I pray that I will be able to start bringing more people unto Christ

Hello There!!!
It was so sweet to see Elder Winkel and Elder Bronson last week when I was in the city for a day!

It was super random to see Bronson and the Cifuentes family! It was great to be able to see all of them again after like 6 months!

I was able to get my red package at the mission office! It was super sweet too! Thanks! That coke shirt is legit! I have been using my pedometer a lot actually. I will send you that stats that I get with it next week. But just a little example, on the 19th I walked 19,670 steps totaling 8.07 miles. So we shall see what the total is when I give it a weeks worth of that!

Our investigator family didn’t come to church. We also decided it better to not go get them. We taught them on Thursday and again yesterday afternoon. They just aren’t ready for a fecha and need to pray a little more to be able to make the sacrifice to go to church. We are going to visit them Wednesday and hopefully another time next week and see how it goes. They have said that if they had not already been baptized in another church they would be baptized in ours right away. So we just need to be able to help them see the truth a little clearly to take away that little doubt/fear that they have. So we will teach more about the restoration and hopefully they will understand.

Ya, I met and talked to that retired dentist guy at the dentist office and he lives in the retirement homes over towards Smith's Marketplace right by our house! Super random and cool that he came by the house. I gave him our home number so I guess that’s how he found out where we lived!

(Such a great surprise when a total stranger knocked on our door and handed me a picture of our son that was taken just two days before in Guatemala! He lives just a few blocks away from our house and was doing some volunteer work at the church owned dental clinic in Guatemala City where Jordan's companion got some work done.)

Other things to send down with Grandma in a few months....Maybe 2 pairs of durable pants. I have had to repair all of my pants so far....even the new ones....So probably not pants from Mr. Mac and get a smaller waist size, a 32 or 34 at least. 36 are huge on me. Haha! Oh, and some pop tarts. That’s about it! That’s really all the stuff that I need.

Ok so the other night, I woke up randomly and a fly flew into my ear! And yes it is still in there. It tickles every once in a while but that’s about it. Hopefully it will fall out soon. I don’t really know what else to do about that.

Our branch had a random baptism of two 8 year olds this past Saturday. Our Branch President told us at the very last minute about it. He thought we had baptismal clothes....nope! So we were running around trying to get all that figured out. I was able to perform one of the baptisms however which was pretty special. I have no pictures of it though because of how stressed out we were with trying to get everything together. We have tried to help our branch president and meet with him but he is never at home when we come by after we have already set an appointment with him. There are tons of problems in this branch. Hopefully we will have a correlation with him this week and get some things fixed.

I just wanted to share 2 scriptures with you. Mormon 3:12 and Moroni 7:48. I finished the Book of Mormon again this week and these stuck out a lot to me. It has been really rough in this area. So these scriptures have taught me the great necessity of prayer that is needed for people like the ones I am currently serving. I hope you will be able to read them and see why they have helped me so much. I pray that I will be able to put its teachings in effect and be able to start bringing more people unto Christ!

12"Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts."

48"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

That’s all that I have for this week. But I love you all and I hope that you will all have a great day and week.
Love you all!
Keep the Faith, Kawaq laa Paab'al
Stay Strong, Kawaq eerib'
LOVE, Elder Jordan Smith
P.S.
Ninnaw naq laj Jose Smith kiril li Yos ut li ralal Jesukristo sa' li k'iche'. Ninnaw naq li iglees b'ar wanko wi a'an tz'aqal yaal xb'an naq wan jun li yo'okil profeet ut kablaju chi tzolom ut lix wankilal li tijonelil wan rik'ineb'. Ninb'antioxi re li Qaawa' li hoonal a'in re naq naru nink'anjela sa' li loq'laj ch'och' arin ut rik'ineb' li chaab'il kristiaan arin ajwi. A'an a'in lin ch'ina waatin ut ninye eere a'in sa' xk'a'b'a li Jesukristo. Amen.

New Mission President has been called

Edward Dale Watts, 60, and Lorie Porter Watts, four children, North Logan 15th Ward, North Logan Utah Stake. Brother Watts serves on a Hispanic council for the Utah North Area and is a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president and missionary in the North Argentine Mission. President, Andigen, LC. Born in Hollywood, Calif., to Alfred Dale Watts and Ella Lue Hargrave Wood.

