Hello From the Field

10/09/13

I am sitting in a chapel in the best mission oeste (west), in training, and one of the things I get to do is to write you all a letter.  My goodness, I am already smitten with my mission area.  Chile has already claimed a part of my heart.  It seems sureal to be sitting here in training and that tonight I will meet my trainer, go to our apartment, and then who knows what tomorrow will bring.  I am so excited for the next part of my adventure. 

I want you all to know that I LOVE THIS GOSPEL.  I have learned to rely on the Lord, to find joy in studying the scriptures (my new favorite thing), to respond to the promptings of the Spirit, and while I did not think it was possible, my testimony of the restoration has grown the most.  To quote Jeffrey R Holland, "Everything great in my life has come because of the gospel."  That is the truth.  Thank you for giving me the one thing that can bless me forever.  Now I want to share it. 

Here is the address that is best for letters, packages, and whatever you'll need to send me for the rest of my mission.  Disregard the MTC address and any other addresses.  THIS IS IT!

Hermana Ashlynne Rose Harkins
Mission Chile Santiago Oeste
Correos, Casilla 149
Pajaritos 1921
Maipu, Chile

I LOVE YOU!  BE BOLD!  YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU DO!



Ashlynne (Hermana) Harkins

p.s.  met the mission president.  BEST PRES. EVER!

My new area - 5 de Abril

President and Sister Barreiros and my new companion, Sister Ortiz

I Live in a Mansion

I. Live. In. A. Mansion.

It is unreal! We do morning individual study in a parlor, eat breakfast in a real dining room, there is a grand piano for our use, the bedrooms are huge, there is a pool and pool house and basketball and volleyball court, and it looks like those little cottages in Disneyland for the snow white ride, just bigger. It is so BEAUTIFUL! As much as I loved saying that I live on temple square, saying that I live in a Chilean mansion works too! I am so fortunate to have these experiences!

Mom, in response to your questions...so far I have shared F. Enzio Busche 3 times, and I am always quoting it in lesson prep for our investigators. I wish I had an infinite supply of them to hand out to everyone. It is seriously the best ever! My favorite subject to teach is The Doctrine of Christ. It is simple, easy to understand with no room for wrong interpretation, yet so powerful and life changing. We go to the temple every other week, and tomorrow is my last time going. I am going to try and do the whole session in Spanish! AAAAH!!! But after that, I am not sure how often I will be able to go. The temple is not in my mission. But I have been so blessed to have it right there, every day.

This week was full of adventure. Along with moving to Al Contera, I got a whole new district and new set of teachers, none of which speak English. So you HAVE to speak Spanish. At first, this made me a bit weary. But it has proven to be such a blessing. My vocabulary and pronunciation are improving because of it, and since I am going into the field in FIVE DAYS, I can use all the practice I can get!

I also starting teaching with Hermana MacRae this week, which I was also a bit worried about. But after the first lesson, I knew that I had gotten into something amazing. As great as my companionship with Hermana Mittelsteadt was, she did most of the talking in our meetings. Hermana MacRae and I are about even in our Spanish. And she just teaches differently, and I LOVE her method! Simple, lots of personal experiences, and testifying A LOT. After our first lesson, our teacher held us back to give feedback, and said that she was amazed at our comfort and fluidity with each other in the first lesson. Another teacher commented specifically on how impressed she was by my Spanish, which I never thought would be a compliment I would receive in the CCM. She also told me that I ask really good questions.

That is something that they really impress upon us...ask the questions that will take us into the hearts of our investigators. Its something that all of us CCM missionaries struggled with. But I have found that asking about their relationship with God and Jesus Christ, the influence of a gospel in their life, and what they would say to God were he in this room really has a good effect. And my maestro told me that my questions are perfecto. I am so happy!

