Chileans think Gatorade solves all types of sickness

Who would have thought, right?

Started out this week just wonderfully, receiving two packages, one from the best mom EVERRR (more sticky notes, obvio, stationary, hair help, clothes, she knows me so well), and my peachy Krystal Gray. Nail polish, chapstick, chocolate, and Jeffery R. Holland talks...literally nothing more that a sister missionary wants in a package! What gems, I am so blessed :) Also, in the package from my mama, I got TONS of photos, which I LOVE! You should all send me photos, just saying ;) The four of us in the pension all sat at our little folding table that night and looked at my pictures, and they have all determined that I have a very attractive older brother.

That is weird to hear.

Crazy Latinas.

BUT ANYWAYS, on the more missionary work level of things, I had a growth week! Lots of things that I learned about myself and my own testimony, and also about others, missionaries and investigators alike.

We started teaching a man named Ramone this week. Get this...he is an Evangelic Pastor.

Yeah.

It was a reference from the elders in our ward, and when we got to his house for the first lesson, he had all sorts of...well, not questions, more like things he wanted to talk at us about. Not necessarily about the gospel, but about why he trusts in God. It was an interesting experience. Very...what's the word...heartfelt. And strong and loud and bold. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and talked a bit about it and the relation it has to the Bible, and he was excited to read it.

The next day we were walking to another appointment and he was sitting out in front of his house reading it. Now THAT is pretty cool, just saying, usually you give the Book of Mormon and it sits in the table collecting dust. But he was already in Second Nephi! And he was happy because he was in the Isaiah part. (Whatever fits your fancy, right?) So we were a little excited for our next appointment with him.

And that's when it gets interesting.

We returned to his home to teach about The Restoration, but he was pumped up and ready and rolling for an all out debate. He had every question possible, ready to fire away. And when we had sufficient answers for all of his question/statements, he yelled out "I THINK THIS IS A CULT."

Adventura cada dia, right?

Honestly, I wasn't too shocked by it. Not the first time I have heard that phrase, but somehow we were able to end the lesson with the spirit and leaving him speechless- that's the thing. At the end of it all, someone who has such faith in Christ cannot deny the presence of his spirit. And it was, with a little work and patience on our part, eventually present in that lesson. The spirit ROCKS.

Benjamin, our investigator de oro, was excited to show us this week that he had downloaded the app for reading the Book of Mormon on your phone, and that he is in Words of Mormon, just from reading on the bus to and from work. This kid! He is wonderful! His new baptismal date is for this Sunday, PLEASE pray for him! He is still on the fence, still trying to help him receive the answer that this is the truth, and we could use some intense prayer power right about now!

I learned more about the importance of putting your companion first. That is the wonderful thing about missionary work- when your first priority is serving others, you are always blessed, always more in tune with the spirit. Every Thursday we have weekly planning. It is 3 hours long, at times tedious, but very important and very useful during the week. Long, stupid, dramatic story short, one of the other Hermanas made a comment to my comp about how she has gained weight, and this coupled with other things going on for her right now, she was distracted. So much that she could not focus on making plans of what to teach our investigators for the coming week.

Now, y'all know me. When we have a plan to do something, I want to do it, in time, get it done, and keep on going to the next thing. But in this moment, I had to put my comp first, stop the weekly planning, listen with love, and decide what it is that I needed to do to help her. And while we had to take a little more time in the evening to finish planning, in the moment when she was having a mental crisis and could not focus, I was about to slow down and help her. As a missionary, you truly do need to focus on serving everyone. And, before anyone else, first and foremost is your companion. And I knew that, but I was about to learn and apply a little more of that aspect of service this week. And, through that, we have more love and understanding in our companionship.

1 Corinthians 9:16- woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Also, I am studying the book of Moses right now, IT IS SO COOL. YOU SHOULD ALL READ IT. Just saying :)

I had a great personal experience yesterday in Relief Society. The lesson was about the atonement, and at one point, the teacher was talking about the happiness that we can feel after we have used the Atonement in our life. I thought to myself "Oh! I have a scripture for that!" (Alma 36:19-20) and shared it with the other sisters.

I know, it seems like such a small thing, but really, one of the things that I was so worried about that would make me a bad missionary is the fact that I don't know the Book of Mormon backwards and forwards. That I couldn't just pull a scripture out of thin air that applies to the lesson to tie it all together. But I looked past that insecurity and followed the prompting to serve a mission, and yesterday, in Relief Society, practically in passing, I was able to do just that. I, Ashlynne Rose Harkins, pulled a scripture out of thin air! I did! It is a miracle! I know, I know, it is something so teeny tiny, but it is a big deal. Lets party, for just a sec, in honor of this.

