Bienvenida Abril!

 ¡Hola!

Well first off happy April!! So it may be April fools day....but don't worry no jokes are included in this email, everything you will read is actually from the life of a Spanish sister missionary living in Manhattan. Haha but really sometimes our life doesn't seem quite believable.

Well April is definitely here, let's just hope April showers really do bring May flowers? I don't know if New York weather realizes that it's spring but we have been getting a lot of April showers already so that's always good! 

We took Larry to Lombardi's...which is the first ever pizzeria in the U.S.

So Thursday was pretty crazy last week! We have an awesome new investigator that used to be an investigator from the English sisters. His name is Ramone and he has difficulties with speech so randomly switches between Spanish and English (hence why we needed to teach him) BUT we had an amazing first lesson with him Thursday. We were able to show him the new Easter video "Because He Lives" and it brought back childhood memories and it was just really powerful. I don't know if everyone has watched the new video yet, but it's incredible. President Morgan says that when truth is spoken, truth is felt, and it is so true! The power of a simple video about the atonement is amazing. Also Thursday we had a last minute meet up with Yobanna (literally a drop everything and get there lesson which was exciting) and then a dinner appointment and then the relief society board meeting! We were running non stop...but it was an incredible day! Sometimes those days are the best :)

We also met with this amazing member family this week that just moved her from Spain. They're Ecuadorian and have beautiful Spanish. It's so fun to just be able to sit down and converse with people (understanding almost everything). To think that just 8 months ago I didn't even know Spanish at all and now I can relate and connect with people? The gift of tongues is real. I know the spirit is helping me every day. 

Saturday we were able to do a really cool "APF" as a zone. We went to Central Park (kind of by the big fountain and boat house). We had a sign that said #BecauseHeLives, some chalk, and some pass-along cards. And it was so amazing! We had been praying to find some Spanish people to talk to AND we were able to talk to 2 families. They were both tourists (Argentina and Columbia) but we were still able to share the video/cards and our simple testimonies. We met a lot of other amazing people too! Even though we didn't find anyone we could immediately teach, it was such a blessing to just be out talking to so many people and sharing the message of Easter!

Also Saturday we had another awesome lesson with the Paulino family that we brought Larry to. This time Patricia AND Gladys and the girls and Felix were all there! It was a really good lesson about prophets and we're really hoping they're able to come watch a session of general conference! After the Paulino family we went and picked up Maria to go to the Women's general session of conference. It was amazing! I love Maria so much and it's so cool to be able to experience the power of the spirit like that with her. The messages about family were perfect too! Man I love general conference (it might almost be better than Christmas? Almost.) 

Wow there was so many other things this week too! But we're running short on time...transfers were today, I'm staying here with Sister McAlister, but still traveling to Inwood and back with the meeting takes time....and this email is getting a bit on the long side. 

BUT we did have one more amazing thing happen that I have to tell you about. So Sister Torres was transferred today so Monday we went to get gelato at this place by the church....and the two workers there were Spanish!! There was an older lady from Mexico, and a younger guy from the DR!!!!?! What are the odds?? So we ended up talking to them for a quite a bit, and sister Neilson helped out by transitioning it to asking if they would be interested. And they said they would definitely want to check out our church, and we gave them cards to watch the new video and everything. Such a tender mercy. Just shows you that you should be constantly finding wherever you go because you never know who is ready for your message! 

Well I hope everyone has an amazing start to April!! Also this weekend is pretty exciting with both general conference AND Easter. I hope everyone is really able to listen with the spirit and receive personal answers to the questions we all have. Also make sure if you haven't yet, check out the video on helives.mormon.org (#BecauseHeLives) I'm not just saying this because I'm a missionary....its actually really amazing and powerful. Well I love you all!! HAPPY EASTER  (eat some dark chocolate Cadbury eggs & enjoy general conference)! 

Con Amor,
Hermana Smart