Week after Christmas!

Chase didn't have much he wanted on his blog this week...we got to Skype with him on Christmas and then he was sick for 2 days...He is excited about this new year and sent some pictures. 

Happy New Year!

Wenna

So this week was an interesting one!!  I was seriously praying a lot because man did I feel like I could not be senior companion. Well, we started the week good. I wasn't sure how it was going to go..but it went well!

I want to talk about three people real quick so you can imagine and think about what you would do with these three people.

 

First her name is Marcia!! We found her in the end of August and we were not able to teach her for about 2 months because we couldn't contact her. She has gone through a lot in her life and she was just at the point of living... she didn't know why there was always another day. She really had all the questions that we had the answers. She is amazing and we have seen so much change in her. She isn't married with her partner and they have 2 kids. She knows the Church is true and she wants to follow Christ.

Second is Marcelo. Man is he something else. He was a history professor and now he owns some companies and is part works in politics. He knows the church is true because he has researched it... he is always finding new things about how the church is true. He has all these different things to say about Peru and the things there that basically say the church is true. He is very smart and sometimes it's hard to teach him... I think you know why. 

Third is Mauricio.. This man didn't believe in God. My companion knocked on his neighbors door and he came out and said that they weren't there. Then they started talking.. I was on the phone at the time and I saw what was happening so I got off and went over.. I felt like I should ask if we could come in to his house and visit with him and share something small. We went in and at the end asked if he could say the last prayer... well he said NO because he doesn't believe someone is there.. so I promised that he will feel something different and he will get and answer whether it was a dream or a feeling. The next time we came by  he was sharing how somethings had happened and how he had a dream about him being at some amazing building and then he saw a video about Mormons and he said that a Temple is where he was at in his dream.. he still won't pray but it is amazing to see the change in him!

I  really thought a lot this week about how grateful I am for the gospel in my life.. really I don't know how I would live without it.. or how I did live with out it. I see people that think they have it all and they say they are happy and that's all they want... I hate seeing people that just are too stubborn to listen to a couple of young guys with white shirts and ties!! 

I love the gospel.. I love Jesus Christ. My love and knowledge of him and the gospel are growing and with that I feel my self growing closer to him. When I learn more about the atonement I feel so grateful for him and all he has done for us. I feel like what all the church leaders say is true.. we tend to forget that what he did for us is the MOST important thing!! I am thankful for all of you in my life!! Thank you so much for the examples and the love!! 

Love you all and wish you a FELIZ NAVIDAD!! 

Elder Smith

 

 

Bueno

Okay so this week was weird. It was a little lazy because it was the last week of the change but it was good, we ended strong. I am still here in La Rioja and man I've been here for a while but I am excited to be here with Elder Oliveira, he is from Brazil and man he is an answer to my prayers. I asked Heavenly Father to bless me with a companion that wants to work hard and wants to be exactly obedient. Well, that's what I got!!  He has 4ish months in the missión and now I will be the senior companion... but I don't think there really is a difference. I feel like we are going to learn a lot and do a lot this change. I am excited because this ward needs help and I think the help they needed just got here. I am so blessed to be out here!!

 

Also I got to see lenny aka ( Uncle Brandon) Man that was good... it's weird to talk to someone from the states..I felt awkward so hope Brandon didn't feel like that. hahah Things just happened and I was able to see him.

We had an investigator in the church and on the way walking he told us that he recieved that answer he was looking for and so we are going to follow up with him this week and I really feel like he is going to find the góspel.

I am so thankful I have this opportunity to be out on the misión to have this change in my life and to learn. I seriously don't know what I would do without the mission I am so scared to think about where I would be if I didn't choose to serve the the Lord.

 

I love you all and am so thankful for all your love and support. I wish you a good week right before Christmas!!

Choa, Elder Smith

 

 

 

 

 

Brandon met Chase's Mission President and his wife at the airport when he was leaving today.

Very nice people...all of them!

It's been slow!!! Brandon's coming down with presents from the fam!!!

