Sprinting Towards the End

The end is in sight and Dallon is beginning to reflect back on the past two years.  He has worked hard everyday, set and met his goals, and been overly loved and blessed throughout.  He is so grateful to be a missionary in the Lord's service. 

"Wow, it's amazing how fast time is flying.  I really cannot wrap my head around it.  It feels like I just wrote you a couple days ago.  On Tuesday we had changes.  We traveled to Maipu and it was good to see a lot of my old friends in the mission.  It was also somewhat sad that we had to leave other friends behind.  Elder McBride is now a zone leader with Elder Birch.  I was able to see some old families from Rinconada that have the tradition of dropping off the Elders.  It was really cool to see them again.  We took a picture with all the Elders that have served in Rinconada.  A few families were mad at me for not writing, but I seriously have no time to write at all."

"I am so grateful for the families that I have gotten to know on my mission.  I have been thinking a lot of that this week.  It's incredible to me that the Lord has given me almost everything that I could have wanted in the mission.  I realize that in the beginning of the mission, I had a lot of hopes and a few of them I was really unsure if I was going to be able to reach.  The first one was a goal that Elder Opazo inspired me to make.  He told me that if he could get 24 baptisms on his mission, he would feel successful.  I thought that was an interesting goal and cool to have a baptism every month.  I just barely realized that I've already surpassed that goal.  I'm really not the type of person to care about numbers, so I never was counting.  It is cool that the Lord led me to many people whom had already been prepared."

"Another thing that I wanted was to be able to serve in all parts of the mission.  I got to serve in the coast, city and now country.  I've also never had a companion that hasn't wanted to work, which was one of my fears in the beginning.  I have worked hard every single day of my mission.  I've never had problems pulling any of my companions out of bed in order to get out in the field.  Now that I can look back and see where I am on this journey, I can count my many blessings.  It's awesome to see how far I've come.  I think that you are totally right, Mom.  This mission doesn't end.  I'm not worried because my mission will keep moving on.  I'm going to keep setting goals, keep working hard and keep strengthening my testimony, while also trying to help those who I encounter on the path.  The mission is flippin' hard and I won't lie.  There are times when you are blinded into feeling alone or thinking that things might never be better, but with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you have a constant assurance that things are going to be ok.  That life is hard, but that is what makes those few moments of joy, so worth it."

"We have almost a completely new zone.  We have Elders Van Dyke, Felipe, Mercau, Salines, Manzano, and Burk, that all recently started here in Talagante.  They took out the hermanas and brought in two elders.  We are a complete elders zone!  We are going to take out the trash! haha  We are doing really well and I have high hopes for the change."

"Elder Holton and I are doing well.  He hasn't been feeling well, so we might be staying in the pension a little bit more this week.  We have a lot of appointments already planned out, so it shouldn't be too bad.  This last week we taught 30 lessons.  That's a lot!  We placed 5 baptismal dates and 4 of them came to church.  Andrea passed her interview and Elder Holton will be baptizing her this Saturday.  She is really cool and the changes she has made have been incredible to be a part of.  She is truly converted.  The greatest gift of the mission is to see someone's full conversion.  Almost all of my converts are still active and it is awesome!  I love the mission sooooo much!"

"I haven't been cold because everyone takes care of us here, so don't worry. haha  My electric blanket is heavenly.  I've been sleeping like a baby.  I've been eating really well too.  The sisters in the ward fight over giving us lunch.  There is always at least 8 back up plans if one falls through.  We even have a waiting list. haha  I don't think I've had to be hungry my entire mission.  I'm grateful for that."

"I think that I am in the prime of my mission.  I know how to invite the spirit.  I know when someone is ready and I know how to solve a lot of people's doubts.  I can teach so much more clearly and I present it in a way that they can understand.  I won't lie that I'm the best teacher or have the best Spanish or know a lot of the doctrine, but I feel like I am a missionary of Preach My Gospel.  I teach from the heart and I know when they understand.  I've been grateful for the missionary that I've become, even though I'm not a scriptorian or deep doctrine master.  I feel like I present the gospel in a clear and easy way.  I can teach old people or little kids and help them all to receive answers to prayers.  It's been truly satisfying and there are miracles every day.  Sometimes at night, I just lay there thinking, why is the Lord so good to me?  I have loved being able to break down my walls and let people in.  Although, that has helped me to see a lot of my own faults, insecurities and weaknesses.  My greatest treasures are the relationships that I gain in my life.  Relationships are great and you move on through life continuing to make more relationships and learn more lessons from others.  I'm sprinting towards the end.  I won't give it up 'til the last second.  Les amo muchisimo!"

