Monday, December 27, 2010

Parnaiba, Brazil
Where Tanner goes to do email
BBQ in back yard with Elder Robertson
brownies!
yuck!
supermarket in Parnaiba- got a Hershey's bar and gum!
pet iguana
gross!
Feliz Natal!
Elder Smoot & Passarin making crepes
and cookies at a member of the Branch President's house

Christmas 2010 (too bad all his packages didn't arrive!)
Pet parrot

Wk 21 - Last Moments in Parnaiba...

Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

Well as you can tell... i dont have much time left in Parnaíba, but we´ll get to that in a little bit.

Last monday at night was that picture of the barbeque in our backyard. A member brought over the thing to cook it on and gave us a bunch of meat. It was pretty awesome! even though the meat was pretty burnt.

Tuesday we finally had a good day after a long dry spell of not having much success, as in having lots of lessons, lots of new investigators and what not. Me and my comp taught a new group of about 8 people and it was cool, there was a little kid with a big ole Iguana there. I attached a pic of him, but this was a different, tiny iguana because the big one died before i made it back to take a picture.

Wednesday was a long day, but was good because i saw some progress with some of our investigators, one named Yasmin, and that was cool. And that night i tried to make brownies with the mix, but as you see in the pic, the pan was huge and i kind of burnt half of it... but its all good! At least i got the other half.

Thursday my comp was out back trying to burn his garments, so i went back to help. I ended up getting them going and had to add a little more to it so i had a little bon fire in our back yard, i was pretty excited about that. Anyway i had a horrible stomach ache this day and it was when we were walking to lunch. Luckily it was a cool member that got me some medicine and let me lay down for a while and 1 hour later i was fine. And that night we had a ward party, which had food of course, so that was pretty sweet. And Also that night my comp gave me a tie he bought me for Christmas, so that was cool.

Friday was Christmas eve and i was pleasantly surprised that we still had pretty decent numbers for a day. Anyway we passed by a super market and that is the other photo i attached, i bought hersheys and gum.. which was kinda pricy for such little things, but i was thinkin ´its christmas, why not´. And that night we went to a member of the district presidency´s house and he bought a bunch of stuff to make cookies and crepes, so me and my comp made those, and were actually really good!

Saturday was Christmas! It was definitely wasnt what im used to and was by far the most uneventful christmas ive had, but it was pretty good. That morning me and my comp opened presents we got for eachother and also the presents you guys sent me, so it was cool. Then we walked a couple miles to lunch, and ate some really good lasagna and rice and then walked back to the church to call our families! My comp called first and then i called. I gotta say that was the best part of the day! it was so good to hear from you all, even little Rugster. After hearing about all the new technology stuff coming out i almost feel behind on whats going on! that x box playing thing sounds awesome. i am always impressed by technology, its truly amazing.

Sunday i was asked to give a talk... So i really dont like to give talks! It wasnt too bad though, but i felt like i struggled speaking and stuff, but it turned out pretty good. I really just talked about Christmas and one of the books you guys sent me i used a lot of it. Stuff like, we have time to travel, play golf, go shopping, but do we have time for Christ? Anyway it was just simple because thats about all i can do. Anyway later on we waited all day to hear about transfers... but nobody called.

Today we were all going together, me, my comp, Robertson, and Melo (his comp), and then split up and we stopped by a members house who gave us some food and i took that picture with the parrot. But while we were in their house, we got a random call from the assistents! They said my comp will stay here and i am going to...... Campo Maior. Its about to Teresina i think maybe 4 or 5 hours on a bus from Parnaíba so that will be cool. Anyway i gotta go pack up now!

Anyway if you have any questions or concerns just let me know! Im all ears... or eyes on the email... whatever. I am excited and not really sure what im in for just yet... i will let you know next week! i think im leavin tomorow morning.

Love ya,
Elder Smoot

So... i attached a voice recording thing.. my little mp3 has a recorder so let me know if it worked and i thought it could be cool to send voice clips.. maybe ... if you think thats cool? or whatever just let me know!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Feliz Natal

Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

"this was a pic that the pres sent...
pretty cool.from our training in Teresina that i will talk about in a bit.."

