I have been in Chile for 2 months TODAY! Que es este?!

I have committed a couple dogs to baptism. I have a lot of practice saying "¿Seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" Now if any of our TEN investigators would see how much their lives would be blessed by baptism...I am fired up and ready to go :)

In other news...this week rocked! Fun fact about Chile...they don't have trash cans for trash day. They have big wire baskets hanging on the outside of their gates, and they tie up all their little trash bags and put them in the basket and the trash man picks it up that way. So. Weird. But I'm sure they think its weird that we have huge bins of trash hanging out in our garages for a whole week, so I wont judge. I love Chile. I realize I say this a lot. But can you really blame me? ;)

This week, we had lots of great experiences with teaching. I have 3 stories to share. The first and second are about Pedro, a 33 year old living with his parents. He was a referral from the Elders, and we were all pumped up and ready to teach him the first lesson about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith...and then about 2 minutes after the prayer, Hna. Ortiz and I both had the impression to shift to faith. Pedro hadn't even said anything, he was just listening. But I took out my Restoration pamphlet and felt so strongly that it was not the topic he needed. I looked at Hna. Ortiz and knew she was feeling the same thing. So we gave a little intro to the B.O.M. and then taught Alma 32, el semilla de fe. The seed of faith. Turns out that he has no faith in Christ...so talking about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wont have any effect on him until he has faith, no? The Spirit. It is so amazing.

The second story is also about Pedro, our second visit with him. We found out that he speaks a good amount of English, which ROCKS for me because I can talk in Spanglish and he will understand me. So we followed up on the commitments we had talked about previously, bearing testimony and discussing scriptures, and for the first time since I have been on my mission, I was able to really get serious and invite someone to do something, and have them really understand my testimony about it. I asked him to pray with one specific question or problem in mind, just one. We taught him the simple way to pray - thank God for his blessings, ask for guidance, and talk to God. To talk to him like we talk to our best friends. Because he is our Heavenly Father! He WANTS to hear about our day, the things that made us happy and the things that were frustrating and nerve wracking and heart wrenching. All this I was able to say in Spanglish. We will see if he did it this week :)

The third is a story for the books, seriously. We have an investigator, Doris, who is 76 years old. She is a total sweetheart, and when we met her, she was very interested in listening to the discussions. Cool! Awesome! So we taught her the first lesson this week, and Hna. Ortiz invited her to read Moroni 10 and pray to know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Doris said she would. Hna. Ortiz nudges me, mouths "bautismo" and nods. So I said "Y si usted recibe una respuesta el Libro de Mormon es verdad, seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" And if you receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, etc.? She stared a moment, and told us that she did not want to be crucified as Christ was.

WHAT?!

Baptism by immersion was taught immediately haha being a missionary is the best.
Let's see, more good moments...we were visiting inactive members, and at one house, they were making sausage. As in grounding it and pressing it into the plastic. So we helped! I have pictures! I will try and send them!

We were at a members house for lunch early in the week, and they, being the mom and her 19 year old daughter, commented on my necklace, how they liked it. A birdcage with a pajarito...little bird. We stopped at their house on Friday to talk about the ward, since the mom is the YW pres, and they had a gift for me...earrings! Birdcages with little pajaritos in them! Delightful!

I was reading F. Enzio Busche this week, as always, and noticed that he and Emmy are totally on the same wave length. He says "Be not so concerned with what you do, but DO WHAT YOU DO with all your heart, might, mind and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction."

So Wednesdays rock, because they are District and Zone meetings.And in these meetings, that is when we receive letters. And this week, I got THREE LETTERS!! Whooooa I am feeling the love :) they were all sent to me when I was in the CCM, but still. I got them exactly when I needed them. Special shout out to my girl Katie Miller. I love you, darling! Lets go to Paris and eat all the macaroons, yes? Yes. Mom, still haven't received your package, but I will be going to the CCM tomorrow, and will ask the mail people.

Why are you going to the CCM, you ask?

