Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Sent: 3/7/16

This week was fulllll.

First we had the Zone Leadership meeting in La Paz, which is super far away, we just talked about the multi-zone conference that we were going to have and all the good stuff going on in the mission. It was good.

Then later in the week, we had to go rent tables for the multi-zone conference. All the missionaries from La Ceiba, Miramar, and Olanchito were going to be there, and there wasn't enough tables in the stake center for all of them, so we rented 16 extras.

Then we had the multi-zone. It was pretty sweet.  Me and my comp had a workshop on revelation through church attendance. It went well.

My comp also fulfilled one year in the mission, so we did the necessary activities.

Oh ya, my shoes are wrecked, so i sewed em up a little.

Well a lot went down this week, and it was a good one.

 3 Nephi 29:6

 6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

#Halleluja mate

-- 

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Leap Year

February 29th

To be honest. Not a lot happened this week.  I got sick after eating platano pancakes on Tuesday, and was straight out barfing until Wednesday in the afternoon. When I stopped, we hit the hills.

We also came into contact with a guy from Colombia. Super cool guy. But we were teaching him about the Book of Mormon, when all of a sudden, like 20 mins into the lesson he's like... Ya know how I said that I was going to church in Guatemala? Well the elders baptized me there, so I'm already a member... jajaja the guy is already a member, and then he said, ya I just wanted to know where the church was so I could start going again... jaja ok we said, well do you still remember what the book of mormon is? No. Ok well, let’s continue... then we kept teaching the lesson on the BOM then told him where the chapel was. Este tipo.

My new Honduras ID,  after 18 months

We also gave a blessing to a sister in the ward that needed a serious knee surgery.  

She was super nervous.  She was going to go get the final checkup before the surgery, so we gave her the blessing.  At church she comes up to us all excited and jumping around, which doesn't really happen when you have a bad knee, so we were a little confused. Then she told us that she went into the checkup, and the doctors told her that for some reason, she doesn't need surgery anymore, just a ton of physical rehabilitation, and some weird shots and stuff, but no surgery!!   Way cool.

Other than that it rained tropical tears of fury again for like 3 days... floods of blessings.

stay dry my friends

Ether 12:37

 37 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

☮ 

MACIZO

Elder Smart

This One’s For Ferris

February 22nd

Old Comp saying goodbye

New Comp ready to go

So there were Cambios this past week and Elder Navas, my comp, got changed. So I'm here in Las Colinas still. My new comp is Elder Monroy from Guatemala. I knew him in Berlin. He's super chill like a panda, looks like one too :-), but he doesn't even have a year in the mission, so I'm helping him a little with the ZL stuff, he's super pilas.  He's going to be great.

My new companion taking on the mountains we climb every day 

But holy cow, changes were insane.  Like half my zone had changes, so there were like 14 elders in my house the night before, sleeping over, because our house is the closest to the bus station.  That was insanity.   All night insanity.

Our cook's daughter's Birthday was this week and I got her pretty good with an egg.  There is a video thats pretty golden jajajaja. It’s great, she was so ticked off.  It’s a Honduran tradition to throw eggs at people when it’s their birthday.

Cleaning up after a little fun

Then yesterday we did Service in a school by our house.  Since it rained so much, the field area became like a permanent swamp, so we went over there and hauled buckets of sand and rocks to fill the swamped areas.  It was great.

There is a Multi-zone conference this next week, so thats going to be great as well.

Happy 30th Ferris Bueller!

D&C 122:7

 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Week of miracles and electric saws

Sent February 15th 

What does it mean!?

Its been raining for a week straight non stop. #Tropicaltears.

We have rats in our house, well better said they are in my suitcase...

We did have some baptisms this week!!!!!! We baptized G, E, and E. They are siblings and they are awesome. The missionaries have been visiting them for some time. Their parents are members, but their dad was shot and killed a really long time ago, and their mom has been inactive for years. We were working really hard on reactivating M, the mom, and helping them make a covenant with God.  They always go to church now, always.  They just were struggling with family life and their mom. They are all such great people and I love them.

We woke up a few days ago and something had happened to the padlock on our front door.   The barred metal door outside of the wood door.  Bottom line is that it was jacked and we couldn't get out... now this was right before the baptism.  Well we just jumped the 5 foot barbed-wire fence in the back yard instead. That was fun, but then we got to the chapel and because of the gallons it was dumping out-side, there was no water to fill up the pila baptismal (heavy rains can wash out the clean(er) water system) So we had to go to the stake center to do the baptisms.  Dang Satan fights until the very end doesn't he!

Well they were baptized, and it was amazing!

Then we went and borrowed an electric disc saw and spent the next 30 mins sawing off the lock on our front door… Sketch. 

People kept walking by and we had to keep saying ¨no no no... were not really braking in here.  We actually live here! hehe... hehe. ok bye¨

It was great.

Solid week.

1 Corinthians 8:6

 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him 

MACIZO

Elder Smart

What you would seem to be, be really.

Sent February 8th

This week we divorced a couple that aren't living together anymore so that they can get married to the people they are living with, and then get baptized.  That was quite a hassle, but it was worth it. They always come to church, are pretty much members, and just cant get baptized because they aren't worthy...  