Taranchula Tanner met on the sidewalk!
Elder Smoot, Elder Passarin, & the 'avo' or grandma
"Then the Spider was like 30 min ago! We were in a members house and she sat down on the chair and my comp saw it and she got up and moved and then we had a good little time trying to kill it. It was a beastly spider and was quite the jumping spider! So there is a good image for ya! Anyway, See ya later."
"I realized i didnt explain a couple of the pics.... The one with the little ice stuff was this morning. We were de-iccing our fridge/freezer thing and so i tried to use the slush to make a snowman... but it melted in like 2 seconds so it just looks like a pile of mush."

Lunch!
Elder Robertson, Elder Wells, & Elder Smoot
Elder Stewart, Elder Smoot
Little friend in Tanner's room!
Bracelets & key chains
Cereal!!
Tanner's closet

Wk 20 - Crazzzyy Week

Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

So Last monday after we emailed, we went to this old lady´s house who they call avó (or grandma). She is so old! I think the constent sun and what not makes you look 3 times older, but she had to be 80 yrs old. Anyway on the way i almost stepped on a tarantulla and so i had to take a pic by it, it was big. And when we got there she gave us a little bit of food, that was some soup that i dont want to know what was in it but i know bones were included and it didnt sit well, and then she gave us a wierd t shirt that had a horrible smell to it. But of course we were happy and gladly accepted everything and it was cool i guess.


So tuesday we had district meeting, and this was the last time with Elder Gessel, And anyway after that we just received money for lunch so we went and bought food and brought it home to cook and eat. We ate hot dogs and some little chicken finger things, which was really good. It was one of those good tasting, but probably not good for you foods... but it was definitely worth it. So after this, we packed up and got ready to go to Teresina for a training with Elder Mazzagardi. So we spent some time doing that and took off to the bus station. We rode on the bus from about 4 till about 10 and then slept in the Staff house, which is this apartment in Teresina where the seceretaries sleep and it has about 5 bunk beds to sleep on, and i ended up taking my matress out on the balcony to sleep, which i heard from Elder Blackham the first time i passed there and i woke up a little chilly! I think it got down to 75 degress and i was a little cold! haha this is crazy.

to be continued.......

Alright sorry the computer was having issues so i had to reboot...

So Wednesday now... We had a big meeting with all of the missionaries from Parnaiba, Sobral, and Teresina. It was a really cool meeting. We first heard from the assistents and then Pres and Sis Dias and then Mazzagardi´s wife and then Elder Mazzagardi. It was really cool! I dont think he really had a written script because he didnt look at anything, but he went on talking to us for about 3 hours! it was amazing. He is truly a man that can be led by the spirit to say whatever needs to be said. And while i was there i ran into elder Stewart and so that was cool. After he spoke, we had a lunch prepared for us that was really good, took that picture that i sent, and then went to the bus station to go home. It was a long bus ride and we got home at like 10 30.

Thursday was kind of a rough day and i think it was partially because i was tired from traveling. My comp got upset again and complained a lot about how i didnt sit by him on the bus and keep him company and other little things like that. I´ll be honest i said something that was a little harsh... but it explains how i feel about my comp about now so i will share it with you haha. i said ´dude, I AM YOUR COMPANION, NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND!´ Man sometimes it is so hard because he really wants me to always be at his hip and he kept telling me how a real friend would have sit by him on the bus and stuff. It´s pretty crazy! but its all good. And as usual my comp was mad, but later that day he snapped out of it.

Friday my companion was a little frustrated again, but again snapped out of it, and i think im getting pretty good at making him snap out of his little fits, so its a lot nicer now... But i guess that happens after 2 1/2 months of being with someone. You learn to deal with things. But we both agreed it is about time for transfers and it will be nice to have a change. And i still am thankful that Elder Robertson is in the house cause he´s cool.

Saturday was nice weather. There were finally some clouds and this really light rain that made it nice. It still is not cold though, and never will be. And after a long week of hardly no success, we finally had some lessons and had some good contacting and what not. We went through a little dry spell and it was just getting worse, so saturday was nice.

