We Are Called To Be Bold: PRIMERO SEMANA EN EL CAMPO WHAAAAAT

I do NOT even know where to begin, so I am glad that i have my mom's questions as a guide! WOW what an adventure I have embarked on!

1. We walk everywhere. Everywhere! After my first 5 days of proselyting (no clue how that is spelled), my legs burn, my feet are blistered, and I have discovered I have more shades than white and pale. That's right, folks. Ashlynne Harkins is TAN. Woot. I love that we walk everywhere! More time to admire the area and enjoy the weather. Which is gorgeous, btw. Sun always. Love it.

2. My companion's name is Hermana Ortiz. She is 26, from Peru, speaks a little English but not enough for a full fledged conversation. She is a ROCKIN missionary! She will talk to literally everyone, which is so good for me. Everything about her is a blessing; I literally have no choice but to improve upon and speak in Spanish, and we talk to everyone! Its beautiful! Contacting is my favorite. Talking to people in the park, on the street, on the metro. Favorite. Seriously. Our house is small, but there are only 4 Hermanas living in it, so it is just right. A kitchen with all utilities except a dishwasher, and a washer! Hallelujah! But we hang our clothes to dry. Gotta get a little authentic somewhere ;)

3. I have had mostly yogurt and fruit haha the deal is that we have lunch at members houses, since it is the biggest meal of the day in Chile. Every day so far I have had chicken and rice. But OH MY GOODNESS they give us so much food! Its insane! We start out with a soup, then a salad plate that contains avocado, eggs, beets, salad, potato salad...then the chicken and rice then fruit for dessert and I have never eaten so much food IN my life. I haven't had dinner once since arriving in the field. Its insane!

4. Wake up at 7:30. Work out till 8:00. From 8 to 9 get ready, shower, breakfast, etc. 9 to 10 personal study; I am in the process of reading the B.O.M. out loud in Spanish with a pencil in my mouth, to help with the pronunciation. Win win! 10 to 11 companion study. Since I am a greenie, from 11 to 12:30 is additional language and missionary training study. 1:30 is lunch at a members house. 3:00 to 9:30 is proselyting time! The best time of the day! 9:30 head back to the house, 10 to 10:30 plan for tomorrow, 10:30 to 11:30 personal time, prayers and lights out at 11:30.

5. My Spanish, while still meager, has grown a lot in the past week. Like I mentioned, there really is no choice but to improve, which is great! Flash cards are my favorite. Flash cards for dayysssss (that's for Camilla ;) )

6. Love my area and the way I get to start out my mission. We are in Cinco de Abril in Maipu, Chile. (pronounced my poo. Thaaaaaats riiiiiiiiiight.)

It's a white wash, which means that our area hasn't had missionaries for a while, about a year and a half. So we are doing a lot of contacting inactive members and recently baptized who have fallen off the ship. I seriously love it! Because of my meager Spanish, I pray and testify a lot when doing this. I am so blessed to pray upwards of 20 to 25 times A DAY. All the houses are the colors of Josephs coat, graffiti everywhere (I use certain graffiti as landmarks of where we are in the sector. WOW, right?!). Everything is gated, so we stand at the gate and say "en voz alto" "HALLO!" Instead of knocking on doors. So FUN.

7. We have two official investigators that we got while contacting. One is Paula, a 17 year old girl who is a total sweetheart, and Marisole, a 20 year old girl we found when trying to find inactive members. Her mom, who has the same name, was baptized 3 years ago, but died 7 months ago. We talked with her at the gate for about 20 minutes, she invited us in and we taught her about the plan of Salvation, and we have an poointment with her this week! I love this work!

Ok, now for my own scattered thoughts without questions to give me guidance!

1. I would compare my sector to Daybreak meets Escondido flower streets, then multiply it by 5 in terms of ghetto. Super colorful, pretty sketchy, but not so much that I am nervous walking home at night. Does that even make sense?

2. They have this thing here called paparillana. Its a loaded hot dog. And it is delicious. Oh my goodness. Also, the empanadas ROCK. BE jealous, my friends. Be jealous.

3. Friday, we were walking down a residential street, and there was a soccer game playing in everyone's houses. It was the afternoon, so everyone's windows were open because it is so hot, and Hermana Ortiz and I could follow the game as we walked down the street. The best was when a goal was made...everyone simultaneously cheers, and we can hear it all! So we cheer too. Vive Chile!

4. The people here are so kind, and for the most part, very open to listening to our message. We haven't been rejected yet. Sure, not everyone invites us back or talks for long, but they always listen. They talk CRAZY fast, so I have a hard time understanding them right now, but I always know how to testify of the gospel. I guess that's a pretty good thing to know ;)

5. So conference ROCKED. Mom, if you could send an English copy, that would be delightful. BTW, haven't received the package yet, but that is probably because it was sent to the CCM. If I were you, I'd send that blessed Christmas package now, and to the address that was emailed to you last week. At least there's no mail strike! But anyways, conference, it was ALL amazing! Be an exclamation point missionary. Christ like attributes. The importance of covenants and the sacrament. And literally no better way to prepare for the field spiritually. Like ed week! Woohoo!

6. I have spiritual, uplifting experiences literally every day. I can't wait for the day when there is time enough to share them. This is hard, some days are harder than others. But always, there is a blessing received and a tender mercy to be acknowledged. And I am acquiring Jesus feet. What a fantastic Christ like attribute to have! The feet of a disciple, a missionary, of someone who publishes good tidings of good

Mosiah 15:14

And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!

(Mosiah. Best book in the B.O.M.)

Guys, I am so happy I am here, in Chile, serving a mission. I know this is probably the excitement and some sort of honeymoon phase, but everything about being a missionary brings me such joy. The aching feet, blazing sun, rapid Spanish. The kind people, colorful atmosphere, TEACHING THE GOSPEL...everything about this is good and right and I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS TRUE! I love you all, stay awesome, be bold!

Hermana Harkins