HOT!!!!! Week 13 Newark, Delaware

Hey everyone! how is everything going this week? all is good here and so glad to be out here! How was Pioneer day? bummer we don't get that holiday out here. Well it reallywouldn't matter because wedon't get to see those fireworks anyway! oh well. But it's so crazy it's already the end of the month again! heading to month 9 wow where does time go! So far this has been the hardest but most worth it 8 months of my life i am so glad i get this chance to be out here!

Well first off this week was soooo hot it got up to 110 the day we had to walk because we are running out of miles so we cannot drive that much! but it was so hot! we were drenchedin sweat when we got to our investigators house! Also this week i was on exchanges and was in Wilmington where theydon't have a car so we rode bikes all day long that was super hot too. It's been sooooo hot and i have been drinking a lot of water to stay some what hydrated! Its amazing how hot it gets here you step out of the car and you are automatically sweating! This is nothing like Utah! Also Tuesday while we were playing soccer it poured rain on us it was so much fun we were just soaked but it felt sooo good! We are getting a lot of people out to play soccer its awesome i think we will get some people coming to church just from playing soccer! I am getting pretty good mom you would be proud i scored two goals last time and this is onMexicans who like soccer is their life.

Well we had a cool experience last night so we have a family names the Lunas the mom and Jenny who is 18 are really active and such amazing people. The dad has been inactive for awhile and they have been separated for awhile. It just has been a bad situation but he is starting to turn the corner. So last night he wanted us to come over and teach him. So we did it was awesome he is coming back to church and we talked a lot about the temple and how Jenny wants him to be there when she gets married so we are really seeing a miracle in the making a house changing! We are going there tonight for Family home evening. Man this gospel is awesome it changes families.

Well i talked to Elder Lindsley on Thursday he has a great trainer. He is awesome and really excited to be out here. Well love you all be good and thanks for all you do!

Elder Smart

Week 12 Newark, Delaware

Hey everyone how is going? hope all is well back in Utah or wherever you may be! All is good here! i found out that i will be staying another transfer here! i am super excited and i am still with my companion Elder Dopp super cool Elder! We are hopefully going to see a lot of success this next transfer we have some things lined up that will be good! We have Four baptismal dates and look to have some more coming up! We had a really good week this last week it was our best week of the transfer lesson wise so far, we taught 26 lessons up to this week our most we had taught was 23 so we raised the bar it was good. We got a lot of potential investigators this week to that could be really good! I am super excited! man i love being out on a mission! we also started to play soccer every Tuesday and we had 12 non members out this last week so could be a baptizing machine out of that! plus we get a lot of members there cause they all love soccer!

Well i hit golf balls twice this week! it was awesome! We went this last Monday for p-day ya the first like 20 were just like shank after shank it was pretty hilarious then i got a hang of it after a while! Then on Thursday for our break we were out an about so we stopped by golf galaxy and we just hit balls on the simulator it was fun! the guys were impressed look at this young kids in a white shirt and tie hit the ball so far! i got it up to 300 only but not bad! It was really fun! Well we really don't have any cool stories this week to tell

Well one we have had a really hard time finding people to come to church with us cause they work! so yesterday we knocked to see who was home on Sundays! we found two new people that don't work Sundays and said they would come to church with us that was really awesome and they seem like good guys! We will see what happens. But i am so happy to be serving a mission love this gospel love all of you. The book of Mormon is so true its blue!

Have a good week

Elder Smart

Hey!

Hey how is everyone! this was a good long week! How is everything at home? Hows the Summer treating you guys? it is a scorcher here. This could be my last transfer here but who knows i sure hope not things are really starting to take shape here and we have some investigators that are really progressing we are hoping to have 6 baptismal dates by the end of this week. But i really hope i do not get transferred! I really have enjoyed the time i have been with Elder Dopp too, we have had a good time and started up a lot of things here in this area! But all is good wherever the Lord needs me that's where I will be right

Well just want to start out this week has got me thinking a lot how i can better myself as a missionary! There is a lot. I get really impatient i figured out especially when studying it is super hard for me to study for such long periods of time. I need to find ways that will help me enjoy myself while studying! Still am looking for that way. But it will come soon. Also the hard thing is getting people to church here for the last few weeks. I need to increase my faith man its hard at times to have it but i got to work on that!