Sunday was a good day at church and a decent afternoon. So just to tell you how things are here..... Things are way different. I feel like im numbed to how crazy and different things are sometimes. So the last few weeks this lady has been in sacrament with her new baby. So her baby will get fussy, and in the middle of Sacrament meeting, will just through a blanket over him and feed him, and it is pretty normal. But when i think about it, who just does that in sacrament meeting! and some people will walk up on the stand during a talk to ask the branch pres a question or something haha. Its pretty different! This sunday me and my comp blessed the sacrament which was cool. I feel like i am just in a dream world or something, but its been a great experience. I am starting to forget about home and i feel like i know parnaiba better then i know my own house! It is wild. And that night a member came over from Branch 2 and he was showing us some cool stuff. This member is the man. He did a one thumbed push up! Seriously, he did a one handed, but with his thumb pushup. Then he showed us some self defense moves and stuff. And he always gives us a ride if we need it and today he gave us a grill to cook this meet that he bought for us. He is amazing! He used to be a fighter and he is super ripped. He said that all of the strength and energy he has now though is for the lord. He is truly an awesome member.

So today we went to the center again and with the money from grandma i bought a little bag for the travels to teresina and what not, because i used my comps bag for teresina this time. Also those bracelets and wood key chains with our names on it i bought with that money. If you check my account i should have taken some out. So thanks G Draper! Also i bought those little laundry baskets. I liked the bags, but these were cheap and really cool so i got them. i will keep you updated on what else i get, i will probably buy a little something for my comp.

Well it was a crazy week. The traveling to Teresina and trying to do a lot of things has been wild. I guess there was a huge rain storm that hit while we were in teresina. The rain is so inconsistent here! It either doesnt rain at all, or it comes down like nothing else! i was talking to someone today and they said when it gets real bad, they pay a guy 50 cents to drive them up the street in a boat! I guess we´ll see if it gets that bad. And when we went to Teresina, i didnt have any packages so i am still waiting for the others.

Well dad good luck with all the new work! I think about what you are doing and obviously missionary work is important! I have to constantly remind myself how important this work is because sometimes it feels like you arent helping anyone when you arent having success. But it is awesome experience and i have learned so much about the gospel!

Well thats it for now... About the call on Christmas. We can call on the 24th or 25th but i am pretty sure we will call on christmas cause that would be a lot cooler. I am thinking we will call... maybe in the afternoon like 3 or 4. I really dont know at all because we have some members houses to visit on Christmas that invited over for some food and so we will see. I am sorry i dont have much information still, but my comp doesnt really know either. He has 11 months in the mish so he came in to the mission right after Christmas so this is a first for him too.

Have an amazing week and then some! I love Christmas time and New Years as well! So after this one i only have to miss one more! So it will be nice. Remember that True happiness comes from making other people happy. So go be happy, have a wonderful holiday and i will talk to you on... Saturday!


Até Mais,

Elder Smoot

Monday, December 13, 2010

?, Elder Gessel, Elder Passarin, Elder Smoot
Basketball with Elder Wells, ?, Elder Smoot, Elder Robertson
?, Elder Passarin (I know one is Elder Melo but I don't know which one)
Elder Robertson & Elder Smoot
RAIN!!
Just monkeyin' around :)

The tree they put together and decorated!

Lookin' good!

Ditto!

The bad hair cut! (see letter for explanation)

Elder Smoot, Elder Wells, & Elder Robertson

Runnin' the track in Parnaiba

More back flips!

Ahhh!

A little basketball on P day
CBF - Brazilian Football Confederation

Wk 19 - Life in the Mish.....

Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

Hey Everybody! It still amazes me that Christmas is less than two weeks away! I have to say there isnt a ton of Christmas spirit here, and it is a humble Christmas for many people here, but even though it doesnt seem like a big deal for people here, it is a big deal to me! I am so happy to be out here and serve a mission and feel the Christmas spirit a little different this year.

So i forgot to tell you about last monday a little more. Last monday we went to play basketball, but the court just got painted so we couldnt play. But there was a track outside so i went and ran a couple of 400´s for fun. It was so cool! i can still get under a minute! though it was 59 sec. Then afterward i went to cut the hair of one of the elder´s here, Elder Wells. So i was cutting his hair and we were talking and what not, and then he asked for a little more off one of the sides. I was playing with the guard of the trimmer and was cleaning it, but my mind was occupied with whatever we were talking about and i accidentally cut without the guard! it was horrible. But we spent the next half hour fixing it and now you cant even tell that it happened... but i felt pretty bad! maybe bringing clippers was a bad idea.... haha. then later that day we went to eat some pizza and there was some really good country music playin and it made my day!

