Welcome to Heaven

Dallon is operating as a fully efficient missionary.  The work is plenty and he loves doing it.  He is completely absorbed.

"We just got back from going to a bunch of old mines.  It was way fun, even though I am now exhausted.  We were jumping all over the place and entering creepy holes in the mountain.  There were cool views and have I told you I love the country?  I am excited to tell you about one of my favorite weeks of the mission.  It's been a blast!"

"We started off with a baptismal interview for a man who had been an eternal investigator.  He recently made the decision to be baptized.  My interview with him was so spiritual.  He passed and the spirit lead me to say some interesting things.  It's cool how the spirit works and I am learning more and more to follow his counsel.  It was a great interview and he was baptized and confirmed yesterday.  He was so happy and will be a great patriarch for his family.  After that we basically finished preparing Paloma and Titi for their baptismal interviews.  They both wanted me to baptize them, so they ended up drawing names.  It was awkward. haha  It ended up that I will be baptizing Titi and Elder Pena, Paloma.  Then we will switch for the confirmations.  They both had their baptismal interviews yesterday.  They are way excited and it's incredible to know that they have waited a long time to be baptized, but the Lord waited for Elder Pena and I to be a part of their conversion.  It's interesting to see that many of our eternal investigators are getting baptized.  I'm glad that they waited for me.  My relationship with these people are really deep and strong.  I can hardly believe how much I love them.  Nora is doing so well and is so happy.  We made her a scripture case that is really cool.  This Saturday we are going to have two more baptisms!  That makes me really happy!"

"Our zone is having great success.  Our month goal was to have 6 baptisms and we are already completing that.  The mission is taking notice that our zone is really progressing.  We will be the strongest zone soon! haha  At least that's what my Talatud tells me. haha  Elder Pena and I still have a ton of investigators that are progressing and will be baptized in the following months.  I can hardly believe it.  I'm happy to just work, work and do more work.  I wish I could be with investigators all day.  It's a good time when we are all together."

"We went to the temple and it was one of the best experiences of my life.  It was so fun to be in the temple with our mission president and zones.  I loved it and felt the spirit so strongly.  It is such a blessing that I can communicate in the Spanish language.  I can see just how much the Lord has blessed me in such a short amount of time.  I can do almost everything memorized in Spanish in the temple.  When I entered the celestial room, Presidente King greeted me and said, "Welcome to heaven," and then Hermana King was crying and said that she wanted to hug me.  It was so cool to be there with all the missionaries and when they prayed for the missionaries, it was a feeling that I will not soon forget.  Absolutely incredible!  Also there was a lady there who handed out the temple clothing and for some reason she just loved me.  She remembered me and took care to make sure that I had the best of everything.  She even talked to the other missionaries about me and I don't know why, but I liked it! haha  We got to eat at the MTC and took a zone picture in front of the temple."

"We also got a real world wake up call this week.  In La Isla de Maipo, there is a big wine fest going on.  Everyone is cramming onto the busses that go there.  Well, Elder Pena and I had to go teach some of our investigators that live there, so we got on one of those crammed busses.  We were on the very back bench and there were so many people that we couldn't even stand up to give our seats to the women.  People were screaming at the driver to not let anymore people on the bus because it was already too full.  Elder Pena asked a man to please touch the button to stop the bus.  The man looked at us and in a really awkward way said no sternly.  We thought maybe he was joking but he didn't touch the button, so we went way past our stop.  We were trying to ask someone else and the ladies that were sitting next to me, saw the whole thing and were finally able to get the bus to stop.  We had a long walk in the country to get to where we were going.  Elder Pena was sooooo mad!  It made me realize the world that I will be going back to.  As missionaries we are always thinking that no matter how they look or act, there is someone good inside and they are all children of God.  However, sometimes things make me realize that not everyone is good and can be trusted.  Some people are mean and angry. haha  It will be tough not being able to help those people after the mission.  The good news is the investigator who we went to visit, finally committed to get married, and she could soon get baptized too.  We are hoping for the best."

"Paloma was really sick, to the point that she couldn't even walk.  Well, we had a cool miracle happen.  On Wednesday, we went to the temple and put her name on the prayer roll.  On Thursday, she was completely healed and running around.  She said that she had felt our prayers and that the night before she said a prayer that was really intense.  She said that she told the Lord that she wanted to do what he desired of her and finally was married and wanted to be baptized.  She asked him for the strength to be healed so that she could do what he required.  The next day she went to the medico and he told her that she was completely fine.  That is the gospel in action!"

"We taught 26 lessons last week and that's with losing one day to go to the temple.  We have plans to leave on divisions almost every day this week, so that we can visit all of the people that we have planned.  It is going to be crazy town! haha  I love you all so much.  I think of you all the time and am more grateful for you everyday.  Thanks for all that you do and are.  Take time to enjoy life."

