Look for the good

Dear Mom, 

I've been trying to apply the "look for the good" principle in my companionship as well. I feel the same, that I usually am kind and patient but with those I'm around the most it is the hardest. I would really like to understand how God sees all of us. It is incredible that He is perfect and that despite all of our faults, He loves us. 

Teaching Sebastian and Carolina has been great! They have thrived having the Spirit more frequently in their home. Their daughter, Jade, said that it is so obvious that what we're teaching comes from God because of the change of feeling that has happened in their house. From what we've heard, there used to be a lot more tension and anger at home. I'm glad that Jade recognized that the changes are coming from God. She has been participating in the lessons but hasn't decided yet if she will get baptized with her parents. I think it has to do with her friend group and a couple of little things. 

In the next 7 months of my mission, I want to do lots of things. We're still working on baptizing weekly. I want to understand Christ's atonement more fully. I feel a desire to have more compassion and love for other people, something that doesn't come naturally for me.

I'm going to think about your question of what is the biggest change I've seen in myself so far. 

Teeth are going well. I regularly use my retainer and haven't had any problems with my fillings. 

Have a great week! I love you!

Elder Smith

Winter setting in

Dear Mom, 

It´s crazy for me to think that graduation is here again! (and summer, too). My graduation seems so recent. I'm glad for all my friends that graduated this year! 

Winter is setting in here! This week I broke out my long-johns and have been a happy customer. It's funny to talk with the people about the cold because they act like it's the artic and you can't even see your breath. (Alaskans probably think the same way about me but hey). 

Carolina and Sebastian got their wedding date from the government. the 6th of July is going to be a fantastic day!!!!!!! They'll get married the 6th and baptized the 7th. (and for those interested they'll be confirmed on the 8th and celebrate Sebastian birthday on the 9th. That's an eventful weekend!) They are excited to be baptized!

We had a cool experience this week with the Vaca family. They were baptized a few months ago and have recently found it difficult to come to church on Sundays. We visited them during the week. As the initial conversation was dying down I thought, "hmm, what should we teach?" (sometimes we end up in lessons without plans). As I started flipping through the scriptures I first thought "what scripture really shows the importance of the sacrament and church attendance?" which was immediately followed by the thought, "when was the last time you used the scriptures in an uplifting way instead of showing people what they're not doing?" I acted on the latter thought and shared Ether 3:13-16. We discussed their divine nature as children of God and later discussed some of their spiritual strengths. They were surprised to see that they have god-like qualities! It felt great to show them that they are good and that they are making progress in their journey back to God. 

The family was appreciative of the visit and went to church on Sunday! I was impressed because we had been inviting them to church for about 6 weeks already and only after that lesson did they choose to go. 

By following Mormon's counsel to "lay hold upon every good thing" and showing the Baca family that they have divine attributes, we were able to encourage them to keep moving forward!

I am grateful for God's patience with us! His love and encouragement is never-ending. 

That's about it for this week. 

Love,

Elder Smith

Clean office crackdown

Dear Mom, 

This week we cracked down on having a clean office. Elder Crandall and I compete to see who has the cleanest desk. It's been pretty even but I may have been putting some thing that don't have a home into the mail room Elder Crandall has to organize, haha. 

Teaching this week was fairly slow. We had a few solid lessons with the Triviño family (Diego, Antonio, etc.) and the Iasevoli family (Sebastian, Carolina and kids). We taught about family history work and the eternal nature of the family with Carolina and Sebastian on Saturday night. He got all teary and asked when his family could be sealed. We answered that as soon as a year after their baptisms they could get sealed. He then asked, "and you two will be there, right?" Mmmmmmm, do I have to answer that question? We told him that both of us would be in the States by then but that Elder Zubeldia will go. Maybe if I pray hard enough plane tickets to South America will drop in price? Regardless, they are going strong. 

Yesterday we ate with the Baca family. They were baptized about 10 years ago and LOVE the missionaries. We can't figure out why they don't go to church and are working to help their youngest son get baptized and to activate the whole family. Note for Dad: Hermana Baca cooked us ají de gallina. It was muy rico. We will have to try and cook it at home sometime. 

