Week 80

Hi family and friends,

This week was great! I am going to just jump right in. On Monday we were walking back to our pench when we had finished our day and all of a sudden a man yells at us from across the street. He says, "aren’t we a lil ways from home?" Well, we went and talked to him to find out where he is from and he is from Paraguay but his father is from Scotland. He grew up listening to his father speak English so he learned also. He is very friendly and he told us to go to his house and visit him.

Well we went to visit a few people who are progressing very well and had some great lessons. One of which was with a lady that we taught over a week ago and we thought she didn’t want to hear from us any more. But we kept going by. We finally found her home after 3 days and she tells us she has read all of 1 and 2 Nephi in less than a week. She started to tell us all the stories and things she has read. Then told us that ever since she has been reading the Book of Mormon, the head aches she has usually had are gone. She is incredible. We are going to teach her tonight and we will see what happens with her :)

On Friday we went to go see the man who speaks English and he wasn’t there but his wife came out and she said, Hola elderes! I was way confused but then she told us that she is a member and is from Buenos Aires. What a huge coincidence, right? So now we are teaching all her kids. It was a great week full of teaching.

On Saturday we finished the week with service and we did my favorite chore..... weeding. haha jk They put me in charge of digging up trees which was fun. (hadn’t done that for a while) While we were working huge spiders ran out of the garden and up the walls! Also, I was digging and I hit a rock. But it wasn’t a rock… it was a turtle that was hibernating underground. The members said it was a small little one though. It was like a football! It was so fun!

Also this week all the members were talking about how the USA basketball is amazing! haha

Well that was my week. I love you
Elder Smart

 

 

 

Week 75

Hello family and friends!

This last week has been full of a lot of learning experiences. On Tuesday morning we traveled to Concordia to do our interviews with the president and it was great to be out there as a zone because sometimes being here in Colon you feel forgotten. The interview went really good and I heard exactly what I needed to hear from the President. That night when I got back to the pench I got a call because someone asked me a question about Pergamino. Well I asked if Pablo the man who was baptized while I was there is still going to church and he is! They told me he is preparing to go to the open house of the Buenos Aires temple in August!

The rest of the week was all over the place. I saved my comp from some dog attacks and a man told us that Jesus was an alien. Also we found some great people who have come to certain moments in their lives in order to be introduced to the gospel. We were looking for a reference one night in the freezing cold and all of a sudden some guy comes up to us and asks us if we can pray with him. We told him we would go over and talk to him after we found the reference. Well we headed over to this park where he was sitting on a bench all alone. He told us he is 22, married, but split up from his wife in Cordoba. He is addicted to drugs. They have destroyed his life and he had a rough childhood. :( I felt so bad for him. He is a kid just like me but for some odd reason I was born into the Gospel and to a great family. "amazing grace".... we are so blessed with what we have. I cringe to the think that I used to get mad over simple things when I have so much and I have no reason to get mad at all.

We visited a family that is less active and they used to live in the states ha and the mom worked at the Golden Corral and had some decorations from the restaurant in her house. It was so funny. On the way back to the pench that night I thought to go see an hermana who is less active and when we got there her son got there and started yelling at his mom calling her an idiot and stuff, even in front of his own kids. I told him to calm down and he left. The hermana was crying and we shared a scripture with her and she told us what was happening in her life. We gave her some council but based in the gospel. I think we really helped. She said the lord sent us at that exact moment.

I have been sick this last week because it is sooooo cold here in Argentina. Last winter I was fine cuz I had just gotten out of Utah where winters are more cold. But now I am an Argentine and I freeze. This week is going to be cold also but I received a miracle that I am excited to tell you about!!

Last night I received a call and I was told my comp needs to go to Rosario on Tuesday morning. I wasn´t sure if I had to go with him or not, but it turns out another elder needs to go also. So I am going to stay in Entre Rios and work with the companion of the other elder who has to go to Rosario too. I will be working in FEDERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I cant even explain it. I feel like I am going to see my family here in Argentina! It is going to be an incredible week. 

Well I love you family and friends!
Un Beso Elder Smart

WEEK 74

 

Hi mom
I hope you had a great week! And a great birthday! Thank you for the pictures of all the family and stuff. Sorry about the jersey for Parker. What happened was that I didn’t have time to find a jersey for him and Hunsaker was going to do it but he forgot I guess. The map of Argentina I went to a cool shop to get it and it had all kinds of stuff. I hope you enjoy it.

This last week was really slow, a lot of closed doors and it has been really humid so that didn’t help. All my excitement was lower but it is ok. We are going to have a great week this week! Being out here and hearing everyone’s idea of religion is so interesting and it is so incredible that they say exactly what we believe and we show them that we believe the same and they still don’t want to know the truth. Some people have closed hearts but we are looking for people who the lord has prepared.

