Cambios (Changes)

So changes were the other day, and yes, Elder Vasquez got changed. He's doing ok though. He is in Lempira, La Ceiba, so he is doing just fine.

However, my new companion is Elder Martinez from El Salvador! (no picture yet) He is a convert of 5 years, and has 22 months in the mission, so I will be killing him here in Berlin!  He is also like the coolest dude ever to teach with.  It is super fun teaching and working with this guy, I can’t even explain it. It just clicks with us.  We’ve have also been working like horses.  We teach everyone in sight. We go to a pulperia (grocery store) and buy a topogigo (stuffed mouse?), we teach a lesson. We see a guy selling coconuts, we stop and teach him. Its actually super fun to just slide Jesus into every conversation that we have.

We did service for 3 sisters this week. They died over my companion. They want him to come back and get married to one of them. They gave us baleadas after, so it was worth the pain of trying to pry them off my comp. It was way funny though.

Last P-day (before this transfer)

So I was thinking the other day, and School is almost over in the 801... what the heck!

Oh ya. The whole world here has this mosquito born virus called Chikungunya. Everyone. We’re good though (priesthood). No but its cool. But our investigator, Lewin, had it. But this is the story. We went by on Saturday for our lesson with him, but he was feeling super sick. So what we decided to do is give him a blessing for the sick. So we did that, and then left. He looked like a dead man.

We passed by his house on Sunday morning to see if he could come with us to church. He greeted us at the door, and smiled bigger than I have ever seen him smile. He said he felt better than ever before. He told us that after we left, he felt like he was going to die, but then he remembered that we gave him a blessing, and he said he prayed that he would be ok. He then fell asleep. When he woke up, he felt really hot, so he got up, and BOOM. He felt 100% again! Priesthood works.

That night we made french toast. It was delicious. And I taught my comp how to say french toast in English, and its his favorite phrase now. He says it all the time now. 

Hey compa! ¡Que French Toast!

Sea así

3 Nephi 12:16

 16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

and also

3 Nephi 25:2-3

 2 But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.

no te rindas (Don’t give up!)

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Rapido

Since My last p-day was Wednesday, nothing much has happened since. However, I’ll give you the rundown.

We had some baptisms int our district this week!

The first is Kevin. He is 15 and is super cool. He wasn’t sure about getting baptized at first, but then he decided to make the decision in the way of the lord.

The next is Hma MaryCruz. She is 72..... Ya isn't that awesome!!! She has been waiting 7 years to get baptized!! All those years, her ¨husband¨ wouldn't allow her to, but he left to the states, and she was baptized 6 days later. You could literally feel her joy, as she came out of the water. She had been waiting so patiently, and so faithfully. She is awesome.

We also went to the stake center to help with Family Search. Its awesome, and part of the work. Everyone was super impressed with my family tree... I was a little embarrassed, because I didn't do any of it really. All you guys...Smarts are bomb.

Another thing, Lewin,  Our investigator.  He is a stud and a half. He told us this story after one of our lessons:

“Me and my family were making our way back from Guatemala, traveling through the jungle on foot, heading back to Honduras. We were in the jungles somewhere in Honduras, and we had nothing. It came to be nighttime. I took off my clothes to give my kids and wife blankets for the night, and then made some mats out of palm leaves to sleep on. All of a sudden, big black rain clouds rolled. We knew we were going to die. So what did we do? We prayed to God. We prayed hard. All of a sudden, a huge gust of freezing cold air came and blew the clouds away in an instant. We were then able to sleep for 4 hours. We got up and started on our way again. It was so dark. As we were walking, we could hear the monkeys coming. We knew we were going to die. So what did we do? We prayed to God. We prayed hard. All of a sudden, a light came on. There was a hut!  We were saved by God and prayer.”   So thats awesome.

I have never had headaches in my life. However I had the worst headache I've ever had in my life. Every beat of my heart sent a pulse of pain through my head. My body started aching because of it. I could hardly stand it. A pulse would come, which would hurt, but then it would make me start to breathe harder, but the harder I would breathe, the faster my heart would beat, and the more pain it would bring. There were seriously times where I was doubled over in pain, not being able to move. I even took 4 of the big 800 Ibuprofen Rich gave me throughout the day, did absolutely nothing. However, it came to be Sunday morning, and I made myself go to sacrament meeting. It was hurting more than ever. But the second I took the sacrament, everything left. My head was still achy from all that had happened, but the pain was absolutely gone. There is a reason we go to church. Jesus and the sacrament.

