Jesu Me Kanaka Wai Wai (Hawaiian song: “Let me Walk through Paradise with You, Lord”)

sent 11-30-15

Elder Smart’s address for those who want to send him a Christmas Card:

Elder Andrew J. Smart

Honduras San Pedro Sula East Mission

12 Calle, Avenida Circunvalacion, S. O.

Edif. Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, Oficina 4

San Pedro Sula, Cortes

Honduras

This week was pretty intense.

To start things off, I forgot it was Thanksgiving... completely blanked until Hermana Marcia our cook was like, Elder Smart, isn't it that one day in your country? And I was like, what? And she was like, ya that one day where everyone just eats a ton? And I was like Thanksgiving? O dang! Today is Thanksgiving? O my gosh... ya I forgot!

Honduran Thanksgiving?

Oh ya there were some more deaths this week, there was a massacre in Progreso  and San Pedro Sula also, I cant remember…

(Note: The massacre was of bus drivers who refused to pay the extortion fees to the gangs... or chose to pay one gang over another. They killed 7 bus drivers in Tegucigalpa and 8 in San Pedro Sula and some other cities).

Hey but we got to do service with the Hermanas (sisters) here in Santa Rita. We smashed walls for this guy who is rebuilding his  house. It was sweet, but we left completely covered in concrete. Awesome right?

Did a bunch of baptismal interviews this week. My missionaries are so awesome. They are working so hard this change.

We also had a Reunion de Zona, and talked about respect, reverence, animo (enthusiasm), and had some talleres (workshops) about contacting, the Book of Mormon, and the baptismal challenge.

Also had a Consejo de Barrio (District Council), where we planned for the next 5 years! That was intense...

We also made dinner last night with a less active guy named Denis and his familia. We made Pastelitos de pollo (chicken puffs?). #rico.

I got my (Halloween) package with the stickers in it.  I'm now known in Santa Rita by the kids as the sticker guy.

Hit it hard!

Alma 5:26-29

 26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

 28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

 29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

E. Smart and E. Montecinos- 100% Honduran!

MACIZO

Elder Smart
We asked Elder Smart what has changed and what hasn't changed for him over the past 15 months and this is what he wrote:

Things that have changed:
My love for the Savior
My love of the Book of Mormon
My love for my family
My desire to help
My appetite for Latin American food
My missionary tan-line
I speak Spanish
I now understand how dumb I was in high school
How to really talk to people
I will never drink Coke or Pepsi again after the mission
I don't care about myself or my appearance

Things that haven't changed:
Still miss lacrosse
80's music
Still scared of sharks
Still do dumb Andymac stuff

Alimento Estrea (something about food?)

sent 11-23-15

Changes were this week. Elder Coj left :( but its cool. I got subbed to Zone Leader 1. My new comp is Elder Montecinos from Bolívia. He's pretty cool. I’m training him as a new zone leader so I'm pretty much doing everything all by my self for a while. But its just another obstacle of the mish that I’ve got to hurdle. Let’s go! Gonna catch fire!

Also this week was stake conference for La Stake Progreso. It was super cool. Presidente Klein, temple Presidente Duarte from Tegucigalpa and a member of the 70 spoke. Awesome. Pure doctrine. My eyes were opened. The pics are of a recent convert and his chicken, and the other is of my comp and I with the Presidente Duarte and the 70. I honestly cant remember his name.

Another guy was killed on our street this week. He used to sell us lychee fruit.

I really have nothing else to say this week. I’m sorry folks. Just here in the good fight.

But hey East Football finally didn't choke after 4 years... good job!

1 Tesalonicenses 5:16-23

16 Rejoice evermore.

 17 Pray without ceasing.

 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 19 Quench not the Spirit.

 20 Despise not prophesyings.

 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

D&C 115:5

 5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Apertivo (Appetizer?)

