Hay Sol

September 23, 2013

sooo... sometimes I don't know what to say... haha. 

I want to send some photos, but la verdad, I can't really figure it out... technology and i have never mixed well haha

well... yeah, the weather is super nice today por fin! Hay sol! Our investigator facundo is continuing to progress slowly but surely which is super good!

did you know argentina doesn't have brown sugar!?? it doesn't exist here! they only have this black sugar stuff and white sugar... I was a bit disappointed to find that out cause I wanted brown sugar to eat with my polenta. 

OH! I nearly forgot! After 5 months, I have FINALLY tried the famous Argentine Asado that everyone talks about!! I've eaten lots of meat here and it's all good, but never Asado, cause it's really expensive, untill sunday. And let me tell you.... It is the best thing I have ever eaten!! Every bit of meat has a different distinct delicious flavor!! And you feel so carnivourous cause you just eat it all with your hands but it's so juicy and delicious that you don't even care. my companion and I almost thought about never brushing our teeth again so that we could keep the flavor in our mouths! (don't worry, I eventually brushed my teeth...) 

Anyways, it was delicous. try not to be too jealous thinking about it. 

The work is going good here, it's a pretty slow town... but we're meeting more and more people and hopefully we can start getting some more investigators and menos activo families to work with. It's so weird how fast time goes! I really can't even believe it! Oh and can't remember if I ever said this or not, but super funny that I kid I went to highschool with and was in the same seminary class is actually my district leader haha. his name's elder Todd Kimball. Great missionary, he finishes his mission at the end of this transfer and I might ask him to bring some stuff to you guys... don't know, just a thought still. but if so, anything you'd like me to send? has to be small. 

I'm loving the mission, but I miss you all lots. 

sorry this is kinda a lame letter this week, i was trying to figure out how to send photos, but couldn't really figure it out... so sorry for that too haha. 

lots of love and prayers!

hermana ashcroft

Gatos y Perros

September 16, 2013

Hola, (sometimes I feel like this is still the only word I can say that will be understood haha)

So I was going to send you guys some photos this week, but about 15 seconds after I turned on my camera to plug it into the computer, it died... so you'll have to wait for the next week. 

So we visit this family about once a week that has a daughter that is preparing to get baptised, and they live in a house behind the grandma's house. It's more temporary and is just one room for the 12 of them. The 2 parents, 2 kids, and 8 gatos!! That's 8 cat's in case you didn't know. hahah It is crazy how many cats there are! It's such a good thing that cats are one of the few things that I'm allergic to... haha. Since it's really cold though, my runny nose just looks like I have a cold when I'm in their house haha. Although one day I made the mistake of touching my eyes and I looked like I was getting super emotional from our lesson because of how watery and red my eyes were haha.

Now the perros- there's this alley that we walk down every day to and from our apartment, but we have to be super careful cause sometimes the dogs gang up on us. Now there's always a ton of dogs everywhere, but this alley has a billion! Nearly all the dogs seem to hate us to. One day we stood for about 5 minutes in the same spot cause about 8 dogs decided to gang up on us and we were so sure that they were going to attack. I think they know that my companion is super scared of the dogs and that's why they're always after us. The dogs really can be vicious (I can't for the life of me figure out how to spell that word)... but anways, the other day, we saw something in the street, so we walked up to it and it turned out to be the leg of a dog! The dogs had literally torn this dog apart! I've seen lots of dead cats from dogs, but that was the first time i'd seen that. Sorry if that was too much... 

Although that's all part of the mission, it's really not the stuff that I'm going to remember the most. The truth is that it's this work in general that's amazing and the people that I'm going to remember. These things are more difficult to put into words though than stories about cats and dogs. 

A scripture that really helped me this week though was Alma 38:5. Read it and think about it. Also, if you can, look up a talk that was in the September 2012 Liahona- It's called "como viven los discípulos de cristo en tiempos de guerra y violencia" by David Brent Marsh. It's helped me a lot this week. 

I love you all so much and pray for you everyday. I'm sending some special prayers for Mark and Heather and the Crawford family and Dale and Bill as well. 

Hermana Ashcroft

P.S.- It's still cold.... I realized the other day that i've been living in the cold for a year now... try not to get too depressed thinking about that haha.  

P.S.S.- spanish is still hard. 

P.S.S.S.- I still am so happy to be here though! Even when I'm not happy, I'm happy. If that is even possible.

P.S.S.S.S.- I really do read your letters and love them, sorry if I forget to reply to things though.

