Temblor!

Dallon tells us that it was an earth moving week.  There were two earthquakes that hit Chile and one hit during the middle of a baptism.  It was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast about 150 miles south of Dallon's location.  These are memorable times on his mission and he is literally soaking it all in.

"Nora was baptized yesterday and it was so awesome!  I wasn't able to see her at the beginning of the week because we had divisions, but she kept saying that she had someone special in mind to baptize her.  I thought it would be her friend that had always tried to share the gospel with her.  However, she said that she had prayed a lot about it and decided that I was the one that was sent to baptize her.  I felt really honored that she picked me and she has been a golden investigator since day one.  I have no doubt that she will be an active and firm member of the church.  Her baptismal service went great.  It was smooth and almost the whole ward came to support her.  The talks were really spiritual and everything fell into place, from the tunica to the temperature of the water.  I felt the spirit more strongly than I have ever felt during a baptism.  We got into the font and I baptized her.  When she came out of the water, she just started crying.  I was so happy for her.  I congratulated her and then helped her up the stairs.  Right when she opened the door to the dressing room, the earthquake hit.  I was right in the middle of the font and the water started sloshing all around.  The ward members started yelling that it was a temblor.  It was super strong and I was slipping all over the place trying to get out of the font. haha  It was crazy.  When Nora came out, she said that she didn't even feel the temblor and thought that was really strange.  She said that she had felt something inside of her so strongly that, that was the only temblor she felt.  A spiritual temblor.  She was so happy.  It was an awesome experience.  She pulled me and Elder Pena aside and said that she had prayed really hard that day, that God would let her know that he was present at her baptism.  She said how interesting it was that there was a spiritual temblor that was an answer for her, and a physical temblor for everyone else.  She said she knew that God was present.  A lot of the members teased me that I had done it and said, "What did you do?!" haha  They said that it had started the moment I entered the font, but it was really light.  It was actually the second temblor that I felt this week.  The first one was in the middle of the night and I woke up to really loud noise coming from the earth.  There was shaking, but not as violently as the second one.  I yelled, "terremoto!" to Elder Pena and he hops out of bed and starts looking around. haha  We fell back to sleep really fast.  I think I'm getting use to them.  It was an earth moving week."

"We've had 8 investigators to church every week and a lot of families that are activating.  I think Elder Pena and I are a good team.  There is truly no where else I'd rather be.  Two of my friends, Elder Crane and Elder Gonzalez, who were in my last district, have come to Talagante.  I am happy because I know they will work hard and do a great job.  I love them a lot.  Elder McBride is going to be training and Elder West left.  It was fun to be together.  I think it is going to be a great change."

"I got a letter from Jacqueline from Maipu.  She said that once I left, she didn't feel the same in church and was going a little inactive.  I feel super bad because I want her to be active and have all the blessings of the gospel.  I know she got baptized for the right reasons.  She just needs help to remember that.  Can you please put Jacqueline's name on the prayer roll at the temple?  I also received a gift from her along with a little statue of Moroni that a grandpa from Maipu made for me.  It is really cool!  I really need to start sending stuff home.  I just don't want to lose anything."

"I had interviews with the President this week.  We talked a lot about my release date.  He told me to pray about it.  There is a small group going home three weeks early for school.  I feel like the Lord gave me some really good scholarships and that most things point that I should go.  I'll tell the president next week if I want to be put on the list with this group."

"Sounds like it was a fun week for everyone.  Make sure you all give Dad a big hug for me and wish him a happy birthday!  I love him a lot!  Thanks for all your support and prayers.  I know that we are in the truth and that the blessings are real."

Elder Dallon Smith

Nora's baptism day

Nora's family

A barbeque with members

Elders Mackie, Smith, Britt, and Camus

Elder Blanquito!

Dallon sent a picture this week of a little boy who renamed this companionship, Elder Blanquito (Whitie) and Elder Cafecito (Brownie).  Haha from the mouth of babes.  These are truly great times.