Tuesday we had the usual district meeting, and by the way, when i went on a split with Elder Gessel we talked about how the Jenkinsens are in our ward... small world neh? Anyway he is the District leader and so i see him every week. Then after district meeting, we had a really good day! My companion was with me, but he pretty much let me teach all of the lessons alone, which at this point really isnt too hard! We did a lot of contacting as well and had some ward family home evening thing later that night. So tuesday was a really good day.

Wednesday started off so good. That morning we went to the zone leaders house and picked up a bunch of stuff! I received my mission bag (should be a picture attached of what that is... basically a big fanny pack with an over strap), I got 2 packages (thanksgiving and the first christmas one with the build your own tree), a letter from G & G Smoot, the transition glasses from Elder Blackham, and two new name tags! I was thinking JACKPOT! So that was really cool. That night we taught these two couples that are looking awesome right now. The first is Emilton and Rosenir, and we contacted to find them and man Rosenir just has a ton of faith and will do about anything and is bringing her husband with her. So i really hope we can get em baptized! and the next is Ciro and Vanessa, who will be baptised, but need to marry first. So basically we found out though that it takes a little longer to get married then we thought so they cant get baptised until January... which is after this transfer so we´ll see what happens.

Thursday morning i finished the Book of Mormon which was cool. It was a pretty basic day and many of our investigators were ´busy´ for some reason... So a lot of our appointments fell through. Later that night we were passing another church, and a lot of the churches are like outside in the street almost, and anyway a person was singing How Great thou Art for their church! it was pretty funny... but good song, so why not use it right?

Friday i read those Christmas books you sent and read the thanksgiving 5 kernels which were all really good. During the day we passed my black friend Vitors house, which is where he cuts hair, and he gave me a haircut. He is really tight with us and has an amazing knowledge of the bible and stuff and so he´s super cool. Again a ton of our appointments fell through so i tried to do some contacting and man i cant even count how many times i was rejected! it was a ridiculous day.

Saturday we were studying and what not, and my comp started to do companion study... So first we talk about what we studied in personal study. That was good and then he started talking about how he was reading in the bible and started talking about if it was important if we were circumcised or not. I was like really? how is this important? and ya he got mad again, so i had to study alone for a while. I am telling you my comp is a cool guy sometimes, but he is crazy. Anyway it was just one of those days ya know? one of those days you could live without. It was a long, boring, and hot days. That night i got in and showered and just went to sleep and it was nice.

Sunday was really cool. Instead of normal church we had district conference, but not a normal one. We started by watching the christmas devotional, which i was so happy i got to see! and then had a broadcast from Salt Lake with Pres Uchtdorf, Niel L Anderson and a few others that was really cool to watch. They talked a lot about how we need more members and it was really really cool. Uchtdorf talked about tithing, which a lot of the people have problems with basic stuff like this, and he said it wasnt a matter of money, but a matter of keeping the commandments, which is so true. Anyway it was amazing. Then that night was crazy!! it started raining so hard! Next thing i know is there were about 200 bugs in the kitchen. Me and Elder Robertson had a half hour battle and killed almost all of the bugs. I used my racket and the broom and everything. So after all of that i go to sleep, and i have water dripping on my head! we had about 5 leaks in the roof! so i spend the next few minutes rearranging things and got some buckets to set around the house. Though i got to sleep a little late and the rain was super loud, i slept super good.

So today it was raining a little this morning, but it stopped right now, so its a little humid right now. Well this morning we went to go play basketball again because last week it was being painted. So we played with Elder Wells, Robertson, Melo, Ferreira da Silva, me and my comp and it was sweet! My comp isnt a sports fan so he didnt play much and didnt like going too much, but i loved it! man it was so cool and i was happy i finally got out to do something. And after we passed a sisters house in our ward and she gave us chocolate milk and this cake type stuff which was amazing! it has been a great day so far.

As far as other things go....

Quick question.. I dont think you can, but my comp was wondering if you can get your Duty to God past 18?
and Should i wait till Christmas to open those presents for Christmas that you sent? I gotta admit i already looked at the watch and chapstick... hehe but i havent looked at the others... what do you think?

