Duck dynasty - Tijuana style

Hola mi famila amada!

Well I don't remember what day it was but we were visiting a less active family that had been really offended at the events of the ward party I told you about. I sat there for over an hour, listening to them complain. My heart ached. I didn't know what to do. I hated to think that this would keep them from coming back to church and returning to live with Heavenly Father. The only thing I could do was wait. After they had finished, my comanio said a few words and then I started to bear my testimony. I don't remember exactly what I said but I told them that Heavenly Father loved them, and wanted them to return to him. I told them there wasn't anything that the Savior hadn't already overcome. I ended with "'por favor, regresen'' which is the command form of ''come back''. Well what I witnessed next was a complete miracle. 

"the gospel must be preached
unto every creature" D&C 58:64

All the sudden they became...nice! Not that they were mean before (NOBODY is mean to missionaries here ... except for this crazy duck!) but it was a complete turn around. They said that they would come back to church, and let us teach their 9 year old son! I don't know if I explained this well enough, but THAT was a miracle. I don't feel like I have a lot to offer, almost nothing. All I have is my testimony. I KNOW this doctrine is true. I know that there is power in the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful to realize these things!

I've been getting a lot of comfort from the scriptures. It's funny, study is supposed to be to learn how to help others, but its sure been helping me. Before I talked to you on Christmas day, I felt a lot like Nephi in 1 Nephi 15:5. The difference is Nephi got over it before verse 6! Amazing. The next day I found  1John 4:18 I think it is. I found it on "accident"', I was looking for another scripture but I had highlighted this one a few years back. It really hit me hard. Love is the answer, as cliche as that sounds - it is true. The next day, I found 1 Nephi 19:9. That one hit me even harder. The Savior sufered everything out of love. I'm not "suffering" out here, but it is hard. So it became obvious what to do. I need to focus on loving the people. Duh Elder Smalley ;)

Anyway, about the duck. It was seriously about to attack me. Too funny. Thanks so much for everything.
Con amor,
Elder Smalley

Mailing Address

The Tijuana Mission uses a PO Box in the states for all mail for its US missionaries:

Elder Christopher Joel Smalley

MISIÓN MÉXICO TIJUANA

PO Box 439056

PMB 157

San Ysidro, CA 92143-9056

The mission office will cross the border routinely to pick up the mail. We also learned that if you want to send something to the mission's Tijuana address, you'd better tape all the seams and place an image of the virgin Mary or the Christus on or near the seams, in order for it to actually arrive.

That might be worth testing sometime!

Love Jon & Deb

A Skype Christmas

Our family was very blessed yesterday that skype, the internet and everything else in between work well enough for us to have video calls with our missionary.

We learned a lot about his first week. First, He LOVES the food (no shocker there). His companion is Elder Coutiño from Chihuahua Mexico, and has been in the mission field 4 months. Interestingly however, from Tijuana's Reforma district, where they are located, Elder Smalley might be the one who is closer to home than his companion as the capital city of Chihuahua is 937 miles away, while Herriman is just 762 miles away.

Cerro Colorado in the background,
which has a sign atop that reads
"Jesus Christ is Lord"
(in Spanish of course)

We also learned that his first week has been quite stressful and very frustrating for him. He did not expect to struggle with the language at all because of his success with Spanish in the MTC and prior. But the speed, the figures of speech, the slang, and all of the abbreviations common to the local language have really thrown him for a loop. So, he has become pretty stressed because he wants to reach people now! He doesn't want to lose even a week of his mission because he can't understand what people are saying. He received many words of encouragement from all of us yesterday. And as he was told, we could not be more proud of and grateful for him.

Perhaps most of all, we are grateful and humbled that a loving Father in Heaven knows exactly what He "seeth fit to inflict upon him", in order to form Joel into the servant the Lord wants him to be.

