Hasta Ver and Temple Square

Sigh, Well Tuesday came and they're gone. My district and some of my best friends have left to their mission field and I am so happy. On Monday night, we sang "Hasta Ver" ( This is what the missionaries call the Spanish Version of "God be with you till we meet again") I know that God WILL be with until we meet again. Technically, Tuesday was kind of dramatic and brought a lot of tears. Things just happen to be ten times sadder when they happen at 5 AM and it's pouring rain. Mother Nature did a pretty good job of setting the stage for a dramatic goodbye. After I hugged all of the sisters in my district and gave those elders a firm handshake, I was walking back to my residency feeling pretty low about myself. I know that my Heavenly Father really knows me, because he always teaches me lesson when I need them the most. As I was walking back to my residency, being drenched in rain, I notice that two sisters needed help with their luggage, So I helped them carry their luggage to the travel office. I know that does'nt sound like much, but it was exactly what I needed at that time. I know that when we are sad, and going through a hard time, if we put the focus not on ourselves, we can be healed. I so greatful that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to teach me these lessons when I truly do need them the most. Elder Stoneman, PROVO'S BEST MISSIONARY, left later that day. He told me that Salt Lake City was not ready for me and that I was going to do really good things. I miss my district so much. They are going to be the best missionaries. California, Texas, and Utah are pretty dang lucky.

 Welp, I began my Visitor Center training and really has been so much fun. The first day was hard to get into the grove, mainly because I was still suffering from separation anxiety but it slowly got better and seriously has turned out to be so much fun. I am so amazed at how much my Heavenly Father blesses me. He has given me so much and I in turn am so blessed to be able to serve him. This is not a sacrifice by any means. Visitor Center training is so different because we actually have the oppurtunity to talk to real investigators. We used the mormon.org chat and answered some of the questions people had. One person asked if Animals went to heaven ( the answer is yes, Doctrine and Covenants section 77) I did not realize that Visitor Center sister got to contact and teach people like this. My mission call gets better and better everyday.

On Friday, we did VC training at temple square where they gave us a missionary from temple square and we were companions for a couple of hours. THIS IS WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE. My companion was from Argentina, we got to speak so many people who spoke Spanish. It was so fun to be able to talk to them for a little bit. My Spanish knowledge is very, very small. The sister missionaries who serve on Temple Square are so blessed. They have such a great mission. Being that it was the Friday before General Conference, the square was packed.

It's crazy to think that my time at the MTC is almost done! I leave on Wednesday. These seven weeks have taught me so much and I am not the same person who came in on February 20th. I am so excited to see who I am in 18 months after I have been shaped into the person my Father in Heaven wants me to be.

 All is well. The Church is True. The Book is Blue.

 Hermana Fastle

p.s I will still be annoying when I get home , do not worry ;)

Pictures!!

 

Blessed are they that hast not seen, and yet believed.

This week was my favorite. But, I am quite certain that every week here at the CE CE EME is my favorite. This place is camp. I love it so much and I am sad that my time here is ALMOST up. Lucky for me, I get another week before I get to be a "real" missionary. On Friday, Hermano Sangers, wrote a letter and gave each of us a pass along card that reminded him of us. This is what he wrote to me. " Sister Fastle is a disciple of extreme faith and patience. Being a missionary isn't easy, but you would never know if you met Sister Fastle. She posses a gift to be patient as she learns and is determined to stay the course until she has done all she can do. The picture of Mary praying with the child Jesus reminds me of the patience and love that Sister Fastle posses in order to truly become the son and daughter of God" It meant so much to me.

 Easter was so special here at the MTC. Yesterday was the best day of all. It started by waiting for an hour, sitting on the floor of 18M for the special sacrament meeting. We had heard all week that a  General Authority was coming, but we had no idea who it would be. Elder Stoneman told me it was Holland. I cried. You do not joke about Holland. It ended up being Bishop Cosse( this name is french) His message was so sweet. He spoke of the conversation he had with Thomas after his resurrection. He was not with the disciples when Jesus first came and Thomas did not believe until " I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" ( John 20:25) 8 days later, Jesus visited the disciples and Thomas was with them. Jesus tells Thomas to "Reach hither thy fingers, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and trust into thy side and be not faithless, but believing" Thomas does and says " My Lord and my God" "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that hast not seen, and yet believed. (john 20:29) His message was that we need to strengthen our testimony of Christ.

