Well... Im here super Early for you Guys but we were planning On going to catch crabs With Lula but It started raining a ton so I doubt well be able to go... But This week has been a great week. We had a Baptism saturday night we completed a family that was less active and that moved back into our ward. They are a great family I was happy to see them enter into the ward here. but... I still got work to do there. Their great aunt lives with them she likes the church and accepted to be baptized but she Likes coffee... a little too much. so Me and Elder Spencer will try  and work with her. Other than that the great Lessons that me and Larsen have taught and the great People we have met are INUMEROUS Im just Loving the work right now. When I pleaded to the Lord to give me a good Companion to finish up the Lord answered my Prayers by sending me Elder Spencer Hes a great guy and His brother is serving in The Farmington New Mexico Mission... so Im gonna have to hunt him down :) haha Other than this I can Just say IM happy to be here and to be serving In the Mission
Love you All I hope you all have a good week 

Elder J. Smith 

Elder Smith and Elder Spencer

2-17-2014

Well  I think Im becoming An Independant man Cuz this week Ive done just about all that youve told me to do with my comp I started by telling President In my Email to him about the Member situation. And Tuesday we had companion exchange (I think thats how you Say it) thursday we had Interviews with President and Friday I express my thoughts in a heart to heart conversation. My Interview was pretty sweet president asked me how I was and I told him I was good he asked me if I was Leaving this transfer and I told Him No. I still got some more time to do what I need to! and he told me good Elder Dont get trunky haha after he asked about my comp I told Him I can learn from him but he is pretty rude with People and he said Thats Why I talked about Unity with the Members (and I already had known thats why haha) and then he says ´´alright Elder you can tell your comp its his turn`` ha ha it probly took like two minutes haha  He also Hinted (Im not to sure) that I might stay Here :) and I sure hope I do :) anyways so that was cool. On Friday My companion and I were at the house of some less actives that have a son whos 10 and My companion kept saying ´´your baptism will be this sunday´´ and that made me kinda stressed cuz His family has to be reactivated for him to be baptized, and so Afterward I told him ``were not going to baptize him sunday´´ and he said ``Have faith`` and I told him faith doesnt justify breaking rules and we got to arguing so when we got home I had just had it and I asked Him why dont you like me and he says he likes me but I think hes lieing anyways he says to work things out you need to argue... and That hit me as a half truth and later on while writing Deid it hit me that The true saying should be To work things out you need to Communicate. I guess that thats my weakness Im a little more outgoing than Dad I talk to People but If I think for some reason that someone dont like me or they just keep dropping the conversation like they dont want to talk. Anyways lets just say were on even ground but Im just wanting this week to pass fast. This week I had a Pday Project and Hooked my leather bag up with new straps. Anyways Im doing good here looks like the Lord is blessing me alot here :) Love you all and have a good week.

Elder J. SMith

2-3-14

Hey Everybody This week was ok. We had a baptism so it was good. These twins have wanted to be baptized since 8 yrs old and their parents, one less active and the other non member didnt want them to be baptized. but After hearing about how mean and heartless they were I went there and the mom was like Your here to mark the twins baptism right and I was like ya I guess so and we marked a date and had the baptism without problems so It was pretty good. but on the other side of  things Im trying hard to have a good relationship with my companion on sunday I decided on asking the more experienced guys that served missions about how to deal with and make better bad companionships so Im gonna use these Ideas to make goals. The good thing is we work alot! I Hope that I can make things get better I dont really like to be stressed all the time haha so ya love you all have a good week 

Elder J. Smith

1-27-2014

well Hey everybody today marks 70 days.... thats crazy I dont like to think to much on that haha but anyway yesterday I was able to see how I have changed on the Mission. Our gospel principles teacher called us and said he wouldnt be able to teach sunday so I decided I wouuld give the class so I got it all ready and sunday comes and we walk into the meeting with bishop and he asks me do you have a talk ready? and I said no but put me down haha and so I wrote my talk quickly... haha so the class went well I was happy that i was able too teach without rambling too much and able to fill the time that was needed haha and my talk went well also I talked about commandments and the mission and talked about my shoes it went well and in the end I had the stake young mens president to ask me to write my talk down for him so it was cool I was very happy with myself I hope that I can continue to grow this way so I can be a good help to any ward that i go to. Love you all and have a good week I dnt know if I sent this pic to you guys already but Ill send it haha Love yu all thanks for everything tchau!