Sent 11-16-15

Abuela R's Birthday

On Tuesday, my Abuela R (Grandma R) turned 73 this week, so we went to her house to celebrate, and eat pastel (cake) of course. Ït was great. Abuela R is the strongest member in Santa Rita, she visits more people than we do. She is the perfect example of a member missionary. I love her. Birthday fun.

We had a Zone reunion this week also, changes are this week on Friday, so we’ll see what comes our way here in the land of the lost.

Also cleaned the church this week, and had a blast. 

We also had a sweet tarde de hogar (Family Night) in the selba (jungle) on top of a mountain at a recent converts house. Brothershipping. Awesome.

Family Night

Only went on divisiones once this week, so it was a little more tranquilo (calm). Then on Sunday was the primary program. It was so crazy and so awesome. Kids running everywhere and doing stuff, but it was the best. Loved it.

Well thats my week in a coconut shell.

:::

If I had to be stranded on an island, I would take the Book of Mormon and the Harry Potter series with me.

Juan 11:25

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

I didn't get a package yet.

East is going to state?

Bombings in paris?

what?

Una vonga de bonano

Service project: demolition and painting

Week of intense goodness.

First we had the Zone Leaders meeting.  Awesome.  Planned stuff, talked about stuff, reported stuff,  ate stuff, good stuff.

While I was there I saw... Elder O!!!! My Brazilian comp from La Masica!!! Que macizo. He is the ZL in Olanchito, but he finishes his mission in like 2 weeks... and it was so sweet catching up with him. He told me some pretty amazing stuff.

Elder Smart and Elder O

For example, one of my converts (R) from la Masica, completed a year as a member and has just submitted her mission papers to be able to be a missionary as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the coolest thing ever. Hermana R is going to be a MISSIONARY! 

Hermana R's baptism last year

Then we had interviews with Presidente Klein!  We got to chill with Big Pres all day.  That means that we didn't get to be in our area, but we interviewed and reviewed the area book of every missionary in our zone... It took all day... But it was awesome.

The next day we did some chopping like every week.  I’m getting good. Then we went on divisions again.

But then! We had our zone service activity. Every Christmas the mission makes a movie about being Christ-like and doing service, with pics and video clips of all the zones doing cool stuff and serving. What we did was we went to  a local school and painted doors, windows and walls, then did some gardening, then broke up some concrete floor so that they can pour a new floor. It was all great stuff. We'll see how the video turns out.

Tearing up a cement floor

Paint on the name tag... looks like Star Wars opening credits

Then the best part. Baptisms.

We baptized Hermana Y (next to Elder Coj). She is the wife of one of the men who were murdered in the past few weeks.  They were going to get married, so that they could be baptized but couldn't take out the last paper to make it final, but then the gangs killed the husband. Hermana Y has been through a ton, and was more than ready to be baptized so that she could fulfill a part of the plan that God has for us.  She misses her husband but knows now that she can do his work for him on this earth through the temple. It was awesome. The other lady we baptized was taught by the Hermanas (sister missionaries). She was baptised as well. The other lady with red hair with the kids is the mom of W, the returned missionary that was killed the same night.  She and Hermana Y always spend time together because of their losses and because they are neighbors.

Week of blessing.

Romans 15:4

4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Halloween miracles compa

Sent November 2, 2015
* We are sending Elder Smart's Christmas package this week. If anyone would like to send him a note or card, please let us know so we can include it. 

Elder Coj and Elder Smart

This week, just like every week in the life of a ZL, was full of Divisiones, and more divisiones. So there's that.

We also did some Service though.  We moved the floor.  Literally the concrete tablets that you make the floor of houses with here.  They weigh a gung load, but it was super fun at the same time because the hermana put on 80s music.  AWESOME! That made the pain bearable. No, but it was really fun.