This last week we cooked marshmallows with some kids and they loved it! It was way way fun. And also we had an activity about the atonement that we did and it went really well. The spirit was really strong. We had lunch today with the familia Leiva and they gave us sooooo much food my stomach hurts way bad ha. I will send you pictures of that also. They love country music so while we eat they always put it on and I love it.

Tomorrow we have interviews with the president so we are going to be traveling to Concordia tomorrow at about 10. Another day of travel...... Oh well ha.

I love you mom and I miss you so much you should try to get some more pics with you in them and parker.

Your Son

Do you just teach the Leiva family English?

Yes It is so funny.

What is the purpose of divisions?

We do divisions to try and help other missionaries learn and get better

What happened with the lady that was investigating the church for 6 years? Did she get baptized?

We are still working with her she has been sick

Week 73

MOM HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! (this week)
How are you? Thank you for all of the great pictures that you have sent. I love them so much, keep them coming. What are your plans this week for your birthday? I hope you like what I sent you with Elder Hunsaker for your birthday. Mom how was it with Elder Hunsaker? He is such a stud isn´t he? I love that kid! He is a dear friend to me.

The MM lunch sounded like it was really fun with all those people. Tj gets home on the 15th and Taylor and Jean get home on the 1st! WOW how fast it goes by! and Brayden Miller? I get home the 13th of Feb  Wow I can´t believe it, it feels like I just started the mission....

This week we had divisions so I went out with another new elder who is very timid. We taught some people and he did great! I don´t know if it is just me but the missionaries that come out of the MTC are more prepared now than ever before. . . it is awesome. They already speak Spanish good when they get here but they don´t understand because it is to fast for them.

Elder Adair and I found a new lady to teach from Paraguay who is really cool. She is accepting to everything. We asked her to pray at the end of our lesson and she did it! She was nervous but we helped her. There are people who are willing to learn of Christ but they don´t know how or where to go. It is awesome to see how the Lord prepares people in such a way that no person could do it. . . only the hand of God. We will see what happens with this investigator but I have high hopes.

We are teaching English to the familia Leiva and they are so great! They plan on going to the USA to visit the temple and go to conference so we are preparing them with the language. They are gonna wait til I get there before they go and visit. I am sending a picture of them during an activity that we had where we played ping pong. They are on the right side. You spoke to them on mothers day.

On Sunday we had a lot of members who all want us to visit them this week and they are starting to give us references. Which is exciting because when I got here the excitment of the ward towards missionary work wasn´t great! Well that is it for now but I love you and thanks for everything.
Elder Smart

Where did you travel to for your leadership and new trainer meeting? 

We went to Parana which is about 5 hours away from Colon.

I love you mom SO SO much and I hope you have a good birthday week! I hope you know how much I appreciate all the things you do for me and for the family. Every meal you cook and every load of laundry you do.
I appreciate it all!! love you always mom
Your son

 

Week 72

Hey Family,
This week was an adventure. We had some traveling and some crazy experiences. On Tuesday night we had to travel to another zone to have a leadership meeting and a new trainer meeting. I went to both meetings. I can´t remember if I told you but I am district leader again. It was a great meeting and I learned a lot. It was fun to see some old faces that I had not seen in awhile.

When we got back to Colon we were dead tired from traveling. We went out and invited a less active member to help us visit some people and he at first said no and I convinced him other wise. We went out and he had so much excitement to get into houses and teach. It was awesome, it gave me the best feeling ever. We taught him and his family about temples and roasted marshmallows. (which they loved!) We talked about temples because the rededication is coming up for the Buenos Aires temple. I hope I can go before I finish the mission. We will see.

On Sunday we had cake at a members house for her birthday. It was fun to kind of celebrate fathers day with a family away from the family. Then we went to another house and had dinner. It was a food packed night. Got to save up for winter here. haha

Well those are the stories of my week. Happy fathers day! Love you!
Elder Smart

Did you eat the blood sausage?

Yes mom I ate the blood sausage.. it is like blood jello just thicker. I know it is gross. I miss your cooking alot mom, more than you know. I miss alot of things. I love it here but sometimes I get tired of being tired if that makes sense to you. I love you mom and I hope you have a good week.
Love your son

 

How fun that must be for you to see other elders that you have met in the mission. Like Elder Winger. How many were at Elder Wingers apt? 

9 people

What did you have to go to Rosario for? 

I went to pick up Elder Adair

How long does it take you to get there? 

8 hours....

You said Elder Adair waited in NY, did he know Rob World? 

No he doesn´t. He was in buffalo

What did you think of all the stuff I sent you? 

It was all so great mom thank you! the only thing that wasn´t necessary was the Oreos because they have those here but I still enjoyed them. Thank you.

Week 71

Hello mom! It is so exciting to hear about all the things that are happening back at home with Ashley's mission call and everyone! I got the package from the mission home and the pictures where so great! I can’t believe how everyone has changed and everything! You and Bailee and Parker and Colton! Dad is kind of the same as before.