Elder Dallon Smith

Elders who served in Rinconada

Elders Mackie, Smith & Smart

Elders Smith, McBride, Holton, & Ramirez

MTC mates: Elders Smith, Cummock, and Birch

Happy Father's Day!

The end is getting close and Dallon is really feeling it.  He is going to end his mission in Talagante with Elder Holton as his companion.  They are working hard and are a great companionship.  There is still work in progress and Dallon says that he wants to end strong.  There were a lot of changes in his Zone this time.

"Almost half of our zone has changes.  Elder McBride is now going to be a Zone leader.  We will be receiving a lot of new missionaries.  It's exciting, but my heart is starting to freak out!  I only have a change and a half left!  It's messing with my emotions.  It's like I can't have a long term vision, only short term.  I know there is a time for everything, but I like this chapter of my life."

"I had interviews with President King.  It was good and basically I just gave a big informe about the sector, my companionship, and the Zone.  It was really cool and President told me everything that was going to happen in my Zone.  He also asked my opinion about a few things.  He told me that I would be ending my mission here in Talagante with Elder Holton.  It's strange to hear that.  It's like there's nothing else to look forward to.  It's all coming to a close.  I feel like an effective missionary and would have liked to feel this way at the beginning of my mission.  It's been such a journey and I don't want it to end."

"We have the best friend of Tity who is changing so drastically that it is blowing my mind.  She took the decision and she is sticking with it.  Her family is Evangelica and are way upset with her and might kick her out of the house.  She is going against all odds.  Her friends are ditching on her and her family won't even greet her.  She has felt the spirit so strongly that she says she can't deny what she now knows.  She is going to have Elder Holton baptize her.  Tity is doing awesome.  Everyone is jealous that she is my convert because she is kicking trash!  Aside from the fact that she spoils me to death, she is the secretary of the Relief Society and a branch missionary.  She is super converted and is working so hard.  It's so fulfilling for me to see how strong her testimony is."

"Marina got baptized!  Whooo hooo!  She was super happy and also has a strong testimony of the gospel.  She is 100 percent sure that she is doing the right thing.  It was my honor to baptize her.  She went down, but a lot of her stayed above the water.  I had to use some force and she kind of freaked out because she thought she was going to drown. haha  Luckily, I was able to do it in one dunk.  We laugh about it now, but I got entirely soaked while doing it.  It all turned out really well.  Her son felt the spirit so strongly that he has decided to be baptized.  We have set a baptismal date for him for the middle of July.  At the baptism, Elder Holton and I sang, "The Spirit of God."  It was so powerful.  The Lord definitely knew what he was doing by putting us together.  Also, it's been raining like crazy again, but I like rainy baptism days.  We even got to see some rainbows.  I'm sending a picture of Elder Holton carrying my across a street that was flooded.  He has rain boots and I was sure to take advantage of them. haha  We have fun together."

"I feel really blessed right now.  We have a lot of great investigators.  Well Dad.  Just want you to know that I love you very much.  I am so proud to be your son and I always want to reach your expectations.  You're the best Dad and you make me want to be a better person.  You inspire me with your humble example and quiet councils.  Thanks for all the sacrifices you made for my happiness.  Thanks for being you.  Don't worry about me.  I am doing well and this is the best time of my life.  I hope that things will continue to get better and better, even after the mission.  I am going to trust in my Heavenly Father.  He is real and he loves us so much.  The Lord will provide for us and everything will work out.  We just need to keep trying to be our best selves and have a positive outlook.  There is nothing too hard if we stick together in this gospel.  Have a great week!"

Elder Dallon Smith

Elder Holton, Marina, and Elder Smith

Marina's baptism day

 

Elder Smith hitching a ride

Missionaries are Loved

It's hard to picture Dallon in the middle of winter and freezing, while it's been so hot here.  He had a zone activity today at a parcela, or a big piece of land.  Some members let them borrow their home for the day to have a barbeque and hang out together.  The missionaries are really loved in Chile.  What a great mission to be serving in.