Sister Watts serves as a ward Relief Society teacher and is a former counselor and president in the institute women's association, stake Young Woman President, stake Primary president, ward Young Women and Primary president, Primary music leader. Born in Provo, Utah, to Lloyed Aldin Porter and Shirley Faye Palmer Porter.

Their anticipated arrival date in the Mission field will be on or about July 1st, 2011.

by Leslie:
It will be sad to say goodbye to President and Sister Torres. They truly are one in a million and have served faithfully and done much to help the missionaries and the Lord's work succeed in Guatemala. We will miss them. But we are also excited for President and Sister Watts. When their picture was printed in the LDS News without mission assignments attached, both Brendan and Jake pointed to them and knew they were the ones that would preside over the Guatemala North Mission. I'm sure the missionaries will love them instantly as we have already.

I really enjoy those mountains of Santo Domingo

Hey there peeps!!
I am emailing from the Capital city today, from my old stomping grounds here in Atlantida. Crazy right? My companion had to come for a dentist appointment. We left last night at midnight and welp, I am running on no sleep so I'm sorry if this email is scattered.

We are going to stay with the office elders tonight. It’s gonna be super sweet to be able to see Elder Winkel again. It has been such a long time! It is CRAZY here. Right when I entered into the cap, my nose started burning from the pollution and I’m like all stressed out from all the cars and stuff. My mind is racing all over the place!!! I really enjoy those mountains of Santo Domingo.

Well the language is still winning the fight but I can handle it a little bit. Enough to talk to people finally I guess. But I still have a really hard time understanding people. But my speaking is improving little by little since I am talking most of the time during lessons, so that’s a good thing. Well the Q'eqchi' are definitely one of a kind. I don’t really know how to describe them in words, but they are humble good people for the most part. But we are still working hard. We even have 5 fechas!!!! It’s a cool family. They live a long ways away from the church (like an hour) but we are going to go pick them up this next Sunday so that they will be there in church. Hopefully we will be able to baptize them and that they will stay active.

My companion’s full name is Josue Sandalino Rodriguez. We fall well with each other. (I hope that Spanish term made sense in English).

(Wearing each other's suits)

I have made some really great mission buddies. I can think of 4 whom I am probably closest to. They are.... I would have to say Turek, Fast, Toolson, and Bronson, and Winkel, well and McPhee. So I guess that is more than 4 but what the heck!

Yeah I got my protein powder. Thank you grandma! Hopefully I will get my red package when we go to the office today in a little bit.

That is crazy that Colleen died. I don’t know really what else to say about that. Just, wow...sad.

(This should definitely be on the cover of some fashion magazine, don't you all think?)

The only thing that happened this week that was exciting is that we ran out of gas for our stove. We had to walk to the Tinta with our gas tank all the way down! No trucks came by! It usually takes about 2 hours to walk down, but we made it in 45 minutes! We were flying down the mountain! So that was kinda rough and not too enjoyable, but at least we can cook our food (eggs and beans) now right?!

Well that’s about it for this week! I love you guys and have a fantastical week!
Keep the Faith, Stay Strong
Kawaq lee paab'al, Kawaq eerib'
Love, Elder Jordan Smith
Neke'xinra, Laj Q'anjorin

It’s a good time for me to learn and work hard

Hello there!
First off, tell Allison Happy late birthday as of 3 days ago!
So nothing has really happened this week. We got back to our area from Cobán late on Wednesday. So we didnt even work until Thursday!!!! But it has been good.

Do you communicate in Spanish with your companion now? Ha of course I only speak in Spanish with him, what else would I speak to him in? German? Haha jk! Yeah he doesn’t really know English since he has had to study Q'eqchi' instead. But then again, he doesn’t know that language either. I mean neither do I, but still. My Spanish has gone down a little bit, but I can still understand everything, so it’s all good. Plus I can study it at BYU when I get back and then I will be able to regain and learn more of it. Well it’s kinda tough since neither of us know Q'eqchi'. I know more so I have pretty much taken over in lessons. I have given him chances to speak and to teach the lessons but it just doesn’t work out very well. So I don’t really know what else to do. But at least it’s a good time for me to learn and work hard at this language! Because who knows, I could be Fast's companion next change and have to help him learn too! So hopefully my Q'eqchi' improves really fast. I have A LOT to learn. But it is coming, slowly, but its coming.

