August 27, Si, José Smith, y Oliver Cowldry. Somos nosotros.

This week, while trying to go to Piedras Negras for interviews with our mission president, we went to print out our tickets that the mission office had purchased for us. And the names they had put were José Smith and Oliver Cowldry. It was a real kick for us, while no one else understood. 

So fun little thing this week. Our Zone Leaders came out and did exchanges with us, so I went with Elder Villarauz, who used to be in my district back while I was in Muzquiz. And we had a super solid day of work, looking for new people to teach and visiting some of our recent converts and supporting and encouarging them.

I also feel as though I am making huge steps forward with my language. While I still lack a lot to be truely fluent, I feel myself being able to think more complexely in spanish, and have better conversation. Still have a way to go before I feel truly fluent, but I feel the lords help in my improvement. He is with me day by day, helping me remember and make changes to be better. Im so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Its thanks to this incomprehensible sacrifice, that we as humans have the ability to change and improve day by day, week by week. Its through the grace of Christ that we can be forgiven, and changed. I feel that power in my life daily, and testify of its wonder. It can literally bring miracles in your life. 

This week we have the opportunity to listen to one of the apostles of the Lord. Elder David A Bednar will be joining our mission this upcoming friday and teaching us. Im so grateful that we have this opportunity to hear a chosen servant of the lord. Ill be excited to let you all know how it goes! But this upcoming saturday, we have the baptisms of 3 more children of God. Emmañuel, Erik, and Edith. I feel so bless to be able to be an instrument in the hands of God in doing this marvelous work. Its thanks to him we have sucess, Im just thankful he is using us here in Allende. 

Well I love you all so much. Thank you for the support and the Letters. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Elder Smith

Aug 20 El gringo esta hablando, va a llover

The white kid is talking, Its going to rain" Little quote from the week, from a loving person we have been visiting. Sometimes people when they see me, they just assume because Im white, I cant speak spanish. It always feels good when I can spark up a conversation and show them that I can speak it too. Even if my accent is pretty ugly. But reguardless, SPANISH IS GREAT. Holy cow, this past week I have just been trying to do everything in spanish. And its been kind of crazy. I have real difficulties with english at this point. which is something to be proud about as a missionary.  Learning a new language is one of the coolest experiences I have had the pleasure of doing in my lifetime. Its amazing to be able to talk and connect with people from different countries. This has sparked this great fire in me, to learn more languages and continue traveling and coming to know and help more of God´s children. But Thankfully, I still have plenty of time to enjoy and love Mexico. 

This week, we have had the amazing opportunity to help some more of heaven Father´s children take the first step in coming unto him, through baptism. This week José, Yolanda and their daughter Diana all entered the waters of baptism together. It was such a special day for everyone. But saturday we found out that we didnt have running water in our chapel here in Allende. So in a panic we called President Cahoon and he just told us to go find a private river somewhere. Which we couldnt do. So then we had to run to a neighboring little town, and have the baptism there. It was an interesting little morning. But everyone was greatful and happy in the end. 

Overall the feelings that I have about the mission are inexpressible. The gratitude and love that you are able to feel for other people as you serve them is something that words cannot  Adequatelyexplain. I am so enternly grateful for this time that I have to serve the Lord and serve my brothern and sisters here in Coahuila Mexico. The gospel has an amazing ability to change peoples lives forever. I see these changes in myself as well as those around me. I cant explain how happy I am to be a servant of the lord. I want to invite all of you to find a way to serve someone else this week. I believe and trust completely in the promises of the Lord. The gospel is the way to be happy. Jesus is the Christ, and only through him can we achieve true peace and happiness. 

I love you all and thank you all for the support. 

Love Elder Smith

Aug 13, I have an addiction

Barbacoa. I cant stop eating tacos. Barbacoa. Send help pls.

No Im just kidding. But we are still out here in Allende Coahuila. Doing the work of the Lord. I have to apologize for the past week. I didnt have the motivation to write the group email. But here we are writing once again. Hope you all enjoy the brief update (:

Well this week, we were fortunate enough to have a baptism in our little town. His name in Gerardo Yahir, and he is awesome. He is 14 years old and yesterday he signed up for seminary. He is a little skeptical about it, because it starts at 5:30 in the morning, and he enjoys his sleep. But we are wokring with him still and trying to get him excited for this opportunity to learn more about the Lord and the Gospel. 

The picture with he random Hermano, he is an inactive member here in the Ward, and he has been telling us missionaries that he would come back for MONTHS. And he came, it was just a really exciting little moment for us.

And this car right here is famous in Mexico among missionaries. About 3 years ago, there were some elders who drive it, and got in a car accident. And well, its bad. But we had to take a picture with the famous car. 

Well a little update. The companionship is going much better. We are getting along and we are about to have a lot of success. We have a family of 3 prepared to get baptized this weekend or the following. Their names are Jose, Yolanda and their daughter named Diana. They are awesome. The live in Piedras Negras, but live here for the moment because the mother in law is having health problems. So they have come to know and love the gospel. Im so excited for them. 

Well, I just wanted to write a short little letter. Not one for writing lots. But I love you all. Thanks for your support and emails. Watch this video if you are struggling. LOTS OF LOVE.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-N59IYFCWg

Elder Smith

Aug 6

July 30 #BLESSED

This has been a crazy week. Well 2 weeks actually because I totally skipped on this whole writing a letter thing last week. But Im glad to say that we had success this past weekend in having 4 baptisms. The names of these persons are Viviana, Juanita, Diego, and Sergio(Checo). They are all quite awesome, and I am grateful for the chance that I had to be a part of their lives. Im excited to keep working with them and their families to bring them to the light as well. The life of a missionary is sometimes you have several hard months and then we change and being to have success. Im so grateful for the change at this point in my mission.

My life is kind of in a weird spot. The mission is all I can remember, and its all I look forward to at this point. We have just been working so hard, that its so deeply impressed in my head at this point. I just need to serve the lord and those around me. I love the lord, he has saved my life. And he helps and supports me daily even when Im always sick. He helps me push through and try to help other people. I hope that all of you can give a little bit to the lord, because I can testify and promise that he helps us in all things when we give him a little bit more of ourselves. 

My spanish has finally hit a weird point. I have a hard time thinking straight in english. My grammar is all messed up, and I sporatically use spanish words, because I´ve forgotten the english equivilant. Its nuts to get to this point with another language. I still have so much more to learn and to apply before Im truly fluent, but I feel pretty good with my language at this point. 

I love you all and am grateful for your support and letter. 

Elder Smith