I LOVE BROWNSVILLE!

FAMILY HELLO! 

Thank you for all your emails I loved them so much and the pictures! Mom and Nae look festive as ever (Nice hair moms). And I’m so glad Grandpa’s party went well, and that Dad hasn’t killed the dogs yet! Blake is looking great! And it was good to see the Ydes, tell them I say hi and that I love them!

Man, so I LOVE BROWNSVIlLE already! It is sooo pretty here! And I LOVE my area and members and everything about it! Our area is huge and packed with members! We are basically opening a new area because 3/4 of our area got white washed by Elder Jackson and his comp about 3 weeks ago and so we are completely new to it. It’s pretty cool because all the missionaries go to the English Ward together so we are just "some missionaries" in that ward. But me and Elder Jackson are the only Elders in our little Spanish Branch and it is SOOO SWEET! The building is an old doctor’s office, in the middle of our area and we are Rockstars there!  All the members love us and want to feed us and it is so much fun! In the branch there were 5 families, some from across the border, who got assigned to come to this branch and help get it started and it is making great strides. I love it too, because everyone knows and loves the missionaries! We prepare and bless the sacrament, we play the piano (Self player) and we translate too! (Funny story for the end of the email)  But I’ve already met all the members there, and am soo excited to work with them and they all have that new branch fire about missionary work. It’s called the Casa Linda Branch because it was started a few months ago in a casa (house).

So besides my awesome area I have an awesome comp too! I love him! Elder Jackson is from a small town east of Idaho Falls. He had a hard time last transfer with his other comp but man, we get along really well and are teaching together pretty well. We are so stoked about the work here and this new area and as well about our investigators. We are working with 2 families right now who are super solid. The Hernandez family (mom, Alejandra(15), Andrea (9)) And I love them! They all have bd’s (baptismal dates) and came to church and Alejandra is going to girls camp this next week. They will be baptized on the 17th. The only hard part is they are puro espanol and Andrea is deaf. So we are trying to teach her and learn sign language but she has a hard time with sign language so I just end up drawing pictures to teach her, which is really fun for me haha! But this family has a very special spot in my heart already. And as well we are working with another family that is huge! Only 2 of them made it to church because of sickness but they are doing great too. It was pretty cool to see all the members loving our investigators and just getting involved and it is just soo good!  I’m super excited for these families and we have a great week planned out to find some more great people.

So the funny story for the week is there is one white guy in the Spanish Branch who is from Germany, his wife is Spanish, but can’t really speak English at all! Weird I know. I guess they just speak the language of love. HAHA! So he has a THICK German accent and after I got introduced in front of the branch we started testimony meeting and he asked if I could translate for him. So in his thick German accent he starts talking about the war and bombs and all this stuff and I start cutting so many corners to translate to the branch. haha And it was pretty funny! For Example: Brother Lighthammer: "When I was in Germany they dropped bombs on us and gassed us out and the convoys charged in to take out the remaining survivors!!!!!"  Elder Smith’s translation: "I had a lot of hard times in Germany, with the war and all."  HAHA Very powerful testimony! But it was a good way for the branch to get to know me haha.

Well that’s all for today family! I better get going, but I hope you know I love you all and I hope everyone isn’t sending stuff to Laredo still haha! But if so I’m sure it’ll find its way to me! I Love you all and am so proud of you! You’re the best and thank you for your emails, letters, and pictures. Take care this week and be safe.

Until next week,

HERE GOES!

Hey family! 

Sounds like you all are doing so well! Sounds like you had an eventful weekend and I’m sorry you had to wait soo long to hear from me! Oh and Logan is looking like a stud! Man I’m soo excited for him, tell him I say hi and that I’m so proud of him!

So a crazy weekend here in Southern Texas. Lots of things going on. I know you all were excited to know what I was doing and where I was going and so here’s the news. I received a call that I was going to train, but my greenie had left the MTC, as well as two others right before they came and so it really put a wrench into transfers. So, I was informed I would not be training, but going to be senior companion. So here I sit in the library in Via Nueva Brownsville!*** I was so stoked when I heard the news because Brownsville I have heard is so sweet! And I’ve only been here about 4 hours, but I already LOVE IT! I have a car in my new area and i am the DD (designated driver) and I have a great companion. His name is Elder Jackson from some small town in Western Idaho! He is a big kid with a very big heart. I love him already. He is a little older than me in the mission and is such a humble kid, just ready to go and I am so excited to get working here. I told our ZL that the Lord knows great things will happen when he puts two Idahoans together, haha!

