What time is it? Sorry, can’t tell ya!

This is from last week (May 11th) 

Moms are the best.  Sorry for all you suckers who don't have Mamá Smart as your mom.

So now that's off my chest. I'll get to the awesome week I had.

This week has been killer.  Just work work, work, work is all I can say.  Every moment.

Also got robbed again... that really sucked, because first of all, it was in front of the church.  Second... It was Omar (I know this guy) who robbed me.  Third... he took my freakin' calculator watch!!!!!!!! I loved that watch... But Omar was drunk, and he came over to us, and told me that he was going to "break" us... So ya, a gun + drunk Omar = just give him your watch and wallet.  So that was sad.  We're going to go and talk to him about that.  Pobrecito este tipo (Poor guy?)

There was also a gang fight behind our house. There's like a little forest behind our house, so the crazy folk always go over there to do illegal stuff, so ya we woke up to gunfire again. Ehh.

Mother's day shenanigans were the best thing in the world!!!  Talking to the fam was super cool.  I'm so glad that we live in a day and age were I can talk to my family all in Utah, from the jungle. I don't know how they do it, maybe the palm trees are used as satellite dishes, no se (I don’t know).  You tell me.  Bottom line... Beyond Awesome.

Also a huge blessing we had this week were Investigators in the sacrament reunion (Sacrament meeting).  We have been waiting and praying super hard for this particular Hermana to come to church, for like 2 changes!  And she finally came!!! I was so happy! I know that prayers are answered, but the thing we forget is that they will come in the lords time.  That means we have to be patient.  I'm not a patient person.  So that's what I'm working on as of now.

Helping Anna with a Yoga assignment for school... and maybe working on patience 

Hope you all thought of all of your mommas in your lives this week. They carried us around for 9 months, and put up with our trash every single day because they know what is like to have Christ-like-love.  They're the best examples we have, so make them proud!

Alma 26:22 

22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

no te rindas

Con amor+

Elder Smart

Notes from Mother’s Day conversation with Elder Smart

• The people are really poor but try to give the missionaries food and drinks like Coke and Pepsi. Andy said he intends to never drink Coke or Pepsi again when he gets home because he drinks it so much and is sick of it.
• He is often offered water that isn’t bottled and sometimes he drinks it, but hasn’t been sick.  It is so humid that they have to drink a lot and something and it’s all the people have to offer.
• Despite sending him with a large selection of handkerchiefs, Elder Smart uses his tie to wipe sweat from his face, which is often. While we talked to him he was really sweaty and did it frequently. He is hot and sweaty all the time and has learned that some ties are washable and some are not:)
• The ward leadership are not terribly committed and the bishop really leans on the missionaries to provide what is needed. Andy and his companion were in charge of a family ward activity because they were the only ones to show up to ward council. He was frustrated that his teaching and contacting time is often spent doing the ward business but it’s hard to get people to commit to their callings.
• He has played the piano a few times (insert a cheer from mom)! Most of the places either don’t have a piano or just have an electronic one so he doesn’t get a lot of opportunities. He said if he started playing, it would be expected that he do it all the time and he only knows 5 songs well enough.
• His Spanish is coming along really well. He had a hard time coming up with english words like “sacrament meeting” and did it again in the email.  He can’t remember what things are called in english and struggled to explain what he meant.  Several times he started a sentence in English and finished the sentence in Spanish.
• His clothes are getting tight around the waist and chest. He eats pretty well but can’t figure out why the Hondurans eat mangoes when they are still unripe and green. He likes them ripe and orange, and they are huge!
• A lady makes them lunch everyday and they pay her for that and also to use her washing machine. But, the washer broke so they are hand washing again like in La Masica. His clothes take a beating because they use a washboard on the collars to get the stains out. 
• Getting mugged: most of the time the mugger has a weapon but doesn’t use it unless you resist or argue, then they show you that they have a gun or whatever. Usually they don’t even have bullets in them because they are all so poor, but you never know. The sisters were held up and it was so upsetting that one of them fainted when they told Andy and Elder Martinez. Andy used hand sanitizer under her nose to revive her. (Special thanks to the Scouting leaders in Andy’s life).
• What he misses: my family and friends, lacrosse, my music, regular food, girls, ice, grass (lawns) and the temperature/humidity in Utah. 

Mrs Dove's nest in our window

Laundry