Not much happened this week.. It was slow. I had an interesting experience in being obedient. So felt the need to actually ask my president if I could see Brandon... well I thought I was going to get a yes because I know someone that has seen his dad a couple times... Anyway, President said no... I was a little angry and I just didn't want to listen. I had  prayed a lot to know what do and man, I got my answer and it was to be obedient. It took me 4 days to follow it but by then I had felt like I had offended the spirit and I really am having to bring it back now.. Its  not something I enjoy but it has taught me that I need to act on how I feel.. and I need to do it fast.

We had an investigator in church on Sunday and man it was awesome.. it was Marcia.. I don't know if you remember her but we stopped teaching her for a while because she was never there when we passed. But we have been able to pass by and it has been awesome. She needs the gospel in her life but she seems to be the only one interested in her family. I hope that we can bring her to the gospel and with time the rest of her family.

This is the last week of the change so we don't know who will be leaving or staying now.. I think I will be going.. Either way, I am ready for another Latin comp!!!

I'm so thankful for you guys and all you do for me!! Keep being happy!! 

Love you all!! 

Elder Chase Smith

(Mom note...no pictures this week) Sorry!!!

Hello from 6000 miles away...

So this week was good. It went good and really fast. I have come to realize that the closer we get to transfers, the faster the time goes. Man the mission is weird its already December. I never thought this day would come when I was in the MTC. Well now I know that these days actually do go by fast. I think it time also goes faster, the harder we work.

So this week was good we found new people and we also had some lame things happen. So our recent convert Jorge was supposed to get the priesthood yesterday and then we were going to go do baptisms with him this Saturday but he called us in the morning on Sunday and said, hey I'm not coming to church... so that was a bummer. 

On Sunday night something cool happened. We got a referral on our email last week and we set an appointment up with this couple on Saturday but... we were crunched with other people so we never made it... then Sunday night my companion asks, so we are going to Mabel's house and I said no because I had this feeling we needed to go to the referral's house. We went, and man are they ready for the gospel. I am so excited to see how the spirit testifies of  the truth to them. 

I want to end with some things I am grateful for because it was Thanksgiving this last week and I think it would be good. I am so grateful for God and his Son, Jesus Christ, because without them I wouldn't be here and without their help I wouldn't be able to get through this life. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here in Chile and to learn and grow and help others do the same as they come unto God and Christ. I am so thankful for the love and support from my family members and friends, I know I wouldn't be able to do it without them. In the end I am so grateful for my testimony and knowledge that I have of the truthfulness of this gospel. I know I would be no where without it right now. I love you all so very much and even though I say this every week and it might get old, I really do mean it. 

Remember to be happy and do the things that you know are right!

Choa con amor, 

Elder Smith

This week was swell!!!

Really this week was great!! I told my companion at the first part of last week that I was going to call him out on everything that was chueko (basically bad) and I told him to do the same for me. I really feel like obedience is the key to so much. Some times I get so down on myself for it because I did something that I knew I shouldn't, like saying something in English that is offensive to the spirit. My love for obedience has grown and all I want to do is follow Jesus Christ and be like him.

So the week was actually super good we got a lot better with everything and things are going good.  My companion and I are doing better and life is good. Half way through the week I realized I was praying for help to have patience and help to love my companion... I wasn't praying for help for him so I started doing that and also so that we could strengthen our relationship. Really I am finding so many new things to do that helps in the mission. 

So on Saturday Jorge got baptized and it was so good! One of the members shared his testimony after because we asked him and man fue tan poderoso (it was really strong or powerful). I really love to see people change and to see in there eyes that they are set to go all the way. Jorge and his girl friend have a date to get married in February and then they are going to get sealed in the temple in one year. 

 

I love the mission and even though its hard and I feel like I cant do it anymore I just get pushed forward by something and things always get better. I love the gospel and I am so thankful for it. I have seen how my testimony has grown for the atonement of Jesus Christ and my love has grown for Him. I truly love this gospel and I want to endure to the end and have a forever family and live with our Heavenly Father again and Jesus Cristo. 

