machete in one hand, and scriptures in the other...

the title has to do with this Saturday when we left to do service.  we were getting ready to hop on the bus to go to a neighboring village and lend some service.  so there we are, getting ready, taking our time, when we hear that the bus in front starts the engine to get going, so we start scrambling and screaming, grabbing all our stuff, stuffing it into a backpack and flying out the door.  I ended up getting on the bus with my machete in one hand and my scripture quad in the other.  what a sight for these Tlacotepec-ers.

we had a great week! every morning we were here we did service! here is how the week went

Wednesday - we dug a ditch for water irrigation

Thursday - we cut a grass field with machetes for this guy´s animals to feed on in the morning, and in the afternoon we harvested cinnamon from cinnamon trees

Friday - we cut a coffee plantation of all the weeds (again with machete)

Saturday - we split trunks with an axe and ¨mowed¨ the lawn with machetes.

it was fabulous! i could not have been happier this week, and it absolutely FLEW by.

Just to finish off the email, i want to share a neat experience i had and the miracle it has wrought in the work here.  I have always been a firm believer in the idea of talking with everyone, and it has always kinda bugged my companions that i always try and get a contact in before an appointment or on the way home.  Well, on the way to our area from the big city, we are riding in a bus that has absolutely no legroom whatsoever. When i got the opportunity, i hopped in the back row to sit down and get some rest, because it was a bit late and i was quite tired.  When right after i do this, a woman gets on with two kids and a bunch of bags.  After helping her load the bags on and then returning to my seat to extend my legs, the woman then sits next to me and impedes my genius plan of getting some rest.  for a moment i was annoyed but then the Spirit told me i oughta talk with her.  so i began, and for the next two hours we spoke about her life and how she felt something was missing in her life, and how her religion just didn´t seem to be helping her fill that gap. Well, Ivón (that´s her name) said she would be more than glad to meet later and talk about the new religion she had never heard of.  We spent most of this last Saturday with this wonderful family helping them around their yard and then teaching them the restored gospel.  They were so in tune with the spirit they were practically teaching us the lesson.  These guys are so prepared and will soon be entering into the Lord´s true church and enjoying the absolutely incredible blessings He offers them.  

sorry its kinda lengthy, but I just wanted to share that experience.  I love you guys! take care and enjoy your week!

-elder Smiley

Got to go baptize this little girl who turned 8 - Mark baptized the rest of the family a while ago

On our way an appt

This is where we do our laundry...can't wait to get to a washing machine!!