Well we have a really cool family we are working with named Laura & Osvaldo there are probably in their upper 20's great family! they three little boys way cool kids. So we have been kinda teaching them a lot and they show a lot of interest they are reading the Book of Mormon and everything the only thing that is hard for them is coming to church, since he works on Sundays. We told him of the story that happened with some members that asked to change schedules so that they could go to church, the wife's was able to change, but the husband quit his job but found another one that week that was better. Way cool story. But we extended the baptismal date to them this week they said they will be baptized once they get to know the church more. So we are praying that he will be coming to church soon. Also we have Benjamin the guys that is a "member" but we have to re-baptize him since we cant find his records or anything. We should be baptizing him hopefully this week so that should be exciting. Also working with a lady named Viviana Monte, we are only able to go over there when her husbands not home because he wont allow her to listen to the missionaries or go to church. So frustrating why are people so hard like that they don't get it, what would it harm? but anyways her little nine year old committed suicide 2 years ago it was so hard for her she had no belief in God or anything. Then her aunt and uncle our members so they started talking to here and finally let the missionaries come over they helped her a lot she would easily be baptized if her husband wasn't so hard. we are going to continue to pray that one day he will soften up. The little boy already has his temple work done which is really cool. She is such a cool lady she will be baptized one day i know it!

Well i hope all goes well i will let you know what happens with where i am going this next week. Oh it was really cool this past week we had interviews with President. He said that i am one of the few missionaries he can trust and doesn't need to worry about it made me really happy and felt really honored for him to say that! I love our mission president he is such a cool guy! Well love you all have a good week and CTR!

Elder Smart

July 5th, 2011

Hey how is everyone doing! Hope everyone had a great fourth of July and enjoyed fireworks and a lot of good for me because only saw like 2 fireworks on our way driving home last night. Bummer huh we were not allowed to do anything and to watch fireworks or anything with people so we just got to chill and work out in our house haha. Hope the fireworks were good there. Plus fireworks here are illegal in Delaware so they don't sell any here in the state but of course people just go to PA and buy them. But we understand there are a lot of bad things that go on during those times. Everyone drinks here and what not we just didn't want to risk our safety so we know where President is coming from.

Well this week was good we still don't have any more baptismal dates but we do have some planned to give. We have a family Laura and Osvaldo that are really progressing really well. We had planned to give them a baptismal date this last Saturday but it didn't work we just didn't have enough time during the lesson since they got home a little late. But they are really cool people. but it is really weird both me and Elder Dopp feel nervous while we are teaching its just weird cause we usually feel fine, and when he gets nervous he just talks a lot and me i just don't talk haha. But this last week we taught really well together it was a good week!

haha so something funny this week we decided we want to try saving money so we combine both of our laundry loads together which costs 75 cents each then we don't dry them. We made a hanging line in our apartment with telephone wires. It works great, we are super smart its been really fun with him. We have had a lot of fun while working hard at the same time. i really hope we get to stay together for one more transfer till he leaves. I just want a companion for more than one transfer and not get thrown around, its har that way, like you get used to each other like 4 weeks into it so you need more time to work together effectively.

Really cool experience this week was Araseli the one i have been talking about a lot with her husband. Ya she bore her testimony this week in sacrament it was super powerful, because its been hard for her to not have a husband that is in the church and what not. But she told about the experience when we first went to her house something happened the day before and so we came the next day and we told her if she had faith that he would come out and listen to us. And he came out and listened now he is progressing a lot and he really sees a difference in her family way cool! Goes to show what this gospel does and how the Lord prepares people for us to teach.

Well love you all your all amazing i am so grateful to be out here and the help people and grow closer to my Savior. Thanks for all your love an support your amazing!

Elder Taylor Smart

Father's Day

Hey everyone! Well first just want to throw a shout out to my my dads haha. Thanks for all you do for me and the examples you have set for me and have lead me in the right path. Showing me the way to learn and for setting the example for both serving missions and giving me the chance to experience what you have experienced. I am really grateful for that and now to be out here serving a mission just like you guys did and you have taught me how to become a better missionary and a better person and a better father and husband one day! (Well still got a while till that happens haha don't worry) But i really appreciate you guys and for being worthy priesthood holder and to use your priesthood. Thanks again for all you do! and and other dads out there that might get this email what a wonderful example you all all for your kids.

Well this week went pretty well we were able to accomplish a lot of our goals and we got two more baptismal dates. We also finally had a ward activity that went really well that we had like 5 investigators go to. I feel like that ward is now gaining trust of me and my companion now. They had some issues before with the older missionaries so we are really starting to work with them a lot and go through them to get new investigators and to get them to help with investigators. Like this week my favorite member named Edgar came with us to our investigator Jacob. Man Edgar taught the whole lesson, it has been hard for Jacob to open up to us. But Edgar had him wrapped around his hands and Jacob just let it go and talked and expressed his concerns. I have faith that in not that long he will get baptized. They just need to get married first and they are not going to do it till like September so that is a little frustrating. We have a family night with them today and Edgar and his family are coming. We went to Edgars house last night and he taught us for like 2 hours how to become better teachers and how to teach to Mexicans it was really good i learned a lot.

