FUTBOL

CHANGE IS HARD. VERY VERY HARD. BUT HE DID IT.

A week ago we baptized the zambrano soria family(there in the pics) Pablo, Kati, and Pablito.

We had our bishop and our recient convert elders quorum president to baptize them.  

Pablo and Kati have had some big problems in the past.  She really doubts that the type of change that Pablo has had is possible.  He was a marine and an absolutly awful guy.  Their 1 yearold kid passed away about 2 months ago and that was when we found him.  He was drunk and she was torn apart.  We set up a time to talk with them and taught them the plan of salvation.   They dont quite comprehend it perfectly but they have felt a huge change in their lives.  I cant even describe the miracle the took place inside of Pablo.  Hes not the Pablo that he was 2 months ago.  His repentence was hard.  Very very hard.  But he did it.  The Spirit acted inside him and changed his very nature.  He still has awful friends that mess with him and try to get him to fall again but he just loves telling us the stories about how he escapes sketchy situations.  Weve gone out to prosylite with him two times and both times old marine friends have passed on motos and screamed at us and him.  He just laughs and shakes his head.  Pablo is so amazing.  He was molded by the Lord because of his humility.  It is very sad that they were compelled to be humbled and couldnt humle themselves before but i know the Lord has a plan.  We are working so this family can be eternal. I pray all will go well and that we can all humble ourselves to be changed by the Lord.  For this purpose He came to this earth.

Elder Smith

STOP TALKING AND START DOING

So me and my companion learned something really cool. - ¨Talking is not teaching¨ i believe its a quote from Elder Bednar but elder uceda is the one who repeated it to us.  You can take this quote in many different ways.  but what me and my companion have decided to do is stop talking so much and just start doing things with those that we teach.  Instead of talking a bunch about our great message and then asking them to pray latter about it, we kneel down and pray with them.  We let them express to the Lord their concerns and then we kneel in silence with them and they feel what the Lord desires.  Instead of explaining all about the book of mormon to people, we just sit down and read with them in the book of mormon.  we disect it together.  Its so cool because we are learning too the whole time.  My companion and i are coming to understand what it means to be edified with those we teach and not just try to bring them to where we are as it talks in D and C 50.  Its always interesting to talk about what they feel after they pray. Some dont feel much.  Others feel peace.  And some have real testimony building experiences.  Teaching is so much better than talking!  Cuidense todos

Elder Smith

FELIZ NAVIDAD FROM IQUITOS

Christmas with my new compi

Ok just to let yall know. I got transfered:(  Im now back in Iquitos in a place called Punchana.  My ward and area is called Bellavista.  We are right on the amazon in my area.  Its like a pennisula kinda.  But its super rad and raining alot.  The water is coming up quick and we are going to be helping put up the bridges soon so we can we can walk around in our area because sadly it is against mision rules to go around in canoe.  Anyways my new companion is elder Muñoz.  Hes from Nebraska making him my first gringo companion! keeping my streak alive of never having 2 companions from the same place.  Ive had comps from honduras, bolivia,belize, argentina, colombia, mexico, peru and now the USA.  i just need someone from ecuador or paraguay or chile or something.  Its pretty cool having companions from all over because the way i speak always changes with all of them.  I always immitate how they speak.  It was really funny when i went to nueva cajamarca everyone made fun of me for speaking like a columbian because i dropped all my s´s.  (just like my anterior comp had done)  

Pucha my times up and these pics are taking forever to load.  Internet in Punchana is so slow.  But ya ive got a bunch of cool pics to send and stories to tell but theyll be for some other time.  

Love you all. have a good week

Elder Smith

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

I still know nothing about skype or calling (we get to talk to him on Christmas!) cause changes are today and i dont even know where im going to be but we should be calling next week to set up the phone call.  im gonna write a big email but here are some pics for ya.  

 

1 one of my favorite missionaries in my district.  Elder Llamoca.

2. me and my buddy from close by back home.  Elder Yauney.

 he went to Troy highschool.  hes from close by.  o ya and we went to the caves  Love you mama

 

Woo ya ok this change has flown by.  I trained elder Castro this change.  Hes from Lima and hes an absolute stud.  He has a ton of questions all the time but hes got a powerful testimony of Christ and the book of mormon which he clutches onto at all times.  Right now in Nueva the weather is pretty nice it rains alot which i love.  The food is amazing.  Our pensionist is super rad makes something new everyday. Right now we are teaching a ton of people using the new iniciative HA NACIDO UN SALVADOR.  i think its a savior is born in english.  Anyways ive been having a lot of spiritual experiences teaching about the birth and purpose of Jesus Christ.  Mostly teaching the birth of Christ in the book of mormon.  We talk about the profesies of Samuel the Lamanite and the small group of the most rightous of people who had faith in the signs and suffered with patience all the persecution from those who didnt believe.  We talk about the darkness that filled the earth when Christ gave up his life.  And the amazing light that is Jesus Christ to cast out all darkness in our lives.  Jesus Christ appeared to a pueblo here in the americas.  Theywere the part of the nefites who were the ¨mas justo¨ and their faith was turned into knowledge, into real testimony as Christ invited them, One by One, to feel the marks in His hands and in His feet and thrust there hands into His side.  I know that Christ really did appear here.  The Book of Mormon is scritpture from a loving Heavenly Father to convince all men to come unto Christ.  Many here in Nueva Cajamarca are coming unto Christ because of the spirit that have felt as they read the Book of Mormon.  I love the power that i find and feel in the scriptures.  Share the Birth of Christ with everyone this Christmas.  He Lives.

Elder Smith

 

some more fotos of the caves below

FISHING IN THE AMAZON AND LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT

so me and my comp had a cool experience this week.  We were walking out in the boondies.  super far from the city where there arent a lot of houses to visit an investigador in hopes of finding her husband for the first time.  Up until then we had only taught her and her kids.  just before we got to her house we started to hear gun shots from a pistol (says my companion)  and some guy screaming venga a comer! my comp got super scared and wanted to go back home.  I told him elder listen to the spirit if the spirit tells us to turn back well go back.  we just kept walking and went right past this guys house.  He was drunk and on top of his roof.  we passed right under him and got to Isela and Segundos house.  They were pretty scared of what was happening outside.  But ya we finally found her husband and we were able to comfort them and there kids. Now we have a whole new family that is hearing the restored gospel for the first time in there lives.  The Lords protects us as we do his work.  I know this is kind of a weird experience but it was very special for my companion and I.  Being new in the mission my comp was frightened but the he said the moment i told him to listen to the spirit he knew we would be fine.  Im so greatful for the gift of the holy ghost in my life

Elder Smith

 heres a couple of good fishing fotos for yall as well

BRIAN REGAN DONUTS

ok i just got to tell this story.

so i went to lima with elder cooper and hes new in the mission.  so were driving from moyobamba to tarapota and theres a sign that says ¨zona inestable¨ which means unstable zone.  But cooper didnt know so he asked me and i told him.  and then under his breath cooper says ¨blasting zone ahead.  shouldnt that read road closed¨ haha and then from that point on we were rolling in the brian regan jokes.  And to top it all off we went and bought dunkin donuts before we left lima and ya we found donuts with frosting all of em and sprinkles but not all over em.  haha we were dying.