ALL IS WELL IN THE SLUMS OF SAN BENITO

Man, thank you for all your emails. So good. Sounds like a great week for everyone. . . except Bart, haha. I remembered my favorite line from Marley and Me. I’ll let you decide which part it is haha! Sounds like an amazing week for all of you. Dad, I’m super proud of you and so grateful for your example. You are going to do so well. Those kids are super lucky to have you as their Bishop. Man those pictures you sent of me are out of control! That one of my wisdom teeth brought back a lot of memories. haha Super funny. As well, some evidence of all the times I goofed around while Dad did all the work. I’m sorry Dad haha!

So first off, Rose and Addi need to stop growing up! That picture makes me sick haha! I can’t even believe how old they look. And Chan, I hope you can land one of these girls. I feel as if you’ve been doing the old "Uncle Kelvin touch and go" haha! Whether it’s on purpose or the landing just didn’t feel quite right, we no not. But keep trying!! haha!

So this was a pretty crazy week! It went by way too fast. I feel like I just emailed yesterday and my fingers haven’t even recuperated. We had a great week here. I feel like we are on that up hill after a downhill of trials. J. Montez passed his baptismal interview and will be baptized this Sunday!! I’m so proud of that kid. He is soo excited. It really has touched me because his Mom was the only one that joined the church and the dad was soo mad. He didn't support her at all and when the first kid wanted to get baptized the dad wouldn't let him. But Sister Montez just stayed active and kept praying and finally her husband softened his heart. So Joey will be her second son of age to be baptized. Now there’s just one more!! But it’s amazing to see her loving prayers for her family being answered. She is sooooo happy.

As well, to update on Dulce, she is coming to church and still progressing for the 11th. But had a little bit of a bad experience at church. Someone had said something inappropriate (one of the teenagers) and she was really offended and at the end of church she ask me a question that just broke my heart. She said, "Don’t they teach the children here how to respect their parents?" It really hurt me. I thought of all the times that I haven't respected my parents. Even though I knew that I should. But it really made me sad to know that someone felt that way at church. It really made me realize how careful we need to be with the things we say. People expect a lot from even the least of us. But we have a FHE with her tonight, so hopefully all will be well.

I feel the Lord is really blessing us and I am so grateful for those blessing. My Verdecito is doing great. He is getting better at the Spanish and I’ve been trying to help him talk more. I’ve developed the bad habit of talking a lot. That’s kinda how people are down here, haha, but for some reason in Spanish I just talk way too much. But I’m working on it and he's doing great. He's a great missionary and I’ve got high hopes for him. He comes from great stock haha! (Elder Stevens) But all is well here in the slums of San Benito. We are happy, healthy, and very blessed and I love you all so much. Take care and have a great week!!!

Love Elder Smith

HOPE I CAN STAY HERE IN LITTLE MEXICO A LOT LONGER!

Man, Jay is so right! We do have blessed lives. I was so happy to see all those pictures! Especially those of my little playboy brother (haha, just kidding Chan)! It sounds like things are going so great. That picture of the dogs made me smile as well. I’m so happy to see that Blake is doing well and Bart, tambien. I love that girl haha and it looks like she’s already got her winter fat thing going on. That’s my girl! How is Addi girl’s arm? I’ve been worried about her. It looks like things are cooling off up there. The only thing that changes here is the decorations, haha. It’s still pretty hot. But you can just feel it in the air. Such a pretty time of year. I wanted to say hello to all the family, the grandparents and Jay. And as well, thank the Jones again for the package. I’ve got a letter headed their way.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would talk about this week. Not too much happened. Joey is looking super great for the 28. He is LOVING the Book of Mormon! We set up his army guys to play out the story of Nephi and Laban, haha. Got a little too into it and tore of the head of the bazooka guy. But we are super proud of him. Minerva and Ramiro talked to our Branch President this week and found out they won’t be able to get married without serious problems. So it’s not looking too good for them. At least not while I’m here. It’s hard sometimes when the Lord sends you to these people and you just fall in love with them. And then the world can be such a road block. But my perspective really changed with this family. Before I would get so frustrated because I would only think of myself but now I just want them to make it..someday. I feel super strongly that this family will be to the temple someday. Some of the strongest testimonies and biggest changes I’ve seen on my mission. They are really great. And they have super cute but crazy kids, too haha. Then Sister Dulce still has a date for November 11th and she is doing super well. We are still very excited about her. So keep her in your prayers. These people mean so much to me,.

