Thanksgiving and the norm

Thanksgiving was really fun this year! I spend the day telling other people "Happy Thanksgiving" and then educating them of the abnormal method of date selection that we use for the American Holiday. My companion and I celebrated with ice cream and ice cream pie. 

This week passed extremely fast. I made a goal to take pictures this week for my mom (her birthday was yesterday!). While doing so I learned that 1. I don't take that great of pictures and 2. I should probably take more! huh, surprise.

Lautaro and his younger sister Jaquelín are doing great! They love the church and are going to get baptized this Friday if everything goes well! We are teaching them and the rest of their family with hopes to help their mom, dad, and their older siblings. 

Jaquelín wrote us the cutest note yesterday. I sent a picture of it. It says

with love, Jaqui, Lautaro's sister

for the mormon esmit

I believe in the books of mormon and in God and in God and Jesus Christ. Amen

for the "fine Mormons"

ah, teaching her has been great. I am excited about their baptisms and for all of the family to have the gospel together!

Last Sunday's church meeting was exciting. While I played the prelude on the electro-piano, Matías, a member of the church came up to the piano and asked me if I would be playing the piano for the primary program. I responded that if there was music, yes! He brought me the music and I sight read my first primary program as a pianist. The best part was playing "The Wise Man" song with only the first half of the music and improvising the other half! I'm grateful for my primary teachers that taught me to sing or that primary program would have been toast. 

I focused on gratitude in my prayers this week. After reading "Of What Matters Most" by President Uchtdorf, I decided I needed to focus on improving my relationship with God. Doing so helped me feel less stressed during the week and helped me realize all of the things that God has blessed me with. 

I hope that all of you have a great holiday season! I invite all of you to participate in the #LightTheWorld activities of the church (mormon.org). I am grateful to be part of something bigger than myself and love all of you!

Love,

Elder Smith

Ice cream pie from Gridos

me, Elder Pereyrá, Jaquelín, Lautaro

note from Jaquelín