So a funny thing about my comp... he tells me that he is a Teacher (which is true) but also that he is a Doctor (and everyone in brasil thinks there a doctor.. for example when i had the rash, every house i went to wanted to give me a remedy to get rid of it, which was super annoying! but it left already), he says he is a massage therapist, Dermotoligist, Hair Stylist (because i let him cut my hair once, which was his first time), and a professional cook.. its pretty funny!

Ok so the guy here is closing down the lan house to go to lunch!! dang, maybe i will go finish at another place if i can... so talk to ya later! maybe not till next week haha tchau!

Elder Smoot


(after an hour)
Just to wrap things up...

Sorry i didnt have time to finish up... the guy closed the place down to go to lunch. Ridiculous!

ok so thats sweet that Nate Spinder got his call! wohoo for Brasil! Porto Alegre looks really cool and i knew some people in the CTM going there so he should enjoy it.

My mission bag should have been in some of those pics i sent.. i hope. Its cool and it helps a little with the heat.
Ok so this week we are going to Teresina for training with the seventy area representative Massagardi. We are going with Parnaiba, Sobral, and Teresina areas. So that should be cool! and i think this is the only big thing we will do right before christmas. Christmas day will be our P day for the next week so we will spend a lot of time together and with other members having Christmas... cause obviously christmas is a lot different here then at home!

As far as the mission phone call goes, i think we will call from the church building. I dont have the number.. but i have a cell number for our phone. My plan is to just call you first, then you can call me right back from the church, or with one of the members cell phones. So really dont stress it, ill figure it out! and if you have any questions or whatever you want answered, write them down and ask me on christmas.

Dad i loved that video you sent me and it means a lot. Do you have room for Christ? This week was rough with the contacting and i will tell you an experience i had. We were trying to mark a day to come back and teach more about the restoration and the gospel. She started sayin oh i travel a lot and need to go to the grocery store and wont be in my house much for a while. I straight up told her... `ok you have time to travel, time to shop, time to relax, where is your time for Christ and God?´ Haha it was pretty funny. She just kind of agreed and asked us to leave.. good stuff.
Well i cant think of much more to say. Last week my comp sent a letter to you mom, and i sent some letters on Wednesday and this one is with the card so hopefully you´ll get that this week! let me know please.

Love ya,
Elder Smoot

Monday, December 6, 2010

Christmas in Parnaiba, Brazil
New investigator?

where ya gonna use these, Tanner?
Looks like the start of his hammock collection
Countryside in Parnaiba
Rio Igarcu (?)
Skin rash- the joys of the heat!
Breakfast anyone?

Wk 18 - 29 NOV - 5 DEC 2010

Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

This week went by pretty fast! so lets start with last monday... We had P day as usual and i dont really remember what we did. I think we went to a recent converts house, and he is like 70 yrs. old, and he just talks forever. I have honestly never heard someone talk straight for 45 min before without a reply, but this man can do it! he should get a guenis book world record or something. Anyway that was a nice long chat we had with him about the church.


The normal tuesday we start out with district meeting, which was pretty good. Then for lunch, the member just gave us money to go buy food instead of make us food, which happens about once every couple of weeks, and we made chicken nuggets and french fries! We even deep fried them and everything so it was amazing! i forgot how good food like that tastes. Turns out i heard they are getting a McDonalds in our area, even though its a good 30 min walk, i am pretty excited! should be done by christmas. Anyway that night things were going good, but then we stepped into the house and... tick, tick, BOOM. My comp went off again. It is pretty annoying, but whatever. I have learned a lot of patience and to just blow it off by this point. So about Elder Robertson and i. We talk a lot and just talk about how both of our companions kind of do that getting mad thing. It helps so much having him there in the house. We kind of talk about how if we try to talk to our companions about a rule or something, they get ticked, and even when it is just a question.. But when we just go along with everything that happens, ya its probably not super good, but we end up keeping them happy and have some good lessons later on. So we have been trying to decide which is better.. just go with it and teach good, or go against it and not get anything done? Anyway i like having elder robertson around, its nice.

Wednesday my comp was still ticked that morning and i just stayed silent. Did my personal study and then other studies and then we went to lunch. At lunch i still didnt say a whole lot and then my comp finally snapped at lunch. I figured i would just wait till he comes to me. I cant tell you how hard it is to sit and listen to him tell members how horrible of a person i am. And when he is mad, he will tell them that i came from a place without internet and i dont know who Micheal Jackson is... its pretty ridiculous. But i figured to just go along with it now and it kind of makes him mad again, but its hillarious.

