ts good to hear from all of you! Bolivia continues to be hard but it is okay at the same time. My spanish is coming but I want it to come faster. I am excited fror cambios because then I will know exactly how my spanish is coming because I wont be in training anymore and will have more opportunities to talk which is good. I had intercambios this week with another sister and I was in charge of showing her my area with my investigators. I was really, really nervous because I dont really have a relationship with my investigators...my comp just liks to bring them food and talk to them which isnt good and I cant really talk to them (especially because I cant talk about the time we didnt have money to buy our food or the time when we woke up at three in the morning to go to the market in la paz....) so I was pretty nervous for intercambios with the other hermana. I prayed the night before and said that I really needed to know what to say...well the next day I just decided that one thing we all have in common is the love of god and tnothing else so I just taught them lessons and testified the next day with my other companion. (she said she didnt want to talk a lot because I need to grow more...) well it was the most powerful day I have had on the mission I cried after the intercamio because it was the first day that I actually felt like a missionary. Some of my investigators looked at me when I was speaking and they said..you can talk...I didnt know you could talk? because my companion doesnt really give me an opportunity to talk or we just visit them and dont teach them a lesson. it was a nice day and I was sad when it ended. I didnt realize that just my presence can make an impression on the people. I talked with the other companion that I had intercambio with and she said Hermana Ashton I want you to know that today was missionary work and all the other days have just been relationship work..she didnt even know my situation with my comp but she told me that...It made me feel good to know that I have missionary work to look forward to and as far as this time I just need to hang in there :) Transfers are in two weeks so we will see what happens.
I had a temple recommend interview earlier this week with President. When he asked me the questions for the interview I started to tear up a little bit because of how much I new the my answer for them was true. Before my mish during those interviews I always answered yes but it was almost a flippent yes not a yes with power. Well during my interview with him he asked me if I knew Jose smith was I prophet I said yes and started to tear up and then he started to tear up a little bit and he said right after I hope you are writing your mom everyday and telling her that you are a good missionary :) and then we finished the interview. Moral of the story there is a lot of power in stating your beliefs even if it is only a one word answer. The church is true. One time I was talking to president and I said it is interesting how almost everything we dont have an exact answert to but we have an exact answer of the truthfulness of this gospel. People here dont have anything...I mean nothing. (only thing is some stuffed grasss for badding or stuffed clotheres to sleep on at night but at the same time they have everything because they have the gospel, God loves all of his childeren I know this with all of my heart.
Also during my interview he asked how hermana ortuno (my comp is) I said fine. And he said Hermana ashton tell me..and I said she was having late night conversations and I cant go to the leaders about her mistakes because she doesnt listen to them. He said that she is on the list of having her phone priveliges taken aways because ehtey have a record of the phones and he said he knows her well and he knows that I have a lot of patience. Well I am glad I could learn patience this week.
Yep as I write this the policia are outside hitting people and shooting there gouns...I seriously hate the police here..they cat call me and are just mean I am glad I dont see them a lot we are just in a cafe close to the canch (a mercadao that is dangerous) we needed to but some things. I only bought a notebook and some tape and pens...
Bolivia is really dangerous...our area especially when someone robs someting the people shoot or beat them to death and then take there clothes and hang them up as a symbol. (you dont call the police because they will just come and hurt everyone (totally corrupt) We have about four symbols hanging up around our area ;(...the worst is they burn therre bodies and the smell really is horrible...yuck. You need to be watching you back twenty four seven especially as a gringa. I know that the lord is looking out for us. And I pray that he doesnt forget me... Also our neighbors have been having a fiesta almost everynight super loud until 2 am so we are always exhuasted...the other thing that happend is there was an argument outside our house and then gunshots and then I didnt know what else...I didnt want to look out the gate. Moral of the story..walk with purpose look around you at all times and dont do anything to bring attention...
Okay aside from bolivia problems we had three baptisms this week!!! This family is super humble. The mom is leaving in a couple days to go work in the fields. (she will leave her kids for 9 months) The mom and her two teenagers we baptized. The other day we watched the testiments with them and then after we prayed the mom said in her pray thank you god for letting there hermanas find us. People like them make it worht it. There son Omar always call us the hermanitas ( I will ned to send you a picture of them next week when I have more time). We are teaching another family. A brandma and her four grandkids. Both of their parent are in jail and it is really, really sad situation but there heart are super soft so I will keep you updated on them also.
As far as this p-day hermana dying is having a hermanas day and we are having lunch with her and president...so that should be fun. There mission house is nice. Hermana Dying doesnt know spanish and a lot of the latin elders dont like them and just call them rich people and they dont like her because she hasnt learned spanish...it is kind of funny and annoying at the same time..
We are trying to look for a new pensionista because ours is moving I am nervous for a new one..because I will probably get sick again because they arent used to cooking in the clean way (for example when we eat with members normally they just kill the chicken and they dont clean the chicken before they cook it and the heat isnt at a point where it kills all the bacteria, or they dont wash the vegetabbles....(...it is a big responsibility to find a new one and my comp leaves in two week so she really isnt helping in the effort to find someone to cook for us because she probably wont be here. So pray for me in this effort. I would really appreciate it. Last night Our district leader who eats with us god mad at our penshioinista because our penshionista like to gossip about other peopole all the time...( she started gossiping about one of his investigators he gos mad and then when I went to give him the numbers for the week he snaped at me...rough night for him) he sent us a message letter that night saying sorry....the hardest part about the culture is people gossip so much about other people it is so annoying!!!)
Okay spiritual thought...Last night I was crying in my pillow about everything like normal...:) and I prayed super hard and just opened my scriptures to Heleamen 15,6. It talked about having unwearied dilligenge...in the footnote it says dedication..I need to havew dedication. I know that If I come out of this mission I will be able to DO anything. I am praying for more love for the people and there way of leaving and I know goid is blessing me in this. Thank you for you letteres this week they really help me. I love you all. Heritage Square is going to be so nice!!! I cant wait to see it and linds and nates house!!!!! I am excited! I miss you all a lot. I love you so much. I wish I spent more time with you and wasnt so focused on school and my future and was more focused in the presence before I left home. I just want to give you all a huge hug. I still think it is weird that I am helping others with there problmes when I didnt help more at home..but I trust that this mission is blessing all of you and I love you with all of my heart. Always be greatful for the blessing we have...alot of our investigators are going through hard things ( no money, drunk fathers who beat them, sickness...) we are so blessed. blessed to have this gosple. Blessed to have a dad that was trustworthy and creatied a life with so many opportunities for us. Dad the men here are really disrespectdul, drinkers and beaters even within the church...I am so grateful for you example you have been in my life...I dont know what I did in the life before to have the family that I do but I know I need to be grateful every minute for all of you. I criy a lot because everyday I realize my blessing when I see something new. And Every day I realize the love that god has for these people ( seems contradictory but I know he has love for them even when there dad is beating them... because I know that through trials you faith and dependence on the lord is immensely great ( and the lord is able to rest upon us). The lord existes and I know come judgement day the people of bolivia are going to be judged very differently than us. I love you all!!! Keep praying for me and will pray for you. Pray that my investigators will be able to gaina eternal perspective and not just a day y day perspective. I am healthy this week so dont worry to much. Love you like a fat kid loves butter sticks!!!
Kirs
Pictures next week!
