Area: Montpelier/Cokeville
Companion: Sister Parker
Hello my family! This week has been great! I dont have a lot to report on just because I was able to email on Friday! Lol But the past few days have been great and I have really enjoyed them. So, mom has asked me some questions and I would like to start with the question that was, Your frustration this last week. And in all honesty, I guess you could say that it is a good frustration but a sad one at the same time? Haha I am not sure how to really explain it. But, I will tell you what my thoughts have been this past week. So, for those of you who do not know, my last companion was dealing with depression and President Brinkerhoff told me that my main purpose was to keep her on her mission for the last four months of her mission. So, that is what I did. I did everything I could to make sure that she was happy and that she was going to stay on her mission. Well, she was able to finish her mission and I did as the mission president told me. As I reflect on the past three transfers that I had with her and realize that we didnt really do a whole lot of work and that it was mostly hanging out with members because that is what she wanted to do, I feel that those three transfers were not necessarily wasted, but not spent the way that they should. And now, having a companion that is excited about the work and is ready to work, I see how much work we have missed out on. And how much we should have been doing. It makes me I guess frustrated because I have felt that I was not fulfilling my purpose as a missionary. And that I was not doing what I was suppose to be doing. And I struggle with knowing that my time here in Montpelier is coming to an end. I read something this morning though as I was studying and I was reading about the sons of Mosiah and this is the verse that really hit me. Alma 17:11 "Ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." That scripture brought me so much comfort in knowing that I am doing the Lords work, and even if my purpose of these last three transfers were to keep Sister Espiritu on her mission, then I am happy with the work that I have done. Because, Sister Espiritu was able to finish and she will forever be blessed for staying strong and being able to finish the Lord's work. Even if it was not to the fullest of her ability. I did my part and I did what was asked of me.
Mom also asked me what my favorite moment was this last week and I would have to say that our appointment with Armando was my favorite. We were able to meet with him this weekend and it went really well. But, it was a little bit of a struggle getting someone there to translate. Our girls that usually translate for us were sick. So they were not able to go translate. And, when we found out, we were in Cokeville at the time and we needed to find a translator ASAP. And, we also needed to call Armando because he had called us earlier and left a message and well, we could not understand what he was really saying. All we know was that he gave us his number because there were some numbers in there. Haha but, we went to every person in Cokeville that we knew could speak Spanish and they were not home. Well, we were driving down the street and we saw two guys on the side of the road and I told Sister Parker to pull over. So, she did and I rolled down my window and asked them if they spoke Spanish and they said that they both did! What a tender mercy! They were visiting their family in Cokeville for the weekend! They had both served missions Spanish speaking! One had just gotten back about a year and a half ago and her served in Argentina and the other served in Guatemala and he served about 8 years ago! We were in luck! They called Armando and they confirmed our appointment for that night at seven and when he got off the phone, we asked if they would want to come to the lesson with us! And they said yes! :) YAY! We found our translators. Now, we just needed a sister to come with us because we could not be in his house with just guys haha. But that was not too hard to find. The lesson went great and the two guys did great at translating! And, they would answer questions that Armando had! It was wonderful. And, guess what! We were able to set a baptismal date with him for July 25th! YAY! It made me so happy! He is so excited about the church and he is super excited to learn more. He came to church yesterday and he really enjoyed it! :) So, setting a date with Armando I would have to say was my favorite moment for this past week! :)
She also asked me who my favorite person was this last week... Hmm.. I would have to say that my favorite person would have to be the two guys that were able to help us translate. Because without them, I am pretty sure that our lesson would have been a disaster. Haha.
So, last night I was talking with Sister Parker about clothes. Yeah, I know, weird subject to talk about in my letter. But she was talking about how much she does not like her clothes and how she wishes that she had more clothes. She had asked me if I was ever like that and I said that I was. She then asked me what changed. And I was being honest with her and said, the reason I dont really care what my clothes look like anymore is because this mission is not about me. It does not matter what I look like when I go out and visit people because I am not here for myself. The mission is about the people that we are serving. It is about them. If we love the work and if we love the people then what we wear and what we look like should not be the main worry in our day. And as I really thought about it, it was so true. I thought about the time that Sister Espiritu and I gave up make-up for a week for an investigator because she was only 11 and wearing make-up and we told her that we would give it up if she did as well. Not wearing make-up did not bother me at all. Of course, I did not look good, but it was because I love her and I want to do anything that will help her in her life. I love the work. I love the people. I love being a missionary. I am going to miss this wonderful work and every day that passes, I want to do better than the day before. I hope that when I come home that there will be a noticeable change, because each and every day I try to be a better person. Each and every day, I strive to become more like my Savior. I love Him and he is such the perfect example and should always be the center of our lives.
Thank you for all the support that you all give me. It is wonderful to know that I have such a wonderful family and also such wonderful friends! I look forward to the day that I will get to see you again! Love you all!
Love,
Sister Ashley Halbison
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