Monday, September 21, 2015

GRINGOS

So heres a little funny experience.  8:55am, five minutes before church starts and a huge bus rolls in and out walk 26 giant white people.  Yup a giant caravan from utah who was taking a tour down the amazon river decided to take a stop sunday morning to go to church in  28 de Julio ward. haha it was so funny they filled up the whole stinkin church.  Geez laweez seriously gringos are humongous.  They were so great tho.  Only a few spoke spanish and they were all worried about the water in the sacrament cups.  "is this water sanitary? it looks questionable to me?" haha we assured them it was fine. They all wanted to take pictures of me it was kindof weird.  One guy took my moms name and phone number and said he was going to call. haha so just be expecting that soon mom.  This week was awesome.  I think a few weeks ago i wrote about Miguel Angel and how he is struggling to find a answer.  How the Lord sometimes just makes us work for a while.  Well this week another guy Germano only had to pray one time after reading the book of mormon and bang!  He told me his whole chest filled with emotion.  He couldnt describe it but said he knows the book of mormon is true.  Very interesting how the Lord works in answering peoples prayers.  Anyways more on the Miguel Angel story.  We taught him last night and i shared a scripture with him that says we dont look for Christ or believe in him because we have seen a sign, but because we have partaken of the bread and it filled us (i think... thats translating it from spanish) He told us how his faith has grown and how hes happier and this good stuff but still thinks when he prays an answer doesnt come.  So thats why we shared that scripture.  Then we knelt down and prayed together and he ask the Lord if he should be baptized.  He didnt stand up for a few minutes after his prayer and we left him with the spirit to ponder for a while.  well see how he feels tomoro.  The work is being hastened! We all got to do our part. Hope everyone has a good week
Always
Elder Smith

Monday, September 14, 2015

SEEING MIRACLES

wow this week was awesome and i want to write about all of it but i dont have much time.  First, one of the elders i live with thought i had an ingrown toenail and tried to pull it out but couldnt.  I was screaming bloody murder.  We went to the doctor and she laughed and said "thats not ingrown, you were trying to rip the nerve out of the bottom of your toe nail." yes it hurt. 
 
we had so many spiritual experiences this week and there all in my journal so all is good.  But i will just say this, that spiritual power is proof of a divine calling.  Its nothing special what we do for ourselves, but yes my companion and i have been called by god through a living day prophet and we do what we should.  Then He works through us and does the rest.  We are seeing miracles in our area.  I love this this place and i am happy
Elder Smith

Monday, September 7, 2015

NUTS BUT COOL

This week was a strange one.  So theres been some problems with some oil companies down here in Loreto.  so guess what?.. STRIKE!!!! ah it all made me think of newsies so much.  Strike is called paro down here.  And everyone marches down the street chanting.  Un pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido!! (one people, united, will never be overcome) In the streets theres people comissioned or paid by the public companies (who started the paros) basically just to cause havoc.  If theres a store open or if someones driving there moto they stop it and pop there tires and stuff.  There were five motocars burned in the plaza in front of our house.  It was nuts but cool. we proselyted with only the book of mormon in our hand because we didnt want to carry a bag where anyone would think they could rob us.  But ya all the normal people and families were just chilling at home because there was no work so they were good days to teach.  and the paro worked.  Loreto got what they wanted and now there wont be any paros anymore.  so that was good.  Anyways,  this last week was a good one.  we had a buch of people investigating the church in the chapel this sunday.  one whos name is miguel angel.  we call him the arcangel.  He is super rad and is trying very hard to receive an answer to his prayer if the book of mormon is true or not.  Hes stopped drinking which was very hard for him but i know that with all of his efforts he will receive his answer.  Its really interesting how the Lord works.  Some people receive there answer almost immediatly and others it just takes a while.  Im not sure why the Lord works the way he does but yes i do know that sometimes his blessings do require a little bit of patience.  I hope miguel stays patient and keeps searching as well as i hope for all those at home searching for something from the Lord.  Patience is a divine virtue almost always required to receive something from the Lord.  have a good week all
always 
Elder smith

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

REFINE, PERFECT, CHANGE

the pictures of me eating aguaje ( everyones favorite fruit down here) 

Simply put we do good things because we love God.  Following Him refines us, perfects us, changes us.  But only through His grace is this process of refinment possible.  I love the grace of God.  Its my favorite topic.    This week i learned a big lesson .  People have their agency.  Ive been teaching a man and his wife for about 3 months now.  Hes very intelegent says hes very catholic but doesnt believe much in the catholic doctrine.  Before we visited them for the last time she mentioned that all churches are good and we all worship the same God.  Which is true.  I shared with them a story in the bible that shows a more excellent way.  Or a more exact path that leads to Christ and helped them to understand that yes it is very good that other churches talk and preach of Jesus Christ.  i told them the FULNESS of his doctrine and authority exists in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I then shared with them a few things about eternal families because they had a kid who receintly passed away at 14 years old.  I testified with every bit of strength i had that they needed to get married and form an eternal family here on the earth.  That the authority that peter received from Christ to bind things on earth and in the heavens exists and funcions in the Church of Jesus Christ.  She wanted to get married and keep investigating but the man said it was enough. That he likes the way he is and will not change.  It hurt to be rejected like that.  But i truly felt like i did my part in giving him the opportunity to accept the gospel.  I pray he will receive another chance one day.   I love you so much.  You and Dad are unreal.  I love discovering how good you guys really are as i study more and more of the gospel.  I could not have asked for a better family.  I love you mom
 
Elder Smith