Elder J. Smith

1-20-2014

Well this week has been a good week that Ended with a Baptism! My new companion is a good guy and a great worker The Baptism was Gleyson hes a great kid he was kinda nervous about the baptism but when he got there on saturday he was Really excited and happy and Its been probly one of the Best Baptisms on the mission cuz I wasnt so nervous like I usually am and I could see the happiness on his face. also my shoes are done.. the sole was coming undone and I kicked a rock (by accident) and It broke haha also I wrote a song about my shoes haha IM sure you guys will like it and Youll like it even more when I can sing it with my twelve string.... :) sorry my letter is short I got a sore throat and Im pretty worn out from this week haha so ya Love you all have a good week
Elder J. Smith

Elder Smith with his new Companion Elder Souza and their friend Gleyson.

A new chapter begins.

Well this week was  long or maybe just seems like that cuz alot of stuff happened. We went to recife and took a ton of pics and on the way back we got my package we had lots of fun with our guns haha and then it was work work work the rest of the week :) I was Very surprised to see That Elder Larsen got transferred. and Im not gonna lie I actually had one of my bags packed haha. But things change... haha I think the whole ward was shocked about the change. Yesterday was good Sergio went to church for the first time and He LOVED IT!!! I was happy to see that :) he said it was different than any other church hes visited, so.... Im gonna work hard to get him baptized this transfer... This sunday I had an interesting experience I was feeling kinda down after Lunch cuz I felt Like I didnt get done that week as much as I could have and I was thinking on what scripture I would use as a message and I remembered ether 12 that says that god gives us our weaknesses so we can be humble and if we humble ourslves to the Lord he will make the weak things strong and I think that this lesson was more for me than for the family because In this Light I saw this scripture in a whole other way that brought light and comfort into my soul :) Love you all have a great week I know the church is true ! 

Elder J. Smith

Elder Smith trying out a new way to spread the Gospel!

Elder Smith and Elder Larsen enjoying their late arriving Christmas Presents!

2014, Here we come!

 haha so anyway This week was Good We have a baptism marked for saturday I just need to talk to Bishop to make sure its a go and get his grandmas Autograph (signiture) Looks like you guys arent on yet but I am here pretty early. As our Hopefully not last Pday together were going to Recife to take some pics and have some fun :) so we had to get an early start I sure like talking to you guess but we want to have plenty of time to get to Recife and get back :) so Ya New Year is here and  Ive got some good goals for 2014 Its crazy to think only a 4th of 2014 will be on the Mission. Last Night we talked with Sergio, Hes such a great guy but the way he looks I would have been scared to talk to him but Hes a great person I just hope  that  he goes to Church next week cuz he didnt this week. This week we will baptize Gleison hes a good young man. Hes 15 and hes calm and Kinda Shy but Hes a Good Person. You have probly seen Pics of me with Jarcilene and Rafael on Facebook  Jarcilene is an investigator and Rafael Is a Less active member to baptize her we just need to Marry them... well Gleison is her Nephew so thats How we got to teaching him. so Anyways IM Just Loving it here Ive been learning and Growing alot I know Im not Perfect and Actually Im far from it but I find happiness In doing whats right. Im in John now In my new testament in 40 days challenge and I LOVE IT the way john writes Christs teachings and acts I seem to get a glance of the greatness of his character and the teachings of the Gospel and Its just Awesome to see and read. I love this gospel an Im glad Im where Im at I hope that in the end of my mission I have done all that I wanted to do. Well I love you all thanks for the love prayers and support it has helped alot :) 