Oh ya. 

The spring break movie by dad is awesome by the way!!

I am so sorry mom. Headaches are the devil.

Anna is going to the Big Apple to dance! Whoooo!

We found a hunk of flint, and I tried to make arrowheads. Its freaking sharp, tengo cicatrizes (I have scars).

3 Nephi 13:3-4

3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth;4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.

Service. All about the hands.

no te rindas

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

8 Months in the Jungle Book

This week was a pretty long week, but it was awesome!

Sorry I wasn't able to write on Monday, there was a Meeting for all the district and zone leaders in La Ceiba, so we had to do that instead of p-day. But its all ok, because I get to write today!

But here is the rundown of my week. The book of mormon has the answers to everything. Enough said.

We always have a ton of lessons that fall through, but we always seem to catch up with a billion contacts.

O another drunk guy stopped us the other night and said José Smith told him in a dream I have to give him a tie. And if I don't he will kill me, because he has a dog that is really brave or something. He was drunk and high. Poor guy. We told him we would give him a tie if he went to church, so he's going to come to church this Sunday.

Its so hot, I'm talking every day, I wake up, take a freezing cold shower, get dressed, start studying (with a fan blowing on me), its like 7:30 and I'm uncontrollably sweating. I don't understand. The humidity is like 99% here. I feel like I'm swimming. But no wonder why this place is pure jungle! Anything can grow here in like 30 seconds. Eat a watermelon, spit a seed on the ground, come back in a week, and you will be able to eat another watermelon, because that seed took root. Geez.

Oh ya, we were teaching a lesson this week and there was an old couple, and their son. In the middle of the lesson the kid pulled out a bag of marijuana and rolled a joint. He then proceeded to smoke it throughout the lesson. That was super funny, and quite distracting because with each drag he would lose a little bit of focus. By the end of the lesson he was trippin. Hondy. Its real.

Hey but we had stake conference with President Klein this week also!!! That was super cool. And for the first time in 8 months I felt air conditioning! Our Stake is super huge (I'm remembering La Masica with 20 people in attendance). But it really is big. We are trying to split it into 2 stakes by the end of the year. This means the missionaries need to work a ton! Super! Lets go. We have the goal. 

But...my suit is getting a little small. I had to wear it for stake conference, and... dang.  Its getting small in the chest and arms.

We also had divisions in Mezapa, a pueblo about 30 mins away from my area.  We did service pretty much the whole time.

I gave a blessing to a sick baby. It was funny because my comp anointed the baby and everything, but this baby is pretty sick, so after that, I was about to give the blessing, but the baby started to freak out, so right as I was about to put my hands on the baby’s head, the mom grabbed the baby and started nursing it. So ya...My comp gave me the nod, so  I gave a blessing to a baby while he was doing his thing with his mom.  That was weird. But right after the blessing the baby was super calm. And that was awesome!

Another cool thing this week is that we had district meeting in English! 8 months+ no English= I cant teach, speak, anything in English. It was sooooo hard. But I also gave the lessons, and translated everything everyone said. That was a trip.

The power has been going out a ton lately. Usually in the night around 5:30, so when that happens its like a free for all, do what ever you want in the street time, so we go home and wait it out.

I am loving my new area, and am so surprised that this change is almost over!

The scripture for the week is actually a chapter. I have been studying Jacob chapter 5 lately, and its a doosy.  But its really cool if you take your time with it.  Olives.  Sweet.
Sample:

61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.  

62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.

Elder of Liberty

Make a splash.

no te rindas (Don’t give up).

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

PS. Oh ya we saw a giant scorpion!

Within 2 minutes there were ants eating it!!

My investigators in LA MASICA are being baptized!!!!!!

That is so cool, I just wish I was there to see them!!

Also if you could, could you send me a new set of English scriptures and the Book of Mormon student manual religion 121 and 122 (english)?

If not its ok, just send me a cool lacrosse poster or the ties that are cut off at the bottom. 

Te AMO mucho mama mia

Elder Gangs

Colors of Honduras 

So this week was super cool. 

