8/8/16--New Adventure

Well another week come and gone. Most importantly the last week of the transfer and Hermana Bandeaux's last week on her mission. Monday we went to the beach for a little bit after preparation day with the Martino's and their family. We had a mini lesson with their family and dinner then went to do some finding. We spent quite a bit of time trying figure out where Heavenly Father needed is to be. In the end we ended up at Jenn's house and talked to her. She is doing better and is slowly progressing to finding the hope of the gospel.

Tuesday we drove to the city for Sister Bandeaux to have her departing interview with President Reynolds. So I spent some time just hanging out at the mission office waiting. I did look at the arrival list for this week to see who will be coming in. Then we took a nice long drive back to the other end of the island. It is a nice two hour drive from area to the mission office. Then we did some knocking and referral look ups. Nothing too exciting happened. Then we ended with a quick lesson with Eddy getting him ready for our lesson the next day with his dad.

Wednesday was the first day to start eating out with members for Hermana Bandeaux's last week in the field. First up was with Sister Sullivan and she took us to 7 eleven to have sandwiches. Then we

headed to Marco's for correlation meeting. I am super excited we are trying to do a 40 day fast with the branch to help hasten the work and get the branch excited for missionary work. Then we had a quick lesson with Shelia on forgiveness. Then we did some knocking and the moment we have all been waiting for. We had a lesson with Eddy's dad to talk about Eddy getting baptized. We had been put on hold for a moment because he said no the first time and we were hoping to get it now. Low and behold fasting and praying really does work. God provided and soften Eddy's heart. Kinda of. He basically said it is Eddy's life and he can do what he wants. His opinion is no but he doesn't care what

Eddy does. So we got the permission and started making plans for a baptism.

Thursday wasn't all that exciting. We were planing for the baptism and talking back and forth with our branch president. Then we had dinner at the De Silvia's house. Now that was a party. They are from São Paulo Brazil. Sadly the south mission so not Michael's mission. Sad moment. But they feed us dinner which was really good!! As well the conversation was super funny. Then Brother De Silva scared me which wasn't fun. Then he came out with a drum from Brazil playing it and singing to us. It was so fun and funny. They are a cute family. Their kids are in Brazil visiting family so it should be even more fun next time we go over.

Friday we volunteered at the senior center teaching the senior citizens how to use technology. The only guy there ended up teaching us about player pianos and maker pianos. It was super cool. Then we had weekly planing which was more of an adventure this time. Hermana Bandeaux wasn't all about planing because she wasn't going to be here this week. So she spent some time shooting me in the head with either her marshmallow shooter thanks mom, or her nerf gun. So yeah that happened. Then we had a branch good bye party for Hermana Bandeaux. One of the members brought us sushi and a carrot cake. Super nice. Then came the call. We were driving home from doing some findings and the phone started ringing. I reach for it and it is president Reynolds calling. Hermana Bandeaux starts laughing. First thing president says to me is, "It sounds like your companion is having as much fun as I am". So yeah, I got called to be a trainer. So excited and nervous all at the same time.

Saturday we had to go back to the city for a meeting for all of the new trainers. I got to see a lot of friends and learn how I am going to train. Actually they didn't really talked about training but more

on being the best missionary. Then once we got back to Hampton Bays we had a quick lesson with a less active YW named Madelyn. Then we went out to dinner with Jefferson. He is a member of the branch presidency on the Spanish side. So we had a good dinner with him at a restaurant here in town. Then we went to the elder's baptism they were having.

Sunday was a relaxed kind of day. We had church then did a bunch of knocking to make up for some days this week. Then Hermana Bandeaux did some packing and that was about it.

So in one of my studies this past week I came across this little quote from the November 1995 ensign talk called, "Patience- A Heavenly Virtue". In it says:

"Let the scriptures be your guide, and you will never find yourself traveling the road to nowhere."

I know there has been times in my life where I felt like I was traveling the road to nowhere. I couldn't see what I needed to do. I knew I had to be better in so many ways but I didn't know how to do that. So far one of he biggest things I have learned on my mission is to open my scriptures and just read. You can learn something new every time you read them. You find a new little virtue or nugget of knowledge every time you pick them up to read. So if you are feeling a little lost or need a little strength to fight the battles of life I would encourage you to open of the scriptures and read. Search them, study them, and most importantly apply them. I know that God can talk to us through our scriptures. I am grateful for the chance to dedicate a year and half to my Savior Jesus Christ. I love y'all have a great week!

Con Amor

Hermana Ashford