:) :) :)

Woohoo!

Happy Dance!

Well, I'm off to bring the world his truth. Be Bold, Stay Rad, Do What You Do. Ciou!

-Hermana Harkins

The Subways here are like Space Mountain, super fast and bright lights flashing by too quickly to be entirely safe

Con esto, bienvenido a Chile :)

Also, Happy Birthday Elder Evans :)

I had so many wonderful experiences this week. So many moments where I just had to stop for a bit and think to myself "Wow. I am a MISSIONARY. How rad is THAT?" Both random and spiritual, both silly and soul-filling, this week was well rounded as far as the life of a missionary goes.

I received some Christmas cards and a package with a bound copy of the conference Ensign (because that's how we do it in the Harkins home- we are intense about studying conference. DIRECT REVELATION FROM GOD, PEOPLE!), brownie mix, and the MOTAB and Alfie Boe CD. I put it in as soon as we returned home for the night. Once my comp recognized that it was Christmas music, she whined a bit and said "But Christmas is over, Hermana Harkins." My response? "Its not over until Alfie Boe sings Angels from the Realms of Glory." (Sorry Camilla, I broke the rule and listened to Christmas music outside of December. Pardon, por favor.)

Also, I shared the brownies with the other Hermanas in our pension. They told me that they were the best brownies they had ever had. And they actually MEANT IT. And, just saying, I pulled a classic Ashlynne and messed up, obviously, because it is just what I DO when I try and prepare food. They were not the most fabulous brownies. But they were FREAKING out, and are on the search for more brownie mix for "la gringa linda" to prepare. Who would have thought, right? They want me to prepare food. After eating food that I had prepared. Crazy Latinas.

Also this week was Hermana Velasquez's birthday, and since I am the comp, it is obviously my responsibility to do something special. With the help of the other Hermanas, I put together breakfast in bed and a surprise party in the evening, complete with cake and candles and mate and a gift of a new watch and clothes, obviously, we ARE sister missionaries ;) We received calls from all those sweet Elders in our zone to sing feliz cumpleaños, and she received approximately 12 king sized Chilean bars of chocolate from various members and investigators. Welcome to your birthday in the mission! So fun, I loved being a part of it for her. At the end of the night, as we sat in a circle on the floor eating cake and ice cream from the carton (obvio), she told us that it was the best birthday she had ever had. What a peach, love her so much.

Now for the more spiritual and IMPORTANT part of the mission...what I learned this week. Because every week, there is something new!

1. I learned more about patience, and about understanding how and why we need to teach someone in a specific way. Alejandro is one of our investigators, and his wife is an active member. We have been working with him for about two months now, and while he loves our message and has amazing faith, he continually reports that he has not been able to pray to receive an answer as to the truth of this gospel, giving every excuse you could think of as to why he was not able to complete this invitation that we had extended to him.

This last week, we arrived to their house for a lesson a bit earlier than usual, and he wasn't home from work yet. So we chatted with his wife a bit, and eventually asked her what she thought we could do for him to help him progress. She confided that she thinks the reason he is not praying is because he is AFRAID to receive an answer. He basically knows that the church is true, but he knows that if he prays, he will receive an answer, and will therefore be more accountable before God to do something about it. And being baptized into a new church can be something scary, intimidating, and difficult. So, with this experience, I learned that we must accept the facts and continue to teach with faith, love, and patience. I truly love how much I am learning about patience in my mission, anyone who knows me knows that this is an attribute of Christ that I need to work on.

2. I learned that we can be instruments in the hands of the Lord, help someone to have an amazing spiritual experience, and not even be entirely aware of it. That is something that I have always been a little worried about, if I am helping others to feel the spirit, and if I personally am being guided by the Holy Ghost. This week, as we visited with a recent convert named Fernanda, she told us, in the middle of our message, that she was just so happy in that moment, that whenever we come and talk to and teach her, she can always feel the spirit, and through the spirit, feel how much we truly love her. It was an experience that opened my eyes- it was a very simple lesson, but still she was able to recognize how strong the spirit can be in something simple and given with love. And she felt prompted to tell us how she felt, thus answering MY personal prayer that yes, I am helping others in this aspect. The spirit is SO COOL!

3. I learned that investigators can progressively all become golden investigators! This week, one of the things we taught Benjamin was modern day prophets. I know that if we had taught about this commandment two weeks ago, when we started teaching all the commandments, he would have been a little hard, a little closed off. But, through patience and prayer to know when to teach what, we knew to wait to teach about prophets, and through this, he was EXCITED to learn more about Joseph Smith, about Thomas S. Monson, he even asked for the church's website to learn more about President Monson. When we are truly engaged, and work with our investigators using prayer, faith and love, they can all come to love the gospel and WANT to know more.