Things have been pretty crazy since Elder Hobbs got here. Our area is pretty much all Spanish and so it’s been a test for him. And for me! I’ve had to really show faith and give him the opportunity to talk and teach and testify. But he is learning a lot.  I always say I wish we were in Mexico. haha I get super frustrated when people speak English to us. It’s weird, but I get pretty intimidated by English speakers after teaching in all Spanish. So hopefully I can stay here in Little Mexico for a lot longer. I really do love it. 

But I am also so grateful for the trials that the Lord gives us to help us grow.

So, Mom about your question, I am feeling totally fine:) We are all happy and are seeing a lot more success now. We feel as if we are finally getting out of the slump we’ve had and it’s such a blessing to have these great people to teach. All is well.

I’m kinda at a short of words today, but I just want all you to know how grateful I am to be here. I’ve been reflecting a lot because of how fast the time is going. I’m not a young missionary anymore and it makes me sick as the days fly by. This really has changed my life. I would not take it back for anything. But I want you all to know, and especially Alex, because I think about him a lot, that I could never thank the Lord enough for this mission. And I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful family you are. I love you all so much and pray you have a wonderful week.  Love you all! Elder 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM TEXAS ROSE! LOVE YA!

HEISMAN TROPHY FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS!

Thank for your emails! Sorry it took so long to email this week! We had a lot going on haha! Sounds like you guys had a great week and Chan had a good birthday. So glad to hear it. I loved the pictures as well. Looks like Chan has a great group of friends. And I love the cast Addi! Good choice on the color. And alex I’m glad to hear you are doing well! You’re a stud!

So I don’t want any of you to worry. I am fine! I got to take a fun little road trip up to Mcallen to see the Trayners, but it was fine. I didn't want to go to the hospital, but she made me talk to the mission doctor and he said that I should go. But the weird thing is, they don’t know how it happened. They said it was a "deep contusion on my chest wall and ribs" haha Which is just a fancy way to say you got a big bruise on your insides. But the weird things is it was causing a lot of other problems. But everything is figured out and fine. I just don’t know how it just came up because we don’t do anything that could have caused it.  But I sleep sitting up so I can sleep and it reminds me of the old broken arm days and that old red chair I wrecked. haha Sorry Mom! So the funny thing was they gave me a shot of pain medication and I immediately couldn't breath. Me and President Trayner were sitting in there talking about football and all the sudden I was completely out and I remember barely seeing President Trayner sprint out of the room to get the doctor haha! So funny. When we left he said, "I figured the drugs had gotten the best of you when you started telling me how you won the Heisman with the Dallas Cowboys." haha! But we ended up in Walgreens late that night and we contacted this couple with President Trayner and I decided I’m more fearless on pain meds, haha! But ALL IS WELL! I PROMISE!  WE are doing great and I only had to miss like 2 hours of work Sunday night. I haven't had to miss anything else, so we are back to work and healthy.

As far as my new son, his name is Elder Hobbs and he's from Ogden, Utah. Great kid and a lot of fun. Straight from Utah though haha! He is really hard working and a great help and addition to San Benito. Doesn’t speak to much Spanish, but is improving really fast! We also have another greeny in our 4 man district, so we are pretty young but doing great.