This week, our district was asked to perform a musical number for Sunday Family Home Evening, so we sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer (en Español) to the tune of Come Thou Fount, and it was amazing the spirit that we were able to invite with the song. In the fourth verse, Elder Cummings sang the first few lines as a solo, since it is God speaking, then the rest of us came in for the last line. Elder Cummings and I then repeated the last two lines, harmonizing at the end, OH MY GOODNESS it was so amazing! And it brought our new district closer together as well. I loved it. I will try and attach a video of the song. Look for the elders goofing off in the back during practice. Such 18 year olds ;)

Also this week, we got to go contact! We were given two pamphlets and were told that we couldn't come back inside until we had placed them. Talk about intimidating! I will admit, I was a little nervous. I have found that in these situations, I wish I were English speaking. But it turned out to be a great experience! We gave one to a very kind, elderly, extremely Catholic man who was very set in his ways, but he let us sit and talk to him, and I even bore my testimony to him. The second one we gave a woman at a bus stop who actually happened to know how to speak English. She told us about how she met LDS members in Bolivia, that she admires us for our devotion, but that she is too dedicated to the Bible. I had grabbed a Book Of Mormon at the last minute on our way out of the classroom, and now I know why! I explained to her how the B.O.M. goes hand in hand with the Bible, it testifies of Christ, and we were nearly there, ready to testify and give it to her, when her bus arrived, and I wasn't about to shove it in her face without taking the time to testify with the Spirit. BUT. Its all good! What an amazing, and unique, experience! I am so blessed to be trained here in Santiago. Not something I could have done at the Provo MTC.

On Saturday, we were in the computer room working on grammar when a dad and his two young children came and stood at the door. Lots of families are on the grounds on Saturdays because of the temple, and sometimes they come into the CCM. But this was the first time I was able to talk to them. I was sitting right by the door, and turned around and looked right at the little boy, about 6, and asked him his name. He was shy, but told me it was Juan. I introduced myself, and said it was nice to meet him. And he got this huge smile on his face and shook my hand and it was the most adorable thing I have ever seen! I LOVE IT HERE!!!

This morning, our teacher was assigning teaching times for everyone, and I was asking him about how much time we would have, and out of no where he said "Do you have nice parents?" Odd question. "Yes." "They're members their whole lives?" "My dad is a convert." My teacher gets this smile on his face. I ask him why. "You just are happy. You look like a happy little girl. I can tell you have good parents." So there you go :) I really do have the best mom and dad in the world, no battle!

I want to bear you my testimony of prayer. Yesterday, I said a prayer in class to know what to do to be a better missionary, a formula I can use to be more dedicated. I opened my eyes, looked straight down into my Preach My Gospel, and the first thing I saw was "develop Christ like attributes." Some answers take a while, some are immediate, and they are all from God. He is in the details of our lives. I know this to be true, and this is why I am serving a mission. I love you all! Be bold!

Hermana Harkins

My 2nd companion, Sister McRae, and I

Sister McRae and I in front of our mansion house

It's starting to feel like spring in front of the Santiago, Chile temple

Seriously? One month?

WOW how has it been one month since the longest plane ride of my life and the beginning of my adventure in Santiago? I can hardly believe it! 

So many great things happened this week! The girls in my hall started something called a Journal Jam, where we all crowd into a room and turn on music and combine all our goodies and write in our JOURNALS and we wear our JAMMIES and we JAM to efy and motab. Sister missionaries are the best, no battle! So fun!

This week, on the 18th, it was Chile's Independance Day. There was a fiesta at a nearby park that we got to go to, with live music and dancing and vendors selling food and clothes and all sorts of fun stuff. It was delightful! I got a Chilean beaded bracelet and the most amazing, life changing empanada I have ever experienced. Chile is the best ever!

I found out this last week that Elder Warrick, one of the elders in my district, has a smash book that his Girl Friend made for him, the little one! I had a mini freak out moment and blabbed about how I'm famous and stuff. He didnt get it. But there is another Hermana here with a smash book, and then me, and then ELDER Warrick! It was a moment that is worth writing home about.