4. I had a wonderful example of remaining positive through my totally awesome comp! Starting this last Sunday, she had a weird bump in the corner of her eye, similar to the one I had on my eye lid my second round on Trek. I know how painful and frustrating it is. On Thursday, we ended up having to go to Santiago, to the CCM to talk to the doctor and get pills and advice on what to do. At first she was a little bent up, OBVIOUSLY, she has the equivalent of a blackhead in the corner of her EYE. But after a moment or so of complaining on our way there (hence the title of this email), she took a deep breath, smiled and said "at least its just the one eye, right Hermana?" OH! I JUST LOVE HER!

5. Saturday, we had the unique opportunity of teaching the investigator of two Elders in our zone. Her name is Nelly, she is 45, and she cancelled her baptism the night before (oof, sounds familiar) due to nerves, and the fact that she decided to search about the church in YouTube.

Ugh. Don't do that.

She had some trouble accepting the facts about the priesthood- how only men can have it, and through this, she created an opinion that the church is masochistic, "a mans church." The leaders in our zone thought it would be a good idea for her to meet with us Hermanas, to see examples of strong women in the church with testimonies of the priesthood and how WE as women are blessed through it.

She walked into the chapel frowning and with sad eyes.

I truly wish that I could explain it, whenever I do, the words are so empty. Simply put, I know, in that hour and a half, that Hermana Velazquez and I were instruments. We were given what to say and how to say it by our Heavenly Father to help his daughter, Nelly, be comforted. And we were able to BE that for Him, for HER. We talked about the priesthood. We talked about Relief Society. We talked about how God made us equal- men with the responsibility to hold the priesthood, the power of God to bless his family, and woman with the responsibility to bear children, and how in this, we truly are equal with the responsibilities that we have been given.

She left smiling and telling us she wanted to meet with us again.

I just...wow...no words...GUYS the church is so TRUE. My testimony of the Holy Ghost has grown so much this week, and I am so thankful for all the experiences that I have had with the Holy Ghost that have, in turn, brought me closer to my Heavenly Father, to have more trust in Him, and more importantly, for Him to have more trust in me.

I am so blessed.

Be Bold, Stay Rad, Do What You Do.

Hermana Harkins

"La Gringa Linda"

The good thing about Chile is they use fresh lemon juice instead of dressing. The bad thing is they only drink Pepsi products, which is against my religion

But its all good, it makes it easier to go for the healthier choice when being offered something to drink. Blessings!

In the meeting for changes, we found out that, in the month of December, as a mission, we had 62 baptisms. SO COOL! We are number three in Chile for the most baptisms, I love being here, I love being a part of the Santiago Mision Oeste! One of those moments where I just thought to myself "yeah, I am a MISSIONARY!" Those are the best moments.

New Years Eve was pday, and then we had to be in the house at 8:00 because our president loves us and wants us to be safe, so it wasn't too eventful.

The next day...yeah, Inventory of who was in the street on New Years:
-6 LDS missionaries
-2 Jehovah's Witnesses - yup, we counted
-23 gangsters
But again, its all good, adventura cada dia, right?!

This week was pretty hectic, with the busiest day being Friday- we had the delightful opportunity to work on getting my visa papers. All day, it was one long line after another in the hot sun with no shade and warm water. It made me think of my mom's story of waiting in the never-ending line for the viewing of President Hinckley. But instead of having Consider The Lilies playing in the line (which I would have rather enjoyed) I got to continue standing. And then standing some more. And in the end, all I got was a bunch of papers and a new sticker in my passport. But hey! I'm Chilean until next February, so we are all good!

Also this week, I had the experience of seeing how transfers can be really awesome. We got two new elders in the ward this change, and it really makes all the difference when all 6 of the missionaries in one ward are united in wanting to involve the ward, in planning activities, in reactivating members, in WORKING TOGETHER. It is magical! And they are hilarious and excited to be here! I absolutely love when all of our excitement is equal. It is already so different from before, I love it.

Three great experiences from this week that I want to share :) The first was with Benjamin. He is wonderful, and he really wants to know if the church is true, but almost always he doesn't do his part with the reading. We went out on a limb and assigned him to read 3rd Nephi 11-21, the whole part about Jesus coming to the Americas. I had hope, but we honestly didn't think that he would read it. But when we got to his house and asked if he had read the section, he told us YES, and that he had read to chapter 24, and that he had questions about it. Not only did he READ it, but he studied it! Enough to have questions for us! I know it seems like a small thing, but it was a huge triumph for us. To Hermana Velazquez and I, he is like a little brother, and it is a delight to watch him grow in the gospel.