"Happy St. Patrick's Day?? haha  I forgot that even existed.  It's funny when a whole country doesn't celebrate a holiday, you easily just forget it.  I hope I was wearing something green anyways.  I wish I could of known, so I could have had a free shot at my companion. haha"

"The first thing I want to tell you is that I got your packages!!  Whooo hooo!!  It was glorious and we rejoiced. haha  It was the best and I have to say that those M&Ms have been one of the greatest blessings.  However, in just one week, I've almost finished the whole bag.  Everything you sent was awesome."

"We are working really hard.  We taught thirty lessons and found a lot of new investigators.  Nora is getting baptized this Sunday and is super excited.  She is golden and passed her interview with flying colors.  Her daughter, Johanna, is less active, but is starting to come back.  She loves soccer and plays with us every P-day.  We also have Francisca who is 23 years old and pregnant.  She has a baptismal date for the 7th of April.  We went to a baptism and took a few teenagers with us and they have been progressing really well too.  A sister in the Relief Society gave me a reference for a grandma named Lucresia.  She told me that she thinks that I am the elder indicado or chosen elder for her.  Lucresia is reading and praying and we are hoping for the best for her as well.  We also are growing in assistance by activating families.  This past sacrament meeting, we had 110 people attend.  That is crazy for Talagante.  Everyone is really excited about it and are getting to work.  I think this ward is going to become just like the one in Rinconada.  It's gonna be great!  I know what Dad was saying when he said that the last 6 months were the best.  I feel prepared with all the answers and know better how to help people understand.  It's been a great experience and I must say that I really do like it out here.  The members are taking really good care of us.  They make me foods that I like, which is pastel de choclo, or corn shepherd's pie.  Weird right, but so delicious!  Country people are so loving and go out of their way to make time for you.  They fight over giving the missionaries lunch, especially now because we have activated people and have more investigators that also want to feed us.  It's awesome.  The Relief Society had a huge party and invited Elder Pena and I to speak.  There were a lot of sisters that went and it was cool to get to know them."

"I went on divisions with Elder West in Cordillera and met this guy name Juanjo.  He has dread locks and is super crazy, but he is awesome and we have become great friends.  We went on splits together and taught a family who asked me for a blessing.  They were really grateful and said that I was the angel that God sent to help them at the indicated moment.  I thought that was cool."

"The Spirit definitely has been guiding us.  People are giving us references all over the place.  The other day we had an appointment, but the Bishop from another ward asked us to please go with him to see his sister who wasn't a member.  Her husband and mother had recently died and her son has been diagnosed with a terminal disease.  We rushed over and started to teach lesson one, but then Elder Pena and I just followed the spirit, which was so strong.  We taught and shared exactly what she needed to hear.  She cried a lot and the Bishop cried with her.  We are also activating a mom and her kids.  She has been divorced and has kids from several relationships.  She was asking us, why me?  The spirit told me to share with her the story of Grandma Capps because their situations were so similar.  I told her that I was grateful for my grandma because she is one of my heroes.  Her journey gave me the opportunity to know this gospel.  She started crying and told me that was exactly what she needed to hear.  We gave her a blessing after and the spirit was so thick that everyone was crying.  The spirit guides us so much.  He is continually helping and the evidence is all around us."

"I guess what I have been learning is that I am more comfortable with myself.  My intentions are good and those who gain my confidence really do know that they are loved by me.  I can feel something inside of me that is so big for those whom I am teaching.  It is a feeling I have only felt for family.  The bonds that I am creating with members, investigators and missionaries, means more to me than anything else that I could have gained, if not serving a mission.  My heart swells when I talk about my Savior and Heavenly Father or when I teach the gospel in a way that people understand it.  I never thought that I would feel the way I do about these people.  I am grateful for every person that the Lord has entrusted me to share the gospel with.  It is something that I will thank him for forever."

"Don't worry, talking about home and family really doesn't make me trunkie.  I don't feel trunkie at all.  Seeing pictures of you and thinking about home only inspires me to make these last six months really worth it.  I am more focused than ever and am working to the fullest.  I know that these last couple months are going to escape me, so I want to make every day count.  I know that the Lord is giving you special individual blessings.  Service as a missionary blesses all of us.  Let's enjoy it while we have it!  I miss you all and carry you with me everyday."

Elder Dallon Smith

"Elder Blanquito"

Francisca's baby is A OK!

What they want us to see...

What we really see!