Les Amo tanto 

Quédense 

Con amor, Elder Smith

 

 

This week was 'goodish' (Chaseism)

So this week was goodish.... it was a bit weird because it got messed up due to the meeting we had on Monday so with that it was a little odd.  We worked better, but as the week went on it seemed like everything was dying down a little bit... we did a practice interview with Jorge and he was supposed to get baptized on Sunday but he drank coffee the morning that we did the practice interview and so that delayed it. He will be getting baptized on Saturday this week now and that's awesome.

We had a lot of interesting things happen this week. I learned how laziness is actually something from Satan and how if we as missionaries are lazy it is because we are giving in to the temptations of Satan. I also learned that we need to realize our potential and never let it drop lower then it really is. 

Yesterday, we had stake conference and the temple president talked. Something small that I loved from what he said was that, if a convert or a member of the church is inactive it is because they stopped receiving personal revelation. He said we can receive that by going to the temple. He talked about how the temple helps with everything and if you have a problem go to the temple and you can figure it out.

Something cool I saw from this week was that I was thinking about not being lazy and our lessons fell through so we started knocking doors. I kept knocking and no one was excepting or answering... we could see them inside but they didn't answer... I was thinking in my head well I'm not being lazy and I'm not going to... so I thought God will bless me in time.. like two houses later this guy came to the door and said come on in and gave us this homemade juice and then said how he and his son love to learn about the gospel and how his son isn't baptized for any church but wants to be... so we are going to be working with them more and it will be amazing!

I love the mission and even though its hard and I'm not with a companion that is like me I know that I will be blessed if I always do the right. I know that all blessings come from loving God with all our hearts, mind, thoughts and with this we can become more like him. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all my heart, might, mind, and strength and I am so thankful that Jesus gave his life for us so we can live again with our Heavenly Father and our loved ones. I know that the only way to the Kingdom of God is through this path following Christ and dedicating our lives to be more like him. I love the gospel and am so thankful for this opportunity to serve.

I love you all and pray that we all will follow this plan and endure to the end. 

Elder smith

Este semana

So this week was good as we have been more OBEDIENT as a companionship we have received a lot more blessings. But... we still have a lot to work on and I find myself having to lead... which is rough!

So in sacrament we have a goal of 120 people every week and we never have met it since I have been here... I've been here for a little over three months now... But this Sunday we had 127 people there for church... and on top of that between the 2 companionship's of missionaries we had ten investigators there so that was awesome! We just got blessed with this new investigator that has been taking lessons in a different ward because his girlfriend or almost wife lives there but then he decided to start coming to our ward. He is so ready for baptism and he is actually getting baptized this week, on Sunday so that came from no where and its awesome!! We are really trying to reactivate the inactives and bring families closer so we can help them decide to make temple covenants. 

Yesterday, we were blessed with the presence of Elder Nelson and his Wife.  Man Sister Nelson killed it! She talked about... well basically obedience!! she talked about as missionaries we are obedient and we receive blessing.... and she talked on how we can improve... then she shared something from one of the apostles stories about a missionary that was always doing good.She said obedience brings blessings but exact obedience brings miracles!! This hit me because its true, we can be obedient and we will get the blessings that are needed but if we want to see miracles we have to be exactly obedient!

Elder Nelson talked about ten things we need to study and one being, Jesus Christ. He said if I was a missionary right now I would base my studies around this one topic... so I wrote that down and now my studies will be like that. The things he talked about were super good but what hit me the most was his blessing for all of us at the end... I was so full of the spirit when  he said,  "I bless that you all will have a great desire to do this work to continue every day!" HE also blessed us that we will all get home from our missions safely and live a normal life again, and then he blessed our families... 

I don't know what it was but hearing those words coming out of his mouth just slapped me in my chest. A disciple of God just said these things to us and blessed us with all of this... right then and there I received the truthfulness of his words. Without a doubt that man is a disciple of Jesus Christ and a Man of God. 

I hope we can all strive to be like those examples we have in the church.

I love you all!!

Elder smith

Bueno!

