¡Hola!
This week was just kind of weird.
We dad Pday last Monday. I slept and wrote people. Then in the afternoon we worked. Mostly just walked around trying to find somone who was willling to let us teach them. Then Tuesday morning we went to Ciudad Real for District Meeting. Even though it is way expensive to have to go all the way there every week, it is completely worth it to have a giant district. We feel way less stranded now.
Then I left straight from Ciudad Real to go to Jerez de la Frontera for intercambios. Jerez is a beautiful, magical city. Since it's so far away the trains were hard to schedule, so I stayed there until Thursday. It was nice to have like a mini vacation there but I really just like being in my area, with my companion, teaching my investigators. Jerez really is great and people are sooo much more open there than they are in Puertollano or even in Granada. But... yeah.
So then on Friday we did a branch family home evening thing. I love our little branch. They are all nuts, but it is starting to feel like home. I just love them all.
Some random less active that we had never met before showed up church on Sunday. That was exciting. It is nice to see new faces.
We ate lunch again with the Montes family and afterwards we showed them the Best Two Years in spanish. We sacrificed our Medio Dia to watch it all with them. It was totally worth it. They got really into it and thought it was hilarious. Good times. Last week I started helping Hna Montes cook the food and now she has decided I actually will get married someday. Score. My potato chopping skills won me over.
And thats it. Thats my week.
I love you!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Monday, August 18, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
Another Amazing Week in Puertollano
Hola!
So Last Pday we played Ticket to Ride (thanks mom) and I conquered Eastern Europe. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.
Tuesday we finally found the piso of a reference from the Elders in Ciudad Real. They gave us an address of a family they had contacted a few weeks ago in their city but they actually ended up living here. We went to this address probably four or five times and kept finding new people to teach- but not the actual family we were looking for until finally they called us and asked us why we hadn't stopped by yet. We told them that we had, in fact we were in their building right then, they just hadn't ever been home. They said they lived in building one, we told them that we were in building one. They said to go outside to the street, we did and turned around and it turns out we had been going to building 13! That 3 had literally never been there before. We are positive about it. Then we went to the real building one and met this family. Well really just the dad and his adult daughter. They are golden. The Dad, Manuel, just started asking us all kinds of really good sincere questions and then asked, "so what happens if I listen to you today and then I pray about it, and I feel like this is the one true religion and I want to be mormon tomorrow, what would I have to do?" That one kind of caught us off guard but then we explained that he would have to get baptized and then explained the baptismal covenant and like what he would be promising or whatever and then he asked us what the difference was between our church and every other church and I said one of the main things is that we have The Book of Mormon and I pulled it out and he said, "I promise you that I will read that book! How much does it cost?" I fought the urge to tell him to slow down. First he is supposed to look at us like freaks, we are supposed to bear our testimonies and invite him to read just part of it, he is supposed to tell us he doesn't have time and then we are supposed to promise him that if makes time, only 5 minutes a day, to read just a little bit, God will bless him and his family and then he is supposed to say well I'll try and then we are supposed to leave slightly discouraged. I did not say that-- instead I told him that the book is free and then we explained it just a little bit and he told us how historically it completely makes sense that 600 years before Christ people traveled to the Americas from Jerusalem. Like he just backed us up. Then he asked when we could come again and explain when and how our church was formed. Which indeed is lesson 1, we meet with him again on Tuesday and I am excited for it.
Wednesday night, we got home and tried to open our door and the key snapped right in half inside of the lock. It was like 10:30at night and we kind of freaked out. Have I mentioned how we our literally in the middle of no where with not even members around to help us? Like the branch president has our spare key but he lives in Madrid. So we called the Zone Leaders. They didn't answer so then we texted them 911. Maybe in hindsight that wasn't the best idea, but we were seriously worried we would have to spend the night in the street. So the Zone Leaders called us and they were freaking out. They thought we were dead. Then they calmed down and told us to call a locksmith- problem: first you have to have a number to call a locksmith, know the word for locksmith in spanish, and it would have to be normal business hours- hence all the freaking out that was going on. Well actually apparently none of that is true the ZLs told us the number was probably right on the outside of our building, it's called a cerajero, and they work 24/7. They also repeated that we should never text 911 to someone. Then the locksmith came and got us in to our piso. We slept in our beds. Then we spent all morning running around trying to get a copy of our broken key. But don't worry, now we have one and the problem is solved.
