Week 14 (Aug. 22, 2016)

Hola Familia y Amigos!

First off, I love you all and I am so greatful for all your amazing examples to me!  This week we taught a reference that lived in the Hills. Which I didnt even know was part of my area which I thought was all flat. But like in pictures you have probably seen we climbed the hill and then lots of stairs and got to Belma´s house. Then after teaching her a couple of times she said she got a job that is on sundays so she cant come to church. she went once last week.  But I know one day hopefully she will come to know that this church is true.

I also ate DUCK this week at a members house for lunch. Thats a new one. and it didnt taste bad but it was just wierd because its duck.

We also went to Plasa Norte for Pday again which is the big mall an hour away with our zone. It was fun to window shop but I didnt buy anything.

This week was very interesting and as I continue on I am learning a lot. Not only the language, the lessons and docterine, but also also about myself.  I was having a hard time with everything, which dont worry, but I knew that I would eventually be able to learn this language and learn everything but I was being impatient and just kept thinking WHEN? Then my companion found this quote that really helped me but I forgot it at my house, but it goes something like this:  "It will all work out, Its not as bad as you think it is. Just keep praying, keep pressing forward in faith  and the lord will hear your prayers." It was longer but that is the basics of it.  And it is right.  Also so many times this week during personal study there were scriptures about this same concept. and I cant remember where but it says "all things are possible which are expiedent of me" And its true. I just have to keep enduring and keep pressing forward with faith because I know one day I will be able to speak this language and teach with confidence. I dont know when and I dont know how but I know everything will be ok.

I know the book of mormon is true and that this gospel and church are true!! I know God hears our prayers and loves each and every one of us very much! 

I love you all!

Love, Hna Smoot

Hey Lilly! I found PADDINGTON in Peru! (in Plaza Norte)

In the hills with Belma!

We we are with Hna Edith. She is so awesome. She is a convert of about 10 months.

Here we are with our ward mission leader. He is a clown but also a mechanical Engineer, so he came over after a gig to take pictures with us. 

This is a MOTO which is how we get around in the city. A member drives this for  his job so he let us take a photo. We usually of course sit in the back!

Week 13 (Aug 15, 2016)

Hello from Peru!

This week was interesting with again, ups and downs, but its all part of the learning process. I am learning more about patience and charity and praying for both and its amazing as we earnestly pray for something, with real intent, God blesses us.  And as I prayed my atitude changed.  A positive atitude is the key! Actitud Positivo!

Last week for Pday we got to watch another aproved from president Disney movie! And guess what we watched! FINDING DORY!! Except it was in Spanish with no subtitles this time, so I will definetly need to rewatch it when I get home. 

I also tried Gollo, which if you remember those fighting chickens from that one members house, its that. Its like chicken but for some reason it was dark brown and really hard to chew.. not really sure.

My spanish is still mas or menos but I can almost say what I would like to say in lessons. Its really simple and some words I stumble over or dont know but with more practice and more studying, I will be able to expand my vocabulary and speak hopefully more smoothly.

On Thursday we went to the Doctor, finally, for my companion.  She has had a really bad cold with a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneazing, etc for about 3 months.  Which is a really long time and nothing has worked. We thought she had a sinus infection, but the doctor put a long camera up  her nose and it might be a tumor in her sinus. We dont know. She is taking more medicine. But on the way to the hospital, we were waiting for a certain bus that would go to that area, because we had just missed the first one, and as bus after bus passed, none of them were it.  We waited for 15 min and still nothing.  I finally said a prayer, praying we could be on time to the appointment and the bus could come, and not a minute later the bus pulled up and the light turned red and we ran to it. The busses dont really stop here.  It was truly an anwser to prayer and made my eyes water.  

I love this gospel so much and I am so greatful for the opportunity to be here and spread the gospel! The people here are amazing! I know the church is true and the book of mormon is true! I know that god loves and knows each one of us!

Love you all!

Hna Smoot

THREE MONTH MARK TODAY! My comp gave me this!  

An RM came back to the mission to visit and gave us some candy from the US! It made me so happy! 

I finally got myself scripture cases! They were only like $4 each!

At a recent converts house of about 10 months. She not in the pict but the Hermano is the ward mission leader. The rest of us are missionaries.

Week 12 (Aug. 8, 2106)

Hello!