Anyway after lunch, we went to the doctor. Lately i have had this wierd skin problem. I swear i read taylors austins weekly letter and then the exact same thing happens to me. So how i read last week, his comp or someone was having wierd skin problems with their hands. So he prescribed some medication, some special soap, and a cream to rub on these spots. So the spots on my arms went away, but then i had it on my hands and now on my neck and a little on the face. I will try to attach pics, but its just like an allergy. The doctor said it was an allergy to the heat.... its pretty messed up!

Also i met a new elder in town, Elder Wells, and he is pretty sweet man i love that guy. Then that night we split up with Elder Gessel and his new comp to do a split.

Thursday i had my split with Elder Fernandez, who is brazilian, and he is pretty new. He entered the mtc in late October i think. But it was good, and we did some work. We taught like 8 lessons and marked a baptismal date. So then that night i went back to my house. It is a pretty long walk and my comp wasnt very happy, which made the walk even longer!

Friday was interesting. That morning was pretty funny. My companion was joking and arguing a little with me, and some how it turned into a wrestling match. And i dont think i told you about the first one, but this is the second time this has happened. Lets just say he isnt the kind of person that plays sports, so it was pretty one ended for me. Anyway, man i wish you could have been there it was pretty funny, but i almost felt bad like i was picking on a little kid, even though he is 20 lbs heavier then me and almost 6 years older.

So later that day, it turned out to be a good day. I am not sure if i have told you about Ciro and Vanessa yet. They are the best investigators yet. A member invited them to church, and they came, and theyve been taking the lessons ever since. Anyway they are perfect, and they have changed a ton. Ciro used to have earings and now doesnt use them and he went and bought a white shirt and slacks. So this night we invited them to baptism. And it was so easy! both of them accepted and replied immediately. And then we mentioned they need to marry first, and they just said, ´if thats what the lord wants´. So it has been an amazing experience with them.

Saturday i hit 4 months in the mission. It really doesnt seem much to me, but ya know, whatever. Its about 1/6 of the mission, so its somewhat of a dent. Saturday we taught a member that didnt know hardly anything about temples or garments, so we had to teach them. Then we went for a 1 hour walk to our next apt. which fell through, so we decided to go talk to these Masons that were meeting together that we passed on the way there. It was really cool to talk to them and one of them even knew about the church and another knew about joseph smith and said that he was a mason too. So we talked about that for a while and about them and just asked questions. It was really cool and we figured out they are a society that has many religions that join. It sounded pretty cool. Then we passed some seventh day adventist thing that night that was in the center and they were all doing some crazy stuff. And later we talked to this Catholic guy that was a missionary for that church. So we learned a little about them, and he said he left the church because all the preists were gay! and he was screaming it too it was so fun to talk to him.

Sunday we went to church as usual and i bore my testimony and everything! it is tough to get up not knowing the language completely, but i know pretty much everyone in the ward by now, so it wasnt too bad. I realized that when the spirit is there, i can speak so much clearer and i say a lot more, so i was thankful that i could have a little extra help bearing my testimony. So i can see the language is still coming.

Today is my comps birthday, and its been alright. This morning i made some panckakes for him and they were super good! We got some syrup from a member here that had a daughter in the USA, so that helped, and i used the peanut butter. It was amazing! And We tried to go play basketball this morning, but many of the places are still closed so we might go back later to play, and everyone wants to play except my comp haha. So anyway hopefully that will work out well and its been a pretty good day so far!

Just real fast, you asked about that pic last week with the yellow door. Its just a store that is here in Brazil and they say they are american imports, but i dont really know. Its not a very exciting store, i just thought id take a pic with the two flags!

Man it really doesnt feel like christmas without snow! i dont even remember what snow is it seems like sometimes. I just feel like im in a life long summer because its the same temperature everyday! I miss the festival of trees too! that would have been so sweet. And we didnt get any chance to watch the Christmas devotional. The church here is really just the basics! they are really just trying to get there feet under them and have so many other things to worry about and lots of less actives, its hard to focus on the little things, like watching the christmas devo, because it doesnt just broadcast on TV.

