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I am home now, and will not be using this email again, if you want to contact me, please email me here

dtsm95@gmail.com

estoy en la casa ahorita, y no voy a usar este correo. Si quiere contactarme porfavor, escribeme aca

dtsm95@gmail.com

Gracias por todo!

Last Email

We had a greta week. Silvia, Katherin, and Oliver were baptized yesterday. It was a good simple service. After two years I know the lord keeps his promises. Everyone who has asked with a willing heart has and will always recieve answers. His promises never expire, or change. they are always the same, but he answers in diffrenet ways everytime.

I have nothing else to say besides how greatful I am for the lord, and what he has done for me. A missionary is mistaken if he thinks he has does more for the lord than the lord has done for him. I will always be in debt to my father. 

After two years almost every emotion there is I have felt. Last week I talked about sheaves, to end my mission I love this scripture...

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Sowing with tears, planting precious seed, Doubtless I go home, rejoicing, bringing all the harvest on my back. I know the lord lives, and that he is my savior. this is the only true church and I will give all my life to him, because all I am, is what he has made me.

I love my gospel

1. In Peru when you buy a drink, they don't give you a cup. you get a bag!

2. Fútbol wayy to early

3. Hermana Boswell made us Snickerdodles as we checked rooms this week

4. I like that white.

5. The one and only boy I baptized in my mission. Oliver. His smile kills me in this picture 

6. Moms always give the best examples.

POWER!

So there I was yesterday, preparing the sacrament at 7:30 in the morning. I was in the kitchen and Elder Moreno was playing the piano. When I walked in the chapel I saw president Boswell sitting in one of the chairs, Shocked I asked, "Hey what are you doing here" He said, "Well being Elder Moreno's companion because you aren't".....OUCH. haha

We had ward conference and 9 investigatores came. Yasuri was sick so she didn't, She will be baptized my last week in Peru, but the other four will be baptized next week. It was a great ward conference. A lot of people showed up after Sacrament, and President Boswell didn't stop the burning with me. The bishop invited him to share some thoughts he stood up and said, "The sacrament is the most sacred ordenanze in the church.. Those aren't my words, but the words of living prophets. I invite each of you to be here before 8am to be apart of it"...OUCH. whoo Quema me! 

Then he came to our gospel principal class. That is where things got good. We talked about Repenting. and some guy from the stake said, "For more serious sins we have bishops who are called to help you overcome the sin" I said shortly after, "But for those of you who aren't members We have someone special for you, he is is in charge of us and will help you, and that is.. (Pointing to President) him." President then bore a powerful testimony of helping the people with the worst sins become pure and clean. Repetence brings peace. I know it. After the meeting President entered into an enterview, one said they wanted to prepare to be baptized, and the last said she felt she needs to talk to him... Talking about interviews I had mine with him. I have a hard time imagining myself being interviewed by anyone else than President Boswell... Really hard time. He is one of only 400 people, and believe me he is special. In our interview we prayed and he asked, "Elder Smith who needs your testimony before you leave?" That caught me off guard. It was a powerful interview where I was promised many sacred things.

I like this scripture...

 2 Hearken, O ye who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my gospel, and to prune my vineyard.

 3 Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might—

 4 Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump,proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you.

 5 And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life.

I have been blessed with many sheaves. Sheave is a bundle of wheat that the farmer tied together and put on his back and the end of the harvest. I love the imagiry of that. The lord has given me sheaves on my back and I will go home ready to share them with the world.

I will preach the gospel for the rest of my life.

Peace & Love,

Elder Smith

Not going back to the US with dry skin

Yesterday at 8 AM on the dot came 7 investigatores. Before the sacrament 3 more. I thanked each of these faithful 10 people for being there before members and having more faith and dedication than they have. There's nothing I love more than seeing new people in Church. Come in Jeans, short shorts, hung over or high. You'll always get a hug from Elder Smith. I want to be very clear that the lord will never look at your fancy suit and give you more blessings than they guy with a t shirt. The lord looks at the heart. That's where I look too.

We now have 5 people with date and they are ALL going down before I go! I hope.. haha

Silvia, Nahomy, Yasuri, Oliver, Katherin.

4/5 are girls....

So much more faithful than men.

Haha! For those who are serving in the USA don't be offended.

Two weeks ago the 12 apostles had a meeting with all the new mission presidents in the world. They were looking at some graphs and talked about two areas in specific. part of The USA and Ours. 

The average number of baptisms for missonaries in the USA since January until today is 1.5

The average number of baptisms for missionaries in our area is 4.5.

Elder Andersen talked about faith. It is always about our faith. I don't believe money has anything to do with it. everything we do in live depends on our attitude. I have seen that in my mission and life. That is why there is a new temple coming in Lima.

I always thought I would baptize the world if I had an Ipad... Turns out I was wrong! Ya can't beat a paperback book of mormon in spanish.

I love South America, that is all there is to it.

I feel like the most blessed missionary in the world.

Great companion, great area, great missionaries, great missoin president, great way to die.

Hasta el fin!

