Splits in Cartagena

Elder Opazo had capacitaciones in Santiago, so Dallon was on splits for three days with Elder Fearnley from Tennessee.  He has been in Chile just one transfer longer than Dallon, so they were two young missionaries out on their own.  They had some great adventures together.  It is getting really hot in Chile and the mission medic is concerned about the missionaries protecting their skin from the sun.  They are told that the ozone is thinner in this part of the world.  Dallon says that he is getting really dark but that he is using a lot of sunblock.

"I spent two days in Cartagena with Elder Fearnley.  We had fun together.  He is from Tennessee and is a really funny guy.  We did really well together and found a lot of new investigators.  When we don't have older companions to help us, we realize just how much we can do.  I gained a lot of confidence in myself being able to do things on my own.  I am trying to develop more faith every day.  I feel a lot like Peter when he was walking on the water.  He is out walking on the water and he lets the waves and storm scare him.  He starts to sink and says, "Lord save me!"  The Lord takes him by the hand and says, "Wherefore did thou doubt?"  Sometimes I feel like this is the relationship I have with the Lord.  I have the faith to try, but then when things get hard or don't go perfectly, I'll let myself doubt and ask the Lord to save me or help me do the hard things because I don't know if I can do it.  Then the Lord will take me by the hand and say, "Elder Smith or Dallon, Wherefore did thou doubt?"  I know the Lord loves me and all of his children.  It will be hard sometimes, but he is always there.  He will always walk beside us and help us when we least expect it.  When we don't think we can go on, all we have to do is ask and the Lord will help us.   I need to remind myself that I just need to have faith, work as hard as I can, and do my best.  I know the Lord will bless me in his own time and way."

"Elder Fearnley and I had a good experience together.  We were out contacting doors and had a lot of success finding people to teach.  I saw a woman come out of a little ditch trying to pull a cart with old wood boards on it.   We ran over and helped her carry the boards and carpet to a small home.  She was trying to repair parts of her house that was destroyed.  She told us that she wanted to hear what we had to share, so we sat outside of her house in a dumpy courtyard and taught her the first discussion.  It was cool teaching her as two newbies.  We did really well together.  She told us that she had been studying with the testigos de jehovah but didn't get baptized because something was missing.  Right before we left, we had her read a verse from the Book of Mormon.  It was then that I noticed that she was wearing a CTR, or HLJ ring!  I asked her where she got it and she said that she found it 8 years ago in the trash and has always worn it because it started with an H and her name is Herminda.  I told her that it was part of our church and meant has lo justo (choose the right).  She was shocked and thought that it was really cool.  She is a really good new investigator and I'm hoping that Elder Opazo and I will be able to teach her."

"Another man that we found lives in Cartagena.  He saw us and then talked about my eyes for a long time, which lead to us getting invited to his home.  When we got there he told us he was a witch and a prophet.  He looks at Elder Fearnley and asked him if he wanted to see some magic.  Elder Fearnley was like sure!  The man then tells Elder Fearnley to close his mouth and that he is going to open the mouth with his mind.  Elder Fearnley closes his mouth and the man starts shaking and then looks at us and opens his mouth and screams aaaahhhhh with his eyes really wide!  I was so confused and Elder Fearnley just sat there unsure of what to do.  Then the man starts busting up and I'm like what the heck is going on?  The man then says, "I didn't tell you whose mouth I was going to open!" ha ha  I don't know why but when he said that, I couldn't stop laughing!  It was just so funny that I am in Chile, with a new companion, and this man was sitting here pretending to be a witch prophet!  I was like what the heck! ha ha  Afterwards we had a really good prayer with the man.  He told me that I had to offer the prayer because the Lord thought that I was special and that's why he gave me the eyes that I have. ha ha"

"Yes, my looks do help me a lot here.  People always are letting us in their doors often solely because of my eyes.  It is something that I can almost count on happening.  People always say, "Wow, look at the eyes the Lord put in you!", then they usually invite us in. This week was a little crazy.  Cartagena is a little beach town resort.  Holy guacamole was it dangerous!  I had a lot of girls checking me out! ha ha  It was insanity!  I even got robbed by a group of girls.  They took my pen and Elder Fearnley got mad and said that he wasn't going to move until they gave my pen back.  He cared more about my pen than I did. ha ha  Eventually the girls ran back and gave me my pen.  People would just talk to us and want to know where we were from and stuff.  Two investigators just kept saying how I had wonderful eyes and how I could do whatever I wanted because of them.  It was awkward and crazy!  Elder Fearnley couldn't believe it and was just like, "Holy smokes, this never happens to me!" ha ha  It was fun."

