Week 71 (September 25, 2017)

Last district meeting of the transfer!

Ward Activity!

Hermana Luna!! She lives in my area!! She was my teacher in the CCM (MTC) and she was engaged back then. Now she is married and has a baby!!! So crazy how time flies!

Well, this week was a pretty good week. We are continuing to contact, find, and teach, and well, do things missionaries do haha. but this week was General Womens Conference! Which was so amazing and if you didnt watch it, its not to late! Its on lds.org. so Go watch it! 

On tuesday we had a work visit (splits) and I went to the area of the STLs and it was so fun to work with Hermana Workman again.  (shes from Hawaii, but grew up in Michigan)

And on Friday, we had a ´´Welcome to Spring´´ ward activity that the ward council put on with the ward mission leader. (saturday was officially the first day of spring and its funny because you all are getting colder, while here is getting warmer!) But the activity was a success and tons of people brought friends and we were about to get a lot of referals which is always good. and a ton of inactives and less active members were able to come as well! In all, it all went well, except it started 1 and a half hours late.. welcome to peru ... :)

And I also learned something this week that I have no idea I just barely learned it now! but WHISTLING inside of a house is REALLY disrespectful. Like its a lack of respect for the people... I was just humming along /whisting a hymn quietly while we were waiting for a member, and from the back room said, Whos whistling?! and my comp nudged me and told me to stop and I said, Why, what happened? and she explained that its a lack of respect... Oh well. the joys of the mission.  

But we are continuing to work with PATRICK! who will get baptised October 7! and is really faithful to coming to church. He is 8 years old (parents are non members) and when we asked him to be baptised, he got SOO excited and with a huge smile  said YES YES YES!!  (his sister is our recent convert Aylin)

We are also working with Jose Mattos, who we found street contacting! his extended family are members and after attending church, reading the book of mormon and praying he wants to get baptised!! So we set the date for 14 oct!

We also had a miricle this week. We got a phone call one morning from an old contact we had only taught twice, and then we let her go, because she was never home. Well she told us she wanted us to come over to her house to teach her at 5pm. and she also sent us a text meassage to remind us to come at 5pm. We were really surprised, and excited as well! because normally they never call us, we always have to call them. Well, we went at this time, and she, and 4 other friends and her sister were there waiting and it was amazing and such a tender mercy and we were able to teach them Lesson 1 and had 5 new investigators! We will see what happens but it was definetly an anwser to prayer!
I know this church is true and that this gospel is true!! I love being a missionary, even with its Up and Downs, but thats just what makes rollercoasters fun.  although scary at times, as we press forward with faith we will be able to do the lords will instead of ours and be blessed for it in the end. I love you all and am so very greatful for your amazing examples.

Tengan una bonita semana,

Love, Hermana Smoot

Week 70 (September 18, 2017)

Play as a zone! Futbol (soccer) and skits and lunch at a restaurant  called TAKE!

Conference with Elder OAKS!!! So amazing!! 

Our whole mission went and so I also saw hermann Richardson (my comp in the CCM!) which I haven't seen in 6 months! I also saw my daughter and my granddaughter!!! So fun :)

Zone Conference with President Godfrey! :)

The door or a members house haha

Wow this week was amazing! because we had the AMAZING opportunity to shake hands with and hear from an apostle, ELDER OAKS!!! On Wednesday morning we left as a zone in a rented bus and met our mission at the church right next to the area offices and the MTC in Lima and as the assitant to president led us to our seats in the chapel, we were led to the very. front. row!! we were so excited but also maintaining our reverence in the church haha.  Well there ended up being almost 600 missionaries, with 3 different missions.  (lima west, lima central, and us lima north)   We should hands with Elder Oaks, his wife, Bishop Cuesse the presiding bishop who also spoke, and some other people. All 3 of our mission presidents spoke too.  It was so amazing and they talked about how repentance isnt just for unworthy people to become worthy (short gap) but for worthy people to become perfect! (huge gap to perfection)  and so as we repent everyday all day becoming better coninually, god will help us live happier better lives, becomeing closer to god every day also as we partake of the sacrament weekly.  It was so good and the spirit was so strong! He also talked about praying with real intent, how we must teach our investigators that  they cant just ask god if the book of mormon is true, but with real intent, means they are actually going to act upon there anwser. Like ''God, if you tell me if this church is true, I will follow, and become baptised'' and how its not just for our investigators, but for us too. to recieve anwsers to prayers!  We learned so much and I will never forget the spirit felt there.

