Week 69

Hello,

This last week has gone by so quickly I can´t believe it at all! We have found some great people to teach here. One lady that we have found recently had trouble with her ex-husband and she wants to know everything about the church. She is very nice. She has a daughter named Alma. So when I told her about Alma from the Book of Mormon she thought that was cool.

This week we had an activity for the 25th of May. We ate something called locro. It has corn and is a creamier kind of stew that is really good! You can look it up on the internet. It has like pigs feet in it and stuff everyone was telling us to be careful because it might make us sick. They said remember elders the pench (apartment) is really small. haha Referring to the bathroom. In the 1st photo it is a member who cooked the locro he is an incredible guy who invites the spirit into the room when he speaks. The 2nd photo is of the church with all the people there! And the 3rd picture is me with some kids of the ward. The members dressed up like gauchos and they danced and  everything there after we finished eating. An investigator went and we played ping pong and stuff with him and it was a really good experience for him! It was way fun to have all the members there doing something all together.

We found a new family to teach and we wouldn´t of found them if their little baby wouldn´t of crawled out the front door. The man let us in and we explained the restauration and they had so many questions and asked us how we know this is true. We shared about the Book of Mormon and the man asked us where he could get this book. We gave it to him right there and he said he would begin reading. We are going to visit them this tuesday so I hope all goes well.

Sunday night we had a family home evening and we ate pizza and we brought the desert. We took chocolate pudding with smashed Oreos in it. And then we put gummy worms in it like we do in the states for Halloween. We then shared the scripture in Job 19:25-27 when Job talks about how the worms may eat his flesh but he still has faith in the Savior. The family loved it but they where weirded out by the pudding.

That is it for this week and I hope all is well at home.

I love you!!

Elder Smart

Are the Hunsakers the ones that have a cabin up by ours? 

YES!

Are you having transfers next week? The week Hunsaker leaves?  

Yes and so I will not write until Tuesday next week

Week 68

Hey Mom I got back on the computer in the evening time because you hadn´t written me early. This week was really crazy! On Tuesday me and Elder Handley, an awesome guy from New Jersey did divisions together. He came to Colon from his area about an hour away because he had to do a baptism interview for us. We went to a house and the lady that we had only taught once came out and she had the book of Mormon we had given her. She had obviously gone and talked to here Pasteur because she had a note stuck to the book of Mormon with arguing scriptures from the bible. She gave the book back and we continued on. Well I had the book in my hand when we arrived at our investigators house who had the interview to be baptized scheduled. She had a lady out side from a different church there and I had a bad feeling from the very beginning. This lady started making comments and we said we were not there to argue with her and she said she didn't want to either. Well next thing you know it she said we were from the devil and all sorts of stuff. We bore our testimonies and left and when we went back later that night we found out that our testimonies had helped alot and the investigator said she told the other lady not to come back. And that she knew this is the true church of god and if it weren't she wouldn't be in it. She was later baptized on Saturday it was a great baptism and now her daughter who is 30 wants to be baptized also.

We had zone conference in Parana and I saw some old friends from the beginning of the mission. It was so nice. Also I found out today that a family I was teaching had their daughter baptized finally. I was so glad cuz I reactivated the father while I was there and he had the opportunity of baptizing her. 

Who all went to the MM Lunch?

That is it for this week, I love you.
Love, Your son

How are your three investigators? Have you scheduled any of their baptisms yet? 

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS

You said that Colon is like St. George and a vacation spot. When you contact people are most of them on vacation and you won't be able to teach them again or do they live there?  

Well luckily I am here during the winter so no it isn´t that bad at all.

What kind of chocolate do you want me to send you for that family? 

Take 5 or Reese's or whatever you want!

Week 67

Hi 

The phone call went so fast! And I can´t believe I only have one more call left in my mission! I am freaked
out by it alot... Grandpa looked great and all of you did too! All of you have changed alot it is weird.

This week was really cool. We found tons of people and have made alot of progress with alot of people. We have three baptisms coming up that I am really excited for! One is a girl we contacted and she went to
church and institute on Sunday and loved it. The members received her way well. The ward members here are all so willing to help, it is great! I Love the members here. The house from which I called is a member who lived in Pergamino years back. So I show up and I talk about Pergamino and he loves it.