But these last few days have been soooo hard! Man I hate goodbyes! So very hard! Yesterday night I got invited over one more time by the Jimenez’s house just thinking we would go real quick to sign my book and they invited over Brother Pimentel and his whole family and our ward mission leader and his family and had pizza and chicken and beans and rice and sweet bread and they were ready to throw down this big party, haha! I was like AH! we have an appointment in like 45 minutes and they all just said, “Nope, your not going haha!” But luckily we were able to eat, laugh about the grandpa story (told by Brother Pimentel)  take pictures, cry, and give hugs and get out on time! It was soooo hard. I HATE GOODBYES! But it was good when it was over and the excitement of coming here helped me get over it haha! We also got to walk down through the trees to take pictures, as a district by the river and got stopped by border patrol! haha But they didn’t do anything. But we had a great and successful night and so we got to bed kinda late because the ZL’s had us come sleep in a different apartment and then we were up at 5 AM to head to Mcallen. Just a crazy weekend all around and I feel like I can’t even take a breath! haha But I love every second of it!

In this area they have a lot of great things going and they have an area that’s just ready to blow up. We are the only Elders that go to the Spanish Branch and he said no one plays the piano, so I better get practicing! We have 4 Elders in our apartments, one of which is Elder Hernandez, my MTC companion and so it will be good. I guess he has been struggling a little bit but I am so excited to be with them. But man I am just so excited I know I don’t have much to say I’m sorry but I will have tons to tell you next Monday! We have to head out to teach a lesson with this 9 year old girl who only speaks Spanish and is almost completely deaf so it will be interesting. But I love my area it’s all Spanish, pretty much and it’s super humid, but very tropical and beautiful!

Well family, that’s all the details I can come up with for right now. I love you all so much! I’m so proud of all of you! Chan, I’m proud of you! Keep it up and enjoy yourself. Alex and Addi, I love you and finish out strong with school, so you can enjoy the summer! Mom, good luck with graduation and Dad you’re the best and I love you! Don’t spoil Bart too much! I am so blessed to be here and to serve my Savior and these people! Wish me luck and please pray for these people. I know I will see miracles here. I’m just so happy to be here :)

Until next week, Love Elder Smith

P.S. Mom I’m sooo sorry I dropped so much money at Ross I bought a jersey because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get one anywhere else for that cheap! I’m sorry! And as well, I laughed way loud about Grandpa’s joke! SOO LOUD! I LOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH! TAKE CARE!

GOAT MEAT AND DRUNKEN BEANS

Hello Family! 

Loved your emails and all the pictures! Looks like Addi loved her dance recital and I’m sure she did so well! And I was proud to see that Texas flag flying, even though sometimes I think the Mexican flag would be more appropriate haha! But I’m glad all is well and thank you for all your emails!

So a pretty crazy week this week! I know you’re all probably interested in knowing where I’m going....and so am I! Haha I still haven’t received a call and instead Elder Pallo got a call, and he is training! So I know for sure I am leaving Laredo, which is tearing me up.  And the Zone Leaders and A.P.’s all know what I’m going to be doing but aren’t allowed to tell me because President wants to tell me on Wednesday when we go back down for training. So, they all give me a hard time and it’s making me anxious to know, haha! Everyone knows what they are doing that was at the training, but me haha! But we will see what’s going on this Wednesday and then I’ll be off next Tuesday. So, you will all have to wait until then to know haha!

But I’ve been having a super hard time the last 2 days, since I found out I’m leaving. I just feel like my time here is being cut short, so we’ve just been going like crazy to visit everyone and find new people, so that things are looking great for Elder Pallo and his greenie. I’ve started to tell people that I’m going because before you leave everyone wants you over for dinner, so it will be really good to get to say goodbye to everyone this last week. Yesterday I told the Jimenez family, which is like one of my favorite member families, and so they invited us over for goat meat and drunken beans, which was super good. haha But we had a cry fest because half of them are going out of town and it was the last time I could see them. I actually had a really hard time, but I know that’s what it’s gonna be like my whole mission - tough goodbyes every transfer. I know that they wanna be in contact with you, Mom and Dad, once I leave and the daughter speaks English so they can communicate with ya!