It was also so fun to see Hna Richardson, Hna Velasques (my daughter in the mission) and my grandaughter! (her daughter) and so many people i havent seen in forever.

We also had zone conference this  week with president godfrey and hna godfrey made homemade peanut butter cookies for everyone. SO GOOD.

And my comp and I also talked in church!! a little nerve racking because they were 10 and 15 min talks but it was about missionary work and with preparation, everything went smoothly, and it was my first talk where I didnt read word for word entirely. so I thought it went ok :)

We did have a cool experience this week. We were on our way to an appointment and passed by this man sitting outside his house. Jose Mattos. We asked him if he liked to read etc and explained about the book of mormon. Well, he ended up being related to this really faithful member family that lives in my companions old area. He couldnt really talk in that moment, so we set another appointment and went with a member at taught lesson 1 and invited him to church using 5 reasons why he should go to church our president taught us. and on sunday, HE CAME TO CHURCH!! We were so excited and later we passed by his house to see how things went, and he had read the book of mormon! 3 Nefi 11 and now he is going to pray about it. It was such a tender mercy from the last week and I am pretty sure we had all those difficulties from our other investigators so that we could appreciate more when we do have successes. 

We are also working with Katerine, who listened to missionaries when she was really little but never got baptized. Now she is 20 and came to church this week! we invited her to be baptised, but she wants to be more sure before she accepts. So we asked her, When you come to know that the book of mormon is true, and that this really is the church of Jesus christ, will you follow the example of Jesus christ and be baptist? and she said YES! She wants to be apart of this church, but she just wants to be more sure before she accepts a date. which is totally fine and we are going to be patient, but persistant with her.

but i know this church is true!! I know that god really does anwser prayers!! I love you all and I am so greatful for all your support!

Love, Hna Smoot

Have a beautful week!

Week 69 (September 11, 2017)

Happy birthday Hermana Parqui!!

Well, this week was a tough one, but full of miracles. 

First off, can you believe that today marks 16 years since 9/11! 

Also this week my comp's bday was on friday! She turned 34 and we bought a little cupcake to celebrate. and made PANCAKES!! first time in the mission.  it was good, but not like the box mix. haha first time my comp had tried them though.

Well this week we had really been focusing on teaching repentance, and about the sacrament and the sabbath day to all of our investigators. and when sunday rolled around, well, not one showed up.  We did have however some kids that had been attending (4) that we hadnt gotten there permission so they didnt count as investigators in the chapel.

We were actually pretty sad about it because that meant that not even Carmen or Cynthia (that were going to have there baptism interview after church) came. We werent sure what to do so we went into an empty classroom and said a kneeling prayer and asked god to help us know what to do. We had prayed before about our goal for baptisms this month and recieved the answer of 4, so we know that there are 4 people ready. and so we prayed for the faith necesary to do all that we need to do and for a miracle. so after we prayed we talked about our options. and Patrick came to my mind. (age 8, the brother of our convert Aylin who go baptised about a month ago) He told us Saturday that he wanted to get baptised, and so instead of going wednesday like we had planned we passed by that afternoon and were able to get his baptismal permission from his mom, who at first was a little hesitant!  We are also going to work with him and his parents so that he can get baptised! He is 8 years old but is reading every day in the book of mormon on his own!, praying, and going to church faithfully with his sister. We dont know what will happen but we know that what ever happens will be the lords will.

I know that all will be well and I love you all!

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 68 (September 4, 2017)

These are the pics of our house that I finally took. (Our new house from 1 month ago.) We like it a ton more!

All cooking in the kitchen

Lunch is all ready

Gringas vs Latinas :)

Stake conference was this week and with Elder Espinoza (from the 70)

Wow, time is just flying by so fast.

This week was a good/normal week.  We had interviews with president which are always amazing!! and he told me I only had 2 more interviews with him.. So crazy.

But last week for pday we had Pday as Hermanas! (sister missionarys) so all the sister missionaries in our zone and the zone next to us got together and we went to the store and bought all the stuff needed, and went to a members house and all the Latinas made Lomo Saltado (a dish from peru) and all the gringas (americans) made tacos..and yes we know that that is a dish from mexico haha but they hardly make it here and for some reason we eat alot of mexican food in the states, so we made that :) Then we watched The Errand of Angels movie. Which was fun to watch because its about sister missionaries :)

This week none of our investigators with baptismal dates (4) came to church this week. We were really bummed, and Cielo (age 13) wont come to church if her gma doesnt go, and her gma is out of town for 2 weeks.. so her baptismal date fell, and we are going to pray for guidance on what to do /how to help her. And the others were sick or with family.. so we are praying for Carmen, Cythia and Nancy as well.  

