29 August 2016

So I'm just loving it here with my new companion. We are definitely working our hardest and seeing the results. I wish I was able to explain well all that happens here. Trying to explain in a brief letter the miraculous events of just one week in the service of the Lord is an impossible task. We were blessed this week to find several new people to teach who I could see had been prepared. This week I could truly begin to see how the gospel helps people reach their potential. It cuts away sorrow and loss and replaces it with hope. It makes the future bright. It makes bad people good and good people better. There is no lost case and not one person who can't have a more full life through following the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Starting with ourselves. We had an amazing week and I hope the next to surpass the last. I love you all and hope for the best as always! 

Love,

Elder Smith

22 August 2016

So first off here I sent the pic of Emmauels baptism. Once again it was amazing. Last Saturday we had four baptisms in Peñasco. I was asked to help baptize a lady the sisters have been teaching. It was an awesome day. I'm so proud of the missionaries here, we are working like crazy and the Lord is helping us out so much.

Today we had transfers my new companion will get here tonight. He's awesome. I'll add a pic of him that I found in Nogales about a year ago. It's going to be an amazing transfer!

I'll write some more tomorrow when we come back to the server so my comp can write since he traveled all day today.

Love you all tons!!!

pics

baptisms

SUPER ZONA PEÑASCO

Elder Smith y Elder Rivero

Super pizza

the zone

You guys are so a cookie family haha. I dont know what they call them back home but the families here that are always there for you food and support wise we call mamas galleta. Cookie moms. It makes me really happy you guys are so awesome.

16 August 2016 - God Loves All His Children

We had the most wonderful of weeks. Emanuel was able to be baptized on Saturday and it may have been my favorite baptismal service yet. The Spirit was palpable. Everyone we hoped was able to make it:) my companion and i sang "I Like To Look For Rainbows" with guitar and it turned out super nice. Emanuel´s mom gave a great talk about faith. i loved how she talked about how the faith of her son was what was able to bring her back to the gospel, what helped her remember what she once knew. I'd add pics but I don't have my camera with me.. oops.. Next week I'll add it in. 

So I think the most memorable moment this week was Sunday evening while we were on splits with different members I went with Brother Morales to visit some less active families. The last visit we didn't find who we were looking for but we came across his son.  We had a long conversation about God. He is unable to believe in a God as we know him. Due to the evil and pain and unjust events in the world it becomes hard to believe in a Loving Heavenly Father and he's decided its better just to not believe and be a good person nonetheless. In life it's hard to see God's love at times. But I know without an inkling of doubt that God loves each and every one of his children. I feel that the plan of salvation, or plan of redemption, happiness, etc. should be known by one more name. The great plan of love. Understanding that God loves us so much he allows us to come to earth to gain bodies and experience is just a start. God sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and errors. Sadness, sickness, evil, everything! We just have to have faith and obey His laws and we have been promised that we can make it through everything and anything. The evil of today will be but a small moment. It doesn't stop there. God loves us so much that through Christ He has made it possible to live again even after death. We will all one day have perfect bodies without illness or pain. God doesn't stop there either. If we simply obey His command in this life He had promised us a place at His side for an eternity. When I think of it like that the sadness and evil of the world is insignificant no matter how big it seems. God loves all of His children and wants them all safely back with Him. He has prepared the way regardless of circumstance or person. He truly loves us. Let us not forget that. Ever.

I hope you all have the most amazing of weeks and take advantage of every moment to do good!

Love forever,

Elder Smith

Note from Elder Smith's Mom:  He received his travel plans and will be home on Oct. 4th!  11:30 pm is the scheduled landing time.  We are so excited!

8 August 2016

It feels like I just wrote yesterday, time flies like crazy here. Since Wednesday we've been rocking life. Emanuel decided to postpone his baptism one week since his oldest brother will then be in town so that will be fantastic! Now his mom is officially active again:) I'm super excited for this upcoming week. Tomorrow I travel to Sonoya for some exchanges it's an hour North of Peñasco. As a zone we have decided to make this week a week of legends. We want to crush it. All the vibes are top notch right now. 