I love you! Sorry that there´s not much else to say.

Love,

Elder Smith

Katherin and Marcia going to the temple

Hi mom, 

Hope you had a good trip to Zion´s Camp. I can´t believe how big Trevin! He is growing up too fast!!! Did you guys stay in the garage again? 

The best part of this week was that Katherin and Marcia both went to the temple. A member from the ward took them to do vicarious baptisms. 

Katherin´s comments: "hermanito, it was so wonderful! The temple is so pretty! We took a bunch of pictures. There was also a dead dog on the highway that saw and thought that it was so sad but the temple was amazing!!! We can't wait to go again"

This week Elder Holland is coming to talk with the Young Single Adults and Katherin and Marcia are going! It's a closed event in the southern part of Buenos Aires but our bishop got them tickets!

Sebastian and Carolina and doing well! They decided this week to get married here in San Fernando so that they could get baptized sooner. They had been considering getting married in another part of Argentina but decided that organizing it would take to long and Carolina wants to get baptized now. We'll know what day they're getting married and baptized by this Sunday. 

(can I just comment, it is still incredible to me that people will make big changes in their lives because of the gospel. The Book of Mormon is amazing. God is amazing.)

We found a new family this week talking to people in the street: Antonio, Diego, Anahi and Felix. When we knocked on their door, Antonio invited us in. Diego saw us and said, "look! The Elders! Hey Elders! My girlfriend needs to get baptized. Come and teach her!" So we are teaching Anahi. I'll let you know how she progresses. She has lots of questions about the plan of salvation. 

Thanks for the pictures. I love you.

Elder Smith

Ruben and Elsa temple sealing

Dear Mom, 

This week was fantastic!!!! Lots of really really good things.

Monday and Tuesday were transfers. Monday night we ordered taxis until midnight. Tuesday, I woke up to a ringing phone and was taking and making calls for the following 3 hours straight. When almost everyone was with their companion, we realized that 3 new missionaries were in the private airpark in Capital instead of the main Buenos Aires Airport! We raced their to pick them up and afterwards had a relatively calm afternoon. 

Thursday was the mission wide conference! We were taught about how to work better with ward leaders and members. My desire to help more people enjoy the blessings of the gospel went way up after the conference!

Saturday was easily the best day of the week. In the morning Marcia was baptized! She shared her testimony after her baptism and expressed how much she wants all of her family and friends to feel the same peace that she has found. Katherin (Marcia´s older sister that was just baptized last week) shared a short talk about baptism. She read Mosiah 18:21 which states: "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." Seeing the happiness that they have received makes me so happy!

Cool note about the baptism. Elder Crandall and I realized that we need more people to teach. We prayed to be able to find more people. An hour before the baptism, we saw two youth running around in the chapel. I yelled to them, "hey jóvenes!!! Do you want to come watch a baptism? They came over and me, thinking that they were already members of the church asked, "so are you both deacons?" One responded yes and the other, Axel, said, "this is actually my first time in the church." We talked about the baptismal service that was going to happen in the next hour. Both of the young boys came and we are now teaching Axel and his family! God answers our righteous prayers!

After the baptism, Elder Ryan, Elder Deshler and I went in a taxi to the temple. We were able to go through the temple with Ruben and Elsa Peña and watch their sealing! It's crazy that it has already been a year since we taught them!!!!

Overall, it was a fantastic week! We're still working with Sebastian, Carolina, Jade, and William. They are progressing slowly but surely. 

Say hi to the Mathers and Ashtons for me! I hope you have a great time!

And to end, some pictures from my week

Love,

Elder Smith

Marcia's baptism

 The Peña´s sealing

Elder Deshler, Elder Ryan and I on the way back from the temple. (Puente Saavedra)

Mission Conference

Katherin got baptized

Dear Family, 

This week was pretty fantastic! Katherin got baptized. We started teaching more of her family. Marcia, her younger sister is getting baptized in a few day. The ward is getting excited about missionary work. And, I got to call you guys! It was a great week!

I love you guys! 

Elder Smith