hola!‏

well can you believe another week has come and gone?? i cant either. its been a kinda crazy time here in arizona...sis lopez has got a really bad cold so we are kinda running extra slow around here.
this week we got the exciting news that a spanish branch will be forming on march 8th. im SOOOOOO excited. we just can't seem to get anyone to church..but can you blame them they have to use headsets to understand what is going on...i would hate it too. so we are really excited about that bit of news.
my valentines was great...i got tons of candy!!! like i need it...but hey chocolate makes live so much better. im learning a lot in this area...patience for one. its different not teaching as much as im use to but im learning a lot. no upcoming baptisms yet but we are working hard to get people moving. im finding that change is really hard for people and its hard for them to give up tradition.
im sure i have a funny story or 2 but my brain is not working...thats why i try to write every night in my journal to remind myself of what happened that day. so when i get home you'll have to read all my crazy stories. its good to hear that everyone is doing well for the most part.
the weather is just perfect right now...not too hot not too cold. im still praying to get transfered up to snowflake for the summer...its a lot less hot there. but for the next 2 months ill be here in mesa because the easter pagent will begin in april. its kinda like christmas lights except it only lasts 2 weeks. im really excited...i should send pictures of the huge stage they are putting up...its incredible what they are doing. the church spends so much money on this pagent but it has a good outcome...many people will accept missionaries thru those 2 weeks.
lately ive been on a grapefruit diet. there are 100's of grapefruit trees on the temple ground so i eat one for every meal. one sister has been doing that for like a month and lost like 20 lbs...crazy i know. i kinda love grapefruit now and i dont know what i will do without it.
im truly blessed to be serving where i am...i get to be on temple grounds daily and speak spanish...im blessed. im still loving the mission though some days its hard.
my recent convert luis brought me in a valentine's present...which was a really nice painting of the 1st vision and his testimony written on the back of a picture from his baptism day. wow!!! that makes me want to find more luis's. i almost cried when i read his testimony because i was a part of something big. that scripture that says how great will be your joy if you bring one soul unto him...its true. ive never felt such joy as my recent converts have to my life. they are lifetime friends. the Lord is really aware of all of us. just remember to put Him first and life will run so much smoother. it may not be perfect but you will be happy. i know the church is true. the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth today and we have a living prophet. we truly are a blessed people.
i love you all. i hope you have a great week.
hna smith