Elder Dallon Smith

Talagante Zone Mine P-day

Talagante Zone at the Temple

Grateful for Easter

It's funny that Dallon says that he doesn't have much to say and then ends up writing us a three page letter.  We love it!

"Wow, it's crazy how everything is going!  Life in the fast lane is where it's at, but at the same time, maybe it's good to slow down sometimes and smell the roses.  Easter week is not called the "holy week" in the states...It's called spring break! haha  It was fun to have Easter here in Chile.  It is a big holiday here.  There are a lot of little plays and stands put out.  They do the Easter bunny thing too and all the kids like it.  There are a bunch of Catholic movies about Moses, Noah and prophets shown too.  I like that aspect of it.  We had about 100 people at sacrament meeting, which is really good and the whole time people were passing us chocolate eggs. haha  It was the best sacrament meeting ever!  On top of that, we had 9 investigators and 2 less active families come that we have been working with.  We have another investigator who we committed to get married.  Everything is going really well.  Everyone is freakin out because my sector is exploding!  We have more than 25 lessons a week.  Our assistance has gone from 70 to 100, since I got here.  Elder Pena and I have a ton of people to visit and not enough time to see them all, so we have been going on divisions with our mission leader and the young men.  It has been fun and I am so happy that there are so many people coming unto Christ.  I love this place so much.  The fruits are great and the timing is perfect.  I think we might have one of the strongest sectors in the mission.  Now that's legit!"

"I went to concilio this week.  It was fun, but I am always so tired because we have to travel so far to get to President's house.  One thing that happened was that President King introduced an initiative called, "What is Faith?"  It is about exercising our faith and he wants it presented to the entire mission.  He also included a talk by Gene R. Cook about our attitude and faith.  The crazy thing about it is, remember when I told you that I came up with an initiative last change called the "Talatud"?  Well, "What is Faith" and the "Talatud" are exactly the same!  All the way to the talk the President shared.  I had already given every member of my zone the same talk 6 weeks ago!  It was cool because it confirmed to me that what I came up with was truly inspired.  My zone is going to freak out tomorrow when we tell them because we're already doing it! haha  Awesome!"

"This week was also Semana Santa, so traveling to and from the concilio was crazy.  Everyone is traveling, so I had to stand up on the bus for an hour.  We were all squashed and the whole time you feel awkward because everyone is looking at you. haha  But a cool miracle is that while I was waiting for the bus, out of all the people, Jacqueline came and found me.  She was so happy and talked to me about everything that was going on with her.  She is still active and loves the church.  She said that she has two friends that she was leaving to do visiting teaching with.  She also said that she was buying dresses that were modest. haha   It makes me feel good to know that my converts are active."

"Today we played soccer and had a bbq.  We went to Paloma's house and all 16 of us crammed into their humble home.  It was fun and they really enjoyed it.  Paloma is really pregnant and is way sick, but she is excited for her baptism.  She and her husband really want to get sealed in the temple.  We are also teaching Maria, but we call her Titi.  Since she has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying, she has changed so much in just one week.  It's amazing and she just knows that it is true.  She is super stoked about everything and loves that the gospel is really saving her.  She is going to be baptized with Paloma.  We have been teaching them together.  This week we took Nora with us to teach Paloma and Titi.  Nora gave a new strong and pure testimony of the plan of salvation.  She is so wonderful and so strong in the gospel already.  She is awesome!  We have been teaching a kid whose dad is a returned missionary and less active.  We had a really great family home evening with them and watched the video of the restoration.  Afterwards, we asked the boy, how do you feel?  He thought about it for a second and said, "I feel really different."  Then the dad started crying.  He said that he hadn't felt the spirit so strong in years and that God just punched him in the face.  I told him that God was calling him to be the patriarch of the family and that he was fundamental to the salvation of his family.  I also said that his son needed him to baptize him.  The whole family felt the spirit and it was so cool."

"We also felt the spirit very strongly at zone meeting.  We had a testimony meeting about why we were on the misson.  The missionaries were emotional and were able to remember why they were out here serving.  On top of all that, all our key indicators, or goals that measure success, shot up!  Every companionship went to work this week and did really well.  In concilio, everyone saw that our zone is progressing really fast.  Elder Pena and I also had a mission leader capacitacion that we were in charge of.  The district president was there and saw all the success that we have been having the last two months.  He is really excited.  I've never been so busy or worked so hard.  I love it!  There are great things happening here in Talagante."

