Dear Family,

When I said don't send me anything I meant don't send me packages.  Please continue sending me letters and my cousins letters home from their mission.  I was looking for those all week.

Zone Conference was an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I got to experience it.  I received so much revelation on what I needed to do.  We mostly talked about working with the members and how to do that.  This is where I encourage all of you to be the best member missionaries you can possibly be.

Eric Mitchell is being baptized on Saturday and I'm very excited.  So is my Eric, and Brooklyn, and I'm not sure which baptism to be more excited about.  Eric Mitchell has worked very, very hard for his baptism and the ward is excited to get him.

Also since I didn't write last week I feel a need to talk about my new companion, Sister Piutau.  She's from Southern California and is of Tongan descent.  She's very easy-going and doesn't get stressed very easily which is really, really nice for me to be around.  She's very sweet and I've loved working with her.

I love you all and I miss you.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

This week has been really slow and really hard.  We're trying our best and I know that Lord will bless us for our diligence even when it seems like nothing's happening.

Probably the worst thing that happened this week is I lost our cell phone.  It just fell out of my bag.  I thought it was in a secure place but I guess not.  After leaving our dinner appointment we ended up looking and re-looking for it until 8:45 and finally gave up and went back to our apartment feeling discouraged.  Remembering that there was an alarm that was sure to go off whether the sound was off or not for 6:30 we returned to the place where we thought we lost it and started looking for it again in the morning.  This women who had seen our car and the pictures of Jesus that we had on our car came up and asked us if we had lost our cellphone.  She only spake Spanish but sure enough she had our cellphone.  What a miracle!  We knew that God would allow us to find our cellphone and so the miracle truly came after exercising faith.

Because we had lost our cellphone the day before we didn't have a chance to charge it that night.  It died right before our dinner appointment.  We were late leaving our dinner appointment and had a member waiting for us at our apartments plus an appointment at the church and another appointment in like 10 minutes and we were freaking out.  So we went to the church to make sure our investigators weren't just waiting outside for us and we found that the Vietnamese Ward was playing basketball that day so we were able to use the Vietnamese Elders cellphone battery to contact the people that we needed to.  And we left to go to our next appointment and that's where we met John or I should say re-met John.  We had met him actually in his apartment complex but had missed the appointment so God gave us another opportunity to see him again.  It's funny how we cannot frustrate the work of God that even when we do something stupid like assume someone's not prepared and miss the appointment God will put that person in our path again.  It was sort of like he was saying "Wake up!  You need to visit this person!"

Transfers is this Wednesday and I just found out that Sister Workinger is leaving.  I'm worried about getting the area.  Texas roads are so hard to navigate.  There are no mountains to help me know which direction I'm going.  There is no numbers just random names.  The roads twist and turn and they look all the same and the same road looks different in different parts.  Plus I'm directionally challenged anyway so these roads don't help.  These roads are the more frustrating part of my mission.  Sister Workinger has been a good trainer and I'm going to miss her.  She knows how to work hard despite of challenges and that's been a good example for me.  She also has a great sense of humor and has made these last 12 weeks really fun.  I know the sisters in our Zone really look up to her and that she'll be able to help an area that's really struggling.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

Hello Family,

It was really good to talk to you on Saturday, especially Eric, he has such a sweet spirit and a sweet soul that I needed to hear from him.  I want you to know that the last couple of days have been better and that I'm not as sick as I was.  I honestly can't remember anything earlier then Friday (when I had my breakdown) but there was really only one experience that I need to share.