P.S.S.S.S.S.- that's all the P.S.'s for now. 

Vientoso

September 11, 2013

Hola familia, 

Sorry I didn't write monday... the wind here is incredible. It's like aruba here were it's nearly always windy, but the wind here is 20 times stronger! All the power was out monday from the wind and tuesday there still wasn't internet in the cybers. Our district leader let our zone leader know that we couldn't leave our houses or write cause of the wind, and then told us that if we didn't have appointments that we didn't have to leave. My companion and I had worked hard to get appointments that monday night though, so we didn't want to cancel them. Cause it can be so hard to get people to commit to a cita. So we left our apartment to walk to 35 minutes to our appointement and I cant even tell you how crazy it was! We were nearly falling over from the wind! I was lauging so hard cause I couldn't believe it, but that just caused me to eat a lot of sand... we practically walked blinded cause we couldn't really open our eyes. I think I've got about 10 pounds of sand that entered my body through my nose ears mouth, and every other hole we've got... at least now I can blame that 10 pounds of weight I've gained on the sand (I've definitely gained a lot of weight... pasta and pan... no bueno haha). We survived the wind though and made it to our 2 citas that night and both of them actually were home and opened the door for us! (although with that wind its not like they could have been anywhere else haha)

Tuesday continued with really strong wind, but not quite as bad, and it's a lot calmer today. But supposedly the really strong wind is common here... We have to be careful with what skirts we wear haha. 

We're teaching a girl named Monica that can't hear, so my companion and I are trying to learn sign language now too... Spanish sign language is a lot different than english sign language if you were wondering. Monica knows how to talk really well and can read lips pretty well, but there's lots that we have to learn in sign language to be able to communicate better with her. So now am not only trying to learn spanish, but spanish sign language as well... haha. I always feel like I have so much more to learn... with the language, the gosple, the scriptures and everything! But that's really what everything is about right? continuing progressing and learning more and more every day. there's always more that we can learn, and I'm really loving learning all that I can. Doesn't mean it's not hard though haha. 

We got an investigator named facundo this past week that made me think of Andy. He really is like the argentine version of andy with how similar he is to him. The way he talks, looks, acts... and to me it was a tender mercy from the lord. I know without a doubt that the plan of salvation is real. And as sad as it may be at this time, the plan of salvation gives us a much bigger picture of the purpose of life and the happiness we can recieve from knowing of god's plan for us.

I love you all so much! I was gonna send some pictures, but the computer doesn't have a plug in thingy for my camera haha.

Things are changing rapidly in the mission work. we're no longer counting contacts (not that we've stopped making them, they're just not in our weekly reports) and we no longer count 'other lessons'... our estandarte is based only on lessons with members present now, and lessons with recent converts and less actives. Every lesson with investigators now should be with a member. The mission is working hard to strengthen the barrios through member relationships. And the obra misonal is growing and changing so much! it's incredible. 

anyways, no more time. Hope all is well! 

Hermana AShcroft

Plaza HUINCUL

September 2, 2013

So turns out I was misinformed on how to spell Plaza Huincul.... I found out once I got here that I'd been spelling it wrong haha. 

My new companion is Hermana Garcia from Mexico and she's super great! She's new to argentina, but served 6 months in Mexico. So I'm helping her learn how things work in this mission and about argentina and she's helping me with all the talking and being a missionary haha. I honestly still have so much spanish to learn... and I'm still not all that great, but It's coming. And my companion likes to talk a lot, so hopefully I'll learn even better! 

She and I are the first hermanas in this area for about 7 years now... it was previously part of the area of the elders, but they didn't focus in this part, so we're basically starting from scratch... It's hard, but we're learning together. the area is really big. 

Sorry, don't have more time... but I love you all so much! 

hermana ashcroft

PS- I'm so sad to hear about andy... please tell bill and dale that I am praying for them. 

Chou Trevelin

So we got the call for the transfers saturday night just before bed, and I'm leaving to go open up a new area. It's called Plaza Huincol. My new compañera is Hermana Garcia I think... Can't remember. Anyways, I leave wednesday at 4pm from esquel. I get to Bariloche at 9pm and then leave from bariloche at 11pm and get to Neuquen at 4:45am Thursday. Then at 11 o'clock that night I leave neuquen for Cutralcol and get there just before 1am and then take a taxi from there to my new area. Definitely a LOT of traveling. I'm just hoping I can sleep more then I've been able to the other times in the colectivos. 

