Sorry that it took so long to get back to you all! I promise
that I am safe. I made it to Chicago last Monday, which is P-day so I was not
able to write. I tried to text a picture of me and my new companion on Tuesday,
but it looks like it didn't go through or I just don't know the phone numbers
anymore. It was hard to think of them, when I haven't used them in so long. We
had dinner at the Mission Home Monday, interviews with President Woodbury and
then on Tuesday got to meet our new companions and be told were we were going.
My companion's name is Hermana Smith, she is from Highland,
Utah. And no worries I totally fell in front of everyone when I went up to the
front to meet everyone. It was super embarrassing... O well, I guess that is
life, and it would totally happen to me. We are serving in Rensselaer, Indiana.
Of course I would be sent out of the beautiful city first chance, but I think
that I will have my chance in the city. I hope so, or maybe I could ask for a
refund or something. Just kidding. :) To make things a little better we are
serving in an English Branch... which is very strange. We are still Spanish
Missionaries, but in an English Branch. The end goal seems to be to create a
Spanish Branch in the area, but currently they only have one current active
member that speaks Spanish. They keeps saying that we are opening an area like
never before. The work seems really overwhelming at the moment, but I know as
we put the time and effort in we will be blessed in many ways.
As this is a brand new assignment we also got a brand new
completely empty apartment, which I think has been really hard for me. All the
documentation says to avoid homesickness it is best to completely unpack, well
I have not really be able to do that, but hopefully today someone from the
mission home comes and purchases us some items, so that I can settle in a
little bit better. I did get the package that was sent and a few letters so
thank you so much! That helps a lot. The pedometer doesn't seem to work
though... It may be I just don't know how to work it, but I could not turn it
on for the life of me.
On Sunday, we of course were the speakers for Sunday, so
that was fun I guess. One plus side of being in an English branch is the fact
that I got to give my talk for the most part in English, so that everyone could
understand. Mostly, we have been planning and studying a lot to get out and
bring the Spanish population into the church. We did go tracking some and that
was an adventure. My companion is real nice and she lets me handle the door
step and things. I know that as I put for the effort my Spanish will improve
and I won't be to extremely lost. I have been able to get the jest of most
conversations, but don't completely understand everything. I wonder if my
companion is impressed with how much I know, or thinks I should know. She keeps
telling me she isn't fluent, which is frustrating to me, but I guess we can all
only try our best. She has been out about seven months now.
On other great thing about Indiana is all the Spiders!! I
really don't think I have ever seen so many spiders in my life! I don't like
them, I don't like them at all!
Things are going great, and I am just trying to figure this
whole mission thing out. I keep thinking there is nothing I could have done to
prepare for all of this! Thanks to everyone who either emails or writes me! It
really means a lot! The mail seems to work really great now that I am in the
field and get wait to see more mail in my mailbox! :) Love you all!! It sounds
like there are a lot of fun things going on back at home!! I got Brittney's
picture from the dance! I always loved homecoming week at school! By the way I
love the MC t-shirt! I wear it like every single night!! :)
Ashley P!
