Arrived In Louisiana - 8/12/13

Hello my wonderful family!  How are you all doing??  Well I am doing Fantastic!  I am in Louisiana now!  How crazy is that?  I never thought this day would come and now here it is right in front of me!  I can’t believe it!

Well I am serving in Algiers New Orleans!  I am in the West Bank Branch.  I am right across the river to down town Louisiana!  It is so crazy!  I will be sending “y’all” a bunch of pictures later this week.  I am at a library right now and I can't upload pictures here, we go to the church for that!  I have turned Chinese just like Ryan (I have been taking pictures left and right)!  It is much different than what I ever would have imagined.  It is super HOT.... it has been about 95 -102 degrees every day with 98% humidity. It is so so hot. It rains almost every day but only for a minute. That is what makes it so hot... And to top everything off, I am in a biking only area... My butt really hurts still… "ha ha" but now it is finally starting to feel better. I bike close to 15-20 miles a day. Lets just say I have not gained any weight yet… in fact I have lost a couple pounds!  That's perfectly fine with me because I know I will be getting fat!  

First Day:

We left the MTC at 3 AM and it was crazy.  I told you all about the flight to Dallas.  Then when we hung up the phone we had an hour delay on our flight. That was tough because we all just wanted to get there!  When we were flying into Louisiana I have never seen so many trees in my whole life… It was so green… pretty crazy!  We landed at the Baton Rouge airport.  It is very small, similar to the Scottsdale Airport.  Then we walked down the stairs and there we saw our mission president and his wife.  It was so cool!  They looked like the nicest, friendliest, and most caring people.  I knew from that moment on that I loved my mission president. He is a great man.  Then we grabbed our bags and took some pictures real quick. Then all the Elders jumped into a huge van and we were off to the Mission Home. The drive was so eye opening.  There is a lot of poverty down here (we saw a few very nice areas too). The whole drive we were asking the assistant to the President questions about this area.  We drove past LSU and that looked fun.  I saw a sweet golf course!  I definitely want to play it some day.  Speaking of which, isn’t the TPC of Sawgrass down here??  I hope so because I want to play it!  Then we arrived at the mission home.  It was a huge blue house (I will send pictures)!  Then we ate a quick snack, and we were allowed to take a little nap.  I crashed on the floor in the living room... Oh well, it felt nice!  Then we had some interviews with the Mission President.  This was the coolest thing.  I went in there and we started talking and I told him some things about myself and my family and what I like to do.  Then we talked about where I will be serving first and my Comp. He told me some things that were very cool.  My Comp has never trained before.  He only has 7 months left on his mission.  His last comp was not all the way there.  He was pretty lazy and he just couldn’t really remember the lessons.  So my comp pretty much did everything.  The mission president told me why he put me with Elder Scarlet.  He said he put me with him because he feels like I have the strongest testimony and I am the most ready missionary to get out there and to serve.  He said that I have a great light about me and he thinks that is what my comp needs.  He said that he could tell I am a hard worker, and he thought that is something that my comp needed.  I was very happy and honored when he told me all of those things.  I couldn't believe it.  It was so cool!  Then we had dinner and the food was great !  It was a pulled pork sandwich.  “ha ha”  I love them!  Then we got to bed.  

Second Day - P Day:

The next day was the big transfer day!  We went up to the stake center, which is right next to the temple (I can't wait to go through it)!  We had a little meeting then we all went into the chapel and sat on the sides. Then, the President would call the area that the missionaries would be serving.  Then, those missionaries would meet in the middle of the room and give a big hug then go sit down. When he called my name I didn't recognize the area so I didn't stand up for a second “ha ha”.  I felt like an idiot!  When I first saw my comp I didn't know what to expect!  He has a little bit of ADD so he can't keep still.  He has been a great trainer though so far. Then we drove out to our areas.  I said goodbye to all of my friends and told them to email me whenever they could!  I grew to love the people I was in the MTC with!  It was cool!  As we were driving we drove past New Orleans and it is awesome!  In fact, I am going there today for P-Day.  We are going to the French Market.  We are not allowed to go into the French town... But the French market we can!  I am going to eat all the good stuff!  

Well my area like I said is all biking.  We have a Walmart about 3 miles away so bringing groceries home is pretty tough!  Oh well… The apartment is pretty nice. It is in the Ghetto though!!!  Big time!  It is scarier than down town Ogden!  “ha ha” (Don't worry mom, the people like us missionaries!!)  When I first walked in it was a mess… It grossed me out.  So, I have been cleaning for the past couple of days.  We have 2 other missionaries with us.  They are Spanish speaking.  They are cool.  One of them is new too so I'm not the only greeny!  We have taught a couple of lessons, but my comp is not huge on tracting or street contacting so we go off of referrals mostly.  I always try and talk to people wherever I go!  It is scary, but it is good for me to go outside of my comfort zone.  My comp sometimes gets a little lazy, but I have helped him out a lot and now we are staying busy. We do a lot of reactivating down here.  After all of the hurricanes the people kind of just fell away so we are here to help them.  We also do a lot of service.  We have mowed a couple lawns already.  I love service, it makes you feel so good!  

Right after I met my comp he leaned over to me and said, “I am really sorry, but I threw you under the bus already.”  (I was stunned)  He then told me I would be speaking in Sacrament meeting that Sunday!  I said alright bring it!  I was fine with it!  I gave a great talk on how to prepare for a mission.  People came up to me after and said it was one of the best talks they had heard in a long time.  They said I have a great ability to communicate to people.  That made me feel really good!

This has been my life story so far.  I think I have covered most of it.  The members down here are great!  Sister Walker told me to tell you mom to not worry because she said she will look out for me and keep me safe.  I love her to death already.  They fed us last night.  It was a really good spaghetti dish.  I haven't eaten anything to crazy yet! “ha ha”  I can't wait to try some of the Cajun food!  I have had 4 meals at member houses so far.  

Meal 1 - Fish
Meal 2 - Ribs
Meal 3 - Spaghetti
Meal 4 - Hot Dogs "ha ha"

Well I want you to know that I am doing great!  It has been super hard so far, but I know the lord is on my side and he is carrying me through this.  I won’t lie I have been pretty home sick.  I miss the little things.  I miss the family.  I have a picture on my desk of all of the family together and I think about you all the time.  Mom I love you and Dad I love you!  Thanks for everything that you have done for me.  I really appreciate it and I love you so much.  You are the best parents a kid could ask for.  I love you all so much.  All of the family I love you and I am praying for each one of you.  Keep up the good work with whatever you are doing.

Well, I don’t know what else to write except that I am doing great and am loving the work.  It is very hard, but so rewarding.  I know that this is the true gospel.  I know that Christ lives and he will help us through anything.  My knowledge of the church is growing and my testimony has been strengthening so much.  Well, I love you all! Keep up the good work, and always remember... WORRY ENDS WHERE FAITH BEGINS.

I love you all - Until next time!

- Elder Smith

PS:  Mail is usually pretty good.  My comp told me to tell you to tape the edges of letters because people could go through it to see if there is money or something. Packages are great. Put the letters inside that.

My Address:

298 wright BLVD appt 280, Gretna LA 70056.

Don't send packages to the mission home because I wont receive them for like a month. Thanks and I love you all!!!!!!!!!