Well another week gone. I feel like they are flying by yet going so slow. It is a weird mind game the mission plays on you. Anyways this week was pretty good. Monday was Fourth of July. To be honest I spent most of the day in the church emailing home and talking to my family. I loved every second of it! Please feel free to email me whenever. I can see emails throughout the whole week with my iPad. I would love to hear from everyone! Then we had dinner at a members house. Her twin boys made us dinner and dessert. So good. Then we had family home evening with them and shared a quick message. Then we talked win he mom sister Alamia for a good hour or more on how we could help her in relief society. As well how we could work together to help this branch grow and expand hopefully to have a ward in two years. It was a great conversation and it got me really excited to work in this area. Then we did some look ups trying to talk to anyone.
Tuesday in the morning we had district meeting which very well. We had a nice discussion on our investigators and how to best help them. Then we went with Elder and Sister Martino to a lesson they had set up. It was a mom and her four children. She just had a death in the family so we were there to talk to her and help her have a little more hope in her life. It was a powerful and amazing lesson. Then we tried a less active but she didn't answer. That night we had dinner at the
Martinos's house we our investigator and his less active mom. The mom is named Blanca her son Eddy is our investigator and he has a sister Alision and brother Jack. Super cute family. Eddy is 12 and he is working so hard to learn and grow from the gospel it is awesome. We had dinner there and then went to knock doors. We took the YW president with us who recently graduated from BYU. She is super nice. We are trying to help her build up her young women program because there are no young women right now. Then we went to an investigators/less active home to give the investigator a blessing. Come to find out they just had a death in the family so we stuck to the blessing and a quick lesson. It was great.
Wednesday we did some weekly planning. Then Sister Martino came out with us to a lesson with a less active named Ethel. The lesson was interesting. Ethel really likes to talk and is very animated in
everything she says. We tried really hard to push church but she really didn't want anything to do with it. It was so sad to see. Then we got our car washed and all nice and clean. Then we drove to the restaurant of our mission leader to have correlation. It was a little all over the place but we did get to talk about some things that we needed to. Then we had a bunch of time to knock doors. Then we taught English class to two people. I thought it was super fun. I learned some more Spanish and they learned some more English. I thought it was a win/win situation, but my companion isn't that big of a fan.
Thursday was zone conference. We had to leave kinda of early. The chapel we went to was about an hour away. So fun! I got to see Hermana Williams, Hermana Gourley, and Hermana Spencer!! I loved seeing them! We spent quite a bit of time going over the good old days and the fun times we had. We also heard from many different people. It was such a good conference and I learned so much. Mainly I felt the Spirit so strong it was no denying that I am doing what I need to. My favorite part was they showed part of remember the Titans when the coach has him carry the boy across the field and the coach encourages him on. It made me think of band and the directors pushing us. Or basketball when
the coaches would push for more from us. Or winter guard when Duffy would always expect the best because he knew what we are capable of doing. I am grateful I had directors, coaches, and teachers who would always push me to go farther. It made me realize I was losing a little steam to keep pushing, and that I have so much more my Heavenly Father wants to give me but I need to work for it. After zone conference we had a lesson with Eddy and Blanca.
Friday we helped get some things ready for the primary activity on Saturday. Then we had weekly planning which was nice and short. Then we went to a less actives house and she let us right in. To be honest I left that house super sad. She told us she grew up in the church and now no longer believed in the some of the things the church does. It was so sad to see that flame that had gone out. She had been so strong and firm at one point to now where she doesn't really want to go to church at all. I just don't understand how some people go from having the biggest blessing in their lives to not really caring about it at all. It just broke my heart. I know how much this gospel has blessed my life and my family's lives. I wish they could see that again. Anyways, then we went out to east Hampton and did some look ups and tried to find someone. At one point Hermana Bandeaux told me to choice street so I did. We got there and one of the houses just stood out to me so I told which one and we knocked the door. It was a cute little family. I don't know how interested they were but you could tell they felt the spirit and they liked the feeling.
