WOW!

I have no time. Sorry. I spent my time trying to figure out pictures and reading and such.

It was so good to hear from everyone. I love it. I prefer reading to writing. So really I loved hearing all the updates. Thank you tres, mom, jen, karlee, and yes i did get the package beaner! I loved it. and thank you annaka and porter for the pictures!

Happy Birthday Addie and Happy Birthday Lish and Aaron! Jodi, good luck with the move, I think that you'll love it and I really hope that all goes well with that.

DAD. what is our relationship to Joesph Smith, I think I've been asked that like 5000 times, when ever we see a member, or teach the restoration. It is super funny and there is a family in the ward that calls me Joesph because they think that I'm a decendent or something

This week I had a conference with all of the new missionaries in the mission. all the elders that were in the mtc with me. It was soooo good. We were in Toulouse all day and I feel like when I got here, I got a little bit broadsided, I new it would be hard, but this is really hard. I love it. but it is hard. But after the conference with all of the elders that I had grown with in the mtc. It re-lit the fire for me and I was re-energized for the work. It really was just good, I didn't really learn anything new, but It was a great reminder of all the things that I had the opportunity to do at the MTC and it just simply boosted me back up to my exiting-mtc-energy-level.

This week we are having a babtism and it is concrete. It is the girl that we found on my 3rd day here. She has grown so much and has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joesph Smith. It was been incredible to me how fast she has changed because of the gospel. In three days we taught. Word of Wisdom, Law of Tithing and Law of Chastity. These ones are usually a little bit harder for everyone. and at the end of each lesson. she just said "yes". She accepted the gospel and the commandments so well. We walk past the church often and about 4 or 5 times that we have passed she is just sitting on the steps reading the book of mormon. The church is about 10 minutes from her house, but she just goes there to read and study the gospel. It is incredible!!!

We set alot of goals on the mission. not because numbers are important, but that we can measure our success and raise the bar each week. This week we were looking grim, our goals were high and we hadn't found as much success as we had hoped for. We planned sunday, the last day of the week for the goals, and if all went well we would reach our goals. well all didn't go well and we had some lessons cancel, we kept praying and trying to get as close to our goals as possible. Then in the last hour of the last day of the last day of the week. we found 4 new people to teach and taught 2 new investigators and we met our goals. literally in about 63 minutes we found people and our prayers were answered. It was incredible and a testimony to me, that prayer works and that the lord prepares a way for his missionaries!

Sorry this is so short but I'm really low on time. Thank you for all the emails and all the love.

It sounds like all is going well, you all have struggles, yet you all have found strength and are keeping strong. I love you and I'm praying for all of you.

I love this work and I am so glad for the opportunity I have to be out in the field.

LOVE Elder Smith

ps mom. if you haven't sent the package yet. Oreos and jello don't exist here either.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!