Hermana Mittelsteadt and I taught in Relief Society this last Sunday, which also happened to be our last Sunday in English meetings. For the last two weeks here, everything is in Spanish. So I am very thankful to be asked to teach in English. She talked about prayer, and I talked about following the promptings of the Spirit. It is currently my favorite topic ever. I was able to talk about us moving to Utah, choosing to serve a mission, bearing my testimony in spanish, and I used my F. Enzio Busche quotes. I read that every morning as we walk to class. It is the best way to start out the morning. I love teaching Relief Society, but teaching the missionary discussions in Spanish is my favorite. Also, side note, I got a pocket size spanish hymnal from the distribution center this week. It is debatably the best thing I have purchased since coming to Chile.

This last Sunday, I got to meet my mission president! He and his wife spoke at the Sunday evening devotional we have here every other week, so everyone going to the Oeste mission got to go up and meet him and chat a bit. That is something that is so unique to the CCM, getting to meet your mission president before entering the field. I know that at first, I was really wanting to go to the Provo MTC, but every day I am thankful for the chance to train in Chile, to know everyone in the CCM, and to have the temple right there out my window. An older sister missionary told us last week that we live on the Chile Temple Square. And it's true! How delightful is that!

Today has been particularly eventful. Presidente told us this morning that our disctrict is being combined with district 2, the group of people we flew here with. So Elder Cowin, Bishop Bronsan's nephew, and I will be in the same district. But...Elder Mcchardy and Hermana Mittelsteadt are being transfered into Latino Disctricts because their spanish is so exceptional. So Hermana Mcrae, from Canada, is going to be my new companion, and tomorrow, I am moving to Al Contera, a mansion about ten minutes away that half of the missionaries stay at becuase we cant all fit in the CCM. I will admit, I am having mixed emotions. I love Hermana Mittelsteadt! She has helped me so much with my spanish, we work very well together, she is the kindest person I have ever met, and we have become "one soul" as she puts it in these last four weeks. She said "Presidente pulling us apart is like making a horcrux...hes taking a part of my soul." (Dad will love that). But on the other hand...an adventure! Im moving to a mansion! Getting a new district! Its hard, but why look at it as a trial when you can look at it as something to look forward to?

Here. A funny story from this week. We were talking about feminine vs. masculine. La Biblia and El Libro de Mormon. Hermana Mittelsteadt said "heres how you remember; theyre married, man and woman, and in the quad, they become as one heart." I have the best companion. 

Elder Cowin, Bishop Brosnan's nephew, and I

The most amazing, life changing empanada I have ever experienced

District 7

District 7 being ourselves

Sister Mittelsteadt and I enjoying p-day

Lemon pie granola bar - it's a good day

I love you all, thank you for your emails, your prayers, your love! Ciao!

Hermana Harkins

Well Hello Again

I will be leaving right after general conference, which is AWESOME, being in the CCM one year after the big age change, to be a part of the huge wave of missionary work, and experience general conference this way. I cant wait!

Santiago is beautiful. Only three pdays out and about in the city, and I am already smitten with it. It looks a lot like other big cities, but the architecture is a little different, older and a little crumbling, but you know I like old stuff :) There are lots of fruit stands and street vendors everywhere, and in the part that I am in now, there are beautiful walking bridges and cobblestone-ish sidewalks. People walk and ride their bike more than they drive. In some places, they even have bike roads. SO COOL!!!

Shopping is interesting. At this point, we don't do any substantial grocery shopping because we are fed here at the CCM, but every p day we go to Liders,  the grocery chain in this part of Chile, to get snacks and such. Today I got bananas and clementines from a street vendor, and some Chilean cookies from the grocery store. I never thought I could be so excited about buying groceries, but it is one of my favorite things on p day. Its funny, they have a USA section in the grocery store with creamer and granola bars and peanut butter, and it consists of about one sixth of an isle. I am definitely in South America! Plus, they had quinoa. Which made me heart so very happy. I cant wait for real grocery shopping, just so I can buy quinoa!

