Merry Christmas, Machine Guns and Happy Birthday Sis!

Man, this week has been such a roller-coaster.  Ups, Downs, todo (everything).

First off it was multi- zone conference on the 23rd, which was a blast. I saw some of the old Hondo group, like E. Tobes and Dakota C’s cousin gave me an influenza shot. Jeje.  We had really good food, and some good lessons. We also watched the San Pedro Sula Este movie on service that our mission made, it’s really awesome.  (This is the link to the video. Andy is in Zona Miramar at about 9:35 minutes into the video. You can see him a couple of times if you watch for his blonde hair and his tall companion wearing a Santa hat.)  

http://youtu.be/SGjKE4CZeyE

Now, Christmas... What a fiesta…so people here celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve more than on the actual day. However, we made Chicken, rice, french fries, and bought some soda from La Ceiba, so we actually had a great feast. 

Then, when the clock struck 12 midnight, chaos blew up in the streets of Hondo. We’re talking kids throwing fireworks at everything that moves, everybody yelling, and cheering, and everyone unloading lead into the air like there’s no tomorrow. Our neighbor, as kind as he is, pulled out his AK and was just unloading clips into the air. Tatatatatatatat. That was wild.

But then, it was Christmas day!!! Which means I got to talk to my family and my best friends and oh what a surprise!  More than the AK for sure. Everyone is so good and awesome. I just love everyone. There is no more to say.

THE 28TH!!! ANNA’s b-day. Man, 15 is way too old, but relax, you’re not 16 yet! Played soccer in the canchita (soccer arena) for mutual, and the whole time I was thinking about my sis. Anna, why couldn’t you like Harry Potter and JRR Tolkien I dunno, say about 4 months ago or something? Amazing right? Stay gold.

Anyway, Christmas in Honduras was just as wild as I expected, but it was also my favorite so far. It was so cool wearing the name Jesus Christ over my heart, on Christ’s day. It really helped me focus on what really happened. Not the parties, food, and festivities, but what our gospel testifies of. Representing Jesus is what I do and what I love.

Even though it rained all day on Christmas, and it wasn’t exactly a ¨White Christmas¨, there was still the white of missionary shirts and ties going about making Christmas more white with the word of God.

That’s all, thanks for all the support, all of you with emails, and letters, I don’t have enough time to explain or thank enough.

Feliz Navidad, and a Happy new year

Con amor+

Elder Smart

PS. Love you mom. This week has been a little rough with my comp. Won’t go into detail, not much time. But I love you and appreciate all you do for me and nuestra familia (our family)

San Pedro Sula ... the big city

So this week has been insane. So to start thing off, I actually got to ride in an elevator this week, what an experience let me tell you.

Oh ya and President Klein gave us root beer. Root beer!!!!

We had to go to the big city this week (San Pedro Sula) because my companion’s residencia expired and we had to go renew it.  While I was there I saw... Elder Criddle ... Again!!!! Whooooo. Stud.

San Pedro Sula is a completely different country than the rest of Honduras. Oh my gosh. People are always on the move, and if you don't watch out, you'll get blasted by a car or bus in the street. Amazing.

Other news I got a haircut. Again 15 limpiras (75 cents). We then were invited to play soccer with the guy who cut our hair (Chiki I think), along with all his old guy friends. That was weird. And none of them would pass to me because I'm a gringo. Whatever. We still won.

We also had a Christmas party in Confité and it was super crazy. I don't even know how to explain it. Stress was being felt by all the missionaries that night. We had like 300 Catrachos (Hondurans) show up. We fed, entertained, cleaned up, and did it all for them.

Pues, (well) here are the stories everyone wants to hear... the pelegroso (hazards) and what not:

So pig is the food to eat here around Christmas, keep this in mind.  I was studying one morning, and there was a pig screaming for some reason right outside my window.  Well is was being slaughtered, like 5 feet away from me.  All of a sudden, 5 or so guys jumped on top of it, to pin it down, then the man with the machete rolled up. He stabbed it in the neck a few times, I won’t go into a ton of detail, because it was graphic. Then they hung it up, threw some boiling water on it, so they could take off the hair, and then the machete guy rolled in again. This time he was hacking and cutting and blood and who knows what else. Chancho (pig).  Sorry for telling you all this but it was so crazy, I had to.

Anyway the other thing was that a couple of days ago, in the middle of the night, we woke up to the sound of footsteps and Spanish outside our room. The lady across the street parks her car next to our house because we have a better barbed wire fence than she does, and I guess she likes that sense of security.  Anyway, these guys in the night, were trying to break in and steal her car, we watched them out of the crack of our window.  One of them we even recognized.  They were all high, so they couldn't get into the car.  They were all super mad, then one of them got  the idea to, instead, steal one of her pigs. And that’s what they did. This all happened about 4 feet from where we were sleeping. But no harm fell upon us. Missionaries.

