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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

One By One

Elder Rasband came by. In my mission that makes two apostles. I know there are apostles on the earth, being in the presence of an apostle is something else, when I was thinking about all he talked about and why he had came a question came to my mind....Why do they keep coming to Peru?.... This is my answer.

There are about 14 million people in Lima. 5 missiones so about 1000 misisonaries. On Average, each mission baptizes 100 people every month. 500 every people every month In a year that is 6000 people. Home of 41 stake centers, and soon to be 2 temples. Bogota Colombia is about the same size of Lima, they have about 10 stake centers.. That is just Lima...

Peru has 30 million people and 557,000 members of the church. There are two operating temples and two that have been announced. The first temple was dedicated in 1986. Think of that. 

Because of so many great blessings President Boswell has been tightning us up lately. On things so small, and yet so important. I have come to know that we are a very, very obedient mission. President Boswell is a powerful mission president, he is my best example, and has changed my life. By Small and Simple things, great things come to pass.

Even though the church soars towards 16 million members worldwide, we get treated one, by one. When Jesus Christ came to the Americas he invited everyone, one by one, to touch him, and to know he is the savior. Elder Rasband shook each of our hands, one by one. The lord loves his children. When I am in a lesson I do my very best to make sure that person, to me, in that moment, is the only person important in the whole world. so they too can feel the love of being treated, one by one.

Another great week down.

Miracles. Chosen people. One couple is Yanela and Leonel.... they are great. he is a member from a long time ago and she has been coming to church every single Sunday for 3 years. They have three daughters, not married. The other week they called us and said, "Elders, We did it. We are married. We want to be baptized" We had visited them in the past but ever since they got married they saw the light at the end of the tunnel and they will not be stopped. I am brought to tears as I think of the future of their three little girls who's lives are forever changed because of the decision of two parents.

Finally,

I am living with my first companion in the MTC. Elder Derr. 22 months have passed since I lived with him, last night I got talking to him (I really like taking) I stood amazed at the person he has become. As I kneed last night to thank the lord, I was filled with gratitude for the way our potter, the lord jesus christ takes us, the clay, and makes us men. Then my thoughts got turned to a missionary I knew who left and threw in the towell after the MTC.... After 22 months, he has missed it all. He has missed it all.

Why do missionaries change so much? In two years I have come to know more than 5000 people. Investigatores, members, people in the street, parents, kids, teenagers, and who else knows, and there is the answer..... You can't get to know 5000 people and not be changed. That elder who threw in the towell, threw in the towell on more than 5000 people. Every single person matters, one, for one. That is something, he will probably never come to know.

I hope we can all love another one by one. Look into someones eyes and talk to them, knowing someones name can make a difference.

Have a great week.

1. The mission has taught us how to live poor.

2. The craziest thing you will see our mission doing is drawing our favorite book of mormon stories with chalk at the church part of our zone meeting.

3. The best way to make people feel loved is publicly compliment them.

Elections in Peru

In Peru, electing for a new president is required, and on the day of elections, Sunday. No one can have meetings. It is against the law. Yesterday we had elections, and I realized how hard it was to feel the saboth day if you don't go to church. It was honestly just another day. I made me realize how awesome church is.

Peru has a new president though so that is good. But he is not even Peruvian, I honestly don't understand it but as long as he lets temples be built I don't even care!

We had a good week. Found some new people, Teaching a lot about the Plan of Salvation for some reason. Peru isn't a country big on getting married so everyone we teach we have to put a marriage date first before the batpsimal one. Which is fine. I like teaching couples, they teach me a lot.

We met a lady who's mom had died like 6 months ago and she was a wreck, crying she told us, "I will never see her, or talk to her again, I can't hug her. How can I accept it" I honestly can't imagine only having that knoweldge. As members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, we have a big perspective on things. I love teaching people it.

We were also teaching a fourteen year old girl and her mom. Her mom said to us, "Yasuri really likes they way you pray" and I asked Yasuri, "How do you pray?" The classic Cathlic.. She said, ""Padre nuestro que estas en los cielos...." We then explained a powerful doctrine that god loves to hear from us. She decided to pray using her own words for the first time. And The lord heard from his daughter how she really felt... 

That is why I serve a mission ladies and gentlemen. To help people understand how simple the gospel is and how much god loves us. Every. single. One. 

If you are feeling down, without the spirit and wonder.... How are missionaries so close the god?

I'll answer that right here.... We do three things.

Read. Pray. And bare our testimonies.

If you haven't sent some time on your knees for a while. I invite you to do it. God is waiting.

Bread and Water

We had a good time this week. Out of all those news we found I want to talk about two families.....

One. A 35 year old man Dennis with his 25 year old wife, Loydit and their 2 year old son, Dominic.... They have been together for years, and months ago we visited by the missionaries. One day we were walking by and he was washing his motorcylce, and she was sitting on it. I pointed to them and said to my companion, "The motorcycle always gets the girl" he laughed, we walked by, then Elder Anderson stopped, and said, "Let's talk to them" I think their lives will be eternally changed for the prompting my companion listened too.....

We talked, and let us in. We had a great lesson, went back, they let us in again, two great lessons. We taught the plan of salvation and they loved it. They aren't married, but they are more united than a lot of couples I know that are sealed in the temple. When I see their little boy I think of my Nephew who's name is Dominic aswell and it stirs my heart. They will continue to progress.

The other family is a inactive wife, Cecilia, her husband, Ulises, and their son. Oliver. She is a member, they are not married. She had the humility to come to church two weeks ago, show up out of nowhere, and said "I am unmarried, inactive and I need help" That is humility. We visited them three times now. her husband is ready all he can. I am sure their eternity has been changed becuse of her humble heart.

