Week 10 (July, 25 2016)

Wow I cant believe its been 10 weeks. So crazy. As the days go on and the weeks go by I am learning more everyday, but have much more to learn and grow into the missionary I want to become.  The language is still hard, but I have the hang of enough I can (with a little help from my companion) say a little of what I want to say in the lessons. Next week is transfers! And so if my companion, Hna Chiguano, goes (and there is a chance she might) then I will just have to pray. A lot. because she is awsome. but change is good, its how we grow.  I know heavenly father will help me regardless if I have faith and put faith into action. 

Last week for Pday we went to CENTRAL LIMA!!! Which was so cool!! We first went to the big massive futbol stadium here in Lima.  kind of under and to the side of the stadium is a huge boxing ring, like in Rocky.  It was the first time I have seen one in real life and one of our zone leaders, Elder Von Gunten, baptized one of the managers there a while back so we got a free tour of the stadium and so they had 2 boxers come out and box for us. It was so cool. Then the next part of the stadium was a national Ping Pong area. And then the stadium. We got to go out by the field and sit where the players wait and stuff and it was so huge! It was a lot of fun. (lots of pics). Then we went ot the mall and we ate at Subway! It was pretty much the same but slightly different. There were also huge ancient buildings we saw that the catholics built a while back and it reminded me a lot of europe.

This past week I also, as part of my training, watch a ton of "The District" training videos, and it got me really motivated to be a preach my gospel missionary.  It can be frustrating sometimes when I want to be some amazing missionary, but dont know how.  This is where I am practicing my patience and the lord is humbling me so I can learn and grow. but things are going good.

Last week I forgot to mention, but I felt my first EARTHQUAKE!! it was really small so they say its just a "temblor" or like a small vibration. It was actually really cool. We were standing out side at like 6 pm and we felt it.

We also continue to teach lots of people and we had a reference of a member for the university, and we taught in the church Liz, and her best friend (the member). The second lesson, we taught with 2 elders there and they looked at me and said in english, "invite her to me baptized", and so for the first time in real life, I invited her to be baptized and she said yes! It was so amazing. And then they both came to church on Sunday! Also Antonio's (who we baptized and married, with a crutch) wife Sara is getting baptized at the end of the month! It is all so exciting and I am so happy for them. They want to be sealed in the temple in a year.

I know this gospel and this church ish true and I know that heavenly father hears and anwsers our prayers! I know the Book of Mormon is true and that god loves and knows each one of us. I am so glad I am here and even though the language is hard sometimes, I know heavenly father will and is helping me learn it.  I love you all! Thank you for all your love and support!

Love,

Hermana Smoot 

Week 9 (July 19, 2016) P-day in Central Lima-I tried Tocosh, and Molleja!

Hello family and friends! 

This week our Pday was changed to tuesday because we are going to Central Lima today! But last week we went to the big mall Plaza Norte as a Zone and ate at Chiles! it was great. The mall was almost exactly like the states and even had an H&M! 

On Wednesday we had service! and for our service project we painted the living room walls of a less active.  It was actually a lot of fun and I always love big service projects like that. Before the service project, my district made me and this other new elder to try Tocosh. Look it up cant I cant explain it but its basically a drink smoothie thing that is made from rotten potatoes.  It was so gross but its all part of the experience. haha Oh and on Sunday I tried Molleja which is the red flappy part on the neck of the chicken grilled. again super wierd, but different.  They eat literally the entire chicken but the bones. even the feet.  lets just say I am still getting used to the food here. and the amount they give you... which I found out it is rude to not eat everything, so I always try. 

On thursday we had interviews with the new Mission President, President Godfrey. He is amazing and I am excited to see what happens in the future. He served his mission in Venezuala and understands us and was really helpful.  We also had clean checks which our apartment was dirty when I got there and didnt even relize it could get so clean! I forgot to take a pic, so I will this week.  

My spanish is getting better but i wish I was picking it up faster than I am, but this week I relized that I need to set better goals for my self and figure out how to take everything one step at a time.  There is so much I have to learn, but first I need to learn how to organize everything so I can learn it. It can be frustrating when I cant understand people when it is important but my companion is amazing and patient with me.

I am learning so much and the holy ghost is amazing. Heavenly Father anwsers prayers in amazing ways. Satan knows exactly how to tempt you and push your buttons, but heavenly father is stronger. Hold to the rod and he will guide you on the right path! I love the people here so much and I love the gospel! I know the church is true! Thank you for all your love and support! 

I love you all!

Love Hna Smoot

We we able to eat at CHILES! Yum! 

FUN AT THE MALL! 

AFTER OUR DISTRICT MEETING...I LOOK LIKE A GHOST COMPARED TO ALL THESE LATINOS ;)

Week 8 (July 11, 2016)

Hna Chicano, my companion

Hola Everyone!

Wow yesterday marked 2 months in the mission and tomorrow is 3 weeks in the field! Time is flying by yet going slowly at the same time. I dont even know. My companion gave me a card she made and some chocolate congradulating me.  She is so cute.

Last week for pday as a zone, after getting it approved, we watched Disneys BUGS LIFE!!! In spanish with English Subtitles. It made me so happy, especially since it was the 4th of July! Nothing really happened for the 4th of July, as expected, the other American Sister did where red and white and stripes. It was great. I hope you all celebrated and had fun. It just made me really greatful for our country and for everything in my life.

