June 27, VIVA MEXICO

Because even though they got destroyed today against Sweden, they still move forward. WHICH you know what that means. A country all crazy and super hyped up about something. Mexicans get very very very crazy about the Mundial. The whole country actually just shuts down during the games because everyone and their ancestors are watching these games. Talk about some very devoted fans.

The change has to only spanish speaking has been rough. I thought I knew spanish fairly well, and even considered myself fluent. But now being with two native spánish speakers I feel like I have no idea what the heck I am doing with this language anymore. It is crazy.

So I went from one small town, to 4 smaller towns. To explain my new area is 4 small little towns, including Allende, Morelos, Nava and one other that I do not remember the name of. We only work in Allende and Nava. But along with this, in our area, we like about a 20 minute walk from the center plaza, And because of that, visiting people on the other side of the area is sometimes over an hour walk. My two little patas and hurting. Let me tell you. This week, I have had 2 toe nails break in half and just kind of hurt a lot. (gross I know). But we are still out here working and doing what we know how to do.

I just want to share quickly the power of the Book of Mormon. Day in and day out I see the power of this book first hand in my life. It is the most correct book on the planet, and through dilligent study, we can achieve greater peace and love in our lives. As the world gets more hectic, it will bring peace into the home and unity in the family. It is the most important thing to study, along with the words of the living prophets. Study it. Learn from it. Apply its teachings into you lives. It will only help. This I promise as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I love you all so much. Keep pushing forward. You can all do this. 

Elder Smith

June 18, The Sabey/Smith Era

Well. Its over, and it has been an amazing 4 months with THE Elder Tyson Laine Sabey. He is just so awesome, and I am going to miss this guy like crazy.  Its been a crazy hard 4 months, but overall one of the best times of my life. We have grown so much together its been actually crazy to see the complete change in one another. The mission creates friendships that will last into the eternities, and I think I can confidently say that this will be one of them. Super sad to leave, but its all going to be good. I feel confident that we will meet up again some day, and will have some awesome stories to share with one another. 

Moving on the how the week went, it was a tough one. Cant even lie. All 4 of our people for baptism fell through. We have been teaching these two girls named Odalis and Amalia. They are best friends, and we have been working with them for several months now. They both read and keep all our commitments, but havent wanted to commit for baptism. But its okay because Elder Sabey will help them take that step once I leave. They are just some of the coolest people in the world. I love them. Our other investigators didnt have the chance to come to church because of family things. Plus they are moving again rather soon. So not sure what to do exactly. But Hey, Im leaving so Sabey can leave.

So to explain a little bit, I am leaving Muzquiz and going a little more north to a town called Allende. Im going to have my first latino comp, so my spanish is about to POP. I also was called to be the District Leader out there, so a little more responibility, but its all good. Its all for the work of the lord, and Ill do anything I can to help with his work and glory.

It has been so amazing thus far on my mission. Its been super hard, but I am staying hopeful. Thats what the lord needs for me, so I have to give him as much as I can. I love this gospel. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the time I have to talk about it. I am grateful everyday for the chance to be a missionary.

I love you all so much, and I hope you all have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Smith

Jume 11 Vale la Pena

This week has been another really hard one. It seems like we can work hard and try to find new investigators, but we just arent having people progress. And we are closing the change out, and Elder Sabey and I have been together for 3 transfers, and we think we are going to be seperated. But we have still yet to baptize anyone. Its been so hard, but all this has brought me to do a lot of self reflecting. What is it that I am doing here on a mission? And I have come to some pretty powerful answers. Most importantly, I have come to realize, that first and formost I need to be willing to show my love for the savior more. And make the doctrine of the father my own. Internalize it and have it completely change me. As that happens, then the lord will be able to actually use me as an effective instrument in his hands. But onto other things I went on exchanges with elder Mason from nueva rosita this week and we had a blast. We found several good new investigators for them and it was just really nice to get out of Muzquiz for a little bit. I love my little town to death, but I have been here for 17 weeks, and its just super nice to have a change of pase every now and then. Elder Sabey and I both think this will probably be our last change together. We already have 3 but I really dont want to leave muzquiz or get another companion. We have grown a lot together, and we have gotten really close (even more so) in the past 3 weeks together. Mission friendships are something that are kind of different. Because you are legit with this person 24/7. And there are times when you really just want to bop the other person, butyoure still like a crazy level of friendship. The mission is the best thing that I could be doing with my time. I know and testify of that. Its like being in the masters hands where he can mold you so freely. You change everyday and if you let him, you can do amazing things. I love my savior, I know that he lives. And I know and testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is his church here on the church. This message is for everyone, and I know that it will help and bless your life if you let it. I love you all so much. Thanks for the support you give.
Elder Smith

June 4, "Hey what's up Big Tex"

So I bought a hat. And I wont be wearing it anymore. It lived and died in one day. While we were out and about walking this guy from the states, shouted across the street and said "Hey whats up Big Tex! Take it easy guys". and Elder Sabey could not stop laughing. It was a rough day. But it was so funny. Legit every car that drove by, the people inside were laughing. SO that was the beginning and end of Big Tex. RIP in peace. This week has been a really hard week overall. Elder Sabey and I have been trying to figure out why we havent been having success, which involved a lot of long talks, praying, studying, praying and then talking some more. And what we came up with is a list of little things to change. So we decided to just focus on improving these little things one by one. And also to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT. Which is really hard. Not that we were or ever have been disobedient missionaries. Its just little things like going to bed on time, or exercising. So we are trying hard to make sure we live with as much obedience as possible. We are still looking for more ways to improve to find our success. I will let you all know how that goes the following week, though. I unfortunantly dont have any crazy or other funny stories. We are working our tails off here. Hopefully soon we will have some great pictures and stories of conversion. Love you all so much. Elder Smith

May 28 Disculpeme, pero, QUE TONTO

This was a pretty dang cool week. Elder Pino of the area presidency of Mexico came and did a conference with us this week. This was an excerpt from his talk. It was so funny. (translation, excuse me, but HOW DUMB). But to first explain that story, for this conference we had the chance to go to Piedras Negras and we were with there as 3 zones. Piedras, Nueva Rosita(mine) and Acuña. So thrusday night we stayed in Nueva Rosita that night, and it was a party. We all had a lot we had to do to get ready so we couldnt go to bed right away. Elder Reed, Mason and I had to sing in a quartet for the conference, so we practiced for about an hour, and then as a bunch of teenage boys, we talked and had some fun as well. But then bright and early we got up and went on over to piedras. Then we had our conference. And it was amazing. So uplifting. After Elder Pino said he was going to interview 3 or 4 elders. And I got picked to get interviewed first. It was so cool to have a personal talk with a general authority. Then he gave me a hug. Which was also pretty cool. We then had to hurry on back to rosita and then Muzquiz, but we lot that whole day of work. Mission life is still awesome and super hard. We found this awesome girl this week named Erika. Before our second visit she had read some of the Book of Mormon, and prayed, And felt that it was the word of God. And then told us she felt that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. It was super cool to find someone like that. I apologize for the lack of pictures and for the shortness of my letter. I spent much of the week not feeling the best, and forgot to take pictures. But Ill do better in the following weeks. Love you all. Have a great week! Elder Smith​