TRANSFERRED!!!

Hello all... oh how I've missed you. Seriously, this week has been intense. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD, I hope it was truly amazing.

(Sigh).... a big, big one... Where do I start with this week? This city is HUGE and there is so much work to be done. I am upset that the elders ruined the missionary work reputation here (and left our house so completely and entirely disgusting). We've wasted so much time getting things in order. I don't even know where to begin telling my week. The elders before us slept during siesta. And there hasn't been a baptism here the entire year. We don't have a ward mission leader and so... we're flying solo for now.

On the other hand, our area... we have the stake center for our church, it's nice. We have every resource of the church here in our area, including family history center. That's pretty cool, eh. We don't have any new investigators because we've been spending all our time orienting ourselves, trying to find the members, the recent converts, the elders supposed investigators, and getting all that sorted out. We met with the Bishop and his counselors and they are ready to work. Miracle of the week. When we met with them, they told us they have been praying for months for sisters in this area. So... they say we are an answer to their prayers and they expect a lot from us. It's cool. The difference here is the members are FULL of references, and ready and willing to go to any lesson with us to help move the work forward. This area has been at rest for so long they are now pumped. It's good. There are other problems here, like some lack of trust.... ugh! It's been very interesting.

On the bright side, my language has picked up. Yeah! I can feel, hear and see the difference. This no longer is my first area, the members don't baby me and so they just expect me to talk... and I do. It's been good. Also, my comp is very, tight mouthed. She doesn't really try to get to know people and I feel that is the way into their hearts. Hermana Hite felt the same way and so she would make conversation with people and all was well. Now I'm the one who has to make conversation to get into people's hearts. If I want it done, I gotta do it myself. And so... my Spanish is gonna be sweet. I'm excited for that.

My comp is good... she is very by the book which is good in the work aspect. I love her. It's gonna be good. Really, it's been hard getting used to things here. Like every change here on the mish, I just need to give myself a little time to get used to things. I've never prayed so much in my life. I guess that's why sometimes we have trials, so that we remember the Savior and that we really do need him. There, seriously, is soooo much to be done here. I'm so excited to get to work for real, for real. The problem now is just having the patience to get everything started up and rolling. It'll take some time, but hopefully I'll be around to see the fruits of our labor. I'm well and working hard, I can promise you that. I love you all so much. Thoughts of you is the only thing that keeps me going. I hope you guys are well.

I love you more than ever. Love, Ash