"Yesterday was a pretty cool day.  It was ward conference and we had a good assistance (attendance) of about 120 people at church.  This is good because, last week wasn't ward conference and we had 115 people go to church.  We are doing really well, especially considering that when I first got here we only had about 70 people going every week.  I've been really happy with those numbers and hope to keep them up.  Elder Holton and I were asked to sing in a choir with a few people in the church.  We sang, "I Am a Child of God," or "Soy un Hijo de Dios."  It turned out really well.  I began with a solo, then went into a duet with Elder Holton, and then the whole choir joined in.  Tity participated too and called the familia Barrueto.  Hermana Veronica and Alan came to be my cheerleaders.  After church we all had lunch together, so I got to spend more time with them.  It's strange to have people from 2 sectors mix, but at the same time it's a cool blessing.  It was fun."

"I'm not kidding.  These people take such good care of us that it is almost getting embarrassing.  Last Monday we went to eat with Tity and her mom and they favored me by making all of my favorite foods.  They also bought a juicer, just to make us juice!  Then during a conversation, it was brought up that I didn't have a caliente cama, or electric blanket.  Elder Holton told them that I didn't have money to buy a caliente cama.  He didn't mean that my family didn't have the money, but that I had lost my credit card and was waiting to get a new one in the mail.  They went off and said that I might not have money, but I have a family and they were going to give me everything I needed.  They feel like they have to take care of me. haha  Anyways three days later, they gifted me a caliente cama.  They cost like 40 dollars and I tried to tell them not to, but they always get mad at me and tell me to be grateful for the love that they are showing me.  Also Hermana Veronica bought me some thermal shirts and socks, along with a big can of hot chocolate.  It's crazy!  We teach English classes on Saturday and they always bring all four of us Elders things to eat.  Elder McBride said that our converts spoil them more than their own, and it's true!"

"On Tuesday I went on divisions with Elder Crane.  He was one of the Elders from my district in Maipu.  It was fun and we had a good time.  He is really funny and we taught some great lessons together.  It is getting really cold here and they have a crappy pension that is freakin' cold.  I went to bed in sweats, 3 blankets and two coats, and I was still freezing.  I feel bad for those Elders.  It was still a good division.  Elder Crane took me out to the middle of nowhere called Chinigue.  It's a small poblation of people.  It was cool and they are working really hard.  Elder Crane is a good missionary.  While I was in their pension, I adopted a pulga and brought it home with me.  I got bit for 2 nights and then it stopped.  I think it must have died from being so cold, or maybe it hopped over to Elder Holton's bed! haha"

"Tuesday was also our Zone meeting.  We presented a few iniciatives.  The mission is really trying to get us contacting again.  The missionaries in Utah are lucky because they receive tons of references, but here we have to contact for all we get.  I introduced an iniciative we made up called Talabajadores en la Vina.  It talks about a program we have called Permaneced.  It's going to get us working with a list that lets us know where there are incomplete families.  Then we can go over and activate families while also be able to baptize those that fell away.  I think it should work pretty well.  Everything worked out and the assistants came.  It was hard though because I was super sick with a cold.  I didn't miss any time working, but it's not fun being sick on the mission."

"We went to a wedding on Saturday.  One of the recent converts got married to a member girl.  It was cool and they gave us lots of good things to eat.  It's interesting how much people here love missionaries.  I'll miss the automatic love that we are given because of our callings.  It is the best being a missionary!"

"We have an investigator who is the best friend of Tity.  We had a really cool experience with her.  In our first lesson, we shared about the law of chastity.  We really went into depth about why we have this commandment and how it blesses us and keeps us away from the unclean things of the world.  The spirit was way strong and she just started crying.  Later that day we went back and taught her about the Restoration.  She had already read a little of the Book of Mormon and was so ready.  She is really sensitive to the spirit and wants to change her life.  She has accepted a baptismal date for the 30th of June.  We are hoping that she will be able to reach her goal.  She is experiencing changes in her life already and it's cool to see the spirit working so strongly in her."

"Tomorrow we have interviews with President King.  We also have changes this Saturday, so we will see if I stay or go.  Lots are saying that I will leave, but I kind of feel like I'm going to stay here.  It freaks me out that I only have one change and a half left.  It's going by so fast!!  Next change I'll have to give my last testimony to the mission.  I can already feel my heart getting tight."

"Well it sounds like you are all having a lot of fun.  Summer would be so nice right now.  I miss it.  I'm never happy.  It's either too hot or too cold. haha  At least with the cold, I can escape it.  I think I like the cold better except for the fact that it is harder to find people to teach.  Have a great week and enjoy it while you've got it!"

Elder Dallon Smith

On divisions with Elder Crane

Birds of a feather...