This last week was a little rough because the family we have been working with is doing SO Well!! They have such strong testimonies already and have been to church and came to conference and loved it. I love their family so much but we found out they won’t be able to get married, even though they really want to. Down here there is just always problems with that stuff. It’s been kind of a heart breaker, again. But we’ve got the branch Presidency on the case and hopefully there will be something they can do. It seems the Lord has blessed us with a lot of great people. Some of the best, and for one reason or another they just can’t do it. It’s tough on them but it’s definitely a trial of their faith.

And as well, the part member boy we are teaching is doing great and will be baptized the 28! We are super excited for him. His name is Joey Montez and he is a stud. We are super excited for him.

Other then that there is not much to say. I love you all so much and thank you so much for your emails and support and love. Everything is perfectly fine here, so no worries whatsoever! I love you all and I’ll talk to you again real soon!

Love Elder Smith

CROCKETT SISTERS GET BAPTIZED & 2ND BABY BOY ON THE WAY!

Hello family,

Wow, I am so heartbroken to hear about Ethan. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad thing to say about Ethan. He was such a great kid and I really feel for his family and the Moss family. I really love that kid. Please, if you talk to his family or the Moss family, make sure they know how highly I think of him. I’ll keep them in my prayers.

AND HUNNY!!! Be careful!!!! I freaked out when I saw that picture! Man I hope you’re doing ok! Sounds like a pretty cool break story though. A zip line, eh? I Hope you’re feeling better hunny, I love you. And I hope you’re milking it too! Mom and Dad will do anything for their broken bone children, haha! 

So, I wanted to say thank you to the Jones family for the package I got and as well Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy for the letters. You guys do too much. Thank you!

So this week was incredible. So many miracles. But I will start with my favorite. Remember I told you A. Crocket was getting baptized yesterday. And the younger one Kayla decided not to. She was the one that just killed me when I was there because she knew the b.o.m. was true. But I got a call on Saturday from Elder Hill and he said Kayla got interviewed as well, and was going to be baptized on Sunday! And she had asked if I could baptize her. Man, I was so excited and grateful and super humbled. So I got permission from President and made it down to Brownsville with some members from San Benito.

So when I got there Elder Hill was outside talking to a member and it didn’t look like a nice talk. When I got over I kinda got into the conversation cause I knew the member and he knew the Crockett girls. He’s kind of an apostate guy and had taken Kayla out during class and told her she wasn’t ready for baptism. And just fed her a ton of doubts and just freaked her out. And he’s an active member! So, she was super confused and sad and we found out and just tore into this guy. Then the Zone leaders tore into him. It was pretty ugly. So, we went in to see the girls and found out she had doubts about the Plan of Salvation, because she had gone to the Jehovah Witness church before. And she said "I want to learn it right now and pray about it." So like 30 minutes before her baptism, Elder Hill and Nino went in a room and taught them both. And I was dying!!! Haha I wanted to go in and teach them so bad but they weren’t my investigators anymore and so i just sat outside and waited. And they taught for like 45 minutes and the baptismal service had already started and everything. Finally, they came out.

She had received an answer in the room. AND she had the biggest smile on her face. So, we got in our whites real fast as they stalled for us. Snapped some pictures, and we got in and they were both baptized.

I wish you could have seen them after the baptism. haha They were walking to the car, spinning circles saying "I feel sooooooo goood!" Nobody can tell me that those girls weren’t ready for that because I had never seen them so happy. haha Man they are the best. Definitely a big heartache, haha but worth it! Such a great family, and one of the best days of my mission. And it was good to be there with my first born again, Elder Hill.

On Saturday I also got the news that I’ve got a new baby boy on the way, fresh from the MTC. He gets here on Wednesday. I kept thinking of your birthday letter Mom, when you said when I was born, "I don’t know how I could love another as much as the first one!" So we will see if I can. But I am super excited and humbled to get the chance to mess up another one:) haha

Things are just crazy here, but the last of my good news is that we found a great family and got them to church this week, all 7 of them. Lots of little kids, but a great family. A lot of hurdles to jump, but after the Sunday we had I feel like we are getting better and better at making it over them.

