Week #17- The Real Meaning of Christmas

Monday, December 17, 2012

Hey!

 

That's exciting to hear that it's been snowing a lot. I see snow sometimes when I look at the mountains. They're really far away though. Was there any basketball games this week? That's good that there is a lot of work happening in Salmon! It's a good time to have a lot of work! We are staying busy. We are finding more investigators, and we are planning on having a lot of poeple we are teaching commit to a baptismal date. We are teaching some people right now that actually seem like they have a real desire to learn because they are doing the things we are asking them to do. Hopefully, it can build to something more. The work here is busy. The ward I'm in has had 3 baptisms since I got here. It's crazy. There are 8 missionaries assigned to one ward, and with the big rush of new missionaries, there might be more than 8 in the ward. This week we had our mission Christmas party and it was a lot of fun. For the party missionaries just do skits or talents. I guess it was kind of a talent show. I didn't do anything. It was fun to just watch. That lasted almost the whole day, and yes, I did receive the packages. Thanks! This week I also taught my first English class. I didn't know it would be so hard to teach English, but it is really hard. I taught them the months. It was kind of funny! Now I know what I sound like when I speak Spanish to them. I just found out that this next year church is going to be moved to 11 instead of 9. I can't wait. I feel like it is really going to help for investigators coming to church. At least, I hope it makes a difference. Well, if I don't get to write until after Christmas, I hope everyone has a good Christmas, and I hope everyone remembers that the real reason why we have Christmas is remembering the birth of Christ; the best gift we have ever been given. Thank you all so much for everything you have given me.

 

Love Elder Smith

PS I need Stetson's address.

Week #16- Christmas Messages

Monday, December 10, 2012

Hey!

 

It sounds like everything is going good in Salmon. That's good that Derek's team is winning and that he is playing well. Tayler is going on a cruise? Where? That's really cool! I'm glad that Olivia had a good birthday. Did she have any friends come over or was it just a family thing? That's great that you have a little family getting baptized. I hope that the missionaries keep it up in Salmon! This was another good week. We are starting to get pretty busy. This week we found 5 new investigators and we have a lot of potentials for this coming week. We are teaching this one house that has 9 people in it, but we are only teaching 3 of them. We hope that the other 6 will come and listen today when we teach the three. All we can do is invite them; it's their decision to listen or not to listen. That's the hardest part sometimes, you just want to make them come listen. We found a new investigator yesterday and his name is Arturo. He is really cool and he seemed to be really excited to listen to us again. One thing we have been doing is knocking on doors and asking if they would like to hear a Christmas messsage about Christ. It's been working really well. I love Christmas!! And after we share a Christmas message almost all of the people have invited us back to teach them. All it takes is one lesson where they can feel the spirit and learn that us Mormon guys are just like them, and we're not too weird. That's one thing I have tried working on is relaxing when I talk in Spanish. When you're relaxed, they're relaxed, and it makes everything go better! It's been a good week. Another thing we have started doing is Insanity. It's a DVD workout and a member in the ward does it with us every morning. He has all the different DVDs for it. It's pretty hard and it keeps me in shape which is really good. We wake up at 5:30 and we work out tell about 6:45, it's pretty insane. I like it. Well, got to go. I hope you have a good week.

Love Elder Smith

Week #15- Investigators, Food, and Fun

Monday, December 3, 2012

Hola!

 

