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

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