"Guillermo and Norka are doing great!  We bought them some scriptures.  They have us over for lunch all the time and give us rides to conferences.  Yesterday, they came and picked us up and made us breakfast at their house.  They served us ecco, 2 completos, cookies, and cake.  It was so much!  I never thought I would eat hot dogs for breakfast.  Then we went to stake conference together and had a great time!  We have an appointment with "Lolo" Mendoza this week.  I got the letter from Dr. Joel Dall and will be giving it to him.  I also found a new little girl named Maite.  She loves me! ha ha  She is 10 years old and always wants to hold my hand or lean on my shoulder.  We invited her to a baptism and she came!  She wants to be baptized and I think she might be a really good investigator.  She is such a cute little girl and I think she would get along great with Kimber."

"Well that was my week!  Gotta run, but I love you all so much and will talk to you again soon!"

Elder Dallon Smith

Elders Smith and Fearnley

At the temple in Santiago

Dallon takes his family to the Santiago Temple

Happy Valentine's Day

Dallon shared that it was another long week of trying to find new investigators.  They've also been spending a lot of time helping to reactivate current members.  He says that sometimes the ward is so close knit and comfortable with the way things are, that it isolates others from feeling accepted and included.  They experienced a huge thunder storm and a couple earthquakes this week, but  they are well and the work continues.  He wished everyone a Happy Valentine's Day from sunny and very hot Chile!

"Holy smokes!  We did have another earthquake this week!  We were right in the middle of teaching a lesson to a new investigator, and she looks up and says, "Is it just me or are we moving?"  All of a sudden we realize that we were swaying back and forth and it was getting stronger and stronger.  It felt like we were on a boat swaying side to side.  All the pictures in the house were all swinging and it was crazy.  Strangely people here are accustomed to this.  Elder Opazo looks up and casually says, "hmmmm, it's just a tremor."  Then we went right on teaching the lesson. ha ha  It was funny.  It didn't scare us as all.  After the appointment, I told Elder Opazo that I really think that the lesson shook her world! ha ha  The earthquake lasted about a minute and a half, so it was kind of fun.  Elder Opazo's family is in Concepcion and he told me not to worry about them because he felt peace in his heart and knew that they were ok.  He has perfect faith in the promise of the Lord that our families will be protected.  We are making our emergency kits today.  I definitely want to be prepared.  I feel like there might be an earthquake soon after having two tremors so close together."

"This was another long week because we are searching for people who are ready to hear the gospel.  It was soooo hot!  Elder Opazo is doing great as District Leader and he had to do some baptism interviews this week, so I spent a lot of time with Elders Maldonado and Callis.  It was fun to hang out with them.  They both are going home this week.  After talking with them, I know that time is going to just slip by, so I want to make every minute count here.  Pray for me and my sector.  We have activated two inactive families this week.  It's interesting how people can change so fast.  It will go from being totally awkward where the family doesn't want to let us in and then, the next week, they are like in love with us and trying to do nice things for us.  I think of mom's advice to me every day because I love it..."It's not about the baptisms you get, it's about how many lives you touch."   I have been trying to live by that advice and do the best I can for everyone."

"We had a really fun ward activity.  It was ward home evening night!  The whole ward was there and we played a type of charades family feud game.  It was so funny and was a blast to watch everyone let loose and just have fun. ha ha  I didn't really want to participate because I didn't know Spanish that well and couldn't understand a few of the questions.  But the whole ward started chanting Elder Esmit!, Elder Esmit!, so I was obligated to play.  Luckily, I picked number 12 which was a charade, so I had to make everyone guess "Lion King".  It was so embarrassing, but a lot of fun too.  I was laughing so hard.  I love ward activities.  One of the ward members came up to me and was excited to have me eat the cookies that were made for refreshments. ha ha  Their cookies are like cake with fruit piled on top.  I acted pleased and ended up having to eat five of those dang cookies before they'd let me stop. ha ha"

"This week a member made me a whole bunch of seafood.  It was delicious!  I am also sending a picture of me and Elder Opazo helping make pastel de choclo.  I have eaten it so much this time of year.  They eat a lot of corn here and they eat it mostly with sugar.  It sounds weird but it is actually really good!  In the picture, we are grinding the corn."

"All my brother and sisters.  I hope you know how much I love ya.  You are all so cool and I am lucky to have you in my life.  I hope that you will continue to serve those around you and that you will never be afraid to give all of yourself to the Lord.  He will use you in ways that you never knew he would.  There's so many people that don't have the blessings that we have.  Family is the most important thing in our lives.  It is central in God's plan for us.  I hope you never hide your talents and that you are enjoying every moment of your lives right now.  I like the quote that says..."As we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people the opportunity to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others."  Never be afraid to share the light, or knowledge, the Lord gave us.  You can help the missionaries with your friends and be a part of miracles too."