They called my up to bare my testimony yesterday in church for the last time, and I didn't think I was going to, but i definitely cried. It's been so hard to say good-bye to the people here. When they learned I was leaving they all were so sweet and have written me so many notes and farewell gifts. It killed me to see little 8 year old Micaela cry so hard during church when she found out I was leaving. We've been teacher her and her parents and have been helping to get them married so they can get baptised, but it's gonna be at the end of September that they are able to do that all because of papers, so I won't be here. As well as the baptism of 3 other investigators that we've been teaching that i'm gonna miss. I'm so happy for them though. I taught the gosple principles class this sunday. It's the class for the recent converts and investigators. My first sunday here we had one person in the class. Yesterday there were 9! and that's been our average for the last few weeks now. It's incredible the growth! Our chaple is nearly full now on sundays! It makes me so happy to see how the gosple can change peoples lives for the better!

Love you all lots! sorry i don't have more time... siesta... things close down early. 

Hermana Ashcroft

La Torre oe Babel

Lauren and Hermana Obando

It snowed this week in Trevelin.

Sorry...but thank you!!

Sorry, I don't really have time to write this week... yesterday was a day 'franco' por casi todo de argentina. Entonces everything was closed and we couldnt go to a cyber to write. And the cyber is only open for a few more minutes now cause of siesta.... aregentina is always sleeping... if I wasn't a missionary, id probably love it haha.

The people here have the ability to make the oldest run down cars in the world still run and work. Sometimes I can't help but smile so big when I am in the car of some of the members. It made me think though... if these cars are still running, you guys can make sure stella continues running! haha so please do that for me. 

I really am loving everythinig so much!! There definitely are hard days and times, but I am just so happy to actually be here and to be sharing the gosple with these people! Although, I often feel that I am learning more from them than them from me. Spanish is still hard... haha but it comes when needed. 

Trnasfers are at the end of this week and we found out that they are sending 2 elders to trevelin!! WOOOHH!! the work is growing incredibly here! we are so exited for the extra support! WE're also super anxious to see what's going to happen with us. One of us is going to leave (we believe atleast) but we dont't know who... The next monday though you guys will know if i'm still in trevelin or a new area... Dun dun dun.... hope you guys could hear the intensity of my voice with that. haha 

love you all so much!! haha and thanks mom and hailey for the pictures! I LOVE them! I hope I look half as good as you mom! 

I know this church is true! No doubt. The book of mormon really is so great, it's like an intense storry!! haha there's my nerdy missionary side for you. read and pray. It always helps!

Love,

Hermana Ashcroft

PS- ill try to send photos the next time! or soon at ellest... haha

Dia del nino fiesta!

Service Project

Miracles

August 12, 2013

Hola family! 

Again I don't have much time, cause we have to get back to Trevelin for a cita. But en serio (one of my favorite things to say haha) thank you so much for always writing! I absolutely love hearing from you all and your stories! 

So this week has been a week of noticing miracles. In every aspect of the work. This last Sunday we had 47 people at our chaple!!!! 47!!!! There almost weren't enough seats for everyone! It was incredible! Sure about 7 people were only there cause a baby was being blessed, and may not return (although I'm not ruling the possibility of  it out), but even so, 40 people is huge for us!! And we have 5 people with baptism dates right now and are working to help 2 different families get married so that they can be baptised. It is incredible to see how the lord works miracles to build up his church. There is no way that I could say that this progress has been because hermana obando and I are 'capas', but I know that it is only through and by the help of the lord. 

Also, as hard as it is to learn a language, I LOVE to see the moments when they lord uses the spirit to guide me. There not all that often, but the few moments when for whatever reason the lord sees neccessary, it's as though spanish is easy for me. All the correct words just come out of my mouth and I'm able to explain with perfect clarity what needs to be told to that person at that time.... And then I go back to not being able to string 5 correct words together hahah. But really, the 88 percent of the time that I can't speak is all worth it to see the 12 percent of the time when the spirit is so strong and is guiding my every word. Maybe it's a sign that I need to gain more faith so that I can have that strong of a spirit with me always, and then i'll be fluent haha. I wish I could explain more clearly how incredible it is though. 

Natalie- you almost had me convinced that soren't first words really were about me haha. For tricking me now you ahve to repeat my name to him every day untill it really is his first words! also- LOVE the picture!

Hope you guys enjoyed Thialand, it sounds awesome!! 

Love you all more than I have words for! 

Hasta la proxima semana! 

Hermana Ashcroft