Man i just am really happy now i have never felt this kind of happiness in my life. Serving others there is no other thing like it, you just get this such good feeling. I am just really lucky to be out here, and to be serving the lord. I love the book of Mormon is so true, i love this church and i love you all thanks for all that you do for me and i hope this week goes good for you love you so much. Peace

Elder Taylor Smart

haha oh ya one thing i forgot haha i gained back 7 pounds this week. after having bikes and just sweating like a pig i was down to 140 but this last week gained 7 back impressive huh?

Week 7, Newark, Deleware

Well how is everyone doing? Well its now officially summer time, and man its felt like summer time for sure here. It's been up into the 100's here this last week. Plus we didn't have a car!!!! Remember how i said it got hit a few weeks ago well they had to fix it this week. We were supposed to get it back this last Friday but they haven't gotten all the paper work done!! Ahh!! It's frustrating. We need a car to do missionary work in this are so it has been pretty darn hard we basically were in two apartment complexes all week. Plus we called the whole ward this last week and no one came out with us!! Hispanics work a lot during this time. Well just got good news the people just called and our car is done so we get to go and pick it up soon!! hooray!! So good news there. But it was so funny we would get to peoples houses and just be drenched in sweat so they like let us in because they felt bad. We took three showers a day and all of them were cold showers haha. Felt sooo nice.

Well everything is going great with Elder Dopp he is actually a way cool kid and we can just joke around a lot and have fun while working super hard. Its nice and we have taught together really well. We had a cool lesson this week that was super funny and spiritual at the same time. We went to go and teach this guy named Ruben he is an older guy from Mexico. We really wanted him to pray we taught him all we could about praying. Also he told me he wants to take me to Mexico to get a wife haha I was like sorry, can't!! haha he is a funny guy and he found out my name my real name so he wont call me Elder Smart now. But anyways he kept saying he couldn't pray he doesn't now enough he needs to learn more before he does it and we told him we were not leaving till he said the prayer. We honestly sat there Kneeling until he said the prayer for 30 minutes he finally said it and it was such a good prayer! Persistence pays off. We are going back to teach him tomorrow.

Well i hope everyone has a good week. I am going to re commit myself this week to be exactly obedient and jsut work hard. I really want to develop a christlike love for the investigators we are working with. Oh also we ahve been working with this family for a while now and yesterday they came to church!! it was so awesoem to see them there. You never know when popel willl come. Well love all of you guys hope everything goes well. Miss you all but there is no other place i would rather be. Be safe choose the right and the Book of Mormon is so true its blue.

love,

Elder Taylor Smart

Start of Transfer 4

Hey Everyone,

Well i hope all is going good here, just living the life as a missionary. Well its the start of another transfer number 4 out here in the field, only 12 more to go. haha Hmm well I didn't get a new companion, because Elder Spear will be heading home tomorrow.

My new companion is Elder Dopp, he is another Cherry hill missionary that came here when the Cherry Hill mission was dissolved. But he seems pretty cool we will see how this transfer goes. But her is from Boise, ID and has like 1 and 1/2 transfers left so I most likely will be killing him too!!! haha i guess i just love getting put with the missionaries that are going home. But Elder Spear was companions with him before I heard some good things about him. I don't really know a whole lot a bout him yet although he does have a girlfriend that speaks Spanish to. (Ellie has got to learn haha jk) well he has two sisters and ya he went to BYU before his mission. That's about all i know for now.

Well this week is going to be super hard. As all of you we got hit a few weeks back and tommorow is when we ahve to take our car in to get fixed for a whole week!!! you know what that means we are without a car for this whole week! We luckily have bikes, but is going to be impossible to see all our our investigators becuase of how huge our area is. What a great way to take over an area right?? We will see what happens I am going to need a lot of water right? its super hot here and humid we are just going to be drenched with sweat. But we will see what happens right, maybe members will just help us out a ton.

Also this week we were able to work with members and our branch president because it has gotten to a point where the lack of member involvement is killing the missionary work. So we were able to sit down with all of them and told them what needs to be done, There is just a pride thing going on with a few members in the ward no biggie but still it's a great branch I hope to see the work grow and continue which I think it will. We really don't have any new investigators really just trying to work with the ones to get them baptised which could take some time. But love this work. We had Zone training this week and this lady came and spoke to us about how she works so hard to bring forth more people into the church and she knows like all the members she is an amazing lady. Her husband passed away last year she says that's her motivation for all her work and service. That's what right now is my motivation, my family and my eternal family that i can have one day. there is a definition of a missionary that says- A missionary is someone who leaves their house and family to help bring others that eternal happiness, or something like that.

