Week 62 (July 24, 2017)

Me and my comp :)

An attemp to take a zone pic for pday as a zone

The sisters in the zone :)

Our house. We live on the 4th floor. but we are also moving this week to another house... The sister in the area next to us live in our area, and so they are moving to there area, and we are moving to there house because its bigger and better. and there landlord is a member.

Well, this week was actually a really good week. We had apartment clean checks from Hna Godfrey, and interviews with President Godfrey on Tuesday! Those are seriously always so great.  We talked about how to serve more with all our heart, might, mind, and strength (D&C 4:2).  And putting it into practice this week, I can really feel the difference. As we focus on our love for God, and all our many blessings, and the way we live our life is a way we can show our gratitude for those blessings and recieve even more. Which means we will alwasy be in debt to our heavenly father. So we must always be obedient to his commandments, but not just a basic obedience, but go above and beyond. Do the extra work. For example go early to church instead of on time. Or read a little bit long in your scriptures everday instead of just a brief reading. Being more sincere in your prayers instead of just praying. And as we do this we will see even more blessing in our lives :) Well, this week week we have been walking to place to place a little faster, using our time more effeciently and continuing to contact and we are using the list of members in our wards to find less actives and part member families. and we have been able to find a lot more new investigators! Which has also helped me have a little less stress.

Well, we are continuing to work with Aylin, who will be baptized August 12! She is 14 and comes to church every week and now her little brother (8) came yesterday too! Her mom doesnt care if they get baptized, but she doesnt want to participate. Hopefully down the road she will have a change of heart. But Aylin already has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is reading everyday!

We also visited this less active family who is the mom, and 3 daughters! (ages 19, 15, and 13 (Cielo, who isnt a member) and it totally reminded me of our family :) but this sunday, for the first time in 4 years, The daughter all came to church with there grandma! We were so excited to see them all walk in with there skirts and everything :)

Anyway, my comp is amazing and we laugh so much :) we have had some really fun moments together as we continue learning and growing. Also, my comp and I have started eating a little bit healthier, well what we can control, and we have been working even harder, and as a result we feel a lot better too. The stress from the mission will obviously always be there but right now, I am so happy and so happy to be here! I know this church is true! And I know that God loves each and everyone of you!

Keep reading the book of mormon EVERY SINGLE DAY!! and praying and going to church and you will see a Huge difference in your lives.

I love you all and I am praying for you. And for little Kali Pae :)

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 61 (July 17, 2017)

We wanted Mayumi to write about her baptism experience and she came up with this. We thought it was so cute!

FROM ALLY: 

Translation of the letter (rough because her grammar is from a small child and it's a little hard to read) :)

The letter says: I felt happy and peace and cold and content. I also felt the spirit. The brother baptized me. I was nervous and when he gave me the spirit.  I was happy because the missionaries helped me a lot. 

Pizza and cucumbers lol. HAPPY 1 YEAR HNA PARQUI!We used the sign from my 1 year mark :)

Cooking french toast again! But we had to do it on chairs because the outlet. haha

Wow, well to start off, I would like to congradulate my sister Ashley and her husband Derek for having there first baby! Im officially an aunt! Kali Pae Thompson 

This week was pretty interesting.  We had a lot of problems with the house. and this week we had people come and fix some stuff.  For example they added a water filter to our sink so we can now drink filtered water instead of using the water jugs every month and they fixed our very leaking toilet in our bathroom and when they were installing a new shower head to put in a different system of hot water (before would kind of shock us haha, kinda dangerous. dont worry we would just avoid touching the handle with our hand) they were drilling a hole into the wall to set it up and they acidently drilled through a water pipe! and it started leaking water all over our bathroom and appartment and it was basically a flood! We ran down stairs turned off the water, and they changed the pipe and fixed it all but didnt have time to install the hot water again. so for 4 days we had cold water. ouch. But I heated water up and used the bucket system to have hot water haha. 

and they came back and set up our old system.. this is when we just laugh and smile and remember that this is all part of the adventure of the mission haha.

Well, this week Cythia and Carmen (her mom) (investigators) came to church! They were references from a member that my comp found with her other comp and Cythia (25) works in the middle of the night and sleep during the day. So we were so excited when they came to church because we know she is so tired.