But besides all the leaving stuff, things have been great! We found a super bomb kid last Monday night named Jose who moved here from Honduras and he is just on fire. He is already keeping like all the commandments and came to church yesterday and then stayed for some baptisms and he is just doing great! Super sad I won’t be here to see him baptized, but I really feel like he was someone I was supposed to find here. And as well, Brother Pimentel is still waiting for the O.K. from Salt Lake so he can be baptized so I’m selfishly praying that they come this week because I really wanna be here for it haha! But I know he was definitely one of the big reasons I was supposed to be here as well and I’m so excited for them. And Brother Mercado is doing great and I’m sure his wife and daughter will be baptized within the next few months.

There’s just so many great things going on and so many great people that i just wanna STAY! haha But I know the Lord needs me somewhere else. I’ve been the most blessed missionary in the world to have been able to serve here in Laredo. I feel like I found the few who were waiting for me here and I just have a special place in my heart for Rio Bravo Laredo.

I love you all very much and I am grateful for your love and prayers! You’re the best! And I’m so grateful to be here and I just thank my Father in Heaven everyday for this.

Take care and I’ll talk to you soon! Until next week-

Les quiero,

Elder Smith

SO GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICES!

Hey family! 

Man, yesterday it was sooo good to hear your voices. You all sound soo great and I felt bad I didn’t have too long to tell everyone all that I wanted. Especially Addi and Alex, but I hope you know I miss and love you both and I’m so proud of you. Looks like Al got quite a shiner. That looks nasty bud. But the good news is the girls like black eyes. And it makes more sense now when people say "Keep your eye on the ball!" HAHA! You’ve got no other choice! But I’m proud of you buddy and get feeling better and  keep being a stud! You’re my hero!  And Addi you look stinkin’ cute in your dance outfit! I forgot to tell you all but the BYU Folk dance group came here to perform last Tuesday and all the missionaries in Laredo got to go with President and they are incredible tap dancers. I was super amazed and all the missionaries were going crazy. I was thinking of you the whole time, hun.

But Mom, I hope you had a great Mothers Day and it was really good to talk to you. I’m glad you were able to talk to all the family last night and I hope they all know I love them. And Dad, it was so good to hear your voice. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that I’ve got people who are proud of me and thinking about me.  Haha Even if some won’t admit it, it’s always good to get a boost from the family! Like we say, we are heros to the people back home, but here, we are just the weird white guys on the bikes.

Haha, but just a quick update about all that’s going on. I think I should know about transfers the end of next week, so I will keep you all updated but I am super excited to see what happens. Me and Elder Pallo are doing well. Still finding that happy medium, but we are making it work and we are working with a lot of great people. I’m loving the tan I’m getting and know it will only get worse! But I just hope it’s not permanent, haha! But all is well and I am loving every day!

So quick funny story of the week. We are riding through the park on the way to an appointment. And there is a skate park we ride through and 2 kids standing at the top of the ramp with their boards. So, of course I want to see something impressive, so I yell to them to impress me. haha So there they go down the ramp across the pavement, hit the jump and double yard sale, hard!!! Both were on the ground, one holding his arm and the other his stomach and he is gasping for air. And you know how hard it is for me not to laugh when someone gets the wind knocked out of them. I felt super bad though! haha It took them a while to get up and they finally staggered to their feet. I said sorry, gave them both about a 6, and we headed out. haha but the good news is, there was no shattered bones, only pride and dreams.

Well that’s it for today! So I am gonna email Chan now, but I hope you know I love you all! Take care and keep up the good work. I appreciate everything you do for me! Until next week!

Love Elder Smith

A LITTLE SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY OTHER MAMAS

Hello everyone!

So great to hear from all of you in your emails this week. I’m so glad you had a great weekend as well! I was thinking about all of you on Friday, knowing that you were probably freezing your buns off during the Cinco de Mayo party. But I know that rain or shine, the Smith crew always knows how to party. It was great to see the pictures of some of the family and those ones of Jay and Art especially, haha! I love them! Man, I have been so worried about the McKenzie’s and they will be in my prayers. They are such a great family and I’m super glad they had the chance to come to the party before things got worse. But on the other hand, what a blessing that they are strong in the gospel and can feel the comfort that it brings us. Please tell them I love them and am praying for them.