On Tuesday we had exchanges with our awesome Sister Training Leaders. I went with  Hna Adams (american) and Hna Ricconi, and then Hna Samudio (they are a trio) went with my companion in my place.  This was the first of Im sure many, but I slepted over at there apartment and everything. I actually really enjoyed being in a different place for a change even though its a little overwhelming at times learning everything, and its definetly a work in progress, but our STLs are amazing.  I shared my testimony with an investigator who didnt have time for us to come inside and teach her so we shared a scripture with her. and she was really closed off and then when I bore my testimony her body language changed and her heart was softened. It was so amazing.  I guess I really can make a difference.

Spanish... my spanish is also a work in progress, but I feel like I am almost to the point where I am "functional" which is where I was supposed to be as I left the MTC, which I wasnt, so I went back to the beginning of the MTC book and relearned everything like the different congegations of have, should, can, need, etc. Which it helped a TON.  

I have also been praying not only for the gift of tongues, but for the interpretation of tongues, because when I first got here, I had no idea what everyone was saying. but within this past week, I have been able to understand, only in the lessons which I thought was interesting, but I could understand, not completly but enough.  Truly amazing and definetly help from God.  

We are teaching so many people.  Yesterday a recent convert of about 6 months called us and so we went to this house and tought this girl who is 15, PREGNANT, and living with her recently 18 inactive boyfriend.  All I could think of was McKenna is 15!  But as we taught she seemed interesting and I hope she can feel gods love for her!

I love the people here so much!! I know this church is true with all my heart! I know god workd in amazing ways and you can always pray to him for help, guidance, comfort, peace, etc.  And if you are doing good, pray and thank him for all you have!! He is one of my best friends! He is waiting for you.

I know with out a doubt I am supposed to be here and I know He will provide a way for me to learn what I need to learn and do what I need to do to teach His gospel and bring others unto Christ.  I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!!

Love, Hermana Smoot

A hermano in our ward leaving for the Provo MTC!  His mission is the Pocatello Idaho mission!! So exciting. We basically are switching places.

Our view from our apartment. There are mountains behind that pollution and there is the radom soccer field of cement. 

Papa Johns

SaveSave

Week 7 (July 4,2016)

Wow! This week has gone by faster than the last! The language is still a struggle bus, but poco a poco, little by little.

First off, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! Its so exciting even though Im in another country who doesnt celebrate and only the other american missionaries get it, but I am wearing red white and blue today! And I decorated the page in my planner.

The best I could do for my 4th of July outfit! 

On Monday we got a phone call saying our water was going to get turned off in our area for 5 days!! but tuesday came and we still had water! Then Wednesday, the water stopped working! Then Thursday it came back on! I dont really know what will happen but if it does I just keep thinking Girls Camp and hope for the best. :) 

Wednesay we had a SERVICE PROJECT!!! We went to a members house which was tall and skinny and ended up being 5 stories tall! the first 2 floors were his house, then the 3rd and 4th floors were a T shirt Factory! We ended up using tag guns and put the paper tags with barcode on the tshirts! it was so cool. The cloth tags were in English so I dont know if they were being sold to tourists or going to the states but the cloth tag said 'These were baked espesially for you!' it was so funny. Then afterwords he brought us to the 5th floor and I walked in to a huge room full of chickens in cages!  Then to the right there was an octogon ring! They were wrestling chickens! So crazy! My companion held one of the adults but i was too 'chicken' (haha so punny) and just held one of the baby chicks. We got to see 2 wrestle and it was so weird and crazy! haha

Thursday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLY!! We went to meet our new mission president, President Godfrey who served his mission in Venezuala and his wife started learning spanish in January so she is still learning. They seem like amazing people and they brought 3 of there 5 kids here, ages 12 boy, 15 boy, and 17 girl. So exciting and crazy.

Friday we had another BAPTISM!! A lot smaller croud being only his immidiate family but Epson, a ten year old boy who's mom and 2 sisters are members. Like the others, I only thougt him about 3 times, but I was still so happy and excited for him! We cleaned the font before because it smelled really wierd and it was totally worth the smile on his face as he came out of the water! Gods work is amazing work! I love this gospel so much and hope one day I will be able to be fluent in the language, know the lessons well and just focus on inviting others to come unto christ!

Saturday after we started our fast after lunch (thier biggest meal) one of the zone leaders, Elder Von, from utah so he spoke English! came to teach with us with Hno Miguel, a member, as his companion. After one of the lessons the recent convert from last week, Antonio gave Elder Von a wierd juice smoothie type drink to try and after he drank it Antonio motioned for me to try it. I was hesitant and looked at Elder Von who said in English in a whisper, just drink it, so we wouldnt offend him, so I took a sip and at first it was ok and then the after taste was really bad. my companion took a sip and then said in spanish something of the sort, Oh my gosh its FERMENTED! So I drank a fermented drink almost threw up on the way to the next appointment. ... the adventures of the mission.  AND we forgot we were fasting so I could have gotten out of it! 

Anyways, At the end of almost every lesson my companion motions to me and I have the opportunity to testify in the little spanish I know, but as I do my testimony grows and hopeful the people we teach as well.  I know this church is true and that the book of mormon is true! I love this gospel and I know heavenly father loves and knows each one of us perfectly and personally! I love the people here and know without a doubt I am supposed to be here! I love you all and hope you have a fantastic holiday and week!

Love, Hna Smoot