Well I love you and I will talk to you next week!
Your son 

When you said Feb 13th, is that the day you are released, the day you fly out, or the day you will arrive in the US? Just curious! 

That is when I will be in the USA.

What does the Pres. do for the missionaries that are leaving?
 A dinner for them and he cuts their ties and stuff. I don´t know what else.

Week 66

Hey today I don´t have a whole lot of time to speak because I have to go to Rosario and do transmites. It stinks because Argentina is making it more difficult for missionaries to be here. So I have to travel 8 hours today.... on pday. I am going to call you using skype. I will see about the camera because the family I don´t know if they have one. I am going to call you at about 5 o'clock our time here in Argentina and I don´t know the hour difference. I think it is 4 or 5 hours. So I need you to send me your skype account OK? What is your account name and stuff. So be ready Sunday and I will call you. You need to right me before Sunday though so Ican get the email.

Elder Hunsaker is an awesome missionary and he is getting ready to go home. His parents are coming to get him so maybe you could send a package with them or something if you would? I will make a list and tell you on Sunday OK?

Elder Sands is a really great elder. He was under alot of stress at the beginning of that transfer and I just shared a few words with him. He is a great missionary as well and he knows how to trust in the lord.

I love you and I will talk to you on Sunday!
Love your son!

How are the investigators in Colon? 

It is really great here in colon and we are working with alot of great people who are progressing well. We find people really easy and I feel really good with my Spanish!

How is the training with Elder Goodman going? Where in Arizona is he from?

He is from Tucson Arizona and it is going well and he is learning well.

Are you enjoying training him and showing him the ropes? 

Yes ha he is great he loves my cooking and the things I know about Argentina.

Was he in Colon before you got him? 

Yes for two transfers.

Can you get microwave popcorn?

Yeah they have it here.

 

Elder Sands and Elder Smart

Week 65 With Elder Goodman

Hello family! Well last Wednesday was a crazy crazy day. I woke up in the morning and finished packing and everything and I went to say goodbye to some people. Then we had the baptism at 2 in the afternoon.  It was just perfect but also sad because I said goodbye to everyone there. :(  Alvero and his family were sad I was leaving because now they are active in the church and blessing their little 1-year-old girl Guadalupe next week.

Directly after the baptism I went to the pench and grabbed all of my things and headed to the terminal. I said goodbye to Elder Farley and it was sad. He is a great friend. I arrived in Rosario at 7 PM and I waited till 1 AM ha. I waited with Elder Winger and his companion. We ate at McDonalds, it was good. Also the soccer team Boca was playing and it went into penalties so the whole place was going crazy!

I got on the collectivo and I arrived in Colon at 6:00 in the morning.... Then I went out and worked all day ha. The area is basically like St. George at home in Utah. It is just a place for people to come and take it easy and enjoy like a week long vacation. It is a great place and the people here are great and way friendly. It is a branch here of about  40 people and I want to help them become a ward! That is basically it for this week but I will write a ton more next week about my new adventures!
Love elder Smart

How is your new area?

It appears to be small like Federal? It is small just like federal. But the houses are more spread out I think not so much farm country.

Your new pench?

The best shower I have ever had ever and we have a microwave! It is also very clean so I like it a lot.

And your companion?

Elder Goodman from Arizona. Tall and has red hair.  Kind of looks like that _________ kid who was on Parkers football team a long time ago. But a little taller than me.

Did you have to travel by yourself? How long?

I traveled all night I will tell you the story.

 How are the bus systems? Are they easy to use?

Yes

Grandpa wants to know if you have hot water in your shower?

Yes for the first time in a long time basically my whole mission.

Also did you get your scripture covers before you left?

Nope not yet I am still organizing that with the guy who does them. Do you think I should get Bible and Book of Mormon covers?

When was Elder Wair supposed to arrive home?

Last Thursday so give him a little time. Probably this week you will get the package.

Was he going to make contact with us?

No idea

When will you know about your Mother's Day call?