 Elder J. Smith

12-30-2013

Well this week BLEW BY! but I guess thats what happens when Between Emails I get to skype with you Guys between Emails. As for the call I didnt get in Trouble But ya Things are moving quick! in a few days Ill enter into the 3 more months club. thats CRAZY this transfer is going by really fast but its really good. Me and Elder Larsen got the most lessons taught this week I guess though we didnt even teach that much. But things are just going good Its like my senior year in High school! Its been great this transfer me and my comp have had a ton of great and precious experiences that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. Yesterday we talked with Bishop and It was great he talked a bit about his mission and I marveled at how much harder it was Transfers were basically just a paper you got with an address and you had to go and you didnt have contact with the mission and Pretty much the missions back in the day Required that you be a man. but I guess nowadays the only thing thats gonna make you be a man Is yourself! Thats probly my Goal for 2014 Is to live in a way that I can become a man become fearless in proclaim the gospel. I want to become what the lord  wants me too be. heres my excited christmas picture and also a Picture of my zone. for 2014 I need to take more pictures and write more in my journal Elder Larsen is a good journal writer hes already finished at least two journals and I aint even finished the one I started haha but I Can Always change and do better. But ya Thanks for all your guys love and support I hope you all have a Great new year and that we all can follow the voice of Papa in becoming better this next year than we were this year. Its crazy to think that This year was all on the mission. but  I love you all have a great week! 
Elder Smith

Santa Clause came!!!

12-23-13

Hey Everybody, Lets just start by saying THAT WAS A FAST THREE WEEKS!!!! I cant believe that half the transfer is already gone...... Me And Elder Larsen Are TEARING IT UP!! He´s a GREAT companion. He even worked with me to Clean the House! Our leaders our pretty happy with our work were still missing baptism but We might have one this week This week was good It flew by! Im having a great time with Elder Larsen we have worked alot he never complains when we work though he Acknowledges my unskillful planning haha. He doesnt like to do contacts but he isnt scared to talk! Im Just loving it up here! If IM lucky president will leave me here with larsen for another transfer but If Im realistic Ill be leaving this transfer. Its funny  that things are going as they are cuz usually the Missionary work starts to wind down at the end of the year and Im just starting to get things going haha I really dont know what to say other than Im Happy. The Lord Is blessing us alot here and Im loving it I started the 40 days and 40 nights of the new testament and Its going real well im  loving the chance I have to read about the saviors ministry and His teachings I like the 40 days and 40 nights cuz it goes at a quick pace but It gives me plenty of time to think and ponder on what I read. I know this church is true I know that it is Gods restored church here on the Earth and Im Am VERY THANKFUL for the chance I have to be apart of it! Christmas well lets just say if it wasnt for the christmas call it would pass by Un noticed haha cuz Ive been thinking about the Lord during the whole year and there isnt any sign of cold weather like there is at home plus the work were doing helps alot to keep my mind off home.  Im Glad you´re all happy In my letter Ill add a pic of me and some people I taught the Man Is less active and the Lady a nonmember we caught them sunday packing everything up so that they can go to Minas Geras ( Thats where Elder M Ribeiro is from) Looks like they will pass some good time down there maybe Ill never see him again but it was good to know him.  I love this work and I love all you guys Have a great week and a MERRY CHRISTMAS I guess Ill see you on Wednesday

Elder J. Smith

Elder Smith and Elder Larsen

Elder Larsen and his Christmas tree

12-16-2013

Well Its been Another Really Hot week here in Recife but Its been a great week. This week we had Zone Conference and It was Great!!! It was really fun and we heard some great talks! Also this week me and my comp worked HARD! It was great Sunday night after saying a Prayer I stayed kneeled  and put my chest on the chair and stayed there for about 10 minutes haha it was way comfortable!  haha but when your that tired anything is haha Im back sleeping in the Hammock Its just Too hot to sleep on the bed haha sleepin in the hammock without anything covering me and the fan on full blast I still get a little hot haha so  I dont need the extra Insulation from the matress. This week was a good week Im glad IM here with Elder Larsen theres something about him that just makes me work!!! One day I talked to alot of people and he didnt talk to anyone but I Talked with all the people cuz Of Elder Larsen I dont know why I guess he just wants too work!!! So this christmas season I think me and Larsen are gonna work haha Its gonna be great!! At Zone conference our President sang a Hymn in latin that was cool. But there was a part at the end of the conference where President and Sister Lanius stopped got  close and told us how much they loved us and cared about us. I really felt their Love and I Know that they care about me. My President Is strict... sometimes he seems heartless... He Requires 100 percent obedience... My President Is the BEST! I love my President and I know he loves me. These weeks we have been working with the Bishop Here and Im having all kinds of great experiences. Im learning lots about how the ward works and what it takes to keep it in good shape. Im learning about how to work with the Bishop. One thing I saw Is that Bishop does alot more than he needs too one saturday I helped him set up chairs in the church and I decided that I never want to be a burden for my Bishop that I want to make his life easier. The Mission Is great Im learning lots of things Its crazy now  people are starting to  say ´´1 year and 8 months your getting close to going home`` and I dont know whether Im happy with that or sad. Being honest Im happy :) but something always says Dang..... Its going by fast.....  but ya I know the church is True I Know this is the Work  of God I know  that this Church and the principles It teaches will always bring Our Happiness. to finish up Ill end with a Quote from my mission President thats written on the Back of my Nametag ´´This Is our challenge and Duty ,but, also with all certainty this is our great Joy``