Time Allotted

Dallon received his trunkie papers and had to make sure that they are processed correctly.  We enjoyed being able to talk back and forth in real time by email to finalize some information.  It is always a great feeling to know that you are at the same place in time.  Dallon is only two hours ahead of us now after daylight savings took effect on Sunday.

"Thanks for all the trunkie info.  It's crazy that we are getting this already!  Don't worry, I'm not trunkie.  I'm giving everyday all that I've got.  There is still a lot to accomplish and I know that everything has it's time and will work out the way it is suppose to."

"The biggest event of the week was the baptism of Juan David and Catalina.  It wasn't the most smooth baptism, but the important thing was that the ordinance was performed.  There were a lot of things that got on my nerves and that I am hoping to improve.  I always want baptisms to be special and not just thrown together."

"My class last week, called the Talatud, was waaayyy good.  I really killed them. haha  I was really direct without offending them.  I told them that there are two options; to be clowns or to be missionaries, and it was now time to choose.  It was really strong and I felt the spirit.  I feel good about the things I said because it needed to be said.  We are working with obedience and I am determined to succeed.  I'm gaining the confidence of the zone and they know that I'm here to help.  I think that things are going to be great.  It's just going to be a process."

"Yes, I did go to Santiago once again.  I went there for a leadership conference.  It was good and long as always.  It was good to see some of my friends.  I also heard from a lot of members from Rinconada that sent me greetings.  It was cool.  I was disappointed that we weren't picked to give a class.  Oh well, it was a nice break."

"Now about some of our investigators.  We have a mom, of a member, who never would accept the missionaries, but something about us hooked her.  She says that we were the ones saved for her.  She loves the church and already has a testimony.  She can hardly wait for her baptism on the 24th.  It is cool because she is good at recognizing the answers of God.  There is also a new family that we are activating and they have a daughter who is not a member.  She is one of Catalina's best friends, so she is excited to follow Catalina and also be baptized.  That family has a whole bunch of people that could be potential baptisms.  There is another lady who is pregnant and not married.  We have been teaching her and get along really well with her family.  She is the only one that is not a member.  She also wants to be baptized before her baby is born in May.  There are a few others that are coming along, but we just need to find the right time to share what they need.  There are a few eternal investigators as well.  I'm just praying that we will be able to help these people progress.  There is so much potential here, so I am excited!  I love it when there is so much work that we can't even finish it all in the time allotted.  It makes things so much more interesting."

"This week we also had an activity in the church where we watched the Joseph Smith movie.  It was pretty fun.  The crazy part is, we had 40 sisters that went and 2 men with the sacerdocio.  It's sad that the sacerdocio (priesthood) is weak here.  The sisters are really where the strength is.  We definitely have some work to do.  I also gave a talk yesterday about testimonies.  I had one of those moments where I could see how far I've come.  I'm glad that I can speak Spanish and that the Lord can use me as an instrument to serve.  It's cool to see how much the Lord has blessed me.  I am really happy right now.  I want to preach the gospel in all parts of the world! haha  I know that the relationships I have here will bless me for the eternities and it is something that really has worth now and after death.  I'm grateful for you and thanks for letting me come out on the mission.  I don't know where I'd be if I wasn't here.., lost, that's for sure.  I want to be the type of missionary that when I come home, I will still be so converted that I will fulfill all of my duties as a priesthood holder.  I want to be the person that God sees in me."

"It's always fun to know that life goes on even though I'm not there to experience it with you.  I miss you all so much.  I was thinking that I'll come home and we will all be happy for one week and then everything will go back to normal again. haha  It's kinda sad and happy.  I think sometimes the things that have the most worth are small things.  Moments that we look back at and just laugh or just chillin' and doing nothing together. haha  That's where true happiness is..; not having to do anything and being with the people you love.  Anyways stay strong and stay you.  I love you and think about you everyday.., but not in a trunkie way. haha"

Elder Dallon Smith

Catalina and Juan David's baptism day

Catalina and Juan David's family

A force to be reckoned with!

Elder Rubert and Elder Smith

A Time to Harvest

It was back to Santiago again.  Dallon is learning to be a good traveler.  He continues to experience new things and remains positive and happy.  This is a wonderful time in his mission where the work is plenty and the rewards are abundant.

