Now Mexico is treating those boys a lot better!!

Monday November 13, 2017

Elder Cody Smiley:

This week was hard because of the elders who were here.

Elder Belito and I are opening an area.  It has been hard because the other elders who were here were not organized with one thing.  Everything has been a mess.  

Belito is a very good guy and companion.  We always joke around and have fun with each other so we will have a good companionship. 

We have just lost ourselves here in Fresnos.   Here is something really cool!

On Sunday we received like 10 references to help us here so that is really going to help us!!!! The ward is going to help us a ton.  A lot of members have come to me and have said hey Smiley I am here for you guys if you need ANYTHING I will be there! I think this ward will see a lot of Milagros (miracles)!

Cody's camera is on the fritz, and we cannot convince him to buy another!!  No pictures from Cody again.  

Elder Mark Smiley:

Subject:  Literally no time.

First of all, the houses here are so small. You can poop, shower, wash your hands, and wash a baby (there was a baby bath in a bathroom) all at the same time.

Church is so hard.  It’s a bunch of white noise Spanish that is difficult to understand but its also spiritual so not all bad.  Here comes the hard part!  A WARD COUNCIL MEETING THAT LASTS 2.5 HOURS FULL OF A BUNCH OF OLD PEOPLE, THAT MAKES US MISS AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN AWESOME INVESTIGATOR.

Quick story: So there is an investigator we have that works in a hair-cutting place.  He told us that when I first arrived, he had to excuse himself to go to the bathroom. Low and behold he was throwing up, and explained that it was because he had a gift of sensing that strength of spirits.  My spirit was so strong that it made him vomit jaja.  I mean to each his own. Also I didn’t understand any of what he said so I just kind of nodded along and then Elder Alvarez told me after what he said and i was like WHAT.

No time.  Alvarez told me we gotta leave early so I’m trying to go quick. Love you all!

PS:  PLEASE FORGIVE MY DEMANDING OF THINGS.  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH MORE NOW.  PLEASE FORGIVE  MY STUPIDITY AS A CHILD AND REALIZE I HAVE DONE A LOT OF GROWING UP (not enough) THROUGH THESE TWO WEEKS.  I CAN’T WAIT TO HUG YOU AT THE AIRPORT BUT RIGHT NOW I GOTTA FOCUS

thanks dad.  this week was a whole heck of a lot better.  I prayed hard that Elder Alvarez and I could get along better and our relationship has improved.  We actually have conversations while we walk haha.  

I know we talked about how hard a mission is in quorum meetings, but I’m not sure anything can prepare a missionary for their first week.  Luckily its past, and this week passed a lot quicker.

And for what you said with crappy weeks, this is an experience I shared with another friend:  

I will say this is so hard, but it was so worth it for two reasons. one: we found a woman at a store and asked if we could share with her our message.  she said sure, and that she had all day, so we gave her the first discussion, right there in the street for 45 minutes, and she was so willing to listen.  It wasn´t fun, we were sweating in the sun, it was hot and we were tired, and I was struggling with my Spanish, but I can honestly say that I felt a certain joy about my work in that moment, using the gift of tongues and seeing her accept this small part of our gospel.

The other was this guy who agreed to meet with us to hear our message in front of his English class building.  When we asked him what he hoped to get from our visits, he told us that he would listen to whatever we had to share.  It was so cool.

This part is for you and mom.  

I have actually been thinking about you two a lot this week (not home sick simply pondering), and how you taught me so much.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TEACHING ME SO MUCH.  I can´t really put it into words but I love you guys so much and the teachings you guys have pounded into my brain help me so much with stuff here.  I never gave you guys enough time, and how I’m feeling like Cody did, all I want is to give mom and dad a hug.  I love you guys so much and I wish I had more time but Elder Alvarez just told me I have 15 minutes.  Please remember that I love and appreciate you guys so much more now.

Zone Leaders bought everyone Super Hero shirts  "Now go make it come true"

Mark, the Zone Leader, and Elder Alvarez

Nice colonial building in town

Mark's apartment

The Mormon church!!!

"You will get Baptized!!"

Mom is always right.  Chris had to force Mark to take this Spanish Plan of Salvation.  It's a hit!!

All the mirrors look the same!!  Just a shirt and tie, no faces on any of the mirrors!!!
Could we get maintenance in here to raise the height on these mirrors!!