One year older? yes. Wiser? ehhhhh

(Sent August 24, 2015)

Well I'm on the other half of 2 years... Weird.

Burning a shirt on "hump day"

I’ve been here in Berlin for 6 months, so I'm almost positive I will have changes this next week. Where? Who knows. But there are a ton of closed areas in the mission right now, because of all the missionaries that have gone home, but in the next 2 changes there will be around 60 new ones coming in, so we’ll see where that all takes me. 

We had workshops, games and dinner as a church activity this Friday to help activate less active members and get them more comfortable and return to the light. It turned out really well. There was a recent convert in our area that fell off a motorcycle and got pretty busted up, so we went over and gave her a blessing. We’ll see how that turns out.

Highlight of the week...Presidente Russell M. Nelson came to Tegucigalpa and gave us all a good chat! (We watched the broadcast).  He is awesome and now that he is the Presidente of the 12, he's got a lot more on his plate. One thing that I really liked is something he said. 

¨You missionaries are full of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s in your bone marrow. And that’s really good, because if you need to donate for a bone marrow transplant, it will transplant the gospel also.¨ Love It. Love it.

Also got to see all the guys near Progreso. One year under our belt. Whoot.

This Sunday, after months of work and prayers, we finally got like 3 inactive members to come. Some of them got laid off (they were working Sundays) so they were able to come. I’m not sure if that’s a blessing from our prayers or not, but they came and renewed their baptismal covenants for the first time in like 2 years.

Then we just helped a family move a pila. If you don't know what that is, look it up. It’s like a huge, pure cement bathtub/washbasin that everyone has behind their house or hut to clean dishes, clothes and body. We have one too, and its a little miracle we could say. I don't know where I would be today without my pila. Oh ya, but bottom line is was extremely heavy... That was quite a chore.

Dang I wish I was as buff as Nephi. I can still pray, cant I?

2 Nephi 9:7

 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. 

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

One Year... La Mitad…(Half)

(Sent August 17, 2015)

Hump Day!  So I'm going to be half way through my mission in about 2 days...

This week I had the opportunity to do 2 more baptism interviews for my district. Its always an amazing experience to get to know whoever is about to make that sacred covenant with god, and see how their outlook is. I love.

One thing that was a bit annoying though. There was one of the interviews that was super good, but it took about 2 hours. That was the cool part, but then it was too late to be able to get back to our area in safety (too dangerous to come home at that hour) so we had to stay over with the Zone Leaders house for the night.

I am beginning to be able to see the potential in individual people and families. It is incredible. Because I haven't been able to do that at all in my mission just on the fly. Usually I had to pray about that stuff before.

Oh ya we got a break from baleadas one day. We ate fish for lunch and crab for dinner. That was awesome!

Every Day is Baleadas Day!

We went to the beaches of Tela for a zone p-day today. We just played kickball and had a picnic. It was good. 

The most important thing I have learned about myself is that I don't really matter. The only thing that matters is what I do.

The easiest thing about the mission is being able to hang out with the holy ghost all day every day.

The hardest thing about the mission is juggling all the duties of a regular missionary, District Leader, and doing everything for the ward as well. We are so lucky and blessed to live in a place where the ward is self-sufficient and doesn't really lose animo at all.

The goals for the coming year are: Find, Help, Love, Return, Report.

Jesus is the amen.

1 Nephi 19:9

 9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

2 Nephi 1:7

 7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.

2 Nephi 1:13-15&23

 13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.

 14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.

 15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

 23 Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.

2 Nephi 4:28-30

 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

 29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

 30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.-

Miracles don't make faith, faith makes miracles.

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Ferris Bueller Week

 (sent August 10, 2015)

Power was out

This week has been a real eye opener. So many things have happened that just make me stop and think for a while. It’s something I've never really done in my life ever before. Something that I should have done. Something that is important.

This week I did a few baptismal interviews for my district, and that was a great experience seeing all the changes that one goes through when introduced to the church and Jesus.

Played some basketball with some other elders this week that was a great stress reliever.

Also I went on divisions with the Zone leaders (they are in my district so I call them out every once and a while). That was cool. Its always cool to teach with another missionary, because no one teaches the same. Nobody. While there I met an Amish Miami matón. The guy is Catracho (Honduran), born in Miami, but has a beard down to his stomach. Cool guy other than the fact that he was high and drunk when he came over and talked to us. He has a huge house that he runs. Its pretty much the great and spacious building in Honduras, so we’ll see how things go with him.

