What a strange week...

Dear John, 

And Family and Friends,

So I started writing this letter like a "Dear John" but then I remembered that we have an actual John in our family. I then got to thinking that every letter he gets is a "Dear John". Hehehe, that stinks. Anyways, this week has been crazy. I got two P-Days this week. From now on my P-Days will be on Saturdays, since I have joined the staff. Our P-days are Saturdays and all other missionaries P-days are Mondays. 

I got to see two big things this week; one of the biggest of things that happen on the mission, and I saw it all in one day. I saw the beginning and the end of the mission in 24 hours. 

Wednesday as I was called to the office to start my new calling and help with the transfers, I saw all the brand new missionaries that arrived in the mission field. I saw them come into the office all wide eyed, ghost-faced, smooth skin that has not been sun damaged yet, white pressed shirts, new ties, polished shoes and that classic look in their eyes of a mysterious world that they are about to enter into which is still completely unknown to them. That fear of the language, to preach the gospel, getting a good trainer, not knowing what in the world to do. I know very well that look, because that look stayed with me for a while. I could feel it radiating from me; the look of Inexperience. Then we shipped them off one by one with their corresponding companions. 

Then later that day, we received the other missionaries. The missionaries with the yellow sun stained shirts, the color faded ties, dirty shoes, tan burnt faces, and with the smile of excitement and satisfaction. We all went to the President’s house, ate lunch and talked about what they would do after the mission. We had a testimony meeting in which the spirit was very strong. I saw some missionaries that I respected very much, cry, bearing their testimony, starting to feel the fear of leaving it all behind. Afterwards, we went and got all their luggage and headed off to the airport......seeing the whole process. Leaving a life behind from

the airport, and leaving your other life behind as well, from an airport. We checked them in and got the luggage on board. Then we waited. In that moment of waiting things started become too real to me. I began to see all the missionaries with their letters from the president congratulating them for the service that they had given; that they had finished and ended an honorable full time mission. But I noticed something different that I almost missed; something that if I hadn’t paid close attention to, would have easily gone unnoticed. I noticed a certain look in everyone's eyes. There were some with a complete look of satisfaction in their eyes. Knowing that it wasn’t just on paper that they had really done everything to serve an honorable mission. They knew it in their hearts. And then there were the others. There were a few that had a look of disappointment, not quite sadness, but disappointment. I knew a lot of their works, being their leader, and there were some that knew that they could have done more. They had it on paper that they "gave it their all" but it wasn't in their heart. I felt a pain in my heart. I felt so impressed to change everything about the way I work, so that I can take no regrets with me.

I am Assistant now, but I am far from being a good missionary. I have so much more to do to be able to feel that the Lord has accepted my work.

I have realized how fast the mission goes by. Don't release me in the field, keep me in! I cannot wait to see you guys again!

God Speed

Elder Smidt X

New House...

Hello Family and Friends,

This week we were able to baptize Henrique and it was awesome! He is so cool. He came back from his trip and we taught him a lesson and invited him to be baptized that same week, yesterday. He is already liked by everyone in the ward. Saturday he went and played soccer with all the other young men at the church. Unfortunately, the other girls that we thought were committed can’t let go of coffee and they don't see it much of an important thing to keep the Commandments. 

So my companion has one year and three months on the mission. We have started renting a new house this week. I never thought that renting a house would be so strenuous. We had to sign a bunch of papers, have her sign papers, get a whole bunch of bank information, etc. It was very complicated. But it is a sweet house. It’s big and nice, with tile, good doors, windows, everything is good and new and clean. And the lady was only asking 500 reais per month for it. So we took it. That is extremely lower than usual renting prices here.

Last night was our first night there and we only had enough time to bring our mattresses over and our suitcases; nothing else. Not our bed frames, oven, washing machine, tables, nothing, only our mattresses. So the house was really empty last night and hollow. And my companion gets scared easily. We heard some weird sounds when we were starting to go to sleep, so I played it up.

I said, "Elder there has to be some kind of reason why this house was so cheap, right? Do you think there's something wrong with it?"

It was already completely dark, we were only able to vaguely see the dim moonlight shining through the front door. We were sleeping in the main room on the floor.

He responded, "What are you talking about?" And then we heard an unusual clinking sound from an unknown location. 

"Do you think that maybe, I don't know, this could be one of those haunted houses?" Another sound clinked a little louder.

"Seriously, you can shut up now!" he quickly jabbed back at me. 

"I'm sorry, I'm just kidding," I softly said and let silence fill the room. After a minute or two that I relished, knowing he wasn't feeling comfortable, I questioned, "Elder why are you just standing next to your bed looking down at it?" 

He shot up out of his bed faster than lightning and starting throwing a fit. I laughed so hard I was crying. That was probably my funniest moment this week.

Well, I love you and miss you all! Have a great week!

God Speed.

Elder Smidt X

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings from heaven...

Hello Family and Friends,

This past week our baptisms fell through. How can I explain in the best way possible.... Let’s just say it wasn't the right time of the month for the girls to get baptized, so we will be baptizing the family tomorrow. It was a bummer but I just hope this doesn't discourage them. I hope that they stay firm in their decision. We planned the baptism for Friday night because Saturday they were leaving to go to the grandma’s house for the weekend. They come back today, but since it didn't work out Friday, we marked the baptism for tomorrow. I just hope that they are all still fine after the trip, that nothing made them change their minds. We hope to baptize the mom, the two daughters and son. Family baptisms are the best! We also have some other people with potential to be baptized. We have to baptize 6 people this week to reach our goal, but I really do believe that it is possible with the Lords help. We did a fast and we are praying a lot.

