HELLO FROM SUNNY LAREDO!

4/2/12

Hey family! 

Man your emails were so great! I loved the stories and the pictures, too! I always love to see everyone in pictures, because it doesn’t make me feel so far away! So first things first! I am sooooooooo EXCITED for Logan! You have to call him and tell him right now that he will love it there and that I am super excited for him! And Dad, I did get my bike and it has been the biggest blessing! Man, it has lightened the load a lot, so thank you SO MUCH for helping me get that figured out! Oh and before I forget, I want to send a shout out and an “I love you to JAY!!! And the Sister HART, if you could call her! I miss them and hope they know that they are in my prayers! And I haven’t got my package yet but I should get it Friday when the zone leaders bring the mail from Mcallen! THANK YOU!

So it sounds like you all had a great week at the cabin and watching conference. How lucky we are to have a LIVING Prophet on the earth. One we can hear from so often! I absolutely ate up conference this weekend. I’ve got about 20 things I want to do better and questions that I got answered! There were sooo many great talks that I can’t even pick one that was my favorite. I really really enjoyed Elder Holland’s though. I love how he is just blunt and in your face! I always learn a lot from him.  And as well, as conference came to a close I really loved President Monson’s testimony. Man I was in tears thinking that I had to wait 6 more months to hear from him again! And I was in tears because I have been missing so much by not listening to every word of conference before my mission! Man what a great weekend! We were fed well in between sessions, too, by the Spanish members, of course. They always take care of us.

But we have had a pretty crazy week this week! We had some incredible thunder and lightning storms! And we got hailed on that night pretty bad! And then believe it or not the next day it was 97 degrees! But that lightning storm made me think of that night we spent on the Rammell’s patio watching the storm. It seems like only a moment ago. But as for the heat, it’s getting pretty intense. Everyone always makes fun of how dark I am already and it’s only gonna get darker!! But I love it and I’m pretty used to just being sweaty haha!

So as for our investigators here, they sure are great.  Always keeping us on our toes and like to take us as high as they can before we hit the down drop. Like Brother Mercado who had a date for last month but couldn’t get married. But he reset his date and wants to get baptized on the 15th so he can do it just in case Elder Stevens leaves. I’ve got faith in him.  We are going with them to get the marriage license tomorrow! So keep him in your prayers. The Lord has definitely humbled me, but we will just keep working hard and it’ll come together!

Well family, that’s all the time I have for today! I always love sitting down and having a few minutes to tell you EVERYTHING that I can about what’s going on, but still I feel that it’s not even a part of it. But really what I want you all to know is I love you, and I’m working as hard as I can. I pray for all of you and for your safety and happiness. And hope you have a wonderful week. I’m pretty dang lucky to have such a great family behind me. :) Take care! Until next week!

Love, Elder Payton Clark Smith

ANOTHER WEEK UNDER THE SUN

Hey family!

Thank you all for the emails and letters! Your emails always just make my week! Mom, I loved the letter and all the pictures! It was great to see some pictures of what’s going on, and of little Bart! I loved the pictures of Addi’s dance competition and Alex’s birthday as well! So Before I get started, I wanted to say hello to the grandparents and that I’m so sorry I haven’t written in a while, I feel really bad, but I will as soon as I can! I was going to ask if you could all write a letter with your testimonies or some experiences, or something like that, I would really love that! Also, Mom I was going to ask if you could send me a Mormon Messages dvd in my package, that would be great!!! And you can be expecting a letter of a crazy experience I had if I can get it written. I probably shouldn’t email it, haha but you’ll hear from me soon!

So it sounds like all is well at home and you had a great St. Patty’s Day. I feel bad, but I didn’t even know that I missed it. No one celebrates that down here and it just came and went! Haha - sad. But it’s better sometimes to just not even realize it, haha! I hope you all had a blast with the O'Rammells and everyone! Sounds like Chan is up to his shinanigans still haha! That’s my boy.  And Alex, I’m glad to hear you’re liking scouts and doing well in everything! Dad I loved your email and that talk you shared! Thank you. And Mom, as always, thank you for everything, and not killing the dog. Just promise me you won’t leave Blake out of anything! She’s still my baby!