Things here have been speeding up. This week has definitely been the most busy. We taught more lessons and got more investigators this week than any other week, and we got someone to commit to a baptismal date. That was exciting! I hope everything works out with her, and she keeps that desire to be baptized. With the good, you also have the bad. We had to drop an investigator this week because she wasn't progressing. It was really sad. I hope I don't have to do that anymore on my mission. If they would just do what Moroni said (Moroni 10 verses 3-5), we wouldn't have to drop them. It's been raining a lot here. The rain is your worst nightmare when you have to bike everywhere you go, but biking has been a great blessing. I can already feel my left knee getting stronger. Our Heavenly Father definitely knows what's best for us and where we need to be. Slowly but surely my Spanish is getting better! I finished my first transfer and I'm staying with my companion and in the same area. I love Pomona. The ward is really nice and always willing to help. Where I'm serving is pretty poor, and it's not a super clean place, but there are some rich places. The rich part of Pomona is where the sister missionaries serve. Most families live in tiny apartments with 1 room and 1 bathroom but there are some that rent just a room out in someone's house. It just depends if they have a job or not. You always see people collecting plastic bottles out of trash cans because that's the only way they can get money. It's super hard for people to find jobs right now. We don't eat out a lot. I usually do my own cooking for lunch, and dinner we usually have somewhere to eat. Whenever I eat at member's houses or investigator's houses, you plan on beans, rice, tortillas, and eggs-that's definitely what I have eaten the most. Their beans and rice and tortillas are not the same as the ones we had at home. I don't know if I feel like I'm in a different country, but I have been thrown into a completely different culture. When you walk the street most the people on the street speak Spanish, but you still have a little English. It is definitely different. Dodge ball went well. We had 6 kids that weren't members and 3 of them are now getting taught by the missionaries. There was also a lot of youth in the ward that showed up. I wish I would have been better at inviting my friends to activities. It really does help. Just inviting your friend is an easy way to do missionary work and it can be effective. It's been a good week.

Love Elder Smith

Week #14-Thanksgiving

Monday, November 26, 2012

Hey!

 

It's been a good week. We are starting to get busier, and we already have more appointments planned for this next week than we have ever had. I'm really excited! We got two new investigators this week and we have a lesson with them tomorrow. I'm kind of nervous because the first lesson we had with them I couldn't understand much. They're from El Salvador so they always throw in words that only people from El Salvador know. They also use a lot of slang so its really hard to understand them. I'm surprised how many people I have met from other places. I thought most the people I would talk to would be from Mexico but that is not the case. Most are from Mexico but not all. I am starting to understand the language a lot better. I'm having some conversations with members and less actives, and I kind of know what they are saying when they talk. They try to keep it pretty simple for me whitch makes it nice. For Thanksgiving this year we had 2 appointments, one at 4 and one at 6. They were great. It was very nice of them to invite us to be a part of their family for a day. I ate way too much food. I've come to the conclusion that they think missionaries can't get full so they keep throwing food on your plate. It's such good food but its so hard to eat it all because they give you so much. Thank goodness for my bike. :) There was not a turkey bowl. It's kind of sad not even soccer, but that's ok, we were pretty busy. I did get Grandma's card so tell her thank you for me. I'm going to try writing her. I don't think I will have time this P-day because President told all the missionaries that they were going to clean their apartments so that will probably be an all day project. Last Friday we had a mission conference, and this one guy from BYU talked to us, I forget his name. I have it written down in my notes. He gave a great talk. He talked about the 12 tribes of Israel and how it fits in with missionary work. I learned a lot. It's been a pretty good week. I can't wait to here how Derek's first game is going to go. What does Derek say? Does he think they are going to have a good team? I can't believe Jake is home. That's cool that Joey gets to see him before he leaves. I have not got a letter from Stetson yet. Oh, and I can e mail other people now if you want to tell them. My Mission President said as long as I email home and him, I can e mail friends and family. So tell Stetson he can email me, and I can respond back.

 

Well I am thankfull for all of you, and I hope you have a great week. Oh, tell people not to send letters to the mission home anymore. Send letters to:

615 N. Erie St apt#209

Pamona CA, (sorry, I don't know the zip, but its online)

Every time I get transfered I will have to tell you my new address so people can write to me.

Are you forwarding this to Hallie Procsh? Thank you. I'm trying to write her too, but it will probably be next week. Today is pretty busy with cleaning and everything.

Love Elder Ryan Smith

Week #13-Investigators and Tim Tam Slams

Monday, November 19, 2012

Hey!

 