Also this week, I learned more about Christ-like love. We have an investigator named Pedro, and we have been working with him for a long time to work on his faith- when we first started teaching him, he was completely convinced that he had no faith. You can't really teach the lessons effectively unless the person you're teaching has just a little hope, a little faith in something better for this life, something beautiful after this life. This week, we were finally FINALLY able to teach him Lesson One, The Restoration, effectively. It was beautiful! He was answering our questions and asking us his own and I KNOW that he was feeling the spirit, and Hermana Velazquez and I both felt that it was right to invite him to be baptized in the beginning of February.

He declined.

BUT, it was so interesting to me, because I wasn't broken-hearted. I wasn't frustrated or short tempered with him. Because I truly feel a portion of the Lord's love for him, and I want to help PEDRO, not my-investigator-who-I-want-to-baptize. Pedro Rios, a child of God who needs help. And some require a little more time than others. It was different- as we walked away from his house, we were joyful! He declined the baptismal date but we were so giddy that we are finally progressing and finally able to help him! That's when you know  that you are doing something right as a missionary- when your focus is on the people and not on the numbers.

And, I saved the best for last...remember the story of Gloria? The woman with a very hard heart? I prayed in the bathroom to be able to love her? Yeah, I honestly did not have hope for her for a little bit, but I kept persevering, kept smiling and kept bearing my testimony, knowing that at least I am trying to help her. Well, this last week on Monday, she accepted the invitation to pray. Which is HUGE! In the beginning, that was not even an option. Then, on Wednesday, we finally FINALLY felt like we could teach her lesson one. Which is HUGE! And then we invited her to be baptized (no specific date) and she accepted.

WHICH IS A MIRACLE!

You guys! I have a testimony of PATIENCE. Even when it seems like it is impossible to help someone, that they are so hard-hearted and closed off and obnoxious and I am thinking of my foster sister at the moment and how I truly thought she was impossible, and every time I would visit Gloria, I saw so much of Vanessa in this poor woman, and I know that it was a second chance that God gave me to be patient, and to love when they don't love you back, to hold out just a little bit longer, and that is when the blessings come. That is when you witness miracles.

Well, that's that for the week. Know that I love being here, I miss y'all, but I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY AND I AM SMITTEN WITH THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF CHILE! Be Bold, Stay Rad, do what you do, tienen adventuras cada dia, po!

Con mucho cariño,

Hermana Harkins

"Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can." - Jeffery R. Holland

WOW I have been a missionary for FOUR months now. How insane. (Just so y'all know my mind is all over the place, I cannot guarantee an organized email this week. I apologize in advance)

Let us go in chronological order, yeah?

December 24th: we had our weekly district meeting and I received two packages from the ever radical Camilla Starks and Shyla Ahlstrom. Cute stuff, they know me so well, it is beautiful :) thank you for your love and cuteness, and for sending them just in time for Christmas. The timing seriously could not have been better!

We had Christmas dinner at a member's house, they were kind enough to have dinner early enough for us to come- usually, dinner here is at 10:00 or 11:00 at night, and we were told numerous times that we were to be in the pension AT 10:00, no rule breaking just because its Christmas. So it really was sweet of them to have it at 8:00 so we could be in a nice home for Christmas eve.

Now picture this...really, we are so cute...Hermana Velazquez and I, arms linked, walking down the street, lights on the house, 9:45 at night, music playing from various houses, grinning ear to ear, singing Christmas songs- she in Spanish, I in English. Yeah, simultaneously, it was obviously beautiful. I was afraid that I wouldn't FEEL Christmas, but in that moment, I was feeling the part of Christmas that comes with being completely giddy on Christmas eve, that childlike excitement that hasn't seemed to wear off yet for me.

The four of us in our pension had a little Christmas eve party with cookies and EFY music, talking and laughing and plugging in the lights for the tree to have the real mood. At about 11:15, we heard horns honking, sirens sounding, and people cheering. So we run out the door and are standing on the gate to our house to see into the street, and there's Santa Clause, sitting in the back of a truck bed decorated with balloons with a megaphone announcing that it is almost Christmas, merry Christmas, ho ho ho! And here WE are, standing on our gate to get a better look, cheering along with the other children lining the street, calling out assurances that we were good...we are such children.

December 25th: I got lots of good stuff for Christmas, and from every person who gave me gifts, I got sticky notes. They all know my nerdy fetish! Its beautiful!

