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