So this week was interesting! Lots of fun stuff! Lots of carne asada! Lots of  new people to teach and lots of sun! I am getting super dark all ready and people are always asking if I’m accustom to the sun! Haha and I’m only gonna get darker! It’s great to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather and be on our bikes, especially when everyone wants to feed you and give you paletas (kinda like popsickles)! We teach a lot of the workers at the paleteria, between us missionaries, so we get a pretty good discount haha! The members here are so great and they take really good care of us. Most only the Spanish ones feed us and the English ones know that that’s not their place haha! But this week was super great! A little rougher during the week because of spring break here, but it was still great! The Cardenas family was out of town, but we set 2 more b.d.s and had them at church. We’re getting better at getting people to church,because we’ve struggled!

It’s funny but with me and Elders Stevens being so young, it’s just trial and error! But we decided that the things we could control is our work ethic and being in tune with the Spirit. We’ve been doing a purification challenge, which has been tough. I’ve realized that I’ve got a lot to change but its really good! You should all try it. Write down some things that keep you from feeling the Spirit, then fast to start the challenge and I can promise you will feel the Spirit more every day! It’s amazing how when we put in the effort the Lord can do wonders for us. He can really help us reach our potential!

But other than that, all is well. Just taking it one day at a time. This is starting to feel like my only life here, but I promised I would never shut out you guys and the great memories I have. That’s what has prepared me for this! I am amazed everyday at how much the Lord has blessed us. And how much he prepares us and really just how well he knows and loves us. I feel closer to him than ever and I pray that all of you do as well. I love being here in Texas. I love the people here and I love this work. I pray that you can all strive to be better and let Heavenly Father help you reach your potential. Even though I think I’ve got a pretty dang perfect family! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Take care! Until next week!

Love Elder Smith

NO EMPTY SEATS!

HOLY SMOKES FAMILY! 

I can’t believe you got a new dog, that’s SO exciting! I can’t believe you got away with that Dad! Well, I like the name, as well, and I think it is very fitting for him. Black Bart...I like it and I hope you can mail me some more pictures because it’s hard to see pictures on my email. First I saw that picture of Bart and Blake and I was freaking out in the library!! And then I saw that picture of Addi in her makeup, and I just started bawling! I can’t believe how old and pretty she looks and i just about died. I’m so proud of her and how great of a dancer she is. And more importantly, just how great of a girl she is. And Alex was looking handsome as always. And Chan, I absolutely loved your email and I hope you find “the girl”. She is out there somewhere. I pray for the success of your search every morning and night. (no joke) And Mom, I love you and hope you will let the dog stay. I want you to love that puppy to death because I’m not there to do it. I love to hear that you are all so happy and it just overwhelms me every time I hear from you and get to remember just how good I have it. I love you all so much!

So Mom, I did get that package from Jenny Brown, and I already sent a thank you letter. Tell them thank you and that I love them! Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy, I love you all so much!! And the Rammells and Ydes!! And everyone else! Thank you for everything.

So this was the first week of my second transfer! I can’t believe how fast the first one went! And so I thought it would be good to just tell you a little about the Texas Mcallen Mission. First off, ties are IT down here. There is tie “drug trafficking” at every meeting and even President participates. So our P-days are spent playing soccer, which I love now, and then cruising the podegas and shops, bargaining with the people for cheap packs of ties. Ted Bakers, Xmi’s, and Burberry’s. Its crazy how much of a disease it is down here! haha.  It’s pretty funny. This mission loves ties and it loves baptizing. 

And so that brings me to the investigator updates. We have this family set for April first. I think this is the family I told you about, Mom. They are coming to church every week and progressing and just doing so well. So if all goes well, they will be baptized them on the 1st. Such a great family!!! We are also pretty disappointed because we have so many great people, but we just can’t get them all the way to their date. Missionary work is so hard, but we’re getting better everyday and the Lord has blessed us.

But other than that, things are just great here. It’s getting super hot now and I can only imagine what it will be like this summer. Everyone just tells me I’m in for quite a cooking. But, bring it on! I’m stoked for this summer. We got a little taste of what it will be like last night as we walked down a street with smoke coming from both sides from carne asada, kids out in the street playing soccer, and beautiful warm weather. It’s weird to think how much different it is there! haha! 

I love these people. I love being here in Texas. I love their food and their sports and just everything. But nothing brings more joy than seeing them change their lives for Christ, and to watch them better themselves and choose the right. I can’t explain the way I feel when I see that look on their face when they get that first glimpse of heaven. And I want them there with us after this life. Like Aunt Nene told me, "We have to do everything to get there....We don’t want any empty seats." And I want these people there with me, and they will be one day. We all will be! 