I am pretty biased that all the sisters here ROCK. We got a new bunch this last Wednesday, lots of Latinas and only 4 North American sisters, and of course the Elders. But we are all friends, everyone- everyone! - is on fire about the gospel! I absolutely love it here! There are of course the sisters that spend quite a bit of time chatting with the elders, flipping their hair and laughing at everything they say. Bleh. Lamos. But still, so much love for everyone here. I basically have about 100 buddies. That's another great thing about the CCM, it is pretty small, so everyone knows each other. It is delightful!

You have to be an RM to teach, and while some have been back 2 or 3 years, some returned in July! Its crazy to think that we have 21 year olds teaching us how to be missionaries...new experience, but again, I LOVE IT!

I would like pictures of all my girls, Emmy especially becuase I talk about here A LOT. She is one of my favorite topics, and her picture belongs in my family album. Index cards and teeny tiny sticky notes, they dont sell them here in Chile! Ugh! Anything cute. You know basically better than anyone, so I trust you :) oh, socks. You would be astonished (not really) at how quickly a missionary can get a hole in her socks. So...yeah. They sell them for 2 bucks at Target, I think!

I got an email from Shyla, and seriously could not stop grinning. Made me so happy. And so glad to read about Mitchell's experience at the baptism. I have a great brother!

So as for me this week...I will admit, this week was really tough. I am struggling to keep up with learning the language. It seems that everyone else around me gets it right away, and I am left confused at why tiene is conjugated so oddly.  It has been very frustrating, and at times, I turned to Hermana Mittelsteadt and told her, I am feeling so discouraged. Luckily, my companion is the best missionary in the whole entire CCM, and knows just what to do to lift my spirits. 

Thursday evening, when I felt that I could go no further, we sat down and made a list of goals. Lists are the best ever. EVER. Why survive when you can list? (Ha, see what I did there?) Things to do to focus on the studying, to invite the spirit more, to regain enthusiasm...and then Friday, we put it into effect, and ever since then, we have been happy and singing and working hard at the language. I am so blessed!

Side note. I found out that morder in Espanol means to bite, and I thought of how Essie says MORDUE! I was laughing for about ten minutes. Don't even worry about it.

Something else that I was just craving this week was the companionship of the Spirit. Along with feeling discouraged by the language study, I felt an absence of the Holy Ghost, which was honestly more frustrating than anything. I prayed harder than I ever have to have the companionship of the Spirit, for the gift of discernment, to be guided by the Holy Ghost. I firmly believe that with God, anything is possible. And without him, you can't do much as a missionary. I NEED the spirit. I promised in my prayers that I would act on every prompting from the Spirit once I receive them.

And sometimes, God tests us.

This Sunday was sacrament meeting, and fast and testimony meeting. And as soon as it opened up for testimonies, here comes the prompting. To bear my testimony. In front of everyone. IN SPANISH.

Initial reaction...NO WAY JOSE.

then a few moments later, spanish phrases started forming in my head. Simple phrases, things that I believe in and know are true, came to my mind and I could not deny that it was the Spirit. And I got up there and bore my testimony, in front of Presidente and everyone. Mi español es mas o menos. Pero, mi testimonio es grande y fuerte. Yo se que este Evangelio es verdadero. Yo se que Jose Smith es el primero profeta. Jesucristo es mi Salvadour. Es su salvadour. Es el Salvadour para todos los personas. Yo se que. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. 

If no one but myself profited from my testimony, I am ok with that. Becuase I promised to act on the promptings of the Spirit, even when theyre hard, even when they are frightening, even when I think that I cannot do it. So long as I am devoted to God, and am devoted to serve him, he will provide a way for me. And that is why I am on a mission.

Something great that a senior missionary couple told us this week is that we live in the Chilean temple square. Seriously! Enserio! We have the temple, the Institute building, the distribution center, the CCM, and a stake center. I love that!

I love Chile, I love this gospel, I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for your prayers, I will not waste this time that the Lord has given me! Do what you do!

My companion, Hermana Mittelsteadt

My roommate, Hermana Clearwater