Friday we had zone meeting in Ciudad Real. That was exciting. And then on Saturday we had to go to Ciudad Real again for specialized training and interviews with President. Even more exciting. And President told me that Puertollano is officially the smallest branch in the mission. That is quite the distinction.
Sunday, a senior missionary couple came and visited our branch. They spoke and taught Sunday School and we didn't have to do anything but direct the music. Now that was exciting. I forgot what it was like to just sit and watch church go on.
And that was my week.
I love you all!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
So Last Pday we played Ticket to Ride (thanks mom) and I conquered Eastern Europe. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.
Tuesday we finally found the piso of a reference from the Elders in Ciudad Real. They gave us an address of a family they had contacted a few weeks ago in their city but they actually ended up living here. We went to this address probably four or five times and kept finding new people to teach- but not the actual family we were looking for until finally they called us and asked us why we hadn't stopped by yet. We told them that we had, in fact we were in their building right then, they just hadn't ever been home. They said they lived in building one, we told them that we were in building one. They said to go outside to the street, we did and turned around and it turns out we had been going to building 13! That 3 had literally never been there before. We are positive about it. Then we went to the real building one and met this family. Well really just the dad and his adult daughter. They are golden. The Dad, Manuel, just started asking us all kinds of really good sincere questions and then asked, "so what happens if I listen to you today and then I pray about it, and I feel like this is the one true religion and I want to be mormon tomorrow, what would I have to do?" That one kind of caught us off guard but then we explained that he would have to get baptized and then explained the baptismal covenant and like what he would be promising or whatever and then he asked us what the difference was between our church and every other church and I said one of the main things is that we have The Book of Mormon and I pulled it out and he said, "I promise you that I will read that book! How much does it cost?" I fought the urge to tell him to slow down. First he is supposed to look at us like freaks, we are supposed to bear our testimonies and invite him to read just part of it, he is supposed to tell us he doesn't have time and then we are supposed to promise him that if makes time, only 5 minutes a day, to read just a little bit, God will bless him and his family and then he is supposed to say well I'll try and then we are supposed to leave slightly discouraged. I did not say that-- instead I told him that the book is free and then we explained it just a little bit and he told us how historically it completely makes sense that 600 years before Christ people traveled to the Americas from Jerusalem. Like he just backed us up. Then he asked when we could come again and explain when and how our church was formed. Which indeed is lesson 1, we meet with him again on Tuesday and I am excited for it.
Wednesday night, we got home and tried to open our door and the key snapped right in half inside of the lock. It was like 10:30at night and we kind of freaked out. Have I mentioned how we our literally in the middle of no where with not even members around to help us? Like the branch president has our spare key but he lives in Madrid. So we called the Zone Leaders. They didn't answer so then we texted them 911. Maybe in hindsight that wasn't the best idea, but we were seriously worried we would have to spend the night in the street. So the Zone Leaders called us and they were freaking out. They thought we were dead. Then they calmed down and told us to call a locksmith- problem: first you have to have a number to call a locksmith, know the word for locksmith in spanish, and it would have to be normal business hours- hence all the freaking out that was going on. Well actually apparently none of that is true the ZLs told us the number was probably right on the outside of our building, it's called a cerajero, and they work 24/7. They also repeated that we should never text 911 to someone. Then the locksmith came and got us in to our piso. We slept in our beds. Then we spent all morning running around trying to get a copy of our broken key. But don't worry, now we have one and the problem is solved.
Friday we had zone meeting in Ciudad Real. That was exciting. And then on Saturday we had to go to Ciudad Real again for specialized training and interviews with President. Even more exciting. And President told me that Puertollano is officially the smallest branch in the mission. That is quite the distinction.