Our district sang " A child's prayer" during fast and testimony meeting. The spirit was so strong. President Peer aka P-dawg cried. I love my district so much. We had the departure devotional. President Mcnally said that we were going to be somebody's missionary. Sunday night devotional was given by Sheri Dew. She said that the savior was not our last chance, but our only chance. He is the answer to ALL of our problems.

Easter is my favorite Holiday. It was hard being away from my family, but I know that the best way to show my love for my Savior is share the message with the world that He lives.

 The church is true. The book is blue. All is well

 Hermana Fastle

Be Of Good Cheer

This week went by so fast! I don't really know how time has flown by so fast. Oh, on Tuesday we went on a scavenger hunt looking for Elder Gee and Elder Worthlin because they had to get there visa's and they couldn't be found, so our district was in charge of finding them! Let me tell you, finding anyone at the MTC is basically impossible, mainly because every elder looks the same and the MTC campus is huge! But alas, we found them! Service for the day.

 This week we learned the best reason to be a missionary. This week was rough. I just spent a lot of time focusing on the things I do wrong. My teacher, Hermano Snyder pointed that out. It is just something that I really do and it kills me mentally because I just beat myself up over my little mistakes. I am realizing that I cannot be perfect without my Savior and through his atonement, he makes up for my inadequecy and realizing that if i endure to the end and do my best, he'll make up for the things I lack. So I should be of good cheer. " Wherefore, be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ that I am the son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come"

 The Church Is true. The book Is blue. All is well.

 Hermana Fastle.

One Month!

This week flew by! Geesh! my time at the MTC is quickly coming to an end. So grateful for my experience here at the MTC. My district is honestly my best friend. On Wednesday, we had an "interesting" experience where we went around the room and shared one thing we like about each other. It was the longest, sweetest experience ever. Elder Taylor "broke" me when he said that he wanted his sister to be like me. It was so sweet. I can't believe that I will be celebrating a month of being on my mission. Time has flown by so fast.

 In Mark, A young man came running to the Savior and said " What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" The Savior replied " Thou knowest the commandment, Do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud not honor thy father and mother" The young man replied "And he answered and said unto him, master, all these have I observed in my youth." Jesus said " One thing though lackest, go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and though shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and take up the cross, and follow me." "And he was said at that saying and he went away grieved for he had great possessions."

I have learned this week that the "riches" in this story are sin. How easy it is for us to remember to the BIG sins that we have in our life, but how unwilling we are to get rid of the "riches" we have in our lives. The savior suffered for these sins, and the price for them is already paid. Alma 7:15 tells us " Forget the sin that easily besets us, and show your God you are willing to repent"

 We should all strive to get rid of the "riches" that keep us from truly following the saviors example. I hope to one day be able to sell my "riches" and take up the cross, and follow him"

Reminder that he already paid for these sins, so when I take up the cross, it won't be so heavy.

 The Church is True. The Book Is Blue.

 Hermana Fastle.

 

Yo No Hablo Espanol

This week flew by. I am a little shocked by how fast it went. It has been decided that I am the worst spanish speaker ever. It's really bad. I feel like I am the worst spanish speaker. ever. It's really bad. Motivation to work harder. I did however have a really cool experience with spanish. Hermana gomez and I were giving a lesson to our investigator, valentino. I was understanding nothing and I was getting so frustrated. I just randomly would say stuff that I knew would go with what I was understanding. I felt like I was adding nothing to the lesson, At the end of the lesson, I asked if he would be baptized. He looked at me and then started talking to my companion. I thought to myself "great... i blew it" We ended the lesson and left. On the way back to the classroom I started apologizing to for how bad my spanish was. I had tears in my eyes and I told her sorry I was for ruining her lesson and with my random spanish and then asking him to be baptized. Hermana Gomez got the weirdest look on her face. She said " Hermana do you understand what just happened?" "No" was my reply. She said that everything I said was perfect and when I asked him to be baptized, HE ACCEPTED. FIESTA EN MI CORAZON!. It was incredible. My companion and I had our first experience in the TRC where we teach volunteers and they give us feedback on a little sheet of paper. One of the question was " What happened during the lesson?" There response: They tried baring their testimony in spanish. Another question said " What will you take away from this experience?" She said: "I will continue to pray for the missionaries" It was so funny.

