Another Bucket Shower

Posted October 19th 

We had our Reunion de Zona (Zone Conference) this week to announce changes and all that fun stuff.  Our new Zone is pretty solid. #Powercouples.

Changes obvio (obviously) were this week, and we went to Progreso to arrange all of that with the newbies coming in and all the switches in companionships and new areas. FUN.  It was super sad seeing all the viejos (the old ones) go home this change... E. Meas E. Reese and the rest.

Elder Smart and Elder Measles

Elder Smart and Elder Reese

We also went to a couple of areas around the Zone to do some baptism interviews for some of our district leaders.  We have some solid leaders in our zone this change.

We gave Talks in church this week on missionary work.  It was weird.  I actually had fun giving my talk... jaja.

The down for this week is that there were 7 more deaths in Santa Rita.  It’s getting a little more rough here by the aguas termales (hot springs- the name of this town is actually called Santa Rita de los Aguas Termales, or Santa Rita by the hot springs)

Every once and a while we hear some tiros (gunfire).

This week will be great, just you wait.

D&C 84:100-102

 101 

The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength;

And truth is established in her bowels;

And the heavens have smiled upon her;

And she is clothed with the glory of her God;

For he stands in the midst of his people.

 102 

Glory, and honor, and power, and might,

Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy,

Justice, grace and truth, and peace,

Forever and ever, Amen.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Zone activity last week

Jellyfish

Mugging for the camera...

Elder Smart and Elder Patterson

COCO

Sent October 12th 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner... everyday

Well, there it is, another week under the belt.

We had consejo de lideres (leadership council) again (Its monthly) It is weird, because we are already planning stuff for christmas.... but It’s cool. 

This week has been super fast!  It feels like i was just sitting here in this cement room with dirt floors writing last week. jaja.

We did some divisions this week also. I LOVE getting to know the zone.  I literally get to know the areas, missionaries, the investigators and members all at once.  Its amazing. We also had the opportunity to do some more baptismal interviews.  I really love doing these things. Its such a spiritual experience and you really can see if the person is really ready or not to make promises with God. Macizo.

Oh ya, changes are this Wednesday!  We will see what happens with all the hooligans in my zone. jejeje.  No but I love them.

Progreso Sur- Our Zone

Last thing. Its super sad. There were 3 people murdered last night.  We knew 2 of them, from the ward.  One was about to get married, and then baptized...terrible.

The day before we went to one of their houses.  A joven (youth) of 25 years.  We talked to him about the gospel and our missions, and then we climbed his coconut tree and shared a few coconuts under the shade.  He was a good guy.  He told us that the next time we visited he would give us the coconut meat for us helping out with the tree… looks like that won't happen (very sad).  One of the gangs pulled them from their houses in the night, put them together, and killed them.

We went and visited his family today and gave his mom a blessing. It was SUPER sad, I didn't really know what to say.  We payed our respects and then left. 

Just read Alma chapter 40, and it will explain where he is right now.

Alma 26:12

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever

Its better to wobble than to wander

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

*Andy told us that the young man and member of the ward that was killed was a returned missionary (served in Costa Rica) that had come home and eventually left the church, but was wanting to come back and change.  Andy and his companion were working with him in his desire to return to church. The online news reported that this family was not the target of the killing, but were mistaken for someone else.  

Before Andy left, we discussed the content of the letters he’d be writing home.  Realizing that he was being asked to serve in an area that was relatively dangerous, and being told up-front that missionaries in this mission were subject to seeing violence and illegal activity, we decided that he could filter his content as he feels is necessary, but that as a family, we wanted to know what he was “really” going through and not just “wonder” every day if he was safe.  Reading the news and hearing stories from Honduras can cause unbearable worry without some assurance that  he was being honest each week and that he’d let us know if things were bad.  We apologize if this type of communication cause more concern from family and friends, but these are his letters home, and this is his life experience that we are supporting.  We trust God in his eternal wisdom that as Elder Smart serves him and is obedient to those leaders who are over his care, he will be safe.  When he was blessed and set-apart as a missionary he was promised that he’d be safe if he was obedient.  Again, we trust in God and his promises that our son will be OK.

I found a new wallet.  What time is it?!

Surf's Up

Conference was the best.  Just the best.  No other way to describe it.

This week, again, has been super awesome. I don't have a ton of time to write, because we took our zone to the beach in Tela for this p-day, and we got back a little late.

This week was also full of divisions with the zone. 

We did service chopping again.  Even though i have gloves, I'm getting some tough skin on the hands.

We took this whole week and just spent it inviting everyone to conference, every lesson we taught was on prophets and why we should listen to them.

I saw conference in english! That wasn't expected at all. I started watching it in Spanish, and the bishop was like, hey, you can watch it in english in my office if you want. SOOOOO i got an air conditioned office for every session all to myself!

Surf. I loved Von G Keetch’s talk on the surfers in Australia. I can totally put that into practice with my zone, because i seriously feel like a big babysitter all the time.  No you cant do that, no you don't have permission, no, yes, yes, no etc... We have rules for a reason.  RESPECT IT.

We went to the beaches of Tela today as a zone to relax, eat, play some games and enjoy pues.  estuvo macizo. (it was solid)

We are helping Abuela Rosy with her FHE every week.  She set a goal last December to have one every week all year, with no excuses and she hasn't broken the record.  She's going to hit that year mark.  Thats where we are going to go now.

2 Nephi 31:21

 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Its ok to get muddy, but you gotta clean yourself off.

100% of the shots you don't take, don't go in.

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Mototaxi Mania

This week was pretty dandy.  (letter received September 28th) 

Another lost sole 

First we held our Multi-Zone conference, which turned out pretty sweet.

Our theme for our Zone is No Tenemos Miedo (we are not afraid). And we are kicking nalgas (butt). Contactando de miedo! (not afraid of contracting?)

We also had Divisions again this week. Seriously.  The life of a ZL is just divisions, phone calls, activities, planning...etc. Whoa.  But its good, we get to meet a monton (lot) of people, in these areas, and participate in the changing of lives.  Super amazing.

We did Service this week also for some of our investigators. Chopping down and up stuff, the usual. But it is super fun to serve. 

We played Football American this week with the neighbor kids.  Its super funny, because they don't know anything about the sport.  Its hilarious seeing them running around like chickens.

It is starting to be the rainy season here. Jaja well it always rains anyway, but it rained extra a ton this week, whoa.

Our house was fumigated this week, and all night we kept hearing things like hitting the ground. We didn't know what it was. But then when we woke up, there were like 200 dead cockroaches all over the floor. They had been falling off the walls and ceiling all night. We had to sweep them up and it was super weird. wleehh.

More lost souls?

This week has been good.

Ether 12:4

100% of the shots you don't take, don't go in.

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Honduran back yard with "lawn"