Love you all hope you have a great week sorry I dont got pics to send I ll try and take more. ill send you these ones so you cant say I dont send you nothing Ones a pic of A lizard that came into our house it was funny to see him trying to get a grip on our tile floor haha 
Love, Elder J. Smith

The Elders had a visitor!

12-9-2013

Hey family thanks for the Letters I really enjoyed them! My birthday went by well sadly my Investigators didnt go to church..... But We worked on my birthday :) so I was happy haha Its not everybirthday you can be a missionary haha so now Im 21 do you know what I can do when Im 21?.... NOT DRINKING!!!! thats for sure haha now I can buy guns haha. but ya 1 year older and 3 years wiser haha I love the growth that we get on the mission. I dont like the stress that causes it but If it makes me better It should be a good Thing haha. Ill never regret my choice to serve a mission and recomend it to all young men. Ive grown soo much and Ive become so much better My mind was opened to more possibilites and too all kinds of truth. This week Was good I like Elder Larsen hes great!! Its funny to see how someone thats 24 seems younger than you haha but hes great and hes ready to work If he spoke Portuegues a little more he could train me. Haha Im glad President put me with A ´´younger´´ Missionary cuz it helps me focus more I really like working with Larsen. Hes great I thought that after Ribeiro went away it would be rough getting another comp but I got another good one so Im Happy. This week we talked with the bishop he helped us a lot and help us make a plan to Baptize on December 22 so were gonna have to be running faster than Santas Elves to get this work done! Here in Brazil Christmas isnt to big but its still a big holiday so ya I hope by Christmas Ill be able to find someone who has skype and some good internet!!!! im not gonna lie this call is gonna be a trunky one haha. I love this Work and This Church and now when I study and work I try and learn not how to be a great missionary that will baptize millions but to be a great Member of the Church that will help Edify Gods Kingdom.. I love you all hope you have a great week by the way heres a picture of me Putting the star on the tree haha. 

Elder J. Smith

Elder Smith and his Zone at the Temple.

Elder Smith putting the Star on The Christmas tree.

Tyson showing us that it is starting to feel just a little like Christmas! 

New Companion, Same Area

Hey Everybody I Know Im late this week but Im here with good News bad news also I guess... Today Ill be going to the temple what a great Birthday Present I love the temple the Bad news Is my good friend Elder M. Ribeiro got transferred Heres a pic of the Pizza Night before transfers.. I thought it would be me to go away but Ended up Being my comp. But I was happy with the Companion I got Looks Like the President Is trusting me cuz hes new and his first comp was a slacker so he put Him with me I hope I can help him Learn lots of stuff, I wanna return the favor that Stadnicki and Celestino did for me I was in about the same situation that hes in. I always wondered If presidente would trust me as much as he trusted Elder Celestino and Stadnicki to retrain me haha. So Im excited for this transfer Im gonna work alot!!! haha I started my Goal to get fit again the Goal is 100 dips 100 situps and 100 pushups everyday haha first day i got 55 pushups 100 situps and 25 dips yesterday I did 100 dips 100 crunches and 25 pushups haha so Im a little sore haha but when I get home Ill have a VERY WHITE beach body haha thats IF i continue with my goal haha. so Ya Im super excited this week I had a nice experience.sunday we were expecting 3 people to go to church and I prayed with alot of Faith that morning that The Lord would help the people who would follow him go to Church and I believed with all my heart that he would do this.....    And Nobody out of these three went to church..... But A man and His less active wife went to Church I never had met him before and he seemed like a great guy and as I talked to him I knew that The lord had Answered my prayer. We still havent had a chance to teach him but tomorrow we will visit him so Im excited. One Thing I learned with Elder Ribeiro Is that I have little Faith Elder Ribeiro has the Gift of faith when something happened something simple he always said what A miracle! and I was always the first to doubt haha but I know that sometimes the lord helpe me and I dont even recognize his had in the work I know this is the true Church I know that The Lord is helping us in our callings Thanks for all the love and support and Prayers I love you all and Hope you have a good week 