Talagante P-day Crew

Elders Crane, Smith and McBride

Zone barbeque at the parcela

Knowing Him

We love Dallon's letters.  His weeks are so full of interesting experiences.  He writes that he has a little cold again, but that he is doing fine.  The ward is taking really good care of him and stocking him up with Vitamin C.  He tells us that one sister even went and bought a juicer so that she can make him drink natural fruit juices.  These are such kind and loving people.  We don't think he'll ever want to come home. 

"This week was pretty crazy.  First of all, I had divisions with Elder Mlazgar.  We worked hard and had a legit day.  We taught 4 investigators, found 2 new investigators, and did contacts.  The whole day I just went super missionary mode.  I was in the zone! haha  At the end of the day, Elder Mlazgar was like, "Wow, that was one of the best days I've had in my entire mission."  We talked a lot that night and I got to know him much better.  It was cool."

"After divisions, we had concilio.  President King had to do an interview on Thursday night, so he took us to Maipu in his car.  I also got to talk to his son, Scott, who just barely got off the mission.  We talked about Kyler Morris.  He was the little brother of the main guy in Aida.  Anyways, they had served in the same mission in Concepcion and I guess they had a lot of success together.  We got along really well and it was cool to get to know him.  We talked to President for about a half hour about a lot of the things going on in our Zone.  I think it is safe to say that I'll probably die here in Talagante with Elder Holton.  President kind of told us without meaning to.  It was fun to be with him and he reminds me so much of Dad.  Concilio of course was fun.  I got to talk to Elder Smart and Elder Wheelwright because we had to stay over.  Elder Holton and I did a good job with everything we presented and I felt really comfortable.  If you notice in the concilio picture, I am super tall. haha  Elder Lewis and Elder Clark were holding me up.  I think it's so funny.  We all had a good time.  We had tasty hamburgers and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.  That made me miss home.  Remember Dad's apple crisp that he would always make? sooooo good! haha  Coming home was rough because I was feeling really sick and couldn't breathe.  My lungs were killing me and it stinks being packed on a small bus standing up along with the polluted Santiago air."

"Marina still is super sick.  She should be able to be baptized on the 16th.  We're praying for the best.  We are really focusing on finding new people to teach.  We have a few that are progressing, but we need some more.  Yesterday was a legit Sunday.  Talk about blessings..!  First, I was asked to confirm Francisca, so that was a cool experience.  It was fast Sunday and every single one of our converts were there.  They all have testimonies of this gospel.  Nora gave her testimony and she gets up and says, "I was recently baptized, but I want everyone to know that I feel and know that this church is true."  The spirit was so strong that I got all emotional.  Then Paloma gave her testimony and it was so cool.  Bernadita also got up and she gave the funniest and most honest testimony I have ever heard.  She is so blunt and I love her personality.  She said, "I tell you what.  I know this church is true, but it is dang hard to pay tithing!" haha  Then she says, "You all need to be supporting the President instead of being big lazies!" haha  It was hilarious and she is so awesome.  After church, President Arancibia called us in for a small interview.  He just vented to us and we were able to give him answers.  He was very emotional and just needed someone to listen and reassure him.  Even Presidents need spiritual help and strength.  The mission leader also got up and bore his testimony and talked a lot about us.  He said that these missionaries really do work and they work hard.  He called us real missionaries.  It was a huge compliment and I felt so full of love yesterday."

"A funny thing that happened is, Tity was teasing me because she always calls me, "Prince".  Well, she told me that, for lunch, she was going to give me a pig and a feast.  I thought it was just a big joke, but she really did buy me a pig's head! haha  It was so disgusting, but really funny!  Tity also brought us cookies and milk again for Sacrament and Nora brought us a bag of goodies and juices.  Everyone makes fun of us because we are babied so much.  It's great! haha"

"That about sums it up.  I'm working hard and things are getting better and better.  I am happy and well.  I'm glad that I have all of you in my life.  The gospel continues to fill the earth one contact and/or one family at a time.  I love the mission.  There is no where else I'd rather be.  It's so hard, but I have learned and changed so much.  If there is anything that I've learned is that we can change.  There is nothing about us that we can't change.  It doesn't mean it will be easy, but it is possible.  I'm grateful for my Savior and for the forgiveness he offers me and how he inspires me daily.  I love knowing him.  I love you all so much."

Elder Dallon Smith

On divisions with Elder Mlazgar

A feast for a "Prince"

Hamburgers at June Concilio

Notice Elder Smith is super tall!

Elder Smith's face is hilarious!

At concilio with Elders McDougal and Calditaran