I mean, Its always super cool our here in the jungle, but when jungle stuff happens, its even better.

We contacted a ton this week.  We are trying to contact more every day.

The goal is to get more contacts than the previous week.

Its been pretty awesome.

I think I’ve gotten used to sweating all day every day 24/7.  Its a way of life here in hondy.

The hermanas in our district got robbed at gunpoint this week.

Then we got robbed too.  Just our cell phone was taken.  It was actually really funny because there were 2 guys… the first took our phone and left. His buddy then took our watches, but then, he saw our name tags... he then flipped out, and yelled at his friend to come back. (he didn't).

But this guy said, oh my gosh, I didn't realize you guys were the elders, I’m so sorry. Here take your watches back!  Then he handed our watches back, and shook our hands.  He then told us to have a good night, apologized one more time, then went after his buddy to get our cell phone back.  They didn't ever come back, but it was OK anyway. 

The only thing is that we need it to make a ton of phone calls as the DL (district leader).  So we are always having to borrow a phone now.

Later that night, we had a really deep conversation with a drunk guy.  He started to cry and talked about his family.  We then tried to comfort him.  He then gave us a hug.  He was nice.

We now have a ping pong table. It doesn't waste our time though, just to relax a little every once and a while.

There was also a gang fight down the street during a lesson we had,  machine-gun fire for like 5 mins straight. The police were involved too I think.

It was ok though, we had a really effective lesson after that!

My backpack ripped, where is rubs against my back.

Sorry my email is all over the place. I don't have a lot of time to write!

Love you all!

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.

-- 

no te rindas

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Video: (may not work on cell phones, because it's Adobe)

Saints and sinners, baby

Progresso is super awesome! The markets are my favorite part.  So much going on, so many people going, doing, and andando (walking). Its awesome.

First off, I got my Package finally with the EHS Missionary letters in it!!!!

Seriously the best feeling came over me while I was reading them.  Those letters literally refueled my missionary fire in a new way. I don’t know how to explain it. We all have our challenges, but we all are in this together, so to speak.  I am privileged to be part of the coolest group of guys, the East High missionaries. The Spanish books you sent are made of gold. Elder Vasquez and I ate all of the candy and food in 2 days, and the new ties are sweet!

So the entire population of Honduras goes to the beach this week ´´Semana Santa´´ (Holy Week) to swim and hang out, so our zone decided to do the same thing. Just kidding, but we did go to the beach in Tela to preach and to get a mountain of references. It turned out to be a huge success! We were able to contact a ton of people! it was awesome talking to so many different people!

We then ate 3 dinners. Everyone wants to give the Elders food when they think God is ´´really´´ watching. But he always is watching so that doesn't make sense. It was all good though, we take food whenever we can! Tortillas, Beans, Rice, Platano, Guineo (bananas), fish, tamales, chicken and tajadas (fried plantains), baleadas (thick tortilla with filling), res (beef), more tortillas rice and beans, and always juice. It’s pretty good. Can’t remember what food other than this tastes like, but its all good.

We also had a super contact in the hermana’s (sister’s) area. inspired by success in other areas. It was cool to work in El Centro a little. There are so many buildings and people its crazy.

Our investigator, Ezras, wanted to come to General Conference to hear the prophet! He said he wanted to hear it for himself and it was really cool.  Speaking of General conference, It was Awesome!!!  We got to hear it in English too, which was a treat, but we changed it to the Spanish channel while the native Spanish speakers were speaking.  Oh ya I got to watch conference again with Elder Jacobs and Reese again!  #round2

The Marriage theme was a bit unnerving for me in the first sessions. I seriously still feel like I'm 16 everyday. But Elder Holland’s talk completely blew me away. That is all I can say.

Oh ya, the talk by Michael T. Ringwood reminded me of you. I want to be like you dad. And the talk by David A. Bednar reminded me of you Mom. You never take your eyes off of Christ. But Quentin L. Cook’s talk reminded me of you both. My parents. Gracias Padres!

Here are the answers to some of your questions:

Tell us about your new living situation: who lives with you, is it a house, what’s the city like etc. 

I live in a small ´´house´´ with my comp and that is it. The other missionaries live like a block away.

Tell us about a spiritual experience you have had recently.

