Happy Late Mother's Day!

May 16, 2017

Hi family!

   Talking was awesome yesterday!  I'm sorry the connection was kind of bad and you guys got a little gypped because you couldn't see me but I'll let you look at me all you want when I get home.

 
   So... This week was good.  We worked really hard and struggled to find enough time to teach the investigators we already had and find news but somehow we made it work.   So... We're teaching a lady named Elim that is very positive but doesn't have any support from her partner.  Also we're teaching her little sister Anyelka.  They didn't make it to church this week so we'll have to verify why when we pass by again.

 
   Our most positive family is familia Davila.  The parents, Nelson and Elia are super humble and cool and always receive us even if they just got home from work and are exhausted.  We did a family home evening at their house this week with a lot of members and it turned out really cool.  They came to church this week with their 6-yr old daughter Amy.  They are just waiting for a lawyer to finish up an old divorce so they can get married and baptized.  In their home I always feel the spirit stronger than I've felt in any other home in Nicaragua.
  Also we're teaching a guy named junior and his partner and son.  They're cool and receptive but we're fighting a lot of problems.  It's become very clear to me that it's way easier if someone just doesn't sin in the first place.  But that's why we're here, to help people repent.  

   We're also teaching a reference named Andrea, as well as her sister Elena.  They were positive all week and then didn't got to church because they were embarrased because they don't have formal clothes like a blouse so they refused to go.  But supposedly they're going to buy blouses this week so they feel better about going so they can go next week.  We'll see what happens.

   This week we have multizones on Wednesday in Jinotepe.  As always, I'm looking forward to it because multizones are awesome.  I always learn so much.

 
     Shou tout to all the mothers out there.  You're awesome and the world wouldn't keep spinning without you!  Thanks especially to the best mother out there, which is my own of course.  I LOVE YOU!

Have a great week!

Elder Smith

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Cody's District

Mural in the park

Diriamba

May 9, 2017

Hey family!

  So... I had changes from Masaya to a city called Diriamba.  Diriamba is in the department of Carazo (Masatepe also pertains to Carazo).  Diriamba is one of the bigger cities in Carazo but it's not that big.  There are four other sisters in the city.  The zone is Zona Carazo and it has 20 missionaries and me and Elder Peterson are the ZLs.  So my comp is Elder Peterson from Morgan Utah.  Thankfully he's not a city boy.  He likes motorcycles and stuff.  He has about 13 months in the mission.  He's awesome and he's a really hard worker so I'm happy.  

  It was a very eventful week

  On Monday I had a feeling I might have changes so I bought a  ton of crap from the market in Masaya.  

  On Tuesday we found out I had changes so I said goodbye to converts and members I had met and stuff.  It was probably hardest to say goodbye to Mayra and Arecelly because they are awesome converts and they both go to church with their husbands every week.  Both of them have temple goals.  Then I had to pack and it was a nightmare because of all the crap I've accumulated over the last 21 months and especially because of all the crap I've bought at the market here in Masaya.  But somehow I made it work.  

  On Wednesday our bus went to Managua where I found out where I'd be going then we got on and dropped everyone in the zone off in their areas and got back here at like 12:30 and ate lunch.  The lady that makes us lunch is awesome and really funny.  She kind of reminds me of Mom because she's so nice and has a similar personality.  

  From Wednesday to Saturday I just went around getting to know the investigators here.  There are a ton of them.  There's a woman named Elim and her little sister Anyelka (both of whom went to church), there's a young and very sincere family, the husband is Nelson and the wife is Elia.  They're awesome and they came to church with their little daughter.  Also there's an awesome guy named Junior who came to church and to our surprised brought his wife and son.  Plus there's a couple more.  In total 9 investigators came to church this week plus on Saturday we had the baptism of a guy named Robin.  I don't really know much about him though because I just kind of inherited him but he's cool.  

   We're so swamped with a ton of investigators that we're having trouble finding time to find new investigators and visit converts and less actives.  

   Today for pday we went to San Marcos where Elder Lunt is and played basketball with them and one of their investigators from Bluefields.  Then we came back and I had a quesadilla.

   This area is very cool and the shower is freezing but I'm used to it at this point and it doesn't bother me too much.  In the morning and night it feels perfect.  I can't complain too much.  It did rain a few times this week but mostly at night when we were already in the house.  

  Also I've been sick for about two weeks now with a ton of congestion and a horrible cough.  It got so bad that I took my mattress out to the study room and slept there to not wake up my poor comp.  But I'm taking some pills now so hopefully they'll help.  Luckily my bacteria seems to be dormant for now.

Well have a good week!

Love you!

Talk to you on Sunday!

Elder Smith

Robin's baptism (Robin is the one on the left)

Otilia and Marta

Drinking a bag of coke

moto taxi (see the machete on the right of the guy)

Sunset and storm clouds in Diriamba

  The rat we found dead in the shower in our Masaya house.

May 1, 2017

Hey Family!

  We had a great week.  It wasn't too exciting.  As always we taught investigators, converts, less actives, and looked for news.  

  On Thursday the mission's senior couple came to the zone and we went with them for the house inspections to show them around.  So we got to tour the zone in an AC car.  It was awesome.  Also our house was so clean we got four cookies (plus more throughout the day).  And they brought us sandwiches and pickles.  I haven't had a real pickle for like 20 months!

The people are kicking us out of the cyber because of the day of the workers here and everything is closing right now.  There aren´t any other ones open either so this is going to be really short.  SORRY

 On Friday the zone had interviews with President Brown and it was awesome.  It´s sad to think that I only have interviews two more times before I go home.  

On Saturday Moises got baptized.  He was excited and everything went well with his baptism and confirmation.  Yoheyli is doing great and went to church.  Her baptism is set for two weeks.  

  I´m kind of sick with a cough.  

  Changes are this week.  We´ll see what happens.  I have no idea if Ill have changes or not.

LOVE YOU

Sorry I got cut off!

Elder Smith