Hola, it is great to hear from y’all this week. It looks like Jacob can play a little football that was a nice pop on the guy, keep up the good work. It sounds like everything is going good at home other than football. Oh well there is more to life, but it is fun when your team wins. This week has gone pretty good especially with conference this past weekend and I was in Bonoa for the past couple of days because my companion had a leadership meeting in Santiago.
I’ll start out with conference this past weekend. I think it is the first time that I have ever watched all of the sessions and it was way good. There were a lot of good talks and I think that my favorite quote of the conference was from President Eyring when he said, ¨when we ponder we open ourselves to revelation by the spirit¨. Before the mission I never really studied the scriptures in the way that I do now. I just kind of read words just to do the reading for seminary or for class at BYU. Now when I actually study and think about whatever I am studying I learn so much more and I can see how it applies in the grand scheme of things. There are so many things in the scriptures that I have not noticed until now and they are so cool. I love having discussions with my companion because he knows so much because he is dying this transfer. So I challenge y’all at home to actually study the scriptures and not just read the words and try to apply it to your lives.
But this past week teaching wise has been mas o menos. We didn’t have much time to teach because of conference and our trip to Bonao. We have had some good lessons and I am teaching a lot for most greenies. I was with an American this week for an exchange so I get to teach a lot which I like because it helps me stay awake during the lesson. The mission is very tiring and that 20 minute siesta after lunch is awesome. At lunch we have someone that cooks for us so I usually eat rice and beans which I love and I don't know how I don't get sick of them. Here they really don't eat breakfast or dinner so I get hungry quite a bit, so I night I usually start cooking. So usually it is ramen and eggs. But back to teaching, I enjoy teaching because that means we aren't outside walking, and we are doing something productive. We have had to move on past some of our investigators that weren't progressing so hopefully we can get some good references soon. We have a good pool of people to teach, but a lot of them are women and teenagers so I have to wait until next transfer to get them in the water because of the mission rules for them. So it is good that we have some people that are progressing which is good and you can tell that they are changing when we teach them. They are starting to ask lot harder questions to us which my companion just looks at me and says I am dead, so he makes me answer all the questions for the most part which helps me with the language. My companion is dying a little bit but he is working hard and we are having success for the most part. The members in our branch are good and they like to go out with us and teach which is really helpful for the most part, unless they won't shut up. So one problem is that we have really long lessons sometimes and when members go off I get lost and start to dose off.
I have had a bad cough for the past week because of the rain and humidity afterwards and the oils and trash that get in the air, but oh well, its not bad enough to keep me in the house. I am getting used to the culture for the most part, and my companion and I have been messing with our water pump so we can usually have water as long as we have power which is half of the time. My companion has a degree in civil engineering so he knows what he is doing most of the time. I think other than the spirit my fan is my best friend. That fan makes a huge difference especially at night.
It sounds like school is going good for the kids, Brittney enjoy senior year! It goes by to fast! I hope that you have fun at HC regardless if you have a date or not. Do you have Mr. Eaton for BC? Continue to work hard Cinco prepares you well for college. Makenzie continue to work hard in school and in basketball and you will have success. Jacob continue to do work and continue with the sport updates (could you give more info than who one and who lost), but continue working hard and having fun. That is what is important, have fun jacking guys up. I don't have any advice for mom other than to keep the vacuum lines straight, jk, I love you and am thankful for all that you do. And dad I am thankful for all that you do and for the work that you do to support our family. President Monson talked about gratitude, and I feel like I should thank y’all for all that y’all do and have done for me. I have a great life thanks to y’all. I love my family and I can testify that the gospel has blessed our family very much.
I got to go, so cuidense, and take care. Lo tu saben
Love Elder Smith
P.S. I love email, because I get to hear and talk to y’all. And they play American music especially rock, and all of the new stuff so the ZL just said to enjoy it because there is nothing you can do about it.
A note from Mom...Matthew's companion is not actually dying, he gets to go home in a few weeks
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