Hey everyone! Wow it was kind of a long week and I'm kind of mentally exhausted, so apologies in advance if this letter is just so so. Sorry my last letter was so negative! Feel like I should always be honest with you guys so you can send me good advice! Your letters always save me! Despite all the really hard stuff I still love the mission and especially the people here! I love it! So hard but I love it. Wow so we have transfers in a week! Truth is anything could happen. I thought I would forsure leave but I've been talking with president and leaders here and things are really complicated with some issues, so really anything could happen, even another 8 weeks here. Wow. Hope not. Pray for not please. Ok So this week I've learned a ton about how to endure hard stuff, but hopefully it applies to real life too. We barely worked at all last week with two sick days between my comp and our roommate Elder C. Feel pretty unnaccomplished this week but I guess it's not really my fault. 1. Attitude is key. Ive talked about this a ton already but we really can choose our attitudes. I've learned how to choose to be happy every day, sometimes even for just one hour at a time. I've also had to keep reminding myself that this is my mission to enjoy. Kind of selfish sounding but it has helped a lot. 2. Like I said prayer is super real and powerful. I have recieved a ton of comfort and revelation that has helped me so much this week! Sometimes the answers are tiny things but still help tons. Heavenly Father heres our prayers and sends us the help we need. It's really amazing if you open your eyes to it. 3. Work is so key to being happy. It solves liek 95 percent of problems on the mission. Last Thursday I was stuck in the house and I was going totally crazy, and was praying a ton. I got a feeling that I needed to work but didnt know how because I was stuck in the house. I ended up polishing all of my shoes and my comp's shoes and doing the dishes and sweeping. A little weridly obbsessive compulsive behavior but it helped a ton. 4. Good friends are so important. The members and missionaries here have totally saved me! I love them so much! All of them. I've grown even closer to the people here. One thing I really enjoyed this week was Xmas Decorations! I had time waiting around so I put them all up around our house and it looks real cute now. Thanks so much for those! Helped me to have a little Christmas spirit in my life! So excited to talk to you! Also thanks again for your letters. Dad, yours helped me a ton to know how to be a better comp, but also to realize the larger context of things. Wow the work is fun here! I love to work so much! I will be sad to leave here actually! It is crazy hot though. 38 degrees celsious one day (not sure how that translates). The heat isn't as much of a problem as the sun. It's just crazy strong and it feels like it burns you immediately! Lots of sunscreen and water and advil hahaha. I think it has to do with the ozone hole. Wow Tucson sounded so fun im so jealous! Like so jealous! We did a zone service activity and it was way fun! We moved a bunch of wood and dirt around. Then we had a giant asado (bbq) and had a super fun lunch together as a zone. The family P. is still killing it! P. couldn't come to church last week either so things are kind of complicated with that. Tonight we plan on asking A. and M. if they want to wait for her and get baptized together as a family or do it this week so Al. could receive the priesthood and baptize P. later. We will see! Maybe next week I'll have baptism pics! So excited they are still amazing! P. has a smoking problem but is on day 5 of no smoking today! Pray for her a ton!!!! I love those people! They will get baptized for sure. I know it. With me or not, doesn't matter, it will happen! I'm so lucky for that it's crazy! I feel so humbled and priveleged to have had the opportunity to help them! The spirit is already very strong in their home and you can tell the difference! It's so beautiful! Love them. Ok sorry if this is short. I love you all so much and miss you and can't wait to talk to you! Despite the challenges, I'm happy! Don't worry too much! The beginning of my mission has been far from easy, even in mission terms, so I know I'll be as tough as nails for the rest of my mission and I'm grateful for that! I love you all so much! Talk to you soon! More info on skyping next week! Love, Trevor ps one old pic i love Photos courtesy Boyers.
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Elder Trevor SmithElder Trevor Smith is a Mormon missionary in the Chile Concepcion Sur mission, the same mission where his dad served. Although this is Trevor's own mission, he grew up hearing about the beautiful land of Chile and the loving people that inhabit it. These are the letters from his experience there. Archives
July 2017
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