I HAVE ARRIVED!

Two weeks and I’m used to my new situation. I’ll tell you something funny. I am trying to type in Spanish, my brain is having a hard time switching to English. Crazy. I accidentally speak in English with my comp sometimes and then when I try to speak English with zone leaders or members who want to practice, only Spanish comes out. It’s really embarrassing. At least that means I’m getting good. : ) It’s a crazy talent to be able to speak two languages … to switch back and forth is so cool!

Wow, we have experienced so many weird things. The people here are intense. As we continue to search for members, less actives, recent converts and investigators we come across some interesting people. We had some seriously crazy experiences. One of our converts is 12, Sheyla. She’s awesome. Her family is a little different, they practice black magic. Seriously scary stuff. We got to her house to have a lesson and all the lights were out. The houses here don’t have windows and so it was pitch black. She lights a candle and we proceed to have the lesson like that. We were kinda confused. Then she tells us they are doing some ritual. uhhh... ok? Her uncle later comes out and starts talking gospel with us. It was good, until he went off. I was really scared. He was talking all quiet, by the candle, talking about spirits. He then tells us the scariest story I’ve ever heard. Ugh, the spirit left for sure. I felt so unprotected… naked, spiritually if you get what I mean. Oh man... so scary. We had to get outta there!

Then we were looking for someone specifically, and we knock on this door that looks like a house. A girl who was for sure on drugs opens up and lets us in. The roof is open and there is a dark alleyway with several doors on each side with a staircase at the end… People drinking, smoking, drugs and scary stuff. I felt like I literally walked into the movie "Taken." Holy cow. There is some sketch stuff here, and we continue to discover more. I’m constantly nervous about where we’re knocking, who will come out and what we’ll find. It’s been interesting. In the meantime, we have found some awesome people. That really is the greatest part of the mish. All the people you get to meet and know who you would have never met otherwise. It’s the greatest. We have two investigators with baptismal dates, but neither came to church and so we gotta see what’s up. Also we had a reference and she is awesome! She tells us she wants to be Mormon. So cool. We have been finding part member families all over the place and our goal is to work with those to complete them.

I’ve learned a lot this week. I have learned to lean on the Lord so much. It’s been really cool. Every single one of my prayers was answered this week. Every day I had something else that I needed and Heavenly Father gave it to me. That’s the awesome thing about the mish. You get to test the Lord. In return, he tests you but you get to learn so much about the Savior and your testimony grooooooows. Just a simple example, it’s been pouring, freezing cold all week. We made plans last week to go to Punta del Este today with Sheyla. It was pouring yesterday and we didn’t think we’d be able to go. I prayed so hard it would stop, if it was the Lord’s will. This morning it was so windy, freezing, and cloudy, cloudy, cloudy. I was so bummed. What do you know? 30 minutes before we leave the house, the sun comes out, the sky turns blue and there ya go. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. I can surely testify of that.

I have also learned I have to be myself here. It’s been hard with the language and when I don’t understand generally I would just sit there and listen, try to make sense of stuff and get nothing out of it. But! this week, like I said, there’s no holding back. I feel really good about myself. It’s been difficult, but when I don’t understand, I just ask. I learn, and it’s been so good. Yesterday we had ward council. The first in my whole mish, and it was awesome. The ward needs each other, just like any, and my comp wasn’t saying anything. So I stood up and spoke in front of everyone what the needs are, what they can do to help us and it was great. We have a rescue plan we’re going to put into practice, activities we’re going to do and lives we’re going to change. I love the feel. It’s good. It’s how the whole mission should be. I feel lame that it took me so long to get here, but here I am. Ready and willing, trying and striving, learning and growing, that is for sure.

With this part member family, the dad isn’t a member, but the wife and kids are. She said so many missionaries have tried working with him, but he won’t listen to anyone. While we were visiting he was staring at me, with a puzzled look. He said I reminded him of a dear friend. My comp started plowing down with gospel principles and I knew it wasn’t the right time. I felt he was getting frustrated and I starting asking his wife questions. That’s how we found all this info out. She said she knows one day someone will come along. He’s just waiting for "his" missionary. I decided to write a little note to him. We left it. If no missionary ever tries, then he won’t ever be baptized. This is what I mean by being myself. Also, I have been able to laugh more this week, and everyone makes comments about it. Generally, I laugh at everything but... with difficult times it’s hard to do, so I am being more myself with the language and culture and it feels so good! I’m happy...

We’re out of time here, but ocean here I come. I love you all so much. I’m always thinking and praying for you. I hope you feel my love. I know I sure do feel yours.

I love you, Ash