Well love you all have a good week,

Elder Smart

Hace Colour!!

Well hey everyone,

How is everyone doing? I heard it is raining like crazy in Utah! Man its the opposite here. It is starting to get very hot and, No it is not fun to react in! Its been in the upper 90's and we have had to walk a little more lately because we don't have very many miles that we can drive. But tomorrow is the start of the new month so we get to start our miles over again. But on Sunday we got stranded in a trailer park for 4 hours which was like 20 minutes from our house without our car. We tracted in that heat for 4 hours I was dying luckily we had a member who lived there who gave up water, but we couldn't go in because there was no male in the house. So that's a tough rule but we have to follow. But ya it was killer it was like almost a 100 degrees. I kind of just lost it it was a really frustrating situation.

Well the next time that i will be writing you guys will be with a new companion. I am kind of nervous to see who I get. Just cause i want someone really good and chill because I am taking over this huge area and it could be tough at times. But we will see what happens. I am sure it will work out and be fine. Elder Spear has been a good companion, he is a great missionary and works really hard. He did sprain his ankle pretty bad yesterday, playing basketball. But he is doing all good now. He said he wants to meet you guys when he gets home so just be aware. Well hmmm I just don't know what to write about.

Well we did have like the most spiritual lesson ever this week!!! So i think I have told all of you about our investigator named Jacob the husband of one of our members. So we went in and we just talked about the Restoration and he really kind of got it. But the problem is his dad is like a minister in another church but he just doesn't want to deviate from that way. But we watched the Joseph Smith Movie he was like crying and after he said the prayer and just like begged to know the truth it was so awesome. We just need to get him to church he didn't come this last week. But him and his wife are reading and praying together that home is just growing sooo much. Its good to be out here I am growing sooo much and becoming a much better person its so crazy how much you learn out here.

But My Spanish is improving a lot. The thing that is really helping is talking a lot to the members and just having fun with them because then you say what they say and expand your vocabulary. That is something that is really working well for me. I love speaking Spanish though its so cool to communicate with someone in their own language. I never thought i would get to this point and actually speak to people.

Well Love you all,

Elder Smart

Happy Holiday!!!

We are still here.....

Hey Everyone!!!

How is everyone doing this week? How did last week go? I hope all is well. There is good news that we are still here and the world hasn't ended. haha That was something huge around here and so many people kept asking us, we just laughed. Was it big there to in Utah?

Well this week for sure had its ups and downs. It has been pretty hard this transfer I just haven't had as much fun and missionary work should always be fun. But its all good, I was able to go on an exchange which I for sure needed with Elder Gallego. It was fun and I learned a lot from him. Ha ha... the nice thing was being able to talk to him about the girlfriend situation it's finally nice to know someone that knows how I feel and what not, and how we want it all to work out. But we got time ha ha.. so ya. But really he taught me how to be a better missionary for sure. He told me I needed to have more fun, and also to be more straight up with my companion, so i have definitely started to do that.

But this weekends was hard on me I just got really down on myself with just something, and just really wasn't myself, but I decided to fast on Saturday. That helped out so much for me and trust me I have spent a lot of time on my knees this weekend. I really have a true testimony now about prayer. To be honest, I was horrible with praying before the mission and just felt like going through the motions when I did take time to say one. But I have been so comforted and strengthened through the power of prayer.

I have seen it happen in our investigators lives too, now that i have converted myself to the power of prayer I can truly testify to them how important it is. It is usually the first commitment we try to leave with them because the first need to get an answer if what we are saying is true. I have a cool story about that. So a few weeks back I told you about the investigator Jacob who is the 'Husband" of one of our less actives Araseli. So we taught him this week and they have been praying together. He todl us that he has seen a major change in himself. Their relationship has grown sooo much and I am able to actually feel the spirit in that home. They are now going to get married too!! They realized that they are living in a big sin not being married and having kids. So they are planning to do that so that is so awesome. Man I can't wait to see what happens with that family. I love that family they are so awesome.

Well I love you all. Oh by the way, I like shaved my head its pretty darn short but so dang nice. People have asked if I was ever in the Army or anything, so i guess it makes me look tougher so that's good!! Ha ha, well ya, I will be sending pictures home next week and i am trying to put a few more on my Facebook for you guys to see. Well I love you all!! Stay strong keep going with prayer because it will keep you away from all the temptations there are.

