Tramites in the Big City

Wahoo! I finally got to go to THE down town Buenos Aires (Retiro). It was incredible. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera. Mrh. Maybe next time. 

Tramites

Since I am a gringo from the US, I have to do tramites to legally be in Argentina for 2 years. From my experience, I think tramites translates into some combination of paperwork, the government, and a lot of patience. We spent almost all day in the foreign embassy building getting my tramites done. (it would have taken longer but we get a lot of help from Elder Stafford who works in the mission office. I believe he is Sis. Tingey's nephew) 

My favorite part of that trip was the Retiro train station. It is a HUGE station that was just remodeled. The whole building is designed to look like old European architecture. It has stone statues, giant pillars, and a bunch of arches. It also has a Starbucks to remind you that you are in the 21st century. I didn't get any pictures but it is worth looking up. 

I also got to meet up with my gringo friends from the CCM. Elder Byers, Kane, Bellus and Drummond were there doing their tramites as well. We had a good time discussing what it's like to be missionaries.

Javier and Damiana

We found them two weeks ago knocking doors in the street. Our first contact with them included sharing the Book of Mormon and fending off one of their drunk neighbors. We didn't think they would want anything. However, we were wrong. When we came back, we had a very meaningful lesson about what Jesus Christ can do for families. Damiana expressed how much she wanted to help her children. Two of them have died in the past year. The other, her 30 year old son, was drunk outside during the lesson and has a habit of being so  (I'm sure Damiana and Javier feel responsible for this habit). Javier and Damiana were drunks and druggies themselves. Up until two weeks ago when we found them, they regularly drank and did cocaine. 

We have been able to help Damiana and Javier have hope in their lives again. Knowing of God's plan of happiness has shown Damiana how she can be with her children again. Repenting and accepting the atoning power of Jesus Christ has brought light into Javier's live. For the past fourteen days, they have both been free from the addicting power of drugs and alcohol. 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World because I witness His power in the lives of individual people. 

Food

My Chilean friend, Elder Tapia, introduced me to my new favorite snack, avocado and tuna. If you mash up avocado and eat it with tuna, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and bread it's really good. It's best with a kind of bread that we have here but I don't think it exists in the states and I can't find out what it's called. The closed thing I've got for a name is "pan de la Panadería" which just means bread from the bakery. 

We ate a Bolivian soup called sopa de maní with the bishop last Sunday. Does peanut bisque exist? If so, then that's what it is. 

I love you guys! Espero que todo esté bien en los Estados. 

Les quiero

Elder Smith

 The raw clam from last Monday

 Spoils from 11 (Once)

Villa Ballester from our rooftop this morning. 

I forgot to tell you about Once. Once is a shopping district in a different part of B. Aires. We went there to find out that all the street vendors had been kicked out. That was a little disappointing. But, Once is still has a ton of stores and sell stuff for really cheep. I got a Bolivian backpack, a River soccer jersey, a handmade mate cup, a Peruvian sweater, and some other little stuff. The sweater is made of the same fur that Dad's hats are made of. 

Pegar-Getting Smacked

Getting smacked

As stated in previous emails, the area I serving in right now can be a little rough. We teach a lot in the villa, the equivalent of the ghetto in the U.S. This Tuesday Elder Ryan and I were walking back from a lesson, minding our own business when a skinny chorro decided to try and rob us. It was the middle of the day so we saw him coming from a mile away (possibly a literal statement. Buenos Aires is so flat you can see forever down the street. Only the smoking garbage piles prevent you from seeing to Paraguay). When the chorro got to us, Elder Ryan was using the phone. The chorro attempted to swipe the phone but was rejected by Elder Ryan's meter long arm. Instead of persisting after the phone, the chorro turned to me and gave me a good whack on the head.

That was it. Just one hit and then he left. (Pegar = to hit) 

The hit didn't hurt that bad and we had a really successful day with our current investigators. I am happy. 

Peruvian Food

One of the greatest advantages of living in the biggest city in South America is that you get to interact with people from everywhere. Everywhere. 