I love being a missionary and I thank my Lord everyday for the life I get to live right now. What a blessing. I love you family. Take care!

Love Elder Smith

MOLE & CHOCO FLAN CAKE FOR MY 20TH BIRTHDAY!

How are you family? Thank you for your great emails today and all the great thoughts and pictures. It looks like you partied a lot harder there, than we did here haha! So glad you had a  great week! Thank you so much for the wonderful birthday packages, Mom and Dad and Grandpa and Grandma too! I loved the fudge and the wonderful uplifting cards I received haha:) You guys are the best! As well, I got Sister Hart’s birthday card on Saturday night and it made the birthday. She is the best! I hope you gave her a big hug for me. And I hope everyone is doing well. I feel super bad because I just got back from the mail and I bought a watch.... haha but I will take it back when I get Chan’s gift. Love you Chan! And tell Monty and his wife congrats! Sounds like a great day.

So this week was kinda crazy. haha Unfortunately not the most amazing week I’ve had out here. My district struggled a little bit and had some baptisms fall through on Sunday. So we were a little down, but we went to the Leal family’s house for a birthday dinner before we went out to work. They didn’t make menudo, unfortunately. They made Mole, which is super good as well. And a choco flan cake, which was great. I was gonna send a picture, but I lost my camera cord. haha ooops! But then we went out to work. We met with Gaston and found out he won’t be able to get divorced, so we won’t be able to teach him anymore. It’s really hard when you love someone so much and they are doing all they can, but it just can’t get done right now. He has a great testimony and one day will get things done. So we’ve got some rebuilding to do this week, but we are all feeling good today.

So this week went pretty well, besides a couple end of the week let downs. We were able to leave our area to go visit our branch president and start trying to win him over. He’s a tough cookie, but we are working on him. We also had a Zone Conference on Friday and Brownsville came up as well, so I got to see Elder Hill and it was great.There’s something special about a missionary you train. You feel so proud of them, but have that nervous feeling about them being out on there own without you, haha! But he had some good news as well... A. Crocket is getting baptized next Sunday!!!  IT’S CRAZY! I was so excited. I got permission from President to go down so we will see what happens. Those girls do like to mess with the missionaries haha! But I love them and she has been interviewed and is ready to go! It will be so good to see her baptized. I feel like I’ve loved too many people and seen too many people ready, for the amount of baptisms I’ve actually seen. Which sometimes can be a little discouraging but I am so happy that they are making that choice. I’ve thought a lot about things like that and I think it’s so amazing how the Lord gives us our own mission. And it’s different than every one else’s. We serve in the places we serve and we meet the people he wants us to meet, and have our own unique experiences. And sometimes we are tested and tried so we can grow. So, I feel like we’ve been growing big and strong here in San Benito, but we know that the Lord’s got someone waiting for us. He just leaves it up to us to work for them. 

I’m so grateful to be here right now :) But I feel like it’s slaughtering my Spanish. San Benito speaks some dirty tex mex! haha.

 But family, I wanted to say thank you again for everything. I love you all so much and am so grateful for the support. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends and I hope you all know that. The last thing I wanted to ask is that you tell Colter Happy Birthday for me. I wrote a letter, but lost his address. I love that kid and I’m pretty sure he’s on the 19th? haha! I love you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful week! Take care! With much Carino :)

Elder Smith

WE TALKED TO EVERY MEAN PERSON IN SAN BENITO THIS WEEK

Man, what great emails!! Thank you so much for your stories and pictures! Before I forget I have to say that Rose is way to young to be going to prom!!! But I bet she was the prettiest one there! I loved the picture of the marshall kids too! And that you got to go to Coeur d’ Alene. Looks super pretty!