I love you very much family and sometimes it feels like I’m so dang far away from you all. But this will seem like just a moment, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love you all, I hope you do everything you can to fill those seats. Have a great week, have fun, play hard, be safe, and love everyday!

Until next week,

Love elder Smith

BLESSED WITH A WHOLE FAMILY TO TEACH

Happy BIRTHDAY to my favorite guy in todo el mundo! Man buddy Alex, I loved the pictures and I loved the email!! I can’t believe how stinking old your getting and I’m sorry I missed it all, but I hope you got my letter and package with you and Addi’s gifts in it! I hope you had a fun time and just LOVED all of the attention because you deserve it!

    

So as for T, it seems like no matter where I go I can’t get away from her! haha So THANKS ALOT for the bummer news!! haha nah just playing, I think Tim Tebow’s a pretty good guy! I hope you enjoyed the movie though! And Dad, thank you for the email, I loved the quote like always. I have most of them written up on my wall. You’re the best!!! And Mom, I love and miss you. Today at the store some guy comes up to me while I was looking at the cookie dough section and he said, “Do you miss your momma’s cooking?” I like teared up haha! Miss you Mom! And Chan, don’t turn all those girls away man, or there isn’t gonna be a single one left in Rexburg in two years that hasn’t gotten her heart broken by my older brother! Sounds like you’re doing awesome! I’ll have a letter coming your way sometime soon. And Addi, I love and miss you and wish you the best of luck at your competition!!! Make me proud hunny. You always do!

Ok so this week was awesome! We have just been having more and more success every week. I can’t even believe it. We are being so blessed with new people to teach, that we are just all over the place. And this week we finally got a whole family that wants to be baptized and they are the best! They are a Spanish family and they live in probably the biggest house in our area. They are, no kidding, more wealthy than every other investigator put together. It’s pretty sad how poor of an area it is here. But these people live in a mansion, yet they are so humble and prepared. We love them!

We also found a new guy names Sergio and we aren’t sure how strong his desires are but he’s our craziest story teller! He told us how a few years back he had a litter scuffle with his dad. And let’s just say that with drugs, alcohol and a gun, bad stuff happens. Luckily, he didn’t kill anyone, but he really wants to change, so we will see. We just meet the craziest people with the wildest stories. But I love them all and they all, to some extent, just want help. And luckily we know where they can get it. Seeing these people has strengthened my testimony even more that our Savior Jesus Christ understands all of us so perfectly. And that our Heavenly Father loves all of them just as much as his other children.

I love this gospel and we are So blessed to HAVE  IT! To be able to live it. I don’t know where we would be without it, but I can see where these people are, and I know Heavenly Father’s heart just aches that they haven’t found it yet. I pray that we can remember how blessed we are. We’ve got it good, family. I’ve got it good to have all of you!!! Every night I ride home in the dark, all sweaty and tired, I just smile and think how good life really is. How lucky I am to be where I am. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!!

I’m sorry for the short email but things are pretty crazy and we never have much email time!!! But I love and miss you all soooo much and I hope you all have a wonderful week! Be safe, Be happy, and love everyday!!! Until next week family.

Love, Elder Smith

OH LAREDO!

So first off, Addi, you looked stinkin' beautiful! Sounds like a fun week with skiing and all! And I love the joke Mom and Dad! Haha And Chan you are nuts! I was laughing out loud in the library and everyone was looking at me! And Alex I hope you are tearing it up on the hill and I know you got a b-day coming up!!!! Next week I’ll have an email just for you!!

So this week was tough...on Tuesday night me and Elder Stevens got back to our apartment at 9 and Elder Papa our senior missionary was there waiting. He told Elder Stevens that his father had passed away that night and to call President. He spent some time on the phone with President and then I talked to him for a few minutes. My heart was just aching for him. That night he asked me to give him a blessing, which was pretty amazing.... The next morning we had some french toast and eggs to cheer him up. He is absolutely the most amazing Elder. That morning he woke up with a smile on his face and just knew that he was going back to work. The famous Elder Steven’s quote is, "Everything happens for a reason."  And so that’s all he said and we got back to work and had the best week ever! We exceeded all our goals and found tons of new people to teach and set a bunch of B.D.s!  I just love that kid!

So everyone says Laredo is the most evil place in the mission. Satan has a pretty good grip over these people and it’s pretty sad how much sleeze and temptation is all around. It’s hard to work through all of that but its amazing that the Lord can still soften and prepare the hearts of these people for this gospel. We still haven’t had a baptism, but we know we are going to baptize. We have a lot of B.D.’s set we just need to keep them progressing! These people are hard to get keeping commitments!!! But it’s funny because my first week it was all about numbers to me but now it doesn’t even matter because I just want to see these people changed and coming to Christ. And I want to see them in the waters. And I have faith that it will happen soon.