Sunday, a senior missionary couple came and visited our branch. They spoke and taught Sunday School and we didn't have to do anything but direct the music. Now that was exciting. I forgot what it was like to just sit and watch church go on.
And that was my week.
I love you all!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Monday, August 4, 2014
One Down, Two to Go
Dear everyone,
So we honestly just did a lot of walking this week.
We ran out of ideas so we started working in the red zone.. Everyone told us that it is perfectly safe in the daylight and there are a bunch of inactive members that live up there so we decided to give it a shot and everyone was so nice to us! The first house we knocked on we braced ourselves to sprint when the lady opened the door and invited us in! This was the first time I have ever been invited into a house (other than by an active member) since coming to Puertollano. Literally, I never been in a house until this week. This was a serious accomplishment. And then everyone else we talked to invited us to come back this next week. We call it: red zone morning miracles.
Transfer calls came this week! And... drum roll... nothing is happening! I survived my first transfer without a transfer call! Woohoo! I am pretty relieved to be honest. This transfer is probably going to be the most chill transfer of my mission so far.
And they are combing our district with the district in Valdepeñas because there were only four of us before so now i will have to participate far less and we will see other missionaries. Life is good.
And that is this week! Love you!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
So we honestly just did a lot of walking this week.
We ran out of ideas so we started working in the red zone.. Everyone told us that it is perfectly safe in the daylight and there are a bunch of inactive members that live up there so we decided to give it a shot and everyone was so nice to us! The first house we knocked on we braced ourselves to sprint when the lady opened the door and invited us in! This was the first time I have ever been invited into a house (other than by an active member) since coming to Puertollano. Literally, I never been in a house until this week. This was a serious accomplishment. And then everyone else we talked to invited us to come back this next week. We call it: red zone morning miracles.
Transfer calls came this week! And... drum roll... nothing is happening! I survived my first transfer without a transfer call! Woohoo! I am pretty relieved to be honest. This transfer is probably going to be the most chill transfer of my mission so far.
And they are combing our district with the district in Valdepeñas because there were only four of us before so now i will have to participate far less and we will see other missionaries. Life is good.
And that is this week! Love you!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Pueblo Life
Well Hello,
Another week passed in Puertollano. Just preaching the gospel, strengthening church. Yup.
We did intercambios with the SHEs in Dos Hermanas. I found out what SHE stands for finally: Super Hermana Entrenadora. Woohoo. I kind of hate doing intercambios. I am trying to gain a testimony of it so hard. I stayed here and guided poor unsuspecting Hermana Moreno around. I was happily surprised that I can actually find my way around the town by myself. Also, I spoke nothing but spanish for 24 hours and I like didn't have a problem. Didn't know I could do that. We also lost our top investigators to long term vacations but I guess that just means we have more room to find and teach new people. A lot of room.
At least we know crazy Pedro will never leave us. Have I ever talked about crazy Pedro? He's crazy. He tells us he can't leave his piso and come to church because he is waiting for an ambulance to come and get him. He called them 74 days ago (he counts) so they really should come any day now. But he really likes the Plan of Salvation.
We were just walking along the other day when an old lady stopped me. I couldn't understand what she was saying because she was old and spanish so I made her repeat herself like four times when I finally realized she was asking if I would help her cross the street. I said sure so she linked her arm through mine and we began the long procession of crossing the street. I expect my boy scout badge to come in the mail any day now.
Yesterday we went to lunch at the house of the Montes family again. The main course? Rabbit leg. I ate a rabbit's leg. He kept calling it Bugs Bunny and I wanted to die. It was attached to the bone and everything and even looked like Bugs Bunny's leg. My stomach has become strong.
So that's pretty much all I can think of right now. I love you all. Have a good week.
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Another week passed in Puertollano. Just preaching the gospel, strengthening church. Yup.
