ZL Round 2

Wellllllll... changes came and went... I got changed.... To La Zona Miramar...  Back to the Le Ceiba area again, but this time as Zone Leader. 

I was already in this zone for 6 months... I know everything about it.  We went to church yesterday and everyone was like, oh hey Elder Smart, I didn't know you were still in la Masica... are you on Divisions again??? and I was like... no that was like a year and 4 months ago... now this is my area. how ya been?

My comp is super sick (cool). He is Elder Navas from Costa Rica. and ya his cousin is the goalie for Real Madrid.  I guess that's cool...

But my area is soooo cool.  It's called las Colinas, and its literally just a ton of mountains.  But you can always see the ocean and a little bit of the island of Roatan from my area.  We're only like 5 blocks away from the ocean.

Also this means I can go back to La Masica on divisions... hehehe!

Oh ya but its been all work here so far.  We went to Jano... that's like forever and a half away.  We are helping like 3 couples get married, because of the new focus of the mission (which is get all recent converts to the temple in less than 3 months after their baptism).  But anyway, we went to Jano which is a whole bunch of nothing, but very beautiful.  We had to help an investigator that has been waiting for 3 years to get married, take out her papers.  But it's a lot more complicated than that.  Anyway we got in a car with her and an Area Seventy Elder Castro, that's in our ward and headed out.  We left La Ceiba at like 4:30 in the morning, and got to Jano at 12... we were there for like 2 hours getting all the paperwork, then lunch, then got back in the car.. we got back home ar 8:30 in the night.... The cars coolant fluid blew up, because there are no paved roads, and it's hot, just kick’n it out in the boonies, so we had to stop every 15 minutes and refill the thing with water so the car wouldn't overheat. AWESOME.

Another day we did service. Just shoveling buckets of clay to make a floor in the house of an member. Also Awesome.

Also SOY is this week so we were helping all the jovenes get all their stuff ready to go.

Oh the father of a recent convert was shot in the face 2 blocks away from our house. We were on our way to church when we passed by, and we just see the poor guy just laying there face down, with like 20 cops around him.  At least they put a blanket over him, but it was pretty hard to look at.

But My new ward here in La Ceiba is so great. They are all so awesome. I already love it.

PICS: my old zone and I

My Hawaiian boy Magalei. He played for Kahuku in Hawaii when they came up to play East.

D&C 132:5 

 5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Pictures of saying goodbye to a couple of families in Santa Rita.

Beach Day

Sent January 4th 

Well first of all, I've got to give a big thanks to the Daytons, Nelsons, the fam and the Osbornes for sending me a ton of cool stuff in my last package!!!!! I loved it.

This week was a trip. Again with all the machine-gun-fun of the new year, I really enjoyed it this year. We ate 4 dinners on the 31st.  I pretty much died.  But it was totally worth it.  We had to be indoors at 8 for ¨safety reasons¨ on new years, but it was a blast.  This is the year I'm coming home...

So the zone shirts turned out sweet, with the temple of Tegucigalpa Honduras on the front and all the flags from each country of our missionaries.  It is dope.

This week has been amazing, but this Wednesday is also changes, entonces we will see what happens. I've been ZL for a while now, we will see.

We also went to Tela today for out last p-day as a zone. It was sick. We played football american on the beach and then a water balloon fight to finish it up.

Straight killed it.

D&C 6:11

 11 And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysterieswhich are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

She can't be 16 already!

December 28th

Anna can’t be 16 already!  (Anna’s Birthday is the 28th)

Pues Christmas was awesome, nothing more than excellent.  Talking to the fam was by far the best thing ever!!

But on Monday I got jumped by the police, well sort of.  We were in the bus coming home from Progreso, when we heard sirens. They stopped the bus and made all the men get out. It was kind of annoying getting a machine-gun put in my face, but I got off. They then made us put our bags in a pile and then put our hands up on the side of the bus while they all came around, patted and checked us down, and asked us questions. It was cool.

After that, they went and checked all the women in the bus.  Apparently they were looking for guns and drugs, and thieves.  “Everything” according to them.

But we also had a great christmas activity in the park here in Santa Rita.  We showed Mormon messages on a projector and a bed sheet.

The news crew even came over and interviewed me and my comp. It was cool also.  The Mormon missionaries of Santa Rita on TV, lets go!   It was also really great because we gave out 36 Books of Mormon there.  Everyone enjoyed it, and were interested in the message.

He was born so that I could be born again, and be happy.

I cant upload pics the regular way because my camera is not working, so next week.

Super solid week though.

Mosiah 4:27

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Lets GO

Received December 21st 

NO snow... in Hondy

So I think the Christmas video for the mission is up on Youtube, go check it out.  My zone is up first in the video, its awesome, and Christmassy.  (last year Sister and Pres Klein sent out the video on Christmas day, we can not find this one yet).

We had a sweet Zone reunion this week. 

We are also making zone jerseys for this change. They are going to be sick.  With the temple of Tegucigalpa on the front. #Thelordsteam.

We also had divisiones in Morazan this week. It was pretty cool going up into the mountains and preach it up.

We also did service chopping in la Sarrosa out in the boonies. We chopped all morning, and then found some chicken out in the middle of nowhere. We drove out there and it took us like 30 mins, but the coolest part is we took a mototaxi out there and it broke down.   We killed it, and then revived it. 

Honduras is Beautiful. Beautiful.

Machete and me

Some fields are for harvesting, and some are for hacking

lunch break

District showing their best farmer /agriculture pose

The pics are of me and Pastel the “power-ranger” and then me and “baby-Bryant" in the mototaxi. 

Well I'm going to talk to the fam this week... dope!!

Feliz Navidad!

Joshua 1:9

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Lizard and Dutch waffle cookie ????

Christmas is spanglish... (more-Christ / Christ-mas)

Received December December 14th

Our Zone at the multi-zone Christmas Conference 

So this is the website for the doctors from AZ visionaries that we helped out the other week. The video is from last year, because the one from this year is still being made, but its pretty sweet, check it out.

http://www.azvisionaries.org/missions/video-gallery/

It's dope.

So this week was real good. I always say that, but it really was.

We had our Yearly Christmas multi zone conference. As the Zone leaders we capacitated (trained) and gave some talleres (workshops) on chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel. It was awesome because we also did a gift exchange, and ate a ton of good food, and ICE CREAM!! I haven't had ice cream in like a year!!! killer,  It was awesome.

We gave a ton of health blessings this week, like a ton.

Then we had a leaders meeting in La Paz with all the Zone leaders, bishops and stake presidents in our mission, and a member of the 70 came to give the capacitation, and talked on how we can work more effectively when we are working the missionaries and the members together.  It was really great.

Well that's my week.

Oh ya just a shoutout for the oldies that are celebrating their 26th anniversary today!

 Love ya guys mom and dad.  Keep it young.

Mosiah 16:9

 9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

Lets GO

Andy got his Christmas package, and opened it early!

Christmas gifts to his companion... early

Christmas gift and shout-out to favorite movie... early

????

Catatratas

I don't have any time to write this week so here it is.

Baptism interviews

Divisiones

Zone leader’s meeting

We also translated for some doctors from Arizona from 4 in the morning til 8 at night,

they were here taking out cataracts for free.  Its an intense surgery wow, lots of “juice”. They let us in to the operating room and showed us everything.  It was awesome.

Christmas devotional was really awesome.  Uchtdorf took the win this year.

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/christmas-devotional/2015/12?lang=eng&vid=4649217759001 

DC 6:33-34

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. 34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

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