Elder Smart

Elder Smart on Facebook

(A note from his Mom: They are now allowing the Elder's to have a Facebook account to keep in touch with investigator's. Since he hasn't sent us any photo's home since the MTC, I am posting the ones he has put up on his FB. Hey, it's something, right?)

Week 3, Newark, Deleware

Hey how is everyone doing this week? This week was a little bit better than the last, that's for sure. I just had a little case of Homesickness, no biggie, the week before. But all is well now. It just crazy being out here, I am super lucky to be out here and to have my family and me receiving many blessings. I love my family i just want to let you all know that there are such a blessing in my life and the chance that i have to have them support me during these two years and to just grow into a better person.

So something that has been really hard this transfer is getting members out with us we really have had like not much success which has been frustrating, especially since last transfer they had 9 baptisms here in the branch between the two companionship's. The key is the members here and getting referrals and member support and that has been lacking. We had a good chat with the Branch President and is getting the whole ward to work with us now and we have people start coming out with us. That is a big part since we have like a limited amount of miles and it is impossible to stay in the limit without members. But things are starting to change we have been upfront with the ward and things are really starting to get better. I really can see the importance of working with members now and the many benefits and success come from working with the members. No wonder it is in Preach my Gospel.

Well just love all of you guys. I know a mission is super important and also being able to say that i am a worthy priesthood holder. I have had two great examples of how to do that with my Dads. They have been great examples for me and even though at times i didn't exactly listen they now are making a huge impact in my life and I can see the man that i want to develop into. And the only way is through a mission. There are so many lessons that i am learning out here. First off is hard work man I feel tired 24/7 that is coming from hard work though. Also how to budget my money with a short amount of money supply i got to budget it well. There are just so many that i am learning i cannot list them all. But i love this gospel and it truly does change lives. Always follow the spirit that has been a big one. It is very hard at times but we had to listen to that still small voice and act on the prompting he gives us. I love you all!!

Elder Smart

Google Earth images of Taylor's Newark, Delaware apartment

Mother's day CASI! Week 2, Newark, Delaware

Hey how is everyone doing this week? I just got news that Bin Laden was killed, finally! That's crazy, the world is crazy! All is good here in Delaware, besides the allergies, man they are no fun especially when your eyes get all red and swollen ha ha. I had a guy make a comment about that yesterday when we were in the "ghetto" part of this town and there were all these black guys chillin outside and we went up to this guy and introduced ourselves. He was like "man why are your eyes so red? aawwwhh man you have been smokin' Marijuana huh? Ha ha, I was like nahh it's just allergies. I wouldn't do that. Look at my name tag and who I represent. Ha ha, it was funny. So ya, I hope all of you are doing well! I don't have much to say other than Happy Mothers day next week. I am excited I get to call home and talk to my family it will be weird talking to them but I am super excited to hear what they have to say.

So this week was just like a kickback kind of week. Well not really,actually we still worked our rear ends off!! I don't think you guys know what being spiritually and physically tired is. It hit me this week. I was so tired at nights! But the kickback part was just kinda learning the area and the people who are here. So he ran most of the show this week but we had some awesome lessons. It's going to be a good transfer. We are shooting for 5 baptisms this transfer and believe that we can do it! But this area is so big compared to the last one. We are allowed to drive 1300 miles throughout the month. Last month we ran out like a week early its going to be hard to manage. That's how big the area is. It covers like 3 English areas. It's big.

So, I want to tell you about this lesson we taught this week. It is this less active lady named Aroseli. The only reason she is inactive is because she works Sundays. So when we got there, she told us that she was applying for a different job so she can go to church on Sundays. Then we began to teach her. We talked about her husband who has been really against the missionaries and has never ever listened while they were there. His name is Jacob. So we were talking to her for a little while and talking about praying for her husband. He will make little steps and accept us one day. All of a sudden out of no where he comes in and sat down. We immediately began to start talking to him about charity and some other things and the importance of prayer, especially as a family. So after we had finished the lesson we asked him who he would like to say the prayer since he was a the man of the house. He DID IT!! It was amazing for his little girls and the wife to see. After he finished I looked at the wife and she was crying it was so amazing we just smiled she was so happy and it was just a great experience. We get to go back and teach him on Thursday. The spirit is so real man it was definitely there I loved it.

I love all of you and am thankful for the examples you have given me in my life. I am so happy I am on a mission and serving the lord! The Book of Mormon is so true it's Blue always remember that!