We also did divisiones with the APs (assistants to the President) in San Pedro Sula this week. It was pretty fun.

I saw my convert Reyna, from La Masica in a stake leadership meeting we had here in La Ceiba. She is doing great!  She is still waiting on her mission call. Bummer it hasn’t come yet. In this part of Honduras it takes a really long time to receive it.

Oh also at the beginning of the week we went to Pico Bonito, with all the Zone leaders and Presidente, and Hermana Klein. It was sweet.  A ton of cool Waterfalls, and a great hike.

Great week overall.

D&C 11:7

7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Hondy

DOPE:

Sent February 1st

I got this in the email this morning: 

Multiple sources report: On January 27, 2016, a high ranking gang member of the Mara 18, under the guard of the Honduran National Police (HNP), was assassinated by six to eight armed rival gang members  while receiving treatment at the La Granja Medical Center.  A member of the HNP was also killed in this highly coordinated attack.  Whenever a high ranking gang member is murdered, there is always the possibility that the targeted gang will initiate reprisal killings against the assailants.  U.S. citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution and to avoid all gang controlled areas of Honduras, especially in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

This week nothing really cool happened... just the usual

Well, my comp got topsoplasmosis or something like that.  I’m not sure how it is in english, but bottom line is that he has infection in his eye from a microbe or something that is caused by eating something contaminated (probably cat poop).  So he can't see anything at all in his right eye. We went to the hospital, and the freaking analysis costed like 700 limps!  Just the diagnosis!   And then we had to do a blood test, then buy meds. uggh. Straight complicated... 

We did have an awesome experience though. We were in a lesson with 2 of our investigators, and we were explaining the holy ghost to them.  They always go to church, always. They have a date for baptism, but we were like halfway through the lesson and their brother walks in.  He tells us, hey what’s up.  Look, i got to tell you guys something... and we were like, oh great,  he's going to say he doesn't want them to do anything- dang it.  But he was like look, elders, “I want to be baptized”.  I got to do this!  Boom thats right, coolest thing ever.  We took care of that request. cheque.

Also, we almost have the marriage papers for “C” and “I” to get married and then baptized!!  I think we are going to get things finalized this week.

My area is pure mountain. But its kinda weird because instead of dirt on the ground, its clay.

I eat more seafood in this area because were like 30 seconds away from the ocean.  And i still eat like 4 guineo (green bananas) like every day….

Mormon 5:23

 23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

That's great

Sent January 24th

Well this week was one of those full-7-dayers.

We started off with a good old Zone meeting to explain to the zone the new Mission Vision for 2016, and to put it into practice.

Then, it was the Worldwide Missionary machete, i mean Conference… Re-teaching us the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was really good.  I really, really enjoyed it.  Especially the part by Elder Bednar on the Holy Ghost.

The next day we had Interviews for the zone with Papi Klein.  Amazing!

The next day we went all the way to San Pedro, like 5 hours in bus, to take out my Honduran Residency. I’m finally going to be catracho!  Lets go.

However the weeks best story goes like this.

So our ward went to the temple this week.  There is an old lady from our ward that was going to go, but she was having doubts.  She wanted to look really special for the big temple day, so she decided to do something about it.  She had never had her ears pierced, and thought maybe now was the time… and this is where Elder Smart and Elder Navas come in.  We are always up to help someone in need, service and what not, so we decided to take action.  We went to the pulperia and bought some rubbing alcohol, and a pin, and we helped pierced grandmas ears. (With the needle first, then with some real earnings.)  JAJAJAJA it was so funny.  She was so happy after, she just kept thanking and thanking us, and saying that we were definitely the only ones capable of accomplishing such a task.  Could you say that we were magnifying our calling?!?

Everything turned out ok in the end.  We are the talk of the ward, but she was really happy, so that all that really matters.

Then today we woke up and went to play Basketball Beachside. It was chill.

Micky-Ds catracho style

BEACH

Job 21:3 

 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on

MACIZO

Elder Smart

Let's Dance (Bowie Reference)

Sent January 17th

Well it looks like were going to have to do some temple work for David Bowie and Alan Rickman, because they are chillin in spirit world right now... But they’re not really dead, i mean, their bodies are, but not their 80s popin, Hogwarts teacher, rockin legend spirits. 

Well this week was pretty good. My area is sweet-sauce.

Finally i have a house with running water!!!!!! 

It was hard to say goodbye to Hermana M’s family when i left Santa Rita, but now i get a second chance to see my converts from my first area!

I do miss Aju and Pastel tons.

This week we had the zone leaders meeting, back all the way in la Lima... like a 4 hour bus ride from la Ceiba, But its all cool, we went with E. Tobler and E. Moreno, so it was chill.

The rest of the week was just full of lessons and the usual missionary stuff. 

We are working a ton with people who need to get married. It is like the hardest thing to do in this country.  But we have like 4 couples who always go to church, but can’t get baptized because they are not married. That’s the focus we have here.  ETERNAL FAMILIES. 

Alma 29: 1-2

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

D&C 50:24

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.Take the bull by the horns this week

MACIZO+

Elder Smart

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