Nothing else happened, except I heard that Bastille did a remake of the song ´´I just died in your arms tonight¨ by the Cutting Crew........ ok 80’s are still supreme.

I am so thankful for all of your support. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, with joy and peace. We need to remember the story of our lord and savior, and even though we are celebrating his birth, we also need to remember that God gave the first gift, His son, and Christ gave the second.

Always remember

Santa-Santa Catracho!

PS. Its still like 100 degrees here…

Con Amor+

Elder Smarty

We had a great time Skype-ing Andy on Christmas, he looks awesome and was very positive and happy.  He say’s that he loves his mission, and that it is, by far, the “hardest and funnest” thing he has ever done.  He was very thankful for the Christmas cards and emails he received and asked how everyone was doing… going through what he calls the Laird family, the ward family, friend family, family family, missionary friends, etc.

We asked him tons of questions, and thought we’d relay some of them here:

• What will be your dinner plans for Christmas Day?: three PB&J sandwiches for breakfast, a cup-of-soup for lunch, and beans and rice for dinner.  On a side note, they seem to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and all of the missionaries had “P-noche” together.  There was a lot of fireworks last night, fireworks and gun shots.  I heard a machine gun go of off just down next door. I ate all of the candy and stroopwaffles you sent really fast—probably too fast. They tasted awesome! Packages are the best!
• How is your Spanish?:  It’s OK.  They seem to have a lot of slang or short cuts here, and I have a hard time understanding the meaning of those words.  If it’s gospel related and they’re not speaking too fast, I’m fine.  But they always speak fast.  One of the missionaries here is from California but his parents are from Peru so he speaks fluent English and Spanish.  I can understand his Spanish perfectly and we can communicate very well.  He has helped me the most.  One thing I find interesting here, is that they make up names.  They also spell things phonetically (maybe because of literacy)  Even peoples birth names will be made up and then spelled phonetically.  
• What’s the plumbing situation?: we have indoor plumbing, but whenever it rains the water lines get contaminated and the water turns muddy… and it pretty much rains every day.  So quite often we run water in the concrete basin out back, let the dirt settle and then sponge bath.  There are no hot water heaters in the jungle, so it’s always a cold bath or shower.  The toilet is indoors, and usually working.
• Have you gotten very sick?: not really.  I’ve been a little sick a few times, but nothing like you hear about.  Sometimes I forget and use tap water when I fix breakfast or dinner but I haven’t got into trouble. If you only drink a little it isn’t too bad.
• How is the budget?: We are always running out of money, so we decided to do our own laundry and not pay someone to fix dinner.  This should allow us to buy more groceries and maybe even go to a gym and work out.  I get up every morning and do sit-ups and push-ups and curl cans of paint that the landlord has left in the house… but we’d love to go to a gym, at least on p-days.
• How big is the church there in La Masica?: We have about 20 people come to church, and usually we have about 3 investigators each week.  The Bishop lives in another town and usually does not come to church.  I don’t know if he is a bishop of several wards or branches and just comes on rotation, or is just less-active.  It’s not a good situation regardless.  We are still meeting under the awning, out in the open every week.
• How many people are you teaching?:  we currently have 3 people who we are teaching and who are progressing in the gospel.  The two ladies we baptized last week are neighbors to each other and we found them together as we were “contacting” on their street.
• How do you “work” with so much rain?:  we are out every day regardless of the weather.  Sometimes the weather knocks out the electricity, and we aren’t supposed to be in people’s homes in the dark… so if the power goes out we are limited to what we can do.  We have only been confined to the house (because of weather) for 3 days since I’ve been here.
• How are people treating you?:  on the streets some people yell at me and call me names… usually about being white.  As they get to know me they still tease me a little, and like to touch my blonde hair.  But in general, they are so very kind and humble, and I love them very much.
• How are the bugs?:  my ankles are always raw from mosquito bites, for some reason I can’t keep them from biting through my socks. I even used permethrin on my socks but Hermana Martha really scrubs them hard on the washboard so it doesn’t last.
• Is there anything you need?: no, not really, I’m doing fine.  I may buy another pair of shoes.  I can’t keep a dry pair with only two.  I have a fan on them 24/7 but they are still always wet. I also need a Spanish/English dictionary that isn’t “British English” but American English so things translate better.
• Andy’s friend Madie got her mission call to Chicago, Illinois and he didn’t know anything about it. She and Caden came over and told him in person and his reaction was priceless! He is so excited for her and even more excited that she will be speaking Spanish too. He was even more surprised that we kept it a secret from him for the past few weeks. Probably his best Christmas present ever!