All our Best,
Debbie & Jon (Joel's parents)

PS.
The other interesting geographical fact we've since learned is that their apartment is only about 3 miles from the site of the Tijuana Temple now under construction. (See map below)

A is the location of the mission home, B is the Temple site, and C is their area in Reforma. 

I am in MEXICO!!!!!

December 23, 2013

Hola mi familia!

Greetings from TIJUANA! That's right, I am officially south of the border. Forgive me if I spell everything wrong, literally every word has a red line under it because, ya know, they speak Spanish here! Well it has definitely been a long week. Probably the longest week of my life! Where do I start....

Well my area is in Tijuana, it is called Reforma. My companion is from Mexico. yep. He speaks a little English, but not very much! Reforma is...interesting. It was closed because there was no success and just barely opened back up three weeks ago. There are literally zero recent converts.

I would also like to say that I take back everything I said about the MTC being hard. In the MTC I could communicate just fine. I think that Mexicans like to have a contest to see who can talk the fastest because they talk FAST! REALLY FAST. So the tables have turned. I now understand nothing, but they can understand me.

Other than that, I am in heaven! I get to preach the gospel AND eat tacos all day! What could be better??? Seriously though, the food is really good! One thing that really shocked me is how different it is here. It is a completely different world. People keep apologizing that Tijuana is so ugly, but i think it is beautiful! A different kind of beautiful. Everywhere is covered in colorful homes. 

Well since I'm still adjusting to all of this, I can't think of anything else to say, I'm sure I will later haha! LOVE YOU GUYS!

Elder Smalley

Adios CCM (MTC)

December 10, 2013

I've had so many great experiences here in the CCM! I can't wait until its actually real people out there that I am going to affect. If I'm being honest, I'm a little scared, but I'm going to have to get over that very soon!

Dad, when you talk to your Young Men, make sure you let them know how AMAZING missions are! There is literally no other way to feel this kind of joy! Real joy is service. Real joy lasts forever. Real joy is knowing there is no other place, and no other work the Lord would have you do. 

Tell Erinn and Spencer that coming unto the Savior is happiness - the only true source of happiness, and we cannot fully come unto the Savior without bringing others unto Him. Think about it, Christ deserves ever

ything but yet all He wants is for us to bring others unto Him. That's doable!

Con Amor, Elder Smalley

CINCO SEMANAS

December 10, 2013

Hola mi familia amada!

Wow! Five weeks already, and officially a month! My mission is 1/23 over, CRAZY! Also, it has been exactly a year since I broke my ankle! Wow!

Ever since I watched Elder Bednar's devotional last week, it has been a lot easier to recognize the spirit! On Wednesday we had TRC and the couple were native speakers from Mexico! Oh my goodness they talk fast! I was able to understand everything, but it was NOT easy! But at least that gives me hope. All my teachers keep telling me that Mexicans are the most difficult to understand-even Hermana Quisbert, who lived in Argentina her whole life! whew!

Well I just LOVE my zone! We haven't lost or gained any districts for 2 weeks so we are all really tight. Yesterday two districts were supposed to leave, but only half of each district departed because of flight delays. It was really hard to say goodbye, but yet it is so exciting what they are about to do! Hopefully, that will be me next week. We should leave the 16th, but we haven't received any flight plans yet. This is my last Pday! crazy!

Lots of Hermanas have been asking for blessings. It basically means that you do not get home until very late, but the Savior was always willing to exercise his priesthood, and I guess I can too! It is so inspiring to witness the faith of the sisters. The zone leaders have been delegating lots of blessings to Elder Hesterman and I, and it really is an amazing experience! I'll write you later today with some pretty awesome details!

So this week has been so good with our investigators! Listening to the spirit ALWAYS pays off! Especially with some pretty tough investigators. i don't know if I don't know if I've told you about Gabriel but he was pretty much an atheist 16 year old who didn't care about anything except futbol, but now he is reading the book of Mormon and praying about baptism!!! For weeks, we tried, but had no success, but the spirit really does know how to guide! Our other investigator LOVES the book of Mormon and is also praying about baptism! He says he recognizes the spirit and the gospel has brought him hope! We are also starting with two new investigators- only they will be Elders from our district. I am also someone else's investigator! Pretty fun stuff!