1. Six of my companions.

2. The future Rocket Scientiest.

3. This was graffited on a church, but I do like it a lot.

4. You ever have a whole ward playing "Basic of fruits"? haha

5. Using internet the best way possible

Light at the End of the Tunnel

For a long time I thought the atonement and repentance was like the light at the end of the tunnel. Once we go through a long dark progress, we finally see the light. A little before my mission I read a book that changed that for me... It said... The atonement isn't the light at the end of the tunnel, it is the light that gets us through the tunnel.

This week we meant a 16 year old less active who gave birth to her son just one week ago. She is now living with her 19 year old boyfriend. They have been together and it was obviously a big mistake. They aren't two kids who are just absolutely naughty... When we went there you could see how worn down they were and in the middle of the tunnel without light. As we talked to them the spirit moved through me and I knew their life was not "Over".

Everything we do in our life turns back to the atonement of Jesus Christ. It aches my heart to see so many families torn and people living their lives lower than their potential.. Satan has too many people thinking that they will never reach the end of their tunnel.

I love being a missionary because I can help people know what I know.

There is light right next to you. Look for him.

When I was in San Borja I told a convert that my mission isn't in Peru, it is in my family. The mission is the practice. Our family is always the mission. Whether they are all active sealed and happy, or you are the only member. Never, never, never, be satisfied.

Interviews this week. President Boswell is my main man.

Going to Semary with the young men and women

We got full activities. 

San Gregorio is the place to die

Stricking the match in a field

Great first week of the last transfer. We are teaching lessons with 4 or 5 Young men and women all together. They all live close, all coming to church, all going to seminaries. There are basically two powerhouses. Jhexael and Yajaira. Next door neighbors. Yajaira was less active, now rescued, Jhexael is 17 and he's going to be baptized as soon as those parents sign our little pink slip. Tonight we're doing a family night. Family Night of Teenagers. No eternal investigadores here!

Also we're teaching a family, Silvia the mom, Nahomy is 18 and has a daughter, and Yasuri, she is15. All have a date to be baptized the 16th. They read the book of Mormon like no ones buisness. Yasuri plays the piano and violin, I already know what her responsability will be when she's baptized. ;) Satan keeps throwing doubts at Silvia but she's not falling for it. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and blew them out of the water. I LOVE the plan of Salvation. Ask me about Adam and eve, come on. Ask

We struck a match, now the fields on fire.

Now my last companion, I have been waiting for a Mexican all my mission. Elder Moreno is awesome. With him I have now had companions from 8 different countries. I know the lord put me with him for something special, I can feel it, and I can't wait to find out why. I think I have come to know him faster than any other companion I have had... We're going out with a bang!

I recieved all my plans and fight info to get home. Looked at it, put it away and haven't looked at it since. haha Nothing will take me away from Peru until the time comes. The week the church marks 60 years in Peru. This country isn't done with the church, and I am not done with the country.

1. Washing ties by hand... That is when you know you are poor. haha

2. Preparing for bed. haha It is really cold here...

 

 

 

Joy

This week, some of the greatest things of my mission happend...

So I am in San Gregorio, it is part of the stake Vitarte. I was in another part of Vitarte one year ago but in another ward.... It is like I have served in the Ferron Stake two times, one time I was in Ferron ward, and the other in Millsite. When I was in Portales a year ago my companion and I started to visit a 16 year old girl named Hillary and her 35 year old mom named Nelly. We taught them a lot. Hillary was depressed and when I left the area she was seeing a big change and had a date.......

Later I heard she was baptized, but didn't get invited. Normal.

Last Saturday there was a stake festival dance. And we had like 6 investigatores dancing, so we went to the last part to tell them good job and all that. As I was talking to a few members I heard someone yell my name. I turned and saw HIllary, and Nelly. After one year there they were, the mom and her daughter. Active, and happy in the church. I can't describe how I felt when I saw them and talked them them, but I imagine it is a tiny part of how we will all feel when we return to our Heavely father. After chatting a little bit, Nelly's two other kids, 18 and 9 years old also informed me that they were baptized.

Nelly asked me, "Do you remember how it all started? The first time I talked to you" I reassured her that yes I remember. What will happen to that family I don't know.... But now I can bear solemn testimony that I know, that a missionary can NEVER know how much good he does, and how much fruit will come from one seed.

Yanela then got baptized on Sunday. Her daughter hated the water and cried yelling, "Don't go in mom! Don't go in, Why are you in white! I'm scated!!" After the baptism Yanela walked out of the font, and her daughter had a smile on her face I will never forget, yelling again, "I want to be baptized I want to be baptized!".. Later that 7 year old little angel hugged Elder Andersons leg and said, "This is for baptizing my mom"

If you want to be loved, and learn how to love. Go on a mission.

End of the transfer. I have six weeks more! I am getting a new companion, Elder Moreno. He is from Mexico. We are going to be seeing big things.

1. The small little zone.

2. The victom! Yanela and her now very happy husband Leonel

3. The before.

4. Anything Elder Smith does it's going to be clean.

5. I love it!

6. Happy Fathers day... TO THE GROUND. The monday after... haha

7. 22 months.

8. 2 Months. 

Started from the bottom, now we are ending. I love my brethern