"I am learning just how much I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I can hardly believe that the sacrifice he made was individually for me.  He is teaching me so much and sometimes, I don't know why he chose me to try to be one of his disciples.  I think two scriptures that come to mind is that we don't choose Christ, but he chooses us.  And also that Christ called the weak of the world to preach his gospel to make them strong.  Those aren't the exact words, but I know it is something like that in English.  I am so grateful for my mission.  I know that this church is true because I can feel it in the deepest crevices of my heart.  I know my Savior walks beside me and that his spirit is my true and constant companion.  I know that I can be forgiven of my weaknesses and sins through the atonement of Christ.  We are so blessed because we live in a time when we already know that Christ did what he said he would do.  What a blessing to be members of his church and to be refined by him.  Sometimes it is hard to see our trials as blessings.  I know that we are never alone in this life journey.  We speak of Christ, we preach of Christ, and we do all things for Christ.  He is the center of salvation and the reason for hope and happiness.  I love him so much and truly feel that he is my older brother and example.  I can't wait to one day stand beside him or physically be near him.  I hope that, in that day, I will be a worthy disciple and that he will be proud of me for what I have done on this earth.  This life is so fragile and short.  However, with God and the gospel, we know that it is only a small moment and that families are eternal and eternal life awaits us.  I'm grateful for Easter, but mostly for the purpose of Easter.  He did it.  Jesus Christ saved us.  He didn't have to, but he chose to.  Because of that decision, we can live in never ending happiness and love.  I love my family very much and I truly hope that you take that to heart.  No matter what happens in this life, I want each of you to know that I love you and that our love will always be strong and never ending.  We are an eternal family.  Nothing can keep us from that except our own decisions and actions.  I am loving my mission and my life in Chile.  Thanks for letting me have these moments.  I pray that the Lord will protect you and bless you in all things.  I love my crazy, fun and talented family.  I am so lucky!"

Elder Dallon Smith

April's Mission Leader Concilio

Talagante Zone

Conference in the Campo

From the pictures we got this week, we aren't sure if Dallon is on a mission or on vacation.  We guess that it is a little of both.  His letter definitely implies that he is serving a full and rewarding mission. 

"I agree with you that it was a whirlwind week!  However, it was like a little vacation at the end just being able to enjoy conference.  I love conference weekend.  It's the best and I loved every minute of it.  The talks were awesome.  Our investigators were able to go and received many answers.  If there is anything that I've learned, it is that our answers are found in conference.  It was such a good feeling.  I was sad that it is my last conference in Chile and everyone was crackin' jokes at me and calling me an old geezer. haha  It's funny that Dad and Jake were at the Priesthood session because while I was watching, I had a feeling that they were there.  I turned to all the other missionaries and said that my Dad was there. haha  It was weird and cool that I just knew it.  So once again, another spiritual confirmation.  Nora fed us lunch of fried fish and rice.  It was sooo good.  We have such incredible converts."

"This week started off really well.  We have a few investigators that are sooo close.  We also had Elder Pena's birthday.  Unfortunately, birthdays aren't too fun on the mission because it is just another full day of missionary work.  The members and investigators made it special for him.  He enjoyed it and received a lot of gifts, so that was good."

"On Sunday morning I received a call from an investigator that was super excited.  She had been investigating the church for over a year.  She wasn't married but had always had the desire to be baptized.  She called and said, "Elder Smith, I got married yesterday!"  She had a lot of medical complications and they weren't able to get married earlier in the month.  Anyways they were like, "That's it!  We need to have an eternal family.", so they ran away and got married.  They were so excited and she can hardly wait for her baptism.  It is sooo cool!  They just want to get to the temple."

"Right when I first came to this sector, I saw an American flag in a house on the corner across the street.  We were on our way to an appointment, but I thought we really needed to contact these people.  Maybe they like gringos?! haha  I go over and say "alo" and a young lady comes out and starts talking to us.  I found out that she wasn't a member and was the daughter of a less active.  We set up an appointment, but could never get in contact with her.  On one of those times we passed, I got to know her mom.  Her name is Barbara and I just love her.  She said that she loves missionary work and was mad that members didn't do more to look for those of the Lord's fold.  She has so much animo for missionary work and was inactive because she had been offended.  We began activating her and then yesterday, we ran over to see her daughter.  She was having a panic attack and wasn't doing very well.  We were asked to go over and give her a blessing.  We talked to her and she told us all her problems.  We told her that the gospel was the solution.  She said everything started happening since that first day that we came to her door.  After we talked for awhile, she said that she knew she needed to be baptized!  It was crazy and she said that the Lord sent us to her because he had already been preparing her.  It was another testimony builder to know that the spirit really does guide the mission work."

"I'm sending pictures of me in the campo! haha  We have some members and an investigator that lives in the middle of no where on a grape vineyard.  It is so beautiful.  They have horses and tree houses and tons of fun stuff."

"We are having such an outpouring of blessings here.  I don't know what we are doing that is giving us such success.  We have more than 17 investigators.  We have 3 that are going to be baptized in April.  We are working so hard and everything is just falling into place.  I feel loved and at home.  There is no place I would rather be.  It was fun to feel close to you.  We are doing so well and I only want to keep working until the very last second.  I love you all and am grateful for the love of the Lord towards our family.  The church is true... that's all I gotta say! haha"

Elder Dallon Smith

The Campo Vineyard