I will tell you next week because I am preparing that this week

.

Will you be able to skype? 
 Yes I believe so

Elder Smart and His Cake

Elder Smarts Cake

Elder Smart, Alvero, Elder Fairbanks

Alvero and his family at his baptism

Me in my Holland jersey and the River Uruguay

Week 64 Going to Colon

Hey mom and family I will get straight to the point. I am being sent to Colon, Entre Rios. It is over by Federal kind of. It is very far away from the mission home but who knows maybe I will get to visit Federal again!! I would love that :) My new companion is from the same group as Elder Fairbanks so it looks like I am gonna pick up on teaching kind of where I left off. He is from Arizona and likes basketball and sports just like me.

This last week I have been telling people that I was leaving so all week people have been giving us food to eat. Last night I had my last family home evening with a family and they made me a cake with a shirt, tie and my name tag on it. Also tonight we have another family home evening with another family.

Well last week we had a meeting to decide when we were going to have Alveros baptism and they decided it would be this next Sunday. I was a little sad because I knew I was not going to be there for it. Well when they found out that I was leaving they changed the date to this Wednesday (tomorrow) Right before I leave! So tomorrow literally on my way to catch a bus out of here I am going to baptize Alvero. Alvero is an 11 year old kid that I found and his mom is a member and the father isn´t. The father is waiting for his divorce papers so he can get baptized. I helped to reactivate the family. They love Elder Fairbanks and me so much. They are going to church and they have a baby blessing of their little girl who is 1 years old, this week.

The picture I have sent are just some fun pictures that I thought you guys would like. But I will send more next week because this computer is working way well for me right now. I have loved my time here in Pergamino and I love the people here and I am sure I will love the people in Colon also.

I Love you mom and I hope all is well. SEND ME PHOTOS!
Elder smart

 

Tell us about the pictures you sent? Who are the four Elders with sunglasses? Is that your pench in the back ground?

Yes that is the pench in the background and those elders are me and my comp an farley (to my right) He is a great friend of mine.

And the little kids? Etc.(looks like a birthday party) The kids love you!!!
Yes they are little kids at a birthday. We went and we were the life of the party haha The kid in the black shirt is getting baptized.

Week 63

 This week has passed by really slowly to me. I think it is kind of
hitting me that I might not be here that much longer in Pergamino.
Also the traveling didn´t help I am sure. I went to Rosario to do
paperwork because it has been a year  that I have been here in
Argentina! Wow... I went to the mission home and I saw all of my group
that came to Argentina here with me from the MTC. I saw Elder Winger
and everyone. It was great to see how all of us have grown and learned
so much in the gospel and in Spanish.

When we got back from Rosario we had our English class, which I love now
because there are people who actually take it seriously and want to
learn. I love explaining things to them. We speak so funny in English,
it is so confusing but we understand it perfectly. One day this week
we had breakfast, lunch and dinner with members. It was so fun to be with these
people that I have grown to love so much while I have been in Pergamino.
Members keep asking us about lunch because they know I might not be
here much longer. One night at dinner Elder Fairbanks said the funniest thing.
He wanted to say the word viaje which means trips, but on accident he said viejas.
So he said "me gustan las viejas." or I like old ladies. Hahaha The
member we were eating with started laughing so hard and I did too, but he
didn´t know what he said. hahaha

We watched the movie 17 Miracles with a family that we helped return
to the church and they loved it. They cried during all of it and the
next day at church they got up and said thank you to us for helping
them come back to church. They talked about the movie and how they
can stay strong in the church if the pioneers could do all that. It
feels good when people tell us that we help them because sometimes
when people shut the door on you it feels really crummy.

Sunday night we went and did a blessing for a hermana who tried to
commit suicide. We gave her a blessing and we promised peace to here soul
and she cried during all of it and so did her daughter. It was the
first time that we met the hermana but the daughter is someone we have
been trying to help come back to the church. Her son is great and
wants to get baptized and will be baptized this weekend or the next
one (pray for this one cuz I wanna be here) Well that is it for this
week and I will talk to you all next week on Tuesday.

Love Elder Smart