Well, my comp has an infection in her arm, and has gotten so bad that the medical staff for our mission suggested we go to the main mission medical office, which is the the CCM. So not only do we get to go and be in the CCM and say hi to teachers and friends, but we get to go TO THE TEMPLE! Hello, prayers are answered! I am so EXCITED! So I will give a package update next email, sorry I don't have better news on the subject. Really, my week was so great. I love being a missionary, I love being in Chile, I love wearing Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day. This church is true. Love you all. Do what you do. Be bold. Ciauo!

Hermana Harkins

Coming to you from an Internet Cafe. I must be a missionary!

Wow, what a week! I wish that I had some exciting stories to tell you, but alas, no lessons taught, no people committed to baptisms, and our two investigators ditched us three times this week. It makes me sad, not because we lost numbers, but because I know how much our message will bless them, and when I get so excited to share it with them, it hurts my heart when they discreetly tell us that they just aren't interested.

BUT

Still had a great week! Come on, how could I not. I am a missionary, I am in Chile, I am talking all day about the Gospel! My favorite thing! Despite the disappointments, I still have my greenie spirit and energy. Proud to be a greenie. In fact, this week we had a Greenie Meeting. Received some more training, and I got to see all my friends from the CCM. Hermana Mittelsteadt and I about attacked each other, and we all had a fine time exchanging stories about how no one can understand us, and yet, we are all ecstatic and crazy to talk to everyone who will listen! It is beautiful! Afterward, on the bus ride back to our area (since the meeting was in the city about 30 minutes away), it was like conference time on trax. So many missionaries on that bus! IT WAS RAD.

In the greenie meeting, we received some pretty exciting news. ELDER HOLLAND is coming on November 13th to talk to all the Santiago missionaries! The North, South, East and West mission will all get to be in the same building with him! I have been obsessing over E. Holland for the past three years. Just finished the book of Alma and I have been telling all my friends that Alma the younger reminds me of E. Holland, and I will get to meet him, shake his hand, maybe get a PICTURE with him, and then listen to him talk to us Santiago missionaries, a message just for us. I. Am. So. Blessed. So excited! I am MEANT to be in Chile!

We had a great experience while contacting this week. We had just been totally dissed by an older man about being woman AND missionaries, double whammy, and I took up fresh courage (because our God will never us forsake) and right after the mean man, we sat on the front steps of a house with this woman who had just found out that her son has the same cancer that her husband died of. She has literally crying on my shoulder. Hello. Plan of Salvation. Testimony. Prayer, right there on the porch. No appointment, but she has our number and the memory of the experience. I love being a missionary.

Also this week, I found out that our zone is singing Battle Hymn of the Republic in a big mission meeting this coming Sunday, and in the arrangement there is a quartet and I get to be the Soprano! I love how many times I have been given the opportunity to bear my testimony through song. I'm really excited for it. Wish I could send a recording, but I cant send videos with myldsmail. Darn it!

This Sunday in my ward we had the primary program, always the best Sacrament meetings. Whats funny in our ward is that no one plays the piano, so last week, we sang all the hymns a capella. This week, the director found someone who knew how to play the violin, so we sang the hymns with a violin. I thought of Mitchell. I'm sure it would have inspired him ;) And then with the primary program, they sang all the great classic songs. All 8 primary members! I thought of Chuck Nielson when they sang I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I always do. And every time I have sung alone or for a special musical number, I think of Dad, for making me love music. And Rita Schroeder, for giving me the beginning of a confident singing voice. I am so blessed with people who have helped build my testimony throughout my life, what more could I do to repay them than to serve a mission?

So this week, I had a bit of a rough patch on Thursday. The language is tough, I have a hard time communicating with practically everyone, and it got to my heart, and sometimes you just have to let the tears come. But then, the words "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake. And soon we ll have this tale to tell...all is well, all is well." Talk about the spirit telling me exactly what I needed to hear! Because once you let the tears come, you pick yourself up and you keep going. And you take up fresh courage and when all is said and done, you will have many, many good stories and experiences that you can treasure up for the rest of your life.

I know this church is TRUE. How could it not be. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all, Be bold siempre!

Hermana Harkins

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

Last day at the mansion -Al Contera, matchy matchy!

Pointing to my mission

Thanks for the shirt, Elder Harkins (my service shirt)

I am tan - WHAAAT

Me on our street

Lunch today, Peruvian!

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