At about 9:30, a member from the ward of the other Hermanas came with presents of breakfast for all of us, Chilean Christmas bread and Ginger ale and stockings filled with sweets, and an article by Jeffery R. Holland about being away from home for Christmas. So we all sat around our table in our folding chairs, ate breakfast, and read the Christmas story in Luke together, and sang Christmas hymns. Read the article together. More hymns. We made Christmas! In THAT moment, I was feeling CHRISTmas. Y este es la parte mas importante a todo.

Skyped with my parents in the afternoon. Obviously the best part of the day.

December 28th: I honestly don't know if it is just the four of us crazy Hermanas or a general missionary thing, but we celebrate when you complete another month in the missionary. Like, Feliz Cumpleaños. Happy Birthday. Happy four months to me! They made me breakfast in bed, scrambled eggs like I have every morning, but they insisted on serving it to me. Served with orange mate with fresh lemon. Love these girls. Then, when Hermana Rivera and Hermana Rodriguez returned home in the evening, they had lemon soda and peaches for me, because they know I love lemon things and I am always buying peaches from vendors on the street, I'm a touch addicted to them. They know me so well.

ALSO in this night (ugh my grammar is so bad), we found out if we have changes or not. Hermana Velazquez and I were so nervous- we want so badly to keep working together, we are an awesome team, and we have so many miracles every day. She has gotten a new companion every change for her whole mission, but we were praying praying praying to have just one more change together.

So picture this.

The four of us, sitting at our little folding table, reading the Ensign and our Scriptures and eating peaches and drinking lemon soda, with our cell phones in the middle of the table, completely silent, all waiting, tense, for the phone call from our district leader to tell us if we are staying or leaving. How does the saying go? You could have cute the tension with a butter knife? (Where is that phrase from, anyway?)

Finally, at about 11:15, we received the call- the other Hermanas had already found out, Hermana Rodriquez had changes, and we just wanted to know. Had the phone on speaker, the four of us crowded close to hear the news, SHAKING, (dramatic enough?) And our district leader knew it, what a child, asking how our day was, to tell him about our investigators and less actives we visit, I could have died. DIED.

Someone should have been recording it, my reaction to finding out that we have one more change together was priceless and wild. We were freaking out.

But really, can you blame us? We are deliriously happy working together, we have so much success and new investigators every week and it is just amazing the kind of missionary you can be when you and your companion are equally happy and excited to be a part of this work. We were almost convinced that we would have changes, but I know that God knows that we have more work to do in this area. And I am so excited to continue!

December 29th: Visited Benjamin, one of our investigators who has a baptismal date from the 18th of January. He gave us a Christmas card thanking us for our patience and willingness to help him - super sweet. At the bottom of the card, he wrote that it is good for two bottles of peach juice. He is 18, so innocent and adorable, and he wrote us a CHRISTMAS CARD. Hermana Velazquez and I were so giddy with it.

December 30th: We are all getting ready for the Transfer meeting, and Hermana Velazquez asked me for advice on clothes. Then Rivera. Then Rodriguez. Then Rodriguez said "Harkins sabe sobre la ropa." "Harkins knows about the clothes."

:)

To close, I want to bear my testimony. I know that this church is TRUE. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel, that he was a prophet of God, and that through the power of the priesthood, he translated the Book of Mormon, this beautiful gift from God for US in these latter days to guide and direct our lives. I love the Book of Mormon. I cant get over it. And that's why I'm here, at Christmas time in Maipu Chile, because I just cant get over how much I love this gospel.

Be Bold, Stay Rad, Do what you do!

Hermana Harkins

Gooooo Richardsons!!

I miss Suz.

BUT, lots of great experiences this week, ups and downs and some tears, but that's just how the mission goes! That is the wonderful thing about a mission- best Real Life Prep EVER. As Elder Holland would say, "This is the realest life you are ever going to get."

For starters, a miracle to share- I have FINALLY received the package that mom sent me when I was in the CCM. Merry Christmas to ME, I honestly don't know if I was more excited about the post it notes or my favorite pens, yeah I am SO weird. But it was wonderful, smooshed, and full of love and drawings from little girls, a beautiful moment.

One of our investigators, Benjamin, was having some trouble with his prayers. He would pray when we asked him to in the lessons, but other than that, no. I invited him to make a goal to pray every night before going to bed, and to make it more of a conversation with a loving parent than the general idea of what is a "prayer." He told us that he wanted to, but that he didn't think he would be able to remember at night when he is tired and just wants to go to bed. So I told him that, if he wanted, we would call him at 10:00 every night for the next two weeks to remind him, until it is a habit.
THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY. Silly excuses don't work with Hermana Harkins. We have been calling him every night since Thursday :) Woooohooooo!