This week was full of great moments. I really love a thing we've started doing here. At 5 pm Sunday a bunch of members meet up at the church and we all head out to visit as many people as we can until 9pm. We went and visited a less active family Hermano Martinez felt impressed to visit and we arrived at a really good moment. We were able to give words of comfort and guidance in the exact moment they needed it. That is one of the best feelings in life. I'll never forget one of the most important lessons my mother always teaches. That receiving and acting upon personal revelation is of utmost importance in this life. We can never let a good idea slip away. Responding to the whispers of the Spirit is how miracles are brought to pass. 

I'd love to attach tons of pics but I've been infected once again by a mad virus on the sd card so I'm trying to figure that out but I've attached some my comp has taken.

I love you all and hope you can take advantage of every moment this week and do lots of great things! Keep the vibes strong and remember the Lord is always there.

Love,

Elder Smith

8 August 2016

It feels like I just wrote yesterday, time flies like crazy here. Since Wednesday we've been rocking life. Emanuel decided to postpone his baptism one week since his oldest brother will then be in town so that will be fantastic! Now his mom is officially active again:) I'm super excited for this upcoming week. Tomorrow I travel to Sonoya for some exchanges it's an hour North of Peñasco. As a zone we have decided to make this week a week of legends. We want to crush it. All the vibes are top notch right now. 

This week was full of great moments. I really love a thing we've started doing here. At 5 pm Sunday a bunch of members meet up at the church and we all head out to visit as many people as we can until 9pm. We went and visited a less active family Hermano Martinez felt impressed to visit and we arrived at a really good moment. We were able to give words of comfort and guidance in the exact moment they needed it. That is one of the best feelings in life. I'll never forget one of the most important lessons my mother always teaches. That receiving and acting upon personal revelation is of utmost importance in this life. We can never let a good idea slip away. Responding to the whispers of the Spirit is how miracles are brought to pass. 

I'd love to attach tons of pics but I've been infected once again by a mad virus on the sd card so I'm trying to figure that out but I've attached some my comp has taken.

I love you all and hope you can take advantage of every moment this week and do lots of great things! Keep the vibes strong and remember the Lord is always there.

Love,

Elder Smith

4 August 2016

What an awesome week! I'm short on time but I'll try to express the most important parts. We had a really good week. as a zone we lead the mission goals that was really exciting. We've put some high goals and I'm excited to meet them. We should have a baptism this Saturday too! Emanuel is the son of a reactivated member. He is super excited about everything. He knows so much and is so ready. I just hope he can be a really good example for his older sister that doesn't really want anything to do with church or God etc. 

Monday we traveled all day to get to Hermosillo where we had a fantastic meeting with the mission president. I wish I could explain everything but there's just not time. Read and study Doctrine and Covenants 88:120-126 and send me your insights! I really liked a game plan that was presented at the meeting about miracles in our life, Especially in the mission. 

1. Believe you can- we have to believe we can do it and with faith we have to act

2. Look to the Savior- we can't do everything ourselves, the Lord will make up for what we can't do. He is the only way to truly succeed and reach potential.

3. Make the sacrifice- once again we have to put our part in, but more than minimum effort. We have to make a sacrifice of our time energy plans etc. #goodbetterbest

4. Wait for the miracle- wait and hope in Spanish have the same root so it could also say hope for the miracle. It may not be immediate but the Lord will help us in our just desires.

5. Receive the miracle with humility- we cannot "boast in our own strength" we have to be humble as we watch the Lord work wonders among us.

There's so much more I'd love to share but for now that'll have to suffice. 

God truly loves all of His children. He worries about his family, each and every one of us. He wants us to succeed. So how about we do exactly that. Let us be obedient and loving and we will see miracles. I love you all and hope for the best week of all!

Love,

Elder Smith

Pics of the zone Puerto Peñasco and the long ride to Hermosillo