So, it sounds like Alex is doing great in ball! I’m so stoked about him and have pretty set plans to not go to school after my mission and just live off the money he will make from the MLB. haha I better get a baseball update from him soon. And from Addi as well about how everything is going! And it sounds like Chan is a regular pain in the butt salesman now! Haha and that’s good! I think that’s a requirement to be a good salesman. Haha just kidding, but I’m super glad that all is going well and that you are having success. Just don’t put off your search for the big catch, buddy! I know she will come!

Wow, so this was quite a week. I can’t believe the time is going so fast and that Mothers Day is so soon. But mom you can expect a 2 minute call on Friday for us to set up a time to call either Saturday or Sunday so think about when you want it to be. Just take into account I have church from 9 until 2, so we will find sometime to do it! And I’m sorry about the money being taken off my debit! I’m trying to be thrifty! But as well I’ll be sending a package today, so hopefully it gets home by Saturday! And hopefully it’s ok that I got ya a little something!

Well, things here are good. I can’t believe how hot and humid it’s getting out here and it’s only gonna get hotter haha! The humidity takes some getting used to but nothing we can’t handle. You just gotta get used to sweating all the time haha! But I love it here and am starting to get that fear of being transferred, so we will see what happens.

We have been seeing a lot of miracles this last week. We found 2 part member, less active families who all are interested in coming back. So between them, there are 7 people who aren’t baptized, so we have some great things coming up. The Lord has really blessed us here and I’m so grateful for that. Without his help, we wouldn’t have anything going for us. But me and Elder Pallo are starting to teach a little better together and things are starting to flow. He’s a great elder and I’ve learned a lot from him already. But I’m so excited for this week and the great things we have to come.

So to finish up, I wanted to give a little shout out to all my moms, just in case I don’t get to tell any of you before next Sunday. Grandma Smith, Grammy Clark, Renee, Aunt Nene, Sister Hart, and all my other mommas,  I love you all so much and am so grateful for every one of you. I hope you have a wonderful Mothers Day! And Mom, you already know this, but you’re my hero :) And I love you very very much! And I will talk to you on Friday!

So that’s about it for this week. I hope you all know I love you and I pray for all of you. I’m grateful for your support and I can feel your prayers. Keep up all the good work and be safe. Until next week,

Love Elder Smith

106 DEGREES - HIGH MARK SO FAR!

Hello family! 

Man, I can’t believe it’s already almost May! And Mom I know you’re getting trunky for the call but I haven’t heard anything about it yet haha! But don’t you worry I couldn’t ever forget your number. Anytime something goes wrong, it runs through my head haha! But it sounds like all is well! Man Chan I’ve been praying hard for you and I know you are gonna start tearing it up! Just keep working hard but make sure your having fun too! And Dad I was looking through the pictures of your ties, haha and they look good! I’ve become an expert on brands. But I always say, it’s all about the face of the wearer haha! And you will make them look good! And thanks for your wonderful emails. I’m glad you are loving your calling Dad and you get to be around so many great kids. And I’m glad you haven’t slowed down on the partying! Addi I hope all is well with dance, it sounds like you had a good convention! And Alex you better tear it up in your game this weekend! Love you! I’ll be cheering for you!

Man, so this week it really heated up. 106 degrees is the high mark so far and everyone still says it’s nothing. But I’m loving it! haha I’m getting a great tan! So things are going pretty well here. Sometimes me and my comp don’t gel too well when it comes to the contacting because he is really slow to answer sometimes (which is usually good) But a lot of times the people we talk to feel awkward and act like we are robots. And that is not me. No one wants to listen to a robot and these people need to know that we have something different. And I just like people to know me, instead of a stiff missionary. So we are kinda different, but we still get along. And he is a super good missionary and I’m learning a lot! But that’s one thing I don’t ever wanna do is be a robot because then God wouldn’t have made us, us! But he’s a great missionary and we go on a lot of splits, which it really good! I get to work with a lot of different missionaries and I learn a lot!

But one thing is certain, and that is I just love these people so much. There are so many families that I’ve gotten to know so much better these last 2 weeks because Elder Pallo doesn’t speak a ton in Spanish (even though he still speaks well). And he is still getting to know our area. So, I have really been blessed to get to know the people here a lot better. It makes me sad that there are so many people that could never get to know these people because of the language barrier and I feel like I have had a whole new world opened up for me. What a blessing!