"That blessing that I received healed me in just three days!  My companion took three weeks to recover.  It was a personal miracle and I feel really fortunate.  I didn't have to miss a single day or hour of work.  It was really cool for me and the ward to witness."

"This week I went to concilio.  It was a new experience for me.  I had to share my testimony and it wasn't too bad.  They feed us lots of good food.  We had french toast and eggs for breakfast and enchiladas for lunch.  There was way too much food!  I don't know what is wrong with me, but I just can't eat a lot.  When I do, I eat really slow.  They also gave us chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches that were delicious! haha  In concilio, we had to present the numbers and things that we had accomplished in the last month.  I'm new, so I didn't really have much to say because I am still getting to know the zone.  But I am excited because I think that we will be able to do great things in Talagante.  I want to get to work.  There are 24 zone leaders and 12 zones.  It was cool to see how the meeting worked.  I now will be able to contribute more next time.  I went to the President's house for the first time and it was really nice and big."

"We are going to have two baptisms this week.  Juan David and Catalina.  They passed their baptismal interview and are excited.  Catalina is the first investigator I found, so I was able to teach her everything.  It was really fast and they are going to be strong in the gospel.  They both look like gringos. haha  We were trying to get the young men of the ward to baptize them, but they wanted us to do it.  I'll be baptizing Catalina and Elder Pena will baptize Juan David on Saturday.  We also have a few more investigators that are progressing really well.  I think that I got here at a good time to harvest. haha  There are a lot of great people and we actually had 10 investigators that came to church yesterday.  I love it here.  It is so chill and the people are really kind."

"We have been getting really close to the branch president.  He loves having us over and we cleaned his windows on the ledge of a second story house.  I wanted to take pictures for you, but forgot my camera.  He shared a lot of cool experiences with us.  He had been a convert of 3 years when he was called as branch president.  Imagine that!  He is really solid and we are working well together.  He is awesome!"

"Everything is going good.  I am dying of heat, but we have a lot of work.  On Friday, I am going back to Santiago for a leadership conference.  I have been there every week.  I hate traveling.  We get packed into little buses and it is a long bus ride standing up with two bags. haha  These last couple days, I started busting up laughing because I just found our situation so funny.  When I was busting up, a lot of the people around me did too.  It's just that I know I will never be in these situations again and, really if you think about it, they are kinda funny. haha"

"I have been trying to be a better and more focused missionary.  I want to give all of myself 'til the end, so that I can look back and truly say I gave everything to the mission and not have any regrets.  My testimony is growing so much.  I feel like I am becoming a different person.  For these last six months, my goal is to give all of myself to the Lord and be completely obedient because I want to be, not because I'm suppose to be.  I am so tired, but so happy.  Elder Pena is going home the same time as me.  Every time we see a plane fly over, we just look at eachother and laugh.  Six months and then it is all over.  I'm not ready for that.  The mission has been the best decision of my entire life.  It truly is not easy, but it is so filling.  I will be sad the day that this sacred mantel is taken from me.  Being a missionary is like having the opportunity to follow Christ and know that he accepts you for your faults and knows all that you can be.  I don't have to see myself through my own eyes, which sometimes can be negative.  I can see myself through the Lord's eyes and that gives me strength to never stop trying.  I like the quote by David O. McKay, that says, "It's not whether I won the battle or not that matters.  It's the way I kept fighting."

"Anyways, I love you very much.  I'm glad that you went to the temple and had a great experience.  I love the temple.  Stay strong and close to the Lord.  I'm proud of my family and I'm happy to be a missionary.  It's like the mormon.org videos...I'm a son, brother, missionary, and I'm a mormon! haha  What a great blessing it is to have the fulness of the gospel.  Les amo muchisimo.  Nunca se olviden que su hermano siempre esta pensando en ustedes y desea que tenga felicidad en cada dia de sus vidas.  Cuidense mucho mi querida familia.  Les hecho de menos.

Elder Dallon Smith 

The field is ready to harvest in Talagante!

Elder Smith, Catalina, and Elder Pena

Zone leaders March concilio

Elders Lewis, Smith and Ciccio

MTC buddies, Elders Smith, Birch and Cummock

...with Hermana King