I know that the Savior loves us! We got to watch the Christmas devotional. I loved Elder Nelson's talk and the Prophet's about the Christmas spirit. I have NEVER felt the Christmas spirit more than I have this season. I feel so much love from my Savior and I am amazed at the love He has for me! The greatest Christmas gift we have ever been given is His sacrifice, as in Alma 7:10-13. 

I love the atonement, and cannot comprehend life without this knowledge. I can't stand the thought of all those people out there who are trying to bear life's burdens by themselves. That's what makes this work so sacred!  

Love you guys,

Elder Smalley

An MTC Thanksgiving-Part 2

Nov 28, 2013

Hola Mi Familia!
We are allowed to write letters today. We just barely got finished with our Thanksgiving day devotional. Russel M. Nelson was the speaker. WOW, it was absolutely amazing. As he walked in, we were singing "Because I have been given much". What an amazing song! I think that it has become my favorite hymn. It just so clearly states why I am here - why we are all here!

There is so much that I am grateful for now: The Book of Mormon, the way we can come closer to Christ, the Savior and his gospel - which answers all our questions and encompasses our needs, and the amazing gift of prayer. I don't think I will ever be able to fully comprehend the power of any of those things in this life, but they truly are remarkable.

But this year I have really come to appreciate trials. We need them. In El Libro De Mormon, whenever the Nephites were righteous, the Lord gave them wealth and prosperity, and they were never able to develop a profound conversion. I am grateful that we are tried, even when we are righteous and humble. I am grateful for the promise in Alma 36:3, that we don't have the face them alone - unless we choose to. I am grateful for a Savior, who no matter the number of times I offend Him, will turn the other cheek, and bear my burdens.

Les amo mucho, y esperare para el dia cuando podemos vivir juntos el el reino celestial.
Con Amor,
Elder Smalley

An MTC Thanksgiving

Dec 3, 2013

How was Thanksgiving? I hope it was awesome, mine was! We got to hear from Elder Russell M Nelson! We spent the whole day on main campus, took a zone temple walk, and did service. Can I just say I LOVE service! It's so easy to come closer to Christ when you are exemplifying Him. We put together lentil casserole packets for families in Utah. Our goal as an MTC was to make 350,000 and we made...350,208!!! So cool! We did it in the main campus cafeteria, and after it was over, there where lentils ALL OVER the carpeted floor. We were scheduled to watch Ephraim's Rescue afterwards, but Elder Hesterman and I decided to stay and help clean up, with 13 other Elders. On Sunday, President Hacking thanked us over the pulpit at the Sunday devotional and promised a copy of the picture we took when we finished. That was seriously the highlight of my week! Service really is so much fun when you realize what it really means. Mosiah 2:17. It is why I am here! 

I really thought thanksgiving would be hard to be without you guys, but if I'm honest it really wasn't that hard! I am so glad i am here! Sometimes, I worry about you, but I the savior's teaching have really helped me to press forward. I know that the Lord will bless and take care of you while I focus on the work. It has put a completely different meaning to "Consider the Lilies". Also, I was studying in Matthew and i found the JST Matthew 6:25-27. It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear! Darn it you guys I just love this gospel!

So we were talking about the Christ-like attributes found in Predicad Mi Evangelio and about patience. I was sharing my story about how long i had to wait between my ankle and other stuff-well I was TRYING to share it in Spanish-when I felt the spirit teach me why I had that experience! I never really understood why the Lord had me wait for so long. I believe it is because as a missionary, you NEED patience! There is literally nothing you do that doesn't demand a LOT of patience. Can you imagine 18-year old Elder Smalley being a missionary? HA! The Lord was giving me chance to develop a Christ-like attribute before I came out here. What an amazing tender mercy! It really strengthened my testimony that the Lord truly does prepare people for what He knows they need. Amazing.

