hola familia! Well the shift key really doesn't work on this computer so you'll have to forgive me not using capital letters, but this week turned out to be really good. On Tuesday we were walking by a nasty looking river with couches and things thrown in it, and some lady shouted at us to go over to her house so we did. She told us she was an inactive member and after talking with her for a bit we learned that she and her family of about 13 people are all inactive, and all because of gossip that spread around the ward. we helped her try to get over what had happened and this Sunday she came to church. But also another miracle came from this story. It turns out her husband Alberto isn't a member. But she kicked him out so now he lives in a room that is shaped like a triangle and there's barely enough room for his bed and his tiny portable tv. He really can't move room his bed because about 1 month ago he was shot in the leg and it destroyed his femur. to describe Alberto to you hes a guy that never has a shirt on, about 60 years old, short and a drunk. I didn't think much of our visit on Tuesday, but we decided to come back on Sunday, (yesterday) and he had thrown out all of his alcohol, he cleaned up his tiny room, he read the pamphlet we gave him, and as we taught him from his bed, the spirit was really strong and testified to me that he was a very sorry for what type of person he was and wanted to repent, so i asked him if he'd like to be baptized. He just stared at us and said... i want to. what do i have to do. we told him and set a baptismal date for the 18 of may. Things are going good in the area. today we went to the offices to have a meeting with the president and then play basketball. so now comes the 1 hour drive back to my area you'll have to forgive me for not writing more. one day ill tell you about all of my spiritual experiences and the things that are happening with more detail. but i love you all and i cant wait to see you all soon. élder smitheram

Wow what a great and crazy week that just passed. Honestly, It just flew by and to be honest i thought it was great. First off this week the President sent me on splits with Elder Tucker on Tuesday and then to Reforma with an Elder Hippard on Wednesday. Back to back splits... fun stuff... To describe Tepatitlan, (where i went with Elder Tucker), it reminded me of a scripture, "a city thats set on a hill cannot be hid...), and Tepatitlan is basically a town set on top of about 40 million giant hills that cant be hid. Its about an hour and a half from GDL, and honestly its a very pretty colonial place. Just one problem... They have no investigators. All they had were a few people that werent really progressing and a lady that has been talking to the missionaries for 30 YEARS!!! No lie... 30 years... So i helped out Elder Tucker, we mad him a plan and hopefully this week theyll find some news. Back in good ole Guadalajara i went with Elder Hippard and he seemed a little down about his area. After describing to him how Elder Tuckers area was, he immeadietly cheered up and we got to work. We put some baptismal dates and looks like he`ll be baptizing a couple people this month. Apart from that dont worry, i did get 2 "half days" or if we look at it like that 1 full day to work in my area this week because of splits and conference, but we still did end up baptizing. We baptized Alejandra and her son Carlos. Definitely a miracle with them, she contacted us in the street when i first got to this area, and now shes just completely changed her life around. Honestly, she doesnt drink, smoke or use a bunch of profantiy so she really is a good convert. We baptized her after the 1st session of conference on Saturday and honestly it was a really good baptism. One other guy was also baptized from another ward, but what made it really special was that after the baptism she couldnt help but just tell everyone what a change she had felt and what a great decision it was for her to do it. I guess though with every baptism there is a little opposition in all things and in this one we had invited a lot of people and only a few were there. The bishop nor any of his counselors were there and the stake presidente said we couldnt baptize because of that. I called the bishop and all he said was "sorry" and to "call his counselor" who also gave us the same response. It shouldnt have been a shock to anyone, so i called my connections, (President Camarillo), who said that hes the one that holds the keys to a baptism and to go through with it... So thats what we did. The bishop was a little mad, but i think he also knew that he had messed up so then he had a good attitude afterward. Just a little bit of drama right before the baptism though... Anyways that was a really good conference. Honestly this whole week has all around made me a better person. Jeffery R. Holland, (of course) gave a wonderful talk about "real faith", and Presidente Monson also gave a great talk about obedience and the security we get from following ALL the rules. All around a great conference... Cant help but feel like with almost every talk talking about missionary work and marriage this conference was aimed at me... hahaha Also i got my package from the young women of the ward. Honestly i loved the message that it came with. I love messages about the ressurection (forgot how to spell it in english), and to be honest, the very last part where it says "He is not here, He is risen like he said" made a big impact on me. So make sure to tell the Young Women thanks, and that as a missionary, it helped me a lot to look at Christs last week as a real blessing for me. So a big thank you to them. And a big thank you to my little sisters, who have gotten so good at writing. It was nice that both of them could remind me that they are my little sisters. As you all know, sometimes im a little forgetful :P But honestly thanks and i love you all... Hopefully ill be able to see a few more miracles here in this area, and hopefully you all will be able to as well.. Les amo mucho y espero que sigan fieles a las palabras del profeta. Elder Smitheram

Hola Familia! Wow so what a hectic week! Elder Hernandez and I (the grandpa companionship of the mission), have been super busy but it looks like its going to be paying off... This week we have planned 2 baptisms after general conference! Its going to be Alejandra and her son Carlos. Feels pretty good to be honest and its been extremely great to see them progress through the gospel. For example shes been reading the Gospel Principals book to catch up and loves it. She reads the book of Mormon at work and has a strong testimony of it. And she said she cant wait to see the prophet on tv this saturday and sunday. Everyone at church really loves her too so thats probably the best part. She fits right in with the ward. Also, tomorrow and Wednesday i have to go on divisions(splits) with my district. Tomorrow i head out to the small mission branch in a tiny town called "Tepatitlan"... then after that, from there i go straight to "Reforma" which is in Guadalajara... and then hopefully Thursday ill be back in my area again. Also they announced that all missionaries can write their friends... Which is good, so now i don't feel like I've been sinning my whole mission hahahaha... Honestly things are going good... Elder Hernandez is a super awesome guy and to be honest, the experience in the mission really shows, and its nice having a companion with time in the mission. For example yesterday we were teaching a family that is just super distracted and everyone and just super disrespectful, and we got there and seriously, with power and authority taught them and changed their family. And the dad that never wants to listen to us, listened. Along with their sons... hopefully they'll have a baptismal date for this upcoming 27th... also... in some sad news. We went to go visit Gabi, and she basically broke up with us. She said that she wasnt going to change and that she knew god was in all places... She told us she could find him wherever... I just stared at her wanting to cry, (dont worry i didnt.........until i got home).... and told her "Gaby, why would god give you a commandment to go to his church if hes everywhere?"... she didnt answer... then i said "gaby, on sundays god will be here in your house... waiting for you to come to church to truly worship him. We`ll be waiting for you there too"... Honestly... it was super sad, but i know why. Its just all the pressure from her family and to be honest, maybe that was our mistake. Not just talking with her family, only focusing on Gabi. Anyways... still a little sad about that, but hopefully one day shell come around. A lot of good experiences this week, and hopefully this week will be interesting as well... I love you all and en poco tiempo ill see you all soon! Elder Smitheram