We did intercambios with the SHEs in Dos Hermanas. I found out what SHE stands for finally: Super Hermana Entrenadora. Woohoo. I kind of hate doing intercambios. I am trying to gain a testimony of it so hard. I stayed here and guided poor unsuspecting Hermana Moreno around. I was happily surprised that I can actually find my way around the town by myself. Also, I spoke nothing but spanish for 24 hours and I like didn't have a problem. Didn't know I could do that. We also lost our top investigators to long term vacations but I guess that just means we have more room to find and teach new people. A lot of room.
At least we know crazy Pedro will never leave us. Have I ever talked about crazy Pedro? He's crazy. He tells us he can't leave his piso and come to church because he is waiting for an ambulance to come and get him. He called them 74 days ago (he counts) so they really should come any day now. But he really likes the Plan of Salvation.
We were just walking along the other day when an old lady stopped me. I couldn't understand what she was saying because she was old and spanish so I made her repeat herself like four times when I finally realized she was asking if I would help her cross the street. I said sure so she linked her arm through mine and we began the long procession of crossing the street. I expect my boy scout badge to come in the mail any day now.
Yesterday we went to lunch at the house of the Montes family again. The main course? Rabbit leg. I ate a rabbit's leg. He kept calling it Bugs Bunny and I wanted to die. It was attached to the bone and everything and even looked like Bugs Bunny's leg. My stomach has become strong.
So that's pretty much all I can think of right now. I love you all. Have a good week.
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Monday, July 21, 2014
Las Perdidas Hermanas de Puertollano
Hey peeps.
So I really don't have a ton to write about this week. Pretty much same old same old. I really really hate public speaking in spanish so I think that is why I am here- to get used to it. I gave a taller (I don't even know what that word is in english) for district meeting and gave a talk on Sunday. So fun.
Hna Hoffman made cinnamon rolls for the district meeting. We brought them in tinfoil and told the Elders that she made them for them and so they thought that that meant that they were just supposed to bring them home.... so they took them all and didn't give us any. We never even tried them and our apartment has smelled like cinnamon rolls that we didn't eat all week. We have been fuming about it. My comp swore she is never making cinnamon rolls again which is super said because I really want some!
Sabrin, an eight year old daughter of a member was baptized this weekend. She is super adorable. More members showed up for her baptism than showed up for church so you can tell she is really loved. Like the pride and joy of the branch.
I will try to send pictures. We had planned on bringing our cinnamon rolls to share with the branch but well that didn't work out....
And we told Presidente Montes (the branch president) what happened and he demanded that we give him the elders number so that he could yell at them. We didn't give it to him, but that made us feel better.
So yesterday, Hna Hoffman went into the bathroom to take a shower, turned on the faucet and only dirt water came out. Somebody was messing with our pipes outside. Super gross. But don't worry everything was back to normal this morning so I have showered!
And that was my week! Love you all!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
So I really don't have a ton to write about this week. Pretty much same old same old. I really really hate public speaking in spanish so I think that is why I am here- to get used to it. I gave a taller (I don't even know what that word is in english) for district meeting and gave a talk on Sunday. So fun.
Hna Hoffman made cinnamon rolls for the district meeting. We brought them in tinfoil and told the Elders that she made them for them and so they thought that that meant that they were just supposed to bring them home.... so they took them all and didn't give us any. We never even tried them and our apartment has smelled like cinnamon rolls that we didn't eat all week. We have been fuming about it. My comp swore she is never making cinnamon rolls again which is super said because I really want some!
Sabrin, an eight year old daughter of a member was baptized this weekend. She is super adorable. More members showed up for her baptism than showed up for church so you can tell she is really loved. Like the pride and joy of the branch.
And we told Presidente Montes (the branch president) what happened and he demanded that we give him the elders number so that he could yell at them. We didn't give it to him, but that made us feel better.
So yesterday, Hna Hoffman went into the bathroom to take a shower, turned on the faucet and only dirt water came out. Somebody was messing with our pipes outside. Super gross. But don't worry everything was back to normal this morning so I have showered!
And that was my week! Love you all!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Baptisms, balloons and prayers
Life is good out here in the middle of no where. Things are never boring in the life of a missionary.