My fellow Hermanas in the pension have started addressing me as "gringa linda." Which I am ok with. "Rubia" is also very common between the four of us. I just love love.

Ok, an absolutely hilarious and slightly blush worthy story- this Tuesday, we were on splits with the Hermana Leaders. When this happens, it is basically an evaluation of how well we are working in our sector and our personal and companionship progression. It is a tad important. So we are all splits and go to visit Alex and Fransisco, to teach the law of chastity. I know, cringe, right? I wasn't expecting there to be any problems- in the first, blunt lesson, they both asked the church's stand on being a virgin before marriage, if we think that is good or bad, because they both have this crazy opinion that that is something you should save for marriage.

I know. They're golden.

So I wasn't expecting difficulties. And the lesson was going great when Alex said "I have one question." He is the more blunt and crazy of the two, so I was bracing myself, but I couldn't have possibly, adequately prepared myself for his question. "So, do you believe that you can do this for enjoyment, or is it just, "Ok, lets go procreate"?" For real. That happened. Vamos procrear. I couldn't handle it. And with the Hermana Leader and all. I mean, WOW! Adventura cada dia!
Another lovely heart lifting story- we stopped by Francisco's house on Saturday, didn't have an appointment just felt we should stop by and say hi maybe share a scripture, and it turns out that he was having a hard time, just lots of little things that built up to an all out, classic bad day. So we sat and listened to all of his little stories and reasons as to the suckiness, shared a scripture, simple stuff. But he told us afterward that he truly felt better after our visit, that he had prayed for something good and happy to happen, and 20 minutes later, we are at his door. Just one of those things that reminds you why you are here doing what you dooooo.

All in all, the week was good and uneventful (except for the vamos procrear moment)...and then, Friday night came, and along with that, one of those experiences that can make you or break you as a newbie missionary like me.

Alex called to tell us that he doesn't want to be baptized on December 22nd.
He told us that he still wants to be baptized, still wants to take the lessons (sounds like a breakup, right? bleh), but that he just doesn't feel ready to stop smoking right now.

Ouch...my heart.

I know that this probably happens a lot, but it was the first time for me. And when you teach someone about the gospel and see spiritual change in them and they are excited to learn more and invite you into their home and you invest so much TIME into studying for them, pondering how to teach lessons and scriptures and find answers to their questions and have true happiness is guiding them to Christ, and one day Hermana Velazquez and I walked down an especially messy street to find an unbent cigarette box and we decorated it with pictures of Jesus and wrote scriptures for overcoming addiction and comfort and rolled them up to fit perfectly and when he is tempted to go for OUR cigarette box, not his box of camels, and you acquire a small portion of Gods love for them, you truly come to LOVE them, when you do all this and it doesn't...work...

Ouch...my heart.

I had a little cry fest that night in the middle of daily planning. Thank goodness for Hermana Velazquez, I truly adore my companion, she was so sweet and understanding and tender in comforting me to know that there was nothing more we could do for him; that at some point, he would have to put in some real physical effort on his part to stop smoking, to do this ONE LAST THING to make himself worthy to be baptized, and he is not ready. Now.
That is the beautiful thing, the ray of light in this sad story- he truly wants to be clean. He wants to be baptized, and he knows the church is true. We haven't lost him, he just isn't progressing as smoothly as we would have liked him to. But patience is a Christ like attribute, and I am here to become more Christ like.

Another nice story...as we were leaving the lesson with Alex after finding out his news, so Saturday, Hermana Velazquez told me that my Spanish is perfect when I am testifying and inviting people to do something- to pray, to repent, to read the Book of Mormon, any of these things. In the lesson with Alex, we were gentle but direct, and I invited him to put in a little more effort. That we want to help him, we will do whatever we can to help him, but we need his help in this as well. And Hermana Velazquez told me that the spirit was strongest in that moment. Thank you, gift of tongues, appreciate the help :)

Aaaaaand I spoke in church on Sunday.

WHAT?! Ashlynne spoke in Sacrament meeting for 15 minutes in Spanish?! Without her companion there to help her in times of need? Whaaaat?

