Winter is Coming!!!

Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015

New Year's Eve Sleep Over

Oi, tudo Bem Familia,

Well today it is officially cold here in Toronto.  Today we are experiencing a high of 11 below zero Celicius which is pretty cold.  I am kind of wishing that I had a little bit more when it comes to warm clothes because today I am wearing pretty much everything I own.  Really only my face is what feels cold though and that I can't really do much about because of the lack of things that could actually cover the Area in between my eyes.  I am happy though and I am excited for this week.  We had an awesome week and came super close to hitting Standards of Excellence.  Which I guess is a great segue into explaining what the standards of excellence are.  So out in the mission field we do all of our super cool missionary work and then on top of that we are also like part time statisticians.  We count every single thing that we do that hits a Key Indicator ( basically tracks the progress of the people we are teaching and how well our area is doing so that some person who understands it all back at church headquarters can do all the big number crunching.)  Anywho, Standards is what the president wants for every single companionship in the mission to do in every single week and for us it is find 2 new investigators, 2 investigators come to church, 1 new returning member and one returning member at church.  And yesterday we had three of our investigators at church it was awesome!!!!  I was so happy and I loved that some many people were willing to come to church and to progress.  Other than that this week was pretty dull.  We had to be inside on the 31st at 6 but at least we got to have a sleep over with our good friends the Chinese elders, Elder Tam and Elder Hudak .  I love those guys they are super cool.  Other than that it was just a lot of tracting this week and our ESL classes which is always fun.  

 Now for questions.

Questions

1. How's the winter weather treating you?

Well It is really cold but it so far has been a very mild winter.

2. How is Elder Gomez? Are you two getting along pretty well?

Elder Gomez is doing well.  We are still having some troubles getting along as companions however we are getting a lot better and most of our problems are resolving themselves now. 

3. How are your feet? Do you have proper footwear for the weather?

 I am still wearing the same set of dress shoes that I was when I left home for the MTC and they are still doing pretty great for me.  Hasn't been a lot of snow and my feet are only a little cold.

4. Are you expecting any changes this transfer?

Yeah I don't know what is going to happen but I am expecting some changes to come around this transfer not sure exactly what though.

5. How are your investigators doing this week?

Our investigators are doing awesome all 3 that we now have.  All of our other ones have stopped talking to us which is a little annoying. 

6. How about your ESL classes, are they back on a regular schedule now that the holidays are over?

ESL never stopped for the Holidays the only thing is that we haven't been having a lot of people showing up recently.  We are trying to work on that though.

7. Do you have many dinner appointments set for this week? 

We actually do however it depends on what you mean by many... We have at least 3 though which will be nice.  

8.Where do you do your laundry?

Dollar Laundromat on the Corner of Dufferin and Rogers.

9. From Michael- Who is your favorite person to visit? Tell us little bit about them. 

 My favorite person to visit is probably Irmao Andre de Olivera.  He always makes food and it is always a party at his house.

10. From Dad- Did you see any fireworks on New Year's Eve?No in our apartment we can not see the fireworks.

11. Any New Year's resolutions? 

Still no New years resolutions I am actually really bad at those just like I was at home.  So yeah....

That is about everything for this week.  I hope that you all have a good week.

Loves, 

Elder Sam Smith

Bom Ano Novo!

Elder Smith and Elder Gomez First Snow 12 29 15

Jim asked to see a photo from Albion's the restaurant they love. We assume this is a fulfillment of that request.

Oi tudo bem!

    That is how you say Happy New Year in Portuguese mom just so you know for the future.  It was sort of your first question.... maybe.  Well nothing really happened since we talked on Friday.  We did a lot of walking.  It snowed a lot last night like 5 in.  Other than that not much else happened.  We went to church and had a great lesson with the Bishop and are busy running around trying to prepare for the sealing of one of our Portuguese members next week which is going to be awesome.  Other than that it is just a bunch of wandering around trying to find people to talk to.  So on to questions.

1. How is car sharing? 

Car sharing is getting easier it basically has turned into an act of charity.  No matter how annoying or hard it is it is always better to just try to love them and give it up.  I have learned a lot about humility this transfer and that though it is hard it is much better than stubbornly standing your ground over things that really don't matter.  