On Sunday I had the strongest testimony building experience that I've had in a while if ever.  Sunday I spent the day fasting for one of my investigators, Eric.  It was really hard for me because I was really sick but I knew that I would be blessed for my diligence.  That same night we went and visited Eric.  We started the lesson and started by teaching about the Holy Ghost, which is not what we planned to teach first.  This was the first testimony builder that I received, that God was guiding me in the lessons and that the lesson we were teaching was from the Holy Ghost and that I was receiving it even if I thought I wasn't.  He told us that we wasn't sure if the Book of Mormon was true or not but that'd continue praying.  We went on with our planned lesson and taught about prophets and the gospel.  At the end he said "I'm worried about my grandma."  We asked him why.  He said that she was close to the end of her life and that he felt like she really needed to know this before she passed away.  Then my companion asked him why he wanted to share it with his grandma.  He said that it was really important and that he wanted her to get to heaven.  And so my companion exclaimed "Then you Know it's true!!!"  He sat there for a couple of seconds and then said "I do know it's true, I don't know how I know but I know it's true."  In response to that my spirit called to me:  It's true!  It's true!  I know it's true!!!  I had never felt so strongly that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was prophet.  It was also a testimony to me that fast works and prayer works.  We then committed him the 31st and he told us that date was perfect and that date marked exactly 7 years after the lowest time in his life.  It was manifested to me that date was inspired and that I had received revelation.

Also since it was so close to the lowest moment of my life it was also a testimony to me that Satan is real and that he's powerful but the fact that God protected me enough to stay here until that happened was truth to me that no matter how powerful Satan seems God will ALWAYS prevail in the end and he will always win.

I love you so much and thank-you for that package you sent me.  I love you all and hope that you're doing well.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

(Mom note:  thanks for all the prayers and fasting on Ashley's behalf.  They are very appreciated)

Hello Family,

 

I'm not sure how much time I have to write you as a whole because I have so much to write you each indivdually and for me that's more important right now.  I wanted to thank you so much for sending me that light box.  Ever since Thursday I use it for at least fifteen minutes every day and it's making a difference.  I know it was a sacrifice for you to send me one and so that means that world to me that you wouldn't even hesitate for a second to make that sacrifice.  I feel like it's symbolic as well that I get depressed when I don't get enough sunlight.  It shows that the only way to true happiness is through light and that Jesus Chirst is the light of the world.  And so really, true joy only comes through the Savior.

 

I think Satan did a lot of damage over the last couple of months and it's going to take a long time to repair but I know that I can.  I know that the Savior is on my side and I'm grateful for that.I'm so happy to be here.  I know that I'm supposed to be here and the Lord has been blessing me so much.  The storm isn't over and I don't know if it will ever end while I'm on my mission but it's not as hard to handle and I know that I'll be able to get through this trial.

 

Something about today is that Sister Laurent is going back home.  I think this makes me sad but not as sad as it makes Sister Workinger.  I know that Sister Laurent has a great work to do back home so I'm happy and anxious for her but I know that it's going to be hard for Sister Workinger and that makes me sad. I want to be a great help to Sister Workinger this next week.  Sister Laurent has been a great companion.  She's loving, giving and caring.  She works hard and she works hard for those around her as well.  She's been a huge support to me during this more difficult time and I know that the Lord sent her to me and Sister Workinger for a reason.

 

The biggest thing that's happened over this last week is we're making great progress with one of our investigators.  The biggest problems that we've been having with him is a few years ago he found a book that he accepted as truth.  Some of our beliefs woked with this book but others such as the Plan of Salvation don't and so on Friday he had a lot of doubts, things that he said didn't make sense with his believes.  But when we went to go see him two days later we saw such an attitude change and he told us that he knew that this was the right path for him to take and that he had been company with Satan for a while ever since he had read that book.  It was truly a miracle.  I know that he has a great work to do because Satan has been working so hard on him but I know that he's truly looking for the truth and has such honest intents that I know that he will be baptized.

There hasn't been as many miracles this week as there was last week and I think that's because God is trying to test our faith to see if we still have strong faith when all five of our appointments are cancelled on one day, or if one of our main progressing investigators goes out of town on Saturday out of the blue and won't be back for a while, or when things just seem to be going wrong.  But we've tried to stay faithful and do all that we can.  I know that the Lord will bless us again and we'll be able to see so much success.

