7/10/17--Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

Well this week has been insane!!!! We haven't stopped moving for days!! Monday was a super slow day and we had some roadblocks but we didn't let that take us down. We were fighters. So we made Balleadas. We have agreed that Balleadas are our comfort food and we may make them too much. But that is alright good food is good food.

Fourth of July!!! Wow what a day!!! We were Busy with a capital B!!!! We went to a member's house early for breakfast and we had bbq chicken. Then we planed a party for one of the elders in on our district who is going home tomorrow. So we planed the food, decorations, and the games. While they heard a nets game and hot dog eating contest on the tv. Then we had district meeting and that was good. We went to a member's house for most of the evening and had hot dogs and enjoyed the beautiful outdoors. We watched fireworks from our roof. Oh man it was a sight to see!!!!! We could see fireworks from every side the front the back the left and the right. Most importantly we saw the Manhattan fireworks. Those were a sight to see. They were shooting off four fireworks at one time so they were in a line. A picture will be below. After not seeing fireworks in like 5 years God truly blessed me with the best seat in all of New York to see soooo many fireworks. Aw man it was awesome.

Wednesday we did an exchange with the sister training leaders. They came to our area to work with us and to help us out. It was an awesome day!!! We talked to 27 people, got like 3 new investigators, one investigator on date for August 12, and found like 2 less active while still having some different lessons. It was an awesome day!!! As well they took us out to ice cream so that was super fun!! I think though my favorite part was Sister Snow who is beautiful by the way and I were talking to these Hispanics, of course and she doesn't know Spanish so she just stood there smiling. So cute. At one point she said something like "I only speak a little Spanish" and this little Hispanic grandpa who I was talking to goes "Ok well, we can get married" however in Spanish. So I died laughing because it was so cute and Sister Snow was like what did he say. So I translated and she laughed and we apologized and said we would see them later. It was super funny!!!!

Thursday was an awfully busy day as well. We had finding and planing. Then we helped the member decorate for the surprise farewell party for the Elder. Then we ran to out dinner appointment then ran back to the church and then ran to an appointment. In one sentence that was our day. Little do you know that then the member was mad at me not hermana Jofre that we didn't stay for the party and two the appointment we went to the guy was high so he wasn't paying much attention and then turned us down on a return appointment which was super sad. We talked to the elder's afterwards and they said the party was awesome so yeah.

Then the Friday night we walked out of our appointment and it was pouring rain. The member had one good umbrella so Hermana Jofre took it however she was afraid her shoes would get wrecked so she took off her shoes and walked with only no see socks on. I however had no umbrella so let us say after our like 45 minute walk home I was a little wet from head to toe. There wasn't hardly a dry spot on me.

Saturday was crazy as well. We had a solid lesson in the morning then studies. Then we helped another member with her son's baptism and made the program, sang in It, and I played the piano. Then the elder's walked with us to the train because we both had appointments. One of the elders had said hi how are you to this guy on the street. Well that guy didn't take that very well. He whiped around and was like you don't push your religion on me I am not a Mormon and I don't want to be dont push your religion on me. We laughed afterwards and were like so apparently hi how are you means hi you need to be Mormon. Uhhh some people in the world today.

Sunday was Hermana Jofre's birthday!!!! I surprised her by staying up Saturday night and decorating he apartment. She was super shocked. Then I went around church telling everyone I knew or saw that it was her birthday. Then a member threw her a surprise birthday party!! The Elders were there and it was a ton of fun!!!! She over all loved the day which all I could hope for.

Then today we did a district activity and rented bikes from the city and rode around Brooklyn. It was super fun. Although some points were rough trying to ride in Brooklyn but other points were super fun!!! Overall a great district activity!!!

So this morning I was reading in Alma and I came across this scripture that hit me. It is in Alma 15:16. So to give some background information Alma and Amulek were missionaries in the Book of Mormon and this is one thing that is said about Amulek. It says:

"16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;"

It hit home to me that Amulek gave up everything for the word of God and to teah it to other people. My only hope is that I can do that full time now and for the rest of my life. I am excited for my last six weeks and to giving all I have into the work. I know the Lors's hand is always in our lives!!! I invite you to ask yourself what more can I give in the word of God and helping others know about It!! I love yall and have a great week!!!

Con Amor
Hermana Ashford

Picture 1: cool street art
Picture 2: alone on the bus
Picture 3: cool view of Manhattan
Pictures 4-7: fourth of July
Pictures 8-11: exchanges
Pictures 12- 14: Hermana Jofre's birthday
Picture 15: bike riding