Last week we spent a lot of time with the President going to all the district meetings in our zone. He came and inspected our house with Sister Fortunato, we had interviews with him, we had a personal meeting with just him and the assistants talking about our zone, and we had a meeting with him and our bishop making goals. All in all, we spent almost more time with him during the week than we spent working in our areas. But it was good!

To answer your questions: We don't have purified water in the apartment, we have to buy it. We live in a little apartment complex, reeaaalllyy small apartment. It’s pretty dry here, the roads are really dusty - only a few paved roads, which makes our house super dirty, super fast. Sooooo much dust comes in through the cracks of the doors and windows. But even though it’s dry and dusty, there are a lot of green plants here everywhere. I have seen monkeys a few times here crawling on the telephone wires like squirrels. And I've seen a few Toucans as well.

All the kids here try to talk to us in English. They just got done with a two week vacation from school, which is like our winter break, and they have a 2 month break in our winter but their summer.

Our ward is really excited about the work here. They are super supportive of the missionaries. They are so awesome! It’s so interesting to me what a difference it makes if you have an awesome bishop that dedicates his time to the mission work, the ward grows unbelievably fast, but when you have a bishop who doesn't care too much about the work, the ward stays the same with no growth. You reap what you sow. We are trying to follow the Prophets voice and work a lot more with less actives and find baptisms through them. If we don't follow this advice we show to God that we don't believe in the Prophet and we don't believe in his plan. You either do the right things because you believe, or you don't because you don't fully believe it to be true. There is no in between.

What do I do for fun on P-Days? Nothing, I sleep. I recuperate all my energy to work super hard for the rest of the week! (Of course, I have to accomplish all my chores first)

I love and miss you all! 

God Speed.

Elder Smidt X

It's the final countdown...

Well helloooooooooo there!

So I got the package, woo hoo hehe, I loved it! The skittles are Awwwwesooooome (said in a high pitched tone). Looks like from here on out, its clear sailing…..no more sicknesses.

Did dad make a belly shirt with the McLovin shirt? That is awesome. I can NOT WAIT to do that race with you guys!

So this week we weren’t able to Baptize anyone. We are still waiting for Carlos Henrique to come back. Once he does we'll get him baptized. We also have two other girls progressing to be baptized this Sunday. I really hope that we can baptize them and do the work and have the faith to find more to be baptized by next Sunday because our goal is 7 for this month. So we have to work a whole lot more. I believe that we will be able to reach this goal. We will be doing another fast to find a family.

I really don’t have all that much to share this week except that I’m getting fat again. It’s impossible to exercise here. The roads are rock roads and super uneven and if you try to run you’ll just twist your ankle. Also, in our house I can’t do things because the people below us get super angry with the noise that we make. Sucks. Oh well, ya win some, then ya lose some.

I love you all! Hope you have an excellent August!

God Speed!

Elder Smidt X

We are all enlisted...

Hello Family and Friends,

This week was quite the awesome one. We had an unexpected baptism. Her name is Maria Ilsa. We felt like we really needed to try our hardest to baptize every week, and until Wednesday we didn’t have anybody. Elder Jacob and I started talking about why we weren’t finding anybody, and then I realized what was missing. I told him that we were trying to do things our way, with our own efforts and without relying on the Lord for guidance. So that night we decided to look in the Area Book one more time, except this time we prayed that the names of people who were in need of the Gospel would be shown unto us. As soon as we ended the prayer, I opened the book and it seemed like my mind was opened. I wrote down the first three names that caught my attention and the next day we had lunch and started working in that area. After not a whole lot of luck, we passed by two of the three names that I wrote down, the two that were closest, because the first name I wrote down was really far away from where we were working. But finally in the afternoon we decided to visit the last person that we had. Running out of time, we basically ran there, crossing over mountains. When we got there she said she was waiting for us to return. She said that she had told herself that the next time the missionaries passed by there she would accept our message and be baptized. She was baptized and it was such a cool experience. It really made me appreciate the help that we get from the Lord when we search for it.

"I do not ^aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my ^bjoy is full, yea, my heart is brim with ^cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God."  Alma 26: 11

This week that kid that I mentioned a while ago will come back. We baptized his best friend two Sundays ago and yesterday he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Kids name is Carlos Henrique, and his friend that was baptized is Mauro. Its kinda funny because I expected to Baptize Carlos first and then Mauro, but it looks like things were switched.

Dad, I want you to watch one short film from the church, its called "The Stonecutter". You may have already watched it, but maybe never completely understood it. I want you to relate the calling that the man talks about that he has, to your calling that you have as the patriarch of our home. I cried at the line that the son says to the dad at the end because I just thought of you and our relationship that we had. Please watch it when you aren’t busy so that you can focus on the message. After watching it, I realized how grateful I am to have you as my father. 

I love you dad.

Anyways, I hope all is good with you guys, Its not too long now!

God Speed

Elder Smidt X