When Moses wanted to throw in the towell, he cried unto god and said, "Take my life!" I am done.... An angel appeared and said "There is bread and water in your tent, go back, and get things done"... When all the problems come, God gives us Bread and water, and we are blessed to keep going because that is when the miracles come! Just ask Moses, when he crossed the Red sea.

 I got to a point in my mission where I said, Ya, done. The lord then gave me bread and water. He gave these two families their bread and water.

I am amazed of the love God has for his children.

Went to the temple today, recieved mad revelation. There has been nothing of more worth in my life than my time here. I thank the lord for my challenges, and I ask for more. This is the true church and I will preach it for all my life.

1. We went to the zoo!

2. You see how he is bitting the fence? Well I was talking a selfie with him, and he bit me! Malcriado!

3. The whole zone

4. The we went interchange crazy! Elder Grover

5. Elder Charca. Bolivian!

6. Waiting for the bus to come.

7.Stake Conference. He got mad after my joke. haha

8. The work horse.

9. The last time at the temple in Lima Peru for now.. I have no idea what I am going to do without President Boswell...

10. The zone.

 

 

Excelente

Good week, good week. Got a lot of studying in, prosiliting, some divisiones. Saw a lot of Mircales. Good zone, playing a lot of soccer, Going in high gear.

I don't know what to say. In the mission we have goals of excellent which include..

20 lessons with investigatores. Smashed it.

10 Baptism invitacions. Out.

50 contacts. Done

10 New investigatores. Finsished.

I love South America!

Cuando hay chamba, hay que chambiar porque no siempre hay chamba. 

When there is work, you have to work, because work isn't always there.

We are just teaching a load of people, in the past two weeks we have found almost 30 new people so to write about each one or just special is just impossible.

So I will end with this......

If you want to feel the spirit hard, you get someone to pray for the first time.

Elder Anderson and I have made the decision that we DO NOT leave the lesson without having the head of the household pray. We don't obligate them, but we show them why it is important.

Helping someone pray with real intent is worth every sorrow and challenge there is to go and be on a mission. 

A general authority taught us that "Falling in Love" doesn't just happen. and either does "Falling out of love" He was talking about marriages, but it applies to missionaries and where they are serving... Loving where you serve doesn't just happen, it is a choice, and it is the best choice. Loving what you do, or where you are, won't just happen. It all depends on you.

Pictures.

1. It is a banana Ice Cream. One of my favorites

2. He had never ate one, and was shocked!

3. I love doing divisions, especially with Colombians. I am so going to go there after the mission.

4. What a nice breakfast he left me.

5. La Chamba Peruana 

6. Lifting dirt!

7. Look at our dirt.

8. San Gregorio Ward

9. Getcha some!

10. In peru it is aceptable to throw your trash in the street, but I think this is out of hand. haha

San Gordito!

Great first week here in my new area. We have a great zone. Elder Aguirre and I just can't seperate. He is with my again, but just in my zone. At the end of my mission we will have 7 and a half months together in the same zone. I have been his companion, district leader, and now zone leader all at different times. I'm Totally going to go to Colombia to visit him.

Elder Anderson is my hero. he is pure. He is one of those people that you don't even have the desire to sin when he is around. We do great work together. Everyone is willing to listen to us because he is tall, blonde, and blue eyes, and well I am white too. haha. Sometimes people ask if we are brothers. It is funny. Talking mad english though... 

This week we got to know some good people. One girl made me laugh. She is a less active, and we were looking for her cousin, but she came around the corner and talked to us, we invited her to church and she was like, "I am a dancer and after we perform I go to after parties and so I can't go to church because I feel bad for the things I do the night before" That was so ridiculous for me and didn't think about her again.

Few days later we went back to visit her cousin, and we run into her again, and she told us, "I am done dancing, It is not worth it, my body hurts, I was awake until 4 am last night, will you guys teach me? My boyfriend wants to listen too, he always asks me what we  believe but I honeslty don't know" It gave me a good laugh how fast people can change. We agreed as long as her boyfriend was there. We are always looking for priesthood holders. haha

Here comes the spiritual part...

We were teaching her cousin.... Returned missionary. 34 years old. Returned missionary, not married. His girfriend is 25, she has a 15 year old, and they have a girl together. She is not a member. I was talking to them and just wanted to throw in the towell.

then that still small voice said, "If you don't have hope, they never will"

I have learned that. If I don't bring the spirit to the house, they won't  feel it. If I don't believe in the power of hope, they won't either. We don't do things for law. We do them to help people. I know it is true. 

Getting your socks knocked off

So there I was, tranquilito, eating chocolate cake last night thinking about my family after we skyped, looking forward to another transfer in my area, Thinking about where Elder Cueva is going... and then the phone rings, and it's President. We do some talking and then he's like, "Yeah let's quit the chit chat" at that moment I knew my life was over.

I am going to a place called San Gregorio. It is in Vitarte, I was in Vitarte before, but now it is another zone. I will have my first white companion, his name is Elder Andersen, great guy. and I now have to be a little more responsable... haha

Chosica has been great for me. I enjoy the mountains, but just let moises, and even the lord, they had to come down off their mountain and teach the people. It is funny how history repeats itself. haha Elder Cueva will do good things with his new companion.

Six weeks really isn't long enough in an area, but now I am certian I am going to my last area to die in peace, but President Boswell told me, and I know I need to work harder and more diligently than I ever have. Trunky doesn't exist for this guy.

 

Pictures. 

1. Agenda. Nephi and Laban, great story.

2. Two sons. That is enough posterity.

3. I took a picture of everyone taking a picture.

4. Last district meeting. Apple pie

5. My area.

6. Always a place to play soccer

7. The best pensionista there is.

8. Going mexican

9. The Grand Canyon in Peru!