Hello ya’ll

We received two short emails from Andrew last week.  They switched up p-day and transfer day... but then didn't end up exchanging companions

This is going to be real quick, because today is change day. 

No E. V (Companion) didn't get changed, Surprise! 

Oh ya, and this is NOT our dog... he just chills with us all the time.

So just a few things: first, Elder M got a new comp, he seems real cool.  He’s from Nicaragua I think.

Elder Beaston, and Elder Criddle got changed, which really bites for me because its 2 of my real good friends leaving my zone.

We are having the baptisms this Saturday (now two) and I know I’m at least doing one of them. 

Happy anniversary to the weirdest people I know, and love.  (Angela and Jeff’s 25^th Anniversary last week)

Missionary moms rule.

Quick story, we were coming back from Ceiba on the bus, and a crazy guy threw a rock at me.  I was sitting in the bus with the window open, and he straight up threw a freaking rock at me!   It would have hit me too, if it hadn’t have been for the window frame!  It dented the side of the bus, and now the window frame won’t allow the window to close.   Ha, I didn’t get hit...Missionary blessings- Whoop it’s real!

Well that’s all that has happened these short days.

Con Amor +

Elder Smart

----------------------------------------

Sup,

I am currently in Ceiba, and this computer is not working very well, and I don’t have a ton of time.

Elder Guadamuz came in place of elder Perez, and he is super cool.

I did baptize 2 Catrachas on Saturday, and I do you need another journal.

boom- bautismos en el río

I baptized Reyna (L), and Yelerin (R) in the river in la Masica.

That was amazing, that’s the only way to explain it.  Plus I didn’t mess up on their names either, which I was worried about (super difficult).

The Christmas phone call/Skype info all I know is that we are doing it on Christmas day, I think at 5 or so in ceiba.

We went to la Ceiba , and spent the day there, that was super cool.  We slept at the house of some other missionaries with a killer view of the ocean and la Ceiba

We also played soccer in the canchita next to the chapel in la Ceiba with was also just as sweet.

So much has happened these past few days oh man, I can’t wait for Christmas.  Skype 

Oh ya, I got my 2nd package today!! I haven’t opened most of it, just the candy.

E. V loves his stocking and schtuf.  I can’t wait to read the letters.  Best part.  Plus I got a card from los abuelos (Grandparents) that I think changed my life.  The stories that grandma and grandpa sent me just about made me cry as I read them on the little bus crowded full of families and children, on my way back from ceiba. I loved it!

la tarjetas ¨a Dadiva¨  is literally magic.  https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1460-he-is-the-gift?lang=eng 

Love my customized  apron from the Ward family!

So now the scripture of the week goes out to Easy Ethrington:   D&C 121 amazing.   A must read.

This is a prescription for those low in heart. (last two verse)  

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.   46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

Early Christmas and Noah’s Ark

Hello all. Meet Fred and George. (Harry Potter, ya) (para Anna).

But anyway, this week has been pretty sweet.

Oh real quick, the robber that robbed the Elders in Confité was shot and killed. He tried to rob another house, but this time the victim had a shotgun...

 

However, I got ONE of my Christmas packages on the 2nd! I forgot what real candy tasted like! Wow what a treat. And the tie? Bomb thanks, Mad. Everything was more than I ever expected, thank you all! Elder V’s birthday was on the 2nd too, so he actually got most of my candy, but nevertheless thanks a million. 

The next day we had our English class. I was actually able to help out a little bit this time with Elder M.

 

The 4th was the day I have been praying for. Tons, no heaps of lessons, Libros de Mormon, contacting, everything. I was so happy to have too much to do.

 

Yesterday was Stake conference, it was pretty cool. I could only understand bits and pieces, but I saw some buds from the CCM. Beaston, Patty, Criddle and Hansgen. What a group of do-gooders. That night was also the Christmas devotional from the First Presidency, so we stayed for that too. This however meant that we had to stay overnight in Confité.  We lived, and went on splits with the missionaries there this morning. It actually went really well. 

Today isn’t really a p-day because changes (transfers) are this Wednesday, so Elder V (my comp) is being changed, along with E. Peres. I’m gonna miss them a ton and a half.

 

My shoes did clean all the mold off, that was easy, but it happens all the time, same with my suit jacket, somehow, someway, I don’t know...

I miss Bastille, 80s, t-swift and music, but I’m reading Jesus the Christ, so that’s a pretty good substitute for entertainment.

