Merry Christmas! - ¡Feliz Navidad!

(from a phone call Dec. 25th, 2019)

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas. I did get my Christmas package from my family back home! It was great to have that for Christmas - enjoyed opening the package and eating the Christmas candy included. This coming week we will have a mission/zone Christmas party at the mission home.
This past week we needed to go to Villahermosa to help with Elder Horn's green card renewal. We went and stayed with the zone leaders on companion splits/divisions. I was able to sleep in a hammock - not sure I will give up a good mattress for a hammock, however. Within those couple of days, I was able to help teach some missionary discussions and bare my testimony for those that we taught.
This past p-day we had a small Christmas party at the church building - played some fun games and had pizza.
Recently, I spoke with a man as Elder Horn and I rode in a taxi. This man is a Pentecostal minister - we talked about how we, missionaries and members of the church celebrate Christmas and how Jesus Christ is the main reason for the holiday.
This coming Friday we will have a multi-zone Christmas party.
I have thought recently about what I could be doing now rather than a mission - there is nothing I would rather be doing than that of a mission! I am blessed and grateful to be a missionary for the Lord! God bless you all!
Have a great Christmas! - and a Happy New Year!

Elder Smart - second from the left, back row.

Luke 2: 1-14

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Missionary Discussions and an Armadillo!

Hello all! Another busy week of appointments, contacts and teaching the missionary discussions. Recently, a young women in the ward  gave us a referral of a friend that she felt would like a visit and that would include a lesson from the missionaries. We called and set an appointment with this referral. We went to the home of the referral/contact; however, we went to the wrong home, a home that looked similar (both houses were orange). In our error we found another new contact -  a family! We set a future time to teach this family- who desired for us to come back and meet with them again. Additionally, we did teach the referral as planned. Also, we met a lady on the street named Eva. She wants us to come and visit with her and share a message of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Eva's husband, we have learned is a Pastor in the Presbyterian church and often goes to Cancun to help with the congregation there.We will be blessed to go to the Priego family home on Christmas day and have lunch. We will also get to see the fireworks they light to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Looking forward to that. We will also visit Ivan, a good friend that helps us each p-day (i.e. preparation day - each Monday of the week), on Christmas evening (prior to week ending - Sunday, Dec. 15th, 2019).

Armadillo ready to eat for dinner!

Recently, my companion and I visited a family from the ward. An armadillo apparently lived in the home as well. They said that we will have you both, Elder Horn and I over to eat armadillo soon! We did come over and eat some of it for dinner on the next visit! What an experience! - "just grab a claw....and eat." I did not necessarily like it, yet did not hate it. It tasted like turkey meat to me. It was a great dinner - just not sure of the main course, however. 😀

Elder Smart ready to eat armadillo - "Tastes like Turkey."

Merry Christmas! Have a great week!
Love you all.

Image by Alberto Rivera from Pixabay

Zone Conference and Flu Shot!

 Another busy week has come and gone. This past week [week beginning, Nov. 25, 2019] we had to travel to Villahermosa which is about 4 hours away, to the East of Cotza for a Mission Conference and Zone Conference - we left the day/afternoon before and will stay the night. All the missionaries were asked to get flu shots while at the mission conference even though I got a flu shot before I left, haha. It was great to see many of the Elders that I got to know and that came to the mission with me from the CCM/MTC in México City. It is hard to believe that I have been here in México for over two months. Time goes by fast.

(Left to Right) - Elder McMasters, Elder Burr, Elder Wilde, Elder Smart, Elder Cicerone, Elder Beus, Elder Atwood

It was also great to see my companion for the CCM/MTC, Elder Cicerone to my left in the photo. This past Saturday we helped a family that we are teaching paint the roof of their home. México is an awesome place; I feel it is my second home and I love it here and people I have met. I have made some great friends while here. There are large Iguana lizards that will often live in trees here in Villahermosa. I took a photo of one near the Mission home where we had our Mission Conference this past week.

Iguana near mission home, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México.

We often see street vendors while making contacts; one was selling some neat Lego ® sets of Batman, Thor, and the Hulk and other Marvel Comic sets - reminded me of when I was young how I liked to play with Legos ®.
We will travel on a boat to get from where we live to the main part of the city of Coatzacoalcos. I think that I might of told you, I often hit my head on this railing - you would think that I would learn; all the locals just look at me and don't laugh, yet I think it is funny. A man that is dressed like a clown comes on the boat and will tell us jokes for money -   that is worth a laugh also.
This coming Friday, December 6th I will be on splits with a Zone leader to be with me for the day in Cotza so I will need to have the day's work planned.