I met Elder Saloman and he said hey you are Elder Smart! We talked about the ward and the different people he met while there in Willow Creek. He is a big old guy ha.

This last week I was in an area close to mine with an Elder named Elder Handley. He is from New Jersey. I sent you a picture with me and 2 other missionaries well he is the one on my right side. The one on my left is named Elder Farley. They are both awesome guys I plan on hanging out with them when I get back. Me and Elder Handley went to Rosario on Wednesday afternoon and got there and did the necessary things such as visit McDonalds. We went and stayed in Elder Wingers pench after with a bunch of missionaries that I have met over the mission. 

We woke up the next morning and I was going to see Elder Hunsaker but he was far away from where I was and there wasn´t time to go see him :( Mom definitely go to his farewell he is an awesome guy. I sent things with a  Hermano here who is going to give the stuff to Elder Hunsaker and Hunsaker will get it to you guys.

I went and picked up my new comp and I was nervous he would be strange.... But he is sooooo cool. He is fun and has a lot of love for the people. He speaks good Spanish but he is getting used to the way they speak here. We went to a house the first day and a little kid asked him if he had pictures of his family and Elder Adair said no and the little kid said. "Bueno andáte" Haha (Alright leave) I laughed so hard. Then that night we visited a family and they gave us blood sausage (the blood is from a cow) and I didn´t tell him what it was until his 2 or 3rd helping haha. He was glad I didn´t tell him.

 We are having fun here in colon. I love introducing things to him because everything is so new to him and he isn´t used to things that are normal to me. I always ask "is it not like that in the united states?" because I can´t remember at all.....

The lady that is programmed is really great. She like I said has been investigating for 6 years. But what I think has helped alot right now in this moment is that we have included alot of new things with her. We gave her a hymn book and we have helped her to befriend a member in the ward. She has her date for baptism but we will see what happens because she tends to go to Buenos Aires alot to visit. We are trying to make everything work as far as time.

Well I will end for now but I love you and will talk to you all next week!
Love, Elder Smart

I will send the locro pictures next week to you ok. I love you mom so much and you look so good in the pictures from the cabin! I can´t believe how everyone is so different! It scares me... Do I look different in my photos mom? Well I love you and will talk to you next week,

Love, Elder Smart

Tell us all about your new companion. What's his name? Where is he from?

He is a stud. He was waiting in New York for his visa for a month! Elder Adair from Logan Utah

What do they do on the river? Any fish? 

Yes there are fish and stuff but they don't do much on the river.

That is a cool little boat. Do you know who it belongs too? Or what they use it for? 

No it is just there.

I sent two suitcases. One large one and a smaller one that fit inside. I hope they will be OK for Elder Santana. Do you know if he got them?

Yes he did and he says thank you! He might try to write you also to tell you personally!

Week 70

 Hey  family, how are you? I am really good. I will tell you first off that I am staying in my area and that I am going to be training a new missionary. I am going to go to Rosario to get him on Thursday. I am also the district leader. I am so excited because my friend here Elder Handley from New Jersey is training also, so we will be here together until the end of his mission! So exciting! Maybe I will train that kid Saloman from the Willow Creek Stake. I will at least see him!

I also might see Elder Hunsaker and his mom in Rosario. I am going to try to see him. You sent me two suitcases? and how much was it? Santana asked me the other day. I am going to get my package on Thursday and I told Elder Hunsaker to just leave it there in the mission home.

This last week we had a really spiritual lesson with the lady who had problems with her ex husband. She cried and said her first vocal prayer. It was way cool! We also taught a menus (less) active family and in the activity they all cried and now they want us to go back to their all the time. They went to church on Sunday and it was awesome to have the church just a little more full.

There is a lady in my area that has been investigating for 6 years or so and never got baptized ever. Well she is going to be baptized on the 16th if all goes according to plan!

Thank you for the package and everything and I will talk to you more next week! 

Love you always!
Your Son!

How are the people that their baby crawled out the door? Are you still teaching them? 

Yes we are teaching them and they are doing good! The Baby just crawled to look out the doorway right when we were there so when the mom came and grabbed the baby the missionaries yours truly was there ;)

Your dessert that you took to family home evening was great!!! Do they not have pudding down there or was it the worms that weirded them out? 

Just the way it looked freaked them out alot. And yes they have pudding here.

You talked about Locro. Did it really have pigs feet in it? Did you get sick? 

No I did not get sick. Yes it had pigs feet.

When do you think you will get your package?  

Thursday

How is the training going with Elder Goodman? 

I didn´t train him I was his step dad, cuz I was his second comp

When you go to the river and take sunrise pics, how early do you go? And is that on your P-day? 

Yes on p-day and at about 7:30 it pops up.

Do you know how many new missionaries you got today?

24 I think

How are your investigators this week? 

Our investigators are really good right now.