It's been a good week, and I can't believe its already another P-day. The weeks go super fast. It sounds like you guys are staying busy also which is really good. It's nice when you are busy. I hope Blake starts feeling better! It would stink to not be able to breathe and have surgery again. That's not fun! Derek made the team-that's good. Hopefully, they can get something to work for them this year. Did Jordan not try out? Derek will have a good season. I don't think they will be able to have him ever leave the game. That's good that Jedd came out this year, that will really help a lot. Are you going anywhere for Thanksgiving this year or are you staying home? This week was another slow week. We didn't have too many lessons. Hopefully things can pick up. We are working hard and being obedient so I know things will start to pick up; it just takes time. We have a lot of appointments with less actives this week so hopefully we can get some names from them. It was a good Sunday though. We had 3 investigators at church on Sunday and a less active family and a less active sister at church. That was cool and kept us busy. Our three investigators that were at church really want to get baptized. A mom and her 2 oldest sons are old enough to get baptized. There are also 2 other sons who are not old enough yet. The boyfriend and father won't let them though. We are hoping something happens. I don't know what but hopefully something good. They really want to. They come to church every week. We had some good lessons with them this week. On Saturday it was a rainy day. We got really wet it was horrible! We taught the familia Canarae (that's the family that wants to get baptized) that day so I thought it would be fun to have tim tam slams before our lesson since it was a yucky day! They really enjoyed that. I got pictures of them; it was a lot of fun! I can't believe it-they think it's so cold, and it's so nice! All I wear is short sleeve shirts and people think we are crazy! but it's not cold. It doesn't feel like Christmas is coming up. There isn't any snow; it's weird! You know that sweater we bought for me? It's a sweater vest, so I have 2 sweater vests and I don't have a sweater which is ok. I don't need anything more than a sweater vest; it doesn't get cold enough. The dodge ball tourny isn't until the 1st of December. I think it will be good! We still have a couple weeks to get the youth excited for it. This week I had my first day away from my trainer and it was with another missionary who has only been out the same amount of time as me. It was Elder Trauntvein! It was weird. I really had to step it up because we were in my area, so I needed to know where everything was and do most of the talking. It went good. I found out that I know a little more than I thought, but I definitely still have a lot to work on. For Christmas if I could have some toothbrushes and toothpaste, a pad lock, maybe some candy and coolaid mix. That's all I really can think of and some money so I can send some stuff home. That would probably be good. I don't really know what I need.  Thanks for everything you have all done for me. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Love Elder Ryan Smith

 

Can you send my e mails to jprox@centurytel.net for me? Thank you.

Week #11-Fast and Slow

Monday, November 5, 2012

Hey,

 

I just finished my second week in the mission field. It's been great so far, and this was not a very good week. It seemed like we knocked on a million doors. We talked to all the old investigators in the area and nothing. Nobody wanted to talk to us, but we are going to keep trying. It's been going super fast, and I can't even understand half of what people are saying, so I imagine when I can actually have a conversation with people it will even go faster. It's super scary and crazy! My Companion is Elder Nielson. He is from Twin Falls, Idaho, and he is a really good trainer. We get a long really well. He is pretty tall and has red hair. We also live with the zone leaders, Elder Timmins and Elder Alverenga, they're really awesome! I'm sending my pictures to Kayla, and I have some pictures of them and our apartment that you will be able to see. Hopefully, it gets there. I did get your package and letter. It was really nice and the junk food is already gone. I have learned I don't like shopping for myself or cooking. I have to cook for myself every day at lunch and sometimes for dinner. Breakfast food has became my best friend. It's good, easy, and fast to cook. Football is over; who did they lose to? I thought they had a good chance to win this year. I feel bad for the seniors. I have loved my bike. It works great, and it does everything I want it to. My companion actually has the exact same bike that I have and he likes his also. The language is coming slowly but surely. I am definitely learning a lot of patience with this, haha. I understand more and more every day so I am getting better! I'm excited, today I have my first church tour planned with an investigator. I'm excited to see how it goes. Arcadia is a really cool place, but I live in Pamona and it's nice. I have seen a lot of cool birds and the fruit here tastes so good. There are fruit trees everywhere around here. I'm excited to here about basketball and how it is going. Did Jedd and those guys make a desision on what they are going to do? It will be an interesting year of basketball. Derek will do good though. Tayler has school; I can't believe it's going to start up again for him. What do you mean you're going to school? Like online or in Rexburg? To be what? That's really exciting! I'm glad everything is good up in Salmon. Good luck this week with everything. I love you guys.

Love,

 

Elder Ryan Smith

Hey Mom,

 

Sorry, I have to ask this, is your birthday beginning of Novenber or end of October? I don't remember anyone's birthdays except Kayla's so will you send me a list so I know when to wish them happy birthday? I hope yours is the beginning of November. If not, I am so sorry I forgot. I really am. But I just wanted to wish you Happy Birthday, and I hope you got everything you wanted. I love you, MOM! You're Awesome!!

