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"

Semana de consejo (Council Week)

This has been a 7 day week.

We had our Zone reunion this week.  Pure. It went well, but now we are planning a multi-zone conference for this week, so we'll get all that good stuff this week.

This week has been nonstop parades... all week... I thought that Independence Day was only one day, but nope.  It lasts 7!

We did divisions with the Assistants to the presidents this week also.  MACIZO (solid).

We have been contacting a ton lately.   We make it fun. Really fun.  Straight forward.  All that the people need to hear is the truth.  Just say it.  Super dry and direct.  If they wanted life easy and sugar coated, they wouldn’t be down here with a body right now.  But we are all here, here in this life making hard decisions.

We also did a super contact in La Sarosa this week.  I feel weird working outside of my area.  Asking people if different missionaries can come by later... I just don't dig it, I wanna come back later.  Eh, its all good.

Santa Rita 2 Hermanas had a baptism this week.  Her name is E.P.  Super sweet she is. I baptized her.  Her mom is supposed to follow this next week.

We also had a super cool Noche de Hogar (fireside) yesterday up on top of one of the mountains here.  Super great message about the Sabbath day.

All the old ladies made the climb also and it was super fun helping them down the mountain again. hahaha.

Well well see if I survive another week here in ¨Santa Rita, por las Aguas Termales¨ (Santa Rita by the Hot Springs),

Be your own agent

DE MEIDO

Salmos 22:26-28 (Psalms)

 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

Questions from mom:

What are you eating, who is cooking?: The mom of the little girl Aju is our cook. She takes really good care of us. Although we did make french toast for some of our investigators!

Is this area safer than Berlin?  Yes Santa Rita is a little bit safer that Berlin. There are still muggings, murder, drogas (drugs) and mayhem, but a little less. A lot more drugs with all the mototaxis.
Are you exercising? We haven't been doing anything for exercise. Just P days in Progresso playing in the gym. But this week we found a gym.

What are you thankful for this week? I'm thankful for the opportunity to testify of my brother Jesus Christ every day.

No hay atajos (no shortcuts)

Elder Smart

Santa Rita

So this week has been pure intensity.

We are traveling a ton.  We always have to go do something, always.  Plan something, interview someone, check houses, divisions, everything.  We are always in the freaking bus, or in a mototaxi...

The view from a mototaxi 

There are about 30 missionaries in our zone, so that’s a lot of missionaries to take care of.

Some guys came by and cut the power cords to our house last week, so that was really horrible for a while.  But it’s all good (answering a question about a statement made last week about not having electricity)

Independence Day is tomorrow (Independence from Spain, along with the other Central American Countries in 1821), so everyone is going nuts.  There were parades and parties today, and it’s supposed to be 100% crazier tomorrow (the 15) But it was super cool seeing all the culture.  Beautiful.

Oh also we had the Mini CCM (MTC) this week and it turned out awesome.  There are some kids that are more pilas than we are.  Incredible to see the super strong testimonies of the youth here. Amazing.

 

President Klein teaching the "new" missionaries 

Two soon-to-be Elders

We had a BAPTISM also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hermana M is her name and she is awesome.  We found here super-fast, and the second time we went back to her house she had started to memorize her favorite parts of the book of Mormon... awesome. 

We also had a ZL meeting in La Paz. Mazico.  Super cool.  I got a bunch of new ideas.

Aju turned 2 today so we bought her a piñata.  She is so cool.  I’m definitely her #1 fan.

Jeramías 23: 29

 29:  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Pickle the Beast

Elder Smart

ZL in Santa Rita

(9-7-15)

Honduran Ladies Lacrosse Team, 2025

So this week has been one for the books.  I got changed out of being District Leader in Berlin in Zone Progreso Norte, and now I'm Zone Leader in Progreso Sur.  My area is called Santa Rita, and it is the best. I love it.  My comps name is Elder C.  He’s from Guatemala, and knows some weird Guatemalan dialects. Its super cool. But he is a straight stud. I love the kid.  He’s got like 18 months on the mish.  He is literally the latino version of me, and he’s the bomb in a little chapín (Guatemalan) body.

Me and Elder C

Leaving Berlín gave me mixed feelings. First of all I was there for like 6 months, so it was time for a change. But I realized that I had been with some really amazing people, helped, and seen them change. That was really cool.

Oh that’s the other freaky thing. Mamá Enaida (our cook in Berlín) the day after I left, in the night, woke up to a knife to her throat.  Someone had broken into her house in the night and well there he was.  Thankfully she is fine. Super shaken up and scared but unharmed. Prayers.

Also a prayer call for a missionary who fell off a 65 foot cliff and from what I heard, smashed one side of his face, broke his spine in 2 places and also his hip.  He is lucky to be alive thanks to the brave and amazing missionaries who were with him.

There is so much to do as a Zone Leader.  Planning activities and maintaining jovenes (youth) in the murder capitol is quite a chore. That’s why we have Jesus.

Hey but a cool activity that we are planning is the Mini CCM.  All the Jovenes of the stakes are going to arrive in missionary clothing and scriptures and stuff like that for a day, and we are all going to act as their CCM (MTC) teachers.  Its going to be an all day long type of thing...

It will be great.

Ohh ya another notice... I’m back to Pila bucket showers, due to my “hut” of a house not having running water or electricity.

I am seriously loving every moment of my mission and just hope that you are all well also.

2 Nephi 9:26

 26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

My Beloved abuela (grandmother) Hermana Morlen

Tame the Tiger

No te rindas

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

The wall must come down (Leaving Berlin)

(8-31-15)

So this week has been exactly 7 days long.  Sounds like I'm still sane.

I’m almost positive I’ll be changed out of Berlín, but I wont know until the day before.  So there’s that.

I held my district meeting and taught how to preach repentance using power and authority through the holy ghost.  T’was good.

I’m not sure if the gangsters or the police are more dangerous here... some gangsters kill some people, and then the police come and start killing more people.  I just don't know.  It’s getting old.

I have felt so so so tired these past few weeks.   I just get into the house at night, and I'm beat. Straight burnt.

Oh cool experience of the week.   The Zone Leaders called us at 7 pm and told us we needed to come and do an emergency baptism interview... If it’s dark outside, you get shot or mugged, so this was an act of faith.  We went and did the interview, and it was the coolest interview I've ever done. Hermana Filomena is her name.  I’ve known her for a while now, going back and forth from El Centro all the time. She is the sweetest lady I have ever met in my entire life. She is super old. She’s like 78 or something, and she is more pilas (charged up) than the obispo (bishop).  She seriously has a testimony of steel.  

That was super cool to be a part of her years and years of searching for the truth.

One last pic before we split

¨I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken¨

-part of  2 Nephi 9:40

Luke 12: 31-32

 31 ¶But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Baleadas y la playa (tortillas and the beach)…nothing better.

Tengan un testimonio de acero (have a testimony of steel)

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

New member of the neigh-borhood

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