"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
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| April's Mission Leader Concilio |
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| Talagante Zone |