Long story short we are teaching this giant gypsy family. The dad (Fernando) and the oldest daughter (Remy) were baptized when the elders were here. We set a baptism date last week for the youngest daughter (Chiki) and Remy's oldest daughter (Natalia). They are both twelve years old. Natalia stole 20 euros out of Hna Hoffman's wallet though last monday though so we dropped her date. Chiki is probably the most sane out of them all though so she would be getting baptized this coming up Sunday if the branch president lived in Puertollao and was actually here sunday night. If he weren't the only worthy priesthood holder in the town and therefore the only one who actually affect the baptism we would probably just do it without him.... but thats life. we are going to watch the best two years with her today for our pday... hopefully it makes sense to her...
We had a district (not stake) party thing here on friday. In total, from all over La Mancha, there were probably enough members to make up a ward. It was really excting to see our chapel that full. Although our branch president pulled our cone leaders into his office to tell them that he was disappointed in them because they weren't helping us. Then on Sunday he pulled us in to tell us he had this vision or dream or what have you:
Maybe we would have more success if we tried picking a building and then just knocking on random doors in that building, even if we didn't know the people that live there, and then just talking to people.
I thought it sounded genius but then I remembered that we already did that and that we don't actually need to do that as much now because we have people to teach. He was pretty much shocked to hear that. Then he was mad we didn't tell him. I don't even know what anybody expects anymore.
My favorite people in Puertollano are these two Ecuadorian sisters. The first time we knocked on their door the oldest told she was atheist but we talked to her long enough that she agreed to let us come back. We have now taught them three or four times. In our lesson on saturday she finally prayed for us for the first time and it was the most sincere thing I have ever heard and kind of exactly like the prayer by the king with Aaron in the book of Mormon. She just like started and said "God I don't know if you are there or not but these girls told me that you are and I hope that you are and I would really like to know if you are there and I am thankful for my family. Amen."
It was beautiful and then she passed out. Just kidding! She is still conscious but I am sure she still felt the spirit. And that God was listening.
Okay one more story and then I am out. We were sitting on the church steps the other day waiting to meet an investigator and this old man walked up to us and asked us what we are. We tried telling him that we are missionaries but he couldn't hear us so he rolled up a magazine and put it in his ear and made us talk through it. Don´t worry the story gets weirder. Then he asked us to blow up his balloon. Just go ahead and imagine our confusion. But then he begged us and we said fine to get him to leave. So then he left and we laughed about it and then we just kept waiting there for our investigator to show up. When up walks this man holding a balloon. Like an actual balloon that he got from who knows where. Then he forced each of us to blow it up and he stuck his ear on the balloon. Then he said thank you and walked away. Literally the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life. I am serious, everyone is crazy here.
Oh I forgot to mention anything about zone conference! Málaga is paradise! we spent the night with Hna Read and life was good. The actual conference was good too. I learned a lot. Some General Authority is coming in like October or something... I dont remember....
Welp that's it! Have a good week yáll!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Long story short we are teaching this giant gypsy family. The dad (Fernando) and the oldest daughter (Remy) were baptized when the elders were here. We set a baptism date last week for the youngest daughter (Chiki) and Remy's oldest daughter (Natalia). They are both twelve years old. Natalia stole 20 euros out of Hna Hoffman's wallet though last monday though so we dropped her date. Chiki is probably the most sane out of them all though so she would be getting baptized this coming up Sunday if the branch president lived in Puertollao and was actually here sunday night. If he weren't the only worthy priesthood holder in the town and therefore the only one who actually affect the baptism we would probably just do it without him.... but thats life. we are going to watch the best two years with her today for our pday... hopefully it makes sense to her...
We had a district (not stake) party thing here on friday. In total, from all over La Mancha, there were probably enough members to make up a ward. It was really excting to see our chapel that full. Although our branch president pulled our cone leaders into his office to tell them that he was disappointed in them because they weren't helping us. Then on Sunday he pulled us in to tell us he had this vision or dream or what have you:
Maybe we would have more success if we tried picking a building and then just knocking on random doors in that building, even if we didn't know the people that live there, and then just talking to people.