Saturday was a crazy day. First we had a FaceTime lesson with a new investigator we are working with. It was an awesome lesson and he had so many questions that were good questions. It was great! We had the activity for the primary. It was a America party. We spent the last two weeks handing out invitations like crazy and trying so hard to get a bunch of people there. It was a descent size amount. There were for sure more non members than members in attendance. It was super fun! I played Betsy Ross and I taught them about the American flag. As well how to respect the flag. The children loved it! They watched a movie about Abe Lincoln and made cute flags. The whole thing was a big success. Then we spent the next like two hours trying to find any less active or investigator to talk to. Like no one answered the phone or door. So annoying. We did talk to one less active family though which was a little crazy because the kids were running around like crazy. So in order to have dinner or lunch at the Martino's home we have to have an investigator or less active there. So we were trying to find some one to come to the dinner that we had that night with a member. We talked to the Martino's and told them about our troubles and how the best we could find was to do a FaceTime lesson with Eddy and his mom. So we had the lesson and the member cooked us amazing food!! So good! I left to full and happy. I have to say as a side note the Martino's are awesome! I really love working with them! They are like second parents to me. Maybe because they are from Texas too.
Sunday we had branch council before church. Then we had church which was a little crazy. One of our investigators came!! We were so happy he was there! Then after church I was talking to one of the members who used to live in Pflugerville back when we first moved into the ward 15 or more years ago. She was asking a bunch of questions of how Pflugerville is and how much it is expanding. Fun fact her husband is in round rock right now visiting his dad. So you know if you see a brother Tran next week at church don't be surprised! Plus he and I have talked so he would be the most recent person to have talked to me in person down there! Then we went home and tried making some calls to investigators trying to set up some lessons for this week. Then we took the new YW president out with us to find her some YW we went to one less active home and they let us in. Let's just say it was a very interesting lesson. Then we had found some Texas pork at the store and we had that for dinner! Then we headed out to east Hampton. So something I haven't mentioned is Hampton bays is the biggest area on the mission. It takes two or more hours to drive one end to the other and we are not in the middle of the area so going to east Hampton is an hour drive or more. So yeah fun stuff. First Hermana Bandeaux had to go to the bathroom so we stopped at Blanca's house to use the restroom and give a small lesson. Then we looked up a referral. We found her!!! She was home. So this was the lady who like a week ago sent a referral through the church requesting a Book of Mormon. She
sounded kind of interested and we shared what we do as missionaries with her. So exciting to finally meet her. Then we went knocking. Didn't really find anyone who was really interested. Then we did some look ups and called it a night and started our hour drive home.
My thought for the week comes from a scripture I read the other night. So due some different things I have to practice a lot of patience. I was frustrated one night so I told myself I needed the scriptures to
help me feel better. Like they always say we talk to God in prayer and he talks to us through the scriptures. So I turned there. I flipped open to a scripture in Romans. At first I was like I don't want to
read in the bible I want to read in the Book of Mormon. Then I had the thought saying you want me to guide read where I flipped the scriptures open. So I went back and read through some of it and this
is what really helped me. It is Romans 15:13:
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
He is the God of hope. He can feel us with joy and peace. I know as soon as I read that verse I was filled with joy and peace. I know we can't control everything we go through and there is times when it is rough. However when we put our faith and trust in Heavenly Father he feels us with hope, joy and peace. It is through the Holy Ghost we can feel this feelings. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and to learn more about this gospel. I know this church is true and blesses lives as long as you let it change you. I love y'all and I y'all have a great week!
Love
Hermana Ashford
Wednesday we did some weekly planning. Then Sister Martino came out with us to a lesson with a less active named Ethel. The lesson was interesting. Ethel really likes to talk and is very animated in
everything she says. We tried really hard to push church but she really didn't want anything to do with it. It was so sad to see. Then we got our car washed and all nice and clean. Then we drove to the restaurant of our mission leader to have correlation. It was a little all over the place but we did get to talk about some things that we needed to. Then we had a bunch of time to knock doors. Then we taught English class to two people. I thought it was super fun. I learned some more Spanish and they learned some more English. I thought it was a win/win situation, but my companion isn't that big of a fan.
Thursday was zone conference. We had to leave kinda of early. The chapel we went to was about an hour away. So fun! I got to see Hermana Williams, Hermana Gourley, and Hermana Spencer!! I loved seeing them! We spent quite a bit of time going over the good old days and the fun times we had. We also heard from many different people. It was such a good conference and I learned so much. Mainly I felt the Spirit so strong it was no denying that I am doing what I need to. My favorite part was they showed part of remember the Titans when the coach has him carry the boy across the field and the coach encourages him on. It made me think of band and the directors pushing us. Or basketball when
the coaches would push for more from us. Or winter guard when Duffy would always expect the best because he knew what we are capable of doing. I am grateful I had directors, coaches, and teachers who would always push me to go farther. It made me realize I was losing a little steam to keep pushing, and that I have so much more my Heavenly Father wants to give me but I need to work for it. After zone conference we had a lesson with Eddy and Blanca.
