"NO BETTER SOUND THAN THE WATER FILLING THE FONT"

Hello family! 

I loved all your emails and I’ve been soooo excited to email you! I loved the funny “Payton moments” haha I’m surprised those teachers still remember me!  But I feel so sad for the McKenzie family. That is so hard. Tell them they will always be in my prayers. They are an amazing family. As well Dad, Elder Resendez was an awesome missionary. He is a legend here in Laredo and all these elders here freaked when I told them because he trained 2 Elders here. Tell him Elder Duncan and Elder Wilson say hi! And Chan, good luck with everything buddy! I’m worried about ya going to Cali, so please be safe!

 This weekend was the best weekend ever! I will just start on Friday with Brother Mercado showing up with his huge, nonmember family to be married to his sweet wife. Such an awesome night and then Saturday, our other investigator Brother Pimentel (who can’t get baptized until he sends his papers to the First Presidency to get approved) was married to his wife, a member. Two weddings and I could just see the countenance of these people change as they were able to begin living a commandment of their Heavenly Father and prepare for baptism. And the Spanish wedding had a huge dance and lovey dovey music and it was quite a party! I’ll have to send pictures! So the weddings we soooo great and I was so happy, but really it came down to Sunday. Brother Mercado’s baptism was scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and of course Satan, in his usual way, was right there trying to stop it. So, that morning we had to go rake a tired Brother Mercado out of bed, because he had been sick and hadn’t slept. But we got him up and to church and were still running all over getting programs and practicing a missionary musical number and cleaning the font. It was crazy, crazy!

But in Sacrament Meeting Brother Mercado was really feeling the Spirit and got up to bear his testimony and I was freaking out because he’s a pretty shy guy! But he got up there and just rocked it. I was bawling because he bore a way strong testimony and then thanked me and Elder Stevens from the pulpit and it was just the best. But I can tell you, there was no better sound and no better feeling than hearing that water filling up the font.  And the look on Brother Mercado’s face as he came out in his big-boy whites. We had an amazing program and then my good friend Manuel Mercado was baptized. I was super emotional, haha I was just so proud and so happy and just felt like I’ve never felt before. I love him so much and I can’t explain how it felt to see him change and take this step. Me and the other missionaries sang the children’s song "When I Am Baptized" and I couldn’t even look at Brother Mercado because he had tears streaming down his face. What an awesome day!

So, after the baptism and working a few hours, we got back to the apartment so Elder Steven’s could pack. I’m so sad he is leaving, but I know that we were supposed to be here together to find Brother Mercado and to baptize him. He leaves tomorrow morning, so I’d say he went out with a bang!

But family, I can’t describe to you how much I love being a missionary. I decided if I had to give up 2 years just to see only one baptism, it would be worth it. SO WORTH IT!  I love being here in Laredo and I love these people sooo much. Thank you so much for your prayers and for your love. I know with all my heart that the Lord wants me here.  And that there are specific people waiting for me still, and I can’t wait to hit the pavement and find them! I love you all so much family and I pray that you will all have a great day! Be safe, take care, and wish me luck with my new comp!

Until next week,

Love Elder Smith

BROTHER MERCADO IS GETTING BAPTIZED!

Holy Smokes! I’m running behind on time because I was enjoying all your emails so much! So I have sooo much great news I just want to tell you all of it!

But first off, I’m so glad you are all doing well! Alex, it sounds like you had a good time at the movies with Brady, eh?? And Addi is dancing it up. Good work hunny. And Chan. . . I approve!  And Mom and Dad, I love your guts and thank you so much for everything!

So, the good news . . . . . Brother Mercado, our super stellar investigator, got interviewed yesterday and has been found worthy to be baptized next Sunday! He and his wife surprised us with buying their wedding license this past Thursday! So we have a wedding this Friday and then he’s getting baptized! Man I can’t even explain in words how much I love Brother Mercado and how much he has changed! He is so excited and so ready! So keep him in your prayers so that all may be well and that he can be baptized this Sunday! I don’t know if I’ve ever been so excited for anything! And when we were preparing him for the interview the only problem he had was that he didn’t have a testimony of President  Monson, because he wasn’t able to watch conference because he was out of town. So I gave him the Mormon Message DVD and had him watch the one by President Monson and then pray. Needless to say, our Heavenly Father gave him a very definite answer :)  So the sad part is that Elder Stevens is getting transferred 2 days after the baptism. He is going down to Mcallen to be a district leader already. What a stud!  I am getting a new companion who will be the new D.L. here. I’m super excited for change and for Elder Stevens, but it’s also pretty sad that he is leaving. But at least he will get to see our work pay off this Sunday!

So, it sounds like you had an awesome Easter this year. Easter is a lot different when you’re a missionary. ALOT DIFFERENT! I just loved the Spirit we felt throughout the day and to see everyone so focused on our Savior. As well I got the Easter package you sent and I loved it, thank you so much. Me and Elder Stevens loved the ties you sent and we were looking fresh at church with them. As well I was able to use all the eggs and candy last night for a FHE with the Reyna family. We used the wooden eggs and drew faces on them and then used them to do some "Egg Bowling". We had a blast. I’ll send some pictures! But we had a great time and as well got to watch the Mormon Messages with them! I love being a missionary, especially on Easter.

So, to close this short and hopefully sweet email, I wanted to let you all know that I have a testimony of my Savior, and everyday when I get dressed, I am so humble to be able to put on a tag with his name on it. It’s because of him that I am here, and that I am who I am. And it’s through His love and atoning sacrifice that we can all be together. I love Him very much and have never felt Him so close. I am so blessed to represent Him and His church and we are all so blessed to know Him, because there are too many people that don’t.  And that’s why we are here. I pray that you will always remember how much I love you, and how sweet life really is. I love you all, take care, be safe, be smart, and enjoy everyday.

Until next week,

Love Elder Smith

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