This week was full of ups and downs but its all part of the growing process so don´t worry. I think it was on Tuesday or Wednesday, but during companion study we were doing practices and I just could not get the language or what I was supposed to do. So I was really down. And later I was talking with my zone leader (from utah so he speaks english) and he said to read in PMG Christ like attributes and read Patience. So I did and I relized that I needed to be more patient with myself and with the whole learning process.  I know that I have the potential to be a good missionary, but for now I just have to be patient with myself and trust in Gods timing. I also relized that I was not getting spiritual food from the book of mormon because my world is in spanish and I dont understand spanish completly. And so because I wasnt reading it in English the spirit wasnt really with me.  So this week I started reading the Book of mormon in English for 5 minutes at the end so I could at least get a little out of what I was reading, and honestly, I could feel a difference. I love the BoM and know it is true!! 

I really do love it here and love all the people. They are truly amazing. We have one investigator Liz, who is a college student and her best friend is a less active.  She has come to church the past 3 weeks! and she has a date set for her baptism and I am so excited! 

We also teaching this family and they came to church and they have a 6 year old and a 3 year old and so when we sat next to them at church it reminded me of lilly and made me so happy. The kids here are so adorable!

I know without a doubt I am supposed to be here and that the lord will help me with all my doings. I am so greatful for all of you and your love and support! I know this church is TRUE!!

Love, Hna Smoot

ME AND MY COMP

EATING AT KFC!! LAST DISTRICT PICTURE! 

Week 11 (Aug 1, 2016) Sara got baptized, Lamb head soup, Visa!

This week was my first CAMBIOS!! (transfers) Well today we found out and then tomoorrow it all changes. It is also the first cambios with our new president so no one new what was going to happen. Luckily, me and my companion Hna Chiguano are not being transfered so she will finish my training!

On Tuesday we woke up at 3:45 am to be at the mission offices at 5:45 am which is really far away by taxi. Then with Hna Richardson, my comp from the CCM! and 2 other Latino Elders, we went to immigrations. And so I finally got my VISA!!! Yay! And then afterwords for lunch I dont know who decided, but we went to MCDONALDS.  I have not eaten there since 7th or 8th grade (besides their icecream) and so because there was no where else to eat, I ate there! I got a chicken sandwhich and it tasted like Wendys. but I took a pic because it actually a big accomplishment for me haha.  What is this world coming to.  

Tuesday afternoon we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders and Hna Chiguano went to there area and Hna Adams from Utah came to my area and I had to direct where we were going and who we were going to and I prayed really hard before and even though some appointments fell through, everything went okay. We street contacted a lot. It was fun to do a 24 hr. exchange and have a "sleep over" with another Gringa! She has 3 months left and so she gave me lots of good tips.  

One lesson we had was with a family who was a reference from a member Jordon, a 21 year old who just got his mission call to Ecuador and is the only member in his family! Truly amazing. We taught his sister in law and his brother. They have 2 little girls ages 3 and 5. so cute. Reminded me of Lilly! But Hna Adams invited them to be baptized and they said yes! (second lesson) The spirit was so stong and it made me so happy! I hope everything works out. 

On Thursday as part of our lunch we got this soup called (in Spanish) Head of Lamb Soup. And so there was a piece of lamb head in my soup and I the broth and tried the meat but just could not finish it. My companion was in the same boat and so we put both pieces in one bowl and put the empty bowl on top. We are terrible. I know. :) Oh I also ate pig liver which looked like beef but it wasnt. with really good pasta with creamish orange colored sauce, so the spegetti was good, but liver not so much. Lunch is always a suprise.

On Saturday Sara, Antonios wife who we baptized at the end of last month and married them,  got BAPTIZED!!  It was my first convert I taught from the beginning and I am so excited for them. Antonio is preparing to recieve the priesthood!! They live with there daughter, niece, and a couple other people in a house with dirt floors and half a roof.  They dont have much but it is amazing the sacrifices people make for the true gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I know this church is true and I am so greatful for the opportunity I have to be here. and for all your love and support.  I know without a doubt I am supposed to be here. Be greatful for all you have. Seriously. That doesnt mean you have to give up what you love, but recognize Gods hand in your live and all he has given you. Count your many blessings every day!

I love you all!

Love, Hna Smoot