Week # 17 (Nov. 24 2014) Ser un Misionero

Ah! La Mision. Ther really are no words to describe what is a missino. And what one feels during a day, during an hour, during a minute. It´s sheer joy, a moment of pure power from the spirit, intense stress, fear and disappointment. And all the while you go and go and go and you´re tired and wet and yet...happy. Ridiculously happy. THis week I have learned so much and with all the stress has come good. it always does. When we go through something difficult and use he lord to overcome it, we become incredibly close to God and are so blessed for everything that happens. There is always a purpose!

This week is the second to last week of my training which means that I had to take the lead with all the planning, and teaching for the whole week. Which means that if I didn´t say anything about the gospel or relate their lives to the gospel, we don´t teach. And may I just say, that the people here talk a lot. A LOT. Like getting a word in edgewise is nigh impossible. Let alone about the gospel. But I´m learning day by day. And through added stress I really have been able to humble myself and become closer to my Heavenly father. And rely on the atonement of Jesus Christ to help me do everything. I know that I am nothing without the Lord, but WITH him, I can be a powerful instrument.

Hno Guillermo had his baptismal interview this week!!! We were really nervous that he wasn´t going to make the date because he has been working a ton and we could only see him once last week. So we gave him all the commandment pamphlets so that our lesson could be shorter and so he could understand before we taught. We didn´t know if he would read all them or understand well enought to be ready but we just prayed that the lord´s will would be done. When we saw him, it turned out that he had stayed up til about 2am reading and studying the pamphlets with the extra scriptures in the back and understood, REALLY understood the doctrine. We wanted to cry with joy. His baptism is this sunday and we are so excited for him. Change is real! Miracles are REAL!

Also, really quickly, the spirit of Elijah and family history is real. There has been a huge focus on it in our mission and we have been trying to use it more. All I can say is when there are people that aren´t progressing or aren´t interested, Family history is like wild fire spirituality. It´s amazing. Also, word of advice for anyone preparing to serve a mission: Learn how to do family history well enough to teach it. :) But I know that Family history is JUST as important and regular missionary work. We are helping people enter the KINGDOM OF GOD. What? DO it. 

I love you all so much. SO MUCH. And I pray every day that you can put your trust in heavenly father to live your lives with joy. Thank you for all your support. Read, Pray and Go to church! :) It´s the small and simple things that change lives. 

muchísimo amor,

Hermana Smoot 

Week # 16 (Nov. 27, 2014) La Humilda

Hola Familia!!!! 

Holy Cow esta semana. This week. Was crazy and beautiful and just, well, a mission. :) But the HIGHLIGHT of this week/my mission/my life was that we had a special conferenct with ELDER NELSON. What!? It was the most amazing experience to be in the same chapel as an apostle. We all got to meet him and his wife as well. The spirit in the room was so thick and full while he and his beautiful wife spoke. (in english, I might add!) The main theme that I understood, was that of time. He and his wife spoke a lot about never wasting a second while we are here. Never waste a moment to save a soul because we have such a limited time here and it is going to be gone before we realize. (For example I´ve been on a mission for almost 4 months) What happened to the time? He also spoke of enjoying it. Enjoying each second, whether it is a moment of sadness, heartache and fatigue or a moment of sheer joy. Enjoy time and find the beautiful things in our mission and in life. Sufrir con Gozo (Suffer with joy.) But overall it was absolutely amazing and my testimony of Prophets and Apostles and modern revelation is so strong right now. 

We have two investigators, Marcella y Heriberto who are just fabulous. We found Heri one day out in his yard and as we talked to him we found out his companion was a member! So now we are teaching Heriberto along with his less active pareja (pare...girlfriend?) And they want to get married so that Heri can get baptized!!! We had a fairly hilarious lesson with them about marriage and about the date of their wedding. Heri was SET on april 29 2015 at 9am(ya....specific) But Marcella wanted to do it sooner and basically they hadn´t really talked about it. So we invited them to pray together about a sooner day so that Heriberto can get baptized. They also came to church this week, after we searched everywhere for clothes to give to Marcella becuase she didn´t want to return to chruch without proper attire. I was able to sing during sacrament meeting with another Elder who is ridiculously talented and is going to study music (um, cool) and As we sang, Hermana Marcella was sobbing in the back. AH! Que bonita! It´s amazing that we can use our talents to touch the lives of others. They felt the spirit and they are progressing and it´s beautiful!!

