What's goin’ on familia!? Man you guys are the best! I loved your emails and the pictures! I feel like Grandpa gets a new shiner every month! Makes him look tough though! MAN, first off I can’t believe how old everyone is getting! Rose looks super old! And JT is on a mission! And Greyden leaves right when I get home! That’s nuts man! Tell him that I’ll just pick up with his girl friends where he leaves off haha! Jk! Man I feel like everyone is getting big though! Alex looks like a giant and Addi looks like a teenager already! Except for you Mom and Dad! You still look like superjovenes! (look it up :) )
I am so sorry to hear about Mariana Stewart. She is such a sweet lady. I’ll pray for Danny. They are both so great.
Boy, do I have a lot to tell you! First off, we baptized an awesome family on Sunday, the Guevara family! We pushed their date up cus they were super ready! It was an amazing service and we had a bunch of the ward there! We actually did it in the LaVista Chapel (mission office) because our building (The Dove Chapel) is closed down right now for a big plumbing project! It was awesome. I always wanted to baptize in the LaVista Chapel! I got to baptize the 2 girls Leslie and Diana and Elder Munsey baptized the mom (Juani). A REALLY special family! As well Emmanuel got confirmed and got up and bore an awesome testimony during sacrament! He is on fire, big time! He’s actually at South Padre Island with the YSA this weekend haha! We are teaching his neighbor, who will be baptized the beginning of September! Emmanuel is a boss!
So this week was so crazy! President Maluenda does everything he can to help us grow and teach us leadership and prepare us for life. That’s his big focus. Prepare his missionaries to be great leaders now and in the future. I’m really grateful for the time he takes with Elder Munsey and me to teach us. We spend alot of time in his office being taught and as well, alot of time with his family, being taught about how to be better fathers. It’s kinda trunky stuff sometimes, but I feel like I’ve grown SO MUCH! He really is so inspired and I really love him alot! And we have a ton of fun with him!!
So back to the crazy week! We had our mission-wide 3 day leadership training with 80 leaders of the mission; all the DL’s ZL’s STL’s (sister training leaders) and trainers. And he put us on the spot ALOT! Haha it was super cool cus he pretty much let us run it and change the agenda as we felt inspired and it was amazing to me, to see how the meeting changed as we listened to the missionaries and what their zones and districts needed. It ended up being an awesome training and it strengthened my testimony alot of how the Spirit guides you if you leave enough space for change and kind of do it President Maluenda style which is FREESTYLE, as we say. Freestyle, with much preparation before hand. He has taught me so much about how to study the scriptures and use them in EVERY situations. And he has taught us a ton of Spanish! A bunch of Elders gave me crap at the training because they say I’m starting to talk like a Chileano. Thats ok with me! haha! As well it was cool because I got to work Wednesday night with Elder Sanchez. I love that kid so much. It makes me sad that he, Elder Stevens, and Elder Munsey are all going home in 3 weeks. I’ll miss them alot, but they are all really great friends.
But I can’t wait for you to meet the Maluendas. They really are incredible! Yesterday we went out to our favorite sandwich place, Jason’s Deli, to eat with them and we had a blast! They always give Elder Munsey a hard time because he only has 2 and a half weeks left. But the big chisme of the mission is who my next comp will be! I’m excited to find out! I’ll know in about a week!
So today we went bowling with the Maluendas and it was a blast. I always love being with their family. I attached a picture of it! Afterwards we went to my favorite food place, PERIOD! Taco Pelenqui. It’s heavenly. They are a lot of fun!
So besides that, all is well! I’ve grown a lot in the past 4 months and I’m excited for the growth still to come. The mission really is the best thing that has ever happened to me! I’m SOOOO excited for Greyden to go. I LOVE my mission sooooo much! Especially the Texas Mcallen Mission! Because it’s mine and unique to me. And the best mission in the world!
Love you all!
Love Elder Smith
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| Making the "W" for THE WATERS OF MORMON! |
MY CORBATAS!
Bowling with the Maluendas!