 We got new roommates. Hermana gains and Hermana Shreeve. I love them so much. Hermana Shreeve and I are basically the same person. I want sam to marry her. She is stunning.

my district is still the funniest thing to ever happen to me. The elder stoneman quote of the week: " If i didn't have a novia, there would be a lot more repentance in this district!" I die of laughter everyday. I am so happy and glad that I have chosen to serve a mission. I am so looking forward to my Visitors Center Training and getting out to Salt Lake City and sharing the knowledge that has blessed my life so much. Hopefully In better Spanish. All is well.

 The Church is True. The book is blue. all of my love.

 Hermana Ashley Fastle

CCM

Hola! I survived my first full week here at the MTC of what us spanish speakers call the CCM. I love this place. I am being so spoiled here. I sometimes see sisters outside crying and I wonder "am i doing this right?!" "am i supposed to be this happy?!" I have seriously been blessed. My companion is amazing. I love Hermana gomez with my whole heart. We have so much fun together.  She is always quoting movies. her favorite is from father of the bride 2 " MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ARE PREGNANT TOGETHER?! YOU MUST LET ME DO THE BABY SHOWER!" she does it perfectly and I now really want to watch that movie. Please all watch that movie for me. This week was great. I learned so much and had so much fun. Honestly, I am in Heaven. I hope it's not weird to love it at much as I do. My district is so close. we have so much fun together. We are usually dying of laughter. Elder stoneman is the funniest person I have ever met. I can't even describe how funny he is. Provo is going to be laughing a lot that's for sure. I know that the Lord knows how much I love to laugh and that is the reason I am in this district.

 This week flew by. Monday's are my favorite day. you get to wear pants and take naps. Today, Hermana gomez and I are venturing to the outside world to go get my blood checked at BYU. Pray I don't get married ;) On tuesday, my district had purple day or "Morado Martes" The funny thing is that it was the Elders idea. Wednesday was the most spiritual experience yet/ We watched a  video about a woman named maggie and we were able to identify her needs. She was alone and my heart hurt for her. The gospel cures all hardships. I don't know maggie but I pray that someday she can have the happiness that I feel. This is the reason I am a missionary. Oh,on wednesday I ordered a wrap, hate half of it, and then realized it had bacon in it. Started crying. Hermana Gomez was dying of laughter. I no longer eat wraps at the CE CE EME.

 Friday, brought another spiritual experience. I woke up sick on friday. Being sick here is the worst. I decided that i needed to get a blessing and Hermana Hunter ( one of my roommates) said that I needed to pray on who should give me a blessing. So I did and the name of an elder popped into my head from my district. I can't stand him. at all. but... I asked him and it was the most beautiful blessing I have ever received. He later told me that he really needed to give me a blessing and that he needed to feel needed. The Savior works through us and I didn't really mind. I'm good at being sick. 

Saturday was so fun. Our "investigator" became our teacher. my companion and I started saying " in Soviet Russsia, you no teach pedro, pedro teaches you" we think we are so funny. Anyways, Mistro Sangers was supposed to be teaching us about stress. He took everything out of his pockets and told us to follow him. We walked down the stairs and then he went out the door and started sprinting with the ten missionaries running after him. he ran around for five minutes and then a opened a door, ran up five flights of stairs, walked to the other side of the building, ran down another five flight of stairs, and back to our room. We got there and he said "now you are stress free" MOST STRESSFUL EVENT OF MY LIFE. The whole time I thought i was going to break my neck and my ankle. Later that day Mistro Snyder showed a mormon message. It was about a gardner who cut down a bush because he desired that bush be a current bush. The bush seemed to be crying " why would you cut me down" "why would you hurt me" The gardner then said that " Current bush I desire you to be a current Bush and when you are full of fruit, you will thank me" The video later said how thankful he was the lord loved him enough to hurt him. I think of my trials of my blood clots and lupus and I am so grateful that my Savior loved me enough to hurt me. I would not be the person that I am today without them.

I am so grateful for this experince. I am learning spanish, and having lots of fun. All is well. The church is true. The book is blue. 

   Hermana Fastle.