Elder J.Smith

Elder Smith and his new Companion Elder Larsen from Utah

11-25-2013

Well Its been a rough week last week they started a party that lasted up till last night and they had an Electric  train wich I learned is a semi truck trailer of Speakers and they put a block away from our house haha so my poor companion who doesnt have a ´´sleep like a rock`` switch has been tired not too mention he had a tooth ache and the blackout that made us go home early. But Im here and Im healthy so why should I complain. Ive decided That I just wasnt made to baptize haha I try and try and I dont succeed but then again I guess Im looking at it all wrong I am only a messenger Its the spirit that is going to touch the peoples hearts and show them where to go.  But If anything Im being taught many things. I guess the Lord doesnt let me baptize alot because If he did I wouldn keep asking myself ´´´What Am I doing?`` and ´´How can I get better?`` cuz if i stop asking these questions Ill never get better than I am haha That may just be the key to it all Just getting better each day. Im thankful to be here  Ive stopped having the occasional nightmare of teaching People and now I have sweet dreams of finding people who are looking for the Truth. so something is getting better also looks like we have a new rule that Investigators under 15 years old have to go to church steadily for three months before being baptized It makes me happy to see that :) Shows that the Church really wants strong members. Also shows that the second coming is getting closer. but I guess everything shows that :) well I love you all and hope your days are filled with joy and happiness. Have a good week and we will talk next week.

Elder J. Smith

11-18-2013 Tyson writes a Hymn

 This week was good we met some great people and I was so excited for
them to go to Church. But when sunday came We were at church and
nothing... nobody came and I was kinda sad and I kept thinking about
how maybe I could have helped them to be there and about all my
weaknesses and I was kinda bummed. and I was taking the sacrament I
thought about what the sacrament meant to me and I decided I´d write a
hymn, so I took out my daily planner and I wrote this . I havent given
it a title and Im gonna have to give it music but I Wanted to share it
with you guys.

What a horrid man I am
Who sins repents and sins again
Perfect like Christ I could never be
My fathers kingdom never to see

Jesus Christ Paid the price for sin
So I can change who Ive been
If with him my sins I lay
I can become perfect one day

As I partake from this tray
I see not bread but a chance to change
and this water given In love
Is my chance to live above

This is my chance to change I know
So forward with faith and hope Ill go
And try my best to be more like thee
Until I find myself here again next week

I Wrote this and I tought it expressed my feelings well on the
atonement. I had and still have a difficulty in understand how the
atonement works. But one thing I do know is that I am not perfect and
that the atonement is my chance to become a better person and not face
the consequences of my past actions. I hope that I can become a better
person than I am now and I know that this is possible only through the
atonement. Thats why its so Important that we do whats right cuz the
atonement will not erase our desires and thoughts just erase our past
errors if we let him. Im thankful to be a part of the true church I
know its true and That it brings us happiness when we live it
correctly :) Love you all
Elder J. Smith