Friday we helped get some things ready for the primary activity on Saturday. Then we had weekly planning which was nice and short. Then we went to a less actives house and she let us right in. To be honest I left that house super sad. She told us she grew up in the church and now no longer believed in the some of the things the church does. It was so sad to see that flame that had gone out. She had been so strong and firm at one point to now where she doesn't really want to go to church at all. I just don't understand how some people go from having the biggest blessing in their lives to not really caring about it at all. It just broke my heart. I know how much this gospel has blessed my life and my family's lives. I wish they could see that again. Anyways, then we went out to east Hampton and did some look ups and tried to find someone. At one point Hermana Bandeaux told me to choice street so I did. We got there and one of the houses just stood out to me so I told which one and we knocked the door. It was a cute little family. I don't know how interested they were but you could tell they felt the spirit and they liked the feeling.
Saturday was a crazy day. First we had a FaceTime lesson with a new investigator we are working with. It was an awesome lesson and he had so many questions that were good questions. It was great! We had the activity for the primary. It was a America party. We spent the last two weeks handing out invitations like crazy and trying so hard to get a bunch of people there. It was a descent size amount. There were for sure more non members than members in attendance. It was super fun! I played Betsy Ross and I taught them about the American flag. As well how to respect the flag. The children loved it! They watched a movie about Abe Lincoln and made cute flags. The whole thing was a big success. Then we spent the next like two hours trying to find any less active or investigator to talk to. Like no one answered the phone or door. So annoying. We did talk to one less active family though which was a little crazy because the kids were running around like crazy. So in order to have dinner or lunch at the Martino's home we have to have an investigator or less active there. So we were trying to find some one to come to the dinner that we had that night with a member. We talked to the Martino's and told them about our troubles and how the best we could find was to do a FaceTime lesson with Eddy and his mom. So we had the lesson and the member cooked us amazing food!! So good! I left to full and happy. I have to say as a side note the Martino's are awesome! I really love working with them! They are like second parents to me. Maybe because they are from Texas too.
Sunday we had branch council before church. Then we had church which was a little crazy. One of our investigators came!! We were so happy he was there! Then after church I was talking to one of the members who used to live in Pflugerville back when we first moved into the ward 15 or more years ago. She was asking a bunch of questions of how Pflugerville is and how much it is expanding. Fun fact her husband is in round rock right now visiting his dad. So you know if you see a brother Tran next week at church don't be surprised! Plus he and I have talked so he would be the most recent person to have talked to me in person down there! Then we went home and tried making some calls to investigators trying to set up some lessons for this week. Then we took the new YW president out with us to find her some YW we went to one less active home and they let us in. Let's just say it was a very interesting lesson. Then we had found some Texas pork at the store and we had that for dinner! Then we headed out to east Hampton. So something I haven't mentioned is Hampton bays is the biggest area on the mission. It takes two or more hours to drive one end to the other and we are not in the middle of the area so going to east Hampton is an hour drive or more. So yeah fun stuff. First Hermana Bandeaux had to go to the bathroom so we stopped at Blanca's house to use the restroom and give a small lesson. Then we looked up a referral. We found her!!! She was home. So this was the lady who like a week ago sent a referral through the church requesting a Book of Mormon. She
sounded kind of interested and we shared what we do as missionaries with her. So exciting to finally meet her. Then we went knocking. Didn't really find anyone who was really interested. Then we did some look ups and called it a night and started our hour drive home.
My thought for the week comes from a scripture I read the other night. So due some different things I have to practice a lot of patience. I was frustrated one night so I told myself I needed the scriptures to
help me feel better. Like they always say we talk to God in prayer and he talks to us through the scriptures. So I turned there. I flipped open to a scripture in Romans. At first I was like I don't want to
read in the bible I want to read in the Book of Mormon. Then I had the thought saying you want me to guide read where I flipped the scriptures open. So I went back and read through some of it and this
is what really helped me. It is Romans 15:13:
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
He is the God of hope. He can feel us with joy and peace. I know as soon as I read that verse I was filled with joy and peace. I know we can't control everything we go through and there is times when it is rough. However when we put our faith and trust in Heavenly Father he feels us with hope, joy and peace. It is through the Holy Ghost we can feel this feelings. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and to learn more about this gospel. I know this church is true and blesses lives as long as you let it change you. I love y'all and I y'all have a great week!
Love
Hermana Ashford
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