Again thanks a billion and a half.

 

From the boys in the land of the dead to you...

Merry Christmas

Con Amor+

Elder Smart     

  

 

Diciembre ya qué

This week what? Blast and a half.

Let me warn you first that not a lot happened because it has been raining all day every day for 4 or 5 days. Entonces (then) this pic happened. 

Back Yard

Flooded Apartment 

What we did accomplish this week was finding a new location for church starting in January!  It’s not set in stone, but it is a great location, really great price, and it’s not the backyard lean-to of the local professor. I am way excited. 
I gave a talk on repentance at mutual this week which was a little hard, but I was able to get my point across.

Sunday was the highlight of my week.   Not just the opportunity to take the sacrament, but because I was able to take my friend yami (Jamie) to church for the first time. She is like 8 years old and she says that I’m her best friend. We even have a secret handshake. It’s awesome.  I hope that she will be able to continue coming to stuff with us. 

Not only that, but we ate armadillo again, this time in a baleadas. RICO.

But I think the best part of my day, was reading a letter from my mom.  Included in this were a few things, but she also mentioned this scripture:
D&C 18:28. 

28 And if they desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature

This is a shout out for all the missionaries out there.  PREACH the gospel to ALL creatures. When I read this, it was really eye  opening, we need to be missionaries for all, examples for all, a light for
all.

Love from the Masica crew+
Con Amor+
Elder Smarty

Cada pulgada (Every Inch, as in “Fight for Every Inch”)

Hello all. 
Another week here in the land of the dead.  So this week has been really slow.  The food finally caught up with me, so I was sick for the first time.  All I will say is...diarrhea fuego.  But I’m over that now, and back on track.


It still rains buckets every day, and busses fill up with water, so they get slow. This means that the trip to Confité, to drop off carpetas de miembros (member files) took like 3 hours instead of 30 mins.

After this is when I was feeling super sick.  Double headed dragon.  I told Hmna. Martha this, and she said she would make me something really good for my stomach the next day.  Well, the next day rolled in, and what did she drop on my plate?  A fish head.   She thought that was real funny. Haha no.   All I could do was look into the gooey eyes and turn green.  I’m happy to say I did eat it, but it took a while.

We also got to play soccer for mutual in the little soccer arena. That was way cool. Scored 2x on Elder V, which is a real feat, because he is a giant.

Oh ya, scary story of the week- The Elders in Confité got robbed this week in the middle of the night, while they were sleeping in the members house where they live.  They woke up to gunshots.  (The banditos shot and killed the guard dogs before entering).  Then the door broke down, and they were face to face with the masked faced men who then robbed them of all they had, microhonda, ropa, dinero, todo (microwave, clothes, money, all).  One of the Elders then recognized one of the masked men, and said, I know you, why are you doing this? He then was beat up.  Please pray for these valiant young men.

Oh ya, we ate iguana this week as well.  That was a trip. But then after was Hermanamiento, where I gave the lesson on oración (prayer).  I think it went well. The people seemed to think so to. I was definitely feeling the spirit that day, I could just... feel it. I don’t know how to describe it...and it definitely wasn’t Hmna Martha’s fish head.

Oh ya, today is Elder M’s birthday today.  He’s a stud and a half.  Sorry my email is all over the place this week.  I live in Hondo, so I think that’s a pretty good excuse.
Anyway, the scripture of the week and one I really need to capitalize on lately is Mosiah 23:21.  It talks about how God tries our patience and faith.  This is one of the most real verses, and it applies to everyone, especially me.
21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

Here is a picture of Hmna.  Martha and her swag. Gafas de sol (sunglasses) credit- Elder Runyan.
Thanks bud, I miss the Goonies back in the states, along with 8-ball and scoot 801.  There’s my shout out for this week.

I know you all are real busy, but I would appreciate it if you all took the time this week to kneel down and thank God for what he has provided for you. Everything comes from him, most importantly the greatest gift of all, the plan of salvation.

Oh I’m sorry one other thing, our next baptism is for the 6th of December- Hermana Reyna. That should be a blast 100.

Thanks for todo (all)
Con Amor+
Elder Smart

Wowzers

Elder Smart's mailing address is at the top of the blog if anyone wants to send a letter or package.

This week was a thrill. I don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll keep it quick. So, to start things off, one of my companion’s investigators was shot and killed the day before he was supposed to be baptized. He’s going straight to the celestial kingdom I’m sure.

Ok, now, some things that happened. Haircut, English class, tons of contacting, Jehovah’s Witnesses, rain for days, hamburgers, faux missionaries, service, La Ceiba, Trujillo, soccer, beach, bedbugs. 