11-11-2013

Hey Everybody! This Week a Miracle happened!!!! We Had a Baptism that ended my long Drought haha Ywri, Which is pronounced Yury, was baptized. Ywri has been waiting for months for his mom to let him be baptized he is more active in the church than most members and Saturday we were finishing up lunch and our phone rings and its the bishop and the way my companion was talking and by the looks on his face I thought someone had Died and when he hung I asked him what had happpened and his Said Ywris Mom Is gonna let Ywri get Baptized haha and we jumped with Joy and right away we talked with Ywri and he was Baptized that very Night It was great to see a young man be so happy to be baptized In the true Church of Christ. Also I started The book of Mormon about 5 weeks ago and Im in Helaman :) and its been a great experience Ive been able to feel the spirit that comes from Reading it :) Today Im going to Visit Natalia :) IM really excited to see her and talk to her I consider Natalia the best Baptism of Which I have participated so I am excited to see my fellow Member and see how she is :) Ive grown alot on the mission and the growing never stops I cant believe that today I will renew my temple recommend making it 2 years since I got my temple recommend :) Time is passing to fast I thought that 2 years would never come and that at 1 year and 6 months Time would stop. Now when people ask me how long Ive been here I dont talk loud with pride like i used to but I almost whisper thinking about how the time has passed  so fast I almost went crazy seeing how much hippy has grown it was such a great surprise I cant even imagine the Joy I will have when I can give her and everyone in my family a Hug!!! Its gonna be great but until then Ive got a fight the fight and people to teach and Lots of lessons to learn. Thanks everybody for the support you give me have a great week.

Elder J. Smith

11-4-2013

This was a good week. Week by week im getting better haha Ill probly only be a really good missionary when Im about to go home haha not because Ill be close to going home but because ive been here a while now and im still learning a ton... Ive decided that my biggest weakness is that i hesitate to act. when I see someone i think Ill talk to him and then I question myself and then before I know it.... its too late. but one day I was real happy with myself cuz I decided that instead of thinking ´´im gonna be annoying``  i decided to think ´´im just going to act`` and It was real good its funny to think that im more than 3 4ths of the way through my mission but im only starting to get used to and be comfortable talking to people right now... haha I was at the house of a member eating lunch and I didnt feel that strange feeling that I had always had eating lunch at anothers house. Im really starting to get a hang of this missionary thing. And Im so happy that i came to the mission. I have become a man that Ive always wanted to be for sure im not done growing yet Ive still got a long way to go but i feel a lot more confident in who I am and what I want. And being free from worldly cares Ive lost that want for money and  big things and lots of cars....  ok maybe I still want lots of cars haha but I know whats more important. Its a great joy to be living in a way that you feel clean and free from outside influences. heres a picture of our zone haha Sister Dana still here also haha did you know shes related to us she has the Jesse N Smith book too haha but ya Im happy And Im gonna try and just enjoy these last months because its becoming real obvious that its not gonna last forever. Love you all and have a good week 

P.S. I still dont miss the snow and cold hahaha Im actuallly enjoying the hotness haha Love you all, Elder J. Smith

10-28-2013

Hey everybody! This week was good we talked with lots of people and had some good experiences saturday we were knocking doors before lunch cuz our appointment fell through and I saw a lady pulling weeds in front of her house and I felt I should talk to her but I also dont like to talk to people who are working haha but we talked to her and we marked an appointment to talk to her family on sunday night and Sunday we taught them and They are very good people :) And afterwards Elder M. Ribeiro said That on saturday he felt like we should talk with that lady. so I was happy to see how the lord is guiding us to the people he is preparing :) so ya Im really happy with the progress we made this week, but it wont stop this week were getting into a good groove and working hard so Im really happy we also have started working more with the Members and weve got an activity for halloween its gonna be called Tricks or Treats haha I think it will be fun haha I just hope it works out well :). Other than this not much new we did get a new ZL hes not as cool as the other that left the one that left Was a great guy and he likes cars too :) the new one Is kinda annoying and Guess what!! were gonna have splits with him this week and guess who stays in the area with the new ZL? Thats me... haha I wasnt too happy bout that looks like he wants to try and mark the baptisms of a boy whos parents wont let him be baptized and a couple of girls that we stopped teaching cuz they dont go to church and when we teach one of them just plays with her phone. so ya Patience!!! I know I should get upset about something little like this I just hope it turns out to be good. Last Pday after lunch we went and flew kites haha it was fun here when you let out all the string you give your kite a name and I named mine blue cuz its red haha I think were gonna go fly our kites again today well I think thats a good enough letter thanks for everthing for the package and the support and the prays have a great week!! 