Week #10-First Week in California

Monday, October 29, 2012

Hey Mom,

 

How is everything going? What are Blake and Olivia for Halloween? How did Derek's football game go? Did they win! I hope you got my letter that said everything was good here, and i made it safely. It's been a crazy week. We have been really busy with everything. This week I placed a few book of Mormons, I led my first lesson, and I asked 2 people if they would follow the example of Jesus Christ and get baptized. I also have been doing some street contacting which is hard. This is not the same language they taught me at the MTC. I can't understand anyone. I can somewhat speak it though. Hopefully, it comes fast. My companion is really awesome. He is a tall red head and his name is Elder Neilson. We get along really well. He is the disrict leader and we also share a room with the zone leaders. I'm planning on sending pictures to Kayla this week. Our house is infested with cockroaches. Every direction you turn there is a cockroach-its crazy! My mission is the Pamona Central mission. It's pretty ghetto, at least that's what all the people say in this area. On my second full day my bike seat was stolen and my tire almost got stolen, but we caught them in the act. It's ok it only cost 15 dollars for a new seat, and when they stole it we found a new investigator. The elders are the only people in my area that you see that is white. Everyone we see is black or Latino, mainly Latino though. My area is only bike or walking so we don't have a car. I like it-it's fun being on bikes. It's been a good week. Hopefully, I get better at understanding what they are saying. Good luck with everything this week. Sorry I'm not writing a lot. I didn't have much time. I had to split an hour with my companion but next week I will have an hour.

Love,

 

Elder Ryan Smith

Week #8- General Conference

Friday, October 12, 2012

Hey Mom,

It sounds like it's been a busy week. I can't believe we lost to Firth. I couldn't sleep that night I found out that we lost and Derek hurt his shoulder. I hope it's not bad. It sounds like Firth walked away feeling lucky that they won. It seems like it wasn't our best game we have played. I bet we will beat them in State; we just can't make those stupid mistakes. What did the doctor say about Derek's shoulder; is it bad? I hope he can play this year too. I heard that Jedd wasn't playing basketball so it would be a really long season if Derek didn't get to play too. It stinks that they would do that to the team but oh well, what can you do? Make sure to tell me how Derek is doing and if they win. Hopefully, there is nothing wrong with his shoulder. It can be kind of depressing sometimes. Every day BYU plays, you can hear the fans cheering, and you just think, I am so close but so far away. I wish they let the MTC go to the games. Hopefully, over the bye Derek's team can get back into the groove of playing. I think Derek's team has a chance to win State this year. This week has been a great week, a spiritual overload. Conference was great. My favorite talk was Elder Holland's talk too. He speaks with so much power. After the last session on Sunday, we had a fireside and Chad Lewis spoke at it. Chad Lewis is a BYU football player who played 9 seasons in the NFL, and he played in the Super Bowl with the Eagles. He gave an awesome talk. Then on Tuesday we had a devotional and Elder Bednar spoke at it. It was so awesome. I was like 50 feet away from him and he gave an awesome talk. He talked about how we can make our study more effective during Conference so we can get the most from each talk. This is his plan he goes off of. 1-What is the doctrine being taught? That's the first thing he looks at. 2- Invitation-what is being invited to do? 3-Promised blessing-what are the blessings that are being taught? It's really cool how much more you get from each talk if you do that. On Wednesday our district was able to host the new missionaries coming in. It was crazy. I still remember that day very well, haha. On Thursday Elder Trauntvein was sick and stayed in the room to get better, so I got a lot of studying in my scriptures. He is feeling a lot better today which is good because even though the studying was awesome, being trapped in a room for 24 hours got kind of old. Thursday night we had an appointment to teach Anderson, and since my companion was sick, I had to go on exchange with Elder Knapp. It was weird to teach without Elder Trountvein, but we gave a good lesson, and he said he is ready for baptism. Besides that, it's just been another week at the MTC. Since next week is my last week, we have an all day meeting on Friday so my P-day has been switched to Saturday. I can't believe I only have one more week at the MTC. I'm really excited but super nervous about the Spanish. I am sure it will be fine. I'm sure what ever bike you got me will work great! I would like a black or dark blue helmet if they have those colors. Um, I am not sure on the size of helmet. Derek's helmet fit me good so see what his is. Did Blake and Olivia get their letters and rings? Good luck with this coming week. I hope every thing turns out ok with Derek's shoulder and everything.