Just a quick example, one of our investigators Angel (Spanish) has a smoking problem so we had a fast with him. Angel’s only 22 so he’s pretty young but he has shown so much faith and since our fast he hasn’t even had the desire to smoke. It has been such a miracle.

So my last funny story! We got in kind of a sketchy situation with this guy and let’s just say he didn’t have a very good spirit about him. And he was short and had a pretty creepy smile! haha And he had a beer in one hand and we could tell he was wasted. And so he walks up to us like he is gonna do something and stops when he gets to us and just smiles and says in a raspy voice,  "Are you Christians?"  Us: "Well yes, we believe in Christ."  Him: "Can a Christian kill another Christian?” And then he takes a step towards us and we’re both like, WOW! haha So I like hop off by bike and step back...and the first answer that came to my mind was,  "Wwwelll, they probably shouldn’t!" haha

But it’s all good in the Dirty South! I’m safe, happy, and I miss you all a heck of a lot! Well my dear family, that’s all for this week! I hope you know how much a love you!

Until next Monday,

les amo, Elder Smith

ANOTHER WEEK IN THE "DIRTY SOUTH"

So family it sounds like all is well! I loved all your emails! Sounds like a fun weekend skiing and staying at the Bin! Hope you all had a blast and Mom and Dad, I hope you had a blast at Lady A! And I can’t believe you heard Darius Rucker! He is way good!!! But tell all the family hello and that I’m missing all of them and all of you! First thing, I want to check how Grandma is doing with her leg and how Grandpa is recovering? I’ve been worried about them, so please update and let them know they are in my prayers. And same for Papa and Grammy, I hope they are doing well and tell them all that I will write asap. And thank everyone that has written me and I’ll try to get you written back!!!(Aunt Nene and Uncle Paul, Ydes...and everyone else! Love Ya) 

So this week was super good! Definately a different Valentines day then ive ever had! We went down to Mcallen for V day for First comp training and it was a blast. Me and Elder Stevens drove down a whole van of missionaries and had a way sweet day. And mom it was a miracles that i got that package. It got there just seconds before i left to head back to laredo! Thank you so much i loved it! Your the best valentine! I hope you got my card a sent!

So this week was really great, but also really hard. Bad news first, Julio. The day before his interview to get baptized, this Sunday, he backed out. And just wasn’t ready and it broke my heart. I thought getting dumped by a girl hurt. I was in the pits the whole night but the next day we went to work and set 4 new B.D.s. The Lord really blessed us with those so we will see how they progress. I love finding humble people and they are all pretty prepared.

We have a lot of great investigators right now and my very favorites are the Cantera family I’ve told you about. But the bad news from them this week is they can’t get his divorce done and get married for 3 years because of some "Stuff" and so they are stuck in limbo and it’s so hard. They have changed so much and are so ready, but they have a big trial in front of them. But I love their kids but they are soooooo out of control! So we had a little obedience lesson last night with them and la familia Orozco. Brother Orozco is like the craziest guy I’ve ever met.  And let me tell you it’s hard to control a lesson with Spanish people who just LOVE to talk! So me and Elder Stevens put together a game. It was that primary game "don’t eat pete", or in Laredo terms, "no comas a Pedro".  Man, they went nuts for that game, especially the parents! Haha Everyone was screaming and laughing and we had a blast. Afterwards we tied it in with obedience and it was super good. And me and Elder Stevens totally controlled the lesson, it was great!

But as far as the Spanish, I LOVE IT! I love learning and studying and speaking with people. I’ve been leading a lot of lessons and learning so much. I feel like people know I have a personality now because I can actually talk to them. I’ve been making a lot of the phone calls in Spanish, which were a nightmare at first! But it’s just super fun and such a humbling experience.  I think the talk in sacrament was really good to get me out of my Spanish shell because now I just love talking to everyone!

As far as the food, EVERY Spanish Mama wants to feed us and they make us eat a lot! But I’m ok with that because I LOVE the food. We eat at like every appointment, even when it’s not a dinner appointment. Haha But the people are just awesome and they take good care of us.