"Have a great Valentine's Day for me...and no kissing!  That goes for all of you!"

Elder Dallon Smith

Grinding corn for pastel de choclo

Antonia sharing a sucker with Elder Smith

The Zone

Elder Opazo is District Leader!

Dallon began his letter by telling us that Elder Opazo is the new District Leader!  He is so excited for him and says that he will do his best to support him.  Elder Opazo has been busy getting aquainted with the extra work required as a DL.  They also spent the week trying to find new investigators.  He says that he has been standing and walking so much for the past seven days!

"Guillermo received the priesthood yesterday!  It was really cool.  He has already read the Book of Mormon three times and is always telling me that he is going to the temple.  He is great and has excitement to work in this gospel.  It truly is amazing to see how much his testimony has grown from the first day that I met him.  He went from being Catholic to being one of the strongest members of the ward in like two months!  He likes to talk to me in English because he has grandkids in New York.  He and Norka are always giving me the weather report and information from New York.  They also showed me all of their family pictures from like 50 years. ha ha  It feels good to be a part of their lives now."

"A little neighbor girl of Guillermo and Norka's, who came to their baptism, came up to us and told us that she wants to be baptized into the Mormon church.  She spends a lot of time over at Guillermo and Norka's house.  She was there visiting during some of the lessons we taught.  We have a pretty good relationship with her mother who always greets us on the street.  She says that she wants her daughter to be baptized by us, so that has been cool.  The problem is we just don't want to baptize her.., we want her to be active in the church and have a personal testimony.  Anyways we are starting to teach her on Tuesday."

We had one investigator stop seeing us because his girlfriend broke up with him and he is so depressed.  He won't talk to anyone and stays in his apartment all day.  We also had to drop a few people because some of them just like to have us over, but is really not too interested about learning about the church.  I guess this is really common here.  If only they knew how happy they could be.  The conversion process is definitely not easy.  It's like something that I was told while in the MTC.  They said that it will never be easy...Was it easy for Christ?  Even at one point of the atonement, Christ asked, isn't there an easier way?  Salvation will never be easy."

"The Lord has a hand in this work every day.  Sometimes a dvd player we have won't work, so we have to share something else that was exactly what the people needed to hear, and then the next time we try the dvd player, it works perfectly.  It's interesting and it makes me have more faith that this is the Lord's work and his gospel.  I don't have to be able to say everything or know everything for the spirit to teach the truth."

"We have been working a lot with the priesthood brethren in the ward.  The members are a really close knit group.  They sometimes have family home evenings together and have parties and dancing.  The youth group is really small.  There are about 7 boys and 7 girls.  One of the boys, who is 12, will come sit by me every time during sacrament meeting.  All of the youth bear their testimonies during fast and testimony meetings.  They are always the first to get up and share short but strong testimonies.  That is always my favorite part of the meeting.  Sundays are often long and we don't usually have much success doing anything.  It's basically just another work day for us.  The upside is that all the evangelists go outside and sing and yell their their testimonies through megaphones, so that the whole neighborhood can hear.  We also find a lot of drunks walking around on Sunday.  Gotta love those hang overs! ha ha  Seriously though, every time I smell alcohol on their breaths, I have to use all my strength to keep from gagging!  How can anyone drink that stuff?"

"We have a few elders going home after this change and it's fun to see how excited they are.  They are starting to get ready for their real lives.  It kind of makes me glad that I don't have to think about that for awhile.  Although, they endlessly torment me about going home and marrying my sisters! ha ha dorks!"

"I received one of the sweetest letters in my life from Sister Blomquist.  I know how hard it is for her to write.  It meant so much to me and reminded me that I am on my mission for more than just myself.  She is so awesome!  I also received a letter from the Christensen family that helped make this week fun for me.  Tell everyone thank you so much and that it truly helps me a lot!  I loved their letters!"

"Well that was my week.  We worked hard and are continuing to do our best.  The longer I am serving the more I realize how weak I am, how much I need to improve on, and how much I have to rely on the Lord.  I'm trying to find the happiness in each day that the Lord grants me.  From one rejection to the next or from one success to the next, there will always be a little bit of something in between.  It is looking for the miracles and little surprises that keep me going.  Have a great week!

Elder Dallon Smith

Excited about the work!

Out for KFC

Fun with the District

Work Still To Do

There are no transfers this week for Dallon!  He met with President King and was told that he and Elder Opazo would stay together in Barrancas.  Dallon is really excited because there is still so much work to do there.  In this weeks email he asked for a favor.  He is teaching a man who was taught and befriended by a missionary who served in Chile 30 years ago.  Although, the man never joined the church, he has always remembered his missionary friend.  The missionary is now an Orthopedic doctor at St. Mark's.  Dallon asked us to contact the Dr. to have him send his testimony to his friend in Chile.  We had a nice conversation with the Dr. and everyone is excited for the reunion.  We pray that it will be a blessing in all their lives.