Love Elder smith

Week #7- Sundays and More

Friday, October 5, 2012

That Sounds Awesome! That's something I really miss-being with the family on Sunday and eating popcorn. Sunday at the MTC is definitely one of my favorite days of the week still. That's when I have meetings with the branch presidency about the district, great priesthood meetings, and Sacrament, great firesides, and we always get to go on a walk around the temple which is one of my favorite things to do every week. I'm really excited for General Conference this weekend they say it's the super bowl of the MTC so we will see. Haha, they're not real investigators, they are our teachers acting as people thay taught when they were on their missions so I guess it's like teaching a real investigator but it's just our teachers. The language is getting better. I get better every day but there are still some concepts I'm trying to learn and understand better. I definitely speak broken Spanish, haha, but they understand what I'm saying still. I got a short email from Josh. That is awesome [about his mission call], I am so happy for him. I hope that Stetson still chooses to go on a mission too. Yep, you guys need to learn Spanish because as of right now all of your sons are going to be speaking Spanish. I can't believe you won with that many mistakes, that's crazy. We must be really good or the team we played must be really bad. It sounds like Derek has been having a good year. Is that 2 interceptions? That's really good. How did the game against Firth go? That's good that the smoke has finally left, they need to be conditioning. I can't believe you are tired of picking rocks, and I can't wait to see the pictures of all those rocks and the mountains. When you send those pictures will you send me a picture of Daisy too? I really want a picture of her. This week has been a great week. I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks. I'm excited and nervous. Our teaching keeps getting better every week. We are asking more questions and it's nice because we can usually answer those questions now. Everything is going good.  Good luck in this next week. I love you all so much.
I hope everything goes well.

Love Elder Smith

Week #6-Life Lessons

Friday, September 28, 2012

That's great! I am so glad that Derek got an interception. It sounds like he is playing great. I wish I could watch him. I can't believe that Kirt called him on a pass interference-that's awesome! I'm glad Kirt could call it even if Derek is his nephew. That's a sign of a great ref. It sounds like Derek's team won. I have a feeling that they are going to win State. I don't know why. I just want them to beat Firth for sure. I REMEMBER how relieved I was when homecoming week was over. It was always so nice! I'm glad Derek had a good time and a good date. I would like to see a picture of her so I can know who she is. Jason and Tayler are coaching together. I bet that's a good team. I know Tayler will make a great coach. You learn so much being on the coaching side than the playing, but they are both fun! Tell Blake he will grow into his teeth and to be nice to those people that are always so mean. I hope Blake has some nice friends. Olivia is doing good. I didn't think I would have to worry about her. I'm glad she is improving at gymnastics and reading. I wish I could hear her read. It sounds like she is learning really fast because she couldn't read when I was home. Dad is a hard worker. Whatever happens it will be ok because Dad is the hardest worker I have ever seen. He is a great example to me of hard work on my mission. Thanks Mom for everything you have done. I'm sorry I always took advantage of those nice things you would do for me. This week has been going really well. Our lessons get bettter every time we teach. The language is so much better. I am to the point where I don't need any cheats in the lesson which is really nice! I need to keep working on rolling my Rs or I'm going to sound like a gringo forever if I can't do that. We baptized one of our investigators on Saturday. His name was Enthony, and he was so much fun to teach. We recieved a new investigator named Rafael. He really wants the gospel in his life. He has friends that are members that have really influenced him. We need to always remember people are always watching us for our example and how we act. We need to be good examples always. Oh, I think I forgot to mention this, but I was appointed district leader a couple weeks ago. It is really hard, but I'm learning so much. Thank you so much. Good luck in this next week.

Love Elder Smith

Week #5-Teaching, The Spirit, and Weight Loss

Friday, September 21, 2012

Hey Mom,

I did get your Dear Elder-it was awesome! Everything has been going good here. We are staying really busy. This week we got one of are investigators to commit to baptism on September 29th. It's so exciting. Our other investigator isn't doing too hot. He said baptism isn't for him. It's amazing how you can still follow the spirit when you teach a pretend investigator. It's amazing. When he was telling us baptism wasn't for him, I had a huge feeling I needed to read Moroni 10:3-5 and bare my testimony on praying and reading the Book of Mormon to find answers. Hopefully it worked. My companion thought it was perfect and perfect timing to do that; it was not even planned. I've been making sure to wake up early and work out hard on the gym time. I have lost three pounds, and all I do is sit and eat, so I'm excited I haven't put on too much weight. Well, I don't have any more time on the computer so I will write a letter. I have to cut it short because I have to go get a hair cut. Sorry. If I can finish the rest of my time later today, I will.

