September 6, 2016 - It was no Sacrifice at all.

So this was an eventful week...We baptized on Saturday. Her name is Blanca. She was happy to get baptized and cleansed of sin. We were happy with her.

This feels surreal that this is the last time I will write. It just hasn’t clicked in yet. I feel good though. I laid it all on the altar and I feel peace. That is a GOOD feeling. The end is not for another week, so I will keep going until that moment comes. The mission has been a miracle in my life. I will tell you guys next week all about it!

While giving my ''final'' testimony in a zone training today (I have given about 5 of those ha-ha) my thoughts were turned to D&C 76:22 ''And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!''  Those words are my words.

Love you guys a ton, hasta luego!

Elder Smith

August 30, 2016 - Exit stage left..

The Work of God is unhindered and goes forward, no matter who goes home and when! Everyone is bugging me nonstop that I go home in 14 days. That is so strange to hear and I am strangely desensitized to the thought. I am so used to missionary life. It will be missed. I had my exit interview with President on Sunday night in his living room. It was great. Lots of advice, mostly on marriage and choosing the right girl. Also one that really stuck out to me: ''Maintain Personal Worship Habits''. That will be my goal. I am so very grateful to have had President and Sister Markham as my Mission President for the entire 2 years. I feel so prepared and so...taught. They are so loving and sensitive and have been and will be fantastic examples for me forever. I love them.

Elder Diaz and I baptized on Sunday. Her name is Jessica. She has gone to church for 3+ months and we could not for the life of us find her mother to have her sign her baptism record thing (she had not seen her mom for 3 years). But on Sunday morning we were driving Sister Markham to a place in the Capital and Elder Diaz got a call on the phone from our Ward Mission Leader, ''Elders, I got the signature!'' He had gone of his own will and out of his way to take Jessica in his car to look for her mom on Sunday Morning. That’s what I call taking initiative! It was a great service and she asked me to baptize her and it was an honor. The special feeling of performing a saving ordinance never could get old. We are looking to baptize 5-6 more in these next 2 weeks.

Hmm..I don’t know what else to say. I just love you guys. Thanks dad for helping me out with the lake stuff, that will be great to start working right away. If you could ask around in the ward/stake/friends for other work opportunities that would be much appreciated. Mom, question, what would you like me to save or bring home of the stuff that you sent with me? Sheets, pillow, towels, shoes (my big boots are still OK, should I bring them home or give them to a needy elder here or is Matthew more needy), toothbrushes, 2 year old beef jerky and m&ms, etc. Just tell me what you think.

Anyways. Have a great week everyone. Good works and charity, that’s what its all about.

Love,   

Elder Smith

P-day at the zoo

 August 28, 2016   -   Jessica's baptism

August 26, 2016 - Woah, a Smith in College

Can't believe Matt is in college. Surreal! Good luck with that one family! Liked to hear that Matt gave each of you a blessing. We now have three elders in the immediate Smith family. Poder en el Sacerdocio! That is awesome. I vividly remember giving you a blessing Mom. That was special. Way to go Matt, you made Mom and Dad cry! Haha we get real tender at transition stages. I think that is normal. I hope.

We had a great week. 11 investigators came to church on Sunday, including a family of 5 we are teaching.  Haha it will be strange to not measure how good I feel on Sunday by how many people come to church. The family has been taught for 3 years by the missionaries and they finally came to church for the first time. The Lord touches hearts. They have a baptismal date for the 4th of September. Pray for the Familia Agustine! They are so awesome. The Lord has helped us create quite the investigator pool right now, I love it! We are prepared for September.

Well, I have to go. We have divisions, 2 zone conferences, a new missionary training session, etc this week so we will be busy. Im not slowing down family! I feel so normal. All is well. Man its good to be a missionary. Nothing better. Yesterday Elder Diaz and I were running around in a rain storm soaking wet and I thought ''YOU JUST CANT PAY FOR EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS!'' Then we walked into an investigators house and challenged them all for baptism and they accepted. Nothing better! Love it.

Sure love you guys!