This week was very Peruvian. We ate chaufa and cerviche. The cerviche is a bunch of chopped up fish that they "cook" with lemon juice. No stove. No oven. Just lemon juice. Apparently, it kills all the bacteria in the meet. My stomach will tell me if they were telling the truth tonight. 

I love you guys! I promise to write about that people we're teaching next week!

Love, 

Elder Smith

1. Action shot as we cross the bridge into our area (this area stinks)

2. Elder Ryan y yo

3. yo, Ivan, Ruben, Elder Ryan

4. Cool building from our PDay trip to Capitál

5. me taking my first trip in the subway

Espere- God will keep His promises

Hola, hola! Once again, I write from a sunny, really humid Buenos Aires.

Esperar

I´ve been reading in the book of Second Nephi this week. Here, the ancient prophet Nephi quotes the more ancient prophet Isaiah and rejoices in how simple his words are to those that are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Apparently, I´m not filled with the Holy Spirit because the words of Isaiah aren´t clear to me. Thanks, Nephi. However, I continue to read, ponder, pray, and ask God to help me understand what in the world Isaiah is saying. Read. Think. Read. Think harder. Ponder? Exhale. Ah, Isaiah. Why is this the pattern of our relationship?

Despite the many things I didn´t understand, I did get this one tidbit of understanding from Isaiah: the Lord is fighting for me. This message is repeated many many many times. Among the reassuring promises of the Lord are "I will contend with them that contendeth with thee" and "thy walls are continually before me...I will save thy children" (2 Ne 6:17; 1 Ne 21:16, 25) 

It also says in a song that Elder Ryan (my companion) has probably heard me sing more times than he wants to that:

A mighty fortress is our God 

A trusty shield and weapon

and for us fights the valiant one

whom God to us has given...

- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

I know that God is fighting for me. He´s fighting for us because we are his family. 

If it hard to see that in your life right now, espere. Esperar means two things in Spanish. Wait and hope. As you both, you will start to see God in your life because God always keeps His word. (Isaiah 26:8-9 we learn what waiting on the Lord should look like. Feel free to look it up:)

Ruben and Elsa

Ruben, my 50 year old, Argentine friend, is a stud. He´s got long, curly black hair, loves ACDC, and loves God. His wife, Elsa, is equally cool in a more motherly, less tough guy sort of way. Elsa has been a member of the church for over 30 years. She and Ruben were introduced to each other through some common friends after which the two of them quickly became a pareja (couple). 

One different thing about the culture here in Argentina is that marriage is rare. Extremely rare. The husband and wife relationship exists as a long-term commitment but the official aspect of marriage is almost non-existent.(This is an important thing to be aware of as a missionary because people must be married to be baptized if they are living together.)

This was Ruben and Elsa. They have been together for more than 10 years. About 4 years ago, Ruben started to be interested in the religion of Elsa. He visited the LDS temple in Buenos Aires and a little while later started being taught by the missionaries.

Fast forward through ten months of missionary lessons, tons of paperwork, and sandwiches de milanesa and you get to this Thursday --- Ruben and Elsa´s wedding! After being taught that marriage was a commandment from God and all of the blessings that come from it, Ruben and Elsa set out to get married. They had many many complications with the government due to their previous marriages but they did it. And I got to throw rice. 

Jump to Friday and you´re at Ruben´s baptism! (pictures to come. The computer I´m on won´t let me access my photos)

Ruben´s story is much more complicated and much more interesting than I can fit into one email but know that he is a miracle. He has experienced the forgiveness of God. Above all other things that I do here in Argentina, the most important is this - to bring the forgiving power of Christ to my brothers and sisters. 

Soccer

Boca and River, the two biggest rivals in Argentina, played each other yesterday. As we were walking in the street, we heard a sudden explosion of cheers and fireworks coming from... well, I think they were coming from everywhere. We didn´t even have to ask to know that someone had scored a goal. I love South America.

I love you guys! If you see my mom this week, give her a big hug for me!