Week 4: Mail, Basketball, and "The Work"

Friday, September 14, 2012

Hey,

I'm glad Derek has a good team. I knew they would be good. I can't believe the smoke, that is crazy. I guess I left perfect timing, haha. I did see Spencer a few times, and we talked for a while a few times. I gave him my e mail so hopefully he will tell me how it is in the field. I'm ok with anything on the mail. I really don't care about being the coolest missionary; I just want to be the best missionary I can be. There was a quote from our devotional this Saturday. I don't have my talk book or my journal right now so I forgot who said it and the exact quote, but I will try. He said "Heavenly Father has a plan but how much we harvest is entirely up to you." That's what I'm trying to do-harvest as much as I can and get as much work done that I can in the little time that I do have to teach. I haven't got any pitty mail. I get some mail. I got some from Kayla and Tayler, and I get a letter from Paige every week. She says you have been going to her volleyball games. That really means a lot to her. We leave the MTC on October 23 so anytime around that time. I don't care what bike, I trust dad. Everyone is doing something different so I don't know. That is awesome that Ashlie had her baby. The family is going to be way bigger when I get home. How many people are in your gymnastic class? Everything is going really good here. I have been playing a lot of basketball My game is really starting to come back to me. Yesterday, when we played in a game, I hit 7 three piointers in a row. I haven't done that for a while, it felt nice and my knee is feeling really strong. The languge is coming. I get better every day. I'm to the point where I'm not nervous when I teach now, so that's good. It's nice when you get to the point where you can understand what people are saying. It makes you feel a little more confident, but the teachers are good at taking some of that confidence away so you keep working hard. In the Preach My Gospel chapter 10 it talks about how to teach and the best ways to teach if you want to go that way in your talk. I think a lot of people don't realize some really effective ways of teaching. Another thing to mention is that we don't teach for ourselves or to give ourself a pat on the back but it's for our brothers and sisters to come to the truth. That's the main purpose. One other thing is that the spirit teaches, but we still have to put the work in or be prepared to recieve that help from the spirit. How did it go with Mrs. Gott did she come to dinner? I sent her a letter so can you see if she got it? I'm sending pictures to Kayla so can you let Paige know how she can see them if she wants to? I dont really know what she [Kayla] is doing with them. Is there a lot planned for homecoming? That was always the worst part of homecoming was the planning? Everything is going good here. It's going by so fast, I can't believe I'm already 1/3 the way through the MTC. It's exciting! I'm glad to hear everything is going good. I love you and dad so much. Thanks for everything.

Love your son,
Elder Smith

Week 3: My Companion, Etc.

Friday, September 7, 2012

*Note: The first part of Ryan's email is in response to a missionary experience my mom had during the week. Hopefully, knowing that will help fill in some of the holes. :)

That is awesome! It's a great feeling when you know you are helping people. I got 2 new investigators this week and even though they are already members, you feel the spirit, and it helps you come up with Spanish words you don't know. I hope the best for her and her trials she is going to overcome. They never said it would be easy, but it's always worth it. She will love and become closer to the Lord if she can overcome these trials. I'm realy glad you are doing missionary work. I'm sure you are a great missionary! Preach My Gospel is a very effective tool, and I learn something from it everyday. Try talking. Tell derek to read a page a night after he reads his scriptures, and it will really help him be more prepared. That's awesome that Derek won his first game. How did he play? Did he start? I'm glad you are keeping me posted on the games. The language is really coming, but then some Taiwan missionaries asked if they could bear there testomonies, and I realized I'm very lucky I'm learning Spanish. I feel bad for Tayler-that would be hard. It's nice to know that with the Lord's help you can do anything. That's why I think I am learning so fast. I've learned more in the first week I was here than I did in all 2 years of school. I probably should have listened better. I'm doing really well. I'm really enjoying the MTC. My district is awesome we all get along really well, and they are all really funny. We actually play basketball together every day or sand volleyball. We are a really close district. My companion is a lot different than me. He got a 4.2 gpa (I don't even know how that is possible), and he got like a 33 on his ACT. He is very smart (not saying I'm not smart. haha!). He has a different personality than I do and a different sense of humor than I do, but I love him. For some reason we haven't had any problems, and we get along realy well. It's kind of funny because he does not like sports. haha! He didn't even watch the Super bowl, but he does like track and cross country so the last 10 minutes of gym I'll go run with him. He is from Ohio. Umm, haha, we are the exact same height! For some reason I feel like I'm taller than a lot of people at the MTC, its awesome! We attend the temple every P-day so today will be my second time going. We go in the afternoon. The second time was a lot easier. I'm glad everything is going good, and I can't wait to here about next week. :) How bad are the fires in Salmon? Can you send me a picture of Daisy? Every time I look at that picture of you guys I feel like part of the family is missing. THANKS!!!