Image by coombesy from Pixabay

The sister missionaries in our district made red t-shirts for our district with our names on them. That was nice of them. I ate at a members home cows head meat with cream cheese, and lettuce in a tortilla. I did not even know what it was - wasn't bad. 

We met a Yuli, a member who is the owner of a pizza cafe that asked me what snow was like - "is it soft like in the movies?"

My companion and I are working hard - I am focused on what is asked of us to do. Have a great week!

Lots of Rain and Our First Baptism!

Hope all is well with all of you. We have had lots of rain and have been wondering if I need to get a new umbrella that works a bit better. It is beautiful here when it rains; I actually like the rain.
[Week Beginning - Nov. 11 2019] We had our first baptism - a young boy in a part-member family was baptized; we recently taught this family! I think I sent a photo of where they live here in Cotza. An awesome family!

I had some habanero salsa the other day - very hot salsa, yet I liked it! Also, the stores here sell many different levels of hot chips - so I asked what "hot" is, the clerk says, well we have (sarcasm) single hot, double hot, mild hot, extra hot, super hot, super hot-hot, and extreme hot..okay, I said I will have the hot chips. Many types of food to eat here in the mission field. Apparently, I have been told many favorite dishes may include armadillo, cow brains, cow intestines, wild bore, and a "shark fish" called Peje - This area, in the Atlantic coast state of Tabasco, is famous for being home to the Pejelagarto or Peje, an ancient species that still swims slowly through the region's lakes and lagoons. The local fishermen sometimes call them "dinosaurs"  - due to a gene buried within the fish's genetic code that prevents it from mutating. I had cow brains the other day.  I often  wonder if there are laxatives in the tortillas here, haha. They hand make them here and are the best fire cooked tortillas.

Image by RociH from Pixabay

Also, I like this apple flavored yogurt that is really good - can't remember the name of it. As you may understand, the food is great and I am hungry more often than not, especially after a day of contacting and talking with many people. It seems that every day or so my companion and I have a run in with a dog. You also have to get good at dodging cars as we try and cross the streets in Cotza. Many street vendors on the street will sell fresh coconut juice and you can drink it out of the shell of the coconut; they will use a machete to cut it in halves and add a straw - fun to watch them do this with the machete as they are very good at it.
Many say that my Spanish is very good and believe that I have been here over a year and that I am much older. I have been blessed to have picked up the language well while here - I know I have had help with the language from the Savior doing his work.
Recently I taught an older lady on a division (when you have another companion for the day rather than your regular companion) - and even committed her to a baptismal date - I wrote it on my hand to remind me of the date - haha. I talked with a young man - he just said all religions are the same - in that they all talk of God. Many here are devoted to Catholicism. Often you will see a small shelf with a box made of iron around it on the iron fences surrounding many of the homes here. This shelf is used for placing crucifixes, and religious candles or Seven Day Candles and are used as a means for prayer, devotion, meditation, ritual, healing and protection. Often there is a depiction or images for Christ, Mary, Angels, Saints and others on the glass jar of the candle. We have a shelf for our home that contains two empty Coke bottles, haha. Evan always tells us it is better to drink Coca-Cola than Jumex juice or water, anyway, haha.
We have been asked to teach English each Tuesday night for an hour and half or so for members or anyone - It has been interesting to do this

Recently on a division, as we often do look for ways to serve others, I noticed an old man that what I thought might be his daughter with him that had a hard time walking as they were getting out of their car. I went and asked him if he wanted help, he said "si, gracias." It reminded me of a conference talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, I had recently read, "You Are My Hands“ - "Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." 

We talked with a man building a decorative wall in his yard that expressed some interest - we will see how that goes; we talk with many - the work presses on. I love my mission and are truly blessed to be here doing the Lord's work! Have a great week!

Image by Gabe Raggio from Pixabay

Conference Talk, April 2010, “You Are My Hands”, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.

Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.

When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.

That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C 81:5.)

First Week in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz México!

Hello all, my first week in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz  México went by fast! The first Sunday, Nov. 10th we had Stake Conference to attend. There are about seven wards/branches in Coatzacoalcos and nearby areas. This coming Sunday, Nov. 17th we will  go to the Allende ward and meet some more members - that will be good. Nearby our apartment is a  convenience store (the store, or la tienda ceiling is so low I have to walk bent down a bit or I hit my head) and an internet cafe next door  that we use to make calls  home and for emailing; both are owned by a family whose son is a return missionary. It seems like a nice business for them - the son helps run the internet cafe. We have a great time talking "smack" with each other. His name is Evan. He often brings burritos to us at our apartment - they are great!

Elder Smart, first day in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz  México.