But other than that, not much has happened this week. We have been low in the teaching pool so we have been looking for new people to teach and have found some great people. We found a super sweet girl names Maritza, who is a young single mom who is super bomb. We’ve got another lesson tonight with her so I’ll keep you updated. But it’s just WORK! And I love it. So I will keep you updated on all of our peeps and as well send some pictures so you have a better idea of lo que esta pasando.

So, quick funny story before I go...Last night at about 8:45 we got out of a lesson and there on the side of the road was a MASSIVE TOAD! And immediately my cabin fever kicked in and I jumped off my bike and grabbed it! I was so stoked about the great catch and all of the sudden this thing just starts peeing all over me! I didn’t know they could hold that much water! And Elder Pallo was laughing his head off so I just chuck this toad and am freaking out haha! My hands were dry and it just starts burning, haha and so we had an emergency hand wash on the side of the road! So hopefully I won’t get warts! HAHA!

So that’s it for this week! Sorry I always forget what I want to tell you because there is so much that goes on! But just know that things here are going well! There is always a crime scene or high speed chase or border patrol races but despite all of that, here in Rio Bravo, we have some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. And I think it’s pretty neat that the Lord brought me all the way down here, to be part of this. Even if it’s only for a short time. I love you all and I hope you have a great week! Be safe and I’ll talk to you soon. Until next week-

Love, Elder Payton Smith

HOLA HOLA COMO ESTAMOS

Hello Family!

Man, it’s crazy how the time goes. Some weeks I feel like Monday comes every other day and sometimes it feels like it’s been weeks since I’ve been able to speak with you! So, before I start my email, I wanna thank Chandler for the package! I loved it and I love all of the stories you sent. They were super good. And as well, thank you all for your emails. I always love to hear from you and I’m glad everything is going well. Alex keep tearing it up in baseball and Addi in dance. And Chan, I hope that all goes well in Cali and that you can "convert" some people. Just remember; bear testimony and promise blessing. That almost always works haha. . . almost.  And just know that when your skin is sizzling in the sun, you can be sure that mine is sizzling just the same. And Dad, it sounds like you are the best looking guy in town, which was already established, but in the case that you are looking for ties, find the brand "Ted Baker".  They are highly coveted and I could see you pulling one off! haha! Love ya Dad! And Mom, Man.... Mom, I just miss ya :) Ya sabes 

So this week was a pretty crazy week. I got a new companion Elder Pallo. Spanish name....white kid. Haha He is from Oregon and is a pretty cool kid. We get along and teach pretty well together. We are getting to know each other and it’s gonna be great. He is our district leader and so we are a lot more busy, but I’m liking the way we are working together and I’m getting some advice from an Elder that’s been out a little bit longer. He’s been out 16 months.  But this week has been good. It feels almost as if we have started from scratch after Brother Mercado. I’ve realized that the best missionaries are consistent missionaries. Ones that can baptize every week, rather than only every month. But things are looking great. Brother Mercado’s wife and daughter are coming to church now and involved in things and I’m sure they will come around and be baptized in this coming month. But other than that, there’s a lot of new great people and we are super excited.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to confirm Brother Mercado, which was a super cool experience. He is doing so well and has such a strong testimony. I just feel like a proud parent and can’t believe that my little boy is growing up.. haha.  

So, funny/embarrassing story for the week: A little member girl named Vivi Pena was getting baptized yesterday and they asked me to baptize her. haha So I was excited about that and she was just all smiles when she got to church yesterday. But when we started filling the font, we realized that the hot water didn’t work. So we weren’t sure if we were gonna do the baptism, but she checked the water and decided to be brave and said she could do it. So, we did it in the ice cold water.  And so gringo - Elder Smith takes her in the water and baptizes her. But, little did I know I for got an "y" or an "and" in English. Which, in my defense, is pretty easy to miss. So, she took the plunge and then I had to do it again! So I’ve got a little 8 year old shivering to death as I fumble to get the prayer right. Finally I do and we get it right. I felt pretty dumb, but nonetheless, she got baptized. And it’s one we won’t forget. Even though I want to haha!  But other than that, things are good here. Sometimes it’s easy to fall into a slump when your in the same area. Especially when Elder Stevens left because we were life brothers, haha But we just keep moving forward. Being a missionary is a fairly, bipolar job! haha But I’ll take it as it comes. So family I need to get going, I’m about out of time, but I hope you know I love you all. I’m proud of all of you. Be safe and be smart...And take care :)

Until next week

les amo,

Elder Smith