Dear Mom,
Winter is pretty much gone here (if it ever came?) and I am doing great! We had a zone conference this week (a meeting of about 50 missionaries with the mission president and the mission presidents assistants). I went thinking about how I've been doing, how I can get more motivation, and how I can be more humble. The first talk given in the conference was by Hermana Smith about consecration. She talked about giving all that we have to the Lord. I felt that the talk was directed towards me, that the Lord was telling me that I could give more and that that is His will. At the end of the conference, we all shared what we were going to do differently. I said that I was going to talk with everyone and forget myself. My easier said than done but I am working on it. I have been working a lot harder since the conference to talk with everyone that I can.
I know that the time I have to serve the Lord with everything that I have is extremely short. Here I can give everything. I want to do everything that God wants me to do here and I want to make you and Dad proud. Sometimes I think about Grandpa Garth and Grandpa Smith watching me work. I think about what they have done and the kind of missionary that they would want me to be. This has helped me keep going and endure well what often feels like a grind.
With regards to a typical day here, it is pretty straightforward. We have a pretty set schedule and plenty to do. The morning from 6:30 to 10 is set apart for us to prepare for the day. Exercise, showering (the bathroom turns into a sauna when you shower because we have really hot water and no working vents), getting dressed, eating (I eat two bowls of corn flakes every morning for breakfast), personal study for an hour, 30 minutes of planning the day with Elder Vega and then we leave the apartment. The mornings are pretty quiet outside of EFY music and BYU Men's Chorus. Elder Vega and I don't talk very much in the morning, pretty much just go around doing our own thing.
We leave the pension at 10 every morning to preach. Our working day starts with a 15-minute walk to the bus stop, a 15-45 minute wait for the bus, a 20-minute bus ride before we get to our area. The morning bus ride is pretty comfy. There are usually about 10 or so people that ride the bus with us. We get to contact them and invite them to learn about the gospel. Afternoon bus rides are a little more exciting. The bus is PACKED by 12 or 1. It's harder to talk with people one on one in the afternoons. This Friday, I did something that scared me. I was standing smashed in the front of the bus while on our way to lunch. I decided to try teaching the whole bus at once. After asking the bus driver for permission, I stood up straight on a small bump in the front of the bus and shared a 3 or 4 sentence testimony with the whole bus. Although no one indicated that they wanted to know more, I felt the Spirit very strongly as I got down from the little perch that I had found. I am excited to find more ways to invite everyone to hear the gospel.
Anyways, back to the day to day. We usually get to our area at 10:30 or 11. From that time until lunch we contact, contact, contact. Sometimes we knock doors all morning, sometimes we work the main streets, it depends on how we're feeling that day. There is almost always someone close enough to talk to in the streets. We try to share at least a small testimony with everyone. Most contacts start and end with me putting out my hand and saying "Buen dia, soy representante de Jesucristo. Sé que Cristo vive." or something like that. It is good.
At 1ish we have lunch. Most days we go by a members house to pick up a "vianda" or sack lunch/dinner. The lucky days we eat in the homes of the members. Lunch is the biggest meal here so we take an hour to eat and get to know the members. When we get a vianda, we either eat in a plaza or head to the pension (if the weather is bad)
After lunch we have studies. 1 hour of companionship study and 30 min of language study. I've been training or being trained for my whole mission so my companionship study has always consisted of the prescribed study material that we are given for our first 12 Weeks as missionaries. I'm interested to experience comp study outside of this. I love language study!!!! I like all studying in general.
4-8 is go time. During these hours we have fixed appointments with investigators or recent contacts. When we have lessons they are great! Elder Vega and I teach well together. However, appointments usually fall through here. Most people "don't remember" or just don't care. These times become more chances to find people. We knock doors of their neighbors, talk with more people in the street and call other people that live close to see if we can visit them.
At 8 we head to the bus stop. We talk with people there, in the bus ride home, and then make the 15-minute walk back to the pension.
From 9-10:30 there is no mandatory schedule but we use the time to confirm the next days' appointments by calls and texts, study, and any other odds and ends that we have.
10:30 Blessed Sleep
There is a normal day.
PDays are pretty routine. We follow the same pattern of studying and planning in the morning but really condenced. We get ready, study and plan from 6:30 to 8. From 8 to 6 we have the day to clean, shop, write, play soccer, and study. We can travel to other parts of our mission that are close once or twice every transfer (one transfer = six weeks). Thus far I've visited a few places in Capitál and am hoping to learn about more cool places in the mission that I can visit. If you come across anything online, let me know. At 6 we take the bus and are preaching until 8. That is Pday.
Capo means stud. It's an Argentine term. They also say copado which means cool. The Central American equivalent is chevere.
Transfers happen every 6 weeks. The next transfer is in 8 days, Tuesday the 5th of September. We aren't told where we are going until next Monday. It sounds like I may be staying in the ward José León Suarez but changing from the area Suarez2 to Suarez1. We'll see what happens next week! (I may not be able to tell you until the Monday after).
I didn't hear anything about Grandma's mission call! Hawaii!!!! Is she going to Laie?
I'm not sure how the Ashtons took my choices with Brinn. I feel that I chose the right thing really clumsily after a series of back and forth crummy choices. I'm sorry for any anger, unhappiness, or pain that I have caused them. I know that they love Brinn a lot and want the best for her. I'm glad that you're staying in neutral ground. That's a wise choice.
Yeah for straight teeth!!! I am doing good about wearing my retainers. All is well in the teeth department.
I feel that the love I have for other people is growing a lot here. We have recently been working with the niece of Damiana and her family. I feel for her so much. She lives with her boyfriend Migel in a little block house (most houses are little block houses here). They have two young kids and a son coming in the next month or so. Her name is Noelia.
This Saturday, Noelia was with us as we were teaching Damiana and Javier about temple sealings and eternal families. As we invited Damiana and Javier to work towards being sealed in the temple with their family for eternity, Noelia broke down crying.
We waited.
Through her tears, she explained to us her desire to have an eternal, happy family. For her, it seems like nothing but a dream as her boyfriend has no interest in getting married (he's pretty deep into drugs and drinking) and she can't get baptized while living with him. She would leave him but she is 8 months pregnant, has two other kids to support and realistically has nowhere to go.
We didn't know what to do besides testify of the power of God and invite her to pray for her boyfriend and for her family. I pray for Noelia. I hope that God will provide a way for her and her family to have the blessings of the temple.
I still want to grow more in my ability to feel impressions from the Spirit and follow them. I want the guidance of God in everything that I do.
I love you, Mom Thank you for your email!
Love,
Elder Smith