So those are just some updates. But other than that, its just WORK!  It’s such a blessing to be a missionary. I have learned so much already and I learn more everyday. It’s not easy to be away from you all and I hope you know how much I miss you, and love you. But this will be but a small moment in what we have to come. And there’s so many of these people that need the same blessing that we have. I hope you keep them all in your prayers. You are all in mine. I love you all and pray that you have a wonderful week. Be safe and take care. Until next week.

Les quiero,

Elder Smith

CARNE ASADA, GRASSHOPPERS, & FIESTAS

Ok, so last week I felt so bad that my email was so short and I spent all my time talking about investigators and I didn’t even get a fraction of that typed. So this week I’m gonna talk a little more about just the stand-out moments of the week and comment on your emails!

So, first off I loved all your emails! I’m glad Dad finished the tile and I’m so glad I’m gonna get some of you and Nae’s cookies, Mom! And I am sooo stoked for you to go to the Lady A concert! Take some pics for me! And sounds like my girl T did well (at the Grammys)! The other day I went to help move furniture because of a flood in a member’s house and we went into the daughter’s room to move stuff and it was packed with T Swift posters and I was going crazy! Satan was throwing his best at me, haha! And Addi I’m so happy you have a dance competition. You are going to do great! Alex I’m glad you’re loving school buddy and I hope you are loving every minute. And Chan, holy smokes boy, you are going crazy with this whole dating thing!! I loved your email and I am writing you a letter today, but keep the details coming. I want a part in the decisions! HA AH They all look like they’ve got great testimonies:)

So this week had so many ups and downs! We started the week last Monday night with my first carne asada and holy smokes it was amazing!!! And for the appetizer, Salsa baked grasshoppers! They eat those things like candy and it’s just a plastic bag of brown grasshoppers...legs and all. And apparently mine wasn’t cooked enough because I got a little squeeze of guts when I bit into it!! But they all thought it was just so funny haha!! I’ll send pics!

But this week has been so rainy and cold and I had to borrow a rain jacket, but I have to go buy one today at Walmart. I hope that’s ok! I feel bad spending money, believe it or not! Big change haha! But that night we had carne asada, the first counselor asked if I could give a talk this Sunday... In SPANISH! haha I was kinda like, "Are you sure??" Haha But I thought it would be a good way to introduce myself to everyone that doesn’t know me...Lets just say, they all know me now!:) There are like 75-100 people in the Spanish Branch so it’s pretty good sized! So my topic was the Spirit and I studied a few days to prepare a 6 minute talk. That’s all, just 6 minutes, no big deal. So I got there yesterday and I was the 3rd speaker. First one goes, takes 3 minutes (youth speaker) 2nd one goes...TAKES 5 STINKING MINUTES! And he was the other adult speaker! So now it’s my turn. Mr. Gringo, who has been in the field 3 weeks and I have to talk for 24 minutes!! Haha the counselor leaned over and said in Spanish, “Try to make it long.” HAHA!  So let’s just say I nailed it as best as I could. Haha It was definitely a good experience for me and I guess you could say that everyone knows me now. Whether it’s in a good way or a bad one, I don’t know. But they know me, nonetheless.

  

So on Saturday we had a FIESTA and it was in the chapel! There was a Spanish DJ and dancing and food and it was awesome! We had a bunch of investigators there and they had a blast. I can’t tell you how much I LOVE just walking around and trying to talk to these people and have them teach me and laugh when I try to talk. They are all so fun and love that I try so hard, but fail haha! I LOVE the Spanish people though. I feel like I’m their little 2 year old that’s learning to speak and they just baby me haha! And all the Spanish mommas like force me to eat and when I don’t, they get mad! At the fiesta they are like, "NO MORE TALKING! EAT!" in their assertive momma Spanish! Haha I love it!

Other than that family, all is well! I love getting chased by dogs and riding home in the cold rain, knowing that all is well. I love the food and I love the people. My legs and buns are looking nice and fit from the killer bike riding and I love my comp. Everything is just perfect.. This week will be tough, however. My comp Elder Stevens’ father has cancer and will probably pass in the next few days, so he got to call to say his goodbyes. I have never met a stronger kid. Everyday he puts on a smile and goes to work, not ever thinking about himself. I love the kid to death and hope you will keep him and his family in your prayers. I don’t think I could handle it like he is. It makes me grateful everyday for all of you. I think and pray about you everyday and am so so grateful for you. I hope you know I love you all so much and I hope that all is well, con la familia Smith. Take care, be safe, have a wonderful week and always know that I love you all. 

Until next week family, Love

Elder Smith