not much in the way of letters from Cody, Mark was transferred again

Monday May 28, 2018

Elder Cody Smiley:

The only things I want when I get home is:

box of recess puffs.

desserts that you should prepare. 

Roca rectangles 

puppy chow

smores bars 

LEMON CAKE

If anything else gets in my mind Ill tell you.

Saying good bye in Izucar

This is a good photo of Elder Smiley

Elder Mark Smiley;

yes ladies and gentlemen that is correct I have left Izucar.

I am in a neighboring zone called Atlixco (at-lees-ko) and it is super chill.  Not as hot, and apparently my area is super awesome.  My companion is elder Camacho, and he is my first comp that does not speak English.   Finally get to work on really mastering Spanish. Every past companion, except my trainer has gone home for personal problems.  Gonna try and break that streak this change;)

This week was pretty good, pretty rough.  Our area was still pretty difficult, not to mention we went to a place called Tehuitzingo, which is an hour away by bus but like 15 minutes as the the crow flies.  Imagine how bad the turns were.  That combined with food poisoning that we found out I had AFTER the bus ride put me out of commission for a day, and then transfers.

Gonna miss good ole Elder Gates, but it had to come to an end at some point.  My new area has a ton of potential, we have a ward here and Elder Camacho says that they actually like us and want to help us, so thats gonna be some adjusting, but I’m super psyched.  

stay solid all, sorry I didn’t write everyone, the time is limited today.

-elder smiley

It is getting CLOSE!!

Monday May 21, 2018

Elder Cody Smiley:

This week was pretty routine.  We were in Zacatecas for Zone Conference until Thursday.   Yeah, you know how much I love meetings. The best part of the conference is that I got to see a ton of friends I haven’t seen in a long time.  I saw Hermana Magaña, Elder Baragan, and Elder Cornego (he leaves July 24) while I was there! It was so cool to see them!

Elder Jacinto and I did the coolest thing ever!  So Valparaíso is very, very slow with missionary work and with the basics. So, dad told me to think outside the box with my missionary service and this is what we came up with.  Elder Jacinto and I organized a soccer game with all these dudes from this area.  After our game, where WE DESTROYED THEM, they asked us a bunch of basic questions.  They wanted to know some things like “what are you guys doing here” and all kinds of other questions!  Dad wants me to call this “Soccer Dendo”.

See you in FIVE WEEKS!!!

Not sure what is going on, but it was a good picture of Cody

Elder Mark Smiley;

I’m glad the Foundation’s Golf Tournament fundraiser went so well.  That sounds like it could fund my college education so why don’t we just reroute all those Benjamin’s to my account.

I’m glad Chad Lewis was the “Pro” at the tournament.  Ah good ole Chad.  He probably felt so bad after splashing a brat like me.

I am super psyched to see the remodel, but I see you guys´ excitement more like anxiety at this moment.

When people hear there are 18 temples in Utah alone they lose their minds.  It takes a lot for people to go the temple from here, and its not even close to the hardest it can get to make it to the temple.  Sacrifice brings blessings.  At least we can learn that, right?

Actually fun story we passed a reference to the other elders like i told you guys in the call and they had 6 baptisms yesterday, the whole family! the daughters asked me and elder gates to participate as well in the baptism.  it was such a fun night.

Love you guys.  Stay solid. Don’t do drugs.  Look both ways before crossing the street.  Above all:  Don’t let smiles and Becca get too close to each other.

Prayer List

Angelica that she can keep listening to us even though her parents don’t approve

Nancy that she can keep our commitments and really have a desire to stay faithful in the church

Luisa that she can feel ready for her baptism this week

Jared that he can comeback to church and think about his mission

Federico that he can gain enough confidence to come to church

Mariel that her mother will allow her to be baptized

That elder smiley can stop thinking of Roca Rectangles

That is a bunch of white!!!

Love, Mark

MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Monday May 14, 2018

Well this week was good because we celebrated mother’s day.  The rama (church branch) had a lot of activities only for moms.  Later on Thursday we just talked with the family.  Friday we did find a good pair of investigators that have good potential!  I have a feeling about them. This week will be a long week because we are in Fresnillo this week until Thursday. 

Dad said something that just blew my mind! See you in a month and a half.  That just blew my mind!   It’s hard to believe that I will only be here for just a little while longer.

I hope everyone will be able to come to our Sacrament Meeting on July 8 at 9am when I report about my mission.  I want to talk to Bill Swann about our mission.  I want to hear about how it has changed since he served here a while ago.

Love,

Elder Cody Smiley

That sure was fun seeing you guys again.  I was constantly forgetting about the call and then all of a sudden it was Sunday and we were rushing around trying to get everything in order! I think my favorite part was just that we were having an easy conversation.  Just back and forth.  No pauses, no awkward silence.  Just a bunch of jokes and stories like a classic Sunday night in the Smiley household.  And you guys can all tell that I am doing a lot better than at Christmas.  Christmas was a hard one.  This next Christmas won’t be so hard I don’t think.  Only two more left! But don’t worry I’m honestly not counting

Me and my comp are going to have to do something because there is not a lot going on here and we need to get the ball rolling so that president doesn’t close this area. 

We really are supported in this heat.  When we get back to visit this place the heat will be so much worse for me I guarantee it.

I know I’m not too different, and its cause I have started doing real exercise again, but I really have gained weight.  I actually only way about 160, which is 10 more than when I left, and I’m 6 foot 3 now as well.  The doctor told us and we did the calculations.

Enjoy my bed.  Because mine here has metal bars that I have to nestle between to get a good nights sleep:)  

Love,

Elder Mark Smiley