Missionary Letter

My son!  How are you?  Yes, we can hardly believe you have hit your three month mark, and passed your first change in the field. Dad said it is always hard to say goodbye to missionary friends when there are changes, but so fun to see them again at zone and mission conferences. Also, we are glad you got to go on divisions last week.  Yes, it is good to get a different perspective and experience different styles of missionary service, there is no one "right" way to approach and teach.  I believe you were sent to Honduras because there are people there that YOU are perfectly equipped to teach and influence.  We pray every day that you will be led to them, or them to you. 

We loved your story about the torrential rain storm, and glad you are keeping your optimism and sense of humor.  Maybe it will rub off on your companion!  With all that rain and constant wetness, how are your clothes and shoes holding up?  I noticed in a picture you sent a couple of weeks ago--the day you went hiking near Nicaragua--that your p-day shoes are looking a bit hammered!  Big holes with your toes poking through! Don't forget that you will have a Christmas and birthday package coming your way very soon.  Is it better to send you new shoes from home, or better for you to buy them there?  Should I send you some extra money for shoes?  Sorry to be a worried mom, I seriously can't help it!

Well, you probably would like some news from home.  It has been quite a week!  This may have been one of the busiest weeks of my life.  Friday night was the ward Halloween party, and guess who was in charge??  It was a lot of work, but turned out awesome.  We had a costume contest, a parade, tons of eats, and dancing, it was really fun, and a great turnout.  I think everyone had a fun time! 

And yesterday was the primary Sacrament Meeting program, my third since being called as primary president.  Oh my, what a big job, but it went beautifully!  Of course there were several little glitches: kids who made funny faces, spoke too loud, spoke too soft, refused to speak, forgot their speaking part, bugged the kids sitting next to them, picked their noses...etc.  But that is what makes it interesting and entertaining, right?!  Love it!  So glad it is done for another year! 

Grandma and Grandpa's welcome home was yesterday, but we had to miss it because of my primary program.  If it had been any other Sunday we would definitely have been there, but there is no way I could have bailed on the day of the program!  Disappointing.

Dad had a big week too, the state cross country meet was on Wednesday.  Both the American Fork boys and Davis girls won again--for the fourth year in a row!  Dad's girls' team came in 9th, boys' team was 8th.  His top boy was #13, but Dad thinks that he could have been in the top 10 if he had not played in the State Cup that week.  Oh well, it was a fun season. And just like that the cross country season is over!  Moving on.

Thursday we went to Lehi's last football game of the season, they lost to Lone Peak.  But it was a great game, they were in it until the end.  So fall sports are over, we have a couple weeks break and on to the basketball season.  Tryouts start on November 11th.  Things are about to get very busy at the Smith house!

This week is Halloween!  Tonight we are going to Bryan and Katie's house for our annual jack-o-lantern carving tradition.  We will carve one for you, complete with a missionary name tag.  Haha.  We hope you have a good week, we love you sooooooooooooo much!

Love, Mom (and Dad and Stef)