Love,

Elder Smith

Don´t rob -- pionista y los hombres jóvenes

Hola!

We ended this week really wet! At about 12pm on Sunday we were hit by a surprise rain storm without our jackets or umbrellas (which are cleverly named paraguas or for-water in Spanish). Hermana Maza, the self appointed Missionary Mother in our ward, blessed us with big plastic bags for our walk home.

Candela

My clothes were wet on Saturday for a different reason....bautizmo!

Candela was baptized Saturday and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. Candela is my favorite. We started teaching her four weeks ago and, with a ton of help from Ruben and Elsa, Candela accepted the gospel and the first saving ordinance. She is a quite, 12 year old girl that reminds me a lot of my younger sister Sadie. Candela loves to read and is really smart. 

Pionista = pianist

Yes, I got a new calling. For the next month or so I am the ward pianist here in Jose Leon Suarez. The nintey-something year old lady that played the piano in our congregation broke her arm and I am the next most experienced piano player here. Uoh. If any of you have moms that tell you to practice the piano, this is why. Isaac Teeples, I´m talking to you, haha. (Also Isaac, the drums are still better.)

Robbery

Right after Candela´s baptismal service, we heard a bunch of yelling and banging around outside. We ran out to see two guys getting run off by our young men´s group. 

Apparently, these two chorros (punks) had tried to rob a lady on the street right outside of the church. The hombres jóvenes (young men) were playing soccer in the church court yard and saw the chorros jump the lady. Without a second´s hesitation, the young men quit playing soccer and ran to help the lady. Well, the lady was helped and the chorros were served some brotherly love. 

I won´t divulge any details but I will strongly discourage robbing people when our young men´s group is around. The Good Samaratin Law is very flexible here.  

(no commandments were broken in this experience)

Two More Thoughts

1. A quote that made me laugh:

"Mi esposo no es tan lindo pero es muy bueno." -said over the pulpit but a cute old member of our ward

2. A quote that helps me keep going:

Oh Father give me the strength

to be everything I´m called to be

So Father show me the way

to lead them

won´t you lead me?

-Sanctus Real, "Lead Me"

I love you guys! 

Elder Smith

 3. yo

 2. Candela y yo

1: the nice part of Suarez. This is in the zone leader´s area.

Trabajo, hm *shoulder shrug*

Hola! 

This week passed very fast. During this week Elder Ryan and I worked a lot. 

Trabajo = work

Understanding

This has been possible the happiest week of my mission. I realized this week that when I do as much as I can, I feel good. I feel more confident in approaching the Lord in prayer. 

Although I have been taught this by many people (thank you Mom, Dad, my Grandpa Smith, Dale Perry, and many others) it has been incredible to experience the truthfulness of this principle. 

I apologize for the shortness of this email. I´ll write more next week. 

I love you guys!!!

Elder Smith

Dear Mom,

Thank you for the package! It arrived two days ago. I`ve been wearing the sweatshirt every night and will continue to do so as our nights get chilly. We have a little space heater in our pension and that's it. I'm going to be grateful for my sleeping bag come winter. 

We got the news for transfers and both Elder Ryan and I are staying in Suarez. Elder Ryan was assigned to be district leader! I'm not sure how many responsibilities that adds to his day but I know we´ll be traveling a lot more. 

I can´t believe that Andrew went to Prom! He is still too young in my mind. I have a feeling that I´ll be shocked when I get home to see how different everyone is. Especially Jasmine. Lindsey sent me some videos of Jasmine that I am yet to watch because the computers we´re using this week don't have sound. 

This week went by really fast. We talked with a ton on people and experienced much success. My relationship with Elder Ryan is improving. At times I get a little frustrated with how young he behaves but I always remember that I have things to work on too and that I need to love and be a support to him. And as always, I could use a little more humility and patience.

Could you send me the addresses of Cheryl, Grandma Sharee, and Grandma Pam? I´m want to send some thanks you cards.

I love you, Mom

Elder Smith