.
But this week we will be down in Mcallen for a ZL Conference and then something called the mission tour where a General Authority comes to the mission. It will be fun but stressful. We are super excited. But that’s it for this week. I hope you are all in the Christmas Spirit, We definitely are! So don’t be mad if I spend a little dough today on some Christmas lights haha. I can’t go through this time of year without them!
I love you all and hope you know how much I love you! Be SAFE! LES QUIERO!
Elder Smith