2. What was your favorite part about last week's Christmas adventures?

About Christmas was definitely the food.  That and maybe talking to you guys which not going to lie was really weird.  I often feel like this is real life now out here and that nothing is happening back there and to be honest sometimes I forget that things like family, the state of Utah, the English language, you know things exist and the world is more than Toronto.  We also had a pretty cool night Carolling at Dundas Square that was pretty fun.  

3.  How is Elder Gomez feeling? Did you manage to avoid his bug? 

Elder Gomez is doing Great and I am not sick.  

4.  What was your favorite gift to give or receive this holiday season? 

I only gave one gift which was to Diana Resendes which was cool and as for received  not sure these socks I am wearing are really starting to grow on me.  

5. How are your investigators doing? Did you see any of them last week?

We saw one and she is doing fine.  Most of our investigators were busy this week so we didn't see them much.  

6. What are your goals for this week?

Goals for this week in what sense?  Key indicators?  or like personal.  Mine at least are more personal prayer and to improve at talking to everyone.  

7. Did you get the spices dad sent you for your birthay?

Yes they make a lovely piece of Modern Art until we get food.  

8.  What about the flood of birthday cards? 

Yes got them like two weeks ago they were all very nice I love how Zach wrote his own and Uncle Marty's.  Also I liked the Japanese in Uncle Ted's I am trying to get our member Guilherme to translate it for me.  He just got home from his mission to Nagoya Japan in January.  

9.  What do you love most about the people you are serving? 

I love that I am going to serve them.  

10.  Any New Year's Resolutions?

Not really  

 That is pretty much everything for this week.  So many questions.  I just want to bear my testimony about Christmas really quick.  I like the sentiment that we all have around Christmas when we gather together around family and talk and rejoice in Christ.  As well as the sentiments of the New Year.  One of my favorite scriptures lately has been from the Book of Ether Chapter 12 Verse 4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." This is what I have come to realize this year is that we can hope for a better world and a better standing in the world we are in.  We can always choose to act on what faith we have and keep the Lord in our lives.  I am so glad for the sentiments this season brings and continue to invite everyone to discover why I am out here doing the things I do!

   Loves,

Elder Smith

    

The BEST Christmas present! A Skype session with Elder Smith

We were all so happy to see and hear from Elder Smith on Christmas Day. I have added a link to his 40 minute Skype Video chat for anyone that might be interested. 

Feliz Natal! 

We also all sang Happy Birthday to him...Sunday is his birthday.

Click on the link below to view...

Christmas Skype video

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Oi familia Tudo bem!

     Well it is the week of Christmas and I already think it is going to be a most wonderful time to be a missionary.  We have some great appointments set up for the week and best of all at least 4 dinner appointments.  I am so happy!  I also get to talk to all of you which I guess is pretty nice.  I am super excited for this next week.  As for this past week, not much happened.  We spent some time going around and trying to visit some of the less active members of our ward and talk to them and share the message of A Savior is Born!  It is such a wonderful message and we are so pumped to share it with people.  The only problem is that none of those people live there any more.  We had trouble finding them.  We had success though in finding one returning member from the English ward who speaks Portuguese.  Her name is Sister Gomes and she is awesome.  We stopped by and called her a couple of times and she never answered.  Then one night out of the blue she called us and set up her own appointment to meet with us later that week.  Sadly we still haven't met with her.  She keeps having emergencies pop up everywhere and missing appointments because of doctor's visits and buses. (I should have probably mentioned she is a little advanced in years...) We have an appointment set for this week though so hopefully she can finally meet with us.  Other than that we had two new investigators this week.  One was an old former who was referred to us by the Chinese Elders in our District and our cool new investigator Isabel who showed up at ESL this Saturday.  Other than that our week was pretty bland.  We had a lot of people tell us how catholic they were and others that told us about how they already knew about Jesus and that they didn't want to learn about ours.  Anyways we keep on working and trying to share our message with those that are prepared to receive it.  

    As for questions today 

1.  What are your pday plans today? We might go do some birthday shopping... other than that no idea. 

2. What was your Christmas program at church like on Sunday? It was hopefully some great talks that were in Spanish that I couldn't understand and a lot of impromptu musical numbers by the Missionaries we found out about during the talks.  Normal I understand a little bit of the talk or the main Idea but I now know that I can not understand Cubans. 