This week was a little bit of a rough week for us though, haha. They happen every once and awhile. Gaston has been doing so well and has read like 60 pages in the Book of Mormon but we found out he is living with someone who isn’t his wife. And he doesn’t think he can move out. So we hit a pretty big road block. We still got him to church but he is hitting those hurtles that always come in the conversion process. All we can do is keep helping him overcome them. He is a great guy and I really love him.

It seemed as if though we talked to every mean person in San Benito this week. Haha we had a pretty good streak of talking to a lot of people who do not like us! haha. And I could tell Elder Merica was a little discouraged. I know I was a little bit haha. Sometimes it’s tough to be so connected with this people and then have to watch them struggle and make bad decisions. It almost feels as if they are your mistakes and sometimes you feel pretty weighed down with them. Especially doing interviews for baptism and things like that. But at the same time, the Lord always just wipes off your plate every day and you go back for some more. I am just very glad we are moving on to a new week and I am so excited that the Lord blesses us with 2 years of this. Cus right now I feel like we are just getting started! haha.

But I want you all to know that I feel so blessed to be here. I hope you are seeing the blessing, because they are so obvious here. I love you all and I’m so proud of you! Especially you Dad! Always am!  And p.s. Alex yes I did have Ms. Harris. haha those art ladies are very unique, but she is awesome! Take care family I love you all. You too, Addi and Chan!

Take care!!! :)

P.S. I know you already sent the package, but I would love if you could send a little picture of the I.F. temple for me :) Thank you!!!

!HOLA!

Man I love you guys! Such great emails!  Addi, you look too stinking old! And so beautiful on your first day of school !:) Alex, you’ve got some sweet shoes man and are looking fresh as always! Chan, you look really happy in all the pictures haha. I can tell you’ve been reenergized by the female interaction up at school. And Mom and Dad you guys are the best! I love reading your emails and it’s a treat to hear from you every week. It sounds like a great week getting back into school and work and all that fun stuff. So glad you are all loving it. And that’s super cool that Elder Stevens saw Brother Traynors brother. Haha man I love Elder Stevens. He is a stud!

So I feel like I just emailed you all yesterday, but here I am again. I wanted to say hello to Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Grammy. I haven’t been so good at writing anyone lately, so I feel bad. And as well, all the family and the Rammells! AND JAY!!! Love you all! Your all so great and I’m sorry I haven’t written! I’ll write soon!!!

So this week was SOOOOO great! We worked our butts of this week. haha This was probably the fastest week of my mission for sure cause we just had so much going on. We are working with the members here a lot and it has been super great. It’s amazing how easy the work gets when you work with willing and loving members. We have focused so much on just getting to know them and their families and now we can’t keep them away! haha. I have met so many amazing families and I feel like that blessing that President Goodman gave me paid off because this week I fell in love with so many of our members. And the referrals and success just naturally came. We met a man through one of my favorite families the Perales family. And we all instantly hit it off with him. After our first 2 days of teaching him he had read like 25 pages in the BOM and he made it to church yesterday, and it’s like we don’t have to do anything but show up and teach haha! Well we do a little more than that...but the Pereles are just taking care of everything else haha and it’s been great. But the Lord has just blessed us so much. I really feel like I’m finally figuring out how this work is supposed to go and that’s when you put it in the members hands and more importantly in the Lord’s hands. I feel like in your mission, right when you figure things out, they change or you get moved.  Haha so pray I stay here! And pray for Gaston! That’s his name! I’ve been singing the song from Beauty and the Beast about how “nobody fights like Gaston” haha!

The elders in my district are all doing so well and the Lord is blessing us a ton. I just feel super blessed to be in this area now. I feel like we are starting to connect with the members and with the branch.

We are all so excited and happy.

So I want you all to know that I love you so much. I’m sorry for such a short email haha. I took a long time emailing President, but I hope all is well. Remember I love you all and that I’m freaked out how fast time is going, so you better not take advantage of it.

Have a wonderful week family and I will hear from you very very soon!!!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!