Hey guys! So good to hear from you all!! First off, I just wanna say right away that I got Alex a SWEET gift...the bad news...It’s gonna be late. Forgive me hermanito! But I hope you like it!! Second I love all of you so much! You are all so great! Glad to see you had a wonderful week and that everyone is healthy and happy! Chan and Al...thank you for your emails! I’m always praying for you 2! As well, Dad...thank you always for your great emails. They always touch me and I always get a boost from them. Mom, thank you for the pictures and updates and for doing EVERYTHING for me haha! (You thought you could get away from that for 2 years....guess not haha!)
So this week was great! Another ZLC in McAllen and the 2 1/2 hour evening drive home! It always calms the nerves just to drive haha! And sorry I didn't answer this last week but we have transfers a week from tomorrow. We will know Friday, but I’m fairly sure I’m staying! Hopefully....My guess is Elder Sanchez will go to be an assistant because our other one Elder De La Fuente is going home. But who knows!!!! Maybe I’ll get shipped back to Laredo haha!!! The transfers have gone too fast up here and we always joke that the time goes fast as a ZL cus you deal with so much crap! I think that’s why Dad might be aging on us so quickly haha! But I love every minute of it!
I received a letter from Bishop a few weeks ago, so assure him that I will write back REALY SOON! I am not really a writer at all! As well I received one from Keg and it reminded my to give a shout out to all my old buds and their families. The Machens, Freis, Meyers, and of course the Ydes! I’m so proud of all of them and it sounds like Keg has been doing well! As well want to say hi to the Grandparents! (I LOVE YOU!!) And JAY! I need to write him!
So this week has gone too fast! I feel I have spent any free time in my journal trying to gather all my memories from the mission. It becomes real at this point that it won’t last forever and I don’t want to forget a single thing! Today I talked to President and I told him that the mission is sacred ground for me. The mission has changed me more than anything. I feel like I have done 30 years of growing in a year.. Haha luckily not physically. Even though the Elders make fun of me because they say all the weight goes to my pompis. (butt) haha But luckily, I’m roughly about the same size!!
My time here really has been great with Elder Sanchez. "We are way too much alike." he says "Only you’re white and I’m..well....brown!" haha So that either means we get along way too well or we get frustrated with each other haha! But I love him to death! I’ve learned alot about myself and as well about revelation. He has taught me so much about receiving revelation through prayer, scripture study, and even dreams. He really is a special kid.
But I am always ready for my next challenge and trial. I like the growing it makes me do. haha maybe not at the moment but afterwards I am grateful.
So to finish I wanted to just spent a few minutes on a little birthday paragraph for Alex.
I always tell Elder Sanchez, “No offense but Alex is still my favorite brown kid! And the most handsome!” HAHA! The only problem is he likes to outdo me and Chan in about everything! I decided we will have to pick up the pace! But Alex really is kinda like the glue that holds together the family. From the first time we saw him we couldn't get enough of him, and not to brag, but he couldn't get enough of me haha! At least back then! But Alex, you are a very blessed spirit if you didn't already know. God had planned from the beginning for you to be part of the SMITH CLAN! Without you, we wouldn't even be the Smiths! And I am very grateful that you are MY brother. I’m grateful that you are my best friend and even though you might be able to take me out by the time I’m home, you will always know that your "big" brother loves you more than anything. And that without you, I wouldn't be who I am.
The MOST important part of the Gospel to me is the knowledge that our families can be together forever. And the knowledge that you and Addi and Chan and I will be together with Mom and Dad forever is the thing that makes me wanna be a missionary. And you’re what makes me want to be a missionary, buddy!
Happy birthday and I hope you all have a great week!!
LOVE,
Elder Smith