Everyday I feel the spirit. While I pray, while I teach in Spanish, or while I'm reading the scriptures. All you have to do is invite the spirit and it will come.

Tell us about your health, skin issues, how you are feeling, etc.

My skin is fine. Something is always new, but whatever.

Tell Jake he’s a stud and that he needs to email me! He leaves on his mission when I hit the year mark on the same day!! 

I love being a missionary, and it gets better every day!!!

Oh a Parrot bit me 5 times this week. That was cool. His name was Pacho.

The pics are of:

Preaching on the Beach in Tela, preaching to Kevin Bacon 2.0, district picnic, and Conference! (the sunglasses belong to the kids)

Alma 42:22-23 (Justice)+

 22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

 23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

-no te rindas (don’t give up)

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Crazy Caterpillar 

Games of Chance / Honduran Dice

I love Berlin

Haz Lo Justo/Choose the Right

I dare say this has been one of the best weeks in my mission.

This is going to be just some brief thoughts and points for this week.

First off, I finished reading Our Search for Happiness by M. Russell Ballard.  Its really good and I recommend it to you if you are a non-member.  It explains what happens in the LDS religion and clarifies some grey areas.

We went on splits with “A” this week.  He is the ward mission leader and a real stud.

We contacted a ton this week... I mean a ton.  Citas (appointments) always fail, so we just go and contact a ton.  We also actually contacted a pastoras house on accident.  She was real nice though and gave us juice, and then talked to us for an hour and a half.

There was a freaking tarantula in our bathroom just chillin there.  That was a surprise for my comp for sure.

I sewed up my tennis shoes this week, they are ripping.  But they have lasted a long time.

Our District had a baptism this week.  She is 19 and has a really strong testimony of the restored gospel.

We laid a cement floor for service this week.  It took so so long, but it was super cool mixing the cement and then pouring it and smoothing it out.

My comp, Elder Vasquez

There is a circus in town, and they have lions. That was cool.

Our district organized a ward activity this week.  We gave a book of Mormon and pamphlets for lesson 1, 2, and 3.  If they were a member, they were to give it away to someone, and if they were an investigator, they were challenged to read it.  After, we played water-balloon volleyball and ate cake that we made.  It was super fun.

We had an investigator in church “E” is probably one of the coolest guys here in Progreso.  He loves reading the Book of Mormon and he knows it’s true.   And, he’s only been to church once!

It rained a ton this week.  I love the rain. Oh ya so here’s the more intense stuff...

A guy got shot on our block this week. He was riding his motorcycle, and he was gunned down.  At first we thought it was fireworks, but we looked outside and there he was, laying on the ground, motorcycle and all. The police came super quick and took him and his bike to the hospital, but it was intense. 

But then it was Palm Sunday!  And guess what happened... we got ROBBED. It’s actually really funny.  We were waiting outside a house of an investigator, when this goon rides up on a bike, super relaxed, parks his bike super tranquillo like, and walks up to us. We thought that he had a question or something, so we started to talk to him, when he grabbed my Comps bag, and tried to yank it off him.   At first E. Vasquez tried to resist, but then the guy put his hand on his side, suggesting that he had something, and that was it. The only things in the bag were a bible, pamphlets, and a pen.

Bien Hecho (well done)... This dude just robbed a bible from Missionaries, on Palm Sunday... The guys got problems.  It was all cool though.  The guy just got on his bike and rode away down the street.  At least he has a bible.

I love my new area, it’s so sweet. 

Berlin is gonna be sweet. Goonies never say die!

The pictures are of some local kids holding signs for Chelsea (#BecauseHelives I can live again) and a ton of food...finally! (Below)

I'm so excited for Will (Taylor)! Wow! thats awesome he's going to Texas and Spanish speaking! If you see him again, tell him congrats and take it easy. And a shoutout to Jake and Hank in B2.

The scrip of the week is inspired by my sister, who loves the Hobbit.

Alma 37:6-7

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

 7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Nutella!

I’m going to have a “Summer in Berlin”…

So this week has been sweet. I got transferred out of Zona MiraMar and into 

La Zona Progreso Norte, El Districto Berlin 2.

No more La Masica... I've spent 6 months+ change there. I was born in MiraMar and it will always be close to my heart. 