Love

Elder Smart

Well, I left Reading! Week 1, Newark, Delaware

Hey how is everyone doing today? So, sad story, I got transferred and it was pretty hard for me. Just because it was my first area and this is my third companion in 3 transfers. Nuts! And my companion now is leaving home next transfer. SO.... but ya, so here is the story. They call you on Fridays to tell you what the situation is with being transferred, so they called me and told me I was staying so I was super excited and was super pumped caused I loved the area I was in. But they called me Saturday night and told me I needed to leave because on other the new missionaries wasn't coming. I was pretty upset at first. But its all good I just got to realize that's not where the Lord needs me anymore. He needs me here. This area that I am in now is Newark, Delaware. There is a lot of success here. We have 5 baptismal dates just for this transfer I guess. I haven't even been to the house yet so I don't even know what it is like. But here is the Address you can send stuff to,43 Pike creek rd. Apt. 6-c Newark, Delaware. But he doesn't know the area code, so you might have to look that one up before you send stuff.

So ya I don't know, this last week was super good. We had a a lot of fun and we worked hard. The cool thing this week was that we had an investigator named Alex who really wanted to get baptized but his girlfriend didn't really want to get married so its been tough for us to really talk to the girlfriend and stuff. But one of their friends that lives with them got in a really bad car accident and was in the ICU so we asked Alex if we could go and give him a blessing. He said yes. So we went the next day it was so weird he was in the same room that one of our less actives was in that was in a bad car crash. so we went there and gave him a blessing now he is doing a lot better and I did my first blessing in Spanish it was cool. But we got to talk to the girlfriend while we were there and just talked with her. I think that helped her out a lot.

So just a little about my new Companion... his name is Elder Spear! Crazy thing!! He went to Lone peak. I didn't really know him back then, but ya, he went to lone peak. Crazy stuff. But everyone says that he is a good missionary and that he works really hard so I am really glad about that. This transfer could be great that we can work hard and my Spanish will just get better and better. He said that we are not going to speak much English so that could help a a lot with improving. I know its going to be a struggle and tough but its like the only way.

Man, Easter was awesome! I hope you guys had a good one. Ha ha, we didn't do anything special other than his work. I mean now biggie. But ya, it was awesome! We had some good talks in church from what I understood. I got the chance to go up and bear my testimony because I was leaving. I didn't want to at first but I am really glad I did, I only made a few mistakes ha ha. But oh well, that's how i am going to learn. But we talked about the Savior a lot with our investigators it was awesome. How grateful I am for him and what he did for us to feel his love and to live the great plan that was showed for us. I love this work I am so grateful to be out here and to grow so much. I love all of you and hope you all have a good next week. Sorry for the short letter this week. Se will see how this week goes here.

Last week, Transfer 2

Well how is everyone doing? Wow! What a interesting last week for sure. It was defiantly a busy and hectic week. But it was good. It went by pretty fast because we worked our rear ends off. But ya, it's so crazy this is the last week of this transfer already! Who knows if i am staying or going? I hope I stay cause this upcoming transfer is Elder Millers last so I would at least stay for two more. I would love that! We have some baptisms coming up so hopefully those will go through. We have a baptismal date for Anderson this upcoming week. He is so ready. This last time we met with him we went over the baptismal questions with him and it was so funny. He was like " do you think i am prepared?" We were like YES! He has no problem with anything he has defiantly been prepared, but the frustrating thing is that this was Saturday night and everything was just so good! But he didn't show up to church on Sunday and we couldn't get a hold of him. So who knows what happened with that. We are going to try to get in touch with him soon. Also we have Cirilo who also has a baptismal date. We also went over the Baptismal questions too. We moved his baptismal date back to May 1st because he still needs to come to church 2 more times. Also he needs to read the Book of Mormon more and gain a testimony about that and give up smoking, which he only smokes one a day Nada mas. But we have been working with him for awhile, so I hope he continues on and will keep his commitments. I have faith that he will. Also, we had a lesson with an investigator that we haven't been able to see like since I have been here his name is Fabio. If you saw this guy you would be like WHAT?! He is a big Dominican who has a lot of tattoos and looks pretty Thuggish. But we taught him yesterday and the spirit was just thriving. He has such a desire to change, he said he had been reading the Book of Mormon every night! We invited him to be baptized and he said yes and that he wants to make a change, but just doesn't want to set a date because he has a lot to take care of with people before he is able to be baptized! Such a cool lesson