I just know I am supposed to be here. At times I am scared and I don´t understand exactly what is happening and what I need to do. And I feel overwhelmed and nervous. But as I really try to humble myself before the Lord and give my entire life to him, I will become and intsrument in his hands. And I don´t need to worry, becuase Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need to do. And I will find strength in and follow him.

I challenge you all to enjoy your beautiful lives, the good and the bad and to trust in the lord that you can do all things through him. The church is SO true. And we are incredibly blessed to have it in our lives. 

MUCH love,

Hermana Smoot

Volcanos in chile. It is too beautiful here in the spring.

Week # 15 ( Nov. 11) Bienvenido a Casa!!!!!

Hola Family!

Welcome home my dearest sister shelly!!!! My body is dying from the Joy in my heart looking at all of the pictures of you guys together. SO weird and so beautiful. Uh. Our family is beautiful. :)

This week was lovely and full and wonderful and missions are the best. I had a whole bunch of firsts as well. My first exchange with the Sister leaders in my own sector was a little crazy. I had to lead the whole day and know where all of the streets were and which collectivos to take and who to call. Names and streets are really difficult when it´s not in your language, by the way. (We have a street named Lullaillaco. Ya.) But with a little prayer on the bathroom floor for strenght and guidance, everything was ok. I just tried to enjoy every moment and not worry to much. Becuase what happens, happens, and our lives are to be enjoyed. :)

I also had my first Zone conference and it was the best. First of all, I COULD TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON. WhaT? que linda. Thank heavens my mission president is from Mexico and not from chile. He speaks 700 times slower. But really, I am seeing the gift of tongues every day in my life---with patience and humility and obedience, everything is possible.  I also met Hna. Meacham, the girl mom met at the mall. She´s totally in my Zone. So weird. But I tried to talk in english to her and my words were all jumbled and my brain couldn´t change. It was so weird. But really exciting at the same time. I also recieved a lot of answers and comfort from the words of our leaders and I am ready to go! God is real! 

I know with all of my being that God exists and he wants us to be the best we can be to enjoy our lives and return to him. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spread hope and joy EVERY DAY. Uh. the mission is the best. And even though it´s hard sometimes...a lot of times....we can be strengthened through the lord and his atonement. Keep pressing forward in everything that you are doing. Keep praying and doing all you can do. And also family, learn from Ashley, she is just a fountain of knowledge and joy righ now. :) Ug. I am just so happy right now.

I pray for you everyday! 

Much Love, 

Hermana Smoot

This is Hermana Maria. She´s an old hilarious lady who we visit just to sing to her and talk to her and chop her wood. And all i´m saying is that through service, you come to love people. She makes my day every time we go. 

This just shows her personality more. :)

Week # 14 (November 3, 2014)

Hola Familia!!

How is everyone! This week was so quick and I don´t even know what to say. A lot of rain, a lot of teaching, and.....rain. :) All I know is that when you are enjoying your life, time goes by very quickly. Muy rápido. And that is what I am doing and praying for: that I can just enjoy every moment here in the sur de Chile. Becuase it´s beautiful.

First of all, Guillermo is GOLD. Really. He is progressing so much and when he asked him if he had prayed about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, he said that he already knew it. When he reads the Book of Mormon he knows it is true. He is literally so excited to talk about what he read and understand more every time we visit. AH. It´s just the best. The change that has happened in his life is incredible. The atonement is SO REAL.

Another experience worth mentioning: We were knocking on doors in the wind and rain (welcome to Puerto Montt) and we met a woman whose mother had passed away. Although she was religious, she didn´t believe  that she was going to see her mom again. We were able to bear fervent testimonies that God has a plan for her and she CAN see her mother again in the next life. It was such a simple and beautiful experience to be able to give love and hope to someone. That´s why missionary work is so incredible. We have such an amazing knowlegde that is joyful and beautiful. 

I know with every fiber of my being that when we live our lives as god wants, and when we do the small basic things like reading praying and attending church, our lives instantly become so much better. We have eternal perspective and realize that what we are going through is only momentary. God will answer our prayers in the way we need (not want) and we can be happy, truly happy, with him in our lives.

Ug, I just can´t say how much I love this gospel. My heart is too full of joy. You are all INCREDIBLE and I love you all so much. Keep going and loving and living the gospel. :)

Much Love,

Hermana Smoot

P.S. Ashley!!! AH! I can´t believe you are coming home. WHAT is happening. GOOD luck with everything. I love you more than words can describe and I´m jealous that the fam gets to see you before me. much love!

Just a beautiful day. UG. Chile is SO PRETTY

Amaro, Camila and me. (the siblings of nicolas-baptism.)