Story of the week. We were contacting, and we decided to talk to this older lady. We found out she was loco. She started kissing our hands, and she called my companion black Jesus, and me white Jesus. This was apostasia (apostasy), so we tried to teach her that she needs to stop kissing our hands, we are certainly not Jesus, but that he does live. But she kept mumbling something about shoveling sand on the beach, so we left right quick. Like 3 minutes later, My Friend (literally his name) the town bolo asked me to sing Feliz Navidad with him. So I happily obliged, and joined in.

Next. Two missionaries were spotted in La Masica. Fake missionaries.   Name tags, and all. There are only 4 missionaries here, and they certainly weren’t us.  Raro.

Next... TRUJILLO!!!!!!

Zone pday was on Monday, and we all got to go to Trujillo. It was so beautiful. We played soccer on the beach, toured the ruins of a fort, and just hung out on the beach. Chill fest 100. Anyway it was so nice to see all the guys from the Mexico CCM again. Oh and Elder Criddle is the man.  Such a help.

The scriptures of the week are, Mosiah 4:9

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

The next is Mosiah 4:16-25.

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish 

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just 

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. 

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? 

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy 

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another. 

22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done

23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world

24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. 

25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.

They basically say, we need to believe in God, and help and succor the weak in need.

Oh and if you want a machete, look up Alma 5:16-21. Intenso.

16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth? 

17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you? 

18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God? 

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances? 

20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? 

21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

Love you all, con amor+

Elder Smart    

Bautismo y peligro (Baptism and peril)

And it's not even the rainy season yet...

This week, this week, this week...

I now have to teach my Comp English by December, direct orders from Presidente Klein, because of some bumps in the road from his previous area. I am not going to elaborate.

Elder V

My companion is a very hard working, loving, spiritual giant, and he is an excellent missionary. He does, however like to have fun.

This week, I was able to calm down quite a bit. I wasn’t worried about Spanish at all. Even through the lesson with two Geipers, I was able to pay attention with ease.

We ate armadillo at a less active member’s house. He caught it in the mountains while he was looking for firewood. Que raro (odd). They say it’s really rico (delicious) here, but I thought it was a little gamey.

On the 7th, we went to Ceiba for reunion de districto, and I found out that Hermana Bennett is Dakota Cobbler’s cousin! That is so cool, I remember him telling me about her, but it just didn’t click until she asked me. Wow. What a small world. The connections are ridiculous. P.S. Bill is still crazy! (Dakota’s dad and Andy’s Cross Country coach).

I taught a lesson in English! It was to Gringo Dan who lives here; pero (but) he is atheist, so that was a trip. Elder M and I went on splits and contacted 8 people in like 2 hours, which it pretty impressive for La Masica.

  Oh ya we had a baptism!!!!!!!! 
Madgiel was his name. In the river again, of course...  After that we had pelicula noche (movie night) and watched Rey Leon (Lion King) and that was super cool because we tied it into a devotional about families being together forever and the levels of glory.  Then, the lady whose house is attached to the awning we use for church asked me to give her a blessing because she was feeling really bad physically.  I gave it in English, unfortunately, but the spirit was definitely there.

My Comp has had a trip of a week also. This includes a face full of thorns from a hide-and-go-seek youth activity, kissing a pig and licking a turtle. Yes this is the truth. We had a bet that he couldn't teach the entirety of the first three lessons in less than 10 minutes. The consequence was kissing the pig. He failed, and has a chancho novia (pig girlfriend) now. He then insisted to try again, and failed tambien. Thus the turtle novia... He’s a goober and a half. He then had to dump a 10 liter drum of ice water on Hermana Rubi’s hijo (son) because she failed the challenge too. We probably should stop this stuff, but it was real funny. Reir (laugh). 

We get to go to Trujillo for our next zone p-day. It’s going to be a blast and a half.  

Also, I would encourage you all to watch the temple dedication ceremonies for the Tegucigalpa, Honduras Temple, by any means you can. It’s incredible.

Tegucigalpa Temple article: https://www.lds.org/church/news/president-uchtdorf-dedicates-tegucigalpa-honduras-temple?lang=eng

Dedicatory prayer: https://www.lds.org/church/news/dedicatory-prayer-expresses-gratitude-for-christ-gospel?lang=eng

The scripture for the week is 2nd Nephi 31:20-21. For me this helps me know that i need hope and love of god in my life, so press forward and endure to the end.

 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.  

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. 

 Jesucristo es vida (Jesus Christ is life)

Elder Smart

Con Amore