Elder Smith

New Pics from August

Some new pics from August 10-16, 2016

In the carro

Antigua during Zone Conference

Playing the Marimba

Sis Rosa's Baptism

Sis Rosa had that cake made for her baptism

New Pics from August

Some new pics from August 10-16, 2016

In the carro

Antigua during Zone Conference

Playing the Marimba

Sis Rosa's Baptism

Sis Rosa had that cake made for her baptism

August 16, 2016 - Answering Dad's Questions

August 16, 2016

Hey guys!

Well, I had a great week, looks like you guys did too! Smith party time... I will start with the questions.

1.  What does your week look like roughly?

Run-down of last week. 

Monday - analize and collect the dats from the mission, calls, receiving reports, going over the people that can be baptized in the week, meeting with President Markham, trying to fit some study time in, leave at 3 to go WORK. 

Tuesday - Went to a zone training in Antigua. Took the zone leaders after lunch to our area to have divisions.

Wednesday - Training for all the district leaders and zone leaders in the mountain region. Took the zone leaders from the Patzicia zone to our area after to have divisions.

Thursday - training for all the district leaders and zone leaders in the capital region. WORK.

Friday - training for the district leaders and zone leaders in the coast region. Correlation with our ward mission leader, 2 baptismal interviews in our area.

Saturday - pday in antigua. bought some souvenirs (last chance!). Baptism of Rosa and Robinson. WORK.

Sunday - Church at 11. Lunch at 2. WORK.

This week will look about the same with divisions and such, just without trainings. Next week we have zone conference.

2.  What is an experience you have had in the last week helping another missionary?

President taught us about ''Validation''. Helping the missionaries see their strengths, thanking them, making them feel good, etc. I love doing that because I remember how I felt when leaders told me that I was doing something good. I was with a missionary in divisions (could tell he was nervous) and told him ''Man, you are one of the best teachers I have seen!'' and could see him change and get lots more confidence. Positive reinforcement. 

3.  What is something new you have learned from eithe Pres or Sis Markham this last week?

When you're wife is pregnant you have to say ''We are pregnant.'' not ''My wife is pregnant.''

And that thing about validation.

4.  What experience made you laugh or chuckly out loud in the last week?  (I miss your laugh)

Just being with President Markham. He is a fun man to be around.

5.  What are you most anxious about when you think about coming home?

That in america there arent any tortillas.

Love you guys! Be good!

Elder Smith

August 1, 2016

Mom how are you feeling now? I was praying that the steroid stuff went well.  Hope everything goes OK.

We are going to start working in the other area on Wednesday and start going to church there next Sunday. It sounds like a GREAT ward. The bishop is a 7-year convert. Very humble and a worker. He has gotten lots of attention from the area 70s because of his work with the new ''Minister'' app that the church has now. And the ward mission leader was the 1st or 2nd counselor over the biggest stake in Guatemala and just moved here. Its like better than a ward in the states...

The AP’s are in our ward now? That’s fun. Tell Matt to go out with them as much as he can. How many have been baptized this year in our ward mom?

Sounds like a fun next few weeks for the Smith crew. Lots of travels. Be safe.

That will be fun to go to the temple soon as a family. 

Q1. It is weird. I have been away from the city culture for a year and it feels like a taste from the states (pride, being rejected). Its a little bit more dangerous but as always nothing has happened to me.

Q2. Kind of a mix between city and suburbs.

Q3. We have planned to go as an office to the temple this Saturday. It will be refreshing.

Q4. Well yes we are busy! Lots of little details for one day. It is important because it is a defining moment for those that leave and for those that come in. Has to be special.

Q5. Goals....BAPTIZE. I want to go out working and baptizing. And as a mission...pretty much the same.

Q6. We do a lot at the change meeting. We whip out our cattle prod and make everyone leave as quick as possible (change meeting consists of getting there, finding your companion, and leaving.) Sometimes missionaries like to chat! And that doesn’t hasten the work mom!

Tell the old man at the well I say hello!

Love,

Elder Smith