Then we did Divisiones again, but this time was different... what happened was Birthday party madness.  We went and visited a hermana that has a baptismal date, but she wasn't there, so we visited the family next to her house because there was another murder this week and he was the son of the family.  But as we were leaving, we walked past a birthday party (minion theme) and all of a sudden a huge lady runs out of the crowd there and start screaming "Elderes Elderes I need you to pray for my son.  He is turning 15 and I want that you give him a birthday prayer."  So heck ya we went and prayed for him in front of like 60 kids. lol.  We even blessed the cake for them.  It was weird though, we were like HEY! We're going to pray, everyone shut up, and every one got all quiet and then listened.  We ended the prayer and everyone said “Amen", and then started to cheer and applaud... it was super funny. But hey they gave us super good food and cake after that!

Ok. Now for the best part of the week!

The Ward Party and baptisms. QUE MACIZO. The ward Party (that we planned) was pretty sweet. We just had a ton of games and candy and piñatas and EFY music blasting. It was super cool.

Oh ya We also baptized Y and E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I seriously felt like I was on a spiritual high, because it was the happiest I have ever felt in my mission.  I seriously cant explain it.  We have been working with these ladies for so long, and they were so ready to be baptized. Oh man.  Not trying to brag on them, but they are like better members than the members in the ward, they are so pilas.  Just spiritual giants. 

Oh it was so awesome. 

Dang I love this stuff!

D&C 82:10

 10- I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

-- 

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Answers to questions: I hang my toothbrush and toothpaste from the ceiling so the ants don't eat them.

Ordeñar

Sent October 26, 2015

This week we had divisions with the assistentes. That was a baja blast.  Working in a trio isn't my favorite thing, but it really makes you stay on your toes.  Elder Hodson is the new assistant and he puts the f in effort. He’s great.

We contacted de meido this week.  Since we are never really in our area because of divisiones activities and meetings, our area falls into disrepair pretty fast.

What we've been working on is setting up a date for baptisms, to see if just inviting people to baptism (not challenging) will get them thinking.  Just ask them and don't care if they say no, because heck, what if they do say no? At least you will know where they stand, and also now you have a starting point.  That’s pretty much all we do now. Even in contacts. We’re not concerned about the answer, we only care about them.

New Companion?

We had our mission Correlacion this week and planned the Activity for the ward that we are going to have on the 31st... Halloween ya. It’s going to be great.  But it’s not going to be Halloween themed.  Lame.  It’s just, everybody believes in witchcraft around here and what not, so if they see that the mormons are throwing a Halloween party they are going to think that we are making human sacrifices and becoming blood-brothers in the chapel. Ya were going to avoid that appearance of apostasy... Its just a ward activity with games and food.  It’s going to be dope.

We also did service this week moving huge cinderblocks with wheelbarrows from the church cancha (field) a couple blocks away. 

Still catching lizards

Well we´ll see what this week throws us!

Juke Box Hero

James 4:7-8

 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

-- 

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Another Bucket Shower

Posted October 19th 

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

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

Elder Smart and Elder Measles

Elder Smart and Elder Reese

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

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

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

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

This week will be great, just you wait.

D&C 84:100-102

 101 

The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength;

And truth is established in her bowels;

And the heavens have smiled upon her;

And she is clothed with the glory of her God;

For he stands in the midst of his people.

 102 

Glory, and honor, and power, and might,

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

Justice, grace and truth, and peace,

Forever and ever, Amen.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Zone activity last week

Jellyfish

Mugging for the camera...

Elder Smart and Elder Patterson

COCO

Sent October 12th 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner... everyday

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

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

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

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

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

Progreso Sur- Our Zone

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

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

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

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

Alma 26:12

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

Its better to wobble than to wander

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

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

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

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

Surf's Up

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

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

This week was also full of divisions with the zone. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Nephi 31:21

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

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

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

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Mototaxi Mania

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

Another lost sole 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More lost souls?

This week has been good.

Ether 12:4

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

Con Amor+

Elder Smart

Honduran back yard with "lawn"