Trim your nails and move on

Dear people that I love,

You are many. I hope you know that my prayers are often turned towards you. I'm pretty far away from you but I remember you. I have said many times to my companion that one of the biggest blessings I have is my foundation of family and friends at home. I draw strength from your examples and from your love.

Damiana - moving forward again

Damiana has been taking huge steps forward with her faith. She has now come to church for 4 weeks in a row (yeah!) and is working towards baptism. We went by to visit her and Javier last Thursday and couldn't get Damiana to come out of her room. After a few minutes of convincing her that everything was alright, she came into the family room to talk with us. We said a prayer and started like normal.

Damiana didn't seem normal. She was angry. And not the usually amount of sass that we are fond of. She was upset. 

Finding the source of her frustrated front took a while but we found out that she had fallen back into her cocaine addiction and was embarrassed to tell us. She felt pressure to follow all of the commandments and if she wasn't perfect to at least act like she was following all of them. We were able to help here understand that we're not here to teach instant perfection. We ourselves aren't perfect. Far from it. What we are here to do is teach repentance. We have hope because we know that the remission of sins will come as we follow Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 24:25). We testified to Damiana that she can improve! She can do it! 

The next step for Damiana is abandoning her sin. She has already recognized that she is sinning in her addiction, has felt sorrow for it, and has confessed her sins to God. To help Damiana leave her sin behind, we told her to cut her nails. As I recently learned, cocaine addicts often grow out their nails, specifically their thumb nails, and use them to snuff the cocaine. Damiana cutting her nails was her way of symbolically giving up that sin.

Having this experience has helped me understand people better. Before coming here, I always thought of "druggies" as bad people that had subjected themselves to some substance. Now, I am beginning to realize how wrong I have been. If any of you have or are currently struggling  with an addiction, I would have you know that there is hope. You do not have to fight alone. Perhaps you are like Damiana and have turned to an addiction because you feel sad, bored, unloved, or unhappy. Or perhaps you have an addiction because you like what you do and you don't feel bad about it. Whether it's for these reasons or for others, there is more happiness in Christ. You can be healed of whatever misunderstanding or sorrow that you have experienced. 

I know that redemption from sins comes through Jesus Christ and that He can help us improve. 

I love you guys! Stay strong and rely on Christ

Elder Smith

Eating with Elsa and Rueben

Our area

al Fondo why I can't show you

There isn't anything in my life that I can compare to what I am experiencing right now. In this moment, I am dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those that will listen. And, trying to avoid those that want to take my stuff.

Robbed, again

Elder Ryan and I were just minding our own business, preaching the good word, when two chumps decided to rob us. They came up to us and put their arms around us like we were buds. Then, they proceeded to empty our pockets for us. The guy who shuffled through my pockets put something up to my gut and told me to give him my money. I looked down and said, "Hey, nice phone" (his poor imitation of the Batman stapler trick didn't work on me. Better luck next time). I proceeded to open my little bag and pull out a one peso coin (worth about 8 cents). He got a little bugged by that but the alcohol in his breath kept him from thinking too fast. About this time a friendly neighbor guy started yelling to his kids to bring him his pistol. The chumps ran off and that was it. 

They only took stuff from Elder Ryan (our cell phone, a small booklet, and E. Ryan´s bus/train card). I felt surprisingly calm though out all of this. I am grateful that we are safe and that nice neighbors are looking out for us. Maybe we will go share a Book of Mormon with that neighbor guy tomorrow. 

As of right now that numbers are:

Attempted Muggings: 5

Successful Muggings: 1

Diego - whah?

While knocking doors (or more accurately clapping doors) this Thursday, we found Diego. I clapped at the door. Upon hearing some grunt/repsonse from a man inside, I said "My name is Elder Smith. I am a representative of Jesus Christ." I usually continue with my testimony of Jesus Christ here but was cut off by taped glassed and a flustered looking face. Diego, a 40ish year old Argentine, told me, "come in. I'll get you some juice."

When Elder Ryan and I got to the kitchen table we found a church pamphlet already waiting for us. We were a little confused and later learned that Diego had received the pamphlet from some mystery man earlier this week. All we know is that the guy "had white hair and looked German." 

Diego was super receptive to our first lesson. We are excited to see him again and help him (I can already see the Mormon Message title: "Mystery German looking man leads Diego to the Truth") More to come. 

I love you guys! Have a great week!}

Elder Smith

Op, sent that a little to fast. I was going to explain how cool my area looks but I can't show you because my camera would get robbed. Hm, good idea. Poor execution. Haha, love you guys!