But we did have a family, Marta and Javier, with there 2 kids come to church!! They were old investigators we had wanted to visit forever ago but finally went this week. and when we taught them they seemed really interested. Just days before we had walked out side of our house (they live on the same street as us) We saw a women (who we found out later was Javiers sister) with a child in her arms unconsious, screaming HELP ME HELP ME! A man rushed to help her and they rushed off to the hospital. Apparently her son had fallen of a balcony stairs in beetween the 2nd and 3rd floor. We said a prayer for this little boy Juaquin and the family and 2 days later passed by for Marta and Javier. They said that the little boy lived and after surgery is recovering nicely! I know that it wasnt just our prayer, but many prayers of family and friends that this little 5 year old boy is ok. But we came at such a time where they needed peace and were able to find it. I know that God really does anwser prayers!

I know that the church is true and that god loves each and everyone of us!

Keep doing good things and serve someone every day!

Love,

Hermana Smoot

Ps, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! August 31! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Week 67 (August 28, 2017)

We found mac and cheese and made it on P-Day :)
#mychildhood
I was really excited!

This week was a pretty normal but good week.  We are working hard to complete our goals and trying to find new investigator always.  What was really amazing this week was that we were able to set baptismal dates with Carmen and Cynthia (mother and daughter) (50 and 24)who havent really felt sure about baptism but this week we focused in on them and there testimony and not want to pressure them into it, and one day we went over to there house to teach them and in the middle of the lesson they were like oh, ya we want to get baptised! and we were like ok! and we set a date for Baptism! After 3 months of working with them, with the help of members, they finally felt ready to take this next step to baptism! And we set a date with Nancy who was an investigators sister (about 55) who came to church and really felt the spirit there! and so we are preparing her for September 16. 

But sadly this week no one came to church, except for a few of the kids that always come, and Cielo! who has had a problem of getting up early (she is getting baptized at the end of the month) (age 14)

And well, nothing much happened this week. We did have a cool thing happen where one of the members mom who isnt a member and there aunt came at the end of church and we visited them in the afternoon and we taught the aunt. she told us she had been really confused and wants to find the truth! and as we testified that we have the truth through the book of mormon, she got excited and anxious to read it.:) we will see what happens.

But I love you all and please dont forget to read the book of mormon every day!! and attend the temple regularly.

I know this church is true! we have our faith tested every day as people try to convince us otherwise, but I KNOW this church is true because I KNOW the book of Mormon is true. and I want all of you to know that to. So if you feel like you dont have that strong of testimony, read and STUDY the book of mormon every day!! and it will change your life.

I love you all,

Hna Smoot

Week 66 (August 21, 2017)

Feliz Dia Arequipa!! Happy Day Arequipa!

This week was a really good week, and we had some pretty cool experiences. 

Friday we had a special multi zone meeting with president, who informed us that even though we are the highest baptising mission in our area, the 70 changed our goal of 150 baptisms to 300 baptisms every month! Doubling our goal, which means doubling ALL of our goals.  Apparently that was where the standard was 10 years ago and so they know its possible. We are excited for the challenge and we have faith that god will help us do so.

Funny story, we went to one of our investigators house for a lesson right before lunch, and they gave us green spagetti with igalo (cow liver) I still will never get used to that, my comp had to help me out), but then we taught them real fast, because then we went to our real lunch! Rice, chicken and a mashed potato type thing and corn... not similar to the states haha. but we were about to pop we were so full, and then they gave us a piece of cake as dessert!! we wanted to throw up after we were so full.

also this week was the independance day of Arequipa! so we celebrating eating things from arequipa peru (thats where my comp is from) 

We had some tender mercys, like trying to find people to teach with out success, then running into an old investigator we have been trying to contact for forever!