Elder J. Smith

10-21-2013

Well another transfer has come and gone and the mission is just goin by too fast its hard to think Ive only got 4 more transfers and its over... but Me and Ribeiro were real excited when we learned we would stay. and this transfer were gonna make some goals so that we can get better. This week I had a real neat experience one day I was continuing my book of mormon reading and I got to a passage that touched my soul and I felt like the lord was talking to me the part I read was in Mosiah 7:18 wich was something that I needed to hear you can read it later but the way it touched me was like it was written for me other than that my week was pretty rushed but had little progress but This week were gonna start looking for lots of new people to hear our message! Pont dos Carvalhos is big so maybe well widen our search area  haha other than that All i can say is that times moving Too fast its almost november and almost my birthday and christmas is coming up! That will be my last call home and after that it will be a blink of an Eye! so ya Im gonna try and change gears and get more done. Im thankful for my chance to be hear and for all your support I love you all and I hope that this winter doesnt get too cold for you :) haha Im laughing now but youll probly laugh when I tell you im freezing in the middle of spring haha  Love you All 

Elder J Smith

10-14-2013

Hey everybody whats up? This week I got a hair cut haha now my hair uses less shampoo and doesnt even need gel haha this week was good but could be better. We had Interviews with the President this week he asked me why I wasnt baptizing anyone and we talked a while and it was really good President decided that I knew what I need to do, And all I have to do is Do it haha so Ive been working on this this week Im very happy with all the things of the gospel Im becoming more converted everyday But I need to keep pushing I watched the video about the life of the prophet and one thing that I saw was that he was always a Doer I learned that  22 years old he was called as bishop haha and I kept thinking how did he find time to visit 80 or so widows in his ward every month haha I was thinking that with 22 years I would eat sleep work study and repeat but I guess if the prophet could have time to be a bishop I should have plenty of time to serve in any other calling. But it sure showed that the prophet was always acting to help others and I really enjoyed the video makes me want to be a better me. so ya Im trying to become more humble and meek and Trying to become more spiritual and happier too haha Im kinda scared about transfers I really like where Im at and my Companion but its the Lords will and not mine. and Its a simple fact that while we struggle we grow more so we´ll see how it goes this week. i dont know if i sent this pic but heres Elder M. Ribeiro burning an old white shirt as his hump day ritual (Hump day is when you pass 1 year on the mission) haha Thanks for all the Love and support I hope you all have a good week

Elder J. Smith

Hey everybody hows it goin? this weekend was pretty good with conference and all but I watched it in conference and the translaters do a pretty bad job of passing the same spirit that we get in English haha saturday morning we woke up early to help an investigator and his family put concrete on his roof so im sore haha but it was lots of fun haha Ill send you guys a pic haha Dont get me wrong when I say this but I sure like getting dirty haha after we took a shower we headed off to conference I really enjoyed the talk that talked about looking up I felt a really good spirit though I dont remember much of what he said I remember that it touched my heart. haha and on sunday our zone had a combined baptism and 4 people were baptized. I was happy for the people but I sure wished that someone from my area would be baptized its been 4 months since I last baptized and Sometimes I wonder why I am teaching better than I taught and Im speaking better than I used to and Im in an area with lots more humble people and still in this area my feet are still dry but I think what i need is some more humility I guess now that I speak and teach better I rely less on the lord and I try to convince the people rather than let the spirit convert I guess Im trying to hard to make the seeds I plant grow haha but Im very glad to be here. my time here is passing by unnoticed its been 1 year and 6 months since ive been here and Im three-fourths of the way through.  Its crazy how time passes so im gonna have to get down and humble up and get to work so I can go home knowing I did all I could Im so excited to go back to our house and listen to conference Im thirsting for the spiritual gain haha oh by the way the mail service here is on strike wich explains why my letters havent gotten to you and why i havent gotten my letters from Deid :) haha and also means its probably gonna take a while for the package to get here who knows maybe I do get it on my birthday :) haha welll love you guys have a great week and study conference :) tchau