I love you all so much and I'm always so excited to hear from you.  I haven't heard from Amy and Eric for a while so I hope to get something from them too.  Once again thanks for sending me that light box and being willing to help me.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

Hi Family,

So obviously the highlight of the week is that we had a baptism.  Her name is Marnajah and she is 11-years-old.  Her father is a convert of one year and was able to baptize her and confirm her.  It made him so happy, it was quite a miracle.  We've been seeing so many miracles this week, I'd like to talk about all of them but there is so many I doubt I'll be able to.

One of the most amazing things that happened this week is we met Lavara.  And I'm actually happy that I have the chance to tell this story because whenever we want to tell this story my companions get super excited and I never get to tell it and I'm excited too.  A while ago we got a referral from the Zone Leaders for this woman named Tia.  We called her about five times and every single time she would answer and then say "I'll call you back" and then wouldn't.  So we decided that we were just going to stop by her apartment.  Well, when we knocked on the door it wasn't Tia it was Lavara, who was half asleep.  We felt bad for bugging her so pretty much all we said was "Hi, we're the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Would you be interested in hearing a message about Jesus Christ?" and she said yes.  I honestly doubted her commitment but we got her information and set up an appointment for Friday anyway.  When we came back for our appointment she wasn't home so we left a note and then left.  She actually called that night!  Nobody ever calls us.  It was amazing.  She told us that she was so grateful we left a number and that she tried to be home in time but couldn't get off of work on time.  She made another appointment for the next day.  So we went and visited her on Saturday.  It was such a spiritual meeting.  She told us right off the bat that she knew that we had something wonderful for her and that us being there was like Christmas.  By the end of the lesson she was crying and said "I haven't felt this happy for a long time."  We asked her to come to church and she said that she had obligations still but she knew it was true and came anyway.

We were actually able to meet this family too, the Mitchells.  Most of the people we teach are poor but the Mitchells are very rich.  Rich people aren't typically as interested but the Mitchells are very interested.  I think they realized that they have money enough to buy anything that but yet something is missing their lives and their still not happy.  Sister Mitchell was a inactive member of the church that made a call to get missionaries sent over and Brother Mitchell was only interested in learning more about us, not necessarily joining.  They told us they were doing it for their four-year-old son.  The two lessons that we've had with them have been incredibly powerful and has brought both of them to tears.  It's honestly too hard to describe but he's going to get baptized at the end of this month.  Brother Mitchell especially is exercising so much faith.  He doesn't know for sure that it's true, he doesn't know if there's a God or if God loves him but he wants to believe it is so he acts on faith.

Two other amazing stories are the stories of both Danica's (one of our younger investigators mentioned in a previous email) and Marnajah's (check above) moms.  Because both Danica and Marnajah are minors their moms have wanted to sit in on the lessons.  Danica's mom's name is Vicki and when we first met her she admitted to us that the only reason that she was letting us over was because Danica wanted to be baptized and she believed in free agency.  She told us she was against organized religion.  But as we've been meeting with Danica and praying that Vicki's heart would be softened to Danica being baptized, she's not only been more open to that but also to the gospel.  When Marnajah's dad was being baptized Marnajah's mom, Sherri, apparently caused some problems for him to the point that they were even separated.  But she allowed us to teach Marnajah regardless and was impressed with what we were saying.  The gospel has brought so much joy to her life and she's so happy we could baptize Marnajah.  It's amazing that the love mothers have for their daughters work so well with the gospel.

One woman, Sumuthia, that we've been teaching only invited us over because she was stuck.  She couldn't get a job because her husband is sick in bed with cancer and because she can't speak English very well.  So when we came over she was only interested in learning English but she knows the Book of Mormon is true and it makes her so happy.  

Many other miracles have happened this week many of which I don't have time describe.  I am so incredibly blessed right now and so lucky that I get to be a part of this.  God loves me so much and He loves me enough to allow me to be a part of this.   I love you all so much!