Also one cool experience that happened was that on wednesday, we had set appointments every hour and even some every 30 min, and we called in the morning to confirm and everything was set. Well, later as we went to work, one by one they called us or we passed by and literally every single appointment fell through. Thats never happened where they ALL fall through but on the plus we were able to contact a TON of people. Well, the next day started out in a similar way, and at around 6 all of our appointments werent working out either, and a little disapointed, I kind of just laughed and said to my companion ''This is starting to look a lot like yesterday''. Right then we both looked at each other and said Oh No! and ran to go ''knock on wood'' so we wouldnt have bad karma haha. but the wood we knocked on happened to be a door. A girl about 13 anwsered the door and we asked her if she liked to read and explained about the book of mormon. She told us just a sec, and went to get her mom and her other sister and we ended up teaching her family (except her dad who wasnt home) and gave them a Book of Mormon and got a return appointment for today (monday). And we were able to find 3 new investigators. Its funny how everything just works out perfectly. God definetly has his hand in our lives.

This week I have also been focusing no having a ''positive attitude'' in everything we do. And so every morning I say to my comp, ''Today is gonna be a good day.  Wanna know why? Because we are missionary! and god will bless us.''

I am so greatful to be part of gods army in finding those chosen ones who are waiting for the gospel. Even though the mission is litterally like a rollercoaster with tons of ups and downs, I KNOW that this church is true and that everything happens for a reason. I know that the book of mormon is true and I am so greatful for all my many many blessings.

I love you all and dont forget, that even though there will be lots of homework to do and busy activities, please find, I mean, MAKE, time to read the book of mormon EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

Have a beautiful week!!

Hasta luego,

Hermana Smoot

Week 65 (August 14, 2017)

P-Day as a district :)

Splits!

This week was a good week.  Even though the mission is sometimes really hard, phyically, mentally, socially, every aspect, I have come to know that that is really the only way that we can learn.  As we are pushed to our limits we learn new abilities and even though sometimes its kinda scary, it will all be ok.

On monday we had our PDAY as a district and we watched once I was a beehive again and I loved it so much :) girls camp is the best.

This week we also had some cool expierience in finding new investigators and god is blessing us for our efforts. We have found new invvestigators in so many different ways like street contacting, visiting less actives, and active members, (referals) and church headquarter references.  We are excited to see what happens this week.

We also had a work visit (splits) visita de trabajo with the sister training leaders and hna workman who was my STL in my other zone is mine again! she is amazing and we are so greatful for her and her comp Hna Vera (from arequipa too!)  And well, we were able to find some new people as well.

I lost my planner this week, which was really sad because today we find out transfers. we retraced our steps too, 2 times and it disapeared... but I know everything happens for a reason, its just a little frustrating at times.

On thursday we had our transferly (every transfer) multizone conference with President Godfrey, which are always so amazing and we even had practices with real investigators. And they gave us Subway for lunch! But what I really loved what president taught us more about teaching repentance instead of convincing them to be baptized.  Baptims is not just something good to do, but it is the ONLY way that they can recieve forgivness for there sins.

For church this sunday we had a special conference broadcast from Elder Cook, and other leaders in the church for all of Peru and Bolivia and it was amazing as well. Talking about our traditions and if they are in line with gods commandments, or do we need to change somethings, like going to the temple regularly. That could mean 1 or2 times a year if you live far, or 1 a week or once a month if you live close. but what ever you do, go regularly. And PLAN before hand when your going to  go.

One expierience that was really amazing was one evening this week we were really working hard to find 2 new investigators (our missions goal for excelence) and

we were contacting, visiting members, and references etc, trying hard to find success, but our appointments were falling through and we werent sure what to do. Well, just then we got a phone call from an investigator who we had never taught, but was a contact in the street who happpened to be an old investigator from about a year ago. He asked if we could come right then and we said sure! (he wasnt home when we went the day before). Well we went and he and his sister (both in ther 50s) were there and we taught lesson 1 and when we asked if they would read the book of mormon they said ¨Of Course, I really do want to read it to know if its true or not.¨ We were so greatful that God led us to them after a day of fallen appointments so that we could complete our goal.

I know that god loves each and everyone of us and I know this gospel is true and that this church is true!! I encourage you all to continue serving others and doing good. Thank you for your love and support in all. Have a fun rest of the summer!

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 64 (August 7, 2017)

Baptism of Aylin!

Elder Villar and his wife.

All the young women came to support her too! :)

Moving!

District pic!

The short elder is our district leader. Don't ask why he is doing that sign, idk...

Wow, the time is flying by so fast here and its crazy just everything that has happened here in Peru this past year that ive been here. This week was a better week. 

First off, last pday we moved houses!! seriously one of the most stressful things ive done here in my mission haha but it was a success. The sister from the other ward in our zone lived in our area, so they moved to there areas, and we moved to there house because its in a members house (3rd floor) and its bigger and better. And we ran out of time on Pday so we have slowly been unpacking all week long and cleaning etc (like in the nights as we get ready for bed).  But Its actually a way better house and so we are happy. Also we were REALLY greatful for the elders who helped us move on there pday. because we couldnt have done it without them. We used a trailer from a member that helped us out. 