3. How are your investigators? They are still small but strong.  Hugo is still trying to flake out on us which is not good but we had a super good lesson with him last week and hopefully things will get better. 

4. What was your biggest success last week? Last week probably finding Sister Gomes. 

5. What are you looking forward to this week?   So many dinner appointments.  

6. Are UGLY Christmas sweaters a thing in Canada?  I think so.  At least I have seen a few good ones.  

7.  What are you most grateful for this month? Amazing weather.  No snow on the ground and it will be 15 (Celcius)  on Thursday. 

8. How have you been sharing the #ASAVIORISBORN messages from the church? (They don't have ipads)  We usually just hand out some cards for it.  We finally got some Portuguese ones so that was cool. 

9.  ESL Classes? Do they still happen over the holidays or do you take time off? I think they are happening on Saturday.  At least all the Chinese people who don't believe in Christmas are coming and so that will be cool.  

   

That is everything.  Well Until Friday I guess.

Loves,

Elder Smith

HO HO HO and FELIZ NATAL!

Christie Ward Christmas party...in his new Christmas coat.

Elder Paul at the Christmas Party with a ward member.

Elder Martinez at the Christie Ward Christmas Party with a ward member

Tudo Bem Familia!

     Mom you are going to have to promise not to kill me after this email.  So we had a lot of things happen this week that were super cool.  Namely we had our Christmas Zone Conference and also our ward Christmas Party.  The thing about having a companion that is from Paraguay is that when you have these things and he ends up getting packages he knows aren't from home that translates to open them instantly and we all of a sudden end up celebrating Christmas on the the 9th of December.  So Once again.  FELIZ NATAL!!!!!!!   If the trend continues this week we will be having a New Years Eve Party.  I wonder if I can make Canada Dry taste Like Sparkling Cider.....  Anywho, long story short, Mom please forgive me for ruining Christmas... and my Birthday... BUT, thank you for all of the wonderful gifts!!!   They are all awesome and exactly what I needed for our rainy 11 degree day outside.  It is the third week of December and the coldest it is going to be is -1 on Friday Night.  Soooo yeah.  Other than that this week has been more mountains of stress and little bits of progress.  We finally were able to meet with Hugo again and he still wants to stay Catholic but we finally got him to start reading the Book of Mormon and we are seeing it start to change his heart bit by bit.  Our last lesson was about how he needs to keep himself open to God then he can receive and act upon his answers.  It is often about real intent.  That is about it.  

    

Questions.

  

1. How did this week go with the communication with the other Portuguese Elders? Car sharing any better?

No the Portuguese Elders are still about as good as communication as a Brick wall.  I knew I should have asked President for Portuguese Carrier Pigeons.

2. How was your Zone conference? Did you get all of your packages? I hope there were at least one or two for you and your companion...

Maybe?  Zone Conference was awesome and super revelatory and as far as packages I got like three and Elder Gomez Got two see above

3. What have you done this week to help celebrate the Christmas season? Advent? Caroling? Devotionals? Parties? Tells us about any Canadian traditions that  maybe different then here that you have noticed (MJ has to present a report on Christmas in a foreign land so if you have a paragraph for him that would be awesome.)

So far we have had a ward Christmas Party and I do my advent everyday but that is about it.  I will talk to some of My Canadian friends up here but I don't think that much is different in the ways of Christmas.  I can probably get someone to tell me about a Portuguese Christmas but I am sadly not really able to Help anyone here.  I used to know all about French Christmas but that would take some time to dig backup..

4.What do you like about your new neighborhood?

New neighborhood is sweet.  We live right next to some of our best investigators and all of the Portuguese members we are not allowed to visit.  It is still a really good neighborhood though. 

5. How are your investigators this week? Any one come to church?

 No one at church

6. Do people all go to the Toronto Temple to see lights like they do here at Temple Square?

I don't think the Toronto temple has lights but I don't Know nor do I think people go look at them.

7. How are your ESL classes this week?

Esl was actually pretty good and we are seeing some great work coming from ESL

8. Any fun pday plans for today?

not really we went and took a picture for a zone Christmas card from all the Elders and not the sisters so I will send that out.  

9. What are you looking forward to in the coming week?This coming week nothing really it is just a normal week.  Elder Gomez's birthday is on Saturday that is about it. 