Yeah, that happened :) Bishop Calderon asked us to talk about the mission work (that's bad grammar, but I can't remember how to translate la obra misional into English) I talked about The Book of Mormon (because I can actually talk about that for 15 minutes) and how we can better study and apply it in our lives. It is my favorite thing to talk about right now. Also, this morning I finished reading it in Spanish for the first time! The first of many :)

Well, I am signing off for today. thank you all for your love and excitement for my little stories, this really is the best experience of my life, and I love sharing it with as many people as I can. One favor...please pray for Alex and Fransisco this week. Fransisco is really nervous about his baptism on Sunday, and Alex just needs strength right now. Por favor? A Christmas present for Hermana Harkins, your prayers for my investigators? I would really appreciate it :)
Stay rad, be bold, love y'all :)

Hermana Harkins

I was offered cherries 6 times this week in the houses of members and investigators and every time I internally thanked Camilla Starks for inspiring me to be a big girl and JUST EAT THEM

So thank you, Camilla :)

I have come to the conclusion that these posts do not need organization...that it is ok to just blurt out all the random little stories and experiences from the week in no particular order and it will be ok. Hope y'all are ok with that :) (that y'all was for Steve, btdubs)

This Tuesday we had a Zone Conference with three different zones in the mission, for meetings and training and such. I was able share my testimony once again through singing with a group of five other Hermanas- I know that my Redeemer Lives. And in English! It was wonderful! And the conference was great, lots of good advice and ideas for reactivating members. We also talked a little bit about the Christmas meeting we are going to have on the 19th as a whole mission, and one of the things we are going to do is give a gift to Christ, similar to the stocking that we have in our house for Christ, where you write something you want to give Christ and put it in the stocking and then read it the next year. Ya see, that's why we need a mission president and his WIFE, because they are the ones that think of this cuteness for us homesick missionaries!

Every Thursday we have a three hour planning session for the whole week, and one part of it is that you talk, as a companionship, about the things you like about your comp and things, if any, that you would like to work on or change. I have noticed a trend in my two months now in the field...always in this part of the planning, my comp starts out with "Hermana Harkins, you're crazy...but its a good crazy...like, you just want to talk to everyone about how much you love the church."
:) yup! that's pretty much 100% ACCURATE.

By now, you all know about our two golden investigators, Alex and Francisco. They are still going strong, I will talk about them in a bit. But I wanted to share another experience about Francisco; this week, we contacted his younger brother. We know his house, but always teach at Alex's house, so we don't know Francisco's family. We were walking to another appointment and saw his brother leaning against the gate, texting. (What? What's texting? I don't remember...) They look JUST so much alike. So we talked to him, gave him a pass along, and he brought up that his brother is taking the discussions from two Hermanas. So we laughed about that and said yes, that's us, and does he talk about the gospel or the Book of Mormon at all with his family. He said a little, but that the most noticeable change has taken place in Francisco- he said that in the past three weeks, his brother has become happier and more outgoing- "A brand new Francisco" is what he said.

:) YAY!

We are reading the Book of Mormon straight through with an almost active again member, Hermana Violeni. She is fabulous and a little insane, I adore her. We were reading 1st Nephi 3 where Nephi kills Laban and- mind you, she has been a member for 7 years and this is the first time that she is reading the Book of Mormon- and she is gasping and adjusting her glasses and her mouth is gaping open and she is just aghast! She said "This is better than a soap opera!" I never thought I would hear that about the Book of Mormon...but what can I say? I have adventures every day. Adventura cada dia :)

Awesome experience from this week- we got to take Alex and Francisco to Santiago for a grounds tour of the temple! Just like in Salt Lake, there are sister missionaries in the east mission who are trained to give tours of the temple, and it was amazing. They were so attentive and captivated by the message. The best part was when they were sitting in a front foyer of the temple that people on tours can be in (that's a new bit of info for me, I thought it was amazing that they could be in the temple), and the spirit just hit us like a wall. As we were walking out, Francisco was especially hesitant to leave. When we asked him why, he said that he felt something so strong when he was sitting there, and didn't want to leave because he knew that it was something special about the temple.

:) YAY YAY YAY!!!!

And to close...I would like to share my testimony about fasting today. On Saturday, Hermana Velezquez and I decided to fast for our investigators, especially Alex. He is having a tough time trying to stop smoking, and we want so badly to help him, just didn't know exactly how. So, we fasted. When God says that he will pour out blessings, he doesn't say it because the words sound pretty together. He MEANS it. The blessings were literally poured out for us! We invited another one of our investigators to be baptized, we found two new people to teach, and a member offered us a ride home, simply because she saw us walking alone, at night, it was cold, and she just felt it was a good thing to do. I wish I had more time to eloquently and more accurately bear my testimony of this, but take my word for it- there is great power in fasting!

Church is true, folks. Be Bold, drink some hot chocolate with cinnamon for me, sing Baby its Cold Outside and think of Hermana Harkins in the 90 degree weather of Chile and be HAPPY with your white Christmas! Ciau!

Hermana Harkins

Bienvenido a Chile, Diciembre!

Guys. It is SO HOT.

But the work is progressing beautifully here in beautiful Chile! For this week, I don't have any huge stories, just lots of little experiences that I want to share.