I also read an amazing talk entitled Fear not, I am with thee by Pres. Uctdorf about easter and missionary work and one part that I loved was a story about an elder serving and his moto was *I am a disciple of christ, and I fear no man* and its so true! We should not be scared to spread the gospel! And it doesnt even matter if they accept or not, the most important thing is that we try. We must give them the opption, because we never know if they will accept or not unless we ask. This applies to all of you as well. As member missionaries. Talk to family and friends starting with 

*Do you like to read? I have a book that talks about Jesus Christ and when he came here to America. Did you know that Jesus Christ came to America* etc and get into the conversation about how 2 friends (the missionaries) can give them this book (the book of mormon) and meet with them. And talk about how they can bless there families. This is basically what weve been working with members and it totally works! That was revelation from president. So go talk to your friends and family who arent members and share the gospel with them! (I know its a little harder in Utah, but its still possible!) :)

This week we also Aylins BAPTISM!!! She was so excited but also really nervous but as we talked in the bathroom before, she said *Im so nervous, but I know this is the right thing to do.* her testimony is so strong already and Im pretty sure she wants to serve a mission too! She was a reference from a member and had to wait 2 months to be baptism because she is now the only member in her family.  We are so happy for her and so excited for the dicisions she is making to follow jesus christ. Also it was cool because she had her ¨friends dad¨ baptize her which was Elder Villar, who is a member of the 70 :) the other elders that share our chapel were a little start struck haha but Elder Villar is super nice and was happy to do it. We got permission to move her baptism date one week earlier so he could do it. His family lives in our ward.

Well, as we teach and find and teach as we find we have ups and downs and basically like I always say the mission is a roller coaster. Its hard, and discouraging at some points, but then so happy and comfortable at others, so even though its not always sunny days, its so worth it. If any of you are thinking about a mission, DO IT! you will not regret it!

I know this church is true and I know that the book of mormon is true!! Keep reading it everyday! It will change your life for the better. I love you all and i am so greatful for your support and love.

Have a beautiful week!

Love, Hna Smoot

Week 63 (July 31, 2017)

Family Night with our investigator that gets baptized August 12 :)

Fruit salad we made. The orange grape looking fruit is an exotic fruit called aguaymanto, and it's delicious. 

Pictures of my area on our roof. We have no hills in our area.

This week was a little interesting that started out good, was a little challenging, but ended ok.  Life is not always sunshine and rainbows, but we have oppistion in all we can know the bad to know the good!

This week, first off, Happy Pioneer Day!! I hope everyone enjoyed and celebrated the 24th to celebrate the pioneers who came to utah and for all there trials and hardships so that we can live in peace today!

This week here in Peru was there Independence Day! July 28th AND 29th! they have 2 days and all month long they have things going on. and we have a peru flag pin that we wore all month on our jackets to celebrate :)  Also these 2 days no one was home, or they were busy, or sleeping. haha but that just makes it fun to see who you can teach. 

This week we have also continued to visit less active members from our list of members to find those part member families or other referals. 

Friday and Saturday was a Convention of YSA!  From 18 stakes in this part of lima! and we went at the begining and the end to find who werent members. And I saw the young single adults from every single one of my areas!!! In Canto Rey and my convert Orlando! And another who was Ediths son who used to always drink and now Im still not sure if he ever got baptized but he has definelty cleaned his life up a bit.  and also Bayovar with some return missionaries that always helped us, and in Chinchaysuyu! and even our ward now! It was such a sweet reunion to see everyone!!

We also went at the end to make sure we got all the references for our mission. It was basically a youth conference but for YSA.  

I know that this church is true and that the book of mormon is true!! We must be reading the book of mormon everyday individually and as a family.  I am so greatful for my parents and there example to do so. Thank you for all your support and for all you guys do.

I love you all and I am excited to see what happens next and I hope you all have a wonderful week and a wonderful summer.

Love, Hna Smoot

Oh I forgot to tell you, but a Sister who served in the mission Chile Osorno came home to our ward!! I told her that ally served in that same mission and she said that ally went home the same transfer that she entered, so ally doesnt know her, but she aparently served in one of the same areas as Ally had before! So cool! Shes adorable but I cant remember her last name. Cynthia something.