We are also teaching Edison. (19) who was also a reference from a member, his friend, and he doesnt have a phone. So it was kind of hard to get of hold of him. But we passed by the Market (he sells veggies) and he was there and we were able to set up another teaching appointment.

In all, Im still getting used to my new area. Our ward mission leader is amazing and so is the rest of the ward. My area is HUGE and so we walk and take motos a lot more.  But that just means there are more people to teach. :)

I love you all and I am so greatful for your amazing example to me!!  Thank you for your letters and support, because they mean the world to me.  The mission is a rollercoaster. or as my comp says, a garden of roses. Sometimes its a little rough but in the end its all worth it. I know this church is true and that the book of mormon is true!!  I love my new companion and my new area.  And even though lifes not perfect, keep enduring, keep smiling because I know everything will be ok :)

I hope you all have a beautiful week!

Love, Hermana Smoot

Week 60 (July 10, 2017)

A FHE with the Familia Lopez! 

... it was a busy night haha.

A FHE with the bishops family and Lorenzo and Raul!

Yep this was a thing that happened :) we went over to a members house for Pday and I made Chocolate chip cookies!! and my comp made coconut rice from colombia :)

Baptism of Sofhia and Mayumi!

Welcome sign with ward mission leader

Happy 4th of July!! With the gringas :) "USA" haha an attempt

My new companion hna Parqui! :) From Arequipa, Peru

Wow, well this week we had transfers on the 4th of July! Which nothing happens here for this holiday, obviously haha. but I got transfered!! I am now in the Area La Mar in the Zone Comas! and my new companion is Hermana Parqui from Arequipa Peru!  She is so amazing, is the only member in her family and is 33 years old.  I am excited for this transfer.  This could possibly be my last area, which is really crazy.

Cool expierience. On wednesday my knee was hurting a little, which it had not been much before, and so later that night we went in to a pharmacy to buy some icy hot.  Well, the lady at the counter (Evelyn)  started asking us about what we believe, who we are, where are we from, ect and we got a return apointment. Well we went back the next day and little store was closed, but another lady (Elena) was sitting out from and came up to us and said, "are you guys from the church of Jesus Christ of latter day sains?" and we were surprised but got talking to her, and she apparently had listened to the missionaries before a couple of years ago. Well, Elena came to church on sunday and we were able to teach her later, and Evelyn another day! but that was all from my knee hurting, which the next day didnt hurt anymore. It was really wierd. but I know God anwsers our prayers. and helps us in diferent and distictive ways. and we were able to get 2 new investigators from that experience!

And well, We also had a Baptisms!! well 2.  This saturday (my 5th day here haha we were able to witness Mayumi (age 13) and Sofhia (age 9) get baptized! What a special experience as well, when Sofhia´s dad, a recent convert of about 2 months got to baptize his daughter!

I am so excited to see what this area has in store for us and this transfer.

 I KNOW that this church is true!!

Keep reading the book of mormon EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! and God will bless you even more.

Pay your tithing and fast offerings and you will never lack the necesities.

I love you and hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 59 (July 3, 2017)

Our District

My Comp and I

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMANA PLAZA (from Colombia)

Lorenzo y Raul :)

Well, this week was pretty normal except yesterday was my comps birthday! So since I already had stuff from my birthday, we put up the birthday sign and blew up some baloons on saturday night for the floor.  I hope she had a good day :)

Well on monday we had pday as a district, so we had pizza from pizza hut and played Uno and half (or a 20 min of.. its a really long game) of Monopoly :) and watched Facing the Giants. which all was a really fun day.

This week we have also continued working with Lorenzo, who separated from his wife, who doesnt want to listen to us, and doesnt want to get a divorce to her other husband before, to get married to Lorenzo.  Its really complicated, but Lorenzo really wants to get baptized! So in order to live the law of chastity, he decided to move out. So we will continue working with him for his baptism hopefully July 22.

We are also continuing working with Jhonatan, who wants to get baptized, but wants to be more sure, before. But he is already planning on a mission haha so I dont know why he is waiting so long. but thats when we learn patience :)

Well, tonight we find out transfers! Which I am pretty sure I will be leaving, but then again we never know.

