Two decades and a mountain of blessing

Sent July 25th

(Elder Smart returns home on August 4th and his homecoming meeting will be on August 14th at 11:00am, Bonneville 2nd Ward, 1535 East Bonneview Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah).

Well I'm 20 years old. wut!?

-____-

Sometimes they shoot dye into the eggs before they hatch

I went on divisions again this week with Elder the bomb Sigler. We kicked butt.

I had my last interview this week with Presidente. We ate McDonalds after.

We baptized O, one of our investigators this Saturday, and he was awesome. He was so ready, but he just didn't know it. He even bore his testimony in front of everyone. He is amazing.

Our other convert Esmelin, also received the priesthood this Sunday!! It was probably the coolest birthday I've ever had. Seeing all the blessings of the people I've helped here in Honduras.

This Sunday we went visiting with the relief society. We thought that one or two would come visiting with us, but like half of the organization came. We are talking about 15 sisters!!  We took them all visiting, because they were really scared of entering our area in small numbers (our area is really dangerous). But it was super funny leading all the Mormonas catrachita in a pack. They all looked really scared and huddled together the whole time. jajaja

I ate chacalines (shrimp?) on Sunday for my B-day!!

D&C 25:10

10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.

Every inch, I aint stoppin til the end!!!

#oneweek

-- 

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Bionic mom is 1 year older today, and more bionic than ever (July 18)

Sent July 18

This week was good.

I went on divisiones with Elder Jub, from Guatemala. He speaks quiché or something like that. It's a dialect there.

We did service, making and pouring a cement platform.

Then I had the opportunity to go to Santa Rita today to say goodbye to everyone!  I saw my converts and my cook, and my abuela catracha (Honduran grandma)! it was so awesome! I loved it. But it was super sad, because I'm leaving in like 2 weeks, and won't be able to see them for a very long time.

Ohh ya the power went off AGAIN at 2 in the morning... I woke up swimming in sweat, because recently in our area it has been hitting around 118 degrees. So me and my comp took showers at about 3:00 am. And then just sat outside with a candle because it was impossible to sleep without our fans.

2 Corinthians 4:8-11,18

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Pequeñitos (little ones)-July 11

Sent July 11

This week I went on divisiones with The Elder Sigler from Las Vegas, super awesome kid. He played lax also, took state 3 years there. So I guess you could say he's pretty awesome. But we were really sharing the daily bread this week. Literally-- we bought bread and shared it, and then talked to the bread lady for like an hour about the church. It was pretty cool.

Then we were walking to a city (appointment) and some little Garifuna kids called us over, and wanted us to help get them oranges from a nearby tree. So we went over, and I got them their oranges. They all gave me hugs. It was super funny. But then their mom came out and started yelling at them, saying that they were thieves. It turns out that it was the neighbors tree, and I had just helped them steal. Jajaja it was soo funny. But then she took out the belt and started chasing them. They started screaming and running around. That's when we decided to leave. 

There was another shooting this week, by the bus terminal #2. Every week I swear...

We also did service like 3 times this week chopping lawns with machetes. The usual catracho grind.

There was also a wedding of some investigators that are going to get baptized in our ward. They finally got married. It was super cool.

We also had a ward activity, complete with games, a ton of food, and prizes. It was super fun. Yours truly won the sack race, and I won a mug with a heart on it... Awesome.

Today we made baleadas. They turned out alright... we're amateurs, soooo ya. But it was super fun.

#Hondy

-- D&C 132:18-19

18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.  

19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

God Bless America

Sent July 4

Wello this week has been a bomb... well not like a real one, although that has happened here... no but this week has been full of miracles.

This week we met the new presidente, Pres T-Rex (Rex Carlisle). he's super cool and is super animated to work. His wife is also super sweet, and equally ready to work.

Also we prepared the roof of a member, that was super cool too. We got up on top of his house, and everyone started freaking out and thinking that we were breaking in to his house, because that's how they do it here (sometimes from the roof) but then they recognized the member there, and calmed down. It was great.

Then we found some bullets in the street.

We also started out today as a zone in Zizima, a cool ropes course park. It was good.

But then we had an American tribute BBQ in the church in San Juan. It was amazing. Real hot-dogs, and real hamburgers. Amazing!

Another week without getting shot at is a successful week.

t-minus one month

-- Pslams 33:12- #murica

12.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

learn it, live it, love it

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Tiroteo (gunfire)

Sent June 27th 

(Elder Smart returns home on August 4th and his homecoming meeting will be on August 14th at 11:00am).

Well, this week has been a real charmer.

Really all we did this week was work work work.

I did almost got shot though. There was a drive-by on the street we were on, and bullets literally flew by us.  You could hear the ricochet of the bullets.

But then the day after there was another shooting. Some pandilleros (gang members) dressed up as police officers, stopped a bus and shot and killed 5 men. Ya we saw it right after it happened. 

It's kind of weird here. When someone gets shot, everyone comes out of their houses to see it, they then crowd around the body and start to take pictures and stuff. Then the news crews get there, and just film the dead body, like they are expecting something to happen. It's ridiculous.