10. What is your favorite food Elder Gomez has prepared for you?This kid really likes hot dogs.  I don't think I have had hot dogs this many ways in my life.

Now to the Q's from the Grandparents.

Yes Grandma we sing every morning usually in Portuguese.

Some people are really into Christmas lights but so far I haven't seen that much.  There are a couple displays in our neighborhood that are nice though.

That is about It hope you are all staying warm back at home!

Loves,

Elder Smith

Photos of the new apartment...Toronto, Ontario

Elder Smith sent us a few photos of his new pad. I am guessing that messy desk is his. Full of binders and papers as he tries to organize his new area. Also looks like he has plenty of pillows on his bed. And on very nice sized kitchen, and I was glad to see the vacuum. 

I am dreaming of a White Christmas!

Oi Familia,

   Another week down and another week of absolutely no snow!  Today it is like 3 (Celsius) and it is going to be around 6 or 7 (Celsius) for the rest of the week.  It is pretty warm up here and most of us missionaries are having a great time in this unusually warm winter.  You all thought I would need a jacket.  I will and I still use mine but it is not necessary with how warm it has been this late in the year.  We had some missionaries get transferred down from the Sudbury Zone one of which has been in Timmins for 4 transfers and last week it was a High of -17 C up there.  It is fun to see them running around in short sleeves while the rest of us are bundling up down here.  Lots of other things that have been happening this week.  I picked up my new companion Elder Gomez from Paraguay.  He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Guaranie.  He is awesome at cooking and loves working hard.  We also got a car that we have to share with the other Portuguese which is faster and faster becoming more of a bane than a boon.  We have also moved to a new apartment so Elder Gomez and I are on our own.  Lots of big changes that went down and a lot of craziness opening our new area.  It was interesting though.  I am learning once again a lot about Patience...  This seems to be something that is a recurring theme in my mission but is still very important.  We need it especially now with our new area and trying to coordinate with the other Portuguese Elders.  I love them both and they were great companions and are great missionaries but like most people, myself included, they are terrible at communication.  This all in all has made for a pretty stressful week that has been very long.  However, I have been learning a lot this week about many things in the gospel and about myself.  

    

   Well question time...  

1. How is Elder Gomez-Alfonzo? Tell us a little bit more about him, how long has he been a member, where he is from, what languages does he speak?

Elder Gomez I described pretty well above he is learning English and he has been a member all of his life.  

2. How was your first week in your new area? How is being the only trainer instead of sharing that duty? How big is your new area? Did you find your bearings in the new boundaries? Any new investigators?

I talked about most of the other things for the second question above too.  I guess being the only trainer is better, sure the safety net is gone but I have more ability to follow the spirit and teach what I wish I had learned and let them be blessed that way as opposed to being the third wheel.

3. Are you still in your same apartment? Still petitioning for a car?

For the third one answered above.

4. What are your plans for today?

Today we are going to Costco.  Then maybe Feta and after that sports.  

5. Who was the funniest person you spoke with this week, and why?

Funniest person was probably Elder Gomez and because we had very little proselyting time this week.

6. How are your ESL students doing this week? Do you have a set number of weeks in your curriculum, or just have people attend as often as they wish?

Esl we had some struggles this week we aren't getting many new students so we are going to talk about that this week and work on getting more.  People come as they wish.  We have a year long curriculum but it doesn't matter if they start late or not.

7. What are you looking forward to this week? Any upcoming meetings, firesides, classes or other events in your ward or area?

This week we have the Ward Christmas Party, Zone Christmas Conference, and probably other things as well that I don't know yet.

8. Do you have a scripture that has impacted you this week that you can share?

A scripture that hit me was D&C 64:7 I like that it talks about how the Lord will always forgive us of our sins that was super cool for me this week as I have been studying repentance.  It is something we all need to do everyday for even the smallest wrongs.  Things build up over time and sometimes the weight is too much.  This is when the atonement can come into our lives and lighten our load.

9. What is your favorite Christmas carol and why?

  Favorite Christmas carol is Il est ne le divin enfant.  It is super cool. 

  Well that is more than enough for this week.  I have to go loves bye 

Elder Smith

Elder Julio Gomez Alfonzo and Elder Sam Smith 

New missionaries and their trainers Dec 1, 2015

Sister Clayton, Elder Gomez Alfonzo and President Clayton Dec 1, 2015