So just a little Crazy story for you this week, which I should have gone to the Hospital for BUT... just didn't want to. So this Wednesday we went down to Philly for the day. We had a language training that day which went really well. I learned a lot and felt really good about my progress with my Spanish. Not to brag or anything, but I feel like my Spanish is a lot better than people's, even some that have been out longer than me. So anyway, we were on our way back from Philly and we wanted to stop and eat in this really wealthy area at just Chick fillet and eat at this really good like ice cream place, so we went to the ice cream place and I got this thing that had ice cream, hot fudge, brownies, and I didn't realize it had nuts. So I was basically finished when I realized it had nuts in it. So I was like, oh well, not that allergic to them, and my throat just itched a little bit but went away. So that night we went to play basketball at the church with some of the members and other missionaries. So after we got done playing my asthma was acting up and it got those nuts running through my system and I had a really bad allergy attack. I couldn't really breathe, I had hives and my head swelled up and I was shaking. It just wasn't good. So we hurry and ran to the Right Aid and grabbed me some benadryl, then called the doctor. But I really didn't want to go to the hospital. He said to run me to the emergency room. I just wanted a blessing, so they gave me a blessing when we got in the room, the shaking stopped and I started getting better from then on. I definitely can truly say there is such a power with the priesthood. It's amazing! But the Doctor said I was pretty Lucky my throat didn't clog and choke me to death. Pretty scary. Well, now I have to carry around an Epipen and he prescribed me a new inhaler. So every things good now. Don't worry mom, I now you probably are freaking out reading that.

But everything is so good. The thing that I have really learned this week was something that could apply to all of us. We have an Elder that is serving in West Reading that is just kind of trouble and doesn't take correction very well from leaders. So just something that has hit me is that usually when someone tried to give me correction before the mission, I would have gotten defensive and I am guessing that is how most people are or can be. But so far, on the mission, I have learned to take correction as something good, to improve as a missionary first of all then to be a better person which goes hand in hand. This experience is amazing. You can't learn these simple principles anywhere else. I am so grateful for growing up in a home where I have been given this chance and to have great examples as parents they are truly amazing people. I love this gospel. There is no doubt in my mind that its true. NO DOUBT!! The Book of Mormon is so true it's blue!!!! Love you all CTR!!!

Week 10, Reading....Como Estan?

Well hey how is everyone doing? All is good here! Man i heard the Masters was great! Heard Tiger is actually playing pretty good that's good to hear he actually can swing a golf club now! I hope all is going good though.

SO this might be a short letter today because we are going to play some golf today! It's supposed to be like 82 today! Finally!! And now that conference is over, we don't have to wear suit coats anymore so that's been nice. So just a few things that have happened this week... we have investigators named Elias & Deborah. They are a little older. But they are like way interested and come to church like every week and get what is going on. But the only big problem is they are not married and he still is not divorced from his previous wife. So it's just hard. We have like 3 investigators with the the law of chastity problems, so that has been kind a of hard. That's the hard thing around here. Also there are so many illegals that don't have papers and there are a lot that are not married because they don't think its anything different than signing a paper. So that's something that we are trying to work with here. But we are working super hard here.There have been a few times where i fall asleep saying my prayer at night. It's super annoying, our beds are not very good but oh well.

But really, I can see the Lord's hand in my life so much, I am getting a lot better at Spanish. There was a time this week where I even forgot that word in English it was pretty funny. But man I am not like looking forward to this summer. I heard it is just miserable with all the heat and humidity. They say you take like 3 showers a day!! Ahhh!

Well, I sent some pictures hopefully they actually worked and you guys can see them. But I got to go Love all of you guys be good! Remember that this is the only true gospel and that Missionary work is not only just for us. There is a lot of responsibility on you guys too, so try to do the best and always be an example in our beliefs.

Elder Taylor Smart

Week 9, General Conference

Como Estan? Well this week was great it is so crazy time is flying by! I am already on my 4th week of this transfer. It's nuts! Where does the time go? But we worked really hard this week when we had the time. Elder Miller got sick for 2 days, so in the mornings I just read the Book of Mormon, I am in 3 Nephi now. I started when I got to the mission. My goal is to finish it by the end of this transfer. I hope all of you have the opportunity to read it. Just as President Monson said in Priesthood session READ IT!! ha ha it's true. Its the most correct book ever, and is filled with so many great teachings, and a great story.

But man, I want to talk about Conference with you guys today. We had the great opportunity of listening to the prophets and apostles the last two days. Hopefully we can all learn and read over the things they talked about. It was a totally different experience than I have ever had, I ACTUALLY PAYED ATTENTION THE WHOLE TIME! So that was probably why. I was able to take something from each talk and hope to apply their teachings in my life. I had three favorite talks that really had an impact on me. President Monson ( of course), Elder Uchtdorf, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

First I want to talk about President Monson. He talked about many things in the Priesthood session. But something that stood out to me was that he talked about Temple marriage and how important that is. I can definitely see the difference in people lives here who are not married in the temple. There is just like no joy in the home and a lot of fighting while they are still good people. But it just made me realize there is no other way and there is no other way that i can return to live with him, and I have made the decision now that I am taking the perfect girl for me to the Temple on that day! That is after i serve a worthy and hardworking and focused mission :) She will be a lucky girl though, I must say!