Another cool thing Elder Will Taylor met my District leader in the Mexico MTC, Elder Shepard... Small world. Small world...

This week has definitely been one to remember.

Just a few quotes and thoughts to keep things alive.

´´Even a clown would pray´´

David Archuleta is half Catracho

So Josie Fri is an engaged woman. Plan of salvation, baby!

“The real world only moves forward. Like a treadmill. If you stop moving forward you will go backwards.” (from mom)

The power went out.... candle time

Some good old wall ball

ONLY FAILURE CAN BE ATTAINED WITHOUT ANY EFFORT

2 Nephi 1:13

 13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

PS.

Qué baggy siento. ¿Porqué no fuimos a cosas así cuando no estaba en la mision yo? (Why didn’t we do this when I wasn’t on a mission?) Dude that sounds awesome. Aggie Football tickets, soc dist? Dad, keep the dome sleek for me while you’re there.

Elder Criddle!!!!! I love that guy!!! (just got home from Andy’s mission).

Everything is changing...... I’m not sure if I like it or not.... I’m scared for the real world.

Mom, you could literally be BIONICMOM!

te amo mamá

The Return

 (sent August 3, 2015)

This week there was a District Leaders Meeting in La Paz. It was really awesome. I really enjoyed it. The only thing is that its all the stuff I needed to hear like a change ago. I learned it all the hard way. So it was pretty much a review of all the stuff I have learned as a district leader. That being said, I did get a bunch of new awesome ideas for my District.

This new area of mine really has me and my comp on our toes. It is the biggest area in the zone, and we have the biggest ward attendance in the district. Double the investigators, recent converts, less active members, and actives....... We have zero time to think. I feel like each day is like an hour, and then I'm back in my bed. Time is bustin' a move right now. It is gone.

This Mission is the coolest thing ever. I have never been happier in my whole entire life. Its weird too, because I've never been more exhausted mentally or physically in my life either. Andamos sueño todos los días (we sleepwalk every day), but we are kicking some real rear-end this change. Gettin' it done.

Moroni 8:16

 16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

John 10:27

 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jacob 6:12

 12 O be wise; what can I say more?

Oh be wise, nothing more

From Hondy, The Return

-Elder Smart

PS. I got my birthday package!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Mommy I don't need ANY more floss or Mosquito stuff EVER AGAIN. Thanks a ton, but I can get that stuff from the mission.

Love you a billion +1

I Have 19

(sent July 27, 2015)

Well first of all, Changes. I’m still the Distric Leader here in Berlin, gut they closed the area next to mine, so my area is double everything. Elder Martinez left in peace, and my new comp is Elder Montes from Cali\Peru.

We almost got robbed again. Marijuana man wanted our cellphone. We just walked away. Im getting tired of that kind of stuff. Its quite boring.

Presidente Klein called me for my birthday, he’s the man. Dang... No fireworks this year. Just Narcos and guns.

But it was kind of cool. The 24th (my birthday) everyone celebrated the day of the Indian Lempira (Lenca warrior who resisted Spanish attempts to conquer), and everyone dressed up like natives and went wild in the street. That was cool.

I stepped in an ant mound today. Dropped the shorts real fast.

We are teaching so many people right now. I seriously have like 5 days in advance full of planned citas (appointments) this week. There is so much work to do here now we have double everything. My pops hit the B-day also this week. I seriously sometimes look in the mirror and see him for a second. I still cant believe I'm a missionary. I still feel like I'm 16. I hope Hondy makes a man out of me.

Answers to questions:

“Why are you burning stuff in your backyard?!” You have to do that here. And in honor of pops b-day. Can’t light a candle on a cake, so ya gotta burn some trash!

Did you do anything special for your birthday? "I did't tell anyone is was my birthday... they dump flour all over you and then throw eggs at you(?).  But I did get some awesome pollo y tajadas from a member."

Coolest birthday video ever mom thanks. Are those dads spectacles? What up with that awesome stuff.

Haven’t gotten my package. Mail only comes on Tuesdays, sometimes.

Love you mommy, give dad a kiss for me.

Te amo

Alma 31:5

 5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

Luke 9:62

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

1 Nephi 14:14

14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

1 Nephi 15:8-11

8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

 9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

 10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?

 11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Use the WORD instead of the SWORD

Con amor,

Elder Smart