Feliz Navidad!

Ashley's Mission Email #74

I almost don't want to write this email but there's a time for everything. I have 1 week left as a full time missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and lucky for me, it's the same week as Christmas. I can't think of a better way to finish. Christ is the reason I am here. His birth made it possible to find happiness in this life and in the life to come. 

If I could put in words how much I love my Savior I would, but it's impossible. So just imagine. This year and a half I have been able to walk a couple steps through the Garden of Gethsemane (as an apostle says) and experience maybe a one thousandth part of what He felt (if that). I know a little more how He feels when we make dumb decisions, I know a little more how He mourns for us and rejoices for us when we accept Him. I understand a little more of His character and personality and I know He's a hardworker so I should be too. Most of all I just know that this is His gospel and the fullness of it. There's nothing else like it on earth because it doesn't come from this world. It was formed before the world was and will exist after. I just hope and pray that this Christmas we can all see a little bit further than our time here and now and realize what He has in store for us. It's more than we can comprehend so really all we have to go through in this world is SO worth it. 

Thanks so much for your support and love and prayers. I really honestly appreciate it so much.

I love you all and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 

Love,

Hermana Allen

The ward Christmas party. 

My companions that are still here in the mission. 

We found Denny's. 

El Coro de Campanas.

Ashley's Mission Email #73

We went to the temple on Tuesday and it was wonderful! I definitely had some questions in mind and went in trying to get answers. Well I got some, but not to my questions. I'm just glad that Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself. It helps me trust more in Him.

This week we saw a coro de campanas. The bell choir. And of course we were planning on bringing investigators so we had the tickets all ready and they all decided to cancel. It was about 3.30 and the concert started at 4 and we had 2 tickets and couldn't go without bringing someone. So we contacted this couple that was swinging in the park across the street and somehow they said yes and came and loved it! God always provides a way.

We also had an intercambio, with Hna Frias and we ate sweet empanadas and took a couple pictures in the creepy elevator. I dropped my agenda in gross street water, we had lunch with the Dixon family, and we planned for some fun Christmas activities! It's been a good week!

Love you all!

Love

Hna Allen

December 14, 2015

The oldies. The going home group and President. 

Bell Choir.

Selfie in the scariest elevator ever! Seriously, this thing is not safe. 

La Navidad ha llegado.

Ashley's Mission Email #72

We got permission to see the Christmas devotional last night even though here it started at 9pm. We live so close to the church that it was ok. We had some good hot chocolate and bread and listened to some great messages and the songs were so good too! So tomorrow we have a temple trip! An awesome way to start the Christmas season. Even though I feel like Christmas came 2 months ago because Dominicans like to get a head start. 

We spent a lot of energy trying to get Sandra and Pedro to the Christmas devotional. They are a part member family that President gave to us as a reference. They have 2 kids. Miyuki the 8 year old and a little baby boy and they are so great. Finally we got Sandra and the kids to come. (It was the hot chocolate.) Haha, no just kidding. They really liked it!

It's so true though, the spirit of Christmas time. Just speaking of Christ's birth brings the Spirit. So take advantage of that. The video of A Savior is Born can help too. But this time really is special so use it to help others feel it too.

Love,

Hna Allen

December 7, 2015

Saturday lunch. (We get to eat with members on the weekends!!! Yay!)

The best service projects are Christmas ones. 

Sunday lunch. 

SO MUCH FOOD!

Grateful!

Ashley's Mission Email #71

Just a short message we learned from Elder Cornish this week...

1. If you want to feel the spirit, be grateful, and when you start expressing gratitude you will feel the spirit and be grateful for that and it becomes a circle of gratitude. 

2. Think about the stars. We think they are eternal, but they at some point die. Now think of us. We are eternal beings, longer than the stars. That means what we do now is SO eternally important.

Love you all! Have a great week!!

It's Christmas time in the Gazcue house. 

Thanksgiving was great!

Cuenta Tus Bendiciones.

Ashley's Mission Email #70

Hola a todos. 

Happy Turkey day! Remember to really use the holiday for what it was made for and give thanks for all that you have. 

This week we had transfers so my comp left, I switched bedrooms and now me and Hna Ferman are comps! I'll be finishing her training. We are really excited about our area because we combined the one I had and the one she had because the ward now only has 4 missionaries instead of 6. Anyways, we see a lot of potential.

Just some crazy things that happened yesterday. Well the conde, a huge tourist street in our area, had a big celebration and concert and we had to walk through that to get to our appointment. Then we went to an appointment where a lady prayed that we would be protected and that at every street corner a flaming coal would pass by our lips...now I know I don't know everything in Spanish, but even my comp (from Honduras) was confused when we left. We weren't really sure how to take that. 

Migalina a less active is starting to come back to church! She's been twice now. It's amazing to be seeing a change in her too. She used to be really burdened by all the problems hat she has but now she just keeps saying how she always feels new after church. She's great!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week. Love you lots and lots. Remember how important you are to Heavenly Father and the divine plan and potential that He has for each one of us. 

Love, 

Hna Allen

Villa Mella Sisters. It was good to see them again. Vivan las Vacas. 

Thanks guys!

Lunch with Hna Daisy.