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

Hi Family,

I don't have much to write this week because not a whole lot of things happened, at least nothing interesting.  We went and saw a bunch of people, we ate dinner at some of the members houses, and it was really hot.  One thing we did do is we managed to commit this 11-year-old girl to baptism for this weekend.  Her Dad is a convert of just over a year so she wants to be baptized as well.  That went really well.  I honestly couldn't care if we baptized her this weekend or another weekend but my companions were happy about it and so I am too.

We went on splits for the first time some time earlier this week with one of the members.  I was alone with the member and my companions went together.  It was great, I definitely liked that and would be willing to do that again.

Yesterday I left my bag in Sacrament Meeting, you know just the bag that has everything in it!  So we went back to get it and the Vietnamese Ward was in there having their Sacrament Meeting.  And so we walked through on both sides and grabbed it, it was really embarrassing.  I imagine we're going to be hearing from the Vietnamese Elders because of that.

I realized that I have that same thing that Dad does where I have to have something sweet after I eat or the meal just doesn't feel finished and I tend to overeat.  So of course I bought Blue Bell.  It's the only logical solution.  I don't think I told you guys how much I love Blue Bell.  It is the best ice cream in the world.  We get fed a lot of Blue Bell at dinner appointments.  People here call it Blue Bell not ice cream so I get really worried whenever they say "we're going to have ice cream for dessert."  Because my first thought is Blue Bell but they could be talking about any brand and I don't want to get my hopes up.  One woman said that and she pulled out Orange Surbert!!!  That's not even ice cream!  I was still grateful that she fed us and that we got dessert.  Some people are crazy, how you could buy any ice cream besides Blue Bell here is beyond me.  I'm joking of course, but I really do love Blue Bell and they have so many flavors.

We rely so heavily on the members here to do missionary work I invite you to pray to find more missionary opportunities and remember that it is the responsibility of all of us to build up the kingdom of God.  If you pray for missionary opportunities the Lord will give them to you.  Also go to this website (https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast?lang=eng#media= also https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast?lang=eng#media=16902107223790014226-eng) and watch "I'll Go Where I Want You to Go."  This is what we show to members when we go and visit them.  It's really good.  (Side Note:  Will you also attach that video to the blog?  Also how is that going?)  Let me know how your missionary work is going.

I love you all so much and love hearing what's happening.  I'm so grateful for that package that you sent me with the pictures of you and of my puppy.  It makes me so happy to look at.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor

Dear Family,

This 4th of July we were so blessed because we got to do a service project at one of the members of the ward, Sister Sanders, house.  Because of health problems Sister Sanders is unable to go to the 2nd story of her house very often and so she wanted our help cleaning it.  She takes in a lot of different tenants that stay up there, a lot of which don't have anywhere else to go or any money to pay her.  It was quite a mess up there and she was upset about how ungrateful her tenants had been and how they treated her home and her stuff.  It was something that anyone would have been upset about but she kept on telling herself that she just needed to be okay with that and let them in as they were.  We told her that even though her tenants didn't show gratitude that God was grateful that she was so willing to do that.  I was reading in Mosiah 2 today and I read "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn ^awisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the ^bservice of your ^cfellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."  Sometimes we just need to remember that we should do good things even when it seems that we those we do them for aren't grateful for what we're doing because God is grateful.  I try to remember that as I'm doing missionary work and those that I teach don't seem to care the sacrifice that I'm making for their salvation.  But God cares.  It was also neat learning about her past and looking through her "treasures" and learning more about her.  Overall it was a fantastic 4th of July.

Yesterday I had a wonderful day.  Because Sister Laurent is the president's niece they invited our companionship over for dinner.  We had chicken-pot-pie and coconut cream cake and it was so good.  It also made it so that I was more comfortable around President Ashton being able to sit with his family in a very casual setting.  It's also nice to see how his family behaves and their personality.  They have such a wonderful family.

I've been really working on building courage this week.  Pray for me to have the courage to admit to things that I've done wrong, to have the courage to teach confidently, and mostly just have courage over all.  I think about all of the prophets and how much courage they have.  I think about my mission president and how much courage he has.  It truly takes a lot of courage to be a missionary.

Love,

Sister Ashley Naylor