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We taught a young boy and his family this past week. I thought it went well even though my Spanish is still coming along and getting better. This is a photo of the family's home we taught. Their home, in the foreground is to the far left, in the photo below.

Elder Cicerone, my companion from the CCM/MTC emailed me and said this about the Spanish language spoken in Villahermosa  - which I think must be pretty accurate; the Spanish spoken here is like a Floridian - someone from Florida speaking with an Alabaman accent. I think my Spanish is getting better - when I sleep, I dream in Spanish, haha. I have also learned some Spanish cuss words - not by my own will but by others, haha.
The members feed us well too! I am thankful for that. They will often cook a dish that is pork, that has a bright red color to it, add some Feta cheese and eggs - not sure what it is called but is very good! Also, a jello-type pudding with fruit and nuts - fantastic! Have to figure out how to make that too! Have a great week!

New arrival missionaries to the mission home, Nov. 4th, 2019 - Villahermosa México - Elder Smart far right, front row. 

Image by geezmx from Pixabay

Mission Home and First Area Arrival!

Hello everyone, I'm finally in Villahermosa! - and when people said that it is super hot here, they were not lying. It is sooo hot.  So far its been pretty good. I only got like 2 hours of sleep last night so I am pretty tired; it is so beautiful here though. It is very, very green and there are a lot of trees everywhere. It's been raining on and off since I've been here. I got here at like 8:30 am Central Time-CT. I got up at 2:30 am so that was awesome. I literally love it here already though. I met with the mission president, Pres. Whitworth for an interview and met his wife - they are both great! I heard that the people here don't fully pronunciate the words when they speak so its a little tricky to understand - but so far it has been awesome.

My companion is Elder Horn, he is my trainer. Elder Horn is from Waco, Texas. I come to find out he has a sister that is very near my home town - lives about 20 minutes away from where I call home.
I have been assigned to serve with Elder Horn in a town on the Gulf of México, northwest of Villahermosa, approximately 2 hrs 13 min. (166.4 km) from Villahermosa.  It is called Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, México. I was able to call via Google Hangouts my family from a internet cafe near our apartment on Monday, Nov. 4th, which is our preparation day and visit with them. It was a great visit!

(Click to view) Location of Coatzacoalcos, México. 

Meeting my trainer, Elder Horn - Monday, Nov. 4th, 2019.

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I walked into our humble small apartment, and looked around, I then sat down and pulled out a cookie I had saved from lunch at the mission home and thought to myself, "I am thankful for my cookie." haha - I am thankful for my cookie, for sure. Elder Horn mentioned that there is no running water and that we buy water to drink and use a well with a 45 pound bucket to get water to take a bath with. Also, what happened that was funny is we have a domesticated cat that likes to live at our apartment. Elder Horn showed me my bed and then the cat jumped up on the bed and did a "poop" - luckily I brought some clean sheets. Sister Whitworth, the mission President's wife talked to all of the newly arrived missionaries, at the mission home, earlier in the day and said, "there are seven diseases that missionaries have to be careful of." I thought to myself, well I am on track to get all seven, haha.

I am grateful to be here and excited to serve the Lord! Tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 5th, this awesome adventure starts.

New missionary training and orientation - Nov. 4th, 2019.

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(Left to Right) Elder Horn, Elder Smart - (Right Photo - Left to Right) - Sister Jennifer R. Whitworth, Elder Smart, Pres. Clark Whitworth.

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D&C 12:3-4

3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.

4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.

Last Week at the México City CCM/MTC!

Hello all, I can not believe that this is my last week here at the México City CCM/MTC. The time here has gone by super fast. I can't remember if I mentioned that Elder Cicerone is my companion here at the CCM/MTC. He is great companion and friend. All these Elders in our room have been awesome and we have had some crazy fun experiences while here. Our CCM/MTC  district did get to go to the temple (México City, México LDS Temple) Oct. 24th,  which was pretty awesome! The Spanish language is going pretty good (Elder Monson, Elder Nicks, Elder Cicerone, Elder Smart - share same dorm room at the CCM/MTC). Elder Nicks got hurt playing volleyball the other day. He sprained his collar bone and/or shoulder. He has to wear this brace for 3 weeks. Elder Monson got way sick Monday morning. He was throwing up all morning. Hope they both get feeling better soon.
Talk to you all next week! I will be in the mission field - I am excited to talk to people and teach them the Gospel!

(Left to Right) - Elder Allen, Elder Cicerone, Elder Smart, Elder Nicks at the México City, México Temple.

Elder Smart - México City, México Temple

México City, México Temple

Alma 5: 1-3

1 Now it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land.

2 And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record, saying:

3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.