I would like to say that hymns are so beautiful in espanol! I love singing them. They can't always match up the translations perfectly, but I like that. It helps me gain new perspectives on hymns i have sang my whole life! For example in Yo sé que vivé mi señor (I know that my redeemer lives) there is a line that says ´y siempre su amor tendré' what a beautiful truth!

A Hermana in our zone is from Samoa, and her mom sent us lava-lavas. They are sweet! Last night I had a really cool experience, the Zone leaders asked me to give a blessing to one of the Hermanas. Just the night before, I watched a devotional where Elder Bednar talked about recognizing the spirit. His advice was "Quit worrying about it. Just be a good boy, and it will come to you". I wish I could tell you all that he said but basically my eyes were opened to how much the spirit does influence this work! Well another Hermana knocked on our door at 10:10 last night and asked for a blessing. So Elder Hesterman and I changed out of our lava-lavas (haha) really quick and met them at the Wyview Chapel. Way cool! It is just so amazing to me that the Lord trust me with that kinda stuff.

 

Well it's a beautiful snowy day here on west campus! We made snow angles-

Con mucho amor, 
Elder Smalley

Thanksgiving & Gratitude

We started doing TRC. It is when they have volunteers-almost always members-come into the MTC and you teach them. No roleplay, no acting, you just teach them and help them come closer to Christ. I was really nervous. How could I help someone who has been a member for much longer than I? Going into it we were going to talk about the restoration. The woman had served a Spanish mission 25 years ago. When we got in there, I felt like she needed a different message. i guess my companion must have felt the same because we started to talk about thanksgiving and gratitude for all of the Lord's blessings. It was really an amazing experience. By the end, she started to cry. It was really incredible for me, I know that my testimony had been strengthened by our conversation.

If I Thought I Was Busy Before...

To sum it all up: I am exhausted, sick, tired, uncomfortable, intimidated, sleep deprived, and terrified, yet I have never been happier. On Sunday I was called/assigned to be the new district leader. I feel like I was just starting to handle all the responsibilities that i had already. I hope that I can figure this thing out. The leadership handbooks says that my mission is to help other missionaries come unto Christ, in other words be a "missionary for missionaries". I am glad that I know the Lord will help me.

Visa Success!

I went to Las Vegas on Friday. In order to get my visa, I had to appear before the Mexican consulate. It was an...interesting day. We had to meet at the whyview bus stop at 4:30 am. Yeah. Our flight wasn't until 8:40, but they like to play it super safe I guess. It was the first time I had been in public besides going to Brigham's Landing, so it was nice to remember that there is more to the world than just Provo Utah haha. Basically my day consisted of waiting in the UNLV institute building for hours and hours until we went to the consulate, then we went back to waiting at the institute building. Literally, the consulate just needed to take my fingerprints and my picture, and that was it. An 18 hour day, just for 20 seconds haha. Then we went back to the Vegas airport and can I just say WOW! The people in Vegas LOVE the missionaries. Everywhere we went people acknowledged us as Elders. We had so many RMs come up and talk to us, and about 8 people offered to buy us dinner. I forgot to tell you this last week, but a man totally bought us lunch at Brigham's landing on my first dia de prearacion as well. My heart is so full. A man came up to us. he told us he was a nonmember, but that his son had served a mission. He began to cry and thanked us for our service. There really are great people all around. When we arrived back in Salt Lake, so many people welcomed us home it cracked me up. I was tempted to pretend like my family hadn't come to pick me up haha but i didn't. We finally got home at about 10:35. I still don't understand how it took that long. But hey, at least I have my visa. I feel bad for all the people who have been waiting longer than I have, and haven't gotten any travel plans.