"I am excited to serve here for another change.  It will be fun and I think we are going to do a lot of really cool things.  Elder Opazo and I fasted together and we pray together every night.  He thanked me and told me that I am the only companion that he has ever prayed with every night.  I just think that it is important that we always keep the Lord as a part of our companionship, so that we can have the spirit stronger and be directed in all the things that we need to do.  The only person that had changes was Elder DeLong, so we should be getting a new district leader.  I went on divisions with Elder DeLong this week and it was the first time that I lead the sector.  I was a little nervous but said a quick prayer and found everything just fine.  Elder Opazo always makes fun of me for not being good with directions.  We were also blessed because we had four lessons that day, so we weren't just walking around finding plan B's.  Anyways it was really fun being with Elder DeLong.  We made brownies and stayed up late to watch the home videos you sent me.  It was so great.  I seriously have a cool family!"

"Thanks for sending the video on the Joseph Smith revelation from the Doctrine & Covenants.  I think it was inspiration because I used section 120-123 a lot this week.  A grandfather tried to take his life by hanging himself.  The Bishop asked if we would go visit the family and share some comfort with them.  It wasn't the first time that he had tried to do it.  It was so sad that I can't even tell you.  I feel so bad for the family.  We went there and tried to share messages of faith, love, and hope.  Their circumstances are just so poor and they don't understand why they are so hopeless.  They asked, "How strong does the Lord expect us to be?" and, "How come when we are good people, everything bad happens to us, while there are so many bad people with wonderful lives?"  I shared the scripture about the Lord and how he has descended below all things, and are we greater than he?  I told them that the Lord loves them and knows that they are stronger than they themselves know.  The grandfather came home while we were visiting and I have never seen anyone so depressed and lifeless.  We left the family with a prayer and went back to visit two days later.  They are still struggling and asked if we would come around more often.  They said that we bring a peace to them.  When we were leaving, the little twins ran out to the gate and blocked the lock with their bodies so that we couldn't leave.  Oh man, I wish I could do something more.  The Bishop is going to help them which is great.  I never thought I would be a part of someone's life like this.  Missions are so great.  You learn to love people and be a part of their lives that you never would have been able to."

"I had another cool experience with the spirit.  We were out contacting an apartment complex and the number 17 kept popping up in my mind.  I told Elder Opazo that we needed to find apartment number 17.  We walked over to a different block and knocked on apartment 17 and no one was home.  I was really questioning whether I really knew how to follow the spirit.  Well, last week we had met an old lady walking outside with a crutch.  She was the kindest old lady and we had a nice contact with her.  Anyways, lo and behold, we run into her again and she invites us to her apartment and it was number 17!!  ha ha  It was crazy cool!  We just had a lesson with her yesterday and she is so kind and smart.  I don't know if she will be baptized, but I think that the Lord has a plan for her and that's why we were suppose to go there.  I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with those experiences.  Definitely testimony builders."

"A crazy thing happened when we were contacting a young couple with a little toddler girl.  She was so cute.  We were talking to them when all of a sudden the air got thick.  It was such a weird feeling.  The next second went by so fast because people were screaming, "Get the baby, get the baby!"  I felt like someone was pulling me while at the same time I saw the power line poles bending backwards.  I didn't know what to think and looked behind me as I saw big sparks of blue and yellow exploding.  The power lines had been caught on a semi-truck.  It was a semi blocked road but the driver had broken the law and hooked the power lines.  The truck bungied backwards and rolled down the hill and stopped.  I thought the driver had been electricuted!  Luckily he gets out of the truck, unhooked the power lines and drove off.  Everyone was just standing there in shock.  Elder Opazo and I got the license number and description of the truck for the police.  It made me realize that the situation could have been worse and that the Lord is protecting us.  You should have seen the power lines afterwards.  It was like a spiderweb!  They have so many power lines here that it is insane!  But through it all, we still ended up getting a pretty good contact with the young couple. ha ha"

"My favorite food so far has been the barbeques.  However, I had something called pastel de choclo which was kind of like shepherd's pie, except with corn cake on top, that was really good.  I also have lots of dreams with my family in it.  I think that is why I like sleeping so much...other than the fact that I am really tired at the end of every day.  Anyways, I'm glad that you are all doing well.  I love you so much!  I like to think I feel your prayers for me every day.  Keep having fun and know that I am thinking of you.

Elder Dallon Smith

Out for Chinese with the District

Enjoying an evening snack