Red ants and chocalas

Good afternoon Family!!

Well WHAT. A. WEEK!

Can I just say this was probably the best first week of my whole mission. And I have been out a long time...haha. But honestly it is great and I am excited for the rest of my time here!

Monday- After running around, doing laundry, seeing the chiropractor, and emailing, we ate lunch with my favorite person Pedro! It was so nice of him to take a break from work and take Hna Soto and I out for lunch. I sure am gonna miss this guy. After lunch we hung around and signed journals and then had a lesson set with Doris, but she sadly wasn't there. So we grabbed our laundry and then headed to dinner with the Juarez family. We took pictures and then we ran to our next stop- Hna America, and then to say goodbye to Patricia Durant, the Morelos Family and then Sheila and her family and then last but not least, the Hiltons. I stayed up until like 12:30 packing and all...just like every new transfer haha.

Tuesday- TRANSFER DAY! Well we got up early, packed the car and got to transfer meeting. We have a training meeting before transfer meeting and then afterwards we all got seated and watched the new missionaries come in (there was only 3) and then heard the dying testimonies and then Hna Gonzalez and I went on our way! So I'll tell you about my companion at the end of the email. So we made it back to our apartment and then started to unpack and looked at the plans that the other harmanas' left us. It is a little overwhelming to be new in an area and training, but with the help of God all things are possible! We then had dinner with a part member family in one of the elders area and the food was really spicy...like my lips were numb by the end of dinner...all of them just laughed at me...#whitepeopleproblems.  After that we had ward visits and went with a few ladies from the ward to go visit less active members and that was nice to get to know a few more. By the end of the night we were both exhausted. 

Wednesday- We went grocery shopping in the morning because we didn't have time to go the night before. Later after lunch we went out to our area (wherever it is...haha) and we started to contact some people and then we passed by a less active family named the Sarabia's, and we shared a message about family history work. After that we contacted some people and got some set appts which is progress! But oh my goodness...red ants were attracted to my feet! Like my goodness..It was bad! Every time we would talk to someone and then leave there would be like 50 red ants all over my feet and they bite...so I was not a happy camper...We then ate dinner at home and then passed by the ward mission leaders house and met him and his family! They are so fun! And then after that we visited the Bishop and his family, which they are also so awesome!

Thursday- The STL's came and visited us and we made goals for this transfer and all. It will be so good! Some things that I am working on is having more faith and showing that faith through diligent work, and then to ask more questions. I haven't ever been good at asking questions, but I will be working on that! We then did our planning and learned more about our investigators and the members and less actives. That night we visited a less active family named the Hermosillo's and shared Helaman 5:12 and then contacted a referral and instead of us giving him an uplifting message he gave us one! I wish all people were like that at doors..Is that too much to ask for?!?! haha. We then visited another less active family named the Arroyo family and we shared about Joseph Smith and then we contacted a little bit more before the end of the night. 

Friday- We had district meeting and it was all in Spanish! I haven't had that since I was in Bakersfield last summer..so that was good! At least I could understand it all this time! I also did the training and it was on giving church tours and how beneficial they can really be for our investigators! We then did service for a less active- the bishops dad- and we did yard work! He is the cutest ever! Later we had a lesson with Chris, a potential and it was a really good lesson! And he accepted to be baptized for June 20th! It was so good :) That night we ate dinner with the Mercado family and they are so cool! So missionary minded! It it awesome! We then met a recent convert, he lives a couple doors down for the Mercado family and he was watering his lawn. After that we felt that we should try and pass by our investigator Veronica...and we found her at home!! We taught her about the importance of church and then she told us that the church she goes to makes her feel sad and depressed, but when she came to ours, all that was gone. She was happy and calm. What a cool thing to hear! We then met another lady from the ward, her name is Hna Alaniz! And she is a sweetheart and has a really cool conversion story!

Saturday- We did service for a little bit in the morning and then we came back and did studies and lunch and then we went contacted! Some people weren't home and we met a not so nice guy on the street, but we brushed it off and kept on going. BUT! We found another new investigator! His name is Marcos. He is really cool and interested in learning! He also accepted a baptismal date for June 20th! We then had a lesson right after that with a lady named Ana and she became a new investigator too! We weren't sure if she was actually listening in the lesson, but then at the end she was like, "well then I guess I will have to read the Book of Mormon"...Hna Gonzalez and I just looked at each other like..."wait what? you were listening?" We then had dinner with ourselves and then tried by a couple more members, but they weren't home. 

Sunday- We had correlation meeting in the morning and our ward mission leader walked in with these funny glasses and weird teeth..we all just had to laugh! Church was good! Lots of new people, but it was good! We ate dinner with the Rodriguez family (which is the ward mission leader) and then we contacted a bit and had a lesson with a less active family named the Ramirez family. We talked about the importance and power of the Book of Mormon. We then knocked on a potentials door and he opened up and was like "where were you on Monday!" he didn't know that we got switched, so we taught home a lesson and it was such a good lesson! He told us that he wants to read and come to church and learn more from us! After that we passed by the Guido family and met them! 

Well, so that was our week! It was so good!

So now about my companion- Her name is Hna Gonzalez. She is from Mexico, but moved to Camarillo CA and she is 22 and a convert of 3 years! She is a doll and is ready to work! She is helping me with my Spanish and I am helping her with her English. It is great! 

I love this area! I am excited to be here and to work!

I love you all! Thanks for all you do!

And family!!-- I cannot wait until Sunday!!! Talk to you then :)

Love, Hermana Aase