Elder Uchdtorf I loved when he shared the story about the Man who always dreamt about sailing the Mediterranean sea and seeing all of these magnificent places. So he got on the cruise ship and wanted to save the money so he didn't participate in any of the food or all the activities. Then at the end of the cruise he realized that all of it was included that he could have done all of those things. So that just kind of relates to how we have so many activities that we can participate in this life and it's all included. Such as using the temples regularly and living to be temple worthy and all that good stuff. I like to think as a mission as one. When Niel A. Anderson said " The joy of bringing others into the gospel will heavily outweigh anything that you leave behind." Sooo true.

Then for Dallin H. Oaks when he talked about Desires and how we need to turn Desires into actions and all that. Man i wish I had my notebook with me right now because he had so many great quotes that came from his mouth. I learned a lot from that and realized that I need to turn my Desires into actions here on my mission.

Also I am reading this talk I forgot who wrote it but is way good, it's all for missionaries, but it applies for daily life as well. It's called Be the 4th missionary, I encourage anyone to read it.

I just want to say I love this gospel and love being here out on the mission I am learning and changing so much. There is no other place I would rather be. I for sure need to learn so much more and grow. I am not ready for a lot of the things that will happen after the mission that's why I need to be here. I am becoming a man and having fun doing it. I love the Book of Mormon. I love that I get to tell people that I LOVE IT, there is no doubt that it was translated by the power of god through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am so grateful for a living prophet that can lead and guide us today, They are living Scriptures and God's counsel. Love you all!

Elder Taylor Smart

Week 8, Reading

Buenos Dias Amigos!! Como Estan? I hope all is going good! All is good here we are just spreading salvation you know the usual, Man and its fun! It is fun we live with 4 other Elders and its just good to like have people to have fun and talk with! But ya I heard BYU lost oh well its all good maybe I can focus alot more not that i wasnt focused but just saying. But we will have to see where Jimmer is going to end up who knows??

Well this letter might be a little short we really didn't have that many cool things happen this week. The only thing that was tough this week we have 4 people with baptismal dates and we were only able to see one of them this week the others just like never have time or cant get a hold of them it is kinda frustrating. People here just work way to much! But also an experience yesterday so last there was 2 baptisms for kids that were 8 and so like President Guiterez set that up but then when we got there, there was no program no nothing so we ended up having to do the whole thing, then this week in sacrament they almost forgot to confirm the kids in sacrament we had to go up to them after sacrament. So we basically run the ward. That's definitely the hard part of Spanish people and the branches they just don't know what to do.

So we have this investigator named Alex he is like 26 and not to mention looks just like Nate Robinson and is just as short its funny. So we have been teaching him for awhile and he really gets it and has came to church a few times. So we were having a lesson with him this week, We read 2 Nephi 31 with him which is a great chapter. So after we asked him if he would be baptized, but he said his grilfriend will never marry him, Man i was so sad like you really feel a love for someone when you get to know them and you know they want to make the right choice but then something like that happens. We invited him to make the steps necessary to do the things that must be done to be baptized he said he would. So we have been praying a lot for him, so hopefully it happens!

So we started teaching this little 12 year old Luis such a cool kid. We met him last week at the babtism so we gave him our phone number and he has been calling us wanting us to come over and teach him because he really likes out church and wants to read the book of mormon so we gave him one this last week. He is such a cool kid so we are going to work with him cause he is a super smart kid and really wants to learn cant wait to keep working with him and see what choices he will make and the example he will set for his family.

Oh random tangent so we have this kid named Helaman in our ward he is like 21 he is such a cool kid. But we went out teaching with him this week when we got in his car he was like "Man why do you guys always look so happy" i responded Why not? we are bringing true happiness to the world. I thought about that for the past few days, its like ya i have been happy in my life but i don't know if I have been like this, this is a different happy its so good. I am so lucky to shed this happiness throughout the world. Also we were contacting too we met this guy named Twan haha he was this black guy with long dreds he was like hey if you every need anything or anyone is messing with you just come to the barber shop and ask for Twan and ill be there for ya ha ha. Then he also mad a comment was like I like you guys you guys are happy and Reading needs it, Then looked at me was like man i like your smile its good ha ha. Oh good old Twan!

Well hope everything is going good here. I know without a doubt this church is true and the book of mormon is true, I just love reading the Book of Mormon it teaches me something new every time.

Love you all!

Elder Smart