This week was better. It's still been kind of strange because we are doing a lot of walking because no one has been letting us in! We have had some good experiences though, we were with an inactive family and we were there trying to gain their confidence or what we like to call it "estábamos dando jugo" or giving juice. Really it was super good. We talked to them and got to know them better, and we talked about our lives. We tried to convince the daughter that has 19 years to stop dating her 44 year old boy friend... yeah he could be her dad. Anyways we finished with a prayer and they chose me to say it because they think I don't know Spanish very well... but I have my prayers down sooooo hahah, sorry that was prideful. But the prayer was said and after, there was this super calm spirit that hit and we just sat there for a second and my comp said something like "this right here, right now is the Holy Ghost" it was so strong and then one of them cracked a joke and it faded a little.

So we start a new change today and me and my comp are still together. We had a good couple talks on how we can improve our work and what we need to do. It was super good because we felt like this last change really was terrible. We felt like we could have left the ward so much better but we got the call and learned we will be here another change and we are making goals to kill it this change! I'm so grateful for the help us missionaries receive with everything and how we are watched so well by our Heavenly Father. 

I love the mission even though it is hard at times and I have to just buckle down and get through it. I know that in life we all have trials and that if we just tell our selves to take it one day at a time and just think about the day we are in and enduring it we can do it and we will get help from God and we will also learn so much!.

Les Amo Tanto

Elder Smith

 PS. I had to go to the mission Dr. because those flee bites got infected and he had to give me a shot and then use a knife to cut it open and take everything out. Nasty!! it hurt so bad but I'm all good.

Wuena wuena!!! (Whatever that means)

This week I have learned a lot. All though I am in the mission and sometimes my letters home seem like I am having the time of my life I really am not. When people say that the mission is the best two years..... its not... but its the most important two years of our young lives. We learn to stand up to the pressures of Satan and the bad things of the world. I have been in the mission for about five ish months and I have learned something that will change my life and anyone that really wants to change forever.

I have been feeling like I lack something for a while now in the mission and really it sucks when I cant figure it out. I have been reading for a while now in Alma and I finally finished the book (thank goodness) and it talks a lot about captain Moroni and how great a man of God he was. It always talks about his trust in the Lord and if we have trust in God we will be fine and be helped to overcome or get through the things that are hard. 

So I finished that this last week and it finally hit me what I didn't have or what I didn't have enough of. I didn't have and still don't have all my trust in the lord, but I am learning in my mission how to hand everything that I have and just put it into the hands of the lord. I know how hard it is because I really haven't done it all but I have realized in the hardest parts of my mission that when I'm sad, having a bad day, or just think man what am I doing here. It's because my trust in our God all mighty is very low. But when I am always thinking everything will be okay because God isn't going to take his eye off me, ever, and that goes for each and everyone of us, that is when I am happy and am moving quick to do the work and I don't worry about anything.

So with that the mission isn't hard but it's is so very necessary in our lives so we can learn the things  of God and more about the gospel of Jesucristo. 

I know that God lives and I know he loves us and he will never take his eye off us because that is how much he loves us. I know that through the atonement of Jesus we can be cleansed and saved and have the opportunity to live with our loved ones for eternity. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and it is how we can receive personal revelation. I love the gospel and I am so thankful for this time in my life that I can change and prepare to meet our loving heavenly father!

I love you all and hope that you all will take the time to look at what you are lacking in your life, find it and quickly bring it back into your life. 

Choa Nos Vemos,    

Elder Smith

Because of Him

This week was slow and nothing happened we didn't find that many people and we taught little lessons. It really was a rough week. We got to Sunday and we were blessed with something. This guy and his girl friend came to church. His girl friend is a member in the south part of Santiago and he lives in our sector. He wants to get a testimony and learn more and so that was awesome.

Then, on Sunday we had a fireside with the youth in our ward it was so good. The spirit was so strong and I was loving it. We talked about the mission and the importance of preparing now for it!! It was so strong mostly because the four elders that were there didn't really do much to prepare so we used some of our examples as what not to do and we ended with a movie called, Because of Him!!! Look it up if you haven't seen it. It is so powerful and we can learn so much from it. It is only like 3 minutes and after you will feel so ready to do anything that the lord wants you to do.

Love you all!!

les quiero Harto!!!

Elder smith!

 

 

 

 

 Pictures this week...not many!