Sounds like Jades doin good! Sorry you broke your finger man! My advice would be to tape it up, take some pain killer, and just play if you can! life is too short and you wont be in junior high forever so play as much as you can.

Thats cool you finished the BoM. I actually started reading it about a month or two ago and im almost done. So i will be done in the next couple of days!

So this week when i went to the other elders house for the split, i got my letters from you! i got the letter with the school pics of jenna jade and tayton, and the other letter with pics of ruger. also i got a letter from grandma smoot. So i have replies to them all and was going to send them today, but the line for the post office was insane! you would have to wait for like 4 hours to send a few letters, so i didnt wait and ill send it sometime this week. So i am also sending to you guys my first memory card and a few pics for christmas! I have all of the pics backed up on my USB so it shouldnt be a problem if by some chance it gets lost, but lets hope it doesnt! So i will get that too you soon hopefully!

BTW: i sent a letter a while back that had a little bracelet in it, did you already get that?

The christmas phonecall i think will be at the church. I dont think i will have a chance to skype. Really dont be worrying about it! i will call you on christmas and we can figure it out then! I really dont think we are doing anything special for christmas. I heard they are going to make it our p day and then we work on monday instead... so well see how that goes. But we really cant do anything when everything is closed for christmas! so it will be interesting, but im not expecting much.

This week i should be getting my mission bag and hopefully a couple of packages and what not! our ZL´s are going to Teresina for training, so i hope they bring everything with them.

I have been eating good, and pretty much maintaining the same weight, even lost a couple pounds from the CTM. I have tons of food at the house, but basically i eat cereal, or this thing called Creme o Gema every morning with a milkshake of ice, yogurt, bananas, and this little cereal thing. And i bought some gronola to eat with the yogurt too. And i get these rolls and eat eggs, turkey, and cheese sandwhiches. And i have some pasta to cook, so its been good.

Well have an amazing week! i am trying to send some pics, but the usb on this computer wont pick up, so hopefully i can get that too you! best wishes for everyone!

Elder Smoot

Monday, November 29, 2010

Wk 17 - Just another day in Paradi... Parnaíba

USA Imports to Brazil?

Halloween Mustache - A little late...

Halloween Teeth for Thanksgiving?

Elder Smoot and Passarin

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Porto Das Barcas in Parnaiba

Rios in Parnaiba

Elder Smoot on a Bridge in Parnaiba

Parnaibian Horse Pasture
Area: Parnaiba, Brazil
Companion: Elder Passarin

Man mondays are so cool, but kinda intense! you have a lot to do and just one day until 6pm to do it!

Last monday i hardly even want to talk about. Ya it was fun, but we seriously went to a members house after 6 and did nothing. My comp played with his ipod and what not and ah man it is tough. I like the music and all, but not during the mission. But dont worry about me, i am in good contact with my district leader, so hopefully we can get this fixed.

Tuesday we had district meeting, which was way good, and i got my package! Thank you so much mom. It was the halloween package, as you can tell by the attached pics, which is good. we are 2 for 2 now! so hopefully this will keep up with the rest of the packages. And i received i think 5 letters. All that was going through my head was, Jackpot! haha that was a good day, even though 3 of them were from the CTM and back in sept and early oct. but at least they got here right? so that was pretty awesome.

Wednesday was a good-ish day. We were doing good and workin all day and then when it started to get dark we went to a members for a little bit and my comp went off again. Though that wasnt so fun, i am pretty sure we had a new record for time my comp wasnt angry! wohoo! we went for like a week this time haha. Gotta love the mission.

Thursday my american friend, Elder Robertson, and told me happy thanksgiving. That was pretty much the extent of my thanksgiving! So that was nice. Also thursday i had a really cool exerience to try and teach a lesson in english. We have an Italian guy that lives here that is really close to the church, but isnt a member. He has one doubt. He thinks we should be able to drink wine, and that only this is wrong about Joseph Smith and the revelation he had about it. He said if one thing is wrong, he cant believe the rest.. so its interesting. But we were going to teach his italian brother that was in town. He worked in Canada for like 4 months so he knows some english. So we were teaching in english, but about half way through we had to go eat lunch. After he told us he was really just interested to know about the church, not to be converted and that he doesnt believe in god or anything. He is more scientific haha so that was an experience. One thing i learned is that i am way better at teaching in portuguese then in english! i was honestly stuttering and having issues remembering everything in english! i never thought i would get to that point, but its true!

