happy st patricks day!!!‏

hola!!!

another week is gone...im amazed when p-day comes around every week. we are already into week 2 of the transfer and i just know it is going to fly. i wont tell you how many transfer i have left but my time is running lower each day. this week has been AMAZING!!! the Lord is really blessing us for all the struggles we had last transfer.
we found 3 new investigators which is more then we found the whole last transfer. they are really good investigators too. i think we will be having a few baptisms this transfer and im so excited. a less active we found is helping his roommate learn more about the gospel...we are teaching him and he's doing great. he went to church on sunday and even read over a chapter that we read with jose in the Book of Mormon. i was shocked...i guess its been awhile since i found someone who really wanted to act.
we had our first full church services on sunday in our branch...did i mention the branch is called escondido (it means hidden in spanish) way funny!!! well just to give you an idea of how many people are in our branch...sis lopez played the piano and i had to lead the music...ive never lead music in my life until the mission. i figure i just write my name in the air and no on will even know what im doing...haha. we also taught the gospel priciples class. it was fun! there were 8 women not including us in relief society and we meet in a normal classroom and have a keyboard as our piano. the adventures of the mission!
last night we had an awesome stake fireside. sis lopez and i sang "did you think to pray" and she also sang "his hands" then converts in the stake told their conversion stories..including our stake president who joined the church in 1972. it was awesome!!! it made me remember the reason i am serving. i know ive made an impact in someone's life and it makes all the difference. some days are so hard but then i think about my converts...i just love them. i would never change anything about my mission because all the experiences i have are shaping me into a better person.
i definately understand the Savior a lot better because ive walked in His shoes. i know what its like to be laughed at and ridiculed to be lied to and insulted. i know what its like to feel sorrow and i know the joy that comes from someone changing their life. last night at the fireside a thought came to mind "if you want to become like Him you have to know what it was like to be Him." im not saying i even have felt a sliver of His grieve and pain but i have a glimpse of it. I know He lives and He loves us. The gospel is true its real and as we follow it we find the kind of joy that lasts forever.
ive always been a pretty happy person and now i know why. I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. i love it! i feel like im just beginning the understand what it truly means to be a missionary. i guess its never too late.
i hope this email finds you all well. have a great week. i love you.

Hna Smith

ps- happy birthday to uncle brian, jessica and sister kristie michelsen:) i hope you all have a great b-day! love ya