Hey but we did have our stake conference here in the stake of Satellite!! It was super good. Elder Olfonso (70) came, and blew everyone away. It was so amazing. He talked on the miracles of Christ and how we don't really appreciate them. He then talked about how we can work more effectively as missionaries and members. It was super uplifting.

The other cool thing this week was a wedding. Some of our recent investigators got married this week. An ACTUAL WEDDING in Honduras... Amazing. We helped with the decorations, making and putting them up.

I made the sign for the wedding, with my comp that is seen in the background... It was really hard.

Another week in the ghetto, serving the Lord as an Elder, yo.

me making some dope tortillas de maiz!

D&C 23:2

 2 Make known thy calling unto the church, and also before the world, and thy heart shall be opened to preach the truth from henceforth and forever. Amen.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Machete yard service

Rocky

Sent June 20th 

So I guess my prayers were answered about the Tears for Fears concert. jaja (one of Andy's fave 80s band "Tears For Fears" rescheduled their Salt Lake concert from July to September... and now he can go.)

This week has been Hot Hot Hot, like every week here in Satan's armpit. But ya know, its worth it.  I enjoy the heat-rash, I love the Camp Greenlake feel to this place, because I know I can make a difference here. San Pedro. El mero mero.

This week was just a lot of work. And hey it rained. But it was kind of weird, because the water was hot. Heh?  Awesome.

We found an old rundown gang house of the 13ms, (gang) so we decided to go and box in it.  One of the Elders in our ward was on the olympic select team in Costa Rica for boxing before his mission. He's a bruiser.

This week we should all focus on the plan of salvation, we need to think about that a little more often.

This week was sick, the next will be better.

1 Corinthians 12:13

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Semana de "I" (I's week)

Sent June 13th 

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the Hurricane and Typhoon Seasons in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.  Hurricane and Typhoon Season lasts through November 2016, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends that those in hurricane- and typhoon-prone regions begin preparations for the upcoming seasons now. 

That was an email I received today: Giddy-up!

Bueno, so this week has been super duper!

We are just working super hard, and thats about it.

Oh I did go to the chiropractor this week. Turns out one of my shoulders was positioned higher than the other. I couldn't turn my head. So we went to Doctor Troches (super homie) and he pretty much separated every bone in my back, neck, and shoulders. I died.  But I feel real great now, and after those muscle relaxers, I've been feeling the spirit a little more often...?

No but this week has been really good. We went on some divisions with Bryan, a super cool joven  (youth) in our ward who is preparing to put his mission papers in. Awesome.

And the best part. We baptized "I"!!!!!  He is a bald, 64 year old man, who had been smoking and drinking coffee since he was 13 years old. We got him to quit, and he loves the gospel. He was so happy when we told him he could be baptized. He loves the Book of Mormon, and reads it every day. The only thing is his family, they pretty much hate us and go to the church next to their house, but "I" always stands up for us and is super awesome. Oh ya and he doesn't have any teeth. But he is the happiest guy you'd ever meet...  always with his signature 2 thumbs up!

Solid, Solid week

Learn it, Live it, Love it

D&C 19:28

28 And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.

-- 

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Recommended daily allowance of mango

Submarine

Sent June 6th 

To be honest. This week went so dang fast. I'm still surprised that its p-day again....

I really don't have a lot to say.

It rain a lot here, like it always does, but in the street, as the bishop took us home from church, a car passed us, and there was so much water in the street a wave created by the car that passed us went completely over the car, and we were completely submerged for a second. Cool.

We have a mango tree next to our house, so thats been a real blessing lately.

The multi-zona conference is tomorrow. It will be like the first time in a year where I won't have to capacitate (train)  in one of these. Si ombe.

Last Zone meeting with President and Hermana Klein

Our Garifuna recent convert gave us dried fish and yuca tortillas this week. ya dope. She's going to teach us how to make pan de coco this week.

I freaking love these people.

The Book of Mormon is perfect.

#dino

1 Nephi 1:20

 20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Dirangilo branch

Sent May 30th 

lunch... JK

This week was super fast.

My comp Elder Santillana and I are tearing it up.

I taught a piano lesson this week. We are teaching the brother of a recent convert, and he is fascinated with the piano, so we invited him over to the the church to give it a try. And for the first time in like a year and a half, I played the piano.  There is a piano in the chapel, so we took advantage of that.  We played around on the piano, I showed him some stuff, and played a few really rusty hymns, and then we taught him a quick lesson. Super cool.

We also made little stool things to sit on. A super cool lady in our ward hooked us up super fast, and showed us how to make these little stools out of wood, and fabric. Pretty much just what ever you can find, you use, but they turned out super cool, and now we can actually sit down in our house. Awesome.

Today we went and played in the olympic stadium here in San Pedro Sula, as a zone. Super cool. We played soccer, football, and a little lax. Super awesome.

Anywhere is a good place to play lacrosse 

President Klein joined in the fun

#nebuga 

Romanos 6:11-14

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

For Spencer and his eternal lady: D/C 42:22 (cousin who was married this week)

MACIZO

Elder Smart