Friday we spent a lot of time at members houses, which was a little dissappointing. But after almost all day just talking to members, we had 2 really good lessons, which was nice. But man sometimes it is so hard to just sit and listen to my companion go up to the little kids and ask, ´who is cooler, me or him?´ and then go off about americans, even to our investigators... but you get used to it. so i wasnt too worked up. Then walking home, we kind of play this stupid game sometimes where he will start singing rock songs and i will start singing hymns and he will get louder and then it will be silent and i will hum hymns and ah man... its so funny!

Saturday we spent a lot of time talking to less actives and this whole week focusing on inviting people to church. So we were talking to some less actives and listening to why this happened. It was interesting to hear that one just heard something from people of a different church that the true church will only have the bible and no other book. So we spent time just showing her scriptures in the bible about the book of mormon. Really for me, if God exists, the Bible is true (as long as it is translated correctly of course), and if the Bible of true, the Book of Mormon is true. And if the Book of Mormon is true, Jesus is the Savior of the world, Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and restored the gospel of Jesus Christ, and all this leads to that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE. All of it just links and connects and it makes so much more sense now then it did before the mission. Anyway, so we helped her with her doubts. Then another had an issue that she had an accident, and only one member of the church came to see her, and it was this women in our ward. They wanted the president of the branch or something to come see her and make sure everything was ok. Anyway it was tough, but we see that we need to choose not to be offended. Most of the times things like this are unintentional. So good stuff.

Sunday, despite all of our efforts to invite everyone to church, we had one less active come. Which was good, but its pretty frustrating when 30 people we invited said they would be there, but all is well. So one thing i learned this day, and all of it was from the advice i got last week. My comp started arguing with me again sunday morning. He said that he had this lds music here, which was just some women singer. I told him that he thinks everything is SUD, or LDS music, which was bad on my part, but i was a little fed up. Anyway he was like, if its good music, its church music... and on and on. So he was all ticked off again, and i could tell that i kinda helped it this time, even though i was still ok. So the advice from last week was humble yourself. I am far from humble and it probably isnt humble to share this with you, but its good advice that i want to spread. He was mad, and i knew if we went to church like this, it would be horrible and nothing good would come from it. And even though everything in me just wanted to punch him in the face, i just thought about everything from last week, humble yourself, and just thought about what i need to do. So i went up to him and asked him to forgive me, even though i thought i was right and he was just being a little pouty girl, i did it. At first he just said excuse me and tried to walk on by, but then he finally accepted after i said it a few times. It made the day so much better and he was a lot happier. Just this little thing, two words (forgive me?), changed my day from a disaster, into a day that i can teach the gospel.

Today we spent all morning cleaning the house and sweeping and what not. The house is clean now, but the wind honestly just blows it all back into the yard and what not, but all is well.

One thing ive learned is that you really cant think of the whole two years of the mission. I really get disappointed when i think about how its going to be so long and what not. I really have just been taking one day at a time and enjoying it a lot more. So live today, and stop worrying about the future. just go and make the best of everyday.

Some days i really see the good come out of my companion and he really has a good heart, i just dont see it too often. So dont think wrong of him because of all the things i say. Besides he may come visit someday im pretty sure. Im doin my best just to see the best in everyone.

I have talked a lot with my comp and the Brasilians about Christmas here. It is pretty different! They all on Christmas eve will get together with their family and have a party basically. Most are with their families and its with cousins and all, and they have tables with food and they just listen to music and party until midnight. At midnight they exchange gifts... so if you need more info just hit me up!

And the videos worked for the most part! i loved watching them. But i did not get to see videos of - Ruger, Steve, Dad, Mom. so if you could send those again please! Steve´s basement is sweet and then some! Looks like the game was going good and it was good to see everyone!

My District leader is Elder Gessel. He is a stud! And he had been the same since i got here.
The distric leader, elder gessel, covers Parnaiba branch 3. The branch 3 is a lot of area so the Zone Leaders cover the same area. And the district leader and the zone leaders live in the same house. The zone leaders are Elder Daniel (Ashton) and Elder Cook.

Well go make it a great week! and i will do my best to have one as well. Thanks for everything!

Elder Smoot