Week 32 (December 26, 2016)

Wow first off, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! This past week was amazing and I am so very greatful for all that I have. Sorry if this letter is a little frazzled, but me and my companion were just robbed... And when we were writing earlier, these two men casually walked in and then shouted 'Yo voy a matar´ and then ripped out my USB with ALL OF MY PICTURES FROM MY MISSION and my memory card and adaptor which at that moment it just so happened that I was transfering my pics over to be as a backup. So my pictures and my back up pictures from my entire mission was stolen. and my companions camera, and memory card too.  Basically everything. BUT I am very greatful my camera was close to my hand kind of hidden and was luckily not stolen, but my memory card was in the computer not in my camera...  We are also very greatful that we were not touched and were not harmed in any way.  We also learned a valuable lesson that we have to be overly careful and protective all the time.  because we never know.  I am telling you this because I want you to know that even though my heart dropped at this moment, I know everything will be ok.  We are going to asked around from members and other missionaries to send us pictures. But the most important thing is that we are alive and were not harmed. Even though we were robbed, God was protecting us and I know that everything will be ok. It happened for a reason and all will be ok.

On a brighter side, IT WAS CHRISTMAS!! and after praying a lot to be at peace during christmas, I was!! and it was amazing!

First on thursday. We had a christmas mission party of half my mission on this side of the mission with President and his wife and there 5 kids. There were games like Uno and ping pong and all the Hermanas played hide and seek and it was great. and we all played dodge ball too! and for lunch we had real steak! with ketchup from the US! because the ketchup here is really gross so we were all really happy. We also went caroling as districts and had musically numbers that I was in with my zone and then another one with 5 other missionaries and an Hermana played the harp and it was lovely.  

This week we also hussled to get Nicole Chaves ready for baptism.

Friday was the ward christmas party which was so amazing and fun for us as missionaries to be part of a ward and feel the love from everyone.

And then Saturday, Christmas Eve, was the BAPTISM!! 5 People got baptized,  2 couples who one of them is in our ward Familia PenNa from the elders and we were so happy for them too! because they got married this week to! There 2 daughters are members already, one is a ward missionary and is amazing and goes with us to teach. One was an 8 year old from the ward, and another was from the zone leaders another couple.  It was a very special day for everyone and afterwards we went to the Familia Penas house and they shared Paneton and hot cholate milk (which is what everyone eats for christmas, and a lot of it.) Like a soft fruit cake. You can look it up. But it made for a wonderful day.

Then Sunday, we woke up and my mom had sent me a package which before when I opened it I teared up because it was basically christmas in a box and we also before decorated a paper christmas tree and had a few gifts and everything. So christmas morning we opened gifts and had a breakfast full of fruits like pear and oranges and apples and then had normal studies, which I read part of the Ensign of Jesus Christ and was just so greatful for Christ and that he could be born on this special day he atoned for our sins so we could return to live with god! It is so amazing this plan of salvation we have!

We went to church which started at 11:30 instead of 8 am which was nice and Nicole was confermed! Then we went to a members house and ate lunch and talked with our families!!! Which I am so very greatful for my family and instead of sad after, I was so happy and greatful for the opportunity. The rest of the day we contacted and taught a convert and finished visiting our duena or the person who owns our appartment who are members for sparklers. Which christmas eve apparently was a 20 min long firework show at midnight that woke up my comp and I was so tired I slepted through the whole thing!  But over all it was a great christmas and I am so very greatful for all I have and I am so very greatful for this gospel and I know it is absolutely true!!

I love you all!!

Love, Hna Smoot