But my new area is super cool. For one, I finally have a church building in my area.  Super nice and the members are sooooo cool... We have been eating like 2 or 3 dinners every night!!! (I think Elder Smart means “week”?)

And my new comp Elder Vasques (DL) from Guatemala is super cool too. We are going to kill it. I finally got my mission card so I am good there too.

And I finished reading Our Heritage: A History of the Church. It was super cool and you should all read it. I really enjoyed it, because it gave me new insight in what the first members of the church were feeling and when they were going through hard times they could always rely on the Savior.

And Sam Hallman is going to be my neighbor in El Salvador so thats super cool (Sam is Andy’s cross country buddy and just got his mission call).

I'm sorry I don't have a lot to say this week. Not much happened except lessons. All day, every day. And that’s what is good in my life.

Here are a few scriptures for the week: 

Alma 17:8-9  and Alma 26 are about la obra missional (missionary work).

8 And thus they departed into the wilderness with their numbers which they had selected, to go up to the land of Nephi, to preach the word of God unto the Lamanites.

9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

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.

And 1 Nephi 19:23.

 23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

To mi familia,

I just want to say that I was thinking the other day and I thought to myself that I don't appreciate you guys enough. I feel I don't do my part in telling you that I love you and miss you guys every second of every day.

When I left, I was thinking to myself… Peace out SLC.. Later! I'm going on an adventure, but after being here preaching the gospel to the humblest people on the face of the earth, I found that they were happier than I was. It confused me for a great deal of time.

You don't have running water in your house. You are constantly harassed by Drug lords and ladrones (theives). You don't even have teeth, yet your smile shines brighter than mine. ¿Qué Pasa? What the heck…

Then it hit me. Families. They have everything that they could ever want. They get to hang out with their families every day. I teach them that they can be with them every day for the rest of eternity, and they shine even brighter.

I swear to you guys I'm not baggy. O sea (in other words) I'm not feeling home sick... because I am at home right now. With the Hondurans. But I cant wait for the day I can reach out and physically hug you once again.

Your letters are everything to me, even though I don't respond to every one. They are what keep me going after a week of ¨fasting¨ from my family.

I love you guys more than anything.

Les Amo Familia (I love you, family)

Elder Smart

The pictures are the last pic of the La Masica Entrance sign.

And then I cut the mane off…

Tribute to the Brazilian, Elder Oliveira.

And the Crocs I found in my new house, featuring the hammock...

(Post title is referencing a song by Alphaville called Summer in Berlin) 

Semana loca (crazy week)

My New Name Tag

So to start things off, we were at an appointment this week, and some Narcos had just been arrested for drug trafficking, and then there was a huge riot.  After that there was a TV news channel that was broadcasting the riot, and there was a telephone number that you could call and voice your opinion.  So we called in, and they answered.  We were literally talking on the phone, and listening to ourselves on the tv- at the same time.  There were about 400 people over there in the huge crowd, and we just said, sorry we don't care about narcos, but we know that Jesus loves everyone and that they are not lost yet.  Then we introduced ourselves and bore our testimonies and told them they needed to find the Elders in their area if they had any more questions about our message.  So that was super loco.  It was weird watching the peoples reactions on the TV while we were talking.  We laughed so dang hard after we hung up.

We then taught english class again, that was a blast.  We had investigators that came that were super pilas.

I went on Divisions with Elder Shepherd this week too. Two gringos.  That’s the first time since the CCM that I have taught with a non latino.  That was a trip.

Oh ya, hey, we went to San Pedro Sula this week with the West Mission to hear Elder Anderson (of the 12) speak. Sadly I didn't see Mitch Hess, but Elder Anderson was super cool.  We all got to shake his hand and everything!  He spoke on the atonement. It was pretty sweet I can’t lie.

The only thing was we had to wake up at 2 in the morning to get there by 10 to hear him so I was super tired.

After that I went on divisions with Elder Clouse, my Zone Leader for 2 days.  He is so cool, and is such a stud.  He is such a role model to me.  Dang.  I cant even explain it.

Oh ya I saw a baby sloth this week too. It was super awesome. 

Then there were baptisms...

We got a whole family in the water this week.

Here is a pic of them, and then a pic of the baptismal font. Better than the average tub.

Big News:

Oh ya i'll be changed out of La Masica this change (Wednesday)