We invited Alejandro, the spouse of a member in the ward, to be baptized on January 2nd and he accepted! THREE investigators with baptismal dates! It is so beautiful!

Alexander and Francisco, our golden investigators, are quickly progressing and are excited for their baptismal date, which is in 20 days. WHAAAAAAT. This week, they came to a ward activity and to all three hours of church on Sunday. When we asked them afterward how they felt in the chapel, and especially during the sacrament, they both answered with "peace." They also commented on how they liked how organized our church is. They also told us that they have a goal to finish reading the B.O.M. before they get baptized, because they feel it will make them more ready. Francisco told us when we were giving a tour of the church building that since the first lesson, he has felt that this is right, and that he wants to be a part of it. Then yesterday, he asked how long after baptism someone has to wait to be able to serve a mission. He said that he wants to do what we do, and share his happiness of the gospel with others, like we share our happiness and testimony.

I really did not stop smiling for about an hour after he said that. That's probably the number one thing a missionary could hear from her investigator. What a gem!

Another great experience with a chapel tour- we have an investigator, Pedro, who was completely convinced that he has no faith. We have been working with him, little by little, and this last week, Hna. V had the idea to invite him to the chapel, to feel the spirit of the building. It was truly amazing! The spirit was just TANGIBLE, and every couple of minutes he shared his feelings with us, of being overwhelmed by this feeling of love. We ended at the baptismal font, and invited him to be baptized. No specific date, just if he feels that this is the Lord's church, will he be baptized. And he said YES.

The church is true, the holy ghost is real.

I had a delightful plan to have McDonald's for dinner on Thanksgiving, but ran out of money making copies of papers for ward council meetings. My comp was sweet enough to buy me some ice cream, but it just wasn't the same. BUT! A beautiful tender mercy! The family we had lunch with on Friday heard that it was El Dia de Gracia this Thursday, and knowing that the North American Hermana would be coming over, they made turkey, mashed potatoes and corn for lunch. A Thanksgiving lunch Chile style. It was so sweet and delicious :)

And it is officially Christmas time, which means...neeewww traditions for Hermana Harkins! Everyone knows that Christmas is my favorite time of year, and that this year, it's necessary for me to take the lead, make some new traditions, and spread some Christmas cheer Ashlynne Rose Harkins style! We have a little tree that we will be decorating tonight, we are doing a secret Santa gift exchange between the four of us in the pension, I wear my Filthy Animal shirt to bed because that is obviously necessary, and most importantly, I have my little white nativity scene set up on my desk. And Christmas music playing every morning when we get ready. Still waiting the Christmas feelings to really kick in, but we will get there!

As I was sitting in sacrament yesterday, watching the priests break the bread for the Sacrament, I noticed that one was singing the hymn and one was not. And it got me thinking...I LOVE that he was singing! I think that, more than anyone else, it is so important for those two priests to be feeling the spirit in that moment than anyone else. What an honor it is for them, to prepare the sacrament for everyone in the ward to renew their baptismal covenants and start a new. They NEED to feel the spirit, and it is so easy to feel it when we are singing the hymns. It made me happy that he was putting in the effort, being a good example.

Side note, LOVE my ward. They are delightful and I feel truly that I am a member of this ward family. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Today in the zone activity, our zone leaders paid for mine and Hna. Vs lunch, because we have more investigators progressing and with baptismal dates than any other companionship in the zone. Not that its a competition, but I got a free strawberry salad today. Blessings, people. Blessings.

Yesterday after church, Hna Violeni, an inactive member that we are working on getting back to church, told us that she needed our service to help decorate her house for Christmas, all six of us missionaries. More of a service from her to us! She had Christmas hymns playing, Chilean Christmas spice bread, and let us all decorate her tree together. She knows; she knows we are all dying for home and for Christmas. So she let us come and have some of those homey feelings together, disguised as "I need some help, can you come and do some service at my house this afternoon?" That's how you know they love you :)

And the last story, a funny one for the road! Hna. V and I were walking down the sidewalk one afternoon, and she was complaining about a huge zit she had acquired on her cheek that morning. The woes of a sister missionary. I was assuring her that it isn't important, that she is still lovely and beautiful. Right as I was saying this, a man rode by on his bike and called out, "Ustedes es bonita!" "You two are beautiful!" We get hit on in this manner a substantial amount, but the timing was beautiful and we were laughing for a good 10 minutes.

That's it for this week; know that I am happy, every day I am noticing blessings and tender mercies in my life, and there is nothing that I would rather do right now than be here, in Chile, as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love who I am, and I want to share my happiness with everyone! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Stay Bold, y'all :)

Hermana Harkins