Thanks a lot for my ribbon package!! I wasn’t expecting what was inside at all. But I do really like it a lot Mom! Did you put those scriptures on the back together yourself? It must have taken a lot of time. Thanks so much! No, I still haven’t gotten my red package yet. But I got my toiletries one! Whoo! We are going to the capital next Monday because my comp has cavities so I will leave the stuff I want to send home with Grandma then. It’s a lot, so be prepared....and I will think of what I want. PEANUT BUTTER for sure! But that’s all I can think of for now. THANKS!
Sorry that this is really short but nothing else really happened this week. And I am randomly out of time. So until next week! I love you all and I hope you all have a great Valentines Day and a great week as well.
Keep the Faith
Stay Strong
Love Elder Smith

Happy Valentine's Day from Guatemala

Sending home some love from Elder Smith and Elder McPhee inside

"The Heart of Wishes"

Colored Ribbon Packages

Post by Leslie Smith (Mom):
When Jordan was still in the Provo MTC, I sent him a small package that was wrapped and tied with 12 different colored ribbons.

This is the note that was attached to it:

The following is a picture of what I sent each month for his first year. It was so much fun to collect colored things over the months. I always kept my eyes open for fun ideas everytime I went to the store. I made sure they had a long shelf life in case it took a while to get to him and also so that I could buy them in advance and send them when it was time. Some colors were more fun to put together than others, but they all included treats and a special favorite item from home.

Inside the ribbon box was a matted picture of our Savior, Jesus Christ. On the back of the picture, I glued the following letter. The italicized words were the ones that I had to change from the original scripture to make it sound right and to personalize it just for Jordan:

"BEHOLD my servant, whom I uphold,1
Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.2

And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Jordan Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.3

VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Jordan Smith, I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.4

Behold, verily I say unto you, I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Jordan, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations. But this generation shall have my word through you;5

And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.7 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.8

Now continue to serve with all thine heart and with all thy might for the remainder of thy mission amongst the people of the land of Guatemala.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.9

Until the day you are to return to your home and I will say to thee, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.10 Therefore, hold on thy way. . .therefore, fear not. . . for God shall be with you forever and ever. Amen."11
1 Isaiah 42:1
2 D&C 50:13-14
3 D&C 124:15
4 D&C124:1
5 D&C 5:9-10
6 D&C 38:41
7 D&C 4:6
8 D&C 121:45
9 Ps. 128:2
10 Matt. 25:21
11 D&C 122:9
I can't wait to hear how he liked it and if it was worth all the waiting. Hopefully he was able to receive it with the same spirit in which it was sent.

HALF WAY THERE!!!!!

One year ago today we said a tearful goodbye to our son, brother, grandson, cousin, and friend. It was a day we had all looked forward to his whole life and certainly a huge milestone for Jordan. But it wasn't fun. It was hard! Saying goodbye to him tore our hearts out and left a huge hole in our family and in our home. Yet we were comforted with a peace that has never left. We knew he was doing the very best thing in the whole world by going out to serve our Heavenly Father and the people of Guatemala.

This was his last look back. He seemed a bit nervous and apprehensive, but excited and ready for the challenges and blessings that awaited him.The first few months were long and filled with a few ups and downs for him and for us.

One year later, we are CELEBRATING!!! Jordan has been transformed to Elder Smith.

He is so very happy! A little thinner and a lot more tan, but so very happy! He is much more confidant in himself as a person and as a son of God. He has become His servant in every sense of the word, yet maintains his crazy zest for life! He is fluent in Spanish and progressing quickly in learning Q'eqchi. He is humbled by the people and their faithfulness despite their having extremely hard living conditions. He has made life long friends with amazing young men who serve with him everyday. He has become more grateful than ever for his blessings of having the gospel, a family that loves him, a good life and nice home, good friends, education opportunities, and a strengthened testimony that has made every hardship and sacrifice worth it!