I am so greatful for this opportunity to be here! This transfer my comp and I have really been focusing on FAITH.  Because if we set goals, then doubt that we wont complete them, we arent going to complete them, but as we set goals by the spirit, trusting in god to help us know what to do, where to go, and who to talk to to complete our goals, he will help us! And we have found a lot more success in finding new investigators!  We can apply this not only in the mission but in our real lives too! AS we obey gods commandments, having the faith and trust that he will help us and bless us, he will bless us! We must do all we can and then thats when those miracles come.  I am so grateful for all of you and all your support.  Trust in god with all your heart and all will be ok. It might not be easy, but it will be worth it.

Thank you for your love and support.

I know this church is true! and that the book of mormon is true and that Jesus is the Christ, our savior and redeemer. 

I hope you all have a beautiful week!

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 58 (June 26, 2017)

SUBWAY :)

Temple!

We saw Hno Miguel at the temple!! (ward mission leader in my first ward) what a happy reunion.

And we also saw the other sisters there too haha. So many missionaries went this day.

Well, This week was actually a really good week! We had our once a transfer zone conference with president which is always so amazing! Our mission is really focusing on Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts. So we had practice in our conference in front of our leaders, with real investigators! A little nerve racking but all went smoothly. But we have really been focusing on helping them have a strong testimony before there baptism.  Its been going really good.

Oh we also got our flu shot here too. just to let you know.

This week we also went to the TEMPLE!! But we didnt participate  in anything becuase we went with our converts to do baptisms! And so with our Ward Mission Leader and his wife, we went with Raul and Miguel! and It was such a special experience to see them in the temple to do baptisms.

Our investigators are progressing really well and we continue to find more. Our mission pres is always giving us new ideas on how to find more investigators and so we have been putting them into practice.  

On saturday we were walking and this guy, Efrain, shouted from across the park "hey what message do you have for me today?" We were a little starteled because near by were also men drinking, so we didnt know if he was one of them or not. But we got talking to him and he ended up being an old investigator who had had problems with his wife (not married) before, but now they are separated. We taught him L1 right there on a park bench and he was very interested. He came to church the next day, and we can tell that maybe about a year ago with the other missionaries wasnt his time, but maybe now is. We are excited to see what happens.

I know that heavenly father knows us and loves us perfectly.  I am so very greatful for the opposition in life so that we can truly know the joy!

I love you all and am so greatful for all your love and support.

Praying for you always.

         Love, Hna Smoot

PS:  HAPPY 22th BIRTHDAY on June 30 ALLY!!! LOVE YOU!

Week 57 (June 19, 2017)

I got the package! Thanks so much mom! LOVE YOU!

My scriptures official fell apart... but I glued it back together with super glue, so all is well
 haha.

This week was a really good week.

On monday we had Pday as a Zone and played games on the basketball court of different group games and it was a blast.

 Also, we have been really focusing on finding more people everyweek to teach, so we can have even more investigators at church. And God has been blessing us. 

We are mostly working with Jhonaton, who is still confused, but is still reading the Book of Mormon, praying and going to church! but we will just have to wait it out and see if he wants to get baptized, because we have literally tried so many things, but we will continue to pray for him. So as for now he is making slow progress.

And Lorenzo (about 55), who is a friend of Raul! and wants to get baptized! but is living with his girlfriend who is married and needs a divorce.. this is sadly common here. Divorce is a long hard process here so we will see what happens. But he came to church even after working all night long saturday night and he didnt sleep at all! Went from work to church at 8 am and stayed for the 3 hours! We are so excited for him.

This week was also FATHERS DAY! So first happy fathers day to all you fathers!! and future fathers. And this week we tried focusing in on how we can honor our Heavenly Father on this special day by going to church and it really made a difference! We had a lot more people come to church this week! :)

I am excited to see what happens in our area. Combios are sadly in 2 weeks.. and its most likely that I will go.. we will see. but I hope all goes well with our investigators.

I know this church is true! And something that I have really learned here on the mission is that when we are obedient and trust in god and try our best, we dont need to worry. God is going to bless us! So in those moments of dificulties keep your head up and trust in god because all will be well.  God is on your side :)

I love you all and hope you have a BEAUTIFUL week!

Love, Hna Smoot

PS:  this week for one of lunches was boiled chopped potatoes with chopped pig fat with the skin and little hairs connected still.  That one I couldnt do. haha but we had a good laugh about it after as my companion tried hiding some of it in a baggy in her pocket LOL. The adventures of a mission.