Lover Elder Smith 

Week 2: Time is Flying By

Friday, August 31, 2012

Hola!

That stinks about Simon and the missionaries. I will make sure to talk to the parents personally. I hope his parents will come to be okay with him joining the church. I would have never guessed that Elizabeth would go to church. That is awesome. That is the cool thing about missionary work, you never know who you can affect by your example or many other things. I don't know what you can send us. He [my companion] has got a few packages with food in there, but we hardly ever eat it because we get fed so well. One thing that I could use though is one more long sleeve shirt. I thought I had more, but I only had one when I got here, and it would be really nice if I had another one for backup just in case I spill on the one I have or rip it. That would be very nice! This week has gone really fast, all the days seem to blend together. Tuesdays and Sundays are my favorite days. Those are the days we have devotionals and the general authorities and their wives talk to us. Their talks are so amazing! You learn so much! Everyone says the days are long and the weeks are short, and it's partly true. I think it's all short. When you're doing something every minute of every day it goes by really fast. I've been having a great time. I love reading in my scriptures. I read at least 30 minutes a day, and I wish I could read longer. My compenero and I have been teaching Abel, and it's going really well besides the Spanish. I don't always know what he is saying, but it will come. He keeps saying he hasn't got an answer. Hopefully, he gets one by tonight! In class we get to watch videos of families that were taught by the missionaries and how it has blessed there lives. Just watching those videos gives you the best feeling ever. I can't wait to see what that feeling is like when you're the one teaching the family. I bet it is amazing! Definitely, if you're doing for your brother and sister and not for yourself. I am glad to hear that everyone is doing good. I love all of you, and I wish you all the best of luck in every thing that you're doing. Tayler T, good luck in your last year of law school. I can't beleive you're that old. :) jk. I can't wait to hear from you again.

Love, Elder Smith

Oh ya, can you get me Jason Linger's address?
PS Keep working on that balance rope. I bet it's awesome!

Week 1: Life in the MTC

Friday, August 24, 2012

Hola!

My branch president said I could e mail you to tell you how I am doing. Since I have already done that in a letter, I'm just going to tell you what's going on. I´ve been having a great time. I have an awesome district, and we do a lot together. They all have strong testomonies. My companion is a really nice guy, and he is very good at spanish. He helps me out a lot. I am truly blessed to have him as my companion. Spanish is really frustrating because I feel like I´m so far behind in the language. Lots of the elders have taken a lot more Spanish classes than I have, and they probably listened better in those classes than I did, but it's coming along. I have loved being able to write in my journal. I wish I had more time to write in it. Tonight is my first discussion in Spanish, and I'm a little worried, but it will go fine. The living space is a little tight. We have 6 people in a room about the size of my room at home, but I like all my roommates. Oh ya, I saw Spencer [Bean] the first day right after you guys left. It was awesome! I haven´t seen him since, but I hope I do. I can only email you, and I only have 30 minutes on the computer so it would be best if they sent mail or there is a site called dear elder that they can send me. You can write me every day, and I will get it every day which is cool. So if people are wanting to write me, just tell them about that or they can send me a letter. They can even email me, but I will just be able to read it not reply back. I´m glad to hear everything is going good. I miss all of you too but it's only for 2 years. I want to know how football is going so keep me updated. Haha! I think the reason I´m speaking spanish is to learn patience because it seems like it's coming very slowly but I'm actually learning very quickly. 

I love you.

Elder Smith