Today we don't look back to a year ago that was filled with sadness. We celebrate this amazing journey called a mission. Time is going by so quickly now and we love savoring every single bit of it. We are truly blessed as a family and so today we say, "HAPPY HUMP DAY ELDER SMITH! We love you and miss you, but are so proud of you. Keep up the great work! You ARE making a difference in the beautiful land of Guatemala and changing lives for eternity. Thank you for your diligence, faith, and example. See you in one year!!!"

Love, Mom

ONE YEAR, UN AÑO, JUN CHIHAB' WHOO!

Hey there all you crazy folk back in the blessed United States of America!!

My new companion is Elder Rodriguez from El Salvador. My companion is good, but he doesn’t know Q'eqchi' very well though. He has been here in Polochik longer than me, but I have to teach pretty much everything. So I guess it will be a good learning opportunity for me. Hopefully I will learn really fast! He has 19 months in the mission. He played soccer before the mission and he was on the selection team for the Olympic team of his country. So he is a good athlete so we get along in that sense. It will be a good change I think. As long as he wants to work hard, because he has a lot of time out here so hopefully he doesn’t get too baggy. But I don’t even know who is Senior companion. It kinda seems like I am because I know more Q’eqchi' than him, which is ridiculous since I have been here for only 2 changes, but we shall see what happens. The work has been good so far, so I have a positive outlook on this change!

Oh and by the way, if you don’t know already, Elder Fast and Elder McPhee entered the Chik this last change!!! Sick right?!

That’s super crazy that the Packers pulled it off. I thought the Steelers were gonna take it for sure, but turnovers always kill you I guess. Mom, don’t you even joke about the Super Bowl being a waste of 4 hours. If I had seen that, it would have been the best 4 hours of my life!!! Ha ha ha!

Have fun celebrating my Hump Day with all your missionary parent friends. Ha, you would go out to dinner and eat good food for us. Enjoy it for me! I don’t know how I’m feeling about it. It’s kind of like another day, just that I can now say that I have been out here a year. I really won’t be old in the mission until I hit around 18 months. But it is still super crazy!!!

So my 2 week no bathing spree and 1 1/2 week darkness living style is over thank goodness! And I can eat my crappy food again instead of my really crappy food because our fridge works again with the power working again and all! Well, for the last two weeks we just bought water at the tiendas and stuff like that and studied by candlelight at night. But all is back, we have water and power now. So I am super stoked about that!

Yeah, I did get the black package, it was so legit. Thanks! But I think I will have to cut the red ribbon when I hit a year, it takes a long time to get pouch up here and I don’t know if I can wait to get my red package. So I am cutting it off on Thursday and opening up my ribbon box finally! Sorry I’m not going to wait. Ha ha! (I will post the whole color package description with pictures later this week.)

Ok, before I tell you little bit about the week, I thought I would share what I learned this week. I thought Dad might like it. Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, Joseph F. Smith, and David O. McKay all said that the people of New Zealand (where his Dad served his mission) are the descendants of Hagoth in the Book of Mormon (Alma 63:4-10). I just finished Alma and the Book of Mormom manual said that about these verses. I thought it was really neat because I had always wondered where Hagoth and his followers went. Now I know!

Oh and a quick question…When does grandma plan on coming back down to Guat so I can make sure I send my stuff that I want to send home with her in time down to the mission office?

Well today we are in Coban again. Elder Martino, of the Seventy, is coming tomorrow to speak to us. But today, we went to some pretty legit cave place here in Coban. But I am exhausted because we left at like 3 in the morning from the Chik to come here. But it was pretty fun, and here are some sick pictures of it.

Also I am attaching a picture of a super pilas guy hauling his leña back to the house. That is how these people live. If they didn’t go find, cut, and haul their wood back to their house, they would not eat because everything is cooked over a fire here. Crazy right!? These guys hike for large amounts of time like this to be able to have food. Just imagine if we had to endure a life like that. Do you think we could do it?

Well I wish I had more to tell you but I am really not sure what else happened. Change week is always a little bit hectic. I don’t know if I will be here in Santo Domingo for any more time after this change, but I know that this change I am going to learn a whole lot of stuff! So it will be good!

Well I love you all and I hope you have a great week.
Kawaq lee Paab'al, Kawaq eerib'
Guarde la Fe, Quédese Firme
Keep the Faith, Stay Strong
LOVE Elder Jordan Smith