 

 

 

Share the gospel with others!

This last week was long and hot. We worked a lot and sometimes we got lazy with some things. We had a lot of success when we were lazy and I don't know why but I'm not going to use that as an excuse to keep being lazy.... so this last week we have been trying to follow the rules of the mission and everything with exactness. We weren't able to do the whole week but we improved as a companionship. I know how hard obedience is and sometimes it's way easier to just do the opposite and not be obedient but I know without a doubt that if we are exactly obedient we will receive blessings in every aspect of our life. 

We have been teaching this man that is 27 and he is a police officer that works with bombs and stuff. I have really seen how much he trusts us and wants to hear more about the gospel. It really amazes me how people can trust us 19 year olds. But really I know that it is through the help of the Holy Ghost because without that help, really we aren't doing anything. I've realized that in our lessons that when the Holy Ghost isn't strong they aren't listening and everything is different but when it is strong everything changes!!

We are still working with Victor and he really loves when we come over. His testimony is growing and we are starting to see the light of Christ in his eyes. We have lost some investigators this week which was sad because I thought they were doing good. But they got talked out of it by their dad and so they asked that we don't pass by anymore. I really would like to talk more about some of the people I have but they just leave us so fast it's just rough to talk about them.

We have really be teaching with unity this week and as we progressed I really have felt the Holy Ghost super strong.. I know that the only way that people will come to the truth is through the confirmation of the Holy Ghost. They need that feeling of peace and joy in their life. 

I know that this is the true gospel!! I learn new things constantly and my life is changing so fast. I know that life without the gospel is something that I don't want so we need to be constantly sharing  the gospel so others can have the greatness we do! 

Love you all!!!

Elder Smith

Conference Weekend! It's an infierno down here!!!

 Life is good down here in infierno!! It's so hot and I really want them to change the rules and allow us to wear shorts. Ha, not going to happen!

This week I have been asking for guidelines in this general conference that we had. I really just needed something to help me. I thought I would have a hard time telling my companion that I wanted to be more obedient or do different things but it was easy and he felt the same way he just didn't want to say anything.

In conference it talked a lot about our Savior Jesus Cristo and who he is and how he acts. I loved this because our goal is to learn how to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Cristo. The thing that stuck out the most is when we need to ask ourselves a simple question LORD WAS IT I... I liked this because we are always looking at others before we look at ourselves. I really want to apply this and change the way that I do when I look at someone. I need to change myself before I change someone else or help them change. 

Investigators, we have about five but a lot of them just are not motivated to go to church. BUT one of them is this man named Victor. His wife is inactive but loves the church and wants to go back but with her husband and he wants to learn and know for himself what is the truth. I have this strong feeling about him and I cant wait to see where to gospel takes him. 

I love the mission even though it is super hard! I know that it will help all that choose to serve one. With faith we can serve and with strength we can overcome the hard times in the mission and life. 

I love you all and pray that the gospel always comes first in your lives. 

Peace Elder Smith (aka some dude in chile)

 

This week was Awesome!

This week was awesome!  We had a lot of lessons and we found 9 new people!! It's so awesome to teach and to feel the spirit!. Sometimes I don't want the lesson to end because it feels so good. My new companion has 15 months in the mission and he is the same age as me! HE is a cool guy and we have a good time but sometimes he likes to be chueko!! which means not obedient.. nothing bad but stuff that I don't like! So I'm going to have to learn how to deal with it and to help us as a companionship. I'll be honest I don't like having a gringo companion because we always talk in English,  and I don't want to learn English right now.

So with our investigators we have a decent amount now but no one went to church this last week so we are working on that and we are trying to involve the ward with our work because we need help with lessons and the ward doesn't have very much excitement so we are going to try to help that.. 

SO, there is this boy that is a convert and he has 10 years. He and his sister are the only members in his family but his sister doesn't go to church anymore. He lives like a mile from the church and he goes to church by himself every week. He is so grown up when he talks to us about having an appointment. He is such and example for me and everyone around him. We all need to have the desire to have this in our life to do things even though we will be doing it solo. 

Thanks for everything miss you guys!!! 

Peace from Elder Smith