I thought it sounded genius but then I remembered that we already did that and that we don't actually need to do that as much now because we have people to teach. He was pretty much shocked to hear that. Then he was mad we didn't tell him. I don't even know what anybody expects anymore.
My favorite people in Puertollano are these two Ecuadorian sisters. The first time we knocked on their door the oldest told she was atheist but we talked to her long enough that she agreed to let us come back. We have now taught them three or four times. In our lesson on saturday she finally prayed for us for the first time and it was the most sincere thing I have ever heard and kind of exactly like the prayer by the king with Aaron in the book of Mormon. She just like started and said "God I don't know if you are there or not but these girls told me that you are and I hope that you are and I would really like to know if you are there and I am thankful for my family. Amen."
It was beautiful and then she passed out. Just kidding! She is still conscious but I am sure she still felt the spirit. And that God was listening.
Okay one more story and then I am out. We were sitting on the church steps the other day waiting to meet an investigator and this old man walked up to us and asked us what we are. We tried telling him that we are missionaries but he couldn't hear us so he rolled up a magazine and put it in his ear and made us talk through it. Don´t worry the story gets weirder. Then he asked us to blow up his balloon. Just go ahead and imagine our confusion. But then he begged us and we said fine to get him to leave. So then he left and we laughed about it and then we just kept waiting there for our investigator to show up. When up walks this man holding a balloon. Like an actual balloon that he got from who knows where. Then he forced each of us to blow it up and he stuck his ear on the balloon. Then he said thank you and walked away. Literally the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life. I am serious, everyone is crazy here.
Oh I forgot to mention anything about zone conference! Málaga is paradise! we spent the night with Hna Read and life was good. The actual conference was good too. I learned a lot. Some General Authority is coming in like October or something... I dont remember....
Welp that's it! Have a good week yáll!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
¿Chad o Javier?
Aloha,
I thought I´d mix things up a bit.
So like this is hard. But it's good. I am having a hard time thinking of any stories to tell. We walked around a lot. I am sunburnt. On the fourth of July the American family took us up to see a windmill before they left for good. Now we have no members to go to lesson with us.
But the windmill was way cool. Then we had a combined district meeting in Ciudad Real. We had to take a train. A senior couple is serving near by and they made us some real American hamburgers and cake and that all felt really nice. We even sang the National Anthem.
There were only 8 people in church yesterday. That includes us. And then the branch president, his wife, and his son, who all live in Madrid. So like that makes three real members. But every single person in the congregation stood up to bear their testimonies. I bet very few people have seen that happen.
Then the branch president invited us over for lunch. That's the first time someone has given us food here. They are a really nice family. Except for when the mom told me that I am never getting married.... but then she gave me a bracelet so its all good I guess :P
And now it is PDay. This week we are going to have a zone conference in Málaga. I cannot even express how excited I am. Especially since we have to stay the night the night before and Hna Read (my MTC companion) is serving in Málaga right now. We have been begging everyone in a leadership position to let us stay the night in her and her companions piso because Hna Hoffman is friends with her companion. I guess we will see!
I love you! Have a good week!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
I thought I´d mix things up a bit.
 |
| La Mancha |
 |
| A Don Quixote Windmill |
There were only 8 people in church yesterday. That includes us. And then the branch president, his wife, and his son, who all live in Madrid. So like that makes three real members. But every single person in the congregation stood up to bear their testimonies. I bet very few people have seen that happen.
 |
| Our 12 year old investigators drew on the board for us. At least somebody appreciates our hard work :) |
And now it is PDay. This week we are going to have a zone conference in Málaga. I cannot even express how excited I am. Especially since we have to stay the night the night before and Hna Read (my MTC companion) is serving in Málaga right now. We have been begging everyone in a leadership position to let us stay the night in her and her companions piso because Hna Hoffman is friends with her companion. I guess we will see!
I love you! Have a good week!
Hermana Hannah Ashby
 |
| Hermana Hoffman made me tortilla de potata! |
 |
| Her Brazilian food turned out much better. (She's half Brazilian)Yum! |
 |
| Us by the windmill |
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| And us again |
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