August 4, 2015 -Bautismo!

 Familia!

How is everyone now? All adjusting to home life again after Aspen (Grove)?  Always love the vacation time of June through August. Isn’t it coming to a close? When does school start?

Well this week was a bit more normal, there weren’t any meetings or anything weird so we just WORKED and worked. I love weeks like we had, especially with a new companion that got to have his first taste at baptism. It is always very memorable for new missionaries to have their first baptism. I remember that like yesterday when I was in Santa Lucia. Her name is Froila and is about 60 years old. I didn’t know if she would be able to handle the teaching because she is a little bit slow on the understanding part, but I could see the Spirit working in her as she remembered everything we taught her. She was a street contact we had about a month and a half ago. We were contacting one day at night and I felt impressed to talk to her and I followed it and she was very receptive and we set a time to talk to her. We went to her house the next day and set a baptismal date. But after that...nothing. Couldn’t find her anywhere for like three weeks. But then she went to church 3 times and the rest is history. So fun to see miracles.

Love my companion. He is very different from my last companion in almost everything and I know God sent him to teach me something different. I love that counsel from Uncle Scott on helping your companions be the best missionary in the whole mission. I haven’t thought about that until now but that is in essence what training is all about. My goal has always been that they can be a better missionary than I when they leave me or I leave them. I hope the same for Elder Casillas. He is very funny and he has a lot of dry ''Matthew'' humor that makes me laugh a ton. We started out a little rough and thank you so much Mom for your extra prayers because I think I needed them. But we are now in sync and I know what I have to do to help him be the best he can. We have started out on the road to Damascus and sometimes its a rough road but the journey is worth it. Every step.

Ahhh I never know what to write. Just can’t believe I am approaching a year. It goes by so fast. I have changed a lot but there is so much more to go and I will keep changing and learning every single day. The mission is literally the BEST place to change a life. If you let it (thanks Mom). Matt get ready and prepare yourself well.

Love you my family so much. From Guatemala to California. A great big hug!

Elder Smith